Michael Shuman is a veteran of the civil war and a retired farmer now living in Covington, his long years of labor being crowned with a well earned rest. He was born on the farm in Liverpool township, Perry county, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1822. His father, George Shuman, was born in Lost Creek Valley, in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1792, and died in Liverpool township, Perry county, April 10, 1842.

The subject of this review was reared upon the home farm and the educational privileges which he enjoyed were those afforded by the common schools. In 1865 he responded to the country's call for troops and enlisted in Company K, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Five Forks and South Side Railroad at Burksville station, and in July received an honorable discharge at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, reaching his home on Independence day of that year. He continued upon the farm until the fall of 1865, when he was made captain of one of his uncle's canal boats. With his wife and two children, he then removed to Sedalia, Pettis county, Missouri, where he worked as a farm hand for six months, after which he came to Covington, Ohio, being employed by his brother in the grain trade until 1888. In that year he retired to private life and is now enjoying a well earned rest. In 1870 he built a comfortable home and in his declining years he is surrounded by all the necessaries and many of the comforts of life.

Mr. Shuman was married April 1, 1847, in New Berlin, Pennsylvania, to Miss Elizabeth Chesney, and two children were born to them in Pennsylvania. They became the parents of five children: William, a merchant of Covington; Alice, wife of Samuel Wright, of Piqua; Oliver, Clara and Albert who died in childhood. The mother's death occurred in 1887, and on the 18th of March, 1890, Mr. Shuman was married to Miss Sophia Reck, of Covington, a daughter of David and Ann Maria (Lightner) Reck, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Reck was born in 1803, and died March 23, 1881. His wife was born in 1800 and departed this life August 23, 1841. Mrs. Shuman was born in 1830, on a farm about two miles west of the famous battle-ground of Gettysburg, in Adams county, Pennsylvania. Her mother died when she was twelve years of age, which was about four years after the removal of the family to Ohio. Mrs. Shuman had three brothers, Franklin, William and Amos, all of whom served their country in the civil war. Amos is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Shuman make their home in Covington, being widely and favorably known in that locality. He receives the veneration and respect which should always accompany advanced years and is regarded as one of the representative men of the town.