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JOHN C. BAKER, manufacturer, and President of the Mechanicsburg Machine Co., Mechanicsburg; is one of the most enterprising citizens of Mechanicsburg, and was born near his present place Oct. 7, 1830. He is the son of Farrel and Sarah (Owen) Baker, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Ohio. Mr. Farrel emigrated to Ohio in the year 1812. He was the pioneer merchant of Mechanicsburg, locating here in the spring of 1815, and keeping the first store and also the first hotel. His first storehouse was of round logs, with a large, old-fashioned stick chimney, out of which he was accustomed to climb after bolting door from the inside. He died in 1871, at the advanced age of 82, having lived almost sixty years in Mechanicsburg and vicinity. He was married twice, and had seventeen children. Our subject is the youngest of the first marriage, His life was passed on a farm until 19 years old, which dates his advent into Mechanicsburg, where he has since resided. He learned the trade of tinsmith, and carried it on, with a hardware store. for four years. Since then he has been variously occupied. His mind being of an ingenious mold, he turned his attention to inventions, and many val uable inventions have been the result. Prominent among them are the following: A '° corn-planter," a "self-sealing fruit-jar" (which has the merit of being the best in use), "mowing machines," and recently has made several valuable improvements on the grain drill, all of which have been secured by letters patent. The "Baker Drill " is deserving of more than a passing notice, as it is the product of the inventive genius of our subject. The peculiar features are the " pressure on the hoes," a contrivance by which an increased or diminished pressure is readily brought to bear upon the hoes, to suit the compactness of the ground; the "screw-piece feed," both for grain and seed, and the iron or gas-pipe frame, which is a feature peculiar to this drill, and which adds, with neatness and lightness, great strength and durability. Many other minor and valuable improvements have been added, which make it one of the most complete and desirable drills in use. No better testimonial of its value could be offered than its rapidly increasing sale, the demand exceeding their capacity to manufacture the machine. For the purpose of manufacturing this drill, the Mechanicsburg Machine Co. was organized in 1875, of which Mr. B. is President. This enterprise has done and is now doing more for the industries of the city than perhaps any other. Mr. B. was also the prime mover in establishing the " Ohio Central Fair," first building the race-track on his own responsibility, which was the germ of the organization. Besides the above enterprises, Mr. B. is prominently identified with many others, from which Mechanicsburg reaps substantial benefit. He identifies himself politically with the Republican party, and has filled, at various times, the offices of Township, Town and School. He has taken all the degrees in the Masonic fraternity, and is one of the charter members of Reaper Commandery, Urbana, and was the first Captain General of the same. He married, in 1861, Mary, daughter of Col. Moore, by whom he has one son and one daughter living, one son and daughter having died.
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ROBERT B. BAKER, merchant tailor, Mechanicsburg; one of the few native citizens of Mechanicsburg, was born in 1832, and is the son of John and A. M. (Henderson) Baker. John was a native of Virginia, and emigrated to Ohio in an early day, locating in this county. By trade he was a bricklayer, and served the people of this place for several years as Justice of the Peace. He was a prominent and much respected citizen of the place, and his death, which occurred Feb. 12, 1841, was a loss to the community. He left seven children. Our subject was reared and schooled in this place, and early in life learned the tailor trade, which he followed for a time, when he embarked in farming; this he continued about ten years, when he again engaged at merchant tailoring, which he has since followed, a period of twelve or fifteen years. He is located on East Main street, opposite the Farmers' National Bank, where be is prepared to make to order all kinds of clothing in the latest style. In politics he is strictly a Republican, and is a member of the M. E. Church and temperance society. He married Elvira Mann, of Madison Co., in 1851.
CYRUS C. BARR, carriage-maker, Mechanicsburg. Prominent among the business industries of Mechanicsburg is the carriage-factory, of which the subject of this sketch is one of the proprietors; the firm enjoys the reputation of turning out first-class work, as their large and increasing trade testifies. Mr. Barr was born in Urbana Township in 1837, and is of Irish descent; his parents were James and Rebecca (Vinyard) Barr. the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia ; she was one among the first settlers of this county, coming here with her parents in 1808, when 14 years old; the journey was made from Virginia on horseback, the common mode of traveling in those days ; her death occurred May 20, 1873, at the age of 79 years and 4 months. James B. was also an early settler, and a farmer by occupation ; his death occurred when our subject, was about 8 years old. Nine sons and one daughter constituted the family, and of these, Cyrus was the youngest; he availed himself of the meager educational opportunities afforded by the district school till 14 years old, at which time he began the blacksmith's trade; this he followed till seven years ago, since which time he has been engaged in the carriage-factory. He located in this place in December, 1866, where he has since resided; he is an energetic business man and an enterprising citizen; he finds expression for his political ideas in the Republican party. He married, in March, 1863, Nancy J., daughter of E. Stuart, by whom he has had eight children, one deceased.
D. BOWEN, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; one of the old and much-respected citizens of Goshen Township ; was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1815, and is of Welsh descent ; his father, Martin Bowen, was a native of Massachusetts, and emigrated with his parents to New York State when young ; here he married Sarah Simpson, of New York, and had six sons and three daughters, one dying in infancy. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and came to this county about 1846, and remained with his family until about 1865, when he returned to New York State, where his death soon occurred, about 1867; his wife returned to Ohio and made her home with our subject till her death, which occurred Nov. 30, 1871, at the age of 75. Our subject is the oldest of the family, and, till be attained the age of 22, lived in his native State, when he came to this county ; his early life was devoted to carpentering and farming, and, after coming to this county, he gave his attention, for a number of years, to his trade ; but, since about. twenty-five years ago, be has been exclusively engaged at farming and sheep-feeding. For twenty-one years, be has resided on his present place, which consists of nearly 200 acres, under the best of modern improvements; he is a self-made man, and, beginning with nothing but willing hands, he has, by his untiring industry, economy and the assistance of his wife, acquired his present neat competency; he has not always had perfectly smooth sailing ; his early career in this county was marked with many privations and hardships, and struggles against poverty and misfortune. He has been married twice ; first, Nov. 7, 1839, to Sarepta, a daughter of Warren Freeman, of New York ; her death occurred soon on after, leaving one son, Webster, who was
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a soldier in the late war, as a member of the 66th O. V. I., under Capt. V. Horr, and, while in the service, he contracted disease, which caused his death Feb. 19, 1871. Dec. 30, 1841, our subject married Elizabeth Wiant; she was born on the place where she now lives in the fall of 1812, whither her father, Adam Wiant, had emigrated in the same year. Two sons and three daughters are the issue of this union. Adam Wiant was a native of Virginia, and married Mary Goul, of Philadelphia, Penn. Mr. Brwen is a stanch Republican, casting his initial vote for Harrison.
JOEL BURNSIDE, retired farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg ; one of the early pioneers and prominent citizens of the township; was born in Bedford Co., Va., in 1801. His parents, William and Elizabeth (Frankburger) Burnside, were both natives of Pennsylvania. William immigrated to Ohio in 1805 or 1806, and located for two years in Greene Co., and then pioneered his way to this township, locating south of Mechanicsburg, where his family constituted one of the first in the county. He was a smith by trade, and erected the first shop in this county. For one year, during the war of 1812, he was in the Government employ at Urbana, as blacksmith, under Capt. Thorpe, and served about one month on the frontier at Ft. Menary, and was present when Thomas and son were killed. In 1820 or 1821, he moved to Madison Co., where his death occurred in 1822; his wife survived him till 1855. He had two sons and five daughters, of whom our subject is the oldest, and with a sister constitute the only surviving members of the family. He was only 5 or 6 years old when his lot was cast in the wilds of this county, where he has had a continuous residence ever since. He has witnessed the changes wrought in this country by the unflagging industry of man for almost three-quarters of a century, and has seen the town of Mechanicsburg grow from one small cabin to its present dimensions of near 2,000 inhabitants. His early life was that of a pioneer boy, growing up amid the privations and hardships incident to such a life. During his father's stay in the Government employ at Urbana, he was cook for Capt. Thorpe for a time. He has been an agriculturist throughout his life, and has made it a success. In 1829, he located on his farm south of Mechanicsburg, and lived there till 1863, when he moved to another farm in the same vicinity, where he remained till 1875, when he moved to Mechanicsburg. He is now approaching his four-score years, and seldom do we find the mental and physical powers so well preserved as in him. He is enterprising and public spirited, and interested in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the community. In politics he was formerly a Whig, and became a Republican at the disintegration of that party; he cast his initial Presidential vote for John Quincy Adams ; he has several times filled offices of honor and trust, and is now filling the office of Land Appraiser of this township; he takes a great interest in the cause of religion, being a member of the M. E. Church for over one-half a century. He has been married three times; first to Margaret Safley, Jan 1. 1829; and secondly in 1869, to Mrs. Ellen, widow of William Roscegrant, Commissioner of the county; his third marriage was to Malinda Hanna in 1879. He has two sons and three daughters living, all by the first union.
H. W. BROWN, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; one of the early settlers of this county; was born March 12, 1825, just on the border of Goshen Township in Madison Co. He is the son of James Brown, who was born in York State June 21, 1795. When quite small, his parents moved with him to Canada, where his father soon died. During the war of 1812, he was conscripted for the British service, but, attempting to escape, he was captured and imprisoned in a dungeon ; he was soon released on the ground of being the chief support of a widowed mother. After his release, he embarked with his mother and four younger brothers for Ohio, locating first in this county, Goshen Township, whence he moved to Summerford Township, Madison Co., where he lived the remainder of his life, his death occurring March 13, 1875. He was married to Mary A. Burnside, who survived him till Aug. 2, 1877, when her death occurred. They had five sons and nine daughters, four sons and six daughters of whom still survive. Our subject is the second child of the family, and oldest living member. He was raised
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on a farm, and early taught the art and dignity of labor; he was educated in the pioneer log schoolhouse, and lived at home until 22 years old, at which age he took up his residence in Goshen Township, and at his present place, where he has since resided, a period of one-third of a century; farming has always been his occupation. He is politically a Republican, although no politician; he is now in his second year as Justice of the Peace of Goshen Township; was census enumerator for his township (1850), and has been School Director almost co-equal with his residence here. Although not in the late rebellion, he put a substitute in the regular service- instead. He married in 1846, Olive E. Patrick, a native of Madison Co., Ohio. One son and two daughters have been the issue of this union. One daughter, Clarissa I., died at the age of 12.
ANDREW BURNHAM, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg, A. prominent citizen of the township; was born in Union Co. and Union Township in 1825, and is of English descent; he is the son of Eliphas and Lydia (Mecbam) Burnham, both natives of Connecticut. Eliphas is a farmer by occupation, and emigrated to Ohio in 1818, locating in what was then Madison Co., but what has since been organized into Union Co. After a short residence here, he returned to his native State, married Lydia Mecham, came back and established a permanent home in Union Co. He still survives at the advanced age of 81 years, one of the highly respected and valuable citizens of the county, and one of her pioneers. His wife, Lydia, deceased in 1867, aged 71. He had five sons and three daughters, one son dying in his youth; one in the service of his country, and one daughter in early life ; the others live in the vicinity of the homestead. He has been prominently identified with the offices of the township in which he resides, being Assessor for over thirty years, and Justice of the Peace, and has done a great deal of administrator's work. For several winters after locating here, he occupied the role of a teacher, on pay at the rate of $8 per month, boarding himself. Andrew is the third of the family, and has made "tilling of the soil" his life occupation. He was educated in the district school, and remained at home till he grew to manhood, making his first permanent location at his present place, in the spring of 1856, where he ha since resided. He has been married twice-first, in 1855, to Virginia E. Crawford born in Mechanicsburg, of Virginia ancestors; they had three sons ; in 1866, he married Nancy M. Amy, a native of Union Co.; one daughter has been the issue of this union. Prudence Amy, mother of Mrs. Burnham, became a resident of Union Co. fifty one, and of this county forty-five, years ago, and still survives at the advanced age of 84, with her mental and physical powers well preserved. Mr. B. finds his political views in the Republican party, and his religious in the Universalist Church.
