USA > Ohio > Clark County > The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 2 > Part 63
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A. S. ZINN, farmer ; P. O. Dialton. This gentleman is the son of D. R. and Matilda (Sturgeon) Zinn, who are mentioned in P. S. Zinn's biography. Our subject was born Jan. 28, 1845, and acquired a practical knowledge. His time was chiefly devoted to his father's assistance until Oct. 26, 1866, at which time he took for wife Mary V., daughter of Joseph and Mary A. (Littlejohn) Davis, natives of Virginia. Mr. Zinn has always remained on the homestead which he became owner of at the death of his parents. As an evidence of the popularity with which he was held in his school district, he was elected one of the Directors, and by them to the position of Clerk, and is also Secretary of the Beach Grove Grange, of which society he is a member. Mr. and Mrs. Zion are both members of the Reformed Church, and he is a warm sup- porter of the Sunday schools, and is now a teacher. Mr. Zinn is the father of eight children, of whom seven are now living, viz .: Joseph W., born Sept. 25, 1867; Theo- dore D., April 1, 1869; Daniel F., Sept. 9, 1870; Rosella, Jan. 28, 1872; Mary M., Aug. 28, 1873, and died Sept. 13, 1873; Ida V., Aug. 25, 1874; Jesse O., Dec. 13, 1876; Lillie M., Aug. 25, 1879.
PETER S. ZINN. quarryman ; P. O. New Carlisle. The gentleman whose name graces the head of this sketch is the son of D. R. Zinn, who was a native of Pennsylvania and came to this county about 1836. In the year, 1840, he purchased 80 acres of land in this township, which he occupied until the year 1865. At this date, he disposed of his farm and purchased 52 acres near North Hampton, where he
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remained until his decease, which occurred Jan. 12, 1870. Peter, the subject of this biography, was born in Pike Township Sept. 25, 1841. His education was obtained in the district schools of the county. At the age of 21 years, he commenced life for him- self by renting land of his father and giving agricultural pursuits all his time and attention. Success crowning his labors, he purchased a farm of 47 acres, in 1876. and disposed of it in 1878 and purchased the farm he now occupies. March 16, 1865, he and Miss Elzina, daughter of Peter and Jane Smith, celebrated their marriage. Four sons and four daughters were the result of this union, viz .: Matilda J., born Feb. 6, 1866; Willard A., born March 11, 1868; Ettie C., born Dec. 10, 1869; Sarah E., born Jan. 29, 1872 ; Goldwaithe, born Feb. 26, 1874; Lydia F., born Sept. 28, 1876 ; Warren, born March 4, 1878; Everett E., born Oct. 2, 1880. Mr. Zinn has never been an aspirant for office, but has been honored with the office of Township Trustee ; is also a worthy and consistent member of the German Baptist Church, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.
BETHEL TOWNSHIP.
CHRISTIAN BROSEY, Medway. Gotlieb Brosey, the father of our subject, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, May 9, 1792. In early manhood he served the King of Wurtemberg as body-guard; also served in the Light Horse Cavalry in the army of Napoleon Bonaparte, and was with him in his memorable and disas- trous march to Russia, when he, with others, was taken prisoner. He made his escape, however, and journeyed to Wurtemberg, suffering much from cold and hunger. In the year 1817, he emigrated to this country, and settled in Lancaster Co., Penn. His mar- riage with Susannah Goodyear was celebrated the 24th day of November, 1818; she was born Oct. 8, 1793. Two children were the result of this union, viz., Noah, born July 19, 1820; Martha, born Dec. 16, 1822. Mrs. Brosey departed this life Jan. 23, 1823. Mr. Brosey remained a widower until July 23, 1826, at which time he was married to Christianna Moglin, who was born in Wurtemberg, March 26, 1798. They were the parents of four children, viz., Anna, boru June 21, 1827; John, born March 3, 1829 ; Christian, born Jan. 27, 1831; Barbara, born April 6, 1833. On the 16th day of April, 1835, he was left a widower the second time. Ile ma ried Elizabeth Keyler, his third wife, May 17, 1836, in Franklin Co., where he had previously moved. They have had six children -- Elizabeth, born Dec. 17, 1836, died Oct. 4, 1867 ; Samuel, born Jan. 13, 1839 ; Benjamin, born Feb. 20, 1841; Mary, born Feb. 1, 1843; Sarah, born June 7, 1845, died July 4, 1880; Martha, born May 3, 1874. In the year 18+1, he moved to Clark Co., Ohio, and settled near Medway, where he purchased several tracts of land. Elizabeth, his wife, died Dec. 13, 1861, and he survived her until Dec. 7, 1866, when he died at the advanced age of 75 years. Christian, the subject of this memoir, was joined in marriage, Nov. 17, 1859, to Anna Monk. They have had two children, viz., Mollie, born Nov. 15, 1861; Harry, born Sept. 13, 1863.
