David M. Breese
David M. Breese, son of Griffith and Mary Breese, was born in Butler County, in 1825, and came to this county with his parents, in 1832. He is a brother of Nancy, George, John, William and Griffith. His wife was born in Champaign County, in 1827, and in 1832 came to this county with her parents, Crane and Mary Valentine, whose children are Joanna, Emily, Hamilton, Joseph, Mary, Jane, Julius and Juliet, Maria and Nettie. Mr. Breese was two children living, Ella and George L. The third, Emmet, died in 1866.
From 1875 Historical Atlas of Allen County, Ohio, by H. H. Hardesty & Co. Publishers, Chicago.
David M. Breese, the patriarch of one of the old pioneer families of Allen County, was born in Butler County, Ohio, February 27, 1825, and is a son of Griffith and Mary (Mowen) Breese.
Robert Breese, the grandfather, was born in Wales and came to America at an early day, settling in Pennsylvania with his children. The grandfather settled in Hardin County, near Round Head, where he died and was buried. The parents of our esteemed subject were married in Pennsylvania, the father having been born in Wales and the mother in Pennsylvania. In November, 1832, they came as pioneers to Allen County, having previously lived in Butler County. The children of Griffith and Mary Mowen were: Nancy, George, John, William D., David M. and Griffith. The father of this family settled where Alva Breese now resides in Shawnee Township. He cleared the land and developed a good farm. His death occurred in 1848.
David M. Breese was seven years old when he accompanied his parents to Shawnee Township. His education was secured in the pioneer schoolhouses of the time and until his marriage he assisted his father in clearing the farm. After marriage he settled in section 3, Shawnee Township, on the Spencerville road, and occupied that place for 14 years. He came to the present farm in section 10 in 1863, having previously erected a residence here. This was at the close of his service in the Civil War. He enlisted for the three years' service in the 99th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., but was not accepted on account of a bad knee. In 1864 he enlisted in Company B, 151st Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and was at Washington, D. C., at the time of Gen. Early's raid. He performed his loyal duty during the term of his enlistment and was then honorably discharged and returned to look after the interests of his family.
On January 1, 1849, Mr. Breese was married to Mary Valentine, who was born in Champaign County, Ohio, March 23, 1827, and is a daughter of Crane and Mary (Harper) Valentine. William Valentine, the grandfather of Mrs. Breese, lived and died near Quincy, Ohio. In August, 1832, Crane Valentine located on Elm street, Lima. His wife died here, and later he removed to Berrien County, Michigan, where he died. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Breese were: Mary E., living in Lima, marred to Thomas Maltbie; George L., who lives on the homestead farm in a house adjoining that of his parents, and has some excellent farm property in sections 9 and 10; and Emmett, who died at the age of seven years.
Mr. and Mrs. Breese are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Since 1862 Mr. Breese has been a member of Lima Masonic Lodge No. 205, F. & A. M. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.
Visitors at the hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. Breese find them delightful entertainers. They both can recall so many interesting events of a half century ago, when life was a little harder in Allen County than it is to-day, and the listener carries away knowledge that he could scarcely have obtained from other sources. Among other interesting reminiscences, they tell of the days when a cook-stove was enough of a curiosity in their locality at attract visitors from miles away. As corn meal was a staple food and mills were far distant, it was a custom to grate corn on a tin grater which, in all probability, had been made at home. No road commissioners had yet looked after the public highways and trips to and from the market towns were difficult to make at some seasons of the year and frequently impossible. Mr. Breese remembers his little Indian playmates to have been just as ready in games as white boys and just as faithful in their attachments. Fame was very plentiful and Mr. Breese had the reputation of being a "dead shot." When 16 years of age he had a long-barreled cap gun given him by his father, who had purchased it of a neighbor who did not know its age at that time. It deserves a place among the county's historic archives.
Mrs. Breese remembers going to school and also to church, in the old log Court House, built in 1832, just after the organization of Allen County. Mr. and Mrs. Breese have a number of valuable household properties which lovers of historic treasures would greatly value, one of these being a sugar bowl which her people bought at Urbana prior to coming here in 1832. The old family clock has ticked out the hours for 100 years and there are many articles of homely comfort that suggest an old established family.
From History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 2, Edited & Compiled by Charles C. Miller, Ph. D.; Richmond & Arnold, Publishers, Chicago, 1906