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Portage Twp. - JOSEPH JOHNSTON was a native of Virginia, where he was born on the 4th day of April, 1801.  His father - Isaac Johnston - moved from Botetot County, Va., to Ohio, in 1811,and settled at Portsmouth, in Scioto County.  The elder Johnston was a potter by trade, and followed that business whilst in Portsmouth.      The subject of this sketch has been a farmer all his life.  In 1827 the family came to this county, and took up their residence in the village of Findley.  Mr. Johnston was married in 1832 to Susan George, and removed to what is now Marion township, and in the same year was elected Sheriff of the county, which office he filled acceptably one term.  He had for neighbors in this township, such men as Asher Wickham, Charles Thomas E. S. Jones.      In 1853 Mr. Johnston sold his Marion township farm, and removed to this township, where he still resides.  He had a family of fourteen children, twelve of whom are living.  He is of English descent, had but limited educational facilities, and was compelled to depend upon his own resources in that direction.  He helped build the first school house in Marion township, helped to organize, and was a voter at the first election held in that township.  He was prominently connected with the early history of the county, and his industry and energy, with his good common sense, gave him quite an influence with the early settlers.      He has lived long enough to see the vast improvements made in the county, and to enjoy the fruits of his labor.  His wife died in 1850, and he afterwards married Jane Dudgeon, who died in 1879.  In 1863 he was appointed Post Master at Portage Center, which office he held about sixteen years.  In 1870 he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is still a member.   His family has become separated, some reside in Michigan, some in Indiana, and some in this county.  Few men have passed through so checkered a life as has Mr. Johnston, coming to the county at an age when new scenes would be most vividly impressed on his mind, and when the surroundings would be most heartily and most fully appreciated.  He remembers with pleasure those who were his companions in that half century ago, many of them long since dead.  Mr. Johnston, although in feeble health from old age, and past hardships, still retains his memory, and loves to talk of those days and scenes, and people of long ago. †Source 1: History of Hancock County, Ohio By D. B. Beardsley, Findley, O. - Publ. Springfield, O. Republic Printing Company - 1881 Page 260

Union Twp. - CHARLES E. JORDAN is the third child of Charles Jordan, and is a native of Richland Township, Belmont County, Ohio, where he was born May 23, 1800.  His father was a farmer, and emigrated from Penn. to Ohio, in 1797.  The family left Belmont County in 1828, going to Tuscarawas County.      Mr. Jordan was married in Belmont County Feb. 11, 1826, to Margaret Moore, who lived until May, 1873, dying at Arcadia, Ohio.      Mr. Jordan by trade is a boot and shoe maker, but never followed the business but a very few years, since which time he has been a farmer.  He came to this township Oct. 2, 1833, and settled on the lands immediately adjoining the town of Arcadia, on which his son John Lately died.  He found this land all in the woods, built his cabin, and went to work in earnest to make him a home, and his success is attested by the beautiful farm now occupying the place of the forest.      Mr. Jordan was the father of nine children, five of whom are yet living.  He had five sons in the Union army in the rebellion, three of whom are now dead.  James and Charles both died since their return home.  Robert lives in Iowa, and William near Arcadia, Ohio.      Mr. Jordan was amongst the first settlers in this township, and at once took a prominent place in the affairs of the township.  At the first election he attended in the township, there were but fourteen votes cast.  He has held several township offices, amongst them that of Justice of the Peace.  He has been a member of the Lutheran Church for about fifty years, and assisted in the organization of the first Lutheran Society in the township.      Mr. J.  has a fair common English education, although he never attended school more than two months in his life.  Mr. Jordan moved to Findley in 1874, and still resides there.  By his economy and industry in his younger days he is new enabled to enjoy his old age without being a burden to any one. †Source 1: History of Hancock County, Ohio By D. B. Beardsley, Findley, O. - Publ. Springfield, O. Republic Printing Company - 1881 Page 465