^
Biographical History
OF
DARKE COUNTY
OHIO
Compendium of National Biography
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
The Lewis Publishing Company
1900
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Biography is the only true History.— Emerson.
A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors
will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with
pride by remote generations. — Mac a ulay.
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GENERAL INDEX.
Table of Contents, 3
Introductory, 11
Compendium of National Biography, - 13
Compendium of Local Biography, - 223
INDEX TO FART I,
Compendium of National Biography.
Biographical Sketches of National Celebrities.
PAGE
Abbott, Lyman 144
Adams, Charles Kendall 143
Adams, John. 25
Adams, John Quincy 61
Agassiz, Louis J. R 137
Alger, Russell A 173
Allison, William B..., 131
Allston, Washington..'. 190
Altgeld, John Peter 140
Andrews, Elisha B 184
Anthony, Susan B 62
Armour, Philip D 62
Arnold, Benedict 84
Arthur, Chester Allen 168
Astor, John Jacob 139
Audubon, John James 166
Bailey, James Montgomery. . . 177
Bancroft, George 74
Barnard, Frederick A. P 179
Barnum, Phineas T 41
Barrett, Lawrence 156
Barton, Clara 209
Bayard, Thomas Francis 200
Beard, William H 196
Beauregard, Pierre G. T 203
Beecher, Henry Ward 26
Bell, Alexander Graham 96
Bennett, James Gordon 206
Benton, Thomas Hart 53
Bergh, Henry 160
Bierstadt, Albert 197
Billings, Josh 166
Blaine, James Gillespie 22
Bland, Richard Parks 106
PAGE
Boone, Daniel 36
Booth, Edwin 51
Booth, Junius Brutus 177
Brice, Calvin S 181
Brooks, Phillips 130
Brown, John 51
Brown, Charles Farrar 91
Brush, Charles Francis 153
Bryan, William Jennings 158
Bryant, William Cullen 44
Buchanan, Franklin 105
Buchanan, James 128
Buckner, Simon Bolivar 188
Burdette, Robert J 103
Burr, Aaron Ill
Butler, Benjamin Franklin.. . . 24
Calhoun, John Caldwell 23
Cameron, James Donald 141
Cameron, Simon 141
Cammack, Addison 197
Campbell, Alexander 180
Carlisle, John G 133
Carnegie, Andrew 73
Carpenter, Matthew Hale 178
Carson, Christopher (Kit) 86
Cass, Lewis 110
Chase, Salmon Portland 65
Childs, George W 83
Choate, Rufus 207
Claflin, Horace Brigham 107
Clay, Henry 21
Clemens, Samuel Langhorne.. 86
Cleveland, Grover 174
Clews,* Henry 153
PAGE
Clinton, DeWitt 110
Colfax, Schuyler 139
Conkling, Alfred 32
Conkhng, Roscoe 32
Cooley, Thomas Mclntyre. . . . 140
Cooper, James Fenimore 58
Cooper, Peter 37
Copely, John Singleton 191
Corbin, Austin 205
Corcoran, W.W 196
Cornell, Ezra 161
Cramp, William 189
Crockett, David 76
Cullom, Shelby Moore 116
Curtis, George William 144
Cushman, Charlotte 107
Custer, George A 95
Dana, Charles A 88
" Danbury News Man " 177
Davenport, Fanny 106
Davis, Jefferson 24
Debs, Eugene V 132
Decatur, Stephen 101
Deering, William 198
Depew, Chauncey Mitchell.... 209
Dickinson, Anna 103
Dickinson, Don M 139
Dingley, Nelson, Jr 215
Donnelly, Ignatius 161
Douglas, Stephen Arnold 53
Douglass, Frederick 43
Dow, Neal 108
Draper, John William 184
TABLE OF CONTENTS—PART I.
PAGE
Drexel, Anthony Joseph 124
Dupont, Henry 198
Edison, Thomas Alva 55
Edmunds, George F 201
Ellsworth, Oliver 168
Emerson, Ralph Waldo 57
Ericsson, John 127
Evarts, William Maxwell 89
Farragut, David Glascoe 80
Field, Cyrus West 173
Field, David Dudley 126
Field, Marshall 59
Field, Stephen Johnson 216
Fillmore, Millard 113
Foote, Andrew Hull 176
Foraker, Joseph B 143
Forrest, Edwin 92
Franklin, Benjamin 18
Fremont, John Charles 29
Fuller, Melville Weston 168
Fulton, Robert 62
Gage, Lyman J 71
Gallatin, Albert 112
Garfield, James A 163
Garrett, John Work 200
Garrison, William Lloyd 50
Gates, Horatio 70
Gatling, Richard Jordan 116
( Jeorge, Henry _ 203
Gibbons, Cardinal James 209
Gilmore, Patrick Sarsfield 77
Girard, Stephen 137
Gough, John B 131
Goutd, Jay 52
Gordon, John B 215
Grant, Ulysses S 155
Gray, Asa 88
Gray, Elisha 149
Greeley, Adolphus W 142
Greeley, Horace 20
Greene, Nathaniel 69
Gresham, Walter Quintin 183
Hale, Edward Everett 79
Hall, Charles Francis 167
Hamilton, Alexander 31
Hamlin, Hannibal 214
Hampton, Wade 192
Hancock, Winfield Scott 146
Hanna, Marcus Alonzo 169
Harris, Isham G 214
Harrison, William Henry 87
Harrison, Benjamin 182
Harvard, John 129
Havemeyer, John Craig 182
Hawthorne, Nathaniel 135
Hayes, Rutherford Birchard. . . 157
Hendricks, Thomas Andrew. . 212
Henry, Joseph 105
Henrv, Patrick 83
Hill, David Bennett 90
Hobart, Garrett A 213
Holmes, Oliver Wendell 206
Hooker, Joseph 52
Howe, Elias 130
Howells, William Dean 104
PAGE
Houston, Sam 120
Hughes, Archbishop John 157
Hughitt, Marvin 159
Hull, Isaac 169
Huntington, Collis Potter 94
Ingalls, John James 114
Ingersoll, Robert G 85
Irving, Washington 33
Jackson, Andrew 71
Jackson, " Stonewall " 67
Jackson, Thomas Jonathan 67
Jay, John 39
Jefferson, Joseph 47
Jefferson, Thomas 34
Johnson, Andrew 145
Johnson, Eastman 202
Johnston, Joseph Eccleston... . 85
Jones, James K 171
Jones, John Paul 97
Jones, Samuel Porter 115
Kane, Elisha Kent 125
Kearney, Philip 210
Kenton, Simon 188
Knox, John Jay 134
Lamar, Lucius Q. C 201
Landon, Melville D 109
Lee, Robert Edward 38
Lewis, Charles B 193
Lincoln, Abraham 135
Livermore, Mary Ashton 131
Locke, David Ross 172
Logan, John A 26
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth 37
Longstreet, James 56
Lowell, James Russell 104
Mackay, John William 148
Madison, lames 42
Marshall, John 156
Mather, Cotton 164
Mather, Increase 163
Maxim, Hiram S 194
McClellan, George Brinton.. . . 47
McCormick, Cyrus Hall 172
McDonough, Com. Thomas.. . 167
McKinley, William 217
Meade, George Gordon 75
Medill, Joseph 159
Miles, Nelson A 176
Miller, Cincinnatus Heine 218
Miller, Joaquin 218
Mills, Roger Quarles 211
Monroe, James 54
Moody, Dwight L 207
Moran, Thomas 98
Morgan, John Pierpont 208
Morgan, John T 216
Morris, Robert 165
Morse, Samuel F. B 124
Morton, Levi P 142
Morton, Oliver Perry 215
Motley, John Lathro'p 130
"Nye, Bill" 59
Nye, Edgar Wilson 59
PAGE
O'Conor, Charles 187
Olney, Richard 133
Paine, Thomas 147
Palmer, John M 195
Parkhurst, Charles Henry 160
"Partington, Mrs." 202
Peabody, George 170
Peck, George W 187
Peffer, William A 164
Perkins, Eli 109
Perry, Oliver Hazard 97
Phillips, Wendell.. 30
Pierce, Franklin 122
Pingree, Hazen S 212
Plant, Henry B 192
Poe, Edgar Allen 69
Polk, James Knox 102
Porter, David Dixon 68
Porter, Noah 93
Prentice, George Denison.. . . 119
Prescott, William Hickling.... 96
Pullman, George Mortimer. . .. 121
Quad, M 193
Quay MatthewS 171
Randolph, Edmund 136
Read, Thomas Buchanan 132
Reed, Thomas Brackett 208
Reid, Whitelaw 149
Roach, John 190
Rockefeller, John Davison.... 195
Root, George Frederick 218
Rothermel, Peter F 113
Rutledge, John 57
Sage, Russell 211
Schofield, John McAllister 199
Schurz, Carl 201
Scott, Thomas Alexander 204
Scott, Winfield 79
Seward, William Henry 44
Sharon, William 165
Shaw, Henry W 166
Sheridan, Phillip Henry 40
Sherman, Charles R 87
Sherman, John 86
Shillaber, Benjamin Penhallow 202
Sherman, William Tecumseh.. 30
Smith, Edmund Kirby 114
Sousa, John Philip 60
Spreckels, Claus 159
Stanford, Leland 101
Stanton, Edwin McMasters... 179
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady 126
Stephens, Alexander Hamilton 32
Stephenson, Adlai Ewing. .. . 141
Stewart, Alexander T 58
Stewart, William Morris 213
Stowe, Harriet Elizabeth
Beecher 66
Stuart, James E. B 122
Sumner, Charles 34
Talmage, Thomas DeWitt. ... 60
Taney, Roger Brooke 129
Taylor, Zachary 108
Teller, Henrv M 127
TABLE OF CONTENTS— PART I.
PAGE
Tesla, Nikola 193
Thomas, George H 73
Thomas, Theodore 1 72
Thurman, Allen G 90
Thurston, John M 166
Tilden, Samuel J 48
Tillman, Benjamin Ryan 119
Toombs, Robert 205
" Twain, Mark " 86
Tyler, John 93
Van Buren, Martin 78
Yanderbilt, Cornelius 35
Vail, Alfred 154
Vest, George Graham 214
PAGE
Vilas, William Freeman 140
Voorhees, Daniel Wolsey 95
Waite, Morrison Remich 125
Wallace, Lewis 199
Wallack, Lester 121
Wallack, John Lester. 121
Wanamaker, John 89
Ward, "Artemus " 91
Washburne, Elihu Benjamin. . 189
Washington, George 17
Watson, Thomas E 178
Watterson, Henry 76
Weaver, James B 123
Webster, Daniel 19
PAGE
Webster, Noah 49
Weed, Thurlow 91
West, Benjamin 115
Whipple, Henry Benjamin. . . . 161
White, Stephen V 162
Whitefield, George 150
Whitman, Walt 197
Whitney, Eli 120
Whitney, William Collins 92
Whittier, John Greenleaf 67
Willard, Frances E 133
Wilson, William L 180
Winchell, Alexander 175
Wmdom, William 138
PORTRAITS OF NATIONAL CELEBRITIES.
PAGE
Alsrer, Russell A 16
Allison, William B 99
Anthony, Susan B 63
Armour, Philip D 151
Arthur, Chester A 81
Barnum, Phineas T 117
Beecher, Henry Ward 27
Blaine, James G 151
Booth, Edwin 63
Bryan, Wm. J 63
Bryant, William Cullen 185
Buchanan, James 81
Buckner, Simon B 16
Butler Benjamin F 151
Carlisle, John G 151
Chase, Salmon P 16
Childs, George W 99
Clay, Henry 81
Cleveland, Grover 45
Cooper, Peter 99
Dana, Charles A 151
Depew.Chauncey M 117
Douglass, Fred 63
Emerson, Ralph Waldo 27
Evarts, William M 99
Farragut, Com. D. G 185
Field, Cyrus W 63
PAGE
Field, Marshall... 117
Franklin, Benjamin 63
Fremont, Gen. John C 16
Gage, Lyman J 151
Garfield, James A 45
Garrison, William Lloyd 63
George, Henry 117
Gould, Jay 99
Grant, Gen. U. S 185
Greeley, Horace 81
Hampton, Wade 16
Hancock, Gen. Winfield S 185
Hanna, Mark A 117
Harrison, Benjamin 81
Hayes, R. B 45
Hendricks, Thomas A 81
Holmes, Oliver W 151
Hooker, Gen. Joseph 16
Ingersoll, Robert G 117
Irving, Washington 27
Jackson, Andrew 45
Jefferson, Thomas 45
Johnston, Gen. J. E 16
Lee, Gen. Robert E 185
Lincoln, Abraham 81
Logan, Gen. lohn A 16
Longfellow, Henry W 185
PAGE
Longstreet, Gen. James 16
Lowell, James Russell 27
McKinley, William 45
Morse, S. F. B 185
Phillips, Wendell 27
Porter, Com. D. D 185
Pullman, George M 117
Quay, M. S 99
Reed, Thomas B 151
Sage, Russell 117
Scott, Gen. Winfield 185
Seward, William H 45
Sherman, John 99
Sherman, Gen. W. T 151
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady 27
Stowe, Harriet Beecher 27
Sumner, Charles 45
Talmage, T. De Witt 63
Teller, Henry M 99
Thurman, Allen G 81
Tilden, Samuel J 117
Van Buren, Martin 81
Vanderbilt, Commodore 99
Webster, Daniel 27
Whittier, John G 2^
Washington, George 45
Watterson, Henry 63
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COMPENDIUM
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LOCAL BIOGRAPHY
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FART II.
Biographical Compendium of Darke County.
PAGE
Adams, George 225
Albright, Daniel T 243
Albright, Johnson K 4^1
Albright, Peter 454
Albright, Philip 242
Alexandre, Joseph 434
Allen, Benjamin M (554
Allen, James 243
Allen, William 245
Allen, William 653
Allread, James I 382
Allread, S. William 730
Alter, Henry 355
Anderson, CM 28fi
Anderson, Lewis C 702
Armacost, Christopher M 620
Armstrong, Hugh 501
Armstrong, Hugh L 469
Armstrong, Peter. 464
Arnold, George 669
Arnold, Henry 230
Arnold, Isaac N 244
Arnold, John C 414
Arnold, Mrs. S. J 230
Avery, James B 645
Bailev, John L 262
Bailey, Martin V 243
Bailey, Mrs. Samuel 554
Baker, Charles 731
Baker, Thomas 280
Beachler, Henry 583
Beam, R. K 273
Beem, Ralph U 736
Beers, Charles 320
Beers, David . nd Theodore.. . 245
Bell, Hiram 245
Benson, James M 700
Bickel, Henry M 684
Bickel, loseph M 473
Biddle, John 484
Bigler, Cyrus 261
Bireley, Harvey H 659
Bireley, William J 238
Bish, Henry J 594
Bishop, T. L 614
Bolles, Charles H 595
Booker, Isaac N 649
Bowers, Wilson S 313
Bowman, David P 245
Bowman, David W 637
Bowman, Jonathan 244
PAGE
Boyd, Samuel 229
Brandon, Riley M 534
Breaden, John E., Sr 462
Breaden, John E., Jr 245, 467
Bristly, Henry C 695
Brown, Marshall A 348
Brown, Noah W 662
Brown, Reuben 305
Browne, William A 668
Bryson, Morris 619
Bryson, Joseph 328
Butcher; loseph J 697
Burns, Daniel 292
Byrd, Abraham 416
Bvrd, George S 642
Byrd.Japheth 538
Calderwood, Andrew R..237, 243-5
Calderwood, Elmer E 490
Calderwood, George 237
Calkins, Charles 245
Carnahan, John 229
Caupp, Daniel 459
Chenoweth, Charles W 629
Christopher, David 0 578
Clark, Arthur L 728
Clark, Hiram 567
Clark, John C '350
Clawson, Henry A 555
Clear, David A 300
Coblentz, Harrison 291
Cole, Henry M 318
Cole, Joseph 331
Compton, John A 243
Conover, Ezekiel S. 736
Coppess, Adam S 712
Coppess, Frederick 513
Coppess, Harmon C 407
Coppess. John S 517
Corwin, Joseph W 401
Cox, William 243
Cranor, Jonathan 242
Creviston, James B 248
Culbertson, Edmund ....... 478
Darke Co. Children's Home. . 362
Davison, Oscar F 357
Dean, Aaron 232
Deardoff, Isaac F 549
Denise Family, The 6<'8
Detling, Mary E 365
Devor, Elijah 232
PAGE
Devor, James 232
Devor, John 229, 232
Devor, William 227
Downing, Andrew J 312
Drill, Daniel L 388
Dunkle, Charles E.... '.52
Dunn, A. L 689
Eidson, Francis M 276
Eikenberry, A. L 548
Emerson, William H 2> 6
Emrick, George 288
Erisman, Christian 251
Erisman, Henry 621
Eury, Sarah 744
Ewry, William 283
Farra, Eleanor 608
Fischbach, John G 257
Fisher, Eli A 424
Folkerth, William 231
Ford, Philip M 719
Ford, Royston 673
Foureman, David C 590
Fowler, Hanson T 406
Frampton, Adam C 506
Frank, John G 303
Frankmann, Adam 616
Fritz, John H 749
Frizell, J. W 242
Frost, James 453
Fry, Allen 661
Fry, Phebe 723
Garber, Harvey C 369
George, William E 746
Gibson, Samuel 700
Glander, Edward 436
Gordon, Frank S 432
Grillot, Benjamin L 717
Graff, Christian D 592
Grusenmeyer, Valentine 633
Guntrum, William E 591
Halderman, Jacob 302
Harlev, George W 360
Harper, William M 640
Hart, Solomon D 704
Harter, Albert 298
Harter, David F 405
Harter, Elias 244
Hartle, David 634
TABLE OF CONTENTS— PART II.
PAGE
Hartle, Franklin P. 447
Hartman, Samuel V 584
Hartzell, Daniel 1 529
Hartzell, Jonas W 437
Hartzell, Philip 631
Heeter, John F 397
Henne, Daniel 676
Hercules, Jacob L 322
Hershey, Emanuel 753
Hershey, John T 315
Hickox, Fli 243
Hill, George \V 513
Hill. Harvey 409
Hill, John R 505
Himes, John T 611
Hindsley, William W 675
Hoi linger, Jacob 725
Hoschouer, John 606
Housholder, L. R 417
Huddle, Levi 670
Hufnagle, John 630
Huhn, Morris 623
Hyde, A. H 244
Hyer, Jesse R 588
Irelan, Aaron A 320
Irwin, William J 576
Jacobi, Henry C 445
Jamison, Robert B 582
Jefferis, William E. G 617
Jobes, Allen L 243
Jobes, U. H. R 239 245
Jones, Alonzo L 698
Judy, Alfred H 252
Judy, Swan 246
Karn, Henry 482
Katzenberger, Charles L . . . . 457
Katzenherger, Frances 1 562
Katzenberger, Franziskus M. . 559
Katzenberger, George A 527
Kemble, Samuel R 326
Keener, Harrison A 510
Kerlin, John D 463
Kerlin, Oscar C 589
Kerlin, William K 460
Kester, Philip 290
Kiester, William H 720
Kipp, Conrad 729
Knoderer, Christian 479
Knorr, Anthony T 665
Knox, John R 246, 375
Knox, R. A ' 243
Kruckeberg, Herman F 385
Lansdowne, James M 475
Larimer, John W 507
Layer, W. A 596
Lephart, Henry 258
Litten, Cyrus 718
Livingston, William A 279
Long, Barton W 299
Longenecker, Frank 569
Longenecker, Harvey 525
Lot, L. B 245
Loy, Michael 408
Ludy, Samuel 854
Ludy, William 352
Maher, Thomas C
Mansfield, Lewis
Marker, George E
Marker, Isaac
Marker, Leonard
Martin, 1). W. K
Martin, Jacob B
Martin, Luther
Martin, Mrs. Robert
Martz, George J
Martz, Jacob T
Matchett, C. G 243,
Matchett, William H 243,
Mayer, Charles H
McAlpin, Alexander
McCabe, lames
McClure, George H
McCool, James V
McDonald, Joseph
McDonald, Mark
McEowen, Henry H
McGriff, Jesse A
McGnff, Price
McGriff, William P
McKay, John W
McKibben. Hugh T
McNutt, John
Medford. Uriah
Meeker, David L 245,
Meeker, J. T
Meier, Charles
Meier, Frederick
Menke, Bernhard
iesse, Gabriel
iller, Amos P
iller, Daniel
iller, John F
iller, Lewis C
iller, Thomas B. . . .
iller, Thomas C . . . .
ills, Catharine
ills, Harrod
ills, James
innich, Samuel B.. .
Mohler, John
Monger, Thomas H .
Morningstar, John H.
Mote, Casville
Mote, Irvin
Mote, Joseph
Mote, William C
PAGE
.. 435
.. 532
. . 573
.. 752
.. 622
.. 533
. . 884
. 727
.. 229
.. 568
.. 246
245
499
346
244
255
7o5
:;;,s
245
678
399
681
324
285
326
624
724
Toe.
626
246
7i is
707
581
240
267
557
430
353
751
605
564
244
545
281
757
361
657
450
679
571
477
Netzley, Allen 427
Net ley, Eli 427
Netzley, Jesse. 431
Newbauer, George D 438
Newkirk, J. M
Niswonger, George E.
Noggle, George M
Northrop, C. B
Nysvvanger, Alex....
242
710
663
244
404
Ortlepp, E 493
Otwell, E. W 524
Parent, John 307
Paul in, Samuel 310
Pearson, William 244
PAGE
Peters, Abdel 638
Peters. John J 393
Phillips, Monroe 709
Pierson, Jacob S 243
Pleasant, William C 665
Plowman, Mary J 864
Poe, Andrew 441
Putnam, David 542
Putnam, Edwin B 244
Kahn, George W 603
Rarick, Charles YV 308
Reed, Finley R 540
Reichard, William 389
Reichard, William J 694
Replogle, Francis iM 730
Replogle, Jacob 726
Reppeto, William H 282
Requarth, William 294
Rhoades, Abraham 602
Richardson, Ephraim C 452
Ries, John H 382
Ries, Wilham L 379
Riesley, Gotleap 449
Rike, William H 485
Roberts, D. Q 748
Robertson, William L 341
Koheson, Thomas J 440
Robeson, William 446
K ogers, Charles C 755
Rogers, Elmer C 756
Roland, Charles 691
Roland, Charles W 613
Royer, Henry J 343
Ruh, Geortie 721
Runkle, William 523
Rush, Andrew 228
Rush, Andrew W 363
Ryan, Daniel H 323
Ryan, Frank L 317
Sater, J. W 245
Schaefer, Christian 415
Schlechty, George 579
Scribner, Abraham and Azor. . 228
Scribner, Rachel (Devor) 229
Searl, Russell 370
Seitz, Anna E 744
Seitz, Enoch B 740
Shafer, Job M 520
Shelley, Thomas J 389
Shepherd, Stephen 658
Sherry, Elizabeth 269
Sherry, William H 597
Shields, Abraham 429
Shields, George £98
Shields, William 337
Shives, Thomas A 600
Shivly, Jacob W 243
Shuff, Easam 426
Sigafoos, George W 470
Sigerfoos, George W 738
Small, lohn H 492
Smith, J. W 243
Snodgrass, B. F 243
Snodgrass, Clement 243
Snyder, Daniel 344
Snyder, Elias D 311
TABLE OF CONTENTS— PART II.
PAGE
Snyder, James A 503
Spencer, John F 297
Stahl, Anna W 552
Stentzel, John J...... 367
Stephens, John 314
Stevenson, Walter 244
Stiles, Thomas D 235
Stocker, Jacob R 446
Stover, Daniel W 716
Straker, Henry 455
Stubbs, William V 751
Studahaker, Abraham 230
Studabaker, Uavid 231
Suter, John R 693
Swinger, David 423
Swinger, John 732
Taylor, Delia V 413
Teaford, Jonathan 578
Teaford, Norman 5S2
Teegarden, Moses 554
Teegarden, Moses S 380
Teegarden, William W 585
Thomas, Samuel S 488
Thompson, Jeremiah 690
PAGE
Thompson, William S 667
Tomlinson, H. A 243
Townsend, Alfred 244
Townsend, William 714
Turner, Jacob K 641
Turner, Larkin G 301
Ullery, Leonard 243
Vail, Aaron 715
Van Mater, Cyrenius 243
Vannoy, David J 489
Walker, John 419
Wallace, John A 709
Walters, Lewis P 334
Ware, Jacob F 480
Warner, Henry 336
Warvel, Daniel 682
Warvel, Nathan S 266
Weaver, David 568
Weaver, Elihu 610
Weaver, George 687
Welbourn, George J 442
PAGE
Weston, W. A 233
Wharry, John 238
Whitacre, Frank M 411
White, Elam 754
Wiley, Francis G 487
Williams, Henry 713
Wilson Children, The 227
Wilson, Mrs. Samuel 270
Wilson, W.J 391
Wilson, W. M 234
Winbigler, George H 646
Winbigler, John J 486
Winger, John 688
Winner, John L 233
Winters, Job M 650
Wise, Franklin 536
Woods, Addison J 547
Woods, Jesse 474
Workman, T. H 243
Young, Calvin M 494
Young, Jacob B 470
Yount, Henry L 584
Zeller, Cyrus 654
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COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
OF
Celebrated Americans
ww^w
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G
|EORGE WASHINGTON,
% the first president of the Unit-
|l ed States, called the "Father
of his Country," was one of
the most celebrated characters
in history. He was born Feb-
ruary 22, 1732, in Washing-
ton Parish, Westmoreland county, Virginia.
His father, Augustine Washington, first
married Jane Butler, who bore him four
children, and March (5, 1730, he -married
Mary Ball. Of six children by his second
marriage, George was the eldest.
Little is known of the early years of
Washington, beyond the fact that the house
in which he was born was burned during his
early childhood, and that his father there-
upon moved to another farm, inherited from
his paternal ancestors, situated in Stafford
county, on the north bank of the Rappahan-
nock, and died there in 1743. From earliest
childhood George developed a noble charac-
ter. His education was somewhat defective,
being confined to the elementary branches
taught him by his mother and at a neighbor-
ing school. On leaving school he resided
some time at Mount Vernon with his half
brother, Lawrence, who acted as his guar.
dian. George's inclinations were for a sea-
faring career, and a midshipman's warrant
was procured for him; but through the oppo-
sition of his mother the project was aban-
doned, and at the age of sixteen he was
appointed surveyor to the immense estates
of the eccentric Lord Fairfax. Three years
were passed by Washington in a rough fron-
tier life, gaining experience which afterwards
proved very essential to him. In 175 1,
when the Virginia militia were put under
training with a view to active service against
France, Washington, though only nineteen
years of age, was appointed adjutant, with
the rank of major. In 1752 Lawrence
Washington died, leaving his large property
to an infant daughter. In his will George
was named one of the executors and as an
eventual heir to Mount Vernon, and by the
death of the infant niece, soon succeeded to
that estate. In 1753 George was commis-
sioned adjutant-general of the Virginia
militia, and performed important work at
the outbreak of the French and Indian
war, was rapidly promoted, and at the close of
that war we find him commander-in-chief of
Oopjrisht 1S97, bj Geo. A. Ogle U Co.
18
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
all the forces raised in Virginia. A cessation
of Indian hostilities on the frontier having
followed the expulsion of the French from
the Ohio, he resigned his commission as
commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces,
and then proceeded to Williamsburg to take
his seat in the Virginia Assembly, of which
he had been elected a member.
January 17, 1759, Washington married
Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Curtis, a young
and beautiful widow of great wealth, and
devoted himself for the ensuing fifteen years
to the quiet pursuits of agriculture, inter-
rupted only by the annual attendance in
winter upon the colonial legislature at
Williamsburg, until summoned by his coun-
try to enter upon that other arena in which
his fame was to become world-wide. The
war for independence called Washington
into service again, and he was made com-
mander-in-chief of the colonial forces, and
was the most gallant and conspicuous figure
in that bloody struggle, serving until Eng-
land acknowledged the independence of
each of the thirteen States, and negotiated
with them jointly, as separate sovereignties.
December 4, 1783, the great commander
took leave of his officers in most affection-
ate and patriotic terms, and went to An-
napolis, Maryland, where the congress of
the States was in session, and to that body,
when peace and order prevailed everywhere,
resigned his commission and retired to
Mount Vernon.
It was in 1789 that Washington was
called to the chief magistracy of the na-
tion. The inauguration took place April
30, in the presence of an immense multi-
tude which had assembled to witness the new
and imposing ceremony. In the manifold de-
tails of his civil administration Washington
proved himselffullyequal to the requirements
of his position. In 1792, at the second presi-
dential election, Washington was desirous
to retire; but he yielded to the general wish
of the country, and was again chosen presi-
dent. At the third election, in 1796, he
was again most urgently entreated to con-
sent to remain in the executive chair. This
he positively refused, and after March 4,
1797, he again retired to Mount Vernon
for peace, quiet, and repose.
Of the call again made on this illustrious
chief to quit his repose at Mount Ver-
non and take command of all the United
States forces, with rank of lieutenant-gen-
eral, when war was threatened with France
in 1798, nothing need here be stated, ex-
cept to note the fact as an unmistakable
testimonial of the high regard in which he
was still held by his countrymen of all
shades of political opinion. He patriotic-
ally accepted this trust, but a treaty of
peace put a stop to all action under it. He
again retired to Mount Vernon, where he
died December 14, 1799, in the sixty-eighth
year of his age. His remains were depos-
ited in a family vault on the banks of the
Potomac, at Mount Vernon, where they still
lie entombed.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, an eminent
American statesman and scientist, was
born of poor parentage, January 17, 1706,
in Boston, Massachusetts. He was appren-
ticed to his brother James to learn the print-
er's trade to prevent his running away and
going to sea, and also because of the numer-
ous family his parents had to support (there
being seventeen children, Benjamin being
the fifteenth). He was a great reader, and
soon developed a taste for writing, and pre-
pared a number of articles and had them
published in the paper without his brother's
knowledge, and when the authorship be-
came known it resulted in difficulty for the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
n
young apprentice, although his articles had
been received with favor by the public.
James was afterwards thrown into prison for
political reasons, and young Benjamin con-
ducted the paper alone during the time. In
1823, however, he determined to endure his
bonds no longer, and ran away, going to
Philadelphia, where he arrived with only
three pence as his store of wealth. With
these he purchased three rolls, and ate them
as he walked along the streets. He soon
found employment as a journeyman printer.
Two years later he was sent to England by
the governor of Pennsylvania, and was
promised the public printing, but did not get
it. On hisTeturn to Philadelphia he estab-
lished the "Pennsylvania Gazette," and
soon found himself a person of great popu-
larity in the province, his ability as a writer,
philosopher, and politician having reached
the neighboring colonies. He rapidly grew
in prominence, founded the Philadelphia Li-
brary in 1842, and two years later the
American Philosophical Society and the
University of Pennsylvania. He was made
Fellow of the Royal Society in London in
1775. His world-famous investigations in
electricity and lightning began in 1746. He
became postmaster-general of the colonies
in 1753, having devised an inter-colonial
postal system. He advocated the rights of
the colonies at all times, and procured the
repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766. He was
elected to the Continental congress of 1775,
and in 1776 was a signer of the Declaration
of Independence, being one of the commit-
tee appointed to draft that paper. He rep-
resented the new nation in the courts of
Europe, especially at Paris, where his simple
dignity and homely wisdom won him the
admiration of the court and the favor of the
people. He was governor of Pennsylvania
lour years; was also a member of the con-
vention in 1787 that drafted the constitution
of the United States.
His writings upon political topics, anti-
slavery, finance, and economics, stamp him
as one of the greatest statesmen of his time,
while his "Autobiography" and "Poor
Richard's Almanac " give him precedence in
the literary field. In early life he was an
avowed skeptic in religious matters, but
later in life his utterances on this subject
were less extreme, though he never ex-
pressed approval of any sect or creed. He
died in Philadelphia April 17, 1790.
DANIEL WEBSTER.— Of world wide
reputation for statesmanship, diplo-
macy, and oratory, there is perhaps no more
prominent figure in the history of our coun-
try in the interval between 181 5 and 1861,
than Daniel Webster. He was born at
Salisbury (now Franklin), New Hampshire,
January 18, 1782, and was the second son
of Ebenezer and Abigail (Eastman) Webster.
He enjoyed but limited educational advan-
tages in childhood, but spent a few months
in 1797, at Phillip Exeter Academy. He
completed his preparation for college in the
family of Rev. Samuel Wood, at Boscawen,
and entered Dartmouth College in the fall
of 1797. He supported himself most of the
time during these years by teaching school
and graduated in 1801, having the credit of
being the foremost scholar of his class. He
entered the law office of Hon. Thomas W.
Thompson, at Salisbury. In 1S02 he con-
tinued his legal studies at Fryeburg, Maine,
where he was principal of the academy and
copyist in *the office of the register of
deeds. In the office of Christopher Gore,
at Boston, he completed his studies in
1804-5, ar,d was admitted to the bar in the
latter year, and at Boscawen and at Ports-
mouth soon rose to eminence in his profes-
20
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
sion. He became known as a federalist
but did not court political honors; but, at-
tracting attention by his eloquence in oppos-
ing the war with England, he was elected
to congress in 1812. During the special
session of May, 18 13, he was appointed on
the committee on foreign affairs and made
his maiden speech June 10, 1S13. Through-
out this session (as afterwards) he showed
his mastery of the great economic questions
of the day. He was re-elected in 1814. In
1816 he removed to Boston and for seven
years devoted himself to his profession,
earning by his arguments in the celebrated
"Dartmouth College Case" rank among
the most distinguished jurists of the country.
In 1820 Mr. Webster was chosen a member
of the state convention of Massachusetts, to
revise the constitution. The same year he
delivered the famous discourse on the " Pil-
grim fathers," which laid the foundation for
his fame as an orator. Declining a nomi-
nation for United States senator, in 1822 he
was elected to the lower house of congress
and was re-elected in 1824 and 1826, but in
1827 was transferred to the senate. He
retained his seat in the latter chamber until
1 841. During this time his voice was ever
lifted in defence of the national life and
honor and although politically opposed to
him he gave his support to the administra-
tion of President Jackson in the latter's con-
test with nullification. Through all these
years he was ever found upon the side of
right arid justice and his speeches upon all
the great questions of the day have be-
come household words in almost every
family. In 1841 Mr. Webster was appointed
secretary of state by President Harrison
and was continued in the same office by
President Tyler. While an incumbent of
this office he showed consummate ability as
a diplomat in the negotiation of the " Ash-
burton treaty " of August 9, 1849, which
settled many points of dispute between the
United States and England. In May, 1843,
he resigned his post and resumed his pro-
fession, and in December, 1845, took his
place again in the senate. He contributed
in an unofficial way to the solution of the
Oregon question with Great Britain in 1847.
He was disappointed in 1848 in not receiv-
ing the nomination for the presidency. He
became secretary of state under President
Fillmore in 1850 and in dealing with all the
complicated questions of the day showed a
wonderful mastery of the arts of diplomacy.
Being hurt in an accident he retired to his
home at Marshfield, where he died Octo-
ber 24, 1S52.
HORACE GREELEY. —As journalist,
author, statesman and political leader,
there is none more widely known than the
man whose name heads this article. He
was born in Amherst, New Hampshire, Feb-
ruary 3, 181 1, and was reared upon a farm.
At an early age he evinced a remarkable
intelligence and love of learning, and at
the age of ten had read every book he could
borrow for miles around. About 1821 the
family removed to Westhaven, Vermont,
and for some years young Greeley assisted
in carrying on the farm. In 1826 he entered
the office of a weekly newspaper at East
Poultney, Vermont, where he remained
about four years. On the discontinuance
of this paper he followed his father's
family to Erie county, Pennsylvania,
whither they had moved, and for a time
worked at the printer's trade in that neigh-
borhood. In 1 83 1 Horace went to New
York City, and for a time found employ-
ment as journeyman printer. January,
1833, in partnership with Francis Story, he
published the Morning Post, the first penny
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
21
paper ever printed. This proved a failure
and was discontinued after three weeks.
The business of job printing was carried on,
however, until the death of Mr. Story in
July following. In company with Jonas
Winchester, March 22, 1834, Mr. Greeley
commenced the publication of the New
Yorker, a weekly paper of a high character.
For financial reasons, at the same time,
Greeley wrote leaders for other papers, and,
in 1838, took editorial charge of the Jeffer-
sonian, a Whig paper published at Albany.
In 1840, on the discontinuance of that sheet,
he devoted his energies to the Log Cabin, a
campaign paper in the interests of the Whig
party. In the fall of 1841 the latter paper
was consolidated with the New Yorker, un-
der the name of the Tribune, the first num-
ber of which was issued April 10, 184 1. At
the head of this paper Mr. Greeley remained
until the day of his death.
In 1848 Horace Greeley was elected to
the national house of representatives to
fill a vacancy, and was a member of that
body until March 4, 1849. In 1851 he went
to Europe and served as a juror at the
World's Fair at the Crystal Palace, Lon-
don. In 1855, he made a second visit to
the old world. In 1859 he crossed the
plains and received a public reception at
San Francisco and Sacramento. He was a
member of the Republican national con-
vention, at Chicago in i860, and assisted in
the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for
President. The same year he was a presi-
dential elector for the state of New York,
and a delegate to the Loyalist convention
at Philadelphia.
At the close of the war, in 1865, Mr.
Greeley became a strong advocate of uni-
versal amnesty and complete pacification,
and in pursuance of this consented to be-
come one of the bondsmen for Jefferson
Davis, who was imprisoned for treason. In
1867 he was a delegate to the New York
state convention for the revision of the
constitution. In 1870 he was defeated for
congress in the Sixth New York district.
At the Liberal convention, which met in
Cincinnati, in May, 1872, on the fifth ballot
Horace Greeley was nominated for presi-
dent and July following was nominated for
the same office by the Democratic conven-
tion at Baltimore. He was defeated by a
large majority. The large amount of work
done by him during the campaign, together
with the loss of his wife about the same
time, undermined his strong constitution,
and he was seized with inflammation of the
brain, and died November 29, 1872.
In addition to his journalistic work, Mr.
Greeley was the author of several meritori-
ous works, among which were: "Hints
toward reform," "Glances at Europe,"
" History of the struggle for slavery exten
sion," "Overland journey to San Francis-
co," "The American conflict," and " Rec-
ollections of a busy life."
HENRY CLAY.— In writing of this em-
inent American, Horace Greeley once
said: "He was a matchless party chief, an
admirable orator, a skillful legislator, wield-
ing unequaled influence, not only over his
friends, but even over those of his political
antagonists who were subjected to the magic
of his conversation and manners. " A law-
yer, legislator, orator, and statesman, few
men in history have wielded greater influ-
ence, or occupied so prominent a place in
the hearts of the generation in which they
lived.
Henry Clay was born near Richmond,
in Hanover county, Virginia, April 12,
1777, the son of a poor Baptist preacher
who died when Henry was but five years
22
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
old. The mother married again about ten
years later and removed to Kentucky leav-
ing Henry a clerk in a store at Richmond.
Soon afterward Henry Clay secured a posi-
tion as copyist in the office of the clerk of the
high court of chancery, and four years later
entered the law office of Robert Brooke,
then attorney general and later governor of
his native state. In 1797 Henry Clay was
licensed as a lawyer and followed his mother
to Kentucky, opening an office at Lexington
and soon built up a profitable practice.
Soon afterward Kentucky, in separating from
Virginia, called a state convention for the
purpose of framing a constitution, and Clay
at that time took a prominent part, publicly
urging the adoption of a clause providing
for the abolition of slavery, but in this he
was overruled, as he was fifty years later,
when in the height of his fame he again ad-
vised the same course when the state con-
stitution was revised in 1850. Young Clay
took a very active and conspicuous part in
the presidential campaign in 1S00, favoring
the election of Jefferson; and in 1803 was
chosen to represent Fayette county in the
state 'egislature. In 1806 General John
Adair, then United States senator from
Kentucky, resigned and Henry Clay was
elected to fill the vacancy by the legislature
and served through one session in which he
at once assumed a prominent place. In
1807 he was again a representative in the
legislature and was elected speaker of the
house. At this time originated his trouble
with Humphrey Marshall. Clay proposed
that each member clothe himself and family
wholly in American fabrics, which Marshall
characterized as the " language of a dema-
gogue." This led to a duel in which both
parties were slightly injured. In 1S09
Henry Clay was again elected to fill a va-
cancy in the United States senate, and two
years later elected representative in the low-
er house of congress, being chosen speaker
of the house. About this time war was de-
clared against Great Britain, and Clay took
a prominent public place during this strug-
gle and was later one of the commissioners
sent to Europe by President Madison to ne-
gotiate peace, returning in September, 1815,
having been re-elected speaker of the
house during his absence, and was re-elect-
ed unanimously. He was afterward re-
elected to congress and then became secre-
tary of state under John Quincy Adams.
In 1 83 1 he was again elected senator from
Kentucky and remained in the senate most
of the time until his death.
Henry Clay was three times a candidate
for the presidency, and once very nearly
elected. He was the unanimous choice of
the Whig party in 1844 for the presidency,
and a great effort was made to elect him
but without success, his opponent, James K.
Polk, carrying both Pennsylvania and New
York by a very slender margin, while either
of them alone would have elected Clay.
Henry Clay died at Washington June 29,
1852.
JAMES GILLESPIE BLAINE was one
of the most distinguished of American
statesmen and legislators. He was born
January 31, 1830, in Washington county,
Pennsylvania, and received a thorough edu-
cation, graduating at Washington College in
1847. In early life he removed to Maine
and engaged in newspaper work, becoming
editor of the Portland 'Advertiser." While
yet a young man he gained distinction as a
debater and became a conspicuous figure in
political and public affairs. In 1862 he was
elected to congress on the Republican ticket
in Maine and was re-elected five times. In
March, 1869, he was chosen speaker of the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRATHT.
23
house of representatives and was re-elected
in 1 87 1 and again in 1 873. In 1 S76 he was
a representative in the lower house of con-
gress and during that year was appointed
United States senator by the Governor to
fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of
Senator Morrill, who had been appointed
secretary of the treasury. Mr. Blaine
served in the senate until March 5, 1881,
when President Garfield appointed him sec-
retary of state, which position he resigned
in December, 1881. Mr. Blaine was nom-
inated for the presidency by the Republic-
ans, at Chicago in June, 1884, but was de-
feated by Grover Cleveland after an exciting
and spirited campaign. During the later
years of his life Mr. Blaine devoted most of
his time to the completion of his work
"Twenty Years in Congress," which had a
remarkably large sale throughout the United
States. Blaine was a man of great mental
ability and force of character and during the
latter part of his life was one of the most
noted men of his time. He was the origina-
tor of what is termed the " reciprocity idea"
in tariff matters, and outlined the plan of
carrying it into practical effect. In 1876
Robert G. Ingersoll in making a nominating
speech placing Blaine's name as a candidate
for president before the national Republican
convention at Cincinnati, referred to Blaine
as the " Plumed Knight " and this title clung
to him during the remainder of his life. His
death occurred at Washington, January 27,
I893-
JOHN CALDWELL CALHOUN, a dis-
<J tinguished American statesman, was a
native of South Carolina, born in Abbeville
district, March 18, 17S2. He was given
the advantages of a thorough education,
graduating at Yale College in 1804, and
adopted the calling of a lawyer. A Demo-
crat politically, at that time, he took a fore-
most part in the councils of his party and
was elected to congress in 1S1 1, supporting
the tariff of 18 16 and the establishing of
the United States Bank. In 18 17 he be-
came secretary of war in President Monroe's
cabinet, and in 1 824 waselected vice-president
of the United States, on the ticket with John
Quincy Adams, and re-elected in 1 828, on the
ticket with General Jackson. Shortly after
this Mr. Calhoun became one of the strongest
advocates of free trade and the principle of
sovereignty of the states and was one of
the originators of the doctrine that "any
state could nullify unconstitutional laws of
congress." Meanwhile Calhoun had be-
come an aspirant for the presidency, and
the fact that General Jackson advanced the
interests of his opponent, Van Buren, led
to a quarrel, and Calhoun resigned the vice-
presidency in 1832 and was elected United
Statessenator from South Carolina. It was
during the same year that a convention was
held in South Carolina at which the " Nul-
lification ordinance " was adopted, the -ib-
ject of which was to test the constitution-
ality of the protective tariff measures, and
to prevent if possible the collection of im-
port duties in that state which had been
levied more for the purpose of "protection"
than revenue. This ordinance was to go
into effect in February, 1833, and created a
great deal of uneasiness throughout the
country as it was feared there would be a
clash between the state and federal authori-
ties. It was in this serious condition of
public affairs that Henry Clay came forward
with the the famous "tariff compromise"
of 1833, to which measure Calhoun and
most of his followers gave their support and
the crisis was averted. In 1S43 Mr. Cal-
houn was appointed secretary of state in
President Tyier's cabinet, and it was Under
24
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
his administration that the treaty concern-
ing the annexation of Texas was negotiated.
In 1845 he was re-elected to the United
States senate and continued in the senate
until his death, which occurred in March,
1850. He occupied a high rank as a scholar,
student and orator, and it is conceded that
he was one of the greatest debaters America
has produced. The famous debate between
Calhoun and Webster, in 1833, is regarded
as the most noted for ability and eloquence
in the history of the country.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BUTLER, one
of America's most brilliant and pro-
found lawyers and noted public men, was
a native of New England, born at Deer-
field, New Hampshire, November 5, 1818.
His father, Captain John Butler, was a
prominent man in his day, commanded a
company during the war of 181 2, and
served under Jackson at New Orleans.
Benjamin F. Butler was given an excellent
education, graduated at Waterville College,
Maine, studied law, was admitted to the
bar in 1840, at Lowell, Massachusetts,
where he commenced the practice of his
profession and gained a wide reputation for
his ability at the bar, acquiring an extensive
practice and a fortune. Early in life he
began taking an active interest in military
affairs and served in the state militia through
all grades from private to brigadier-general.
In 1853 he was elected to the state legisla-
ture on the Democratic ticket in Lowell,
and took a prominent part in the passage of
legislation in the interests of labor. Dur-
ing the same year he was a member of the
constitutional convention, and in 1859 rep-
resented his district in the Massachusetts
senate. When the Civil war broke out
General Butler took the field and remained
at the front most of the time during that
bloody struggle. Part of the time he had
charge of Fortress Monroe, and in Febru-
ary, 1862, took command of troops forming
part of the expedition against New Orleans,
and later had charge of the department of
the Gulf. He was a conspicuous figure dur-
ing the continuance of the war. After the
close of hostilities General Butler resumed
his law practice in Massachusetts and in
1866 was elected to congress from the Es-
sex district. In 1882 he was elected gov-
ernor of Massachusetts, and in 1884 was the
nominee of the "Greenback" party for
president of the United States. He con-
tinued his legal practice, and maintained his
place as one of the most prominent men in
New England until the time of his death,
which occurred January 10, 1893.
JEFFERSON DAVIS, an officer, states-
man and legislator of prominence in
America, gained the greater part of his fame
from the fact that he was president of the
southern confederacy. Mr. Davis was born
in Christian county, Kentucky, June 3,
1808, and his early education and surround-
ings were such that his sympathies and in-
clinations were wholly with the southern
people. He received a thorough education,
graduated at West Point in 1828, and for a
number of years served in the army at west-
ern posts and in frontier service, first as
lieutenant and later as adjutant. In 1835
he resigned and became a cotton planter in
Warren county, Mississippi, where he took
an active interest in public affairs and be-
came a conspicuous figure in politics. In
1844 he was a presidential elector from
Mississippi and during the two following
years served as congressman from his d;s-'
trict. He then became colonel of a Missis-
sippi regiment in the war with Mexico ana
participated in some of the most severe pac-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr
25
ties, being seriously wounded at Buena
Vista. Upon his return to private life he
again took a prominent part in political af-
fairs and represented his state in the United
States senate from 1847 to 1S51. He then
entered President Pierce's cabinet as secre-
tary of war, after which he again entered
the United States senate, remaining until
the outbreak of the Civil war. He then be-
came president of the southern confederacy
and served as such until captured in May,
1865, at Irwinville, Georgia. He was held
as prisoner of war at Fortress Monroe, until
1867, when he was released on bail and
finally set free in 1868. His death occurred
December 6, 1889.
Jefferson Davis was a man of excellent
abilities and was recognized as one of the
best organizers of his day. He was a
forceful and fluent speaker and a ready
writer. He wrote and published the " Rise
and Fall of the Southern Confederacy," a
work which is considered as authority by
the southern peopl.-
JOHN ADAMS, the second president of
the United States, and one of the most
conspicuous figures in the early struggles of
his country for independence, was born in
the present town of Quincy, then a portion
of Braintree, Massachusetts, October 30,
1735. He received a thorough education,
graduating at Harvard College in 1755,
studied law and was admitted to the bar in
1758. He was well adapted for this profes-
sion and after opening an office in his native
town rapidly grew in prominence and public
favor and soon was regarded as one of the
leading lawyers of the country. His atten-
tion was called to political affairs by the
passage of the Stamp Act, in 1765, and he
drew up a set of resolutions on the subject
■which were very popular. In 1768 he re-
moved to Boston and became one of the
most courageous and prominent advocates
of the popular cause and was chosen a
member of the Colonial legislature from
Boston. He was one of the delegates that
represented Massachusetts in the first Con^
tinental congress, which met in September,
1774. In a letter written at this crisis he
uttered the famous words: "The die is now
cast; I have passed the Rubicon. Sink or
swim, live or die, survive or perish with my
country, is my unalterable determination."
He was a prominent figure in congress and
advocated the movement for independence
when a majority of the members were in-
clined to temporize and to petition the King.
In May, 1776, he presented a resolution in
congress that the colonies should assume
the duty of self-government, which was
passed. In June, of the same year, a reso-
lution that the United States "are, and oi
right ought to be, free and independent,"
was moved by Richard H. Lee, seconded by
Mr. Adams and adopted by a small majority.
Mr. Adams was a member of the committee
of five appointed June 1 1 to prepare a
declaration of independence, in support of
which he made an eloquent speech. He was
chairman of the Board of War in 1776 and
in 1 778 was sent as commissioner to France,
but returned the following year. In 1780
he went to Europe, having been appointed
as minister to negotiate a treaty of peace
and commerce with Great Britain. Con-
jointly with Franklin and Jay he negotiated
a treaty in 1782. He was employed as a
minister to the Court of St. James from
1785 to 1788, and during that period wrote
his famous "Defence of the American Con-
stitutions." In 1789 he became vice-presi-
dent of the United States and was re-elected
in 1792.
In 1796 Mr. Adams was chosen presi-
26
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
dent of the United States, his competitor
being Thomas Jefferson, who became vice-
president. In 1800 he was the Federal
candidate for president, but he was not
cordially supported by Gen. Hamilton, the
favorite leader of his party, and was de-
feated by Thomas Jefferson.
Mr. Adams then retired from public life
to his large estate at Quincy, Mass. , where
he died July 4, 1826, on the same day that
witnessed the death of Thomas Jefferson.
Though his physical frame began to give way
many years before his death, his mental
powers retained their strength and vigor to
the last. In his ninetieth year he was glad-
dened by .the elevation of his son, John
Quincy Adams, to the presidential office.
HENRY WARD BEECHER, one of the
most celebrated American preachers
and authors, was born at Litchfield, Connec-
ticut, June 24, 1 8 1 3. His father was Dr. Ly-
man Beecher, also an eminent divine. At
an early age Henry Ward Beecher had a
strong predilection for a sea-faring life, and
it was practically decided that he would fol-
low this inclination, but about this time, in
consequence of deep religious impressions
which he experienced during a revival, he
renounced his former intention and decided
to enter the ministry. After having grad-
uated at Amherst College, in 1834, he stud-
ied theology at Lane Seminary under the
tuition of his father, who was then president
of that institution. In 1847 he became pas-
tor of the Plymouth Congregational church
in Brooklyn, where his oratorical ability and
original eloquence attracted one of the larg-
est congregations in the country. He con-
tinued to served this church until the time
of his death, March 8, 1S87. Mr. Beecher
also found time for a great amount of liter-
ary work- For a number of years he was
editor of the "Independent" and also the
' ' Christian Union. " He also produced many
works which are widely known. Among his
principal productions are "Lectures to Young
Men," " Star Papers, " "Life of Christ,"
"Life Thoughts," "Royal Truths" (a
novel), "Norwood," " Evolution and Rev-
olution," and "Sermons on Evolution and
Religion." Mr. Beecher was also long a
prominent advocate of anti-slavery princi-
ples and temperance reform, and, at a later
period, of the rights of women.
JOHN A. LOGAN, the illustrious states-
man and general, was born in Jackson
county, Illinois, February 9, 1824. In his
boyhood days he received but a limited edu-
cation in the schools of his native county.
On the breaking out of the war with Mexico
he enlisted in the First Illinois Volunteers
and became its quartermaster. At the close
of hostilities he returned home and was
elected clerk of the courts of Jackson county
in 1849. Determining to supplement his
education Logan entered the Louisville Uni-
versity, from which he graduated in 1852
and taking up the study of law was admitted
to the bar. He attained popularity and suc-
cess in his chosen profession and was elected
to the legislature in 1852, 1853, 1856 and
1857. He was prosecuting attorney from
1853 to 1857. He was elected to congress
in 1858 to fill a vacancy and again in i860.
At the outbreak of the Rebellion, Logan re-
signed his office and entered the arm}', and
in September, 1861, was appointed colonel
of the Thirty-first Illinois Infantry, which he
led in the battles of Belmont and Fort Don-
elson. In the latter engagement he was
wounded. In March, 1862, he was pro-
moted to be brigadier-general and in the
following month participated in the battles
of Pittsburg Landing. In November, 1862,
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHi:
29
for gallant conduct he was made major-gen-
eral. Throughout the Vicksburg campaign
he was in command of a division of the Sev-
enteenth Corps and was distinguished at
Port Gibson, Champion Kills and in the
siege and capture cf Vicksburg. In October,
1863, he was placed in command of the
Fifteenth Corps, which he led with great
credit. During the terrible conflict before
Atlanta, July 22, 1864, on the death of
General McPherson, Logan, assuming com-
mand of the Army of the Tennessee, led it
on to victory, saving the day by his energy
and ability. He was shortly after succeeded
by General O. O. Howard and returned to
the command of his corps. He remained
in command until the presidential election,
when, feeling that his influence was needed
at home he returned thither and there re-
mained until the arrival of Sherman at Sa-
vannah, when General Logan rejoined his
command. In May, 1865, he succeeded
General Howard at the head of the Army of
the Tennessee. He resigned from the army
in August, the same year, and in November
was appointed minister to Mexico, but de-
clined the honor. He served in the lower
house of the fortieth and forty-first con-
gresses, and was elected United States sena-
tor from his native state in 1870, 1878 and
1885. He was nominated for the vice-presi-
dency in 1884 on the ticket with Blaine, but
was defeated. General Logan was the
author of "The Great Conspiracy, its origin
and history," published in 1885. He died
at Washington, December 26, 1886.
JOHN CHARLES FREMONT, the first
Republican candidate for president, was
born in Savannah, Georgia, January 2i5
18 1 3. He graduated trom Charleston Col-
lege (South Carolina) in 1S30, and turned his
attention to civil engineering. He was shortly
2
afterward employed in the department of
government surveys on the Mississippi, and
constructing maps of that region. He was
made lieutenant of engineers, and laid be-
fore the war department a plan for pi ne-
trating the Rocky Mountain regions, which
was accepted, and in 1842 he set out upon
his first famous exploring expedition and ex-
plored the South Pass. He also planned an
expedition to Oregon by a new route further
south, but afterward joined his expedition
with that of Wilkes in the region of the
Great Salt Lake. He made a later expedi-
tion which penetrated the Sierra Nevadas,
and the San Joaquin and Sacramento river
valleys, making maps of all regions explored.
