Oliver Magie
Oliver Magie was born in Scotland, and came to America prior to the Revolutionary war, and served in the Federal army all through the war. Was taken prisoner by the British, parolled, took the oath. but did so under compulsion, and again joined the Federal army, and served throughout the war.
Joseph Magie, the father of Oliver, was born in New Jersey in 1770, migrated to Hamilton County, Ohio, as early as 1793. Here he married Abigail Crane. He had learned the tanning trade previous to coming to Hamilton County, and it is said he tanned the first leather that was tanned in Cincinnati. Served in the war of 1812. He died near Cincinnati in 1850.
Oliver Magie, the subject of this sketch, was born in Hamilton County in the year 1812, where he lived until 1834, when he married Miss Nancy Clark, and the following year came to Shelby County. He bought eighty acres of land in Perry Township, for which he was to pay $200. He and his wife had one hundred dollars, which they paid on their land. They lived on their place a year or two, became discouraged, and starved out, and returned to where they had come from, rented land, and remained there until 1840, when they returned to their land in the woods, where he has remained to the present time. His wife died in 1851, leaving eight children. In 1852 he married Polly Castle, by whom he had three children. His second wife died in 1856. He married his present wife, Miss Sarah Richardson, in 1857. From this union they have two children. Mr. M. has been the father of thirteen children, only six of whom are now living. He has passed through afflictions and privations that but few have met with. He says he has paid out for doctor bills alone not less than three thousand dollars. He has seen the time when they had eaten the last morsel of meal that was about the house, and had not a cent with which to buy more; was refused corn by a heartless neighbor who had plenty, because he had no money to pay for it. No wonder they became discouraged, and returned to where there was plenty. Mr. M. now has a pleasant home, with a competence for the remainder of his days. It is to be hoped that the bitter cup of affliction has been passed for the future of his remaining days.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883