NOBLE COUNTY OHIO - BIO: Matthew West (1887) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Submitter: Tina Hursh Email: ribbit@clubnet.isl.net Date: 18 July 2002 *********************************************************************** From the The Ohio Biographies Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html a part of The U.S. Biographies Project http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html Transcribed by Deb Murray. --------------- Matthew West, born in King's County, Ireland, in 1827, came to America to seek his fortune at the age of fourteen, and in 1842 located in Marion Township. After working twenty years as a farm laborer he bought land of William Danford, and began work for himself. His first purchase was 136 acres, but he added to it from time to time until he owned 723 1/2 acres, all the result of his own industry and economy. He has given 136 acres to his son and eighty-one acres to his daughter, and still owns about 525 acres. In 1854 he married Martha Shook; children: Eliza A. (Danford), William H., Jane M. (Thomas), and John A. The family are members of the Protestant Episcopal church. Mr. West is one of the leading farmers of the township. At one time, when refused credit for a chip hat in Freedom, he said he would some day be able to buy all the merchants there, and his success has verified the predication. History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887 Marion