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JACKSON TOWNSHIP

CAPT. P. C. BOSLOW, retired, Patterson. Among the pioneers of Hardin County we find and record the name of Capt. Boslow, whose father, John, was a native of Virginia, but whose father, again, in early life, settled in Canada, where John matured and married Mary Condon. of New Brunswick. In 1832, he came to Ohio with his wife and eight children, settling near Cleveland, but. he died in 1848, in Green County, Wis., and his widow died in Richmond, Ind., in 1881. Of their nine children; Peter C. is the fourth, and was born near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1819, but from the age of thirteen years has been a resident of Ohio, and, since 1845, has lived in Hardin County. The following year, he and H. D. Harrison laid out Patterson, and in the same year he married Harriet Sherrer; of Ross County. Soon afterward. he opened a store, and, for a number of years, he was identified with all the leading interests in and about Patterson. His official capacity has been varied to almost every office in the township. In 1861, he raised Company C, Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which he was made Captain, with recruiting commission. The following May, he was discharged for disability and returned home. He now lives retired, and is one of the well-to-do citizens of the county.

JOHN BRIGGS, farmer P. O. Forest, is a son of Robert Briggs, who was born in Lincolnshire, Eng., March 20, 1800. and died in Hardin County, Ohio, February 17, 1879. He matured in his native county, where he married. in 1823, Mary Pickett, of the same county, born early in the present century, and who died in Richland County, Ohio, about 1834. While yet in England, they buried one child, and, in 1833, they came with four children to Ohio, where Mary soon after died. After a residence of three years there, he came to Hardin County as a pioneer, and bought eighty acres of land in Jackson Township, and subsequently bought forty acres more. In religion, he was a Methodist, and an upright man. He buried his second wife, Mary Aldrich, by whom he had four children. The names of his nine children are John, Elizabeth Mary. Sarah, Robert, Amos, Mathew, Jane and Mitchell. Of the entire family, .John is the oldest, born in England. December 23, 1824, but, at nine years of age, came to Ohio; at twelve, to Hardin County, where he is now the owner of two hundred and twenty acres of land. At an early age, he saw the value of education, and applied himself as best he could in those pioneer days, and, at the age of seventeen, began to teach school, being one of the early teachers on the Blanchard. This claimed his attention for nine winters. Since 1850, he has devoted his time exclusively to farming and stock-raising. Mr. Briggs has, by industry and prudence, placed himself among the well-to-do citizens of the county. On June 6, 1850, he married Margaret Elder, by whom


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he has seven children, viz.: Sarah E., born September 28, 1851; Robert W., November 12, 1853 ; Eliza E., April 6, 1855 ; John A., August 18, 1857; Sidney M., October 14, 1861; Dora A., December 4, 1863, and Benjamin F. E., November 14, 1865.

REV. T. J. CELLAR. clergyman, Forest, is a grandson of the late Rev. -- Cellar, if not of German birth, certainly of German extraction, and who became a pioneer of Delaware County, Ohio, where he settled in 1802, and remained a resident of until his death. His son George, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Franklin County, Penn., and died in Delaware County, Ohio. His wife, Rachel Fleming, was a native of Venango County, Penn., and is still living. at the ripe age of eighty years. George and his father were both Elders of the Presbyterian Church. George and his wife were the parents of seven sons and two daughters, of whom the following, survive; Thomas J., Moses H. (in Kansas), John A. F., Sarah J., George C., Wilson F. (Presbyterian clergyman) and Martha E. Rev. T. J. Cellar was born in Delaware County, Ohio. October 1, 1827, and after receiving a common school education, entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, from which he graduated. He was licensed to preach in 1866, and ordained in June of the following year. His pastoral labors began in November 1866, in Wyandot County, Ohio, and from there he moved to Forest in 1873. He was married to Eliza G. Harter, by whom he has a family of six children, five of whom survive, viz.. George A., Jennie B., Enora H.. Martha E. and Anna P.

JOHN COPELAND, farmer, P. O. Patterson, is a son of William Copeland, born in Lancashire, England, in 1785, and died in Hardin County July 16, 1868. He was reared to rural life in England, and in 1821 married Mary Wells, of the same county, and two years later came to America, stopping in New York State for a time. In 1824, they carne to Mansfield, Ohio, and in 1835, with six children, settled in the then wilds of Hardin County, entering 120 acres of land in Sections 25 and 26 of Jackson Township. The late Mr. Copeland was a man of strong mind and constitution, turning his entire attention to rural pursuits. Even, plentiful as game of all kinds was, he seldom if ever, made any of it his prey, he and wife were members of the Methodist Church, and were among the ones to establish Methodism in Hardin County. He was repeatedly Trustee anal School Director. Their children number seven viz., Charlotte, Rebecca, Henry (deceased), Catharine, Thomas, John, and Wesley (deceased). The subject of this biography was born in 1834 in Richland County, Ohio, but since infancy has been a resident of this county, and now owns 120 acres of land. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Munson. Five of their six children are now living.