THOMAS BROWN, nurseryman. The subject hereof is the son of Thomas and Susanna Brown, both natives of the State of Maryland, who emigrated to Miami Co., Ohio, in 1838, where they resided until their decease. Their family consisted of four children, viz., John, born Jan. 25, 1819; David, born in 1820; George and Thomas. born Feb. 23, 1823. The one with whom we have to deal is the last named, Thomas. He was born while his parents were in Maryland. He received a rather meager educa- tion in his native State, and learned the cooper trade, in which he continued until about 1846, when he took up the business of nurseryman, to which he is now devoting his attention. He married Miss Hannah Maria Wyant. March 28, 1838, who has since become the mother of the children whose names and dates of births follow, viz., Har- riet M., born May 16, 1851, died Sept. 16, 1851; Mary C., born Feb. 19, 1853; Jacob N. and Thomas A., born Oct. 31, 1854; the former died Dec. 2, 1854; the
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latter Dec. 10, 1854; Martha J., born Dec. 22, 1855; Arbah A., born Sept. 7, 1853, died Aug. 14, 1870; Wilber W., born Jan. 9, 1861; Artemus C. E., born March 10. 1863 ; Lulu B., born April 23, 1866; Emma D, born June 23, 1368; Allie C. and Lilly D., born Sept. 26, 1870.
GEORGE CROFT (deceased). Few men were better known in the early settle- ment of Bethel Township than the old pioneer whose name heads this biography. He was born in York Co., Penn., in November, 1771, and his parents, Jacob Croft and wife, were natives of Germany, who settled in the American Colonies, and who espoused the patriot cause in the Revolutionary war; Jacob fighting throughout that struggle against English tyranny. They raised a large family, George being one of the number, and all were reared to farm life. At a matured age, George went to Virginia, where he married Mary Critz, Nov. 18, 1799, she being a native of Botetourt County, born in November, 1779. In 1804, he, wife and two children came to Bethel Township, Clark Co., Ohio, and settled in Sec. 8, on the hill where Martin Snyder now lives. Building a log cabin in the dense forest, he bravely went to work to make a home and competence for his family ; and how he succeeded is well known over the county, owning as he did, at the time of his death, over 800 acres of fine land, all the legiti- mate result of the constant, unceasing toil of himself and family. To George and Mary Croft were born the following children : John, George (deceased), Elizabeth (the deceased wife of Peter Minnich), Jacob, Michael (deceased ), Mary Ann (the widow of James Leffel, the noted inventor), Frederick, David and Henry, the latter also a well- known inventor. ITis wife died Feb. 7, 1846, and he was again married, to a Mrs. Wyland, but enjoyed that companionship only a short time, when death called him from the scenes of his earthly labors, Oct. 16, 1353, in his 85th year ; and he and wife now sleep side by side in the beautiful cemetery of Fern Cliff, a handsome monument marking their last resting place, put there by an affectionate family, who still fondly cherish their memory. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and was the main instrument in the building and support of the "Croft Church," which has since been moved to Donnelsville. Politically, he was a Democrat, and few men were better neighbors than this sturdy old Pennsylvanian, who was manly, honest, kind and oblig- ing in all things, and his well-known expression of " I say so," convinced the listener that what he said was true, as well as marked him as a man of integrity, courage and determination.
