JESSE F. BIRNEY.  This gentleman is the proprietor of one of the best-appointed and most popular hotels in the State of Ohio.
     He was born in Harrison County, Ohio, Mar. 24, 1842.  His father, Letchworth Birney, was also a native of the same County, born 16^th of June, 1817.  He had a family of two sons and one daughter, of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest.
     His grandfather, William Birney, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to America about the beginning of the present century.
     Young Birney worked upon his father’s farm till he was of age, and then spent some ten years in farming and dealing in live stock.
     On Feb. 6, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth M. Simmons, daughter of Judge John Simmons, of Chocton, Ohio.  In 1873 Mr. Birney sold his farm, and, after a short period spent in the grocery and produce trade, in the winter of 1874 purchased what is now grocery and produce trade, in the winter of 1874 purchased what is now favorably known as the Birney House.  The building at this time was simply inclosed.  Mr. Birney at once proceeded to finish it, and on Feb. 22, 1874, opened it to the public as a place of entertainment.  In all its appointments and furnishings it is a first-class institution and is conducted in capital style.  Mr. Birney is a gentleman of retiring, yet genial manners, and, with his accomplished lady, spares no pains to render his house a pleasant home for the traveler. 
Source: Combination Atlas Map of Tuscarawas County, Ohio by L. H. Everts & Co. – Philadelphia – 1875 ~ Page 23

CHRISTIAN BLICKENSDERFER (2d).  His wife was Barbara Born, and was born in Frederick County, Maryland, July 1, 1760.  Their children's names were:  John, Christian (3d), George, Mary and Elizabeth.  Mr. Christian Blickensderfer (2d) settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, near Litiz.  Emigrated to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in the spring of 1812, arriving at Sharon on the 10th of May, his son George having preceded him the year before.
     He was a member of the Moravian denomination, and assisted in building the first Moravian Church of Sharon.  He possessed genuine building the first Moravian Church of Sharon.  He possessed genuine pioneer energy, and was in all respects a very efficient citizen.
               "What heroism, what perils, then, -
               How true of heart and strong of hand,
               How earnest, resolute, those pioneer men!"
     Mr. Blickensderfer died March 3, 1820, and his wife on April 11, 1823.

CHRISTIAN BLICKENSDERFER (3d) was born at Litiz, Pennsylvania, December 7, 1788.  On November 2, 1808, he married Sarah Louisa Frederick, who was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1785.  Their family record is as follows:  Abraham, born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1810; Isaac, born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, October 1, 1813; Christiana E., born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, July 16, 1817; and Sarah, born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, June 6, 1821.

ABRAHAM BLICKENSDERFER was a tanner by trade, though for a number of years a merchant in Canal Dover.  In 1834 he married Elizabeth Rhodes, of Tuscarawas County.  He now rsides in western Ohio.  His children are:  Charles, Sarah, James, and George.  James died in infancy.  Charles went into the service as Captain of a company in the 51st O. V. I., and for gallant and meritorious services was promoted to Colonel of the regiment.  He died shortly after the war, in Fremont, Ohio.  Sarah married Samuel Sausser, of Stark County, Ohio; was the mother of two children; died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  George married Emeline Sausser, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is engaged in the boot and shoe manufacturing business in that city.

ISAAC BLICKENSDERFER married Alvina Myers, October 16, 1834.  Family record:  Josiah, born July 11, 1835; Louisa, born April 1, 1836, died August 6, 1875; Anna, born June 13, 1838; Francis N., born December 27, 1839, killed in the army August 11, 1863.  He was a member of Company I, 30th Regiment O. V. I.; Sarah, born May 17, 1844.

CHRISTIANA E. BLICKENSDERFER was married on the 22d of November, 1836, to Mr. Ferdinand Helwig.   Edmund G., born February 15, 1851;  Sarah E., born Frederick 20, 1839; Edmund G., born February 15, 1851; Christian D., born November 19, 1843; Obadiah, born January 29,1 846, died May 29, 1846; Samuel H., born May 4, 1849; James H., born June 18, 1864.
     Sarah married Joseph R. Walton, May 26, 1859.  Has had four children:  Charles E., Mary E. (died in infancy), Francis B., and Harry S.
     Edmund married Priscilla L. Demuth, September 25, 1867.  Ha had three children:  Orvil L., Bertha E., and Clarence.
     Mr. Helwig is a native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, born November 26, 1813.  His father, Gideon Helwig, emigrated from Germany to America in 1799, and located in Bethlehem.  His mother was Elizabeth Myer, and was born in Prussia, May 20, 1770.  The family comprised three children, of whom Mr. Ferdinand Helwig is the oldest.

JOHN BLICKENSDERFER, son of Christian Blickensderfer (2d), was a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
     His wife was Elizabeth Frederick, also a native of Pennsylvania.  Their children were:  Frederick, Lucy Ann, Simon P., Lucinda, Eli, and Catherine.  The only surviving member of the family is the second son and third child.

SIMON P. BLICKENSDERFER, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, June 23, 1812.  His first wife was Miss Susannah Uhrich, the history of whose family will be found upon within these pages.  By his marriage Mr. Blickensderfer had two sons and one daughter: Owen, Albert, and Susannah, twins; of these Owen and Susannah are deceased.  Mr. Blickensderfer's educational advantages were quite limited.  When a boy he attended school with the Goshen Indians.  His chief business has been that of farming, and dealing in live stock and real estate.
     His present companion was Miss Matilda E. Walton, of Tuscarawas County.  By this marriage he has had two daughters:  Cornelia E. and Martha R.  The latter is the wife of Charles Bartles, of New Philadelphia.  A daughter of Frederick Blickensderfer, Mrs. Lawrence (Lydia Ann) Vogler, resides near Bothwell, Canada West.

DR. E. P. BUELL.  This gentleman was born in Rutland County, Vermont, Sept. 22, 1816.
     The first twenty-one years of his life were passed upon a farm.  He then spent some three years at West Poultney Academy, in his native State, and for two years subsequent engaged in teaching.
     At the age of twenty-seven, he entered Castleton Medical College, in Rutland County, Vermont, where he graduated in 1846.  He then spent one year in Bellevue Hospital, in New York City.
     In 1847 he returned to his native village, where he engaged in the practice of his profession for about three years.
     In the spring of 1850 he came to Ohio, and located in the town of New Philadelphia, opened an office and began practice.
     On the 8^th of May, 1852, the doctor was married to Miss Catherine Espich, daughter of Charles F. Espich, Esq., of New Philadelphia.  This union was honored with a family of two daughters.
     In 1862 he responded to the call for the defense of the Government in her hour of peril, and became Surgeon of the 80^th O. V. I., which position he filled for three years.  His health, however, was greatly impaired by the exposures in the service, from the effects of which he will never fully recover.
     The doctor has been a resident of this place for a quarter of a century, has led a very active and laborious professional life, and ranks among the leading and substantial citizens of the community. 
Source: Combination Atlas Map of Tuscarawas County, Ohio by L. H. Everts & Co. – Philadelphia – 1875 ~ Page 23