The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc, Part 101

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Leggett, Conaway
Number of Pages: 1072


USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 101


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John Abbott, a married man with a family of six children, born in New York State, came in 1833, settling on Section 3. Samuel M. Burnett, born February 19, 1820, in New York State, came to Wyandot County, with his parents, Elisha and Polly (Howe) Burnett, in 1834, and settled in this township, where he now resides on Section 3.


John Vanorsdall came in 1834; John Flower and Jacob Derringer in 1835; Abraham Dean, born August 10, 1808, in Cayuga County, N. Y., came with his family to this county and settled in this township in 1836; he died October 20, 1873; his son, Hamilton Dean, now resides on a farm in Jackson Township. William Fitch came in 1837. Walter Sanford, another of the pioneers, was born in New York in 1832, and came to this township not many years after; his farm is on Sections 13 and 24. Other settlers of that period were Thomas Shank, James McDaniels, Isaac Yor- ringer, Christian Roof, John Fink and Elisha Burnett, who died in 1872, at the patriarchal age of ninety-eight years. At a later day came John Sturm, an Albright preacher, Richard Bainbridge, a local Methodist Epis- copal preacher, Dr. Cope, Thomas Scott, Abraham Tilberry, Joseph Barns, Isaac Lane, A. H. Vanorsdall, Walter Simmonson and others. If, here, any names have inadvertently been omitted, we trust no one may be disappointed, though, in the words of Byron:


" "Tis pleasant, sure, to see one's name in print,


A book's a book, although there's nothing in't."


834


HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.


FIRST THINGS.


The first election for any purpose held in Jackson Township was at the house of Isaac Yarian, on which occasion were present twelve voters. The first death recorded was that of Elijah Warner. Early settlers had for a long time, when in quest of groceries or dry goods, etc., to go to Marseilles Village, in the township of that name, about two miles south of the town- ship line, or to Patterson, in Hardin County, a short distance from the . Junty line, where a store was kept years ago by one John Hare. The first saw mill in the township is said to have been owned by William Stamp as late as 1864.


"Necessity is the mother of invention" is a time-worn proverb, and understood in its application by none better than the pioneer settlers of Wyandot County. Man is naturally an inventive creature, and whilst many blessings the thousands of modern discoveries have created were totally unknown to or undreampt of by the first settler in his isolated cabin, his innate instinct soon would come to his rescue and discover to him that invention is indeed the natural offspring of necessity. An apt and graphic illustration is given us by Mr. S. M. Burnett, one of "The Old Guard of the Woods," of Jackson Township: "When we had any milling to be done, we had to go a distance of twenty miles through mud and slush to buy a bushel or so of corn, which we had to carry to a horse-mill to get ground, and then, perchance, have to wait twenty-four hours before the ponderous task could be accomplished. Then, again, instead of taking the corn a day's journey to be ground, our ingenuity would suggest some such alternative as making a grater out of a piece of tin by punching holes in it, and then rubbing the corn on it to produce meal; or else we would dig in the bowels of the earth for nigger-head stones, wherewith to make mill- stones. Then, after a hard day's work, we would lay our wearied frames down and be lulled to balmy sleep by the frightful and incessant howlings of ferocious wild beasts."


The first school was held in Section 15, and the first schoolhouse was on the lands of James McDaniels, built in 1840; the first teacher was Hen- rietta Henderson. There are now eight school buildings in this township.


Following were the owners of real and personal estate in Jackson Town- ship in 1845, the year of its erection:


OWNERS OF REAL ESTATE.


Ephraim Atkinson, Francis Ashton, Isaac Alvord, John Ackley, John Abbott, Jacob P. Bowers, William Baker, Leonard Burnett, James Burnett, Aaron Baird, John L. Barton, Thomas Baker, Henry J. Bowers, Elijah Bur- son, William Baker, Joshua Cope, Samuel Cranson, Artemus Corbett, Alexander Campbell, William Chapman, James S. Connell, Abraham Cross, Peter Curran, Samuel Coy, Malin Cravin, Jacob Darringer, Daniel Daugherty, Abraham Dean, Charles Dane, Charles Ely, Richard Ellis, John Fink, John Flower, Nathan Finman, John Fitch, William Fitch, John Glenn, Joshua Glenn, William C. Greenwood, James S. George, William Gary, Eleazer Goodrich, Charles Huntley, Talmage Hildreth, David Har- rold, Rebecca Harrold, Alexander Hutchinson, John Heiser, John Hanna, Robert Haun, William Huckel, James Hodges, David Harpster, Aaron B. Hartley, Jabez Hunter, Thomas James, Kell & McConnell, Samuel Kirk, William Kirk, Robert Laughrey, Sebastian Ley, Jacob Leonard, Jacob Lower, David Lindsley, James Larimer, Isabella McCauley, Samuel Morse, Rodolphus Morse, Charles McClure, Wallace McAllister, John Mong,


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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.


