Abstracted from Harrison and Carroll Counties, 1891, J. H. Beers, Chicago, page 419.

J. S. Birney, farmer, German Township, Harrison County, was born May 23, 1824, on the farm where he now lives, a son of Robert and Margaret (Northhammer) Birney. Robert Birney was a native of Ireland, and in 1801 immigrated to Chester County, Penn., where he married. In 1807 he moved with his family to Harrison County (coming all the way with one horse and cart) and bought of Richard Kelley the 163 acres where our subject now lives. There was a small cabin on the land, and here he worked all his life, clearing the land and making a home for the family. He was born about 1787, and died in 1874, having been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years; his wife was born in 1795, and died in 1871. They were the parent of nine children, as follows; Mary, Zilla, Wesley, John, Asbury, all dead; Lot, a farmer in Washington County, Iowa; Elizabeth, living in Jewett, Rumley Township; Rebecca, living in Washington County, Iowa, and our subject, who has always lived on the farm. On March 10, 1847, J. S. Birney was married to Miss Susan Mummey, a daughter of Charles and Rebecca (Hedges) Mummey, of Cadiz Township, and to this union have been born six children, viz.: Margaret, deceased; Mary, married to John B. Busby; William Asbury, a farmer and stock-dealer in Cadiz; Robert M., deceased; Charles R., a minister in New Philadelphia, Ohio, and Maria B., wife of Goliah Tedrow, a farmer in German Township. Mr. Birney is an active member of the Methodist Church.