DAVID E. FISHER, firmer, P. O. Patterson. is a son of Mathew Fish who was born in Allegheny County, Penn., April 23, 1807, and who, when bordering on manhood, settled with his parents on the Muskingum River, Ohio, where he married Susan Mitchell, a native of Pennsylvania, born April 19, 1807. They settled in Hardin County in 1875, where she died. Of their twelve children, David E. is the seventh, and was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, September 11, 1839. He reached his seventeenth year in his native county, and acquired a common education, which he has since greatly improved by home study. During 1857 and 1858, he was in Missouri and Iowa, but has since been a resident of Ohio, where he has handled agricultural implements for Aultman & Taylor, of Mansfield, and for a time was Superintendent of their lumber yard ; subsequently, he represented the Findley Manufacturing Company during three years. On June 13, 1876, he took out a patent on his "O K" farming-mill, in which he has perfect control of screens while running ; uses the same screen for coarse or fine, wet or dry wheat; besides this, he has his "shoe" hung on diamond springs, which adds much to the ease of running


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the mill. He now lives on his farm of thirty-eight acres in Jackson Township, where he has been elected as Trustee several terms; he is the present Assessor of his precinct, and has served for nine years in the same capacity. His wife was Miss Lydia A. Fitch, of .Jackson Township, Wyandot Co.. Ohio. They have seven children, all living-Milroy M., Martha A.. Eva V., Emma M. and Mathew R. (twins); John W. C. and Jane W. He and his wife belong to the Baptist Church and also the Grange. The mother of our subject was born April 19, 1807 died May 7, 1876. aged sixty-nine years and eighteen days.

SAMUEL GEORGE (deceased) was a son of William George, who was of German descent, and who died in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1844. He was by occupation a carpenter and cooper. His wife was Lena Hull, of Scotch descent; she died in 1849. Of their twelve children, Samuel was the eleventh, and was born September 14, 1818, and died September 29, 1882. He matured and was married in his native county to Catharine Eaton, and, in 1857, came to Hardin County. They settled west of Forest. where he bought 160 acres of land, all in the woods, which he improved, undergoing.; much hard work. He was a man of large frame and good constitution; he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and evinced a firm Christian Character. Mrs. George was born in Columbiana County, Ohio in 1822, and now resides in Forest. Of her five children, four are living, viz.: James M., William E., Jane F. (Mrs. William Metcher). and Ann M. (now Mrs. McKean.). Mr. Metcher is one of the Township Trustees, was born in Hancock County, and is of German descent, he owns a fine farm of eighty acres, and good town property in Forest, where he resides.

JOHN HAFER (deceased). was born in Pennsylvania September 17, 1809, and died in this county July 16, 1882. He matured in his native State, where, on April 12, 1831, he married Catharine Howard, of the same State. In 1850, they came to Ohio settling at Milton where his wife died the following year, and five of their ten children are now living. John's second wife was Elizabeth Sheckler, to whom he was united September 9, 1852. She was born near Mansfield, Ohio, June 25, 1824. Their family consisted of five children, of whom four are now living, viz. : Mary E., widow of Capt. Herrick, who, for a number of years, taught school in Hardin County; George W., William C. and Franklin S. Mr. Hafer and family moved to Hardin County from Crawford County during the late war, and bought land where he has since lived, in Jackson Township. He cleared his farm of eighty acres and improved it, but, up to the time of coming to Hardin, he chiefly followed his trade as carpenter. In early life, he belonged to the United Brethren Church, but in later life joined the Methodist Church for convenience of attendance.

J. S. HALE, real estate agent, Forest, is a son of Charles and grandson of Randall Hale, the latter having been born in New England, of English extraction. He was a patriot in the Revolutionary war. His wife was a Miss Taylor, cousin of Zachary Taylor. He and wife both died in Hancock County, whither they had migrated at an early day. Of their eight children, Charles was the fourth, born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1815, died in Hancock County, in 1876. At the time of his death, he had resided forty-six years in Hancock County, where he followed farming. His wife was Eliza Swinglar, of Jefferson County, and now a resident of Arcadia, Ohio. Their union resulted in nine children. of whom J, S. is the fifth. He was born in Hancock County, Ohio, in 1843. He was raised to farm life, and acquired a common school education, subsequently taking a commercial course. At the age of seventeen, he commenced clerking in the dry goods line, and has since carried on the business in different places. He came to Forest in 1871, where he established a drug store, and altogether has been in the business eight years. He has done much to improve the town, and


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now possesses two large brick business houses. In 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving one year, and participating in the battles of Vicksburg and Arkansas Post. He was married in July, 1868. to Nancy Scott, who was born in 1841. She is a daughter of John and Lucy Scott, pioneers of Round Head. Mr. and Mrs. Hale have four children.

