USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 102
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125
Certified Aug. 19, 1872, and recorded Nov. 11, 1874.
NORTH SALEM
was laid out on the northwest bank of the Great Miami, in section 10, town. 1, range 7 E., in Salem Township, and was surveyed Aug. 16, 1836, for Abel Roberts, proprietor. It consisted of 36 lots, as shown by original plot, but has faded away except as a matter of record.
Schools.
Port Jefferson was organized as a Special School District in the year 1858, since which time the Board of Education has consisted of six mem- bers instead of three, as before. The schools were held in a one-story brick house, which shortly afterward gave place to a two-story brick with two rooms. Prior to the organization of the special school dis- trict, the schools were only partly supported by public tax. After the public money was expended, the balance of the tuition was collected from the parents of the children in attendance. The duty of collecting this fund fell upon the teacher, which he had to do or not get pay for his labor. The usual wages were from thirteen to sixteen dollars per month of twenty-six days, and eight hours per day. To show the dif- ference between teaching school in those days and the present, we will insert a resolution found on the school record dated Feb. 2, 1843 :-
Mr. G-, we have come to the conclusion that we have fulfilled our part in furnishing the wood for the school, and if you cannot, with the help of the large scholars, cut it up or induce the householders so to do, by sending them word by the scholars, we shall disband the school. We have done what we think is our duty to induce them so to do ; further, we want you to be more exact to your appointed hours, as complaints are entered against you in this particular.
In 1876 the Board of Education felt the necessity of more school- rooms. The question of a new school-house was agitated, but no action was taken until 1877, when the old building was removed and the present fine structure was erected (a view of which is shown in this work). The building is of brick, and is 60 by 54 feet, and 30 feet high. It contains four rooms, furnished with modern furniture and fixtures, and is a model building, both in architecture and finish. The total cost of the building was $7745, exclusive of furniture. The schools are graded into three de- partments, with one teacher in each. The Board of Education at the time of the erection of the building were : R. B. Conklin, M. J. Winget, J. B. Nettleship, J. F. Miller, J. C. Ogden, and Win. Manning.
CHURCHES.
Methodist Episcopal Church.
The history of Methodism at Port Jefferson antedates the organiza- tion of the village; but when or by whom the first society was organ- ized cannot be definitely ascertained, as there is no record in existence prior to 1845; but there is known to have been a society here prior to 1830. This society at that time was on the Bellefontaine Circuit. We have no means of knowing when the first church building was erected, but it was a log edifice and stood near the old cemetery east of the vil- lage. This structure some years later gave way to a small frame church, which served as a place of worship until 1862, when the present building was completed. It was dedicated June 6, 1862, by the Rev. R. D. Old- field, the pastor of the church. In 1834 Bellefontaine Circuit was divided and Sidney Circuit was formed, which embraced Port Jefferson. In 1843 Sidney was made a Station, and Port Jefferson Circuit was formed.
The following is a list of the pastors who have been over the charge from its organization to the present time, viz .: Levi White, Geo. Gatch, Thomas Beacham, Joshua Boucher, Jno. W. Clark, James W. Findley, Thomas Simms, Wm. M. Sullivan, Wm. Morrow, John Stewart, Peter Sharp, Daniel D. Davidson, James Smith, W. C. Clark, Geo. W. Walker, David Kempler, Wilson Smith, Silas Chase, L. P. Miller, and David Warnock.
The above were the pastors while this society was included in the Bellefontaine and Sidney Circuits.
The following have been on Port Jefferson Circuit since that time, viz .:
Digitized by
J. P. Forsythe and William Shinn,
G. J. Mitchell, April 14, 1865. Robert Simpson, Oct. 17, 1866. J. P. Forsythe, April 5, 1867.
G. J. Mitchell, April 13, 1868.
A. Knox (resigned Feb. 22, 1845), Dec. 10, 1844.
Silas A. Thompson, April 25, 1845. Vincent Guerin, July 14, 1845. July 15, 1848.
