USA > Ohio > Defiance County > History of Defiance County, Ohio. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, etc.; military record; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; farm views, personal reminiscences, etc > Part 56
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At the time of Mr. Haller's arrival, the neighbors were Isaac Wartenbe, William Wartenbe, M. Arrow- smith, James Fisher, Martin Johnson, Jared Hulbert and others. Dennis Boyles, Ezra Crary, Elias Crary, Darius Allen, Levinus Bronson, Jacob Conkey, Dr. Oney Rice, Spencer Hopkins, John Rice, Edwin Lacost: these were the earliest neighbors, and first in the township and in the adjoining one. Many of them were voters at the first election.
The "Lost Creek" Presbyterian Church was built about 1853. Mr. James Quick, of Hicksville, is their pastor. The membership is about seventy. The church is of frame and cost about $1,000. The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1859, and cost about $1,500. The membership is about seventy. Their preacher is Rev. Mr. Long, of Hicksville. It is quite a strong church. Neither of these churches has a bell. The Lutheran Church was built in 1860. The preacher was Rev. Mr. Long, of Hicksville. In point of membership, it is quite strong; cost, about $1,500. It has no bell and is a frame. These churches are all in the northwest corner of the township. Far- mer Township has expended a good deal of money in the erection of schoolhouses. There are about nine schoolhouses in the township, two of which are of brick. Much interest is taken in education, and the fitness of teachers is well guarded. Mr. Haller has a post office at his house, named " Wilseyville." There is also another office at Farmer Center, and both are regarded as quite a convenience. The office was established in 1842. . Mr. Haller is Postmaster; was appointed in 1867.
Mr. Haller enlisted, in Angust, 1862, in Company F, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infan-
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try. He saw much active service, and participated in many of the hard-fought battles of the war of 1861- 65. He was wounded in the right wrist at Dallas, Ga., a musket ball passing through the bone. He was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, in July, 1865. He has served as Trustee of the township five terms. He owns eighty acres of excellent land, on which he has recently built an elegant residence.
Thomas M. Alexander was born July 17, 1813, in Trumbull County, Ohio, and removed to Wayne County with his parents in 1815. He remained there until he was twenty -five years of age. He mar- ried Miss Sarah Firestone, February 14, 1829. His family consists of Harriet E .. Solomon F., George F., Eleanor A., John A., William S., Willard O., Frank E. All grown and living but Sarah C., but none married. Mr. Alexander came to Farmer Township in 1855. He purchased a farm of eighty acres and added 160 acres to it. He then sold eighty acres of that and purchased 292 as a homestead. He has a good house and improvements. He possesses the oldest barn in the settlement. He has a fine orchard, hav- ing many trees from nurseries planted by the eccen- tric " Johnny Appleseed." The trees are very large. and bear very well. The diameter of two trees is six feet and six feet three inches. Mr. Alexander went to the polls at the Presidential election in 1880, at the head of five sons, and voted for the candidate for President. It is rare that a pioneer heads such a delegation. Mr. A. has done much labor in clearing up and preparing his farm. He attends mill at Hicksville, as it is the most convenient place for trade and milling at all seasons.
Susannah Ridenour was born October 13, 1811, in Frederick County, Md., and came to Harrison County. Ohio, with her father, Daniel Helbert and Catharine Helbert, her mother. She married John Ridenour January 29, 1839. He removed to Jeffer- son County, Ohio, and remained two years, and then to Wayne County, where he remained five years, and in 1845 removed to Farmer Township, on Section 18, where Mrs. R. now resides with a daughter, Mrs. Aaron Sellers. Mr. John Ridenour died November 11, 1860, aged fifty-three years. His family was Alfred, Augustus L., Rebecca, Martha, Lowman, David, Daniel. Darius, Margaret J. (dead), Ralha, Anne (dead). She is a member of the Lutheran Church, and has been since she was fourteen years of age. She has been a widow twenty years, and in rais- ing her family saw many hard times. Her sons are all grown and married.
