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farm, now rented to a son-in-law. He married Mary Peters in 1859; she died in 1865, leaving three daughters-Rachael, Martha and Ellen. In 1866, he married Sarah Boerstler; they have four sons and one daughter by this union, viz., Ira, George, Amy, Harry and Levi. Mr. S. is a Republican; has been Township Trustee two years; has been a member of the Christian Church twenty years; his wife and three elder children are also members of the same church.

JOEL STRAIT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 13; P. O. Hetslerville. Among the early pioneers of Jackson Township we find the names of Richard and Joel Strait, who located here in 1829. Richard Strait was the father of the subject of this sketch, and was born in Pennsylvania in September, 1796. He married Rachael Jennings in Pennsylvania, and at the early day above mentioned, located in Darke County, where he took up Congress land upon which he lived until his death, which occurred Oct. 15, 1878, aged upward of 82 years. Joel Strait was born in Perry Co., Ohio, upon the 6th of October, 1823; he lived upon the farm of his father until after his marriage, when he located upon Sec. 13, Jackson Township, where he has lived for a period of thirty-seven years; he now owns 110 acres of well-improved land, with good farm buildings; his fine brick residence was erected in 1874; he is probably the oldest continuous resident of Jackson Township, having lived here for upward of half a century. He is a strong Republican; has never been an aspirant for office, but has held the offices of School Director, Constable and Township Trustee; has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having, with his wife, been member of the Christian Church for twenty-two years, and has been a Deacon of the same for twenty years. His marriage with Hannah Teeter was celebrated in 1843 in Randolph Co., Ind.; nine children, of whom five are now living, viz., Francis M., Richard W., Milton O., Joel F. and Alfred; of the deceased three died in infancy, and Harvey enlisted in the 94th O. V. I. for three years, and lost his life at Bowling Green while in defense of his country.

MARTIN VANDEN, retired manufacturer, merchant and farmer; P. O. Union City, Ind.; residence, Union City, Ind.; one of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in Gallia Co., Ohio, Feb. 23, 1809; at the age of 18, he commenced to learn the trade of wagon and plow maker, and, after working at the same until 1833, he engaged in the above business on his own account, and continued the same for a period of thirteen years; in 1846, he engaged in the mercantile trade at Gallipolis, continuing the same until 1858, when he emigrated to Ohio and located at Union City, Darke Co., and has been a continuous resident of Darke Co. for upward of twenty-one years. When Mr. V. located here, there were only two buildings upon Elm street; he has witnessed the marvelous change of seeing the same become the business street of the place, and his own residence and store are built upon a part of his purchase of four lots, for which he at that time paid $30, now worth $1,000; at the time of the purchase, however, they were located in a pond of water. Upon the 1st of August, 1833, he was united in marriage with Rebecca Guy; she was born in Virginia Aug. 3, 1806; six children were the fruits of this union, of whom three are deceased; the living are Margaret A., Sarah J. and Julia M.

THOMAS B. WENRICK, farmer and minister; P. O. Union City; residence Sec. 26. This gentleman was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., upon the 26th of March, 1818; at 2 years of age, he removed with his parents to Cumberland Co., Penn.; in 1836, he came to Montgomery Co., Ohio, and in 1838 located in Miami Co.; in 1841, he came to Darke Co., and, after a residence of six years, came to Darke Co. and located in Jackson Township in the year 1847, where he has lived thirty-two years within a distance of three-fourths of a mile; in 1853, he commenced preaching, and has since continued the same in connection with farming; he now has 220 acres of land, with good farm buildings. Mr. Wenrick was a son of Thomas and Esther (Brant) Wenrick; his father was born in Pennsylvania, and died in

Miami Co., Ohio, in 1853; his mother was also a native of Pennsylvania, and died a few years after the death of her husband.