W. H. Mitchell, April 5, 1872. Robert Simpson, April 11, 1873. S. L. Manning, June 6, 1873. H. M. Ailes, April 9, 1875. A. A. Dunson, April 24, 1875. R. B. Conklin, June 26, 1876. S. L. Manning, April 11, 1878.
Daniel Ferree, April 16, 1858. H. M. Stout, April 12, 1859. Wmn. Shinn, Jr., May 4, 1861.
332
ยท
333
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.
A. Harmount, C. Coleman, J. S. Kalb, P. R. Roseberry, E. Hook, J. S. Albright, J. M. Barr, P. R. Roseberry, Henry Burns, A. Paster, W. A. Baker, S. D. Shaffer, G. Lease, H. O. Sheldon, M. B. Hibbert, B. C. Love, P. G. Goode, A. J. Stubbs, J. L. Bates, R. D. Oldfield, J. N. Smith, J. A. Ferguson, B. J. Hoadly, H. L. Spindler, P. A. Drown, W. S. Rea, O. Palmer, G. Mathews, J. Crooks, M. Markwith, and J. L. Butes.
The present membership of the church is about 130. There is a flou- rishing Sabbath-school in connection with the church with a membership of about 110 scholars and teachers, under the superintendence of S. T. Thirkield.
The Miami Christian Church.
This church was organized in the year 1849 by the Rev. James Skillen and Joseph Warbleton at the house of John Mulford. The first members were Amos and John Mulford and their wives, Jacob Near and wife, and Samuel Wiles. The first church was a log one, erected in 1852 on the land of Jacob Near, in Logan County. This was burned in 1871 and replaced by a frame in 1872, on the land of Henry Kemp. The present society consists of eighty members. The following are the names of the pastors who have been over the society since its first organization : James Skillen, Daniel Lepley, Snow Richardson, Samuel Feuston, Jus- tice Hunt, Jonathan Rhea, C. W. Davis, Thomas Diltz, and Daniel Lepley.
TILETON.
The business interests of Tileton are as follows : two general stores, ' by R. D. Earl and M. E. Strayer; one saw mill, by Epler Bros .; two physicians, J. D. Wise and J. F. Harshbarger; one tile factory; one blacksmith shop ; and one wagon shop.
Stokes Lodge No. 305 of F. and A. M.
This lodge was organized March, 1858, under the name of Stokes Lodge, in honor of Horace M. Stokes, who at that time was Grand Master of the State. The lodge worked under dispensation until Oct. 1858, at which time the following officers of the Grand Lodge were present, viz., Wm. Fielding, W. G. M., W. C. Fielding, Dept. G. M., W. W. Skillen, S. G. W., F. A. Pool, J. G. W., Alex. Green, S. G. D., Irwin Nutt, J. G. D., H. O. Sheldon, W. G. C., T. E. English, G. T., J. S. Read, G. S., and Jacob Young, T. After the opening of the Grand Lodge a procession was formed and marched to the M. E. Church, preceded by the new lodge and other members, where the officers of Stokes Lodge were duly installed by G. M. Wmn. Fielding, who afterwards made a brief address. The Grand Marshal then made the following proclamation three times : In the name of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio, I proclaim this new lodge, by the name of Stokes Lodge, No. 305, to be legally constituted and consecrated and the officers thereof duly in- stalled. Prayer was offered by G. Chap. H. O. Sheldon. The lodge then returned to the lodge room and closed in harmony.
The following are the names of the charter members : J. Comer, E. B. Honnell, B. C. Wilkinson, Alex. Buckingham, James M. Roberts, Stephen C. Hussey, Jacob Epler, Wm. Miller, and E. H. Hopkins.
The following were the first list of officers in full: W. M., J. Comer ; S. W., E. B. Honnell; J. W., B. C. Wilkinson; Treas., Alex. Bucking- ham; Sec'y, J. M. Roberts ; S. D., S. C. Hussey; J. D., Jacob Epler ; Tyler, Wm. Miller.