JONATHAN CHENEY (deceased). To the subject of this sketch we are pleased to accord a place in the biographical album of this work. He was born in August, 1$16, in Union Township, Champaign Co., and was prominently identified with the history of the county. As far back as his paternal ancestors can be traced, they inhabited the Isle of Man. In about 1770, Thomas Cheney and four sons-Thomas, William, Joseph and Ebenezer-emigrated from the Isle of Man to America, locating in Massachusetts. The father and three sons were engaged in the battle of Bunker Hill, in which the former, then a man of about 70 summers, was killed by a chain-shot. Thomas, Jr., emigrated to Harrison Co., Va., where he reared a family of sons and daughters, four sons of whom-William, Benjamin (the father of our subject), Jona than and Ebenezer-became pioneers to Champaign Co. Benjamin was married to Sarah Cochran, a native, also, of Harrison Co., Va., from where they immediately emigrate," to Ohio, locating in Champaign Co. in about 1808. The journey was made on horseback, bringing all their meager earthly possessions with them. Benjamin inherited nothing but an honest name, good business habits and a vigorous intellect. His cabin was erected in the wilderness of Union Township, where his industry and perseverance soon carved out a farm and home. He was conspicuously identified with the early political as well as pioneer history of the county. He served for a number of years as Justice of the Peace, and his proceedings in his official capacity are to be found among
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the early records of the county. As a member of the State Legislature for twelve years, he discharged his duties with fidelity and commendable zeal. He was possessed of more than ordinary business sagacity, and accumulated, before his death, a large landed estate, consisting of nearly 2,000 acres. He never moved from his first location, his death occurring there in 1834, and that of his wife and one son about the same time, all dying of typhoid fever. In his death, the community recognized the loss of a valuable citizen and useful member of society. He had seven sons and one daughter, of whom our subject was the fifth child. His entire life was passed upon the farm on which he was born. He was early taught the art and dignity of farming, and, as regards integrity, business habits and a vigorous intellect, his father's mantle fell upon him. In his life, he was honored as a good and useful member of society, ever found interested in whatever pertained to the common welfare. He filled with the strictest integrity numerous offices of honor and trust; was two years a member of the State Legislature, and for twelve or fifteen years Justice of the Peace. He possessed many sterling characteristics, his devotion to the right being fearless. His life was given principally to farming and stock-raising. In 1836, he married Rachel, daughter of John W. and Eleanor (Duval) Williams, by whom be had eight sons and three daughters; one son and two daughters deceased. He died March 6, 1864. lamented by all who knew him. His son, J. H. Cheney, was born Dec. 1, 1839, in Union Township; was reared on a farm, and has made farming his life occupation. Aug. 14, 1860, he married Beatrice Tullis, a native of Goshen Township, and a descendant of early settlers; be lived in Union and Goshen Townships till about five years ago, when he moved to his present place in Mechanicsburg. He served a time in the late civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Cheney have three sons and one daughter.
ASA M. CHENEY, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; one of the prominent citizens and early settlers of Goshen Township; was born within a mile of his present place, in 1820; he descends from the Virginia stock, his father, William C., and his mother, Elizabeth (Kirkley) Cheney, both being natives of Virginia; William was a native of Harrison Co., born Oct. 28, 1775, and was a son of Thomas and Keturah Cheney, the former born in Virginia in 1742, and the latter in 1748 ; he was married in about 1800, and, in 1801, pioneered his way into the wilds of Ohio, locating in Goshen Township, where he purchased 200 acres of land of Gen. McArthur ; on this he erected his log cabin and began frontier life; he was a farmer by occupation, and toiled out the remainder of his days here, his death occurring Feb. 6, 1856, and that of his wife in March, 1871, at the advanced age of 89 years. Our subject was the youngest of a family of seven sons and three daughters; he was brought up on a farm, and has made farming his life occupation; in this, by dint of hard labor, economy and a good foresight in business, he has been eminently successful; beginning in a small way, he has added to his possessions till he now has nearly nine hundred acres of land, joining on Mechanicsburg. In 1850, he made a trip to California across the plains, arriving there Aug. 18 of the same year; he stopped ten days in Salt Lake City; his object being to secure the precious metal, he began operations in Weaver's Creek, which be continued for a short time, and then with others established a ranche in Auburn Ravine, where he passed the ensuing winter. In the spring, be went to the St. Joe Bar, on the North Yuba, and there engaged in mining till the fall of 1853, when he embarked for home, returning by the Nicaraguan route and New Orleans, arriving home Jan. 15, 1854. This trip was attended with fair financial success. His views and sentiments concerning the polity of his country incline him toward the Republican party; but, in exercising his voting privilege, he uses his own judgment, and votes for the man whom he thinks beat fitted for the office, regardless of party ties. He married Martha Cofey, of this township, in September, 1867. Four sons and one daughter have been the issue of this union.
JOHN H. CLARK, physician, Mechanicsburg; was born in Union Township, Champaign Co., Sept. 28, 1829, and comes of early pioneers of this county. His
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early paternal ancestors emigrated from England, and his maternal from Wales to New Jersey, thence to Virginia, from where his grandparents came to Ohio. His father, Stephen, was born Sept. 1, 1804, in Urbana Township, Champaign Co. He was a farmer by occupation, and emigrated to Illinois in 1857, where his death occurred Jan. 27, 1867. He was married to Hannah Jones, of this county. She was born May 29, 1806, and comes of early pioneers. They had five sons and three daughters, of whom our subject is the second child. He was reared on a farm in Union Township, and remained at home till about 19 years of age, attending district school and working at farm duties, at which age he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. Subsequently, he commenced the study of medicine, and, after a requisite course of reading and attending one course of medical lectures, located for practice in the spring of 1852 at Mutual, Union Township, this county. The following winter, he attended a second course of lectures at Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, graduating in the spring of 1853. He then resumed practice at Mutual, where he continued till the spring of 1858, when he located at Mechanicsburg. At the end of one year, he went West and practiced two years in Decatur, Ill., and then returned to Mechanicsburg. In the spring and summer of 1862, he served three months as Surgeon in the army, and returned from service on account of failing health. He has since been engaged in his professional labors at this place, with the exception of the time he was Superintendent of the Asylum for the Insane at Dayton, Ohio, which was from February, 1874, to May, 1876. He has, by his careful attention to his professional duties, won the confidence and respect of a community who recognize in him an able and skillful practitioner and a useful citizen He is a member of the Champaign County Medical Society, Ohio State Medical Society, the A., F. & A. M., and Presbyterian Church. He married Elnorah J., daughter of Rev. William Williams, of this place, Sept. 21, 1852. A son and daughter have been the issue of this union.
C. K. CLARK, physician, Mechanicsburg ; was born in Coshocton Co. in February, 1831, and is the son of John and Miriam (McCibben) Clark. The former was born, March 27, 1777, near Martinsburg, Va., and was a farmer by occupation. He emigrated to Ohio quite early, and to this county in 1859. Here he died in June, 1861. Miriam McCibben was his second wife, and was a native of Pennsylvania; she died in this county in 1853. Our subject is the thirteenth of a family of fifteen children-ten by the first wife and five by the second marriage. His minority was passed on the farm, assisting in its duties and attending the district school. In 1857, he began the study of medicine under the tutorship of Dr. H. C. Pearce, of Urbana, Ohio. He attended his first course of lectures in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Cincinnati, Ohio. In the following spring, 1860, being in limited financial circumstances and dependent upon his own resources, he began practice in Clark Co. He continued there till the fall of 1864, when he moved to his present place, where he has since resided. In the ensuing winter, he took a course of lectures at the Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio, graduating in the spring. Since then, he has been engaged in his professional labors in this place, and in the enjoyment of the respect and confidence of a community who recognize in him a reliable and skillful physician. His political sentiments are found in the Republican party, but he is no politician. He is a member of Champaign County Medical Society, Knights of Honor, and the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Miss Mary E. Hendricks, oŁ this county, in the spring of 1852. Of the ten children born to this union, two have died.
JOSEPH COFFEY, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg ; another of the native-born citizens of Goshen Township, was born within sight of his present place in 1838, and is of English-Scottish descent. His father, Tatom, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., March 15, 1800, and his mother, Rebecca Rubart, was born in Clark Co., Ohio, whither her parents had moved in a very early day. Tatom was only 2 years old when his parents. Joseph and Sarah Coffey, became the second settlers in Pleasant Township, Clark Co., and the daughter was the first white child born in the township. Their settlement
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there dates May 6,1802, and the remainder of their days were passed there. Tatom was a farmer by occupation, and at the age of 20 was married, and, in 1829, moved to Champaign Co., Goshen Township, residing here till his death, March 31, 1877, a period of nearly half a century. Thus we record the death of one of the early pioneers of this county, and an honored and respected citizen. He had two sons and seven daughters, two daughters of whom have died. Our subject is the youngest of the family, and farming has been his life-calling, in which he has been signally successful. His residence has always been in this township. During the late war, he responded to his country's call for men, and enlisted in Company I, 66th O. V. I. He participated in the following engagements, besides numerous skirmishes: Port Republic, Gettysburg, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, second Bull Run, Dumfries, and was then transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, and engaged in the fight at Lookout Mountain; Mission Ridge, Ringgold, Atlanta campaign, including Kenesaw Mountain, thence to the sea with Sherman, and was honorably discharged at Savannah Dec. 22, 1864. After returning home, he resumed farming, combining with it the manufacture of cheese for ten years. He married, April 13, 1865, Lydia A. Moody, a native of Madison Co., by whom he has five children. He finds a political home in the Republican party, and is a member of the F. & A. M. of Mechanicsburg.
JACOB CREAMER, manufacturer of Mole Ditching Machines, Mechanicsburg: was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, in 1809, and is the son of Michael and Mary ''Gray) Creamer, both of Virginia. Michael was a farmer by occupation, and emigrated to Fayette Co. in 1805, where the remainder of his life was passed. His death occurred at an advanced age, and that of his wife in 1865. He had twelve children, ten of whom grew up to maturity. Our subject was the seventh child, and was reared and schooled in his native county, where he resided till the fall of 1871, when he became a resident of this county. He located first for two years in Urbana, and then moved to his present place in Mechanicsburg. He followed the calling of his father, and has made farming his principal occupation. He served as County Surveyor of Fayette Co. for nineteen years, and nine years as Justice of the Peace ; has given considerable attention to carpentering, and, for the last twenty years, has been engaged in operating a "Mole Ditching Machine," of which he is the patentee. It is a contrivance by means of which a secret ditch is cut any depth up to four feet, making a cheap and durable drainage. It can be regularly graded as the machine passes along, and the capstan, by means of which it is propelled, is mounted on wheels, thereby economizing time. From 100 to 300 rods can be cut per day. We think it destined to become the mode of under-draining on account of its proficiency and cheapness, not costing more than one-fifth as mach as ordinary ditching. Mr. C. finds his political creed in the Republican party, and religious in the M. P. Church. He takes an active interest in the temperance cause, and puts himself in sympathy with all temperance movements. He married Elizabeth Benson, of Fayette Co., in 1835, by whom he has had six children, all living.
WILLIAM CULBERTSON, carriage manufacturer, Mechanicsburg ; one of the well-established business men of Mechanicsburg, was born in New York State in September, 1833; he is the son of James Culbertson, who is a native of Ireland, and emigrated to America about 1830. He located first in New York State, where he remained until about 1835, when he moved to Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, where be resided till about one year ago, and has since been living with our subject. He is in his 87th year, and was married to Margaret Bratton, of Ireland. She died Dec. 22, 1878. They reared six children, of whom our subject is the fourth child. He was reared and schooled in Warren, Ohio, where he learned carriage-marriage- under McNeal & Belden. There he resided till 20 years old, when he came to Mechanicsburg. Here he has since resided, and followed his occupation for a time as a journeyman, and since 1856, on his own account, a period of twenty-four years, making him. one of the oldest business men of the place. In connection with the shop he ran a livery for four-
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teen years, but abandoned it about seven years ago. His shop is located on East Sandusky street, and is known under the firm style of Culbertson & Barr. They make all kinds and styles of carriages, buggies and spring wagons, and do all kinds of general repairing in their line. They have the reputation of turning out substantial and honest work, which fact has secured them the confidence and patronage of the public. He was formerly a Republican, but now finds his politics in the Prohibition party, and has several times been placed upon the ticket for county office, but, the party being largely in the minority, he was defeated. He is a faithful member of the following orders; I. O. O. F., K of H., and the M. P. Church, the former of which he has been a member of for twenty-five years. He married Miss A. E. Henderson, of Marion Co., Ohio, in 1858, by whom he has two sons and three daughters.