I. B. HARMAN, farmer. P. O. Forest, is a son of Christian and a grandson of John Harman. The latter was a native of Germany, came to America in middle life, and settled in Columbiana County, Ohio, where he died about 1836, aged nearly ninety years. Christian, his third son, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1790, and died in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1844. He acquired a common school education, and, early in life. joined the Methodist Church, although he had been raised by Lutheran parents, and soon after became an exhorter and finally a licensed minister. He served in his profession until declining health forbade it. His wife was Elizabeth Bowker, a native of New Jersey, and of Irish descent, born about 1803, and died in Hardin County, Ohio, in 1863. Of their three sons-Isaiah B., William H. and Emanuel P. ; the eldest and youngest survive. Isaiah was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1816, came to Hardin County in 1863, and now owns ninety-five acre, of land in Jackson Township. His wife was Margaret J., daughter of Rev. William Stone. She was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., and died in Hardin County, Ohio, March 19, 1876, aged nearly sixty years. Their children were: Ann E., Christian C., Margaret J., Willard F., William H., John W., Emanuel L, Marietta, David L. and Elmer E., all living. Mr. Harman has served as Township Trustee and School Director.

WILLIAM HEMPY, farmer, P. O. Forest, is a son of Peter Hempy, whose father was born near Lutzenburg, Germany. Peter Hempy was born in the State of Maryland, where he, matured and married Mary Michael, of the same State. During the first decade of the present century, they settled in Fairfield County, Ohio, where they both died. He was a millwright by trade, but owned and lived on a farm. He furnished a substitute in the war of 1812 from Fairfield County, where William, the sixth of their thirteen children, was born April l5, 1823. William matured in his native county, where he received a common school education and when sixteen years old was enabled to teach. About this time, his father died, leaving him entirely alone in the circle of life. On June 15, 1851, he married Christina Trissler, and the same year purchased and settled on five acres of land in this township. By strict economy and industry, he and his wife have accumulated until they now own nearly 100 acres of good land. In 1863, when all building material was extremely high, his entire buildings were swept away by the devouring flames. Mr. Hempy has always been handy with tools, and has done considerable carpentering, which was convenient for him in many instances when starting in the dense wilderness of Hardin County. He has devoted some time to saw-milling, and for several years had a mill on his farm. He and wife have had eight children, seven of whom are now living. Mrs. Hempy is a sister of J. R. Trissler, whose sketch appears in this volume.

CAPT. CYRUS HERRICK, deceased, was a son of Ezra Herrick, who was a resident of the neighborhood of Dunkirk, Ohio, at the time of his death, which occurred in December, 1871. Cyrus Herrick was born near Hawley, Oakland Co., Mich., December 13, 1841. In 1847, his father moved to Ohio and settled in Blanchard Township, this county. He bought eighty acres of the farm that the Captain owned when he died. The place was but a wild forest without even a house. They unloaded their goods under the trees and went to work to build a house, where they lived until the late rebellion: Capt. C. Herrick enlisted in the Eighty-second Regiment as private; was promoted


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to Second Lieutenant July 17, 1862, to First Lieutenant July 31, 1862, and to Captain May3, 1863, serving to the close of the war. While in the service, he obtained a furlough to visit his home, on which occasion he married Miss Parmelia Wilson, daughter of R. S. Wilson. This was on February 9, 1864. At the close of the war, he came home and bought his fathers farm and, in a short time, bought 100 acres more. which made him a home of 180 acres. In 1869, he built a large barn; in 1873, he built a large brick house at a cost of $4,500. On December 17, 1874, his wife died, leaving three children, two now living-Emma and Anna. On March 16, 1876, he married a second time. The partner of his choice was Miss Mary E. Hafer, daughter of John Hafer; he had been acquainted with the lady for a number of years; she having taught school in his district at one time. By this union two children were born-Gertie and Alice, Alice being only eight weeks old when her father died, and his widow was but twenty-six years of age. In 1879, Capt. Herrick bought another farm of 117 acres, which gave him in the aggregate a farm of nearly 300 acres. He died March 8, 1880.

JAMES M. HIGGINS, farmer. P. O. Forest, is a son of William Higgins, who was born April 22, 1805, near Philadelphia. Penn., and died in Hardin County, Ohio, in 1858. He was raised in his native State and was married in Fayette County, in 1826. to Mary A., daughter of David Trissler. She was born near Hagerstown, Md., December 22, 1807. They came to Ohio in 1831, stopping in Jefferson County, but in 1836 came to Hardin County, settling on Section 2 of Jackson Township, where he entered forty acres of land, he was a stout, hearty man, energetic and industrious, and erelong he had transformed the handiwork of nature into open and productive fields. He had eleven children-David, Mary A., Eliza, Christina (who married, and at her death left a family), William, Margaretta, John J., Frances M., James M., Amanda E. and George W. Of this family our subject was the ninth, and was born in Jackson Township April 11, 1844. He has always resided in the county and followed farming, save nine months during the late war. He is a live, energetic, tidy and practical farmer, owning 140 acres, well improved in modern style. His wife was Miss Annie R., daughter of Jasper M. Pimperton. She was born in Hardin County, and they have one child-Eva..

JOHN J. HIGGINS, farmer, P. O. Forest, is a brother of J. M. Higgins, whose sketch appears in this volume. John was born in Jackson Township, February 9, 1841. He has always resided in Hardin County and followed farming, and is now the owner of 229 acres of well-improved land in Jackson Township. This he cleared and improved himself, and has it stocked with good cattle, sheep, hogs and horses. He was married to Nancy M. daughter of Nathaniel Miller, of Hancock County, where she was born in 1840. They have a family of four children.

