DAVID BAUGHMAN.  Few citizens of Hardin County are more deserving of special notice, or a prominent place in the history of the Honored representative settlers within her boundaries, than the gentleman whose name we place at the opening of this sketch, and who has been a resident here since 1855.
     Our subject was born July 3, 1819, in Allen County, this state, to Henry and Mary (Aigler) Baughman, who were natives of Pennsylvania, but of German descent.  The paternal grandfather on coming to America located in Bucks County, Pa., where he lived for a time, and then thought to better his condition by cultivating the fertile soil of the Buckeye State.  He came hither when a young man, locating in Franklin County, where he first worked out at fifty cents per day.  He was very industrious and economical, and when twenty-five years of age was married.  With his wife he settled on a tract of one hundred acres of wild land which he had purchased in an uninhabited part of the county, his only neighbors being Indians, who were not at all times as friendly as could be desired.  He was determined, however, to obtain a goodly amount of land and "grow up with the country."  Henry Baughman erected a little cabin built of logs, 18x26 feet in dimensions, and in this rude structure made his home until the year 1829.  That year he disposed of this property, and, moving to Sandusky County, this state, purchased two hundred and forty acres, on which he made his home for a period of eight years.  At the end of that time, his experience as a pioneer in a new country having proved a very hard one, he located in Columbus.  His stay there was of short duration, however, for we soon find him living in Allen County, on two hundred and sixty acres of land.  This he also took up in its wild state, and after erecting a dwelling for his family, and making them as comfortable as possible, began again the task of subduing the primeval soil.  He made many improvements in the seven years in which he was in possession of this farm, and after selling it moved upon another place in the same county.  Four years afterward he traded this last estate for a farm of one hundred acres near St. John's, where he was residing at the time of his decease.  He was a Democrat in politics and a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
     David Baughman was united in marriage to Rebecca Beaver, and the four children who were born to them were Barbara Ann, Mary Elizabeth, Margaret and Rachel, all of whom are deceased.  The wife and mother died in February, 1854, and May 9 of the following year Mr. Baughman married Catherine Gilman of Hardin County.  Their eight children are named, respectively, George W., Charles, Melissa, Lewis, Silas, Preston, Amos and Sherman.
     When starting out for himself, our subject learned the blacksmith's trade, following this business for seven years in Shelby County.  Abandoning this at the end of that time, he became a carpenter, and for about thirty years was thus employed at various places.  In 1855, however, he made permanent location in Roundhead Township[, and since that time has given his attention to farming.  For the first twelve years he farmed on a rented tract of one hundred and eight acres, which he later purchased.  This piece of property is the same on which he now resides, and from the many improvements in the way of dwelling and barns which have been placed there by our subject, the passer-by-knows it to be owned by a man of progressive spirit and enterprise.
     Mr. Baughman has been School Director and Supervisor of his township, and in politics, during his younger days, was an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party.
†Source #2 - Portrait & Biographical Records of Marion & Hardin Counties, Ohio - 1895

REV. LEROY A. BELT, D. D., Presiding Elder of the Findlay District of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, Jan. 13, 1837.  He is a member of a family long and honorably associated with the history of Maryland, where his father, Alvin T., was born in 1807.  The paternal grandfather died in the prime of life, and his widow later became the wife of Samuel Bradford, who was an extensive slave-owner, in Maryland, but becoming convinced that the institution was wrong he freed his slaves, excepting the old people and the little children, who were ot able to care for themselves.  These he brought with him to Ohio, but gave them absolute freedom in every respect.  At the time of his death, in 1852, he was serving as warden of the Ohio Penitentiary.
     The youthful years of Alvin T. Belt were passed in Maryland, where the family, originally from Scotland, had been represented for many generations.  While a resident of Beltsville he was an officer of the Methodist Church.  In 1831 he came to Ohio and settled in Delaware County, in the midst of the wilderness, from which he cleared and improved a valuable farm, devoting his attention principally to agricultural pursuits.  After coming to this state he retained his interest in the Methodist Church, and continued for many years a prominent member of that denomination.  His death occurred in 1873.
     The mother of our subject was Barbara Mead.  Her maternal grandfather was a noted Scotch soldier, who took an active part in the religious revolution in his native country, and who attained the great age of one hundred and four.  His daughter was one hundred years of age at the time of her death.  In 1831 Seth Mead brought his family to Ohio, where he followed the profession of an attorney, becoming quite prominent in his locality.  Among his sons was Daniel, formerly a well known railroad contractor, who died in Chicago.
     The subject of this sketch is an only son.  He has two sisters.  Mrs. Emma Blanchard was the founder of the Girls' Industrial School of Indianapolis, to which she devotes her entire time; Elnora is the wife of Prof. J. P. Patterson, Superintendent of the parish schools at Pensacola, Fla.  Dr. Belt spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, doing the work incident to the proper management of the land and receiving his early education in the neighboring schools.  At the age of about eighteen he entered the Ohio Wesleyan College at Delaware, from which he was graduated in 1861, having prepared himself for the ministry of the Methodist Church.
     At once after graduating Dr. Belt joined the Central Ohio Conference, and was first sent to Van Wert, in charge of the church at that place.  Later he filled pulpits at Wapakoneta, Ottawa, Bellefontaine, Marion and Toledo.  In 1871 he was given the responsible position of Presiding Elder of the Toledo District, and at the expiration of his term of office he was appointed Financial Secretary of the Central Ohio Conference for the purpose of receiving money to endow a professorship in the university.  To this work he devoted four years, accomplishing the great task.   The degree of D. D. was conferred upon him in 1881 by Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.
     On completing his work as Financial Secretary Dr. Belt became pastor of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church at Toledo, and for the second time was in charge of the church at Marion.  Then followed several years' work as Presiding Elder of the Delaware, and later the Bellefontaine, District.  As above stated, he is now Presiding Elder of the Findlay District, making four different districts over which he has presided.  He has been one of the most indefatigable and successful workers the church has ever had in the state as well as one of the deepest thinkers and most eloquent speakers.  A delegate to the general conferences of his church at Baltimore, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, New York and Omaha, he has kept in close touch with the work throughout the entire country.  He was for four years a member of the Book Committee, which arranges the salaries of the bishops and has the supervision of the publicans of the church.  As a speaker he is eloquent, forcible and logical, and an able executive officer and financial manager.
     The first marriage of Dr. Belt was in 1861, when Miss Rachel Burgett, of Pickaway County, Ohio, became his wife.  This lady died in Delaware, Ohio, in 1888, after having had five children.  One son died when nine years old, and another son in infancy.  Hattie, who was the wife of Prof. William Trusdale, of Cleveland, died in 1893.  Two sons survive:  Dr. William A., a physician of Kenton; and Harry, a medical student at Indianapolis.  The present wife of Dr. Belt was Mrs. Anna L. Runkle, widow of Oak Runkle, and mother of Capt. Hugh Rnnkle, Cashier of the Kenton National Bank, and Mrs. Charles Roser.
     For several years Mr. Belt has made his home in Kenton, where he has a fine residence and has other valuable property, including a farm a mile out of the city.  To such men as he the Methodist Church owes its high rank among other denominations of the country.  His interest in all that will promote the spiritual condition of mankind and the moral and intellectual welfare of society makes him a valued citizen of Kenton, where he wields a decided influence for god.  Wherever he is known his noble attributes of character are recognized and valued, and also the spirit of Philanthropy which governs all his actions and wins for him friends, not only among the poor and unfortunate, but also among the rich.  Politically the Doctor is a Republican, with strong Prohibition proclivities.