CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP - 607 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. SIMEON ADAMS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Pennsylvania February 24, 1821. He is a son of Hazard and Elizabeth (Wort) Adams, the former a native of Connecticut, of English descent. and the later a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch descent. Our subject was raised and educated as a farmer, and has followed farming through life. He came to Union County in 1841, and located on a farm of 150 acres, which he improved and which he still occupies. He was married, in 1850, to Elizabeth Schechter, who was born in Maryland March 28,1828; she is a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Bond) Schechter. By this union five children were born, viz.: Margaret, deceased; Jennie E,, wife of C. McCallister; Emma, deceased; Frank L. and Henry H. Mrs. Adams is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Adams is a Republican in politics, and has served as Trustee of his township two terms. L. G. BAKER, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Knox County, Ohio, August 1, 1836; he is a son of William and Lucy (Rowley) Baker, natives of Massachusetts. His father was a farmer by occupation, and came to Ohio in his early life, settling in Knox County, where our subject was raised, and remained until 1847, when he came to Union County. He received a common school education and adopted the occupation of farming, which he has since followed with success, now owning a good farm in this township. He was married in 1861, to Mary E. Monson, daughter of Theodore W. and Hester (Cowgill) Monson, who came to this county in 1826. She is one of five children, all of whom were teachers. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have four children, viz.: Hester A., Wealthy V., Lucina R. and Lyman E. The parents are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which Mr. Baker has been a class leader and trustee. He is a Republican in politics. PORTER E. BARNES, of Richwood, Ohio, is the senior member of the firm of Barnes & Rosette, agents for Louis Cook's celebrated carriages, spring wagons, buggies and hand-made harness, J. B. Dennison & Co.'s, Lexington, Ky., buggies, United States Carriage Co.'s buggies, of Columbus, Ohio, the McCormick Harvester and Binder, and the Baker Drill, in Union, Marion and Delaware Counties. This enterprising firm is doing an extensive and successful business in Union and surrounding counties, their object being to handle the best articles in the market, and to make rapid and numerous sales, with small profits. They do business in a prompt and honorable manner give universal satisfaction, and fully merit the liberal patronage they now enjoy. Mr. Barnes was born in the Empire State May 14, 1851, and is a son of Porter and Eliza (Tucker) Barnes, natives of Massachusetts, of English descent. His father emigrated from New York in 1855, and settled at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, where be died in 1864. He was a wealthy and influential farmer, and an extensive breeder of and dealer in fine stock. The subject of this sketch attended Hiram College, where the late James A, Garfield was President, and in 1868 graduated at Baldwin University, Syracuse, N. Y. In 1870, lie engaged as shipping clerk for Camp, Randall & Co., in the grain and flax business, at Warren, Ohio, and afterward conducted their branch establishment at Richwood, Ohio, spending altogether eight years in their employ, and in that time superintending the building of the flax mill at Richwood. He is a member of Marion Chapter, and of the Knights Templar, A., F. & A. M., a charter member of Richwood Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and a Republican in polities. He served three years as Township Clerk, and was a member of the Building Committee of the Board of Education when the public school building was erected. He was married in 1870, to Ophelia Herr of West Salem, Wayne Co, Ohio. She was a daughter of Henry and Sarah ( Elgin) Herr natives of Virginia, where her father owned a plantation and 400 slaves at the breaking-out of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have four children, viz.: Alice D., Porter E., Earl R. and George H. Mr. Barnes owns a handsome residence near the depot at Richwood, in which he and his family reside, JOB G. BEARDSLEY, retired farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., September 16, 1810. He is a son of William and Eunice (Gardner) Beardsley, natives of Con- 608 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. necticut. His father was a shoe-maker by trade, but spent most of his life farming, He came to Ohio in 1814, and settled in Licking County, removing from there to Knox County. He died at the age of eighty-two years; his wife lived to reach ninety years of age. Our subject remained with his parents in Knox County until eighteen years of age, when he began learning the black smith's trade, at which he worked ten years in Licking County. In 1843, he began farming, and has since followed that honorable avocation, until recently, when he retired from active life. In 1852, he came to Claibourne Township, and now owns a farm of 106 acres in this township He was married in Knox County, in 1834, to Patience Webster, a native of New York, by whom he had ten children, of whom six reached their majority and two now survive, viz: Mary, wife of Isaac Cowgill, and James W. Mrs. Beardsley died August 25, 1870, and in 1871 Mr. Beardsley married Nancy (Bell) Sifritt, widow of Andrew Sifritt, who at the time of their marriage had two children, Lorenzo and Margaret. Mrs. and Mrs. Beardsley are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a prominent Republican in politics. He had one son, William Webster, who enlisted in 1862, in the Second Ohio Infantry, and had his right leg shot off at the second battle of Bull Run, which resulted in his death two years later. WILLIAM BEATHARD. farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Jerome Township, Union County, March 18, 1820; he is a son of William and Mary (Chappel) Beathard, the former a native of Maryland, of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Virginia, of Scotch descent. Our subject was raised on his father's farm, but in early life he learned the cooper's trade, which, with several other occupations, he has since followed, having been a farmer for the last twenty years. He owns a farm of eighty acres of land, on which he resides. In 1840, he married Dorotha Wasson, daughter of Thomas and Keziah (Noble) Wasson, and a native of New York.. By this union six children were born, four surviving, viz., Thomas M., Charles W., Roxy M., wife of Sanford Wiley, and Cassia J., wife of Norman E. Cahill. Mr. and Mrs. Beathard are members of the United Brethren Church. in which he has been a Class Leader, Steward and Trustee; he is a Republican in politics. JACOB BEEM, one of a family of eleven children, was born in Allegheny County, Md.. March 4, 1799, and was the son of Michael Beem, who was born in Germany March 6, 1755. his father came to America when Mike was six years old. He had one brother, Richard, who was shortly after killed by a mule kicking him, leaving but one of the name in America, and to date we have never met any one of the name except the descendants of Michael. At about the time of the breaking-out of the Revolution, he married Elizabeth Green, niece of Gen. Green, (who was active in the Revolutionary struggle in gaining our independence). He enlisted early in the Revolutionary war, was on Gen. Washington's staff and was in service until the close of the war, after which he engaged in mercantile business, in Westernport, Md., for a time, the returned to farming. In 1812, he removed to Licking County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming . On the 15th of November, 1827, Jacob, the younger son, was married to Phoebe Rose, the daughter of Rev. Philip Rose, and remained in that county until 1832, in which year he came to Union County, with the intention of buying 600 acres of land where Richwood now stands, but was a few days too late, the land having been purchased by Philip Plummer. He, however, bought 400 acres of the Clarks, part of which be retained and lived on at the time of his death in 1878. He was a man of strong physical, mental and moral powers, thought and acted for himself, would mold to the ideas of others only when they were consistent with reason and, upon the whole, just such a character as would brave the hardships of a new country and pioneer life, and awaken energy, enterprise and moral force in the circle in which he moved. He bought, sold and traded in lands and stock, farmed quite extensively and also took contracts to clear land. Perhaps he and his boys cleared more land than any other family in the township. He was a Universalist in religious belief, believing that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain a revelation of the character of God and of the duty, interest and final destination of mankind, and that there is one God whose nature is love, revealed in our Lord Jesus Christ by one Holy Spirit of grace, who will finally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness; also that holiness and happiness are inseparably connected, and in order to be happy one must practice only such principles as produce the best results, denying self of all ungodliness and worldly lust. He was the father of nine sons and one daughter, being the only one in the township who could boast of a seventh son."He died at the ripe age of seventy-nine years, leaving a wife and eight children to mourn his loss, two of the sons having given their lives in the service of their country in the war of the rebellion. ORRIN BEEM, pike contractor, Richwood, was born in Licking County, Ohio, July 24. 1830; be is the son of Jacob and Phoebe (Rose) Beem, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Licking County, Ohio, of English and German descent. His father came to Union County in 1830 and settled in Claibourne Township. Our subject was raised on a farm and followed farming until thirty-four years of age. In 1855, be went to Illinois, where he was engaged in farming until 1864, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry, Company K, under Col. Goodwin, and served as First Lieutenant of his company until the close of the war. He carried his Christian character with him in the army, did his duty like a good soldier and was highly respected by both officers and men. On his return to civil life he returned to this county and purchased the hotel still known as the Beem House, in Rich- Page 609 - Missing Page 610 - Missing CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 611 wood, which he conducted for some years. He operated a saw mill in 1872 and has since been variously engaged, now being a partner of P. G. Wynegar in contracting for and building turnpike roads. He owns forty or fifty town lots and a handsome residence now occupied by his family. He laid off Beem's Addition to the town of Richwood and takes a deep interest in any thing tending to the growth or improvement of his town. On June 11, 1855, he married Ellen B. Woodward, a daughter of Moses Woodward, a native of Vermont, of English and German descent. Seven children are the issue of this marriage, viz., Isaac N.; Mary, wife of Dr. M. J. Jenkins; Aurora, deceased; Minnie a graduate of the Richwood High School in the class of '80; Rose, a junior in the Richwood High School; Jacob and Frederick. Mr. and Mrs. Beem are, members of the Protestant Church of Richwood. LEWIS CLEMONS BEEM, of the firm of Beem & Biddle, manufacturers, Richwood, Ohio, was born in Claibourne Township, Union County, November 15, 1847 ; his father, Jacob Beem, was born in Md., in 1799, and came to Union County at an early day, settling in Claibourne Township. He was a life-long farmer, and at the time of his death in 1878, owned 237 acres of good land. His wife Phebe Rose, was a native of Franklin County, Ohio, of English descent. Our subject was raised on the farm, attending the district schools and a select school, and in early life taught school for a time. In 1871, he engaged in the saw mill business with his brother, and in 1873 he came to Richwood. In 1875, he embarked in his present business with Mr. Biddle. They began business with little capital, but now have one of the most successful enterprises in Richwood. In 1881, Mr. Beem married Margaret Graham, daughter of Patterson Graham; she is a native of Union County, and a member of the Protestant Church. They have had one child, Ada, deceased. B. F. BEEM, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Claibourne Township October 31, 1850, and is a son of Jacob and Phebe (Rose) Beem. He was raised on a farm, receiving a common school education, and when eighteen years of age engaged in saw milling with his brother, Lewis Beem, following that business in Claibourne and Jackson Townships until he reached his majority. He then began farming and has since followed that occupation, with more than average success, now being the owner of 200 acres of land, on which he has erected a $2,000 residence. He is purely a self-made man. On December 28, 1876, he married Miss Laura J. Walker, a daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Allen) Walker, and a native of Marion County, Ohio, where she was born September 13, 1855. They have one child, Fannie Belle. Mr. Beem is a, Republican in politics. JOHN W. BELL, proprietor of saw mill and manufacturer, P. O. Claibourne, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, January 5, 1845, and is a son of William and Margaret (Shipley) Bell, the former a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and the latter a native of Wayne County, Ohio, of Scotch descent. Our subject was raised on a farm, where he remained until twenty-one years of age, when he engaged in operating a saw mill for others. Two years later he purchased a half interest in the mill, After several changes he came to Claibourne Village and engaged in saw milling with Mr. Shearer, a pioneer miller of this county, with whom he still continues. They manufacture spokes and felloes for wagons and are doing a good business in the saw mill. Our subject was married October 10, 1878, to Mary Brown, daughter of P. G. and Sarah Brown, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Ohio. Mr. Bell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Bell of the Baptist. He is a Democrat in politics, but always votes for the man and not the party. HENRY BIDDLE (deceased). Prominent among the early farmers of Union was the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in England August 27, 1829, and in 1832 emigrated to America, with his parents, Joseph and Maria (Williams) Biddle, who settled on a farm of 110 acres, south of Richwood, a part of which is now in the corporation of the village. His father was a heavy set man, weighing over two hundred pounds, active and energetic, and before his emigration, had gained considerable fame as a professional wrestler, which was a characteristic very much admired at that time in England. He was a millwright by trade, and built several mills in America, among them the mill at Richwood. He died in 1856. Henry received a very limited education and followed the occupation of farming, at the time of his death being the owner of 180 acres of land. He was married in 1850 to Eunice Latson, who was born in New York in 1832, of German and English parentage. Their marriage was blessed with eight children, viz. : George, who was born in Claibourne Township, August 10, 1852, and on October 15, 1879, married Ann Lake, a sister of John Lake, by whom he had two children, Harry and Carrie Bell. He has been a life-long farmer. The second child, Seneca, is deceased. The third, Thomas H., was born in this township December 12, 1856, and is likewise a farmer, Dow owning eighty-three acres of land. In 1876, he married Lydia A. Hamilton, a daughter of Benjamin and Abigail (Graham) Hamilton, and a member of the Deciples Church. They have three children-Maggie, M., Pearl C., and Florence Abagail. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Richwood. The fourth child, Annie M., is now the wife of M. B. Hill. The fifth, Emma is deceased. The sixth, Sarah E., now a resident of Columbus. The seventh died in infancy. The youngest child, Jennie May, born in 1871, is now attending school. Mr. Biddle was a charter member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge at Richwood, and a faithful member of the fraternity until death. He died December 15, 1877. His widow resides on the old homestead at Richwood. 612 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. CHARLES BIDDLE, of the firm of Beem & Biddle, manufacturers, Richwood, Ohio was born in Columbus, Ohio, March 8, 1849, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Perry) Biddle. His father built a planing mill in Columbus, in 1849, which is said by him to have been the first built in the State. Our subject worked in the planing mill until nineteen years of age, when he worked on the railroad as a fireman for a short time; after which he took charge of the railroad round house and held it till the strike of 1873. He did not join the strike, as he does not believe in them, but resigned his position because be thought it policy to do so. In 1874, he went to work in the planing mill at Columbus, and in 1875 came to Richwood and embarked in his present enterprise with Mr. Beem. They employ about thirty hands, do an extensive business and ship goods of their production all over the world. Mr. Biddle his ingeniously contrived several inventions that have materially increased their capacity for production. They manufacture wheelbarrows that have an extensive sale throughout the United States, single orders being sent in for as many as 100,000 at one time. Mr. Biddle, was married, in 1874, to Anna Fisher, a native of Union County, and a daughter of William Fisher, and by her has had two children Laura and William. Mr. Biddle is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. CHARLES O. BISHOP, of the firm of Loveless, Howe & Bishop proprietors of the Richwood Woolen Mills, and dealers in wool, grain, hides, furs and staves, Richwood, Ohio, was born in Logan County, Ohio, October 10, 1843 ; he is a son of Thomas and Sabina (Schenck) Bishop, natives of New Jersey. His father died when Charles was twelve years old and his mother lived a widow until her death in 1875, at the age of seventy-six years. Our subject was the fifth of a family of eight children. He was raised on the farm receiving a common school education, and worked at farming until 1871, when he came to Richwood and embarked in the stave trade. In 1880, he combined his business with his present partners, and established the firm as it now exists. In 1870, he married Adelaide Fawn, a native of Union County, and a daughter of Edward Fawn, who was a farmer of this county for forty-six years of his life. To Mr. and Mrs. Bishop one child has been born, viz., Newton Otto. Mrs. Bishop is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. JOHN BLAIR, farmer and dealer in agricultural implements, Richwood, was born in Bedford County, Penn., May 25, 1831. His parents were Edmond and Esther (Casteel) Blair, natives of Pennsylvania, of, English descent, who came to Ohio in 1832, arid passed their entire lives on the farm. Our subject was reared on the farm and received a common school education. He has followed farming during the greater part of his life, and at present is also engaged in the sale of farming implements, at Richwood. He received a liberal start in life, from his father, who was well-to-do, and now owns 300 acres of prime land in this county. He was married in 1852 to Camellia Hodson, a native of Ohio, by whom he has had three children, viz.: Edmond, deceased, S. Milton and John Frank. Mr. and Mrs Blair are members of the Methodist Protestant Church at Bethlehem, in which he is a Trustee. He is a Democrat in politics and has held most of the offices of the township. He came to this county in 1872 and settled two miles south of Richwood, where be now resides. He makes a specialty of Norman horses, on which he has taken the premium twice at the State Fair, and has also a fine stock of cattle. S. M. BLAKE, Richwood. Prominent among the enterprising business men of Union County figures the subject of this sketch, who is a member of the firm of S. M. & A. J. Blake, bankers, lumber dealers and proprietors of Richwood Planing Mills, and also senior member of the firm of S. M. Blake & Co., druggists. He was born in Portage County, Ohio, April 3, 1831, and is a son of James and Betsey (Avery) Blake. His father was a farmer, and emigrating to Ohio in 1826, located in Portage County. Our subject was raised on a farm, receiving a common school education and followed farming until 1874, when he moved to Richwood and engaged in the lumber trade and banking, both of which he has since followed with more than ordinary success. He subsequently embarked in the drug business and in 1881, associated himself in this business with C. E. Hill, under the firm name given above. He is a thorough business man, and takes an active interest in everything that pertains to the best interest of Richwood. He is a Republican in politics, and though he has no aspirations for official honors, he has been called upon to fill several of the town and township offices. He wag married in 1857 to Harriet Parsons, by whom he has had seven children, four now living, viz.: Bessie, wife of J. E. Robinson, who has charge of the lumber yard of the firm of S. M. & A. J. Blake; Gracie, Harry and Sylvia. ADONIRAM JUDSON BLAKE, of Richwood, was born in Brimfield, Portage Co., Ohio, on November 15, 1835. His parents were from Litchfield County, Conn., having emigrated from there in the year 1825; he was the youngest of four brothers. There were also two sisters in the family, one younger and one older. During the first sixteen years of his life, his labors were such as are incident to a farmer boy's life, with only such school advantages as were offered by the district school. For the next two years, he attended a high school a part of each year in an adjoining village. It was while attending one of these schools, known as an "academy," that his father "hired him out," to teach the winter term of school in one of the subdistricts of his native township. He entered upon this work a few days before he was eighteen years of age. His success in this, his first "term," can be measured by a proposition made to him by the School CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 613 Directors of the district to continue the term for another month. In the following autumn, through the influence of himself and several associates, a select school was organized in their own township, and was continued during the fall and sometimes through the winter months for several years. For the next few years his time was divided between teaching in the winter and attending school and institutes in the summer, most of this time in his native township. In 1857, he was asked to take charge of the grammer school department of the Salem, Columbiana County, Union Schools. In this position he remained three years, when he accepted the position of teacher of the high school at Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Co., Ohio, which he resigned in the spring of 1861. Desiring to take a rest, he visited several schools in this part of Ohio, and while visiting at Cardington, Morrow County, be was unanimously tendered the superintendency of the union schools of that place, which he accepted, and held for a year and a half, finally resigning on account of ill health. After a few months' rest, he embarked in the stove and tin ware trade at that place. He was married in Cardington, Ohio, August 20, 1863, to Miss Clotilda W. Shur, second daughter of John Shur, of that place, who was then an Assessor of Internal Revenue under Abraham Lincoln. Desirous of bearing his part in the war, he contributed liberally of his means to furnish men and means, and was only prevented from joining the ranks by Dr. Fisher's examination, which pronounced him physically unfit for the service." In August, 1865, he came to this place, and engaged in the general hardware and stove business. His friends in Cardington believed the venture was an experiment, and that he would soon return to their village. Encouraged by his success, in the spring of 1866, he removed his stock of stoves and hardware from that place to this, thus combining both stocks, and formed the partnership of A. J. Blake & Co., with D. W. Godman as partner. In the spring of the same year, he erected a two-story frame building, twenty feet wide by one hundred feet long, on the ground now occupied by Godman & Thornhill's hardware store. In May of that year, be was asked by several of the citizens of the place to accept the appointment as Postmaster, which recommendation was laid before Postmaster General W. Dennison by the Hon. C. S. Hamilton, and, accordingly, on the 26th day of May, 1866, he was commissioned as Post master, which office he held until compelled to resign the same by a pressure of business relations. He has always taken an active part in the educational interests of the place in which he resides. After resigning his position as superintendent in Cardington, he was chosen a member of the School Board. Soon after coming to Richwood, he drafted a petition for what is now the Richwood Village District, to withdraw from the township subdistrict plan, which was adopted, and out of which has grown our system of union schools. Most of the time since, he has been a member of the School Board, having been selected as its Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer at different times. He has also assisted in preparing the course of study for the high school, and in conducting its examinations. His love for the profession of teaching has not died out yet, as nothing gives him greater pleasure than to meet a body of teachers, either in a school room or at his own residence. He thinks it no discredit that, out of his father's family of six children, five of them were school teachers. While in the hardware trade in this place, he saw the necessity of a planing mill and lumber yard, and the firm of A. J. Blake & Co. associated with them Mr. S. Carter, under the name of S. Carter & Co., and built the building, and stocked the yard, which is now owned by S. M. & A. J. Blake. In January, 1873, he disposed of his interest in the hardware business to Mr. F. H. Thornhill, and proceeded to the erection of the dwelling house, which he now occupies. In January, 1874, he, with his brother, S. M. Blake, and others engaged in the banking business, under the name of "Union County Bank," in which as cashier he has continued to the present time. In politics, he has always been a stanch Republican, having cast his first Presidential vote for A. Lincoln. He has a personal acquaintance with President Garfield, and took an enthusiastic interest in his election. He had been honored by his fellow-townsman by township and corporation local offices, the positions having been tendered him without solicitation. He is a strong believer in that feature of civil service reform that the office should seek the man, and not the man seek the office." He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was a lay delegate to the last lay delegate conference. His family consists of three sons and one daughter. The two older sons, aged respectively sixteen and eighteen, are editors and publishers of the Richwood Reporter, a local newspaper started in January, 1882. Although taking an active interest in public measures and busy with private affairs, be is happiest in the presence of his own family, or with a friend or two at his comfortable residence, where his hospitality is without measure. JOSEPH P. BROOKS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Licking County, Ohio, May 29, 1831; his parents were J. P. and Sarah Brooks. His father, who was a sea-faring man, and for fourteen years Captain of a vessel; left the sea, and, coming to Ohio, engaged in the pork traffic. He afterward moved to Licking County, and engaged in farming. Our subject received his education in the graded schools of Columbus, which he attended until his family moved away. He chose the occupation of farming and has made that the principal object of his life. In 1861, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth Ohio Infantry, and participated. in the battle of Fort Donelson, siege of Vicksburg and other important engagements. He was three times wounded, but not seriously. He was in command of Mortar Boat No. 2, that shelled Island No. 10, on the Mississippi. He was married in 1853 to Christina Duhl, who was 614 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. born in Pennsylvania January 3, 1831. They have three children-Henry J., C. and Ella F. Mr. Brooks is a Republican and the owner of sixty acres of land. OLIVIER D. BROWNING, of the firm of Williams & Browning, grain dealers, Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, January 20, 1844, and is a son of William and Sally Ann (Grove) Browning, the former a native of Ohio, of English and German descent, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, of English descent. His father was a life-long farmer and resident of Ohio; he came to Union County in 1875, and died in Richwood in 1877. Our subject was raised on a farm and received a common school education. In 1872, he sold his farm and came to Richwood, where he has since resided. He was married, in 1872, to Almeda Charles, a native of Licking County, Ohio, and a daughter of Simon and Amanda (Seymour) Charles. They have one child, Ida E. Mr. Browning has acted in his present capacity, as agent for Camp, Randall & Lyons, grain dealers, of Warren, Ohio, for the past seven years. He is a Republican in politics. ISAAC CAHILL, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Union County, Ohio, March 31, 1850, and is a son of J. E. and Hannah (Brisben) Cahill. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, where he followed farming until 1839, when he came to this county and engaged extensively in farming and stock dealing. Our subject was raised on the farm, but received all the advantages of a collegiate education in the colleges at Marysville and Delaware. He has chosen farming for an occupation and in it has been very successful, now owning 217 acres of land. He and his brother, Benton, have farmed in partnership and are now partners in everything but their real estate. Mr. Cahill was married, in 1876, to Tillie Figley, by whom he has one child, John E. Mrs. Cahill is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Cahill is a stockholder in the Richwood Bank, a Democrat in politics and a member of Richwood Lodge, No. 303, F. & A. M. He occupies a neat and comfortable residence, built at a cost of $4,500, and is very much attached to his home and family. BENTON CAHILL, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Claibourne Township, Union County. Ohio, March 16, 1854; he is a son of J. E. and Hannah (Brisben) Cahill. His father was a carpenter by trade, and followed that occupation in early life. He came to Claibourne Township September 16, 1839, and, improving a farm, engaged in farming, which he followed with more than ordinary success until his death, which occurred February 3, 1874. He also dealt largely in stock. buying, selling and trading, and at his death owned 841 acres of land, which he had accumulated during a life of industry and thrift. He was twice married, having by his first wife, who only lived two years after marriage, one child, that died young. By his second wife he had eight children, six of them now living and all, with one exception, residents of this county. Our subject, the youngest child, was raised on the farm and has followed the occupation of a farmer during the whole of his life, now owning 185 acres of land in this township. He was married, in 1874, to Lavina Howland, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of J. Howland. By this union three children were born, viz., Sylvia Belle, Laura J. and Emery Uriah. Mr. Cahill is a Democrat in politics, as was his father, the latter at one time having been nominated for Representative by his party in this county. GEORGE W. CANAN, miller, P. O. Richwood, was born in Knox County, Ohio, January 17, 1830, and is a son of Robert and Jane S. (Rigur) Callan, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Irish and the latter of English descent. They emigrated to Ohio in 1820, and settled in Licking County. Our subject early learned milling in his father's mill, and when he was seventeen years of age he moved with his parents to Delaware County, where He and his father purchased a mill in partnership, which they operated until they purchased the Richwood Mill in 1864. His father died in 1865, and since that time he has been in business by himself. His son-in-law, D. H. Rowland, owns and operates the mill and warehouse adjoining him, and deals in grain, seed, etc. Mr. Callen was married, in 1852, to Sarah M. Cutcheon, a native of Ohio, of German descent, by whom he has four children living, viz.: Mary (wife of D. H. Rowland), Anna E., Florence A. and Sarah M. Mr. and Mrs. Canan are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he has been steward, trustee and class-leader of the church at Richwood. He has occupied the offices of Township Trustee, Corporation Treasurer, member of the Village Council and for twelve years a member of the Board of Education. He is the owner of the house and lot in Richwood, in which he resides. D. P. COOK, furniture dealer, Richwood, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, August 24, 1829, and is a son of Rodney and Laura (Cales) Cook, natives of Connecticut, of English descent. He received a common school education, and has spent his life in the pursuit of several occupations, never having learned any trade. He kept a livery stable in Columbus ten years, and, in 1852, went to Omaha, Neb., and the Western States and Territories. Returning to Ohio, he engaged in farming for ten years, after which he went to Morrow County, where he followed buying, selling and shipping horses, and for two years operated a flax mill. In 1880, he came to Richwood and embarked in the livery business, which he discontinued in 1882, to engage in his present enterprise-furniture selling. He has been three times married, his first wife having been Lucy Smith, by whom he had one son, Emmet R., born in 1863, and owner of the store in which his father does business. Mr. Cook is a Republican, and a member of Odd Fellows Lodge , No. 194.. CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 615 DANIEL S. COPP, farmer and dairymen, P. O. Richwood, is a son of Hayes D. and Dolly (Emery) Copp, natives of New Hampshire, the former of Irish, and the latter of English decent. The father was a life-long farmer, and a prominent man among the agriculturists. Our subject was reared on a farm and received an ordinary public school education. In 1877, he came to Ohio and located at Fremont, where he remained until 1881, when he removed to Claibourne Township, one mile north of Richwood, where he still resides. He owns fifty-five acres of land, on which he pastures cows, selling the milk and doing a general dairy business in connection with his farm operations. He was married in 1874 to Lizzie A. Drew, a native of Ohio, of English descent, and a daughter of Alvin Drew. Mr. Copp in a Democrat in politics. ISAAC COWGILL, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Claibourne Township, one mile from where he now lives, March 24, 1838; he is a son of George W. and Susan (Smart) Cowgill, natives of the Eastern States, of English descent. His father was a farmer, and to this occupation our subject has devoted his life. He has been successful in his business, and owns a nice improved farm of good land on the Marysville pike. He was married in 1859 to Eunice Mary Beardsley, a daughter of J. G. Beardsley, whose sketch appears in this work; she was formerly a school teacher, and in a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. By this union one child was born-Ida A., who married William S. Bonner, and has two children-C. C. and Fay. Mr. Cowgill in a Democrat In politics. JOHN CRAMER, liveryman, Richwood. Our subject was born in Guernsey County, Ohio; his parents were Benjamin and Anna (Speck) Cramer, natives of Maryland, of German descent. His father was a life long farmer, and one of the early settlers of this State. Our subject was raised on a farm and has devoted most of his life to the occupation of a farmer. In, 1881, he sold his farm and embarked in the livery business at Richwood. Upon the death of his father, he was appointed administrator of the estate, and as such discharged his duties in a most satisfactory manner. He married Eliza Hudson, a daughter of John and Olinda (Ward) Hudson, and by her has had six children, namely, Leander, deceased in 1880, and Samantha, twins, Olinda A., Mary C., Bush J. and Edward R. Leander, at the time of his decease, was an influential and wealthy farmer of this county. THOMAS P. CRATTY, merchant, Richwood. was born in Marion County, Ohio, December, 12, 1830, and is the son of Samuel and Jane (Pugh) Cratty, natives of Ohio, the former of Irish and the latter of Welsh descent. His paternal grandfather is still living at the age of ninety-eight years. Our subject was educated principally at the Delaware (Ohio) University, and pursued his studies with the view of becoming a lawyer. Fearing he would not be able to acquire the profession for lack of funds, he abandoned the idea and resorted to store-keeping and auctioneering to gain livelihood. He still retains his liking for the legal profession, and has argued a great many cases before Justices of the Peace with marked success. As an auctioneer, he has but few equals, and no superiors in this part of the country. He began his business life in 1859 in the grocery and dry goods trade in Marion County, where he remained until 1868, when he engaged in the same business at Richwood. On the organization of the Union County Bank, he was elected its President, and has served in that capacity ever since. He is a Republican in polities, and for a time served as Mayor of the village of Richwood. Prior to engaging in mercantile pursuits, he had taught school from the time he was eighteen years of age. He is a thorough business man, and the owner of 125 acres of land, all of which he has made by his own exertions. He was married in 1861 to Ann Eliza Fish, a daughter of Samuel Fish, of Marion County, and by her has had four children, viz., S. Frank, Nina May, Mina J. and Princess Eve. Mr. and Mrs. Cratty are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a licentiate minister. CAPT. OTWAY CURRY, grocer, Richwood, son of Stephenson and Sarah D. (Robinson) Curry, was born in Jerome Township, Union Co., Ohio, August 5, 1835, and grow to manhood upon his father's farm. He acquired a common school education, and continued in the pursuit of farm duties until he was twenty-five years of age, since when, with the exception of the time spent in the army during the rebellion, he has been engaged in mercantile business. On the 15th of August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which regiment formed a part of the Army of the Cumberland. Mr. Curry took part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, the first being at Perryville. Ky., before the command had been drilled. At Chickamauga, on the 20th of September, 1862, it won golden laurels for itself, and continued to add to them during its subsequent career-through the Atlanta campaign, the famous "march to the sea," the trip through the Carolinas, and finally participated in the grand review at Washington in May, 1865. April 12, 1864, Mr. Curry was promoted Second Lieutenant of his company, and on the 15th of July following, received a commission as First Lieutenant. April 20, 1865, he was promoted to the command of the color company (C) of his regiment. His discharge was dated June 18, 1865. His record in the service was excellent. The Curry family and its connections sent thirteen representatives to the war during the rebellion, which fact of itself is glory enough, even without the added fame of a good record while wearing the uniform of the government. Upon his return "home from the war," Capt. Curry embarked in a mercantile venture in company with his brother Capt. William L. Curry, now a resident of Marysville, and Auditor of Union County. Their store was at New California, in Jerome Township. In 1868, Otway Curry establish a grocery at Rich- 616 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. wood, where he has built up a successful business, and is at present located. Since he became a fixture at this point his good management has enabled him to accumulate a fair property, and his prospects for the future are flattering. July 30, 1868, he was united in marriage with Georgiana Robinson, a native of Union County, Ohio, who has borne him two children-Lens T. and Ernest S. Curry. Mrs. Curry is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Capt. Curry is a gentle. man to whom a pleasant home offers the greatest attractions, and he is happy in the possession of such an abiding place. He is a stanch citizen of the village in which he resides. His political affiliations is with the Democratic party. He is named for his uncle, Otway Curry, a former prominent and honored citizen of the county, and a gifted poet, whose stanzas won for him the fame of being one of the finest and most accomplished writers of verse in the great Northwest. THOMAS J. DICKS, merchant, Richwood, was born at West Alexandria, Preble Co., Ohio, January 2, 1841, and is a son of James and Margaret (Weaver) Dicks, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio, both of English descent. He was educated in the graded schools, of Dayton, Ohio, and since 1860, has been engaged almost exclusively in selling goods, During the war, he served in a regiment of three months' men ; he was a member of the State militia for a term of five years. In 1881, he came to Richwood and opened one of the finest dry goods stores of the village, under the firm name of T. J. Dicks & Co. He carries a large and varied stock of goods, receives a liberal share of patronage and is doing a thriving business. He was married May 26, 1875, to Nanna Deardorff, a native of Ohio, by whom he has had one child, Ella Mary, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dicks are Lutherans and hold their membership in the church at Dayton. JOHN DILSAVER, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, May 26,1806, and is a son of Michael and Hannah (Coon) Dilsaver, the former a native of Virginia and the later of Pennsylvania, both of English descent. His father came to Ohio in early manhood, and was one of the earliest settlers of the State; he was a tanner by trade, and is said to have tanned the first leather that was ever tanned on the west side of the Scioto River. Our subject attended school in the primitive log schoolhouses of pioneer days, and chose the occupation of a farmer, also conducting a tannery for a time. He came to Union County nearly half a century ago and located south of where Richwood now stands, where he still resides. He opened a tannery on this farm, in early days, but has long since discontinued it. When he began life for himself he spent five years working out by the month at $8 per month. He now has 170 acres of land on which he resides, and eighty acres in Paulding County. He is an old Jacksonian Democrat and cast his first vote for "Old Hickory," the head of that party. In 1831, he married Sarah Jane Bridge, a native of Ohio, by whom he has had seven children, namely, Almira (deceased), Albert, Edward, Michael, Hannah, wife of Jacob Beem, William (deceased) and Lavina Mr. and Mrs. Dilsaver are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. ADAM DILSAVER, farmer and brick mason, P. O. Richwood, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, January 3, 1817 ; his parents were George and Elizabeth (North) Dilsaver, natives of Virginia, and of English descent, who came to Ohio in 1810 and settled in Delaware County. His father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and a life-long farmer of Delaware County. Our subject spent his youth on the farm, and in early life learned bricklaying, which he has since followed in connection with farming. In 1841, he married Mary Ann Thrasher, by whom he had three children, John E., George T. and Mettle. His wife died in 1859, and in the same year he married Margaret Kyle, by whom has had one child-Frank. In 1872, he sold his farm in Marion County and moved to Delaware County, then to Marion, and, finally, to Union County, where he now owns ninety-seven acres of land. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty years, and has occupied the offices of steward, class-leader and trustee in the church. His wife has been a member of the same church over forty years. He is a Republican in politics, and has retired from active life. DR. WILLIAM B. DUKE, physician and surgeon, Richwood, Ohio, was born in Licking County, Ohio, February 21, 1843; he is a son of David and Sarah (Conrad) Duke, natives of Virginia, of English descent. Our subject was reared on his father's farm, where he remained until eighteen years of age, when be went to Iowa and began clerking in a grocery. In 1863, he went to Arkansas, where he farmed for one year and also clerked in a store. At the age of twenty-four years he began reading medicine with Dr. C. H. Stimpson, of Licking County, and subsequently attended lectures in Cincinnati, receiving his diploma in 1871. He has since been entirely devoted to his practice, and in 1875 came to Richwood, where he is meeting with well merited success. In 1869, he married Laverna V. Trevitt, a daughter of John Trevitt, and a native of Ohio. By this marriage one child has been born, viz., Herman Clyde. Mrs. Duke is a member of the Baptist Church. J. EDELMAN, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., January 16, 1830; his parents were George and Elizabeth (Gaumer) Edelman, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. They came to Ohio in 1835, and settled in Wood County, where our subject was raised and educated. He chose the occupation of a farmer, and followed it during the most of his life. In 1865, he married Anna Fowler, a native of Wood County, Ohio, by CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 617 whom he had four children, viz., Florence A., Harry B., Willie J. and Katie. Mrs. Edelman was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and died in 1872. In 1874, Mr. Edelman married Sarah Gast, a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Edelman are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a Trustee of the church at Richwood. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 123, F. & A. M., a Democrat in politics, and since 1874, Superintendent of gravel roads. He served as Trustee of Perrysburg Township, Wood Co., and has also been Trustee of Claibourne Township. He owns twenty-two acres of land adjoining Richwood. JOSEPH EMBREY, jeweler, Richwood, is a son of Lewis and Margaret (Bell) Embrey, the former a native of Virginia, of English descent, and the latter a native of Scotland; he was born in Logan County, Ohio, July 1, 1856, and received his education in the graded schools of Morrow, Warren Co., Ohio, in which his father was engaged in plying his trade of watch-maker. He learned the trade of a jeweler, serving a regular apprenticeship, and in 1878 came to Richwood and established himself in business on the corner of Main and Ottawa streets. He keeps a full line of watches, clocks and silverware, and does all kinds of repairing in a manner that speaks for itself. He is a Republican in politics, a Master Mason of Mt. Carmel Lodge, No. 303, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He has made his own start in life and is meeting with flattering successes in business. GEORGE W. FINLEY, deceased, was born in Virginia, and was educated in the graded schools of Washington, D. C.; of his early life and his ancestry but little is now known. He was a coach-maker by trade and in early life taught school. He was married in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1851, to Angeline Williams. a daughter of Rev. John Williams and Anna Smart, his wife, who came to Ohio at an early day and settled in Fairfield County, where Mrs. Finley was born in 1828. Her father was a minister of the Methodist denomination. Mr. and Mrs Finley had five children, viz.: Ellen D., now the wife of T. T. Jones ; Olive A., wife of Chauncey Hill; Otho Ray, deceased; Carrie Bell, deceased; and Mary V., wife of E. R. Finley. Mr. and Mrs. Finley were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; he was a Whig in politics until the formation of the Republican party, when be became a Democrat. He was a successful business man. a good farmer and an extensive stock dealer, and at his death owned 265 acres of land. Mrs. Finley is a grand-daughter of Joshua Scritchfield, a Revolutionary soldier, who lived until the year 1842. C. E. FISH, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Maryland February 24, 1824; he is a son of James H. and Catherine (Easterday) Fish, natives of Maryland, the former of English and the latter of German descent. His father, who was one of the early settlers of Ohio, was a Miller by trade, but after settling in this State devoted his time to farming. Our subject was raised as a farmer and since eighteen years of age has followed that occupation successfully in this township, At one time he owned 445 acres of land, but having given some to his children he now only owns 200 acres. He is a Democrat in politics. In 1848, be married Elizabeth Rench, who was born in Miami County, Ohio March 9, 1826 ; she is a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Williams) Rench, natives of Ohio, of German descent. Her father was a farmer who settled in Claibourne Township in 1844. By this union fourteen children were born, of whom seven now survive, viz.: J. L., a farmer of Jackson Township ; Margaret, wife of Cyrus Stamats; William, a farmer; Joanna, wife of Penrose Wiley ; Orlando, a farmer; David F., a farmer and Susan Ella, the two latter living at home unmarried. Mrs. Fish is a member of the Disciples Church, and the owner of 245 acres of land in her own right, on which she resides. Mr. Fish also owns a good farm which be now cultivates. BENJAMIN S. FISHER, retired farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Fayette County, Penn., October 4, 1808, and was a son of Enoch and Elizabeth (Stevens) Fisher, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer and teamster by occupation and came to the Northwest Territory in 1800, settling at Mount Vernon. non. He was under Gen. Anthony Wayne three years in the Indian war, and lived to the remarkable old age of one hundred and one years. Our subject was raised on the farm in the wilderness of early Ohio and never had an opportunity of receiving any education. His father being in poor circumstances, he started out in life with nothing and entirely dependent on his own exertion for his success in life. He has been a life-long farmer and has cleared three farms in Claibourne Township where he has resided since 1836, and where he accumulated a handsome fortune, the greater part of which he has already placed in the hands of his posterity. He began farming for himself at the age of twenty and retired at the age of sixty, having spent forty years to a day in tilling the soil. In 1829, he married Catharine Cramer, by whom he had eleven children, viz.: Larkins D., a farmer in this township; Sarah J., deceased wife of J. J. Thompson ; Elizabeth Ellen, wife of R. Farrier; Sisson S., wife of James Merriott; William ; Margaret, wife of Morris Hill, of Richwood ; Michael, deceased ; Mary. wife of John S. Phillips; George O.; Malissa, wife of Frank Gill; and Viola, wife of W. W. Brokaw. Mr. Fisher has given his children $18,000 to start them in life. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he has filled the office of trustee in the Church at Richwood. He is a Democrat in politics. Mrs Fisher was born April 30, 1812 ; she had two brothers in the war of that year. 618 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY WILLIAM FISHER, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in 1827, and is a son of Enoch and Elizabeth (Stevens) Fisher, the former a life-long farmer, and one of the early settlers of Ohio. Our subject was raised on a farm, and received a common school education. When of suitable age, be learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until fifty years of age. He came to this county in 1837, and settled in Richwood, where he married Margaret Graham, by whom he has had eight children, viz.: Sarah L., Harriet M., wife of Elijah Lester; Martha C., wife of H. C. Moffitt; Margaret A., wife of Charles N. Biddle; Thomas B., Samuel P., Benjamin and John. Mrs. Fisher died January 23, 1880; she was a member of the M. E Church, and a consistent Christian woman. Mr. Fisher is also a member of the Methodist Church. He is a Republican in politics, and now owns eighty-nine acres of choice land, on which he resides. W. M. FISHER, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born March 27, 1838, he is the son of Benjamin S. and Catherine (Cramer) Fisher, who came to this county in 1836, and now resides in Richwood. The grandfather of our subject came to Ohio in 1800, and settled in Knox County. He was a soldier under Gen. Anthony Wayne, and lived to be one hundred and one years of age. Our subject received a common school education, and has been a farmer most of his life, with the exception of two years spent in the clothing business at Richwood. He is the owner of a good farm in this township on which he resides. He was married, in 1866, to Mary Miller, by whom he has four children, viz., Frederick, Winfred, Gertrude and Albert E. Mrs. Fisher is a member of the M. E. Church in Richwood. Mr. Fisher is a Democrat, in politics. GEORGE O. FISHER, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Richwood, was born in Claibourne Township Union Co., May 25, 1847, and is a son of Benjamin S. Fisher, whose sketch appears in this work. He was educated in his native township, and brought up to farming, which he has followed through life. He was married in 1870, to Mary E. Kinney, daughter of Israel Kinney, whose sketch also appears in this volume. This union has been blessed with two children, viz.: Charles F. and Herbert J. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are members of the Methodist Church, and he is steward in the church at Richwood. In politics, he is an unflinching Prohibitionist. He owns a farm of fifty-two acres of land with good improvements, on which stands a neat and substantial residence. JOHN FLESHER, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, February 20, 1820, and is a son of Henry and Frances (Burgess) Flesher, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. Our subject was raised on a farm, and received a common school education. He followed farming with his father until 1865, when he came to Union County and settled in Claibourne Township, on the farm he now occupies. He owns 164 1/2 acres of land, fifty of it in Jackson Township, all of which he has made by his personal labor. On August 15, 1844, he married Lainey Haines, a native of Ohio of Dutch descent, by whom he has had eight children. viz.: George W., deceased; Mary F., wife of S. H. Snowden; Landora S., deceased; Emma J., wife of James W. Shultz; Susannah, deceased; A. A., deceased; Walter L. and Arthur S. Mr. and Mrs. Flesher are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been a class leader forty years. He has also been a trustee and superintendent of the Sabbath school. S. S. GARDINER, attorney at law and dealer in real estate, office next door to the post office, Richwood, Ohio. JAMES W. GASTON, of the firm of Farris & Son, proprietors of the Beem House, Richwood, Ohio, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, January 1, 1852, and is a son of John and Lucretia (Crawford) Gaston, natives of Ohio. His father was a teacher by profession, and followed that occupation with more than ordinary success most of his life. He taught principally in Delaware County, where he died in 1876, an honored and highly respected citizen. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject, who was the only child of his parents, received a common school education, and when quite young began working on a farm. By his frugality and the means obtained from his father's estate, he was enabled, in 1876, to purchase the Beem House, which he is now conducting. He is a genial and accommodating landlord well known by the traveling public, and provides for his patrons' comfort in a manner that insures for him a liberal share of the trade. His mother, now the wife of Mr. Farris, superintends the culinary department of his house. She has had four children by her second marriage, viz.: Florence, wife of L. D. Herr, Lizzie May, Maggie E. and Eddie R. Mr. and Mrs. Farris are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and he is a member of the choir. He is a Republican in politics. HENRY D. GILL, grain dealer, Richwood, was born in Richwood, Ohio, December 22, 1848, and is a son of Joshua Gill. His father came to Richwood in 1840, and became an extensive landholder, owning what was known as the "Cramer farm," all of which is now in the corporation of Richwood. From 1842 to 1861, he was engaged in the manufacture of wooden bowls, an enterprise in which he was very successful. In 1845, he married Eliza A. C. Haynes, who was born in 1825, and who now resides with her son, Charles F. Mr. Gill was an honored and respected citizen, and for a number of years held the office of Justice of the Peace. He died in the spring of 1880, at an advanced age. His parents were Selmon and Margaret (Dorrett) Gill, both of English descent. Our subject's maternal grandfather, James B. W. Haynes, a Colonel in the war of 1812, was born in Virginia, March 9, 1793. and was of Welsh and French descent. He married Susan Floyd, who was born in Virginia May 10, 1801 ; Page 619 Missing Page 620 Missing CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 621 she was a relative of the late Confederate Gen. Floyd. Col. Haynes was a lawyer by profession; he came to Richwood in 1840, and remained here until his death in 1869. During most of the time of his residence here, he was a Justice of the: Peace. Our subject received his education in his native village, and worked at farming until 1873, when he began the business of buying grain on commission, which he continued until 1879, when he commenced the business for himself. He was married, in 1877, to Anne Francis, a native of England, whose parents resided at Woodstock, Ontario. This union has been blessed with two children, Walter L. and Clarence D. Mrs. Gill is a member of the Church of England. Mr. Gill is a Republican in politics, a member of the Knights of Pythias, and a member of Mount Carmel Lodge, No. 303, F. & A. M. In 1882, he captured a thief who had broken into a neighbor's house. The thief was a large and powerful man, but Mr. Gill refused to release him until he was safely locked up, and marched him along to prison. We narrate this to illustrate a marked trait in the man's character-bravery. JOSHUA S. GILL, Jr., of the firm of Gill & Bro., Richwood, Ohio, was born in Richwood September 11, 1850, and is a son of Joshua S. Gill, Sr. He received his education in the graded schools of Richwood, and, being a natural mechanic he chose the occupation of a machinist, and served a three years' apprenticeship at his trade at Mansfield. After mastering his trade, he traveled as a journeyman for some time, and spent three years in the manufacture of wooden bowls in Indiana. He has also been employed at gunsmithing. In 1875, he engaged with his brother in opening a machine shop at Richwood, where he is still engaged. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of Mount Carmel Lodge, No. 303, F. & A. M. On December 27, 1871, he married Maggie McMullen, a native of New Hampshire, by whom he has one child-Floyd A., born September 9, 1876. Mrs. Gill is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Richwood. THOMAS J. GILL, of the firm of Gill & Brother, blacksmiths, Richwood, was born in Richwood, Ohio, June 22, 1853, and received his education in the Richwood graded schools. He learned the trade of blacksmithing, and is now considered a thorough master of his trade in all its branches. He is an active member of the above firm, and lends his aid in making it one of the most successful and enterprising firms of the village. He is a Republican in politics, and a prominent member of the Prudential Order of America. On December 18, 1879, he married Christiana Cheney, a native of Union County, of English descent, and a daughter of Thomas Cheney. This union has been blessed with one child-Abbie Alva, born March 23, 1881. Mrs. Gill is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. JOHN GRAHAM. According to the family records kept by his parents, John Graham son of Samuel and Sarah Graham, was born in White-eyes Township, Coshocton County, Ohio, October 13, A. D. 1822. He was the first of a family of twelve children. His parents were intelligent, honest, industrious people, and taught their children to be useful, virtuous, self-reliant and industrious. John commenced work on the farm, under the direction of his father, at a very early age, and continued in this employment until he was about twenty years old. When he was in his fourteenth year, his father sold his farm in Coshocton County, and in September, 1836, moved his family to Union County, Ohio, settling them on a new farm one mile northwest from the village of Richwood, in Claibourne Township, There the family home has continued till the present time-December, 1882. There was nothing peculiar in the boyhood of John to distinguish him from other boys of his own age. He was healthy, of a vigorous growth, loved fun and enjoyed life well. He, with the other youths of the neighborhood, had the privilege of attending school in the district schoolhouse, for some two or three months a year. The balance of their time was needed in work to keep the farm prospering. In the autumn of 1838. an event occurred in the history of young Graham which changed the whole current of his life and affected the whole of his after career. His mother had a blind sister-Maria Butterfield-who was visiting in the home of his father, and wished to attend the Methodist prayer-meeting, which was to be held Sunday at 4 o'clock, in the home of Philip Plummer, in Richwood. He went with this aunt as company to that prayer-meeting, because she could not see to go alone. There were some seven church members present in the meeting no minister was present. The people who were present were plain, honest, devout. They sang with the spirit and with the understanding. They prayed with fervor and in faith. The result was, God's blessing came down upon them, and His Spirit pervaded the assembly. Some of them praised God aloud, and all felt the influence of the Divine presence. The immediate effect upon the subject of this sketch was that he was seized with an agitating trembling, which, for the time, he could not control. He went from that meeting thoughtful, serious, convicted for sin. He commenced soon after to pray, daily, for the pardoning mercy of God. He kept this up till, on the 11th of November, 1838, he attended a Methodist quarterly meeting in Summersville, and after the evening sermon of that day he, with others, knelt for prayers, at what was called the mourner's "bench." There, while he prayed and the church prayed for him, God, for Christ's sake, gave him a sense of relief from the guilt of sin. Such peace, holy joy and restful trust in God through Christ as he then experienced was a new delight to him. Five weeks after his conversion, on the 17th day of December, 1838, in the old log church in Richwood, he offered his name as a candidate for membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was received by the pastor, Rev. R. S. Kimber. He took this step after very careful consideration, and now, after forty-four years 622 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. of experience, under the relations thus entered into, he fully approves the choice then made. This conversion, which was very clear and left no doubt in his mind of the Divine reality of experimental religion, awakened a new class of desires, hopes and aspirations in him. He soon found himself thirsting for knowledge as he had never done before. He had no books, and his father's library was very small, and the neighborhood had in it a very meager supply of books, but what there were the owners were willing to lend, and he was desirous to borrow and read. But one question with him was how to find time and opportunity for reading. His days were necessarily to be spent in labor on the farm, and the night, could not be used for this purpose without lights. There were no such lamps and supply of coal oil then as are now available. Candles were scarce and made a poor light. In this emergency he adopted this expedient: When his day's work was done, he would go to the woods, find a hickory tree with a good supply of shell-barks on it, gather an armful, carry them to the house and when supper was over he would get his book, stick shell-bark in the fire and read by the light thus furnished. In this way many of his first books were read. While he was thus seeking knowledge, his father, who was willing to help him what he could, gave him a wagon-load of wheat. This he hauled to Sandusky City, eighty miles distant, the nearest market then accessible, sold it for money, and with that money bought himself a small supply of books. These he read with great interest. About this time-1839-40-he began to feel a strong sense of duty resting upon him to prepare himself for the work of the Christian ministry. He was fully convinced that God called him to this work. He therefore devoted all his thoughts and energies to getting ready for so great a work. His school privileges were very unsatisfactory. He felt it to be necessary, therefore, to make the greater personal and private efforts to acquire the necessary knowledge. How well be succeeded the church and the world have since had opportunity to judge. In the spring of 1840, the proper authorities gave him license to exhort in the Methodist Episcopal Church. This authority was regularly continued until June 24, 1843, when, after proper examination by the constituted authorities of the church, be was formally licensed to preach the Gospel. This was done in Richwood, by the Quarterly Conference of Richwood Circuit, under the presiding eldership of Rev. W. S. Morrow. He used this license one year as a local preacher, and then, on June 15, 1844, lie was recommended by the same Quarterly Conference as a suitable person to be received by the Annual Conference into the itinerant ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In August of the same year, his recommendation was presented to the North Ohio Conference at its session in Canal Dover, and he was received according to the rules of the church, and appointed as junior preacher on Port Jefferson Circuit., with Rev. C. B. Brandeberry as his senior, and Rev. S. P. Shaw as his Presiding Elder. He spend one year in this work, he trusts with some profit to the people, and much satisfaction to himself. At the next conference, which met in Marion, Ohio, August, 1845, he was appointed in charge of Van Wert Circuit. This work was composed of eight appointments, to be filled once in two weeks. This people had for their places in which to meet for worship four private houses in which families lived, one small court house in Van Wert, two log schoolhouses and one small frame building, which was erected in Delphos for a board kiln. At this time the country was new, the houses all log cabins but a very few, the roads not improved, the people just beginning to clear up their farms, and, of course, the fare was coarse, but the welcome was hearty and cordial, And when the time for week day preaching came round, the people could leave their work-even the harvest field-to go to meeting, and their young minister never spent a happier year in his life than the one on this (then) wilderness circuit. After his year closed at Van Avert, he was appointed in charge of Kalida Mission, in Putnam County, with Jacob S. Albright for his colleague in labors. This field was very much like the last one described, only there was one partly finished church in it, and the roads were worse, the rides longer, and the fare no better. The people, however, were kind, cordial, hospitable and loved the means of grace. There was considerable interest manifested in this work; a number of persons were converted and added to the church. He and his co-laborer worked harmoniously together, and ever afterward were friends. From Kalida, our young minister went next to Stillwater Mission, which included Fort Recovery and the region round about. This was a hard field of labor; the country thinly settled, roads bad, rides long, exposure great, health not good and pay very small. Still there was some enjoyment, and some success. Rev. R. D. Oldfield was his colleague in this work. During this year, 1848, he became acquainted with Miss Jane G. McKee, of Hillgrove, Darke Co., Ohio, who afterward, on August 25, A. D. 1850, became his wife. Their marriage contract was solemnized by Rev. Joseph Wykes, in the church in Hillgrove, in the presence of the congregation, on Sunday afternoon of the above date. This union proved to be a happy one ; and now, after thirty-two years of married life, they both approve the choice they made. From Stillwater Mission, Mr. Graham was appointed, in August, 1848, to Lima Circuit, with Rev. S. Fant, as his senior in office. This was a pleasant year in his life, and his labors, with those of his colleague, were very successful. Almost two hundred were converted to God, and united with the church. But I find, if I undertake to give the most condensed sketch of this ministerial life of thirty-nine years, and more it will be extended to too great a length for the present purpose I will therefore close this account by giving a summary of work: He spent one year as a local preacher; fifteen years on circuits ; twenty years on stations and half-stations; CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 623 and four years, from 1860 to 1864, on Findlay District, as Presiding Eler. In all of which places h enjoyed the blessings of God. And now, when gray hairs are upon him, and more than sixty years of his life are past, be feels not a single regret that he entered the work of the Christian ministry when he did, and that he has continued in it till the present. I. H. GRAHAM, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Union County, Ohio, April 26,1842; he is son of J. P. and Eliza (Healey) Graham, natives of Washington County, Penn., who were among the early settlers of Claibourne Township. Our subject was raised on his father's farm and received a good English education. He learned the trade of a tanner, which be followed for seven years, during early life, but since that time he has devoted his time exclusively to farming. He owns a good farm of 106 acres, on which stands a nice brick residence and other improvements, all of which he has accumulated by his own industry. He is a cultivated gentleman of pleasing manners and a good farmer. In 1862, he married Emma Lowe, a native of Virginia of English descent, by whom he has three children, viz.: Isaac E., Eliza B. and Emery E. The parents are members of the Disciples Church, in which Mr. Graham is a Deacon. During the war, be was a volunteer to assist in repelling Morgan in his raid through Ohio. REV. WILLIAM HAMILTON, deceased. The subject of this sketch was so interwoven with the history and development of the northeast part of Union County, that a history of the county would not be complete without a somewhat extended notice of his career. It is ascertained, without question, that be descended from a family of Hamiltons in Scotland, who for centuries have been prominent in giving shape to the politics, religion and literature of that far-famed part, of Christian civilization. At what particular time his ancesters moved to America is not known. When they did, they settled in the State of Maryland, near the city of Baltimore, in Baltimore County. The name is still familiar in that State. Its present Governor is a Hamilton; whether he is of the same family has not been ascertained. William Hamilton, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born near Baltimore about the year 1760, and married Susanna Brown. who was connected with an old pioneer family of the State of Maryland. In the year 1789, the two last named moved from the State of Maryland to Virginia, and settled near Morgantown, Monongalia County (now West Virginia), and in Moving passed through a part of Pennsylvania, and while on this journey, and passing through Pennsylvania, the subject of this notice was born May 1, 1789. In the year 1806, in company with his parents, he moved to Ohio and settled in Hopewell Township, Muskingum County, and took an active part in clearing a farm in what was then a wilderness country. He remained with his parents until the year 1810, when be married Hannah Ewing, who lived near Zanesville, and moved to land in Licking County, where be cleared a farm that proves to be the spot where the village of Gratiot has been built. During the war of 1812, be was drafted, but having a wife whose health was feeble, he hired a substitute and raised the money to pay him by selling oats at 6 1/4 cents per bushel. About the year 1815, he moved into Muskingum Township, Muskingum County, on lands uncleared, but by his own hands he soon surrounded himself with a well-improved farm It was here his first wife died, October 2, 1819, leaving four children. She had been a faithful companion, a good Christian and died in peace and is buried near the village of Irville in the same county. March 9, 1820, be married Lydia Springer, who belonged to a family that moved from the State of Delaware to near Zanesville, in Muskingum County, in the year 1806. His residence on this farm continued until the year 1836, when it was sold and in the fall of that year be moved to a farm six miles east of Newark, in Licking County. While residing here, he purchased of Cadwalader Wallace, of Chillicothe, an unbroken tract of land in the northeast part of Union County, situated near the village of Richwood, in Claibourne Township. The purchase was to be a thousand acres more or less, and when it was surveyed there proved to be fifteen hundred and ten. In the spring of 1838, he moved with his family to this land. It seemod like a formidable undertaking to subdue as heavy a forest as covered it, but a man that had so often and long contended with the forests of Ohio could not be discouraged. His family had increased until he had ten sons, strong and well, not all grown it is true; but be could furnish in his own family what was equal to five hands. With these and some hired assistance from the first, he cleared ground sufficient, as the seasons rolled round, to produce enough to support his large family, and have something to spare for the support of others. In a few years, he raised sufficient corn to supply destitute families for miles ground. So numerous were the applications for it, that his excellent wife used to say that it made her think of the time of Joseph disbursing corn in Egypt. A circumstance occurred about this time that caused some anxiety in the family. John W., now of Columbus, was sent to Millville on the Scioto with the last grist of wheat before harvest. Some 25 bushels were placed in a wagon drawn by a span of two large oxen. John had arrived at the mill in the evening and spent the night at the mill, fastening the oxen to a tree. During the night, his grist was ground, so that on the coming morning he started homeward. He had fed the oxen, but had not watered them. All went well until be arrived a few hundred yards above the breast of the dam, when the oxen saw the water, and in spite of all efforts of the driver to prevent it, plunged down a steep bank into the river, and the force in running down the bank pushed the oxen into deep water, where the 624 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. wagon came uncoupled and they swam out with the fore wheels, leaving John and his grist in the river. It was an unpleasant position for a boy, and one that, without help, he could not extricate himself. Charles Arthur, as noble a man as lives, was in hailing distance, who soon mustered a force of men that relieved John from his trouble and started him homeward. He arrived in due time, and reported his misfortune. It was supposed that all was ruined, and a feeling of gloom rested upon the family, as much as was embraced in that grist could not be obtained nearer than Delaware County, and money was scarce, and so many to be fed. It was a great relief when an examination showed that the flour was safe; not more than one pound to the sack was spoiled. The great desire of Mr. Hamilton was to have his family settled around him, and he now had enough land to give them all a portion, and have as much for himself as he cared to have, but such plans are like to be overthrown, and so they were in this case as the history will show. The country being new, there was no hotel near, hence his house was the home of friends and strangers who came into the country, for years. He entertained all who came, without compensation. He was a surveyor, and would take his compass and chain and spend day after day with men, helping them determine the boundaries of their lands, and many times without compensation. Few men have ever shown less selfishness than he did. He was a pioneer in the true sense of the word. The whole of the former part of his life had been that of a pioneer, and he brought the same spirit to Union County. About the year 1815, he had been authorized to preach the Gospel in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and labored extensively as a local preacher in Muskingum and Licking Counties. In the year 1828, he became an uncompromising advocate of reform in the government of that church, and when expulsions occurred in Baltimore, Lynchburg, Cincinnati, and at other points simply for advocating lay delegation in the Annual and General Conferences of the church, his sympathies were with the reformers, and when the expelled petitioned in vain for readmission into the church, only asking the right of free discussion, and were forced to organize a new church, he united with them, and came into the Methodist Protestant Church with its organization. This change made him a pioneer in the new organization and with firm resolution and determined spirit he entered upon the work of planting the new church in the counties of Muskingum, Licking, Knox and Coshocton. He preached almost every Sabbath, sometimes traveling long distances to meet his appointments. In that year 1830, for a part of one year he traveled a circuit reaching into Licking and Knox Counties, with Rev. W. B. Evans, and the savor of his Christian influence still remains with the few now living who still have a recollection of him. When he moved to Union County, there was a wide opening for his services. He, besides preaching at times in Richwood, where his family attended divine service, was often called to preach on the Scioto, Rush Creek, Fulton Creek, Boaz Creek and sometimes into Logan and Clark Counties. His commanding form, his distinct and warm utterances, and his genial, social spirit, made him welcome wherever he went as a preacher. His services were often in demand to preach at funerals and perform marriage ceremonies. He traveled at one time on horseback, from near Zanesville to Cincinnati, to attend one of the first conferences of his denomination and a number of times served as delegate to the Ohio Annual Conference. He traveled thousands of miles and preached thousands of sermons, and performed all his ministerial duties except marrying without a cent's compensation. And during all this time gave to the support of other ministers. In the erection of a plain hewed log church in Richwood, he took a prominent part. When stoves were needed, it was an impossibility to raise money with which to purchase them. He and his neighbor, Samuel Graham, each took a load of wheat to Granville, in Licking County, and exchanged the wheat for stoves. When it was determined to build a new church, he was foremost in his contributions for that purpose. The improvement and development of the country greatly improved his circumstances. For years, in order to raise money for tax and other absolute necessities, he journeyed to Lake Erie to find a market; this would require a week's steady travel. In the course of time, with three hundred acres of improved land, he found at his door one of the best markets in Central Ohio for all his products. With these advantages, he was prepared for the enjoyment of life, so far as worldly advantages were concerned, but advanced years brought with it affliction that caused at times a great deal of suffering. His affliction of mind was augmented by death entering the family and removing Benjamin, Susan and Thomas. June 12, 1864, his wife died, after faithfully sharing the trials of life with him for forty-four years. After the death of his wife, he lived with Horatio and George at and near the old homestead, occasionally making visits to other members of his family in Illinois and in different parts of Ohio. He loved company and was usually cheerful and happy. When alone, he would think of the dear friends that had died, and long to be with them. He closed his earthly career calmly and peacefully, August 8, 1867, in his own home, surrounded with the families of Horatio, George and Newton. Thus closed the career of a man of more than ordinary intellectual powers and force of character. His father had been a man of deep piety and strong mind. His oldest brother, Benjamin CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 625 Hamilton, was a Lieutenant under Capt. Brady, the great Indian scout, when he explored the Muskingum Valley. The husband of his oldest sister, Rev. Robert Manly, is spoken of by Rev. James Quinn, in the Western Christian Advocate for 1835, as the first Methodist preacher that ever preached the Gospel in what is now the State of Ohio. A younger brother, Rev. Samuel Hamilton, was a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of marked ability. These facts indicate an origin and surrounding that furnish an idea of the elements that entered into his character. William Hamilton, in the prime of his manhood, showed powers that under more favorable circumstances for their development would have placed him by the side of the strongest men of the country. He was a man of decided convictions in politics, and as an old Whig had been elected, in the year 1830, Commissioner of Muskingum County. In the year 1846, he was elected as a Republican Commissioner of Union County. He served as magistrate a number of years, and filled all public trusts committed to his care with fidelity. As a preacher, he declared with coldness his convictions. At one time he was called upon to preach the funeral of a lewd woman that had died. He asked to be excused, stating that a sense of duty would prompt him to be very plain, if he did ; the relatives said they would receive what he said without offense, and insisted that he should preach. He did so, using as a text Rev., ii, 21: "I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not;" the truth was plainly presented, but a tenderness of feeling and sympathy always attended his utterances, Be that he seldom gave offense. He was a man that often labored in communities, where there was but little respect for religion or its teachers, but his boldness and suavity of manners would soon command the respect of the most uncultivated hearer. In dealing with his fellow-men, he was honest to the cent, and never did any man more fully despise deception and dishonesty than he. When he detected men in dishonest acts, he had the courage to confront them, and tell them plainly of it. He said to a man in his employ, and living on his land, "You know that I know you stole my corn, and that you stole your neighbor's ax." This he would do in a plain, emphatic manner, and his appearance would disarm the man of resentment. He was possessed of excellent conversational powers; many homes were made cheerful by big rich store of anecdotes, and when friends visited him, he would entertain them in a style not easily forgotten. When Salmon P. Chase was a candidate for Governer of Ohio, on his way from Marysville to Marion, he spent a night at Mr. Hamilton's, and so well was be entertained with his hospitality and conversation, that ever after, when he would meet any of the family, he would make diligent inquiry as to the health of his friend, and then speak of the pleasure he experienced in his company. His example impressed men. In cases where he needed help from neighbors, he never supplied spirits as an inducement. Others maintained the same position and the example was followed throughout the entire community, so that for years no encouragement was given to the sale of liquors in Richwood, and it was not to be procured for miles around. A communion service was to be had in Richwood, and the writer, when a boy, was sent to Millville, in Delaware County, to procure wine for the occasion, because it could not be obtained nearer. His example on this question had great influence with his family. He had ten sons; all lived to mature years; not one of them ever used liquor as a beverage, but all became strong advocates of temperance, and not more than three of them ever used tobacco. We might add page after page in placing before the reader traits of character and interesting incidents in the life of this pioneer citizen and preacher, but space will not allow. It has now been over fifteen years since be passed away from earth. Anew generation has largely come upon the stage with a tendency to forget the men and women who cleared away the forests and prepared the way for the homes they now occupy. It is true his resting place in the Richwood Cemetery, near the Bethlehem Church, in Claibourne Township, is marked by a humble marble slab, but as a token of regard for one deserving to be had in everlasting remembrance for a worthy Christian life and for the many heroic deeds that life presents, this tribute to his memory is offered. William Hamilton was the father of twelve children, two daughters and ten sons; the oldest and youngest were daughters. Elizabeth, daughter of William and Hannah Hamilton, was born in Licking County March 5, 1812, and with her parents moved to Muskingum County when a child. She married Jacob C. Sidle in 1834, and about the year 1850 moved to Union County, and, with her husband, settled in Claibourne Township, where they became extensively known, and had many friends. She in the mother of seven children, one remarkable feature is that she had three sets of twins. Jacob Sidle died June 10, 1876. After the lapse of some time, she married Gideon Wickham, of Newark, Ohio, and is now living in that city, at the age of seventy years. Two of her children are dead, and five living. Samuel, oldest son of William and Hannah Hamilton, was born in Licking County April 5, 1814. He was reared in Muskingum County, at farming as a pursuit, married Nancy McMorris, of same county, moved to Union County in the year 1840, and settled on a part of the purchase made by his father, and remained until the year 1854, when he moved to the State of Illinois 626 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. and is now living in Marshall County, that State. He has been married