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are now living, viz.: Gladus A., Samuel R., Wm. C. and Liston V.; the name of the deceased was Lucilla G.

ECKHART WORCH, merchant tailor, New Madison; one of the old, reliable, substantial business men of New Madison; was born in Schlierbach, Germany, in 1821; came to America in 1842; landing at New York, he started West by boat; when about eleven miles from Columbus, Ohio, his money being exhausted, he was compelled to leave the boat; he made his way the best he could to Dayton, where his genial ways and perseverance soon won friends and secured employment; after a stay of about twelve years in Dayton, during which he had acquired a knowledge of business, and also become able to transact business in either English. German or Hebrew, and acquired a reputation for industry and integrity, which he has never lost, and which has been of great service to him during the years in which he has been engaged in business, he came to New Madison in 1853; began the merchant tailoring business in 1854, and has continued in it ever since, having a growing and profitable trade; he now has a good stock of clothing and gents" furnishing goods, notions, etc., and is still an active, wide-awake business man; he was prominent in organizing the Reformed Church here, and is still an active supporter of the Gospel. A review of his life is not out of place here: Starting in this country a "raw Dutchman" without experience, money or friends; in twelve years, he had gained such a knowledge of language and business, and such a repu tation for industry and integrity, that a well-known firm in Cincinnati offered with out solicitation to sell him any amount of goods he needed, and allow him to pay for them when sold. The letter in which this offer was made was written in Ger man, and has been preserved by him, and he now feels a just pride in showing it to friends. From this start, secured by his active and persevering efforts while in the employ of others, he has gradually risen to a prominent business man, at the same time developing a character as a merchant and Christian citizen which is as creditable as it is honorable; he now occupies the corner which was owned and occupied by that most excellent pioneer citizen, Ernestus Putman, the founder, and in its early day, the fosterer of New Madison. Mr. Worch has been twice married. His marriage with Petronella Frederick was celebrated in Dayton, July 1, 1846: she was also a native of Germany, born in Dittlesheim, Canton of Worms, in 1824: her death occurred in New Madison, in 1874; she was a consistent Christian woman, a kind mother and an affectionate wife; they had seven sons, four are now living, viz. Franklin H., now a resident of Cincinnati; Charles D., a telegraph operator; Lewis A., now learning the trade of jeweler in Richmond, Ind., and Philip F., who assists his father in the store. The marriage of Mr. Worch and Mrs. Sarah (Wagner) Bowman, was celebrated Jan. 22, 1880; she is the daughter of William Wagner, of German Township, and was married to Jacob Bowman, whose death occurred in 1873.

MICHAEL ZEECK, blacksmith and edged-tool manufacturer, New Madison. One of the old residents of Harrison Township; he is the son of Adam and Mary (Shaffer) Zeeck, natives of Virginia; his grandfathers, on both the father's and mother's side, came from Germany, and were soldiers in the Revolution; the subject of this sketch was born in Wayne Co., Ind., Feb. 22, 1814; during his minority he learned the blacksmith's trade of his father, who made a specialty of edge-tool manufacturing; in 1835, he came to New Madison, opened a shop, and has lived here ever since; by industry and economy, he has succeeded in accumulating considerable property. He was married Oct. 25, 1838, to Fanny, daughter of John and Jane (Ballard) Beard, who were early settlers of Butler Township; she was born Oct. 2, 1822; her death occurred in 1879, after a severe and protracted illness, during which her husband devoted almost his entire time to her care and in attention to her wants; Mr. and Mrs. Zeeck were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living, viz., Mary J., Rebecca B., Sarah P., George A., Abigail L and John A.; the names of the deceased are Catherine E. and Nancy A. Mr. Zeeck has taken quite an interest in the public, affairs of his county, and has been

somewhat prominent; he has served as Commissioner two terms, and held town or township offices, either one or both, almost constantly since he first became a citizen of New Madison, in 1835; was one of the petitioners for the incorporation of the town, and afterward served in nearly every one of the different town offices.

NEAVE TOWNSHIP.