B. F. CUMMINGS, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; was born in this township in 1828, and is one of the early pioneers. His parents were Joseph and Nancy (Wells) Cummings. His paternal grandfather, Joseph, was born in Massachusetts, and married Sallie Porter of the same place. In 1790, they emigrated to Western Pennsylvania, and, five years after, to Marietta, Ohio, thus constituting one of the pioneer families of Ohio. Mr. C., while here, became intimately acquainted with Kerr and Weitzel, pioneers of historic fame. He remained in Washington Co. till 1806, when he pioneered his way with his family to this county, locating in Goshen Township, on the north side of " Little Lake," where his death occurred in 1813, and that of his wife some years after. At his location here, his family consisted of one son and three daughters, one son being born after moving to Goshen Township. These five children grew up, reared families, and the youngest still survives, living in Douglas Co., Ill. Joseph, Jr., was the oldest of the family, was born in Pennsylvania in 1791, and was a lad of only 4 summers when his lot was cast in the wilderness of the Northwestern Territory, and of 15 summers when he located in Goshen Township. His early life was that of a pioneer, beset with all the privations, hardships and experiences of such a life. The sons of the "bow and arrow" were his early companions, and, in the stirring events of 1812, he took an active part. He joined Hull's army at Dayton, Ohio, as a member of Finley's militia, and was taken prisoner at' his surrender at Detroit, but was immediately paroled and sent 'to Cleveland, whence he made his way home through the wilderness. The death of his father prevented him from taking anymore active part in this war. He resided in Ohio till 1844, when a desire to shift his location again to the frontier induced him to move to Van Buren Co., Iowa; there he lost his wife in 1853, and, in 1856, removed to Nebraska, Ind., where he resided with a daughter till his death, in January, 1867. Thus we briefly record the life and death of one who must be accorded a prominent place in the annals of the pioneers of Champaign Co. He married Nancy Wells in 1813; she was a native of Maryland, and came to Goshen Township with the family of John Rhodes in 1806. Our subject is the sixth child of a family of four sons and three daughters. His early life was passed in this and Union Co., obtaining the limited education which that time afforded. At the age of 16, he moved to Iowa with his parents, and, in the spring of 1857, returned to his native place, where be has since resided, engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. He served about eighteen months in the late war, as a member of the 32d O. V. I., Co. B ; participated in Millroy's campaign in West Virginia; at Cross Keys, under Fremont; and the battle of Harper's Ferry, where the regiment was surrendered; were paroled and sent to Chicago, where they were exchanged in the following February, Mr. C. being at this time honorably discharged on account of physical disability. He was married on Christmas Day in 1866, to Sarah, daughter of John Stone; she is a native of Goshen Township. One son and two daughters- twins-were born to this union, all of whom died last April with the scarlet fever. Mr. C. is a Republican in politics, and has filled besides others the office of Township Assessor.
ALANDRAS DARROW (deceased) ; was born in Goshen Township in 1815, and is the son of James Darrow and Sarah Willard. James was a native of Vermont,
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coming from near Lake Champlain to this State as early as 1811, pitching his cabin in the northern part of Goshen Township, then in the wild state and inhabited by the red man. To locate a family here at that time required no little courage, as well as the endurance of many hardships and privations, but, by dint of hard labor and perseverance, he established for himself and family a permanent home, where he passed the remainder of his days, his death occurring in about 1837-38. He had an encounter in early life with a bear on Lake Champlain, which well nigh proved his destruction, but, by his courage and perseverance, he came out victorious. The parents of Sarah Willard, his wife, were early pioneers here; she died in 1847-48. Thus we record the death of two more of the van-couriers of civilization in this county. He had three sons and three daughters, who grew up, and five of them reared families; two daughters still survive and reside in Union Co. Alandras was the third of the family and oldest son. Except a two years' residence in Union Co., his entire life was passed on the homestead, his death occurring in March, 1875, leaving ten sons and three daughters - Andrew, who died in infancy; Jane; George W., James (deceased), Jonathan; Zachary T.. who enlisted in the late war, March 7, 1864, as a member of Company A, under Capt. E. D. House, 60th O. V. I., and was shot through the head and killed, May 9, 1864, in the battle of Nye River, Va.; Sylvester and Sylvanus, twins, the. former deceased; Alandras and Alonzo, twins, the latter deceased; Phebe E., Alice and William. Mr. Darrow was married in 1835, to Phebe H. Colwell, a native of Ohio, and since 5 or 6 years old a resident of this county. He left at his death an estate of 360 acres, which now belongs to his family.
SYLVANUS DARROW, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg ; a native-born citizen of the county ; was born in Goshen Township in 1849, of Yankee ancestors. Alandras. and Phebe H. (Colwell) Darrow were his parents, whose sketch appears in this volume. Of thirteen children our subject is one of twins, and the seventh child. His occupation is that of a farmer, to which he was brought up. His education, so far as books were concerned, was such as he could obtain during his winter months, in youth, from the district school. He lived at home till he grew to maturity, doing farm labor, and, with the exception of a few months' residence in Illinois, has always lived in the vicinity of the homestead. Politically, he adopts the sentiments of the Republican party, and, religiously, the doctrines of the Methodist Protestant Church, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Mechanicsburg. He married, in 1872, Emma O. Smith, a native of Rush Township, '.his county.
S. C. DAVIS, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; a prominent citizen of the township; born in Bath Township, Greene Co., Ohio, in 1817; of Scotch-Welsh extraction, his paternal grandfather being a native of Wales. His father, Jonathan, was born in New Jersey, in 1776, and his mother, Piety Maxon, was also a native of New Jersey, and of Scotch descent. Jonathan moved first with his parents to Virginia, thence to Hamilton Co., Ohio, in about 1806; then to Greene Co., and, in 1826, to Champaign. He was thus a pioneer of Ohio, and experienced all the hardships and privations incident to such a life. A soldier in the war of 1812, he scouted over this country when civilization had but a meager existence here. He married in Virginia, and had a family of four sons and seven daughters, eight of whom grew up to maturity, and two of whom yet survive. He died on the farm where our subject now resides, March 22, 1845, and his wife, March 19, 1847. The subject of this sketch was the ninth child, and was only 9 years old when he came to his present place with his parents. Here he has since lived, a period of fifty-four years. His occupation has been that of a farmer, and for half a century he has been contributing his share to the improvement of the country, and now, past the meridian of life, he happily reflects upon the years gone by as being spent in industry and usefulness. He is most desirably located, about one mile south of Mechanicsburg, surrounded by beautiful oak groves. He married, in 1837, Jane Britton, who was born in the township, and is the descendant of pioneers. Three sons and six daughters were the issue of this union, one son and four daughters
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still survive. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the Baptist Church, and he is a member of the Republican party.
SAMUEL ENGLE, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; another prominent citizen of Goshen Township, was born in Jefferson Co., Va., in 1811, and is the son of John and Hannah Eagle, both natives of Virginia. John was a farmer by occupation, and had a family of nine children; was married three times, and had two children by his first two marriages and seven by his third wife, Hannah. In 1831, he emigrated to Ohio with his family, which then consisted of his wife, two sons and two daughters. He located in Clark Co., where he lived the balance of his life, his death occurring in 1845, in his 81st year. Our subject is the eighth child of the family, and, being brought up on the farm, has made farming his principal occupation. In April, 1852, he became a resident of Goshen Township, Champaign Co., where he has since resided, with the exception of a five years' residence in West Jefferson, Madison Co., Ohio. During four years of this time, he was engaged in the hotel business. At the end of this time, April, 1880, he moved to his present place in Mechanicsburg. He owns and operates a farm beautifully located just south of Mechanicsburg. He married, in 1845, Eliza J. Jones, of Champaign Co., Ohio. Five sons and four daughters have been born to this union. Since 1857, Mr. Engle and wife have been worthy members of the Baptist Church.
J. H. FREEMAN, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg ; another of the native-born citizens of Goshen Township; was born on the place where he has always resided, in 1839; he is of English descent and is the son of John and Huldah (Bay) Freeman, the former a native of New York State, and the latter of this township; her father, Hugh Bay, was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he moved with his parents to Kentucky when about 5 years old, and, in 1796, located in Cincinnati, then consisting of only a few rude houses, little foreshadowing the present great city. From there he came with his parents to this county, as early as 1808, locating, in 1822, on the place where our subject now resides, and where he had his residence till his death, which occurred Nov. 8, 1878, a few days past 92 years old. He was one of the early pioneers of Champaign Co., and served about six months in the war of 1812, under Capt. Abner Barren, as a teamster from Urbana to Sandusky. He was married to Mrs. Mary Moore, nee Miss Mary Willard, of Vermont, and an early settler of this county. John Freeman became a resident of this township in 1838, and died in the spring of 1839, when our subject was only about 6 weeks old. He was married twice; first, before coming to this State, to Miss Bliss, by whom he had one son, now living in Arkansas. Our subject is the only child by the second marriage; he was brought up and inured to farm labor, his educational opportunities being limited to the district schools, but so well did he improve his time and advantages that he was early prepared to enter the role of a teacher. This he followed some fifteen winters. Farming, to which he was reared, has been his principal occupation. In politics, he is a Republican, and an arduous worker for the party; he has held the office of Township Trustee, besides School Director, Supervisor, etc. He married Miss Emiline Romine, in 1859. She was born in Madison Co. and reared in this township. Of the four daughters born to this union, two have deceased.
PETER M. FUDGER, Mechanicsburg; one of the early settlers and prominent citizens of the county; was born in the State of New Hampshire in March, 1816, of English descent on his maternal and Irish on his paternal side. His parents, Edward and Sallie (Sprague) Fudger, were also natives of New Hampshire, and emigrants to Ohio in the fall of 1816. They halted for one year in Madison Co., and then purchased the farm on which our subject now resides, where they lived the remainder of their lives, his death occurring in about four years after locating in his new home, and hers in 1851. Four sons and six daughters were born to them, all of whom have died but our subject and one daughter in Illinois. Peter was the seventh child, and only about 2 years old when he located upon his present place. Here he has since resided,
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except a two years' residence in Mechanicsburg and the West, a period of sixty-two years; he bore a creditable part in bringing this county from a wilderness to its present condition. He is a self-made man, beginning in a small way with nothing but an honest name and willing hands, he has, by his industry and economy, accumulated a large tract of land, his farms consisting of 478 acres, under the best of modern improvement. He is identified with the Republican party. He has been married twice; in 1843, to Esther Davis, of this county, a descendant of early settlers and Vermonters ; she only lived six years, when her death occurred, leaving two suns and one daughter; one son has since died. In 1852, he married Sophia Perry, of Franklin Co.. Ohio, by whom he has two sons and ope daughter.
FRANKLIN SHERMAN FUSON was born near Cable, Champaign Co., Ohio, April 10, 1851. His father, William E. Fuson, son of Isaiah Fuson, married Miss Elenora Keller, daughter of George Keller, a hatter of Uniontown, Md. F. S. Fuson is the second of a family of seven children, five of whom are living. He began teaching a district school when 17 years of age at $30 per month, boarding at home, working nights and mornings for his board. The money thus earned be invested again in education at the new normal school, Lebanon, Ohio. This being exhausted, he taught two years in Madison Co., Ohio, and a term of four months in Woodstock, Ohio, the proceeds of which enabled him to take the degree of B. S. in the "old normal" in the summer of 1872. He began to teach and superintend the public schools of North Lewisburg, Ohio, the same fall, remaining there until the summer of 1879, when he was elected to the superintendency of the Mechanicsburg Public Schools. In the following spring he was appointed one of the County Examiners by Judge Todd. He married Miss Nannie Hill, of North Lewisburg, Ohio, one of his former pupils, in the summer of 1877.
