John Hamilton Sayers, who is engaged in farming in Brown township, was born in Lost Creek township, Miami county, near Casstown, May 21, 1845, his parents being William and Mary (Mason) Sayers. The Sayers family is one of the oldest in the county, a settlement having been made in Staunton township, near Troy, about 1812, when almost this entire region was in its primitive condition. The father of our Subject was the fifth son of Thomas Sayers, who was born December 25, 1770. His wife, Frances (Dye) Sayers, was born in 1777. Their children were Andrew, Thomas, Jefferson, Samuel, William, Phebe, Sarah, Rachel, Mary, Elizabeth, Frances, Persilla, Cassa, Ann, Clarissa, Harriet and Eloner. Ezekiel Sayers, of Troy, is a son of Jefferson Sayers. William Sayers, the father of our subject, was married in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1836. Previous to his marriage he had lived with his parents in Staunton township, and then located in Lost Creek township. His wife was a daughter of James and Mary Mason. Her father was born in Ireland, in 1784. When two years of age he was brought by his parents to America, the family locating in Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood. He wedded Mary Johnson. They spent their remaining days in Greene county, Pennsylvania, the father dying at the age of eighty-five years, the mother in her one hundredth year. Their daughter Mary was born November 9, 1810, was married August 24, 1836, and is still living in Greene county, Ohio. After their marriage William and Mary Sayers located on a farm near Casstown, in Lost Creek township, and in 1850 removed to Clark county, Ohio. Four years later they took up their abode upon a farm in Greene county, and there Mrs. Sayers is still living, but the father died March 17,1887, at the age of seventy- two years, his birth having occurred in Staunton township, Miami county, on the 29th of May, 1815. He was a prosperous farmer whose well conducted business affairs brought to him a comfortable competence. In politics he was always a Democrat, but never sought or desired office. In his family were eight children: James M., born July 2, 1837, was married August 18, 1863, to Eliza Miller, and died in Clinton county, Ohio, August 26, 1882; Frances E., born January 21, 1839, married Josiah Hitchcock and resides in Delaware county, Indiana; Clarissa, born March 19, 1841, died at the age of twenty-four years; Mary E., born May 6, 1843, became the wife of John Messecher and after his death became the wife of Solomon Koontz, her death occurring at the age of forty-seven years; John Hamilton is the next younger; Charlotte S., born May 17, 1848, lives with her mother; George W., born May 27, 1851, is married and operates the old home farm in Greene county; and William R., born October 15, 1853, is a resident of Huntington, Indiana.

John Hamilton Sayers remained at home until twenty-nine years of age, with the exception of one year passed in Indiana and one year spent at work as a farm hand. He was married, September 24, 1874, in Warren county, Ohio, to Miss Sarah Dakin daughter of James and Nancy (Rich) Dakin, and a native of Warren county. Prior to his marriage Mr. Sayers purchased a farm in Greene county, and there lived until the death of his wife, November 1, 1885. She died of typhoid fever, but had been in delicate health for some years previously. She left two children, James Wilbur and Artineca, the latter now the wife of Harley Snider, a farmer residing in Brown township. The son remained with the father until after he had attained his majority, but is now living in Greene county. Mr. Sayers, of this review, was married a second time, in Greene county, November 6, 1886, the lady of his choice being Miss Rosa Paxon, daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth (Mason) Paxon. They have four children: Annie, Lucreta, Cora and Ina.

In.1889 Mr. Sayers purchased his present farm, which had been entered from the government by Peter Shank, the original patent being now in the hands of our subject. The farm comprises eighty acres and has only once been transferred, Mr. Sayers purchasing it at an administrator's sale. Peter Shank erected the present brick house in 1838 and the barn was built in 1834. For some time before our subject took possession the property was rented and was therefore in a somewhat dilapidated condition, but he has since made many excellent improvements and now has one of the most valuable, properties in the vicinity. He raises very extensive corn crops and his fields are well tilled. Although his fields are naturally well drained, he has laid about four hundred rods of tiling. He devotes his attention almost exclusively to his agricultural pursuits and is regarded as one of the best farmers of the county. In politics he is usually accounted independent, but is now associated with the People's party, although he does not consider himself bound by party ties. Early in life he joined the Friends meeting and has since remained in active connection with that society. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, at Fletcher, and he and his wife are members of the Rebekah lodge. He has passed all of the chairs in the subordinate organization and is past noble grand.