The following persons have filled the three principal offices success- ively from the organization to the present time :-
W. M., J. Comer, 1859; E. B. Honnell, 1860 to 1863; J. Comer, 1864; Isaac Strahlem, 1865; E. B. Honnell, 1866; T. W. Epler, 1867 and '68; E. B. Honnell, 1869 and '70; Wm. Dunlap, 1871; E. B. Honnell, 1872; B. C. Epler, 1873; E. B. Honnell, 1874 and '75; Jacob Epler, 1876; E. B. Honnell, 1877, 1878, and '79; J. F. Rice, 1880; E. M. Honnell, 1881; B. C. Epler, 1882.
S. W., E. B. Honnell, B. C. Wilkinson, two years; Isaac Strahlem, H. M. Stout, John F. Miller, T. W. Epler, Wm. Dunlap, two years; B. C. Epler, two years; G. E. Allinger, two years; John F. Rice, S. Baker, two years; John F. Rice, G. E. Allinger, N. W. Deweese, S. S. Crum- baugh, E. M. Honnell, S. S. Crumbaugh, and G. E. Allenger.
J. W., B. C. Wilkinson, Jacob Epler, Isaac Strahlem, J. M. Roberts, Jefferson Baker, Valentine McCormick, two years ; Wm. Dunlap, J. W. Pettier, G. E. Allinger, N. W. Deweese, H. C. Roberts, S. Baker, E. L. Kraft, J. S. Noland, two years; H. M. Ailes, S. S. Crumbaugh, E. M. Honnell, Chas. Murray, Valentine McCormick, and O. O. Murray.
A. J. Stubbs was the first to take the degree of E. A.
The meetings of the lodge are on Wednesday evening on or before each full moon. Present number of members, 33.
I. 0. 0. F.
A charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio to W. B. Sandoe, J. Comer, E. H. Hopkins, J. F. Black, Wm. Dunlap, and Isaac Strahlem, May 15, 1861, to organize Earl Lodge, No. 365, of I. O. O. F.
The first meeting of the lodge was held at Port Jefferson, July 13, 1861. G. M., W. F. Slater took the chair. The following officers were elected: W. B. Sandoe, N. G .; E. H. Hopkins, V. G .; Wm. Dunlap, R. S .; Joseph Comer, Treasurer. After election they proceeded to the M. E. Church, where Grand Chaplain, D. E. Thomas, delivered an address, and the officers were installed by the Grand Master. After the installation of officers they returned to the lodge room. The lodge . opened in due form, and the petition of Wm. M. Van Fossen was presented, together with his card from Trinity Centre Lodge of Cal., to become a member of Earl Lodge. The petition was referred and committee re- ported favorably, and he became the first member by card. The lodge room at this time was over the store of Joseph Comer. Some time later another lodge room was secured, which was afterwards burned, together with nearly all the furniture of the lodge. Meetings for a number of years were held in a room over the store of S. T. Thirkield. In the fall of 1832 the lodge secured the privilege from E. L. Kraft of building the second story on his new store building for a lodge room. This room they have finished and furnished at a cost of about $1600, and now have a very neat and handsome room. The present member- ship is 53. The time of meeting is every Monday evening.
The following is a complete list of the four principal officers in suc- cession, since the first election :-
N. G., E. H. Hopkins, W. Dunlap, Isaac Strahlem, Enoch Rike, J. P. Forsythe, J. S. Noland, J. P. Forsythe, E. L. Kraft, D. C. Wilkinson, S. Arbigast, Wm. Anderson, C. H. Gearhart, J. S. Noland, Wm. Apgar, G. E. Allinger, B. F. Martin, D. Rike, G. E. Allinger, J. Staley, J. Car- gill, I. Wilson, Thos. Hussey, B. C. Epler, O. C. Staley, L. B. McVay, Wm. Rike, J. A. Edmiston, S. Wons, D. Wagner, J. Redinbaugh, S. C. Burton, J. Apgar, S. Wons, W. E. Rike, J. C. Bede, G. E. Allinger, J. Apgar, N. S. Epler, Wm. Hartman, T. W. Thompson, L. B. Glick, and J. A. Warbington.