In 1845 he conducted the great expedi-
tion which resulted in the acquisition of
California, which it was believed the Mexi-
can government was about to dispose of to
England. Learning that the Mexican gov-
ernor was preparing to attack the American
settlements in his dominion, Fremont deter-
mined to forestall him. The settlers rallied
to his camp, and in June, 1846, he defeated
the Mexican forces at Sonoma Pass, and a
month later completely routed the governor
and his entire army. The Americans at
once declared their independence of Mexico,
and Fremont was elected governor of Cali-
fornia. By this time Commodore Stockton
had reached the coast with instructions from
Washington to conquer California. Fre-
mont at once joined him in that effort, which
resulted in the annexation of California with
its untold mineral wealth. Later Fremont
became involved in a difficulty with fellow
officers which resulted in a court martial,
and the surrender of his commission. He
declined to accept reinstatement. He af-
terward laid out a great road from the Mis-
sissippi river to San Francisco, and became
the first United States senator from Califor-
BO
coMPE.xniuir of biograpi/p.
nia, in 1849. In 1856 he was nominated
by the new Republican party as its first can-
didate for president against Buchanan, and
received 114 electoral votes, out of 296.
In 1 86 1 he was made major-general and
placed in charge of the western department.
He planned the reclaiming of the entire
Mississippi valley, and gathered an army of
thirty thousand men, with plenty of artil-
lery, and was ready to move upon the con-
federate General Price, when he was de-
prived of his command. He was nominated
for the presidency at Cincinnati in 1864, but
withdrew. He was governor of Arizona in
1878, holding the position four years. He
was interested in an engineering enterprise
looking toward a great southern trans-con-
tinental railroad, and in his later years also
practiced law in New York. He died July 1 3,
1 890.
WENDELL PHILLIPS, the orator and
abolitionist, and a conspicuous figure
in American history, was born November
29, 1 S 1 1 , at Boston, Massachusetts. He
received a good education at Harvard
College, from which he graduated in 1831,
and then entered the Cambridge Law School.
After completing his course in that institu-
tion, in 1833, he was admitted to the bar,
in 1834, at Suffolk. He entered the arena
of life at the time when the forces of lib-
erty and slavery had already begun their
struggle that was to culminate in the Civil
war. William Lloyd Garrison, by his clear-
headed, courageous declarations of the anti-
slavery principles, had done much to bring
about this struggle. Mr. Phillips was not a
man that could stand aside and see a great
struggle being carried on in the interest of
humanity and look passively on. He first
attracted attention as an orator in 1837, at
a meeting that was called to protest against
the murder of the Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy.
The meeting would have ended in a few
perfunctory resolutions had not Mr. Phillips
by his manly eloquence taken the meeting
out of the hands of the few that were in-
clined to temporize and avoid radical utter-
ances. Having once started out in this ca-
reer as an abolitionist Phillips never swerved
from what he deemed his duty, and never
turned back. He gave up his legal practice
and launched himself heart and soul in the
movement for the liberation of the slaves.
He was an orator of very great ability and
by his earnest efforts and eloquence he did
much in arousing public sentiment in behalf
of the anti-slavery cause — possibly more
than any one man of his time. After the
abolition of slavery Mr. Phillips was, if pos-
sible, even busier than before in the literary
and lecture field. Besides temperance and
women's rights, he lectured often and wrote
much on finance, and the relations of labor
and capital, and his utterances on whatever
subject always bore the stamp of having
emanated from a master mind. Eminent
critics have stated that it might fairly be
questioned whether there has ever spoken
in America an orator superior to Phillips.
The death of this great man occurred Feb-
ruary 4, 1884.
WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN
was one of the greatest generals that
the world has ever produced and won im-
mortal fame by that strategic and famous
" march to the sea," in the war of the Re-
bellion. He was born February 8, 1820, at
Lancaster, Ohio, and was reared in the
family of the Hon. Thomas Ewing, as his
father died when he was but nine years of
age. He entered West Point in 1836, wa?
graduated from the same in 1840, and ap-
pointed a second lieutenant in the Third
COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
31
Artillery. He passed through the various
grades of the service and at the outbreak of
the Civil war was appointed colonel of the
Thirteenth Regular Infantry. A full history
of General Sherman's conspicuous services
would be to repeat a history of the army.
He c 'inmanded a division at Shiloh, and
was instrumental in the winning of that bat-
tle, and was also present at the siege of Vicks-
burg. On July 4, 1863, he was appointed
brigadier-general of the regular army, and
shared with Hooker the victory of Mission-
ary Ridge. He was commander of the De-
partment of the Tennessee from October
27th until the appDiutment of General
Grant as lieutenant-general, by whom he
was appointed to the command of the De-
partment of the Mississippi, which he as-
sumed in March, 1864. He at once began
organizing the army and enlarging his "com-
munications preparatory to his march upon
Atlanta, which he started the same time of
the beginning of the Richmond campaign by
Grant. He started on May 6, and was op-
posed by Johnston, who had fifty thousand
men, but by consummate generalship, he
captured Atlanta, on September 2, after
several months of hard fighting and a severe
loss of men. General Sherman started on
his famous march to the sea November 15,
1864, and by December -10 he was before
Savannah, which he took on December 23.
This campaign is a monument to the genius
of General Sherman as he only lost 567
men from Atlanta to the sea. After rest-
ing his army he moved northward and occu-
pied the following places: Columbia,
Cheraw, Fayetteville, Ayersboro, Benton-
ville, Goldsboro, Raleigh, and April 18, he
accepted the surrender of Johnston's army
on a basis of agreement that was not re-
ceived by the Government with favor, but
finally accorded Johnston the same terms as
Lee was given by General Grant. He was
present at the grand review at Washington,
and after the close of the war was appointed
to the command of the military division of
the Mississippi; later was appointed lieu-
tenant-general, and assigned to the military
division of the Missouri. When General
Grant was elected president Sherman became
general, March 4, 1869, and succeeded to
the command of the army. His death oc-
curred February 14, 1S91, at Washington.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON, one of the
most prominent of the early American
statesmen and financiers, was born in Nevis,
an island of the West Indies, January 11,
1757, his father being a Scotchman and his
mother of Huguenot descent. Owing to the
death of his mother and business reverses
which came to his father, young Hamilton
was s;nt to his mother's relatives in Santa
Cruz; a few years later was sent to a gram-
mar school at Elizabethtown, New Jersey,
and in 1773 entered what is now known as
Columbia College. Even at that time he
began taking an active part in public affairs
and his speeches, pamphlets, and newspaper
articles on political affairs of the day at-
tracted considerable attention. In 1776 he
received a captain's commission and served
in Washington's army with credit, becoming
aide-de-camp to Washington with rank of
lieutenant-colonel. In 1 781 he resigned his
commission because of a rebuke from Gen-
eral Washington. He next received com-
mand of a New York battalion and partici-
pated in the battle of Yorktown. After
this Hamilton studied law, served several
terms in congress and was a member of the
convention at which the Federal Constitu-
tion was drawn up. His work connected
with " The Federalist " at about this time
attracted much attention. Mr. Hamilton.
-32
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
was chosen as the first secretary of the
United States treasury and as such was the
author of the funding system and founder of
the United States Bank. In 1798 he was
made inspector-general of the army with the
rank of major-general and was also for a
short time commander-in-chief. In 1804
Aaron Burr, then candidate for governor of
New York, challenged Alexander Hamilton
to fight a duel, Burr attributing his defeat
to Hamilton's opposition, and Hamilton,
though declaring the code as a relic of bar-
barism, accepted the challenge. They met
at Weehawken, New Jersey, July n, 1804.
Hamilton declined to fire at his adversary,
but at Burr's first fire was fatally wounded
and died July 12, 1804.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON STEPH-
ENS, vice-president of the southern
confederacy, a former United States senator
and governor of Georgia, ranks among the
great men of American history. He was born
February 11, 1812, near Crawfordsville,
Georgia. He was a graduate of the Uni-
versity of Georgia, and admitted to the bar
in 1834. In 1837 he made his debut in
political life as a member of the state house
of representatives, and in 1 841 declined the
nomination for the same office; but in 1842
he was chosen by the same constituency as
state senator. Mr. Stephens was one of
the promoters of the Western and Atlantic
Railroad. In 1843 he was sent by his dis-
trict to the national house of representatives,
which office he held for sixteen consec-
utive years. He was a member of the
house during the passing of the Compromise
Bill, and was one of its ablest and most
active supporters. The same year (1850)
Mr. Stephens was a delegate to the state
convention that framed the celebrated
" Georgia Platform," and was also a dele-
gate to the convention that passed the ordi-
nance of secession, though he bitterly op-
posed that bill by voice and vote, yet he
readily acquiesced in their decision after
it received the votes of the majority of the
convention. He was chosen vice-president
of the confederacy without opposition, and
in 1865 he was the head of the commis-
sion sent by the south to the Hampton
Roads conference. He was arrested after
the fall of the confederacy and was con-
fined in Fort Warren as a prisoner of state
but was released on his own parole. Mr.
Stephens was elected to the forty-third,
forty-fourth, forty-fifth, forty-sixth and for-
ty-seventh congresses, with hardly more than
nominal opposition. He was one of the
Jeffersonian school of American politics.
He wrote a number of works, principal
among which are: "Constitutional View
of the War between the States," and a
" Compendium of the History of the United
States." He was inaugurated as governor
of Georgia November 4th, 1882, but died
March 4, 1883, before the completion of
his term.
ROSCOE CONKLING was one of the
most noted and famous of American
statesmen. He was among the most fin-
ished, fluent and eloquent orators that have
ever graced the halls of the American con-
gress; ever ready, witty and bitter in de-
bate he was at once admired and feared by
his political opponents and .revered by his
followers. True to his friends, loyal to the
last degree to those with whom his inter-
ests were associated, he was unsparing to his
foes and it is said "never forgot an injury."
Roscoe Conkling was born at Albany,
New York, on the 30th of October, 1829,
being a son of Alfred Conkling. Alfred
Conkling was also a native of New York,
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
33
born at East Hampton, October 12, 1789,
and became one of the most eminent law-
yers in the Empire state; published several
legal works; served a term in congress; aft-
erward as United States district judge for
Northern New York, and in 1852 was min-
ister to Mexico. Alfred Conkling died in
1874-
Roscoe Conkling, whose name heads
this article, at an early age took up the
study of law and soon became successful and
prominent at the bar. About 1846 he re-
moved to Utica and in 1858 was elected
mayor of that city. He was elected repre-
sentative in congress from this district and
was re-elected three times. In 1867 he was
elected United States senator from the state
of New York and was re-elected in 1873
and 1879. In May, 1881, he resigned on
account of differences with the president.
In March, 1S82, he was appointed and con-
firmed as associate justice of the United
States supreme court but declined to serve.
His death occurred April 18, 1888.
WASHINGTON IRVING, one of the
most eminent, talented and popu-
lar of American authors, was born in New
York City, April 3, 1783. His father was
William Irving, a merchant and a native of
Scotland, who had married an English lady
and emigrated to America some twenty
years prior to the birth of Washington.
Two of the older sons, William and Peter,
were partially occupied with newspaper
work and literary pursuits, and this fact
naturally inclined Washington to follow
their example. Washington Irving was given
the advantages afforded by the common
schools until about sixteen years of age
when he began studying law, but continued
to acquire his literary training by diligent
perusal at home of the older English writers.
When nineteen he made his first literary
venture by printing in the ' ' Morning Chroni-
cle," then edited by his brother, Dr. Peter
Irving, a series of local sketches under the
nom-de-phune of " Jonathan Oldstyle." In
1804 he began an extensive trip through
Europe, returned in 1806, quickly com-
pleted his legal studies and was admitted to
the bar, but never practiced the profession.
In 1807 he began the amusing serial "Sal-
magundi," which had an immediate suc-
cess, and not only decided his future
career but long determined the charac-
ter of his writings. In 1808, assisted by
his brother Peter, he wrote "Knickerbock-
er's History of New York," and in 1810 an
excellent biography of Campbell, the poet.
After this, for some time, Irving's attention
was occupied by mercantile interests, but
the commercial house in which he was a
partner failed in 1S17. In 18 14 he was
editor of the Philadelphia "Analectic Maga-
zine." About 181 8 appeared his "Sketch-
Book," over the nom-de-plume of ' 'Geoffrey
Crayon," which laid the foundation of Ir-
ving's fortune and permanent fame. This
was soon followed by the legends of
"Sleepy Hollow," and " Rip Van Winkle,"
which at once took high rank as literary
productions, and Irving's reputation was
firmly established in both the old and new
worlds. After this the path of Irving was
smooth, and his subsequent writings ap-
peared with rapidity, including " Brace-
bridge Hall," "The Tales of a Traveler,"
" History of the Life and Voyages of Chris-
topher Columbus," "The Conquest of
Granada," "The Alhambra," "Tour on
the Prairies," "Astoria," "Adventures of
Captain Bonneville," " Wolfert's Roost,"
" Mahomet and his Successors," and "Life
of Washington," besides other works.
Washington Irving was never married.
34
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
He resided during the closing years of his
life at Sunnyside (Tarrytown) on the Hud-
son, where he died November 28, 1859.
CHARLES SUMNER.— Boldly outlined
on the pages of our history stands out
the rugged figure of Charles Sumner, states-
man, lawyer and writer. A man of unim-
peachable integrity, indomitable will and
with the power of tireless toil, he was a fit
leader in troublous times. First in rank as
an anti-slavery leader in the halls of con-
gress, he has stamped his image upon the
annals of his time. As an orator he took
front rank and, in wealth of illustration,
rhetoric and lofty tone his eloquence equals
anything to be found in history.
Charles Sumner was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, January 6, 181 1, and was
the son of Charles P. and Relief J. Sumner.
The family had long been prominent in that
state. Charles was educated at the Boston
Public Latin School; entered Harvard Col-
lege in 1826, and graduated therefrom in
1830. In 1 83 1 he joined the Harvard Law
School, then under charge of Judge Story,
and gave himself up to the study of law
with enthusiasm. His leisure was devoted
to contributing to the American Jurist. Ad-
mitted to the bar in 1834 he was appointed
reporter to the circuit court by Judge Story.
He published several works about this time,
and from 1835 to 1837 and again in 1843
was lecturer in the law school. He had
planned a lawyer's life, but in 1845 he gave
his attention to politics, speakingand working
against the admission of Texas to the Union
and subsequently against the Mexican war.
In 1848 he was defeated for congress on the
Free Soil ticket. His stand on the anti-
slavery question at that time alienated both
friends and clients, but he never swerved
from his convictions. In 185 1 he was elected
to the United States senate and took his
seat therein December 1 of that year. From
this time his life became the history of the
anti-slavery cause in congress. In August,
1852, he began his attacks on slavery by a
masterly argument for the repeal of the
fugitive slave law. On May 22, 1856, Pres-
ton Brooks, nephew of Senator Butler, of
South Carolina, made an attack upon Mr.
Sumner, at his desk in the senate, striking
him over the head with a heavy cane. The
attack was quite serious in its effects and
kept Mr. Sumner absent from his seat in the
senate for about four years. In 1857, 1863
and 1869 he was re-elected to the office of
senator, passing some twenty-three years in
that position, always advocating the rights
of freedom and equity. He died March II,
1874-
THOMAS JEFFERSON, the third pres-
ident of the United States, was born
near Charlottesville, Albemarle county, Vir-
ginia, April 13, 1743, and was the son of
Peter and Jane (Randolph) Jefferson. He
received the elements of a good education,
and in 1760 entered William and Mary Col-
lege. After remaining in that institution for
two years he took up the study of law with
George Wythe, of Williamsburg, Virginia,
one of the foremost lawyers of his day, and
was admitted to practice in 1767. He ob-
tained a large and profitable practice, which
he held for eight years. The conflict be-
tween Great Britain and the Colonies then
drew him into public life, he having for
some time given his attention to the study
of the sources of law, the origin of liberty
and equal rights.
Mr. Jefferson was elected to the Virginia
house of burgesses in 1769, and served in
that body several years, a firm supporter of
liberal measures, and, although a slave-
•COMrEXMCM OF biography.
35-
holder himself, an opponent of slavery.
With others, he was a leader among the op-
position to the king. He took his place as
a member of the Continental congress June
21, 1775, and after serving on several com-
mittees was appointed to draught a Declara-
tion of Independence, which he did, some
corrections being suggested by Dr. Franklin
and John Adams. This document was pre-
sented to congress June 28, 1776, and after
six days' debate was passed and was signed.
In the following September Mr. Jefferson
resumed his seat in the Virginia legislature,
and gave much time to the adapting of laws
of that state to the new condition of things.
He drew up the law, the first ever passed by
a legislature or adopted by a government,
which secured perfect religious freedom.
June 1, 1779, he succeeded Patrick Henry
as governor of Virginia, an office which,
after cooperating with Washington in de-
fending the country, he resigned two years
later. One of his own estates was ravaged
by the British, and his house at Monticello
was held by Tarleton for several days, and
Jefferson narrowly escaped capture. After
the death of his wife, in 1782, he accepted
the position of plenipotentiary to France,
which he had declined in 1776. Before
leaving he served a short time in congress
at Annapolis, and succeeded in carrying a
bill for establishing our present decimal sys-
tem of currency, one of his most useful pub-
lic services. He remained in an official ca-
pacity until October, 1789, and was a most
active and vigilant minister. Besides the
onerous duties of his office, during this time,
he published "Notes on Virginia," sent to
the United States seeds, shrubs and plants,
forwarded literary and scientific news and
gave useful advice to some of the leaders of
the French Revolution.
Mr. Jefferson landed in Virginia Novem-
ber 18, 1789, having obtained a leave of
absence from his post, and shortly after ac-
cepted Washington's offer of the portfolio"
of the department of state in his cabinet.
He entered upon the duties of his office in
March, 1 79 1 , and held it until January 1,
1794, when he tendered his resignation.
About this time he and Alexander Hamilton;
became decided and aggressive political op-
ponents, Jefferson being in warm sympathy
with the people in the French revolution
and strongly democratic in his feelings,
while Hamilton took the opposite side. In
1796 Jefferson was elected vice-president of
the United States. In 1S00 he was elected
to the presidency and was inaugurated
March 4, 1S01. During his administration,
which lasted for eight years, he having been'
re-elected in 1804, he waged a successful
war against the Tripolitan pirates; purchased
Louisiana of Napoleon; reduced the public
debt, and was the originator of many wise
measures. Declining a nomination for a
third term he returned to Monticello, where
he died July 4, 1826, but a few hours before,
the death of his friend, John Adams.
Mr. Jefferson was married January r,
1772, to Mrs. Martha Skelton, a young,
beautiful, and wealthy widow, who died
September 6, 1782, leaving three children,
three more having died previous to her
demise.
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.known as
"Commodore" Vanderbilt, was the
founder of what constitutes the present im-
mense fortune of the Vanderbilt family. He
was born May 27, 1794, at Port Richmond,
Staten Island, Richmond county, New-
York, and we find him at sixteen years run-
ning a small vessel between his home and
New York City. The fortifications of Sta-
ten and Long Islands were just in course of
30
COMPENDIUM OF BIO GRAPH T.
construction, and he carried the laborers
from New York to the fortifications in his
" perianger, " as it was called, in the day,
and at night carried supplies to the fort on
the Hudson. Later he removed to New
York, where he added to his little fleet. At
the age of twenty-three he was free from
debt and was worth $9,000, and in 1817,
with a partner he built the first steamboat
that was run between New York and New
Brunswick, New Jersey, and became her
captain at a salary of $1,000 a year. The
next year he took command of a larger and
better boat and by 1824 he was in complete
control of the Gibbon's Line, as it was
called, which he had brought up to a point
where it paid $40,000 a year. Commodore
Vanderbilt acquired the ferry between New
York and Elizabethport, New Jersey, on a
fourteen years' lease and conducted this on
a paying basis. He severed his connections
with Gibbons in 1829 and engaged in
business alone and for twenty years he was
the leading steamboat man in the country,
building and operating steamboats on the
Hudson River, Long Island Sound, on the
Delaware River and the route to Boston,
and he had the monopoly of trade on these
routes. In 1850 he determined to broaden
his field of operation and accordingly built
the steamship Prometheus and sailed for
the Isthmus of Darien, where he desired to
make a personal investigation of the pros-
pects of the American Atlantic and Pacific
Ship Canal Company, in which he had pur-
chased a controlling interest. Commodore
Vanderbilt planned, as a result of this visit,
a transit route from Greytown on the At-
lantic coast to San Juan del Sud on the Pa-
cific coast, which was a saving of 700 miles
over the old route. In 1851 he placed three
steamers on the Atlantic side and four on
the Pacific side to accommodate the enor-
mous traffic occasioned by the discovery of
gold in California. The following year
three more vessels were added to his fleet
and a branch line established from New
Orleans to Greytown. In 1853 the Com-
modore sold out hisNicarauguaTransit Com-
pany, which had netted him $1,000,000
and built the renowned steam yacht, the
"North Star." He continued in the ship-
ping business nine years longer and accu-
mulated some $10,000,000. In 1861 he
presented to the government his magnifi-
cent steamer " Vanderbilt, " which had cost
him $800,000 and for which he received the
thanks of congress. In 1844 he became
interested in the railroad business which he
followed in later years and became one of
the greatest railroad magnates of his time.
He founded the Vanderbilt University at a
cost of $1,000,000. He died January 4,
1877, leaving a fortune estimated at over
$100,000,000 to his children.
DANIEL BOONE was one of the most
famous of the many Atnerican scouts,
pioneers and hunters which the early settle-
ment of the western states brought into
prominence. Daniel Boone was born Feb-
ruary 11, 1735, in Bucks county, Pennsyl-
vania, but while yet a young man removed
to North Carolina, where he was married.
In 1769, with five companions, he pene-
trated into the forests and wilds of Kentucky
— then uninhabited by white men. He had
frequent conflicts with the Indians and was
captured by them but escaped and continued
to hunt in and explore that region for over
a year, when, in 1771, he returned to his
home. In the summer of 1773, he removed
with his own and five other families into
what was then the wilderness of Kentucky,
and to defend his colony against the savages,
he built, in 1775, a fort at Boonesborough,
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
37
on the Kentucky river. This fort was at-
tacked by the Indians several times in 1777,
but they were repulsed. The following
year, however, Boone was surprised and
captured by them. They took him to De-
troit and treated him with leniency, but he
soon escaped and returned to his fort which
he defended with success against four hun-
dred and fifty Indians in August, 1778. His
son, Enoch Boone, was the first white male
child born in the state of Kentucky. In
1795 Daniel Boone removed with his family
to Missouri, locating about forty-five miles
west of the present site of St. Louis, where
he found fresh fields for his favorite pursuits
— adventure, hunting, and pioneer life. His
death occurred September 20, 1820.
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFEL-
LOW, said to have been America's
greatest " poet of the people," was born at
Portland, Maine, February 27, 1807. He
entered Bowdoin College at the age of four-
teen, and graduated in 1825. During his
college days he distinguished himself in mod-
ern languages, and wrote several short
poems, one of the best known of which was
the "Hymn of the Moravian Nuns." After
his graduation he entered the law office of
his father, but the following year was offered
the professorship of modern languages at
Bowdoin, with the privilege of three years
study in Europe to perfect himself in French,
Spanish, Italian and German. After the
three years were passed he returned to the
United States and entered upon his profes-
sorship in 1829. His first volume was a
small essay on the "Moral and Devotional
Poetry of Spain" in 1833. In 1835 he pub-
lished some prose sketches of travel under
the title of "Outre Mer, a Pilgrimage be-
yond the Sea." In 1835 he was elected to
the chair of modern languages and literature
at Harvard University and spent a year in
Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland, culti-
vating a knowledge of early Scandinavian
literature and entered upon his professor-
ship in 1836. Mr. Longfellow published in
1839 " Hyperion, a Romance, " and ' ' Voices
of the Night, " and his first volume of original
verse comprising the selected poems of
twenty years work, procured him immediate
recognition as a poet. " Ballads and other
poems" appeared in 1842, the "Spanish
Student " a drama in three acts, in 1843,
"The Belfry of Bruges " in 1846, "Evan-
geline, a Tale of Acadia," in 1847, which
was considered his master piece. In 1845
he published a large volume of the "Poets
and Poetry of Europe," 1849 " Kavanagh,
a Tale," "The Seaside and Fireside" in
1850, "The Golden Legend" in 1 85 1, "The
Song of Hiawatha " in 1855, " The Court-
ship of Miles Standish " in 1858, " Tales of
a Wayside Inn " in 1863; " Flower de Luce"
in 1866;" "New England Tragedies" in
1869; "The Divine Tragedy" in 1871;
"Three Books of Song" in 1872; "The
Hanging of the Crane " in 1874. He also
published a masterly translation of Dante
in 1867-70 and the " Morituri Salutamus,"
a poem read at the fiftieth anniversary of
his class at Bowdoin College. Prof. Long-
fellow resigned his chair at Harvard Univer-
sity in 1854, but continued to reside at Cam-
bridge. Some of his poetical works have
been translated into many languages, and
their popularity rivals that of the best mod-
ern English poetry. He died March 24,
1882, but has left an imperishable fame as
one of the foremost of American poets.
PETER COOPER was in three partic-
ulars— as a capitalist and manufacturer,
as an inventor, and as a philanthropist —
connected intimately with some of the most
38
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
important and useful accessions to the in-
dustrial arts of America, its progress in in-
vention and the promotion of educational
and benevolent institutions intended for the
benefit of people at large. He was born
in New York city, February 12, 1791. His
life was one of labor and struggle, as it was
with most of America's successful men. In
early, boyhood he commenced to help his
father as a manufacturer of hats. He at-
tended school only for half of each day for
a single year, and beyond this his acquisi-
tions were all his own. When seventeen
years old he was placed with John Wood-
ward to learn the trade of coach-making and
served his apprenticeship so satisfactorily
that his master oPered to set him up in busi-
ness, but this he declined because of the
debt and obligation it would involve.
The foundation of Mr. Cooper's fortune
was laid in the invention of an improvement
in machines for shearing cloth. This was
largely called into use during the war of
18 1 2 with England when all importations
of cloth from that country were stopped.
The machines lost their value, however, on
the declaration of peace. Mr. Cooper then
turned his shop into the manufacture of
cabinet ware. He afterwards went into the
grocery business in New York and finally he
engaged in the manufacture of glue and isin-
glass which he carried on for more than
fifty years. In 1830 he erected iron works
in Canton, near Baltimore. Subsequently
he erected a rolling and a wire mill in the
city of New York, in which he first success-
fully applied anthracite to the puddling of
iron. In these works, he was the first to
roll wrought-iron beams for fire-proof build-
ings. These works grew to be very exten-
sive, including mines, blast furnaces, etc.
While in Baltimore Mr. Cooper built in
1830, after his own designs, the first loco-
motive engine ever constructed on this con-
tinent and it was successfully operated on
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He also
took a great interest and invested large cap-
ital in the extension of the electric telegraph,
also in the laying of the first Atlantic cable;
besides interesting himself largely in the
New York state canals. But the most
cherished object of Mr. Cooper's life was
the establishment of an institution for the
instruction of the industrial classes, which
he carried out on a magnificent scale in New
York city, where the "Cooper Union"
ranks among the most important institu-
tions.
In May, 1876, the Independent party
nominated Mr. Cooper for president of the
United States, and at the election following
he received nearly 100,000 votes. His
death occurred April 4, 1883.
GENERAL ROBERT EDWARD LEE,
one of the most conspicuous Confeder-
ate generals during the Civil war, and one
of the ablest military commanders of mod-
ern times, was born at Stratford House,
Westmoreland county, Virginia, January 19,
1807. In 1825 he entered the West Point
academy and was graduated second in his
class in 1829, and attached to the army as
second lieutenant of engineers. For a
number of years he was thus engaged in en-
gineering work, aiding in establishing the
boundary line between Ohio and Michigan,
and superintended various river and harbor
improvements, becoming captain of engi-
neers in 1838. He first saw field service in
the Mexican war, and under General Scott
performed valuable and efficient service.
In that brilliant campaign he was conspicu-
ous for professional ability as well as gallant
and meritorious conduct, winning in quick
succession the brevets of major, lieutenant-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
39
colonel, and co'onel for his part in the bat-
tles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Cherubusco,
Chapultepec, and in the capture of the city
Mexico. At the close of that war he re-
sumed his engineering work in connection
with defences along the Atlantic coast, and
from 1S52 to 1855 was superintendent of
the Military Academy, a position which he
gave up to become lieutenant-colonel of the
Second Cavalry. For several years there-
after he served on the Texas border, but
happening to be near Washington at the
time of John Brown's raid, October 17 to
25, 1859, Colonel Lee was placed in com-
mand of the Federal forces employed in its
repression. He soon returned to his regi-
ment in Texas where he remained the
greater part of i860, and March 16, 1861,
became colonel of his regiment by regular
promotion. Three weeks later, April 25, he
resigned upon the secession of Virginia,
went at once to Richmond and tendered his
services to the governor of that state, being
by acclamation appointed commander-in-
chief of its military and naval forces, with
the rank of major-general.
He at once set to work to organize and
develop the defensive resources of his state
and within a month directed the occupation
in force of Manassas Junction. Meanwhile
Virginia having entered the confederacy and
Richmond become the capitol, Lee became
one of the foremost of its military officers
and was closely connected with Jefferson
Davis in planning the moves of that tragic
time. Lee participated in many of the
hardest fought battles of the war among
which were Fair Oaks, White Lake Swamps,
Cold Harbor, and the Chickahominy, Ma-
nassas, Cedar Run, Antietam, Fredericks-
burg, Chancellorsville, Malvern Hill, Get-
tysburg, the battles of the Wilderness cam-
paign, all the campaigns about Richmond,
Petersburg, Five Forks, and others. Lee's
surrender at Appomatox brought the war to
a close. It is said of General Lee that but
few commanders in history have been so
quick to detect the purposes of an opponent
or so quick to act upon it. Never surpassed,
if ever equaled, in the art of winning the
passionate, personal love and admiration of
his troops, he acquired and held an influ-
ence over his army to the very last, founded
upon a supreme trust in his judgment, pre-
science and skill, coupled with his cool,
stable, equable courage. A great writer has
said of him: "As regards the proper meas-
ure of General Lee's rank among the sol-
diers of history, seeing what he wrought
with such resources as he had, under all the
disadvantages that ever attended his oper-
ations, it is impossible to measure what he
might have achieved in campaigns and bat-
tles with resources at his own disposition
equal to those against which he invariably
contended."
Left at the close of the war without es-
tate or profession, he accepted the presi-
dency of Washington College at Lexington,
Virginia, where he died October 12, 1870.
JOHN JAY, first chief-justice of the
United States, was born in New York,
December 12, 1745. He took up the study
of law, graduated from King's College
(Columbia College), and was admitted to
the bar in 1768. He was chosen a member
of the committee of New York citizens to
protest against the enforcement by the
British government of the Boston Port Bill,
was elected to the Continental congress
which met in 1774, and was author of the
addresses to the people of Great Britian and
of Canada adopted by that and the suc-
ceeding congress. He was chosen to the
provincial assembly of his own state, and
40
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
resigned from the Continental congress to
serve in that body, wrote most of its public
papers, including the constitution of the new
state, and was then made chief-justice. He
was again chosen as a member of the Con-
tinental congress in 1778, and became presi-
dent of that body. He was sent to Spain
as minister in 1780, and his services there
resulted in substantial and moral aid for the
struggling colonists. Jay, Franklin, and
Adams negotiated the treaty of peace with
Great Britain in 1782, and Jay was ap-
pointed secretary of foreign affairs in 1784,
and held the position until the adoption of
the Federal constitution. During this time
he had contributed strong articles to the
"Federalist" in favor of the adoption of
the constitution, and was largely instru-
mental in securing the ratification of that
instrument by his state. He was appointed
by Washington as first chief -justice of the
United States in 1789. In this high capac-
ity the great interstate and international
questions that arose for immediate settle-
ment came before him for treatment.
In 1794, at a time when the people in
gratitude for the aid that France had ex-
tended to us, were clamoring for the privilege
of going to the aid of that nation in her
struggle with Great Britain and her own op-
pressors, John Jay was sent to England as
special envoy to negotiate a treaty with
that power. The instrument known as
"Jay's Treaty " was the result, and while
in many of its features it favored our nation,
yet the neutrality clause in it so angered the
masses that it was denounced throughout
the entire country, and John Jay was burned
in effigy in the city of New York. The
treaty was finally ratified by Washington,
and approved, in August, 1795. Having
been elected governor of his state for three
consecutive terms, he then retired from
active life, declining an appointment as
chief-justice of the supreme court, made by
John Adams and confirmed by the senate.
He died in New York in 1829.
PHILLIP HENRY SHERIDAN was
one of the greatest American cavalry
generals. He was born March 6, 1831, at
Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, and was ap-
pointed to the United States Military Acad-
emy at West Point, from which he graduat-
ed and was assigned to the First Infantry as
brevet second lieutenant July 1, 1853.
After serving in Texas, on the Pacific coast,
in Washington and Oregon territories until
the fall of 1 86 1, he was recalled to the
states and assigned to the army of south-
west Missouri as chief quartermaster from
the duties of which he was soon relieved.
After the battle of Pea Ridge, he was quar-
termaster in the Corinth campaign, and on
May 25 he was appointed colonel of the
Second Michigan Cavalry. On July 1, in
command of a cavalry brigade, he defeated
a superior force of the enemy and was com-
missioned brigadier-general of volunteers.
General Sheridan was then transferred to
the army of the Ohio, and commanded a
division in the battle of Perrysville and also
did good service at the battle of Murfrees-
boro, where he was commissioned major-
general of volunteers. He fought with
great gallantry at Chickamauga, after which
Rosecrans was succeeded by General Grant,
under whom Sheridan fought the battle of
Chattanooga and won additional renown.
Upon the promotion of Grant to lieutenant-
general, he applied for the transfer of Gen-
eral Sheridan to the east, and appointed
him chief of cavalry in the army of the
Potomac. During the campaign of 1864
the cavalry covered the front and flanks of
the infantry until May 8, when it was wiuv
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
41
drawn and General Sheridan started on a
raid against the Confederate lines of com-
munication with Richmond and on May 25
he rejoined the army, having destroyed con-
siderable of the confederate stores and de-
feated their cavalry under General Stuart at
Yellow Tavern. The outer line of defences
around Richmond were taken, but the sec-
ond line was too strong to be taken by as-
sault, and accordingly Sheridan crossed the
Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, reaching
James River May 14, and thence by White
House and Hanover Court House back to
the army. The cavalry occupied Cold
Harbor May 31, which they held until the
arrival of the infantry. On General Sheri-
dan's next raid he routed Wade Hampton's
cavalry, and August 7 was assigned to the
command of the Middle Military division,
and during the campaign of the Shenan-
doah Valley he performed the unheard of
feat of " destroying an entire army." He
was appointed brigadier-general of the reg-
ular army and for his victory at Cedar Creek
he was promoted to the rank of major-gen-
eral. General Sheridan started out Febru-
ary 27, 1865, with ten thousand cavalry
and destroyed the Virginia Central Railroad
and the James River Canal and joined the
army again at Petersburg March 27. He
commanded at the battle of Five Forks, the
decisive victory which compelled Lee to
evacuate Petersburg. On April 9, Lee tried
to break through Sheridan's dismounted
command but when the General drew aside
his cavalry and disclosed the deep lines of
infantry the attempt was abandoned. Gen-
eral Sheridan mounted his men and was about
to charge when a white flag was flown at the
head of Lee's column which betokened the
surrender of the army. After the war Gen-
eral Sheridan had command of the army of
the southwest, of the gulf and the depart-
ment of Missouri until he was appointed
lieutenant-general and assigned to the di-
vision of Missouri with headquarters at Chi-
cago, and assumed supreme command of
the army November 1, 1883, which post he
held until his death, August 5, 1888.
PH1NEAS T. BARNUM, the greatest
showman the world has ever seen, was
born at Danbury, Connecticut, July 5, 18 10.
At the age of eighteen years he began busi-
ness on his own account. He opened a re-
tail fruit and confectionery house, including
a barrel of ale, in one part of an old car-
riage house. He spent fifty dollars in fitting
up the store and the stock cost him seventy
dollars. Three years later he put in a full
stock, such as is generally carried in a
country store, and the same year he started
a Democratic newspaper, known as the
"Herald of Freedom." He soon found
himself in jail under a sixty days' sentence
for libel. During the winter of 1834-5 ne
went to New York and began soliciting busi-
ness for several Chatham street houses. In
1835 he embarked in the show business at
Niblo's Garden, having purchased the cele-
brated " Joice Heth" for one thousand dol-
lars. He afterward engaged the celebrated
athlete, Sig. Vivalia, and Barnum made his
' ' first appearance on any stage, " acting as a
"super" to Sig. Vivalia on his opening
night. He became ticket seller, secretary
and treasurer of Aaron Turner's circus in
1836 and traveled with it about the country.
His next venture was the purchase of a
steamboat on the Mississippi, and engaged
a theatrical company to show in the princi-
pal towns along that river. In 1840 he
opened Vaux Hall Garden, New York, with
variety performances, and introduced the
celebrated jig dancer, John Diamond, to the
public. The next year he quit the show
42
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
business and settled down in New York as
agent of Sear's Pictorial Illustration of the
Bible, but a few months later again leased
Vaux Hall. In September of the same year
he again left the business, and became
' ' puff " writer for the Bowery Amphitheater.
In December he bought the Scudder Museum,
and a year later introduced the celebrated
Tom Thumb to the world, taking him to
England in 1844, and remaining there three
years. He then returned to New York, and
in 1849, through James Hall Wilson, he en-
gaged the "Swedish Nightingale," Jenny
Lind, to come to this country and make a
tour under his management. He also had
sent the Swiss Bell Ringers to America in
1844. He became owner of the Baltimore
Museum and the Lyceum and Museum at
Philadelphia. In 1850 he brought a dozen
elephants from Ceylon to make a tour of this
country, and in 1851 sent the " Bateman
•Children" to London. During 185 1 and
1852 he traveled as a temperance lecturer,
and became president of a bank at Pequon-
nock, Connecticut. In 1852 he started a
weekly pictorial paper known as the " Illus-
trated News." In 1865 his Museum was
destroyed by fire, and he immediately leased
the Winter Garden Theatre, where he played
his company until he opened his own
Museum. This was destroyed by fire in
1868, and he then purchased an interest in
the George Wood Museum.
After dipping into politics to some ex-
tent, he began his career as a really great
showman in 1871. Three years later he
erected an immense circular building in New
York, in which he produced his panoramas.
He has frequently appeared as a lecturer,
some times on temperance, and some times
on other topics, among which were "Hum-
bugs of the World," "Struggles and
Triumphs," etc. He was owner of the im-
mense menagerie and circus known as the
"Greatest Show on Earth," and his fame
extended throughout Europe and America.
He died in 1891.
JAMES MADISON, the fourth president
of the United States, 1809-17, was
born at Port Conway, Prince George coun-
ty, Virginia, March 16, 1 75 1 . He was the
son of a wealthy planter, who lived on a fine
estate called " Montpelier," which was but
twenty-five miles from Monticello, the home
of Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Madison was the
eldest of a family of seven children, all of
whom attained maturity. He received his
early education at home under a private
tator, and consecrated himself with unusual
vigor to study. At a very early age he was
a proficient scholar in Latin, Greek, French
and Spanish, and in 1769 he entered Prince-
ton College, New Jersey. He graduated in
1 77 1, but remained for several months after
his graduation to pursue a course of study
under the guidance of Dr. Witherspoon.
He permanently injured his health at this
time and returned to Virginia in 1772, and
for two years he was immersed in the study
of law, and at the same time made extend-
ed researches in theology, general literature,
and philosophical studies. He then directed
his full attention to the impending struggle
of the colonies for independence, and also
took a prominent part in the religious con-
troversy at that time regarding so called
persecution of other religious denominations
by the Church of England. Mr. Madison
was elected to the Virginia assembly in 1776
and in November, 1777, he was chosen
a member of the council of state. He took
his seat in the continental congress in
March, 1780. He was made chairman of
the committee on foreign relations, and
drafted an able memoranda for the use of
COMPENDIUM OF BJOGRAPHT.
43
the American ministers to the French and
Spanish governments, that established the
claims of the republic to the territories be-
tween the Alleghany Mountains and the
Mississippi River. He acted as chairman of
the ways and means committee in 1783 and
as a member of the Virginia legislature in
1784-86 he rendered important services to
the state. Mr. Madison represented Vir-
giana in the national constitutional conven-
tion at Philadelphia in 1787, and was one of
the chief framers of the constitution. He
was a member of the first four congresses,
1789-97, and gradually became identified
with the anti-federalist or republican party
of which he eventually became the leader.
He remained in private life during the ad-
ministration of John Adams, and was secre-
tary of state under President Jefferson. Mr.
Madison administered the affairs of that
post with such great ability that he was the
natural successor of the chief magistrate
and was chosen president by an electoral
vote of 122 to 53. He was inaugurated
March 4, 1809, at that critical period in our
history when the feelings of the people were
embittered with those of England, and his
first term was passed in diplomatic quarrels,
which finally resulted in the declaration of
war, June 18, 1812. In the autumn of that
year President Madison was re-elected by a
vote of 128 to 89, and conducted the war
for three years with varying success and
defeat in Canada, by glorious victories at
sea, and by the battle of New Orleans that
was fought after the treaty of peace had
been signed at Ghent, December 24, 18 14.
During this war the national capitol at
Washington was burned, and many valuable
papers were destroyed, but the declaration
of independence was saved to the country
by the bravery and courage of Mr. Madi-
son's illustrious wife. A commercial treaty
was negotiated with Great Britain in 181 5,
and in April, 1816, a national bank was in-
corporated by congress. Mr. Madison was
succeeded, March 4, 181 7, by James Monroe,
and retired into private life on his estate at
Montpelier, where he died June 28, 1836.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS, a noted
American character, was a protege of
the great abolitionist, William Lloyd Garri-
son, by whom he was aided in gaining his
education. Mr. Douglass was born in Tuck-
ahoe county, Maryland, in February, 18 17,
his mother being a negro woman and his
father a white man. He was born in slav-
ery and belonged to a man by the name of
Lloyd, under which name he went until he
ran away from his master and changed it to
Douglass. At the age of ten years he was
sent to Baltimore where he learned to read
and write, and later his owner allowed him
to hire out his own time for three dollars a
week in a shipyard. In September, 1838,
he fled from Baltimore and made his way to
New York, and from thence went to New
Bedford, Massachusetts. Here he was mar-
ried and supported himself and family by
working at the wharves and in various work-
shops. In the summer of 1841 he attended
an anti-slavery convention at Nantucket,
and made a speech which was so well re-
ceived that he was offered the agency of the
Massachusetts Anti-slavery Society. In this
capacity he traveled through the New En-
gland states, and about the same time he
published his first book called "Narrative
of my Experience in Slavery." Mr. Doug-
lass went to England in 1845 and lectured
on slavery to large and enthusiastic audi-
ences in all the large towns of the country,
and his friends made up a purse of seven
hundred and fifty dollars and purchased his
freedom in due form of law.
44
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIIV.
Mr. Douglass applied himself to the de-
livery of lyceum lectures after the abolition
of slavery, and in 1870 he became the editor
of the " New National Era " in Washington.
In 1 87 1 he was appointed assistant secretary
of the commission to San Domingo and on
his return he was appointed one of the ter-
ritorial council for the District of Colorado
by President Grant. He was elected presi-
dential elector-at-large for the state of New
York and was appointed to carry the elect-
oral vote to Washington. He was also
United States marshal for the District of
Columbia in 1876, and later was recorder
of deeds for the same, from which position
he was removed by President Cleveland in
1886. In the fall of that year he visited
England to inform the friends that he had
made while there, of the progress of the
colored race in America, and on his return
he was appointed minister to Hayti, by
President Harrison in 1889. His career as
a benefactor of his race was closed by his
death in February, 1895, near Washington.
WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.— The
ear for rhythm and the talent for
graceful expression are the gifts of nature,
and they were plentifully endowed on the
above named poet. The principal charac-
teristic of his poetry is the thoughtfulness
and intellectual process by which his ideas
ripened in his mind, as all his poems are
bright, clear and sweet. Mr. Bryant was
born November 3, 1794, at Cummington,
Hampshire county, Massachusetts, and was
educated at Williams College, from which
he graduated, having entered it in 18 10.
He took up the study of law, and in 181 5
was admitted to the bar, but after practicing
successfully for ten years at Plainfield and
Great Barrington, he removed to New York
in 1825. The following year he became
the editor of the "Evening Post," which
he edited until his death, and under his di-
rection this paper maintained, through a
long series of years, a high standing by the
boldness of its protests against slavery be-
fore the war, by its vigorous support of the
government during the war, and by the
fidelity and ability of its advocacy of the
Democratic freedom in trade. Mr. Bry-
ant visited Europe in 1834, 1845, 1849 and
1857, and presented to the literary world
the fruit of his travels in the series of "Let-
ters of a Traveler," and "Letters from
Spain and Other Countries." In the world
of literature he is known chiefly as a poet,
and here Mr. Bryant's name is illustrious,
both at home and abroad. He contributed
verses to the "Country Gazette " before he
was ten years of age, and at the age of nine-
teen he wrote " Thanatopsis, " the most im-
pressive and widely known of his poems.
The later outgrowth of his genius was his
translation of Homer's "Iliad" in 1870
and the "Odyssey" in 1871. He also
made several speeches and addresses which
have been collected in a comprehensive vol-
ume called " Orations and Addresses." He
was honored in many ways by his fellow
citizens, who delighted to pay tributes of
respect to his literary eminence, the breadth
of his public spirit, the faithfulness of his
service, and the worth of his private char-
acter. Mr. Bryant died in New York City
June 12, 1878.
WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD, the
secretary of state during one of the
most critical times in the history of our
country, and the right hand man of Presi-
dent Lincoln, ranks among the greatest
statesmen America has produced. Mr.
Seward was born May 16, 1 801, at Florida,
Orange county, New York, and with such
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
facilities as the place afforded he fitted him-
self for a college course. He attended
Union College at Schenectady, New York,
at the age of fifteen, and took his degree in
the regular course, with signs of promise in
1S20, after which he diligently addressed
himself to the study of law under competent
instructors, and started in the practice of
his profession in 1823.
Mr. Seward entered the political arena
and in 1828 we find him presiding over a
convention in New York, its purpose being
the nomination of John Quincy Adams for a
second term. He was married in 1824 and
in 1830 was elected to the state senate.
From 1838 to 1842 he was governor of the
state of New York. Mr. Seward's next im-
portant position was that of United States
senator from New York.
W. H. Seward was chosen by President
Lincoln to fill the important office of the
secretary of state, and by his firmness and
diplomacy in the face of difficulties, he aided
in piloting the Union through that period of
strife, and won an everlasting fame. This
great statesman died at Auburn, New York,
October 10, 1872, in the seventy-second
year of his eventful life.
JOSEPH JEFFERSON, a name as dear
as it is familiar to the theater-going
world in America, suggests first of all a fun-
loving, drink-ioving, mellow voiced, good-
natured Dutchman, and the name of "Rip
Van Winkie " suggests the pleasant features
of Joe Jefferson, so intimately are play and
player associated in the minds of those who
have had the good fortune to shed tears of
laughter and sympathy as a tribute to the
greatness of his art. Joseph Jefferson was
born in Philadelphia, February 20, 1829.
His genius was an inheritance, if there be
such, as his great-grandfather, Thomas
3
Jefferson, was a manager and actor in Eng-
land. His grandfather, Joseph Jefferson,
was the most popular comedian of the New
York stage in his time, and his father, Jos-
eph Jefferson, the second, was a good actor
also, but the third Joseph Jefferson out-
shone them all.
At the age of three years Joseph Jeffer-
son came on the stage as the child in "Pi-
zarro," and his training was upon the stage
from childhood. Later on he lived and
acted in Chicago, Mobile, and Texas. After
repeated misfortunes he returned to New
Orleans from Texas, and his brother-in-law,
Charles Burke, gave him money to reach
Philadelphia, where he joined the Burton
theater company. Here his genius soon as-
serted itself, and his future became promis-
ing and brilliant. His engagements through-
out the United States and Australia were
generally successful, and when he went to
England in 1865 Mr. Boucicault consented
to make some important changes in his
dramatization of Irving's story of Rip Van
Winkle, and Mr. Jefferson at once placed
it in the front rank as a comedy. He made
a fortune out of it, and played nothing else
for many years. In later years, however,
Mr. Jefferson acquitted himself of the charge
of being a one-part actor, and the parts of
"Bob Acres," "Caleb Plummer" and
"Golightly " all testify to the versatility of
his genius.
GEORGE BRINTON McCLELLAN,
a noted American general, was born
in Philadelphia, December 3, 1826. He
graduated from the University of Pennsyl-
vania, and in 1846 from West Point, and
was breveted second lieutenant of engineers.
He was with Scott in the Mexican war,
taking part in all the engagements from
Vera Cruz to the final capture of the Mexi-
48
COMTEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
can capital, and was breveted first lieuten-
ant and captain for gallantry displayed on
various occasions. In 1857 he resigned his
commission and accepted the position of
chief engineer in the construction of the
Illinois Central Railroad, and became presi-
dent of the St. Louis & Cincinnati Railroad
Company. He was commissioned major-
general by the state of Ohio in 1861,
placed in command of the department of
the Ohio, and organized the first volunteers
called for from that state. In May he was
appointed major-general in the United
States army, and ordered to disperse the
confederates overrunning West Virginia.
He accomplished this task promptly, and
received the thanks of congress. After the
first disaster at Bull Run he was placed
in command of the department of Wash-
ington, and a few weeks later of the
Army of the Potomac. Upon retirement
of General Scott the command of the en-
tire United States army devolved upon Mc-
Clellan, but he was relieved of it within a
few months. In March, 1862, after elabor-
ate preparation, he moved upon Manassas,
only to find it deserted by the Confederate
army, which had been withdrawn to im-
pregnable defenses prepared nearer Rich-
mond. He then embarked his armies for
Fortress Monroe and after a long delay at
Yorktown, began the disastrous Peninsular
campaign, which resulted in the Army of the
Potomac being cooped up on the James
River below Richmond. His forces were
then called to the support of General Pope,
near Washington, and he was left without an
army. After Pope's defeat McClelian was
placed in command of the troops for the de-
fense of the capital, and after a thorough or-
ganization he followed Lee into Maryland
and the battles of Antietam and South Moun-
tain ensued. The delay which followed
caused general dissatisfaction, and he was re-
lieved of his command, and retired from active
service.
In 1S64 McClelian was nominated for
the presidency by the Democrats, and over-
whelmingly defeated by Lincoln, three
states only casting their electoral votes for
McClelian. On election day he resigned
his commission and a few months later went
to Europe where he spent several years.
He wrote a number of military text- books
and reports. His death occurred October
29, 1885.
SAMUEL J. TILDEN.— Among the great
statesmen whose names adorn the pages
of American history may be found that of
the subject of this sketch. Known as a
lawyer of highest ability, his greatest claim
to immortality will ever lie in his successful
battle against the corrupt rings of his native
state and the elevation of the standard of
official life.
Samuel J. Tilden was born in New Leb-
anon, New York, February 9, 1814. He
pursued his academic studies at Yale Col-
lege and the University of New York, tak-
ing the course of law at the latter. He
was admitted to the bar in 1841. His rare
ability as a thinker and writer upon public
topics attracted the attention of President
Van Buren, of whose policy and adminis-
tration he became an active and efficient
champion. He made for himself a high
place in his profession and amassed quite a
fortune as the result of his industry and
judgment. During the days of his greatest
professional labor he was ever one of the
leaders and trusted counsellors of the Demo-
cratic party. He was a member of the
conventions to revise the state constitution,
both in 1846 and 1S67, and served two
terms in the lower branch of the state leer-
C OMTEXM ( M OF BIO GRA PII ) '.
4<>
islature. He was one of the controlling
spirits in the overthrow of the notorious
" Tweed ring " and the reformation of the
government of the city of New York. In
1874 he was elected governor of the state
of New York. While in this position he
assailed corruption in high places, success-
fully battling with the iniquitous "canal
ring " and crushed its sway over all depart-
ments of the government. Recognizing his
character and executive ability Mr. Tilden
was nominated for president by the na-
tional Democratic convention in 1876. At
the election he received a much larger popu-
lar vote than his opponent, and 184 uncon-
tested electoral votes. There being some
electoral votes contested, a commission ap-
pointed by congress decided in favor of the
Republican electors and Mr. Hayes, the can-
didate of that party was declared elected.
In 1S80, the Democratic party, feeling that
Mr. Tilden had been lawfully elected to the
presidency tendered the nomination for the
same office to Mr. Tilden, but he declined,
retiring from all public functions, owing to
failing health. He died August 4, 1886.
By will he bequeathed several millions of
dollars toward the founding of public libra-
ries in New York City, Yonkers, etc.
NOAH WEBSTER.— As a scholar, law-
yer, author and journalist, there is no
one who stands on a higher plane, or whose
reputation is better established than the
honored gentleman whose name heads this
sketch. He was a native of West Hartford,
Connecticut, and was born October 17,
1758. He came of an old New England
family, his mother being a descendant of
Governor William Bradford, of the Ply-
mouth colony. After acquiring a solid edu-
cation in early life Dr. Webster entered
Yale College, from which he graduated in
1778. For a while he taught school hn
Hartford, at the same time studying law,
and was admitted to the bar in 178 1. He
taught a classical school at Goshen, Orange
county, New York, in 1782-S3, and while
there prepared his spelling book, grammar
and reader, which was issued under the title-
of "A Grammatical Institute of the English
Language," in three parts, — so successful a
work that up to 1876 something like forty
million of the spelling books had been
sold. In 1786 he delivered a course of lec-
tures on the English language in the seaboard
cities and the following year taught an
academy at Philadelphia. From December
17, 17S7, until November, 1788, he edited
the "American Magazine, "a periodical that
proved unsuccessful. In 1789-93 he prac-
ticed law in Hartford having in the former
year married the daughter of William Green-
leaf, of Boston. He returned to New York
and November, 1793, founded a daily paper,
the "Minerva," to which was soon added a
semi-weekly edition under the name of the
" Herald." The former is still in existence
under the name of the " Commercial Adver-
tiser." In this paper, over the signature of
"Curtius," he published a lengthy and schol-
arly defense of "John Jay's treaty."
In 1798, Dr. Webster moved to New
Haven and in 1807 commenced the prepar-
ation of his great work, the ' ' American Dic-
tionary of the English Language," which
was not completed and published until 1828.
He made his home in Amherst, Massachu-
setts, for the ten years succeeding 1812, and
was instrumental in the establishment of
Amherst College, of which institution he was
the first president of the board of trustees.
During 1824-5 he resided in Europe, pursu-
ing his philological studies in Paris. He
completed his dictionary from the libraries
of Cambridge University in 1825, and de-
50
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
voted his leisure for the remainder of his
life to the revision of that and his school
books.
Dr. Webster was a member of the legis-
latures of both Connecticut and Massachu-
setts, was judge of one of the courts of the
former state and was identified with nearly
all the literary and scientific societies in the
neighborhood of Amherst College. He died
in New Haven, May 28, 1843.
Among the more prominent works ema-
nating from the fecund pen of Dr. Noah
Webster besides those mentioned above are
the following: "Sketches of American
Policy," " Winthrop's Journal ," "A Brief
History of Epidemics," " Rights of Neutral
Nations in time of War," "A Philosophical
and Practical Grammar of the English Lan-
guage," "Dissertations on the English
Language," "A Collection of Essays,"
"The Revolution in France," "Political
Progress of Britain," "Origin, History, and
Connection of the Languages of Western
Asia and of Europe," and many others.
WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, the
great anti-slavery pioneer and leader,
was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts,
December 12, 1804. He was apprenticed
to the printing business, and in 1828 was in-
duced to take charge of the "Journal of the
Times" at Bennington, Vermont. While
supporting John Quincy Adams for the presi-
dency he took occasion in that paper to give
expression of his views on slavery. These
articles attracted notice, and a Quaker
named Lundy, editor of the "Genius of
Emancipation," published in Baltimore, in-
duced him to enter a partnership with him
for the conduct of his paper. It soon
transpired that the views of the partners
were not in harmony, Lundy favoring grad-
ual emancipation, while Garrison favored
immediate freedom. In 1850 Mr. Garrison
was thrown into prison for libel, not being
able to pay a fine of fifty dollars and costs.
In his cell he wrote a number of poems
which stirred the entire north, and a mer-
chant, Mr. Tappan, of New York, paid his
fine and liberated him, after seven weeks of
confinement. He at once began a lecture
tour of the northern cities, denouncing
slavery as a sin before God, and demanding
its immediate abolition in the name of re-
ligion and humanity. He opposed the col-
onization scheme of President Monroe and
other leaders, and declared the right of
every slave to immediate freedom.
In 1 S3 1 he formed a partnership with
Isaac Knapp, and began the publication of
the "Liberator" at Boston. The "imme-
diate abolition " idea began to gather power
in the north, while the south became
alarmed at the bold utterance of this jour-
nal. The mayor of Boston was besought
by southern influence to interfere, and upon
investigation, reported upon the insignifi-
cance, obscurity, and poverty of the editor
and his staff, which report was widely
published throughout the country. Re-
wards were offered by the southern states
for his arrest and conviction. Later Garri-
son brought from England, where an eman-
cipation measure had just been passed,
some of the great advocates to work for the
cause in this country. In 1835 a mob
broke into his office, broke up a meeting of
women, dragged Garrison through the street
with a rope around his body, and his life
was saved only by the interference of the
police, who lodged him in jail. Garrison
declined to sit in the World's Anti-Slavery
convention at London in 1840, because
that body had refused women representa-
tion. He opposed the formation of a po-
litical party with emancipation as its basis.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
51
He favored a dissolution of the union, and
declared the constitution which bound the
free states to the slave states " A covenant
with death and an agreement with hell. "
In 1843 he became president of the Amer-
ican Anti-Slavery society, which position he
held until 1865, when slavery was no more.
During all this time the " Liberator " had
continued to promulgate anti-slavery doc-
trines, but in 1865 Garrison resigned his
position, and declared his work was com-
pleted. He died May 24, 1879.
J
mie"), a noted character in American
history, wasbornatTorrington, Connecticut,
May 9, 1800. In his childhood he removed
to Ohio, where he learned the tanner's
trade. He married there, and in 1855 set-
tled in Kansas. He lived at the village of
Ossawatomie in that state, and there began
his fight against slavery. He advocated im-
mediate emancipation, and held that the
negroes of the slave states merely waited
for a leader in an insurrection that would re-
sult in their freedom. He attended the
convention called at Chatham, Canada, in
1S59, and was the leading spirit in organiz-
ing a raid upon the United States arsenal at
Harper's Ferry, Virginia. His plans were
well laid, and carried out in great secrecy.
He rented a farm house near Harper's Ferry
in the summer of 1859, and on October
1 6th of that year, with about twenty follow-
ers, he surprised and captured the United
States arsenal, with all its supplies and
arms. To his surprise, the negroes did not
come to his support, and the next day he
was attacked by the Virginia state militia,
wounded and captured. He was tried in
the courts of the state, convicted, and was
hanged at Charlestown, December 2, 1859.
The raid and its results had a tremendous
effect, and hastened the culmination of the
troubles between the north and south. The
south had the advantage in discussing this
event, claiming that the sentiment which
inspired this act of violence was shared by
the anti-slavery element of the country.
EDWIN BOOTH had no peer upon the
American stage during his long career
as a star actor. He was the son of a famous
actor, Junius Brutus Booth, and was born
in 1833 at his father's home at Belair, near
Baltimore. At the age of sixteen he made his
first appearance on the stage, at the Boston
Museum, in a minor part in "Richard III."
It was while playing in California in 1851
that an eminent critic called general atten-
tion to the young actor's unusual talent.
However, it was not until 1863, at the great
Shakspearian revival at the Winter Garden
Theatre, New York, that the brilliancy of
his career began. His Hamlet held the
boards for 100 nights in succession, and
from that time forth Booth's reputation was
established. In 1S68 he opened his own
theatre (Booth's Theater) in New York.
Mr. Booth never succeeded as a manager,
however, but as an actor he was undoubted-
ly the most popular man on the American
stage, and perhaps the most eminent one in
the world. In England he also won the
greatest applause.
Mr. Booth's work was confined mostly
to Shakspearean roles, and his art was
characterized by intellectual acuteness,
fervor, and poetic feeling. His Hamlet,
Richard II, Richard III, and Richelieu gave
play to his greatest powers. In 1865,
when his brother, John Wilkes Booth,
enacted his great crime, Edwin Booth re-
solved to retire from the stage, but waspur-
suaded to reconsider that decision. The
odium did not in any way attach to the
52
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
great actor, and his popularity was not
affected. In all his work Mr. Booth clung
closely to the legitimate and the traditional
in drama, making no experiments, and offer-
ing little encouragement to new dramatic
authors. His death occurred in New York,
June 7, 1894.
JOSEPH HOOKER, a noted American
officer, was born at Hadley, Massachu-
setts, November 13, 18 14. He graduated
from West Point Military Academy in 1837,
and was appointed lieutenant of artillery.
He served in Florida in the Seminole war,
and in garrison until the outbreak of the
Mexican war. During the latter he saw
service as a staff officer and was breveted
captain, major and lieutenant-colonel for
gallantry at Monterey, National Bridge and
Chapultepec. Resigning his commission in
1833 he took up farming in California, which
he followed until 1861. During this time
he acted as superintendent of military roads
in Oregon. At the outbreak of the Rebel-
lion Hooker tendered his services to the
government, and, May 17, 1861, was ap-
pointed brigadier-general of volunteers. He
served in the defence of Washington and on
the lower Potomac until his appointment to
the command of a division in the Third
Corps, in March, 1862. For gallant con-
duct at the siege of Yorktown and in the
battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Fra-
zier's Farm and Malvern Hill he was made
major-general. At the head of his division
he participated in the battles of Manassas
and Chantilly. September 6, 1862, he was
placed at the head of the First Corps, and
in the battles of South Mountain and An-
tietam acted with his usual gallantry, being
wounded in the latter engagement. On re-
joining the army in November he was made
brigadier-general in the regular army. On
General Burnside attaining the command of
the Army of the Potomac General Hooker
was placed in command of the center grand
division, consisting of the Second and Fifth
Corps. At the head of these gallant men
he participated in the battle of Fred-
ericksburg, December 13, 1862. In Janu-
ary, 1863, General Hooker assumed com-
mand of the Army of the Potomac, and in
May following fought the battle of Chan-
cellorsville. At the time of the invasion of
Pennsylvania, owing to a dispute with Gen-
eral Halleck, Hooker requested to be re-
lieved of his command, and June 28 was
succeeded by George G. Meade. In Sep-
tember, 1863, General Hooker was given
command of the Twentieth Corps and trans-
ferred to the Army of the Cumberland, and
distinguished himself at the battles of Look-
out Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Ring-
gold. In the Atlanta campaign he saw
almost daily service and merited his well-
known nickname of " Fighting Joe." July
30, 1S64, at his own request, he was re-
lieved of his command. He subsequently
was in command of several military depart-
ments in the north, and in October, 1868,
was retired with the full rank of major-gen-
eral. He died October 31, 1879.
JAY GQULD, one of the greatest finan-
ciers that the world has ever produced,
was born May 27, 1836, at Roxbury, Dela-
ware county, New York. He spent his early
years on his father's farm and at the age of
fourteen entered Hobart Academy, New
York, and kept books for the village black-
smith. He acquired a taste for mathematics
and surveying and on leaving school found
employment in making the surveyor's map
of Ulster county. He surveyed very exten-
sively in the state and accumulated five thou-
sand dollars as the fruits of his labor. He
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
was then stricken with typhoid fever but re-
covered and made the acquaintance of one
Zadock Pratt, who sent him into the west-
ern part of the state to locate a site for a
tannery. He chose a fine hemlock grove,
built a sawmill and blacksmith shop and
was soon doing a large lumber business with
Mr. Pratt. Mr. Gould soon secured control
of the entire plant, which he sold out just
before the panic of 1857 and in this year he
became the largest stockholderintheStrouds-
burg, Pennsylvania, bank. Shortly after the
crisis he bought the bonds of the Rutland
& Washington Railroad at ten cents on the
dollar, and put all his money into railroad
securities. For a long time he conducted
this road which he consolidated with the
Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad. In 1859
he removed to New York and became a
heavy investor in Erie Railroad stocks, en-
tered that company and was president until
its reorganization in 1872. In December,
1880, Mr. Gould was in control of ten thou-
sand miles of railroad. In 1887 he pur-
chased the controlling interest in the St.
Louis & San Francisco Railroad Co., and
was a joint owner with the Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe Railroad Co. of the western
portion of the Southern Pacific line. Other
lines soon came under his control, aggregat-
ing thousand of miles, and he soon was rec-
ognized as one of the world's greatest rail-
road magnates. He continued to hold his
place as one of the master financiers of the
century until the time of his death which
occurred December 2, 1892.
THOMAS HART BENTON, a very
prominent United States senator and
statesman, was born at Hillsborough, North
Carolina, March 14, 1782. He removed to
Tennessee in early life, studied law, and be-
gan to practice at Nashville about 18 10.
During the war of 1812-1815 he served as
colonel of a Tennessee regiment under Gen-
eral Andrew Jackson. In 181 5 he removed
to St. Louis, Missouri, and in 1820 was
chosen United States senator for that state.
Having been re-elected in 1826, he sup-
ported President Jackson in his opposition
to the United States bank and advocated a
gold and silver currency, thus gaining the
name of " Old Bullion," by which he was
familiarly known. For many years he was
the most prominent man in Missouri, and
took rank among the greatest statesmen of
his day. He was a member of the senate
for thirty years and opposed the extreme
states' rights policy of John C. Calhoun.
In 1852 he was elected to the house of rep-
resentatives in which he opposed the repeal
of the Missouri compromise. He was op-
posed by a powerful party of States' Rights
Democrats in Missouri, who defeated him as a
candidate for governor of that state in 1856.
Colonel Benton published a considerable
work in two volumes in 1854-56, entitled
" Thirty Years' View, or a History of the
Working of the American Government for
Thirty Years, 1S20-50." He died April 10,
1S58.
STEPHEN ARNOLD DOUGLAS.— One
of the most prominent figures in politic-
al circles during the intensely exciting days
that preceded the war, and a leader of the
Union branch of the Democratic party was
the gentleman whose name heads this
sketch.
He was born at Brandon, Rutland coun-
ty, Vermont, April 23, 18 13, of poor but
respectable parentage. His father, a prac-
ticing physician, died while our subject was
but an infant, and his mother, with two
small children and but small means, could
give him but the rudiments of an education.
<34
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
At the age of fifteen young Douglas engaged
at work in the cabinet making business to
raise funds to carry him through college.
After a few years of labor he was enabled to
pursue an academical course, first at Bran-
don, and later at Canandaigua, New York.
In the latter place he remained until 1S33,
taking up the study of law. Before he was
twenty, however, his funds running low, he
abandoned all further attempts at educa-
tion, determining to enter at once the battle
of life. After some wanderings through the
western states he took up his residence at
Jacksonville, Illinois, where, after teaching
school for three months, he was admitted to
the bar, and opened an office in 1834.
Within a year from that time, so rapidly had
he risen in his profession, he was chosen
attorney general of the state, and warmly
espoused the principles of the Democratic
party. He soon became one of the most
popular orators in Illinois. It was at this
time he gained the name of the "Little
Giant." In 1835 he resigned the position
of attorney general having been elected to
the legislature. In 1S41 he was chosen
judge of the supreme court of Illinois which
he resigned two years later to take a seat in
congress. It was during this period of his
life, while a member of the lower house,
that he established his reputation and took
the side of those who contended that con-
gress had no constitutional right to restrict
the extension of slavery further than the
agreement between the states made in 1820.
This, in spite of his being opposed to slav-
ery, and only on grounds which he believed
to be right, favored what was called the
Missouri compromise. In 1847 Mr. Doug-
las was chosen United States senator for
six years, and greatly distinguished himself.
In 1S52 he was re-elected to the same office.
During this latter term, under his leader-
ship, the " Kansas-Nebraska bill " was car-
ried in the senate. In 185S, nothwith-
standing the fierce contest made by his able
competitor for the position, Abraham Lin-
coln, and with the administration of Bu-
chanan arrayed against him, Mr. Douglas
was re-elected senator. After the trouble
in the Charleston convention, when by the
withdrawal of several state delegates with-
out a nomination, the Union Democrats,
in convention at Baltimore, in 1S60, nomi-
nated Mr. Douglas as their candidate for
presidency. The results of this election are
well known and the great events of 1S61
coming oh, Mr. Douglas was spared their
full development, dying at Chicago, Illinois,
June 3, 1 86 1, after a short illness. His
last words to his children were, "to obey
the laws and support the constitution of the
United States."
JAMES MONROE, fifth president of the
United States, was born in Westmore-
land county, Virginia, April 28, 1758. At
the age of sixteen he entered William and
Mary College, but two years later the
Declaration of Independence having been
adopted, he left college and hastened to New
York where he joined Washington's army as
a military cadet.
At the battle of Trenton Monroe per-
formed gallant service and received a wound
in the shoulder, and was promoted to a
captaincy. He acted as aide to Lord Ster-
ling at the battles of Brandywine, German-
town and Monmouth. Washington then
sent him to Virginia to raise a new regiment
of which he was to be colonel. The ex-
hausted condition of Virginia made this im-
possible, but he received his commission.
He next entered the law office of Thomas
Jefferson to study law. as there was no open-
ing for him as an officer in the army. In
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
55
1782 he was elected to the Virginia assem-
bly, and the next year he was elected to the
Continental congress. Realizing the inade-
quacy of the old articles of confederation,
he advocated the calling of a convention to
consider their revision, and introduced in
congress a resolution empowering congress
to regulate trade, lay import duties, etc.
This resolution was referred to a committee,
of which he was chairman, and the report
led to the Annapolis convention, which
called a general convention to meet at Phila-
delphia in 17S7, when the constitution was
drafted. Mr. Monroe began the practice of
law at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and was
soon after elected to the legislature, and ap-
pointed as one of the committee to pass
upon the adoption of the constitution. He
opposed it, as giving too much power to the
central government. He was elected to the
United States senate in 1789, where he
allied himself with the Anti-Federalists or
"Republicans," as they were sometimes
called. Although his views as to neutrality
between France and England were directly
opposed to those of the president, yet Wash-
ington appointed him minister to France.
His popularity in France was so great that
the antagonism of England and her friends
in this country brought about his recall. He
then became governor of Virginia. He was
sent as envoy to France in 1802; minister
to England in 1803; and envoy to Spain in
1805. The next year he returned to his
estate in Virginia, and with an ample in-
heritance enjoyed a few years of repose. He
was again called to be governor of Virginia,
and was then appointed secretary of state
by President Madison. The war with Eng-
land soon resulted, and when the capital
was burned by the British, Mr. Monroe be-
came secretary of war also, and planned the
measures for the defense of New Orleans.
The treasury being exhausted and credit
gone, he pledged his own estate, and thereby-
made possible the victory of Jackson at New
Orleans.
In 1817 Mr. Monroe became president
of the United States, having been a candi-
date of the "Republican" part}', which at
that time had begun to be called the ' ' Demo-
cratic" party. In 1 S20 he was re-elected,
having two hundred and thirty-one electoral
votes out of two hundred and thirty-two.
His administration is known as the "Era of
good-feeling, " and party lines were almost
wiped out. The slavery question began to
assume importance at this time, and the
Missouri Compromise was passed. The
famous "Monroe Doctrine" originated in a
great state paper of President Monroe upon
the rumored interference of the Holy Alli-
ance to prevent the formation of free repub-
lics in South America. President Monroe
acknowledged their independence, and pro-
mulgated his great "Doctrine," which has
been held in reverence since. Mr. Monroe's
death occurred in New York on July 4, 1831.
THOMAS ALVA EDISON, the master
wizard of electrical science and whose
name is synonymous with the subjugation
of electricity to the service of man, was
born in 1847 at Milan, Ohio, and it was at
Port Huron, Michigan, whither his parents
had moved in 1854, that his self-education
began — for he never attended school for
more than two months. He eagerly de-
voured every book he could lay his hands on
and is said to have read through an encyclo-
pedia without missing a word. At thirteen he
began his working life as a trainboy upon the
Grand Trunk Railway between Port Huron
and Detroit. Much of his time was now
spent in Detroit, where he found increased
facilities for reading at the public libraries.
56
COMPENDIUM OP BIOGRAPHY.
He was not content to be a newsboy, so he
got together three hundred pounds of type
and started the issue of the " Grand Trunk
Herald." It was only a small amateur
weekly, printed on one side, the impression
being made from the type by hand. Chemi-
cal research was his next undertaking and
a laboratory was added to his movable pub-
lishing house, which, by the way, was an
old freight car. One day, however, as he
Was experimenting with some phosphorus,
it ignited and the irate conductor threw the
young seeker after the truth, chemicals and
all, from the train. His office and laboratory
Were then removed to the cellar of his fa-
ther's house. As he grew to manhood he
decided to become an operator. He won
his opportunity by saving the life of a child,
Whose father was an old operator, and out of
gratitude he gave Mr. Edison lessons in teleg-
raphy. Five months later he was compe-
tent to fill a position in the railroad office
at Port Huron. Hence he peregrinated to
Stratford, Ontario, and thence successively
to Adrian, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Cin-
cinnati, Memphis, Louisville and Boston,
gradually becoming an expert operator and
gaining experience that enabled him to
evolve many ingenious ideas for the im-
provement of telegraphic appliances. At
Memphis he constructed an automatic re-
peater, which enabled Louisville and New
Orleans to communicate direct, and received
nothing more than the thanks of his em-
ployers. Mr. Edison came to New York in
1870 in search of an opening more suitable
to his capabilities and ambitions. He hap-
pened to be in the office of the Laws Gold
Reporting Company when one of the in-
struments got out of order, and even the
inventor of the system could not make it
work. Edison requested to be allowed to
attempt the task, and in a few minutes he
had overcome the difficulty and secured an
advantageous engagement. For several
years he had a contract with the Western
Union and the Gold Stock companies,
whereby he received a large salary, besides
a special price for all telegraphic improve-
ments he could suggest. Later, as the
head of the Edison General Electric com-
pany, with its numerous subordinate organ-
izations and connections all over the civil-
ized world, he became several times a
millionaire. Mr. Edison invented the pho-
nograph and kinetograph which bear his
name, the carbon telephone, the tasimeter,
and the duplex and quadruplex systems of
telegraphy.
JAMES LONGSTREET, one of the most
conspicuous of the Confederate generals
during the Civil war, was born in 1820, in
South Carolina, but was early taken by his
parents to Alabama where he grew to man-
hood and received his early education. He
graduated at the United States military
academy in 1842, entering the army as
lieutenant and spent a few years in the fron-
tier service. When the Mexican war broke
out he was called to the front and partici-
pated in all the principal battles of that war
up to the storming of Chapultepec, where
he received severe wounds. For gallant
conduct at Contreras, Cherubusco, and Mo-
lino del Rey he received the brevets of cap-
tain and major. After the close of the
Mexican war Longstreet served as adjutant
and captain on frontier service in Texas un-
til 1858 when he was transferred to the staff,
as paymaster with rank of major. In June,
1 86 1, he resigned to join the Confederacy
and immediately went to the front, com-
manding a brigade at Bull Run the follow-
ing month. Promoted to be major-general
in 1862 he thereafter bore a conspicuous
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHV.
57
part and rendered valuable service to the
Confederate cause. He participated in
many of the most severe battles of the Civil
war including Bull Run (first and second),
Seven Pines, Gainer' Mill, Fraziers Farm,
Malvern Hill, Antietam, Frederickburg,
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Chickamauga,
the Wilderness, Petersburg and most of the
fighting about Richmond.
When the war closed General Long-
street accepted the result, renewed his alle-
giance to the government, and thereafter
labored earnestly to obliterate all traces of
war and promote an era of good feeling be-
tween all sections of the country. He took
up his residence in New Orleans, and took
an active interest and prominent part in
public affairs, served as surveyor of that
port for several years; was commissioner of
engineers for Louisiana, served four years
as school commissioner, etc. In 1875 he
was appointed supervisor of internal revenue
and settled in Georgia. After that time he
served four years as United States minister
to Turkey, and also for a number of years
was United States marshal of Georgia, be-
sides having held other important official
positions.
JOHN RUTLEDGE, the second chief-
justice of the United States, was born
at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1739.
He was a son of John Rutledge, who had
left Ireland for America about five years
prior to the birth of our subject, and .a
brother of Edward Rutledge, a signer of the
Declaration of Independence. John Rut-
ledge received his legal edocation at the
Temple, London, after which he returned
to Charleston and soon won distinction at
the bar. He was elected to the old Colonial
congress in 1765 to protest against the
" Stamp Act," and was a member of the
South Carolina convention of 1774, and of
the Continental congress of that and the
succeeding year. In 1776 he was chairman
of the committee that draughted the con-
stitution of his state, and was president of
the congress of that state. He was not
pleased with the state constitution, how-
ever, and resigned. In 1779 he was again
chosen governor of the state, and granted
extraordinary powers, and he at once took
the field to repel the British. He joined
the army of General Gates in 1782, and the
same year was elected to congress. He
was a member of the constitutional con-
vention which framed our present constitu-
tion. In 1789 he was appointed an associate
justice of the first supreme court of the
United States. He resigned to accept the
position of chief- justice of his own state.
Upon the resignation of Judge Jay: he was
appointed chief-justice of the United States
in 1795. The appointment was never con-
firmed, for, after presiding at one session,
his mind became deranged, and he was suc-
ceeded by Judge Ellsworth. He died at
Charleston, July 23, 1800.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON was one
of the most noted literary men of his
time. He was born in Boston, Massachu-
setts, May 25, 1803. He had a minister for
an ancestor, either on the paternal or ma-
ternal side, in every generation for eight
generations back. His father, Rev. Will-
iam Emerson, was a native of Concord,
Massachusetts, born May 6, 1769, graduated
at Harvard, in 1789, became a Unitarian
minister; was a fine writer and one of the
best orators of his day; died in 181 1.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was fitted for
college at the public schools of Boston, and
graduated at Harvard College in 1 82 1, win-
ning about this time several prizes for es-
58
COMTEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
says. For five years he taught school in
Boston; in 1826 was licensed to preach, and
in 1829 was ordained as a colleague to Rev.
Henry Ware of the Second Unitarian church
in Boston. In 1832 he resigned, making
the announcement in a sermon of his un-
willingness longer to administer the rite of
she Lord's Supper, after which he spent
about a year in Europe. Upon his return
he began his career as a lecturer before the
Boston Mechanics Institute, his subject be-
ing "Water." His early lectures on " Italy"
and "Relation of Man to the Globe" also
attracted considerable attention; as did also
his biographical lectures on Michael Angelo,
Milton, Luther, George Fox, and Edmund
Burke. After that time he gave many
courses of lectures in Boston and became
one of the best known lecturers in America.
But very few men have rendered such con-
tinued service in this field. He lectured for
forty successive seasons before the Salem,
Massachusetts, Lyceum and also made re-
peated lecturing tours in this country and in
England. In 1835 Mr. Emerson took up
his residence at Concord, Massachusetts,
where he continued to make his home until
his death which occurred April 27, 1882.
Mr. Emerson's literary work covered a
wide scope. He wrote and published many
works, essays and poems, which rank high
among the works of American literary men.
A few of the many which he produced are
the following: "Nature;" "The Method
of Nature;" " Man Thinking;" "The Dial;"
"Essays;" ."Poems;" "English Traits;"
"The Conduct of Life;" "May-Day and
other Poems " and " Society and Solitude;"
besides many others. He was a prominent
member of the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences, of the American Philosophical
Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society
and other kindred associations.
ALEXANDER T. STEWART, one of
the famous merchant princes of New
York, was born near the city of Belfast, Ire-
land, in 1803, and before he was eight years
of age was left an orphan without any near
relatives, save an aged grandfather. The
grandfather being a pious Methodist wanted
to make a minister of young Stewart, and
accordingly put him in a school with that
end in view and he graduated at Trinity Col-
lege, in Dublin. When scarcely twenty
years of age he came to New York. His
first employment was that of a teacher, but
accident soon made him a merchant. En-
tering into business relations with an ex-
perienced man of his acquaintance he soon
found himself with the rent of a store on
his hands and alone in a new enterprise.
Mr. Stewart's business grew rapidly in all
directions, but its founder had executive
ability sufficient for any and all emergencies,
and in time his house became one of the
greatest mercantile establishments of mod-
ern times, and the name of Stewart famous.
Mr. Stewart's death occurred April 10,
1S76.
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER. — In
speaking of this noted American nov-
elist, William Cullen Bryant said: " He
wrote for mankind at large, hence it is that
he has earned a fame wider than any Amer-
ican author of modern times. The crea-
tions of his genius shall survive through
centuries to come, and only perish with our
language." Another eminent writer (Pres-
cott) said of Cooper: " In his productions
every American must take an honest pride;
for surely no one has succeeded like Cooper
in the portraiture of American character, or
has given such glowing and eminently truth-
ful pictures of American scenery."
James Fenimore Cooper was born Sep-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAnil'.
59
tember 15, 1789, at Burlington, New Jer-
sey, and was a son of Judge William Cooper.
About a year after the birth of our subject
the family removed to Otsego county, New
York, and founded the town called " Coop-
erstown." James Fenimore Cooper spent
his childhood there and in 1802 entered
Yale College, and four years later became a
midshipman in the United States navy. In
181 1 he was married, quit the seafaring life,
and began devoting more or less time to lit-
erary pursuits. His first work was " Pre-
caution," a novel published in 1819, and
three years later he produced "The Spy, a
Tale of Neutral Ground," which met with
great favor and was a universal success.
This was followed by many other works,
among which may be mentioned the follow-
ing: " The Pioneers," "The Pilot," " Last
of the Mohicans," "The Prairie," "The
Red Rover," "The Manikins," "Home-
ward Bound," " Home as Found," " History
of the United States Navy," "The Path-
finder," "Wing and Wing," "Afloat and
Ashore," "The Chain-Bearer," "Oak-
Openings," etc. J. Fenimore Cooper died
at Cooperstown, New York, September 14,
1851.
MARSHALL FIELD, one of the mer-
chant princes of America, ranks among
the most successful business men of the cen-
tury. He was born in 1835 at Conway,
Massachusetts. He spent his early life on
a farm and secured a fair education in the
common schools, supplementing this with a
course at the Conway Academy. His
natural bent ran in the channels of commer-
cial life, and at the age of seventeen he was
given a position in a store at Pittsfield,
Massachusetts. Mr. Field remained there
four years and removed to Chicago in 1856.
He began his career in Chicago as a clerk
in the wholesale dry goods house of Cooley,
Wadsworth & Company, which later be-
came Cooley, Farwell & Company, and still
later John V. Farwell & Company. He
remained with them four years and exhibit-
ed marked ability, in recognition of which
he was given a partnership. In 1865 Mr.
Field and L. Z. Leiter, who was also a
member of the firm, withdrew and formed
the firm of Field, Palmer & Leiter, the
third partner being Potter Palmer, and they
continued in business until 1867, when Mr.
Palmer retired and the firm became Field,
Leiter & Company. They ran under the
latter name until 1881, when Mr. Leiter re-
tired and the house has since continued un-
der the name of Marshall Field & Company.
The phenomenal success accredited to the
house is largely due to the marked ability
of Mr. Field, the house had become one of
the foremost in the west, with an annual
sale of $8,000,000 in 1870. The total loss
of the firm during the Chicago fire was
$3,500,000 of which $2,500,000 was re-
covered through the insurance companies.
It rapidly recovered from the effects of this
and to-day the annual sales amount to over
$40,000,000. Mr. Field's real estate hold-
ings amounted to $10,000,000. He was
one of the heaviest subscribers to the Bap-
tist University fund although he is a Presby-
terian, and gave $1,000,000 for the endow-
ment of the Field Columbian Museum —
one of the greatest institutions of the kind
in the world.
EDGAR WILSON NYE, who won an im-
mense popularity under the pen name
of " Bill Nye," was one of the most eccen-
tric humorists of his day. He was born Au-
gust 25, 1850, at Shirley, Piscataqua coun-
ty, Maine, "at a very early age" as he ex-
presses it. He took an academic course in
GO
COMTEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPI/V
River Falls, Wisconsin, from whence, after
his graduation, he removed to Wyoming
Territory. He studied law and was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1876. He began when
quite young to contribute humorous sketches
to the newspapers, became connected with
various western journals and achieved a
brilliant success as a humorist. Mr. Nye
settled later in New York City where he
devoted his time to writing funny articles for
the big newspaper syndicates. He wrote for
publication in book form the following :
"Bill Nye and the Boomerang," "The
Forty Liars," "Baled Hay," " Bill Nye's
Blossom Rock," "Remarks," etc. His
death occurred February 21, 1896, at Ashe-
ville, North Carolina.
THOMAS DE WITT TALMAGE, one of
the most celebrated American preach-
ers, was born January 7, 1S32, and was the
youngest of twelve children. He made his
preliminary studies at the grammar school
in New Brunswick, New Jersey. At the age
of eighteen he joined the church and entered
the University of the City of New York, and
graduated in May, 1853. The exercises
were held in Niblo's Garden and his speech
aroused the audience to a high pitch of en-
thusiasm. At the close of his college duties
he imagined himself interested in the law
and for three years studied law. Dr. Tal-
mage then perceived his mistake and pre-
pared himself for the ministry at the
Reformed Dutch Church Theological Semi-
nary at New Brunswick, New Jersey. Just
after his ordination the young minister re-
ceived two calls, one from Piermont, New
York, and the other from Belleville, New
Jersey. Dr. Talmage accepted the latter
and for three years filled that charge, when
he was called to Syracuse, New York. Here
it was that his sermons first drew large
crowds of people to his church, and from
thence dates his popularity. Afterward he
became the pastor of the Second Reformed
Dutch church, of Philadelphia, remaining
seven years, during which period he first
entered upon the lecture platform and laid
the foundation for his future reputation. At
the end of this time he received three calls,
one from Chicago, one from San Francisco,
and one from the Central Presbyterian
church of Brooklyn, which latter at that
time consisted of only nineteen members
with a congregation of about thirty-five.
This church offered him a salary of seven
thousand dollars and he accepted the call.
He soon induced the trustees to sell the old
church and build a new one. They did so
and erected the Brooklyn Tabernacle, but
it burned down shortly after it was finished.
By prompt sympathy and general liberality
a new church was built and formally opened
in February, 1874. It contained seats for
four thousand, six hundred and fifty, but if
necessary seven thousand could be accom-
modated. In October, 1878, his salary was
raised from seven thousand dollars to twelve
thousand dollars, and in the autumn of 18S9
the second tabernacle was destroyed by fire.
A third tabernacle was built and it was for-
mally dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1891.
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA, conceded as
being one of the greatest band leaders
in the world, won his fame while leader of
the United States Marine Band at Washing-
ton, District of Columbia. He was not
originally a band player but was a violinist,
and at the age of seventeen he was conduc-
tor of an opera company, a profession which
he followed for several years, until he was
offered the leadership of the Marine Band
at Washington. The proposition was re-
pugnant to him at first but he accepted the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHV.
61
offer and then ensued ten years of brilliant
success with that organization. When he
first took the Marine Band he began to
gather the national airs of all the nations
that have representatives in Washington,
and compiled a comprehensive volume in-
cluding nearly all the national songs of the
different nations. He composed a number
of marches, waltzes and two-steps, promi-
nent among which are the "Washington
Post," "Directorate," "King Cotton,"
"High School Cadets," "Belle of Chica-
go," "Liberty Bell March," "Manhattan
Beach," "On Parade March," "Thunderer
March," "Gladiator March," " El Capitan
March," etc. He became a very extensive
composer of this class of music.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, sixth president
of the United States, was born in
Braintree, Massachusetts, July II, 1767,
the son of John Adams. At the age of
eleven he was sent to school at Paris, and
two years later to Leyden, where he entered
that great university. He returned to the
United States in 1785, and graduated from
Harvard in 1788. He then studied law,
and was admitted to the bar in 1 791. His
practice brought no income the first two
years, but he won distinction in literary
fields, and was appointed minister to The
Hague in 1794. He married in 1797, and
went as minister to Berlin the same year,
serving until 1801, when Jefferson became
president. He was elected to the senate in
1803 by the Federalists, but was condemned
by that party for advocating the Embargo
Act and other Anti-Federalist measures. He
was appointed as professor of rhetoric at
Harvard in 1805, and in 1809 was sent as
minister to Russia. He assisted in negotiat-
ing the treaty of peace with England in
.1814, and became minister to that power
the next year. He served during Monroe's
administration two terms as secretary of
state, during which time party lines were
obliterated, and in 1824 four candidates for
president appeared, all of whom were iden-
tified to some extent with the new " Demo-
cratic" party. Mr. Adams received 84 elec-
toral votes, Jackson 99, Crawford 41, and
Clay 37. As no candidate had a majority
of all votes, the election went to the house
of representatives, which elected Mr. Adams.
As Clay had thrown his influence to Mr.
Adams, Clay became secretary of state, and
this caused bitter feeling on the part of the
Jackson Democrats, who were joined by
Mr. Crawford and his following, and op-
posed every measure of the administration.
In the election of 1S28 Jackson was elected
over Mr. Adams by a great majority.
Mr. Adams entered the lower house of
congress in 1830, elected from the district
in which he was born and continued to rep-
resent it for seventeen years. He was
known as " the old man eloquent," and his
work in congress was independent of party.
He opposed slavery extension and insisted
upon presenting to congress, one at a time,
the hundreds of petitions against the slave
power. One of these petitions, presented in
1842, was signed by forty-five citizens of
Massachusetts, and prayed congress for a
peaceful dissolution of the Union. His
enemies seized upon this as an opportunity
to crush their powerful foe, and in a caucus
meeting determined upon his expulsion from
congress. Finding they would not be able
to command enough votes for this, they de-
cided upon a course that would bring equal
disgrace. They formulated a resolution to
the effect that while he merited expulsion,
the house would, in great mercy, substitute
its severest censure. When it was read in the
house the old man, then in his seventy-fifth
62
COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
year, arose and demanded that the first para-
graph of the Declaration of Independence
be read as his defense. It embraced the
famous sentence, " that whenever any form
of government becomes destructive to those
ends, it is the right of the people to alter or
abolish it, and to institute new government,
etc., etc." After eleven days of hard fight-
ing his opponents were defeated. On Febru-
ary 21, 1S48, he rose to address the speaker
on the Oregon question, when he suddenly
fell from a stroke of paralysis. He died
soon after in the rotunda of the capitol,
where he had been conveyed by his col-
leagues.
SUSAN B. ANTHONY was one of the
most famous women of America. She
was born at South Adams, Massachusetts,
February 15, 1820, the daughter of a
Quaker. She received a good education
and became a school teacher, following that
profession for fifteen years in New York.
Beginning with about 1852 she became the
active leader of the woman's rights move-
ment and won a wide reputation for her
zeal and ability. She also distinguished
herself for her zeal and eloquence in the
temperance and anti-slavery causes, and
became a conspicuous figure during the war.
After the close of the war she gave most of
her labors to the cause of woman's suffrage.
PHILIP D. ARMOUR, one of the most
conspicuous figures in the mercantile
history of America, was born May 16, 1S32,
on a farm at Stockbridge, Madison county,
New York, and received his early education
in the common schools of that county. He
was apprenticed to a farmer and worked
faithfully and well, being very ambitious and
desiring to start out for himself. At the
age of twenty he secured a release from his
indentures and set out overland for the
gold fields of California. After a great
deal of hard work he accumulated a little
money and then came east and settled
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He went into
the grain receiving and warehouse busi-
ness and was fairly successful, and later on
he formed a partnership with John Plankin-
ton in the pork packing line, the style of the
firm being Plankinton & Armour. Mr. Ar-
mour made his first great "deal" in selling
pork "short" on the New York market in
the anticipation of the fall of the Confed-
eracy, and Mr. Armour is said to have made
through this deal a million dollars. He then
established packing houses in Chicago and
Kansas City, and in 1875 he removed to
Chicago. He increased his business by add-
ing to it the shipment of dressed beef to
the European markets, and many other lines
of trade and manufacturing, and it rapidly
assumed vast proportions, employing an
army of men in different lines of the busi-
ness. Mr. Armour successfully conducted a
great many speculative deals in pork and
grain of immense proportions and also erected
many large warehouses for the storage of
grain. He became one of the representative
business men of Chicago, where he became
closely identified with all enterprises of a
public nature, but his fame as a great busi-
ness man extended to all parts of the world.
He founded the "Armour Institute " at Chi-
cago and also contributed largely to benevo-
lent and charitable institutions.
ROBERT FULTON.— Although Fulton
is best known as the inventor of the
first successful steamboat, yet his claims to-
distinction do not rest alone upon that, for
he was an inventor along other lines, a
painter and an author. He was born at
Little Britain, Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
65
vania, in 1765, of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
At the age of seventeen he removed to Phila-
delphia, and there and in New York en-
gaged in miniature painting with success
both from a pecuniary and artistic point of
view. With the results of his labors he pur-
chased a farm for the support of his mother.
He went to London and studied under the
great painter, Benjamin West, and all
through life retained his fondness for art
and gave evidence of much ability in that
line. While in England he was brought in
contact with the Duke of Bridgewater, the
father of the English canal system; Lord
Stanhope, an eminent mechanician, and
James Watt, the inventor of the steam en-
gine. Their influence turned his mind to its
true field of labor, that of mechanical in-
vention. Machines for flax spinning,
marble sawing, rope making, and for remov-
ing earth from excavations, are among his
earliest ventures. His "Treatise on the
Improvement of Canal Navigation," issued
in 1 796, and a series of essays on canals
were soon followed by an English patent
for canal improvements. In 1797 he went
to Paris, where he resided until 1806, and
there invented a submarine torpedo boat for
maritime defense, but which was rejected
by the governments of France, England and
the United States. In 1 803 he offered to con-
struct for the Emperor Napoleon a steam-
boat that would assist in carrying out the
plan of invading Great Britain then medi-
tated by that great captain. In pursuance
he constructed his first steamboat on the
Seine, but it did not prove a full success
and the idea was abandoned by the French
government. By the aid of Livingston,
then United States minister to France,
Fulton purchased, in 1806, an engine which
he brought to this country. After studying
the defects of his own and other attempts in
this line he built and launched in 1807 the
Clermont, the first successful steamboat.
This craft only attained a speed of five
miles an hour while going up North river.
His first patent not fully covering his in-
vention, Fulton was engaged in many law
suits for infringement. He constructed
many steamboats, ferryboats, etc., among
these being the United States steamer
"Fulton the First," built in 1814, the first
war steamer ever built. This craft never
attained any great speed owing to some de-
fects in construction and accidentally blew
up in 1S29. Fulton died in New York, Feb-
ruary 21, l8l 5.
SALMON PORTLAND CHASE, sixth
chief-justice of the United States, and
one of the most eminent of American jurists,
was born in Cornish, New Hampshire, Jan-
uary 13, 1S08. At the age of nine he was
left in poverty by the death of his father,
but means were found to educate him. He
was sent to his uncle, a bishop, who con-
ducted an academy near Columbus, Ohio,
and here young Chase worked on the farm
and attended school. At the age of fifteen
he returned to his native state and entered
Dartmouth College, from which he gradu-
ated in 1 S26. He then went to Washington,
and engaged in teaching school, and study-
ing law under the instruction of William
Wirt. He was licensed to practice in 1S29,
and went to Cincinnati, where he had a
hard struggle for several years following.
He had in the meantime prepared notes on
the statutes of Ohio, which, when published,
brought him into prominence locally. He
was soon after appointed solicitor of the
United States Bank. In 1837 he appeared
as counsel for a fugitive slave woman, Ma-
tilda, and sought by all the powers of his
learning and eloquence to prevent her owner
66
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
from reclaiming her. He acted in many
other cases, and devolved the trite expres-
sion, "Slavery is sectional, freedom is na-
tional." He was employed to defend Van
Zandt before the supreme court of the United
States in 1846, which was one of the most
noted cases connected with the great strug-
gle against slavery. By this time Mr. Chase
had become the recognized leader of that
element known as " free-soilers." He was
elected to the United States senate in 1849,
and was chosen governor of Ohio in 1855
and re-elected in 1857. He was chosen to
the United States senate from Ohio in 1861,
but was made secretary of the treasury by
Lincoln and accepted. He inaugurated a
financial system to replenish the exhausted
treasury and meet the demands of the great-
est war in history and at the same time to
revive the industries of the country. One
of the measures which afterward called for
his judicial attention was the issuance of
currency notes which were made a legal
tender in payment of debts. When this
question came before him as chief-justice
of the United States he reversed his former
action and declared the measure unconstitu-
tional. The national banking system, by
which all notes issued were to be based on
funded government bonds of equal or greater
amounts, had its direct origin with Mr. Chase.
Mr. Chase resigned the treasury port-
folio in 1864, and was appointed the same
year as chief-justice of the United States
supreme court. The great questions that
came up before him at this crisis in the life
of the nation were no less than those which
confronted the first chief-justice at the for-
mation of our government. Reconstruction,
private, state and national interests, the
constitutionality of the acts of congress
passed in times of great excitement, the
-construction and interpretation to be placed
upon the several amendments to the national
constitution, — these were among the vital
questions requiring prompt decision. He
received a paralytic stroke in 1870, which
impaired his health, thcugh his mental
powers were not affected. He continued to
preside at the opening terms for two years
following and died May 7, 1873.
HARRIET ELIZABETH BEECHER
STOWE, a celebrated American writ-
er, was born June 14, 1812, at Litchfield,
Connecticut. She was a daughter of Lyman
Beecherand a sister of Henry Ward Beecher,
two noted divines; was carefully educated,
and taught school for several years at Hart-
ford, Connecticut. In 1S32 Miss Beecher
married Professor Stowe, then of Lane Semi-
nary, Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterwards at
Bowdoin College and Andover Seminary.
Mrs. Stowe published in 1849 "The May-
flower, or sketches of the descendants of the
Pilgrims, " and in 185 1 commenced in the
" National Era "of Washington, a serial story
which was published separately in 1852 under
the title of " Uncle Tom's Cabin." This
book attained almost unparalleled success
both at home and abroad, and within ten years
it had been translated in almost every lan-
guage of the civilized world. Mrs. Stowe pub-
lished in 1S53 a "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin"
in which the data that she used was published
and its truthfulness was corroborated. In
1853 she accompanied her husband and
brother to Europe, and on her return pub-
lished "Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands"
in 1854. Mrs. Stowe was for some time
one of the editors of the ' ' Atlantic Monthly "
and the " Hearth and Home," for which
she had written a number of articles.
Among these, also published separately, are
" Dred, a tale of the Great Dismal Swamp "
(later published under the title of "Nina
C0MPEND1CM OF BIOGRAPHY.
67
Gordon"); " The Minister's Wooing;" "The
Pearl of Orr's Island;" "Agnes of Sorrento;"
"Oldtovvn Folks;" "My Wife and I;" "Bible
Heroines," and "A Dog's Mission." Mrs.
Stowe's death occurred July i, 1896, at
Hartford, Connecticut.
THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON, bet-
ter known as "Stonewall" Jackson,
was one of the most noted of the Confeder-
ate generals of the Civil war. He was a
soldier by nature, an incomparable lieuten-
ant, sure to execute any operation entrusted
to him with marvellous precision, judgment
and courage, and all his individual cam-
paigns and combats bore the stamp of a
masterly capacity for war. He was born
January 21, 1S24, at Clarksburg, Harrison
county, West Virginia. He was early in
life imbued with the desire to be a soldier
and it is said walked from the mountains of
Virginia to Washington, secured the aid of
his congressman, and was appointed cadet
at the United States Military Academy at
West Point from which he was graduated in
1846. Attached to the army as brevet sec-
ond lieutenant of the First Artillery, his first
service was as a subaltern with Magruder's
battery of light artillery in the Mexican war.
He participated at the reduction of Vera
Cruz, and was noticed for gallantry in the
battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Moline
del Rey, Chapultepec, and the capture of
the city of Mexico, receiving the brevets of
captain for conduct at Contreras and Cher-
ubusco and of major at Chapultepec. In
the meantime he had been advanced by
r< gular promotion to be first lieutenant in
1S47. In 1852, the war having closed, he
resigned and became professor of natural
and experimental philosophy and artillery
instructor at the Virginia State Military
Institute at Lexington, Virginia, where he
remained until Virginia declared for seces-
sion, he becoming chiefly noted for intense
religious sentiment coupled with personal
eccentricities. Upon the breaking out of
the war he was made colonel and placed in
command of a force sent to sieze Harper's
Ferry, which he accomplished May 3, 1861.
Relieved by General J. E. Johnston, May
23, he took command of the brigade of
Valley Virginians, whom he moulded into
that brave corps, baptized at the first
Manassas, and ever after famous as the
"Stonewall Brigade." After this "Stone-
wall " Jackson was made a major-general,
in 1 86 1, and participated until his death in
all the famous campaigns about Richmond
and in Virginia, and was a conspicuous fig-
ure in the memorable battles of that time.
May 2, 18G3, at Chancellorsville, he was
wounded severely by his own troops, two
balls shattering his left arm and another
passing through the palm of his right hand.
The left arm was amputated, but pneumonia
intervened, and, weakened by the great loss
of blood, he died May 10, 1863. The more
his operations in the Shenandoah valley in
1862 are studied the more striking must the
merits of this great soldier appear..
JOHN GREENLEAF WHETHER.—
<J Near to the heart of the people of the
Anglo-Saxon race will ever lie the verses of
this, the "Quaker Poet." The author of
"Barclay of Ury," "Maud Muller" and
"Barbara Frietchie, " always pure, fervid
and direct, will be remembered when many
a more ambitious writer has been forgotten.
John G. Whittier was born at Haver-
hill, Massachusetts, December 7, 1S07, of
Quaker parentage. He had but a common-
school education and passed his boyhood
days upon a farm. In early life he learned
the trade of shoemaker. At the age of
G$
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
■eighteen he began to write verses for the
Haverhill '' Gazette." He spent two years
after that at the Haverhill academy, after
which, in 1829, he became editor of the
"American Manufacturer, " at Boston. In
1S30 he succeeded George D. Prentice as
editor of the "New England Weekly Re-
view," but the following year returned to
Haverhill and engaged in farming. In 1832
and in 1836 he edited the " Gazette." In
1835 he was elected a member of the legis-
lature, serving two years. In 1 836 he became
secretary of the Anti-slavery Society of Phil-
adelphia. In 1838 and 1839 he edited the
" Pennsylvania Freeman," but in the latter
year the office was sacked and burned by a
mob. In 1840 Whittier settled at Ames-
bury, Massachusetts. In 1847 he became
corresponding editor of the "National Era,"
an anti-slavery paper published at Washing-
ton, and contributed to its columns many of
his anti-slavery and other favorite lyrics.
Mr. Whittier lived for many years in retire-
ment of Quaker simplicity, publishing several
volumes of poetry which have raised him to
a high place among American authors and
brought to him the love and admiration of
his countrymen. In the electoral colleges
of i860 and 1864 Whittier was a member.
Much' of his time after 1876 was spent at
Oak Knoll, Danvers, Massachusetts, but
still retained his residence at Amesbury.
He never married. His death occurred Sep-
tember 7, 1892.
The more prominent prose writings of
John G. Whittier are as follows: "Legends
of New England," " Justice and Expediency,
or Slavery Considered with a View to Its Abo-
lition," " The Stranger in Lowell," "Super-
naturalism in New England," " Leaves from
Margaret Smith's Journal," "Old Portraits
and Modern Sketches" and "Literary
Sketches."
DAVID DIXON PORTER, illustrious as
admiral of the United States navy, and
famous as one of the most able naval offi-
cers of America, was born in Pennsylvania,
June 8, 1814. His father was also a naval
officer of distinction, who left the service of
the United States to become commander of
the naval forces of Mexico during the war
between that country and Spain, and
through this fact David Dixon Porter was
appointed a midshipman in the Mexican
navy. Two years later David D. Porter
joined the United States navy as midship-
man, rose in rank and eighteen years later
as a lieutenant he is found actively engaged
in all the operations of our navy along the
east coast of Mexico. When the Civil war
broke out Porter, then a commander, was
dispatched in the Powhattan to the relief of
Fort Pickens, Florida. This duty accom-
plished, he fitted out a mortar flotilla for
the reduction of the forts guarding the ap-
proaches to New Orleans, which it was con-
sidered of vital importance for the govern-
ment to get possession of. After the fall of
New Orleans the mortar flotilla was actively
engaged at Vicksburg, and in the fall of
1862 Porter was made a rear-admiral and
placed in command of all the naval forces
on the western rivers above New Orleans.
The ability of the man was now con-
spicuously manifested, not only in the bat-
tles in which he was engaged, but also in
the creation of a formidable fleet out of
river steamboats, which he covered with
such plating as they would bear. In 1864
he was transferred to the Atlantic coast to
command the naval forces destined to oper-
ate against the defences of Wilmington,
North Carolina, and on Jan. 15, 1865, the
fall of Fort Fisher was hailed by the country
as a glorious termination of his arduous war
service. In 1866 he was made vice-admiral
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
69
and appointed superintendent of the Naval
Academy. On the death of Farragut, in
1 870, .he succeeded that able man as ad-
miral of the navy. His death occurred at
Washington, February 13, 1891.
NATHANIEL GREENE was one of the
best known of the distinguished gen-
erals who led the Continental soldiery
against the hosts of Great Britain during
the Revolutionary war. He was the son
of Quaker parents, and was born at War-
wick, Rhode Island, May 27, 1742. In
youth he acquired a good education, chiefly
by his own efforts, as he was a tireless
reader. In 1770 he was elected a member
of the Assembly of his native state. The
news of the battle of Lexington stirred
his blood, and he offered his services to
the government of the colonies, receiving
the rank of brigadier-general and the com-
mand of the troops from Rhode Island.
He led them to the camp at Cambridge,
and for thus violating the tenets of their
faith, he was cast out of the Society of
Friends, or Quakers. He soon won the es-
teem of General Washington. In August,
1776, Congress promoted Greene to the
rank of major-general, and in the battles of
Trenton and Princeton he led a division.
At the battle of Brandywine, September 1 1,
1777, he greatly distinguished himself, pro-
"tecting the retreat of the Continentals by
his firm stand. At the battle of German-
town, October 4, the same year, he com-
manded the left wing of the army with
credit. In March, 1778, he reluctantly ac-
cepted the office of quartermaster-general,
but only with the understanding that his
rank in the army would not be affected and
that in action he should retain his command.
On the bloody field of Monmouth, June 28,
J 778, he commanded the right wing, as he
did at the battle of Tiverton Heights. He
was in command of the army in 1780, dur-
ing the absence of Washington, and was
president of the court-martial that tried and
condemned Major Andre. After General
Gates' defeat at Camden, North Carolina, in
the summer of 1 780, General Greene was ap-
pointed to the command of the southern army.
He sent out a force under General Morgan
who defeated General Tarleton at Cowpens,
January 17, 1781. On joining his lieuten-
ant, in February, he found himself out num-
bered by the British and retreated in good
order to Virginia, but being reinforced re-
turned to North Carolina where he fought
the battle of Guilford, and a few days later
compelled the retreat of Lord Cornwallis.
The British were followed by Greene part
of the way, when the American army
marched into South Carolina. After vary-
ing success he fought the battle of Eutaw
Springs, September 8, 1781. For the latter
battle and its glorious consequences, which
virtually closed the war in the Carolinas,
Greene received a medal from Congress and
many valuable grants of land from the
colonies of North and South Carolina and
Georgia. On the return of peace, after a
year spent in Rhode Island, General Greene
took up his residence on his estate' near
Savannah, Georgia, where he died June 19,
1786.
EDGAR ALLEN POE.— Among the
many great literary men whom this
country has produced, there is perhaps no
name more widely known than that of Ed-
gar Allen Poe. He was born at Boston,
Massachusetts, February 19, 1S09. His
parents were David and Elizabeth (Arnold)
Poe, both actors, the mother said to have
been the natural daughter of Benedict Ar-
nold. The parents died while Edgar was
70
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
still a child and he was adopted by John
Allen, a wealthy and influential resident of
Richmond, Virginia. Edgar was sent to
school at Stoke, Newington, England,
where he remained until he was thirteen
years old; was prepared for college by pri-
vate tutors, and in i 826 entered the Virginia
University at Charlottesville. He made
rapid progress in his studies, and was dis-
tinguished for his scholarship, but was ex-
pelled within a year for gambling, after
which for several years he resided with his
benefactor at Richmond. He then went to
Baltimore, and in 1829 published a 71 -page
pamphlet called " Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane
and Minor Poems," which, however, at-
tracted no attention and contained nothing
of particular merit. In 1S30 he was ad-
mitted as a cadet at West Point, but was
expelled about a year later for irregulari-
ties. Returning to the home of Mr. Allen
he remained for some time, and finally
quarrelled with his benefactor and enlisted
as a private soldier in the U. S. army, but
remained only a short time. Soon after
this, in 1833, Poe won several prizes for
literary work, and as a result secured the
position of editor of the "Southern Liter-
ary Messenger," at Richmond, Virginia.
Here he married his cousin, Virginia
Clemm, who clung to him with fond devo-
tion through all the many trials that came
to them until her death in January, 1S48.
Poe remained with the "Messenger" for
several years, writing meanwhile many
tales, reviews, essays and poems. He aft-
erward earned a precarious living by his
pen in New York for a time; in 1S39 be-
came editor of "Burton's Gentleman's
Magazine" ; in 1840 to .1842 was editor of
" Graham's Magazine," and drifted around
from one place to another, returning to
New York in 1S44. In 1S45 his best
known production, "The Raven," appeared
in the "Whig Review, " and gained him a
reputation which is now almost world-wide.
He then acted as editor and contributor on
various magazines and periodicals until the
death of his faithful wife in 1S48. In the
summer of 1849 he was engaged to be mar-
ried to a lady of fortune in Richmond, Vir-
ginia, and the day set for the wedding.
He started for New York to make prepara-
tions for the event, but, it is said, began
drinking, was attacked with dilirium tre-
mens in Baltimore and was removed to a
hospital, where he died, October 7, 1849.
The works of Edgar Allen Poe have been
repeatedly published since his death, both
in Europe and America, and have attained
an immense popularity.