HARVEY S. HORN, editor of the Review, Forest, is a grandson of a German physician who died in Findlay, Ohio, in 1863, and a son of J. B. Horn, who was a native of Hesse -Darmstadt, Germane, and who came to America in 1837. Harvey was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, November 11, 1854, but from boyhood matured in Findlay, where he graduated in the union schools May 24, 1872. In 1873, he entered the office of the Hancock Courier as printer. After four years' experience there, he came to Forest, where he is editing and publishing the Forest Review, a weekly issue.

DAVID KELLOGG, firmer, P. O. Forest, is a son of David Kellogg, Sr., and a grandson of Daniel Kellogg. The latter was born in Massachusetts, but died in Connecticut. He was a farmer near North Hampton. Of his sons. David was the youngest, born in Hampshire County, Mass. about 1785, and died near Kenton, Hardin County, during the late war. He married, in his native State, Abigail Ward, and soon after was called in the service of the 1812 war.


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After a short service at Boston, he returned home, but not until 1835 did he conclude to make his home in the West. In that year, he settled near Kenton, this county, where he bought 40 acres and entered 160 acres. He was a stout, robust man, and able to withstand all the privations subject to those early days. He lived a widower several years. Of his children, David, our subject, is the second eldest. and was born in Mass. in 1816, but since 1835, has lived in Hardin County and now owns 80 acres of land, which he has cleared and improved. His wife was Isabelle Howey, who died in 1841, leaving four children-Mary, Maggie, John and Jane. His second wife was Miss Sarah Reichert, of Pennsylvania, but for a number of years a resident of Ohio.

DANIEL KELLOGG, farmer, P. O. Patterson, is a brother of David Kellogg, under whose name the ancestral history appears. Daniel was born in Massachusetts, November 22, 18141, but since 1835, has been a resident of Ohio, mainly of Hardin County; when he came here he was just bordering on manhood, and commenced thinking of his future accumulation. The county was new and wild, land cheap and plenty still to be entered from the Government, but as he was poor, having nothing but energy, industry and good health to rely on, he concluded to enter a quarter-section of land now in Jackson Township, on which he resides ; soon after this, he engaged by the month as farm hand in Fairfield County, and while thus engaged bought forty acres of land near Kenton, to which he returned in 1842. In 1854, he married Caroline Eaton, and settled on his farm, where they remained until March 1870, in which year they came to their present location in Section 35. His entire life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and he raises good stock. He and his wife have one child - H. B.

JOHN; McELREE, farmer, P. O. Patterson, is a son of Thomas McElree, a native of the North of Ireland. where he learned and carried on the weaving trade and married Jane McFadden. In 1833, they emigrated to America with two children, settling near Lancaster, Penn., and, thirty years later, came to Hardin County, where Thomas died and his widow still survive. In Hardin County, he followed farming pursuits and accumulated a neat competency. He and his wife were both members of the Presbyterian Church. Of seven children born to them, .John, our subject, is the fourth and was born in Lancaster County. Penn., in 1840. He reached his majority in his native State, but, since 1862, has resided, uninterruptedly, in Hardin County, where he now owns 320 acres of land, all under good cultivation and well improved. In 1874, he was chosen one of the County Commissioners, and is now one of the Trustees of Jackson Township, in which capacity he served in 1867. In 18668, he married Leah M. Scribner, of Marion County, by whom he has had a family of five children. Mrs. McElree was originally a Miss Owen, and her first husband's name was Henry Scribner, by whom she had two children.

JOHN McVITTY (deceased) was born in Franklin County, Penn., April 25, 1808, and died in Jackson Township; this county, December 11, 1881. His father was John, Sr., of Scotch descent, but who spent the greater part of his life in Pennsylvania,. Our subject was raised in his native State, acquired a fair education, and learned the trade of millwright. He and his brother Noah came in 1835 to this county, and entered land in Section 14, of what is now Jackson Township John on 160 acres and Noah on eighty. The following year they returned to the Keystone State and married sisters, John to Frances Culbertson, and Noah to Mary Culbertson. They all, in the same year, came to Hardin County and settled on their previously entered homes, where Noah died in 1839, leaving a widow, who now lives in Pennsylvania, but no family. John and wife were spared to face the pioneer hardships of the county. He was at all time ready to assist in any improvements beneficial to the county, and thereby won the esteem of his fellow-men, who


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elected him as a member of the Board of County Commissioners, in which capacity he served three years, besides being repeatedly elected Trustee and Treasurer of Jackson Township. Soon after coming to Hardin County, Mr. McVitty became, probably, the first school teacher in Jackson Township. His family consisted of twelve children, of whom N. T. is the eldest, being born on the old homestead of Jackson Township, in May, 1838, a life-long resident and farmer of Hardin County, and now owner of 200 acres. His wife is Zada, sister of Dr. Stansell. Their children are John E., William M. and Emma J.