FREDERICK CROFT, retired farmer ; P. O. Donnelsville. This gentleman is a member of one of Clark County's representative pioneer families, and is the son of George and Mary (Critz) Croft, he a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Virginia Frederick was born in Bethel Township, Nov. 25, 1815, and grew to manhood in the pioneer days, when schools and such evidences of civilization were scarce ; therefore his. education was limited to what he could obtain in a few terms in the rough log school- house of those early days. He assisted his father on the farm and at the mill, faith- fully doing his share toward the accummulation of the family estate. On the 24th of February, 18-41, he was married to Sophia Kindsmore Smith, who was born in Adams Co., Penn., Feb. 16, 1824, and when a child, came with her parents to Clark County. Here she matured, and has had born to her five children, two married -- George (deceased) ; Clara, now Mrs. Thomas Minnich, of Montgomery Co., Ohio .; Abraham, cul- tivating the old farm; William, still at home; and one died in infancy. Soon after the marriage of our subject, he embarked in farming for himself, on his father's farm, of which he afterward became part owner; there he judiciously labored until 1870, when he purchased his present lot of ten acres, on the " Dayton and Mad River Valley Pike," where a fine dwelling decorates the same, in which he lives comfortable and happy, with a wife who is the light of the family, and a kind mother to her children. She is a. daughter of Abraham C. and Elizabeth (Dill) Smith, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania; he was born in Adams County, Dec. 25, 1795; there grew to majority, and was educated in the Pennsylvania College, after which he took a course of medicine, but never entered upon the profession as practitioner. He was an active and valuable counselor at law, to which much of his time was given. He was married in Pennsyl-
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vania, and in 1834 he and family located in Clark County ; but in 1837 removed to near Camden, Jay Co., Ind. In 1835, he united with the Presbyterian Church, at Carlisle, Ohio, and by his Christian walk in after years gave good evidence that he was a humble follower of Christ. He was a man of integrity of character, upright and honest in all his dealings; and one who possessed the confidence, to the fullest extent, of his fellow-citizens. The people of Jay County elected him two successive terms to the office of Associate Judge of the county, the duties of which he filled with faithful- ness and ability. On the morning of his death, when asked by a near member of the family " What his prospects were in view of death ?" and he cheerfully replied : " I am willing to go wherever the Lord calls me." His death occurred Nov. 18, 1863, having attained to nearly his threescore and ten years. He left an aged widow and many warm friends. His wife was born in York Co., Penn., in 1792; she was a faithful com. panion and worker in the church of her husband; she was the mother of twelve children, of whom nine are now living; Mrs. Croft being the sixth in number, and of Swiss descent on the father's side, and of English on the maternal side.
JOHN L. FORRER, carpenter. This gentleman was born in Lebanon Co., Penn., Sept. 23, 1833, to Christian and Elizabeth Forrer, who were both natives of Lan- caster Co., Penn., the former born Sept. 5, 1793, and dying Oct. 20, 1854; the latter born Nov. 5, 1800, and dying May 25, 1841. John L. was educated in the common schools of Pennsylvania. He is a carpenter, and is still following that trade. During the rebellion he enlisted in the 44th O. V. I., Sept. 12, 1861; was veteranized and re-enlisted in the Sth O. V. C., January, 1864. He participated in several se- vere engagements, was wounded at the battle of West Liberty, Va., for which he draws a half-pension. On Nov. 23, 1865, he was married in Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio, to Miss Catharine Strausburg, a native of Wayne Township, Montgomery Co., born Oct. 27, 1843. Their children consist of : Eva May, born Sept. 17, 1866; John, bori: Sept. 12, 1868, died Oct. 30, 1868; Edgar Earl, born Sept. 28, 1869 ; Christian L., born Oct 10, 1872; Etta Irene, born Jan. 31, 1875, and Minnie, born Aug. 24, 1880.