V. G., Wm. Dunlap, W. M. Van Fossen, E. Rike, J. P. Forsythe, W. A. Skillen, E. Rike, E. L. Kraft, D. C. Wilkinson, Wm. Dunlap, Wm. An- derson, C. H. Gearhart, D. McVay, Wm. Apgar, G. E. Allinger, B. F. Martin, D. Rike, I. Wilson, J. Staley, J. Cargill, T. M. Hussey, B. C. Epler, J. Andrews, O. C. Staley, L. B. McVay, W. E. Rike, J. A. Ed- miston, S. Wons, D. Wagner, J. Redinbaugh, S. C. Burton, J. Apgar, N. S. Epler, D. Wagner, J. B. Redinbaugh, L. B. McVay, L. B. Glick, N. S. Epler, Wm. Hartman, T. W. Thompson, E. Bryan, A. Warbing- ton, and G. W. DeBobin.
R. S., W. M. Van Fossen, W. H. Mitchel, J. P. Forsythe, J. N. Martin, Wm. Dunlap, E. L. Kraft, D. C. Wilkinson, W. H. Mitchel, W. H. Man- ning, C. H. Gearhart, W. H. Goble, J. S. Noland, B. F. Martin, D. Rike, I. Wilson, J. Staley, J. Cargill, Thos. Hussey, H. Harshberger, B. C. Epler, J. Andrews, O. C. Staley, L. B. McVay, W. E. Rike, N. S. Epler, S. Wons, D. Wagner, and B. C. Epler, who has served for the last fifteen terms.
Treasurer. J. Comer, four terms; I. Strahlem, four terms; Wm. An- derson, J. S. Noland, E. Rike, three terms; J. Cargill, two terms; H. . Allen, two terms; J. P. Forsythe, four terms; G. E. Allinger, two terms; I. Wilson, two terms; G. E. Allinger, two terms; and John Cargill has served for the last fifteen terms.
Township Officers.
The records of this township are lost to the date given below.
April 4, 1853. Trustees, John G. Knox, James Skillen, and Wilson S. Mitchell. Clerk, James T. Johnston. Treasurer, Armstrong Knox. Assessor, William Baker. Constables, S. B. Musselman, Jacob Le Fevre, and Henry Kesler.
1854. Trustees, Jonas Harshbarger, Nimrod Duvauld, and W. S. Mit- chell. Clerk, James Haney. Treasurer, A. Knox. Assessor, Isaac Harshbarger. Constables, G. W. Robbins, L. C. Ogden, and A. Dunson. 1855. Trustees, Samuel Armstrong, W. S. Mitchell, Nimrod Duvauld. Clerk, S. T. Thirkield. Treasurer, James Morland. Assessor, J. M. Roberts. Constables, B. F. Michael, Enoch Rike, and Thomas Rea.
1856. Trustees, Nimrod Duvauld, W. S. Mitchell, and John G. Knox. Clerk, John F. Miller. Treasurer, A. Knox. Assessor, Isaac Harsh- barger. Constables, Enoch Rike, A. S. Cannon, and Wm. Robinson.
1857. Trustees, N. Duvauld, J. G. Knox, and R. B. Conklin. Clerk, S. T. Thirkield. Treasurer, A. Armstrong. Assessor, Isaac Harshbarger. Constables, A. S. Cannon, H. M. Stout, and Jesse Glick.
1858. Trustees, same. Clerk, John F. Miller. Treasurer, A. Knox. Assessor, G. J. Mitchell. Constables, Squire Baker, H. M. Stout, and T. B. Hathaway.
1859. Trustees, Isaac Miller, R. B. Conklin, and John G. Knox. Clerk, J. F. Miller. Treasurer, A. Knox. Assessor, G. J. Mitchell. Constables, Squire Baker, H. I. Stockstill, and U. B. Haney.
1860. All re-elected except for Assessor, Wm. Shinn.
1861. Trustees, Geo. Gillespie, Elbert Cargill, and Nimrod Duvauld. Clerk, J. F. Miller. Treasurer, A. Knox. Assessor, G. J. Mitchell. Constables, Wm. Skillen, David Arbogast, and R. Hodge.