Mrs. Harriet M. Allen, wife of Darius Allen, was born December 27, 1819, in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and came with her parents, Oney Rice and Ammarilla (Clark) Rice, of Rutland, Vt., in 1836,
from St. Lawrence, N. Y., and landed in what is now Farmer Township, and located on Section 17, south- east quarter. Mr. Allen died February 8, 1869, aged sixty-two years. The members of her family are Oney (deceased) and Ephraim C. The early settlers were John Rice, Oney Rice, Sr., Jacob Conkey, Laura Hopkins, Randall Lord, W. G. Pierce, Edward Lacost, Harrison Conkey, Lavinus Bronson, Lyman Powell, Isaac Wartenbe, William Wartenbe and Nathan Farmer. Levinus Bronson came March 6, 1836, with his parents, Levi and Sarah Bronson, and was present at the organization of Farmer Township, and was elected first Clerk. He married Almira Powell November 24, 1833. Almira, his wife, died June 17, 1851, aged fifty-seven years.
Mrs. Lydia Rice, widow of Dr. Oney Rice, was born in Bennington County, Vt., November 20, 1808, and came to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., with her father, Aaron Barrows and Huldah Langdon, his wife, in 1813, and there, having married Dr. Oney Rice, Jr., November 10, 1831 (Rev. Mr. Cannon hav- ing performed the marriage ceremony), came to what was then Farmer Township, in Defiance County, Ohio, in 1836. The family of John Rice, Laura Hopkins, Oney Rice, Sr., came in June, 1836. The families of Oney Rice, Sr., Jacob Conkey and wife, William G. Pierce and wife, Randall Lord and wife, entered the township at the same time. The town- ship was organized in the fall. Dr. Oney Rice and family settled on Section 21. The Doctor built a log cabin, in which he and his family lived. The settlers were Edward Lacost, Jolin Rice, Spencer Hopkins, Harrison Conkey, all came and helped raise his cabin. * It was of split logs, for the upper and lower floor, made of basswood logs, and window frames and sashes bought in Defiance; the door was made of pine boxes. The cabin was about the third raised in the township, that of Mr. Wartenbe being the first. The Doctor continued to practice until July, 1848, and had a great ride in the county and in the adjoining parts of Indiana. The only rival he had was Dr. Ladd, in Clarksville. He (Dr. Ladd) died about 1870, near Clarksville. Dr. Rice kept up a large practice until he was compelled to suspend the increasing labor. He was about fifty- one years old in 1848, when he died. His family, Tretta M., Ellen A., Hiram F., Aaron A., all living. Hiram was in the war of 1861-65. He was wounded in August, 1862, and came back in July, 1865. He was wounded in the right hip bone in the battle of Dallas, Ga. The limb injures him when he plows, and it is easily lamed. Mrs. Rice is now seventy-five years old, and resides with her son at the old home- stead. Mr. Oney Rice served as Justice of the Peace, and was appointed the first Postmaster at Farmer
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Center; was also a Commissioner of the county, and one of the founders of the Universalist Church in this township. Was a man greatly respected and esteemed by all who knew him.
Richard Knight was born in Beaver County, Penn., January 26, 1816, and came to Wayne County with his parents, when twelve years old, in 1828. That year ho settled eight miles east of Wooster, and came to Farmer Township in 1850, and built a saw mill in Farmer Conter and ran it four years, and sold it to Mr. R. J. Gibblen, and he to Mr. Perkins, in whose possession it was accidentally burned in 1858. Mr. Knight parchased what is now the John Rice farm, and improved it by putting up a barn and finishing the house, and sold to G. T. Hughes, and then removed to his farm of sixty-seven acres and the 200 acres south of the Center. He married. Sep. 19, 1839, Miss Harriet Firestone, of Wayne County. His family is Ellenor F., married to N. O. Foot, Engenic, wife of K. V. Haymaker, married in 1881; Eliza Jane, dead; Engenie M., dead; all girls. He formerly went to Brunersburg to mill. Great changes have taken place since he arrived in Farmer Town- ship. Since the township has been drained, land has become rich and valnable. . Mr. Knight is a car. penter by trade, and does a good deal of work in the township. He learned his trade in Wayne County. Mr. Knight was one of the first Infirmary Directors, a position he held nearly one year, when he resigned on account of failing health. He is a member of the order of Free and Accepted Masons, Bryan Lodge, and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the same place. Has been a Director of the Farmers' National Bank at Bryan. Mrs. Knight was born in Wayne County. Ohio, September 2. 1820, and is a daughter of George and Rebecca (Carle) Firestone; he died in 1851 and she in 1868. Jacob and Martha (Dickson) Knight, parents of the subject of this sketch. were natives of Pennsylvania; he died in 1857, and she in 1868.
