Nicholas Staley
Nicholas Staley was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1810. He was a son of Joseph and Catharine (Coble) Staley. In the year 1830 Nicholas came to Shelby County to make for himself a home. The first money he earned was making rails at twenty-five cents per hundred. He followed making rails for several months until he had saved a little money. He then borrowed some money and entered 160 acres of land in Salem Township. He then rented some land and raised wheat and sold it for thirty-five cents a bushel, to pay his borrowed money. His first entry of land was in 1831. He would work at clearing his land until he was out of money, then would go back to Montgomery County and work to get some money, then return to his land and work till he was compelled to recruit his purse again. In this manner he worked along till 1837, when he married Miss Mary Baker and commenced life in earnest. Their neighbors at that time were the Hartmans, Skillens, Kirtlands, Robins, Counts, and McVeighs. Of that number there is not one left who was the head of a family at that time. For their market he used to go to Sandusky with a load of grain, taking eight days to make the trip. He would buy salt and leather and return and sell them to his neighbors. Mr. Staley has raised a family of six children, viz., Margaret A., born 1838; Henry, born 1840; John T., born 1844; Sarah, born 1845; Susan D., born 1850; and Squire N., born 1862. Mr. Staley has made for himself a good home of 386 acres of land with fine improvements. He now holds two patent deeds for the entry of lands that he took out himself, which he has since improved, the same never having changed hands.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883