Phebe Charles, the subject of this sketch was born in the State of New York, June 12, 1809, being one of a family of fifteen children and daughter of Benjamin and Anna Reynolds, who came to this State about the year 1819, coming down the Ohio river on a flat boat and landing near Cincinnati, settling near Lawrenceburg on the Ohio river. They soon came to Wayne county, and were living where Milton now is when the first sale of lots were made.
Phebe Charles was married to Levi Raines on Dec. 2, 1830. There were born to this union two children Milton and William. The latter died when small; the former is now living. Levi Raines died July 10, 1835.
March 21, 1838, she was again united in marriage to Joseph Charles.
To this union were born four children - Levi, Henry, Sarah and Luther. Henry and Luther being deceased.
Joseph Charles, the latter husband of Phebe Charles, died July 12, 1852. She has lived with her daughter Sarah ever since, part of this time in Henry county, but moved to Dublin in the year 1882, where she lived until her death, which occurred Jan. 7, 1896, she being 87 years, 5 months and 25 days old.
She had been afflicted for nearly twenty years, but having more than an ordinary constitution she was enabled to withstand disease and throw off its attacks until the last year when her friends and those who were best acquainted with her saw that her dissolution was drawing nigh; and for the past few months her mind was failing and her reason more and more dethroned. About a year ago when she was near death's door, she said to her daughter that it seemed like she had come to the river and then did not see why she should not pass over.
In her last illness her daughter said, "I will do all I can for thee, but thee must look to One that is able to help." She remarked that she was looking to him daily. And her friends have the comforting belief that her end was peaceful. The friends of the deceased express their thanks for the attention and kindness shown during her sickness and death.