Randall Lord was born in Rutland County, Vt .. December 16, 1812. and came to St. Lawrence County, N. Y .. and thence to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 1835, where he remained six months, and then came to "Lost Creek." in Farmer Township. Defiance County, in July. 1836. The township was not then organized. Mr. Lord arrived in July. too late for the spring election. He thinks Dr. Oney Rice was the first Justice of the Peace; William G. Pierce the first Con stable. He cannot name the Trustees nor Treasur- ers, but thinks Bronson was elected Township Clerk. John Rice. Edward Lacost, Isaac and Will- iam Wartenbe were present. and votel at the election, and there were twelve other voters. Mr. Lord is a shoemaker by trade, and states that he had the honor
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of making the first pair of boots and shoes worn in Farmer Township. He has worked at his trade over fifty years, and can do a good job yet. He has a shop at the Center, and does a good deal of work yet. The old gentleman is very neat in person, and has a neat shop; in fact, in appearance he reminds the observer of an ancient New England gentleman in person and manners.
William Lord was born May 8, 1838, in Farmer Township, Defiance Co., Ohio. Attended school there during his youth. He married, April 18, 1861, Miss Louisa Randall; she deceased, leaving one child. Mr. Lord married, for his second wife, Miss Adeline Cox. Mr. Lord at present keeps the Farmer Hotel. His family is one son-David -- seventeen years old. Mr. Lord served in the late war in Company D, private, One Hundred and Eighty-tnird Ohio Volun- teers, February 16, 1865, and got back July 15. 1865: was in no battles.
Dr. B. E. Miller was born February 7, 1846, at Saville, Medina Co .. Ohio, and when young moved to Smithville, Wayne County, where he remained until about twelve years of age, when he went to Bridge- water, Williams Co., Ohio, where he remained until the spring of 1859. His mother having died in De- cember, 1859, he remained at Bridgewater. There were four members of the family left-Cyrus, Benja- min E. and Elizabeth A .. one sister. Rebecca, having died in 1859. Dr. Miller married Ella MI. Gonser May 20, 1873. Their family consists of, Charles E. and Mand May. Dr. M. graduated in Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1871. having attended the first course of lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., 1869 and 1870. Settled in Farmer Center in July, 1875. The doctor who preceded him was Dr. Martin Thrall, who practiced about twenty years. and died in 187S. There have been about eleven physicians, at different. times, who have practiced at Farmer Center since : Drs. Rice and Thrall were here. Dr. Rice, in his day, had a large practice and few equals.
Dr. J. J. Reynolds was born in Henry County. Ohio, March 26. 1854, and attended lectures at De- troit, Mich., in 1877 and 1879. and graduated at De- troit: read medicine under Dr. J. H. Bennett. of Wanseon, Fulton Co., Ohio: came to Farmer Center in May. 1879, and entered into practice; married Miss Mary Duncan, of Detroit. March 16, 1SS0.
