Elias HEDGES, a native of Morris county, New Jersey, purchased five hundred acres of land in Colerain township, of Dr. William BURNET and Daniel THEW, probably during the winter of 1804-5; and soon afterward she, with his wife, who, previous to their marriage was: Elizabeth GASTON, a native of the same place, and four small children, set out for the West. They travelled in a wagon - and after a journey of some seven weeks arrived at DUNLAP's Station July 4, 1805. This post was located on the tract purchased by Mr. HEDGES. At the time of his purchase, Mr. HEDGES was not able to pay for so large a tract, its cost being three thousand seven hundred and twenty dollars. So he accepted the offer of two neighbors as partners, with whom he divided his tract in proportion to the money, furnished by each, retaining about two hundred and thirty acres in the middle of the tract for himself. Here, he immediately began to clear the forest and improve his land. Mr. HEDGES continued his occupation with great energy and perseverance until December, 1813, when he became a victim of the "Cold Plague," which scourged a large portion of the west during the summer and fall of that year. Elias HEDGES was highly respected as a good neighbor and man of clear and discriminating judgment; being frequently selected as arbitrator in settling, by amicable means, disputes and contentions which at times sprang up between his neighbors. His early death, at about forty years of age was lamented by all who knew him.

Elizabeth HEDGES, wife of the preceding, survived her husband about eighteen years. They had eight children, seven of whom lived to be men and women. Sarah, their eldest, was born in 1792, and married Alexander JOHNSON early in 1816. He dying in 1822, she afterwards married Stewart McGILL, also a native of New Jersey, who is still living at the venerable age of ninety-three years. Mrs. McGILL died in 1854, respected and loved, by all who knew her. Mary, John G. and Eliza HEDGES died young. Anthony LUDLOW married Hannah A. JOHNSON in 1824, and died in 1831. His widow is still living. Stephen OGDEN married Sarah WHITE in July, 1832. They are both dead. Harriett was married to Bradbury CILLEY in 1834, and is still living, a widow. Elizabeth was born in 1813, and married David K. JOHNSON in August, 1831, died some years since. Her husband is still living at seventy-nine years of age, but during the last fifteen or eighteen years has been entirely blind. He is one of the most highly respected old gentlemen in the country. Elias and Elizabeth HEDGES lie buried at the old Colerain station, in probably the oldest burying-place in the Miami valley, and on the farm which they purchased seventy-six years ago.
 

Louis W. CLASON, mayor of Madisonville, and justice of the peace, also clerk of the township, was born on Indian Hill, October 11, 1823, upon the farm where he lived for fifty years, and now owns. His grandfather, Smith CLASON, emigrated from Connecticut in 1818, to Columbia township. He was a Revolutionary soldier, a companion of PUTNAM and served under him, and after he came west was township trustee and surveyor, and also held other offices. His grandfather on his mother's side was Dr. Thomas BAYUX, of France, surgeon on an English ship-of-war during the Revolution. He came to Connecticut and settled at Greenwich. The house in which he lived was built long before the Revolutionary war - was made of lime and brick imported from Holland. It is a large house of fifteen rooms, and is still standing. Mr. CLASON is a prominent and well-known citizen of Columbia township. He has held each of the positions of township trustee, township clerk, justice of the peace, and mayoralty of the town of Madisonville for a number of years, and has never been beaten in any of the political races he has run. Both parties regard him as a safe man, and thus he is kept in office constantly. He has been justice of the peace for ten years, and has during that time tried nearly one thousand cases.
 

A. B. LUNBECK, of Madisonville, is travelling auditor for the Marietta & Cincinnati railroad. He was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, but his mother and grandmother (Mrs. CUTLER) live with him at Madisonville. Mr. LUNBECK went into the ticket office as sort of an apprentice some twenty years ago, and by diligent and faithful application to business has worked himself up to the high and responsible position which he has held for ten years. He was married to Miss PRICE in 1872, daughter of Hezekiah D. PRICE, carpenter and builder of that place. Mr. LUNBECK has his office on Fourth street, over the gas offices.
 

A. B. WARD, of Madisonville, son of Morris WARD, who came from New Jersey in 1811, was born in a log hut in this place in the year 1826. His grandfather and father came to the county when bridle paths were used as great highways. He bought land now adjoining the town. Morris WARD died in 1864, at fifty-three years of age. He farmed, and at onetime took a trip on a flatboat to New Orleans, for which services he received one hundred dollars, but after the trip down was made he found that he had either to pay one hundred dollars, to get back on a steamer (the first trip of the first boat of the kind on the river) or walk it. He chose the former conveyance, his comrades the latter, but he reached home some seven weeks before them. Mr. WARD, like his father, has lived a quiet, retired life, not caring for nor meddling with politics. He was married to Miss PEARSON, daughter of William PEARSON, an old settler of the county, in 1848, and lives on a part of the homestead farm. He was a soldier in the one hundred day service, and was encamped before Petersburgh during his stay in the army.
 

B. S. EBERSOLE, deceased, was a resident of Madisonville. The handsome cottage now the residence of Mrs. EBERSOLE, nee ARMSTRONG, bespeaks a style of luxury to the passer by. Mr. EBERSOLE was one of the old settlers of Columbia township. His father, Christian EBERSOLE, was a Maryland farmer, who settled near the mouth of the Little Miami in 1802. In 1808 he erected the old homestead now occupied by Thomas BROOKS. Mr. C. S. EBERSOLE was born in 1799, settled in Oakley in 1843, and in Madisonville in 1871. He died in 1881.
 

John BEISWARNGER, of Madisonville, was born in 1834, in Germany. He came to America in 1846. His parents dying when he was young, John was placed under the guardianship of his uncle. In 1855 he went to Kansas, where he followed his trade at brick-moulding. In 1872 he came to Madisonville, where he now lives, owner and proprietor of the Madisonville house. He also owns other property in this place.