Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 12 January 2005

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JOSEPH WEST, .botanist, Lebanon, was born at Urbana, Champaign Co., Ohio, Feb. 17, 1824. He is the son of James and Rachel (Wells) West, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Maryland. Our subject received a common-school education and adopted the occupation of a practical botanist. He raises large quantities of herbs valued for their medicinal qualities, which he sells to druggists and physicians. He has followed this business during the whole of his life, and has met with more than ordinary success. He joined the Society of Shakers at Union Village in 1843, and remained with them until 1865, when he concluded to marry and was obliged thereby to leave the society. He accordingly married Sarah Ann Babbitt, who was born in Butler County in 1819. Her parents joined the Shakers and she remained with them over thirty years and until Mr. West took her away. The loss of Mr. West was a sad one to the Shakers, as his knowledge of medicinal plants was of great assistance to them in that branch of their industry. He is a Republican in politics and a man of very steady habits.