JOHN GOUL, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; a native-born citizen of the county, was born in Union Township in 1832, and is the son of Christian and Ruth (Lawson) Goal. The former was born Sept. 6, 1804, in Rockbridge Co., Va. and died in this county Sept. 6, 1879, aged exactly 75 years. He was brought to this county by his parents when about 13 years old, and remained a useful citizen of the same until his death. He married Ruth Lawson in March, 1828, and, in March, 1878, they celebrated their golden wedding, J. R. Ware, who had married them, being present and officiating. Mrs. Goal is the daughter of Thomas Lawson, who came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in an early day, and two years subsequently became a pioneer of Champaign Co., locating on the place where our subject now resides. Adam Goal, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Germany, and came to America in an early day. He was married in Philadelphia, Penn., to Elizabeth Leetz, a native of the same place. He was for a time a teamster in the Revolutionary war, and was a shoemaker by trade, being careful to teach each of his four sons the same trade. Christian G. was a shoemaker by trade and a farmer by occupation, and was one who contributed his life's labors to the development and improvement of this county. He had three sons and four daughters, all of whom still survive. Our subject is the second child of the family, and was reared a farmer. He remained at home assisting in the duties of the farm till he grew to maturity. He located in this township when 2 or 3 years old, and has had his residence here most of the time since. Farming and stock-dealing are his pursuits. He was a soldier in the late war, as a member of the 134th O. V. I., and served 100 days most of the time on picket duty at the siege of Petersburg, Va. In politics, he is a Republican, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., and, for twenty years, has been a member of the M. E. Church. He has two farms under the best of modern improvement, one of 150 acres, on which he lives, and the other of 84 in Union Township. He married, in 1854, Susan F. Coffenbarger, a native of Maryland, and, since 9 years old, a resident of this county. Of the two sons and three daughters born to this union, two daughters have died.
G. W. GROVE, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; was born in Fairfield Co., near Lancaster, in 1840, and is of German descent. His parents were George and
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Elizabeth (Kulp) Grovs, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. George, Sr., was brought to this State by his parents when quite a small boy. He descended from honest tillers of the soil, and was himself a farmer by occupation. He was three times married, first to Miss Keller, secondly, to Elizabeth Kulp, and thirdly, to Catherine Kulp, who still survives. He moved to this county, locating near Mechanicsburg in about 1850, and there passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in November, 1878, and that of his wife Elizabeth in 1854. He had fourteen children by his three marriages. Our subject is the sixth child by the second marriage. He was about 10 years old when he made his advent into Goshen Township, and except a year's residence in the West, has since resided here, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married, in October, 1859, Sarah E., a daughter of Thomas Wren. She was born and raised within one mile of their present residence, which is about 2 1/2 miles south of Mechanicsburg. One adopted son, 12 years old, constitutes their family. Mr. G. is a Republican in politics, and an ardent supporter of the temperance cause, fully realizing the enormous evil of intemperance.
WILLIAM HORR, retired farmer; P. O. Mechanisburg; a prominent citizen and early settler, was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., in 1812, and is the son of Jacob and Hannah (Pierce) Horr, both natives of Massachusetts and early emigrants to York State; Jacob was a farmer by occupation, and became a resident of this county in June, 1838, and, soon after, a resident of Wyandot Co., where his death occurred Dec. 26, 1847; the death of his wife occurred Nov. 24, 1839, in the State of Illinois, where she had gone on a visit; he had a family of eight sons and one daughter, only three of whom still survive. Our subject was the seventh child of the family, and was early taught the art and dignity of farming; be lived in his native State till 1838, when he immigrated to Ohio, locating within sight of his present place, to which he moved-twenty-six years ago. The pursuit of agriculture has been his occupation, and in it he has been successful. He finds his political creed in the Republican party, and religious in the M. P. Church. He has at different times been prominently identified with the county and township offices, holding the positions of County Commissioner, Land Appraiser, and several times Township Assessor. The duties of these offices he has discharged with strict integrity and fidelity. He married Mary Coan, of New York, March 11, 1835 ; five sons and three daughters have been the issue of this union, two of whom have died, one in infancy, and the other, a son, died in the late civil war from the effects of a wound received in the battle at Port Republic, Va.; he lived just one month, dying at Washington City.
AMOS J. HOWARD, retired farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg. The subject of this sketch resides in Madison Co., within about a hundred yards of Goshen Township, Champaign Co., with the latter of which he has been prominently identified for over one-half a century. He was born in 1803, on Goose Island, in the Connecticut River, Grafton Co., N. H., and is the son of Amos and Miriam (Mills) Howard, both natives of New Hampshire, the former born April 9, 1775, and the latter March 18, 1774. Their nuptials were celebrated March 22, 1796. Mr. Howard, in his New Hampshire home, hearing flattering reports of the great Ohio country, resolved to move with his family thither, and, in the fall of 1808, set out on his long and tedious journey. He came to a halt in Mason Co., Va., thinking he had reached his destined place. The winter was passed there, during which time Mr. H. engaged in teaching. In the spring, he resumed his journey, passing some distance down the Ohio River by flatboat; he abandoned the river and pioneered his way through an almost unbroken forest to the site where our subject now resides. A log cabin was soon erected and a pioneer home established. His family consisted of himself; wife, two daughters and our subject. In this locality, he and his companion toiled out the remainder of their days, his death occurring Jan. 15, 1843, and his wife's March 26, 1860. Mr. Howard was educated for the legal profession, but never practiced at the bar; he engaged to some extent in teaching. Our subject was only 6 years old when his lot was cast in
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this county, then an almost unbroken wilderness Amid the scenes and privations of frontier life he grew up to maturity. availing himself of all the educational opportuni ties then offered, and so well did he improve the advantages to this direction that he qualified himself for the profession of teaching, and became a pioneer teacher For seventy-one years he has watched the growth of this country as it has been brought by the unflagging industry of man from an unbroken wilderness to the present highly improved state, and, in this laborious but noble work, he has borne a most creditable part. His energy, enterprise and business sagacity are attested in his broad acres, the result of his own exertions. At one time, he had in his farm some two thousand acres of land, lying in Madison and Champaign Cos. He has been married twice; first to Rachel Kirkley Dec. 22,1825; she died Sept. 4,1858; his second marriage was March 24, 1861, to Elizabeth A. Cowan, a native of Delaware Co., N. Y., and since 17 years of age a resident of Madison Co., Ohio, except a three years' residence in Missouri. Six sons and three daughters were born to the first union, to wit: Napoleon B., now a druggist in Lima, Ohio; Mary J., married to Lawrence Weldon, now a lawyer of position in Bloomington, Ill.; Miriam M.; John M.; Clinton, now in Pana, Ill.; Benton, Edwin ; Marion, now operating the homestead, and Elizabeth M. Miriam M., Benton, Edwin and Elizabeth are dead, the three last dying within a period of three months of each other.
JOHN M. HOWARD, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg. John M. Howard was born in November, 1833, just across the line in Madison Co., within sight of his present residence. He is the son of Amos J. Howard. His early education was obtained in the district school, under the disadvantages of his day. His life occupation has been that of a farmer and stock-raiser. His advent into Goshen Township, Champaign Co., was in the spring of 1868, and, in 1876, he purchased his present beautiful home one and one-half miles southeast of Mechanicsburg, where he has since resided. His fine residence and surroundings indicate thrift and enterprise. He finds his political home in the Democratic party. He married, in 1861, Emma Tulley, a native of Ireland, and, since 10 or 12 years of age, a resident of this country.
CAPT. V. HUNTER, grain merchant, Mechanicsburg; one of the prominent citizens and well-established business men of Mechanicsburg ; was born in Clark Co., Ohio, in 1819, coming from pioneer families of Ohio. The family was founded in Araerica prior to the Revolution, and, for several generations previous to immigrating to Ohio, had their home in Virginia. His father, William Hunter, and mother, Blanche Hendrix, were natives of Virginia. His grandparents became early pioneers of Ohio, his paternal grandfather, Jonathan Hunter, locating within the present bounds of Clark Co. as early as 1803, and his maternal grandfather, Mr. Hendrix, in 1802. They were then on the extreme confines of civilization, and experienced all of the "stern realities" of frontier life. His grandparents, together with his father and mother, passed the remainder of their days in Clark Co., and found their last resting-place within her borders. William Hunter was a millwright and carpenter by trade, but his chief occu pation, after immigrating to this State, was farming and milling. As early as 1820, he erected a flouring-mill on Buck Creek, in Clark Co., and operated it for a number of years. This was one of the pioneer mills of the county, and where our subject received his early lessons of industry. He has operated, either directly or indirectly, a flouring mill almost his whole lifetime. In 1840, he rebuilt his father's mill and engaged in milling for himself. This he continued till 1852, when he purchased his present mill, near Mechanicsburg, which he now operates in connection with Mr. Johnson. At the same time, he removed to Mechanicsburg, where he has since resided. He has, since locating here, been engaged extensively in the grain trade, and now does a large business in this line, handling nearly all of the grain brought to the Mechanicsburg market. He is just now completing arrangements which will give him all the modern facilities for handling corn. He was, for twenty-three years, agent at this place for what was formerly the S. M. & P. R. R., but now the C., C., C. & I. R. R., and was express
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agent for the same time. He has held a directorship in the Farmers' National Bank of Mechanicsburg since its organization. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Mechanicsburg, and of Raper Commandery of Urbana. He finds his political sentiments in the Republican party; has been a member of the Town Council for a number of years. He is one of the wide-awake and enterprising citizens of Machanicsburg, and not found lagging in whatever pertains to the welfare of the community. He is, in a true sense, the "architect of his own fortune." Inheriting little but integrity of character, habits of industry and a mind well disciplined to business, he has, by the proper use of these, surrounded himself with a neat competency. In 1851, he was married to Sabine W. Weaber, a native of Pennsylvania. A son and daughter are the issue of this union-Calvin R. and Laura B. both now grown to maturity. The latter is a graduate of Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
LEWIS KINGSLEY, farmer and teacher; P. O. Mechanicsburg; was born in Scotland Society, Windham Co., Conn., June 21, 1829, and is of a distinguished English family, which dates its origin to the time of King Henry I. Ranuelfh was the first who bore the name Kingsley. In 1183, he was created Hereditary Forester of the King's Forest of Delaware, in the county of Chester, by King Henry I ; he was called Ranuelfh de Kingsley, or "Ralph of the King's Land," "ley " being Saxon for land, which accounts for the origin of the name; his daughter Mabilla married the heir of the Mostyn family, which is now represented by Lord Mostyn. The Kingsley family were on the side of the commonwealth during the civil war in England; of two brothers, the elder was an officer in Cromwell's army ; the younger, John K., came to America about 1635, from the county of Lancashire, or Flint, England; Charles Kingsley, the author, was the representative of the elder branch, and his eldest son now lives in Oswego, N. Y. John K. located in Massachusetts, and from him our subject descended; he was one of the original seven of the church of Dorchester, near Boston, gathered in 1635 by Rev. Richard Mather ; he removed to Rehoboth, or Swansey. He was married in England, to Alice Kingsley, and was married the second time, dying at an old age, in 1679, and leaving several children; one, Eldad, was a member of the first Baptist Church formed in Massachusetts; he was born in 1638, and died in 1679, leaving, among other children, one John, who was born in 1665 ; in 1704, he moved to Scotland Society, Conn., where he died March 17, 1773; of his sons and daughters, one, Ezra, was in the line of descent of our subject; be died April 8, 1759, aged 61 years. Solomon, a son, was born Sept. 27, 1723. He married Lydia Burgess, of Canterbury. From Scotland Society he moved to East Windsor, Conn., thence to Granville, Mass., thence to Cazenovia, Madison Co., N. Y., where he died in 1812, 90 years of age; he had a family of eight sons and four daughters, of whom Jonathan was the grandfather of our subject; he died in Scotland Society Sept. 12, 1832, 80 years old, and his wife, Zillah (Cary) Luce, in March, 1815, aged 72; three of his children grew up and were married, to wit: James L., born Aug. 28, 1778; Mary W., March 12, 1781 ; and Jonathan, father of our subject, July 22, 1786, in Scotland Society, Windham Co., Conn.; he was a farmer by occupation, and was married to Eleanor Howard, who was born in Windham Co., Conn., Oct. 9, 1792; he emigrated to Ohio in 1835, locating in Union Township, Champaign Co.; thence to Madison Co. in 1840, and thence to Mechanicsburg in 1846, where he died March 25, 1852 ; his wife died in the same place Nov. 11, 1846; two sons and two daughters were born to them, of whom our subject is the youngest and only surviving member. He was but 6 years old when he came to Ohio, and has since lived in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg; be obtained his education in Mechanicsburg, principally under the instruction of Robert Wilson; he early qualified himself for teaching, by close application and good use of his opportunities; at the age of 19, he taught his first school, in Homer, Union Co., Ohio, and has since, with the exception of one winter, occupied the role of a teacher a period of thirty-three years-which makes him probably the oldest teacher in the county; his good reputation attests his proficiency and success in his profession. In politics, he is a stalwart Republican, and has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for
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thirty years. He was married, Sept. 30, 1855, to Catherine, daughter of J. W. Blue; she was born in Goshen Township, where she has always lived; her father came to the township when a boy, from Loudoun Co., Va., his native place, and had been, at the time of his death (in 1878), a resident of this township for three-quarters of a century. Three sons and four daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley.