Orley N. Foot was born February 11. 1818. in Vermont, and came to St. Lawrence County. N. Y., when two years of age, and remained there until he was of age. and then came to Defiance County in 1838, and within that year taught the Clarksville school three months. At that time there was a grist mill conducted at that place by a man by the name of Weldon. He owned the mill, but a man by the
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name of Jared Ball conducted it. It has changed hands many times. There was then what was ex- pected to be a thriving village there, the families of Dr. Ira Ladd, Guy C. Noble, L. C. Noble, Jared Ball, Mr. Bailey and a number of other families. The village was laid out by a man by the name of Clark. Thomas Slater, Sr., Widow Lewis, Thomas Olds, William Sawyer, Thomas Sinkey, Jacob and John Green owned lands near the village. In 1839, he went to Farmer Township, and located one and a half miles north of Farmer Center. In 1839, he taught school at Pulaski, Williams County, and in the spring of 1839, brought on his wife from St. Law- rence County, N. Y., where he had married in Au- gust, 1837, previous to coming out. Her name was Fanny Bowker. The family of Mr. Foot is Newell O .. Julia O., Johnson O. Newell O. is now deceased. Johnson O. served three years in the late war, and returned safe from the war. Mr. Foot has been in business in. Farmer about forty-four years. He has dealt in stock, and traded much in property of that sort, and has been always trusty and the poor man's friend. There is quite a feeling for Mr. Foot, who is regarded as a benefactor to the farmers and stock- growers of the township. He is indulgent and friend- ly to all.
Elisha Tharp was born in Montour County, Penn., March 1, 1806, and came to Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1818, and resided there with a brother two years, and then removed from there to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1820, where he married Miss Anne Beck April 4, 1836. He then removed to " Lost Creek" Township, now " Farmer," in the spring of 1836. The township was organized in the spring of 1836, as "Lost Creek," but after due consideration changed to " Farmer Town- ship," believing it the better name, and called from an old settler by the name of Nathan Farmer. Mr. Tharp is the only person now living in the township who voted at its organization, and who voted for the first officers. James Fisher was the first Justice of the Peace, elected at a special election, but failed to give bond. Oney Rice was then elected Justice, and qualified in the proper manner and served the legal time. At the time Mr. Tharp came into the town- ship, the following persons were there: Levinus Bronson, Oney Rice, Jr., John Rice, Nathan Farmer, Edward Lacost, Jacob Conkey, Harrison Conkey, Colin Tharp, James and John Fisher. The names of persons at the first election: Nathan Farmer, Elisha Tharp, Elijah Lloyd, Isaac Wartenbe and William Powell The first election was held at the residence of William Powell, where George Zigler now lives. The family of Mr. Tharp is Rachel M., Oscar P., Mary E. (dead), Emily J., Susannah B., Elizabeth (dead), Francis M., Elmaretta, Alfred B.,
Elzara M. ; all grown; two brothers and two sisters single. Mrs. Anne Tharp was born July 15, 1815, and died June 1, 1868, aged fifty three years. Mr. Tharp is of English descent. Mr. T. has many anecdotes to tell of the first settlers, the hard pio- neer times, the game that existed when he first came, which make his reminiscences quite interesting.
John Norway, the youngest of a family of seven children of John and Elizabeth (Randles) Norway, was born on a farm in the township of Lisbon, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., December 31. 1836. His facili- ties for obtaining an education were the common schools of that time, with the addition of about two years in the academy at Ogdensburg, N. Y., under the tutorship of Prof. Roswell G. Pettibone. With the exception of about three months in his thirteenth year, when he sojourned in Canada with his sister Jane Eliza, then the wife of Hugh Mills, he never left the old farm home until the spring of 1857, when, with his sisters Eleanor and Elizabeth, he left for the then Far West, and joined the other members of the fam- ily, George, Charles and William Henry, at Chippe- wa Falls, Wis., in the latter part of April of that year. He engaged with a United States surveying party, under a Mr. Fellows, as contractor, in making subdivisions in about fourteen townships on the upper Chippewa River during the summer months of 1858.