NICHOLAS MILLER, farmer, P. O. Patterson, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, October 18, 1823, and was left an orphan when only fourteen years old, but soon after, his cousin, Nicholas Leffert, with a family emigrated to America, bringing the young lad along. They settled near Kenton, where Leffert died. On reaching their destination, Miller owed his cousin for his passage, which he was to refund by working at the rate of $2.50 per month. Health was spared him, and in due time the passage or fare was worked out. He was now sixteen years old, without a parent's counsel; and penniless; however, John H. Houser, an old pioneer, induced him to make his home with him and work two years, at the expiration of which time he would make him a deed for forty acres of land, now in Cessna Township. With a longing desire to be the owner of a farm, the time soon went by, and he at the age of eighteen years, was one of Hardin County's land owners. In June 1843, he married Martha A., daughter of Rev. Samuel Badley, and at once commenced to clear his farm, when life began in earnest. In 1848, his wife died, leaving two children, both now dead. His second wife was Barbara Stall, of Champaign County, Ohio, but born in Pennsylvania October 12, 1830. With health and energy, he continued until he now owns 200 acres of land in Jackson Township, the result of his own legitimate efforts. He has, for twenty-three years, been Collector of delinquent taxes of Jackson Township. He and his present wife have eleven children-Malisca, Nicholas S. (deceased), John H. (now conductor on the B. & O. Railroad), Rufus B. (conductor on the I., B. & W. Railroad), George W., Fred T., Fannie M., Joseph H., William U., Horta and Hayes.

JACOB NAUS, farmer, P. O. Forest, is a son of William Naus, who was born in Virginia, of German parentage. He matured in his native State, but soon after went to Bedford County, Penn., where he married Christina Wean. They lived in said county, where he followed farming. At their death, they were nearly three-score years of age. Of their ten children, Jacob is the oldest, and was born June 20, 1813, in Bedford County, where he married Nancy Pickering, a native of Bedford County also, where she was born March 28, 1818. They came to Ohio in 1836, settling in Richland County, but thirteen years later came to Hardin, having in the meantime owned a home and lived in Hancock County. Two hundred and ten acres of his land lie in Hardin County, and forty in Hancock. Although his trade is shoe-making, he has done a great deal of hard work in clearing away the dense forest of Hardin County, having attained his present financial position through his own legitimate efforts. Mr. and Mrs. Naus have a family of six children, viz.: Joshua, Washington, John P., William H., David A. and Amanda E.

A. D. PIFER, merchant, Forest, was born in Hancock County, Ohio, in 1854. His father was killed in a saw mill in 1859, and our subject lived with his mother till he was fifteen years old, when he went to Michigan and lived with his brother two years. He had very-poor health, so he returned to New Stark, Ohio, and obtained a clerkship in the store of S. W. Mock, where he worked for two years, and then went to Ada to school one term, which was all the schooling he ever had. He then went to Dunkirk and bought a half interest in a store in that place. He was married while there, and then sold out


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and moved to Forest. Ohio, in 1876, and bought the store of L. Merriman & Co., and has had a prosperous business ever since.

JASPER M. PIMPERTON, farmer, P. O. Forest, is a son of William Pimperton, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1791, where he married Susanna Bassatt. In March, 1827, they emigrated with four children to Canada, arriving in Port Hope, Upper Canada, now Ontario, where Mr. Pimperton, Sr., engaged in farming. In June 1835, he came to Hardin County, where he took up 525 acres of land in Section 6, Jackson Township, but, returning to Canada, he did not move his wife and six children until 1838. With the assistance of his sons, he cleared up the greater part of his farm. He died in 1861, his wife having left him a widower in 1846. Jasper M. is the second child of the above parents, and was born in Lincolnshire, England, December 1, 1817, and came with his father to Hardin County, Ohio, in 1838, where he has ever since resided and followed farming. His farm consists of 100 acres in Section 6, which he inherited from his father. On October 20, 1842, lie married Charlotte Copeland, of Lincolnshire, Enaland, who in early life came to America. The issue of this union is seven children, viz.: Mary S. (deceased), Martha M., Mary C. (deceased). Malicia E. (deceased). Rebecca A., William W. and John T.

DAVID P. PRICE, farmer. P. O. Forest; is a son of Josiah Price, who was born in New Jersey. August 12, 1782, and died in Hardin County, Ohio, October 3, 1862. He was left an orphan in early life, but attained manhood in Washington County, Penn. Subsequently he came to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he married Catharine Farber, who was born January 24, 1786, and died, July 6, 1836. In the early part of this century, they settled in Stark County, where Mr. Price entered the army during the war of 1812. They remained Stark County until 1848, when they came to Hardin County and settled near where Mr. Price bought a farm of over 200 acres. Here he died, after a long and eventful life as a pioneer in Ohio, leaving his second wife (who still survives) a widow. Of his nine children, four were sons, and five daughters, viz.: Philip (deceased), David P., Phebe (deceased), Eliza (deceased), Martha (deceased). Benjamin, Sarah (deceased), John (deceased), and Margaret. David P. is the eldest survivor, and was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, May 24, 1807, but reached his majority in Stark County, where he married Mary L., daughter of Joseph Tucker. She was born in Chittenden County, Vt., December 16, 1816. They came to Hardin County in the same year as his father (1848), and he is now owner of a good farm in Jackson Township of 165 acres ; and this fine farm by industryand perseverance he has redeemed from the wild forest to well subdued and cultivated soil. They are now among the leading and highly esteemed families of the county. They are chiefly members of the Methodist Church. The names of the children are Joseph R., Josiah B., Sarah C., Emma J. and Alonzo T.



