The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 141

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1254


USA > Ohio > Union County > The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record; > Part 141


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).


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476


HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.


NATHAN HOWARD, farmer, P. O. Milford Center, was born in Union Township, Union County, September 21, 1831. His parents, William and Nancy (McDonald) Howard, were natives of Windbam, Conn. His father was born June 18, 1802, and his mother June 19, 1807. They were married in Union County in 1830. His parents, William and Phebe Howard, were also natives of Windham, Conn .; the former was born January 18, 1749, and died July 18, 1822, and the latter born July 15, 1759, and died December 3, 1806. John and Sarah (Bennett) How- ard. parents of the last named William Howard, were born in Ipswich Mass., February 15, 1715, and October 21, 1722. They were married in Hampton, Conn., January 8. 1840 ; he died June 16, 1789, and she March 19, 1812. John Iloward was the eldest son of John and Mary (Martin) lloward, also natives of Ipswich. John was born in 1683, and his wife February 22, 1713. They settled in the Howard Valley, near Hampton, Conn., in 1733. This John Howard was a son of William Howard, who was born in Ipswich in 1634 and died in the same place, July 25, 1709. His father, Thomas Howard, was born about 1600, and emigrated from England to America only fourteen years after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, and died near Ipswich, Mass., April 15, 1686. William and Nancy Howard, the parents of the subject of this sketch, emigrated West and settled in Union Township, Union County, in 1830. Mr. Howard died June 10, 1839, and his widow, February 15, 1876. They were the parents of three children-Nathan, the subject of this sketch ; Harriet L. and William. Mrs. Howard was a daughter of Thomas McDonald, who moved from Ross County, Ohio, to Union in 1808, and settled a mile and a half north, above Milford Center, on the north side of Big Darby, and there cleared a large farm and reared a family of thirteen children, of whom Mrs. Howard was the fifth child. Mr. McDonald vied March 26, 1855, aged eighty-five. Mrs. Howard was left a widow with three children in 1839. The farm contained 500 acres, but was all wild land, and 200 acres were not yet paid for. Sne was a lady of unusual business qualifications and judgment, and conducted the farm successfully till her children were grown. Our subject was reared to manhood on the farm and received the rudiments of his education in the common schools. When of age, he was given the business of the farm, which he managed till 1859, when the farm, which contained 600 acres, was divided between him and William, the daughter, Harriet L., having died a short time before. In 1860, he moved to a log cabin which had been erected by Thomas McDonald, and lived in it six years : then occupied a frame till 1876, when he built his present large and commodious brick residence at a cost of $6,000. The homestead farm isknown as the " Indian Field Farm,' and is one of the best improved on the creek. Mr. Iloward has continued to buy and add land to the homestead till he now owns a tract of 1400 acres, ranking at the present time as one of the wealthiest and largest land owners in Union County. He was a member of the company that imported among the first French and Clydesdale horses to the United States. Mr. Howard has been extensively engaged in breeding and rearing French horses and thoroughbred short-horned cattle. For He is a regular the last five years he has kept Shropshiredown sheep for mutton purposes. exhibitor of fine stock at the annual fairs, of which he served as member of the Agricultural Board ten years and Vice President two years. Ile was Assessor of Allen seven years, and in 1880 was elected to the Board of County Commissioners. Mr. Howard is a successful business man. lle was married September 21, 1859, to Helen MI. Hathaway, daughter of Ebenezer and Mary A. (Hopkins) Ilathaway. Mrs. Howard was born in Union Township May 17, 1839. Four children were born to this Union; of them three are living, viz., Charles M., Corrie and Otto N .; Hattie C. is deceased.


