SAMUEL BURWELL

Was born in West Union, Adams county, Ohio. Nov. 20, 1822, was educated in the common schools of the village, with the exception of attending the Hillsboro Academy during the summer term of 1842.  He learned the printer’s trade with Robert Jackman, of West Union.  He worked on the West Union Intelligencer for several years, also on the Free Press, in the same place.  On the 17th day of February, 1853, he issued in West Union, the first number of a new paper called the “Scion of Temperance.”  It was published one year on the temperance platform, when he espensed the cause of the American Party, which had just come into existence.  Upon the organization of the Republican party, in 1856, he at once adopted its principles, which he has since warmly advocated through the columns of his paper.  Mr. Burwell has published the West Union Scion for over 27 years.  It has now become almost a part of his existence.  He is at his office early and late, busy at his work all the time, he is now one of the oldest editors in the State, and yet his paper goes on without any symptoms of relaxation or abatement of its energies.  His, has been truly a laborious, “ busy life.”  Mr. Burwell married Miss Margaret Mitchell, Mar. 30, 1848, and has reared a family of five sons and three daughters.

SARAH BOYLE

     This lady’s ancestors were natives of Ireland.  Her paternal grand parents, John and Sarah Boyle, were born on the banks of the river Boyne, near a place rendered memorable for the decisive battle fought there, July 1, 1690, between William III, of England, at the head of a combined force of English, Dutch, and allied detachments of almost every Protestant kingdom of Europe, and the ex-monarch, James II, with an invading French and Irish refugee army.  The animosities engendered by the "battle of the Boyne” have never died out.  The Protestant Irish, known as “Orangemen,” still annually celebrate their victory on that occasion, throughout the United States, and are almost always mobbed by the Irish Catholics, whose anger for their defeat still remains unappeased.  In 1795, John Boyle, with his wife and children, emigrated to America.  He first settled at Shipbensburg, Pennsylvania, but afterwards moved to Greensburg, in the same State, where he died.  He reared a family of nine children, Mary, Sarah, Nancy, Susan, Ann, Elizabeth, Alexander, Wilson and Daniel.  Daniel, who was the father of the subject of our sketch, was also born on the banks of the Boyne, about 1787, and came with his parents to this country, when eight years old.  He subsequently married Margaret Cox, of Pittsburgh.  He learned the tinning business, working at his trade in New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.  The conveniences of travel were not so good in those early days as they are now, and Mr. Boyle walked from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and returned, no less than seven times.  After he came to West Union he thought nothing of walking from there to Pittsburgh and back, which he did many times.  A year or two after his marriage, about 1819, Mr. Boyle left Pittsburgh and came to Adams county.  He and a Mr. Litten, built some kind of a cheap boat, on which they loaded their goods, and with their families came down the river.  They halted an hour or two at Portsmouth, looked at the town and the log “Court House,” then moved on down the river to Manchester, where Mr. Boyle landed and unloaded his goods.  Mr. Litten went on.  From Manchester, Mr. Boyle came to West Union, where he settled and carried on the tinning business, supporting his family and saving a portion of his earnings, with which he first bought lot No. 67, of James Roseman, who was a merchant, doing business there in a small house that stood on the premises.  This property became Mr. Boyle’s homestead.  In 1829 he rented his premises and moved to Cincinnati, and engaged in business for a year, then returned to West Union, where he followed his trade of tinner, until some two years before his death, when age and infirmity unfitted him for labor any more.  In 1811, Mr. Boyle made a trading trip down the Mississippi river, went up the Arkansas, also up the Mississippi as far as St. Louis.  He was along the river during the time of the earthquakes of that year, was near New Madrid at the time of the great convulsion there, saw the earth sink that swallowed up the greater portion of the town.  He early identified himself with the interests of the community, in which he lived, taking a lively interest in every thing that would promote the general welfare; was esteemed and respected by all who knew him.  He served his fellow-citizens as Mayor of the village, Justice of the Peace, etc.  Of the strictest integrity, frugal, industrious and unostentatious in his manners, he was one of God’s nobles works - an honest man.  He was a member of the U. B. Church  for many years previous to his death, which occurred May 29, 1874.  His wife led Aug. 26, 1876.  They lie buried in the village cemetery at West Union.  They were the parents of nine children - three sons and __ daughters - named George, Edward, Sarah, Margaret, ___; Ann, Wilson, Amanda, Caroline, and Theodosia Jane.  ___ Edward and Mary are deceased, the others still survive. Sarah, the oldest daughter, occupies the beautiful homestead____ ____ - a view which appears upon the pages of this work.