1862. Trustees, Eli B. Honnell, W. S. Mitchell, and A. A. Dunson. Clerk, Dr. J. F. Miller. Treasurer, A. Knox. Assessor, N. Duvauld. Constables, Squire Baker, David Arbogast, and S. McCormick.
38
Digitized by
334
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.
1863. Trustees, A. A. Dunson, E. B. Honnell, and David Cargill. Clerk, Dr. J. F. Miller. Treasurer, Isaac Stralheim. Assessor, Isaac Miller. Constables, Samuel Johnson, Benj. Hine, and Ranson Hodge.
1864. Trustees, E. B. Honnell, A. A. Dunson, and David Cargill. Clerk and Treasurer re-elected.
1865. Trustees, same. Clerk, Wm. Dunlap. Treasurer, Isaac Stral- heim. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. Constables, Squire Baker, W. S. Mit- chell, Silas Arbogast.
1866. Trustees, John Cargill, A. A. Dunson, and Price Walker. Clerk, G. E. Allinger. Treasurer, Isaac Stralheim. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. Constables, S. Baker, D. Arbogast, and David Taylor.
1867. Trustees, N. Duvauld, John Cargill, and Wm. Apgar. Clerk, Wm. Dunlap. Treasurer, Isaac Stralheim. Constables, S. Baker, D. Arbogast, and D. Taylor.
1868. Trustees, same. Clerk, J. F. Miller. Treasurer, Wm. Dunlap. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. Constables, R. D. Pegg, James Dickerson, and Jacob Duvauld.
1869. Trustees, R. B. Conklin, John Cargill, and Wm. Apgar. Clerk, R. D. Pegg. Treasurer, E. B. Honnell. Assessor, G. J. Mitchell. Con- stables, S. Baker, S. Johnson, and W. Hall.
1870. Trustees, A. Richey, Elias Le Fevre, and G. E. Allinger. Clerk, R. D. Pegg. Treasurer, W. K. Smith. Assessor, T. R. Patterson. Con- stables, L. B. McVay, George Gump, and F. M. Husser.
1871. Trustees, G. E. Allinger, N. Duvauld, and John W. Lorton. Clerk, R. D. Pegg. Treasurer, John F. Rice. Assessor, H. C. Roberts. Pike Superintendent, T. M. Husser. Constables, S. Baker, G. Gump, and Henry Kemp.
1872. Trustees, same. Clerk, E. H. Cargill. Treasurer, Wm. Man- ning. Assessor, H. C. Roberts. Pike Superintendent, Nimrod Le Fevre. Constables, D. Cargill, G. Gump, and James Carroll.
1873. Trustees, Enoch Rike, John Cargill, and Wm. H. Price. Clerk, Benj. Allenbach. Treasurer, Benj. C. Epler. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. Pike Superintendent, N. Le Fevre. Constables, S. Baker, J. W. McDowell, and George Gump.
1874. Trustees, G. J. Mitchell, A. A. Dunson, and Owen Conner. Clerk, B. F. Allenbach. Treasurer, B. C. Epler. Assessor, R. B. Conk- lin. Constables, L. B. McVay, E. L. Kraft, and Isaac Allen.
1875. Trustees, Nimrod Duvauld, T. M. Hussey, and S. C. Barton. Clerk, O. C. Staley. Treasurer, B. C. Epler. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. Constables, L. B. McVay, P. M. Grapp, and M. A. Le Fevre.
1876. Trustees, Simon Worres, T. M. Hussey, and Owen Conner. Clerk, B. F. Allenbach. Treasurer, B. C. Epler. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. 1877. Trustees, Simon Wones, Owen Conner, and W. H. Price. Clerk, H. C. Roberts. Treasurer, B. C. Epler. Assessor, G. J. Mitchell. Con- stables, L. B. McVay, M. A. Le Fevre, and Wm. Hartman.