HORATIO GATES, one of the prom-
inent figures in the American war for
Independence, was not a native of the col-
onies but was born in England in 1728. In
early life he entered the British army and
attained the rank of major. At the capture
of Marti nico he was aide to General Monk-
ton and after the peace of Aix la Chapelle,
in 1748, he was among the first troops that
landed at Halifax. He was with Braddock
at his defeat in 1755, and was there severe-
ly wounded. At the conclusion of the
French and Indian war Gates purchased an
estate in Virginia, and, resigning from the
British army, settled down to life as a
planter. On the breaking out of the Rev-
olutionary war he entered the service of the
colonies and was made adjutant-general of
the Continental forces with the rank o!
brigadier-general. He accompanied Wash-
ington when he assumed the command oi
the army. In June, 1776, he was appoint-
ed to the command of the army of Canada,
but was superseded in May of the following
coMPi:x/>/rM or biographt
71
year by General Schuyler. In August,
1777, however, the command of that army
was restored to General Gates and Septem-
ber 19 he fought the battle of Bemis
Heights. October 7, the same year, he
won the battle of Stillwater, or Saratoga,
and October 17 received the surrender of
General Burgoyne and his arm}', the pivotal
point of the war. This gave him a brilliant
reputation. June 13, 17S0, General Gates
was appointed to the command of the
southern military division, and August 16 of
that year suffered defeat at the hands of
Lord Cornwallis, at Camden, North Car-
olina. In December following he was
superseded in the command by General
Nathaniel Greene.
On the signing of the peace treaty Gen-
eral Gates retired to his plantation in
Berkeley county, Virginia, where he lived
until 1790, when, emancipating all his
slaves, he removed to New York City, where
he resided until his death, April 10, 1806.
LYMAN J. GAGE.— When President Mc-
Kinley selected Lyman J. Gage as sec-
retary of the treasury he chose one of the
most eminent financiers of the century. Mr.
Gage was born June 28, 1836, at De Ruy-
ter, Madison county, New York, and was of
English descent. He went to Rome, New
York, with his parents when he was ten
years old, and received his early education
in the Rome Academy. Mr. Gage gradu-
ated from the same, and his first position
was that of a clerk in the post office. When
he was fifteen years of age he was detailed
as mail agent on the Rome & Watertown
R. R. until the postmaster-general appointed
regular agents for the route. In 1854, when
he was in his eighteenth year, he entered
the Oneida Central Bank at Rome as a
junior clerk at a salary of one hundred dol-
lars per year. Being unable at the end of
one year and a half's service to obtain an
increase in salary he determined to seek a
wider field of labor. Mr. Gage set out in
the fall of 1855 and arrived in Chicago,
Illinois, on October 3, and soon obtained a
situation in Nathan Cobb's lumber yard and
planing mill. He remained there three years
as a bookkeeper, teamster, etc., and left on
account of change in the management. But
not being able to find anything else to do he
accepted the position of night watchman in
the place for a period of six weeks. He
then became a bookkeeper for the Mer-
chants Saving, Loan and Trust Company at
a salary of five hundred dollars per year.
He rapidly advanced in the service of this
company and in 1 868 he was made cashier.
Mr. Gage was next offered the position of
cashier of the First National Bank and ac-
cepted the offer. He became the president
of the First National Bank of Chicago Jan-
uary 24, 1 89 1, and in 1897 he was appointed
secretary of the treasury. His ability as a
financier and the prominent part he took in
the discussion of financial affairs while presi-
dent of the great Chicago bank gave him a
national reputation.
ANDREW JACRSON, the seventh pres-
ident of the United States, was born
at the Waxhaw settlement, Union county,
North Carolina, March 15, 1767. His
parents were Scotch-Irish, natives of Carr-
ickfergus, who came to this country in 1665
and settled on Twelve-Mile creek, a trib-
utary of the Catawba. His father, who
was a poor farm laborer, died shortly be-
fore Andrew's birth, when the mother re-
moved to Waxhaw, where some relatives
lived. Andrew's education was very limited,
he showing no aptitude for study. In 1780
when but thirteen years of age, he and his
72
C0MPEXD1UM OF BIOGRAPHY.
brother Robert volunteered to serve in the
American partisan troops under General
Sumter, and witnessed the defeat at Hang-
ing Rock. The following year the boys
were both taken prisoners by the enemy
and endured brutal treatment from the
British officers while confined at Camden.
They both took the small pox, when the
mother procured their exchange but Robert
died shortly after. The mother died in
Charleston of ship fever, the same year.
Young Jackson, now in destitute cir-
cumstances, worked for about six months in
a saddler's shop, and then turned school
master, although but little fitted for the
position. He now began to think of a pro-
fession and at Salisbury, North Carolina,
entered upon the study of lawr, but from all
accounts gave but little attention to his
books, being one of the most roistering,
rollicking fellows in that town, indulging in
many of the vices of his time. In 1786 he
was admitted to the bar and in 1788 re-
moved to Nashville, then in North Carolina,
with the appointment of public prosecutor,
then an office of little honor or emolument,
but requiring much nerve, for which young
Jackson was already noted. Two years
later, when Tennessee became a territory
he was appointed by Washington to the
position of United States attorney for that
district. In 1791 he married Mrs. Rachel
Robards, a daughter of Colonel John Bon-
«lson, who was supposed at the time to
have been divorced from her former hus-
band that year by act of legislature of Vir-
ginia, but two years later, on finding that
this divorce was not legal, and a new bill of
separation being granted by the courts of
Kentucky, they were remarried in 1793.
This was used as a handle by his oppo-
nents in the political campaign afterwards.
Jackson was untiring in his efforts as United
States attorney and obtained much influence.
He was chosen a member of the Constitu-
tional Convention of 1796, when Tennessee
became a state and was its first represent-
ative in congress. In 1797 he was chosen
United States senator, but resigned the fol-
lowing year to accept a seat on the supreme
court of Tennessee which he held until
1S04. He was elected major-general of
the militia of that state in 1801. In 1804,
being unsuccessful in obtaining the govern-
orship of Louisiana, the new territory, he
retired from public life to the Hermitage,
his plantation. On the outbreak of the
war with Great Britain in 1812 he tendered
his services to the government and went to
New Orleans with the Tennessee troops in
January, 181 3. In March of that year he
was ordered to disband his troops, but later
marched against the Cherokee Indians, de-
feating them at Talladega, Emuckfaw
and Tallapoosa. Having now a national
reputation, he was appointed major-general
in the United States army and was sent
against the British in Florida. He con-
ducted the defence of Mobile and seized
Pensacola. He then went with his troops
to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he gained
the famous victory of January S, 1815. In
18 17-18 he conducted a war against the
Seminoles, and in 1821 was made governor
of the new territory of Florida. In 1823
he was elected United States senator, but
in 1824 was the contestant with J. Q. Adams
for the presidency. Four years later he
was elected president, and served two terms.
In 1832 he took vigorous action against the
milliners of South Carolina, and the next
year removed the public money from the
United States bank. During his second
term the national debt was extinguished. At
the close of his administration he retired to
the Hermitage, where he died June 8, 1845.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
73
ANDREW CARNEGIE, the largest manu-
facturer of pig-iron, steel rails and
coke in the world, well deserves a place
among America's celebrated men. He was
born November 25, 1S35, at Dunfermline,
Scotland, and emigrated to the United States
with his father in 1845, settling in Pittsburg.
Two years later Mr. Carnegie began his
business career by attending a small station-
' ary engine. This work did not suit him and
he became a telegraph messenger with the
Atlantic and Ohio Co., and later he became
an operator, and was one of the first to read
telegraphic signals by sound. Mr. Carnegie
was afterward sent to the Pittsburg office
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co., as clerk
to the superintendent and. manager of the
telegraph lines. While in this position he
made the acquaintance of Mr. Woodruff, the
inventor of the sleeping-car. Mr. Carnegie
immediately became interested and was one
of the organizers of the company for its con-
struction after the railroad had adopted it,
and the success of this venture gave him the
nucleus of his wealth. He was promoted
to the superintendency of the Pittsburg
division of the Pennsylvania Railroad and
about this time was one of the syndicate
that purchased the Storey farm on Oil Creek
which cost forty thousand dollars and in one
year it yielded over one million dollars in
cash dividends. Mr. Carnegie later was as-
sociated with others in establishing a rolling-
mill, and from this has grown the most ex-
tensive and complete system of iron and
steel industries ever controlled by one indi-
vidual, embracing the Edgar Thomson
Steel Works; Pittsburg Bessemer Steel
Works; Lucy Furnaces; Union Iron Mills;
Union Mill; Keystone Bridge Works; Hart-
man Steel Works; Frick Coke Co.; Scotia
Ore Mines. Besides directing his immense
iron industries he owned eighteen English
newspapers which he ran in the interest of
the Radicals. He has also devoted large
sums of money to benevolent and educational
purposes. In 1879 he erected commodious
swimming baths for the people of Dunferm-
line, Scotland, and in the following year
gave forty thousand dollars for a free library.
Mr. Carnegie gave fifty thousand dollars to
Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1884
to found what is now called "Carnegie Lab-
oratory, " and in 1885 gave five hundred
thousand dollars to Pittsburg for a public
library. He also gave two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars for a music hall and library
in Allegheny City in 18S6, and two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars to Edinburgh, Scot-
land, for a free library. He also established
free libraries at Braddock, Pennsylvania,
and other places for the benefit of his em-
ployes. He also published the following
works, "An American Four-in-hand in
Britain;" " Round the World;" "Trium-
phant Democracy; or Fifty Years' March of
the Republic."
GEORGE H. THOMAS, the " Rock of
Chickamauga," one of the best known
commanders during the late Civil war, was
born in Southampton county, Virginia, July
31, 1S16, his parents being of Welsh and
French origin respectively. In 1836 young
Thomas was appointed a cadet at the Mili-
tary Academy, at Wrest Point, from which
he graduated in 1840, and was promoted to
the office of second lieutenant in the Third
Artillery. Shortly after, with his company,
he went to Florida, where he served for two
years against the Seminole Indians. In
1 84 1 he was brevetted first lieutenant for
gallant conduct. He remained in garrison
in the south and southwest until 1845, at
which date with the regiment he joined the
army under General Taylor, and participat-
74
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
ed in the defense of Fort Brown, the storm-
ing of Monterey and the battle of Buena
Vista. After the latter event he remained
in garrison, now brevetted major, until the
close of the Mexican war. After a year
spent in Florida, Captain Thomas was or-
dered to West Point, where he served as in-
structor until 1854. He then was trans-
ferred to California. In May, 1855, Thom-
as was appointed major of the Second Cav-
alry, with whom he spent five years in Texas.
Although a southern man, and surrounded
by brother officers who all were afterwards
in the Confederate service, Major Thomas
never swerved from his allegiance to the
government. A. S. Johnston was the col-
onel of the regiment, R. E. Lee the lieuten-
ant-colonel, and W. J. Hardee, senior ma-
jor, while among the younger officers were
Hood, Fitz Hugh Lee, Van Dorn and Kirby
Smith. When these officers left the regi-
ment to take up arms for the Confederate
cause he remained with it, and April 17th,
i86t, crossed the Potomac into his native
state, at its head. After taking an active part
in the opening scenes of the war on the Poto-
mac and Shenandoah, in August, 1861, he
was promoted to be brigadier-general and
transferred to the Army of the Cumberland.
January 19-20, 1862, Thomas defeated
Crittenden at Mill Springs, and this brought
him into notice and laid the foundation of
his fame. He continued in command of his
division until September 20, 1862, except
during the Corinth campaign when he com-
manded the right wing of the Army of the
Tennessee. He was in command of the
latter at the battle of Perryville, also, Octo-
ber 8, 1862.
On the division of the Army of the Cum-
berland into corps, January 9, 1863, Gen-
eral Thomas was assigned to the command
of the Fourteenth, and at the battle of Chick-
amauga, after the retreat of Rosecrans,
firmly held his own against the hosts of Gen-
eral Bragg. A history of his services from
that on would be a history of the war in the
southwest. On September 27, 1S64, Gen-
eral Thomas was given command in Ten-
nessee, and after organizing his army, de-
feated General Hood in the battle of Nash-
ville, December 15 and 16, 1864. Much
complaint was made before this on account
of what they termed Thomas' slowness, and
he was about to be superseded because he
would not strike until he got ready, but
when the blow was struck General Grant
was the first to place on record this vindica-
tion of Thomas judgment. He received a
vote of thanks from Congress, and from the
legislature of Tennessee a gold medal. Af-
ter the close of the war General Thomas
had command of several of the military di-
visions, and died at San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, March 28, 1870.
GEORGE BANCROFT, one of the most
eminent American historians, was a
native of Massachusetts, born at Worcester,
October 3, 1800, and a son of Aaron
Bancroft, D. D. The father, Aaron Ban-
croft, was born at Reading, Massachusetts,
November 10, 1755. He graduated at
Harvard in 1778, became a minister, and for
half a century was rated as one of the ablest
preachers in New England. He was also a
prolific writer and published a number of
works among which was " Life of George
Washington." Aaron Bancroft died August
19, 1S39.
The subject of our present biography,
George Bancroft, graduated at Harvard in
18 17, and the following year entered the
University of Gottingen, svhere he studied
history and philology under the most emi-
nent teachers, and in 1820 received the de-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY,
75
gree of doctor of philosophy at Gottingen.
Upon his return home he published a volume
of poems, and later a translation of Heeren's
" Reflections on the Politics of Ancient
Greece." In 1834 he produced the first
volume of his "History of the United
States," this being followed by other vol-
umes at different intervals later. This was
his greatest work and ranks as the highest
authority, taking its place among the great-
est of American productions.
George Bancroft was appointed secretary
of the navy by President Polk in 1845, but
resigned in 1846 and became minister pleni-
potentiary to England. In 1849 he retired
from public life and took up his residence at
Washington, D. C. In 1S67 he was ap-
pointed United States minister to the court of
Berlin and negotiated the treaty by which Ger-
mans coming to the United States were re-
leased from their allegiance to the govern-
ment of their native land. In 1871 he was
minister plenipotentiary to the German em-
pire and served until 1874. The death of
George Bancroft occurred January 17, 1891.
GEORGE GORDON MEADE, a fa-
mous Union general, was born at
Cadiz, Spain, December 30, 18 15, his father
being United States naval agent at that
port. After receiving a good education he
entered the West Point Military Academy
in 1 83 1. From here he was graduated
June 30, 1835, and received the rank of
second lieutenant of artillery. He par-
ticipated in the Seminole war, but resigned
from the army in October, 1836. He en-
tered upon the profession of civil engineer,
which he followed for several years, part of
the time in the service of the government in
making surveys of the mouth of the Missis-
sippi river. His report and results of some
experiments made by him in this service
gained Meade much credit. He also was
employed in surveying the boundary line of
Texas and the northeastern boundary line
between the United States and Canada.
In 1842 he was reappointed in the army to
the position of second lieutenant of engineers.
During the Mexican war he served with dis-
tinction on the staff of General Taylor in
the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma
and the storming of Monterey. He received
his brevet of first lieutenant for the latter
action. In 1851 he was made full first
lieutenant in his corps; a captain in 1856,
and major soon after. At the close of the
war with Mexico he was employed in light-
house construction and in geodetic surveys
until the breaking out of the Rebellion, in
which he gained great reputation. In
August, 1 86 1, he was made brigadier-general
of volunteers and placed in command of the
second brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves,
a division of the First Corps in the Army of
the Potomac. In the campaign of 1862,
under McClellan, Meade took an active
part, being present at the battles of Mechan-
icsville, Gaines' Mill and Glendale, in the
latter of which he was severely wounded.
On rejoining his command he was given a
division and distinguished himself at its head
in the battles of South Mountain and Antie-
tam. During the latter, on the wounding
of General Hooker, Meade was placed in
command of the corps and was himself
slightly wounded. For services he was
promoted, November, 1862, to the rank
of major-general of volunteers. On the
recovery of General Hooker General Meade
returned to his division and in December,
1862, at Fredericksburg, led an attack
which penetrated Lee's right line and swept
to his rear. Being outnumbered and un-
supported, he finally was driven back. The
same month Meade was assigned to the
76
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
command of the Fifth Corps, and at Chan-
cellorsville in May, 1S63, his sagacity and
ability so struck General Hooker that when
the latter asked to be relieved of the com-
mand, in June of the same year, he nomi-
nated Meade as his successor. June 28,
1863, President Lincoln commissioned Gen-
eral Meade commander-in-chief of the Army
of the Potomac, then scattered and moving
hastily through Pennsylvania to the great
and decisive battlefield at Gettysburg, at
which he was in full command. With the
victory on those July days the name of
Meade will ever be associated. From that
time until the close of the war he com-
manded the Army of the Potomac. In
1864 General Grant, being placed at the
head of all the armies, took up his quarters
with the Army of the Potomac. From that
time until the surrender of Lee at Appo-
matox Meade's ability shone conspicuously,
and his tact in the delicate position in lead-
ing his army under the eye of his superior
officer commanded the respect and esteem
of General Grant. Forservices Meade was
promoted to the rank of major-general, and
on the close of hostilities, in July, 1865,
was assigned to the command of the military
division of the Atlantic, with headquarters
at Philadelphia. This post he held, with
the exception of a short period on detached
duty in Georgia, until his death, which took
place November 6, 1872.
DAVID CROCKETT was a noted hunter
and scout, and also one of the earliest
of American humorists. He was born Au-
gust 17, 1786, in Tennessee, and was one
of the most prominent men of his locality,
serving as representative in congress from
1827 until 1 S3 1. He attracted consider-
able notice while a member of congress and
was closely associated with General Jack-
son, of whom he was a personal friend. He
went to Texas and enlisted in the Texan
army at the time of the revolt of Texas
against Mexico and gained a wide reputa-
tion as a scout. He was one of the famous
one hundred and forty men under Colonel
W. B. Travis who were besieged in Fort
Alamo, near San Antonio, Texas, by Gen-
eral Santa Anna with some five thousand
Mexicans on February 23, 1S36. The fort
was defended for ten days, frequent assaults
being repelled with great slaughter, over
one thousand Mexicans being killed or
wounded, while not a man in the fort was
injured. Finally, on March 6, three as-
saults were made, and in the hand-to-hand
fight that followed the last, the Texans were
wofully outnumbered and overpowered.
They fought desperately with clubbed mus-
kets till only six were left alive, including
W. B. Travis, David Crockett and James
Bowie. These surrendered under promise
of protection; but when they were brought
before Santa Anna he ordered them all to
be cut to pieces.
HENRY WATTERSON, one of the most
conspicuous figures in the history of
American journalism, was born at Wash-
ington, District of Columbia, February 16,
1840. His boyhood days were mostly spent
in the city of his birth, where his father,
Harvey M. Watterson, was editor of the
"Union," a well known journal.
Owing to a weakness of the eyes, which
interfered with a systematic course of study,
young Watterson was educated almost en-
tirely at home. A successful college career
was out of the question, but he acquired a
good knowledge of music, literature and art
from private tutors, but the most valuable
part of the training he received was by as-
sociating with his father and the throng 01
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
n
public men whom he met in Washington
in the stirring days immediately preceding
the Civil war. He began his journalistic
career at an early age as dramatic and
musical critic, and in 1858, became editor
of the "Democratic Review" and at the
same time contributed to the "States,"
a journal of liberal opinions published in
Washington. In this he remained until
the breaking out of the war, when the
"States," opposing the administration, was
suppressed, and young W'atterson removed
to Tennessee. He next appears as editor
of the Nashville "Republican Banner," the
most influential paper in the state at that
time. After the occupation of Nashville by
the Federal troops, Watterson served as a
volunteer staff officer in the Confederate
service until the close of the war, with the
exception of a year spent in editing the
Chattanooga "Rebel." On the close of
the war he returned to Nashville and re-
sumed his connection with the "Banner."
After a trip to Europe he assumed control
of the Louisville "Journal," which he soon
combined with the "Courier" and the
"Democrat" of that place, founding the
well-known "Courier-Journal," the first
number of which appeared November 8,
1868. Mr. Watterson also represented his
district in congress for several years.
PATRICK SARSFIELD GILMORE,
one of the most successful and widely
known bandmasters and musicians of the
last half century in America, was born in
Ballygar, Ireland, on Christmas day, 1829.
He attended a public school until appren-
ticed to a wholesale merchant at Athlone,
of the brass band of which town he soon
became a member. His passion for music
conflicting with the duties of a mercantile
life, his position as clerk was exchanged for
that of musical instructor to the young sons
of his employer. At the age of nineteen he
sailed for America and two days after his
arrival in Boston was put in charge of the
band instrument department of a prominent
music house. In the interests of the pub-
lications of this house he organized a minstrel
company known as " Ord way's Eolians,"
with which he first achieved success as a
cornet soloist. Later on he was called the
best E-flat cornetist in the United States.
He became leader, successively, of the Suf-
folk, Boston Brigade and Salem bands.
During his connection with the latter he
inaugurated the famous Fourth of July con-
certs on Boston Common, since adopted as
a regular programme for the celebration of
Independence Day. In 1858 Mr. Gilmore
founded the organization famous thereafter
as Gilmore's Band. At the outbreak of the
Civil war this band was attached to the
Twenty-Fourth .Massachusetts Infantry.
Later, when the economical policy of dis-
pensing with music had proved a mistake,
Gilmore was entrusted with the re-organiza-
tion of state military bands, and upon his
arrival at New Orleans with his own band
was made bandmaster-general by General
Banks. On the inauguration of Governor
Hahn, later on, in Lafayette square, New
Orleans, ten thousand children, mostly of
Confederate parents, rose to the baton of
Gilmore and, accompanied by six hundred
instruments, thirty-six guns and the united
fire of three regiments of infantry, sang the
Star-Spangled Banner, America and other
patriotic Union airs. In June, 1867, Mr.
Gilmore conceived a national musical festi-
val, which was denounced as a chimericsl
undertaking, but he succeeded and June 15,
1869, stepped upon the stage of the Boston
Colosseum, a vast structure erected for the •
occasion, and in the presence of over fifty
78
COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
thousand people lifted his baton over an
orchestra of one thousand and a chorus of
ten thousand. On the 17th of June, 1872,
he opened a still greater festival in Boston,
when, in addition to an orchestra of two
thousand and a chorus of twenty thousand,
were present the Band of the Grenadier
Guards, of London, of the Garde Repub-
licaine, of Paris, of Kaiser Franz, of Berlin,
and one from Dublin, Ireland, together with
Johann Strauss, Franz Abt and many other
soloists, vocal and instrumental. Gilmore's
death occurred September 24, 1892.
MARTIN VAN BUREN was the eighth
president of the United States, 1837
to 1 84 1. He was of Dutch extraction, and
his ancestors were among the earliest set-
tlers on the banks of the Hudson. He was
born December 5, 1782, at Kinderhook,
New York. Mr. Van Buren took up the
study of law at the age of fourteen and took
an active part in political matters before he
had attained his majority. He commenced
the practice of law in 1803 at his native
town, and in 1809 he removed to Hudson,
Columbia county, New York, where he
spent seven years gaining strength and wis-
dom from his contentions at the bar with
some of the ablest men of the profession.
Mr. Van Buren was elected to the state
senate, and from 18 15 until 1S19 he was at-
torney-general of the state. He was re-
elected to the senate in 1 S 16, and in 18 18
he was one of the famous clique of politi-
cians known as the "Albany regency."
Mr. Van Buren was a member of the con-
vention for the revision of the state consti-
tution, in 1821. In the same year he was
elected to the United States senate and
served his term in a manner that caused his
ce-election to that body in 1827, but re-
signed the following year as he had been
elected governor of New York. Mr. Van
Buren was appointed by President Jackson as
secretary of state in March, 1829, but resigned
in 1 83 1, and during the recess of congress
he was appointed minister to England.
The senate, however, when it convened in
December refused to ratify the appointment.
In Ma)', 1S32, he was nominated by the
Democrats as their candidate for vice-presi-
dent on the ticket with Andrew Jackson,
and he was elected in the following Novem-
ber. He received the nomination to suc-
ceed President Jackson in 1836, as the
Democratic candidate, and in the electoral
college he received one hundred and seventy
votes out of two hundred and eighty-three,
and was inaugurated March 4, 1837. His
administration was begun at a time of great
business depression, and unparalled financial
distress, which caused the suspension of
specie payments by the banks. Nearly
every bank in the country was forced to
suspend specie payment, and no less than
two hundred and fifty-four business houses
failed in New York in one week. The
President urged the adoption of the inde-
pendent treasury idea, which passed through
the senate twice but each time it was de-
feated in the house. However the measure
ultimately became a law near the close of
President Van Buren's term of office. An-
other important measure that was passed
was the pre-emption law that gave the act-
ual settlers preference in the purchase of
public lands. The question of slavery had
begun to assume great preponderance dur-
ing this administration, and a great conflict
was tided over by the passage of a resolu-
tion that prohibited petitions or papers that
in any way related to slavery to be acted
upon. In the Democratic convention of
1840 President Van Buren secured the
nomination for re-election on that ticket
COMPEXDIi'M OF BIOGRArilV.
without opposition, but in the election he
only received the votes of seven states, his
opponent, W. H. Harrison, being elected
president. In 1848 Mr. Van Buren was
the candidate of the " Free-Soilers," but
was unsuccessful. After this he retired
from public life and spent the remainder of
his life on his estate at Kinderhook, where
he died July 24, 1862.
W INFIELD SCOTT, a distinguished
American general, was born June 13,
1786, near Petersburg, Dinwiddie county,
Virginia, and was educated at the William
and Mary College. He studied law and was
admitted to the bar, and in 1808 he accepted
an appointment as captain of light artillery,
and was ordered to New Orleans. In June,
18 1 2, he was promoted to be lieutenant-
colonel, and on application was sent to the
frontier, and reported to General Smyth,
near Buffalo. He was made adjutant-gen-
eral with the rank of a colonel, in March,
1 8 1 3, and the same month attained the colo-
nelcy of his regiment. He participated in
the principal battles of the war and was
wounded many times, and at the close of
the war he was voted a gold medal by con-
gress for his services. He was a writer of
considerable merit on military topics, and
he gave to the military science, "General
Regulations of the Army " and " System of
Infantry and Rifle Practice." He took a
prominent part in the Black Hawk war,
and at the beginning of the Mexican war he
was appointed to take the command of the
army. Gen. Scott immediately assembled
his troops at Lobos Island from which he
moved by transports to Vera Cruz, which
he took March 29, 1847, and rapidly fol-
lowed up his first success. He fought the
battles of Cerro Gordo and Jalapa, both of
which he won, and proceeded to Pueblo
where he was preceded by Worth's division
which had taken the town and waited for the
coming of Scott. The army was forced to
wait here for supplies, and August 7th,
General Scott started on his victorious
march to the city of Mexico with ten thou-
sand, seven hundred and thirty-eight men.
The battles of Contreras, Cherubusco and
San Antonio were fought August 19-20,
and on the 24th an armistice was agreed
upon, but as the commissioners could not
agree on the terms of settlement, the fight-
ing was renewed at Molino Del Rey, and
the Heights of Chapultepec were carried
by the victorious army of General Scott.
He gave the enemy no respite, however,
and vigorously followed up his advantages.
On September 14, he entered the City of
Mexico and dictated the terms of surrender
in the very heart of the Mexican Republic.
General Scott was offered the presidency of
the Mexican Republic, but declined. Con-
gress extended him a vote of thanks and
ordered a gold medal be struck in honor of
his generalship and bravery. He was can-
didate for the presidency on the Whig plat
form but was defeated. He was honored by
having the title cf lieutenant-general con-
ferred upon him in 1 85 5 . At the beginning of
the Civil war he was too infirm to take charge
of the army, but did signal service in be-
half of the government. He retired from
the service November 1, 1861, and in 1864.
he published his "Autobiography." Gen-
eral Scott died at West Point, May 29, 1866
EDWARD EVERETT HALE for many
years occupied a high place among the
most honored of America's citizens. As
a preacher he ranks among the foremost
in the New England states, but to the gen-
eral public he is best known through his
writings. Born in Boston, Mass., April 3,
so
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
{822, a descendant of one of the most
prominent New England families, he enjoyed
in his youth many of the advantages denied
the majority of boys. He received his pre-
paratory schooling at the Boston Latin
School, after which he finished his studies at
Harvard where he was graduated with high
honors in 1839. Having studied theology
at home, Mr. Hale embraced the ministry
and in 1846 became pastor of a Unitarian
church in Worcester, Massachusetts, a post
which he occupied about ten years. He
then, in 1856, became pastor of the South
Congregational church in Boston, over which
he presided many years.
Mr. Hale also found time to write a
great many literary works of a high class.
Among many other well-known productions
?f his are " The Rosary," " Margaret Per-
:ival in America," "Sketches of Christian
iistory," "Kansas and Nebraska," "Let-
ters on Irish Emigration," " Ninety Days'
Worth of Europe," " If, Yes, and Perhaps,"
;Tngham Papers," "Reformation," "Level
Sest and Other Stories, " ' ' Ups and Downs, "
"Christmas Eve and Christmas Day," " In
His Name," "Our New Crusade," "Work-
ingmen's Homes," " Boys' Heroes," etc.,
etc., besides many others which might be
mentioned. One of his works, " In His
Name," has earned itself enduring fame by
the good deeds it has called forth. The
numerous associations known as ' 'The King's
Daughters," which has accomplished much
good, owe their existence to the story men-
tioned.
DAVID GLASCOE FARRAGUT stands
pre-eminent as one of the greatest na-
val officers of the world. He was born at
Campbell's Station, East Tennessee, July
5, 1801, and entered the navy of the United
States as a midshipman. He had the good
fortune to serve under Captain David Por-
ter, who commanded the " Essex," and by
whom he was taught the ideas of devotion
to duty from which he never swerved dur-
ing all his career. In 1823 Mr. Farragut
took part in a severe fight, the result of
which was the suppression of piracy in the
West Indies. He then entered upon the
regular duties of his profession which was
only broken into by a year's residence with
Charles Folsom, our consul at Tunis, who
was afterwards a distinguished professor at
Harvard. Mr. Farragut was one of the best
linguists in the navy. He had risen through
the different grades of the service until the
war of 1861-65 found him a captain resid-
ing at Norfolk, Virginia. He removed with
his family to Hastings, on the Hudson, and
hastened to offer his services to the Federal
government, and as the capture of New
Orleans had been resolved upon, Farragut
was chosen to command the expedition.
His force consisted of the West Gulf block-
ading squadron and Porter's mortar flotilla.
In January, 1S62, he hoisted his pennant at
the mizzen peak of the "Hartford" at
Hampton roads, set sail from thence on the
3rd of February and reached Ship Island on
the 20th of the same month. A council of
war was held on the 20th of April, in which
it was decided that whatever was to be done
must be done quickly. The signal was made
from the flagship and accordingly the fleet
weighed anchor at 1:55 on the morning of
April 24th, and at 3 130 the whole force was
under way. The history of this brilliant strug-
gle is well known, and the glory ofit madeFar-
ragut a hero and also made him rear admir-
al. In the summer of 1 862 he ran the batteries
at Vicksburg, and on March 14, 1863, he
passed through the fearful and destructive
fire from Port Hudson, and opened up com-
munication with Flag-officer Porter, who
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
&n
had control of the upper Mississippi. On
May 24th he commenced active operations
against that fort in conjunction with the army
and it fell on July 9th. Mr. Farragut filled
the measure of his fame on the 5th of Au-
gust, 1864, by his great victory, the capture
of Mobile Bay and the destruction of the
Confederate fleet, including the formidable
ram Tennessee. For this victory the rank
of admiral was given to Mr. Farragut. He
died at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Au-
gust 4, 1870.
GEORGE W. CHILDS, a philanthropist
whose remarkable personality stood
for the best and highest type of American
citizenship, and whose whole life was an
object lesson in noble living, was born in
1829 at Baltimore, Maryland, of humble
parents, and spent his early life in unremit-
ting toil. He was a self-made man in the
fullest sense of the word, and gained his
great wealth by his own efforts. He was a
man of very great influence, and this, in
conjunction with his wealth, would have
been, in the hands of other men, a means of
getting them political preferment, but Mr.
Childs steadily declined any suggestions that
would bring him to figure prominently in
public affairs. He did not choose to found
a financial dynasty, but devoted all his
powers to the helping of others, with the
most enlightened beneficence and broadest
sympathy. Mr. Childs once remarked that
his greatest pleasure in life was in doing
good to others. He always despised mean-
ness, and one of his objects of life was to
prove that a man could be liberal and suc-
cessful at the same time. Upon these lines
Mr. Childs made a name for himself as the
director of one of the representative news-
papers of America, "The Philadelphia Pub-
lic Ledger," which was owned jointly by
5
himself and the Drexel estate, and which he
edited for thirty years. He acquired con-
trol of the paper at a time when it was be-
ing published at a heavy loss, set it upon a
firm basis of prosperity, and he made it
more than a money- making machine — he
made it respected as an exponent of the
best side of journalism, and it stands as a
monument to his sound judgment and up-
right business principles. Mr. Childs' char-
itable repute brought him many applications
for assistance, and he never refused to help
any one that was deserving of aid; and not
only did he help those who asked, but he
would by careful inquiry find those who
needed aid but were too proud to solicit it.
He was a considerable employer of labor
and his liberality was almost unparalleled.
The death of this great and good man oc-
curred February 3d, 1894.
PATRICK HENRY won his way to un
dying fame in the annals of the early
history of the United States by introducing
into the house of burgesses his famous reso-
lution against the Stamp Act, which he car-
ried through, after a stormy debate, by a
majority of one. At this time he exclaimed
" Caesar had his Brutus, Charles I his Crom-
well and George III " (here he was inter-
rupted by cries of " treason ") " may profit
by their example. If this be treason make
the most of it."
Patrick Henry was born at Studley,
Hanover county, Virginia, May 29, 1736,
and was a son of Colonel John Henry, a
magistrate and school teacher of Aberdeen,
Scotland, and a nephew of Robertson, the
historian. He received his education from
his father, and was married at the age of
eighteen. He was twice bankrupted before
he had reached his twenty-fourth year, when
after six weeks of study he was admitted to
8-4
COMPEXDICM OF BIOGRAPHY.
the bar. He worked for three years with-
out a case and finally was applauded for his
plea lor the people's rights and gained im-
mense popularity. After his famous Stamp
Act resolution he was the leader of the pa-
triots in Virginia. In 1769 he was admitted
to practice in the general courts and speed-
ily won a fortune by his distinguished ability
as a speaker. He was the first speaker of
the General Congress at Philadelphia in
1774. He was for a time a colonel of
militia in 1775, and from 1776 to 1779 and
1 78 1 to 1786 he was governor of Virginia.
For a number of years he retired from pub-
lic life and was tendered and declined a
number of important political offices, and in
March, 1789, he was elected state senator
but aid not take his seat on account of his
death which occurred at Red Hill, Charlotte
county, Virginia, June 6, 1799.
BENEDICT ARNOLD, an American
general and traitor of the Revolution-
ary war, is one of the noted characters in
American history. He was born in Nor-
wich, Connecticut, January 3, 1740. He
ran away and enlisted in the army when
young, but deserted in a short time. He
then became a merchant at New Haven,
Connecticut, but failed. In 1775 he was
commissioned colonel in the Massachusetts
militia, and in the autumn of that year was
placed in command of one thousand men
for the invasion of Canada. He marched
his army through the forests of Maine and
joined General Montgomery before Quebec.
Their combined forces attacked that city on
December 31, 1775, and Montgomery was
killed, and Arnold, severely wounded, was
compelled to retreat and endure a rigorous
winter a few miles from the city, where they
were at the mercy of the Canadian troops
had they cared to attack them. On his re-
turn he was raised to the rank of brigadier-
general. He was given command of a small
flotilla on Lake Champlain, with which he
encountered an immense force, and though
defeated, performed many deeds of valor.
He resented the action of congress in pro-
moting a number of his fellow officers and
neglecting himself. In 1777 he was made
major-general, and under General Gates at
Bemis Heights fought valiantly. For some
reason General Gates found fault with his
conduct and ordered him under arrest, and
he was kept in his tent until the battle of
Stillwater was waxing hot, when Arnold
mounted his horse and rode to the front of
his old troop, gave command to charge, and
rode like a mad man into the thickest of
the fight and was not overtaken by Gates'
courier until he had routed the enemy and
fell wounded. Upon his recovery he was
made general, and was placed in command
at Philadelphia. Here he married, and his
acts of rapacity soon resulted in a court-
martial. He was sentenced to be repri-
manded by the commander-in-chief, and
though Washington performed this duty
with utmost delicacy and consideration, it
was never forgiven. Arnold obtained com-
mand at West Point, the most important
post held by the Americans, in 1780, and
immediately offered to surrender it to Sir
Henry Clinton, British commander at New
York. Major Andre was sent to arrange
details with Arnold, but on his return trip
to New York he was captured by Americans,
the plot was detected, and Andre suffered
the death penalty as a spy. Arnold es-
caped, and was paid about $40,000 by the
British for his treason and was made briga-
dier-general. He afterward commanded an
expedition that plundered a portion of Vir-
ginia, and another that burned New Lon-
don, Connecticut, and captured Fort Trum-
COMPEXniL'M OF BIOGRAPHY.
B5
bull, the commandant of which Arnold mur-
dered with the sword he had just surren-
dered. He passed the latter part of his life
in England, universally despised, and died
in London June 14, 1S01.
ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, one of the
most brilliant orators that America has
produced, also a lawyer of considerable
merit, won most of his fame as a lecturer.
Mr. Ingersoll was born August 24, 1833,
at Dryden, Gates county, New York, and
received hiseducation in the common schools.
He went west at the age of twelve, and for
a short time he attended an academy in
Tennessee, and also taught school in that
state. He began the practice of law in the
southern part of Illinois in 1854. Colonel
Ingcrsoll's principal fame was made in
the lecture room by his lectures in which he
ridiculed religious faith and creeds and criti-
cised the Bible and the Christian religion.
He was the orator of the day in the Decora-
tion Day celebration in the city of New York
in 1 8S2 and his oration was widely com-
mended. He first attracted political notice
in the convention at Cincinnati in 1876 by
his brilliant eulogy on James G. Blaine. He
practiced law in Peoria, Illinois, for a num-
ber of ) ears, but later located in the city of
New York. He published the follow-
ing: "The Gods and other Lectures;" "The
Ghosts;" "Some Mistakes of Moses;"
'•What Shall I Do To Be Saved;" "Inter-
views on Talmage and Presbyterian Cate-
chism ;" The " North American Review
Controversy;" "Prose Poems;" "A Vision
of War ;" etc.
JOSEPH ECCLESTON JOHNSTON,
a noted general in the Confederate army,
was born in Prince Edward county, Virginia,
in 1807. He graduated from West Point
and entered the army in 1829. For a num-
ber of years his chief service was garrison
duty. He saw active service, however, in
the Seminole war in Florida, part of the
time as a staff officer of General Scott. He
resigned his commission in 1837, but re-
turned to the army a year later, and was
brevetted captain for gallant services in
Florida. He was made first lieutenant of
topographical engineers, and was engaged
in river and harbor improvements and also
in the survey of the Texas boundary and
the northern boundary of the United
States until the beginning of the war
with Mexico. He was at the siege of Vera
Cruz, and at the battle of Cerro Gordo was
wounded while reconnoitering the enemy's
position, after which he was brevetted major
and colonel. He was in all the battles about
the city of Mexico, and was again wounded
in the final assault upon that city. After
the Mexican war closed he returned to duty
as captain of topographical engineers, but
in 1855 he was made lieutenant-colonel of
cavalry and did frontier duty, and was ap-
pointed inspector-general of the expedition
to Utah. In i860 he was appointed quar-
termaster-general with rank of brigadier-
general. At the outbreak of hostilities in
1 861 he resigned his commission and re-
ceived the appointment of major-general of
the Confederate army. He held Harper's
Ferry, and later fought General Patterson
about Winchester. At the battle of Bull
Run he declined command in favor of Beau-
regard, and acted under that general's direc-
tions. He commanded the Confederates in
the famous Peninsular campaign, and was
severely wounded at Fair Oaks and was
succeeded in command by General Lee.
Upon his recovery he was made lieutenant-
general and assigned to the command of the
southwestern department. He attempted
5fi
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY,
to raise the siege of Vicksburg, and was
finally defeated at Jackson, Mississippi.
Having been made a general he succeeded
General Bragg in command of the army of
Tennessee and was ordered to check General
Sherman's advance upon Atlanta. Not
daring to risk a battle with the overwhelm-
ing forces of Sherman, he slowly retreated
toward Atlanta, and was relieved of com-
mand by Fresident Davis and succeeded by
General Hood. Hood utterly destroyed his
own army by three furious attacks upon
Sherman. Johnston was restored to com-
mand in the Carolinas, and again faced
Sherman, but was defeated in several en-
gagements and continued a slow retreat
toward Richmond. Hearing of Lee's sur-
render, he communicated with General
Sherman, and finally surrendered his army
at Durham, North Carolina, April 26, 1865.
General Johnston was elected a member
of the forty-sixth congress and was ap-
pointed United States railroad commis-
sioner in 1885. His death occurred March
21, 1891.
SAMUEL LANGHORNE CLEMENS,
known throughout the civilized world
as "Mark Twain," is recognized as one of
the greatest humorists America has pro-
duced. He was born in Monroe county,
Missouri, November 30, 1835. Hespenthis
boyhood days in his native state and many
of his earlier experiences are related in vari-
ous forms in his later writings. One of his
early acquaintances, Capt. Isaiah Sellers,
at an early day furnished river news for the
New Orleans " Picayune," using the noni-
de-plume of "Mark Twain." Sellers died
in 1863 and Clemens took up his nont-de-
plume and made it famous throughout the
world by his literary work. In 1862 Mr.
Clemens became a journalist at Virginia,
Nevada, and afterward followed the same pro-
fession at San Francisco and Buffalo, New
York. He accumulated a fortune from the
sale of his many publications, but in later
years engaged in business enterprises, partic-
ularly the manufacture of a typesetting ma-
chine, which dissipated his fortune and re-
duced him almost to poverty, but with resolute
heart he at once again took up his pen and
engaged in literary work in the effort to
regain his lost ground. Among the best
known of his works may be mentioned the fol-
lowing: ' ' The Jumping Frog, " ' ' Tom Saw-
yer," " Roughingit," " Innocents Abroad,"
"Huckleberry Finn," "Gilded Age,"
"Prince and Pauper," "Million Pound
Bank Note," "A Yankee in King Arthur's
Court," etc.
CHRISTOPHER CARSON, better
known as "Kit Carson;" was an Amer-
ican trapper and scout who gained a wide
reputation for his frontier work. He was a
native of Kentucky, born December 24th,
1809. He grew to manhood there, devel-
oping a natural inclination for adventure in
the pioneer experiences in his native state.
When yet a young man he became quite
well known on the frontier. He served as
a guide to Gen. Fremont in his Rocky
Mountain explorations and enlisted in the
army. He was an officer in the United
States service in both the Mexican war and
the great Civil war, and in the latter received
a brevet of brigadier-general for meritorious
service. His death occurred May 23,
1868.
JOHN SHERMAN.— Statesman, politi-
cian, cabinet officer and senator, the name
of the gentleman who heads this sketch is al-
most a household word throughout this
country. Identified with some of the most
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
87
impoitant measures adopted by our Govern-
ment since the close of the Civil war, he may
well be called one of the leading men of his
day.
John Sherman was born at Lancaster,
Fairfield county, Ohio, May ioth, 1823,
the son of Charles R. Sherman, an emi-
nent lawyer and judge of the supreme court
of Ohio and who died in 1829. The subject
of this article received an academic educa-
tion and was admitted to the bar in 1844.
In the Whig conventions of 1844 and 1848
he sat as a delegate. He was a member of
the National house of representatives,
from 1S55 to 1 86 1. In 1 S60 he was re-
elected to the same position but was chosen
United States senator before he took his
scat in the lower house. He was re-elected
senator in 1S66 and 1872 and was long
chairman of the committee on finance and
on agriculture. He took a prominent part
in debates on finance and on the conduct of
the war, and was one of the authors of the
reconstruction measures in 1866 and 1S67,
and was appointed secretary of the treas-
ury March 7th, 1877.
Mr. Sherman was re-elected United States
senator from Ohio January iSth, 1881, and
again in 1S86 and 1892, during which time
he was regarded as one of the most promi-
nent leaders of the Republican party, both
in the senate and in the country. He was
several times the favorite of his state for the
nomination for president.
On the formation of his cabinet in March,
1897, President McKinley tendered the posi-
tion of secretary of state to Mr. Sherman,
which was accepted.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, ninth
president of the United States, was
born in Charles county, Virginia, February
9: J773. Irie son of Governor Benjamin
Harrison. He took a course in Hampden-
Sidney College with a view to the practice
of medicine, and then went to Philadelphia
to study under Dr. Rush, but in 1 79 1 he
entered the army, and obtained the commis-
sion of ensign, was soon promoted to the
lieutenancy, and was with General Wayne
in his war against the Indians. For his
valuable service he was promoted to the
rank of captain and given command of Fort
Washington, now Cincinnati. He was ap-
pointed secretary of the Northwest Territory
in 1797, and in 1799 became its representa-
tive in congress. In 1801 he was appointed
governor of Indiana Territory, and held the
position for twelve years, during which time
he negotiated important treaties with the In-
dians, causing them to relinquish millions of
acres of land, and also won the battle of
Tippecanoe in 181 1. He succeeded in
obtaining a1 change in the law which did not
permit purchase of public lands in less tracts
than four thousand acres, reducing the limit
to three hundred and twenty acres. He
became major-general of Kentucky militia
and brigadier-general in the United States
army in 18 12, and won great renown in
the defense of Fort Meigs, and his victory
over the British and Indians under Proctor
and Tecumseh at the Thames river, October
5, 18 1 3.
In 1 8 16 General Harrison was elected to
congress from Ohio, and during the canvass
was accused of corrupt methods in regard tc
the commissariat of the army. He demanded
an investigation after the election and was
exonerated. In 1S19 he was elected to
the Ohio state senate, and in 1824 he gave
his vote as a presidential elector to Henry
Clay. He became a member of the United
States senate the same year. During the
last year of Adams' administration he was
sent as minister to Colombia, but was re-
^
COMPEXniUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
called by President Jackson the following
year. He then retired to his estate at North
Bend, Ohio, a few miles below Cincinnati. In
1836 he was a candidate for the presidency,
but as there were three other candidates
the votes were divided, he receiving seventy-
three electoral votes, a majority going to
Mr. Van Buren, the Democratic candidate.
Four years later General Harrison was again
nominated by the Whigs, and elected by a
tremendous majority. The campaign was
noted for its novel features, many of which
have found a permanent place in subsequent
campaigns. Those peculiar to that cam-
paign, however, were the " log-cabin " and
"hard cider" watchwords, which produced
great enthusiasm among his followers. One
month after his inauguration he died from
an attack of pleurisy, April 4, 1841.
CHARLES A. DANA, the well-known
and widely-read journalist of New York
City, a native of Hinsdale, New Hampshire,
was born August 8, 18 19. He received
the elements of a good education in his
youth and studied for two years at Harvard
University. Owing to some disease of the
eyes he was unable to complete his course
and graduate, but was granted the degree of
A. M. notwithstanding. For some time he
was editor of the " Harbinger," and was a
regular contributor to the Boston " Chrono-
type." In 1847 he became connected with
the New York ' ' Tribune, " and continued on
the staff of that journal until 1858. In the
latter year he edited and compiled "The
Household Book of Poetry," and later, in
connection with George Ripley, edited the
"New American Cyclopaedia."
Mr. Dana, on severing his connection
with the " Tribune " in 1867, became editor
of the New York "Sun," a paper with
which he was identified for many years, and
which he made one of the leaders of thought
in the eastern part of the United States.
He wielded a forceful pen and fearlessly
attacked whatever was corrupt and unworthy
in politics, state or national. The same
year, 1867, Mr. Dana organized the New
York " Sun " Company.
During the troublous days of the war,
when the fate of the Nation depended upon
the armies in the field, Mr. Dana accepted
the arduous and responsible position of
assistant secretary of war, and held the
position during the greater part of 1863
and 1864. He died October 17, 1897.
ASA GRAY was recognized throughout the
scientific world as one of the ablest
and most eminent of botanists. He was
born at Paris, Oneida county, New York,
November 18, 18 10. He received his medi-
cal degree at the Fairfield College of Physi-
cians and Surgeons, in Herkimer county,
New York, and studied botany with the late
Professor Torrey, of New York. He was
appointed botanist to the Wilkes expedition
in 1834, but declined the offer and became
professor of natural history in Harvard Uni-
versity in 1S42. He retired from the active
duties of this post in 1S73, and in 1874 he
was the regent of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion at Washington, District of Columbia.
Dr. Gray wrote several books on the sub-
ject of the many sciences of which he was
master. In 1836 he published his "Ele-
ments of Botany," "Manual of Botany" in
1S48; the unfinished "Flora of North
America," by himself and Dr. Torrey, the
publication of which commenced in 1S3S.
There is another of his unfinished works
called "Genera Boreaii-x^mericana, " pub-
lished in 184S, and the "Botany of the
United States Pacific Exploring Expedition
in 1S54." He wrote many elaborate papers
COM!' li.Xni I'M OF lilOGRAPlir.
89
on the botany of the west and southwest
that were published in the Smithsonian Con-
tributions, Memoirs, etc., of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences, of which in-
stitution he was president for ten years.
He was also the author of many of the
government reports. ' ' How Plants Grow, "
"Lessons in Botany," " Structural and Sys-
tematic Botany," are also works from his
ready pen.
Dr. Gray published in 1861 his "Free
Examination of Darwin's Treatise" and his
" Darwiniana," in 1876. Mr. Gray was
elected July 29, 1878, to a membership in
the Instituteof France, Academy of Sciences.
His death occurred at Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts, January 30, 1889.
WILLIAM MAXWELL EVARTS was
one of the greatest leaders of the
American bar. He was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, February 6, 1818, and grad-
uated from Yale College in 1837. He took
up the study of law, which he practiced in
the city of New York and won great renown
as an orator and advocate. He affiliated
with the Republican party, which he joined
soon after its organization. He was the
leading counsel employed for the defense of
President Johnson in his trial for impeach-
ment before the senate in April and May of
1868.
In July, 1868, Mr. Evarts was appointed
attorney-general of the United States, and
served until March 4, 1869. He was one
of the three lawyers who were selected by
President Grant in 1871 to defend the inter-
ests of the citizens of the United States be-
fore the tribunal of arbitration which met
at Geneva in Switzerland to settle the con-
troversy over the " Alabama Claims."
He was one of the most eloquent advo-
cates in the United States, and many of his
public addresses have been preserved and
published. He was appointed secretary of
state March 7, 1S77, by President Hayes,
and served during the Hayes administration.
He was elected senator from the state of
New York January 21, 1885, and at once
took rank among the ablest statesmen in
Congress, and the prominent part he took
in the discussion of public questions gave
him a national reputation.
I
OHN WANAMAKER.— The life of this
kJ great merchant demonstrates . the fact
that the great secret of rising from the ranks
is, to-day, as in the past ages, not so much the
ability to make money, as to save it, or in
other words, the ability to live well within
one's income. Mr. Wanamaker was born in
Philadelphia in 1838. He started out in
life working in a brickyard for a mere pit-
tance, and left that position to work in a
book store as a clerk, where he earned
the sum of $5.00 per month, and later on
was in the employ of a clothier where he
received twenty-five cents a week more.
He was only fifteen years of age at that
time, but was a " money-getter" by instinct,
and laid by a small sum for a possible rainy
day. By strict attention to business, com-
bined with natural ability, he was promoted
many times, and at the age of twenty he
had saved $2,000. After several months
vacation in the south, he returned to Phila-
delphia and became a master brick mason,
but this was too tiresome to the young man,
and he opened up the " Oak Hall " clothing
store in April, 1861, at Philadelphia. The
capital of the firm was rather limited, but
finally, after many discouragements, they
laid the foundations of one of the largest
business houses in the world. The estab-
lishment covers at the present writing some
fourteen acres of floor space, and furnishes
«J0
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
employment for five thousand persons. Mr.
Wanamaker was also a great church worker,
and built a church that cost him $60,000,
and he was superintendent of the Sunday-
school, which had a membership of over
three thousand children. He steadily re-
fused to run for mayor or congress and the
only public office that he ever held was that
of postmaster-general, under the Harrison
administration, and here he exhibited his
extraordinary aptitude for comprehending
the details of public business.
DAVID BENNETT HILL, a Demo-
cratic politician who gained a na-
tional reputation, was born August 29,
j 843, at Havana, New York. He was
educated at the academy of his native town,
and removed to Elmira, New York, in 1862,
where he studied law. He was admitted to
the bar in 1864, in which year he was ap-
pointed city attorney. Mr. Hill soon gained
a considerable practice, becoming prominent
in his profession. He developed a taste for
politics in which he began to take an active
part in the different campaigns and became
the recognized leader of the local Democ-
racy. In 1S70 he was elected a member of
the assembly and was re-elected in 1872.
While a member of this assembly he formed
the acquaintance of Samuel J. Tilden, after-
ward governor of the state, who appointed
Mr. Hill, W. M. Evarts and Judge Hand
as a committee to provide a uniform charter
for the different cities of the state. The
pressure of professional engagements com-
pelled him to decline to serve. In 1877
Mr. Hill was made chairman of the Demo-
cratic state convention at Albany, his elec-
tion being due to the Tilden wing of the
party, and he he'd the same position again
in 1SS1. He served one term as alderman
in Eimira, at the expiration of which term,
in 1882, he was elected mayor of Elmira,
and in September of the same year was
nominated for lieutenant-governor on the
Democratic state ticket. He was success-
ful in the campaign and two years later,
when Grover Cleveland was elected to the
presidency, Mr. Hill succeeded to the gov-
ernorship for the unexpired term. In 1885
he was elected governor for a full term of
three years, at the end of which he was re-
elected, his term expiring in 1891, in which
year he was elected United States senator.
In the senate he became a conspicuous
figure and gained a national reputation.
ALLEN G. THURMAN. — " The noblest
Roman of them all " was the title by
which Mr. Thurman was called by his com-
patriots of the Democracy. He was the
greatest leader of the Democratic party in
his day and held the esteem of all the
people, regardless of their political creeds.
Mr. Thurman was born November 13, 18 13,
at Lynchburg, Virginia, where he remained
until he had attained the age of six years,
when he moved to Ohio. He received an
academic education and after graduating,
took up the study of law, was admitted to
the bar in 1835, and achieved a brilliant
success in that line. In political life he was
very successful, and his first office was that
of representative of the state of Ohio in the
twenty-ninth congress. He was elected
judge of the supreme court of Ohio in 1851,
and was chief justice of the same from 1854
to 1856. In 1867 he was the choice of the
Democratic party of his state for governor,
and was elected to the United States senate
in 1869 to succeed Benjamin F. Wade,
and was re-elected to the same position in
1874. He was a prominent figure in the
senate, until the expiration of his service in
1 88 1. Mr. Thurman was also one of the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPI1T.
91
principal presidental possibilities in the
Democratic convention held at St. Louis in
1876. In 1888 he was the Democratic
nominee for vice-president on the ticket
with Grover Cleveland, but was defeated.
Allen Granberry Thurman died December
12, 1895, at Columbus, Ohio.
CHARLES FARRAR BROWNE, better
known as " Artemus Ward," was born
April 26, 1834, in the village of Waterford,
Maine. He was thirteen years old at the
time of his father's death, and about a year
later he was apprenticed to John M. Rix,
who published the "Coos County Dem-
ocrat " at Lancaster, New Hampshire. Mr.
Browne remained with him one year, when,
hearing that his brother Cyrus was starting
a paper at Norway, Maine, he left Mr. Rix
and determined to get work on the new
paper. He worked for his brother until the
failure of the newspaper, and then went to
Augusta, Maine, where he remained a few
weeks and then removed to Skowhegan,
and secured a position on the "Clarion."
But either the climate or the work was not
satisfactory to him, for one night he silently
left the town and astonished his good mother
by appearing unexpectedly at home. Mr.