NOAH ARNOLD, farmer; P. O. Jaysville; another of the few remaining early settlers of Darke Co.; is the son of William Arnold, who was a brother of Moses, and was born in South Carolina, and came to Darke Co. in 1816; entered 332 acres in Secs. 11 and 32, of Greenville Township, which he improved and resided on for sixty years, and it is now the property of his children and still undivided. The subject of this sketch was born in Warren Co. Feb. 6, 1816, about six weeks before his parents came to Darke Co., and he has resided in this county ever since he first entered it, living on the farm continuously until he was 23 years of age; then tried merchandising a short time, but not being pleased with the business, resumed farming, which he has continued ever since; has been an enterprising and useful citizen; was Justice of the Peace nine years, and has been a Notary Public for the past twenty years; is still active in both public and private enterprises; was one of the charter members of the Farmers' National Bank of Greenville, and is one of the present Board of Directors; has charge of his father's old homestead, besides superintending his own homestead, which contains 240 acres in an advanced state of cultivation, with fine improvements; he has acted on the maxim, “If a man would have a good home, let him have a good wife, for it is certain he has both." He was married in 1839 to Emily Stingley, daughter of George and Barbara Stingley, who were early settlers of German Township; her death occurred in 1848; they had four children—Isaac N., Mary J., Effie A. and George; Isaac was a soldier in the late war, and lost an arm at Atlanta; has been in the employment of the Treasury Department at Washington for several years; Mary J. is now the wife of H. N. Arnold, of Greenville ; Effie A. is now Mrs. L. E. Chenoweth, of Greenville, and George is married and a resident of Nebraska. Mr. Arnold was again married, April 11, 1850, to Martha (Larimore-Banfield) Bierly, daughter of Hugh and Nancy (Martin) Larimore, who came from Pennsylvania in 1817, and settled in the Arnold neighborhood, and are now both deceased; Martha was twice previously married; her first husband, John Banfield, was killed by a falling tree, while both were passing through the woods by a bridle-path during a storm; she escaped unhurt, although the horse upon which she was mounted was quite severely injured. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have one child-Margaret E., now Mrs. William H. H. McCool, railroad agent and merchant at Jaysville.

GEORGE ARNOLD, retired farmer; P. O. Jaysville; one of the oldest residents of Neave Township now living; he was born in South Carolina in 1800, and was eighty years of age on the 1st day of March; his father's name was Moses, and he was a native of North Carolina, and a resident of South Carolina from the time of the Revolution until 1807; was married there to Rachel Lynch, and removed to Ohio, settling in Warren Co.; in the fall of 1815 or spring of 1816, he came to Darke Co., prospecting, and selected a quarter-section in Sec. 13, which he entered, and in the fall of 1816, George, then a young lad, in company with his brothers Aaron and David, and in company with their oldest sister Lydia, who afterward became the wife of James Townsend, came to this land and erected three cabins, one for the father and one for each of the two older boys, who were both then married; this tract was divided between the father and two sons; in the following spring, the father and David removed their families into the cabins,

and began the work of making a home in this then wilderness, there being no house nearer than two miles, but plenty of Indians, and more wolves and bears and a few panthers; deer were then more plentiful and easier found than are squirrels now; there was no road excepting the Milton road, via which they came, cutting their own road from that to their cabins; it is difficult to imagine that such was the condition of this section within the life of one generation, and very few people have lived to see so great improvements as have been made within the lifetime of this venerable resident. George was married in Warren Co., Feb. 26, 1820, to Mary Dines, daughter of Chambers and Millie (Cole) Dines; she was born in Kentucky Nov. 4, 1800, and her parents removed to Warren Co. when she was quite young. Mr. and Mrs. George Arnold came to Darke Co. soon after their marriage, and began life here in pioneer style; they now reside in a brick dwelling, which stands in the same yard in which stood the cabin in which they first kept house; they having passed through the hardships, toils and privations of pioneer life, and taken part in the improvements of the past half-century, during the latter half of which there has been a remarkably rapid development and improvement of the county, both public and private. They have raised a family of five children, one son and four daughters, viz., Amelia (who is now Mrs. Michael Floyd, and resides in Kansas), Lydia (who is now Mrs. Henry Houk, and resides in Missouri), Rachel (now deceased, was Mrs. Jacob Shiverdecker, and resided in Darke Co.), Mary (also deceased, was the wife of Samuel Schlechty), John C. is the only son; was born in 1826, and grew to manhood here, during the days of hard work and little education. He was married in 1847, to Mary E., daughter of William and Maria (Heath) Shepherd; her mother, now a widow, resides in Twin Township. Mr. J. C. Arnold, with the exception of about five years, has always resided on the farm where he was born and now resides, and is now an old resident of Darke Co.; Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Arnold have a family of nine children-George W., Mary M., John H., Rachel J., Millie S., Winfield. Amanda E., Martha and Charles M. His aged parents also reside with them. and having served the world in their day and generation, now quietly await the call to the spirit land.