RUSSELL PRICE, attorney at law and Mayor, Forest, is a son of Henry Price, who was born on the eastern shore of Maryland but when a boy was stolen from home and carried into Ohio. While on the road, his people pursued the thieves in vain. He reached his majority near Athens. He finally married Elvira Corey, of Athens County, Ohio. They spent many years in Madison County, where he followed the stock-raising business. In 1847, they settled in Kenton, where he engaged in a "bus line," from Marion to Lima, which he continued until his death in 1855. His widow died January 18, 1881, while visiting in Ottawa, Ohio. The children by this union were Shelby, John C., Henrietta, Annetta V., Robert E., and Russell, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Madison County, Ohio, in 1847, but has lived since childhood in Hardin County. He improved the privileges of the schools of Kenton, and soon after his majority commenced reading law under attorney John D. King. On August 25, 1871, he was admitted to the bar, since which he has practiced in the


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county. In 1879, he was admitted to the United States District and Circuit Courts, and in 1881 was elected Mayor of Forest, his present position. His wife is Addie B., daughter of W. H. Backus, and three children are the issue of this union. viz.: Henry B., Charles R. and William B.

B. F. PURDEY, farmer, P. O. Forest. He is a son of Stephen Purdey and a grandson of Gilbert Purdey. The latter was a native of New York State, but died in Richland County; Ohio, where he had followed farming and blacksmithing. Of his sons, Stephen was born in New York State, but died in Hardin County, Ohio. He matured in his native State, where, on February 1, 1817, he married Ann Tibbs, who still survives, aged eighty-three years. In 1829, they came to Ohio. settling in Haysville, Richland County, where he followed his trade, but in 1836, he came to Hardin County with his wife and six children, buying eighty acres in Section 12 of Jackson Township. Here he began life anew as the first blacksmith in Jackson Township, following, his trade until the misfortune of a runaway horse disabled him, rendering him ever afterward an invalid; he died September 5, 1865, aged seventy-three years. The children of this family were William (deceased), Phebe. (deceased). P. Henry. John E., William E., George H. (who graduated at Delawar, Ohio, became an attorney and during the late war raised a company, served as Captain and was killed at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863). Alfred. Anna E., Stephen (deceased). B. F. and James L. (deceased). Benjamin F. was born on the farm he now owns in 1841. He received a common school education, and has always followed farming, but for a number of years has been engaged in threshing Wheat: his wife is Eddie C., daughter of E. P. Harman. She was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1850. To this union have been born seven children-Adin C., Harry B., George H., Earl A. (deceased), Tully E., Annie M. and Alice H.

J. A. SIEFERT, farmer, P. O. Forest. is a son of Jacob and Ann M. (Miller) Siefert, both natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, where they died. Or their five children, our subject is the third, and was born June 19, 1819, in Hesse-Darmstadt, where he matured, and in September, 1852, married Anna Margaret Shenabarger, who was born in 1831. Soon after they were married, they came to Pittsburgh, Penn., and in 1854 to Wyandot County, Ohio, and the next year to Hardin County. where he bought his present farm of fifty-five acres. This was all in the wilderness, but he and his wife have transformed it into a neat and comfortable home. They have no family, but are raising a foster child. They belong to the Lutheran Church.

JOSIAH SMITH, retired merchant, Forest. Among the early merchants of Forest we record the above, with a brief notice of his father. .John Smith, who was born, raised and married in Connecticut. In 1812, he moved with his wife and six children in an ox team to Ohio, settling in Fairfield County. For three decades they lived and farmed in the last named county, but in 1842 settled near Mount Blanchard, Hancock County, where he and his wife both died. The following are the names of their children: Eliza M., Durias, John A., Alma, Josiah, Nelson, Martha E.. Hannah and Mary. Of the entire family, our subject is the only survivor. He was born in Connecticut in 1809. In 1840, he went to Hancock County, Ohio, and there, the same year, married Ann Palmer, of Huron County. She died the following year near Mt. Blanchard. His second wife was Miss E. V. Lillibridge, who came with him to Forest in 1855, where he opened the second dry goods store in the place. His five years' experience as a merchant in Mount Blanchard enabled him, with his business talent and energy to be very successful. His mercantile life ended in 1863, since which he has lived retired in a neat and comfortable home in the village of Forest.

