Henry F. Ernest, electric blasting operator; P. O. Piqua Mr. Ernest, a native of Germany, born in Hanover in 1845, came to the United States in March, 1862, and soon after his arrival, enlisted in the United States service as drummer, serving until the c lose of the war, being discharged in July, 1865, after which, he went to San Francisco, and was engaged in the mines of the West, where he became acquainted with the use of dynamite, nitro-glycerine, giant powder, etc., for blasting purposes ; he was employed with the force in blasting "Hell Gate," and after that work was completed, returned to the West and operated in the Iron Mountains of Missouri. In 1877, he came to Ohio, and was married, in Darke Co., to Miss Mattie Berry; his mining experience not having enriched him any, he felt discouraged, determined to settle down, and accordingly went to work at his trade (basket-making), but his ambition to achieve something in the use of explosives caused him to spend a larger part of his time experimenting, and, after a long time, he succeeded in getting an opportunity of showing his skill by sinking a shaft in Newton Township. It was not until he becaxne employed by the Piqua Straw Board, and Paper Company, that he was enabled to demonstrate the u tility of his ideas, and show the superiority of his skill in making rock excavations. An account of his work for the above company, will be found in the chapter on Piqua. Mr. Ernest has a battery, and is supplied with all the necessary materials for making rock excavations; he is thoroughly posted in his business is an industrious temperate and trustworthy man. Any one having rock excavations to make, will save time and money by employing him. He can be seen or addressed at Piqua.