WILLIAM INSKEEP (deceased), more commonly known as " Lawyer Bill," was born in Logan County, Ohio. He was a son of Job and Patience (Bishop) Inskeep, originally of Cul- peper County, Va. They removed to Ross County, Ohio, in pioneer days, and some years later to Logan County, where they both died. Mr. Inskeep, our subject, married Miss Mary Stokes, daughter of Joseph Stokes, and a native of Logan County. Her parents were native of Culpeper County, Va., and also pioneers of Logan County. In 1831, Mr. Inskeep removed to Union County and settled in Allen Township, where he purchased 100 acres of land. He erected a house and cleared up the farm. He served both as Trustee and Treasurer of Allen Township, and was Postmaster of Cuberly P. O., for a number of years. His death occurred in September, 1845. He was the father of seven children, three of whom are living-Hiram S., Olive A., wife of W. H. Crary, aud William. Iliram S., was born May 1, 1833, and March 26, 1876, he married Miss Margaret Spain, a daughter of Washington and Sarah Spain, and a native of Union County. They have two children-Omer W. and Ila L. William E. was born May 16, 1843. March 29, 1868, he was married to Miss Rosetta Curl, of Xenia, where she was born July, 1848. One child, French, blesses this union. September, 1861, William volunteered in Company C, Seventeenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served in the Army of the Cumberland, and fought in the following engagements : Stone River, Perryville, Wild Cat Mountain, Hoover's Gap, and in the approach to Cornith, which lasted fifteen days. He was honorably discharged October 9, 1864. He returned home and with his brother has followed farming. He was commander of Company D, Seventh Regiment of Ohio National Guards, at North Lewisburg, seven years. He is now serving his twelfth term as member of the Board of Township Trustees. Mr. Inskeep and brother reside together and are engaged in farming, and in the line of live stock they make a specialty in breeding and rearing thoroughbred Poland-China hogs. They own a farm of


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104 acres of well improved land. Politically, they are Republicans. Their sisters, deceased, were Louisa, Olive, Victoria and Matilda A.


ALGERNON S. JOHNSON, merchant, North Lewisburg. The ancestral history of this family can be traced back to the reign of George III, when a man bearing the name of Johnson emigrated a colony from England and settled at Auburn, N. J., where King George granted them a township of land. The subject of this notice was born in Athens County, Ohio, June 16, 1807. llis father, Samuel B. Johnson, was a native of Washington County, N. Y., and his mother, Rebecca Wilkin, of Amherst, N. H. His grandfather, Azel Johnson, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, under Gen. La Fayette. His father in-law, Samuel Brown, was an old Revolutioner, and was wounded at Bunker Ilill. In 1798, Mr. Johnson and family removed to Marietta, Ohio, and in 1803 to Athens County, where he died, aged eighty-three years. In 1830, our subject's parents removed to Union County, and settled in Paris Township, where they both died ; the former June 17, 1843, and the latter August 3, 1854. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He came to Allen Township at an early day and cleared up a farm. November 25, 1857, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Charlotte, widow of Avar Mallory (deceased), and daughter of Gideon and Nancy Draper. They have four children-Marcella R., Lucy W., Adaline F. and Sarah A. Mr. Johnson owns a farm of 100 acres. Since he was a boy of thirteen years, he bas dealt largely in live stock.


WILLIAM II. JORDAN, farmer, West Middleburg, Logan County, was born near Marysville, Ohio, November 23, 1835. He is the third son of William Il. and Nancy Jordan. His early life was spent on a farm, and his education obtained in the common schools. When ten years of age his parents removed to Champaign County. Iu 1858, he went to Coles County, Ill., an in 1855 returned to his native county. August 12, 1861, he entered the ranks of the Union army, as a member of Company C, Seventeenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Fourteenth Army Corps. He was chosen Corporal, and subsequently was promoted to First Sergeant. He veteranized in January, 1864, and re-enlisted in his old company, serving till the war closed. He was engaged in the following battles: Wild Cat, Mill Springs, evacuation of Cornith by the rebels, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Tullahoma, Chickamauga and Resaca. Then joined Sherman, and participated in all the engagements on the Atlanta campaign and all the battles in close proximity to Atlanta. He then marched to Savannab, and was active iu all the conflicts of that famous march, and afterward went to Washington D. C. and attended the grand review. He was discharged with the honors of a veteran at Columbus, Ohio, in July, 1865. He bears the scar of a slight wound received at the memorable engagement of Chicka- mauga. November, 1865, he married Miss Melissa Cowgill, daughter of Elisha and Mary Cowgill, by whom he has has had three children-John C., born June 22, 1867; Jennie B., born December 19, 1870, and George E., born January 7, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Jordan is politically a stanch Republican. He served as Township Trustee one term. He owns a farm of 112 acres and follows farming and rearing thoroughbred short-horned cattle.