1878. Trustees, Jacob Duvauld, John Roberts, and E. H. Cargill. Clerk, Joseph W. Warbington. Treasurer, B. C. Epler. Assessor, G. J. Mitchell. Pike Superintendent, T. M. Hussey. Constables, L. B. McVay, G. W. Eleatt, and Daniel Hoffman.
1879. Trustees, J. B. Nettleship, Jacob Epler, and D. Ritchey. Clerk, J. W. Warbington. Treasurer, B. C. Epler. Assessor, A. W. Robinson. Pike Superintendent, V. McCormick. Cemetery Director, J. C. Ogden. Constables, Wm. Hartman, John Knapp, and M. A. Le Fevre.
1880. Trustees, James Haney, J. W. Lorton, and Elias Le Fevre. Clerk, J. T. Rice. Treasurer, E. L. Kraft. Assessor, M. C. Counts. Pike Superintendent, Wm. Dresback. Constables, G. W. Eleatt, M. Blue, and S. Dunavan.
1881. Trustees, E. B. Honnell, J. M. Le Fevre, and John Cargill. Clerk, H. C. Roberts. Treasurer, G. E. Allinger. Assessor, M. F. Stewart. Pike Superintendent, J. W. McDowell. Constables, Thomas Roberts, S. Baker, and E. O. Gump.
1882. Trustees, O. C. Staley, Simon Wones, and A. Hussey. Clerk, G. W. Bussard. Treasurer, R. J. Dewesse. Assessor, Isaac Harshberger. Pike Superintendent, S. D. Haney. Constables, M. B. Deweese and Thomas Herring.
1883. Trustees, H. C. Tracy, J. W. Lorton, and F. P. McCormick. Clerk, H. C. Roberts. Treasurer, R. J. Deweese. Assessor, S. Wones. Pike Superintendent, Thomas Herring. Constables, Dayton Rike and Isaac Herring.
BIOGRAPHIES.
WILLIAM ROBERTS.
The ancestors of the Roberts of Shelby County originally came from Wales to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania; from there they went to Virginia. In 1815 Mr. Roberts moved with his family to Cham- paign County, Ohio. Mr. Roberts while in Virginia was the owner of slaves. Becoming convinced that owning slaves was wrong, he removed to Ohio with his slaves, thereby giving them their freedom. In 1816 or 1817 he came to Shelby County and located his land-a half section -- in section 3 of what is now Salem Township. In the spring of 1819 Mr. Roberts, with two of his sons-James M. and Anderson, and a colored man who had formerly been bis slave-came to his lands to build a cabin and clear some land. They cleared about four acres and planted it in
corn and potatoes. Some of them remained during the summer and fall to tend and harvest the crop, but all returned in the fall to Champaign and remained there till the spring of 1820, when the whole family, consist- ing of father, mother, five sons and two daughters, moved to Shelby Co. Of that number James M. is the only one left in the county. There are only two persons now living in the township besides Mr. Roberts who were here at the time he first came, viz., Jonathan Counts and Mrs. Jas. McVay. There was not a road, church, or school in the township. Mr. Roberts has lived to see Salem Township changed from a howling wil- derness to a highly cultivated portion of the country. Where the red man hunted the deer since Mr. R. came to the county, now stand the school-house, church, mechanics' shop, store, and farm dwelling. Jas. M. Roberts was born in Bath County, Va., in 1803, and married Theresa Armstrong. By this union they have two children, Melissa and Henry C. In politics Mr. Roberts has always been a Whig and Republican, never having failed to cast his vote at every election for the party he believed to be nearest his principles. Mr. Roberts was postmaster at Port Jefferson from 1864 to 1878. He says the first wheat he sold he hauled by team to Cincinnati and sold for forty cents per bushel; after- ward sold for forty-three cents and took his pay in trade ; sold pork at ninety-three cents per hundred; butter from four to six cents per pound ; paid fifty cents per pound for coffee.