DR. A. F. STANLEY (deceased) was a son of William Stanley, who lived in Hardin County, Ohio, from 1849 till 1854, in which latter year he and his




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wife settled near Wheeling, W. Va. The Doctor was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, October 25, 1815, and died in Patterson, Hardin County, February 5, 1873. He was raised and educated in his native county, and took up the study of medicine, graduating in 1846, but in the following year properly commencing practice in Patterson, where he soon became known as a skillful physician, and one possessed of extraordinary good social qualities, and as a kind, obliging neighbor. His assistance was never lacking in the church of his choice (Methodist), while at the same time he was a zealous member of the Masonic Lodge. He was successful in life, and left at his death a neat competency for his family. The Doctor was married, March 15, 1842, to Angeline, daughter of John and Elizabeth Sapp, of Knox County, Ohio; where she was born in 1822. They had seven children, of whom five are living-William E., John R., Harriet J., Carrie L. and A. F. The sons are in Kansas and two daughters in Ohio.

DR. J. A. STANSELL, physician, P. O. Forest. is a son of George and grandson of William Stansell. The latter was of Holland parentage, but born in the State of New York, where he and his wife both died in Lockville. His personal observations of the Revolutionary war were limited. although two brothers were killed in that war. He was by occupation in early life a farmer and millwright, and owned 160 acres of land. When the Erie Canal was under construction, he contracted and graded three miles of it through his own farm and also built three locks, laying out and naming the town of Lockport, N. Y. After its completion, George, his son, opened the locks and connected the first waters of Lake Erie and the Hudson River. Of his thirteen children, George, the father of Dr. J. A., was born in Wayne, now Ontario County, N. Y. January 12, 1801, and died in Wyandot County, Ohio, September 10, 1854. He was married in his native land, but, in 1835, they emigrated to Ohio an settled in Richland Township in the county in which he died. His early life was devoted to work on the Erie Canal, but, after coming to Ohio, he was a pioneer woodsman and farmer of Wyandot County. His wife was Zada P. Bristoll, of Connecticut, where she was born and raised. She was born December 4, 1809, and died November 20, 1868. She was a daughter of David Bristoll, England. and whose wife was Sarah Prindell. Dr. Stansell, our subject, is one of a family of nine children, and the second eldest of the five survivors. He was born in Lockville, Ontario County, N. Y., in 1831, but since four years of age has been a resident of Ohio. He received his primary education in the common schools of Wyandot County, Ohio. At the age of seventeen, he commenced the study of medicine, although he was now four years underage. Subsequently he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, where nearly three years' hard study was engaged in. In 1856-57, he attended the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati, and, soon after, located at Patterson, in partnership with his preceptor, Dr. Stanley, and commenced his practice. In March, 1865. he graduated from the Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio, and the following autumn located at Forest, where he enjoyed a liberal patronage. He was married, September 28, 1854, to Eveline C., daughter of John Adams. of Delaware County, Ohio, where she was born in 1833. By this union, there are four children, viz.: Lilly J., wife of Capt. John Campbell; Iva J., now Mrs. Allen T. West; Nellie J. and J. Franklin.

J. R. TRISSLER, farmer, P. O. Forest, is a grandson of David Trissler, farmer, who was born in Germany, but many years ago emigrated to America and settled in Maryland, and in 1859 came to Hardin County, where he and his wife both died at advanced ages. Of their children, George W. was the father of our subject, and was born in Maryland in 1810. He reached his majority in Fayette County, Penn., where he married Ann Robinson, who was born in Lincolnshire, Eng., in 1797. In March 1839, they, with three children. reached Har-


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in County. He kept adding to what he already had, until a neat and comfortable competency marked the result of his untiring efforts. This he divided with his children. His occupation in early life was shoe-making, but latterly he devoted his time totally to rural pursuits. He and wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, but finally became members of the Christian Church, in which faith they died, he in April of 1875, and she in September of the same year. Two of the children still survive-Mrs. William Hempy and J. R. The latter was born in Fayette County, Penn., December 24, 1836, but has, since three years of age lived in this county, now owning 222 acres of land. In 1859, he married Martha, daughter of Robert Wilson, Sr. She died in 1863, leaving one daughter, Annie Laurie. His second wife is Margaret J., daughter of Thomas Hueston, whom he married in 1864. She was born in Jackson Township in 1837. The issue of this union is two children-Thomas H. and Annie H.

B. W. WALTERMIER, attorney, Forest, was born in Missouri in 1858. His father lost his life in the war in 1863, and his mother soon after died. leaving three orphan children, who were brought to Wyandot County, Ohio, where our subject received a common school education, which he completed at the Northwestern Ohio Normal, at Ada, Ohio, in 1876. He then immediately began the study of law under Russell Price, of Forest, in connection with school teaching. until 1880, when he was admitted to the bar, and is now practicing his profession.