Merriman & Carey, John Mendall, Robert McGowen, David McGowen, Horace Nye, Patrick O'Neil, Thomas Perkins, Erastus Poor. Henry Pixler, Thomas Pugh, Peter Parsell, David Pugh, Ichabod Rogers, Salmon Ruggles, Orrin Ruggles, Christian Ruff. Rusher, Henry St. John, Thomas Scott, Dennis Roberts, Jeremiah J.Sanford, Elijah Sayles. John Sponseller, John and George Stearn, Fielding Stone, Thomas Snyder, Walter Simerson, David L. Spiker, Thomas Shanks, Samuel Stone, Horace Taylor, Ephraim Van Sickles, John Vanorsdall, John L. Webster, Edward Warner, Aaron and Henry Ward, John Wahn, Parker Willcoxen, Samuel Wagoner, Elizabeth Wilson, John Wirts, Thomas S. Wells, Mathias Yearing, Joseph Zimmer- man, Peter Zimmerman, Henry Zimmerman, Adam Kuhn, Jacob Frederick.


OWNERS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.


John Abbott, Isaac Alvord, Henry S. Bower, William Baker, Joseph Barnes, James Burnett, Jacob P. Bowers, Catharine Crossan, Samuel Carson, Dr. Will- iam Cope (a practicing physician), Jacob Dearinger, Abram Dean, Daniel Dye, Richard Ellis, John Flower, William Fitch, John Fink, Daniel Harrold, Charles Huntley, Thomas Jones, Daniel Johnson, Robert Laughrey, Jacob Lower, John S. McEwen, Robert McEwen, David McEwen, James McDan- iel, Henry Pixler, Jeremiah Poor, John Post, Peter Passal, Abram Passal, Michael J. Rambo, Christian Ruff, Walter Simerson, Thomas Spencer, Thomas Shanks, Jeremiah Sanford, John G. Stearn, Thomas Scott, Elijah Sayles, Thomas Snyder, David Tyler, John Vanorsdall, Matthew Vander- bilt, Betsey Wilson, Isaac Yarian, Peter Zimmerman.


KIRBY VILLAGE.


This village is situated in the northeast corner of the township, and was surveyed by Dr. J. H. Williams for M. H. Kirby. The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad passes through the village. It has become quite a prosperous place, and is surrounded by a fine agricultural and stock- raising district. It was laid out in 1854, and the first store was kept by Philip and Frederick Hineman. Population in 1880, 294.


CHURCHES.


As was customary in all early settlements, preachings in the primitive times of Jackson Township for the most part were held in some convenient schoolhouse, or, more frequently, in the cabins of the pioneers. In this section the earliest expounders of the Gospel were John Sturm, an Albright preacher of some merit as an orator, and Richard Bainbridge, an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The first regular place of worship at- tended was " Shiloh," of the Christian Union denomination, located on Sec- tion 3.


The Church of God, sometimes called "Kirby Bethel," stands within the precinct of Kirby Village, and was organized in 1855 by Moses Coates, missionary of the Church of God in Ohio, at the residence of James War- ren, located on the present site of C. E. Sherman's brick business room. The first membership numbered seven souls, viz .: John Mann, Susanna Mann, James Warren, Mary Warren, Matilda Warren, Mary Barker and Jefferson Johnson. The initiative meeting was held in 1855, in the back room of James Culberson's unoccupied grocery, those present being Moses Coates, A. J. Warren and Charles Coates. The church building of this society was erected in 1868 in Mifflin Township, Section 6, Lot 7 (Isaac Mann's; since added to the village of Kirby). The building is of frame work, 40x50.