He came to Farmer Center, Ohio, on the 28th day of December, 1858, and has resided continuously in the township ever since. He was married to Miss Julia O. Foot March 5, 1864, and their family con - sists of Flora, born May 3, 1865; Laura, born Octo- ber 9, 1867; Clark LeRoy, born July 26, 1874, died February 8, 1875; Clyde Russell, born July 13, 1877, and John Ralph, born December 16, 1879. Mr. Norway was appointed Postmaster at Farmer Post Office by Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General, and commissioned May 10, 1861, and was succeeded by N. E. Cory in 1863, while Mr. Norway was tempo- rarily located at Williams Center. He again assumed the duties of Postmaster, as Deputy, upon the de- cease of Newell O. Foot, October 8, 1865, and was appointed Postmaster again by William Dennison, Postmaster General. and commissioned May 2, 1866, and holds that position to this date (1882). Mr. Nor- way was commissioned a Notary Public by Jacob D. Cox, Governor of Ohio, February 19, 1867, and by renewals of commission every three years has held that office ever since, his familiarity with the system of Government surveys, obtained while on Govern- ment survey, rendering him well adapted to the posi- tion of Conveyancer, in which capacity he is consid- ered among the best. He has held many minor offices of trust, to which he has been repeatedly elected by the citizens of his township at various
MRS. JOHN PRICE
John Price
Sarah, conn Sharp Price
Willian Price rice
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
timos, and has been largely identified with the educa- tional interests. He has been in the mercantile busi- noss since the fall of 1859.
James A. Gardner was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, November 29, 1818, and came to Farm- er Township in 1842. He married Miss Elizabeth Hartman, of Farmor, November 11, 1845. She died January 14, 1847, aged twenty-one years. He mar- ried Miss Susan C. Miller, of Stark County, Ohio, November 30, 1848. His family is Cynthia S., by his first wife; Ira F., Celestia E., Mary E., Henry G., James B., Ada J., George B., William P., Clement L. and Charles; all living, the eldest married. Mr. Gardner purchased the old " Nathan Farmer " place in Section 1. The first cabin in the township was erected on this farm in 1833. Mr. Gardner purchased it of Nathan Farmer. It then had about twenty acres cleared. Mr. Gardner wont, at that time, to Bruners- burg, to the Hilton mill and to Clarksville to get his milling done. It then took one or two days to make the trip to Defiance, when the roads were deep and new. Then game-such as deer, bear, turkey, wolves and the like -- was quite plenty. The wolves soon disappeared, the bear followed, and deer about 1860. The forests were quite heavy, and it took much toil to clear up a farm. Since the land has been cleared and drained, farms have greatly increased in value and aro quito productive, raising fine crops of wheat, corn, oats and hay. Mr. G. has a homestead of 160 acros, with good barn and new frame residence.
Mrs. Susannah Earlston was born near Earlston, N. Y., September 20, 1805, and married Abel Hartman in Pennsylvania May 8, 1823. Mr. Hartman died August 21, 1831. His children were Obed E., Eliza- beth C., Mary J. and Sarah S. Mrs. Hartman married Isaac Earlstou January 27, 1872, in Marion County, Ohio. Mr. Earlston died December 23, 1877. His children were Daniel E. (dead), February 16, 1863, at Bowling Green, Ky .; Ruth, who married B. F. Lord, February 1, 1868. Mrs. Earlston's children are all dead except two.
Horace W. Hill was born November 2, 1829, in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended school the_e, and came to Farmer Township in February, 1847; married Miss Ellen A. Rice, daughter of Dr. Oney Rice, De- cember 25, 1856. His family are Forest W., Elsie L., Ida U., Mary F. (dead) and Clara Maud. The ancestors of Mr. Hill were English and Irish. The name of his father was Ira. His brothers, Calvin and Joseph, resided in Ashland County. Ira Hill, his father, was a blind man; his blindness occurred in consequence of and being operated upon at Will- oughby College, Ohio. He died some years since in Vermillion Township, Ashland County. The mother of Horace W. died in Farmer Township in 1863, aged sixty-three, with cancer.
Ethan R. Welden was born January 9, 1813, in Clinton County, N. Y., near Plattsburg. Attended school at Plattsburg, where he learned the wagon- maker's trade. ELe resided at that time at Plattsburg, and remained there until about 1841, when he re- moved to St. Lawrence County, N. Y, where he re- sided until 1854. He married Miss Harriet Spauld- ing, at Plattsburg, February 14, 1839. In 1854, he came to Farmer Township, where he has since re- sided. As soon as he landed, he opened a wagon - shop, and has worked at his trade ever since. His family consists of Hiram O., Emily E., Gilbert M., Edna (dead), Eugenia (dead), William S. Hiram and Gilbert, wagon-makers. Mr. W. served as Jus- tice of the Peace in St. Lawrence County, N. Y .. and was twice elected Trustee of Farmer Township. Mr. W. was in the militia at Plattsburg during the war of 1812.