J. M. LAFFERTY, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg ; one of the old residents and prominent citizens of Champaign Co. He was born near the border of Champaign Co. in Clark Co., in December, 1816, and is of English-Irish descent. His father, Samuel, was born near Shepherdstown, Va., and lived to the ripe age of 99 years, possessing till his death a remarkable mental and physical preservation, being able to walk about up to the time of his death. He was a teacher by profession, and emigrated to Champaign Co., Ohio in about 1812, and shortly moved to Clark Co., locating near Catawba; here he lived till within two years of his death, which occurred in Illinois ; he was for forty-eight years Justice of the Peace of Pleasant Township. He was married twice; his first wife was Mary Hendricks, of Virginia, where the marriage took place; this union was honored with five sons and five daughters. The first death in this family being a son 18 years old. His second companion was Katie, widow of Enos Neer. Our subject was raised on the farm, and has devoted his entire life to farming and stock-raising, handling principally sheep ; he fed one winter in connection with a partner, 2,200 sheep, and for some years engaged in shipping stock East. At one time while taking hogs. East, he was struck by a switch engine in Cleveland, and severely injured, having his hip badly broken, which has since made him a cripple. With this, however, his energy and industry does not allow him to be idle, and in most work he succeeds in making a full hand on the farm. He has resided in this county since about 12 years old. He has a well-improved and productive farm of 200 acres, the result of his industry and economy; he has not always had smooth sailing, for, besides the above misfortune, he was robbed of $1,150 on the cars near New Albany, on his return after a sale of sheep, and altogether in his stock operations he has lost about $5,000, including a security debt of $300. He married, Sept. 7, 1840, Rebecca B. Lausdale, born in Mechanicsburg, Ohio. They had three sons and four daughters; one son died after reaching maturity; he was at the time of his death a law student at Ann Arbor, Mich., and was ready to be admitted to the bar. Formerly a Whig, Mr. L. naturally became a Republican at the organization of the Republican party. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Mechanicsburg for nearly forty-six years, and steward and class leader for nearly as long.
J. O. LEGGE, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; was born in Goshen Township in August, 1830, and is the son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Corlis) Legge ; the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Maryland. Elijah emigrated to Ohio with his parents in 1811, and located in Goshen Township. He was then 24 years old, and took part in the war of 1812 as a teamster. He lived the remainder of his life in this township, his death occurring in 1839. Richard Corlia, father of Elizabeth C., came from Maryland with his family of five daughters, and pitched his cabin in the wilderness of Champaign Co., in the fall of 1805, and in 1807 came to Goshen Township, where his daughter Elizabeth has since resided, a period of seventy-three years. Elijah Legge had a family of eleven children, four sons and one daughter of whom yet survive. Our subject is the second of the family, and has passed the most of his life in Goshen Town ship. He was raised on the farm and schooled in the district school. His life occupation has been that of a farmer. He moved to his present place in March, 1866, where be has since resided. He was married in 1858 to Mary J. Patrick, a native of Madison Co., Ohio, born and raised three miles east of Mechanicsburg. Her parents were early settlers of Madison Co. One son, Clarence E., now nine years of age, is the issue of this union. Mr. Legge is a Republican in politics.
LEW LYONS, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; a son of W. Lyons; was born in 1848, and has always resided on the homestead and engaged in farming; his education
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was obtained from the district school; he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and with his wife of the M. P. Church. He married in 1869, Sarah, daughter of Samuel Evans, and a native of this township. This union has been honored with one daughter. Walter Lyons, the father of our subject, is an early settler and prominent citizen of the county; he was born in Union Co., in 1823, and is a son of Ben J. and Mary (Lockwood) Lyons, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of Canada. Ben emigrated to Ohio in about 1819, locating temporarily near Marietta, and then pioneered his way to Union Co., where he married Mary Lockwood in about 1820; he was married before in his native State to Miss McCloud, who died before his emigration ; his decease occurred some ten or twelve years age at the advanced age of 84 or 85 years ; he was married the third time to Mary Morrow, and by his three marriages had respect ively, four, three and two children. Walter is the second child by his second marriage, and the only surviving member by this marriage. Farming has been his life occupation. He located permanently in this county, and on his present place, in the spring of 1848, where he has since resided. He married Dec. 25, 1848, Lucinda Odell, of this county, and a descendant of pioneers. Our subject is the only child of this union. Mr. L. finds his political home in the Republican party, and his religious, with his wife, in the M. P. Church of Mechanicsburg.
J. L. MAGRUDER, saddler, and harness manufacturer, Mechanicsburg; one of the oldest business men of Mechanicsburg ; was born in Virginia near Winchester, in 1817, and is the son of Ninnian and Elizabeth (Lyons) Magruder, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Virginia. Ninnian was a farmer by occupation, and died when our subject was 12 years old ; his widow married again and emigrated to this State. Our subject passed the first 16 years of his life in his native State on a farm. At this age be embarked on his own resources, and cast his fortunes in Ohio. He located first in Springfield in the spring of 1834, and in the following fall went to West. Liberty, Logan Co., where be began the harness trade under Riddle & Rutan ; remained there until the summer of 1838, when he came to Mechanicsburg, and, with the exception of one year-from the spring of 1840 till the spring of 1841-he has since resided here. In the spring of 1841, he purchased the harness shop of Rutan, and has since continued the business in the same room, a period of nearly forty years. The firm is now Magruder & Son, and they are located on the north side of Main street, where they keep on band a full line of saddles, trunks, harness, etc. This establishment is too well known to the community of Mechanicsburg to need extensive notice in this sketch. Mr. M. enjoys the reputation of a first-class workman, and of being strictly honest in all his transactions, great and small. He was married, in 1841, to Anna E. Stafford, of West Liberty, Ohio. A son and daughter have been born to this union; both married and located near the homestead. Mr. M. is a Republican and has frequently been honored with offices of trust of the township and town, filling the office of Township Treasurer, Mayor of the town, etc., and is now Treasurer of the town and his son is Clerk. He, with his entire family, is a member of the M. E. Church and takes an earnest and active interest in the cause of Christianity and temperance.
DAVID B. MAHAN, teacher and tile manufacturer; P. O. Mechanicsburg ; is a prominent teacher and business man of Goshen Township, born in Indiana Co., Penn., in 1838, of Irish extraction. His parents, Patrick and Nancy (Wilson) Mahan, were both natives of Ireland. Patrick came to this country with his parents when 2 years old, and his wife when 7. He located in Chester Co., Penn., but afterward went to Indiana, where his death occurred at the advanced age of 80 years, having lived upward of half a century in one place. His wife died in 1848. Patrick was a farmer by occupation, and was married twice, having three daughters by his first marriage, which was with Elizabeth Ringle, and two sons and four daughters by the second marriage. David was the fifth child of the second marriage. Until 17 years old, his life was passed on a farm, and his common-school education was supplemented by an academic education obtained in the academies Dayton. Pine Flat and Glade Run, thus thoroughly qualifying himself
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for the profession of teaching. Since 17 years old, he has been engaged in the profession of teaching, except for three years. By diligence and close attention to this occupation, he has made it eminently a success. He has filled prominent and responsible positions in the profession with commendable zeal and satisfaction. Was Principal of the Pine Flat Academy two terms, Livermore Institute one year, and Superintendent of union schools in Ebensburg, Penn., one year, whence he came to Mechanicsburg in the fall of 1865, and superintended public instruction in this place for two years with success and efficiency. Since then, he has been combining with the profession of teaching the manufacture of tile, under the firm style of Mahan & Morris. Their tile are unsurpassed in excellence, and consist of all kinds. Mr. M.'s political sentiments incline him toward the Republican party, but, recognizing the enormous evil of intemperance, he has lately given his sympathy and patronage to the Prohibition party, by which party he was recently nominated as candidate for the State Legislature, but, the party being in the minority, he was defeated. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His only brother was killed in the late war, May 27, 1864, in the battle of Lost Mountain. He was shot through the head and almost instantly killed, his last words being, "Come ahead, boys; let's give it to them." Mr. M. married, in the fall of 1863, Caroline Huston, of Indiana Co.. Penn. Two sons are the issue of this union. Her paternal grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1776, and one of the sufferers of Valley Forge. A brother represented Indiana Co., Penn., in the State Legislature during the late war, and another brother was in the war three years.
J. N. MILLICE, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; one of the few early native citizens of Goshen Township, was born within sight of his present place in 1821, and is a son of Christopher and Magdalene Millice, whose biography occurs under the sketch of G. W. Millice. Our subject is the third of a family of four sons and three daughters. His life has been that of a farmer. His boyhood was devoted to the duties of the farm in the summer, and school in the winter, obtaining a limited education under difficulties in the characteristic pioneer schoolhouse. His early experiences were those of the sons of the early settlers of this country. He remained at home till he grew up to maturity, and his first location after starting out on his own responsibility was on the homestead. The farm he now owns was his first land purchase, which he improved and moved to in 1857. Here he has since resided. He married Susannah Coile, of Knox Co., Ohio, in 1849. Two daughters, Clara and Olive, have been born to this union. In politics, Mr. M. is Republican, and has been identified with the party since its organization. He has held several offices of honor and trust.
G. W. MILLICE, grocer, Mechanicsburg; one of the well-established business men of Mechanicsburg, was born within one mile and a half of this place in 1827. He is the sor. of Christopher and Magdalene (Rhinehart) Millice, the latter a native of Vir ginia, and the former of Pennsylvania, born May 12, 1785. When five years old he immigrated to Virginia, and, in 1813-14, immigrated to Ohio. Mrs. Millice came to the State about the same time. Christopher located in this township, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1855. His devoted wife still survives, living on the homestead, at the advanced age of 87. Henry Millice, father of Christopher, was among the first to locate his family in the wilds of Goshen Township, coming from Virginia. Christopher had four sons and three daughters, one dying in infancy; the others still reside in the county. Our subject is the sixth of the family, and was reared on the farm, early becoming accustomed to its duties; was educated in the pioneer school house, under the disadvantages of his day. He followed solely the pursuit of agriculture till ten years ago, when he moved to Mechanicsburg and embarked in the grocery and queensware trade. Last winter he added a meat-shop, and now the firm style is Millice & Co. The firm is one of the most reliable in the place, and a full and well-assorted stock is always kept on hand. Mr. Millice is an energetic, wide-awake business man, taking an interest in all things pertaining to the welfare of the community. In politics, he is a Republican, and has filled many offices of honor and trust. Has been Treasurer
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two years ; member of Town Council, and is now Township Trustee. For eight years he has been a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married, in 1856, to Melissa Coles, of Champaign Co., by whom he had one son, and, in 1863, to Mary T. Gilbert, a native of Virginia. He has one son and three daughters by his second union.