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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.


feet, and was erected at a cost of $1,400. The pastors have been as fol- lows: From 1855 to 1863, inclusive, Moses Coates, Norris Coates, A. J. War- ren, J. W. Ankerman, J. W. Senseny, Levi Keller, David Sherner and Lyman Ensminger. From 1864 to 1867 the church was without any pastor. In the latter year, it was re-organized by J. W. Senseny, General Mission- ary of the Church of God in Western Ohio. In 1867-68, the pastors were J. W. Senseny and John Yenner; in 1869, J. W. Senseny; in 1870, Ly- man Ensminger; in 1871, T. H. Deshiri; in 1872, Joseph Neil; in 1873, W. H. Oliver; in 1874-76, J. V. Updike; in 1877, J. S. McKee; in 1878, G. W. Wilson; 1879-80, J. H. Koogle; in 1881-82, M. C. Mowen; in 1883, J. E. Hopard, and the pastor at present (1884) is J. H. McNutt, with a flock of forty-six members. The church officers are: W. H. Mann, Asa Quail, - Buting, Elders; John Fernbaugh, George Drews, Deacons; W. H. Mann, Clerk; J. H. Hazendobler, William Stambaugh, W. H. Mann, Trust- ees; W. H. Mann, Secretary; William Stambaugh, Treasurer.


As, unfortunately, no record of the first organization has been kept, the number of members enrolled during the nine years from 1855 to 1863 (both inclusive) cannot be accurately given, but there must have been, at least, fifty, so avers Mr. W. H. Mann, Clerk of the church, whose authority on all matters pertaining to this society cannot well be other than conformable to facts, as his intimacy with its history was very close, the house of bis father, in the earliest days of the church and for many years afterward, hav- ing been on most occasions the dulce domum and headquarters of the pastors. Since 1869, 173 members have been enrolled, and of these fifty-three have moved to other parts, and others have drifted away by withdrawals, demis- sion, disfellowship or in the unfortunate role of backsliders.


This church has always been a very spiritual and liberal, as well as enterprising society. It has one Sunday school and one missionary society. The mode of baptism has uniformly been immersion, and members are taken into full fellowship without any probation, and retained as such until unworthy of church fellowship.


CEMETERIES.


The " silent cities of the dead" in this township number five at least, one being in each of Sections 4, 14, 23, 36 and 9 south. There are, no doubt, in addition to these, several private burial places, where rest in peace the ashes of honest-hearted, primitive sons and daughters of the soil, and full many a weather-worn tablet marks the spot where


" The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."


TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.


The following is a list of the officials who have served Jackson Town- ship since the organization of the county in 1845:


1845-Trustees, John Vanorsdall, Thomas Snider, Joseph Barnes; Clerk, Isaac Yarian; Treasurer, James McDaniel.


1846-Trustees, Thomas Scott, John Vanorsdall, Robert McQuown; Clerk, Isaac Yarian; Treasurer, Henry S. Bower.


1847-Trustees, Abram Dean, Robert McQuown, Peter Zimmerman; Clerk, Stewart Adams; Treasurer, Henry S. Bower.


1848-Trustees, William Baker, Peter Parsell, Peter Zimmerman; Clerk, Stewart Adams; Treasurer, Henry S. Bower.


1849-Trustees, William Baker, Thomas Scott, Abram Dean; Clerk, Stewart Adams; Treasurer, Mathew Vanderbelt.


837


JACKSON TOWNSHIP.


1850-Trustees, Joseph Barnes, Abram Dean, Isaac N. Lane; Clerk, Stewart Adams.


1851-Trustees, Jacob Derringer, John S. McQuown, Charles Andrews; Clerk, Stewart Adams; Treasurer, Mathew Vanderbelt.


1852-Trustees, John S. McQuown, Peter Zimmerman, John Vanorsdall; Clerk, Abram H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, Mathew Vanderbelt.


1853-Trustees, John S. McQuown, Peter Zimmerman, Tunis Snider; Clerk, Abram H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, Philip Vanorsdall.


1854-Trustees, Tunis Snider, Joseph Barnes, Edward A. Clark; Clerk, Abram H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, Philip Vanorsdall.


1855-Trustees, Tunis Snider, Joseph Barnes, Edward A. Clark; Clerk, Abram H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, Philip Vanorsdall.


1856-Trustees, Peter Zimmerman, Daniel Snider, Thomas Armstrong; Clerk (appointed), J. S. McQuown; Treasurer, Philip Vanorsdall.


1857 -- Trustees, Peter Zimmerman, Daniel Snider, Thomas Armstrong; Clerk, A. H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, John Vanorsdall.


