John S. Meranda
John S. Meranda was born in Jackson Township, this county, on the farm now owned by John Hughes, Feb. 26, 1844. He is a son of Newland Meranda, a native of Virginia, where he was born Dec. 28, 1804. He migrated to Ohio, and located in Clarke County, where, in 1827, he married Miss Hannah Lowe, then of Clarke County, but a native of Virginia, born Feb. 14, 1806. He came to Shelby County with his family in 1837, and located in Port Jefferson, remained until 1840, when they moved to Jackson Township and settled on section 22, on which Mr. Meranda died March 11, 1846, leaving a wife with seven children, viz., William, Druscilla, George, Samuel N., Jesse, John S., and Milton L., to mourn the loss of a husband and father, four of whom are now living, viz., Druscilla, George, John S. and Milton L. Four of the sons served in the war of 1861, viz., Samuel N., Jesse, John S., and Milton L. Jesse was killed in the battle of Arkansas Post. He was in the act of loading his gun, when a musket-ball struck him in the forehead, and killed him instantly. He was a brave soldier, and died at his post of duty.
Mrs. Meranda married William Hogan, October 7, 1857, and is yet residing in Jackson Township. Mr. Meranda was a carpenter by trade, which business he made his principal vocation through life. He filled the ofllce of justice of the peace of Jackson Township for several years. John S. Meranda, subject of this sketch, passed his minority days on a farm. When he had attained the age of eighteen years, he began working at the carpenter trade, which business he followed as his vocation about three years, and the remainder of his time has been given to farming, which he has conducted with success, and now owns a farm of one hundred and twenty-nine acres, in section 14, Jackson Township, on which he has resided since October, 1873. He entered Company D, 51st O. V. l. as a private in Sept. 1864, and served until June, 26, 1865, when he was discharged from the service.
On the 18th of June. 1868, he married Miss Sarah Maddox, of Jackson Townsbip, who was born October 20, 1848, daughter of James and Elizabeth Maddux. By this union he has four children now living, one son and three daughters. He served as trustee of Jackson Township one year.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883