Browne then received some letters of recom-
mendation to Messrs. Snow and Wilder, of
Boston, at whose office Mrs. Partington's
(B. P. Shillaber) " Carpet Bag " was printed,
and he was engaged and remained there for
three years. He then traveled westward in
search of employment and got as far as Tif-
fin, Ohio, where he found employment in the
office of the "Advertiser," and remained
there some months when he proceeded to
Toledo, Ohio, where he became one of the
staff of the "Commercial," which position
he held until 1S57. Mr. Browne next went
co Cleveland, Ohio, and became the local
editor of the "Plain Dealer," and it was in
the columns of this paper that he published
his first articles and signed them " Artemus
Ward." In i860 he went to New York and
became the editor of " Vanity Fair," but
the idea of lecturing here seized him, and he
was fully determined to make the trial.
Mr. Browne brought out his lecture, "Babes
in the Woods " at Clinton Hall, December
23, 1 861, and in 1862 he published his first
book entitled, " Artemus Ward; His Book."
He attained great fame as a lecturer and his
lectures were not confined to America, for.
he went to England in 1866, and became
exceedingly popular, both as a lecturer and
a contributor to "Punch." Mr. Browne
lectured for the last time January 23, 1867.
He died in Southampton, England, March
6, 1867.
THURLOW WEED, a noted journalist
and politician, was born in Cairo, New
York, November 15, 1797. He learned the
printer's trade at the age of twelve years,
and worked at this calling for several years
in various villages in central New York. He
served as quartermaster-sergeant during the
war of 18 12. In 1818 he established the
"Agriculturist," at Norwich, New York,
and became editor of the "Anti-Masonic
Enquirer," at Rochester, in 1826. In the
same year he was elected to the legislature
and re-elected in 1830, when he located in
Albany, New York, and there started the
" Evening Journal," and conducted it in op-
position to the Jackson administration and
the nullification doctrines of Calhoun. He
became an adroit party manager, and was
instrumental in promoting the nominations
of Harrison, Taylor and Scott for the pres-
idency. In 1856 and in i860 he threw his
support to W. H. Seward, but when defeat-
ed in his object, he gave cordial support to
92
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Fremont and Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln pre-
veiled upon him to visit the various capitals
of Europe, where he proved a valuable aid
tc the administration in moulding the opin-
ions of the statesmen of that continent
favorable to the cause of the Union.
Mr. Weed's connection with the ' ' Even-
ing Journal " was severed in 1862, when he
settled in New York, and for a time edited
the "Commercial Advertiser." In 1868 he
retired from active life. His " Letters from
Europe and the West Indies," published in
1866, together with some interesting " Rem-
iniscences," published in the "Atlantic
Monthly," in 1870, an autobiography, and
portions of an extensive correspondence will
be of great value to writers of the political
history of the United States. Mr. Weed
died in New York, November 22, 1882.
WILLIAM COLLINS WHITNEY,
one of the prominent Democratic
politicians of the country and ex-secretary of
the navy, was born July 5th, 1841, at Con-
way, Massachusetts, and received his edu-
cation at Williston Seminary, East Hamp-
ton, Massachusetts. Later he attended
Yale College, where he graduated in 1863,
and entered the Harvard Law School, which
he left in 1864. Beginning practice in New
York city, he soon gained a reputation as
an able lawyer. He made his first appear-
ance in public affairs in 1871, when he was
active in organizing a young men's Demo-
cratic club. In 1872 he was the recognized
leader of the county Democracy and in 1875
was appointed corporation counsel for the
city of New York. He resigned the office,
1882, to attend to personal interests and on
March 5, 1885, he was appointed secretary
of the navy by President Cleveland. Under
his administration the navy of the United
States rapidly rose in rank among the navies
of the world. When he retired from office
in 1889, the vessels of the United States
navy designed and contracted for by him
were five double-turreted monitors, two
new armor-clads, the dynamite cruiser "Ve-
suvius," and five unarmored steel and iron
cruisers.
Mr. Whitney was the leader of the
Cleveland forces in the national Democratic
convention of 1892.
EDWIN FORREST, the first and great-
est American tragedian, was born in
Philadelphia in 1806. His father was a
tradesman, and some accounts state that he
had marked out a mercantile career for his
son, Edwin, while others claim that he had
intended him for the ministry. His wonder-
ful memory, his powers of mimicry and his
strong musical voice, however, attracted at-
tention before he was eleven years old, and
at that age he made his first appearance on
the stage. The costume in which he appeared
was so ridiculous that he left the stage in a
fit of anger amid a roar of laughter from
the audience. This did not discourage him,
however, and at the age of fourteen, after
some preliminary training in elocution, he
appeared again, this time as Young Norvel,
and gave indications of future greatness.
Up to 1826 he played entirely with strolling
companies through the south and west, but
at that time he obtained an engagement at
the Bowery Theater in New York. From
that time his fortune was made. His man-
ager paid him $40 per night, and it is stated
that he loaned Forrest to other houses from
time to time at $200 per night. His great
successes were Virginius, Damon, Othello,
Coriolanus, William Tell, Spartacus and
Lear. He made his first appearance in
London in 1836, and his success was un-
questioned from the start. In 1845, on his
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
93
second appearance in London, he became
involved in a bitter rivalry with the great
English actor, Macready, who had visited
America two years before. The result was
that Forrest was hissed from the stage, and
it was charged that Macready had instigated
the plot. Forrest's resentment was so bitter
that he himself openly hissed Macready
from his box a few nights later. In 1848
Macready again visited America at a time
when American admiration and enthusiasm
for Forrest had reached its height. Macready
undertook to play at Astor Place Opera
House in May, 1849, but was hooted off the
stage. A few nights later Macready made a
second attempt to play at the same house,
thistime under police protection. The house
was filled with Macready 's friends, but the vio-
olence of the mob outside stopped the play,
and the actor barely escaped with his life.
Upon reading the riot act the police and
troops were assaulted with stones. The
troops replied, first with blank cartridges,
and then a volley of lead dispersed the
mob, leaving thirty men dead or seriously
wounded.
After this incident Forrest's popularity
waned, until in 1855 he retired from the
stage. He re-appeared in i860, however,
and probably the most remunerative period
of his life was between that date and the
close of the Civil war. His last appearance
on the stage was at the Globe Theatre,
Boston, in Richelieu, in April, 1872, his
death occurring December 12 of that year.
NOAH PORTER, D. D., LL. D., was
one of the most noted educators, au-
thors and scientific writers of the United
States. He was born December 14, 181 1,
at Farmington, Connecticut, graduated at
Yale College in 1 83 1 , and was master of
Hopkins Grammar School at New Haven in
l83'-33- During 1833-35 he was a tutor
at Yale, and at the same time was pursuing
his theological studies, and became pastor
of the Congregational church at New Mil-
ford, Connecticut, in April, 1836. Dr.
Porter removed to Springfield, Massachu-
setts, in 1843, and was chosen professor of
metaphysics and moral philosophy at Yale
in 1846. He spent a year in Germany in
the study of modern metaphysics in 1853—
54, and in 1871 he was elected president of
Yale College. He resigned the presidency
in 1885, but still remained professor of met-
aphysics and moral philosophy. He was
the author of a number of works, among
which are the following: " Historical Es-
say," written in commemoration of the 200th
aniversary of the settlement of the town of
Farmington; " Educational System of the
Jesuits Compared;" "The Human Intel-
lect," with an introduction upon psychology
and the soul; " Books and Reading;"
'American Colleges and the American Pub-
lic;" " Elementsof Intellectual Philosophy;"
" The Science of Nature versus the Science
of Man;" "Science and Sentiment;" "Ele-
ments of Moral Science." Dr. Porter was
the principal editor of the revised edition of
Webster's Dictionary in 1864, and con-
tributed largely to religious reviews and
periodicals. Dr. Porter's death occurred
March 4, 1892, at New Haven, Connecticut.
JOHN TYLER, tenth president of the
United States, was born in Charles City
county, Virginia, March 29, 1790, and was
the son of Judge John Tyler, one of the
most distinguished men of his day.
When but twelve years of age young
John Tyler entered William and Mary Col-
lege, graduating from there in 1806. He
took up the study of law and was admitted
to the bar in 1809, when but nineteen years
94
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
of age. On attaining his majority in 1 8 1 1
he was elected a member of the state legis-
lature, and for five years held that position
by the almost unanimous vote of his county.
He was elected to congress in 1816, and
served in that body for four years, after
which for two years he represented his dis-
trict again in the legislature of the state.
While in congress, he opposed the United
States bank, the protective policy and in-
ternal improvements by the United States
government. 1825 saw Mr. Tyler governor
of Virginia, but in 1827 he was chosen
member of the United States senate, and
held that office for nine years. He therein
opposed the administration of Adams and
the tariff bill of 1828, sympathized with the
nullifers of South Carolina and was the
only senator who voted against the Force
bill for the suppression of that state's insip-
ient rebellion. He resigned his position as
senator on account of a disagreement with
the legislature of his state in relation to his
censuring President Jackson. He retired to
Williamsburg, Virginia, but being regarded
as a martyr by the Whigs, whom, hereto-
fore, he had always opposed, was supported
by many of that party for the vice-presi-
dency in 1836. He sat in the Virginia leg-
islature as a Whig in 1839-40, and was a
delegate to the convention of that party in
i8.;9. This national convention nominated
him for the second place on the ticket with
General William H. H. Harrison, and he
was elected vice-president in November,
1840. President Harrison dying one month
after his inauguration, he was succeeded by
John Tyler. He retained the cabinet chosen
by his predecessor, and for a time moved in
harmony with the Whig party. He finally
instructed the secretary of the treasury,
Thomas Ewing, to submit to congress a bill
for the incorporation of a fiscal bank of the
United States, which was passed by con-
gress, but vetoed by the president on ac-
count of some amendments he considered
unconstitutional. For this and other meas-
ures he was accused of treachery to his
party, and deserted by his whole cabinet,
except Daniel Webster. Things grew worse
until he was abandoned by the Whig party
formally, when Mr. Webster resigned. He
was nominated at Baltimore, in May, 1844,
at the Democratic convention, as their pres-
idential candidate, but withdrew from the
canvass, as he saw he had not succeed-
ed in gaining the confidence of his old
party. He then retired from politics until
February, 1861, when he was made presi-
dent of the abortive peace congress, which
met in Washington. He shortly after re-
nounced his allegiance to the United States
and was elected a member of the Confeder-
ate congress. He died at Richmond, Janu-
ary 17, 1862.
Mr. Tyler married, in 18 13, Miss Letitia
Christian, who died in 1842 at Washington.
June 26, 1844, he contracted a second mar-
riage, with Miss Julia Gardner, of New York.
COLLIS POTTER HUNTINGTON,
one of the great men of his time and
who has left his impress upon the history of
our national development, was born October
22, 1 82 1, at Harwinton, Connecticut.
He received a common-school education
and at the age of fourteen his spirit of get-
ting along in the world mastered his educa-
tional propensities and his father's objec-
tions and he left school. He went to Cali-
fornia in the early days and had opportunities
which he handled masterfully. Others had
the same opportunities but they did not have
his brains nor his energy, and it was he who
overcame obstacles and reaped the reward
of his genius. Transcontinental railways
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
95
were inevitable, but the realization of this
masterful achievement would have been de-
layed to a much later day if there had been
no Huntington. He associated himself with
Messrs. Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford,
and Charles Crocker, and they furnished the
money necessary for a survey across the
Sierra Nevadas, secured a charter for the
road, and raised, with thegovernment's aid,
money enough to construct and equip that
railway, which at the time of its completion
was a marvel of engineering and one of the
wonders of the world. Mr. Huntington be-
came president of the Southern Pacific rail-
road, vice-president of the Central Pacific;
trustee of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph
Company, and a director of the Occidental
and Oriental Steamship Company, besides
being identified with many other business
enterprises of vast importance.
GEORGE A. CUSTER, a famous In-
dian fighter, was born in Ohio in 1840.
He graduated at West Point in 1 861 , an-
served in the Civil war; was at Bull Run id
1861, and was in the Peninsular campaign,
being one of General McClellan's aides-de,
camp. He fought in the battles of South
Mountain and Antietam in 1863, and was
with General Stoneman on his famous
cavalry raid. He was engaged in the battle
of Gettysburg, and was there made brevet-
major. In 1S63 was appointed brigadier-
general of volunteers. General Custer was
in many skirmishes in central Virginia in
1S63-64, and was present at the following
battles of the Richmond campaign: Wil-
derness,Todd's Tavern, Yellow Tavern, where
he wasbrevetted lieutenant-colonel ; Meadow
Bridge, Haw's Shop, Cold Harbor, Trevil-
lian Station. In the Shenandoah Valley
1 864-65 he was brevetted colonel at Opequan
Creek, and at Cedar Creek he was made
brevet major-general for gallant conduct
during the engagement. General Custer
was in command of a cavalry division in the
pursuit of Lee's army in 1865, and fought
at Dinwiddie Court House, Five Forks,
where he was made brevet brigadier-general ;
Sailors Creek and Appomattox, where he
gained additional honors and was made
brevet major-general, and was given the
command of the cavalry in the military
division of the southwest and Gulf, in 1865.
After the establishment of peace he went
west on frontier duty and performed gallant
and valuable service in the troubles with the
Indians. He was killed in the massacre on
the Little Big Horn river, South Dakota,
June 25, 1876.
DANIEL WOLSEY VOORHEES, cel-
brated as ' ' The Tall Sycamore of the
Wabash," was born September 26, 1827,
in Butler county, Ohio. When he was two-
months old his parents removed to Fount-
ain county, Indiana. He grew to manhood
on a farm, engaged in all the arduous work
pertaining to rural life. In 1845 he entered
the Indiana Asbury University, now the De
Pauw, from which he graduated in 1849.
He took up the study of law at Crawfords-
ville, and in 1851 began the practice of his
profession at Covington, Fountain county,
Indiana. He became a law partner of
United States Senator Hannegan, of Indi-
ana, in 1852, and in 1856 he was an unsuc-
cessful candidate for congress. In the fol-
lowing year he took up his residence in Terre
Haute, Indiana. He was United States
district attorney for Indiana from 1857 until
1 86 1, and he had during this period been
elected to congress, in i860. Mr. Voorhees
was re-elected to congress in 1862 and 1S64,
but he was unsuccessful in the election of
1866. However, he was returned to con-
96
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
gress in 1868, where he remained until 1874,
having been re-elected twice. In 1877 he
was appointed United States senator from
Indiana to fill a vacancy caused by the death
of O. P. Morton, and at the end of the term
.was elected for the ensuing term, being re-
elected in 1885 and in 1891 to the same of-
fice. He served with distinction on many
of the committees, and took a very prom-
inent part in the discussion of all the im-
portant legislation of his time. His death
occurred in August, 189 .
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL, fa-
mous as one of the inventors of the tele-
phone, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland,
March 3rd, 1847. He received his early
education in the high school and later he
attended the university, and was specially
trained to follow his grandfather's profes-
sion, that of removing impediments of
speech. He emigrated to the United States
in 1872, and introduced into this country
his father's invention of visible speech in the
institutions for deaf-mutes. Later he was
appointed professor of vocal physiology in
the Boston University. He wcrked for
many years during his leisure hours on his
telephonic discovery, and finally perfected
it and exhibited it publicly, before it had
reached the high state of perfection to which
he brought it. His first exhibition of it was
at the Centennial Exhibition that was held
in Philadelphia in 1876. Its success is now
established throughout the civilized world.
In 18S2 Prof. Bell received a diploma and
the decoration of the Legion of Honor from
the Academy of Sciences of France.
WILLIAM HICKLING PRESCOTT,
the justly celebrated historian and
author, was a native of Salem, Massachu-
setts, and was born May 4, 1796. He was
the son of Judge William Prescott and the
grandson of the hero of Bunker Hill, Colonel
William Prescott.
Our subject in 1808 removed with the
family to Boston, in the schools of which
city he received his early education. He
entered Harvard College as a sophomore in
181 1, having been prepared at the private
classical college of Rev. Dr. J. S. J. Gardi-
jner. The following year he received an in-
ury in his left eye which made study
through life a matter of difficulty. He
graduated in 1814 with high "honors in the
classics and belle lettres. He spent several
months on the Azores Islands, and later
visited England, France and Italy, return-
ing home in 1817. In June, 181S, he
founded a social and literary club at Boston
for which he edited "The Club Room," a
periodical doomed to but a short life. May
4, 1820, he married Miss Susan Amory.
He devoted several years after that event to
a thorough study of ancient and modern
history and literature. As the fruits of his
labors he published several well written
essays upon French and Italian poetry and
romance in the " North American Review."
January 19, 1826, he decided to take up his
first great historical work, the " History of
the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella." To
this he gave the labor of ten years, publish-
ing the same December 25, 1837. Although
placed at the head of all American authors,
so diffident was Prescott of his literary merit
that although he had four copies of this
work printed for his own convenience, he
hesitated a long time before giving it to the
public, and it was only by the solicitation of
friends, especially of that talented Spanish
scholar, George Ticknor, that he was in-
duced to do so. Soon the volumes were
translated into French, Italian, Dutch and
German, and the work was recognized
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
97
throughout the world as one of the most
meritorious of historical compositions. In
1843 he published the "Conquest of Mexi-
co," and in 1847 the "Conquest of Peru."
Two years later there came from his pen a
volume of " Biographical and Critical Mis-
cellanies." Going abroad in the summer of
1850, he was received with great distinction
in the literary circles of London, Edinburgh,
Paris, Antwerp and Brussels. Oxford Uni-
versity conferred the degree of D. C. L.
upon him. In 1855 he issued two volumes
of his "History of the Reign of Philip the
Second," and a third in 1858. In the
meantime he edited Robertson*s "Charles
the Fifth," adding a history of the life of
that monarch after his abdication. Death
cut short his work on the remaining volumes
of " Philip the Second," coming to him at
Boston, Massachusetts, May 28, 1859.
OLIVER HAZARD PERRY, a noted
American commodore, was born in
South Kingston, Rhode Island, August 23,
1785. He saw his first service as a mid-
shipman in the United States navy in April,
1799. He cruised with his father, Captain
Christopher Raymond Perry, in the West In-
dies for about two years. In 1804. he was
in the war against Tripoli, and was made
lieutenant in 1 807. At the opening of hostili-
ties with Great Britain in 1S12 he was given
command of a fleet of gunboats on the At-
lantic coast. At his request he was trans-
ferred, a year later, to Lake Ontario, where
he served under Commodore Chauncey, and
took an active part in the attack on Fort
George. He was ordered to fit out a squad-
ron on Lake Erie, which he did, building
most of his vessels from the forests along
the shore, and by the summer of 1 8 1 3 he had
a fleet of nine vessels at Presque Isle, now
Erie, Pennsylvania September 10th he
attacked and captured the British fleet near
Put-in-Bay, thus clearing the lake of hostile
ships. His famous dispatch is part of his
fame, " We have met the enemy, and they
are ours." He co-operated with Gen. Har-
rison, and the success of the campaign in
the northwest was largely due to his victory.
The next year he was transferred to the Po-
tomac, and assisted in the defense of Balti-
more. After the war he was in constant
service with the various squadrons in cruising
in all parts of the world. He died of yellow
fever on the Island of Trinidad, August 23,
1 8 19. His remains were conveyed to New-
port, and buried there, and an imposing
obelisk was erected to his memory by the
State of Rhode Island. A bronze statue
was also erected in his honor, the unveiling
taking place in 1885.
JOHN PAUL JONES, though a native
of Scotland, was one of America's most
noted fighters during the Revolutionary war.
He was born July 6, 1747. His father was
a gardener, but the young man soon be-
came interested in a seafaring life and at
the age of twelve he was apprenticed to a
sea captain engaged in the American trade.
His first voyage landed him in Virginia,
where he had a brother who had settled
there several years prior. The failure of
the captain released young Jones from his
apprenticeship bonds, and he was engaged
as third mate of a vessel engaged in the
slave trade. He abandoned this trade after
a few years, from his own sense of disgrace.
He took passage from Jamaica for Scotland
in 1768, and on the voyage both the captain
and the mate died and he was compelled to
take command of the vessel for the re-
mainder of the voyage. He soon after
became master of the vessel. He returned
to Virginia about 1773 to settle up the estate
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
of his brother, and at this time added the
name "Jones," having previously been
known as John Paul. He settled down in
Virginia, but when the war broke out in
1775 he offered his services to congress and
was appointed senior lieutenant of the flag-
ship "Alfred," on which he hoisted the
American flag with his own hands, the first
vessel that had ever carried a flag of the
new nation. He was afterward appointed
to the command of the " Alfred," and later
of the "Providence," in each of which ves-
sels he did good service, as also in the
"Ranger," to the command of which he
was later appointed. The fight that made
him famous, however, was that in which he
captured the " Serapis," off the coast of
Scotland. He was then in command of the
"Bon Homme Richard," which had been
fitted out for him by the French government
and named by Jones in honor of Benjamin
Franklin, or "Good Man Richard," Frank-
lin being author of the publication known
as " Poor Richard's Almanac." The fight
between the " Richard" and the "Serapis"
lasted three hours, all of which time the
vessels were at close range, and most of the
time in actual contact. Jones' vessel was
on fire several times, and early in the en-
gagement two of his guns bursted, rendering
the battery useless. Also an envious officer
of the Alliance, one of Jones' own fleet,
opened fire upon the " Richard " at a crit-
ical time, completely disabling the vessel.
Jones continued the fight, in spite of coun-
sels to surrender, and after dark the " Ser-
apis " struck her colors, and was hastily
boarded by Jones and his crew, while the
"Richard" sank, bows first, after the
wounded had been taken en board the
"Serapis." Most of the other vessels of
the fleet of which the " Serapis" was con-
voy, surrendered, and were taken with the
"Serapis" to France, where Jones was
received with greatest honors, and the king
presented him with an elegant sword and
the cross of the Order of Military Merit.
Congress gave him a vote of thanks and
made him commander of a new ship, the
"America," but the vessel was afterward
given to France and Jones never saw active
sea service again. He came to America again,
in 1787, after the close of the war, and was
voted a gold medal by congress. He went to
Russia and was appointed rear-admiral and
rendered service of value against the Turks,
but on account of personal enmity of the fav-
orites of the emperor he was retired on a pen-
sion. Failing to collect this, he returned to
France, where he died, July 18, 1792.
THOMAS MORAN, the well-known
painter of Rocky Mountain scenery,
was born in Lancashire, England, in 1837.
He came to America when a child, and
showing artistic tastes, he was apprenticed
to a wood engraver in Philadelphia. Three
years later he began landscape painting, and
his style soon began to exhibit signs of genius.
His first works were water-colors, and
though without an instructor he began the
use of oils, he soon found it necessary to
visit Europe, where he gave particular at-
tention to the works of Turner. He joined
the Yellowstone Park exploring expedition
and visited the Rocky Mountains in 1871
and again in 1873, making numerous
sketches of the scenery. The most note-
worthy results were his "Grand Canon of
the Yellowstone," and " The Chasm of the
Colorado," which were purchased by con-
gress at $10,000 each, the first of which is
undoubtedly the finest landscape painting
produced in this country. Mr. Moran has
subordinated art to nature, and the subjects
he has chosen leave little ground for fault
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
101
finding on that account. "The Mountain
of the Holy Cross," "The Groves Were
God's First Temples," " The Cliffs of Green
River," " The Children of the Mountain,"
"The Ripening of the Leaf," and others
have given him additional fame, and while
they do not equal in grandeur the first
mentioned, in many respects from an artis-
tic standpoint they are superior.
L ELAND STANFORD was one of the
greatest men of the Pacific coast and
also had a national reputation. He was
born March 9, 1824, in Albany county, New
York, and passed his early life on his
father's farm. He attended the local
schools of the county and at the age of
twenty began the study of law. He
entered the law office of Wheaton, Doolittle
and Hadley, at Albany, in 1845, an(^ a ^ew
years later he moved to Port Washington,
Wisconsin, where he practiced law four
years with moderate success. In 1852 Mr.
Stanford determined to push further west,
and, accordingly went to California, where
three of his brothers were established in
business in the mining towns. They took
Leland into partnership, giving him charge
of a branch stcre at Michigan Bluff, in
Placer county. There he developed great
business ability and four years later started
a mercantile house of his own in San Fran-
cisco, which soon became one of the most
substantial houses on the coast. On the
formation of the Republican party he inter-
ested himself in politics, and in i860 was
sent as a delegate to the convention that
nominated Abraham Lincoln. In the
autumn of 1861 he was elected, by an im-
mense majority, governor of California.
Prior to his election as governor he had
been chosen president of the newly-orga-
nized Central Pacific Railroad Company,
6
and after leaving the executive chair he de-
voted all of his time to the construction of
the Pacific end of the transcontinental rail-
way. May 10, 1869, Mr. Stanford drove
the last spike of the Central Pacific road,
thus completing the route across the conti-
nent. He was also president of the Occi-
dental and Oriental Steamship Company.
He had but one son, who died of typhoid
fever, and as a monument to his child he
founded 'the university which bears his son's
name, Leland Stanford, Junior, University.
Mr. Stanford gave to this university eighty-
three thousand acres of land, the estimated
value of which is $8,000,000, and the entire
endowment is $20,000,000. In 18S5 Mr.
Stanford was elected United Stales senator
as a Republican, to succeed J. T. Farley, a
Democrat, and was re-elected in 1S91. His
death occurred June 20, 1894, at Palo Alto,
California.
STEPHEN DECATUR, a famous com-
modore in the United States navy, was
born in Maryland in 1779. He entered the
naval service in 1798. In 1804, when the
American vessel Philadelphia had been run
aground and captured in the harbor of Trip-
oli, Decatur, at the head of a few men,
boarded her and burned her in the face of
the guns from the city defenses. For this
daring deed he was made captain. He was
given command of the frigate United States
at the breaking out of the war of 18 12, and
in October of that year he captured the
British frigate Macedonian, and was re-
warded with a gold medal by congress. Af-
ter the close of the war he was sent as com-
mander of a fleet of ten vessels to chastise
the dey of Algiers, who was preying upon
American commerce with impunity and de-
manding tribute and ransom for the release
of American citizens captured. Decatur
102
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
captured a number of Algerian vessels, and
compelled the dey to sue for peace. He
was noted for his daring and intrepidity,
and his coolness in the face of danger, and
helped to bring the United States navy into
favor with the people and congress as a
means of defense and offense in time of
war. He was killed in a duel by Commo-
dore Barron, March 12, 1820.
TAMES KNOX POLK, the eleventh
<J president of the United States, 1845 to
1849, was born November 2, 1795, in Meck-
lenburg county, North Carolina, and was
the eldest child of a family of six sons. He
removed with his father to the Valley of the
Duck River, in Tennessee, in 1806. He
attended the common schools and became
very proficient in the lower branches of
education, and supplemented this with
a course in the Murfreesboro Academy,
which he entered in 18 13 and in the autumn
of 18 1 5 he became a student in the sopho-
more class of the University of North Caro-
lina, at Chapel Hill, and was graduated in
181 8. He then spent a short time in re-
cuperating his health and then proceeded to
Nashville, Tennessee, where he took up the
study of law in the office of Felix Grundy.
After the completion of his law studies he
was admitted to the bar and removed to
Columbia, Maury county, Tennessee, and
started in the active practice of his profes-
sion. Mr. Polk was a Jeffersonian " Re-
publican " and in 1823 he was elected to the
legislature of Tennessee. He was a strict
constructionist and did not believe that the
general government had the power to carry
on internal improvements in the states, but
deemed it important that it should have that
power, and wanted the constitution amended
to that effect. But later on he became
alarmed lest the general government might
become strong enough to abolish slavery
and therefore gave his whole support to the
" State's Rights" movement, and endeavored
to check the centralization of power in the
general government. Mr. Polk was chosen
a member of congress in 1825, and held that
office until 1839. He then withdrew, as he
was the successful gubernatorial candidate
of his state. He had become a man of
great influence in the house, and, as the
leader of the Jackson party in that body,
weilded great influence in the election of
General Jackson to the presidency. He
sustained the president in all his measures
and still remained in the house after Gen-
eral Jackson had been succeeded by Martin
Van Buren. He was speaker of the house
during five sessions of congress. He was
elected governor of Tennessee by a large
majority and took the oath of office at Nash-
ville, October 4, 1839. He was a candidate
for re-election but was defeated by Governor
Jones, the Whig candidate. In 1844 the
most prominent question in the election was
the annexation of Texas, and as Mr. Polk
was the avowed champion of this cause he
was nominated for president by the pro-
slavery wing of the democratic party, was
elected by a large majority, and was inaug-
urated March 4, 1845. President Polk
formed a very able cabinet, consisting of
James Buchanan, Robert J. Walker, Will-
iam L. Marcy, George Bancroft, Cave John-
son, and John Y. Mason. The dispute re-
garding the Oregon boundary was settled
during his term of office and a new depart-
ment was added to the list of cabinet po-
sitions, that of the Interior. The low tariff
bill of 1846 was carried and the financial
system of the country was reorganized. It
was also during President Polk's term that
the Mexican war was successfully conducted,
which resulted in the acquisition of Califor-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
103
nia and New Mexico. Mr. Polk retired from
the presidency March 4, 1S49, after having
declined a re-nomination, and was succeeded
by General Zachary Taylor, the hero of the
Mexican war. Mr. Polk retired to private
life, to his home in Nashville, where he died
at the age of fifty-four on June 9, 1849.
ANNA DICKINSON (Anna Elizabeth
Dickinson), a noted lecturer and pub-
lic speaker, was born at Philadelphia, Oc-
tober 28, 1842. Her parents were Quakers,
and she was educated at the Friends' free
schools in her native city. She early man-
ifested an inclination toward elocution and
public speaking, and when, at the age of 1 8,
she found an opportunity to appear before
a national assemblage for the discussion of
woman's rights, she at once established her
reputation as a public speaker. From i860
to the close of the war and during the ex-
citing period of reconstruction, she was one
of the most noted and influential speakers
before the American public, and her popu-
larity was unequaled by that of any of her
sex. A few weeks after the defeat and
death of Colonel Baker at Ball's Bluff, Anna
Dickinson, lecturing in New York, made
the remarkable assertion, "Not the incom-
petency of Colonel Baker, but the treachery
of General McClellan caused the disaster at
Ball's Bluff." She was hissed and hooted
off the stage. A year later, at the same
hall and with much the same class of audi-
tors, she repeated the identical words, and
the applause was so great and so long con-
tinued that it was impossible to go on with
her lecture for more than half an hour. The
change of sentiment had been wrought by
the reverses and dismissal of McClellan and
his ambition to succeed Mr. Lincoln as presi-
dent.
Ten years after the close of the war, Anna
Dickinson was not heard of on the lec-
ture platform, and about that time she made
an attempt to enter the dramatic profession,
but after appearing a number of times in dif-
ferent plays she was pronounced a failure.
ROBERT J. BURDETTE.— Some per-
sonal characteristics of Mr. Burdette
were quaintly given by himself in the follow-
ing words: "Politics? Republican after
the strictest sect. Religion ? Baptist. Per-
sonal appearance ? Below medium height,
and weigh one hundred and thirty- five
pounds, no shillings and no pence. Rich ?
Not enough to own a yacht. Favorite read-
ing? Poetry and history — know Longfellow
by heart, almost. Write for magizines ?
Have mo:e ' declined with thanks ' letters
than would fill a trunk. Never able to get
into a magazine with a line. Care about it?
Mad as thunder. Think about starting a
magazine and rejecting everbody's articles
except my own." Mr. Burdette was born
at Greensborough, Pennsylvania, in 1844.
He served through the war of the rebellion
under General Banks "on an excursion
ticket" as he felicitously described it, "good
both ways, conquering in one direction and
running in the other, pay going on just the
same." He entered into journalism by the
gateway of New York correspondence for
the "Peoria Transcript," and in 1S74 went
on the "Burlington Hawkeye " of which he
became the managing editor, and the work
that he did on this paper made both him-
self and the paper famous in the world of
humor. Mr. Burdette married in 1870,
and his wife, whom he called "Her Little
Serene Highness," was to him a guiding
light until the day of her death, and it was
probably the unconscious pathos with which
he described her in his work that broke the
barriers that had kept him out of the maga-
104
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
zines and secured him the acceptance of his
"Confessions" by Lippincott some years
ago, and brought him substantial fame and
recognition in the literary world.
WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS, one
of the leading novelists of the present
century and author of a number of works
that gained for him a place in the hearts of
the people, was born March i, 1837, at
Martinsville, Belmont county, Ohio. At
the age of three years he accompanied his
father, who was a printer, to Hamilton,
Ohio, where he learned the printer's trade.
Later he was engaged on the editorial staff
of the ' ' Cincinnati Gazette " and the " Ohio
State Journal." During 1861-65 ne was
the United States consul at Venice, and
from 1S71 to 1878 he was the editor-in-
chief of the "Atlantic Monthly." As a
writer he became one of the most fertile
and readable of authors and a pleasing poet.
In 1885 he became connected with "Har-
per's Magazine." Mr. Howells was author
of the list of books that we give below:
"Venetian Life," " Italian Journeys," "No
Love Lost," " Suburban Sketches," "Their
Wedding Journey," "A Chance Acquaint-
ance," "A Foregone Conclusion," "Dr.
Breen's Practice," "A Modern Instance,"
"The Rise of Silas Lapham," "Tuscan
Cities," "Indian Summer," besides many
others. He also wrote the " Poem of Two
Friends," with J. J. Piatt in i860, and
some minor dramas: "The Drawing
Room Car," "The Sleeping Car," etc.,
that are full of exqusite humor and elegant
dialogue.
TAMES RUSSELL LOWELL was a son
<J of the Rev. Charles Lowell, and was born
at Cambridge, Massachusetts, February 22,
1 8 1 9. He graduated at Harvard College in
1S38 as class poet, and went to Harvard
Law School, from which he was graduated
in 1840, and commenced the practice of his
profession in Boston, but soon gave his un-
divided attention to literary labors. Mr.
Lowell printed, in 1841, a small volume of
poems entitled " A Year's Life," edited with
Robert Carter; in 1843, " The Pioneer," a
literary and critical magazine (monthly), and
in 1848 another book of poems, that con-
tained several directed against slavery. He
published in 1844 a volume of "Poems"
and in 1S45 " Conversations on Some
of the Old Poets," "The Vision of Sir
Launfal," " A Fable for Critics," and "The
Bigelow Papers," the latter satirical es-
says in dialect poetry directed against
slavery and the war with Mexico. In
1851-52 he traveled in Europe and re-
sided in Italy for a considerable time, and
delivered in 1854-55 a course of lectures on
the British poets, before the Lowell Insti-
tute, Boston. Mr. Lowell succeeded Long-
fellow in January, 1855, as professor of
modern languages and literature at Harvard
College, and spent another year in Emope
qualifying himself for that post. He edited
the " Atlantic Monthly " from 1857 to 1862,
and the "North American Review" from
1863 until 1872. From 1864 to 1870 he
published the following works: "Fireside
Travels," " Under the Willows," "The
Commemoration Ode," in honor of the
alumni of Harvard who had fallen in the
Civil war; "The Cathedral," two volumes
of essays; "Among My Books" and "My
Study Windows," and in 1867 he published
a new series of the " Bigelow Papers." He
traveled extensively in Europe in 1872-74,
and received in person the degree of D. C.
L. at Oxford and that of LL. D. at the
University of Cambridge, England. He
was also interested in political life and held
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
105
many important offices. He was United
States minister to Spain in 1877 and was
also minister to England in 1880-85. On
January 2, 1884, he was elected lord rector
of St. Andrew University in Glasgow, Scot-
land, but soon after he resigned the same.
Mr. Lowell's works enjoy great popularity
in the United States and England. He
died August 12, 1S91.
JOSEPH HENRY, one of America's
greatest scientists, was born at Albany,
New York, December 17, 1797. He was
educated in the common schools of the city
and graduated from the Albany Academy,
where he became a professor of mathemat-
ics in 1826. In 1827 he commenced a
course of investigation, which he continued
for a number of years, and the results pro-
duced had great effect on the scientific world.
The first success was achieved by producing
the electric magnet, and he next proved the
possibility of exciting magnetic energy at a
distance, and it was the invention of Pro-
fessor Henry's intensity magnet that first
made the invention of electric telegraph a
possibility. He made a statement regarding
the practicability of applying the intensity
magnet to telegraphic uses, in his article to
the "American Journal of Science " in 1831.
During the same year he produced the first
mechanical contrivance ever invented for
maintaining continuous motion by means of
electro-magnetism, and he also contrived a
machine by which signals could be made at
a distance by the use of his electro-magnet,
the signals being produced by a lever strik-
ing on a bell. Some of his electro-magnets
were of great power, one carried over a ton
and another not less than three thousand six
hundred pounds. In 1832 he discovered
that secondary currents could be produced
in a long conductor by the induction of the
primary current upon itself, and also in the
same year he produced a spark by means of
a purely magnetic induction. Professor
Henry was elected, in 1832, professor of nat-
ural philosophy in the College of New Jer-
sey, and in his earliest lectures at Princeton,
demonstrated the feasibility of the electric
telegraph. He visited Europe in 1837, and
while there he had an interview 'with Pro-
fessor Wheatstone, the inventor of the
needle magnetic telegraph. In 1846 he was
elected secretary of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution,being the first incumbent in that office,
which he held until his death. Professor
Henry was elected president of the Ameri-
can Association for the Advancement of
Science, in 1849, and of the National
Academy of Sciences. He was made chair-
man of the lighthouse board of the United
States in 1871 and held that position up to
the time of his death. He received the
honorary degree of doctor of laws from
Union College in 1829, and from Harvard
University in 1851, and his death occurred
May 13, 1878. Among his numerous works
may be mentioned the following: "Contri-
butions to- Electricity and Magnetism,"
"American Philosophic Trans," and many
articles in the "American Journal of
Science," the journal of the Franklin Insti-
tute; the proceedings of the American As-
sociation for the Advancement of Science,
and in the annual reports of the Smith-
sonian Institution from its foundation.
FRANKLIN BUCHANAN, the famous
rear-admiral of the Confederate navy
during the rebellion, was born in Baltimore,
Maryland. He became a United States
midshipman in 181 5 and was promoted
through the various grades of the service
and became a captain in 1855. Mr. Buch-
anan resigned his captaincy in order to join
106
COMPEXDILWr OF BIOGRAPHY.
the Confederate service in 1 86 1 and later he
asked to be reinstated, but his request was
refused and he then entered into the service
of the Confederate government. He was
placed in command of the frigate " Merri-
mac " after she had been fitted up as an iron-
clad, and had command of her at the time
of the battle of Hampton Roads. It was
he who had command when the " Merri-
mac" sunk the two wooden frigates, " Con-
gress " and "Cumberland," and was also
in command during part of the historical
battle of the " Merrimac " and the "Moni-
tor," where he was wounded and the com-
mand devolved, upon Lieutenant Catesby
Jones. He was created rear-admiral in the
Confederate service and commanded the
Confederate fleet in Mobile bay, which was
defeated by Admiral Farragut, August 5,
1864. Mr. Buchanan was in command of
the "Tennessee," an ironclad, and during
the engagement he lost one of his legs and
was taken prisoner in the end by the Union
fleet. After the war he settled in Talbot
county, Maryland, where he died May 1 1 ,
1 874.
RICHARD PARKS BLAND, a celebrated
American statesman, frequently called
"the father of the house," because of his
many years of service in the lower house
of congress, was born August 19, 1835,
near Hartford, Kentucky, where he received
a plain academic education. He moved,
in 1855, to Missouri, from whence he went
overland to California, afterward locating in
Virginia City, now in the state of Nevada,
but then part of the territory of Utah.
While there he practiced law, dabbled in
mines and mining in Nevada and California
for several years, and served for a time as
treasurer of Carson county, Nevada. Mr.
Bland returned to Missouri in 1865, where
he engaged in the practice of law at Rolla,
Missouri, and in 1869 removed to Lebanon,
Missouri. He began his congressional career
in 1873, when he was elected as a Demo-
crat to the forty-third congress, and he was
regularly re-elected to every congress after
that time up to the fifty-fourth, when he was
defeated for re-election, but was returned
to the fifty-fifth congress as a Silver Demo-
crat. During all his protracted service,
while Mr. Bland was always steadfast in his
support of democratic measures, yet he won
his special renown as the great advocate cf
silver, being strongly in favor of the free
and unlimited coinage of silver, and on ac-
count of his pronounced views was one of
the candidates for the presidential nomina-
tion of the Democratic party at Chicago in
1896.
FANNY DAVENPORT (F. L. G. Daven-
port) was of British birth, but she be-
longs to the American stage. She was the
daughter of the famous actor, E. L. Daven-
port, and was born in London in 1850.
She first went on the stage as a child at the
Howard Athenaeum, Boston, and her entire
life was spent upon the stage. She played
children's parts at Burton's old theater in
Chambers street, and then, in 1862, appeared
as the King of Spain in " Faint Heart Never
Won Fair Lady. " Here she attracted the
notice of Augustin Daly, the noted mana-
ger, then at the Fifth Avenue theater, who
offered her a six weeks' engagement with
her father in "London Assurance." She
afterwards appeared at the same house in a
variety of characters, and .her versatility
was favorably noticed by the critics. After
the burning of the old Fifth Avenue, the
present theater of that name was built at
Twenty-eighth street, and here Miss Daven-
port appeared in a play written for her by
COMPENDIUM OF HIOGRAPHT.
107
Mr. Daly. She scored a great success.
She then starred in this play throughout the
country, and was married to Mr. Edwin F.
Price, an actor of her company, in 1SS0.
In 1882 she went to Paris and purchased
the right to produce in America Sardou's
great emotional play, "Fedora." It was
put on at the Fourteenth Street theater in
New York, and in it she won popular favor
and became one of the most famous actresses
of her time.
H
ORACE BRIGHAM CLAFLIN, one
of the greatest merchants America has
produced, was born in Milford, Massachu-
setts, a son of John Claflin, also a mer-
chant. Young Claflin started his active life
as a clerk in his father's store, after having
been offered the opportunity of a college
education, but with the characteristic
promptness that was one of his virtues he
exclaimed, "No law or medicine for me."
He had set his heart on being a merchant,
and when his father retired he and his
brother Aaron, and his brother-in-law, Sam-
uel Daniels, conducted the business. Mr.
Claflin was not content, however, to run a
store in a town like Milford, and accordingly
opened a dry goods store at Worcester, with
his brother as a partner, but the partnership
was dissolved a year later and H. B. Claflin
assumed complete control. The business
in Worcester had been conducted on ortho-
dox principles, and when Mr. Claflin came
there and introduced advertising as a means
of drawing trade, he created considerable
animosity among the older merchants. Ten
years later he was one of the most prosper-
ous merchants. He disposed of his busi-
ness in Worcester for $30,000, and went to
New York to search for a wider field than
that of a shopkeeper. Mr. Claflin and
William M. Bulkley started in the dry goods
business there under the firm name of Bulk-
ley & Claflin, in 1843, ar>d Mr. Bulkley was
connected with the firm until 1 851, when he
retired. A new firm was then formed under
the name of Claflin, Mcllin & Co. This
firm succeeded in founding the largest dry
goods house in the world, and after weather-
ing the dangers of the civil war, during
which the house came very near going un-
der, and was saved only by the superior
business abilities of Mr. Claflin, continued to
grow. The sales of the firm amounted to
over $72,000,000 a year after the close of
the war. Mr. Claflin died November 14,
18S5.
CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN (Charlotte
Saunders Cushman), one of the most
celebrated American actresses, was born in
Boston, July 23, 18 16. She was descended
from one of the earliest Puritan families.
Her first attempt at stage work was at the
age of fourteen years in a charitable concert
given by amateurs in Boston. From this,
time her advance to the first place on the
American lyric stage was steady, until, in
1835, while singing in New Orleans, she
suddenly lost control of her voice so far as
relates to singing, and was compelled to re-
tire. She then took up the study for the
dramatic stage under the direction of Mr.
Barton, the tragedian. She soon after
made her debut as " Lady Macbeth." She
appeared in New York in September, 1S36,,
and her success was immediate. Her
"Romeo" was almost perfect, and she is
the only woman that has ever appeared in
the part of "Cardinal Wolsey." She at
different times acted as support of Forrest
and Macready. Her London engagement,
secured in 1845, after many and great dis-
couragements, proved an unqualified suc-
cess.
108
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAJ'IIV.
Her farewell appearance was at Booth's
theater, New York, November 7, 1874, in
the part of " Lady Macbeth," and after that
performance an Ode by R. H. Stoddard
was read, and a body of citizens went upon
the stage, and in their name the venerable
poet Longfellow presented her with a wreath
of laurel with an inscription to the effect
that "she who merits the palm should bear
it." From the time of her appearance as a
modest girl in a charitable entertainment
down to the time of final triumph as a tragic
queen, she bore herself with as much honor
to womanhood as to the profession she rep-
resented. Her death occurred in Boston,
February 18, 1876. By her profession she
acquired a fortune of $600,000.
NEAL DOW, one of the most prominent
temperance reformers our country has
known, was born in Portland, Me., March 20,
1804. He received his education in the
Friends Seminary, at New Bedford, Massa-
chusetts, his parents being members of that
sect. After leaving school he pursued a
mecrantile and manufacturing career for a
number of years. He was active in the
affairs of his native city, and in 1839 be-
came chief of the fire department, and in
1851 was elected mayor. He was re-elected
to the latter office in 1854. Being opposed
to the liquor traffic he was a champion of
the project of prohibition, first brought for-
ward in 1839 by James Appleton. While
■serving his first term as mayor he drafted a
bill for the "suppression of drinking houses
and tippling shops," which he took to the
legislature and which was passed without an
alteration. In 185S Mr. Dow was elected
to the legislature. On the outbreak of the
Civil war he was appointed colonel of the
Thirteenth Maine Infantry and accompanied
General Butler's expedition to New Orleans.
In 1S62 he was made brigadier-general. At
the battle of Port Hudson May 27, 1863, he
was twice wounded, and taken prisoner. He
was confined at Libby prison and Mobile
nearly a year, when, being exchanged, he
resigned, his health having given way under
the rigors of his captivity. He made sev-
eral trips to England in the interests of
temperance organization, where he addressed
large audiences. He was the candidate of
the National Prohibition party for the presi-
dency in 1880, receiving about ten thousand
votes. In 1884 he was largely instrumental
in the amendment of the constitution of
Maine, adopted by an overwhelming popular
vote, which forever forbade the manufacture
or sale of any intoxicating beverages, and
commanding the legislature to enforce the
prohibition. He died October 2, 1897.
ZACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth president
of the United States, was born in
Orange county, Virginia, September 24,
17S4. His boyhood was spent on his fath-
er's plantation and his education was lim-
ited. In 1808 he was made lieutenant of
the Seventh Infantry, and joined his regi-
ment at New Orleans. He was promoted
to captain in 18 10, and commanded at Fort
Harrison, near the present site of Terre
Haute, in 18 12, where, for his gallant de-
fense, he was brevetted major, attaining full
rank in 18 14. In 1815 he retired to an es-
tate near Louisville. In 18 16 here-entered
the army as major, and was promoted to
lieutenant-colonel and then to colonel.
Having for many years been Indian agent
over a large portion of the western country,
he was often required in Washington to give
advice and counsel in matters connected
with the Indian b ireau. He served through
the Black Hawk Tndian war of 1832, and in
1837 was ordered to the command of the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
109
army in Florida, where he attacked the In-
dians in the swamps and brakes, defeated
them and ended the war. He wasbrevetted
brigadier-general and made commander-in-
chief of the army in Florida. He was as-
signed to the command of the army of the
southwest in 1840, but was soon after re-
lieved of it at his request. He was then
stationed at posts in Arkansas. In 1845 he
was ordered to prepare to protect and de-
fend Texas boundaries from invasion by
Mexicans and Indians. On the annexation
of Texas he proceeded with one thousand
five hundred men to Corpus Christi, within
the disputed territory. After reinforcement
he was ordered by the Mexican General Am-
pudia to retire beyond the Nueces river,
with which order he declined to comply.
The battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la
Palma followed, and he crossed the Rio
Grande and occupied Matamoras May iSth.
He was commissioned major-general for this
campaign, and in September he advanced
upon the city of Monterey and captured it
after a hard fight. Here he took up winter
quarters, and when 'he was about to resume
activity in the spring he was ordered to send
the larger part of his army to reinforce
General Scott at Vera Cruz. After leaving
garrisons at various points his army was re-
duced to about five thousand, mostly fresh
recruits. He was attacked by the army of
Santa Anna at Buena Vista, February 22,
1847, and after a severe fight completely
routed the Mexicans. He received the
thanks of congress and a gold medal for
this victory. He remained in command of
the " army of occupation " until winter,
when he returned to the United States.
In 1848 General Taylor was nominated
by the Whigs for president. He was elected
over his two opponents, Cass and Van
Buren. Great bitterness was developing in
the struggle for and against the extension of
slavery, and the newly acquired territory in
the west, and the fact that the states were
now equally divided on that question, tended
to increase the feeling. President Taylor
favored immediate admission of California
with her constitution prohibiting slavery,
and the admission of other states to be
formed out of the new territory as they
might elect as they adopted constitutions
from time to time. This policy resulted in
the " Omnibus Bill," which afterward passed
congress, though in separate bills; not, how-
ever, until after the death of the soldier-
statesman, which occurred July 9, 1S50.
One of his daughters became the wife of
Jefferson Davis.
M'
ELVILLE D. LANDON, better known
as " Eli Perkins, " author, lecturer and
humorist, was born in Eaton, New York,
September 7, 1839. He was the son of
John Landon and grandson of Rufus Lan-
don, a revolutionary soldier from Litchfield
county, Connecticut. Melville was edu-
cated at the district school and neighboring
academy, where he was prepared for the
sophomore class at Madison University. He
passed two years at the latter, when he was
admitted to Union College, and graduated
in the class of 1861, receiving the degree of
A. M., in 1862. He was, at once, ap-
pointed to a position in the treasury depart-
ment at Washington. This being about the
time of the breaking out of the war, and
before the appearance of any Union troops
at the capital, he assisted in the organiza-
tion of the " Clay Battalion," of Washing-
ton. Leaving his clerkship some time later,
he took up duties on the staff of General A.
L. Chetlain, who was in command at Mem-
phis. In 1864 he resigned from the army
and engaged in cotton planting in Arkansas
110
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY,
and Louisiana. In 1867 he went abroad,
making the tour of Europe, traversing Rus-
sia. While in the latter country his old
commander of the " Clay Battalion," Gen-
eral Cassius M. Clay, then United States
minister at St. Petersburg, made him secre-
tary of legation. In 1 87 1, on returning to
America, he published a history of the
Franco-Prussian war, and followed it with
numerous humorous writings for the public
press under the name of "Eli Perkins,"
which, with his regular contributions to the
" Commercial Advertiser," brought him into
notice, and spread his reputation as a hu-
morist throughout the country. He also pub-
lished "Saratoga in 1891," "Wit, Humor
and Pathos," " Wit and Humor of the Age,"
•' Kings of Platform and Pulpit," " Thirty
YearsofWit and Humor," " Fun and Fact,"
and " China and Japan."
LEWIS CASS, one of the most prom-
inent statesman and party leaders of his
daj', was born at Exeter, New Hampshire,
October 9, 1782. He studied law, and hav-
ing removed toZanesville, Ohio, commenced
the practice of that profession in 1802. He
entered the service of the American govern-
ment in 1812 and was made a colonel in
the army under General William Hull, and
on the surrender of Fort Maiden by that
officer was held as a prisoner. Being re-
leased in 18 13, he was promoted to the
rank of brigadier-general and in 18 14 ap-
pointed governor of Michigan Territory.
After he had held that office for some
sixteen years, negotiating, in the meantime,
many treaties with the Indians, General
Cass was made secretary of war in the cabi-
net of President Jackson, in 1831. He was,
in 1836, appointed minister to France,
which office he held for six years. In 1844
he -.as elected United States senator from
Michigan. In 1846 General Cass opposed
the Wilmot Proviso, which was an amend-
ment to a bill for the purchase of land from
Mexico, which provided that in any of the
territory acquired from that power slavery
should not exist. For this and other reasons
he was nominated as Democratic candidate
for the presidency of the United States in
1848, but was defeated by General Zachary
Taylor, the Whig candidate, having but
one hundred and thirty-seven electoral votes
to his opponent's one hundred and sixty-
three. In 1849 General Cass was re-elected
to the senate of the United States, and in
1854 supported Douglas' Kansas-Nebraska
bill. He became secretary of state in
March, 1857, under President Buchanan,
but resigned that office in December, i860.
He died June 17, 1866. The published
works of Lewis Cass, while not numerous,
are well written and display much ability.
He was one of the foremost men of his day
in the political councils of the Democratic
party, and left a reputation for high probity
and honor behind him.
DE WITT CLINTON.— Probably there
were but few men who were so popular
in their time, or who have had so much in-
fluence in moulding events as the individual
whose name honors the head of this article.
De Witt Clinton was the son of General
James Clinton, and a nephew of Governor
George Clinton, who was the fourth vice-
president of the United States. He was a
native of Orange county, New York, born at
Little Britain, March 2, 1769. He gradu-
ated from Columbia College, in his native
state, in 1796, and took up the study of law.
In 1790 he became private secretary to his
uncle, then governor of New York. He en-
tered public life as a Republican or anti-
Federalist, and was elected to the lower
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Ill
house of the state assembly in 1797, and the
senate of that body in 179S. At that time
he was looked on as " the most rising man
in the Union." In 1S01 he was elected to
the United States senate. In 1803 he was
appointed by the governor and council
mayor of the city of New York, then a
very important and powerful office. Hav-
ing been re-appointed, he held the office
of mayor for nearly eleven years, and
rendered great service to that city. Mr.
Clinton served as lieutenant-governor of
the state of New York, 1811-13, and
was one of the commissioners appointed
to examine and survey a route for a canal
from the Hudson river to Lake Erie. Dif-
fering with President Madison, in relation to
the war, in 18 12, he was nominated for the
presidency against that gentleman, by a
coalition party called the Clintonians, many
of whom were Federalists. Clinton received
eight-nine electoral votes. His course at
this time impaired his popularity for a time.
He wis removed from the mayoralty in
1814, and retired to private life. In 1815
he wrote a powerful argument for the con-
struction of the Erie canal, then a great and
beneficent work of which he was the prin-
cipal promoter. This was in the shape of
a memorial to the legislature, which, in
18 17, passed a bill authorizing the construc-
tion of that canal. The same year he was
elected governor of New York, almost unani-
mously, notwithstanding the opposition of
a few who pronounced the scheme of the
canal visionary. He was re-elected governor
in 1820. He was at this time, also, presi-
dent of the canal commissioners. He de-
clined a re-election to the gubernatorial
chair in 1822 and was removed from his
place on the canal board two years later.
But he was triumphantly elected to the of-
fice of governor that fall, and hi^ pet project,
the Erie canal, was finished the next year.
He was re-elected governor in 1826, but
died while holding that office, February II,
1828.
AARON BURR, one of the many brilliant
figures on the political stage in the early
days of America, was born at Newark, New
Jersey, February 6, 1756. He was the son
of Aaron and Esther Burr, the former the
president of the College of New Jersey, and
the latter a daughter of Jonathan Edwards,
who had been president of the same educa-
tional institution. Young Burr graduated
at Princeton in 1772. In 1775 he joined
the provincial army at Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts. For a time, he served as a private
soldier, but later was made an aide on the
staff of the unfortunate General Montgom-
ery, in the Quebec expedition. Subse-
quently he was on the staffs of Arnold, Put-
nam and Washington, the latter of whom
he disliked. He was promoted to the rank
of lieutenant-colonel and commanded a
brigade on Monmouth's bloody field. In
x779. on account of feeble health, Colonel
Burr resigned from the army. He took up
the practice of law in Albany, New York,
but subsequently removed to New York City.