SOLOMON YOUNG, farmer, grain merchant and ice dealer; P. O. Union City, Ind.; one of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in Maryland Feb. 12, 1827. his father, Joseph Young, emigrated from Maryland to Pennsylvania in 1829, and in 1834 came to Darke Co., Ohio, and located some three miles east of Gettysburg; at 16 years of age Solomon Young obtained employment in the wooknmills in Miami Co., continuing the same seven years; in 1852, he built a house in Union City, placing the four corners of the same upon stumps; he opened the first butcher shop in Union City, Ohio, which he run for several years, a port on of which time he also conducted the grocery and baker trade; in 1868, he located upon his present place, and for three years engaged in the saw-mill business, in connection with farming; he has cleared 240 acres of land during the past eleven years; his home farm consists of 80 acres of well-improved land, with good farn buildings, one-half mile from Union City; he has held the office of Assessor, and is now Land Appraiser. In 1864, he enlisted in the 152d O. N. G., under the call for 100-days men; was elected and served as Second Lieutenant for the full term of service of four months; in 1877, he connected the ice business, and is now also largely engaged in buying and shipping grain to the Eastern markets, his ware house being located between the tracks of the C., C., C. & I. and the P. C. & St. L R. R.'s. He was united in marriage with Hulda Reed, at Versailles, Darke Co.; she was the daughter of Allen Reed, one of the early pioneers; they were the parents of nine children, of whom Amanda, William T., Gertrude, Lincoln, Petulia and Solomon F., are now living; the deceased were John, Mary E. and one who died in infancy.

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

JAMES BAILEY, retired farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 4; P. O. Stelvidio: was born in Bedford Co., Penn., June 16, 1814; his father, William Bailey, was born in Pennsylvania June 20, 1776, and married Mary Imel; she was born in Maryland June 20, 1782, and now resides in Preble Co., Ohio; he died April 13, 1861. James, the subject of this sketch, moved to Darke Co. in the fall of 1839, and lived in Brown Township until he moved to where he now resides, in Richland Township, and has always followed his present avocation. He married Mary Ann Teegarden Sept. 24, 1839, in Greenville; she died-(?) by this union were ten children, viz.: Julia Ann, born Sept. 16, 1840; Catherine, born Dec. 29, 1841 (deceased) William H., born Jan 1, 1844 (deceased); John F., born Oct. 6, 1845 (deceased) Stephen H., born July 18, 1847; Moses E., born July 25, 1849 (deceased); Mary, born Nov. 1, 1851 (deceased); Paulina, born Dec. 25, 1852; Ann M., born March 7, 1855; Asberry B., born March 14, 1857. His second marriage was with Mrs. Julia Ann Coppess, widow of Daniel Coppess, who died June 10, 1858; Mr. and Mrs. Coppess were married April 7, 1850, and had five children, viz.: Martin D., born March 3, 1851; Erven, born Aug. 17, 1852 (deceased); Allen, born June 18, 1854; Rhoda A. born July 20, 1856, and Mary C., Feb. 1, 1859. Mr. Bailey's marriage with Mrs. Coppess occurred April 28, 1862; she was a daughter of Sebastian Martin, and was born Feb. 29, 183-; by this union seven children were born, viz.: Isabelle and Presetta M., born Oct. 15, 1863; Harvey F., born Sept. 15, 1866 (deceased); Cordelia, born Jan. 16, 1868; Minola R. B., born July 15, 1875; two died unnamed. Mr. Bailey owns a fine farm of 249 acres, and a good home.

ALEXANDER B. BRANDON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 27; P. O. Versailles; was born in Wayne Township, Darke Co., Dec. 14, 1820; his father, James R.,