the second time, having by his first wife seven children, four sons, and three daughters; one son is dead, one a farmer, and two lawyers; John M., is at this writing Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. His second wife, formerly Harriet Gray nee Rodman, died May 16, 1882, and was buried near Zanesville. He is now in his sixty-ninth year. William McKendre, second son of William and Hannah Hamilton, was born in Muskingum County October 13, 1816. At an early period, he went to Zanesville, to learn the tailoring trade where he spent six years and became an accomplished workman in his line. He continued this business for a number of years, but at length he became interested in trade. For some years he did business for Daniel Brush as a partner. This partnership finally closed, having given perfect satisfaction to Mr. Brush, and been the means of greatly increasing the property of both. He is living in Wenona, Marshall Co., Ill., in good circumstances, and is actively engaged in the business of life. His latest enterprise is that of sinking a shaft for coal, at a heavy expense. He is plain and unassuming in manner, but understands the laws of trade, and has been remarkably successful. He married Rebecca Burns, of his adopted State, and has a family that is greatly respected. He gave at one time $10,000 toward the endowment of a college at Adrian, Mich. H is well preserved and has a fair prospect of living many years to enjoy life and bless his fellow-man. H is now in his sixty-seventh year. Benjamin Manley, third son of William and Hannah Hamilton, was born January 2, 1819, in Muskingum County. His mother died October 2, following, leaving him an infant of less than ten months ; helpless it is true, but he was tenderly cared for and grew to manhood, and was the oldest of the ten sons of William Hamilton that moved into Union County, and shared in opening the farm so widely known as the Hamilton farm. About the year 1812, lie married Abigail Graham, daughter of John Graham, Sr., for many years a resident of Union County. Soon after his marriage, be moved to land received from his father and had himself to reclaim the wilderness and made it a fruitful field. He continued this work until February 7, 1859, when be was suddenly killed by the running away of a team of horses. He left a family of five children ; the oldest, William, is now living in Van Wert County, Ohio, and has authority to preach in the United Brethren Church. Benjamin, was a conscientious Christian man, and died at the age of forty years. This was the first death among the children of William Hamilton. Cornelius Springer. (See biography in this book.) John Waterman, second son of William and Lydia Hamilton, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, June 7, 1823, and was fifteen years old when his father moved into Union County. He shared in the labors and trials endured by the family consequent upon making a home in the wilderness. His habits were studious, and though denied the privilege of any other school advantages, except one term in Granville College, than such as were afforded in three or four months school in winter, he had advanced far enough to teach school at the age of sixteen. This he did successfully in the village of Richwood, in the winter of' 1838 - 39. He afterward taught a select school in Marysville, in the basement of the old Presbyterian Church, and taught at different points in Muskingum County. The object was to supply himself with means for the prosecution of studies in the medical profession. He commenced the study of this profession, under Dr. Bealmear, in the village of Irville, Muskingum County, and continued it under the instructions of Dr. Knight, of the same county. He taught, school and studied medicine until his means were sufficient to enable him to attend lectures. This he did at Willoughby Medical College, near Cleveland, where he graduated, in the year 1847. In the year 1848, he married Rachel Werden, who resided near Cleveland, and commenced the practice of medicine on the Scioto, a few miles above Columbus. He contained here a few years, and moved to Akron, where he remained but for a short time , and went to New York City to obtain hospital advantages. After remaining there for some months, he returned to Columbus in the year 1853, and now for thirty-three years he has devoted himself entirely to his profession. For twenty - five or more years he has filled a professor's chair and most of the time the chair of surgery. This position he now occupies, and is the acknowledged authority on surgery in all Central Ohio. He has performed some of the most critical operations ever performed in the State, and is justly placed by the profession in the front rank. In early life, he was tall and slender in form, but has increased in flesh until he now weighs 300 pounds. With his own means, he erected what is known as Columbus Medical College, near his spacious dwelling in the city of Columbus, and so lucrative has been his profession, and is at the present time, that he has ample means of enjoying ease and comfort; but such are the demands for his services that he could not lay aside his work if he should desire to do so. He has two sons, one a graduate of Gambier College, and the other a student at Princeton, that he is training for same profession. He is now in his sixtieth year. Joseph Harrison, third son of William and Lydia Hamilton, was born in Muskingum County July 23, 1826, and moved to Union County at the age of twelve years. Though not full grown. he could render material help in the work of clearing up the farm. He could drive the oxen, burn the brush, plow and hoe the corn, bring the cows from the forest pasture, and was the first to carry the mail from Richwood to Marysville and return. In the winter of 1811, he and a number of' associates made a profession of religion, and united with the Methodist Protestant CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 627 Church. In the spring of 1843, his church gave him authority to speak to the people on the subject of religion. He spent the week in labor on the farm, and on Sabbath he visited points at schoolhouses and in the cabins of the settlers to hold religious services. His educational advantages were limited to the winter school, except a three months' select school conducted by his brother John in Marysville. February 17, 1844, his church authorized him to preach the Gospel, and in August, of the same year, he united with the Muskingum Annual Conference, with the view of making the ministry his life work. He has now spent almost thirty-nine years in the ministry, during which time he has performed an unusual amount of labor, preaching a considerable part of the time three times on the Sabbath, and often during the week time, but in the thirty-nine years has only been off duty four Sabbaths in consequence of sickness. He has preached in Muskingum and Licking County five years, Coshocton four, Lancaster two, Circleville two, Steubenville five, New Comerstown one, McConnelsville two, served as President of his conference one year, and has preached in Mt. Vernon and Knox County for nearly seventeen years. During his residence in Knox County, he has attended over 400 funerals, and married over 400 couples. Hundreds have been added to the church through his instrumentality. He often delivers addresses on different subjects that find a place in print. On the 31st day of August, 1848, he married Charlotta M. Rodman, near Zanesville. They have three children, one son and two daughters, all live in Mt. Vernon. The son is a printer, and for three years was publisher of the Mt. Vernon Republican, while the father was editor and proprietor. He is now in his fifty-seventh year, and performs the labor ordinarily performed by two men. Isaac N. Hamilton. (See biography in this book.) HORATIO COX HAMILTON was born near Irville, Muskingum Co., Ohio, September 24,1830, and was named after Judge Horatio Cox, who was then a merchant of Irville, but who now lives in Columbus, Ohio. He came with the rest of his father's family to Union County, and landed in Richwood n the evening of the 3d day of April, 1838. The family lived that summer in town, while the father and older boys were employed in building a house and arranging for the future. Horatio, with his two brothers-Norton, who was older, arid George, who was younger were sent to school to Matildy Manson, who taught in the old log schoolhouse on the lot now occupied by C. W. Huffman as a residence; they were also required to carry dinner to those who were at work clearing the farm, etc., so that each forenoon, after intermission, they went home and got a good sized market-basket full, and made the trip from town to the point where the men were at work, which is the same as where the house of G. B. Hamilton now stands, and after delivering their load of provisions they would return to the school for the afternoon. When one thinks that it was then an unbroken forest with only a path, and that the average age of the three was only seven and a half years, it savors of real romance. Horatio remained with his father, and worked, as all farmer boys did in those days, for nine or ten months of the year, going to school from forty to sixty days each winter, until the winter of 1848-49, when he taught school in the Lenox District. The following winter he taught in Richwood, and had to assume the relationship of teacher to the same children and scholars with whom he formerly went to school and with whom he had played and frolicked. Some idea of' the labor performed may be had when it is remembered that the school averaged fifty-six for the term, and for the last two months perhaps seventy or more, and that every one brought whatever book or books they could find about the house or borrow of a neighbor, so that it was impossible to classify the school. In the fall of 1851, and after he was of age, Horatio concluded that be would add somewhat to his educational advantages, and for this purpose he went to Delaware and matriculated and entered upon a college life; but it was of short duration and amounted to two terms of six or eight days each, so that he is what he himself calls a two-term graduate. In the spring of 1853, he left his father and went to Cleveland, and employed himself to H. G. O. Carey, to travel and sell his medicines, the main article of which was Borrell's Indian Liniment. The first six months were spent in canvassing Eastern and Southern Ohio. In the fall of the same year, he was sent to West Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. For four years he continued to travel from place to place, loading at Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Galena, Rock Island, Peoria, La Fayette and Indianapolis. This gave him a very extensive knowledge of the West, and enabled him to direct others to such places as they could get good land at Congress price. The result is that very many families are now in the West, and have homes to which they were directed by him. He also took advantage of his knowledge of the West, and invested the first thousand dollars he ever earned in land in Black Hawk County, Iowa, getting for $1,000, 859 acres of as good land as a bird ever flew over, and from which he realized a comfortable fortune. It may be well to go back and say that in the summer of 1853, while at his uncle's, Irenias Springer's, he chanced to meet a little school-girl who was destined to be a partner in his successes and failures. Her name was Edmonia Dawson, a daughter of Dr. Nelson Dawson (deceased), of Putnam, Ohio. Horatio C. Hamilton and Edmonia Dawson were married in Davenport, Iowa, June 3, 1856. In the spring of 1857 they settled on their land in Black Hawk County, Iowa, and during the summer built a house and broke 120 acres of land. In the fall of the same year the panic struck lowa, and its wild-cat money went down and became worthless, and with 628 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. it came ruin to almost everybody and everything in Iowa. Corn, wheat, oats and potatoes fell in price from $1.25 to a mere nominal price. This, with other things, caused them to leave lowa and return to Ohio. In the fall of 1861, they came to live with his father-Monia to take care of the house and Horatio the farm. When the second call for volunteers was made in 1862, he was appointed by Gov. Tod to recruit the quota of Union County, under said call. His commission was dated July 21, 1862, and on the 6th day of August he had one full company and quite a number who were assigned to other companies, principally to Capt. Lawrence's company, of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On the 7th of August, he was elected Captain of the company that was organized, and as such was assigned to the Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was sent to Kentucky and assigned to the command of Brig. Gen. S. G. Burbridge, and the brigade was attached to Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith's division of the Thirteenth Army Corps. The regiment reached Kentucky on the 1st day of September, 1862. It will be remembered that at this time there was a sentiment among the new recruits that slaves and slave property were being wrongfully protected by the army, and that it was no part of a soldier's duty to protect rebel property, and catch and return slaves to their masters. It began to be noticed that negroes were turned out of our lines with an ever-increasing degree of reluctance; also that Capt. Hamilton was the friend of the oppressed, and that he did not always obey an order to do so inhuman a thing as to turn a fellow-man over to his rebel master, even in obedience to a positive command of a senior officer. Finally a boy, some fourteen years of age, came into the camp of the Ninety-sixth Ohio, at Nicholasville, Ky., calling himself William Clay, and reporting that his master was a rebel, and that he had thrown an ax at him (Billy), and that he wanted protection. He found a friend in Capt. Hamilton. and remained with him, as a servant, for some time, until the army was ordered to move to Louisville. On the way, and as it passed through Versailles, a person dressed in the uniform of a Union soldier came representing himself as being on Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith's staff, and that as such he ordered Capt. Hamilton to deliver the boy Billy to him to be turned over to the jailer as an escaped slave. This he refused to do unless the order came in writing from Gen. Smith in the ordinary way, being countersigned by Gen. Burbridge and Col. I. W. Vance of the Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This the fellow refused to get, but notified him that be would be back in fifteen minutes with a detachment of soldiers, and that he would take the boy by force. Upon this the Captain turned to his company and told them that if it was going to be a question or force, that they might load their guns and prepare for the affray. That order the company made haste to execute, and as they did so one company after another did the same, until, as far as one could see, the road seemed to glisten with the light of the sun as it was reflected by several thousand ramrods which were being used to send home the ball that was intended to perforate the hide of any man who would attempt to take Billy by force. The effect of this preparation was that the staff, officer gave up his notion of taking the boy by force at that time, but notified the Captain that the affair would be deferred till evening, at which time the boy would be taken by force and the Captain put under arrest for disobedience of orders. This kept the matter brewing in the minds of the soldiers. As soon as the army was encamped for the night, the soldiers held an impromptu meeting, at which speeches were made and resolutions passed approving the course of Capt. Hamilton, and resolving that they would stand by him to, the death. A committee was appointed to inform him of their purpose, and he was soon waited on by a soldier who made known their action to him, and requested that if any move should be made to take the boy by force, that immediate notice should be given to the officers and soldiers whose names were found on a card which was handed to the Captain This uprising of the soldiers, occasioned by the refusal of Capt. Hamilton to give up the boy Billy, had the effect to stop all effort in the Army of Kentucky to arrest or return slaves to their masters Oh reaching Louisville, the army was ordered to go to Memphis and Vicksburg. The boy could not be taken, and the only thing that could be done was either to let him loose in Kentucky, to be seized upon and returned to slavery, or to send him home to Ohio. The latter the Captain chose to do, but had to force his way across the river for fear of arrest; but he finally reached New Albany, Ind., and bought a railroad ticket to Marysville for the boy, paying for it all the money he had and going $1.25 in debt. When the boy reached Richwood, it set everything in commotion. Some approved of the course pursued by the Captain, others condemned. The party in opposition called a meeting, and resolved that the "nigger" should not be permitted to stay, and that they would return him to his master, etc. They also resolved that Capt. Hamilton should not be permitted to return to Richwood. The matter got into all the papers of the State, and of other States as well. Letters came to the Captain from every quarter, some approving and some disapproving his course. One man, who was given to understanding the force of what he said, wrote him that it was supposed that an effort would be made to take the boy by force and send him back to Kentucky, but he said that the Captain need not be alarmed, for that many thousands of men were armed and ready for any move that might be made to return the boy. Billy Clay and H. C. Hamilton both live in Richwood at this time, and this story would not have been told if it had not been for the fact of its having had so important a part in the war Page 629 Missing Page 630 Missing CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 631 in overthrowing the slave power, and in developing liberal and Christian sentiment at home during the winter of 1862-63, while with Sherman's army, Capt. Hamilton contracted a nervous disease, the external evidence of which appeared as a cutaneous disease called lepra. from the effect of which he became spotted as a leopard. In August following, he resigned his office of Captain and came home, since which time he has been a resident of Union County. He was prospered in business, and bought and paid for the Hamilton homestead, and was supposed to be a man of wealth until the panic of 1873, when, by bad management and security debts, he, became involved, and sold his property at a low figure and paid his debts. His wife, Edmonia, was taken from him by death on January 29, 1877. On March 4, 1879, he was married to Miss Molly Kendall, and they now live together in the village of Richwood. In the mean time, he partially regained his health as well as property, and bids fair for long life and future usefulness. In religious matters, he is somewhat peculiar, and cares nothing for the religion that one feels but goes his last dollar on the religion that one does. GEORGE B, HAMILTON, farmer, P, O. Richwood, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, February 12, 1833, and is a son Rev. William and Lydia (Springer) Hamilton, the former of English and Scotch, the latter of Swiss descent. His parents came to Union County, April 8, 1838, and settled on the farm and built the house where their son, George, now resides. Mr. Hamilton was educated in a log schoolhouse in Claibourne Township, where he applied himself with such diligence as enabled him in after years to teach. Being one of those persons who are ever in the process of education, whether in the school-room, on the farm, or in business, he has obtained such a practical education as enables him to be of great public usefulness wherever placed. Indeed, few men, with even better advantages, have equal ability with him to make an intelligent, off-hand address, on any subject or occasion, that may interest the better class of people in the community. In consequence of this, he has been variously intrusted with public offices and interests in the township and county in which he lives. But having little or no desire for public life or honors, he has, by preference, devoted himself to farming, as his life's work. In this he has had such success as gives him a handsome home farm of 386 acres, besides other lands and village property. On November 19, 1857, he married Marian Hamilton, a native of Scotland, where her ancestry connected her with John Knox and the Reformation - daughter of Rev. William and Marian Hamilton, Sr., her father being of identically the same name as her husband's father, but without kinship between them; and to make the seeming identity more striking, both fathers were ministers in the same State-Ohio, of the same denomination- Methodist Protestant Church, and still further, both had sons named John and William. The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton has been, at all times, most happy, and resulted in three children, two daughters, Clara A. and Marian G., and one son, George H., the oldest of whom, Clara, is now attending the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. Mrs. Hamilton was blessed with a brilliant mind, a retentive memory, and a keen perception of the beautiful in literature and morals, and with such intellectual equipment, she was ever able to, make home attractive and happy, and to impart to her children a rich heritage of this character. Nor did she lavish her gifts on home alone, but was an ornament to the society in which she moved, and was a useful and active member of the Methodist Protestant Church, to which she belonged from the age of fourteen years till her death, October 18, 1882, a period of about thirty-three years. Mr. Hamilton is also a member of the same church, having joined it in his boyhood. Besides being a most active and zealous member of the local church at Richwood, he is one of the most prominent laymen of his denomination in Ohio, having been repeatedly a, delegate to the Ohio Annual Conference, and twice a lay representative to the General Conference. In addition to giving hearty support to the local and general interests of his church, Mr. Hamilton has a quiet mode of benevolence, the details of which are scarcely known to any but himself and his God. With an eye upon superficials alone, your informant feels that he risks nothing as to fact, when he intimates that many are the poor who have been his beneficiaries, in various ways adapted to their relief, including not a few who could tell of their mortgages, which were about to be foreclosed, with certain loss of their hard earnings, and which have quietly found their way into his hands, to await a slow redemption, as circumstances might necessitate, sometimes keeping him out of his returns for years, and although many hundred dollars have been freely given to relieve the needs of others, prosperity follows, and peace and plenty are found in his happy home. Thomas Bealmear, seventh son of William and Lydia Hamilton, born June 22, 1836. The middle name was for the old family doctor, but when grown he chose to be called Thomas Benton, and so wrote his name when he wrote it in full. He was not two years old when he came to Union County, and could not take part in the early struggles of making a home in the wilderness. At an early period he showed that he possessed an active mind. The times had changed for the better, and the father concluded to give him an education. He was sent to Delaware University, and after years of college life, he graduated with honor in the summer of 1857. He taught school for some time in Ohio and in Illinois, and then concluded to study medicine, and entered upon the work with his brother John in Columbus, and graduated at Starling Medical College in the year 1862. He then went to the State of Illinois, and settled in Wenona, Marshall County, and commenced the practice of medicine. All this had been accomplished before 632 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. he was twenty-five years old. About this time he married Celia A. Oder of his adopted State. His business was spreading rapidly, when he felt it to be his duty, in 1862, to enlist as a volunteer in the United States service. He entered the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Regiment, Col. Moore commanding, and was made Assistant Surgeon. He was faithful as man could be to the trust committed to him. He followed the fate of his regiment in most of the battles on the Tennessee, Nashville, Chattanooga, and on the way to Atlanta, and was never off duty unless compelled to by sickness. Capt. A. E. Lee, formerly of Delaware, said of him: That he had often seen him when the battle would be raging, heedless of danger, caring for the wounded and dying. One man said to the writer: "He saved my life," and evinced toward him the love of David for Jonathan. He had attacks of hemorrhage, and his friends plead with him to come home. "No," said be, - not until my time is out." He hoped to live, and when discharged would return to a fond companion, and spend many days of connubial bliss. But not so. While in hospital at Nashville he had an attack of hemorrhage, and died suddenly an March 17, 1865, and was brought to Union County and buried in the Richwood Cemetery, by the side of his kindred, in his twenty-ninth year. Few men of his age ever bad a more cheering prospect for doing good to mankind than he. He was kind and cheerful, and with it mind stored with knowledge, and with the experience he had as a surgeon in the army, had he lived, he certainly would have been prominent in his profession. He was a beautiful singer, and took great pleasure in giving encouragement to the art. He was a Christian. Had made a profession of religion when quite a youth, and though gone from earth, has entered the society of the redeemed where he can sing forever " Unto Him that hath loved us, and given Himself for us, to Him be glory." "Go to the grave, at noon from labor cease, Rest on thy sheaves, thy harvest work is done; Come, from the heat of battle, and in peace, Soldier home, with thee the work is done." Rebecca Susan, only daughter and youngest child of William and Lydia Hamilton, was born in the village of Richwood, Union County, June 19, 1838. It was in early spring the family first moved to the county, and was compelled to stop in Richwood until a house could be completed on the land that was to be occupied as a future home. It was while living here that she was born. The name is given in respect to both grandmothers. She signed her name. R. Susan. As the youngest sister she became a great object of regard in the family. All felt anxious that she should acquire a good education. She entered Delaware College with her brother Thomas, at the age of seventeen; was a most excellent student, and graduated with honor in the year 1859. She at once showed a desire to take hold of life's duties in a way that would make her self-supporting and at the same time be useful. She chose teaching as a profession and Illinois as the field of operation. With her brother Thomas, she taught the school at Wenona, Marshall County, Ill, and was giving great satisfaction, when she had an attack of lung fever, and was compelled to desist and return to Ohio, where, in spite of all attention that could be given her, she died, at the home of her parents, June 13, 1861. Sad was the day of her burial to her father and mother, brothers, and a large circle of friends. She had made a profession of religion in Marysville in the Presbyterian Church, and united with that church at the age of thirteen years. When in Delaware she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. At home she was Methodist Protestant. She was a singer of commanding influence. She loved to sing and loved it until the last. A few days preceding her death she wished the family to join her in singing a hymn, saying she wished to hear the voice of her mother once more in singing, which request was granted. Her own voice was quite natural. She grew weaker, and as her last words she said to her mother, "am so happy." Thus closed the scene with this fair and lovely youth, just at a time when large hopes of future usefulness were centered upon her. The heart feels sad in dwelling upon such an event, but we must submit to the direction of the Great Father of all. "Happy soul, thy days are ended, All thy mourning days below; Go, by angel hands attended, To thy loving Savior, go." Thus closes the brief history of a family covering a century and a quarter and embracing five generations, its influence being felt in all the professions and extending into different portions of the country. When Abraham Lincoln was candidate for President, every member of the family of which any knowledge is had, that had a right to vote, cast that vote for him. Seldom is there found an instance of dissipation in the family in all its history. With a love for virtue and religion, and a sincere desire to adhere to what is right, time alone will tell what heights of honor and usefulness awaits them. JOHN S. HAMILTON, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Marysville, Ohio, March 29, 1854, and is a son of Cornelius and Louise (Bisant) Hamilton, natives of Ohio. His father was a prominent lawyer of Marysville, a member of the Constitutional Convention that framed the present constitution of our State, and afterward a member of the Ohio Legislature. He also CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 633 represented this district in the Fortieth Congress of the United States. He raised a family of six children, three boys and three girls. Our subject, who was the fourth child, received his education at Richwood, and has made farming the occupation of his life. He owns a nice farm near Richwood, on which he resides. He was married, in 1876, to Ellen E. Sidle, who was born in Claibourne Township February 11, 1856; she is a daughter of John Sidle. By this union two children were born, viz., Vinnie B. and Ollie. Mrs. Hamilton is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Hamilton is a Republican in politics. ELIJAH HARRIS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Licking County, Ohio, October 13, 1836, and is the son of Thomas and Rachel (Herrod) Harris, the former a native of Ohio, and a farmer by occupation. Our subject was raised and educated as a farmer, and has made farming the principal occupation of his life, though at one time he followed the trade of a carpenter ten years, In 1870, he came to Union County and settled on the Marysville pike, one mile south of Richwood, where he owns a farm of 133 1/2 acres of prime land. He is a Republican in politics. He was married in 1869 to Columbia Sarah Huddleston, whose parents were natives of the Old Dominion, of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have two children, Isabella and Thomas. JACOB HARTMAN, farmer, P. 0. Richwood, was born in Preston, Va., March 3, 1832, and is a son of Michael and Sarah (Miller) Hartman, natives of Maryland, of German descent. His father was a farmer, but for twenty-five years of his life was engaged as a wagoner. Our subject received a common school education in Virginia, and has spent his life in the pursuits of a farmer. In 1856, he married Hannah Rice, a daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Pool) Rice, who were married on the Potomac River in 1812 ; she was born in Greene County, Penn., in 1836. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hartman started together in their battle with fortune, having nothing to begin life with. With the aid of his wife, who has been to him a good and worthy helpmeet, he has acquired nearly eighty-five acres of land in this township, on which they reside. They have had four children, viz.. Walter T. R., Alvin, Clara Belle, deceased, and an infant, deceased. Mr. Hartman came to Union County and built a log cabin, which has since been replaced by a neat and comfortable residence. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which be has been a class leader and steward since 1875. He is a Democrat in politics, and is now Clerk of the School Board. WILLIAM CARROLL HASTINGS, of the firm of Hastings & Williams, dealer in buggies, carriages, spring-wagons, seed-drills, etc., Richwood, Ohio, was born at Richwood, Ohio, August 29, 1844, and is a son of Levin Hastings, and Mary Carroll, his wife, of whom a sketch is given elsewhere in this work. Our subject was educated in the common schools and is a harness maker by trade. He has spent ten years in stock dealing at Rich wood, and engaged in importing Norman horses to Union County; he is a man that learns from observation, has spent some time in the West, and has seen a good deal of the world. In 1864, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served his full term of enlistment. He then came to Richwood, where he has since remained. He is a Republican in politics, and since 1881 has served as Treasurer of his township. In 1869, he married Miss Cynthia Lenox, daughter of John Lenox, a prominent farmer and stock dealer of Union County; this union has been blessed with two children, Mary and Anna. JOSEPH R. HATCHER, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Logan County, Ohio, August 8,1818, and is a son of James and Sarah (Ray) Hatcher, natives of Virginia, of English descent, and members of the Society of Friends. His father was a farmer and surveyor, and did a great deal of surveying in the early days of this country. He came to Ohio soon after the war of 1812. Our subject was raised and educated as a farmer, and in early life taught school for a time, but farming has been the principal occupation of his life. He came to Union County in 1853, and settled in Claibourne Township, where he now owns 163 acres of land. In 1842, be married Angeline, a daughter of Isaac and Sarah Headley, of English descent. They have had eight children, to wit: J. D. (a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in the service), Sarah J., Margaret E., Emily F., Nancy, Charles B., C. L. and Belle. Mrs. Hatcher is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Hatcher is a Universalist in belief and a Republican in politics. WILLIAM M. HAYDEN, dealer in sewing machines, Richwood, was born in Morrow County, Ohio, September 9, 1837. He is the son of John and Rachel (Evans) Hayden, the former born in Pennsylvania in 1812, of German descent, and the latter a native of Wales. They were married in Pennsylvania, and, emigrating to Ohio in 1830, located in Morrow County, where the father still resides, the mother having died in 1857. Our subject is the second child of a family of four children; he was raised on the farm, and received a good education in the public high school and at Mount Hestmer College-a college of the Society of Friends. At the age of seventeen years, he began teaching district school, which he followed four years. In 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Sixty-fifth Ohio Infantry, as a Corporal, and, in 1863, re-enlisted in Company B, Tenth Ohio Cavalry. He was the Regimental Commissary Sergeant; was promoted to Second Lieutenant of his company in 1863, and in December of the same year was commissioned First Lieutenant, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. He was with Sherman in his march to the sea, in Kilpatrick's raid, in Libby Prison for a short time, and was finally discharged in August, 1865. In 1866, he embarked in the mercantile trade at Alliance, 634 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. Ohio, but two years later sold his business and purchased a farm, which he operated successfully for two years. He then disposed of his farm, and engaged in selling the domestic sewing machines. He orders machines by the car load, and has sold at retail over 1,600 machines. He understands his business in all its branches, is a ready salesman, and a practical sewing machine man. In 1867, he married Ellen K. Hall, a native of Ohio, of Scotch descent, who died in 1876, at Elmira, N. Y., leaving one child, Ordella, now in the Richwood graded schools. Mrs. Hayden was a member of the Baptist Church. EZRA HEDGES, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, October 17, 1826, and is a son of Caleb and Mary (Clellen) Hedges, natives of Maryland, of English and Dutch descent. His father was a cooper and farmer, and very successful in business. He raised a family of ten children, to each of whom he gave 100 acres of land. Our subject was raised and educated as a farmer, and has followed that occupation through life. In 1855, he came to Claibourne Township, and located on the farm now occupied by him, which consists of 176 acres. In 1854, he married Sarah A. Goss, by whom he has three children, viz.: Hulda, wife of William Decker; Clara A., now engaged in teaching, and Samantha, the wife of William Lawrence. Mrs. Hedges died March 2, 1861, and, in 1863, he married Nancy Young, a native of Delaware County, by whom he had one child-Grant, who died December 10, 1882. Mr. Hedges is a Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F. society. L. D. HERR, proprietor of the Richwood Temperance Billiard Parlors, Richwood, Ohio, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, May 9, 1857, and is a son of Henry and Sarah E. (Elgin) Herr. His father was a school teacher in early life, and later acted as traveling salesman for an extensive nursery company. Our subject graduated at the high school in West Salem, where his parents resided, in 1874, and chose the occupation of an engineer. He operated a stationary engine at Richwood for four years, and then entered the employ of Camp, Randall & Co., in their warehouse at Richwood, remaining with them eight years. He now conducts a billiard room on strictly moral principles, allowing no swearing, gambling, drinking, or other bad order, and giving the youth of the village opportunity for indulging in a very pleasant pastime without being brought under the pernicious influence of liquor drinking. The room is a bright, airy apartment, comfortably furnished, and with a full complement of five tables, and is presided over by the proprietor in person. He is a young man of strictly moral principles, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a worker in the Sabbath School. In 1881, he married Flora Belle Farris, a native of Delaware County, by whom he has one child-Elmo Leon. Mr. Herr is a Republican in politics. M. W. HILL, Richwood, was born in Knox County, Ohio, December 24, 1843, and is a son of Nathaniel Birt and Mary (Roberts) Hill, natives of New Jersey. His father died in 1852, and his mother died one month later, leaving our subject alone in the world, at the age of nine years. During the next four years, he lived at several different places, and when thirteen years of age he began learning the printer's trade, which he only followed for a short time. He then commenced working on a farm at $6 per month, which was afterward raised to $9, and continued working as a hand four years. In 1861, he met with an accident, by having his hand badly injured in a clover huller, that almost resulted in the loss of his right arm. During the years of 1862 and 1863, he went to school, and having. obtained a certificate, began teaching. One year later he went to Iowa and engaged in farming and trading, and in 1864 returned to Union County. In 1867, he came to Richwood, and since then has been variously engaged in business. He is in very comfortable circumstances, owns 460 acres of land, eighty of it in the corporation, several houses and lots in the village, a butcher shop and grocery, a half-interest in a furniture store, and a half-interest in a store at Green Bond, Ohio. He and his partner, Mr. Lenox, are the most extensive dealers in and shippers of stock in this part of the country. They are importers of French horses and have made two trips across the water for that purpose. Mr. Hill is a Democrat in politics and is now serving his second term as Justice of the Peace. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 443, and, as is his wife, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1865, he married Margaret A. Fisher, daughter of Benjamin Fisher, and by her has four children, viz.: Lizzie Belle, Wilbert C., Viola J. and Morris W. O. W. HOLLAND, T. F. A. of the N. Y., P. & O. R. R., Richwood, was born in Richland County, Ohio, June 15, 1844, and is a son of Richard and Eliza (Flynn) Holland, natives of Philadelphia, Penn., the former of English and the latter of Irish descent. Our subject received an academic education in his native State, and early chose the occupation of a telegraph operator. In 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged in 1863 on account of disability. On his return to civil life, he obtained a situation as clerk in the post office at Mansfield, and one year later returned to Richwood and resumed his old occupation of operator. He was subsequently appointed as ticket agent and has worked in the office at Richwood for sixteen years. In 1882, he was appointed traveling freight agent for the western division of his road, and is now serving in that capacity. He is a Republican in politics, and was a member of the electoral commission for the election of President Garfield. He has served as a Councilman and member of the Board of Education of Richwood. In 1867, he married Mary E. Searles, a native of Connecticut, and a daughter of W. H. Searles, of Marion, Ohio. They have had one child that died in infancy. CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 635 O. HOLMES, retired farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, May 29, 1827, and is a son of Isaac and Ellen (Blackburn) Holmes. His father, who was. a native of Now Jersey, was a blacksmith by trade, and died in 1862, at Columbus, Ohio, where he had resided for fifteen years. He had a family of ten children, nine of whom reached their majority. Our subject was educated in the common schools of Highland County, Ohio, and followed the occupation of a farmer until he was twenty-one years of age, after which he filled the position of clerk in a general store for twelve years, giving that up to resume farming operations. In 1865, he came to Union County, and in 1873 he sold his farm of 100 acres and purchased a handsome property in Richwood, to which he has retired and which he is now engaged in beautifying. He was married, July 29, 1852, to Miss Mary A. Johnson, a daughter of William Johnson, a native of Pennsylvania, and Caroline Burtner, his wife, a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Holmes was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1828; her ancestors emigrated to America with the "Pilgrim Fathers," in the Mayflower. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes' marriage has been blessed with six children, three boys and three girls, of whom two now survive, viz., Aura Belle and Charles T. The parents are members of the Methodist Protestant Church at Richwood. J. M. HORN, of the firm of J. M. Horn & Bro., manufacturers of brick and tile, Richwood, Ohio, was born September 8, 1852, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio; he is a eon of Noah and Rebecca (Tucker) Horn, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Virginia, both of English descent. His father was an enterprising and intelligent farmer, who went to California, but lost his life while en route for home. Our subject chose the profession of an artist and for some time was engaged in that occupation, traveling around the country in a gallery car. He subsequently embarked in the dry goods business, and in 1882 began his present enterprise, purchasing five acres of land for that purpose. He has ample facilities for the manufacture and storage of his ware, and finds a ready market for more than he can supply on demand. On February 17, 1880, he married Lucinda Spratt, a native of Union County, and a daughter of Andrew Spratt. They have one child-Ivan. Mr. Horn is a Republican, a member of the I.O.O.F. fraternity and of the Prudential Order of America. JESSE D. HOSLER, furniture dealer, Richwood, was born in Fountain County, Ind., January 18, 1846 ; he is a, son of Benjamin Hosler, a cabinet-maker, and Lydia Shively, his wife, both natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. Our subject received a good English education in the graded schools of his native State, and, after leaving school, learned the trade of a blacksmith, serving a four, years' apprenticeship at Covington, Ind. He then worked at Monticello, Ind., as a journeyman for four years, and in 1875 came to Richwood, where he built the brick shop in which his brother now carries on business. He worked in this shop seven years, and then entered the furniture business in the firm of M. W. Hill & Co., but discontinued this in December, 1882. In 1863, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana Infantry, for three months, and re-enlisted in Company G, of the Fifty-first Regiment. He was once a prisoner, being taken at night by a band of guerrillas, but succeeded in making his escape after two hours' imprisonment. In 1874, he married Miss Mary Sabin, a native of Troy, Ohio, and a daughter of Dr. Roswell Sabin. By this union two children were born, viz.: Lucy C. and Charles S. Mrs. Hosler died February 3, 1883. Mr. Hosler is a Republican, and a member of the Richwood Methodist Church, of which his wife was also a consistent member when living. JOHN E. HOWE, of the firm of Loveless, Howe & Bishop, proprietors of the Richwood Woolen Mills, and dealers in wool, grain, hides, furs and staves, Richwood, Ohio, was born in Logan County, Ohio, September 26, 1845 ; he is a son of Julius and Ellen (Richardson) Howe, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Ohio. His parents came to this State in 1830, and located on a farm in Logan County, where the subject of this sketch was reared. He remained on the farm until twelve years of age, when he began working at his present business for J. S. Loveless, with whom he worked four years, to learn the trade, receiving $30 and three months schooling per year. He proved himself such a worthy apprentice that his employer took him as a partner, and with him carried on the business until recently, when the firm assumed its present proportions and style. Mr. Howe was married, in 1869, to Elizabeth Gum, a native of Logan County, Ohio, of English descent, and by her has had one child George R. Mrs. Howe is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Howe is a Republican in politics. He is a successful business man, and owns a half-interest in 265 acres of land in Washington Township, which he has accumulated by his own efforts. EDWIN S. HUBBARD, Postmaster, Richwood, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., April 30, 1841, and is a son of Alexander and Mandane (Van Dusen) Hubbard, natives of Connecticut. His father was a lawyer by profession, and at one time occupied the office of High Sheriff of his county, in Connecticut. Our subject received a common school education, and early learned the trade of making cutlery, which he followed three years. He then learned carriage painting and followed it twelve years, six of which were spent in Richwood. He afterward became Assistant Postmaster, and in 1876 was appointed Postmaster being re-appointed in 1881 by President Garfield. On October 3, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company D, Tenth Connecticut Infantry, and in 1863 was promoted to First Lieutenant for gallant conduct, and transferred to the Nineteenth Connecticut Heavy Artillery, with which he served until 1864, being again promoted to 636 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. First Lieutenant. He was later detailed as Aid-de-Camp to Gen. B.S. McKinzie, with the rank Assistant Adjutant General. He served in Burnside's expedition, at the battle of Roanoke Island Newburg, Port Royal, Goldsboro, Whitehall, Spottsylvania and three last days of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Shenandoah Valley twice, Winchester, first and second assaults on Fort Sumter, in Sheridan's raid and many other important and hard-fought engagements. While in action at Cold Harbor, he had the visor of his cap torn off by a piece of rebel shell, but never suffered any injury of a serious nature. He was married in 1867 to Mary L. Hoover, daughter of Daniel and Ellen Hoover, and by her has had two children-Effie and Vellie Mandane. Mrs. Hubbard and her eldest daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church, while Mr. Hubbard is a member of the Methodist Church. C. W. HUFFMAN, dealer in pumps, and well-driver, Richwood, was born In Knox County, Ohio, August 18, 1840, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Stilley) Huffman, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of German and the latter of English descent. He was raised on the farm until fourteen years of age, when his father died, and his mother moved to Columbus, where he attended the graded schools. He then worked for a lightning rod company. In 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-third Ohio Infantry, as color-bearer of Company G, and with his command served in eighteen well-fought battles. He was taken prisoner by the enemy, and suffered all the horrors of Andersonville Prison for six months, from the effects of which he will never recover. He was discharged in 1865, after four years and three months' gallant service. In 1865, he married Lavina, Moore, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he has two children-Charles Henry and Matilda K. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman are members of the Methodist Protestant Church in which Mr. Huffman has been a Steward, Treasurer and Trustee. He is a Republican, and a member of the Lodge and Encampment of Odd Fellows. He engaged in his present business at Richwood in 1868. NELSON HURD, minister and farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born at Middlebury, Vt., September 5, 1816; he is a son of John and Abigail (Lindsley) Hurd, natives of Vermont, of English descent. His grandfather Hurd was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill. Our subject has been a resident of Ohio since one year of age, his parents having moved from Vermont in 1817. The whole journey was made in a wagon, the father going afoot, driving the cattle, and the mother driving the wagon, in which the children were placed. They settled in what is now known as Thompson Township, Delaware County, where our subject spent his youth. He was brought up on a farm, receiving a common school education, and followed the duties of the farm until he was thirty years of age, He has been a member of the Christian Church since sixteen years of age, and has been a minister of that denomination since he was thirty, for several years of that time devoting his time exclusively to the ministry. He has usually owned a farm, which he conducted in connection with his ministerial work, and now owns twenty-two acres, on which be resides, while he officiates as pastor of the Glendale Church, which he organized. He was married in 1839 to Miss Sylvia Decker, by whom he has three children--Zerah, a farmer in Nebraska; Sarah, wife of I. Taylor; and John, also a farmer in Nebraska. Mr. Hurd is a Republican in politics. J. C. IRWIN, tailor, Richwood. The paternal great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch emigrated to the northwest territory prior to the erection of Ohio as a State, and here raised a family of children. Jacob Sidle, the maternal grandfather, came to Union County over half a century ago, and located in Claibourne Township. Dr. Aaron J. Irwin, the father of our subject was of German extraction, and was brought up as a farmer. In early life, he evinced a desire to study medicine, and accordingly entered the office of Dr. Hesston, with whom he acquired his preparatory education. He afterward took three courses of lectures at Columbus, Cincinnati and Nashville, Tenn , and began the practice of his profession at Richwood. In 1863, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but was transferred to the Twenty-second Tennessee Mounted Infantry. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the regiment, and was subsequently promoted to Surgeon, but soon afterward was taken sick, and died at Paducah in 1864. In 1856, he married Martha, daughter of Jacob Sidle, and by her had one child-our subject. Mrs. Irwin died in 1866. The subject of this sketch was born at Richwood, Ohio, December 11, 1858, and received his education in the schools of his native village. He early learned the trade of a tailor, and for four years has been engaged in that business with W. H. Richard in Richwood. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Knights of Pythias, and a member of Mt. Carmel Lodge, No. 303, F. & A. M. On February 6, 1883, he married Miss Anna Walters, a daughter of John and Anna Walters, of this county. A. J. JOHNSON, barber, Richwood, was born in Miami County, Ohio, December 4, 1846, and is a son of Aben C. and Anna Johnson, natives of Virginia, who emigrated to Miami County about 1836, and were among the early settlers in that county. Our subject was raised on a farm, but not liking the occupation he began an apprenticeship at the barber's trade, when eighteen years of age, under Frank Brown, at West Milton, Ohio, At the expiration of one year, he began working as a journeyman barber, and in this capacity continued until 1870, when he opened a shop at North Lewisburg. In 1872, he came to Richwood, where he has since been in business. He has a shop containing three chairs, nicely equipped, on Main street, and is at all times assisted by thoroughly competent workmen. In 1873, he married Almeda F. Clark, at CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 637 Dayton, by whom he has two children- Wilbert A. and Edker W. He is Senior Steward of White Sulphur Lodge, F. & A. M., a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a Republican in politics. In 1864, he enlisted in Company D, Fifth United States Colored Troops, and was discharged at the close of the war. He owns a nice dwelling in Richwood, and is doing a thriving business. LEWIS JOLLIFF, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Pennsylvania February 12, 1812: his parents were William and Catherine (Yager) Jolliff, natives of Ohio, the former of English and the latter of German descent. They emigrated to Ohio in an ox cart in 1817, and settled in Wayne County, afterward moving to Stark County, where both died. They had fifteen children, twelve of whom grew up, married and raised families. Our subject, who was the fifth child, grew up on the farm, inured to the hardships of all kinds and accustomed to hard and incessant labor. He had no educational advantages whatever, and knows but little about the English language, though perfectly familiar with German. He has spent his life in agricultural pursuits and has arisen step by step from a poor farm boy and renter to a well-to-do freeholder. He came to this county in 1836, purchased land and set to work clearing it for cultivation ; he now owns 180 acres of good land, in the best order and well improved, in addition to his town property. In 1834, he married Catharine Swartz, by whom he had five children, viz.: Washington, who enlisted in the army in 1861, was wounded, returned home and died ; Eli, deceased ; John, whose sketch appears in this work; Isaac, and Barbara, deceased. Mrs. Jolliff was a member of' the Methodist Protestant Church ; she died in 1855, and on December 10, 1856, Mr. Jolliff married Hannah Pennypacker, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Scofield) Pennypacker, the latter still surviving, aged eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Jolliff are members the Methodist Protestant Church at Richwood. Though Mr. Jolliff has survived the allotted time of man, he has full possession of all his faculties and is remarkably hale for one of his years. He tells many interesting anecdotes of early Ohio, and of life in a new country; of adventures with wild animals and escapes from other dangers; and of being lost in the woods when hunting his cows. Many pages of reminiscences could be called from the memory of this old pioneer, had we space for their production. JOHN JOLLIFF, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, August 7, 1844, and was a son of Lewis and Catherine (Swartz) Jolliff, natives of Ohio, of Dutch descent. He was reared on a, farm, receiving a common school education, and early adopted the occupation of a farmer, which he has since followed successfully, now owning a good and well-improved farm. In 1862, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a non-commissioned officer; was with his command in twenty-six hard-fought battles, and was wounded at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, Ky. He was discharged in 1865 at the close of the war. In 1865, be married Mary Sidle, a daughter of J. C. Sidle, and by her has had seven children, viz.: Sarah E., Isaac G., John D., William T. S., Martha A., Eva C. and Charles E. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been steward. He is a Republican in politics. DR. E. Y. KING, physician, Richwood, Ohio, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, August 30, 1836, and is a son of John and Mary Ann (McClain) King, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of German and the latter of Scotch descent. His father was a dry goods merchant, and in 1830 emigrated from Pennsylvania, with his family, to Holmes County, Ohio. The subject of this sketch received a good common school education in the high school of Fayette County, Penn., and in 1859 entered the medical department of the State University at Ann Arbor, Mich.; but not being satisfied with the knowledge obtained in his course at that institution, he entered the Medical College at Bellevue, New York, in 1864, and graduated from it in the same year, After leaving college, he enlisted in the Twenty-third Ohio Infantry and served as Assistant Surgeon until the close of the war. In 1866, he located at Richwood, then a village of about fifty houses, and immediately began the practice of his profession, which he has since carried on with flattering success. He entered upon the practice here under very adverse circumstances, when the roads in the surrounding country were so poor as to require him to go on foot to see his patients, but by his indefatigable energy he has overcome all obstacles and now stands at the bead of his profession in the village. He is the oldest practitioner in Richwood, and has a large and lucrative practice, which he is still actively engaged in attending. He was married in 1862 to Elizabeth Rogers, a native of Knox County, Ohio, and a daughter of James Rogers. This union has been blessed with one child-Charles E E., now a clerk in a hardware store in Delaware, Ohio. Mrs. King is a member of the Presbyterian Church. The Doctor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; be takes an active interest in educational matters, and has served as a member of the Board of Education at Richwood, and has had some town office during most of the time of his residence here. ISRAEL KINNEY, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, January 8, 1894; he is a son of Thomas J. and Nancy (Biggs) Kinney, natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Ohio in 1808, and settled in Muskingum County. His great-grandparents, Thomas and Anna Kinney, were residents of New Jersey, and came to Ohio with the family in the above year; the former lived to reach eighty-nine years of age, and the latter ninety-two. The ancestors, as far back as known, were tillers of the soil. Our subject was raised to farm life, but, 638 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. in his younger days, taught school, receiving his first certificate in 1845. During one winter, he taught in the same township with the late President James A. Garfield, with whom, however, he had only a slight acquaintance. He heard that such a man had been employed in a neighboring district, but when he met him, saw nothing in him to indicate the force of character, noble nature or sound judgment that afterward endeared this man to the hearts of the people. Mr. Kinney continued teaching during the winter seasons, for sixteen years-farming in the summer. In 1851, he married Jane W. Monlux, by whom he had three children, viz. : Mary, wife of George O. Fisher, Thomas F., who married Maggie Maskill, and died in 1879 and W. W. The latter was born in Claibourne Township December 24, 1857 ; received a common school education and has followed farming for life. He was married, October 7, 1879, to Ella daughter of John Maskill, of Richwood, and by her has one child-Clarence. She is a member of M. P. Church. Mr. Kinney is a Republican in politics. Our subject lost his wife in 1860, and on February 3, 1861, he married Mary J. Snedeker, who died in 1865, without issue. On December 1, 1866, he married Mrs. Sylvia Hurdle, who was a widow with one child at the time of her marriage to Mr. Kinney. The latter union has been blessed with one child, O. E. now thirteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Kinney are members of the M. P. Church, in which he has been a Deacon, Trustee and Superintendent of Sabbath school. He was a Democrat until the discussion of the Missouri Compromise, when he became a Republican, but latterly, he is a Prohibitionist. He came to this township in 1845, and now owns a farm of 270 acres, one of the best in the county. ELIAS KYLE, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, October 19, 1840; he is a son of James and Elizabeth (Boyd) Kyle, natives of Delaware County, the former of Irish, and the latter of Dutch descent. Our subject was raised and educated as a farmer, and has followed that occupation through life, with success. He owns 137 sores of good land three and a half miles southwest of Richwood, to which he moved from Delaware County in 1876, and on which he still resides. He is also a carpenter, and able to do almost any kind of woodwork. In 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Sixty-sixth Ohio, Capt. Buxton, and, with his command, took part in sixteen hotly contested battles. At Savannah, he was dangerously wounded in the neck by a minie ball, which broke his under jaw bone and tore away fully two inches of the bone. His life was despaired of, and his wound was dressed only at the earnest solicitation of his friends, as the Surgeon thought it a waste of valuable time to "tie up the wounds of dying men." At another time, be had a furrow plowed along the top of his head by a ball that just grazed the skull, felling him to the earth, where he lay unconscious, and tearing away a part of his hair, which he keeps, having recovered it, for a memento. After the war, he returned home, and resumed his peaceful avocations. In 1866, he married Ellen J. Jones, a daughter of David L. Jones, and a native of Ohio. They have two children-Laura E. and Lucy M. Mr. Kyle is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mrs. Kyle of the Congregational. He is a Republican,. and a prominent member of Rising Sun Lodge, K. P. JOHN LAKE, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, September 10, 1848; he is the son of Lewis and Hannah (Hurd) Lake, the former a native of New York and the latter of Vermont, both of English descent. The father was a merchant in Delaware and Richwood, and a farmer. Our subject was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of Delaware County. He early chose the occupation of a farmer, and in it has been very successful, now owning 110 acres of good and well-improved land. He was married, October 18, 1873, to Ella M. Biddle, daughter of Richard Biddle, her parents being natives of Wales. By this union three children were born, viz.: Charles F., Mary E. and Lewis J. Mr. Lake is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He is also a member of the K. P. and I. O. O. F. societies. In 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Eighty second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., and was also made prisoner, but paroled. He same to Union County in 1861, and settled one and one-quarter miles north of Richwood. JOHN LANDON, merchant, Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, November 26, 1838. His grandfather, Cyre Landon, was a Pennsylvanian, who, with his family, came to Ohio in 1821, and located in Marion County. James Landon, the father of our subject, married Rebecca Cochran, and was a life-long farmer in Marion and Delaware Counties. Our subject was brought up in Delaware County, receiving the advantage of a district school education, and in school, as on the farm, he was characterized by his industrious habits. He followed farming until 1863, when, finding a farmer's life not congenial to his taste, he engaged as a clerk in a hardware store in Marion for one year, since which time he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits. When he concluded to go into business, he entered the store of Mr. Kling at Marion, to learn the methods of mercantile business and proved himself to be an apt scholar. In 1864, he began business in Richwood, with a capital of $300, and from that small start he has risen, step by step, through his industry and perseverance, until now he occupies a place in the front rank of the substantial business men of the county. He employs a large number of assistants, who are under perfect discipline, and has the duties of the store systematized to a degree seldom seen except in the largest metropolitan establishments. In fact, the arrangement and display of his stock cannot be bettered. He is a thorough advertiser, and for years did his own advertising, Page 639 & 640 Missing CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 641 preparing his circulars at night and having them scattered broadcast in the morning, offering inducements that would flock his store with customers. By offering special inducements to farmers for their produce, he succeeded in abolishing the huckster trade in a circuit of several miles around the town, much to the satisfaction of the people and other merchants. He was the first merchant to ship goods to the town by rail. In 1867, he married Abbie Gast, daughter of Christian Gast, the founder of the village of Prospect, Marion Co., Ohio. By this marriage, one child was born, viz., Eddie B. The family are all members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Langdon has been an Elder and Sabbath School Superintendent., He is a Republican in politics. JAMES H. LANGSTAFF, deceased, was born in New Jersey March 4, 1809, and died in Claibourne Township in 1869. When nine years of age, he came to Ohio with his father, who was a farmer, and in 1838 he came to Claibourne Township, where he resided until his death, at that time owning 360 acres of land. He was a prominent and influential citizen, a member and class leader of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a successful farmer. He had a family of nine children, viz.: Lana A., widow of the late Nelson McCallister, a member of Company C, One Hundred and Seventy-Fourth Ohio Infantry, who died in the service; Asa, a farmer in this township; Lemuel, also a farmer; Margaret, wife of Calvin Richards; Lamanda; Martha, wife of Isaac Stafer; William, Kendrick; and Oscar, deceased. The survivors are all married and doing well. Two sons, Lemuel and Asa, were in the Union army during the war of the rebellion. Mrs. Catharine Langstaff, the widow of our subject, is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and now resides in Richwood. ASA LANGSTAFF, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Richwood, is a son of J. H. and Catherine (Dixon) Langstaff, the former a native of New York; and. the latter of Virginia. They came to Ohio, and settled in Union County. His father was a wealthy and successful farmer, and owned about 400 acres of land in this county. Our subject was born May 24, 1836, and was raised on a farm, receiving his education in the district schools. He has been a farmer and stock dealer nearly all his life, and raises cattle that rank high in the grade of stock cattle. some of them having taken several premiums at the fairs, He owns 200 acres of land, well stocked and thoroughly equipped, and a herd of the best short-horn cattle in this section. He was married, in 1858, to Hannah Lockhart, a native of New York, by whom he has four children, viz.: Marshall, James C., Lawrence and Minnie. Mrs. Langstaff is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Langstaff is a Republican in politics, and has been Trustee of his township. In 1864, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Robb, of Marysville, and served with that company. J. K. LANGSTAFF, farmer, P. O. Richmond, was born in Leesburg Township, this county, March 5, 1858, and is a son of James H. and Catherine (Dixon) Langstaff, whose biography appears in this work. He received a good English education, which was perfected in the college at Granville, Ohio, and has adopted the occupation of a farmer. He, was married, December 1, 1881, to Miss Sarah Watson, a daughter of A. and Eve (Phillips) Watson, residents of Richwood, where the former is engaged as a photographer. Mr. Langstaff is a Republican in politics, and a prominent member of Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 443, at Richwood. Though young in years, he is a practical farmer, and is cultivating his land in the most approved manner. ELMUS W. LANGSTAFF, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio January 24, 1831. He is a son of Asa L. and Laney (Boylan) Langstaff, natives of New Jersey of English and Irish descent. His father, who was a shoe-maker by trade, came to Ohio in 1815, and in the latter part of his life engaged in farming, Our subject has chosen farming for a life, occupation, and in it has met with success, having accumulated fifty acres of good land in this township. In 1850, be married Eliza J. Norman, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Taylor) Norman. They have six children-Laney A., Millard F., Emma C., Ida May, Judson and John E. In 1865, Mr. Langstaff enlisted in Company E. One Hundred and Ninety-First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged at the close of the war. His son Millard is one of the owners of the Magnetic Springs summer resorts, ZERAH LINSLY, retired farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Vermont August 8, 1808; he is a, son of Simeon arid Rutilla (Benedick) Linsly, natives of Vermont, of English descent. His father was a Revolutionary soldier, and a farmer by occupation. Our subject received an ordinary education, and in 1820, came to Ohio with his parents, settling in Delaware County. In 1828, he came to Union County, where be has spent the remainder of his life. In 1828, he married Miss Parmela Waters, by whom he had six children, three boys and three girls, five of whom are living, all married and well to do. Mrs. Linsly died in 1864, and in 1878 Mr Linsly married Mrs. Phebe (Rose) Beem, a widow lady, who had ten children by her first husband. Mr. and Mrs, Linsly are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. Linsly has been a Deacon in the church over half a century. He is a Democrat, in politics, and during his residence in Delaware County served as Assessor and Justice of the Peace. He has retired from active life and is spending his remaining years in peace and comfort at his home in Richwood. THOMAS S. LOVELESS, senior member of the firm of Loveless, Howe & Bishop, proprietors of the Richwood Woolen Mills, and dealers in wool, grain, hides, furs and staves, Richwood, Ohio, was born in the Empire State May 25, 1821 ; lie is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Sprowls) 642 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. Loveless, the former of English, and the latter of German descent. His parents emigrated to Ohio in 1832, and settled near Akron Our subject received a common school education, and remained with his parents on the farm until sixteen years of age, when he began learning the manufacture of woolen, in which he was engaged ten years. He then commenced the business at East Liberty, Ohio, in 1846, and remained fourteen years. In 1869, he came to Richwood and started the Richwood Woolen Mills, in which be has been since engaged. In 1849, he married Miss Miranda James, who was born in Logan County, Ohio, December 3, 1830 ; she is a daughter of Thomas James. Her parents were members of the Society of Friends, and of English descent. To this union two children were born, viz.: E. O., a jeweler in Delaware, Ohio, and Jennie, wife of S. W. Van Winkle, a lawyer of Richwood. Mr. Loveless has been in business all his life, has never been sued, and has made what he now owns by his own exertions. J. P. MARRIOTT, farmer and stockman, Richwood, was born in Licking County, Ohio, August 16, 1832 ; he is the son of Henry T. and Rebecca (Penn) Marriott, natives of Maryland, of English descent. His father was born May 9, 1807, and was a son of William and Edith (Waters) Marriott, natives of Maryland, who came to Ohio in 1825, and settled in Licking County, where they remained a short time, and then moved to Knox County, where both died. Henry T. married Rebecca Penn, who was born September 29, 1807, and with her moved to Claibourne Township, in 1845, buying land near Richwood, about thirty acres of which has since been sold off in town lots. He died in 1875. He raised a family of ten children, eight boys and two girls; seven of the children now living, six boys and one girl. They are all shrewd business men , but they have been only moderately successful, They are all residents of Claibourne Township and all the male members of the family are rather small in stature, except our subject, who is above the average height. He was reared on the farm, and has made farming his life occupation, now owning a well-improved farm near Richwood, on which he resides. In 1855, he married Theoba Farrier, by whom he had one child-Eliza, now the wife of William Peet, of Delaware County. Mrs. Marriott died in 1863, and, in 1865, Mr. Marriott married Sisson Fisher; she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Richwood. Mr. Marriott is a Republican in politics. FRANK A. MARTIN, of the firm of Martin & Wynkoop, dealers in lumber, shingles, doors. blinds and lath, and proprietors of the Richwood Saw Mill, Richwood, Ohio, was born in Knox County, Ohio, May 22, 1848; he is a son of George R. and Agnes (Shipley) Martin, the former a native of Ohio, of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, of English descent. His father was a carpenter by trade, and also owned and operated a saw mill. Our subject spent his early life in school, in the saw mill and on the farm. He has been successful In business, and owns a fine farm of 116 acres in Claibourne Township. He came to Union County in 1874, and, in 1881, embarked in business in Richwood with his present partner. He was married, in 1870, to Amanda C. Morton, a native of Knox County, Ohio, by whom he has two children-Anna May and Ray M. He is a steady, industrious man, and has made his way in the world by his own individual efforts, is a Republican in politics. JOHN M. MARTIN, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born at Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, July 31 , 1828. His father, Jacob Martin was born in Pennsylvania in 1799, and died in Ohio in 1870. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and by occupation a cabinet-maker and carpenter, but in the latter part of his life he followed carpentering, house-joining and farming. He was married at Mt. Vernon to Ann J. Adams, who was born in Virginia in 1800, and died in Ohio in 1881. Our subject was raised on a farm and has made farming the occupation of his life. He came to this county in 1864, and now owns a farm of 116 acres in Claibourne Township. He was married in 1859 to Martha J. Marquis, who was born in this State August 18, 1833; she is a daughter of William and Elizabeth Marquis. The former died in 1877, aged seventy-nine years, and the latter still lives, in her eighty-first year. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have had three children-Lizzie, Anna. and John D. Mr. Martin is a Democrat in politics, and one of the Trustees of the Township. JOHN MASKILL, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Clark County, Ohio, December 5, 1822; he is a son of Robert and Isabella (Middleton) Maskill, natives of Yorkshire, England. They came to America in 1818, and settled in Springfield, Ohio, where they resided until 1832, when they came to Union County. They raised a family of seven children. Our subject was raised on a farm and has devoted his whole life to farming, now being the owner of 175 acres of land in Leesburg Township. He was married in 1850 to Adeline Wells a daughter of James Wells, who came to Union County in 1834. By this marriage, nine children were born, all girls, of whom six now survive, viz.: Elizabeth, wife of William Styres; Isabella, wife of George W.. Jolliff; Harriett, wife of S. B. Taylor; Charlotte, wife of E. Freeman; Ella, wife of W. Kinney; and Mattis, wife of James Jolliff. Mr. and Mrs. Maskill are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is Secretary of the Sunday school. He cast his first vote for Taylor, but is now a Republican. He has a nice property in Richwood, where he now resides, in addition to his farm in Leesburg Township. FRANCIS M. McADAMS, gardener, Richwood, Ohio. John McAdams, Sr., and Catherine Stewart were married in Pennsylvania, of which State they were natives, about the year 1797; coming to Ohio in 1804 or 1805, they settled in Champaign County, near the present site of CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 643 Kingston, where they lived to the end of their days, he dying June 16, 1839, in his eighty-fifth year, she dying March 26, 1839, in her eighty-second year. Their offspring were Isaac, born 1798, died 1869; Samuel, born 1800, died 1832 (was killed by a fall from a horse); Elenor (Dillon), born 1808, died 1865; Nancy (Spain), born 1806; John, born 1808, died 1866; Archibald, born 1812, died 1845; William, born 1814. Both the paternal and maternal ancestry were of Scottish descent, but about all that is known of the family tree is what is above stated. The elder McAdams was a large, muscular man, fitted for the pioneer days in which he lived. He was fond of the sports of the chase, and usually kept about him the fleetest dogs and horses in the country. He served his township as Justice of the Peace for a series of years, and was prominent in the public affairs of his county. He served in the war of 1812 in the capacity of scout. He was a great story-teller, and had a foot nearly double the ordinary size. John McAdams, Jr., and Rachel Graham were married by Peter Igou January 21, 1829. The Grahams were of Irish descent. To them were born Ellen, Eliza J., Samuel, Melona, Francis M., Mary A., Harriet and Ruth. These all grew to mature years and married. Francis Marion, the subject of this sketch, is the youngest son, and sixth child of the family. He was born near the head-waters of Treakle's Creek, in Union Township, Champaign County, Ohio, October 13, 1838. He spent the years of his minority on the farm where he was born, and assisted materially in bringing up the family, giving some attention to school during the winter season, thereby obtaining more than an ordinary common school education, and in later years became an efficient teacher. July 17, 1861, he married Susannah M., the second daughter and fourth child of Warren and Susannah Freeman, of Goshen Township, Champaign County. The Freemans were from Ontario County, N. Y. Mrs. McAdams was born July 17, 1843. To this marriage have been born nine children, all of whom are still living, to wit: Charles Francis, born September 5, 1862; Janet Gertrude, born June 12, 1866 ; Laura Eliza, born April 5, 1868; Eva Marie, born May 6, 1869; Carrie Amelia, born April 15, 1871 ; Lydia Catherine, born May 9, 1873; Susie May, born February 16, 1876; Howard Deuel, born August 8, 1880; Ralph Thomas, born September 25, 1882. August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served as a private some months, when he was promoted to a noncommissioned officer, and at his muster out was Second Sergeant of his company. His regiment campaigned in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas, sharing the well-fought fields of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw, Bentonville and other lesser engagements. After the close of the war, our subject was selected by his regimental comrades to write the history of the command, a duty for which experience as a writer and the possession of a vast amount of the necessary data, made him particularly qualified. His writings found in the histories of Champaign, Clark and Fayette Counties, to which he contributed largely, attest his ability as a writer. From 1865 to 1870, he sold general merchandise in the village of Mutual ; then he became a resident of Mingo, and resumed the same business, continuing for several years. After residing at Mingo nearly twelve years, during which time he was twice elected Justice of the Peace, besides serving the public in other capacities, be purchased property in the north suburbs of Richwood, and November 10, 1881, came to that village, having in view the business of gardening. Mr. McAdams takes an active interest in public affairs, speaks his sentiments openly, scans public men and public measures carefully, and votes the Republican ticket continually. He and his wife and the adult members of the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. NELSON McALLISTER (deceased) was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, December 4, 1827, and was a son of John and Mary (Grayton) McAllister, who were among the pioneers of Union County. Our subject grew up on the farm, with no educational privileges, except three months' attendance at a school which was taught in his father's corn-crib. He was a farmer, and followed that occupation until the rebellion, when he enlisted in Company E, Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in 1865. He was a brave and faithful soldier, a kind and indulgent father and an affectionate husband. He was married January 16, 1850, to Lany A., daughter of James H. Langstaff, whose sketch appears in this work. They had four children, viz.: Olintha E., born January 29, 1851 ; Luther E., born May 21, 1854; Cassius R., born March 24, 1856; Ida V., born October 18; 1861. Mr. McAllister was a Republican in politics. He owned 125 acres of land which his family has improved and increased to 350 acres. At the death of her husband Mrs. McAllister assumed the management of the farm affairs and under her everything has prospered. R. T. McMILLIN, retired farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, June 4, 1818 ; he is a son of Robert and Nancy A. (Mitchell) McMillin, natives of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent. The former was a commissioned officer in the war of 1812. Our subject is a farmer by occupation, as was his father and grandfather, and he has been successful in all of his farm operations. He opened and improved his present place of residence and on it has raised a family of children, who are all well-to-do citizens of the county. He is a liberal, high-minded gentleman, and speaks his opinions openly and freely, without regard to the feelings of others. He was married in 1839 to Margaret A. Moore, a native of Belmont County, Ohio, born in 1820, and a daughter of Samuel Moore, a prominent farmer of that county. By this union eight children have been born, viz.: Rachel A., wife of J. B. Thompson; Robert G., who 644 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. was born in Harrison County, Ohio, October 4, 1847, and, having received a limited education, has devoted his life to the farm; he was married in 1874 to Mary Ellen Coffman, who was born in this State October 1, 1840 ; she is a daughter of Samuel and Ellen (Thompson) Coffman, of English descent. By this marriage two children; were born-David B. and Matilda. The third child, Andrew, was born in Harrison County in 1850, and in 1880 married Amanda Hedge, a daughter of Absalom Hedge ; she was born in Union County in 1856. They have one child Nettie May. He has been a life-long farmer and now owns fifty-five acres of land. The fourth child, Margaret J., is the wife of A. C. Staneard. The fifth, Mary M., is the wife of James -Trimble. The sixth, John, is at home. The seventh, Martha, is the wife of J. D. Powell, and the eighth is Amos, who lives at home. Air. and Mrs. McMillin are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an active member and has been a Trustee. He is a Democrat in politics and a firm friend of education, having been a School Director twenty years. He, has recently retired from the active labor of the farm and in his latter days is enjoying the rest he so well merits. P. R. MILLS, Superintendent Public Schools, Richwood, was born at Reynoldsburg, Franklin County, Ohio, August 23, 1850; he is a son of Nelson T. and Eleanor (Rhoads) Mills, the former native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. His father was a saddler by trade, and came to Ohio in 1830. His mother died when he was but six months of age. He was educated principally at the Reynoldsburg Union Academy, from which he graduated in 1874. During the winters of six years previous to his graduation, he taught school to obtain the means necessary for completing his education. After leaving the academy, he taught at Aetna, Licking County, Ohio, one year; Pataskala, one year, and Canal Winchester three years, resigning his position at the latter place on account of ill health. He afterward accepted the position of Superintendent of the South Grammar School at Lancaster, Ohio, which he resigned one year later to assume the duties of his present charge. Since leaving school, his entire time has been devoted to the public schools, both in self-education and management, and his vacations are spent in visiting metropolitan and other schools, to obtain ideas for the better management of his own school. His success as a Superintendent is partly clue to a meeting of his teachers, which he holds each week with some definite object in view. One year ago he engaged, with marked and promising success, in conducting a teachers' normal school during the summer vacation. In the fall of 1882, he was instrumental in organizing a lecture association that has given Richwood a higher order of lectures, and has enabled the people to enjoy entertainments that would otherwise have been denied them. In 1874, he married Zoda Howard, a daughter of William and Mary J. (Reynolds) Howard, and a native of Reynoldsburg. By this union two children have been born, viz., Glennie and Bertha. Mr. Mills is a member of the Odd Fellows society, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. W. C. MOORE, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Hamilton County, Penn., October 11, 1806; he is the son of Christian and Ann Moore, the former a native of Maryland, of German descent, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, of Welsh descent. Our subject was reared on his father's farm, and early adopted the occupation of a farmer. After reaching his majority, he attended school 100 days, which was the most schooling he ever had. He is now the owner of 125 acres of good land, which he has made by his own industry, having worked himself up from a penniless young man to a well-to-do freeholder. He was married, January 28, 1828, to Anne Long, a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch descent, and a daughter of Benjamin Long. After their marriage, he emigrated to Licking County, Ohio, and followed farming until 1854, when he purchased the farm on which he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have had the following children: John, born December 11, 1830, now farming in this township; Ellen, born August 10, 1832 ; Thomas (deceased), born August 22, 1834; James, born November 15, 1841, and now farming in Jackson Township; W. W., born August 1, 1849; and Henry, born August 21, 1853. The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Mr. Moore has been a member sixty years, and for forty years has been a class leader and eight years Superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Moore is a Republican in politics. Thomas, the third son, lost his life in the service of his country. DAVID MURPHEY, farmer, P. O. Richwood, the fourth child of nine children, born to Joseph and Rebecca (Geer) Murphey, was born April 2, 1829. His parents, who were natives of Pennsylvania, came to Union County in 1834, and settled in Claibourne Township, where his father died in 1836. His mother was born in 1800 and is still living. Our subject was raised as a farmer, but has spent most of life at the carpenter's trade. In 1858, he married Mary Ellen Cooksey, a native of Virginia, of Irish descent, and a daughter of Simpson Cooksey. By this union, six children have been born, viz.: Frances, Jennie E., Rebecca Ellen, Minnie Ophelia, Wealthy Ann and George W. The parents are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Murphey is a Democrat in politics. The family reside on fifty-six acres of land belonging to Mrs. Murphey. LEMUEL MYERS, retired farmer, P. O. Richwood, is a son of Henry and Rebecca (Stone) Myers, natives of Virginia. the former of German and the latter of English descent. They emigrated to Ohio in 1810, and located in Licking County, where they spent their lives, both dying at the age of eighty-two years, on the farm where our subject was born and reared. They CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. 