1858-Trustees, Peter Zimmerman, Daniel Snider, Thomas Armstrong; Clerk, A. H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, John Vanorsdall.


1859-Trustees, Daniel Snider, Jacob Hemmerly, Robert P. Baker; Clerk, A. H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, John Vanorsdall.


1860-Trustees, Daniel Snider, Jacob Hemmerly, Robert P. Baker; Clerk, A. H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, John Vanorsdall.


1861-Trustees, Peter Zimmerman, Elijah Vanorsdall, Robert P. Baker; Clerk, A. H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, John Vanorsdall.


1862-Trustees, Peter Zimmerman, Elijah Vanorsdall, Robert P. Baker; Clerk, A. H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, John Vanorsdall.


1863-Trustees, Peter Zimmerman, Elijah Vanorsdall, Robert P. Baker; Clerk, A. H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, John Vanorsdall.


1864-Trustees, Peter Zimmerman, Elijah Vanorsdall, Robert P. Baker; Clerk, A. H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, John Vanorsdall.


1865-Trustees, Peter Zimmerman, William Cope, Abram Dean; Clerk, A. H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, John Vanorsdall.


1866 -- Trustees, Abram Dean, Robert P. Baker, John Parsell; Clerk, A. H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, John Vanorsdall.


1867-Trustees, Robert P. Baker, John Parsell, Peter Zimmerman; Clerk. A. H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, John Vanorsdall.


1868-Trustees, Robert P. Baker, Peter Zimmerman, Henry Beaven; Clerk, Cornelius Tuttle; Treasurer, Reuben Barlien.


1869-Trustees, Robert B. Baker, Henry Beaven, Simon Zimmerman; Clerk, A. H. Vanorsdall; Treasurer, Reuben Barlien.


1870-Trustees, Simon Zimmerman, William T. Baker, John H. Forney; Clerk, D. W. Alter; Treasurer, Reuben Barlien.


1871-Trustees, Simon Zimmerman, William T. Baker, William Red- fox; Clerk, D. W. Alter; Treasurer, Reuben Barlien.


1872-Trustees, Simon Zimmerman, William T. Baker, John Parsell: Clerk, M. H. Waltermire; Treasurer, A. H. Vanorsdall.


1873-Trustees, William T. Baker, John Parsell, John H. Forney; Clerk, M. H. Waltermire; Treasurer, A. H. Vanorsdall.


1874-Trustees, John Parsell, William T. Baker, John H. Forney; Clerk, M. H. Waltermire; Treasurer, A. H. Vanorsdall.


1875-Trustees, John Parsell, William T. Baker, Philip Heller; Clerk, M. H. Waltermire; Treasurer, A. H. Vanorsdall.


37


838


HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.


1876-Trustees, John Parsell, Philip Heller, Reuben Barlien; Clerk, M. H. Waltermire; Treasurer, A. H. Vanorsdall.


1877-Trustees, Simon Zimmerman, Henry Beaven, Anthony Molter; Clerk, M. H. Waltermire; Treasurer, A. H. Vanorsdall.


1878-Trustees, Simon Zimmerman, Henry Beaven, Philip Heller; Clerk, John H. March; Treasurer, A. H. Vanorsdall.


1879-Trustees, Simon Zimmerman, Henry Beaven, Mathew Briggs; Clerk, John H. March; Treasurer, A. H. Vanorsdall.


1880-Trustees, Henry Beaven, William T. Baker, Charles Dietz; Clerk, John H. March; Treasurer, A. H. Vanorsdall.


1881-Trustees, Henry Beaven, Charles Dietz, Mathew Scott; Clerk, John H. March; Treasurer, A. H. Vanorsdall.


1882-Trustees, John Parsell, Simon Zimmerman, John H. Forney; Clerk, John H. March; Treasurer, A. H. Vanorsdall.


1883-Trustees, John Parsell, Simon Zimmerman, John H. Forney; Clerk, John H. March; Treasurer, Reuben Barlien.


The following were Justices of the Peace: William Baker, 1846; John S. McQuown, 1849-52; H. S. Bower, 1854; Edward A. Clark, 1854; Isaac N. Lane, 1856; Joshua McJunkin, 1857; A. H. Vanorsdall and Aaron Bradshaw, 1858; Henry Purdy, 1861; Andrew J. Bainbridge, 1864; Corne- lius Tuttle, A. H. Vanorsdall, 1867; M. H. Waltermire, 1869; A. H. Van- orsdall, 1870; M. H. Waltermire, 1872; A. H. Vanorsdall, 1873; M. H. Waltermire, 1875; Samuel C. Anderson, 1876; M. H. Waltermire, 1878; A. H. Vanorsdall, 1879; M. H. Waltermire, 1881; Conrad Lue, 1882; George W. Beard, 1883.