Alex

was born in West Virginia April 14, 1792, and married Anna Hole, Sept. 15, 1818; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1798; he came to Darke Co. with his sister Elizabeth in 1818. Mrs. J. R. Brandon's father, Zachariah Hole, moved to this county the same year. Mrs. Anna (Hole) Brandon died near Hill Grove, in 1857, and J. R. Brandon died Feb. 24, 1876, in this township. ander, the subject of this sketch, has always worked hard to dig out a home for himself and family; since 1846, he has cleared, almost lone-handed, upward of 60 acres of heavily timbered land; by his untiring industry, aided by his good wife, he is blessed with a good home, and a favorable promise of comfort in their declining years. He married Anna Shafer, April 9, 1846, daughter of John Shafer (see Job M. Shafer's biography in this work); she was born in Bedford Co., Penn., April 30, 1826; they have had ten children, viz.: John T., born March 24, 1847, and died while in the service of his country, at Cumberland, Md., Aug. 22, 1864; Riley M., born March 18, 1849; Job S., born Aug. 25. 1851, and died Aug. 8, 1866; Dorothy A., born Jan. 29, 1854, and married Nathaniel Kershner; Eugene, born Nov. 29, 1856; Aaron, April 20, 1859; James F., Oct. 9, 1861; Noah, Feb. 2, 1864; Arthur M., born July 12, 1866, and Retha Belle, born April 7, 1872; he owns 212 acres of good land and a fine home.

JOHN E. BREADEN, farmer and stock-dealer, Sec. 34; P. O. Greenville; was born near Glendale, Hamilton Co., Ohio, June 17, 1828; his father, Jeremiah Breaden, was born in Ireland, and married Epenetus Sorter in New Jersey, where she was born; both died in Springfield, Ohio. John E. Breaden, the subject of this sketch, learned the profession of druggist with his brother William, in Hamilton, Ohio; their father was an educated physician, and practiced medicine and surgery during his lifetime. John E. came to Greenville in 1850, and engaged in the drug business on his own account for three years, then moved to Brown Township, and engaged in farming; he returned to Greenville in 1862, and engaged in clerking for John Hufnagle, Esq., in his dry-goods store; in March, 1865, he removed to the farm where he now resides. He married Anjumila Hufnagle May 29, 1851; she was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., May 19, 1832, and is a daughter of John Hufnagle, Esq., President of the Greenville Bank, also merchandising in Greenville. Mr. and Mrs. Breaden have had three children, viz., John Edward, born July 28, 1852; he is an attorney at law in Greenville, and obtained his education mainly at the Chickering Institute, in Cincinnati, where he graduated in 1873; he read law with Calderwood & Cole, in Greenville, and was admitted to the bar in 1876; Maria Evie, born Feb. 8, 1854 (deceased); and Lillian Vincincia, born Dec. 30, 1861, now at "St. Mary of the Springs Convent," near Columbus, Ohio, completing her education.

SAMUEL S. COLLINS, wagon-maker and farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Dawn ; was born in Warren Co., Ohio, June 26, 1819, his father, Levi Collins, was born in Lewis Co., Va., in 1795, and married Elizabeth Snell in Warren Co. Ohio; they moved to- -in 1821, and to Shelby Co., Ind., in 1830, where he died in 1852; she died in Troy, Miami Co., in 1830. The subject of this sketch served an apprenticeship of two years in Morristown, Ind., then returned to Miami Co., Ohio, and made his first lumber wagon, and sold it for $5, not on account of the beauty of its workmanship; he followed the business twenty-five years, and has the reputation of doing first-class work; he settled permanently where he now resides in 1855, and bought land in 1865; he erected for himself a good brick residence. Last September, he had the misfortune to lose his left arm by accident. He married Jane M. Cairns March 7, 1844; she was born in Ireland Aug. 14, 1818, and died in August 1850; they had four children, viz., Jennet E., born April 23, 1845, deceased; Laura L., born Oct. 3. 1846; she married John Lehman; Albert M., born July 6, 1848, died May 3, 1872, and Geo. A., born July 10, 1850; his second marriage was with Mrs. Elizabeth McDowell, Nov. 27, 1851, widow of William McDowell, who died June 10, 1849, in Brown Co., Ohio; they had one daughter, Lucinda J., born Jan. 7, 1850, and died June 24, 1865; by this union they have