645 raised a family of nine children, five boys and four girls. The subject of this sketch was born in Licking County, January 1, 1816, and was raised on a farm, receiving but a meager education. From the age of fifteen years until he was forty-five, he followed farming, and in winter taught singing school. He has been a student of music all his life, and for forty years has sang in a church choir. He is a large, powerful man, of the old pioneer type, and well remembers the time when roads even mud roads were scarce, and log rollings of frequent occurrence. He has helped to carry logs every day, Sunday excepted, for three weeks at a, time, and was never known to shun his place at the handspike. He has always been a strong temperance man, and to now an advocate of prohibition. Of a peaceable nature, he shuns quarrels and. was never known to be engaged in a fight, although amply able to take care of himself, if assailed. In 1842, he was appointed Captain of a company of militia, and was afterward promoted to the rank of Major. He came to Ohio in 1842, and during his residence here has served as Infirmary Director and Trustee of Claibourne Township. He has recently given up active life and retired to a nest and substantial home in Richwood, which, with the adjoining farm of 110 acres he owns. He was married, July 1, 1837, to Elenora Gill, a native of Maryland, of English decent, by whom he had eleven children, seven now living. The parents are both members - of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Myers was a Democrat until 1861, after which he was a Republican until he became a Prohibitionist. He had three sons in the rebellion-William, S. sad O. S. in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Henry in the One Hundred and Eighty-second. A. K. NEER, dealer in produce, Richwood, was born in Clark County, Ohio, January 31, 1859, and is a son of Joseph C. and Dorotha Ellen (Smith) Neer, natives of Clark County, of English descent. His father was a prominent farmer and sit extensive stock dealer for years in Clark County, and still resides on his farm in that county, devoting his entire time to agricultural pursuits. His farm consists of 170 acres of fine land, thoroughly Improved and under a high state of cultivation. Our subject received a common school education, and remained on the farm until twenty-one years of age, since which time he has been in the employ of Edward Thomas & Co., wholesale dealers in butter, eggs and poultry, whose headquarters are at Urbana. They have branch establishments at Richwood, Marysville and New Bremen, the former being under the control of our subject, who is thoroughly conversant with all branches of the business. He was married, January 28, 1883, to Mary O. Ayers, a native of Morrow County, Ohio,, and a daughter of Lyman N. and Harriet (Truesdale) Ayers. Mr. Neer is a Republican in politics; be is also Superintendent of the Baptist Sabbath school. JOHN OGAN, Village Marshal of Richwood, was born in Allen County, Ohio, May 31, 1846, and is a son of Peter and Caroline (Vertner) Ogan. the former a native of Virginia, of English descent, and the latter a, native of Kentucky, of German descent. His father came to Ohio in 1830, and settled on a farm in Putnam County. Our subject received the educational advantages usually afforded to boys on a farm and chose farming for his occupation, beginning life for himself with nothing. He has been a trader all his life, has dealt largely in farm lands, and for two years in horses, with Solomon Walker, and has been very successful in all his operations. During the rebellion, he offered himself for service seven times before he was accepted, but finally enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He is now Second Lieutenant of the Gibson Guards, Ohio Militia, of Richwood. In 1880, be came to Richwood and engaged in the livery business with H. J. Perry, but has since discontinued that and is now officiating as Marshal of Richwood. He is a man of great physical ability, very determined, but cool in judgment, and an excellent- officer, of whom the violators of the peace have a wholesome fear. He is a member of the Lodge and Encampment of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias, and a Republican in politics. He has made his way in the world unaided, has no debts to encumber him, and owns eighty-five acres of good land. In 1871, he married Rebecca M. Sterling, daughter of David Sterling, of York Township, and by her has one child-David E., born October 8, 1874. Mrs. Ogan is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Richwood. JOSEPH PARISH, farmer, P. O. Richwood, is a native of New Jersey, and a son of William, and Margaret (Bingham) Parish, the former a native of England, and the latter of Germany. His father, who was a school teacher and artist, came to Ohio more than half a century ago and settled near Zanesville, where be spent the remainder of his life farming. Our subject was raised on the farm, receiving a limited education, and has devoted most of his life to agricultural pursuits. He now owns a farm of 140 acres, and has given his children eighty acres. He was married October 30, 1838, to Keziah Ramey. Her parents were Virginians, of German descent, and her father was a Captain in the war of 1812. By her marriage, she has had six children, viz.: William A.; Daniel; Elizabeth, wife of James Moore; Frances Ellen, wife of D. F. Carr; Joseph; and Louise, wife of Perry Barker. The parents are members of the Methodist Church. in which he has been a steward and trustee. He is a Republican in politics. He had two sons in the Union army, and both were taken prisoners. WALTER SCOTT PARK, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Crawford County, Ohio, March 20, 1834; he is a son of Thomas and Susannah (Marquis) Park, natives of Ohio, of Scotch Irish descent. They came to Ohio at an early day and settled on a farm, where the father died 646 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. in 1845. The mother died in 1882. Our subject was raised and educated as a farmer, and has devoted the whole of his life to that occupation. In 1860, he married Lydia Bretz, a native of Ohio, of Dutch descent. She has a farm of 100 acres, on which they reside. They have four children, viz.: Ida May, Oscar V., Deborah A. and John M. Mr. and Mrs. Park are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which they are active and zealous workers. Mr. Park taught district school for a time in his younger days, but since 1867, when he came to this county, he has been engaged in farming. He is a Democrat in politics. D. F. PARSONS, proprietor of the Commercial Hotel, Richwood. was born in the State of Maine June 20, 1834; he is a son of Charles and Martha (Fernel) Parsons, natives of Maine, the former of English and the latter of Scotch descent. His father was a cabinet-maker by trade. Our subject received a common school education, and at the age of seventeen began working at cabinet-making, which he followed during his residence in his native State. After coming to Ohio, he engaged in merchandising, and resided in Knox County until 1864, when he came to Richwood, and for nine years engaged in the furniture business. He also dealt in dry goods in connection with his furniture trade. In 1879, he opened the Commercial Hotel, a neat and commodious building, three stories high, containing twenty-five rooms, a large and well furnished dining room, and good sample rooms. He is a generous and thoughtful landlord, particular about the comfort of his guests, and very popular with the traveling public. He owns valuable property in the business center of the village, and is driving a thriving trade at his hotel. In 1857, he married Mary Swetland, a native of Ohio, of Dutch descent, and a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Parsons is a member of the Masonic order, and a Republican in politics. HUGH J. PERRY, liveryman, P. O. Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, November 26, 1833, and is a son of John and Gwynn (Hughes) Perry, both of Welsh descent, and early settlers of Delaware County, where his father was engaged in farming. Our subject was raised on the farm, and at the age of eighteen years purchased a threshing machine, which he operated during the fall and winter seasons for fifteen years. He has since made several changes in business, but has been a trader all his life, having sold several farms and dealt largely in town property. He has met with success in all of his business operations, and at one time owned 220 acres of very fine land. He deals in the French and Clydesdale horses ; went to France for them in 1871, and in 1874 went to Wales, Scotland and Belgium for the same purpose. He sold one horse for $3,000, and another for $3,500. During the late rebellion he was a First Lieutenant in the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Ohio Infantry. He is a Republican in politics, and at present is serving as a Trustee of his township. He was married in 1866 to Miss Sarah J. Anderson, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, by whom he has had six children, four now living, viz.: Nellie M., Charlie, Lizzie and Allie. Mrs. Perry is a member of the Baptist Church. JOHN A. PHILLIPS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Richwood, Union County, Ohio, March 22, 1836. He is a son of William and Isabella Ann (Woods) Phillips, both of Scotch Irish extraction. They emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1832, and settled in Richwood, where they remained until their deaths, he in 1880, and she in 1875. The former was a potter by trade, and in 1834 built the first pottery in Union County, which business he followed most of his life. Our subject and two sisters are the only survivors of a family of eight children. He received a common school education and learned the harness-maker's trade in Richwood, following it seven years. In 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company F, Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three years, and was discharged in 1864, at the expiration of his term of service, as Fourth Sergeant. Reserved under Gen. Sherman, and at the siege of Vicksburg he and over three hundred of his comrades were taken prisoners and confined for three months in two different rebel prisons. Returning to civil life, he embarked in the drug trade in the firm of Phillips & Woods; then in the lumber business two years, dry goods trade one year, drug business with A. Z. Converse eighteen months, and finally purchased a farm south of Richwood and partly in the corporation, on which he still resides. He was married, October 13, 1869, to Mary C. Fisher, daughter of Benjamin Fisher, and by her has had two children-Lizzie L. and Alfiretta Q. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Phillips is a Republican in politics. His brother, A. G. Phillips, was killed at the battle of Atlanta. Ga., in 1863. NEWTON PIERCE, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, June 7, 1837, and is a son of J. G. and Celestia (Lusk) Pierce, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New Hampshire. He received an ordinary education in Delaware County, and chose the occupation of a farmer. In 1859, he went to Pike's Peak, and remained in the West ten years. At the breaking-out of the rebellion, he enlisted in the First Colorado Cavalry. for three years or during the war, and at the expiration of his term he re-enlisted in the State Militia. His command was principally engaged in fighting the Indians on the frontier. In 1865 he was wounded in an engagement, but not seriously. After the war closed, he was for two years in the Government employ at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., after which he returned to his native county. In 1870, he married Adelia Flemming, by whom he has four children-John, Howard, Hosea and Melvin. In, 1877, they settled in Claibourne Township, where he owns 110 acres of good land. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 647 WILLIAM H. RICHARDS, merchant tailor, Richwood, was born in Wales August 19, 1851, and is a son of Henry and Anna Richards. He learned the trade of a tailor in his native country, and, in 1867, came to America, spending the first three months after his arrival in New York City. He then came to Jefferson County, Ohio, and, in 1874, came to Richwood, where be worked as a journeyman until 1878, when he commenced business for himself. On August 17, 1870, he married Anna Evans, a native of Wales, and a daughter of Henry Evans. To this union one child has been born, viz., Mary Tabitha. Mr. and Mrs. Richards are members of the Baptist Church. He took an active part in the building of the church at Richwood, was a member of the building committee, and is now a Deacon in the church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Prudential Order of America, an Odd Fellow and a Freemason. He is a thorough master of his trade in all its details, understands several systems of cutting, and is doing a thriving business in Richwood. He employs three or four first-class assistants, giving them good wages and employment all the time, and is thereby enabled to guarantee his patrons satisfaction. His correct workmanship and strong desire to please, coupled with his extensive knowledge of the business, reasonable prices and choice selection of goods, procures for him a very large proportion of the custom of the town and surrounding country. J. N. RODGERS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, January 12, 1845. He is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Corbin) Rodgers, natives of Vermont, the former of Irish and the latter of Scotch descent. Our subject was raised and educated on the farm, and has followed farming through life. He owns 130 acres of land in Claibourne Township, where he has spent most of his life. In 1865, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a drummer boy, and served until January 20, 1866, when he was ,discharged at Columbus. He was married, in 1869, to Mary Baumgartner, a native of. Ohio, of German descent. They have had four children born to them, viz.: Charles W., Hattie, Dora and Clara. Mr. Rodgers is a Republican in politics. JOHN E. ROSETTE, of the firm of Barnes & Rosette, of which a description is given in the sketch of P. E. Barnes, was born in Richwood, Ohio, November 22, 1849, and is a son of Charles W. and Mary (Milligan) Rosette, natives of Ohio, the former of French and the latter of Irish and English descent. His father came to Richwood in 1845, where he engaged in the wool trade, and where he died in 1877. He was Assessor and Treasurer of the township, and for twelve years filled the office of Justice of the Peace. He raised a family of six children, five boys and one girl. Our subject was educated in the Richwood Public Schools, and for a time worked in a mill, after which he engaged in buying grain. In 1870, he engaged in selling buggies, and has since continued in that business. In 1873, he married Annie Shelton, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, of German descent, and by her has two children-Iva, ,and a baby not yet named. Mr. Rosette is a member of. the Knights of Pythias and of the Odd Fellows society, and a Republican in politics. He has served two terms as Clerk of Claibourne Township. JAMES A. ROSS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, November 9, 1829, and is a son of Dr. Joseph Rose, whose sketch appears in this work. Our subject received a common school education, and early adopted the profession of a farmer, which he has followed through life with marked success, now being the owner of seventy-one acres of good land. His farm is well improved and thoroughly cultivated, and has good piked roads on three sides of it. He has made his way in the world entirely without aid, having started with nothing but a year old colt. He is a horse fancier, and he and his brother own one of the best Norman horses in the county. He was married, October 27, 1852, to Nancy Headley, who was born in Coshocton County January 4, 1833 ; she is a daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Dial) Headley, the former of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. By this union three children were born Laura E., wife of L. O. Slemmons; Lawrence E., deceased, December 18, 1878, accidently shot while out hunting; and Imogene, now attending school. JOHN RUHL, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Pennsylvania June 6, 1826; he is the son of Michael and Elizabeth (Curfman) Ruhl, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of German and the latter of Dutch descent. Our subject was raised and educated as a farmer, and has followed that occupation through life. He was married in 1851 to Elizabeth Walters, who was born May 8, 1827; she was also of German descent. By this marriage seven children were born, viz., James W., deceased, born March 25, 1854; Mary E., born January 23, 1856 ; D. C., deceased, born December 26, 1858; Maria C., born June 5, 1860; John M., born February 10, 1862 ; W. M., born February 7, 1864, and J. F., born November 20, 1865. Mrs. Ruhl died September 29, 1867, and on March 6, 1868, Mr. Ruhl married Julia Ann Snyder, a daughter of Jacob Snyder. Mr. Ruhl came to Claibourne Township in 1861, and now owns a farm of nearly fifty-four acres in. this township. He is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are both members of the Methodist Protestant Church. HON. HYLAS SABINE, the son of John F. and Euphemia (Clement) Sabine, was born June 5. 1829. His father is a native of Vermont, and of English descent. His mother was born in the State of New York, and was of German ancestry. John F. Sabine located in Union Township, Union County, Ohio. in 1812, and became a prominent farmer. From 1854 to 1856, he held the position of County Auditor, and has been for many years a member of the board of In- 648 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. firmary Directors for the county, being the present Secretary of said board. Hylas Sabine, began to receive an education in the common schools of his neighborhood, and subsequently attended college at Delaware, Ohio. For two years, be engaged in teaching in Kentucky, and at the expiration of that time returned to Union County, locating in Marysville. He succeeded his father as County Auditor, and held the office two years. In October, 1858, he established a. newspaper at Marysville, known as the Union Press, which was continued till August, 1863. The editorial department of the paper was conducted by J. B. Coats (present Judge of Probate), from the spring of 1861 to the autumn of 1862, Mr. Sabine having, in the meantime, resided a. few months in Washington, D. C., and also taken a law course at Harvard University. October 8, 1857, he married Anna Ware, daughter of J. R. Ware, and a descendant from Scotch and English ancestors. Like her husband, she attended the law school at Harvard University, and is. a thorough classical scholar. Her course of studies was taken under the widely-known instructor, Horace Mann, at Antioch College. Mr. and Mrs. Sabine are the parents of two children, a. son and a daughter. The son, who is the younger child, is a present member of the Freshman class of the Ohio State University, and is fourteen years of age. The daughter is a student at the same school, After his return from Harvard, Mr. Sabine located, in 1863, at Richwood, Union County, Ohio, and became a prominent real estate dealer. He also opened up a farm three miles west of that village, and expended largely from his means in making general improvements, winning a position among the leading men of the county, for enterprise. He built the finest house and barn which have ever been erected in Rich wood; these are now the property of' A. J. Blake. Mr. Sabine's business ventures were moderately successful, and a great portion of their proceeds are invested in improvements. He has considerable political fame, and in 1877 was chosen on the Republican ticket to the position of State Senator, representing the Seventeenth Senatorial District, composed of the counties of Logan, Hardin, Marion and Union. This position he filled honorably and acceptably for two years. His political faith is pinned to the platform of the Republican party. February 25, 1880, he received an appointment from Gov. Foster as State Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs, which official position he now holds. Mr. Sabine 's business and public career have extended through but a comparatively few years, yet the results of his efforts are certainly such as to afford him much gratification. JOHN M. SANDERS, of the firm of Gardiner & Sanders, dealers in real estate, Richwood. was born in Union County, Ohio, August 25, 1837; and is a son of Samuel R. and Peggy (Hopkins) Sanders, natives of Kentucky, of English descent. He received a common school education, and remained on his father's farm until twenty-two years of age, after which he farmed for himself about four years. In 1862, he came to Richwood, and for three years conducted the Atlantic Hotel, which he sold to O. Beem. He then spent one year in the West, after which has purchased the era House, and one year later sold it to Wesley Abrahams. Subsequently he purchased a farm in Jackson Township, and soon afterward he purchased sixty-five acres more in the same township. After his father's death, he purchased a four-fifths interest in the home farm of 185 acres, and now he owns 165 acres of good land, in addition to a neat residence, and two lots in Richwood. In 1859, he married Elenor Blue, a native of Jackson Township, Union County, and a daughter of Michael and Elenore Blue. This union was blessed with three children, William D. being the only survivor. Mrs. Sanders died April 10, 1870, and on October 10, 1872, Mr. Sanders married Artemissa Stacey, daughter of Ira and Ellinor R. Stacey, of Madison County, by whom he has two children-Clarence M. and Percival H. Mrs. Sanders is a member of the Disciples Church. Mr. Sanders is a Democrat in politics, and has served as a delegate from his township to the county convention of his party. He is a member of the Lodge and Encampment of I, O. O. F. He has been in active business since eighteen years of age has a wide business experience, is a good judge of land, and has succeeded in all his business undertakings. He shipped the first poultry from this point, in 1864, and also the first from Larue, Marion County, at that time being engaged with W. W. Manughu, of New York City. He was also engaged for a time in selling threshing machines, is thoroughly versed in all the points of a thresher, and has sold more machines than any man in the surrounding country. He is said to be one of the best salesmen in Union County. NICHOLAS SCHARF, deceased, was born in Germany in 1832, and emigrated to America in 1854, settling in Franklin County, Ohio. He was a life-long farmer by occupation, a Catholic in religious belief, and a Democrat in politics. He was married in France, in 1840, to Magleine, Frund, a daughter of Frank Frund, a prominent German farmer of Franklin County. This union was blessed with an issue of nine children, viz.: George, Annie M., Marianna, John A., Maggie J., Joseph Frank, Katie E., Clara V. and Louise M. They are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Scharf died in 1879. Mrs. Scharf came to Union County in 1879, and settled in Claibourne Township, where she owns a farm of fifty-four acres of good land. She is a careful manager, and with the aid of her son George, who stays at home to work for her, she is conducting her farm in a most prosperous manner. PETER SELLS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Green Township, Franklin County, Ohio, June 15, 1811, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Thrush) Sells, the former a farmer and teamster by occupation, and both of German descent. Our subject was educated in the select schools of his day, and in early life followed the carpenter's trade, but latterly has been engaged Pages 649 - 650 missing CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 651 in farming. He owns 100 acres of good laud, which he has acquired by his own personal efforts. He has been twice married. By his first wife, Catharine Stambaugh, he had nine, children, four now living, all married and doing well. His wife died in 1876, and on February 17, 1881, he married Nancy J. Clark. He is a Republican and a member of the United Brethren Church, in which he has been a class leader. C, D. SIDLE, farmer, P. O. Richwood. Rev. John C. Sidle, the father of our subject, was born in Ohio in 1812 and died in Richwood in 1877. He came to Union County with his wife, Elizabeth (Hamilton) Sidle, in 1838, and for nearly half a century officiated as a minister of the Methodist denomination in this county. In addition to his ministerial duties, he devoted considerable time to farming, and at one time owned 1,400 acres of land in Union County. He was an honorable gentleman, of a genial, social disposition, a good linguist and fluent speaker, charitable to a fault, and wonderfully attached to his children. He was Trustee of Claibourne Township for a time, and for twenty years served as a Justice of the Peace. It is said of him that he married more couples than any man that ever lived in the county. His family consisted of seven children, and included three pairs of twins, viz.: John, now a merchant in Chicago; Mary and Martha, the latter deceased and the former now the wife of J. J. Jolliff; W. H. and Hannah, now wife of W. H. Tanner; and Sarah R, deceased, and our subject. The latter was born in Claibourne Township March 17 , 1838, and was reared on the farm, receiving the rudiments of his education in the common schools, after which he attended Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware and graduated in 1867. He has followed farming for a livelihood and owns a good farm of 132 acres in the township. In 1869, he married Emeret Wood, a daughter of Benjamin Wood. of English descent. By this union three children were born, viz., Laura C., C. D. and Jacob P. Mr. and Mrs. Sidle are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. W. H. SIDLE is a farmer of this township, where he was born November 18, 1839. In 1878, he married Martha A. Dilsaver, daughter of Adam Dilsaver, whose sketch appears in this work. They have one child-Frederick C. Mr. Sidle and wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. In 1862, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until 1863, when be was discharged on account of disability. He is a. member of the Odd Fellow and Masonic fraternities; a Republican, and owner of 121 acres of' land. His first wife, Malissa Kinney, died in 1875, leaving one child, Anna L., the only survivor of her two children. J. D. SLEMMONS, carpenter, Richwood, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, July 26, 1841, and is the son of James L. and Susannah (Osborn) Slemmons, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania, both of English and Irish descent. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and received a common school education. In 1864, he came to Union County and for eight years clerked in the store of John Landon at Richwood. In 1876, he engaged in the insurance business, as agent for the Richwood Mutual Company, in which capacity he continued for some time, with success. He has for many years been engaged more or less as a carpenter, but has never devoted his time exclusively to that trade. He is a Republican, and the owner of a house and four acres of land lying in the corporation of Richwood. His father died in 1865, and since that time his mother has lived with him and attended to the household duties of his home. ISAAC SMART, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Union County May 16, 1850, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah C. (Cowgill) Smart, natives of Ohio, of German descent. They came to Union County in 1849, and located on a farm in Claibourne Township, where the father died in 1879. The mother now resides with our subject, who is engaged in farming, at which he has worked all his life. He was educated in the district school, and in 1872 married Harriet Wurtsbaugh, whose people were of German and Irish descent. By this union two children were born-Lora and Lawrence. Mr. Smart was the ninth child of his father's family of ten children, six of whom reached their majority. ROBERT JAMES SMITH (deceased) was born in Franklin County, Penn., February 2, 1800, and died April 23, 1882. When he was two years of age, his parents moved to Washington County, Md., where the early portion of his life was spent. On the 22d of April, 1824, he married Miss Catharine Kuhn, who lived but one year and seven days after their marriage. In the early summer of 1828, he moved from Maryland to Muskingum County, Ohio, making the trip across the mountains on foot. On June 23, 1830, he was again married, to Miss Mary Haines, with whom he lived until September 17, 1874, when she was called from him. In the spring of 1851, they removed from Muskingum County, the last dwelling-place of both. To them were born nine children, five of whom preceded them to the spirit land and four are left to mourn their loss. Mr. Smith's remains were interred in the Claibourne Cemetery in his death, the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he had been a member for half a century, lost one of its most conscientious, faithful and incorruptible members; the family a noble father; and the community a man and a fellow-citizen of sterling worth and unsullied excellence of character, in whose ripe years nature fulfilled her work and loaded him with the fruit of a well spent life. In his death, he closed a career of exemplary fidelity to his aim in life-to be a quiet, unassuming and honorable man and an humble Christian, which he followed through many changes and trials with quiet confidence to the end. 652 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. GEORGE SMITH, grocer, Richwood, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, July 15, 1846, and is a son of Robert J. (deceased) and Mary (Haines) Smith deceased, the former a native Maryland, of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Ohio, of English descent. He was educated in the graduated schools and raised on a farm. In 1851, he came to Richwood and followed farming as an occupation until twenty-six years of age. In his twenty-seventh year be began clerking for John Landon in the dry goods store and two years later assumed the management of the grocery department of Mr. Landon's store, in which he was engaged five years. In 1879, he began business for himself and has met with more than average success. In 1874, he married Mattie Landon, a native of Marion County. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he has been steward and trustee, and an active worker in the Sabbath school. He also takes an active interest in the cause of education, and is a member of the Board of Education of Richwood. He is a Republican in polities. ISAAC SNARE, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Pennsylvania December 28, 1819, and is a son of David and Catherine Snare, natives of Maryland. His father was a carpenter, but died in 1823, and Isaac was raised on a farm, his education being very meager. In 1845, he came to Licking County, Ohio, and in the following year returned to Pennsylvania for his mother, who lived with him until her death. In 1853, he came to Claibourne Township and set tied on the farm of fifty-two acres where he now resides, taking the land in its wild state and improving it. When he first came to this township, he killed thirteen deer and forty-eight wild turkeys in one winter. In 1847, he married Phebe Edwards, daughter of Ira and Ann (Evans) Edwards, and by her has had seven children, viz.: Susannah L., Edith, Minerva, Eliza, George W., Anna A. and Mary. The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Snare is a Republican in politics. During his long life in a new country, he has met with many narrow escapes of injury, and has frequently had his life placed in imminent jeopardy. MOSES SNEDEKER, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in this State June 2, 1846; he is the son of John F. and Sina Snedeker, who were of Dutch descent. The former was in early life a school teacher, but after coming to this county in 1852, he followed farming until his death in 1870. Our subject was raised on a farm, receiving an ordinary district school education, and in 1872 married Mary F. Preston, daughter of John Preston, by whom he has had three children, viz.: Charles E., Cora Al. and Lina M. Mrs. Snedeker is a member of the Disciples Church. Mr. Snedeker is a stanch Republican in polities, and watches with interest all the movements of his party. He is a thorough, practical farmer, and very well spoken of by his neighbors. LUCIUS H. STEPHENSON, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Licking County, Ohio, April 25, 1828 ; he is a son of John and Nancy (Baker) Stephenson, natives of Vermont, the former of Turkish and the latter of English descent. His father was a shoe-maker, and came to Licking County in 1820. Our subject was raised in Knox County, Ohio, receiving a common school education, and early adapted the occupation of a farmer, which he has followed with success most of his life. In 1850, he went to California and for two years engaged in mining, obtaining his start in life in that way. He came to Union County in 1852, and purchased fifty acres of land, to which he has since added from time to time until he now owns 177 acres in addition to his residence in Richwood. In 1852, he married Mrs. Rebecca Chapman, who died in November, 1858, without issue. On April 6, 1859, he married Mrs. Abigail (Graham) Hamilton, a widow with five children, and by her has had three children, viz.: Sylvia, Alwilda and Bluma. The parents are members of the Church of Christ, in which he has been an Elder. He is a Republican in politics. JOHN C. STUBERT, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 13, 1838, and is a son of John and Clarissa (Biddle) Stubert, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and a salesman in a boot and shoe store most of his life, and the latter a native. of New Jersey, of English descent. Our subject was educated in the graded schools of his native city, and early in life learned the trade of a carriage-maker. In 1861, he enlisted in Company K, of an independent cavalry regiment known as "Col. Mill's Horse," which was recruited from most of the Northern States. He was Third Duty Sergeant, and served with his command three years, in that time missing but one scouting duty. In 1864, be came to Richwood and purchased seventy acres of land, with money saved while in the service. In 1865, he married Sarah M. Hoyt, who was born August 1, 1838, and by whom he has had one child-Anna G., born August 29, 1867, and now is in school at Cincinnati. Mrs. Stubert is. a member of the Methodist Protestant Church of Richwood. Mr. Stubert is a Republican in politics, MRS. SUSANNAH SWARTZ, Richwood. The venerable lady whose name heads this sketch is one of the early pioneers of the State. She knew Union and Delaware Counties when they were one vast wilderness, and has witnessed the many changes that marked their settlement and that developed them into fine farming communities. The extensive fields of grain, so familiar to us, she remembers as dense forests, only inhabited by wild beasts. She was born in Hooking County, Ohio, December 9, 1799, and is a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Dils) Shoup. Her father, and her grandfather, Sebastian Shoup, were both all through the Revolutionary War. Her parents came to Ohio in an ox cart, in 1799, and settled in Hooking County. They had eleven children, Mrs. Swartz being the seventh. Her father was a millwright, and erected the CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 653 first mill in Hooking County. Mrs. Swartz never saw an apple until in 1812 ; her father purchased a peck of a neighbor, who had brought some from New York. They cost $1, which was equivalent to two or three days' work, per peck. In 1817, she married Daniel Swartz, who was born in Pennsylvania December 3, 1797. This union was blessed with five children, all of whom grew up, but have since died. The sole representatives of this old lady are two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is now living with Jacob E. Swartz, who was born in 1860, and now lives on a farm within the corporation of Richwood, where she has lived since 1834. In her younger days, she was accustomed to driving four-horse teams, and often made the trip of eighteen miles to the nearest mill. She was a remarkably strong and hearty woman, not afraid of labor, and could make a full hand at any work ; she could feed, harness, hitch and drive a team, milk the cows. feed the hogs, chop wood, saw and roll logs, pitch and stack hay, and indeed do anything that was required on a farm in the infancy of our country. She often took her spinning-wheel on her shoulder and walked five miles to do a week's spinning, for which she would get 50 cents. She has spun and woven thousands of yards of cloth, and made all the clothing worn by the family, in addition to doing her household work and assisting the men about the farm. She has been a rigid member of the church for over a half century, and is highly respected and esteemed for her many Christian virtues. Though now over four, score years of age, she has full possession of her faculties, enjoys good health, and has a very robust constitution for one of her years. A. J. THOMAS is a dentist in Richwood, Ohio. He was born in the State of Pennsylvania, Indiana County, February 16. 1847. His parents were also natives of the Keystone State, his father of Welsh and his mother of English descent. The subject of this sketch entered the army at the age of sixteen years, where he served three terms and was honorably discharged from the service August 4, 1865. After spending several years in his native State, and in the District of Columbia, he adopted the profession of dentistry, which he has followed since 1873. He located in Richwood in 1877, where he has practiced his chosen profession. GEORGE B. TUCKER, carriage manufacturer, Richwood. was born in Cincinnati April 3, 1843, and is a son of Albert G. and Eliza J. (Evans) Tucker, the former of English and Welsh, and the latter of English descent. His father was a jeweler and silversmith, and carried on business at Lebanon, Ohio, from 1849 until the time of his death, in 1858, Our subject received his education in the Normal School at Lebanon, and learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed until the breaking-out of the war. In 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Eighteenth Regiment Ohio Infantry, and served three years, without a day of sickness, and was a participant in all the engagements in which his command figured. In 1864, he came to Richwood and engaged in the manufacture of bodies for buggies and carriages, and in selling wagons. In 1871, he married Sarah J. Moore, a native of Licking County, who died in 1880, leaving one child Elsie J. Mr. Tucker is Captain of Company G, Fourteenth Regiment Ohio National Guards, and Chief of the Richwood Fire Department, and has been Marshal of the village. He is a member of the Protestant Church, of which he has been a Trustee, and takes an active interest in the Sabbath school. RICHARD TYLER, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1815, and is a son of Samuel and Margaret (Smart) Tyler, the former a native of Maryland, of English descent, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch descent. His parents were early pioneers of Ohio, who settled where Columbus now stands, before the existence of the town. His father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and by occupation a manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes. Our subject attended the select schools of this State, and on December 24, 1835, married Lavina, a daughter of Rev. H. and Sarah (Vinney) Barker; her father was a minister of the Christian Church, and a native of New York, of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler have five children, viz.: Rosanna, Leroy, Isaiah, Marion and Arminda F. In 1865, the family came to Claibourne Township and settled one and a quarter miles east of Richwood, where they still reside. The parents are members of the Christian Church, to which Air. Tyler has belonged since he was fifteen years of age. He is the owner of fifty-five acres of land, on which they reside, and which he is engaged in cultivating. STEPHEN VAN R. YOUNG, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, October 26, 1831, and is a son of Elijah and Amy (Larkins) Young, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York State, both of English descent. They were among the pioneers of Delaware County, where they settled at an early day. Our subject received an ordinary education, and early adopted the occupation of a farmer. In 1856, he went to California and spent four years and a half in the mines, with moderate success. In 1861, he returned to Ohio and married Miss Berthena Belfield, a native of England, and a daughter of William Belfield, who came to America in 1843, and settled in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Young have had three children, viz.: Willis E., Lutell, and Maggie C., deceased. The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Young is a Republican, a strong temperance man, and a life-long farmer, now owning ninety-five acres, nearly ten of which are in the corporation of Richwood. He was President of the School Board when the new schoolhouse was built, and donated a part of the ground for a site. He came to Union County and settled on the farm, where he now resides, living in a log cabin, which has since been replaced by a handsome brick residence. 654 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. S. W. VAN WINKLE, attorney at law, Richwood, was born in Indiana County, Penn., April 4, 1852. He is a son of Isaac and A. T. (Davis) Van Winkle, the former a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch descent, and the latter a native of New York, of Irish descent. Our subject received a good English education in the common and high schools, and in early manhood began teaching, which he followed for some time. Being anxious to see more of the world, he engaged with a New York publishing firm, and proved himself to be both a good salesman and a good collector. His determination was to become a lawyer, and this business afforded him an excellent opportunity to study human nature. As soon as it became financially practicable, he entered the law office of Powell & Fulton to begin the study of his chosen profession, and in this he applied himself so diligently that he completed the two years' course in eighteen months, and in 1882 was admitted to the bar. He immediately began the practice at Richwood, and is now also agent for eight insurance companies, among them the beat in the United States. He in a Democrat, a member of the Board of School Examiners, and President of the Teachers' Institute. He was married, in 1881, to Jennie Loveless, of Richwood. SOLOMON WALKER, farmer, P. O. Richwood, is a son of Alexander and Margaret (Cane), Walker, the former a native of Pennsylvania of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Virginia of Scotch descent. He was born in Delaware County, Ohio, March 14, 1824. and being left an orphan at the tender age of three years, was raised by his eldest sister, who was the wife of Rev. Levi Meredith. He was raised on a farm, and followed farming until twenty-six years of age. He began life by farming rented land, and was soon able to purchase a small farm of forty acres, which he has since increased to 106 acres. He came to Union County in 1851, and has since made it the place of his residence. He is a dealer in French Norman horses, and is said to be a first-class horseman, but makes a specialty of draft horses. In 1870, he purchased an interest in two horses imported by the Union County Importing Company. He has sold horses of his own raising as high as $1,000 per head. He is &successful businessman, charitable in his dealings with the poor, and a liberal supporter of all worthy enterprises. He is a Democrat in politics, and has often represented his township in the county conventions of his party. He is a member of the Odd Fellows society, and a charter member of the lodge at Richwood. On September 17, 1846, he married Elizabeth Winchell, a native of New York, and a daughter of Thomas Winchell, who settled in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have never had any children of their own, but they have adopted and raised six children. WILLIAM WALLACE, deceased, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, April 12,1820. He was a son of John and Mary (McFadden) Wallace, natives of Ireland, who entered Harrison County at an early day and located on the farm where our subject was born. He was raised on a farm, and followed farming and stock-raising until his death, which occurred January 3, 1869. In 1850, he married Miss Martha Ross, who was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1827; she is a daughter of William and Elsie (Cooper) Ross, the former of Scotch, and the latter of Dutch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace were the parents of five children, viz.: John W., Thomas B., Ross H., S. May, the wife of Albert Baker, and Mattis J. In 1852, Mr. Wallace came to Claibourne Township, where he was engaged in farm operations; his widow resides on a farm of 140 acres in that township. REUBEN W. WEISZ, retired, Richwood, was born at Lancaster, Ohio, June 20, 1820; he is the son of George and Catharine E. (Shuman) Weisz, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. They clung to the habits of the fatherland in their family, speaking German exclusively and teaching that language to their children before they did English. The subject eat of this sketch could speak two languages at the age of twelve years, and later in life learned a third. When about thirteen years of age, he left home and until 1843 clerked in a dry goods store. He resided in Hocking County a number of years, and while there was engaged as a merchant and hotel-keeper and also as a dealer in lumber. In 1855, he came to Richwood and has since been variously engaged, but latterly he has retired from active business life. In 1844, he married Mary A. Abbott, a native of Fairfield County, and a daughter of Orrin and Rosanna (Hayes) Abbott. She died in 1856, leaving three children, and in 1857 he married Mary H. Thompson, a daughter of Hugh and Mary W. (Cotton) Thompson. His second wife died in 1874, also leaving three children. In 1875, he married Miss Nancy M. Waters, a native of New York State and a daughter of Nathan P. and Susan D. (Perry) Waters. She died in 1879, leaving one child. Mr. Weisz takes a great pride in his home, which is presided over by his youngest child by his second marriage, while he superintends his business affairs. He has met with success in all of his business operations, has always enjoyed a comfortable portion of this world's goods and now has a competency sufficient to support him in his declining years. He was for twenty-six years a member of the German Reformed Church, of which his father was a minister for forty years, but there being no church of that denomination in Richwood, he has since his residence here been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. JOHN WERRICK, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Greene County, Penn., April 16, 1822, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Armstrong) Werrick, natives of Maryland, the former of English and the latter of Dutch descent. His father emigrated to Ohio in 1824 and located in Knox County. He was a shoe-maker by trade, but, after his settlement in this State, followed farming. Our subject was reared on the farm, receiving a common-school education, and CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP. - 655 later in life learned the carpenter's trade. In 1847, he enlisted in Company H, Col. Roll's Regiment of Missouri Infantry, for service in the Mexican war, and was detailed to assist the Surgeon. In this way he gained some knowledge of medicine, which he found most useful while crossing the plains to California. In 1856, he came to this county, and on October 8, 1858, he married Elvira Cameron, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Reed) Cameron, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. By this union six children were born, viz., W. W., Thomas J., Sarah J., Charlotte B., J. A. and Carrie E. N. P. WESTHEIMER, of the firm of Westheimer & Taylor, grocers, Richwood, was born in Germany September 22, 1837, and at the tender age of three years was thrown upon the care of strangers by the loss of his parents. At the age of nineteen years, he emigrated to America, and, after spending two years in the State of New York, he came to Ohio and settled in Logan County, where he embarked in the mercantile business, which he has since followed in different parts of the State. He has been in business in Richwood since 1859, and is the oldest surviving business man of that place. He has built several buildings in the village, and has aided very materially in the improvement of that place, having also built a handsome brick dwelling in which he resides. In 1875, he was engaged in the dry goods and grocery trade, but is now dealing entirely in the latter. He had his store burned to the ground at a very considerable loss to himself, but being a man of unusual energy and ability, he was soon enabled to overcome his reverses. He is an earnest advocate of total abstinence and, though formerly a Republican, now supports the Prohibition party. He is a member of the Odd Follows society, and a charter member of the lodge at Richwood. In 1861, he married Sarah E. Irwin, a native of Union County, and a daughter of Richard M. and Eliza, B (Duckworth) Irwin. By this union one child was born, viz., Ida May, who graduated from Delaware University in 1882. PENROSE WILEY, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in this State February 17, 1839. His father Absalom Wiley, son of Solomon and Maria (Messler) Wiley, was born in Pennsylvania August 16, 1808, his father being a native of the same State, and his mother of New Jersey. He was educated in the common schools of his time, and followed farming all his life, with the exception of two terms of service as Sheriff of Union County. He was the Commander of the Second Brigade, Fifteenth Division of State Militia, in 1840, and was with Ohio's states man Tom Corwin on his "water-melon raid." He came to Union County in 1844, and settled in Claibourne Township, where he followed farming. His father, Solomon, was a soldier of the war of 1812. Our subject was raised on a farm and has devoted his life to that honorable avocation, now owning 130 acres of good land. In 1864, he enlisted in Company F, Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. In 1872, he married Joanna, daughter of C. E. Fish, and by her has two children-Wilbert and Delphia. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley are members of the M. E. Church, in which he has been a Trustee. He is a Republican, in politics, and has served as Trustee of his township. His brother John was at one time Auditor of the county. TIMOTHY J. WILLIAMS, grain dealer, Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio September 6, 1844; he is a son of David and Elizabeth (Lewis) Williams, natives of Wales, who emigrated to America in 1817, and in 1830 settled in Delaware County, Ohio. His father was born in 1807, and died in 1876 ; he was a life-long farmer, and resided until his death in Delaware County. Our subject received the advantages of the college at Delaware, and when twenty years of age began teaching school, an occupation he followed for ten years, six of these years being spent in one school of his native county. He came to Richwood in 1875, and has since made this the place of his residence. He was married in 1870 to Miss Margaret C. Kyle, a native of Delaware County, and a daughter of James Kyle. By this union two children were born, viz., Its May and Guy. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Williams is a Democrat in politics. In 1864, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was also a member of the State Guards, and with his command was called out to repel. Morgan in his raid through Southern Ohio. DAVID H. WILLOUGHBY, tailor, Richwood, was born in Licking County, Ohio, January 7, 1848, and is a son of Birdsey and Nancy (De Wolf) Willoughby, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Connecticut, both of English descent. He was raised on a farm, and in early life learned the tailor trade, which he has since followed. He is a man of steady habits and a good workman, and for the past seven years has been engaged with W. H. Richards, at Richwood, where lie resides. He was married in 1874, to Civilla Cain, by whom he had one child-Harvey, who died in 1877. Mrs. Willoughby died in 1878, and on January 1, 1882, Mr. Willoughby married Lillie B. Frye. They are both members of the Richwood Baptist Church. JAMES W. WOODRUFF, drayman, Richwood, was born in Licking County, Ohio, November 22, 1835; he is a son of John and Julia (Cunningham) Woodruff, natives of Licking County, of German and English descent. His father was a shoe-maker and farmer, and settled in Claibourne Township in 1841, and at that late day is said to have shot deer and wild turkeys from his cabin door. Our subject was raised on the farm, receiving a common school education, and remained on the farm until 1881. In 1855, he married Emily Collier, a native of Licking 656 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. County, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Mary (Ford) Collier. By this union three children were born, viz.: Minerva Ann, wife of F. Merritt, Benjamin (deceased) and Houston. Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff are members of the Baptist Church of Rich wood. G. H. WOODS, Richwood, was born at Richwood, Ohio, August 8, 1834; he is a son of John and Sarah (Brookins) Woods. - His father was born in Ireland, in 1799, and came to Pennsylvania, with his parents, in 1801 ; he was a tailor by trade, and conducted a tailor shop for several years in Richwood, where he died in 1874; he devoted a large portion of his life to farming, in which he was very successful. Our subject received his education in the schools of' his native village, and started in life as a farmer boy; he engaged in the drug business in Richwood in 1868, and after following it for three years, embarked in the dry goods business, which he followed ten years, selling out in 1882 to J. B. Miller. In 1870, he married Lovina Siples, who was born in Marion County in 1844. They have four children, viz.: Minnie Francis E., Wilke Gaylord and Anna L. Mr. Woods is a Republican, and the owner of ninety-three acres of land in this township. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge in 1878 and 1879; he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. P. G. WYNEGAR, pike contractor, Richwood, was born in Highland County, Ohio, March, 18, 1826, and is a son of David and Catharine (Grim) Wynegar, natives of Virginia, of Dutch descent. He was raised on the farm, receiving a common school education, and followed farming until twenty-one years of age, when he engaged in the manufacture. of brick, which he followed four years in Springfield. He then came to Richwood, and for eight years followed farming and brick-making. In 1876, he commenced taking contracts for building pikes, and, now has a contract for $19,000 worth of work. He usually employs about thirty teams, and has employed as high as eighty-two. He owns 100 acres of land in Leesburg Township, where his father settled in 1838. He was married in 1850 to Elizabeth Ross, a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and a daughter of Dr. J. N. Ross. This union has been blessed with nine children, four living, viz.: William C., Ida J., Philota and Estelle. Mrs. Wynegar died February 9, 1874. MORGAN YOUNG, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, September 27, 1837, and is a son of Elijah and Amy (Larkins) Young, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and early settlers in Delaware County. Be was reared on a farm and received a limited education, after which he began life for himself as a hired band, working by the month. He also followed mining in California for two years, but since 1861 he has been a resident of this county, now owning 118 acres of land, made entirely by his own efforts. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Odd Fellows society of Richwood. He was married August 26, 1862, to Elenora, Finch, by whom he had five children, viz.: Frank, Ed., Vinnie, Vellie and Otis M. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)