STATISTICS.


Jackson Township has an area of twenty-seven square miles. Popula- tion in 1880 (not inclusive of Kirby Village), 1,037. The State election returns for 1879-80 show the vote in Jackson Township as follows: For Governor (1879), Charles Foster, 45; Thomas Ewing, 118; Gideon T. Stewart, none; A. Saunders Piatt, none; total vote, 163. For Secretary of State (1880), Charles Townsend, 64; William Lang, 127; Charles A. Lloyd, none; William H. Doan, none; total votes, 191. For President (1880), James A. Garfield, 64; Winfield S. Hancock, 130; James B. Weaver, none; Neal Dow, none; total votes, 194. In Kirby Precinct, for Governor (1879), Charles Foster, 53; Thomas Ewing, 191; Gideon T. Stewart, none; A. Sanders Piatt, none; total votes, 244. For Secretary of State (1880), Charles Townsend, 61; William Lang, 192; Charles A. Lloyd, none; Will- iam H. Doane, none; total vote, 253. For President (1880), James A. Gar- field, 67; Winfield S. Hancock, 210; total vote, 279.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


DAVID ALTER, the subject of this sketch, is one of the representa- tive farmers of Jackson Township. He was born in Allegheny County, Penn., January 27, 1840. His parents were John and Mary (Mccutchen) Alter, whose history appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Alter took up his residence in this county in 1859, and engaged in farm labor with his father until 1863, when he enlisted in the service of the United States, under the command of Col. Gallaher, but was afterward transferred to the First Pennsylvania Cavalry. He received his discharge in 1863, December 29, and returned home, where he remained with his father till his marriage. This event took place September 15, 1870. Miss Catharine Zimmerman, the


839


JACKSON TOWNSHIP.


bride, is the daughter of Peter and Caroline (Felty) Zimmerman, whose history will also be found elsewhere recorded. She was born April 22, 1851, and is the mother of four children-Mary L., born August 4, 1872; Perry L., born June 2, 1875; Bessie M., born September 30, 1877, and Joseph F., born September 3, 1883. After his marriage, Mr. Alter moved to the farm which he had bought a short time prior to that event, and upon which he still resides. The original amount, thirty-seven acres, he has since increased to seventy-four, and is thus enabled to live in comfort. In politics, Mr. Alter is a Republican. He was reared in the Presbyterian Church, and became a member of that church in his twenty-fifth year; his wife united shortly after their marriage, in 1870, at Forest, Ohio.


JEREMIAH M. ALTER was born in among the hills of Allegheny County, Penn., December 5, 1817. He was the son of David and Elizabeth (Mell) Alter, also natives of Pennsylvania. Thirteen children were born to them, six of whom are still living, Nancy, John, Daniel, Jeremiah M., Elias and Sampson. The deceased are Joseph, Jacob, Samuel, David, Henry and two others. The grandfather of Mr. Alter was born in Switzerland, and for a period of twenty years was a member of the Legislature of that country. Our subject, Jeremiah M. Alter, was educated in the select schools, choos- ing for his occupation the blacksmithing trade, when about seventeen years of age. On February 14, 1840, Mr. Alter forsook his single life, and mar- ried Miss Sophia Mell, daughter of John and Polly (Kiel) Mell, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and German descent. Mrs. Alter was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, December 13, 1818. Mr. and Mrs. Alter were the parents of four children. Two of these are still living-Dan- iel W. and George N. John W. and Flora E. have passed away. George N. entered the United States service for 100 days, Eighty-second Regiment, and left a good record for that time as a soldier. Mr. Alter continued to work at his trade till the year 1866, when he removed to Jackson Township, Wyandot County. Ohio, purchasing eighty acres of land, on which he now resides. His farm is in good condition, and is valued at $70 per acre.