SAMUEL E. GREIDER, carpenter and builder, Osborn ; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., June 6, 1849; is the son of John M. and Anna Greider, natives of Penn- sylvania. Emigrating to this State in 1856 and purchased a farm in Wayne Township, Montgomery Co., where he now lives. Mr. Greider has been a Bishop in the old Men- nonite Church for about nine years. The subject of this sketch lived with his father until the age of 20 years, then went to learn the carpenter's trade, and at the age of 23 years he united in marriage with Rebecca A. (daughter of Henry and Margaret Heffner, of Miami Co., this State), Jan 7, 1873; by this union they were blest with three sons, viz .: John H. G., born Aug. 11, 1873; B. F., born June 24, 1875 ; Jacob E., born Nov. 3, 1877. Mrs. Grieder, born Oct. 22, 1854. Mr. Grieder is a member of the old Men- nonite Church and an excellent mechanic, and has the confidence of all his friends and acquaintances.
JACOB B. HARTMAN, dealer in medicines. Jacob B. Hartman is the son of Christian Hartman, who was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Nov. 19, 1798, and died Sept. 19, 1829, having in the meantime married his wife, Anna, a native of the same county, born Feb. 25, 1795, and died April 17, 1861, by whom he had the children following : Anna, born July 11, 1814; Henry, Sept. 8, 1816; Abraham, June 9, 1819 ; Christian, March 7, 1820; Jacob B., Sept. 19, 1822; Elizabeth, July 29, 1824; Harriet, Sept. 19, 1827, and Samuel B., April 1, 1830. Jacob B. came to near Medway, Bethel Township, in the fall of 1839, and has since resided here, having always voted at the same precinct. On the 2d of November, 18-18, he married Miss Nancy Neff, and in due time became the father of the following seven children, to wit : Elizabeth, born Feb. 19, 1849; Mary, Jan. 17, 1851 ; Anna. Nov. 23. 1852; John D .. May 19, 1855 ; Martha Jane, April 6, 1859; Susan N., Jane 6, 1861 ; Barbara M., Feb. 17, 1863. The father of these (our subject) commenced business as a carpenter. building some houses and nearly all the barns in the neighborhood. In 1860, he en- gaged in bridge building as agent for the "Smith Bridge Co." of Toledo, Ohio. In
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this he continued until 1877, when he entered the patent medicine business with his brother, Dr. Samuel B. Hartman, of Lancaster, Penn. Having been left an orphan at. a tender age, and by that misfortune deprived of the advantages of education himself .. he, however, fully realizes its importance and has given his family a thorough course of learning-one son now being a college graduate.
JOHN S. HARNISH, minister and farmer; P. O. Medway ; was born in this township May 1, 1843, and is the son of John and Esther Bowman Harnish, natives. of Lancaster Co., Penn. ; his father was born Feb. 13, 1801, and his mother July 24, 1805. He emigrated to this township in 1840, and followed the pursuit of farming and was also Minister and Bishop of the Reformed Mennonite Church, which offices he filled with credit; his death occurred Aug 29, 1870; his wife still survives him. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days with his father upon the farm until his marriage with Catharine Davis, daughter of Phineas and Eliza Davis, Dec. 6, 1864. Mrs. Harnish was born July 29, 1841. By this union six children have been born, four now living-Albert G., born March 13, 1867 ; Lizzie C., March 13, 1869, died Dec. 7, 1872; Joseph D., born Feb. 19, 1871 ; Martha J., April 27, 1873 ; Henry B., June 5, 1874, died July 25, 1875 ; Esther B., born July 27, 1876. Mr. Harnish is minister of the Mennonite Church, his wife is a member of the same church ; they are - very kind and good people, and have the respect of all who know them.
DAVID HARNISHI, farmer; P. O. Medway; is the son of David aud Eliza- beth Suavely Harnish, residents of Lancaster Co., Penn., where they lived and died ;. they were both members of the Mennonite Church. Mr. Harnish died about the year 1863, aged about 80 years. Mrs. Harnish died July 4, 1878, aged 93 years. The subject of this sketch was born Oct 12, 1823, in Lancaster Co., Penn., and emigrated to Ohio in 1845, and settled in Bethel Township, where he has since lived. In 18-19. ho bought the farm where he now lives ; on Nov. 20, 1849. he united in marriage with Fanny, daughter of' John and Nancy Barr, residents of Richland Co .; by this union have been born to them eight children, two sons and six daughters, viz .: Mary Ann, born Oct. 21, 1851; Elizabeth, Aug. 21, 1853; Samuel, Dec. 27, 1855; Anna, Feb, 5, 1858; Frances, Ocet 25, 1860; Susanna, Jan. 21, 1863; Sarah. March 8, 1865 ; David, Feb. 13, 1868. Mrs. Harnish born Feb. 1, 1826. Mr. Harnish has a beauti- tiful home, pleasantly situated in every respect, and has the respect of friends and acquaintances.