GEORGE MORSE, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg ; was born in Vermont in 1830, and is of English descent. . His father, Charles P., emigrated to Ohio in about 1835, and was a farmer by occupation. He was married to Sarah Knight, of Vermont, by whom he had six sons and six daughters, some dying in infancy. Charles P. died June, 1872; his wife, Sarah, still survives. Our subject was the fifth of the family, and was brought up on the farm, early becoming inured to farm labor. He was only five years old when he came to Ohio with his parents, residing since then in Union and Champaign Cos., and moving to his present place about fourteen years ago. His years, till he re: ched maturity, were passed upon the farm at home, assisting in the farm duties and gathering, during the winter months, a rudimentary education from the district schools, which was supplemented by two or three years passed in the high school at Marysville, He learned the trade of cabinet-maker in early life, and operated a cabinet-shop in North Lewisburg for about five years. Mr. Morse takes great interest in religion, and holds the official relation of minister to the Disciples Church, filling the pulpit regularly every month, besides doing much irregular work in the ministry. Mr. Morse is one of the industrious and highly respected citizens of the community, and takes an interest in whatever pertains to the welfare of the community. He married Maria, daughter of Eliphas Burnham, in 1853. He has a family of one son and one daughter, one son deceased.
JOSEPH MUMMA, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg ; one of the prominent farmers of the county, was born Jan. 16, 1816, in Washington Co., Md., near the battle ground of Antietam. Ile is the son of Henry and Adelia (Staubs) Mumma ; the for mer a native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent; and the latter a native of Frederick City, Md., and of French descent. Henry moved with his parents to Maryland when about 14 years old, and, in October, 1828, he moved to Ohio, locating near Dayton, where his death occurred in April, 1853 ; and his devoted wife in July, 1866. He was by occupation a farmer, and had three sons and two daughters, of whom our subject is the third. He was 12 years old when he came to Ohio with his parents. He was raised on a farm, and has made farming his life occupation. In this line of life he has taken a great interest and been signally successful. He resided near Dayton till the fall of 1866, when he became a resident of Champaign Co., locating in Union Township, and, in April, 1873, he moved to his present place about one mile east of Mechanicsburg. He is enterprising, as is evinced by his fine, well-improved farms, and large, beautiful residence and surroundings. He is a Republican in politics, formerly being an Old-Line Whig. He married in the fall of 1840, Mary J. Tyler; of Montgomery Co., Ohio, by whom he has reared three sons and six daughters, one daughter deceased.
G. W. NELSON, lumber merchant, Mechanicsburg. G. W. Nelson, of the firm of P. W. Alden & Co., in one of the well-established business men of Mechanicsburg, born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1836, of English descent. His parents are Thomas and Mary (Greer) Nelson, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they now reside at an advanced age. They have five sons and f four daughters; all yet survive. Our subject is the oldest of the family, and, till 19 years of age, his summers were devoted to farm duties and his winters to school duties in the district schools. At this age he began the carpenter trade and followed it in his native State till 1859, when he emigrated to Ohio, locating in South Charleston, Clark Co. In the summer of 1861, when rebellion was rife in our country he responded to the call for men to suppress it, and enlisted in the 44th O. V. I., and re-enlisted with his regimeut in 1863-64, in the 8th O. V. C. He participated in the campaignes of West Virginia and Kentucky up to the siege of Knoxville, in which he was engaged. The principal fights up ''.p to this time were those of Lewisburg and
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Floyd in West Virginia. After the siege of Knoxville the regiment returned home; were mounted and entered the service as the 8th O. V. C., being placed in Hunter's command. He was with him on his march to Lynchburg and his retreat, participating in numerous skirmishes and experiencing much hard service. After this did guard duty and scouting, with general headquarters at Phillippi and Lexington, Ky. While charging the enemy at Dunstan's Hill, Ky., he received a shot in the forehead which prostrated him for a time, but did not prove serious. He served till the close of the war, experiencing all the privations and hardships of active soldier life, and was honorably discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio. He located in Mechanicsburg in the spring of 1871, since which time he has been dealing in lumber, operating under the firm style of P. W. Alden & Co.. the only lumber dealer in the place. He handles all kinds of fine lumber, and also deals in coal. He married in 1864, Eliza C. Calhoun, of this State. One adopted son constitutes his family. He is a Republican, and member of A., F. & A. M., K. of H. and M. E. Church.
FRANK R. PACKHAM, machinist, Mechanicsburg, was born in Hadley, Lapeer Co., Mich., in 1853. His father, Catterick, was born in Lewes, Eng., and emi grated to America when 10 years old, locating in Michigan. Here he married Clarinda Greene, of Michigan, and of Massachusetts ancestry. She is the grand-daughter of Abraham Newberry, one of the men who assisted in throwing the tea overboard in Bos ton Harbor. Catterick has since moved to Canada, where he superintends one of the most extensive milling establishments in that province. Our subject was reared and received his primary education in his native place, finishing his education in Rockwood Academy, at Guelph, Canada. At the age of 17, he was apprenticed to the trade of machinist in New Hamburg, Canada. Here, while working at his trade, he acquired the use of the German language. In July, 1875, be came to Mechanicsburg as an em ploye of the Mechanicsburg Machine Company, then in its infancy. Remained in the employ of the company about two years, when he invented the " Packham Patent Crimper," an ingenious contrivance for crimping stove-pipes. He at once gave his attention to the manufacture and perfecting of the machine. As in every industry, so in this, it required energy and enterprise to make it a success, which were readily and persistently furnished by Mr. Packham. He began the manufacture of it himself.. but, not having sufficient financial means to push the enterprise as it should be, he sold out to parties who organized the "Patent Crimper Company." Mr. Packham was placed in charge of the manufacturing department, which position he has since occupied. He is one of the enterprising young men of Mechanicsburg, and has done much for the industries of the place. He married, in 1975, Maxmiller Mouser, a native of this county, and a descendant of the Kentons, of historic fame. Her grandmother, Elizabeth Mouser, now residing with her, was born within the present limits of Mad River Township, this county, April 20, 1804, an-' is the daughter of Thomas Kenton, a nephew of Simon Kenton. Thomas was born in Virginia Aug. 23, 1771, but his parents moved to Kentucky when he was about 14 years of age. On the journey, his grandfather, Martin K., died. They became pioneer families of Kentucky. Thomas married Keziah Crutchfield, of Virginia, and, in 1801, became a pioneer to Champaign Co. His life is indissolubly connected with the early history of the county and Mad River Township. His death occurred Nov. 10, 1851, in his 81st year. He had a family of six sons and six daughters. A son and three daughters still survive. Elizabeth married John Mouser, of Virginia, in 1826, who died in 1831, leaving a son, Thomas K., who died in the late rebellion, leav ing two daughters and a sop. Six generations of this family have lived in this county, and three generations were born on the same farm in Mad River Township.
R. B. ROGERS, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg ; one of the prominent citizens of Goshen Township; was born in Greene Co., Ohio, in 1826, and of English descent. His parents, John and Margaret (Herbert) Rogers, were both natives of Virginia and early settlers of Greene Co. John found his way to Greene Co. about 1819, coming down the Ohio River by flat-boat, and in 1826, in the infancy of our subject, he became
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a resident of Champaign Co., locating in the southeast corner of the county, where our subject now resides. Here his death occurred in 1849, a loss to the community of a gentleman and a Christian. His wife, Margaret, survived him till 1876, when her death occurred at the ripe age of 86 years. Of their family of three sons and one daughter, the daughter has died. Our subject is the third child and youngest son. Almost his entire life has been passed on his present farm, being only a few months old when he was brought here by his parents. The country was wild and mostly covered with a thick growth of timber when he first made his advent here, but now large, highly improved and well-cultivated farms may be seen instead, the result of industry and perseverance, and in this improvement Mr. R. has borne a creditable part. His first marriage was in 1852, with Sarah Morris, of Madison Co.; his second in 1862, with Lydia Griffin, of the same county. Two sons have been born of this union. In politics, Mr. R. is a Republican, and is a member of the I. O. O. F and A., F. & A. M. Societies.
G. A. ROWINSKY, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1831, of Russian descent on his paternal, and German on his maternal, side. His father, Abraham, and his mother, Sarah (Dunkle), were both natives of Lancaster Co., Penn. Abraham was a tanner by trade, but a farmer by occupation. He emigrated to Ohio in 1839 and located in Harrison Co., near Cadiz; from here he moved to Richland Co., where his death occurred in August, 1865, and that of his wife, Sarah, in February, 1876. Five sons and five daughters were born to them; a son and daughter died when young; the others grew up to maturity. One son-John M. died in the service of his country in the late war, at the siege of Vicksburg, Miss., of the measles. G. A. is the fourth child of the family, and, being brought up on a farm, has made farming his life occupation. His years till his majority were passed with his father on the farm, performing farm labor and attending district school in the winter. At the above age, he started out on his own responsibility and resources, and, in 1856, located in Goshen Township. Mr. R. has a fine farm of 132 acres, the result of his own industry and economy. He served about four months in the late civil war, as a member of the 134th O. V. I., performing mostly picket duty at the siege of Peters burg, Va. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the I. O. O. F., of Mechanicsburg. He married, in 1858, Martha J. Rutan, of this Bounty; they have a son and daughter living, and one daughter deceased.
NATHANIEL SCEVA (deceased) was one of the prominent citizens and early settlers of Goshen Township. He was born in New Hampshire in 1808, of English extraction. His parents were Henry and Joanna (Celey) Sceva, both natives of New Hampshire. Nathaniel was brought up on the farm till about 13 years old, when he was apprenticed to the carpenter trade, serving the regular term of seven years, thus becoming thoroughly acquainted with his profession. His educational opportunities were well improved, and he qualified himself for the profession of teaching, which he engaged in to some extent in his native State. In May, 1835, he cast his lot in the State of Ohio, locating in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg. For some years, he followed his trade, and many buildings still stand as monuments of his workmanship. After a time, he purchased land and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Some years previous to his death, which occurred Dec. 14, 1870, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Mechanicsburg, in which place the latter years of his life were passed. He was one of Goshen Township's much-respected citizens, and in his death the community recognized the loss of one of its useful members. We quote from a Columbus paper the following: "He had been a citizen of the county for more than thirty-five years, and had served as Commissioner and Postmaster, besides numerous local offices of trust, with strict integrity and fidelity. His family have lost a kind husband and father, and the community a valuable citizen. He was eminently the noblest work of God, 'an honest man.'" He was one of the self-made men of the community, inheriting nothing but an honest name, habits of industry, and a determined will ; he accumulated before his death a neat competency. He was a life-long Democrat, and
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was exacted on that ticket to the office of County Commissioner in a county which is overwhelmingly Republican. He was married. April 3, 1835, to Rosaline, daughter of James and Dolly Woodward. James Woodward was born in North Sutton, N. H., March 3, 1789, and died April 28, 1872 ; his wife still survives, in her 87th year, with her physical and mental powers remarkably well preserved. Six sons and one daughter were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sceva, all growing to maturity; two sons have since died.
J. N. SHAUL, blacksmith, Mechanicsburg; is one of the energetic business men of Mechanicsburg and native-born citizens of the county; he was born in the southern part of Rush Township, Oct. 7, 1837 ; his father, Peter H., was born in Clark Co., seventy years ago, whither his parents had moved from Virginia in an early day. His father was of Scotch and his mother of French descent. Peter H. was married in 1835, to Mary Swisher, of Pennsylvania; he moved to this county quite early, and located in Rush Township, where he still resides; he had a family of two sons and four daughters, of whom our subject is the oldest. He passed his life, till he attained the age of 16, on the farm, assisting in the duties of the same and attending school about four months in a year, getting, under difficulties, a limited education. At the above age, he went to Urbana and learned the blacksmith trade, under the tutorship of Hiram Gray. After completing his trade he went West; worked two years in McDonough Co., Ill., and, in 1858, came to Mechanicsburg, where he has since been engaged at his trade; he enjoys the reputation of being a first-class workman, and has the confidence and esteem of the public. Mr. S. is a member of the A. F. & A. M. Society, and finds his political creed in the Republican party, with which he has always been identified. He married, in 1862, Mira Joiner, who was born in Mechanicsburg, in 1844, and is a daughter of Charles Joiner, a native of Virginia, who was one of the first settlers and prominent citizens of Mechanicsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Shaul have a family of five living children.