In 1789 he became attorney-general of that
state. In 1 791 he was chosen to represent
the state of New York in the United States
senate and held that position for six years.
In 1800 he and Thomas Jefferson were both
candidates for the presidency, and there
being a tie in the electoral college, each
having seventy-three votes, the choice was
left to congress, who gave the first place to
Jefferson and made Aaron Burr vice-presi-
dent, as the method then was. In 1804 Mr.
Burr and his great rival, Alexander Hamil-
ton, met in a duel, which resulted in the
death of the latter, Burr losing thereby con-
112
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
siderable political and social influence. He
soon embarked in a wild attempt upon
Mexico, and as was asserted, upon the
southwestern territories of the United
States. He was tried for treason at
Richmond, Virginia, in 1807, but acquitted,
and to avoid importunate creditors, fled to
Europe. After a time, in 1812, he returned
to New York, where he practiced law, and
where he died, September 14, 1836. A man
of great ability, brilliant and popular talents,
his influence was destroyed by his unscrupu-
lous political actions and immoral private
life.
ALBERT GALLATIN, one of the most
distinguished statesmen of the early
days of the -republic, was born at Geneva,
Switzerland, January 29, 1761. He was
the son of Jean de Gallatin and Sophia A.
Rolaz du Rosey Gallatin, representatives of
an old patrician family. Albert Gallatin
was left an orphan at an early age, and was
educated under the care of friends of his
parents. He graduated from the University
of Geneva in 1779, and declining employ-
ment under one of the sovereigns of Ger-
many, came to the struggling colonies, land-
ing in Boston July 14, 1780. Shortly after
his arrival he proceeded to Maine, where he
served as a volunteer under Colonel Allen.
He made advances to the government for
the support of the American troops, and in
November, 17S0, was placed in command
of a small fort at Passamaquoddy, defended
by a force of militia, volunteers and Indians.
In 1783 he was professor of the French
language at Harvard University. A year
later, having received his patrimony from
Europe, he purchased large tracts of land
in western Virginia, but was prevented by
the Indians from forming the large settle-
ment he proposed, and, in 1786, purchased
a farm in Fayette county, Pennsylvania.
In 1789 he was a member of the convention
to amend the constitution of that state, and
united himself with the Republican party,
the head of which was Thomas Jefferson.
The following year he was elected to the
legislature of Pennsylvania, to which he was
subsequently re-elected. In 1793 he was
elected to the United States senate, but
could not take his seat on account of not
having been a citizen long enough. In 1794
Mr. Gallatin was elected to the representa-
tive branch of congress, in which he served
three terms. He also took an important
position in the suppression of the "whiskey
insurrection." In 1801, on the accession of
Jefferson to the presidency, Mr. Gallatin
was appointed secretary of the treasury.
In 1809 Mr. Madison offered him the posi-
tion of secretary of state, but he declined,
and continued at the head of the treasury
until 18 12, a period of twelve years. He
exercised a great influence on the other de-
partments and in the general administration,
especially in the matter of financial reform,
and recommended measures for taxation,
etc. , which were passed by congress, and be-
came laws May 24, 18 1 3. The same year he
was sent as an envoy extraordinary to Rus-
sia, which had offered to mediate between
this country and Great Britain, but the lat-
ter country refusing the interposition of
another power, and agreeing to treat di-
rectly with the United States, in 18 14, at
Ghent, Mr. Gallatin, in connection with his
distinguished colleagues, negotiated and
signed the treaty of peace. In 1S15, in
conjunction with Messrs. Adams and Clay,
he signed, at London, a commercial treaty
between the two countries. In 18 16, de-
clining his old post at the head of the treas-
ury, Mr. Gallatin was sent as minister to
France, where he remained until
1823.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
118
After a year spent in England as envoy ex-
traordinary, he took up his residence in New
York, and from that time held no public
office. In 1830 he was chosen president of
the council of the University of New York.
He was, in 183 1, made president of the
National bank, which position he resigned
in 1839. He died August 12, 1849.
M
ILLARD FILLMORE, the thirteenth
president of the United States, was
born of New England parentage in Summer
Hill, Cayuga county, New York, January J,
1800. His school education was very lim-
ited, but he occupied his leisure hours in
study. He worked in youth upon his fa-
ther's farm in his native county, and at the
age of fifteen was apprenticed to a wool
carder and cloth dresser. Four years later
he was induced by Judge Wood to enter his
office at Montviile, New York, and take up
the study of law. This warm friend, find-
ing young Fillmore destitute of means,
loaned him money, but the latter, not wish-
ing to incur a heavy debt, taught school
during part of the time and in this and other
ways helped maintain himself. In 1822 he
removed to Buffalo, New York, and the year
following, being admitted to the bar, he
commenced the practice of his profession
at East Aurora, in the same state. Here
he remained until 1830, having, in the
meantime, been admitted to practice in the
supreme court, when he returned to Buffalo,
where he became the partner of S. G.
Haven and N. K. Hall. He entered poli-
tics and served in the state legislature from
1829 to 1832. He was in congress in 1 833—
35 and in 1837-41, where he proved an
active and useful member, favoring the
views of John Quincy Adams, then battling
almost alone the slave-holding party in na-
tional politics, and in most of public ques-
tions acted with the Whig party. While
chairman of the committee of ways and
means he took a leading part in draughting
the tariff bill of 1842. In 1844 Mr. Fill-
more was the Whig candidate for governor
of New York. In 1S47 he was chosen
comptroller of the state, and abandoning
his practice and profession removed to Al-
bany. In 1848 he was elected vice presi-
dent on the ticket with General Zachary
Taylor, and they were inaugurated the fol-
lowing March. On the death of the presi-
dent, July 9, 1850, Mr. Fillmore was in-
ducted into that office. The great events
of his administration were the passage of
the famous compromise acts of 1850, and
the sending out of the Japan expedition of
1852.
March 4-, 1853, having served one term,
President Fillmore retired from office, and
in 1855 went to Europe, where he received
marked attention. On returning home, in
1856, he was nominated for the presidency
by the Native American or "Know-Noth-
ing" party, but was defeated, James Buch-
anan being the successful candidate.
Mr. Fillmore ever afterward lived in re-
tirement. During the conflict of Civil war
he was mostly silent. It was generally sup-
posed, however, that his sympathy was with
the southern confederacy. He kept aloof
from the conflict without any words of cheer
to the one party or the other. For this rea-
son he was forgotten by both. He died of
paralysis, in Buffalo, New York, March 8,
i874-
PETER F. ROTHERMEL, one of Amer-
ica's greatest and best-known historical
painters, was born in Luzerne county, Penn-
sylvania, July 8, 1817, and was of German
ancestry. He received his earlier education
in his native county, and in Philadelphia
114
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
learned the profession of land surveying.
But a strong bias toward art drew him away
and he soon opened a studio where he did
portrait painting. This soon gave place to
historical painting, he having discovered the
bent of his genius in that direction. Be-
sides the two pictures in the Capitol at
Washington — ' 'De Soto Discovering the Mis-
sissippi" and "Patrick Henry Before the
Virginia House of Burgesses" — Rothermel
painted many others, chief among which
are: "Columbus Before Queen Isabella,"
"Martyrs of the Colosseum," "Cromwell
Breaking Up Service in an English Church, "
and the famous picture of the "Battle
of Gettysburg." The last named was
painted for the state of Pennsylvania, for
which Rothermel received the sum of $25,-
000, and which it took him four years to
plan and to paint. It represents the portion
of that historic field held by the First corps,
an exclusively Pennsylvania body of men,
and was selected by Rothermel for that
reason. For many years most of his time
was spent in Italy, only returning for short
periods. He died at Philadelphia, August
16, 1895.
EDMUND KIRBY SMITH, one of the
distinguished leaders upon the side of the
south in the late Civil war, was born at St.
Augustine, Florida, in 1824. After receiv-
ing the usual education he was appointed to
the United States Military Academy at West
Point, from which he graduated in 1845 and
entered the army as second lieutenant of
infantry. During the Mexican war he was
made first lieutenant and captain for gallant
conduct at Cerro Gordo and Contreras.
From 1849 to '852 he was assistant pro-
fessor of mathematics at West Point. He
was transferred to the Second cavalry with
the rank of captain in 1855, served on the
frontier, and was wounded in a fight with
Comanche Indians in Texas, May 13, 1859.
In January, 1861, he became major of his
regiment, but resigned April 9th to fol-
low the fortunes of the southern cause.
He was appointed brigadier-general in the
Confederate army and served in Virginia.
At the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861,
he arrived on the field late in the day, but
was soon disabled by a wound. He was
made major-general in 1S62, and being trans-
ferred to East Tennessee, was given com-
mand of that department. Under General
Braxton Bragg he led the advance in the
invasion of Kentucky and defeated the Union
forces at Richmond, Kentucky, August 30,
1862, and advanced to Frankfort. Pro-
moted to the rank of lieutenant-general, he
was engaged at the battle of Perryville,
October 10, and in the battle of Murfrees-
boro, December 31, 1862, and January 3,
1863. He was soon made general, the
highest rank in the service, and in com-
mand of the trans-Mississippi department
opposed General N. P. Banks in the famous
Red River expedition, taking part in the
battle of Jenkins Ferry, April 30, 1864, and
other engagements of that eventful cam-
paign. He was the last to surrender the
forces under his command, which he did
May 26, 1865. After the close of the war
he located in Tennessee, where he died
March 28, 1893.
JOHN JAMES INGALLS, a famous
<J American statesman, was born Decem-
ber 29, 1833, at Middleton, Massachusetts,
where he was reared and received his early
education. He went to Kansas in 185S
and joined the free-soil army, and a year
after his arrival he was a member of the his-
torical Wyandotte convention, which drafted
a free-state constitution. In i860 he was
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
115
made secretary of the territorial council,
and in 1861 was secretary of the state sen-
ate. The next year he was duly elected to
the legitimate state senate from Atchison,
where he had made his home. From that
time he was the leader of the radical Re-
publican element in the state. He became
the editor of the " Atchison Champion " in
1863, which was a "red-hot free-soil Re-
publican organ." In 1862 he was the anti-
Lane candidate for lieutenant-governor, but
was defeated. He was elected to the Unit-
ed States senate to succeed Senator Pom-
eroy, and took his seat in the forty-third
congress and served until the fiftieth. In
the forty-ninth congress he succeeded Sen-
ator Sherman as president pro tern., which
position he held through the fiftieth con-
gress.
BENJAMIN WEST, the greatest of the
early American painters, was of Eng-
lish descent and Quaker parentage. He was
born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, in 1738.
From what source he inherited his genius it
is hard to imagine, since the tenets and
tendencies of the Quaker faith were not cal-
culated to encourage the genius of art, but
at the age of nine years, with no suggestion
except that of inspiration, we find him choos-
ing his model from lite, and laboring over
his first work calculated to attract public
notice. It was a representation of a sleep-
ing child in its cradle. The brush with
which he painted it was made of hairs
which he plucked from the cat's tail, and
the colors were obtained from the war paints
of friendly Indians, his mother's indigo bag,
and ground chalk and charcoal, and the juice
of berries, but there were touches in the rude
production that he declared in later days
were a credit to his best works. The pic-
ture attracted notice, for a council was
called at once to pass upon the boy's con-
duct in thus infringing the laws of the so-
ciety. There were judges among them who
saw in his genius a rare gift and their wis-
dom prevailed, and the child was given per-
mission to follow his inclination. He studied
under a painter named Williams, and then
spent some years as a portrait painter with
advancing success. At the age of twenty-
two he went to Italy, and not until he had
perfected himself by twenty-three years of
labor in that paradise of art was he satisfied
to turn his face toward home. However, he
stopped at London, and decided to settle
there, sending to America for his intended
bride to join him. Though the Revolution-
ary war was raging, King George III showed
the American artist the highest considera-
tion and regard. His remuneration from
works for royalty amounted to five thou-
sand dollars per year for thirty years.
West's best known work in America is,
perhaps, "The Death of General Wolf."
West was one of the thirty-six original mem-
bers of the Royal academy and succeeded
Joshua Reynolds as president, which posi-
tion he held until his death. His early
works were his best, as he ceased to display
originality in his later life, conventionality
having seriously affected his efforts. He
died in 1820.
SAMUEL PORTER JONES, the famous
Georgia evangelist, was born October
16, 1847, in Chambers county, Alabama.
He did not attend school regularly during
his boyhood, but worked on a farm, and
went to school at intervals, on account of
ill health. His father removed to Carters-
ville, Georgia, when Mr. Jones was a small
boy. He quit school at the age of nineteen
and never attended college. The war inter-
fered with his education, which was intended.
116
COMTEXDIl'M OF BIOGRAPHY.
to prepare him for the legal profession.
'After the war he renewed his preparation
for college, but was compelled to desist from
such a course, as his health failed him en-
tirely. Later on, however, he still pursued
his legal studies and was admitted to the
bar. Soon after this event he went to Dal-
las, Paulding county, Georgia, where he was
engaged in the practice of his profession,
and in a few months removed to Cherokee
county, Alabama, where he taught school.
In 1869 he returned to Cartersville, Georgia,
and arrived in time to see his father die.
Immediately after this event he applied for
a license to preach, and went to Atlanta,
Georgia, to the meeting of the North Geor-
gia Conference of the M. E. church south,
which received him on trial. He became
an evangelist of great note, and traveled
extensively, delivering his sermons in an
inimitable style that made him very popular
with the musses, his methods of conducting
revivals being unique and original and his
preaching practical and incisive.
SHELBY MOORE CULLOM, a national
character in political affairs and for
many years United States senator from
Illinois, was born November 22, 1829, at
Monticello, Kentucky. He came with his
parents to Illinois in 1 830 and spent his early
yearson afarm, but havingformedthe purpose
of devoting himself to the lawyer's profession
he spent two years study at the Rock River
seminary atMount Morris, Illinois. In 1853
Mr. Cullom entered the law office of Stuart
and Edwards at Springfield, Illinois, and two
years later he began the independent prac-
tice of law in that city. He took an active
interest in politics and was soon elected city
attorney of Springfield. In 1856 he was
elected a member of the Illinois house of
representatives. He identified himself with
the newly formed Republican party and in
i860 was re-elected to the legislature of his
state, in which he was chosen speaker of the
house. In 1862 President Lincoln appoint-
ed a commission to pass upon and examine
the accounts of the United States quarter-
masters and disbursing officers, composed
as. follows: Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois;
Charles A. Dana, of New York, and
Gov. Boutwell, of Massachusetts. Mr.
Cullom was nominated for congress in
1864, and was elected by a majority of
1,785. In the house of representatives he
became an active and aggressive member,
was chairman of the committee on territories
and served in congress until 1868. Mr.
Cullom was returned to the state legislature,
of which he was chosen speaker in 1872,
and was re-elected in 1874. In 1876 he
was elected governor of Illinois and at the
end of his term he was chosen for a second
term. He was elected United States senator
in 1883 and twice re-elected.
RICHARD JORDAN GATLING, an
American inventor of much note, was
born in Hertford county, North Carolina,
September 12, 1818. At an early age he
gave promise of an inventive genius. The
first emanation from his mind was the
invention of a screw for the propulsion ot
water craft, but on application for a
patent, found that he was forestalled but
a short time by John Ericsson. Subse-
quently he invented a machine for sowing
wheat in drills, which was used to a great
extent throughout the west. He then stud-
ied medicine, and in 1847-8 attended
lectures at the Indiana Medical College
at Laporte, and in 1848-9 at the Ohio
Medical College at Cincinnati. He later
discovered a method of transmitting power
through the medium of compressed air. A
HGEO.MPiJU.MANh
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT,
119
double-acting hemp break was also invented
by him. The invention, however, by which
Dr. Gatling became best known was the
famous machine gun which bears his name.
This he brought to light in 1861-62, and on
the first trial of it, in the spring of the latter
year, two hundred shots per minute were
fired from it. After making some improve-
ments which increased its efficiency, it was
submitted to severe trials by our govern-
ment at the arsenals at Frankfort, Wash-
ington and Fortress Monroe, and at other
points. The gun was finally adopted by
our government, as well as by that of Great
Britain, Russia and others.
BENJAMIN RYAN TILLMAN, who won
a national fame in politics, was born
August 11, 1847, in Edgefield county, South
Carolina. He received his education in the
Oldfield school, where he acquired the
rudiments of Latin and Greek, in addition
to a good English education. He left school
in 1864 to join the Confederate army, but
was prevented from doing so by a severe
illness, which resulted in the loss of an eye.
In 1867 he removed to Florida, but returned
in 1868, when he was married and devoted
himself to farming. He was chairman of
the Democratic organization of his county,
but except a few occasional services he took
no active part in politics then. Gradually,
however, his attention was directed to the
depressed condition of the farming interests
of his state, and in August, 18S5, before a
joint meeting of the agricultural society and
state grange at Bennettsville, he made a
speech in which he set forth the cause of
agricultural depression and urged measures
of relief. From his active interest in the
farming class he was styled the " Agricult-
ural Moses." He advocated an industrial
school for women and for a separate agri-
7
cultural college, and in 1887 he secured a
•modification in the final draft of the will of
Thomas G. Clemson, which resulted in the
erection of the Clemson Agricultural Col-
lege at Fort Hill. In 1890 he was chosen
governor on the Democratic ticket, and
carried the election by a large majority.
Governor Tillman was inaugurated Decem-
ber 4, 1890. Mr. Tillman was next elected
to the United States senate from South
Carolina, and gained a national reputation
by his fervid oratory.
GEORGE DENISON PRENTICE. -
No journalist of America was so cele-
brated in his time for the wit, spice, and
vigor of his writing, as the gentleman whose
name heads this sketch. From Atlantic to
Pacific he was well known by his witticism
as well as by strength and force of his edi-
torials. He was a native of Preston, Con-
necticut, born December 18, 1802. After
laying the foundation of a liberal education
in his youth, he entered Brown University,
from which he was graduated in 1823. Tak-
ing up the study of law, he was admitted to
the bar in 1829. During part of his time
he was editor of the " New England Weekly
Review," a position which he relinquished
to go south and was succeeded by John
Greenleaf Whittier, the Quaker poet.
On arriving in Louisville, whither he
had gone to gather items for his history of
Henry Clay, Mr. Prentice became identified
with the " Louisville Journal," which, under
his hands, became one of the leading Whig
newspapers of the country. At the head of
this he remained until the day of his death.
This latter event occurred January 22, 1870,
and he was succeeded in the control of the
"Journal" by Colonel Henry Watterson.
Mr. Prentice was an author of consider-
able celebrity, chief among his works being
120
COMPEXDIL'M OF BIOGRAPIir
" The Life of Henry Clay," and " Prentice-
ana," a collection of wit and humor, that
passed through several large editions.
SAM. HOUSTON, in the opinion of some
critics one of the most remarkable men
who ever figured in American history, was a
native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, born
March 2, 1793. Early in life he was left in
destitute circumstances by the death of his
father, and, with his mother, removed to
Tennessee, then almost a boundless wilder-
ness. He received but little education,
spending the most of his time among the
Cherokee Indians. Part of the time of his
residence there Houston acted as clerk for a
trader and also taught one of the primitive
schools of the day. In 181 3 he enlisted as
private in the United States army and was
engaged under General Jackson in the war
with the Creek Indians. When peace was
made Houston was a lieutenant, but he re-
signed his commission and commenced the
study of law at Nashville. After holding
some minor offices he was elected member
of congress from Tennessee. This was in
1823. He retained this office until 1827,
when he was chosen governor of the state.
In 1829, resigning that office before the ex-
piration of his term, Sam Houston removed
to Arkansas, and made his home among the
Cherokees, becoming the agent of that
tribe and representing their interests at
Washington. On a visit to Texas, just
prior to the election of delegates to a con-
vention called for the purpose of drawing
up a constitution previous to the admission
of the state into the Mexican union, he was
unanimously chosen a delegate. The con-
vention framed the constitution, but, it be-
ing rejected by the government of Mexico,
and the petition for admission to the Con-
federacy denied and the Texans told by the
president of the Mexican union to give up
their arms, bred trouble. It was determined
to resist this demand. A military force was
soon organized, with General Houston at
the head of it. War was prosecuted with
great vigor, and with varying success, but
at the battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1 836,
the Mexicans were defeated and their leader
and president, Santa Anna, captured. Texas
was then proclaimed an independent repub-
lic, and in October of the same year Hous-
ton was inaugurated president. On the ad-
mission of Texas to the Federal Union, in
1845, Houston was elected senator, and
held that position for twelve years. Oppos-
ing the idea of secession, he retired from
political life in 1861, and died at Hunts-
ville, Texas, July 25, 1863.
ELI WHITNEY, the inventor of the cot-
ton-gin, was born in Westborough, Mas-
sachusetts, December 8, 1765. After his
graduation from Yale College, he went to
Georgia, where he studied law, and lived
with the family of the widow of General
Nathaniel Greene. At that time the only
way known to separate the cotton seed from
the fiber was by hand, making it extremely
slow and expensive, and for this reason cot-
ton was little cultivated in this country.
Mrs. Greene urged the inventive Whitney
to devise some means for accomplishing
this work by machinery. This he finally
succeeded in doing, but he was harassed by
attempts to defraud him by those who had
stolen his ideas. He at last formed a part-
nership with a man named Miller, and they
began the manufacture of the machines at
Washington, Georgia, in 1795. The suc-
cess of his invention was immediate, and the
legislature of South Carolina voted the sum
of $50,000 for his idea. This sum he had
great difficulty in collecting, after years of
COMPEXDICM OF BIOGRAPHY.
1*21
litigation and delay. North Carolina al-
lowed him a royalty, and the same was
agreed to by Tennessee, but was never paid.
While his fame rests upon the invention
of the cotton-gin, his fortune came from his
improvements in the manufacture and con-
struction of firearms. In 1798 the United
States government gave him a contract for
this purpose, and he accumulated a fortune
from it. The town of Whitneyville, Con-
necticut, was founded by this fortune.
Whitney died at New Haven, Connecticut,
January 8, 1825.
The cotton-gin made the cultivation of
cotton profitable, and this led to rapid in-
troduction of slavery in the south. His in-
vention thus affected our national history in
a manner little dreamed of by the inventor.
LESTER WALLACK (John Lester Wal-
lack), for many years the leading light
comedian upon the American stage, was
the son of James W. Wallack, the " Brum-
mell of the Stage." Both father and son
were noted for their comeliness of feature
and form. Lester Wallack was born in
New York, January 1, 18 19. He received
his education in England, and made his first
appearance on the stage in 1848 at the New
Broadway theater, New York. He acted
light comedy parts, and also occasion-
ally in romantic plays like Monte Cristo,
which play made him his fame. He went
to England and played under management
of such men as Hamblin and Burton, and then
returned to New York with his father, who
opened the first Wallack's theater, at the
corner of Broome and Broadway, in 1852.
The location was afterward changed to
Thirteenth and Broadway, in 1861, and
later to its present location, Broadway and
Thirteenth, in 1882. The elder Wallack
died in 1864, after which Lester assumed
management, jointly with Theodore Moss.
Lester Wallack was commissioned in the
queen's service while in England, and there
he also married a sister to the famous artist,
the late John Everett Millais. While Les-
ter Wallack never played in the interior
cities, his name was as familiar to the public
as that of our greatest stars. He died S :p-
tember 6, 1888, at Stamford, Connecticut.
GEORGE MORTIMER PULLMAN,
the palace car magnate, inventor,
multi-millionaire and manufacturer, may
well be classed among the remarkable
self-made men of the century. He was
born March 3, 1831, in Chautauqua county,
New York. His parents were poor, and
his education was limited to what he could
learn of the rudimentary branches in the
district school. At the age of fourteen lie
went to work as clerk for a country mer-
chant. He kept this place three years,
studying at night. When seventeen he
went to Albion, New York, and worked I r
his brother, who kept a cabinet shop there.
Five years later he went into business for
himself as contractor for moving buildings
along the line of the Erie canal, which was
then being widened by the state, and was
successful in this. In 1S58 he removed to
Chicago and engaged in the business of
moving and raising houses. The work was
novel there then and lie was quite success-
ful. About this time the discomfort attend-
ant on traveling at night attracted his at-
tention. He reasoned that the public would
gladly pay for comfortable sleeping accom-
modations. A few sleeping cars were in
use at that time, but they were wretchedly
crude, uncomfortable affairs. In 1S59 he
bought two old day coaches from the Chi-
cago & Alton road and remodeled them s
thing like the general plan of the slee]
122
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
cars of the present day. They were put
into service on the Chicago & Alton and
became popular at once. In 1863 he built
the first sleeping-car resembling the Pullman
cars of to-day. It cost $18,000 and was
the " Pioneer." After that the Pullman
Palace Car Company prospered. It had
shops at different cities. In 1880 the Town
of Pullman was founded by Mr. Pullman
and his company, and this model manufac-
turing community is known all over the
world. Mr. Pullman died October 19, 1897.
JAMES E. B. STUART, the most famous
cavalry leader of the Southern Confed-
eracy during the Civil war, was born in
Patrick county, Virginia, in 1833. On
graduating from the United States Military
Academy, West Point, in 1854, he was as-
signed, as second lieutenant, to a regiment
of mounted rifles, receiving his commission
in October. In March, 1855, he was trans-
ferred to the newly organized First cavalry,
and was promoted to first lieutenant the
following December, and to captain April
22, 1 861 . Taking the side of the south,
May 14, 1 86 1, he was made colonel of a
Virginia cavalry regiment, and served as
such at Bull Run. In September, 1861, he
was promoted to the rank of brigadier-gen-
eral, and major-general early in 1862. On
the reorganization of the Army of Northern
Virginia, in June of the latter year, when
R. E. Lee assumed command, General Stu-
art made a reconnoissance with one thou-
sand five hundred cavalry and four guns,
.and in two days made the circuit of McClel-
lan's army, producing much confusion and
gathering useful information, and losing but
one man. August 25, 1S62, he captured
part of Pope's headquarters' train, including
that general's private baggage and official
correspondence, and the next night, in a
descent upon Manasses, capturing immense
quantities of commissary and quartermaster
store, eight guns, a number of locomotives
and a few hundred prisoners. During the
invasion of Maryland, in September, 1862,
General Stuart acted as rearguard, resisting
the advance of the Federal cavalry at South
Mountain, and at Antietam commanded the
Confederate left. Shortly after he crossed
the Potomac, making a raid as far as Cham-
bersburg, Pennsylvania. In the battle of
Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, Gen-
eral Stuart's command was on the extreme
right of the Confederate line. At Chancel-
lorsville, after "Stonewall " Jackson's death
and the wounding of Gereral A. P. Hill,
General Stuart assumed command of Jack-
son's corps, which he led in the severe con-
test of May 3, 1863. Early in June, the
same year, a large force of cavalry was
gathered under Stuart, at Culpepper, Vir-
ginia, which, advancing to join General Lee
in his invasion of Pennsylvania, was met at
Brandy Station, by two divisions of cavalry
and two brigades of infantry, under General
John I. Gregg, and driven back. During the
movements of the Gettysburg campaign he
rendered important services. In May, 1864,
General Stuart succeeded, by a detour, in
placing himself between Richmond and
Sheridan's advancing column, and at Yellow
Tavern was attacked in force. During the
fierce conflict that ensued General Stuart
was mortally wounded, and died at Rich-
mond, May 1 1, 1864.
FRANKLIN PIERCE, the fourteenth
president of the United States — from
1853 until 1857 — was born November 23,
1804, at Hillsboro, New Hampshire. He
came of old revolutionary stock and his
father was a governor of the state. Mr.
Pierce entered Bowdoin College in 1820,
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIir.
123
was graduated in 1824, and took up the
study of law in the office of Judge Wood-
bury, and later he was admitted to the bar.
Mr. Pierce practiced his profession with
varying successes in his native town and
also in Concord. He was elected to the
state legislature in 1833 and served in that
body until 1837, the last two years of his
term serving as speaker of the house. He
was elected to the United States senate in
1837, just as President Van Buren began
his term of office. Mr. Pierce served until
1842, and many times during Polk's term he
declined important public offices. During
the war with Mexico Mr. Pierce was ap-
pointed brigadier-general, and he embarked
with a portion of his troops at Newport,
Rhode Island, May 27, 1847, and went with
them to the field of battle. He served
through the war and distinguished himself
by his skill, bravery and excellent judg-
ment. When he reached his home in his
native state he was received coldly by the
opponents of the war, but the advocates of
the war made up for his cold reception by
the enthusiastic welcome which they ac-
corded him. Mr. Pierce resumed the prac-
tice of his profession, and in the political
strife that followed he gave his support to
the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic
party. The Democratic convention met in
Baltimore, June 12, 1852, to nominate a
candidate for the presidency, and they con-
tinued in session four days, and in thirty-
five ballotings no one had secured the re-
quisite two-thirds vote. Mr. Pierce had not
received a vote as yet, until the Virginia
delegation brought his name forward, and
finally on the forty-ninth ballot Mr. Pierce
received 282 votes and all the other candi-
dates eleven. His opponent on the Whig
ticket was General Winfield Scott, who
only received the electoral votes of four
states. Mr. Pierce was inaugurated presi-
dent of the United States March 4, 1853,
with W. R. King as vice president, and the
following named gentlemen were afterward
chosen to fill the positions in the cabinet:
William S. Marcy, James Guthrie, Jeffer-
son Davis, James C. Dobbin, Robert Mc-
Clelland, James Campbell and Caleb' Cush-
ing. During the administration of President
Pierce the Missouri compromise law was
repealed, and all the territories of the Union
were thrown open to -slavery, and the dis-
turbances in Kansas occurred. In 1857 he
was succeeded in the presidency by James
Buchanan, and retired to his home in Con-
cord, New Hampshire. He always cherished
his principles of slavery, and at the out-
break of the rebellion he was an adherent of
the cause of the Confederacy. He died at
Concord, New Hampshire, October 8, 1869.
JAMES B. WEAVER, well known as a
leader of the Greenback and later of the
Populist party, was born at Dayton, Ohio,
June 12, 1833. He received his earlier
education in the schools of his native town,
and entered the law department of the Ohio
University, at Cincinnati, from which he
graduated in 1854. Removing to the grow-
ing state of Iowa, he became connected
with "The Iowa Tribune," at the state
capital, Des Moines, as one of its editors.
He afterward practiced law and was elected
district attorney for the second judicial dis-
trict of Iowa, on the Republican ticket in
1 866, which office he held for a short time.
In 1867 Mr. Weaver was appointed assessor
of internal revenue for the first district of
Iowa, and filled that position until some-
time in 1873. He was elected and served
in the forty-sixth congress. In 1880 the
National or Greenback party in convention
at Chicago, nominated James B. Weaver as
124
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
its candidate for the presidency. By a
union of the Democratic and National
parties in his district, he was elected to the
forty-ninth congress, and re-elected to the
same office in the fall of 1S86. Mr. Weaver
was conceded to be a very fluent speaker,
and quite active in all political work. On
July 4, 1892, at the National convention
of the People's party, General James B.
Weaver was chosen as the candidate for
president of that organization, and during
the campaign that followed, gained a na-
tional reputation.
ANTHONY JOSEPH DREXEL, one
of the leading bankers and financiers of
the United States, was born in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, in 1826, and was the son of
Francis M. Drexel, who had established
the large banking institution of Drexel &
Co., so well known. The latter was a native
of Dornbirn, in the Austrian Tyrol. He
studied languages and fine arts at Turin,
Italy. On returning to his mountain home,
in 1809, and finding it in the hands of the
French, he went to Switzerland and later
to Paris. In 18 12, after a short visit home,
he went to Berlin, where he studied paint-
ing until 1 8 17, in which year he emigrated
io America, and settled in Philadelphia. A
few years later he went to Chili and Peru,
where he executed some fine portraits of
notable people, including General Simon
Bolivar. After spending some time in Mex-
ico, he returned to Philadelphia, and en-
gaged in the banking business. In 1837 he
founded the house of Drexel & Co. He
died in 1837, and was succeeded by his two
sons, Anthony J. and Francis A. His son,
Anthony J. Drexel, Jr. , entered the bank
when he was thirteen years of age, before he
was through with his schooling, and after
that the history of the banking business of
which he was the head, was the history of his
life. The New York house of Drexel, Mor-
gan & Co. was established in 1S50; the
Paris house, Drexel, Harjes & Co., in 1867.
The Drexel banking houses have supplied
iand placed hundreds of millions of dollars
n government, corporation, railroad and
other loans and securities. The reputation
of the houses has always been held on the
highest plane. Mr. Drexel founded and
heavily endowed the Drexel Institute, in
Philadelphia, an institution to furnish better
and wider avenues of employment to young
people of both sexes. It has departments
of arts, science, mechanical arts and domes-
tic economy. Mr. Drexel, Jr. , departed this
life June 30, 1893.
SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE,
inventor of the recording telegraph in-
strument, was born in Charlestown, Massa-
chusetts, April 27, 1 791. He graduated
from Yale College in 18 10, and took up art
as his profession. He went to London with
the great American painter, Washington
Allston, and studied in the Royal Academy
under Benjamin West. His " Dying Her-
cules," his first effort in sculpture, took the
gold medal in 181 3. He returned to Amer-
ica in 181 5 and continued to pursue his
profession. He was greatly interested in
scientific studies, which he carried on in
connection with other labors. He founded
the National Academy of Design and was
many years its president. He returned to
Europe and spent three years in study
in the art centers, Rome, Florence, Venice
and Paris. In 1S32 he returned to America
and while on the return voyage the idea of
a recording telegraph apparatus occurred to
him, and he made a drawing to represent his
conception. He was the first to occupy the
chair of fine arts in the University of New
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
125
York City, and in 1835 he set up his rude
instrument in his room in the university.
But it was not until after many years of
discouragement and reverses of fortune that
he finally was successful in placing his inven-
tion before the public. In 1844, by aid of
the United States government, he had con-
structed a telegraph line forty miles in length
from Washington to Baltimore. Over this
line the test was made, and the first tele-
graphic message was flashed May 24, 1844,
from the United States supreme court rooms
to Baltimore. It read, "What hath God
wrought!" His fame and fortune were es-
tablished in an instant. Wealth and honors
poured in upon him from that day. The
nations of Europe vied with each other
in honoring the great inventor with medals,
titles and decorations, and the learned
societies of Europe hastened to enroll his
name upon their membership lists and confer
degrees. In 1 S58 he was the recipient of an
honor never accorded to an inventor before.
The ten leading nations of Europe, at the
suggestion of the Emporer Napoleon, ap-
pointed representatives to an international
congress, which convened at Paris for the
special purpose of expressing gratitude of the
nations, and they voted him a present of
400,000 francs.
Professor Morse was present at the unveil-
ing of a bronze statue erected in his honor in
Central Park, New York, in 187 1 . His last
appearance in public was at the unveiling
of the statue of Benjamin Franklin in New
York in 1872, when he made the dedica-
tory speech and unveiled the statue. He
died April 2, 1872, in the city of New York.
M(
ORRISON REMICH WAITE, seventh
chief justice of the United States, was
born at Lyme, Connecticut, November 29,
1 8 16. He was a graduate from Yale Col-
lege in 1837, in the class with William M.
Evarts. His father was judge of the su-
preme court of errors of the state of Con-
necticut, and in his office young Waite
studied law. He subsequently removed to
Ohio, and was elected to the legislature of
that state in 1849. He removed from
Haumee City to Toledo and became a prom-
inent legal light in that state. He was
nominated as a candidate for congress re-
peatedly but declined to run, and also de-
clined a place on the supreme bench of the
state. He won great distinction for his able
handling of the Alabama claims at Geneva,
before the arbitration tribunal in 1S71, and
was appointed chief justice of the supreme
court of the United States in 1874 on the
death of Judge Chase. When, in 1876, elec-
toral commissioners were chosen to decide
the presidential election controversy between
Tilden and Hayes, Judge Waite refused to
serve on that commission.
His death occurred March 23, 1888:,
ELISHA KENT KANE was one of the
distinguished American explorers of the
unknown regions of the frozen north, and
gave to the world a more accurate knowl-
edge of the Arctic zone. Dr. Kane was
born February 3, 1820, at Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of the
universities of Virginia and Pennsylvania,
and took his medical degree in 1843. He
entered the service of the United States
navy, and was physician to the Chinese
embassy. Dr. Kane traveled extensively
in the Levant, Asia and Western Africa,
and also served in the Mexican war, in
which he was severely wounded. His
first Arctic expedition was under De Haven
in the first Grinnell expedition in search
of Sir John Franklin in 1850. He com-
manded the second Grinnell expedition
126
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
in 1853-55, and discovered an open polar
sea. For this expedition he received a gold
medal and other distinctions. He published
a narrative of his first polar expedition in
1853, and in 1856 published two volumes
relating to his second polar expedition. He
was a man of active, enterprising and cour-
ageous spirit. His health, which was al-
ways delicate, was impaired by the hard-
ships of his Arctic expeditions, from which
he never fully recovered and from which he
died February 16, 1857, at Havana.
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON was a
daughter of Judge Daniel Cady and
Margaret Livingston, and was born Novem-
ber 12, 181 5, at Johnstown, New York. She
was educated at the Johnstown Academy,
where she studied with a class of boys, and
was fitted for college at the age of fifteen,
after which she pursued her studies at Mrs.
Willard's Seminary, at Troy. Her atten-
tion was called to the disabilities of her sex
by her own educational experiences, and
through a study of Blackstone, Story, and
Kent. Miss Cady was married to Henry B.
Stanton in 1840, and accompanied him to
the world's anti-slavery convention in Lon-
don. While there she made the acquain-
tance of Lucretia Mott. Mrs. Stanton
resided at Boston until 1847, when the
family moved to Seneca Falls, New York,
and she and Lucretia Mott signed the first
call for a woman's rights convention. The
meeting was held at her place of residence
July 19-20, 1848. This was the first oc-
casion of a formal claim of suffrage for
women that was made. Mrs. Stanton ad-
dressed the New York legislature, in 1854,
on the rights of married women, and in
i860, in advocacy of the granting of di-
vorce for drunkenness. She also addressed
the legislature and the constitutional con-
vention, and maintained that during the
revision of the constitution the state was
resolved into its original elements, and that
all citizens had, therefore, a right to vote
for the members of that convention. After
1869 Mrs. Stanton frequently addressed
congressional committees and state consti-
tutional conventions, and she canvassed
Kansas, Michigan, and other states when
the question of woman suffrage was sub-
mitted in those states. Mrs. Stanton was
one of the editors of the " Revolution," and
most of the calls and resolutions for con-
ventions have come from her pen. She
was president of the national committee,
also of the Woman's Loyal League, and
of the National Association, for many years.
DAVID DUDLEY FIELD, a great
American jurist, was born in Connecti-
cut in 1805. He entered Williams College
when sixteen years old, and commenced the
study of law in 1S25. In 1828 he was ad-
mitted to the bar, and went to New York,
where he soon came into prominence be-
fore the bar of that state. He entered upon
the labor of reforming the practice and
procedure, which was then based upon the
common law practice of England, and had
become extremely complicated, difficult and
uncertain in its application. His first paper
on this subject was published in 1839, and
after eight years of continuous efforts in this
direction, he was appointed one of a com-
mission by New York to reform the practice
of that state. The resuit was embodied in
the two codes of procedure, civil and crimi-
nal, the first of which was adopted almost
entire by the state of New York, and has
since been adopted by more than half the
states in the Union, and became the basis
of the new practice and procedure in Eng-
land, contained in the Judicature act. He
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
127
was later appointed chairman cf a new com-
mission to codify the entire body of laws.
This great work employed many years in its
completion, but when finished it embraced
a civil, penal, and political code, covering
the entire field of American laws, statutory
and common. This great body of law was
adopted by California and Dakota territory
in its entirety, and many other states have
since adopted its substance. In 1S67 the
British Association for Social Science heard
a proposition from Mr. Field to prepare an
international code. This led to the prepara-
tion of his " Draft Outlines of an Interna-
tional Code," which was in fact a complete
body of international laws, and introduced
the principle of arbitration. Other of his
codes of the state of New York have since
been adopted by that state.
In addition to his great works on law,
Mr. Field indulged his literary tastes by fre-
quent contributions to general literature,
and his articles on travels, literature, and
the political questions of the hour gave
him rank with the best writers of his time.
His father was the Rev. David Dudley Field,
and his brothers were Cyrus W. Field, Rev.
Henry Martin Field, and Justice Stephen
J. Field of the United States supreme
court. David Dudley Field died at New
York, April 13, 1894.
HENRY M. TELLER, a celebrated
American politician, and secretary of
the interior under President Arthur, was born
May 23, 1830, in Allegany county, New
York. He was of Hollandish ancestry and
received an excellent education, after which
he took up the study of law and was ad-
mitted to the bar in the state of New York.
Mr. Teller removed to Illinois in January,
1858, and practiced for three years in that
state. From thence he moved to Colorado
in 1 86 1 and located at Central City, which
was then one of the principal mining towns
in the state. His exceptional abilities as
a lawyer soon brought him into prominence
and gained for him a numerous and profit-
able clientage. In politics he affiliated with
the Republican party, but declined to become
a candidate for office until the admission of
Colorado into the Union as a state, when
he was elected to the United States senate.
Mr. Teller drew the term ending March
4, 1877, but was re-elected December 11,
1876, and served until April 17, 1882, when
he was appointed by President Arthur as
secretary of the interior. He accepted a
cabinet position with reluctance, and on
March 3, 1885, he retired from the cabinet,
having been elected to the senate a short
time before to succeed Nathaniel P. Hill.
Mr. Teller took his seat on March 4, 18S5,
in the senate, to which he was afterward
re-elected. He served as chairman on the
committee of pensions, patents, mines and
mining, and was also a member of commit-
tees on claims, railroads, privileges and
elections and public lands. Mr. Teller came
to be recognized as one of the ablest advo-
cates of the silver cause. He was one of the
delegates to the Republican National conven-
tion at St. Louis in 1896, in which he took
an active part and tried to have a silver
plank inserted in the platform of the party.
Failing in this he felt impelled to bolt the
convention, which he did and joined forces
with the great silver movement in the cam-
paign which followed, being recognized in
that campaign as one of the most able and
eminent advocates of "silver" in America.
JOHN ERICSSON, an eminent inven-
tor and machinist, who won fame in
America, was born in Sweden, July 31,1 803.
In early childhood he evinced a decided in-
128
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
clination to mechanical pursuits, and at the
age of eleven he was appointed to a cadet-
ship in the engineer corps, and at the age of
seventeen was promoted to a lieutenancy.
In 1826 he introduced a "flame engine,"
which he had invented, and offered it to
English capitalists, but it was found that it
could be operated only by the use of wood
for fuel. Shortly after this he resigned his
commission in the army of Sweden, and de-
voted himself to mechanical pursuits. He
discovered and introduced the principle of
artificial draughts in steam boilers, and re-
ceived a prize of two thousand five hundred
dollars for his locomotive, the "Novelty,"
which attained a great speed, for that day.
The artificial draught effected a great saving
in fuel and made unnecessary the huge
smoke-stacks formerly used, and the princi-
ple is still applied, in modified form, in boil-
ers. He also invented a steam fire-engine,
and later a hot-air engine, which he at-
tempted to apply in the operation of his
ship, "Ericsson," but as it did not give the
speed required, he abandoned it, but after-
wards applied it to machinery for pumping,
hoisting, etc.
Ericsson was first to apply the screw
propeller to navigation. The English peo-
ple not receiving this new departure readily,
Ericsson came to America in 1839, and
built the United States steamer, ' ' Prince-
ton," in which the screw-propeller was util-
ized, the first steamer ever built in which
the propeller was under water, out of range
of the enemy's shots. The achievement
which gave him greatest renown, however,
was the ironclad vessel, the "Monitor," an
entirely new type of vessel, which, in March,
1862, attacked the Confederate monster
ironclad ram, " Virginia," and after a fierce
struggle, compelled her to withdraw from
Hampton Roads for repairs. After the war
one of his most noted inventions was his
vessel, " Destroyer," with a submarine gun,
which carried a projectile torpedo. In 1886
the king of Spain conferred on him the
grand cross of the Order of Naval Merit.
He died in March, 1889, and his body was
transferred, with naval honors, to the country
of his birth.
JAMES BUCHANAN, the fifteenth presi-
dent of the United States, was a native
of Pennsylvania, and was born in Franklin
county, April 23, 1 79 1 . He was of Irish
ancestry, his father having come to this
country in 1783, in quite humble circum-
stances, and settled in the western part of
the Keystone state.
James Buchanan remained in his se-
cluded home for eight years, enjoying but
few social or intellectual advantages. His
parents were industrious and frugal, and
prospered, and, in 1799, the family removed
to Mercersbur Pennsylvania, where he
was placed in school. His progress was
rapid, and in 1801 he entered Dickinson
College, at Carlisle, where he took his place
among the best scholars in the institution.
In 1809 he graduated with the highest hon-
ors in his class. He was then eighteen, tall,
graceful and in vigorous health. He com-
menced the study of law at Lancaster, and
was admitted to the bar in 18 12. He rose
very rapidly in his profession and took a
stand with the ablest of his fellow lawyers.
When but twenty-six years old he success-
fully defended, unaided by counsel, one of
the judges of the state who was before the
bar of the state senate under articles of im-
peachment.
During the war of 1812-15, Mr. Buch-
anan sustained the government with all his
power, eloquently urging the vigorous prose-
cution of the war, and enlisted as a private
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
129
volunteer to assist in repelling the British
who had sacked and burned the public
buildings of Washington and threatened
Baltimore. At that time Buchanan was
a Federalist, but the opposition of that
party to the war with Great Britain and the
alien and sedition laws of John Adams,
brought that party into disrepute, and drove
many, among them Buchanan, into the Re-
publican, or anti-Federalist ranks. He was
elected to congress in 1S28. In 1831 he
was sent as minister to Russia, and upon
his return to this country, in 1833, was ele-
vated to the United States senate, and re-
mained in that position for twelve years.
Upon the accession of President Polk to
office he made Mr. Buchanan secretary of
state. Four years later he retired to pri-
vate life, and in 1853 he was honored with
the mission to England. In 1856 the na-
tional Democratic convention nominated
him for the presidency and he was elected.
It was during his administration that the
rising tide of the secession movement over-
took the country. Mr. Buchanan declared
that the national constitution gave him no
power to do anything against the movement
to break up the Union. After his succession
by Abraham Lincoln in i860, Mr. Buchanan
retired to his home at Wheatland, Pennsyl-
vania, where he died June I, 1868.
JOHN HARVARD, the founder of the
Harvard University, was born in Eng-
land about the year 1608. He received his
education at Emanuel College, Cambridge,
and came to America in 1637, settling in
Massachusetts. He was a non-conformist
minister, and a tract of land was set aside
for him in Charlestown, near Boston He
was at once appointed one of a committee to
formulate a body of laws for the colony.
One year before his arrival in the colony
the general court had voted the sum of four
hundred pounds toward the establishment of
a school or college, half of which was to be
paid the next year In 1637 preliminary
plans were made for starting the school. In
1638 John Harvard, who had shown great
interest in the new institution of learning
proposed, died, leaving his entire property,
about twice the sum originally voted, to the
school, together with three hundred volumes
as a nucleus for a library. The institution
was then given the name of Harvard, and
established at Newton (now Cambridge),
Massachusetts. It grew to be one of the two
principal seats of learning in the new world,
and has maintained its reputation since. It
now consists of twenty-two separate build-
ings, and its curriculum embraces over one
hundred and seventy elective courses, and it
ranks among the great universities of the
world.
ROGER BROOKE TANEY, a noted
jurist and chief justice of the United
States supreme court, was born in Calvert
county, Maryland, March 17, 1777. He
graduated fiom Dickinson College at the
age of eighteen, took up the study of law,
and was admitted to the bar in 1799. He
was chosen to the legislature from his county,
and in 1801 removed to Frederick, Mary-
land. He became United States senator
from Maryland in 18 16, and took up his
permanent residence in Baltimore a few
years later. In 1824 he became an ardent
admirer and supporter of Andrew Jackson,
and upon Jackson's election to the presi-
dency, was appointed attorney general of
the United States. Two years later he was
appointed secretary of the treasury, and
after serving in that capacity for nearly one
year, the senate refused to confirm the ap-
pointment. In 1835, upon the death of
130
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
Chief-justice Marshall, he was appointed to
that place, and a political change having
occurred in the make up of the senate, he
was confirmed in 1336. He presided at
his first session in January of the following
year.
The case which suggests itself first to
the average reader in connection with this
jurist is the celebrated " Dred Scott " case,
which came before the supreme court for
decision in 1856. In his opinion, delivered
on behalf of a majority of the court, one
remarkable statement occurs as a result of
an exhaustive survey of the historical
grounds, to the effect that ' ' for more than
a century prior to the adoption of the con-
stitution they (Africans) had been regarded
so far inferior that they had no rights which
a white man was bound to respect." Judge
Taney retained the office of chief justice
until his death, in 1864.
JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY.— This gen-
tleman had a world-wide reputation as
an historian, which placed him in the front
rank of tiie great men of America. He was
born April 15, 1814, at Dorchester, Massa-
chusetts, was given a thorough preparatory
education and then attended Harvard, from
which he was graduated in 1831. He also
studied at Gottingen and Berlin, read law
and in 1836 was admitted to the bar. In
1 84 1 he was appointed secretary of the
legation at St. Petersburg, and in 1866-67
served as United States minister to Austria,
serving in the same capacity during 1S69
and 1S70 to England. In 1856, after long
and exhaustive research and preparation, he
published in London "The Rise of the
Dutch Republic." It embraced three vol-
umes and immediately attracted great at-
tention throughout Europe and America as
a work of unusual merit. From 1S61 to
1868 he produced "The History of the
United Netherlands," in four volumes.
Other works followed, with equal success,
and his position as one of the foremost his-
torians and writers of his day was firmly
established. His death occured May 29,
■877-
ELIAS HOWE, the inventor of the sew-
ing machine, well deserves to be classed
among the great and noted men of Amer-
ica. He was the son of a miller and farmer
and was born at Spencer, Massachusetts,
July 9, 1 8 19. In 1835 he went to Lowell
and worked there, and later at Boston, in the
machine shops. His first sewing machine
was completed in 1 845 , and he patented it in
1846, laboring with the greatest persistency
in spite of poverty and hardships, working
for a time as an engine driver on a railroad
at pauper wages and with broken health.
He then spent two years of unsuccessful ex-
ertion in England, striving in vain to bring
his invention into public notice and use.
He returned to the United States in almost
hopeless poverty, to find that his patent
had been violated. At last, however, he
found friends who assisted him financially,
and after years of litigation he made good
his claims in the courts in 1854. His inven-
tion afterward brought him a large fortune.
During the Civil war he volunteered as a
private in the Seventeenth Connecticut Vol-
unteers, and served for some time. During
his life time he received the cross of the
Legion of Honor and many other medals.
His death occurred October 3, 1867, at
Brooklyn, New York.
PHILLIPS BROOKS, celebrated as an
eloquent preacher and able pulpit ora-
tor, was born in Boston on the 13th day of
December, 1835. lie received excellent
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
181
educational advantages, and graduated at
Harvard in 1855. Early in life he decided
upon the ministry as his life work and
studied theology in the Episcopal Theolog-
ical Seminary, at Alexandria, Virginia. In
1859 he was ordained and the same year
became pastor of the Church of the Advent,
in Philadelphia. Three years later he as-
sumed the pastorate of the Church of the
Holy Trinity, where he remained until 1870.
At the expiration of that time he accepted
the pastoral charge of Trinity Church in
Boston, where his eloquence and ability at-
tracted much attention and built up a pow-
erful church organization. Dr. Brooks also
devoted considerable time to lecturing and
literary work and attained prominence in
these lines.
WILLIAM B. ALLISON, a statesman
of national reputation and one of the
leaders of the Republican party, was born
March 2,- 1829, at Perry, Ohio. He grew
up on his father's farm, which he assisted
in cultivating, and attended the district
school. When sixteen years old he went
to the academy at Wooster, and subse-
quently spent a year at the Allegheny Col-
lege, at Meadville, Pennsylvania. He next
taught school and spent another year at the
Western Reserve College, at Hudson, Ohio.
Mr. Allison then took up the study of law
at Wooster, where he was admitted to the
bar in 1851, and soon obtained a position
as deputy county clerk. His political lean-
ings were toward the old line Whigs, who
afterward laid the foundation of the Repub-
lican party. Ha was a delegate to the state
convention- in 1856. in the campaign of
which he supported Fremont for president.
Mr Allison removed to Dubuque, Iowa,
in the following year. He rapidly rose to
prominence at the bar an .1 i.i politics. In
i860 he was chosen as a delegate to the
Republican convention held in Chicago, of
which he was elected one of the secretaries.
At the outbreak of the civil war he was ap-
pointed on the staff of the governor. His
congressional career opened in 1862, when
he was elected to the thirty-eighth congress;
he was re-elected three times, serving from
March 4, 1863, to March 3, 1871. He was
a member of the ways and means committee
a good part of his term. His career in the
United States senate began in 1873, and he
rapidly rose to eminence in national affairs,
his service of a quarter of a century in that
body being marked by close fealty to the
Republican party. He twice declined the
portfolio of the treasury tendered him by
Garfield and Harrison, and his name was
prominently mentioned for the presidency
at several national Republican conventions.
M
ARY ASHTON LIVERMORE, lec-
turer and writer, was born in Boston,
December 19, 182 1. She was the daughter
of Timothy Rice, and married D. P. Liver-
more, a preacher of the Universalist church.
She contributed able articles to many of the
most noted periodicals of this country and
England. During the Civil war she labored
zealously and with success on behalf of the
sanitary commission which played so impor-
tant a part during that great struggle. She
became editor of the " Woman's Journal,"
published at Boston in 1870.
She held a prominent place as a public
speaker and writer on woman's suffrage,
temperance, social and religious questions,
and her influence was great in every cause
she advocated.
JOHN B. GOUGH, a noted temperance
lecturer, who won his fame in America,
was born in the village of Sandgate, Kent,
132
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
England, August 22, 18 17. He came to
the United States at the age o{ twelve.
He followed the trade of bookbinder, and
lived in great poverty on account of the
liquor habit. In 1843, however, he re-
formed, and began his career as a temper-
ance lecturer. He worked zealously in the
cause of temperance, and his lectures and
published articles revealed great earnestness.
He formed temperance societies throughout
the entire country, and labored with great
success. He visited England in the same
cause about the year 1853 and again in
1878. He also lectured upon many other
topics, in which he attained a wide reputa-
tion. His death occurred February 18,
1886.
THOMAS BUCHANAN READ, author,
sculptor and painter, was born in Ches-
ter county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1822.
He early evinced a taste for art, and began
the study of sculpture in Cincinnati. Later
he found painting more to his liking. He
went to New York, where he followed this
profession, and later to Boston. In 1846
he located in Philadelphia. He visited
Italy in 1850, and studied at Florence,
where he resided almost continuously for
twenty-two years. He returned to America
in 1872, and died in New York May 11 of
the same year.
He was the author of many heroic
poems, but the one giving him the most re-
nown is his famous "Sheridan's Ride," of
which he has also left a representation in
painting.
EUGENE V. DEBS, the former famous
president of the American Railway
Union, and great labor leader, was born in
the city of Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1855.