THE HERTZLER MURDER-Was a deed which will long be remembered by the citizens of this county, not only for the tragedy as such, but because it terminated the career of one of the most wealthy and active business men who ever contributed to the advancement of the general interests here.
DANIEL HERTZLER was born at Lancaster, Penn., in the year 1800, and moved to this county in 1840, where he purchased what was then known as the Menard mill property, on Mad River*, and in the township of that name. This property was improved by erecting new buildings and machinery, and reconstructing the old, until there was in operation a large flouring mill. a saw-mill and a distillery. In 1853, Mr. Hertzler sold this property and removed to Springfield, where he established the " Old Clark County Bank," and become associated therein with several well-known business men. As principal owner and general manager of this bank. he became one of the strong moneyed men of the Mad River country. This bank, however, was not of long duration, and the circumstances of its winding up its business affairs are often related as an illustration of Mr. Hertzler's character as an individual. A certain railroad was iu need of funds, and commenced to negotiate with the junior members of the concern, in the absence of Mr. Hertzler, for the purpose of obtaining the money. Now these bank men had more to søy than to do, in the way of real capital. and were easily captured by the managers of the railroad .. The result was that about 830,000 of the substance of the bank went out, and a like amount of railroad shadow came in to fill its place. Upor the return of Mr. Hertzler, he was met by the information that "ice" had made an.
*This improvement is directly across the river from the site of Old Piqua, and was a part of the battle-ground, the ford where Clarke's men crossed being through the present millpond. The establishment is now known as- Snyder's Station, on the C., C., C. & I. and N. Y., P. &. O. Railroads.
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advantageous investment, etc., whereupon he says: " Gentlemen, you should have con - sulted with me in this matter; but, as this railroad paper is first-class (?), you can take it as your portion of this institution, and we will stop business." This was accordingly done, and the business relation of the Clark County Bank (as well as that of some of its former partners) to this community ceased. Mr. Hertzler had purchased lands in Bethel, and in 1854-55 he erected the farm buildings at present held in trust by Leander Baker, and situated on nearly the same ground where the old Indian stockade was located. This was occupied by him as a home, and was the scene of the tragic affair which resulted in his death. Between the hours of 2 and 3 o'clock on the morning of Oct. 10, 1867, his house was entered by a party of burglars. Mr. Hertzler was promptly awakened, and a conflict ensued, which resulted fatally to him from a gun-shot wound in the leg. Four persons were arrested for this crime-two were acquitted, and two others (Scott and Roberts) escaped through the open door of the jail, and have never been recaptured.
LEVI KAUFFMAN was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Sept. 5, 1833, and is the son of Christian and Anna (Erb) Kauffman, natives of the same county and State, where his great grandparents, who came from Germany, settled in 1717, and where Levi's grandfather, Christian, was also born. To Christian and Anna Kauffman were born thirteen children-Emanuel, Jacob, Christian, John, Elizabeth, Mary, Levi, Ben- jamin, Reuben, Anna, Henry, Sarah, and Abrabam, eleven of whom are living. In 1840, Christian Kauffman and family came to Bethel Township, and settled in Section 35, where his sons now live, and where he died Dec. 14, 1870, and his widow, Nov. 9, 1877, both being members of the Reformed Mennonite Church. Levi grew to manhood
in Bethel Township, and was married March 7, 1861, to Anna Harnish, daughter of John and Esther Harnish, natives of Lancaster Co., Penn. Mrs. Kauffman was born in that county and State Oct. 28, 1838, and has had the following children : Laura, Ben- jamin, Hetty and Hattie, twins, Susan, Anna, Emma and Lizzie. Mr. Kauffman and wife are members of the Reformed Mennonite Church, and are among the most pros- perous and respected people of their township.