T. E. SHEPHERD, Postmaster, Mechanicsburg ; was born in Mechanicsburg, in 1837, which town has always been his place of residence; he comes of early pioneers of the county; his father, John Shepherd, was a native of Kentucky, and his mother, Eleanor McCoy, a native of Maryland. John emigrated to Ohio with his parents, Abraham and Mary Shepherd, in an early day. Abraham and his wife passed the remainder of their days here, and now lie buried in the old cemetery of this place. Abraham was a farmer by occupation and a minister in the Christian Church. John was a miller by trade, and passed the greater part of his life in a mill; his decease occurred in Novem ber, 1860, and that of his wife one year previous. They had ten children, of whom our subject is the youngest; he was reared and educated in this his native place, and early apprenticed to the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for seventeen or eighteen years of his life. In 1863, he enlisted in defense of his country in the late rebellion as a member of Co. K. 113th O. V. I.; he participated in part of the Atlanta campaign ; shortly after, was taken sick and returned to Louisville, Ky., where he remained as clerk in Gen. Ewing's headquarters till the close of the war. He then returned home and engaged again at his trade till 1877, when he received the appointment of Postmaster of Mechanicsburg, the duties of which he has since discharged with fidelity and commendable zeal. He finds expression for his political ideas in the Republican party ; he has been Secretary of the Central Ohio Fair Association since the first year after its organization ; was nine years Township Clerk and several years Town Clerk. He is a member of the following organizations . A.. F & A. M., I. O. O. F and K. of H. He married. March 26. 1861. Amanda, daughter of Udney H. Hyde. She was born in Delaware Co, Ohio One son and two daughters have been the issue of this union. W. H. Hyde deserves special notice as being, in the days of slavery, a fearless and uncompromising Abolitionist. and the central figure in the " Addison White Rescue Cast. "mentioned to the historical part of this work He was born in Vermont in 1907 and emigrated to Ohio in 1834 and. twenty-five years ago, became a residentof Goshen Township, Champaign Co. In 1840 while contemplating the question of American slavery he came to the conclusion that it was grossly wrong and incompatible
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with our free government, and, with some others, pledged himself to do all in his power against it, regardless of consequences, and no pledge was ever more earnestly and deter minedly executed than this on the part of Mr. Hyde; he ran off on the underground railway, altogether, 513 fugitive slaves from Mechanicsburg to Delaware. During many of these trips he encountered many dangers, but pushed on fearlessly on " duty's rounds." By his connection with the " Addison White Rescue Case," he was compelled to flee the "Fugitive slave Law," and became a refugee for nine months, thereby entailing a loss of several thousand dollars. His daughter Amanda, also, though young, bore a conspicuous part in this case. To such spirits as these are the freedmen under a debt of everlasting gratitude.
D. F. SPAIN, banker, Mechanicsburg. Mr. Spain is one of the oldest citizens of Mechanicsburg ; was born in Greene Co. in 1807, of English parentage. Theodrick and Sarah (Threet) Spain, his parents, were both natives of Virginia; Theodrick was a farmer by occupation, and immigrated to Greene Co., Ohio, in 1805 or 1806, and to this county in the year 1808, locating in this township and constituting one of the first families in the place ; in 1818, he moved to the town of Mechanicsburg, where he lived till his death, which occurred in 1824; he purchased, when coming here, 1,000 acres of land, and was one of the most prominent citizens of the community in his day ; he was, for many years, the only surveyor in this section of country, and laid out the original town of Mechanicsburg ; at his death, he left a family of three sons and three daughters, our subject being the fourth child; he was reared principally on the farm, and, when 11 years old, came to Mechanicsburg with his parents, and, on the death of his father, he returned to the farm, where he remained six years; he then returned to this place, and has had a continuous residence here ever since-a period of half a century. He has been engaged in farming, merchandising, etc., and is now Vice President of the Farmers' National Bank of this place. Formerly a Whig, he is now a Republican in politics. having never missed a Presidential election since his majority; he was elected to the office of Sheriff of Champaign Co. in 1852, and discharged its duties with fidelity for four years; he has served several times as Assessor of the township ; he is a member of the A., F. & A. M. of this place. He has been married twice; first, in 1847, to Ann Morgan, a native of London, England ; she died in 1853; his second marriage was with Angeline Shepherd, of this county, in 1860. He has one son-William H.-living, who is a child of the first union.
EPHRAIM STUART, retired farmer; P. 0. Mechanicsburg; was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., near Balston Falls, June 28, 1809, and comes of Scotch and Irish ancestry; his parents, Nathaniel and Keziah (Toby) Stuart, were both of Saratoga Co., N. Y., where Joseph Stuart, father of Nathaniel, settled in an early day; Joseph was a soldier in the Revolutionary struggle, and died in this State, where he had moved in 1837. Nathaniel gave his attention, to some extent, to farming, and was prominently connected with the county offices, as High Sheriff, etc.; he immigrated to Ohio in 1836, locating in Union Co., where his death occurred in 1875, at the ripe age of 84, and that of his wife in 1859. Nathaniel was a soldier on the frontier in the war of 1812; had five sons and seven daughters; all still survive but two. Our subject is the oldest, and was reared and schooled in his native State; he immigrated to Ohio in 1837, locating successively in Union; Logan, and, in 1845, in Champaign Co., where he has since had his residence, with the exception of a short time in Logan Co. He has devoted the most of his life to the manufacture of woolen goods, a trade he learned in his native State; he has had the misfortune of losing, by fire, two factories within the last twenty-four years; notwithstanding these reverses, he has, by his industry and economy, succeeded in securing for himself and family a neat competence; he has a farm of 200 acres joining on the town of Mechanicsburg. His political views incline him toward the Democratic party, but, being a strong temperance man, he occasionally votes the Prohibition ticket. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the M. E. Church. He married Mary Hutchinson in 183,"; she was born in Vermont Oct. 24, 1815; one son and Three daughters are -he issue of this union.
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JOHN P. SUTTON, clerk, Mechanicsburg; is a descendant of early pioneers, and was born in Mechanicsburg Feb. 4, 1850; his parents were John P. and Nancy M. (Henderson) Sutton; the former was born in Hartford, Conn., in about 1813, and immigrated to this place about 1838 or 1839 ; by trade, he was a tailor, which he followed till his death, Dec. 27, 1856. He married Mrs. Nancy M. Baker, nee Henderson, in 1848; our subject was the only issue of this union; he (John P.) was formerly married to Sallie N. Baxter, by whom he had two children. Mrs. Sutton was born near Alexandria, Va., Oct. 18, 1807, and came to this township with her parents in 1814 ; they located on land now owned by Orin Taylor, where they erected their pioneer log cabin and began life in the wilderness; this cabin still stands, a relic of pioneer times; in this community Mrs. Sutton has since resided-a period of sixty-six years-and witnessed the almost incredible changes wrought on the country by the unflagging industry of man during this period. She was first married to John Baker, by whom she had three sons and three daughters, two of whom are dead. Our subject was reared and educated in this, his native place, where he has always had his home; since he attained the age of 16, he has been engaged principally in mercantile business, as a clerk ; he early entered the role of a teacher, which he followed for five winters, in Madison and Franklin Cos.; he has given his time exclusively to mercantile business for the past six years, as a clerk; he is now engaged in the dry-goods store of C. W. Williams & Co. Mr. Sutton is a public-spirited, enterprising and much-respected citizen of Mechanicsburg, possessed of many sterling characteristics; he finds his politics in the Republican party, and has, for four successive years, been elected to the office of Township Clerk, He is a member of the following orders: A., F. & A. M., Chapter, I. O. O. F., Encampment, Imp. O. R. M., and K. of H.; is Secretary of the People's Building Loan Association, and M. P. Sabbath school. He married Anna Earnest, of Harper's Ferry, Va., July 20, 1871 ; two children, both deceased, have been the issue of this union.
BENJAMIN TAYLOR, retired farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg ; be is one of the prominent citizens and early settlers of the township; was born in Penobscot Co., Me., in 1810, and is the son of Cyrus and Abigail (Woodward) Taylor Our subject was only a small boy when he came to Ohio with his parents, and located in Meigs Co., and, in the spring of 1825, he came with his brother Orin to this county and township, and located on their father's farm, near Mechanicsburg. Here in this comparatively new country he began as a farmer to carve out his fortunes, and his success through life attests how successfully he has done it. He followed assiduously the pursuit of agriculture till nine years ago, when he abandoned the farm and moved to Mechanicsburg. His life has been characterized as one of integrity and industry. Being an Old-Line Whig, he naturally united with the Republican party at its organization, and has since been identified with it, although he at times exercises his voting privilege in favor of the Prohibition party. He was a strong anti-slavery man, and took some interest in the underground railway system. He, with his wife, is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church of this place. He was married, in 1837, to Emiline Mitchell, and, in 1858, to Amelia Baker. Seven children were the issue of the first, and one child of the second, union.
ORIN TAYLOR, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg ; another of the old and respected citizens of Mechanicsburg; was born in Penobscot Co., near Bangor, Me., in 1808, and is the son of Cyrus and Abigail (Woodward) Taylor. Cyrus followed farming through life; and emigrated to Ohio in 1815 with his family, making the entire trip through with & two-horse team. He located in Meigs Co., thence to Kanawha Salt Works, Va., one year, and, in the fall of 1825, he came to this township, locating near Mechanicsburg, where his death occurred at the ripe age of 88 years, and that of his wife at the advanced age of 91 years. Benjamin Taylor, grandfather of our subject, was a Revolutionary soldier, and served for seven years in that great struggle for liberty. He also emigrated to this place with his wife, where they died, he at the age of 87, and she at the age of 90. Cyrus Taylor had eight children, all of whom are deceased but
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two sons, noticed in this volume. Our subject was the third child, and, when only 17 years old, came with his brother Benjamin, two years his junior, to this township in the spring of 1825. Farming has been his life occupation, in which he has been eminently successful. In the spring of 1859, he moved to his present place in Mechanicsburg, where he resides and superintends his farms. In politics, he was originalry a Whig, and then became a Republican at the organization of the party. He married Sarah Debois, of Chenango Co., N. Y., Jan. 8, 1829. She is of French parentage, and was born in 1808. Her parents located in Columbus when there was only one brick house in the place, and her step-father, Asa Collins, did the smithing work on the first State House and prison, and she attended the first Sabbath school in the place. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have no children of their own, but have had adopted children as follows V. B. Davis and sister, the latter of whom died, leaving a daughter, Amelia Bishop, who now lives with them, and Letitia Owen, who died at the age of 20. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are faithful members of the Protestant Methodist Church.
CHARLES TAYLOR & SON, druggists, Mechanicsburg. Among the business interests of Mechanicsburg deserving of more than a passing notice is the above firm, one of the oldest drug firms in Central Ohio. The present proprietor is J. P. Taylor, son of Charles and Mary L. (Sergent) Taylor, the former born in London, England, in 1809, whence he immigrated to this country in 1816 with his parents, locating first in Newark, N. J., and thence to Pittsfield, Mass., from which place he came to this in 1834. He was a shoemaker by trade, which he followed until he embarked in the drug trade in this place about thirty years ago. This he continued till recently, when he disposed of his store to his son J. P. He has always been recognized as a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, and always found interested in matters pertaining to the welfare of the community. He was one of the prime movers in establishing the union schools of this place, which was accomplished under much opposition. In politics, he was originally a Jacksonian Democrat, and successively a Free-Soiler and Republican. He was known as an uncompromising Abolitionist, and was one of the leading spirits in this community in the underground railway system; he took a prominent and active part in the celebrated "great slave rescue case of Addison White," for his connection with which he was arrested under the fugitive slave law, and suffered a pecuniary loss of nearly $2,000. He was atone time appointed Postmaster of Mechanicsburg, but turned the office over to D. F. Spain. He is one among the oldest Masons in the county. He has been married twice; first, to Tirzah Shepherd in 1835; and secondly, to Mary L. Sergent in 1838. He had one son by the first, and five sons and one daughter by the second, marriage. Three sops have deceased. T. P. Taylor, proprietor of the store, was born in Mechanicsburg, and, at 4 years of age, went to Indianapolis, Ind. ; thence in two years to Eaton, Ohio, where he remained four years, and then went to Dayton, Ohio, remaining nine years where he received his education. At the end of this time, he returned to his native place, where he has since been located and engaged in the drug business; first, as partner with his father, and lately as sole proprietor. His business room is on South Main street, where he has one of the finest drug stores in the county, and one of the most elegant and neatly arranged prescription cases. From his careful attention to business, he is enjoying a gratifying patronage of the community. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the Imp. O. R. M.