W. N. BROWN, farmer; P. O. Delisle. Another life resident of Darke Co.; is a son of Caleb, and grandson of Phillip Brown; Phillip was a native of Tennessee, and married into a family by the name of Schleigar, and was one of the first settlers of this neighborhood; Caleb was then a boy; after he grew up he married Mary, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Neal) Miller, residents of Union Co., Ind; Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Brown resided on an 80-acre tract in Sec. 36; he was a leading and useful citizen; his house, which was a hewn-log structure, was considered above the average, and was used for several years for church services; he and his wife both lived to be nearly 90 years of age; Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Brown resided on an 80-acre tract in the same section adjoining his father's; his death occurred in 1876, he being 70 years of age; his widow, now about 70, lives with her son at the old homestead. The subject of this sketch was born in 1839, on the farm where he now resides and has resided all his life; he now has about 200 acres in Sec. 36, including both the tracts owned by his father and grandfather; thus the memories and labors of two generations past cluster around this homestead. Mr. Brown was married in 1863, to Sarah Judy, daughter of David Judy; her death occurred in 1873; they had two children, one living, Frank. Mr. Brown's mar riage with Miss Elnora Bell Byers, was celebrated Dec. 6, 1879,

W. S. DUNN, farmer; P. O. Jaysville; is the son of Isaac and Julia A. (McGrew) Dunn; he was a native of Kentucky, and of French descent; she was of Irish descent, and a native of Virginia; they were married in Butler Co., Ohio, and came to Darke Co. soon after the treaty of Fort Greenville, and were the first family that ventured into the wilderness west of Greenville after the war. Here the subject of this sketch was born in 1817, and here he lived until he was 16 years of age; then his parents removed to Randolph Co., Ind.; he remained with

his parents until 21, then returned to Darke Co., and worked in the vicinity of Coal Town about three years and partially learned the wagon-maker's trade. About this time, a little incident occurred which was the occasion of his changing his home. He was somewhat of a horse-trader, and made a trade with a Methodist preacher, in which he was badly cheated, and the youngsters of the neighborhood bored him so over being worsted by a preacher, that he straddled the horse and left that neighborhood, and never resided there afterward. He finished his apprenticeship at wagon-making in Palestine, and then went to Butler Co., and was married there in 1855 to Matilda, daughter of Isaac and Mary Watson. After his marriage, Mr. Dunn resumed farming, and has continued farming ever since, first renting, and, after five years he purchased a farm in Butler Co., where he remained until 1876, when he sold out in Butler Co. and purchased and removed to the farm in Sec. 13, Neave Township, where he now resides with his only son, who has charge of the farm. Mr. Dunn was one of a family of twelve children; his parents came into the wilderness of Darke Co. poor, and he had to depend upon himself entirely, and has made his property by his own exertions and management, never having received any legacy, except about $800, which his wife received from her parents. Her decease occurred in Butler Co. Nov. 16, 1874. They had two children-one still-born, and the other a son, Henry H. He was married to Susannah Young, of Preble Co., and now has charge of the home and farm. He has one child-Matilda.

HENRY GEBHART, farmer; P. O. Greenville; is a son of Daniel and Margaret Gebhart, whose biography appears in connection with J. Reickers. The subject of this sketch was born in 1837, on the farm, a part of which is his present home; he remained on the farm with his parents until about 25 years of age; while visiting a cousin in Fountain Co., Ind., they took a notion to see the "West,' and went first to Kansas, then to the Black Hills region; also visited different parts of Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and returned to Darke Co. after an eventful absence of nearly four years, well satisfied to live in Darke Co. He was married, in 1869, to Catherine Billman, daughter of John Billman, whose biography appears in the Harrison Township list; after their marriage, they resided at his old home, his father's death having occurred the same year; after the farm was divided, he built on his portion, where he now resides; he has 63 acres which he is improving and rapidly making into a pleasant home.

