David Valentine
David Valentine, the fifth of the family of Daniel Valentine, was born about two years after his father settled on the banks of the Great Miami. He was born May 12,1811. He lived on the farm with his father until eighteen years of age, when he went to learn the blacksmith trade with his brother Richard. He served an apprenticeship of three years, then continued to work at his trade for six years. During this time he taught one term of school, for which he received $6.251 per month. In 1837 he bought a small piece of land from Thomas Young, in section 23. March 14, 1838, he married Nancy Cecil, a sister of Mrs. Richard W. Valentine. They shortly afterwards settled on this little farm. It was not long before he had added to his home fifty acres more land. In a few years be, together with his brother Richard, bought the home place of his father; then a few years later he bought his brother’s interest, and moved on to the old homestead. They raised a family of five children, as follows: Cynthia A., Milton, Lewis, John H., and Ellen. Only three are now living.
Mr. Valentine was an industrious and energetic man, and lived to accumulate a fine property. Before he died he was the owner of about 700 acres of land in the county, he being one of the wealthiest men in the township at the time of his death. He died in 1867 on the same farm on which he was born. His widow is living on the old homestead, where her husband was born, with her son, John H.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883