JOHN ALTER was born in Allegheny County, Penn., in 1808. He is the son of David and Elizabeth (Mell) Alter, the former born in 1776, the latter in 1780, both natives of Pennsylvania and of German parentage. Mr. Alter remained with his parents till the event of his marriage, receiving the ordinary education that the common schools of his time afforded. After the death of his mother in 1837 he remained at home and took care of his father, who was an invalid, till his death in 1838. In 1869, he moved to Jackson Township, buying 100 acres of land. His marriage to Miss Mary Mccutchen occurred in January, 1835, and six children have been born to them-Eliza, Matilda, David, Nancy, John K. and Joseph. Of these, one died in infancy. Of these, the last named enlisted in the Fourth Pennsyl- vania Cavalry of the United States service and died at Stoneman Hospital August 23, 1864, of wounds received in the head and of disease. Mr. Alter continued his work on the farm and in the milling business till his second marriage, which took place November 14, 1850, taking for his bride Mrs. Sarah A. D. McGahan, widow of Robert McGahan. One daughter- Sarah R., wife of John A. Stewart -- was the result of this marriage. At their marriage they each had five children. Two of Mr. and two of Mrs. Alter's have since died; the rest are all married and settled in life. Mr. Alter still resides on his farm, and is comfortably situated in a good home. In politics, he is a Republican. He united with the Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek, when eighteen years of age, and was afterward a member of


840


HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.


the Church of Parnassus, where he was ordained an Elder about the year 1865. When he united with the church in Forest, he was at once inducted into the session, and is the oldest member, with one exception, in the church. His first wife was a member of the Plum Creek Church until her death, February 27, 1849. Mrs. Alter, his present wife, was a member of the Saltsburg Presbyterian Church, and united, with her husband, suc- cessively in the churches of Plum Creek, Parnassus and Forest.


SAMUEL BAKER was born in Columbiana County May 29, 1819. He is the son of John and Catharine (Mummery) Baker, both natives of Adams County, Penn., and of German lineage. The children of these parents numbered ten in all, of whom but six are living-Elizabeth, Abraham, Jonas, Isaac, Samuel and Lydia, The deceased are Sarah, William, Cath- arine and Moses. At the age of fifteen Mr. Baker left school to en- gage in daily labor at the carpenter's trade and other work. He was married to Miss Susannah Zimmerman, daughter of Peter and Sarah (Kennel) Zimmerman. Mrs. Baker was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, December 29, 1820. Eight children are the fruits of this union-Peter J., Andrew J., David S., Sarah C., Simon Z., Mary F. (deceased), Henry O. and William L. After marriage Mr. Baker followed the occupation of weaver and carpenter till 1861, when he moved to Jackson Township, Wy- andot County, Ohio, and settled upon a farm of 100 acres. By long years of industrious toil he has succeeded in placing most of this land in a state of cultivation, and is now the possessor of a comfortable home. In politics he is independent, believing that the safety of the Government derends most upon those principles.


J. P. BERLIEN was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., April 4, 1841. He came to this county with his parents, Jacob and Salina Berlien (whose history appears in another part of this work), when but four years of age. He was educated in the common schools and has spent the greater part of his life in agricultural pursuits. December 22, 1864, he married Miss Lydia A. Roose, daughter of David and Mary (Arner) Roose, who was born in Columbiana County September 22, 1840. They have been blessed with four children, three of whom are still living-Umphry L., born Oc- tober 31, 1866; Ida A., April 26, 1872; John Z., March 5, 1879; Mvrtie E., the deceased, was born August 8, 1876, and died March 8, 1877. Mr. Berlien was engaged in the late war, having enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, February 23, 1865. He was mustered in at Camp Chase, moving from there to Virginia, thence to Winchester and the South, doing patrol duty till the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. Returning home, he resumed his agri- ricultural pursuits, renting land in this county for two years, then moving to Hardin County, returning to this county in 1873, buying forty acres of land, to which he has since added six acres more. By economy and indus- try he has succeeded in making of this a comfortable home, and from its products a substantial living for himself and family. Mr. Berlien is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Christian Union Church.


REUBEN BERLIEN, born in Westmoreland County, Penn., September 27, 1831, is the son of Jacob and Salina (Zimmerman) Berlien. The former is a native of the same county, born January 4, 1804, the latter born November 28, 1807, in Lancaster, Penn. The death of the father oc- curred December 9, 1863, and that of the mother May 12, 1871. Nine children followed this union, eight still living-Henry, Reuben, Katie A., Susan, Sarah A., Jacob P. B., Peter Z. and Saloma. Anna M., deceased.




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