SAMUEL P. KIMBALL, farmer, P. O. Woodstock, a prominent Spanish Merino sheep breeder of Union County, was born in Champaign County September 6, 1851. He is a son of Truman M. and Mary J. Kimball, of Champaign County. Ile passed his early life on his father's farm and acquired his education iu the common schools. October 8, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Sallie McMahill, a daughter of James and Elizabeth McMahill. Mrs. Kimball was born in Champaign County May 10, 1860. One daughter was born to this marriage-Mary Trent, born September 4, 1877. In 1873, Mr. Kimball took charge of 260 acres of his father's farm, partly located in Union County. He has been engaged in farming and rearing live stock, making a prominent specialty in breeding and keeping thoroughbred Spanish Merino sheep. He has over 200 head of registered Merinos, besides fine Durham cattle and French horses, and is a regular exhibitor at the Union County fairs. Mr. Kimball is a young man of enterprise and has achieved a marked success with fine stock. Politically, he is of Republican views. Mrs. Kimball is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.


JACOB LEONARD, farmer, P. O. Marysville, a native of Allen Township, was born March 6, 1838. His parents were Abraham and Elizabeth (Paver) Leonard. Mr. Leonard was born in 1772, and when a young man came to Pickaway County, Ohio, and followed driving cattle over the mountains to Eastern markets till 1801, when he came to Union County and settled on the North Fork of . Buck Run, where he was among the first settlers. He purchased a farm of 200 acres for which he gave a horse worth $80, and $120 in gold. Ile served in the war of 1812, and died May 7, 1853. His widow survived him until January 14, 1860, when she died at the age of fifty-three years. Jacob, our subject, is the second son and fifth child of seven children, four of whom are living, viz .: James, Susannah, Rachel and Jacob. Jacob was brought up on the old homestead, and with his brother aided in clearing a large portion of it. He owns a farm of 214 acres of land ; besides his agricultural pursuits, he is engaged in keeping Norman and Clydesdale horses, which are among his exhibits at the annual fairs. November 18, 1869, he was married to Miss Jane McGill, a daughter of Eli and Millie McGill, and a native of Preston County, Va. She was born March 1, 1852. They have four children-Susie B., Millie D., Effie and Cora. Mandie and Carrie are deceased.


478


HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.


OLIVER E. LINCOLN, farmer and fine stock dealer, P. O. Milford Center, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, July 4, 1848. He is the third son of Charles Lincoln, for many years a prominent fine stock breeder and dealer of Champaign County. He was raised on his father's farm and educated in the common schools. February 20, 1871, he was united in marriage to Sarah Coolidge, daughter of G. W. and Paulina. Mrs. Lincoln was born in Union County Janu- ary 6, 1849. Five children were born to this union, viz .: Dwight, Ora E., Mary B., Oliver E. and an infant son. In the fall of 1875, Mr. Lincoln located on the farm he now occupies, which contains 192 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Lincoln has been engaged in keeping thorough- bred short-horn cattle. His father was one of the prominent fine cattle breeders of the State. Mr. Lincoln is a member of the importing company of O. E. Lincoln & Co., engaged in importing French horses and French Merino sheep. Ile was the prime mover in the organization of this company and is one of its chief supporters. He is a man of enterprise and has been an exhibitor of his fine stock at the Union County fairs. Politically, he is identified with the Republican party.


