WESLEY NEPTUNE, deceased, was one of the prominent early settlers of Noble county, and was born in Loudoun county, Va., Apr. 14, 1824.  At the age of four years, he came with his parents to Ohio, and located on a farm near Malaga, in Monroe county, where he grew to manhood.  He was educated in the public schools there, learned the tanner's trade at Summerton, and followed that business for many years.  He was married in Monroe county, Aug. 21, 1849, to Mary Ann Beardmore, who was born in Monroe county, Jan. 2, 1830.  Mr. and Mrs. Neptune were reared on adjoining farms and were school-mates in their childhood days.  In the fall of 1849, Mr. Neptune bought six lots in the village of Middleburg, and brought his bride to the new home, where he established a tanyard, and after following this business for a number of years, engaged in merchandising and hotel keeping, to the time of his death, Sept. 5, 1900.  Mr. and Mrs. Neptune were the founders of the well known Exchange Hotel in Middleburg, a popular hostelry still conducted by his widow.  Mr. Neptune was a staunch Republican in his politics, and in war time an Abolitionist.  He was postmaster at Middleburg during the Civil war, and contributed liberally of his means to the preservation of the Union.  Mr. Neptune was a member of the Masonic fraternity.  Mrs. Neptune has been a member of the Methodist church for the last forty-five years.  they had a family of eleven children born to them, nine of whom are living.  Of these, George B. is the oldest, a farmer near Garden City, Kansas; Felix O. is a practicing physician at Sharon; Everet W. is in Omaha; Laura now Mrs. Ashton Ogle, is in Licking county; Edward Lincoln, of Salina, Kansas, is a merchant there: Charles of Rollins, Wy.; John W., is a physician in Salina, Kansas; Lydia, is the wife of Dr. James A. McCowan of Middleburg; James Albert is a merchant in Middleburg.  Mrs. Neptune assumes charge of the hotel and conducts the same with the energy and success of former years, and though she feels the loneliness, she chooses the active life rather than the rest she so well deserves.
Source:  The County of Noble, Ohio - By Hon. Frank M. Martin - 1904 - Page 245