HENRY C. ROBERTS,
only son of James M. Roberts, was born in Shelby County 1844; mar- ried Miss H. S. Neal in 1867. They have four sons: Fletcher, born 1868; Samuel N., born 1870; Harry, born 1874; Frank, born 1876. Mr. Rob- erts resides in Pt. Jefferson, and is engaged in buying and shipping grain.
WILLIAM ROBERTS, Jr.,
a brother of James M. Roberts, was born in Virginia in 1808. He was one of the five brothers who came to the county in 1820. He with the other brothers helped to clear the farm; had the same privileges and advantages that other boys had in the wild woods : about all the educa- tion he received was before he was twelve years of age. He lived at home with his father till he was thirty years of age, then married Miss Jane Gilfillen in the year 1838, by whom he had four children. He died in 1852. His widow still lives on the old homestead with her son, Win- field S. The Gilfillens came to the county in 1832; they came from Ireland, Mrs. Roberts being born in Ireland in 1810.
WINFIELD S. ROBERTS
was born in Salem Township in 1852; is the youngest son of William Roberts, Jr. He resides on the old homestead of the Roberts', settled in 1820. In 1881 he married Sarah Josephine Baker, a daughter of George C. Baker.
ANDREW ROBERTS, Jr.,
is a son of Andrew Roberts, one of the five Roberts brothers who came to the county in 1820. Andrew, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1848. He married Miss Florence Hartman in 1873. They have two children, Emma J. and Marion A.
SAMUEL L. MANNING
was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1825, and came with his father, Nathaniel Manning, to Shelby County in 1829. In 1859 he married Margaret J. Brandon. They had two children, John A. born Sept. 27, 1860, and Ulysses G. born Aug. 9, 1864. Esq. Manning resides in Port Jefferson, is serving as justice of the peace on his third term, also is mayor of the town.
JOHN CONRAD BAKER,
when a young man, came to America. He was born in Germany about 1742. The exact date of his coming to the United States is not known, but he married here in about 1782. Some time after he was married he returned to Germany to inherit an estate which had been left; he, being the eldest of the family, became heir to his father's estate. He remained in the fatherland till 1797, when he returned to the United States with his wife and three children .. He left the old country on account of being pressed into the army. He had no means with which to pay his passage. He went to the captain of a vessel about to sail for the United States to secure a passage for himself and family, but the captain said he dared not take him, for if it was found out he would have to suffer the penalty ; but Mr. Baker, being very anxious to get away from the oppression, insisted on being taken. The captain finally agreed to take him and his family on condition they would suffer themselves to be shipped as bal- last in the hold of the vessel, and remain there till the vessel had passed the boundary line of the German dominions. This they agreed to do. After getting his family secretly on board of the ship they were inclosed in large hogsheads or casks, with provisions enough to last them for several days. The casks were then placed in the bottom of the vessel with heavy ballast on top of them, so they could not be readily reached.
Digitized by Google
335
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.
After being in the vessel a day or two they left the dock and started on their perilous journey. After they had sailed about one day they were hailed by a government brig. The officers of the brig came on board to see if they had any contrabands. They were told to search the vessel for themselves, but failed to find any one. They then parted company and the vessels separated; but the following day the same brig hailed them again and another search was made, with the same result as the day before. They supposed they were now free from further molesta- tion, but thought it best that they should remain where they were until they were past the German jurisdiction; and well for them that they did, for the following day they were again hailed by the same brig as before. This made the captain of the vessel wrathy; he told the officers of the brig that they had searched his vessel twice before; now they might search it once more, but that they were within a short distance of his jurisdiction, and if they again attempted to stop him he would blow them out of existence; but they were not disturbed again. The family were now liberated from their hiding-place and permitted to come on deck after being stowed away five days in their narrow prison in the hold of the vessel. They landed safely in the United States, and here, by an agreement previously made, they were sold for their passage. The father's time was sold for one year; the mother's for eighteen months, and each of the children for five years, which time they each served out in full. In 1814 he moved to Greene County, O., and lived there till 1832, when he came to Shelby County to live with his son, John C. Baker, Jr. Here he died about a year afterward.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.