had five children, viz., John W., born Jan. 23, 1853, died Sept. 30, 1854; Charles F., born Oct. 11, 1856; Jason H., Sept. 12, 1859; Franklin E., Sept. 6, 1863, and Joseph C.. Dec. 17, 1868. Mrs. Collins' father, Adam Ulery, was born in Prussia. Germany, March 24, 1787, and married Mary C. Witty in 1819; she was born in 1798; in 1810 he was drafted into the army, and served nine years under Napoleon. I, they came to Baltimore, Md., in 1820, in 1826 the family, consisting of himself wife and four children, and all their earthly effects in a one-horse wagon left Pennsylvania for a new home in Miami Co., Ohio; his cash assets all told were $13. He died March 7, 1876, and she died March 14, following, and at their decease they had accumulated a handsome fortune worth $15,000. Mr. and Mrs. Collins are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; he owns 366 acres bordering on the village of Dawn; in politics, is a Republican,

REBECCA G. DAVISON, widow of Edwin R. Davison, deceased; Sec. 24, P. O. Ansonia. Edwin R. Davison was born in Greene Co., Ohio, Aug. 6, 1830; and died in Richland Township July 30, 1878, after several months of suffering with cancer. His father, Robert Davison, was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., April 8. 1798, and married Mary Stratton, March 26, 1829; she was born May 23, 1807. and died March 22, 1847; he now resides in York Township, Darke Co., with his daughter, Louisa Oliver; he moved to Darke Co., in 1831; by trade was a tanner and currier; he bought land in this township in 1830 and settled here, and engaged in farming, which he has ever since followed; he now owns 117 acres of his original purchase, and other lands in Brown Township. He married the second time, Aug. 8. 1847, Mary Brown; she died Aug. 16, 1865, leaving no issue; but by his first union were seven children, viz., Edwin R., the subject of this sketch; Louisa, present wife of David Oliver; Mary A. and Sarah A., twins; Mary A. deceased; she married James Deardoff, Sarah A. married Adam Coppess; Oscar A., Amanda F., who married Isaac Deardoff; Emily, married Irvin Warvel, both are deceased; and Mortimer, deceased; Edwin Davison, deceased, was raised a farmer, and always followed it; he married Rebecca G. Warvel, Jan. 27, 1853; she was born in Rockingham Co., Va., May 4, 1832, is a daughter of John Warvel (See George H. Warvel's biography in this work.) Mr. and Mrs. Davison have had six children. viz.: Sarah J., born June 28, 1853, she married Riley Brandon; William H., born Sept. 4, 1855; Robert, Nov. 4, 1860; Iola M., Nov. 7, 1862; Luella, Jan. 17, 1866. died Oct. 4, 1867; Seymour, born Oct. 17, 1868. She owns 146 acres of land and a good home.

OSCAR F. DAVISON, tile manufacturer at Nevada, Sec. 20; P. O. Dawn: born in Richland Township Oct. 16, 1837; his father, Robert, was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., and married Mary Stratton, of Greene Co., Ohio, and moved to Darke Co. in 1829. The subject of this sketch was raised a farmer; he engaged in merchandising during the year 1866, but sold out before he had been in business a year, and returned to farming and dealing in live stock; has been Township Assessor of personal property, Supervisor, Trustee, etc.; in 1877, he erected tile works. and now gives his attention to this business. He married Sirena Plessinger. daughter of David Plessinger, in March, 1861; she was born Jan. 28, 1838, and died Nov. 29, 1865, leaving no issue; his second marriage was celebrated with Sarah Jane Plessinger, daughter of George Plessinger, whose biography appears in this work, Feb. 20, 1868; she was born Dec. 20, 1847: they have had five children. viz.: George R., born Jan. 4, 1869, died Sept. 19, following; Tepa H., born Oct. 5. 1872; Mary G., July 8, 1874; Claude E., Jan. 6, 1877, and Cora May, Oct. 21. 1878. He owns 113 acres of land, two good houses and his tile works, which are extensive.