Fie received his education in the public
schools of that place and at the age of
sixteen years began work as a painter in
the Vandalia shops. After this, for some
three years, he was employed as a loco-
motive fireman on the same road. His
first appearance in public life was in his
canvass for the election to the office of city
clerk of Terre Haute. In this capacity he
served two terms, and when twenty six
years of age was elected a member of the
legislature of the state of Indiana. While
a member of that body he secured the
passage of several bills in the interest of
organized labor, of which he was always
a faithful champion. Mr. Debs' speech
nominating Daniel Voorhees for the United
States senate gave him a wide reputation for
oratory. On the expiration of his term in
the legislature, he was elected grand secre-
tary and treasurer of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Fireman and filled that office
for fourteen successive years. He was
always an earnest advocate of confederation
of railroad men and it was mainly through
his efforts that the United Order of Railway
Employes, composed of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen and Conductors,
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and
the Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association was
formed, and he became a member of its
supreme council. The order was dissolved
by disagreement between two of its leading
orders, and then Mr. Debs conceived the
idea of the American Railway Union. He
worked on the details and the union came
into existence in Chicago, June 20, 1 893. For
a time it prospered and became one of the
largest bodies of railway men in the world.
It won in a contest with the Great Northern
Railway. In the strike made by the union
in sympathy with the Pullman employes
inaugurated in Chicago June 25, 1S94, and
the consequent rioting, the Railway Union
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
is. 3
lost much prestige and Mr. Debs, in company
with others of the officers, being held as in con-
tempt of the United States courts, he suffered
a sentence of six months in jail at Wood-
stock, McHenry county, Illinois. In 1897
Mr. Debs, on the demise of the American
Railway Union, organized the Social
Democracy, an institution founded on the
best lines of the communistic idea, which
was to provide homes and employment for
its members.
JOHN G. CARLISLE, famous as a law-
yer, congressman, senator and cabinet
officer, was born in Campbell (now Kenton)
county, Kentucky, September 5, 1835, on a
farm. He received the usual education oi
the time and began at an early age to teach
school and, at the same time, the study of
law. Soon opportunity offered and he
entered an office in Covington, Kentucky,
and was admitted to practice at the bar in
1858. Politics attracted his attention and
in 1859 he was elected to the house of rep-
resentatives in the legislature of his native
state. On the outbreak of the war in 1861 ,
he embraced the cause of the Union and was
largely instrumental in preserving Kentucky
to the federal cause. He resumed his legal
practice for a time and declined a nomina-
tion as presidential elector in 1864. In
1866 and again in 1869 Mr. Carlisle was
elected to the senate of Kentucky. He re-
signed this position in 1871 and was chosen
lieutenant governor of the state, which office
he held until 1875. He was one of the
presidential electors-at-large for Ken-
tucky in 1876. He first entered congress in
1877, and soon became a prominent leader
on the Democratic side of the house of rep-
resentatives, and continued a member of
that body through the forty-sixth, forty-
seventh, forty-eighth and forty-ninth con-
gresses, and was speaker of the house during
the two latter. He was elected to the
United States senate to succeed Senator
Blackburn, and remained a member of that
branch of congress until March, 1893, when
he was appointed secretary of the treasury.
He performed the duties of that high office
until March 4, 1S97, throughout the en-
tire second administration of President
Cleveland. His ability and many years of
public service gave him a national reputa-
tion.
FRANCES E. WILLARD, for many years
president of the 'Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, and a noted American
lecturer and writer, was born in Rochester,
New York, September 28, 1839. Graduating
from the Northwestern Female College at the
age of nineteen she began teaching and met
with great success in many cities of the west.
She was made directress of Genesee Wts-
leyan Seminary at Lima, Ohio, in 1867, and
four years later was elected president of the
Evanston College for young ladies, a branch
of the Northwestern University.
During the two years succeeding 1869
she traveled extensively in Europe and the
east, visiting Egypt and Palestine, aad
gathering materials for a valuable course of
lectures, which she delivered at Chicago on
her return. She became very popular, and
won great influence in the temperance
cause. Her work as president of the Wo-
man's Christian Temperance Union greatly
strengthened that society, and she made
frequent trips to Europe in the interest of
that cause.
RICHARD OLNEY.— Among the promi-
nent men who were members of the .
cabinet of President Cleveland in his second
administration, the gentleman whose name
184
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
heads this sketch held a leading place, oc-
cupying the positions of attorney general
and secretary of state.
Mr. Olney came from one of the oldest
and most honored New England families;
the first of his ancestors to come from Eng-
land settled in Massachusetts in 1635. This
was Thomas Olney. He was a friend and
co-religionist of Roger Williams, and when
the latter moved to what is now Rhode
I'sland, went with him and became one of
the founders of Providence Plantations.
Richard Olney was born in Oxford,
Massachusetts, in 1835, and received the
elements of his earlier education in the com-
mon schools which New England is so proud
of. He entered Brown University, from
which he graduated in 1856, and passed the
Harvard law school two years later. He
began the practice of his profession with
Judge B. F. Thomas, a prominent man of
that locality. For years Richard Olney was
regarded as one of the ablest and most
learned lawyers in Massachusetts. Twice
he was offered a place on the bench of the
suoreme court of the state, but both times
he declined. He was always a Democrat
in his political tenets, and for many years
was a trusted counsellor of members of that
party. In 1874 Mr. Olney was elected a
member of the legislature. In 1876, during
trie heated presidential campaign, to
strengthen the cause of Mr. Tilden in the
New England states, it was intimated that
in the event of that gentleman's election to
the presidency, Mr. Olney would be attor-
ney General.
When Grover Cleveland was elected presi-
'!'snt of the United States, on his inaugura-
tion in March, 1893, he tendered the posi-
tion of attorney general to Richard Olney.
This was accepted, and that gentleman ful-
fclled the duties of the office until the death
of Walter Q. Gresham, in May, 1895, made
vacant the position of secretary of state.
This post was filled by the appointment of
Mr. Olney. While occupying the later
office, Mr. Olney brought himself into inter-
national prominence by some very able state
papers.
JOHN JAY KNOX, for many years comp-
troller of the currency, and an eminent
financier, was born in Knoxboro, Oneida
county, New York, May 19, 1828. He re-
ceived a good education and graduated at
Hamilton College in 1849. For about
thirteen years he was engaged as a private
banker, or in a position in a bank, where
he laid the foundation of his knowledge of
the laws of finance. In 1862, Salmon P.
Chase, then secretary of the treasury, ap-
pointed him to an office in that department
of the government, and later he had charge
of the mint coinage correspondence. In 1867
Mr. Knox was made deputy comptroller
of the currency, and in that capacity, in
1870, he made two reports on the mint
service, with a codification of the mint and
coinage laws of the United States, and
suggesting many important amendments
These reports were ordered printed by reso-
lution of congress. The bill which he pre-
pared, with some slight changes, was sub-
sequently passed, and has been known in
history as the " Coinage Act of 1873."
In 1872 Mr. Knox w?s appointed comp-
troller of the currency, and held that re-
sponsible position until 1884, when he re-
signed. He then accepted the position of
president of the National Bank of the Re-
public, of New York City, which institution
he served for many years. He was the
author of " United States Notes," published
in 1884. In the reports spoken of above, a
history of the two United States ban'.:
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
185
given, together with that of the state and
national banking system, and much valuable
statistical matter relating to kindred sub-
jects.
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.— In the
opinion of many critics Hawthorne is
pronounced the foremost American novelist,
and in his peculiar vein of romance is said
to be without a peer. His reputation is
world-wide, and his ability as a writer is
recognized abroad as well as at home.
He was born July 4, 1804, at Salem, Massa-
chusetts. On account of feeble health he
spent some years of his boyhood on a farm
near Raymond, Maine. He laid the foun-
dation of a liberal education in his youth,
and entered Bowdoin College, from which
he graduated in 1825 in the same class with
H W Longfellow and John S. C. Abbott.
He then returned to Salem, where he gave
his attention to literature, publishing several
tales and other articles in various periodi-
cals. His first venture in the field of ro-
mance, " Fanshaw," proved a failure. In
1836 he removed to Boston, and became
editor of the "American Magazine," which
soon passed out of existence. In 1837 ne
published "Twice Told Tales," which were
chiefly made up of his former contributions
to magazines. In 1838-41 he held a posi-
tion in the Boston custom house, but later
took part in t!ie " Brook farm experiment,"
a socialistic idea after the plan of Fourier.
In 1843 he was married and took up his
residence at the old parsonage at Concord,
Massachusetts, which he immortalized in
his next work, "Mosses From an Old
Manse," published in 1 S46. From the lat-
ter date until 1850 he was surveyor of the
port of Salem, and while thus employed
wrote one of his strongest works, "The
Scarlet Letter." For the succeeding two
8
years Lenox, Massachusetts, was his home,
and the " House of the Seven Gables" was
produced there, as well as the " Blithedale
Romance." In 1852 he published a "Life
of Franklin Pierce," a college friend whom
he warmly regarded. In 1853 he was ap-
pointed United States consul to Liverpool,
England, where he remained some years,
after which he spent some time in Italy.
On returning to his native land he took up
his residence at Concord, Massachusetts.
While taking a trip for his health with ex-
President Pierce, he died at Plymouth, New
Hampshire, May 19, 1864. In addition to
the works mentioned above Mr. Hawthorne
gave to the world the following books:
" True Stories from History," "The Won-
der Book," " The Snow Image," "Tangle-
wood Tales," "The Marble Faun," and
' ' Our Old Home. " After his death appeared
a series of "Notebooks," edited by his wife,
Sophia P. Hawthorne; " Septimius Felton,"
edited by his daughter, Una, and " Dr.
Grimshaw's Secret," put into shape by his
talented son, Julian. He left an unfinished
work called " Dolliver Romance," which has
been published just as he left it.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, sixteenth presi-
dent of the United States, was born
February 12, 1809, in Larue county (Har-
din county), Kentucky, in a log-cabin near
Hudgensville. When he was eight years
old he removed with his parents to Indiana,
near the Ohio river, and a year later his
mother died. His father then married Mrs.
Elizabeth (Bush) Johnston, of Elizabeth-
town, Kentucky, who proved a kind of fos-
ter-mother to Abraham, and encouraged
him to study. He worked as a farm hand
and as a clerk in. a store at Gentry ville, and
was noted for his athletic feats and strength,
fondness for debate, a fund of humorous.
136
coirrEXDii'M of nioGRArnr
anecdote, as well as the composition of rude
verses. He made a trip at the age of nine-
teen to New Orleans on a flat-boat, and set-
tled in Illinois in 1S30. He assisted his
father to build a log house and clear a farm
on the Sangamon river near Decatur, Illinois,
and split the rails with which to fence it. In
1 85 1 he was employed in the building of a
flat-boat on the Sangamon, and to run it to
New Orleans. The voyage gave him a new
insight into the horrors of slavery in the
south. On his return he settled at New
Salem and engaged, first as a clerk in a store,
then as grocer, surveyor and postmaster, and
he piloted the first steamboat that as-
cended the Sangamon. He participated in
the Black Hawk war as captain of volun-
teers, and after his return he studied law,
interested himself in politics, and became
prominent locally as a public speaker. He
was elected to the legislature in 1834 as a
" Clay Whig, " and began at once to dis-
play a command of language and forcible
rhetoric that made him a match for his
more cultured opponents. He was ad-
mitted to the b^.r in 1837, and began prac-
tice at Springfield. He married a lady of a
prominent Kentucky family in 1842. He
was active in the presidential campaigns of
1840 and 1844 and was an elector on the
Harrison and Clay tickets, and was elected
to congress in 1846, over Peter Cartwright.
He voted for the Wilmot proviso and the
abolition of slavery in the District of Colum-
bia, and opposed the war with Mexico, but
gained little prominence during his two
years' service. He then returned to Spring-
field and devoted his attention to law, tak-
ing little interest in politics, until the repeal
of the Missouri compromise and the passage
of the Kansas-Nebraska bill in 1S54. This
awakened his interest in politics again and
be attacked the champion of that measure,
Stephen A. Douglas, in a speech at Spring-
field that made him famous, and is said
by those who heard it to be the greatest
speech of his life. Lincoln was selected as
candidate for the United States senate, but
was defeated by Trumbull. Upon the pas-
sage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill the Whig
party suddenly went to pieces, and the Re-
publican party gathered head. At the
Bloomington Republican convention in 1856
Lincoln made an effective address in which
he first took a position antagonistic to the ex-
istence of slavery. He was a Fremont elector
and received a strong support for nomina-
tion as vice-president in the Philadelphia
convention. In 1858 he was the unanimous
choice of the Republicans for the United
States senate, and the great campaign of de-
bate which followed resulted in the election
of Douglas, but established Lincoln's repu-
tation as the leading exponent of Republican
doctrines. He began to be mentioned in
Illinois as candidate for the presidency, and
a course of addresses in the eastern states
attracted favorable attention. When the
national convention met at Chicago, his
rivals, Chase, Seward, Bates and others,
were compelled to retire before the western
giant, and he was nominated, with Hannibal
Hamlin as his running mate. The Demo-
cratic party had now been disrupted, and
Lincoln's election assured. He carried
practically every northern state, and the
secession of South Carolina, followed by a
number of the gulf states, took place before
his inauguration. Lincoln is the only presi-
dent who was ever compelled to reach
Washington in a secret manner. He es-
caped assassination by avoiding Baltimore,
and was quietly inaugurated March 4, 1S61.
His inaugural address was firm but con-
ciliatory, and he said to the secessionists:
"You have no oath registered in heaven
COMPHXDIUM OF biography.
137
to destroy the government, while I have the
most solemn one to preserve, protect and
defend it.' He made up his cabinet chiefly
of those political rivals in his own part}' —
Seward, Chase, Cameron, Bates — and se-
cured the co-operation of the Douglas Dem-
ocrats. His great deeds, amidst the heat
and turmoil of war, were: His call for
seventy-five thousand volunteers, and the
blockading of southern ports; calling of con-
gress in extra session, July 14, 1861, and
obtaining four hundred thousand men and
four hundred million dollars for the prosecu-
tion of the war; appointing Stanton secre-
tary of war; issuing the emancipation proc-
lamation; calling three hundred thou-
sand volunteers; address at Gettysburg
cemetery; commissioned Grant as lieuten-
ant-general and commander-in-chief of the
armies of the United States; his second
inaugural address; his visit to the army be-
fore Richmond, and his entry into Rich-
mond the day after its surrender.
Abraham Lincoln was shot by John
Wi'kes Booth in a box in Ford's theater
at- Washington the night of April 14, 1865,
and expired the following morning. His
h>dy was buried at Oak Ridge cemetery,
Springfield, Illinois, and a monument com-
memorating his great work marks his resting
place.
STEPHEN GIRARD, the celebrated
philanthropist, was born in Bordeaux,
France, May 24, 1750. He became a sailor
engaged in the American coast trade, and
also made frequent trips to the West Indies.
During the Revolutionary war he was a
grocer and liquor seller in Philadelphia.
He married in that city, and afterward
separated from his wife. After the war he
again engaged in the coast and West India
trade, and his fortune began to accumulate
from receiving goods from West Indian
planters during the insurrection in Hayti,
little of which was ever called for again.
He became a private banker in Philadelphia
in 18 1 2, and afterward was a director in the
United States Bank. He made much money
by leasing property in the city in times of
depression, and upon the revival of industry
sub-leasing at enormous profit. He became
the wealthiest citizen of the United States
of his time.
He was eccentric, ungracious, and a
freethinker. He had few, if any, friends in
his lifetime. However, he was most chari-
tably disposed, and gave to charitable in-
stitutions and schools with a liberal hand.
He did more than any one else to relieve
the suffering and deprivations during the
great yellow fever scourge in Philadelphia,
devoting his personal attention to the sick.
He endowed and made a free institution,
the famous Will's Eye and Ear Infirmary
of Phiiadelpha — one of the largest institu-
tions of its kind in the world. At his death
practically all his immense wealth was be-
queathed to charitable institutions, more
than two millions of dollars going to the
founding of Girard College, which was to
be devoted to the education and training of
boys between the ages of six and ten years.
Large donations were also made to institu-
tions in Philadelphia and New Orleans.
The principal building of Girard College is
the most magnificent example of Greek
architecture in America. Girard died De-
cember 26, 1 83 1.
LOUIS J. R. AGASSIZ, the eminent nat-
uralist and geologist, was born in the
parish of Motier, near Lake Neuchatel, Swit-
zerland, May 28, 1807, but attained his
greatest fame after becoming an American
citizen. He studied the medical sciences at
138
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Zurich, Heidelberg and Munich. His first
work was a Latin description of the fishes
which Martius and Spix brought from Brazil.
This was published in 1 829-3 1 . He devoted
much time to the study of fossil fishes, and
in 1832 was appointed professor of natural
history at Neuchatel. He greatly increased
his reputation by a great work in French,
entitled " Researches on Fossil Fishes," in
1832-42, in which he made many important
improvements in the classification of fishes.
Having passed, many summers among the
Alps in researches on glaciers, he propounded
some new and interesting ideas on geology,
and the agency of glaciers in his "Studies
by the Glaciers." This was published in
1840. This latter work, with his " System
of the Glaciers," published in 1847, are
among his principal works.
In 1S46, Professor Agassiz crossed the
ocean on a scientific excursion to the United
States, and soon determined to remain here.
He accepted, about the beginning of 1848,
the chair of zoology and geology at Harvard.
He explored the natural history of the
United States at different times and gave an
impulse to the study of nature in this
country. In 1S65 he conducted an expedi-
tion to Brazil, and explored the lower Ama-
zon and its tributaries. In 1868 he was
made non-resident professor of natural his-
tory at Cornell University. In December,
1 87 1, he accompanied the Hassler expedi-
tion, under Professor Pierce, to the South
Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He died at
Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 14,
Among other of the important works of
Professor Agassiz may be mentioned the fol-
lowing: "Outlines of Comparative Physi-
ology," "Journey to Brazil," and "Contri-
butions to the Natural History of the United
States." It is said of Professor Agassiz,
that, perhaps, with the exception of Hugh
Miller, no one had so popularized science in
his day, or trained so many young natural-
ists. Many of the theories held by Agassiz
are not supported by many of the natural-
ists of these later days, but upon many of
the speculations into the origin of species and
in physics he has left the marks of his own
strongly marked individuality.
WILLIAM WINDOM.— As a prominent
and leading lawyer of the great north-
west, as a member of both houses of con-
gress, and as the secretary of the treasury,
the gentleman whose name heads this sketch
won for himself a prominent position in the
history of our country.
Mr. Windom was a native of Ohio,
born in Belmont county, May 10, 1827.
He received a good elementary education in
the schools of his native state, and took up
the study of law. He was admitted to the
bar, and entered upon the practice of his
profession in Ohio, where he remained until
1855. In the latter year he made up his
mind to move further west, and accordingly
went to Minnesota, and opening an office,
became identified with the interests of that
state, and the northwest generally. In
1858 he took his place in the Minnesota
delegation in the national house of repre-
sentatives, at Washington, and continued
to represent his constituency in that body
for ten years. In 1871 Mr. Windom was
elected United States senator from Min-
nesota, and was re-elected to the same office
after fulfilling the duties of the position for
a full term, in 1876. On the inauguration
of President Garfield, in March, 1881, Mr.
Windom became secretary of the treasury
in his cabinet. He resigned this office Oc-
tober 27, 1 88 1, and was elected senator
from the North Star state to fill the va-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
139
cancy caused by the resignation of A. J.
Edgerton. Mr. Windom served in that
chamber until March, 1S83.
William Windom died in New York
City January 29, 1891.
DON M. DICKINSON, an American
politician and lawyer, was born in
Port Ontario, New York, January 17, 1846.
He removed with his parents to Michigan
when he was but two years old. He was
educated in the public schools of Detroit
and at the University of Michigan at Ann
Arbor, and was admitted to the bar at the
age of twenty-one. In 1872 he was made
secretary of the Democratic state central
committee of Michigan, and his able man-
agement of the campaign gave him a prom-
inent place in the councils of his party. In
1876, during the Tilden campaign, he acted
as chairman of the state central committee.
He was afterward chosen to represent his
state in the Democratic national committee,
and in 1886 he was appointed postmaster-
general by President Cleveland. After the
expiration of his term of office he returned
to Detroit and resumed the practice of law.
In the presidential campaign of 1896, Mr.
Dickinson adhered to the "gold wing "of
the Democracy, and his influence was felt
in the national canvass, and especially in
his own state.
JOHN JACOB ASTOR, the founder of
the Astor family and fortunes, while not
a native of this country, was one of the
most noted men of his time, and as all his
wealth and fame were acquired here, he
may well be classed among America's great
men. He v/as born near Heidelberg, Ger-
many, July 17, 1763, and when twenty
years old emigrated to the United States.
Even at that age he exhibited remarkable
business ability and foresight, and soon he
was investing capital in furs which he took
to London and sold at a great profit.. He
next settled at New York, and engaged ex-
tensively in the fur trade. He exported
furs to Europe in his own vessels, which re-
turned with cargoes of foreign commodities,
and thus he rapidly amassed an immense
fortune. In 181 1 he founded Astoria on
the western coast of North America, near
the mouth of the Columbia river, as a depot
for the fur trade, for the promotion of
which he sent a number of expeditions to
the Pacific ocean. He also purchased a
large amount of real estate in New York,
the value of which increased enormously
All through life his business ventures were
a series of marvelous successes, and he
ranked as one of the most sagacious and
successful business men in the world. He
ii:.3d March 29, 1S48, leaving a fortune es-
timated at over twenty million dollars to
his children, who have since increased it.
John Jacob Astor left $400,000 to found a
public library in New York City, and his son,
William B. Astor, who died in 1875, left
$300,000 to add to his father's bequest.
This is known as the Astor Library, one of
the largest in the United States.
SCHUYLER COLFAX, an eminent
American statesman, was born in New
York City, March 23, 1S23, being a grand-
son of General William Colfax, the com-
mander of Washington's life-guards. In
1836 he removed with his mother, who was
then a widow, to Indiana, settling at South
Bend. Young Schuyler studied law, and
in 1845 became editor of the "St. Joseph
Valley Register," a Whig paper published
at South Bend. He was a member of the
convention which formed a new constitu-
tion for Indiana in 1S50, and he opposed
140
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
the clause that prohibited colored men
from settling in that state. In 1851 he was
defeated as the Whig candidate for congress
but was elected in 1854, and, being repeat-
edly re-elected, continued to represent that
district in congress until 1869. He became
one of the most prominent and influential
members of the house of representatives,
and served three terms a3 speaker. During
the Civil war he was an active participant
in all public measures of importance, and
was a confidential friend and adviser of
President Lincoln. In May, 1868, Mr.
Colfax was nominated for vice-president on
the ticket with General Grant, and was
elected. After the close of his term he re-
tired from office, and for the remainder of
his life devoted much of his time to lectur-
ing and literary pursuits. His death oc-
curred January 23, 18S5. He was one of
the most prominent members of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows in America,
and that order erected a bronze statue to
his memory in University Park. Indianapo-
lis Indiana, which was unveiled in May,
1887.
WILLIAM FREEMAN VILAS, who at-
tained a national reputation as an able
lawyer, statesman, and cabinet officer, was
born at Chelsea, Vermont, July 9, 1840.
His parents removed to Wisconsin when
our subject was but eleven years of age,
and there with the early settlers endured all
the hardships and trials incident to pioneer
life. William F. Vilas was given all the
advantages found in the common schools,
and supplemented this by a course of study
in the Wisconsin State University, after
which he studied law, was admitted to the
bar and began practicing at Madison.
Shortly afterward the Civil war broke out
and Mr. Vilas enlisted and became colonel
of the Twenty-third regiment of Wisconsin
Volunteers, serving throughout the war with
distinction. At the close of the war he re-
turned to Wisconsin, resumed his law prac-
tice, and rapidly rose to eminence in this
profession. In 1S85 he was selected by
President Cleveland for postmaster-general
and at the close of his term again returned
to Madison, Wisconsin, to resume the prac-
tice of law.
THOMAS McINTYRE COOLEY, anem-
inent American jurist and law writer,
was born in Attica, New York, January G,
1824. He was admitted to the bar in 1846,
and four years later was appointed reporter
of the supreme court of Michigan, which
office he continued to hold for seven years.
In the meantime, in 1859, he became pro-
fessor of the law department of the Univer-
sity of Michigan, and soon afterward was
made dean of the faculty of that depart-
ment. In 1864 he was elected justice of
the supreme court of Michigan, in 1867 be-
came chief justice of that court, and in
1869 was re-elected for a term of eight
years. In 1881 he again joined the faculty
of the University of Michigan, assuming the
professorship of constitutional and adminis-
trative law. His works on these branches
have become standard, and he is recog-
nized as authority on this and related sub-
jects. Upon the passage of the inter-state
commerce law in 1887 he became chairman
of the commission and served in that capac-
ity four years.
JOHN PETER ALTGELD, a noted
American politician and writer on social
questions, was born in Germany, December
30, 1S47. He came to America with his
parents and settled in Ohio when two years
old. In 1 8C4 ho entered the Union army
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
in
and served till the close of the war, after
which he settled in Chicago, Illinois. He
was elected judge of the superior court of
Cook count)", Illinois, in 1886, in which
capacity he served until elected governor of
Illinois in 1892, as a Democrat. During
the first year of his term as governor he at-
tracted national attention by his pardon of
the anarchists convicted of the Haymarket
murder in Chicago, and again in 1894 by
his denunciation of President Cleveland for
calling out federal troops to suppress the
rioting in connection with the great Pull-
man strike in Chicago. At the national
convention of the Democratic party in Chi-
cago, in Jul)-, 1896, he is said to have in-
spired the clause in the platform denuncia-
tory of interference by federal authorities in
local affairs, and "government by injunc-
tion." He was gubernatorial candidate for
re-election on the Democratic ticket in 1896,
but was defeated by John R. Tanner, Re-
publican. Mr. Altgeld published two vol-
umes of essays on " Live Questions," evinc-
ing radical views on social matters.
ADLAI EWING STEVENSON, an Amer.
ican statesman and politician, was born
in Christian county, Kentucky, October 23,
1835, and removed with the family to
Bloomington, Illinois, in 1852. He was
admitted to the bar in 1858, and set-
tled in the practice of his profession
in Metamora, Illinois. In 1861 he was
made master in chancery of Woodford
county, and in 1864 was elected state's at-
torney. In 1868 he returned to Blooming-
ton and formed a law partnership with
James S. Ewing. He had served as a pres-
idential elector in 1864, and in 1868 was
elected to congress as a Democrat, receiv-
ing a majority vote from every county in his
district. He became prominent in his
part)-, and was a delegate to the national
convention in 1S84. On the election of
Cleveland to the presidency Mr. Stevenson
was appointed first assistant postmaster-
general. Afte1- the expiration of his term
he continued to exert a controlling influence
in the politics of his state, and in 1892 was
elected vice-president of the United States
on the ticket with Grover Cleveland. At
the expiration of his term of office he re-
sumed the practice of law at Bloomington,
Illinois.
SIMON CAMERON, whose name is
prominently identified with the history
of the United States as a political leader
and statesman, was born in Lancaster coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1799. He grew
to manhood in his native county, receiving
good educational advantages, and develop-
ing a natural inclination for political life.
He rapidly rose in prominence and became
the most influential Democrat in Pennsyl-
vania, and in 1845 waselected by that party
to the United States senate. Upon the
organization of the Republican party he was
one of the first to declare his allegiance to
it, and in 1856 was re-elected United States
senator from Pennsylvania as a Republican.
In March, 1861, he was appointed secretary
of war by President Lincoln, and served
until early in 1862, when he was sent as
minister to Russia, returning in 1863. In
1866 he was again elected United States
senator and served until 1S77, when he re-
signed and was succeeded by his son, James
Donald Cameron. He continued to exert a
powerful influence in political affairs up to
the time of his death, June 26, 1889.
James Donald Cameron was the eld-
est son of Simon Cameron, and also
attained a high rank among American
statesmen. He was born at Harrisburg,
1*2,
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Pennsylvania, May 14, 1833, and received an
excellent education, graduating at Princeton
College in 1852. He rapidly developed into
one of the most able and successful business
men of the country and was largely inter-
ested in and identified with the develop-
ment of the coal, iron, lumber and manu-
facturing interests of his native state. He
served as cashier and afterward president of
the Middletown bank, and in 1S61 was made
vice-president, and in 1863 president of
the Northern Central railroad, holding this
position until 1874, when he resigned and
was succeeded by Thomas A. Scott. This
road was of great service to the government
duiing the war as a means of communica-
tion between Pennsylvania and the national
capital, via Baltimore. Mr. Cameron also
took an active part in political affairs,
always as a Republican. In May, 1876,
he was appointed secretary of war in Pres-
ident Grant's cabinet, and in 1S77 suc~
ceeded his father in the United States
senate. He was re-elected in 1885, and
again in 1891, serving until 1896, and was
recognized as one of the most prominent and
influential members of that bodv.
ADOLPHUS W. GREELEY, a famous
American arctic explorer, was born at
Newburyport, Massachusetts, March 27,
1844. He graduated from Brown High
School at the age of sixteen, and a year
later enlisted in Company B, Nineteenth
Massachusetts Infantry, and was made first
sergeant. In 18G3 he was promoted to
second lieutenant. After the war he was
assigned to the Filth United States Cavalry,
and became first lieutenant in 1873. He
was assigned to duly in the United States
signal service shortly after the close of the
war. An expedition was fitted out by the
United States government in 1881, un-
der auspices of the weather bureau, and
Lieutenant Greeley placed in command.
They set sail from St. Johns the first week
in July, and after nine days landed in Green-
land, where they secured the services of two
natives, together with sledges, dogs, furs
and equipment. They encountered an ice
pack early in August, and on the 28th of
that month freezing weather set in. Two
of his party, Lieutenant Lockwood and Ser-
geant Brainard, added to the known maps
about forty miles of coast survey, and
reached the highest point jet attained by
man, eighty-three degrees and twenty-four
minutes north, longitude, forty-four degrees
and five minutes west. On their return to
Fort Conger, Lieutenant Greeley set out
for the south on August 9, 1S83. He
reached Baird Inlet twenty days later with
his entire party. Here they were compelled
to abandon their boats, and drifted on an
ice-floe for one month. They then went
into camp at Cape Sabine, where they suf-
fered untold hardships, and eighteen of the
parly succumbed to cold and hunger, and
had relief been delayed two days longer
none would have been found alive. They
were picked up by the relief expedition,
under Captain Schley, June 22, 1884. The
dead were taken to New York for burial.
Many sensational stories were published
concerning the expedition, and Lieutenant
Greeley prepared an exhaustive account
of his explorations and experiences.
LEVI P. MORTON, the
tician, was born in
moat, May 16, 1824, and
tion consisted of the rud
obtained in the common
age of fourteen, and after
knowledge he gained was
hard school of experience.
; millionaire poii-
Shoreham, Ver-
his early educa-
iments which he
school up to the
that time what
wrested from the
He removed to
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
143
Hanover, Vermont, then Concord, Vermont,
and afterwards to Boston. He had worked
in a store at Shoreham, his native village,
and on going to Hanover he established a
store and went into business for himself.
In Boston he clerked in a dry goods store,
and then opened a business of his own in
the same line in New York. After a short
career he failed, and was compelled to set-
tle with his creditors at only fifty cents on
the dollar. He began the struggle anew,
and when the war began he ^ established a
banking house in New York, with Junius
Morgan as a partner. Through his firm
and connections the great government war
loans were floated, and it resulted in im-
mense profits to his house. When he was
again thoroughly established he invited his
former creditors to a banquet, and under
each guest's plate was found a check cover-
ing the amount of loss sustained respec-
tively, with interest to date.
President Garfield appointed Mr. Mor-
ton as minister to France, after he had de-
clined the secretaryship of the navy, and in
1 888' he was nominated as candidate for
vice-president, with Harrison, and elected.
In 1894 he was elected governor of New
York over David B. Hill, and served one
term.
CHARLES KENDALL ADAMS, one
of the most talented and prominent
educators this country has known, was born
January 24, 1835, at Derby, Vermont. He
received an elementary education in the
common schools, and studied two terms in
the Derby Academy. Mr. Adams moved
with his parents to Iowa in 1856. He was
very anxious to pursue a collegiate course,
but this was impossible until he had attained
the age of twenty-one. In the autumn of
1856 he began the study of Latin and Greek
at Denmark Academy, and in September,
1857, he was admitted to the University of
Michigan. Mr. Adams was wholly depend-
ent upon himself for the means of his edu-
cation. During his third and fourth year
he became deeply interested in historical
studies, was assistant librarian of the uni-
versity, and determined to pursue a post-
graduate course. In 1864 he was appointed
instructor of history and Latin and was ad-
vanced to an assistant professorship in 1865,
and in 1867, on the resignation of Professoi
White to accept the presidency of Cornell,
he was appointed to fill the chair of profes-
sor of history. This he accepted on con-
dition of his being allowed to spend a year
for special study in Germany, France and
Italy. Mr. Adams returned in 1868, and
assumed the duties of his professorship.
He introduced the German system for the
instruction of advanced history classes, and
his lectures were largely attended. In 18S5,
on the resignation of President White at
Cornell, he was elected his successor and
held the office for seven years, and on Jan-
uary 17, 1893, he was inaugurated presi-
dent of the University of Wisconsin. Pres-
ident Adams was prominently connected
with numerous scientific and literary organ-
izations and a frequent contributor to the
historical and educational data in the peri-
odicals and journals of the country. He
was the author of the following: " Dem-
ocracy and Monarchy in France," " Manual
of Historical Literature," " A Plea for Sci-
entific Agriculture," " Higher Education in
Germany."
JOSEPH B. FORAKER, a prominent po-
litical leader and ex-governor of Ohio,
was born near Rainsboro, Highland county,
Ohio, July 5, 1846. His parents operated
a small farm, with a grist and sawmill, hav-
144
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
ing emigrated hither from Virginia and
Delaware on account of their distaste for
slavery.
Joseph was reared upon a farm until
1862, when he enlisted in the Eighty-ninth
Ohio Infantry. Later he was made ser-
geant, and in 1864 commissioned first lieu-
tenant. The next year he was brevetted
captain. At the age of nineteen he was
mustered out of the army after a brilliant
service, part of the time being on the staff
of General Slocum. He participated in the
battles of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mount-
ain and Kenesaw Mountain and in Sher-
man's march to the sea.
For two years subsequent to the war
young Foraker was studying at the Ohio
Wesleyan University at Delaware, but later
went to Cornell University, at Unity, New
York, from which he graduated July 1,
1869. He studied law and was admitted to
the bar. In 1879 Mr. Foraker was elected
judge of the superior court of Cincinnati
and held the office for three years. In 1S83
he was defeated in the contest for the gov-
ernorship with Judge Hoadly. In 1885,
however, being again nominated for the
same office, he was elected and served two
terms. In 1889, in running for governor
again, this time against James E. Camp-
bell, he was defeated. Two years later his
career in the United States senate began.
Mr. Foraker was always a prominent figure
at all national meetings of the Republican
party, and a strong power, politically, in his
native state.
LYMAN ABBOTT, an eminent American
preacher and writer on religious sub-
jects, came of a noted New England
family. His father, Rev. Jacob Abbott, was
a prolific and popular writer, and his uncle,
Rev. John S. C. Abbott, was a noted
preacher and author. Lyman Abbott was
born December 18, 1835, m Roxbury,
Massachusetts. He graduated at the New
York University, in 1853, studied law, and
practiced for a time at the bar, after which
he studied theology with his uncle, Rev.
John S. C. Abbott, and in i860 was settled
in the ministry at Terre Haute, Indiana, re-
maining there until after the close of the
war. He then became connected with the
Freedmen's Commission, continuing this
until 1868, when he accepted the pastorate
of the New England Congregational church,
in New York City. A few years later he re-
signed, to devote his time principally to lit-
erary pursuits. For a number of years he
edited for the American Tract Society, its
"Illustrated Christian Weekly," also the
New York "Christian Union." He pro-
duced many works, which had a wide circu-
lation, among which may be mentioned the
following: "Jesus of Nazareth, His Life and
Teachings," "Old Testament Shadows of
New Testament Truths," "Morning and
Evening Exercises, Selected from Writings
of Henry Ward Beecher," "Laicus, or the
Experiences of a Layman in a Country
Parish," "Popular Religious Dictionary,"
and "Commentaries on Matthew, Mark,
Luke, John and Acts."
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.— The
well-known author, orator and journal-
ist whose name heads this sketch, was born
at Providence, Rhode Island, February 24,
1824. Having laid the foundation of a
most excellent education in his native land,
he went to Europe and studied at the Uni-
versity of Berlin. He made an extensive
tour throughout the Levant, from which he
returned home in 1850. At that early age
literature became his field of labor, and in
1851 he published his first important work,
.^
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
145
" Nile Notes of a Howadji." In 1852 two
works issued from his facile pen, "The
Howadji in Syria," and "Lotus-Eating."
Later on he was the author of the well-
known " Potiphar Papers," " Prue and I,"
and "Trumps." He greatly distinguished
himself throughout this land as a lecturer
on many subjects, and as an orator had but
few peers. He was also well known as one
of the most fluent speakers on the stump,
making many political speeches in favor of
the Republican party. In recognition of
his valuable services, Mr. Curtis was ap-
pointed by President Grant, chairman of
the advisory board of the civil service. Al-
though a life-long Republican, Mr. Curtis
refused to support Blaine for the presidency
in 1884, because of his ideas on civil ser-
vice and other reforms. For his memorable
and magnificent eulogy on Wendell Phillips,
delivered in Boston, in 1884, that city pre-
sented Mr. Curtis with a gold medal.
George W. Curtis, however, is best
known to the reading public of the United
States by his connection with the Harper
Brothers, having been editor of the " Har-
per's Weekly, " and of the "Easy Chair,"
in " Harper's Monthly Magazine, "for many
years, in fact retaining that position until
the day of his death, which occurred August
31, i892-
ANDREW JOHNSON, the seventeenth
president of the United States, served
from 1865 to 1869. He was born Decem-
ber 8, 1808, at Raleigh, North Carolina,
and was left an orphan at the age of four
years. He never attended school, and was
apprenticed to a tailor. While serving his
apprenticeship he suddenly acquired a pas-
sion for knowledge, and learned to read.
From that time on he spent all his spare
time in reading, and after working for two
years as a journeyman tailor at Lauren's
Court House, South Carolina, he removed
to Greenville, Tennessee, where he worked
at his trade and was married. Under his
wife's instruction he made rapid progress in
his studies and manifested such an interest
in local politics as to be elected as " work-
ingmen's candidate " alderman in 1828, and
in 1830 to the mayoralty, and was twice
re-elected to each office. Mr. Johnson
utilized this time in cultivating his talents
as a public speaker, by taking part in a de-
bating society. He was elected in 1835 to
the lower house of the legislature, was re-
elected in 1839 as a Democrat, and in
1 841 was elected state senator. Mr. John-
son was elected representative in congress
in 1843 and was re-elected four times in
succession until 1S53, when he was the suc-
cessful candidate for the gubernatorial chair
of Tennessee. He was re-elected in 1855
and in 1857 he entered the United States
senate. In i860 he was supported by the
Tennessee delegation to the Democratic
convention for the presidential nomination,
and lent his influence to the Breckinridge
wing of the party. At the election of Lin-
coln, which brought about the first attempt
at secession in December, i860, Mr. John-
son took a firm attitude in the senate for
the Union. He was the leader of the loy-
alists in East Tennessee. By the course
that Mr. Johnson pursued in this crisis he
was brought prominently before the north-
ern people, and when, in March, 1862, he
was appointed military governor of Ten-
nessee with the rank of brigadier-general,
he increased his popularity by the vigorous
manner in which he labored to restore
order. In the campaign of 1S64 he was
elected vice-president on the ticket with
President Lincoln, and upon the assassi-
nation of the latter he succeeded to the
146
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
presidency, April 15, 1865. He retained
the cabinet of President Lincoln, and at
first exhibited considerable severity towards
the former Confederates, but he soon inau-
gurated a policy of reconstruction, pro-
claimed a general amnesty to the late Con-
federates, and established provisional gov-
ernments in the southern states. These
states claimed representation in congress in
the following December, and then arose the
momentous question as to what should be
the policy of the victorious Union against
their late enemies. The Republican ma-
jority in congress had an apprehension that
the President would undo the results of the
war, and consequently passed two bills over
the executive veto, and the two highest
branches of the government were in open
antagonism. The cabinet was reconstructed
in July, and Messrs. Randall, Stanbury and
Browning superseded Messrs. Denison,
Speed and Harlan. In August, 1867, Pres-
ident Johnson removed the secretary of war
and replaced him with General Grant, but
when congress met in December it refused
to ratify the removal of Stanton, who re-
sumed the functions of his office. In 1868
the president again attempted to remove
Stanton, who refused to vacate his post
and was sustained by the senate. Presi-
dent Johnson was accused by congress of
high crimes and misdemeanors, but the trial
resulted in his acquittal. Later he was Uni-
ted States senator from Tennessee, and
died July 31, 1875.
EDMUND RANDOLPH, first attorney-
general of the United States, was born
in Virginia, August 10, 1753. His father,
John Randolph, was attorney-general of
Virginia, and lived and died a royalist. Ed-
mund was educated in the law, but joined
the army as aide-de-camp to Washington
in 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He
was elected to the Virginia convention in
1776, and attorney-general of the state the
same year. In 1779 he was elected to the
Continental congress, and served four years
in that body. He was a member of the con-
vention in 1787 that framed the constitu-
tion. In that convention he proposed what
was known as the " Virginia plan" of con-
federation, but it was rejected. He advo-
cated the ratification of the constitution in
the Virginia convention, although he had re-
fused to sign it. He became governor of
Virginia in 1788, and the next year Wash-
ington appointed him to the office of at-
torney-general of the United States upon
the organization of the government under
the constitution. He was appointed secre-
tary of state to succeed Jefferson during
Washington's second term, but resigned a
year later on account of differences in the
cabinet concerning the policy pursued to-
ward the new French republic. He died
September 12, 181 3.
W INFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK was
born in Montgomery county, Penn-
sylvania, February 14, 1824. He received
his early education at the Norristown
Academy, in his native county, and, in 1840,
was appointed a cadet in the United States
Military Academy, at West Point. He was
graduated from the latter in 1844, and brev-
etted as second lieutenant of infantry. In
1853 he was made first lieutenant, and two
years later transferred to the quartermaster's
department, with the rank of captain, and
in 1863 promoted to the rank of major. He
served on the frontier, and in the war with
Mexico, displaying conspicuous gallantry dur-
ing the latter. He also took a part in the
Seminole war, and in the troubles in Kan-
sas, in 1857, and in California, at the out-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
147
break of the Civil war, as chief quarter-
master of the Southern district, he exerted
a powerful influence. In 1861 he applied
for active duty in the field, and was assigned
to the department of Kentucky as chief
quartermaster, but before entering upon that
duty, was appointed brigadier-general of
volunteers. His subsequent history during
the war was substantially that of the Army
of the Potomac. He participated in the
campaign, under McClellan, and led the
gallant charge, which captured Fort Magru-
der, won the day at the battle of Wil-
liamsburg, and by services rendered at
Savage's Station and other engagements,
won several grades in the regular service,
and was recommended by McClellan for
major-general of volunteers. He was a con-
spicuous figure at South Mountain and An-
tietam. He was commissioned major-gen-
eral of volunteers, November 29, 1862, and
made commander of the First Division of
the Second Corps, which he led at Fred-
ricksburg and at Chancellorsville. He was
appointed to the command of the Second
Corps in June, 1863, and at the battle of
Gettysburg, July I, 2 and 3, of that year,
took an important part. On his arrival on
the field he found part of the forces then
in retreat, but stayed the retrograde
movement, checked the enemy, and on the
following day commanded the left center,
repulsed, on the third, the grand assault of
General Lee's army, and was severely
wounded. For his services on that field
General Hancock received the thanks of
congress. On recovering from his wound,
he was detailed to go north to stimulate re-
cruiting and fill up the diminished corps, and
was the recipient of many public receptions
and ovations. In March, 1864, he returned
to his command, and in the Wilderness and
at Spottsylvania led large bodies of m< n
successfully and conspicuously. From that
on to the close of the campaign he was a
prominent figure. In November, 1864, he
was detailed to organize the First Veteran
Reserve Corps, and at the close of hostilities
was appointed to the command of the Mid-
dle Military Division. In July, 1866, he
was made major-general of the regular
service. He was at the head of various
military departments until 1872, when he
wasassigned to the command of the Depart-
ment of the Atlantic, which post he held
until his death. In 1869 he declined the
nomination for governor of Pennsylvania.
He was the nominee of the Democratic
party for president, in 1880, and was de-
feated by General Garfield, who had a popu-
lar majority of seven thousand and eighteen
and an electoral majority'.of fifty-nine. Gen-
eral Hancock died February 9, 1886.
THOMAS PAINE, the most noted polit-
ical and deistical writer of the Revolu-
tionary period, was born in England, Jan-
uary 29, 1737, of Quaker parents. His edu-
cation was. obtained in the grammar schools
of Thetford, his native town, and supple-
mented by hard private study while working
at his trade of stay-maker at London and
other cities of England. He was for a time
a dissenting preacher, although he did not
relinquish his employment. He married a
revenue official's daughter, and was employed
in the revenue service for some time. He
then became a grocer and during all this time
he was reading and cultivating his literary
tastes, and had developed a clear and forci-
ble style of composition. He was chosen to
represent the interests of the excisemen,
and published a pamphlet that brought
him considerable notice. He was soon after-
ward introduced to Benjamin Franklin, and
having been dismissed from the service on a
148
COMPEXDICM OF BIOGRAPHY.
charge of smuggling, his resentment led him
to accept the advice of that statesman to
come to America, in 1774. He became
editor of the ' ' Pennsylvania Magazine," and
the next year published his "Serious
Thoughts upon Slavery" in the "Penn-
sylvania Journal." His greatest political
work, however, was written at the sugges-
tion of Dr. Rush, and entitled "Common
Sense." It was the most popular pamphlet
written during the period and he received
two thousand five hundred dollars from the
state of Pennsylvania in recognition of its
value. His periodical, the "Crisis," began
in 1776, and its distribution among the
soldiers did a great deal to keep up the spirit
of revolution. He was made secretary cf
the committee of foreign affairs, but was dis-
missed for revealing diplomatic secrets in
one of his controversies with Silas Deane.
He was originator and promoter of a sub-
scription to relieve the distress of the soldiers
near the close of the war, and was sent to
France with Henry Laurens to negotiate the
treaty with France, and was granted three
thousand dollars by congress for his services
there, and an estate at New Rochelle, by the
state of New York.
In 1787, after the close of the Revolu-
tionary war, he went to France, and a few
years later published his " Rights of Man,"
defending the French revolution, which
gave him great popularity in France. He
was made a citizen and elected to the na-
tional convention at Calais. He favored
banishment of the king to America, and
opposed his execution. He was imprisoned
for about ten months during 1794 by the
Robespierre party, during which time he
wrote the " Age of Reason," his great deis-
tical work. He was in danger of the guillo-
tine for several months. He took up his
residence with the family of James Monroe,
then minister to France and was chosen
again to the convention. He returned
to the United States in 1802, and was
cordially received throughout the coun-
try except at Trenton, where he was insulted
by Federalists. He retired to his estate at
New Rochelle, and his death occurred June
8, 1809.
JOHN WILLIAM MACKAY was one of
America's noted men, both in the de-
velopment of the western coast and the
building of the Mackay and Bennett cable.
He was born in 1831 at Dublin, Ireland;
came to New York in 1840 and his boyhood
days were spent in Park Row. He went
to California some time after the argonauts
of 1849 and took to the primitive methods
of mining — lost and won and finally drifted
into Nevada about i860. The bonanza dis-
coveries which were to have such a potent
influence on the finance and statesmanship
of the day came in 1872. Mr. Mackay
founded the Nevada Bank in 1878. He is
said to have taken one hundred and
fifty million dollars in bullion out of
the Big Bonanza mine. There were as-
sociated with him in this enterprise James
G. Fair, senator from Nevada; William
O'Brien and James C. Flood. When
vast wealth came to Mr. Mackay he be-
lieved it his duty to do his country some
service, and he agitated in his mind the
building of an American steamship line,
and while brooding over this his attention
was called to' the cable relations between
America and Europe. The financial man-
agement of the cable was selfish and ex-
travagant, and the capital was heavy with
accretions of financial " water" and to pay
even an apparent dividend upon the sums
which represented the nominal value of the
cables, it was necessary to hold the rates
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
149
at an exorbitant figure. And, moreover,
the cables were foreign; in one the influence
of France being paramount and in the other
that of England; and in the matter of intel-
ligence, so necessary in case of war, we
would be at the mercy of our enemies. This
train of thought brought Mr. Mackay into re-
lation with James Gordon Bennett, the pro-
prietor of the " New York Herald." The
result of their intercourse was that Mr. Mac-
kay so far entered into the enthusiasm of
Mr. Bennett over an independent cable,
that he offered to sssist the enterprise with
five hundred thousand dollars. This was the
inception of the Commercial Cable Com-
pany, or of what has been known for years
as the Mackav-Bennett cable.
ELISHA GRAY, the great inventor and
electrician, was born August 2, 1835-
at Barnesville, Belmont county, Ohio. He
was, as a child, greatly interested in the
phenomena of nature, and read with avidity
all the books he could obtain, relating to
this subject. He was apprenticed to various
trades during his boyhood, but his insatiable
thirst for knowledge dominated his life and
he found time to study at odd intervals.
Supporting himself by working at his trade,
he found time to pursue a course at Oberlin
College, where he particularly devoted him-
self to the study of physicial science. Mr.
Gray secured his first patent for electrical
or telegraph apparatus on October 1, 1867.
His attention was first attracted to tele-
phonic transmission during this year and he
saw in it a way of transmitting signals for
telegraph purposes, and conceived the idea
of electro-tones, tuned to different tones in
the scale. He did not then realize the im-
portance of his invention, his thoughts being
employed on the capacity of the apparatus
for transmitting musical tones through an
electric circuit, and it was not until 1874
that he was again called to consider the re-
production of electrically-transmitted vibra-
tions through the medium of animal tissue.
He continued experimenting with various
results, which finally culminated in his
taking out a patent for his speaking tele-
phone on February 14, 1876. He took out
fifty additional patents in the course of
eleven years, among which were, telegraph
switch, telegraph repeater, telegraph annun-
ciator and typewriting telegraph. From
1869 until 1873 he was employed in the
manufacture of telegraph apparatus in Cleve-
land and Chicago, and filled the office of
electrician to the Western Electric Com-
pany. He was awarded the degree of D.
S. , and in 1874 he went abroad to perfect
himself in acoustics. Mr. Gray's latest in-
vention was known as the telautograph or
long distance writing machine. Mr. Gray
wrote and published several works on scien-
tific subjects, among which were: "Tele-
graphy and Teiephony," and " Experi-
mental Research in Electro-Harmonic Tele-
graphy and Telephony."
\\ ^HITELAW REID.— Among the many
V V men who have adorned the field of
journalism in the United States, few stand
out with more prominence than the scholar,
author and editor whose name heads this ar-
ticle. Born at Xenia, Greene county, Ohio,
October 27, 1837, he graduated at Miami
University in 1856. For about a year he
was superintendent of the graded schools of
South Charleston, Ohio, after which he pur-
chased the "Xenia News," which he edited
for about two years. This paper was the
first one outside of Illinois to advocate the
nomination of Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Reid
having been a Republican since the birth of
that party in 1856. After taking an active
150
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY,
part in the campaign, in the winter of 1860-
61, he went to the state capital as corres-
pondent of three daily papers. At the close
of the session of the legislature he became
city editor of the "Cincinnati Gazette,"
and at the breaking out of the war went to
the front as a correspondent for that journal.
For a time he served on the staff of General
Morris in West Virginia, with the rank of
captain. Shortly after he was on the staff
of General Rosecrans, and, under the name
of "Agate," wrote most graphic descrip-
tions of the movements in the field, espe-
cially that of the battle ol Pittsburg Land-
ing. In the spring of 1862 Mr. Reid went
to Washington and was appointed librarian
to the house of representatives, and acted as
correspondent of the " Cincinnati Gazette."
His description of the battle of Gettysburg,
written on the field, gained him added
reputation. In 1865 he accompanied Chief
Justice Chase on a southern tour, and pub-
lished "After the War; a Southern Tour. "
During the next two years he was engaged
in cotton planting in Louisiana and Ala-
bama, and published "Ohio in the War."
In 1868 he returned to the " Cincinnati Ga-
zette," becoming one of its leading editors.
The same year he accepted the invitation of
Horace Greeley and became one of the staff
on the " New York Tribune." Upon the
death of Mr. Greeley in 1872, Mr. Reid be-
came editor and chief proprietor of that
paper. In 1878 he was tendered the United
States mission to Berlin, but declined. The
offer was again made by the Garfield ad-
ministration, but again he declined. In
1878 he was elected by the New York legis-
lature regent of the university, to succeed
General John A. Dix. Under the Harrison
administration he served as United States
minister to France, and in 1S92 was the
Republican nominee for the vice-presidency
of the United States. Among other works
published by him were the " Schools of
Journalism," "The Scholar in Politics,"
''Some Newspaper Tendencies," and
"Town-Hall Suggestions."
GEORGE WHITEFIELD was one of
the most powerful and effective preach-
ers the world has ever produced, swaying
his hearers and touching the hearts of im-
mense audiences in a manner that has rarely
been equalled and never surpassed. While
not a native of America, yet much of his
labor was spent in this country. He wielded
a great influence in the United States in
early days, and his death occurred here; so
that he well deserves a place in this volume
as one of the most celebrated men America
has known.
George Whitefield was born in the Bull
Inn, at Gloucester, England, December 16,
1 7 14. He acquired the rudiments of learn-
ing in St. Mary's grammar school. Later
he attended Oxford University for a time,
where he became intimate with the Oxford
Methodists, and resolved to devote himself
to the ministry. He was ordained in the
Gloucester Cathedral June 20, 1S36, and
the following day preached his first sermon
in the same church. On that day there
commenced a new era in Whitefield's life.
He went to London and began to preach at
Bishopsgate church, his fame soon spread-
ing over the city, and shortly he was en-
gaged four times on a single Sunday in ad-
dressing audiences of enormous magnitude,
and he preached in various parts of his native
country, the people crowding in multitudes
to hear him and hanging upon the rails and
rafters of the churches and approaches there-
to. He finally sailed for America, landing
in Georgia, where he stirred the people to
great enthusiasm. During the balance cf
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
153
his life he divided his time between Great
Britain and America, and it is recorded that
he crossed the Atlantic thirteen times. He
came to America for the seventh time in
1770. He preached every day at Boston
from the 17th to the 20th of September,
1770, then traveled to Newburyport, preach-
ing at Exeter, New Hampshire, September
-29, on the way. That evening he went to
Newburyport, where he died the next day,
Sunday, September 30, 1770.
' ' Whitefield's dramatic power was amaz-
ing," says an eminent writer in describing
him. " His voice was marvelously varied,
and he ever had it at command — an organ,
a flute, a harp, all in one. His intellectual
powers were not of a high order, but he had
an abundance of that ready talent and that
wonderful magnetism which makes the pop-
ular preacher; and beyond all natural en-
dowments, there was in his ministry the
power of evangelical truth, and, as his con-
verts believed, the presence of the spirit of
God."
