William H. Breese

As printed in 1885

WILLIAM H. BREESE, farmer, P. O. Lima, was born September 12, 1848, in Shawnee Township, this county, on what is known as the old “Turkey Foot farm”, and is a son of John and Emily (Valentine) Breese, the former a native of Butler County, Ohio, born April 18, 1820; the latter a native of Champaign County, Ohio,- born April 21, 1820. His paternal grandparents were Griffith and Mary (Mowen) Breese, the former a native of Wales, and a son of John Breese, who immigrated to America in 1798; the latter a native of Pennsylvania, a daughter of Lewis Mowen. Our subject’s maternal grandparents were Crane and Mary (Harper) Valentine, who settled in Lima, Ohio, in 1832, when there were but ten houses in the place. His material great-grandparents were William and Johanna (Crane) Valentine, natives of New Jersey and pioneers of Champaign County, Ohio. Mrs. Mary (Harper) Valentine was a native of Virginia, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Cunningham) Harper. John Breese, father of our subject, who was twelve years of age when his parents settled in Shawnee Township, this county, received a limited education in the schools of that time, and commenced the world for himself on what is known as the “Turkey Foot farm,” this county, where he resided three years; in 1851, he removed to the farm now owned and occupied by Samuel Zurmehly, a part of which he cleared and improved, where he lived until 1863, when he located on the farm now occupied by our subject, and here he resided until his death, which was caused by being struck on the head with an iron hook while engaged in moving a building, November 16, 1865, his death ensuing the day following; he was in the 100 days’ service in the One Hundred and Fifty - first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the late war of the Rebellion; he held several minor offices in Shawnee Township; in politics, he was a

Republican; he was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is the only child of his parents, and was reared and educated in Shawnee Township, this county, where he has always resided. He was married November 10, 1874, to Ida A., daughter of James A. and Isabel K. (Ferguson) Hover, of Shawnee Township, this county, and by her he has two children: Naamah B. and John E. Mr. Breese is serving his first term as trustee of the township. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is steward. In politics, he is a Republican.

As printed in History of Allen County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; hist (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.