Robert Shannon, retired, Piqua born in Northumberland Co., Penn., April 18, 1805; is the son of David and Jane (Sample) Shannon, who were born in Pennsylvania and were parents of eight children; all grew up to manhood, but three only are now living, viz., Samuel, Elizabeth Scott and Robert, who is the subject of our sketch. He was united in marriage, in 1829, with Mary Defrees, daughter of Joseph Defrees; they had seven children, of whom three are now living, viz., Elizabeth D., John D. and Mary; Elizabeth D. is married to George W. Young, and resides in Piqua; John D. is married to Bessie McDonald, and also resides in Piqua and Mary is married to Robert Lamb, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, where they reside; Jane S., who is now deceased, was married to D. L. C. Ball, of Piqua. Mr. Shannon, in 1827, left his native State for Ohio, starting on foot, and walked till he reached Pittsburgh, where he took "deck passage " on a steamer for Cincinnati, and from there he walked through to Piqua, being at this time 22 years of age; he located here and went to work at his trade (the cabinet trade), which he followed about seven years, when he entered into the mercantile trade, which he followed many years, some of the time in Piqua and a part of the time in Covington; during his business connections in Covington, his residence was still in Piqua, his brother-in-law having charge of the business at Covington; for seven years, Mr. Shannon held the office of Constable and also Marshal of Piqua after the war, Mr. Shannon engaged in the hardware trade for about three years, when he retired from active business, as his failing health warned him that he needed quiet and rest; he owns a nice residence, retired from the more active business portion of the city, where he prefers to live in quiet enjoyment, the rest of his life.