JOSEPH W. EYLAR

     Joseph Wilkins Eylar, the subject of this sketch, was born in the village of Carline?, in Brown County, Ohio, Mar. 11th, 184.  Before he was a year old his parents moved to Adams county, where he has resided ever since, with the exception of brief intervals.  In 1860 his parents moved to the town of West Union, where, taking up as nearly all boys do, with the art of printing, he became apprenticed to the firm of Billings & Patterson, at that time conducting the Democratic Union.  In 1862, he went to Georgetown, Ohio, where he continued his apprenticeship under John G. Doren, then publisher of the Southern Ohio Argus.  In 1862, being unable to enlist, on the account of age and size, he went with his father, who had some connection with the army, into the service as a teamster, from which capacity he was advanced to that of a forage master.   He accompanied

 General Burnside’s expedition into East Tennessee, crossing the Cumberland mountains six times, and was finally with that officer when he was besieged at Knoxville, by Longstreet.  He also accompanied General Sherman’s army, being connected with the 23d army corps, to the Chattahoochie River, where he remained until Atlanta fell, when he returned to Knoxville, and from thence to his home in Ohio.  Arriving at home he spent one winter at school, when he again took up his profession of printer, in the office of the Democratic Union, where he remained for several months, in the employ of W. G. Billings, who at that time had charge of that paper.  He quitted this position and went to Fayette county, where he was employed for a time by Shoemaker, Bybee & Co., who were at that time conducting a hub and spoke factory.  During his absence the Democratic Union failed, and on his arrival at home, in the fall of 1865, he found considerable discontent among the Democracy of Adams county, because they had no organ.  After taking the matter under advisement, and having a consultation with John K. Billings, who owned the material on which the Democratic Union had been printed, a prospectus was prepared and Mr. Eylar walked over Adams county, soliciting subscribers.  The success was not as flattering as he had hoped for, but being full of pluck and determination, he resolved to make the venture, and on the day of January, 1866, the first number of the People's Defender was given to the public.  The success of the paper was assured with its first issue.  During the first year he and his brother, Oliver A., performed all the work on the paper, eating and sleeping in the office.  When the Democracy of Adams county saw the determination to succeed evinced by the youthful editor, they rallied to its support.  For a while the Defender was owned jointly by J. W. and O. A. Eylar, but it is now the sole property of J. W. Eylar.  In 1876, Mr. Eylar was elected to the Legislature, succeeding Richard Ramsay, a Republican.   He served two years, and at the expiration of that time was re-elected, representing the county of Adams four years, in the 62d and 63 General Assemblies.  A reference to the journals of that body shows that he accomplished more in the passage of bills than any other Representative ever elected from Adams Co.; in fact, his efforts in that direction are nearly equal to the combined representation of Adams county, from the adoption of the present constitution to the time of his election.  In the 63d General Assembly be was Chairman of the committee on Public Printing, and a leading member of the committee on Railroads and Telegraphs.  In the 62d General Assembly, he was a member of the committee on Printing, the committee on the Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home, and a new committee being organized during the session called the committee on Elective Franchise, he was appointed a member of that.  His record as a Legislator shows that his votes were always cast in favor of economy, and on the side of every reasonable temperance proposition that came before the bodies of which he was a member.  In the 62d General Assembly he was one of the Democrats who voted for the only temperance proposition coming before that body, and in the 63d General Assembly he voted for Local Option, as an expression of principle, though regarding Local Option as impracticable.  He was very popular with his fellow members, irrespective of party.  He evinced considerable aptness as a Parliamentarian, and was frequently called to preside over the House during the temporary absence of the Speaker.  Mr. Eylar was married to Mary Ellen Oldson, on the 4th of March 1869.  He is one of the leading members of the order of Odd Fellows in Adams county, and is an enthusiastic member of some of the other secret benevolent societies.

