German Twp. -
JAMES N. EAKINS, farmer; P. O. German.  The subject of this memoir is a descendant of one of the early pioneer families of the Township.  He was born in the township Aug. 15, 1855, and is the son of George Eakins, the grandson of the pioneer Benjamin Eakins.  Benjamin Eakins came to this township immediately after the close of the war of 1812 and located on the land where our subject now resides.  His first house still stands a monument of early days.  He passed through with all of the privations and hardships incident to frontier life, sharing its trials and triumphs, and died at the ripe old age honored by all who knew him.  Our subject was early left an orphan by the death of his parents, and was then taken and raised by his uncle, Wash Brown.  He is now engaged in farming which has always been his occupation, and is one of the promising young men of the county.  Dec. 31, 1876, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Thomas, who was born and raised in New Madison.  She is also a descendant of early pioneers of Harrison Township.  Mr. and Mrs. Eakins were the parents of two children, one of whom has been taken from them by the messenger of death.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 - Page  571

F. M. EIDSON, tanner and currier, Greenville; born in Preble Co. Ohio, Dec. 14, 1835. where he passed his boyhood days receiving a common- school education, and also learning his present trade; he came to Darke Co. in 1860, where he has since resided, with the exception of five months which he served in the late rebellion. In 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucetta Kester, and by this union they have four children, viz., Clara D., Boyce G., Virginia K. and George M. Mr. E. has, since a resident of Greenville, been a member of the Board of City Councilmen six years, and is at present President of the Union Public School Board, and is also Vice President of the Home Relief Association. A card of his business will be found in the business directory in another part of this work.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 490

WILLIAM EMRICK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Greenville; born in Preble Co., Ohio, Nov. 6. 1836; he was a son of Jacob Emrick, who was born in Berks Co., Penn., in the year 1795; he came to Montgomery Co. at an early day, then to Preble Co. in 1830, where his decease occurred May 18, 1872; he was married three times, his second wife being the mother of the subject of our sketch; her maiden name was Elizabeth Detmore, who was born in Virginia in 1810, and died in October, 1838. William Emrick, after obtaining a good common-school education, remained with his father and assisted him in agricultural pursuits until Dec. 29, 1857, when he was united in marriage with Mary J. Collins, who died May 18. 1868, leaving four children, viz., Franklin, Valorous, Elmer E. and Cora; Oct. 15, 1868, he was married to Susanah Emrick; they have two sons by this union — Orpheus and Elihu. In the spring of 1858, he commenced farming in Preble Co., and continued the same until January, 1866, at which date he came to Darke Co., and purchased a farm of 40 acres in Twin Township, which he afterward disposed of, then purchased 80 acres, which he also sold, and, Jan. 26, 1876 purchased the place where he has since lived; he now owns upward of 100 acres, with good farm buildings, under good improvement, located three miles from Greenville. During his residence in Preble Co., he held the office of Township Clerk of Twin Township in the latter county for four years.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 490

JAMES ESTY, retired farmer and stock-raiser; Sec. 31; P. O. Greenville; another of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in the province of New Brunswick Sept. 17, 1814; his father, David Esty, was born in the above province July 31, 1792; he came to Ohio in 1822, and located in August of the same year, having been two months on the way; he engaged in farming and milling until his death, which occurred Nov. 20, 1874; he was married, in New Brunswick, to Ann Knoop, Sept. 30, 1813; she was born March 19, 1792, in New Brunswick; they were the parents of eleven children, all of whom lived to grow up; ten are now living, of whom James Esty is the oldest; Mrs. Esty died Aug. 21, 1873. The Bible from which the above record was copied was purchased by David Esty in 1829, and is now valued very highly as an heirloom to our subject, who came to Miami Co. with his parents in 1822, being then 8 years of age; he was raised to farming and running a saw-mill until Jan. 1, 1842, when he was united in marriage with Jane McDowell; she was born in Franklin Co. Feb. 20, 1817; they have one son by this union — John C., born Dec. 4, 1842. Upon the marriage of Mr. Esty, he commenced farming for himself in Miami Co., and continued there until March 4, 1856, when he located upon Sec. 31 in Greenville Township, where he has since lived; he now has 165 acres of land, with good farm buildings, located two miles from Greenville. John C. Esty, the only son of James and Jane (McDowell) Esty, has always lived upon the home farm, and for the past two years has been a partner with his father in the products of his farm. He married Ellen Greenawalt on Dec. 18, 1873; she was born in Greenville Jan. 5, 1847; they have one child— Eva May, born March 8, 1875.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 491