SAMUEL MARSH, farmer, P. O. Marysville, an old pioneer of Union County, was born in Randolph County, W. Va., May 30, 1809. He is a son of Benjamin Marsh, a native of Old Virginia, and Sarah Minear, a native of Germany, and a daughter of Adam Minear, who came from Germany to America during the Indian hostilities, and settled in Harrison County, Va., where Mr. Minear met a tragic death at the hands of the relentless savages. Mr. Marsh spent his youth and early manhood in his native place, where his parents died. In 1835, he removed his family to Allen Township, Union County, and settled on eighty-two and one-half acres of his present farm. He now owns a large farm, with good improvements. He has always pursued the avocation of farming and stock-raising, and has met with success. He has devoted especial attention to keeping fine cattle and sheep. He was married the first time, April 14, 1831, to Miss Mary Ryan, a daughter of John and Sarah Ryan, and a native of Randolph County, Va. She was born August 6, 1807, and died December 3, 1868. This union was blessed with eight children, of whom six are living-Loyal Y., Sarah J., wife of Owen Wilber, Randolph C., Eme- line C .. Stanton, and Jemima E., wife of Mr. Marsh. Felix R., a deceased son, was a member of a Kansas regiment in the late war, and was taken prisoner and died. Mr. Marsh was again mar- ried June 16, 1869, to Miss Abby Pierce, daughter of Timothy and Pattie Pierce. Mrs. Marsh was born in Madison County, N. Y., August 28, 1825. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh are associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Marysville. Mr. Marsh's political views are Republican. He served as Township Trustee two terms, and as a member of the Board of Infirmary Directors.


STANTON MARSH, farmer, P. O. Milford Center, youngest son of Samuel and Mary (Ryan) Marsh, was born on the home farm July 7, 1845. He spent his early life on the farm, and received his training in the common schools. September 3, 1864, he entered the infantry service in Company F, One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Regiment, and, with his command, served in the Cumberland Army. He was at Nashville when Hood threatened that city, and served on guard duty till June 7, 1865, when he was discharged. January 25, 1867, he was married to Miss Alice J. Wood, daughter of William C. and Maria Wood. Mrs. Marsh was born in Allen Township February 3, 1847. They have two children-Willie E. and Lulie E. Mr. Marsh took possession of his present farm in 1867 ; it contains ninety acres of well improved and cultivated land. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh are associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Milford Center.


JOIIN PAVER, farmer, P. O. Marysville, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, was born No- vember 13, 1819. He is a son of John Paver and Mary Wagner, the former a native of Mary- land and the latter of Virginia. They were married and came to Fairfield County in 1802, the year Ohio became a State. In 1829, they removed to Union County, and located on the farm now occupied by our subject. Mr. Paver was called out into military service soon after Hull's surrender, and served six months. The subject of this sketch was reared on the homestead. March 19, 1846, he married Maria Poling, daughter of John and Sarah Poling, who came to Union County in 1837. Of fifteen children by this marriage, eleven are living, viz .: Sarah A., wife of Charles Wilson, George, James, Ira, Cynthia, wife of Arthur Wagner, Martha J., wife of Ira Donohoe, Louisa, Maria, wife of IIenderson Turner, Alfred, Alice, wife of F. Hall, and John. Mrs. Paver departed this life October -, 1879. Mr. Paver filled the office of Justice of the Peace one term, and served as Township Trustee eight years. Politically, he is Democratic. He owns a farm of 500 acres, and is engaged in farming and rearing stock.


SAMUEL REAM, farmer, P. O. Pottersburg, was born in Perry County, Penn., July 16, 1814. Ile is a son of John and Catharine (Shookerd) Ream, and a grandson of a Mr. Ream who was a soldier in the American Revolution. He removed to Ross County, Ohio, some years after the Revolution had ended. He died there at an advanced age. Samuel is the fourth son, and was raised to maturity on a farm. In 1850, he came with his family to Allen Center ; removed to Darby Township in 1852, and six years later returned to Allen and located on his present farm, which was all in woods. He cleared a place and erected a log house, and has since im- proved his farm to its present condition. In 1839, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of


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Andrew Taylor


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ALLEN TOWNSHIP.


