John A. McMaster is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, who on many a southern battle field demonstrated his loyalty to his country. In days of peace he is equally true and faithful to the duties of citizenship and withholds his support from no measure calculated to prove of public benefit. He now follows farming in Staunton township, Miami county, and is numbered among the native sons of Montgomery county, his birth having there occurred, near Dayton, May 23, 1837. He spent the first sixteen years of his life upon the home farm and then started out to make his own way in the world. He was employed as a farm hand for two years and then began work at the carpenter's and millwright's trades, serving a five- years apprenticeship. At the time of the Civil war, however, he put aside all personal considerations in order to aid in the defense of the Union, enlisting on the 8th of August, 1862, for three years' service in Company C, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The first engagement in which he participated was at Tate's Ferry. He afterward took part in many of the most important battles of the war, including those of Perryville, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Keystone, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, the siege of Atlanta and Jonesboro, the siege of Savannah and the battle of Bentonville. The Atlanta campaign continued for one hundred and twenty days. When the war was over, he received an honorable discharge at Columbus, Ohio, in June, 1865, and, with a most creditable military record, returned to his home.

Mr. McMaster afterward worked at his trade in Morrowtown, Ohio, and thence came to Staunton township, in 1867, locating on a farm which is now his home. He carried on agricultural pursuits until 1881, when he took up his abode in Troy and there followed contracting and building until 1892. In that year he returned to the farm and is now devoting his time and energies to the operation of his land, a tract of one hundred acres on section 3, Staunton township. The richly cultivated fields yield to him golden harvests and his labors are thus crowned with success.

January 4, 1866, Mr. McMaster was married to Miss Rosina Jones. She was the daughter of Abner and Julia A. (Frazee) Jones. Mr. Jones was born in Kentucky, in 1806, and came to Lost Creek township, Miami county, in 1814. Mrs. Jones was born in Lost Creek township, in 1810. Mr. Jones passed the rest of his days in his adopted county, passing away June 7, 1866, his wife surviving him until August 1, 1876. Mrs. McMaster was born in Lost Creek township, March 12, 1841, and has always lived in Miami county. Mr. and Mrs. McMaster have many friends in the community and are faithful workers and active members of the Baptist church. For two years he has been superintendent of the Sunday school an labored earnestly to support the church work, holding the honorable post of deacon. In politics he is a stanch Republican and, socially, is connected with Troy Post, G. A. R. His life has been well spent, and his activity in business affairs and his straightforward dealing have gained him a comfortable competence and also the unqualified regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.