Joab COMSTOCK was probably the pioneer white in Crosby township. He immigrated from the vicinity of New Haven, Connecticut, in 1801, made a large entry of land, embracing several sections, and made his home about one mile and a half east of the present village of New Haven (Preston post office), with his farm reaching the bank of the Great Miami and the road to Venice, Butler county. He was the founder, in 1815, of the village of New Haven, in this township. He laid out the village of Crosby soon after coming, giving it his mother's maiden name, the township subsequently formed also taking its name from it. This was the only village of much account in the whole valley when the township was set off.
 

Ezra SHERMAN, sr., was born in Connecticut in the year 1765. He served for a short time in the Revolutionary war, and also took part in Wayne's campaign. He was a member of the Methodist church, and for a number of years was a minister in that denomination. Coming to this State with the Ohio company he settled in Washington county, near Waterford. He was one of the first settlers who ventured into what was then the Northwestern Territory, and remembers seeing the first steamboat that sailed down the Ohio river. He married Mary PIERCE, a native of Connecticut. After a few years in Ohio he removed his home to Kentucky, and thence, after a stay of six years, to Indiana, where he lost his wife in 1822. After her death, the father and three of his children joined the society of Shakers, in which they remained till death. The family consisted of five children - Anna, who married David E. WHITNEY, of Hamilton county; Manley, who married Frances STERRITT, of the same; Abel, married Ann McGUIRE, of Alabama; Ezra, who never married, and lives in this township; and Mary E., also single, and living in Indiana.
 

Ezra SHERMAN, jr., one of the first trustees of the society of Shakers, was born in Washington county, Ohio, in 1805. When seven years old he went with his parents to Kentucky to live, and afterwards to Indiana. In 1826 he joined the society of Shakers. At various times he has learned the boot and shoemaker's, the stonemason's and the blacksmith's trades. He is a natural mechanic, and can do at once almost anything in the manufacturing line. He understands farming equally well, and has given especial attention to bee culture. Owing to the rules of the society, he takes no part in political affairs. He has voted for President of the United States only once; and that was for John Quincy ADAMS.
 

Joab WHIPPLE was born in Butler county, Ohio, March 20, 1817. About the year 1839, he removed to this county. His wife's maiden name was Jane J. LUTIS, daughter of Isaac LUTIS. They were married January 12, 1837. Nine children were duly born to them - Elizabeth L., Albina, Eunice J., Phoebe L., Isaac L., Zachary T., David J., Charles F., and Joab C. Of these, only five are now living - Elizabeth, Eunice, Isaac, Zachary, and Joab. Elizabeth married Henry CONE, and resides in Butler county; Isaac married Miss Inia L. DAVIS, and is a resident of Franklin county, Kansas; Zachary married Miss Letitia A. DAVIS, and also is in Butler county, Ohio; Joab married Miss Elizabeth WABNITZ, and lives in Crosby township. The last-named lives on the old home, his sister Eunice living with him. He was married March 17, 1880. Mrs. WHIPPLE is a member of the church of United Brethern, and is one of its most liberal supporters. Joab WHIPPLE, jr., is now a leading farmer in Hamilton county. His father died July 4, 1859, aged forty-six years. He was a man respected by all who knew him.
 

Charles CONE, one of the pioneers, was born in Connecticut in the year 1772, whence he emigrated with his family in the spring of 1800, and was a resident of the county up to the time of his death, April 26, 1853. He was married to Miss Jane HARVEY, who became the mother of twelve children: Rufus, Philena, Ann, Charles, Ass, James, James S., Thomas H., Grace, Rachel, William, and Martha. All of these but one, William, are now alive. He was born in this county January 2, 1810, and has been a resident of the county all his life, with the exception of about two years. He has been twice married; first February 6, 1834, to Miss Mary ATHERTON, daughter of Henry ATHERTON, of Massachusetts. Three children followed: William H., Charles, and George M. February 9, 1841, he married Miss Mary BROWN, daughter of Joseph BROWN, of Butler county. To them were born two children: Rachel J., and Joseph. All the children have been married and are living. Mr.. and Mrs. CONE are both members of the Presbyterian church, of which they are liberal supporters. When the elder Mr.. CONE came to Ohio the country was all in woods. The first thing he did was to build a cabin to shelter his family. At a later day he built an inn on the bank of the Great Miami river, and kept a ferry-boat for taking people across. The Indians at that time were exceedingly troublesome. William, the son, is now living in the same yard where the house stood in which he was born, and has reached the ripe age of seventy. His memory is still good, and he looks as though he might live many more years.
 

Andrew NUGENT, sr., one of the pioneers, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1786. >From this place he emigrated to Ohio about the year 1812. He was married to Miss Mary HILL March 4, 1814. Seven children were given them: Christiana, Catharine, James, John, Andrew J., William S., and Julia. Of these, all are living, with the exception of John. The mother died August 2, 1865; the father followed November 14, 1872. William was born in Whitewater township, Hamilton county, February 23, 1830; came to Crosby township in 1860, and has been a resident there ever since. He was married twice; first to Miss Elizabeth F. LACY, daughter of Thomas LACY, on the first of March, 1855. Ten children were born to them; three are now dead, and the mother also died November 12, 1875. His second marriage was to Mrs. Lydia BREESE, daughter of Curtis DEAN, and the widow of John BREESE, on the eighth of March, 1878. Mrs. NUGENT is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has always been active in its work and reliable in its support. Her husband connects himself with no organization. He is, however, a good moral man in his life, and has always been a worthy and respectable citizen. Andrew J. NUGENT, the fifth child, and brother of the preceding, was born in Whitewater township on the fifth day of July, 1826. About the year 1854 he moved to Crosby township, and has been a resident here from that date to the present. He was married first to Miss Mary BAUGHMAN July 23, 1853. Eight children were born to them. Mrs. NUGENT died on the second of October, 1873. He was married, the second time, to Miss Mary A. BACON, of Miami township, August 2, 1879. One child has been added to his family. Mr.. NUGENT joined the "hundred days'" service during the late war of the Rebellion. He is now an enterprising farmer and a respected citizen.
 

William G. OYLER, second son of George and Sarah OYLER, was born in Kent, England, August 22, 1817. In 1828 he came to America. His home was with his parents Crosby township, and he has remained in the same location, with the exception of four years' residence in Indiana. He was married first to Miss Rebecca PHILLIPS of Butler county, on the fifth of April, 1839. Their family consisted of six children. Of these three are living - Harriet, Sophia and Sarah. All are married: Harriet to Franklin WASHBURN, and is residing in the State of Indiana. Sophia married Alexander CAMPBELL, and remains in this county. Sarah married William H. GUY July 25, 1850, and lives in Madison county, Ohio. Mr.. OYLER married for his second wife, Miss Eliza VANTRESS, daughter of Isaac VANTRESS, of Indiana. She had nine children: Rebecca, James A., Alice C., Ada M., Elizabeth, Electa J., McClellan, William T., and Lida B. Of these seven are living, Rebecca and Elizabeth having died. The seven are all at home, excepting Alice, who married Charles L. PURLEE on the sixth of October, 1880, and James, who has made his home in Kansas. Mr.. OYLER has served as trustee in Crosby township for a period of fourteen years, and in every way ranks in his neighborhood as a leading citizen, and a, genuinely good man.