William Martin was born June 6, 1809, in Cum. berland County, Penn., and came to Trumbull County, Ohio, and from there t Beaver County, Ohio, and remained there until nine years old, and then went to Columbiana County, and from there to Farmer Township, Defiance Co., Ohio, in 1848. He married Miss Maria Hahn, March 19, 1849. His family, Sarah, John (dead), Elizabeth, George, Henry, Maria and Emory; all living and grown but those mentioned. George Martin married Miss Sarah Gardner, and has three children living- - Ora, Gertrude, Park; three dead-Moses, Blanch and Cloyd. Mr. M. has a homestead of 120 acres, and resides in a good frame house and has a good frame barn. He has cleared 100 acres of land and done much hard work.
George Waltz, born March 26, 1814, in Tusca- rawas County, Ohio, and resided there until twenty- two years of age, and then went to Carroll County, Ohio, where he stayed eleven years, and from there removed to Farmer Township, Defiance Co., Ohio, in September, 1848, and purchased 126 acres of land and afterward added forty acres, making in all 160 acres in his homestead. He married Miss Mary Bow- man in January, 1836. She deceased February 9, 1862, aged forty-four years. She left six children- Mary Jane, Henry B. (dead), Phoba, Susan, William C .. Henrietta and Virgil. Mr. Waltz married Miss Sarah Crabb March, 1867; has no family by this mar- riage. Mr. Waltz has about one hundred acres cleared in his farm. He states that he chopped many nights, in clearing his land, by moonlight. He has a good frame house and barn, but it was struck by lightning in 1876.
Anthony Huber (deceased) was born in Germany January 7, 1815, and was a son of George and Franciska (Harmon) Huber, natives of Germany. The subject of this sketch was reared upon the farm,
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
and when old enough became a weaver. In 1836, he came to this country, and for five ensuing years worked at different kinds of labor. In 1841, he re- turned to his native land, in which he stayed one year, and returned with his parents and brothers and sisters, all of whom settled in Hamilton, Ohio. De- cember 26, 1842, he married Franciska, daughter of Lewis and Catharine (Maer) Foghter. In 1843, he removed to this township, where he bought 148 acres of wild land, on which he built a log cabin and moved in without windows or doors. He cleared up his land, and lived there until his death, which oc- curred December 15, 1873. Eight children were born to them, seven of whom are living-George, Lewis, Caroline T., Eliza and Agatha R., Harman, Franciska (deceased). At his death, Mr. H. owned over eight hundred acres of land, 300 of which were in Kansas. Mrs. Huber was born in Germany De- cember 3, 1818.
William Price, farmer, P. O. Williams Center, Ohio, was born in Dauphin County, Penn., August 9, 1820, and is a son of John and Sarah Price, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Stark County, Ohio, in 1823; moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1834 located in Hancock County, Ohio. In 1845, the sub- ject of this sketch settled one mile north of Farmer Center,, this township, where he purchased a farm of 160 acres, to which he has since added 130 acres, owning now 290 acres of well-improved and valuable land. In 1846, he was married to Sarah A., daughter of Isaac L. Tharp, who bore him the following children: Orley F. (deceased), Sarah E., Joseph E. (deceased), Virgil T. (deceased), L. A. (deceased), John H. (de- ceased), Mary E. (deceased), Rachel M., Laura I. (deceased), and Orpha I. (deceased). Mrs. P. died August 31, 1878. His second marriage was cele- brated with Mrs. Fanny D. Wolford, widow of Emanuel Wolford, May 19, 1880. Mr. P. has been Clerk of the township six years; he has been blessed with success and good health, and for fifty-one years he has not lost a day's work on account of sickness. His second wife is a daughter of Thomas J. Sweet, a native of New York, who settled in Farmer Town- ship in 1845, in which he resided for a number of years. Mr. P. is a member of the Farmer Township Detective Association, and a Trustee of the society.
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