DAVID H. WARNER, retired, P. O. Forest, is a grandson of a Revolutionary soldier who fought under Gen. Washington, and a son of Richard Warner, farmer, who was born in Connecticut about the close of the war above mentioned. He remained in his native State until after his marriage with Mary Hickox, when, in August of 1802, he, with his wife and seven children, settled in Cortland County, N. Y., but subsequently in the town of Ritcher, near which he died about 1860. His children were Obadiah (deceased), Sheldon, Adna (deceased), Minerva (deceased), Edward (now living in Forest, Ohio), Maria, David H., Curtis (deceased), Rachel (deceased), Electa (deceased), Florilla, Loucena, Elmina, Richard P. and Calvin (latter deceased). Of the entire family, Edward and David are the only two living in Hardin County, where they settled in 1836-37. David H. was born in Connecticut February 2, 1802, but matured in New York State, where he married Almira Robbins, of that State, but in 1837 he moved with his wife and four children to Hardin County, where he settled on eighty acres of land, which he soon converted into productive soil, and subsequently became the owner of 103 acres. His property is now all in town. He has been a leader in religion in the community, as will be seen in the history of the Presbyterian Church. On July 10, 1853, he buried his wife, who was the mother of six children, viz.: Elizabeth R.., Adeline, Mary, David S., Richard and Eliza. His second wife was Mary, widow of Samuel Shields, and daughter of Daniel Clayton. She was born in Washington County, Md., in 1819, and is now the mother of six children, three by each husband, viz.: Joseph, Rebecca and Nancy Shields, and Florilla, John H. and Lucy Warner. Mrs. Warner is an adherent of the Methodist Church.

JOHN WEIR, farmer, P. O. Forest, is a son of Robert Weir, who was born in Ireland in 1805, and died in the late American war, in 1862, near Falmouth, Ky., from fever contracted while in the service. He was a member of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from Hancock County, Ohio. His wife was Eliza Hamilton, of Irish birth, and who died in the last-named county in April, 1868. They had eight children, our subject being the fourth, born in Coshocton County, Ohio, February 28, 1844, and since 1857 has been a resident of Hardin County. He began life with no means, except a capital of energy and industry, which has secured for him a neat home of forty acres, in


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Section 2. In 1882, he was elected Trustee, showing the esteem in which he is held by his fellow-men. His wife was Miss Miriam Case, of Wyandot County, Ohio. The issue of this union is four children.

R. C. WILEY, harness-maker, Forest, was born in York County, Penn., in 1839, but at a tender age was left an orphan. In 1852, he, with his grandfather, James Criswell, came to Hardin County, Ohio, settling near Round Head ; there the old gentleman followed farming, and instructed our subject in agricultural pursuits. While thus engaged, Mr. Wiley enjoyed the meager advantages of the common schools until seventeen years of age, when he commenced learning the harness trade at Bellefontaine. In 1860, there being no harness-maker in Forest, he looked upon the location as possibly a good one, and opened out in business, but the following year the cry of war called for troops, and accordingly, on November 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving until December 31, 1864. While in the service, he participated in the battles of McDonald, Cedar Mountain, Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain and Cassville, enduring many hardships. In the spring of 1865, he resumed his trade and made it a specialty until 1880, when he added a stock of hardware. His wife is Olive Ditzler, of Logan County, and they are the parents of five children all living.

ROBERT S. WILSON, retired farmer, Mayor of Forest, and the oldest pioneer living in Jackson Township, this county, was born in Medina County, Ohio, November 25, 1820, and came to Hardin County June 10, 1833, settling, November 8, 1812, on a farm on the banks of the Blanchard River. On this farm he remained until April 6, 1870, when he moved to his present residence in Forest. When Mr. Wilson came to this county, it was a vast wilderness, and he has lived to see it well cleared up and improved, studded with elegant dwellings and fine, commodious barns, and interlaced with excellent macadamized roads, making it a county that its people and the whole State may justly feel proud of. Since taking up his residence in Forest, Mr. Wilson has filled the office Councilman one term, and is at present acting as Mayor for the third term.

M. S. WOODARD, farmer, P. O. Patterson, is a son of John Woodard, of Scotch, Irish and German extraction. He was born in Wyoming County, N. Y., in 1812, and was raised to farm life. While in his native State, he married Arelia Mann, who was a native of York State, of English extraction, and distantly related to John A. Sherman. John Woodard and wife settled near Youngstown, Ohio, in 1843, subsequently moving to Knox County, and, in 1847, to Hardin, but now residing in Montcalm County, Mich. Of their six children, our subject is the eldest, having been born in New York State in 1834, but since 1847, has resided in Hardin County, where he now owns 330 acres of land, half of which is under cultivation. He started in life with nothing but a capital of energy and perseverance. In 18641, he entered the service of the United States Army, and served until the close of the war of 1865. His wife is Elizabeth, daughter of John Gardner, one of the pioneer families of the county, who settled near Kenton in 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Woodard have several children.

C. F. ZIMMERMANN, teacher, Forest, is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Kinsel) Zimmerman, who were early settlers here. C. F. is the youngest of his father's family, and was born in Hancock County in 1859. He was left fatherless at an early age, and since 1871 has lived in Hardin County, where he received a common school education. At an early age, he commenced teaching, whereby he enabled himself to enter the Northwestern Ohio Normal, at Ada, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1881, and, in the following year, was chosen to his present position, Principal of the Forest Schools. His wife was Miss Alice Smyth, of Wyandot County. She is also a teacher.


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