JOHN W. DUCKWALL, merchant and grain-dealer, Nevada; P. O. Dawn: was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Sept. 27, 1840; his father, Wm. Duckwall, was born in Virginia Aug. 15, 1808, and married Caroline Bruner; she was born in Virginia Jan. 27, 1820; they moved to Montgomery Co., Ohio, where they now reside; on his 70th birthday, the family had a very gratifying surprise, six sons

and two daughters with their families, by pre-arrangement, came together under the old roof-tree to congratulate the old people. John W., the subject of this sketch, at the age of 19 commenced teaching school; this he continued up to 1878, though at times engaging in other business, receiving at Oberlin much of his education. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 112th O. V. I., which consolidated with the 63d Regiment, and served until the close of the war; he participated in the battles of Resaca, Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain, and many others; on Sherman's march to the sea, he was never captured, or received a wound; entered as Sergeant, and was Orderly Sergeant at the close, and was so familiar with the names of his company that he could always call the roll without the "roster; he engaged in merchandising in this place in May, 1878, also in the grain business. He married Jennie Maxwell, July 15, 1869, daughter of Samuel and Jane M. (Furguson) Maxwell, who reside in Frederick Co., Md.; she was born May 25, 1841; they have three children, viz.: Carrie J., born June 10, 1870; Samuel W., born Oct. 6, 1873, and Francis C., born May 14, 1876.

PHILLIP HARTZELL, farmer, stock-raiser, steam thrasher and corn-sheller, Sec. 36; P. O. Beamsville; was born in Adams Township, this County, May 23, 1843; his father, John J. Hartzell, was born in Pennsylvania Dec. 1, 1815, and married Nancy Westfall; he died in September, 1852, and she died in 1865, in Richland Township; they were among the earliest settlers of Darke Co. The subject of this sketch was raised a farmer; in 1864, he traveled West, and followed teaming between Omaha, Neb., and Denver City, for about a year and a half; then returned to where he resides, on the homestead of his father; last year, he erected for himself a fine residence; has only one brother, David, who lives in Rossville, Kan. Phillip Hartzell married Caroline Dill in October, 1868; she was born in Beamsville Sept. 14, 1851; her father, John H. C. Dill, was born in Germany, and came to this country in 1832; he married Martha C. Siegmunt, in 1834, in Butler Co., Ohio; she died March 7, 1858, in this county. In Germany he learned harness-making, and followed it awhile in Trenton, Ohio; afterward in Beamsville, where at the same time he kept a hotel, also engaged in merchandising; he moved to Dallas and engaged in merchandising, but at the decease of his wife, was farming, but was in the mercantile business at the time of his death, in April, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Hartzell have two children, viz., Rosetta, born Aug. 3, 1869, and Charles D., born May 22, 1875; he owns a fine farm of 115 acres, part of which was the homestead.

JESSE B. JOHN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20; P. O. Dawn; was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, March 2, 1833; his father, Jacob B. John, was born in Franklin County, Penn., May 7, 1789, and married Eleanor Phillips, of the same county; she was born June 2, 1791; in the spring of 1810, moved to Montgomery County, Ohio; he served in the war of 1812, and was honorably discharged; afterward served two years as Captain of militia company; moved to Darke County in 1837; there he served two years as Township Trustee, and was Justice of the Peace six years; he died Feb. 19, 1868, and she died June 28, 1871, in this township; the following extract from an obituary was published on the demise of Mrs. Elenor John, relict of David John, the grandmother and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, at her decease, June 22, 1848, aged 81 years 4 months and 12 days: "She was the second of a family of eight children of the Rev. Joseph Powell (Baptist), settled in Bedford County, Penn., being the only clergyman in those parts then; solemnized 845 marriages up to 1804, the time of his death; on the 25th of January, 1785, she married David John, of Little Cove, Franklin Co., Penn., and became the mother of thirteen children; in the spring of 1810, they emigrated to Montgomery County, Ohio, where she died; her husband died Nov. 10, 1812, leaving her in a new country, with the charge of a large family, to encounter the privations of such a situation as she best could; but being a woman hale and industrious and with a confiding trust in God, she was enabled to bring up her family respectably and to see them settled in life; at the time of her death her

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