George and Sarah Featherland, of Virginia, where she was born. Of seven children by this marriage, six are living-George, Mathias, Elizabeth, Frank, Delia and Samuel. Sarah A. is deceased. Mr. Ream has always pursued farming, and has been successful. He made all his property through industry and economy, and his dealings have been honest and upright. He is a Democrat of the old Jacksonian school.


GEORGE REAM, farmer, P. O. Pottersburg, eldest son of Samuel and Elizabeth Ream, was born in Ross County, Ohio, March 10, 1842. In 1856, he came to this county with his parents and lived till of age. May 2, 1864, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment of the Ohio National Guards, and served till September 2, 1864, when he received an honorable discharge. September 1, 1881, he was married to Mrs. Ortensie R. Robinson, widow of Willian Robinson (deceased) and daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Eaton. Mrs. Ream was born in Allen Township January 1, 1847. She was first married March 13, 1873, and had two children-Adolphus B., born April 16, 1874, and Mary A., born March 22, 1877. Mr. Robinson was born in Canada January 1, 1844. He was a member of Company H, One Hundred and Thirty sixth Regiment Ohio National Guards, during the latter part of the war, and died Feb- ruary 28, 1879. Mrs. Ream is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. Ream is a Democrat. He owns a farm of 182 acres and is engaged in farming and stock-raising.


THOMAS STILLINGS, farmer, P. O. Milford Center. The subject of this biography was born in Harford County, Md., November 30, 1816. His parents, James and Mary ( Barnes) Stillings, were also natives of Harford County. Mr. Stillings was born May 8, 1785, and Mrs. S. Novem- ber 1, 1791. In 1828, they removed to Clark County, Ohio, and settled ten miles east of Spring- field, where they resided till 1833, and came and located in Allen Township, where Mr. Stillings bought a tract of 200 acres of laud ; he afterward added 100 acres to the original purchase. He was drafted and served in the war of 1812. His death occurred in the fall of 1865, and his wife followed some two years after. Thomas is the second son in a family of ten children. Feb- ruary 21, 1842, he was married to Miss Somelia, daughter of James C. and Providence Dines. Mrs. Stillings was born in Clark County, Ohio, June 14, 1823. Of four sons three are living, viz .: William, married Emma Wood ; Edward, married Olive Carpenter ; and French G., mar- ried Ella Vance ; Lewis, the eldest son, is deceased. lle was born December 15, 1844, and September 3, 1864, in tender manhood, he responded to the country's call and enlisted in Com- pany F, One Hundred and Seventy-niuth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. While in the service, he contracted the measles and died January 15, 1865, while home on a furlongh He was a patriotic soldier boy and now sleeps with the fallen heroes of the Union. In 1844, Mr. Stillings purchased eighty-seven acres of his present farm, and with thirty-seven acres as a present from his father, he began life. He now owns 302 acres of finely improved land constitut- ing the home farm, besides acres in Union Township. Mr. Stillings started in life like many others of his day, in limited circumstances. By his untiring energy and industry he has made for himself a large and valuable competence, and ranks as one of the solid and substantial men of the county. Farming and stock-raising bas been his exclusive occupation, and in which he has been crowned with eminent success. Mr. Stillings, although not an office aspirant, has filled various official capacities in his township. He is now serving his third term as Township Trustee. The portrait of Mr. S. that appears in this was made from an ambrotype taken when he was forty-two years of age.


