Uriah Valentine, one of the old and highly respected citizens of Newberry township, springs from sturdy German ancestry, and in his life has displayed the possession of those sterling qualities which have ever made the German race a power for good in the localities where its representatives have lived and labored. His grandfather, John Valentine, was born in Germany, and on emigrating to America located in Frederick county, Maryland, upon a farm, where his death occurred about 1840. He was at that time eighty-four years of age. His children were: Frederick, David, Daniel, Solomon, John, George; Mary, wife of Jacob Krause; and Catherine, wife of Samuel Singer.

Frederick Valentine was born in Frederick county, Maryland, was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads and learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for a time. Subsequently he gave his attention to farming and purchased a small tract of land upon which he spent his remaining days, his death occurring about 1840. He served in the war of 1812, being stationed about Baltimore. He married Catherine Bowersox, who was born in Frederick county, Maryland, a daughter of Valentine Bowersox, also a native of that state. Mrs. Valentine died about 1821, and the father afterward married Elizabeth Kramer, a widow, whose death occurred about 1855. There were two children by the first marriage. Josiah was twice married, and in the fall of 1844 came to Ohio with his brother, Uriah, locating in Seneca county, whence he removed to Findlay, Hancock county, where his death occurred. Uriah was the younger son. The children of the second marriage were: John Jacob, of Maryland, who wedded Mary Ann Shyrock; Eli David and Daniel Lewis, who are residents of Maryland: James Augustus, who came to Ohio and located near Mansfield; Mary Magdalen, of Maryland; and Calvin Luther, who is also living in that state.

Uriah Valentine was born December 26, 1819, on the old homestead in Frederick county, Maryland, was there reared to manhood and obtained his education in the subscription schools. He was only two years old when his mother died and he then went to live with his grandfather, Valentine Bowersox. His early life was one of arduous toll, for as soon as old enough to handle a plow he began work in the fields and was thus engaged from early morning until late at night. At the age of sixteen he began learning the tailor's trade, and followed that pursuit after coming to Ohio. In 1844 he and his brother took up their abode in Seneca county, this state, having made the journey mostly on foot, although they traveled for a short distance by stage. Mr. Valentine of this review went to Tiffin, where he worked at his trade for a short time, and in the spring of 1845 he came to Covington, where he engaged in the tailoring business for one year in the employ of A. Routzon. On the expiration of that period he returned to Maryland and worked for his grandfather for seven years. He then again came to Miami county and was once more in the employ of Mr. Routzon for three years.

On the 19th of February, 1854, Mr. Valentine was united in marriage to Harrietta Finfrock, widow of Samuel Jay. They took up their abode in Versailles, Ohio, where Mr. Valentine worked at his trade until 1866, when they located on his present farm of ninety- four acres, which was the homestead property of Mrs. Valentine's father, George Henry Finfrock. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Valentine was born one child, Lycurgus Bradford, whose birth occurred in Versailles, Darke county, December 27, 1857. He was educated in the country schools and married Hannah Swank, daughter of Henry Swank, by whom he has two children, Eddie Leander and Clara Naomi. Mrs. Valentine died March 10, 1885, in her sixty- second year, and her loss was deeply mourned by many friends throughout the community. Mr. Valentine still resides upon the farm, which he has owned and operated since 1866. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and is a stanch Democrat in his political views. For more than eighty years he has traveled life's journey and his career has been an active, useful and honorable one, winning him the respect and confidence which should ever be accorded to one who reaches that venerable period of life.

It will be interesting in this connection to note something of the history of the Finfrock family to which Mrs. Valentine belonged. Her great-grandfather was a native of Germany, and her grandfather, George Henry Finfrock, was born in that country, whence he came to the United States in early manhood. On reaching this country he was sold to pay his passage. He settled near Lancaster city, Pennsylvania, where he followed the blacksmith's trade. He was an excellent mechanic, and his mechanical ability was often displayed for the benefit of the boys of the neighborhood, for whom he manufactured jewsharps. He was always a friend to the young people, and did what he could to make their lives happy. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. His children were as follows: John, who made his home near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, until his death; Peter, who married Barbara Palmer and was a wagon-maker by trade, following that pursuit until his removal to Miami county, where he developed a farm in the midst of the forest, in what is now Newberry township, making his home thereon until his death; and George Henry. The last named was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was married there to Ann Mary Bowersox, whose birth occurred in the Keystone state. They afterward removed to Carroll county, Maryland, and Mr. Finfrock operated his father's farm for several years. In 1832 he came with his family to Miami county and in the midst of a heavily timbered region in Newberry township developed the farm now owned by Uriah Valentine. The journey from Maryland was made in wagons and they were three weeks upon the way. During the first winter of their residence in Ohio they lived with an uncle, George Keifer, in Greene county, and the following spring came to Newberry township. There his home was a little cabin, 20X20 feet, built of round logs. It contained but one room, in the end of which was a big fireplace, the smoke making its escape through a mud and stick chimney. Mr. Finfrock owned one hundred and ninety-six acres of land which he entered from the government, at a dollar and a quarter per acre. He was a carpenter by trade and was thus enabled to keep everything about his place in good repair. In the operation of his land he was assisted by his sons and ultimately became the owner of a valuable property. When he came to Ohio he had just money enough to meet the expenses of the journey, but as the years passed he added continually to his capital and became the possessor of a comfortable home. He died in 1856, in his seventy-sixth year, and his wife has also passed away. They were members of the Lutheran church, and in his political belief Mr. Finfrock was a Democrat.

Mr. Finfrock, brother of Mrs. Valentine, as born in Carroll county, Maryland, February 25, 1826, and was six years of age when his parents brought him to Ohio with the other children, six in number. He walked most of the distance, although so young. He aided his father in clearing and developing the farm, and therefore his educational privileges were very limited. The schools of the neighborhood were conducted on the subscription plan, and his first teacher was John Perry. Mr. Finfrock remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, when he started out in business on his own account, learning the plasterer's trade, which he followed for thirty-five years. He was married April 17, 1853, to Mary Umholts. For a year they resided in Versailles, after which he purchased his present farm, locating thereon. There his wife died November 6, 1853, and on the 22nd of April, 1857, he wedded Mary Elizabeth Routson, daughter of George and Nancy (Abel) Routson. Her death occurred February 24, 1868, and on the 21st of November, 1869, he wedded Elizabeth M. Black, daughter of William Black. By his first marriage he had one child, Mary Ann, who was born October 29, 1853, and died in infancy. The children of the second marriage are as follows: Milton Alexander, who was born February 19, 1858, and is a school teacher of Darke county; Josephine, born January 24, 1859; David Clinton, who was born in 1862, and is now deceased; and Israel Calvin, who was born January 28, 1865, and is a farmer of Darke county. The children of the third marriage are: Edith May, who was born August 2, 1872, and is the wife of Lloyd Scando, of Pleasant Hill; Harietta Elizabeth, who was born February 23, 1875, and is the wife of Grant Stone, of Bradford; Carmina Matilda, born December 4, 1877; Fanny, who was born October 4, 1879, and died in infancy; and George Henry, who was born May 8, 1883.

Mr. Finfrock has devoted his time to farming since abandoning the plasterer's trade, and is now the owner of eighty-seven acres of the home farm, and an additional tract of eighty-three acres. He is an enterprising agriculturist, widely and favorably known in his community. When eighteen years of age he united with the Lutheran church and has since been one of its consistent members. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and has held a number of minor offices.