C. B. HARTMAN, farmer; P. O. Weaver's Station; a native of Pennsylvania; was born in Lancaster Co. in 1816; is the son of Christian and Ann Hartman; a descendant of the Hares, Brubakers and Kreiders, who were among the very earliest settlers of that part of Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on the farm in Pennsylvania; when about 22 years of age, he, in company with four other young men, went West on a trip of adventure and sight-seeing; they traveled over a large portion of the then Western country, saw the Indians in their native wilds, came near starvation on the sand plains, but returned to Pennsylvania after three years' wanderings, satisfied to live in the civilized portions of our country; he came to Ohio in 1856; settled first in Montgomery Co.; came to Darke Co. in 1865, just in time to take part in the public improvements which so suddenly brought this county from the last to the first in the State, in point of improved highways. Mr. Hartman, though not a very old resident, takes a very active interest in public matters, especially politics; he is an active and reliable Democrat and useful citizen. He was married in 1845, to Catherine Immel, a native of Pennsylvania; they had three children-J. A., whose biography appears in the Harrison Township list, Franklin, of Montgomery Co., and Louisa, now Mrs. D. Aucamp, of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Catherine Hartman's death occurred in 1851; his marriage with Catherine O'Donnel was celebrated in 1854; she was a native of Ireland, and came to the United States when quite young; they have nine children-William, Caroline, Ella, Allen D., Clement L. V., Kate, Christian B., George W. and Andrew J.

DAVID HEFFNER, farmer; P. O. Weaver's Station; a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Berks Co. in 1817; his father was a farmer, but David was made teamster as soon as he was old enough to hold the lines, and teamed, from the time he was 15 years of age, seventeen years. Jacob Heffner came to Darke Co., with his family, in 1849; David was then single, some called him a bachelor, and came with the family; they settled in Neave Township on the farm where George D. Miller now resides. In 1850, David was united in marriage with Miss Ann, daughter of Jonathan, and sister of John Niswonger, whose biography appears in this work; she was born in Pennsylvania, in 1822, and came with her parents to Darke Co., in 1829, and grew to womanhood here, in the days when

"Girls made no great show

In order to catch a beau,

But were learned to work tow,
Spin it and weave in row."

As a sample of woman's occupations in those days, Mrs. Heffner, while a girl at home. spun 1,500 cuts of yarn and wove 300 yards of cloth, from spring to winter, besides helping about the housework. Mr. and Mrs. Heffner have resided in this township ever since they first began housekeeping; came to their present place, just north of Fort Jefferson, in 1872; they have two children, one son and one daughter -Jonathan and Sarah C., now Mrs. L. Wilt, of Butler Township.

JOHN KECKLER, farmer; P. O. Weaver's Station; is a Buckeye by birth; was born in Fairfield Co. in 1826; was raised on a farm and learned the blacksmith's trade when grown, and worked at it several years; came to Darke Co. in 1861; resided in Neave Township; purchased the farm where he now resides in 1871. Nearly all the public improvements made in Darke Co. have been done since his residence here. Mr. Keckler is one of the substantial citizens, and has occupied several public positions of responsibility. His marriage with Catherine Friesner was celebrated in 1851 in Fairfield Co.; they had three children-all now married; two-Ephraim and Elizabeth-are residents of Darke Co. Mrs. Keckler's decease occurred in 1856. Mr. Keckler and Mrs. Julia A. (Dunaway) Reynolds were married in Allen Co., Ohio, May 26, 1859; she was born in Pennsylvania in 1828; her marriage with Geo. Reynolds was celebrated in Wells Co., Ind., Jan. 17, 1851; his death occurred in Allen Co., Ohio, in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Keckler have five children-Simon B., William H., John W., Emma and James W.; all are still members of the family household.

JOHN LANDIS, farmer; P. O. Delisle ; an old resident of Darke Co.; son of Jacob Landis, who settled in Darke Co. in 1828, on the farm where Joshua Townsend, whose biography appears in this work, now resides; the old block-house built there during the Indian difficulties, was still there in good condition, and John remembers sleeping in it repeatedly; his father used it for a loom-house during the days of "home-spun" clothing. The subject of this sketch was bom in Pickaway Co. in 1818; was married to Elizabeth Stutsman, of Montgomery Co., in 1844; after their marriage, he lived on his father's place, in Neave Township, until, in 1849, he purchased, and they removed to, the farm in Sec. 26, where they now reside; thus it will be seen Mr. Landis has been a resident of Neave Township more than a half-century; has witnessed and contributed his full share toward the improvement, public and private, moral as well as physical. Both he and his estimable wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church; also two of their grown children. They have eight children-David, a resident of Michigan; Andrew, a resident of Greenville; Lydia, now Mrs. A. Rodgers; Abraham; Mary, now Mrs. Harvey Shover; Jacob; Frances, now Mrs. Lewis Price, and John, Jr.

J. N. LOWRY, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. Weaver's Station; is a son of Reuben Lowry, who was one of the early settlers of Neave Township; Reuben was always very fond of hunting, and, when game became scarce here, he became restless and went to Kansas, in 1861, and in 1865, removed there, and has resided

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