JOSEPH N. KAUFFMAN, minister of the German Baptist Church, New Carlisle ; was born in MitHlin Co., Penn., in 1818, and is a son of David and Francis Kauffman, who were both natives of Pennsylvania, where they resided until 1815, when they located in the northern part of Champaign Co., Ohio. Here Francis died in 1861, and David now survives at the age of fourscore and nine years. Their children were seven in number, of whom Joseph is the eldest. He grew 15 manhood in his native State, and married, in 1839, Magdaline Yoder, who was also born in Pennsylvania in 1818. To this union, ten children have been born, of whom eight are now living. All save the two oldest were born in Ohio, as Joseph located accordingly in 1843, in Logan County, afterward to Champaign County, but, in 1877, removed from the first settled county to his present location in Bethel Township, Clark Co., where he serves his church. His life throughout, until 1862, was devoted to farm labor, but for the last eighteen years his time has been spent in behalf of his church, and no doubt much good has grown out of his labors. He is now over threescore years of age, and an active worker in the cause of religion.
DAVID LOWRY, deceased. At the mere mention of the name of Lowry, the memory goes back at once to the first settlement of the Mad River country, and sees, in imagination, the old pioneer whose name heads this sketch, accompanied by his friend, Jonathan Donnels, viewing with exultant delight the beautiful forests and val- leys bordering upon Mad River, as they wandered along its banks in the summer of 1795, at which time each selected the site of his future home. David Lowry was born in Pennsylvania in 1767, and was the son of David and Lettice Lowry, natives of Scotland, born respectively in 1724 and 1732, and who came to this country with their son, where Lettice died in 1797, and her husband in 1800, and whose tombstones are yet visible in the Minnich graveyard. To David and Lettice Lowry were born the fol- lowing children : John, Archibald, David, Thomas, Robert, Lettice, Nellie J., and one whose name is now forgotten. In the spring of 1795, David, Jr., came down the Ohio
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with flat-boat filled with black locust trunnels, which were for use in boat building, and which he sold at Cincinnati. For about three months he was connected with the pro- vision train of Gen. Wayne's army. afterward settling on Section 3, Bethel Township, where he lived several years, then sold the land and bought the whole of Section 14, which he soon disposed of at a large profit, and entered land in Section 9, where his son, R. M. Lowry, now resides, and there he passed the remainder of his life. It is claimed by his children, that he and Jonathan Donnels raised a crop of corn at the mouth of Honey Creek, in Miami County, the same year that they settled in Clark, having often heard their father speak of this event. David Lowry was married in Miami County, in November, 1801, to Sarah Hanner, to whom were born Sarah, Nancy, Susan and Eliza- beth, all dead but Susan, the wife of John Leffel. Mrs. Lowry died in August, 1810, and Feb. 14, 1811, he was married to Mrs. Jane Hodge, the widow of Andrew Hodge, to whom she was married March 26, 1803, of which union two children, Paulina H. and Andrew, were born, both dying in early life. Mrs. Jane Lowry was born in Virginia Sept. 26, 1778, and was the daughter of James and Martha Wright, natives of the Old Dominion, who settled close to Paris, Ky., where the family were prominent farmers. To David and Jane Lowry were born four children, viz. : Martha S., David W., Robert M. and Sarah R., all of whom are living. Mr. Lowry died Sept. 9, 1850, and his. widow, Aug: 15, 1867, she being a member of the Presbyterian Church, and her hus- band of the Christian denomination, both dying with a strong faith in a happy future. Of the character of David Lowry we could not give too much praise ; a man of rigid industry and economy, he left a handsome estate ; imbued with a spirit of progress, he built mills and conducted enterprises that were a great benefit to the community and early settlers; his invincible and determined courage fitted him for a pioneer ; and his spotless honesty in all things stamped him as a rare specimen of true manhood whom every one respected. Even the red savage admired him because he was kind, yet knew not fear, and his muscular frame seldom grew weary under the toil and hardships of pioneer life. Such is an imperfect outline of David Lowry, but in so short a sketch it is impossible to tell of his many noble traits of character ; of the obliging neighbor, fond father, kind husband and loving protector; we might say much, and his descendants may well be proud of their pioneer sire, whom none knew but to respect. .
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