Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 9 October 2005

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871

ABRAHAM MENDENHALL (deceased); was born in Knox County, Tenn., June 16, 1816; was a son of Samuel and Sophia (Ghants) Mendenhall, natives of Tennessee. During the war of 1812, he started for Memphis, but was never heard from, and it is believed he was killed or met with death in some form. His wife subsequently moved to Brown Co., Ohio, where she married Mr. McCoy, by whom she had one child, Lydia. By her first husband, she had three children—Mahala, Samuel and Abraham, all now deceased. She again married for her third husband, John Hatfield, by whom she had two children, Luhania and Alphonzo, both deceased. She died in Indiana, and was buried at Lafayette. Mr. Mendenhall was but an infant when his father died; and his mother with her family moved to Brown Co., Ohio, and there he remained with his mother several years; then was placed with a man by the name of Howland, with whom he lived till 17 years of age, then came to Warren County and here resided till his marriage, Sept. 23, 1847, to Lydia Ward, whose ancestral history is given in the sketch of Jesse Gibbs. Lydia was born Jan. 20, 1826, By this union they had eight children, six now survive, viz., Ellis W., born Oct. 9, 1848; Jason, Jan. 23, 1850; Ulysses O., Oct. 19, 1851; Hannah, Sept. 9, 1856, now Mrs. Cox; Amos Lindley, Aug. 13, 1864; and Narcissa Jane, June 5, 1867. Mrs. Mendenhall died Dec. 7, 1880, aged 64 years 5 months and 21 days. In 1842, he learned the auger-making business of David Burnett, with whom he served two years. This business he followed about twelve years; then he engaged.in farming and fruit culture. He purchased the farm where his widow still resides, in 1854, and here he resided till his death. In November, 1880, he went to Indianapolis to visit his sisters and his son who were residing there; was taken with apoplexy and died at above-mentioned date. His remains were brought home and interred in the Miami Cemetery near Waynesville. Ellis W., the eldest son, on March 13, 1872, was married to Lydia Mason (see sketch of David Mason), by whom he has three children —Lee, born Nov. 18, 1873; Lucy, March 16, 1877; and Harry, Aug. 12, 1878,

Ellis is a carpenter by trade, but has given his main attention to dealing in fruit, residing in Warren County and at Dayton, with the exception of one and one-half years' residence at Indianapolis; was residing at the latter place at the time of his father's death; then he returned to the farm and has since resided with his mother in charge of the farm.