Richard M. Cannon
Some time prior to the Revolution of 1776 a lad of fifteen found his way from Ireland to the United States. This lad was James Cannon, who, on reaching this country, became a tanner’s apprentice for about two years. He then joined the Continental army and served throughout the great war for independence. During this service he was commissioned as first lieutenant for meritorious conduct, and was part of the time under the immediate command of General Washington. At the close of the war be located in Sherman’s Valley, Ligonier County, Pa., where he soon afterward married Miss Mary Long. About the year 1795 they moved to Ohio and settled in Franklin, Warren County, where Mr. Cannon built a tannery, which he operated about four years. In 1799 he moved to a farm which he purchased, near Franklin. Here he remained until 1806, when he moved his family to Shelby County, or rather to land now embraced in this county. This land is now within the limits of Orange Township. He remained here about eight months and then moved to land near the mouth of Loramie Creek, where he lived until late in the year 1808. At this time he moved to land which afterward became the town site of Sidney, his family being possibly the first white settlers who made improvements on the present town plat. The family lived here until late in the year 1815, when they moved to lands already entered in section 28, Turtle Creek Township, near the present site of the village of Hardin. At this place he lived a number of years. His death occurred in Clinton Township in the year 1828, having survived his wife about three years, her death having occurred while she was visiting one of her sons at Fort Wayne, Ind., in the year 1825. Their children were named, Abraham, Catharine, Margaret, James, Susanna, Richard M., and Daniel.
Richard M. Cannon, the only survivor of the family of James and Mary Cannon, was born in Butler County, O., on the 12th day of October, 1796, and so was a mere child when his parents came and settled within the present limits of Shelby County. He is thus entitled to rank among the very earliest of our pioneers. Assisting his father, he helped to clear land and gather the scanty crops of those first years of settlement, which are always and everywhere distinctively the years of toil. He thus assisted in clearing the land now occupied by the town of Sidney. In the spring of 1813 he entered the American army as a substitute, and served until the close of the campaign of 1814. Since the settlement of the family in Turtle Creek Township in 1815 he has been a resident of this township. On June 3, 1818, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Robert and Pamelia Brodrick, which was probably the first marriage solemnized in this township. Miss Brodrick was born in New Jersey March 11, 1800, and came to Shelby County on the occasion of her parents’ removal here in 1816. After marriage Mr. Cannon settled on his father’s home farm in section 28, where he lived two years and then moved to a farm a little distance north of Hardin, where he lived until 1823. He then purchased land in section 19, to which he moved his family, continued improving the land, and has ever since resided here. Mrs. Cannon laid down the burden and care of a life of seventy years on the 11th of December, 1870. Her death was mourned by an extended circle of acquaintances and friends. Mr. Cannon was remarried February 14, 1872, to Miss Calesta M., daughter of William and Eliza Davis, of this township. She was born in this township April 1st, 1827. Mr. Cannon early enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors, as attested by his election in 1820 to the ofilce of justice of the peace, which office he retained during the fifteen ensuing years. He also filled the offices of treasurer and trustee of the township. He reared a family of nine children, named Parmelia, William B., Caroline, Charles W., Sanford A., Thomas S., Daniel, Rich ard W., and Nehemiah F. Of these Parmelia died in 1861, Charles and Nehemiah in the late war, while the other five survive.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883