FRANKLIN A. DEWEESE, the well known florist and horticulturist of Staunton Township, Miami County, Ohio, has a tract of nineteen acres, on which he has three large and modern equipped greenhouses. He has lived all his life in the county, except for a brief period in Indiana, and has been closely identified with the affairs of Staunton Township, being at the present time a member of the School Board. He was born on his father's farm in Staunton Township, September 19, 1854, and is a son of Henry G. and Lucy (Estey) DeWeese, and a grandson of Joshua DeWeese.

Joshua DeWeese, the grandfather, was born in Virginia and was a young man when he settled in the woods of Miami County, living the remainder of his days in Staunton Township. He died in middle life as the result of a kick from a horse. In June, 1818, he was married to Polly Gerard, who was the first white child born in Miami County. She survived her husband many years and died at the home of one of her children.

Henry G. DeWeese was the third of his parents fourteen children, and was a native of Staunton Township, being born on the old home place, January 8, 1826. Although he did not have the advantage of schooling, he acquired a superior education and was a broad and liberal-minded man. He was a Republican in politics and served the township efficiently as trustee for many years. He was reared to farming, and after leaving the home place purchased the Edward Harter farm in Staunton Township, later buying what became known as the Defrese farm. On this property he conducted a stone quarry, and in October 19, 1874, was seriously injured while blasting. He never recovered from his injuries, almost losing his eyesight, and from that time on lived in practical retirement. His death. occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Arminta Moore, May 1904, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was married August 26, 1848, to Miss Lucy Estey, who was born in Miami County, February 22, 1830, and died at the, age of sixty-eight years. They became parents of the following children: Arminta, wife of Theodore Moore; Zelia, wife of William Loy; Jotham G. W.; Franklin A.; Henry H.; Maggie, deceased wife of A. Beedle; Florence, deceased wife of George McKaig; Docia E., wife of Charles Wilson, residing in California; and Alva Watson, of Piqua.

Franklin A. DeWeese spent his boyhood days on the farm and when he could be spared from the farm work attended the district schools, his school days being very limited. After his marriage he went to Shelby County, and ran his father's farm at Anna Station one year, after which he took charge of the stone quarry for his father for two years. He rented a farm from his father a few years, and in 1882 bought his present farm from his brother, Harry DeWeese, the house on it having been completed the year previously. He farmed this in connection with the farm of his uncle, Simon Estey, and later he erected a small greenhouse, 60xl2 feet, which he heated by furnace. He later erected a hothouse 72x20 feet, another 72x25 feet, and still later a third one, 12x 72 feet. He makes a specialty of lettuce and spring flowers, and has built up a large and well paying business. He puts out about 2,000 or 3,000 geraniums each year, which he sells to the citizens of Troy, and he also raises many plants.

November 20, 1879, he was united in marriage with Miss Nettie Small, a daughter of David B. and Ellen (Conklin) Small. Her father was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, and was a mere baby when they came to Miami County, one of his treasured possessions at the present time being a little rocking-chair they had for him at the time of his arrival here. Mr. Small was born in New York State and was three years of age when the family moved from there to Miami County. The Small family in generations back were all great hunters, and Mrs. DeWeese is an expert in the use of firearms. Mr. and Mrs. DeWeese are parents of the following children: Lester, who married Nellie Knoop and has a daughter, Virginia; Clyde, who married Mary McClung and has a son, Orville; Mattie, wife of George Shroyer; Elwood, who assists his father at the hothouses; and May, who is a freshman in Piqua High School. Religiously they are members of the Christian Church. He is a Republican in politics and formerly served as pike superintendent. He is at the present a member of the School Board. Fraternally he is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.