C. E. IRWIN

    editor of the Nen Era, the subject of this sketch, is of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born at Circleville, Ohio, Jan. 29th, 1842.  He completed the High School course of study, in 1860, during the intervals of his school years learning the printing business, working on the Circleville Herald and Circleville Watchman.  On July 17th, 1862, while working as a compositor on the Philadelphia (Pa.) Inquirer, he entered the army, enlisting in the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which capacity he participated in the battles of Sharpshurg, Antietam, Winchester and in many lesser encounters with the Mosby band of guerillas.  On the 20th of February, 1864, in a cavalry battle, near Woodstock, Virginia, the subject of this sketch was surrounded and made prisoner.  After two months incarceration in Libby Prison, Richmond, Va.. was paroled and sent to Annapolis, Maryland.  During the remainder of the war was detached by order of the War Department, and served ns chief clerk, to the department of paroled prisoners of war, at Annapolis.   On May 29th, 1865, was honorably discharged in general orders No. 79, War Department, A. G. O.  After the war, Mr. Irwin located at Cincinnati, and was with Thomas Wrighton & Co., printers and publishers, up to 1869.  The winter seasons of each of these years was devoted to lecturing tours through Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky; the subject of his lectures being the sciences that pertain to man physically and mentally, in which field of effort he was very successful.  On the 23d of November, 1869, Mr. Irwin was married to Miss H. L. Wright, daughter of Samuel M. Wright, of West Union, Ohio, and located at Cincinnati.  In June, 1870, he purchased of S. P. Drake, of Portsmouth, Ohio, the Portsmouth Republican, the oldest Republican paper in that section, having been established in 1852, and continued its prosperous publication up to April, 1876, when he sold out the good will to Albert McFarland, of the Tribune, agreeing at the same time to remain out of the business at that point, for five years.  The Republican was subsequently consolidated with the Tribune- Republican, of Portsmouth, Ohio, and still continues.  In May, 1876, without effort on his part, was elected City Clerk, of the city of Portsmouth for one year.  The position was one requiring the services of a thorough accountant and book-keeper, and the responsibility was such that a bond of twenty-five thousand dollars is required.  His work in this, the only civil office he ever held, can be attested by his bondsmen, the Hon. Benj. F. Coates, Hon. Henry A. Towne, and George Davis, of Portsmouth.  In April, 1877, the subject of this sketch was called upon to take an interest in, and arrange for the 

establishment of a new paper in Adams county, which call he accepted.  He moved with his family in June, 1877, and issued the initial number of the New Era, at West Union, Ohio, on the 6th day of July, of the same year.  Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Irwin; Ettie Catharine, Aug. 4th, 1870; McArthur Wright, Jan. 1st, 1873; and Ralph Waldo, Apr. 24th, 1877, all of whom are now living.

JOHN TAYLOR.

     The paternal ancestors of the subject of this sketch were of English descent.  The earliest known of them, was his great grandfather, who served in the Revolutionary war, from Virginia.  As e received large bounties n land warrants, in the Virginia Military District in Ohio, it is presumed he was an officer of some rank.  He had a family, though little is known of them. He, however, had a son named Jesse, who was the grandfather of John Taylor.  This Jesse Taylor received a share of his father's bounty lands, which were located in Brown county, but he sold them at an early day.  He, however, moved from Virginia and settled in Fairfield county, Ohio, where he raised his family.  Here both he and his wife died.  James W. Taylor, the oldest of Jesse Taylor's family, was born in Virginia, in 1803, and came with his father to Fairfield county.  when grown to a young man, he left Fairfield and came to Brown county, where he married Catharine Laney.  They became the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, named John, Samuel, Eliza Jane, James H. and Ellie.  The oldest in the family of children, John, who is the subject of our sketch, was born in Adams county, Aug. 22, 1835.  He worked on a farm in his earlier years, receiving such an education was the common schools afforded.  In 1861, Oct. 19th, he enlisted in Co. H., Capt. b. F. Wiles, 70th Regt. O. V. I., Col. J. R. Cockerill commanding.  He was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and fought in the battle of Shiloh, where he lost an arm, on account of which disability, he was honorably discharged, Dec. 1, 1862.  In 1863, he was elected Sheriff of Adams county, and re-elected to the same office in 1865, and performed his duties ina manner that was acceptable to the people.  In March, 18868, he engaged  in the merchant business in West Union, but in 1873, was again elected Sh__ and re-elected when the term was out.  At the expiration of last term of office he engaged in farming which he still c__ on.  In the meantime he formed a copartnership with T. J. M__len in the grocery business, but at the end of a year, retired from the firm, and is again devoting his attention to farming.  He married Clarra S. Mullen, daughter of T. J. Mullen, E__ April 6, 1875.  they have been blessed with a daughter, named Anna M. Taylor, born July 24th, 1878.