EDWARD STILLINGS, farmer and fine stock raiser and dealer, P. O. Milford Center, was born on the old homstead in Allen Township, February 3, 1850. He is the third son of Thomas and Somelia Stillings, early pioneers of Union County. He was reared and brought up on his father's farm and received his education in the district schools and union schools of Marysville. September 14, 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss Olive Carpenter, the only daughter of George and Sarah A. Carpenter. Mrs. Stillings is a native of Allen Township : was born Septem- ber 14, 1866. They have had three children-Daisy May, born June 13, 1880 ; and French C., born March 25, 1882 ; Arthur T., the eldest, is deceased. He was born March 15, 1878, and died August 11, 1879. June 1, 1877, Mr. Stillings located on his farm where he has since resided. He is engaged in farming, but devotes most of his attention to breeding fine stock. He is a member of the importing company of O E. Lincoln & Co., who are engaged in importing thoroughbred Norman and Percheron draft horses from France. He also has some fine Ken- tucky driving horses. He has in his possession a French mare which weighed, when three years old, 2,000 pounds. Mr. Stillings is an enterprising young man. He owns a highly cultivated farm adjoining the homestead.


SAMUEL WADDEL, farmer, P. O. North Lewisburg, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, was born December 8, 1826. He is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Dixon) Waddel, natives of Pennsyl- vania, and whose parents were among the first, pioneer settlers of Fairfield County, Ohio. Samuel, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood in his native place. His father died when he was but little more than six years of age. April, 1856, be with his mother came to Union County and settled on the farm he now occupies, where his mother died April 22, 1858. Mr. Waddel, when he first settled here, bought a farm of seventy-four acres, which he has cleared and improved. April 21, 1853, he married to Miss Elizabeth Zemmer, daughter of Abraham and Susan Zemmer, a native of Pickaway County, Ohio. Their two children are :


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482


HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.


Catharine I., born November 12, 1854, married H. E. Spain ; and Letitia E., born February 28, 1858. Mr. Waddel and family are members of the U. B. Church. In politics, Mr. Waddel is a Republican. He was a member of the Board of Township Trustees four years, and since 1870 has filled the office of Township Treasurer. He owns a farm of eighty-eight acres, and is engaged in agricultural pursuits.


JAMES WILBER, an aged pioneer of Union County, was born in Rhode Island November 22, 1799. When a boy his parents, Owen and Sarah (Pierce) Wilber, removed to Madison County, N. Y. His father was a soldier for awhile in the war of 1812, and died in 1820; his widow survived him over forty years, she dying in January, 1861, at the ripe age of ninety-three years. Mr. Wilber, the subject of this sketch, spent his early life and manhood on a farm. In 1817, he came to Ohio with Mr. John Coolidge and family, who settled near Milford Center, Union County. lle returned to New York in 1820, and remained one year, but having a pref- erence for the West, which he considered afforded superior advantages for the young man, he returned to Union County, where he worked by the day and month, till 1829, when he married. In 1837, he purchased 100 acres of his present farm, which then dwelt in its forest state. He cleared a site for a house, which he erected of logs. He, with the assistance of his sons, cleared up the land of a farm of about 200 acres. Mr. Wilber aided in making numerous improvements in the way of early roads, schools and churches. October 29, 1829, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Cameron, daughter of John and Anna Cameron, who removed from Pennsylvania to Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1811, thence to Warren County, and in 1824 to Champaign County, and six years later (1830), to Jackson Township, this county. Mr. Cameron died July 27, 1849, aged eighty-three years. When a young man he spent several years in transporting pro- visions by flat-boat, from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati. His widow survived him a number of years, and died August 17, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Wilber have been blessed with nine children ; of these six are living-Sarah A., wife of George Carpenter, Owen, Edwin, William, Addie, wife of D. J. Woods, and Zachary ; Almeda, Olive and Joseph, are deccased. Mr. Wilbur has made farming and stock-raising his sole occupation, and followed it successfully up to December 15, 1878, when he was stricken with paralysis, which has entirely disabled him from all business. Mr. Wilber has been called upon to fill various offices of trust in his township, and among them Treasurer and Trustee, which positions he held for several years. He has always been an active citizen and has displayed a lively interest in all improvements and enterprises of his township and county. And now when age and relentless disease has unfitted him for the per- formance of other duties, it can be said of him that his life was one of industry, usefulness and success.




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