AARON VAIL.  This honored and highly respected citi­zen of Greenville township, Darke county, where he has made his home since 1852, was born near Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, October 19, 1823, and is a son of Shobal and Mary (Bunnell) Vail, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, respectively. In their family were eleven children, but all are now deceased with the exception of our subject. His grandfather, Stephen Vail, was one of the early settlers of Butler county, Ohio, and was a fuller by trade.
     In his native county Aaron Vail grew to manhood and married Miss Sarah Aedy, of that county, and to them were born eight children, five of whom are still living, name­ly: Daniel, B. Shobal, Stephen, Etta and' Mollie. Those deceased were Joseph, Laura and Henrietta.  In 1852 Mr. Vail brought his family to Darke county and subsequently purchased one hundred and forty acres of land in Greenville township, where he now lives.
     In 1864 he enlisted for three months in Company H, One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and proceeded at once to Camp Dennison, where the regiment was drilled and equipped. At that time they were state troops, but at the request of Governor Brough they enlisted in. a body in the United States service, with the exception of three or four men. In the state service our subject was under the command of Captain Hyde, of Company C, and after the reorganization of the regiment was under the command of Captain Gray, of Company H. He did guard duty most of the time. His command was first sent to Camp New Creek, Virginia, and subse­quently ordered down the valley to Martinsburg. The regiment was then detailed as wagon guard to the army train and penetrated to a point near Lynchburg, but the rebels becoming too numerous for them a retreat was made. At Greenbrier creek they participated in quite a fight and here one of Mr. Vail's comrades standing close to him was killed. Our subject was mustered out at Camp Dennison and honorably discharged. He had walked out of the corn field to enlist and on his return home resumed farm work. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vail have long been active members of the Christian church of Coalville, and politically he is identified with the Republican party. He cast his first presidential vote for Henry Clay, the great commoner, and he has filled the offices of town­ship supervisor and school director, holding the latter position several terms. He is a gentleman of inflexible character, true in friendship and unyielding in all that comprises honor. He is charitably disposed toward the opinions of others, and although not rich in this world's goods he gives freely to all worthy objects. He has a comfortable and tasteful home, graciously presided over by his estimable wife, who has been to him a true helpmeet.
Source: A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio, Compendium of National Biography - Illustrated - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1900 - Page 715