SAMUEL M. WRIGHT.

     The ancestors of Samuel M. Wright were natives of Ireland.  His great grandfather married in that country, but at an early day, he, with his family, emigrated to America, and settled in Virginia.  At what period he came to this country we don't know, but it was before the Revolutionary war, for several of his sons took part in that struggle, serving in the continental army.  Some of them were at the Cowpens.  This great grandfather and his wife both died and their names are forgotten, and the names of but few of their children are now remembered.  Five of these sons, however, came west about 1787 and settled somewhere between Paris and Lexington, Kentucky, where they lived some twelve years, then all removed to Ohio, three of them, James, William, and Alexander, settled in Highland county.  Another one, Samuel, settled on Cherry Fork, Wayne township, near North Liberty, in 1799.  The other brother, John, settled about a ile north of Decatur, Brown county.  John married Margaret McKittrick, before leaving Virginia.  They reared a family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, named Jane, William, Robert, Margaret, John, Thomas, Samuel, James and Alexander.  Several of these sons served in the war of 1812.  William, the second in this family of children, was born Sept. 21, 1779.  In 1805, he married Elizabeth Thomas.  They were the parents of eight children, three sons and five daughters.  One of these sons was Samuel M. Wright, whose name stands at the head of this article.  These eight children were named John T., James, Margaret, Amanda M., Mary B., Samuel M., Eliza and America Wright.  John T. was born Sept. 22, 18103, died of yellow fever t Memphis, Tennessee, Sept. 28, 1839.  He was never married.  James, born Jan. 21, 1808, married Malida Bayne?, in 1832.  They moved to Tazwell county, Illinois, where they are now living.  Margaret M., born Jan. 6th, 1810, married Joshua T. Parish, in 1842.  They moved to Missouri, where Mr. Parish died.  The widow survives.  Amanda M., born Dec. 15th, 1811, married Dr. Greenleaf Norton, in May 1838.  They immediately removed to Crawfordsville, Indiana, where the Doctor practiced medicine two or three years then came back and settled in the old neighborhood.  He eventually engaged in farming in Brown county, where he died in 1869.  The widow still resides on the farm.  Mary B., born May 19th, 1814, married James M. Taylor, in September1841.  They settled don Grace's Run, where Mr. Taylor died in 1854.  The widow owns and occupies a farm near the U. P. Church on Cherry fork.  Eliza, born July 12, 1818, married W. W. West, Nov. 5, 1846.  They moved to Nebraska in 1874, where she died in1876.  America, born Jan. 4th, 1824, married Robert Kerr married for a second husband, Nathaniel Kirkpatrick, July, 1854.  They reside in Wayne township, Adams county.  Samuel M. Wright, the sixth child, was born Nov. 25th, 1815, married Catharine A. Stevenson, Nov. 4th, 1846.  They are the parents of two children, both daughters, named Sarah Elizabeth and Hannah Louisa.  Sarah Elizabeth was born Dec. 4th, 1847; married J. W. Shinn, Mar. 10th, 1870.  She died Nov. 18th, 1872, leaving a daughter named Ann Louisa, born May 22, 1871, which died Jan. 31st, 1872, aged eight months and nine days.  Hannah Louisa was born Jan. 5th, 1849; married C. E. Irwin, editor of the Adams county New Era, Nov. 23d, 1869.  They are the parents of three children, Etta Catharine, born Aug. 14th, 1870, McArthur Wright, born Jan. 1st, 1873.  Ralph Waldo Emerson, born Apr. 24th, 1877.  Mr. Wright owns a good farm near West Union, as well as other valuable property.  He and his daughter Mrs H. L. Irwin, are the proprietors of the "Barrk Hotel," which they personally manage, while Mr. Irwin runs the New Era newspaper on the same premises.