JONATHAN THARP, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; a descendant of early pioneers of Champaign Co., was born near the border of Goshen Township, in Madison Co., in 1833, and is of English extraction. His father, Isaac Tharp, was born in Flem ing Co., Ky., Oct. 2, 1799. He was 12 years old when he immigrated to Champaign Co. with his father, Jacob, Sr., who located one year in Urbana with his family, which consisted of ten sons and two daughters, and then till 1829 on a farm about three miles east of Urbana, when he moved to Illinois, where his death occurred in October, 1871, at the remarkable age of 98 years. He was born Sept. 8, 1773, and his father, Jacob, was born in the north of England and died in this county in 1793, aged 49. Jacob
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Tharp, Jr., moved to Illinois with his father, but returned in 1832, and passed the remainder of his days here, dying in January, 1871. He was married, in June, 1820, to Anna Rigdon, who was born Oct. 10, 1800, in Mad River Township, Champaign Co., and was among the first white children born in the county. Her father, John Rigdon, was one of the first pioneers of the county. Her death occurred in 1867. They had four sons and seven daughters; one son and four daughters still survive. Our subject is one of a pair of twins, and the youngest of the family. His life has been that of a farmer, and his early education was obtained in the district school. He has lived on his present place about forty-five years, located in the southeast angle of the county. He married, in 1872, M. C. Sprowl, who was born in Illinois and raised in Greene Co., Ohio. Mr. T. is, politically, a Republican.
DAVID TULLIS (deceased); was born in Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio, Oct. 17, 1808, and was the son of Ezra and Mary (Blue) Tullis, pioneers of Warren Co., and natives of Virginia. When David was a small boy, his parents pioneered their way into the wilds of Champaign Co., and here passed the remainder of their lives, raising their family of four sons and two daughters to honest toil. David was the second child of the family, and was reared, and inured to farm labor. Early in life, he learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed in Mechanicsburg for seventeen years. By his industry and careful attention to business, he won the confidence of the public and the reputation of a first-class workman. At the end of this time he purchased and moved on a farm, and began the pursuit of agriculture with the hope of improving his failing health. Here he remained successfully operating his farm for about twenty-one years, and then returned to Mechanicsburg, where his death occurred July 15, 1876. By his death the community suffered the loss of one whom it recognized as a valuable and honorable citizen. He was married, July 8, 1831, to Nancy Cartmell, who was born in 1812, near Mechanicsburg, her parents being natives of Winchester, Va., and pioneers of this county. They located in Goshen Township in 1805, and lived the remainder of their days on the place on which they first located. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tullis, seven of whom still survive; one died in infancy.
J. K. WARE, retired farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; one of the early settlers and prominent citizens of the county; was born near Salem, N. J., Oct. 8, 1806; he comes of Quaker parentage, his ancestry emigrating from England in an early day. His father, Jacob. was a farmer by occupation, and was married three times. His third marriage was with Sarah Reed, of New Jersey; by this union he had a son and daughter, having two sons and two daughters by the previous marriages. His demise occurred in 1806, a few months before the birth of our subject, caused, it is supposed, from fright, occasioned by the burning of his house. Our subject was taken to Delaware when about 3 years old, where he remained till 1818, when be came with his mother to this county, locating first about two miles west of Urbana, and the following year near King's Creek. In 1823, he went to Urbana and entered the store of Thomas Gwynne as clerk ; here he remained a short time and then went to Springfield, Ohio, where his step-father had just opened a store, and clerked for him there until Jan. 20, 1825, when they came to Mechanicsburg, where he has since resided. He acted as clerk in the store till 1834, when he embarked in Mechanicsburg on his own account, purchasing nearly all his first stock on credit ; this he continued till 1846 with eminent success, due to his careful business habits, honesty and economy. He then went to land dealing and raising sheep and wool. In this his usual energy and business sagacity won him signal success. He now owns nearly 2,000 acres of land lying in Champaign, Madison and Union Cos., mainly in this county. Mr. Ware is a self-made man; beginning with nothing but an indomitable will, he has by the assistance of his devoted wife and his own perseverance and economy, surrounded himself with a neat competency. He has been identified with the Whig, Liberty, Free-Soil and Republican parties, and now, recognizing the enormity of the evil of intemperance, is a strong Prohibitionist. He has led a life strictly of tem-perance, having never used intoxicating drinks or tobacco in any form ; he has always
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been active and earnest in the temperance work. He is a public-spirited man and always found interested in matters pertaining to the welfare of the community. He was an early and earnest advocate of the free-school system, and was mainly instrumental in establishing the union schools of this place. In slavery times he was widely known as an uncompromising Abolitionist. He is a man of principle and firm in his convictions of right. He with his wife has been a member of the M. E. Church for over one-half century, and during nearly all this time has occupied important positions in the church. He married Amisa Wallace, who was born Feb. 6, 1804, near Brownsville, Penn. Aug. 20, 1829, and since his marriage has lived on the same identical spot. Of the four sons and two daughters born to this union, two sons, the oldest, died in infancy.
OLIVER C. WHEELER, Mechanicsburg ; publisher of the Mechanicsburg Herald, an eight-page quarto weekly, devoted to local interests, and neutral in politics, established in 1879. He was also the founder of the Central Ohio News, another weekly paper published in the same place, established in 1873, severing his connection in 1878. Mr. Wheeler is a practical printer. and has been identified with the newspaper interests and the "art preservative " in Ohio for twenty-five years. He is a native of Maryland, and emigrated with his parents to Ohio when a lad.
R. D. WILLIAMS, banker, Mechanicsburg ; is one of the oldest business men of Mechanicsburg, and has been for a number of years prominently identified with the business interests of the place, performing a most creditable part in bringing it to its present enterprising condition. He was born in Maryland June 27, 1815, and is of English descent on his paternal, and of French on his maternal, side. His parents, John W. and Eleanor (DaVal) Williams, were both of Maryland: John W. was a farmer by occupation, and immigrated to Ohio in 1831, locating in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg. Here he purchased a large tract of land, and passed the few remaining years of his life, his death occurring in 1838. His wife, Eleanor DuVal, was born of French Huguenot parentage, and comes from an ancient and honorable family. After the revocation of the "edict of Nantes" by Louis XIV, two Huguenot brothers escaped from France to America, one locating in Maryland, and the other in Virginia. These have left a numerous progeny scattered throughout the North and West, and of these Mrs. W. was a lineal descendant. Of this same family was William Pope DuVal, of historic fame, and one of the Territorial Governors of Florida, a sketch of whose life is given by Irving in " Wolfert's Roost," under the title of " Adventures of Ralph Ringwood." Gen. John Pope DuVal was his brother, and obtained a large tract of land in the Virginia military district of Ohio, and many of his heirs now reside on it. The family has been prominently identified in military and official positions for many generations. John Williams left at his death four sons and four daughters. All were located in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg but one daughter, who was married to Dr. William Hammond, of Annapolis, Md., who is the only member of the family deceased. One brother lives in Chicago, one in Mechanicsburg, and another has been for a number of years prominently connected with the offices of the State, serving two terms as Auditor. Our subject is the third of the family, and was in his early manhood when he came to this place with his parents. His early education was received in the district school in his native State, and, till he attained majority, he lived on a farm. In 1836, he embarked in the mercantile business in Mechanicsburg, which he continued with success for thirty years, the business now being carried on by his sons. He then engaged in the banking business with Thomas Davis, the 'bank being styled the "Farmers' Bank," and was organized subsequently into the "Farmers' National Bank." He has held the position of President of this bank since its organization. Thus, nearly one-half a century has elapsed since Mr. Williams identified himself with the business interests of Mechanicsburg, and we still find him enrolled with the foremost business men of the place. He is a man of many sterling qualities, and his life has been marked with industry, integrity and beneficent acts. He is a Republican in Politics and a Methodist in religion. IT married Jane, daughter of Samuel W. Clag-
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gett, of Annapolis, Md., in 1836. Two sons and three daughters are the issue of this union, all of whom reside in their native place but one daughter, who resides in Toledo.
NATHAN WOLF, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; was born in Logan Co., Ohio, in 1845, and is the son of George and Olive (Hendricks) Wolf, the former a native of Virginia, born near Harper s Ferry in 1803, and the latter a native of Clark Co., Ohio. George emigrate to Clark Co. with his parents when quite young; thence to Logan Co., where he lived. till about thirty years ago, engaged at his life occupation, farming. At the above time, he sold out with the intention of going West, but the death of his wife, Olive, defeated this plan. He soon married Miss Laferty, and located in this county, Union Township, where he still resides. About twelve years ago, he was called to mourn the loss of his second wife, and has since been married to Rebecca J. Minturn. He has two sons by his first and three by his second marriage. Our subject is the oldest living, and has had his residence in this county since 6 years old. He received a common-school education, and has made farming his life occupation. He made his first location from home on his present place in about 1870. In his use of the elective franchise, he uses his own judgment, and votes for the man he thinks best fitted for office, regardless of party. He is a member of A. F. & A. M. fraternity and the M. E. Church. He married, in 1870, Mrs. Louisa M. Smith, nee Hull, by whom he has two sons-Alfred C., born Feb. 17, 1874; Milton B., born July 28, 1876. Mrs. Wolf has one son by her first marriage-Claude F. Smith; born June 11, 1866.
THOMAS WREN, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; one of the early settlers of Goshen Township ; was born in Clark Co., Ohio, Dec. 1809, and is the son of David Wren, of Berkeley Co., Va. David was married to Elizabeth Bishop, of Loudoun Co., Va., and moved to Fleming Co. Ky., where they remained five years, and then pioneered their way into Ohio, in 1801 or 1802, locating in Pleasant Township, Clark Co., thus making one of the first families of Clark Co. In June, 1832, he moved with his family to Goshen Township, Champaign Co., locating about one mile south of Mechanicsburg. Here he lived till in August, 1847, when his death occurred ; his wife died in 1852. They had six sons and four daughters; all grew up and were married; two sons only, survive. Our subject was the seventh child; he was reared on a farm, and early became inured to farm labor; his life has been devoted to farming and stock-raising, and at this he has been signally successful. At his advent into Goshen Township, he was 22 years old; and has since resided here, a period of nearly half a century. He lived with his parents till he moved to his present place, forty years ago. Then be began in the woods and log cabin ; now he has a farm of nearly 400 acres under good improvement, and a fine, large, brick residence, the result of his industry and economy. He married, in 1837, Mary Jones, who was born in Logan Co., Ohio, and raised in this, Champaign Co.; she died in June, 1871. One son and five daughters were born to this union. Mr. Wren, formerly an " Old-Line Whig," now embraces the principles of the Republican party.
DAVID YEAZELL, farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; an early settler of Goshen Township ; was born in June, 1804, near Yellow Springs, Greene Co., Ohio, and raised in Clark Co., till the fall of 1826, when he came to the place where he now resides, locating the 15th of December, in the house in which he now lives; he is the son of Abraham and Mary (Curl) Yeazell, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Virginia. Abraham was among the early pioneers of Greene Co., whence he moved to Clark Co., when our subject was quite young; he dwelt on the same farm the remainder of his life ; be was a farmer by occupation, and reared nine sons and five daughters, all of whom grew up to maturity and were married. Our subject was the sixth of the family, and his early life was that of a pioneer farmer. Since 1826, he has plied his industry as a farmer in Goshen Township, taking a creditable part in the improvement of the country for over half a century. He married Esther Bumgartner, born in Greene and raised in Clark Co. Of the two sons and two daughters born to this union, one daughter has died.