CHARLES FRANCIS BRUSH, one of
America's prominent men in the devel-
opment of electrical science, was born March
17, 1849, near Cleveland, Ohio, and spent
his early life on his father's farm. From
the district school at Wickliffe, Ohio, he
passed to the Shaw Academy at Collamer,
and then entered the high school at Cleve-
land. His interest in chemistry, physics
and engineering was already marked, and
during his senior year he was placed in
charge of the chemical and physical appar-
atus. During these years he devised a plan
for lighting street lamps, constructed tele-
scopes, and his first electric arc lamp, also
an electric motor. In September, 1867, he
entered the engineering department of the
University of Michigan and graduated in
9
1869, which was a year in advance of his
class, with the degree of M. E. He then
returned to Cleveland, and for three years
was engaged as an analytical chemist and
for four years in the iron business. In
1875 Mr. Brush became interested in elec-
tric lighting, and in 1876, after four months'
experimenting, he completed the dynamo-
electric machine that has made his name
famous, and in a shorter time produced the
series arc lamps. These were both patent-
ed in the United States in 1876, and he
afterward obtained fifty patents on his later
inventions, including the fundamental stor-
age battery, the compound series, shunt-
winding for dynamo-electric machines, and
the automatic cut-out for arc lamps. His
patents, two-thirds of which have already
been profitable, are held by the Brush
Electric Company, of Cleveland, while his
foreign patents are controlled by the Anglo-
American Brush Electric Light Company,
of London. In 1S80 the Western Reserve
University conferred upon Mr. Brush the
degree of Ph. D., and in 1881 the French
government decorated him as a chevalier of
the Legion of Honor.
HENRY CLEWS, of Wall-street fame,
was one of the noted old-time opera-
tors on that famous street, and was also an
author of some repute. Mr. Clews was
born in Staffordshire, England, August 14,
1840. His father had him educated with
the intention of preparing him for the minis-
try, but on a visit to the United States the
young man became interested in a business
life, and was allowed to engage as a clerk in
the importing house of Wilson G. Hunt &
Co., of New York. Here he learned the
first principles of business, and when the war
broke out in 1861 young Clews saw in the
needs of the government an opportunity to
1S4
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
reap a golden harvest. He identified him-
self with the negotiating of loans for the
government, and used his powers of pur-
suasion upon the great money powers to
convince them of the stability of the govern-
ment and the value of its securities. By
enthusiasm and patriotic arguments he in-
duced capitalists to invest their money in
government securities, often against their
judgment, and his success was remarkable.
His was one of the leading firms that aided
the struggling treasury department in that
critical hour, and his reward was great. In
addition to the vast wealth it brought,
President Lincoln and Secretary Chase
both wrote important letters, acknowledging
his valued service. In 1873, by the repu-
diation of the bonded indebtedness of the
state of Georgia, Mr. Clews lost six million
dollars which he had invested in those se-
curities. It is said that he is the only man,
with one exception, in Wall street, who
ever regained great wealth after utter dis-
aster. His " Twenty-Eight Years in Wall
Street " has been widely read.
ALFRED VAIL was one of the men that
gave to the world the electric telegraph
and the names of Henry, Morse and Vail
will forever remain linked as the prime fac-
tors in that great achievement. Mr. Vail
was born September 25, 1807, at Morris-
town, New Jersey, and was a son of Stephen
Vail, the proprietor of the Speedwell Iron
Works, near Morristown. At the age of
seventeen, after he had completed his stud-
ies at the Morristown Academy, Alfred Vail
went into the Speedwell Iron Works and
contented himself with the duties of his
position until he reached his majority. He
then determined to prepare himself for the
ministry, and at the age of twenty-five he
entered the University of the City of New
York, where he was graduated in 1836. His
health becoming impaired he labored for a
time under much uncertainty as to his future
course. Professor S. F. B. Morse had come
to the university in 1835 as professor of lit-
erature and fine arts, and about this time,
1S37, Professor Gale, occupying the chair
of chemistry, invited Morse to exhibit his
apparatus for the benefit of the students.
On Saturday, September 2, 1837, the exhi-
bition took place and Vail was asked to at-
tend, and with his inherited taste for me-
chanics and knowledge of their construction,
he saw a great future for the crude mechan-
ism used by Morse in giving and recording
signals. Mr. Vail interested his father in
the invention, and Morse was invited to
Speedwell and the elder Vail promised to
help him. It was stipulated that Alfred
Vail should construct the required apparatus
and exhibit before a committee of congress
the telegraph instrument, and was to receive
a quarter interest in the invention. Morse
had devised a series of ten numbered leaden
types, which were to be operated in giving
the signal. This was not satisfactory to
Vail, so he devised an entirely new instru-
ment, involving a lever, or "point," on a
radically different principle, which, when'
tested, produced dots and dashes, and de-
vised the famous dot-and-dash alphabet,
misnamed the "Morse." At last the ma-
chine was in working order, on January 6,
1838. The machine was taken to Wash-
ington, where it caused not only wonder,
but excitement. Vail continued his experi-
ments and devised the lever and roller.
When the line between Baltimore and-
Washington was completed, Vail was sta-
tioned at the Baltimore end and received
the famous first message. It is a remarka-
ble fact that not a single feature of the
original invention of Morse, as formulated
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
155
by his caveat and repeated in his original
patent, is to be found in Vail's apparatus.
From 1S37 to 1844 it was a combination of
the inventions of Morse, Henry and Vail,
but the work of Morse fell gradually into
desuetude, while Vail's conception of an
alphabet has remained unchanged for half a
century. Mr. Vail published but one work,
"American Electro-Magnetic Telegraph,"
in 1845, and died at Morristown at the com-
paratively early age of fifty-one, on January
19. i859-
ULYSSES S. GRANT, the eighteenth
president of the United States, was
born April 27, 1822, at Point Pleasant, Cler-
mont county, Ohio. At the age of seven-
teen he entered the United States Military
Academy at West Point, from which he
graduated in June, 1S43, and was given his
brevet as second lieutenant and assigned to
the Fourth Infantry. He remained in the
service eleven years, in which time he
was engaged in the Mexican war with gal-
lantry, and was thrice brevetted for conduct
in the field. In 1848 he married Miss Julia
Dent, and in 1854, having reached the
grade of captain, he resigned and engaged
in farming near St. Louis. In i860 he en-
tered the leather business with his father at
Galena, Illinois.
On the breaking out of the war, in 1861,
he commenced to drill a company at Ga-
lena, and at the same time offered his serv-
ices to the adjutant-general of the army,
but he had few influential friends, so re-
ceived no answer. He was employed by
the governor of Illinois in the organization
of the various volunteer regiments, and at
the end of a few weeks was given the
colonelcy of the Twenty- first Infantry, from
that state. His military training and knowl-
edge soon attracted the attention of his su-
perior officers, and on reporting to General
Pope in Missouri, the latter put him in
the way of advancement. August 7, 1S61,
he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-
general of volunteers, and for a few weeks
was occupied in watching the movements of
partisan forces in Missouri. September 1,
the same year, he was placed in command
of the Department of Southeast Missouri,
with headquarters at Cairo, and on the 6th
of the month, without orders, seized Padu-
cah, which commanded the channel of the
Ohio and Tennessee rivers, by which he se-
cured Kentucky for the Union. He now
received orders to make a demonstration on
Belmont, which he did, and with about three
thousand raw recruits held his own against
the Confederates some seven thousand
strong, bringing back about two hundred
prisoners and two guns. In February,] 1 S62,
he moved up the Tennessee river with
the naval fleet under Commodore Foote.
The latter soon silenced Fort Henry, and
Grant advanced against Fort Donelson and
took their fortress and its garrison. His
prize here consisted of sixty-five cannon,
seventeen thousand six hundred stand of
arms, and fourteen thousand six hundred
and twenty-three prisoners. This was the
first important success won by the Union
forces. Grant was immediately made a
major-general and placed in command of
the district of West Tennessee. In April,
1 862, he fought the battle of Pittsburg Land-
ing, and after the evacuation of Corinth by
the enemy Grant became commander of the
Department of the Tennessee. He now
made his first demonstration toward Vicks-
burg, but owing to the incapacity of subor-
dinate officers, was unsuccessful. In Janu-
ary, 1863, he took command of all the
troops in the Mississippi Valley and devoted
several months to the siege of Vicksburg,
156
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
which was finally taken possession of by him
July 4, with thirty-one thousand six hundred
prisoners and one hundred and seventy-two
cannon, thus throwing the Mississippi river
open to the Federals. He was now raised
to the rank of major-general in the regular
army. October following, at the head of
the Department of the Mississippi, General
Grant went to Chattanooga, where he over-
threw the enemy, and united with the Army
of the Cumberland. The remarkable suc-
cesses achieved by him pointed Grant out
for an appropriate commander of all na-
tional troops, and in February, 1864, the
rank of lieutenant-general was made for- him
by act of congress. Sending Sherman into
Georgia, Sigel into the Valley of West Vir-
ginia and Butler to attempt the capture of
Richmond he fought his way through the
Wilderness to the James and pressed the
siege of the capital of the Confederacy.
After the fall of the latter Grant pressed
the Confederate army so hard that their
commander surrendered at Appomattox
Court House, April 9, 1865. This virtually
ended the war.
After the war the rank of general was
conferred upon U. S. Grant, and in 1868 he
was elected president of the United States,
and re-elected his own successor in 1872.
After the expiration of the latter term he
made his famous tour of the world. He died
at Mt. McGregor, near Saratoga, New York,
July 23, 18S5, and was buried at Riverside
Park, New York, where a magnificent tomb
has been erected to hold the ashes of the
nation's hero.
JOHN MARSHALL, the fourth chief jus-
<J tice of the United States supreme court,
was born in Germantown, Virginia, Septem-
ber 24, 1755. His father, Colonel Thomas
Marshall, served with distinction in the Rev-
olutionary war, while he also served from
the beginning of the war until 1779, where
he became noted in the field and courts
martial. While on detached service he at-
tended a course, of law lectures at William
and Mary College, delivered by Mr. Wythe,
and was admitted to the bar. The next year
he resigned his commission and began his
career as a lawyer. He was a distinguished
member of the convention called in Virginia
to ratify the Federal constitution. He was
tendered the attorney-generalship of the
United States, and also a place on the su-
preme bench, besides other places of less
honor, all of which he declined. He
went to France as special envoy in 1798,
and the next year was elected to congress.
He served one year and was appointed, first,
secretary of war, and then secretary of state,
and in 1801 was made chief justice of the
United States. He held this high office un-
til his death, in 1835.
Chief Justice Marshall's early education
was neglected, and his opinions, the most
valuable in existence, are noted for depth
of wisdom, clear and comprehensive reason-
ing, justice, and permanency, rather than for
wide learning and scholarly construction.
His decisions and rulings are resorted to
constantly by our greatest lawyers, and his
renown as a just judge and profound jurist
was world wide.
LAWRENCE BARRETT is perhaps
known more widely as a producer of
new plays than as a great actor. He was
born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1838, and
educated himself as best he could, and at
the age of sixteen years became salesman
for a Detroit dry goods house. He after-
wards began to go upon the stage as a
supernumerary, and his ambition was soon
rewarded by the notice of the management.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
157
During the war of the Rebellion he was a
soldier, and after valiant service for his
country he returned to the stage. He went
to Europe and appeared in Liverpool, and
returning in 1869, he began playing at
Booth's theater, with Mr. Booth. He was
afterward associated with John McCullough
in the management of the California
theater. Probably the most noted period
of his work was during his connection with
Edwin Booth as manager of that great
actor, and supporting him upon the stage.
Mr. Barrett was possessed of the crea-
tive instinct, and, unlike Mr. Booth, he
sought new fields for the display of his
genius, and only resorted to traditional
drama in response to popular demand. He
preferred new plays, and believed in the
encouragement of modern dramatic writers,
and was the only actor of prominence in his
time that ventured to put upon the stage
new American plays, which he did at his
own expense, and the success of his experi-
ments proved the quality of his judgment.
He died March 21, 1891.
A RCHBISHOP JOHN HUGHES, a cel-
i\ ebrated Catholic clergyman, was born
at Annaboghan, Tyrone county, Ireland,
June 24, 1797, and emigrated to America
when twenty years of age, engaging for
some time as a gardener and nurseryman.
In 1 8 19 he entered St. Mary's College,
where he secured an education, paying his
way by caring for the college garden. In
1825 he was ordained a deacon of the Ro-
man Catholic church, and in the same year,
a priest. Until 1 838 he had pastoral charges
in Philadelphia, where he founded St. John's
Asylum in 1S29, and a few years later es-
tablished the "Catholic Herald." In 1838
he was made bishop of Basileopolis in parti-
bus and coadjutor to Bishop Dubois, of
New York, and in 1842 became bishop of
New York. In 1839 he founded St. John's
College, at Fordham. In 1850 he was
made archbishop of New York. In 186 1-2
he was a special agent of the United States
in Europe, after which he returned to this
country and remained until his death, Jan-
uary 3, 1864. Archbishop Hughes early
attracted much attention by his controver-
sial correspondence with Rev. John Breck-
inridge in 1833-35. He was a man of great
ability, a fluent and forceful writer and an
able preacher.
RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
was the nineteenth president of the
United States and served from 1877 to 1881.
He was born October 4, 1822, at Delaware,
Ohio, and his ancestry can be traced back
as far as 12S0, when Hayes and Rutherford
v.cre two Scottish chieftans fighting side by
side with Baliol, William Wallace and
Robert Bruce. The Hayes family had for
a coat of arms, a shield, barred and sur-
mounted by a flying eagle. There was a
circle of stars about the eagle, while on a
scroll underneath was their motto, "Recte. "
Misfortune overtook the family and in 1680
George Hayes, the progenitor of the Ameri-
can family, came to Connecticut and settled
at Windsor. Rutherford B. Hayes was
a very delicate child at his birth and was
not expected to live, but he lived in spite of
all and remained at home until he was
seven years old, when he was placed in
school. He was a very tractablepupil, being
always very studious, and in 1838 entered
Kenyon College, graduating from the same
in 1842. He then took up the study of law
in the office of Thomas Sparrow at Colum-
bus, but in a short time he decided to enter
a law school at Cambridge, Massachusetts,
where for two years he was immersed in the
1 '■
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY,
study of law. Mr. Hayes was admitted to
the bar in 1845 in Marietta, Ohio, and very
soon entered upon the active practice of his
profession with Ralph P. Buckland, of
Fremont, Ohio. He remained there three
years, and in 1849 removed to Cincinnati,
Ohio, where his ambition found a new
stimulus. Two events occurred at this
period that had a powerful influence on his
after life. One was his marriage to Miss
Lucy Ware Webb, and the other was his
introduction to a Cincinnati literary club,
a body embracing such men as Salmon P.
Chase, John Pope, and Edward F. Noyes.
In 1856 he was nominated for judge of the
court of common pleas, but declined, and
two years later he was appointed city
solicitor. At the outbreak of the Rebellion
Mr. Hayes was appointed major of the
Twenty-third Ohio Infantry, June 7, 1861,
and in July the regiment was ordered to
■Virginia, and October 15, 1861, saw him
promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of his
regiment. He was made colonel of the
Seventy-ninth Ohio Infantry, but refused to
leave his old comrades; and in the battle of
South Mountain he was wounded very
severely and was unable to rejoin his regi-
ment until November 30, 1862. He had
been promoted to the colonelcy of the
regiment on October 15, 1862. In the
following December he was appointed to
command the Kanawa division and was
given the rank of brigadier-general for
meritorious services in several battles, and
in 1864 he was brevetted major-general for
distinguished services in 1864, during
which campaign he was wounded several
times and five horses had been shot under
him. Mr. Hayes' first venture in politics
was as a Whig, and later he was one of the
first to unite with the Republican party. In
1864 he was elected from the Second Ohio
district to congress, re-elected in 1866,
and in 1867 was elected governor of Ohio
over Allen G. Thurman, and was re-elected
in 1869. Mr. Hayes was elected to the
presidency in 1876, for the term of four
years, and at its close retired to private life,
and went to his home in Fremont, Ohio,
where he died on January 17, 1893.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN became
a celebrated character as the nominee
of the Democratic and Populist parties for
president of the United States in 1896. He
was born March 19, 1S60, at Salem, Illi-
nois. He received his early education in
the public schools of his native county, and
later on he attended the Whipple Academy
at Jacksonville. He also took a course in
Illinois College, and after his graduation
from the same went to Chicago to study
law, and entered the Union College of Law
as a student. He was associated with the
late Lyman Trumbull, of Chicago, during
his law studies, and devoted considerable
time to the questions of government. He
graduated from the college, was admitted to
the bar, and went to Jacksonville, Illinois,
where he was married to Miss Miry Eliza-
beth Baird. In 1887 Mr. Bryan removed
to Lincoln, Nebraska, and formed a law
partnership with Adolphus R. Talbot. He
entered the field of politics, and in 1S8S
was sent as a delegate to the state con-
vention, which was to choose delegates to
the national convention, during which he
made a speech which immediately won him
a high rank in political affairs. He declined,
in the next state convention, a nomination
for lieutenant-governor, and in 1890 he was
elected congressman from the First district
of Nebraska, and was the youngest member
of the fifty-seconj congress. He cham-
oioned the Wilson tariff bill, and served
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPII1'.
159
three terms in the house of representatives.
He next ran for senator, but was defeated
by John M. Thurston, and in 1896 he was
selected by the Democratic and Populist
parties as their nominee for the presidency,
being defeated by William McKinley.
MARVIN HU'
famous rail
IUGHITT, one of America's
ilroad men, was born in
Genoa, New York, and entered the railway
service in 1S56 as superintendent of tele-
graph and trainmaster of the St. Louis, Al-
ton & Chicago, now Chicago & Alton Rail-
road. Mr. Hughitt was superintendent of
the southern division of the Illinois Central
Railroad from 1862 until 1864, and was, later
on, the general superintendent of the road
until 1870. He was then connected with
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail-
road as assistant general manager, and re-
tained this position until 1871, when he be-
came the general manager of Pullman's
Palace Car Company. In 1872 he was made
general superintendent of the Chicago &
Northwestern Railroad. He served during
1876 and up to 18S0 as general manager,
and from 1880 until 1887 as vice-presi-
dent and general manager. He was elected
president of the road in 1887, in recog-
nition of his ability in conducting the
affairs of the road. He was also chosen
president of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minne-
apolis & Omaha Railway; the Fremont, Elk-
horn & Missouri Valley Railroad, and the
Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad,
and his services in these capacities stamped
him as one of the most able railroad mana-
gers of his day.
JOSEPH MEDILL, one of the most
eminent of American journalists, was
born in New Brunswick, Canada, April 6,
1823. In 1831 his father moved to Stark
count}', Ohio, and until 1841 Joseph Medill
worked on his father's farm. Later he
studied law, and began the practice of that
profession in 1846 at New Philadelphia,
Ohio. But the newspaper field was more
attractive to Mr. Medill, and three years
later he founded a free-soil Whig paper at
Coshocton, Ohio, and after that time jour-
nalism received all his abilities. "The
Leader, " another free-soil Whig paper, was
founded by Mr. Medill at Cleveland in 1852.
In that city he also became one of the first
organizers of the Republican party. Shortly
after that event he removed to Chicago and
in 1855, with two partners, he purchased
the " Chicago .Tribune." In the contest for
the nomination for the presidency in i860,
Mr. Medill worked with unflagging zeal for
Mr. Lincoln, his warm personal friend, and
was one of the president's stanchest sup-
porters during the war. Mr. Medill was a,
member of the Illinois Constitutional con-
vention in 1870. President Grant, in 1871,
appointed the editor a member of the first
United States civil service commission, and
the following year, after the fire, he was
elected mayor of Chicago by a great ma-
jority. During 1873 and 1874 Mr. Medill
spent a year in Europe. Upon his return
he purchased a controlling interest in the
" Chicago Tribune."
CLAUSSPRECKELS, the great " sugar
baron," and one of the most famous
representatives of commercial life in Amer-
ica, was born in Hanover, Germany, and
emigrated to the United States in 1840,
locating in New York. He very soon be-
came the proprietor of a small retail gro-
cery store on Church street, and embarked
on a career that has since astonished the
world. He sold out his business and went
to California with the argonauts of 1849,
100
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRATHl'.
not as a prospector, but as a trader, and for
years after his arrival on the coast he was
still engaged as a grocer. At length, after a
quarter of a century of fairly prosperous
business life, he found himself in a position
where an ordinary man would have retired,
but Mr. Spreckles did not retire; he had
merely been gathering capital for the real
work of his life. His brothers had followed
him to California, and in combination with
them he purchased for forty thousand dollars
an interest in the Albany Brewery in San
Francisco. But the field was not extensive
enough for the development of his business
abilities, so Mr. Sprecklas branched out
extensively in the sugar business. He suc-
ceeded in securing the entire output of
sugar that was produced on the Sand-
wich Islands, and after 1885 was known as
the "Sugar King of Sandwich Islands."
He controlled absolutely the sugar trade of
the Pacific coast which was known to be
not less than ten million dollars a year.
CHARLES HENRY PARKHURST,
famous as a clergyman, and for many
years president of the Society for the
Prevention of Crime, was born April 17,
1842, at Framingham, Massachusetts, of
English descent. At the age of sixteen
he was pupil in the grammar school at
Clinton, Massachusetts, and for the ensu-
ing two years was a clerk in a dry goods
store, which position he gave up to prepare
himself for college at Lancaster academy.
Mr. Parkhurst went to Amherst in 1862,
and after taking a thorough course he gradu-
ated in 1866, and in 1867 became the prin-
cipal of the Amherst High School. He re-
tained this position until 1870, when he
visited Germany with the intention of tak-
ing a course in philosophy and theology,
but was forced to abandon this intention on
account of illness in the family causing his
early return from Europe. He accepted the
chair of Latin and Greek in Williston Semi-
nary, Easthampton, Massachusetts, and re-
mained there two years. He then accom-
panied his wife to Europe, and devoted two
years to study in Halle, Leipsic and Bonn.
Upon his return home he spent considerable
time in the study of Sanscrit, and in 1874
he became the pastor of the First Congrega-
tional church at Lenox, Massachusetts. He
gained here his reputation as a pulpit ora-
tor, and on March 9, 1880, he became the
pastor of the Madison Square Presbyterian
church of New York. He was, in 1890,
made a member of the Society for the Pre-
vention of Crime, and the same year be-
came its president. He delivered a sermon
in 1S92 on municipal corruption, for which
he was brought before the grand jury, which
body declared his charges to be without suffi-
cient foundation. But the matter did not end
here, for he immediately went to work on a
second sermon in which he substantiated his
former sermon and wound up by saying,
"I know, for I have seen." He was again
summoned before that august body, and as
a result of his testimony and of the investi-
gation of the jurors themselves, the police
authorities were charged with incompetency
and corruption. Dr. Parkhurst was the
author of the following works: "The Forms
of the Latin Verb, Illustrated by Sanscrit,"
"The Blind Man's Creed and Other Ser-
mons," "The Pattern on the Mount," and
" Three Gates on a Side."
HENRY BERGH, although a writer,
diplomatist and government official,
was noted as a philanthropist — the founder
of the American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals. On his labors for
the dumb creation alone rests his fame.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
161
Alone, in the face of indifference, opposition
and ridicule, he began the reform which is
now recognized as one of the beneficent
movements of the age. Through his exer-
tions as a speaker and lecturer, but above
all as a bold worker, in the street, in the
court room, before the legislature, the cause
he adopted gained friends and rapidly in-
creased in power until it has reached im-
mense proportions and influence. The work
of the society covers all cases of cruelty to
all sorts of animals, employs every moral
agency, social, legislative and personal, and
touches points of vital concern to health as
well as humanity.
Henry Bergh was born in New York
City in 1823, and was educated at Colum-
bia College. In 1863 he was made secre-
tary of the legation to Russia and also
served as vice-consul there. He also de-
voted some time to literary pursuits and was
the author of "Love's Alternative," a
drama; "Married Off," a poem; "'The
Portentous Telegram," "The Ocean Para-
gon;" "The Streets of New York," tales
and sketches.
HENRY BENJAMIN WHIPPLE, one
of the most eminent of American di-
vines, was born in Adams, Jefferson county,
New York, February 15, 1822. He was
brought up in the mercantile business, and
early in life took an active interest in polit-
ical affairs. In 1847 he became a candidate
for holy orders and pursued theological
studies with Rev. W. D. Wilson, D. D.,
afterward professor in Cornell University.
He was ordained deacon in 1849, in Trinity
church, Geneva, New York, by Rt. Rev.
W. H. De Lancey, D. D., and took charge
of Zion church, Rome, New York, Decem-
ber 1, 1849. In 1850, our subject was or-
dained priest by Bishop De Lancey. In
1857 he became rector of the Church of the
Holy Communion, Chicago. On the 30th
of June, 1859, he was chosen bishop of
Minnesota, and took charge of the interests
of the Episcopal church in that state, being
located at Faribault. In i860 Bishop
Whipple, with Revs. I. L. Breck, S. W.
Mauncey and E. S. Peake, organized the
Bishop Seabury Mfission, out of which has
grown the Cathedral of Our Merciful Savior,
the Seabury Divinity School, Shattuck
School and St. Mary's Hall, which have
made Faribault City one of the greatest
educational centers of the northwest. Bishop
Whipple also became noted as the friend
and defender of the North American In-
dians and planted a number of successful
missions among them.
EZRA CORNELL was one of the greatest
philanthropists and friends of education
the country has known. He was born at
Westchester Landing, New York, January
1 1, 1807. He grew to manhood in his na-
tive state and became a prominent figure in
business circles as a successful and self-made
man. Soon after the invention of the elec-
tric telegraph, he devoted his attention to
that enterprise, and accumulated an im-
mense fortune. In 1865, by a gift of five
hundred thousand dollars, he made possible
the founding of Cornell University, which
was named in his honor. He afterward
made additional bequests amountingto many
hundred thousand dollars. His death oc-
curred at Ithaca, New York, December 9,
1874-
TGNATIUS DONNELLY, widely known
I as an author and politician, was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 3,
1 83 1. He was educated at the public
schools of that city, and graduated from the
162
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Central High School in 1849. He studied
law in the office of Judge B. H. Brewster,
and was admitted to the bar in 1852. In
the spring of 1856, Mr. Donnelly emigrated
to Minnesota, then a new territory, and, at
Hastings, resumed the practice of law in
partnership with A. M. Hayes. In 1857,
and again in 1858, he was defeated for state
senator, but in 1859 he was elected by the
Republicans as lieutenant-governor, and re-
elected in 1 86 1. In 1862 he was elected to
represent the Second district of Minnesota
in congress. He was re-elected to the same
office in 1864 and in 1866. He was an
abolitionist and warmly supported President
Lincoln's administration, but was strongly
in favor of leniency toward the people of
the south, after the war. In many ways he
was identified with some of the best meas-
ures brought before the house during his
presence there. In the spring of 1868, at
the request of the Republican national com-
mittee, he canvassed New Hampshire and
Connecticut in the interests of that party.
E. B. Washburne about this time made an
attack on Donnelly in one of the papers of
Minnesota, which was replied to on the floor
of the house by a fierce phillipic that will
long be remembered. Through the inter-
vention of the Washburne interests Mr. Don-
nelly failed -of a re-election in 1870. In
1873 he was elected to the state senate from
Dakota county, and continuously re-elected
until 1878. In 1886 he was elected mem-
ber of the house for two years. In later
years he identified himself with the Popu-
list party.
In 1882, Mr. Donnelly became known as
an author, publishing his first literary work,
"Atlantis, the Antediluvian World," which
passed through over twenty-two editions in
America, several in England, and was trans-
lated into French. This was followed by
" Ragnarok, the Age of Fire and Gravel,"
which attained nearly as much celebrity as
the first, and these two, in the opinion of
scientific critics, are sufficient to stamp the
author as a most capable and painstaking
student of the facts he has collated in them.
The work by which he gained the greatest
notoriety, however, was ' ' The Great Cryp-
togram, or Francis Bacon's Cipher in the
Shakespeare Plays." "Csesar's Colurnn,"
" Dr. Huguet," and other works were pub-
lished subsequently.
STEVEN V. WHITE, a speculator of
Wall Street of national reputation, was
born in Chatham county, North Carolina,
August 1, 1 83 1, and soon afterward re-
moved to Illinois. His home was a log
cabin, and until his eighteenth year he
worked on the farm. Then after several
years of struggle with poverty he graduated
from Knox College, and went to St. Louis,
where he entered a wholesale boot and shoe
house as bookkeeper. He then studied law
and worked as a reporter for the "Missouri
Democrat." After his admission to the bar
he went to New York, in 1865, and became
a member of the banking house of Marvin
& White. Mr. White enjoyed the reputa-
tion of having engineered the only corner
in Wall Street since Commodore Vander-
bilt's time. This was the famous Lacka-
wanna deal in 1883, in which he made a
profit of two million dollars. He was some-
times called " Deacon" White, and, though
a member for many years of the Plymouth
church, he never held that office. Mr.
White was one of the most noted characters
of the street, and has been called an orator,
poet, philanthropist, linguist, abolitionist,
astronomer, schoolmaster, plowboy, and
trapper. He was a lawyer, ex-congress-
man, expert accountant, art critic and theo-
COMPEXO/CM OF BIOGRAPI/r.
163
ldgian. He laid the foundation for a
"Home for Colored People," in Chatham
county, North Carolina, where the greater
part of his father's life was spent, and in
whose memory the work was undertaken.
JAMES A. GARFIELD, the twentieth
president of the United States, was born
November 19, 1831, in Cuyahoga county,
Ohio, and was the son of Abram and Eliza
(Ballou) Garfield. In 1833 the father, an
industrious pioneer farmer, died, and the
care of the family devolved upon Thomas,
to whom James became deeply indebted for
educational and other advantages. As James
grew up he was industrious and worked on
the farm, at carpentering, at chopping wood,
or anything else he found to do, and in the
meantime made the most of his books.
Until he was about sixteen, James' high-
est ambition was to become a' sea captain.
On attaining that age he walked to
Cleveland, and, not being able to find work,
he engaged as a driver on the Ohio & Penn-
sylvania canal, but quit this after a short
time. He attended the seminary at Ches-
ter for about three years, after which he
entered Hiram Institute, a school started by
the Disciples of Christ in 1850. In order
to pay his way he assumed the duties of
janitor and at times taught school. After
completing his course at the last named edu-
cational institution he entered Williams Col-
lege, from which he graduated in 1856. He
afterward returned to Hiram College as its
president. He studied law and was admitted
to the bar in 1859. November 11, 1858,
Mr. Garfield and Lucretia Rudolph were
married.
In 1859 Mr. Garfield made his first polit-
ical speeches, at Hiram and in the neighbor-
hood. The same year he was elected to the
state senate.
On the breaking out of the war, in 1861,
he became lieutenant-colonel of the Forty-
second Ohio Infantry, and, while but a new
soldier, was given command of four regi-
ments of infantry and eight companies of
cavalry, with which he drove the Confeder-
ates under Humphrey Marshall out of Ken-
tucky. January 11, 1862, he was commis-
sioned brigadier-general. He participated
with General Buell in the battle of Shiloh
and the operations around Corinth, and was
then detailed as a member of the Fitz John
Porter court-martial. Reporting to General
Rosecrans, he was assigned to the position
of chief of staff, and resigned his position,
with the rank of major-general, when his
immediate superior was superseded. In
the fall of 1862 Mr. Garfield was elected to
congress and remained in that body, either
in the house or senate, until 1880.
June 8, 1880, at the national Republican
convention, held in Chicago, General Gar-
field was nominated for the presidency, and
was elected. He was inaugurated March
4, 1 88 1, but, July 2, following, he was shot
and fatally wounded by Charles Guiteau for
some fancied political slight, and died Sep-
tember 19, 1 88 1 .
INCREASE MATHER was one of the
1 most prominent preachers, educators and
authors of early times in the New England
states. He was born at Dorchester, Massa-
chusetts, June 21, 1639, and was given an
excellent education, graduating at Harvard
in 1656, and at Trinity College, Dublin,
two years later. He was ordained a min-
ister, and preached in England and America,
and in 1664 became pastor of the North
church, in Boston. In 1685 he became
president of Harvard University, serving
until 1 701. In 1692 he received the first
doctorate in divinity conferred in English
164
C0MPEXD1UM OF BIOGRAPfir.
speaking America. The same year he pro-
cured in England a new charter for Massa-
chusetts, which conferred upon himself the
power of naming the governor, lieutenant-
governor and council. He opposed the
severe punishment of witchcraft, and took
a prominent part in all public affairs of his
day. He was a prolific writer, and became
the author of nearly one hundred publica-
tions, large and small. His death occurred
August 23, 1723, at Boston.
COTTON MATHER, a celebrated minis-
ter in the "Puritan times" of New
England, was born at Boston, Massachu-
setts, February 12, 1663, being a son of
Rev. Increase Mather, and a grandson of
John Cotton. A biography of his father
will be found elsewhere in this volume.
Cotton Mather received his early education
in his native city, was trained by Ezekiel
Cheever, and graduated at Harvard College
in 1678; became a teacher, and in 1684
was ordained as associate pastor of North
church, Boston, with his father, having by
persistent effort overcome an impediment in
his speech. He labored with great zeal as
a pastor, endeavoring also, to establish the
ascendancy of the church and ministry in
civil affairs, and in the putting down of
witchcraft by legal sentences, a work in
which he took an active part and through
which he is best known in history. He re-
ceived the degree of D. D. in 17 10, con-
ferred by the University of Glasgow, and
F. R. S. in 171 3. His death occurred at
Boston, February 13, 1728. He was the
author of many publications, among which
were " Memorable Providences Relating to
Witchcraft," "Wonders of the Invisible
World," "Essays to Do Good," " Mag-
nalia Christi Americana," and " Illustra-
tions of the Sacred Scriptures." Some of
these works are quaint and curious, full of
learning, piety and prejudice. A well-
known writer, in summing up the life and
character of Cotton Mather, says: ' ' Mather,
with all the faults of his early years, was a
man of great excellence of character. He
labored zealously for the benefit of the
poor, for mariners, slaves, criminals and
Indians. His cruelty and credulity were
the faults of his age, while his philanthro-
phy was far more rare in that age than in
the present."
WILLIAM A. PEFFER, who won a
national reputation during the time
he was in the United States senate, was
born on a farm in Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, September 10, 1831. He
drew his education from the public schools
of his native state and at the age of fifteen
taught school" in winter, working on a farm
in the summer. In June, 1853, while yet a
young man, he removed to Indiana, and
opened up a farm in St. Joseph county.
In 1859 he made his way to Missouri and
settled on a farm in Morgan county, but on
account of the war and the unsettled state
of the country, he moved to Illinois in Feb-
ruary, 1862, and enlisted as a private in
Company F, Eighty-third Illinois Infantry,
the following August. He was promoted
to the rank of second lieutenant in
March, 1863, and served successively as
quartermaster, adjutant, post adjutant,
judge advocate of a military commission,
and depot quartermaster in the engineer
department at Nashville. He was mustered
out of the service June 26, 1865. He had,
during his leisure hours while in the army,
studied law, and in August, 1865, he com-
menced the practice of that profession at
Clarksville, Tennessee. He removed to
Kansas in 1870 and practiced there until
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
165
1878, in the meantime establishing and
conducting two newspapers, the " Fredonia
Journal " and " Coffey ville Journal."
Mr. Peffer was elected to the state senate
in 1874 and was a prominent and influential
member of several important committees.
He served as a presidential elector in 1880.
The year following he became editor of the
" Kansas Farmer," which he made a promi-
nent and useful paper. In 1890 Mr. Peffer
was elected to the United States senate as
a member of the People's party and took
his seat March 4, 1891. After six years of
service Senator Peffer was succeeded in
March, 1897, by William A. Harris.
ROBERT MORRIS.— The name of this
financier, statesman and patriot is
closely connected with the early history of
the United States. He was a native of
England, born January 20, 1734, and came
to America with his father when thirteen
years old. Until 1754 he served in the
counting house of Charles Willing, then
formed a partnership with that gentleman's
son, which continued with great success until
1793. In 1776 Mr. Morris was a delegate
to the Continental congress, and, although
once voting against the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, signed that paper on its adop-
tion, and was several times thereafter re-
elected to congress. During the Revolu-
tionary war the services of Robert Morris
in aiding the government during its finan-
cial difficulties were of incalculable value; he
freely pledged his personal credit for sup-
plies for the army, atone time to the amount
of about one and a half million dollars, with-
out which the campaign of 1781 would have
been almost impossible. Mr. Morris was
appointed superintendent of finance in 1781
and served until 1784, continuing to employ
his personal credit to facilitate the needs of
his department. He also served as mem-
ber of the Pennsylvania legislature, and
from 1786 to 1795 was United States sena-
tor, declining meanwhile the position of sec-
retary of the treasury, and suggesting the
name of Alexander Hamilton, who was ap-
pointed to that post. During the latter
part of his life Mr. Morris was engaged ex-
tensively in the China trade, and later be-
came involved in land speculations, which
ruined him, so that the remaining days of
this noble man and patriot were passed
in confinement for debt. His death occurred
at Philadelphia, May 8, 1806.
WILLIAM SHARON, a senator and
capitalist, and mine owner of na-
tional reputation, was born at Smithfield,
Ohio, January 9, 1821. He was reared
upon a farm and in his boyhood given excel-
lent educational advantages and in 1842
entered Athens College. He remained in
that institution about two years, after which
he studied law with Edwin M. Stanton, and
was admitted to the bar at St. Louis and
commenced practice. His health failing,
however, he abandoned his profession and
engaged in mercantile pursuits at Carrollton,
Greene county, Illinois. During the time
of the gold excitement of 1849, Mr. Sharon
went to California, whither so many went,
and engaged in business at Sacramento.
The next year he removed to San Francisco,
where he operated in real estate. Being
largely interested in its silver mines, he re-
moved to Nevada, locating at Virginia City,
and acquired an immense fortune. He be-
came one of the trustees of the Bank of
California, and during the troubles that
arose on the death of William Ralston, the
president of that institution, was largely in-
strumental in bringing its affairs into a satis-
factory shape.
166
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Mr. Sharon was elected to represent the
state of Nevada in the United States senate
in 1875, and remained a member of that
body until 1881. He was always distin-
guished for close application to business.
Senator Sharon died November 13, 1885.
HENRY W. SHAW, an American hu-
morist who became celebrated under
the non-de-plume of " Josh Billings," gained
his fame from the witticism of his writing,
and peculiar eccentricity of style and spell-
ing. He was born at Lanesborough, Mas-
sachusetts, in 18 1 8. For twenty-five years
he lived in different parts of the western
states, following various lines of business,
including farming and auctioneering, and in
the latter capacity settled at Poughkeepsie,
New York, in 1858. In 1863 he began
writing humorous sketches for the news-
papers over the signature of "Josh Bill-
ings," and became immediately 'popular
both as a writer and lecturer. He pub-
lished a number of volumes of comic
sketches and edited an " Annual Allminax "
for a number of years, which had a wide cir-
culation. His death occurred October 14,
1885, at Monterey, California.
JOHN M. THURSTON, well known
throughout this country as a senator
and political leader, was born at Mont-
pelier, Vermont, August 21, 1847, of an
old Puritan family which dated back their
ancestry in this country to 1636, and among
whom were soldiers of the Revolution and
of the war of 181 2-1 5.
Young Thurston was brought west by
the family in 1854, they settling at Madison,
Wisconsin, and two years later at Beaver
Dam, where John M. received his schooling
in the public schools and at Wayland Uni-
versity. His father enlisted as a private in
the First Wisconsin Cavalry and died while
in the service, in the spring of 1863.
Young Thurston, thrown on his own
resources while attaining an education, sup-
ported himself by farm work, driving team
and at other manual labor. He studied law
and was admitted to the bar May 21, 1869,
and in October of the same year located in
Omaha, Nebraska. He was elected a
member of the city council in 1872, city
attorney in 1874 and a member of the Ne-
braska legislature in 1874. He was a mem-
ber of the Republican national convention
of 1884 and temporary chairman of that of
1888. Taking quite an interest in the
younger members of his party he was instru-
mental in forming the Republican League
of the United States, of which he was presi-
dent for two years. He was then elected a
member of the United States senate, in
1895, to represent the state of Nebraska.
As an attorney John M. Thurston occu-
pied a very prominent place, and for a num-
ber of years held the position of general
solicitor of the Union Pacific railroad sys-
tem.
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON, a celebrated
American naturalist, was born in Louis-
iana, May 4, 1780, and was the son of an
opulent French naval officer who owned a
plantation in the then French colony. In
his childhood he became deeply interested
in the study of birds and their habits. About
1794 he was sent to Paris, France, where
he was partially educated, and studied de-
signing under the famous painter, Jacques
Louis David. He returned to the Unit-
ed States about 1798, and settled on a
farm his father gave him, on the Perkiomen
creek in eastern Pennsylvania. He mar-
ried Lucy Bakewell in 1808, and, disposing
of his property, removed to Louisville, Ken-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr.
1(57
tucky, where he engaged in mercantile pur-
suits. About two years later he began to
make extensive excursions through the pri-
meval forests of the southern and south-
western states, in the exploration of which
he passed many years. He made colored
drawings of all the species of birds that he
found. For several years he made his home
with his wife and children at Henderson, on
the Ohio river. It is said that about this
time he had failed in business and was re-
duced to poverty, but kept the wolf from the
door by giving dancing lessons and in portrait
painting. In 1824, at Philadelphia, he met
Charles Lucien Bonaparte, who encouraged
him to publish a work on ornithology. Two
years later he went to England and com-
menced the publication of his great work,
"The Birds of America." He obtained a
large number of subscribers at one thousand
dollars a copy. This work, embracing five
volumes of letterpress and five volumes of
beautifully colored plates, was pronounced
by Cuvier " the most magnificent monument
that art ever raised to ornithology."
Audubon returned to America in 1829,
and explored the forests, lakes and coast
from Canada to Florida, collecting material
for another work. This was his "Ornitho-
logical Biography; or, An Account of the
Habits of the Birds of the United States,
Etc." He revisited England in 1831, and
returned in 1839, after which he resicied on
the Hudson, near New York City, in which
place he died January 27, 1S51. During
his life he issued a cheaper edition of his
great work, and was, in association with
Dr. Bachman, preparing a work on the
quadrupeds of North America.
the superior British squadron, under Com-
modore Dovvnie, September i 1, 18 14. Com-
modore McDonough was born in Newcastle
county, Delaware, December 23, 1783, and
when -seventeen years old entered the
United States navy as midshipman, serving
in the expedition to Tripoli, under Decatur,
in 1803-4. In !8o7 he was promoted to
lieutenant, and in July, 1813, was made a
commander. The following year, on Lake
Champlain, he gained the celebrated victory
above referred to, for which he was again
promoted; also received a gold medal from
congress, and from the state of Vermont an
estate on Cumberland Head, in view of the
scene of the engagement. His death oc-
curred at sea, November 16, 1825, while he
was returning from the command of the
Mediterranean squadron.
COMMODORE THOMAS McDON-
OUGH gained his principal fame from
he celebrated victory which he gained over
CHARLES FRANCIS HALL, one of
America's most celebrated arctie ex-
plorers, was born in Rochester, New Hamp-
shire, in 1 82 1. He was a blacksmith by
trade, and located in Cincinnati, where later
he became a journalist. For several years
he devoted a great deal of attention to cal-
orics. Becoming interested in the fate of the
explorer, Sir John Franklin, he joined the
expedition fitted out by Henry Grinnell and
sailed in the ship "George Henry," under
Captain Buddington, which left New Lon-
don, Connecticut, in 1S60. He returned in
1862, and two years later published his
" Arctic Researches." He again joined the
expedition fitted out by Mr. Grinnell, and
sailed in the ship, " Monticello," under
Captain Buddington, this time remaining in
the arctic region over four years. On his
return he brought back many evidences of
having found trace of Franklin.
In 1 87 1 the ' ' Polaris " was fitted out by
the United States government, and Captain
108
COMPI£XDIL'M OF BIOGRAPHY
Hall again sailed for the polar regions. He
died in Greenland in October, 1871, and the
"Polaris" was finally abandoned by the
crew, a portion of which, under Captain
Tyson, drifted with the icebergs for one
hundred and ninety-five days, until picked
up by the " Tigress," on the 30th of April,
1873. The other portion of the crew built
boats, and, after a perilous voyage, were
picked up in June, 1873, by a whaling vessel.
OLIVER ELLSWORTH, the third chief
justice of the United States, was born
at Windsor, Connecticut, April 29, 1745.
After graduating from Princeton, he took
up the study of law, and was licensed
to practice in 177 1 . In 1777 he was elected
as a delegate to the Continental congress.
He was judge of the superior court of his
state in 1784, and was chosen as a delegate
\o the constitutional convention in 1787.
He sided with the Federalists, was elected
to the United States senate in 1789, and
was a firm supporter of Washington's policy.
He won great distinction in that body, and
was appointed chief justice of the supreme
court of the United States by Washington
in 1796. The relations between this coun-
try and France having become violently
strained, he was sent to Paris as envoy ex-
traordinary in 1799, and was instrumental
in negotiating the treaty that averted war.
He resigned the following year, and was suc-
ceeded by Chief Justice Marshall. His
death occurred November 26, 1807.
MELLVILLE WESTON FULLER, an
eminent American jurist and chief
justice of the United States supreme court,
was born in Augusta, Maine, in 1833. His
education was looked after in boyhood, and
at the age of sixteen he entered Bowdoin
College, and on graduation entered the law
department of Harvard University. He then
entered the law office of his uncle at Ban-
gor, Maine, and soon after opened an office
for the practice of law at Augusta. He was
an alderman from his ward, city attorney,
and editor of the "Age," a rival newspaper
of the "Journal," which was conducted by-
James G. Blaine. He soon decided to re-
move to Chicago, then springing into notice
as a western metropolis. He at once iden-
tified himself with the interests of the
new city, and by this means acquired an
experience that fitted him for his future
work. He devoted himself assiduously to
his profession, and had the good fortune to
connect himself with the many suits grow-
ing out of the prorogation of the Illinois
legislature in 1863. It was not long before
he became one of the foremost lawyers in
Chicago. He made a three days' speech in
the heresy trial of Dr. Cheney, which added
to his fame. He was appointed chief jus-
tice of the United States by President Cleve-
land in 1888, the youngest man who ever
held that exalted position. His income from
his practice had for many years reached
thirty thousand dollars annually.
CHESTER ALLEN ARTHUR, twenty-
first president of the United States, was
born in Franklin county, Vermont, Octo-
ber 5, 1830. He was educated at Union
College, Schenectady, New York, from
which he graduated with honor, and en-
gaged in teaching school. After two years
he entered the law office of Judge E. D.
Culver, of New York, as a student. He was
admitted to the bar, and formed a partner-
ship with an old room-mate, Henry D. Gar-
diner, with the intention of practicing law
in the west, but after a few months' search
for a location, they returned to New York
and opened an office, and at once entered
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPI/r.
1G9
upon a profitable practice. He was shortly
afterwards married to a daughter of Lieu-
tenant Herndon, of the United States navy.
Mrs. Arthur died shortly before his nomina-
tion for the vice-presidency. In 1856 a
colored woman in New York was ejected
from a street car and retained Mr. Arthur
in a suit against the company, and obtained
a verdict of five hundred dollars. It result-
ed in a general order by all superintendents
of street railways in the city to admit col-
ored people to the cars.
Mr. Arthur was a delegate to the first
Republican national convention, and was
appointed judge-advocate for the Second
Brigade of New York, and then chief engi-
neer of Governor Morgan's staff. At the
close of his term he resumed the practice of
iaw in New York. In 1872 he was made
collector of the port of New York, which
position he held four years. At the Chi-
cago convention in 1880 Mr. Arthur was
nominated for the vice-presidency with
Garfield, and after an exciting campaign
was elected. Four months after the inau-
guration President Garfield was assassinated,
and Mr. Arthur was called to take the reins
of government. His administration of
affairs was generally satisfactory. At its
close he resumed the practice of law in New
York. His death occurred November 18,
1886.
ISAAC HULL was one of the most con-
spicuous and prominent naval officers in
the early history of America. He was born
at Derby, Connecticut, March 9, 1775, be-
ing the son of a Revolutionary officer. Isaac
Hull early in life became a mariner, and
when nineteen years of age became master
of a merchant ship in the London trade.
In 1798 he became a lieutenant in the United
States navy, and three years later was made
10
first lieutenant of the frigate "Constitution."
He distinguished himself by skill and valor
against the French on the coast of Hayti, and
served with distinction in the Barbary expe-
ditions. July 12, 1812, he sailed from
Annapolis, in command of the "Constitu-
tion," and for three days was pursued by a
British squadron of five ships, from which
he escaped by bold and ingenious seaman-
ship. In August of the same year he cap-
tured the frigate " Guerriere," one of his
late pursuers and for this, the first naval
advantage of that war, he received a gold
medal from congress. Isaac Hull was later
made naval commissioner and had command
of various navy yards. His death occurred
February 13, 1843, at Philadelphia.
M'
ARCUS ALONZO HANNA, famous
as a prominent business man, political
manager and senator, was born in New Lis-
bon, Columbiana county, Ohio, September
24, 1837. He removed with his father's
family to Cleveland, in the same state, in
1852, and in the latter city, and in the
Western Reserve College, at Hudson, Ohio,
received his education. He became an em-
ploye of the wholesale grocery house of
Hanna, Garrettson & Co., his father being
the senior member of the firm. The latter
died in 1862, and Marcus represented his
interest until 1867, when the business was
closed up.
Our subject then became a member of
the firm of Rhodes & Co., engaged in the
iron and coal business, but at the expira-
tion of ten years this firm was changed to
that of M. A. Hanna & Co. Mr. Hanna
was long identified with the lake carrying
business, being interested in vessels on the
lakes and in the construction of them. As
a director of the Globe Ship Manufacturing
Company, of Cleveland, president of the
170
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIIV.
Union National Bank, of Cleveland, president
of the Cleveland City Railway Company,
and president of the Chapin Mining Com-
pany, of Lake Superior, he became promi-
nently identified with the business world.
He was one of the government directors of
the Union Pacific Railroad, being appointed
to that position in 1885 by President Cleve-
land.
Mr. Hanna was a delegate to the na-
tional Republican convention of 1884, which
was his first appearance in the political
world. He was a delegate to the con-
ventions of 1888 and 1896, and was elect-
ed chairman of the Republican national
committee the latter year, and practically
managed the campaign of William McKin-
ley for the presidency. In 1897 Mr. Hanna
was appointed senator by Governor Bush-
nell, of Ohio, to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of John Sherman.
GEORGE PEABODY was one of the
best known and esteemed of all philan-
thropists, whose munificent gifts to Ameri-
can institutions have proven of so much
benefit to the cause of humanity. He was
born February 18, 1795, at South Danvers,
Massachusetts, which is now called Pea-
body in honor of him. He received but a
meager education, and during his early life
he was a mercantile clerk at Thetford, Ver-
mont, and Newburyport, Massachusetts. In
1 8 14 he became a partner with Elisha
Riggs, at Georgetown, District of Columbia,
and in 1 8 1 5 they moved to Baltimore, Mary-
land. The business grew to great propor-
tions, and they opened branch houses at
New York and Philadelphia. Mr. Peabody
made several voyages to Europe of com-
mercial importance, and in 1829 became the
head of the firm, which was then called
Peabody, Riggs & Co., and in 1838 he re-
moved to London, England. He retired
from the firm, and established the cele-
brated banking house, in which he accumu-
lated a large fortune. He aided Mr. Grin-
nell in fitting out Dr. Kane's Arctic expedi-
tion, in 1852, and founded in the same yeaf
the Peabody Institute, in his native town,
which he afterwards endowed with two hun-
dred thousand dollars. Mr. Peabody visited
the United States in 1857, and gave three
hundred thousand dollars for the establish-
ment at Baltimore of an institute of science,
literature and fine arts. In 1862 he gave
two million five hundred thousand dollars
for the erecting of lodging houses for the
poor in London, and on another visit to the
United States he gave one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars to establish at Harvard a
museum and professorship of American
archaeology and ethnology, an equal sum for
the endowment of a department of physical
science at Yale, and gave the "Southern
Educational Fund " two million one hundred
thousand dollars, besides devoting two hun-
dred thousand dollars to various objects of
public utility. Mr. Peabody made a final
visit to the United States in 1869, and on
this occasion he raised the endowment of
the Baltimore Institute one million dollars,
created the Peabody Museum, at Salem,
Massachusetts, with a fund of one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, gave sixty thou-
sand dollars to Washington College, Vir-
ginia; fifty thousand dollars for a "Peabody
Museum," at North Danvers, thirty thousand
dollars to Phillips Academy, Andover; twen-
ty-five thousand dollars to Kenyon College,
Ohio, and twenty thousand dollars to the
Maryland Historical Society. Mr. Peabody
also endowed an art school at Rome, in
1S68. He died in London, November 4,
1869, less then a month after he had re-
turned from the United States, and his
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIIV.
171
remains were brought to the United States
and interred in his native town. He made
several other bequests in his will, and left
his family about five million dollars.
AC
ATTHEW S. QUAY, a celebrated
blic man and senator, was born at
Dillsburgh, York county, Pennsylvania,
September 30, 1S33, of an old Scotch-Irish
family, some of whom had settled in the
Keystone state in 1715. Matthew received
a good education, graduating from the Jef-
ferson College at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania,
at the age of seventeen. He then traveled,
taught school, lectured, and studied law
under Judge Sterrett. He was admitted to
the bar in 1854, was appointed a prothon-
otary in 1S55 and elected to the same
office in 1856 and 1859. Later he was
made lieutenant of the Pennsylvania Re
serves, lieutenant-colonel and assistant com-
missary-general of the state, private secre-
tary of the famous war governor of Pennsyl-
vania, Andrew G. Curtin, colonel of the
One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylva-
nia Infantry (nine months men), military
state agent and held other offices at different
times.
Mr. Quay was a member of the house of
representatives of the state of Pennsylvania
from 1865 to 1S68. He filled the office of
secretary of the commonwealth from 1872
to 1878, and the position of delegate-at-
large to the Republican national conventions
of 1S72, 1876, 1880 and 1888. Hewasthe
editor of the "Beaver Radical" and the
" Philadelphia Record " for a time, and held
many offices in the state conventions and on
their committees. He was elected secre-
tary of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
1S69, and served three years, and in 18S5
was chosen state treasurer. In 1886 his
great abilities pointed him out as the
natural candidate for United States senator,
and he was accordingly elected to that posi-
tion and re-elected thereto in 1892. He
was always noted for a genius for organiza-
tion, and as a political leader had but few
peers. Cool, serene, far-seeing, resourceful,
holding his impulses and forces in hand, he
never quailed from any policy he adopted,
and carried to success most, if not all, of
the political campaigns in which he took
part.
JAMES K. JONES, a noted senator and
political leader, attained national fame
while chairman of the national executive
committee of the Democratic party in the
presidential campaign of 1S96. He was a
native of Marshall county, Mississippi, and
was born September 29, 1839. His father,
a well-to-do planter, settled in Dallas count)',
Arkansas, in 1848, and there the subject of
this sketch received a careful education.
During the Civil war he served as a private
soldier in the Confederate army. From
1866 to 1873 he passed a quiet life as a
planter, but in the latter year was admitted
to the bar and began the practice of law.
About the same time he was elected to the
Arkansas senate and re-elected in 1874. In
1877 he was made president of the senate
and the following year was unsuccessful in
obtaining a nomination as member of con-
gress. In 18S0 he was elected representa-
tive and his ability at once placed him in a
foremost position. He was re-elected to
congress in 1882 and in 1884, and served as
an influential member on the committee of
ways and means. March 4, 1S85, Mr. Jones
took his seat in the United States senate to
succeed James D. Walker, and was after-
ward re-elected to the same office. In this
branch of the national legislature his capa-
bilities had a wider scope, and he was rec-
172
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
ognized as one of the ablest leaders of his
party.
On the nomination of William J. Bryan
as its candidate for the presidency by the
national convention of the Democratic
party, held in Chicago in 1896, Mr. Jones
was made chairman of the national com-
mittee.
THEODORE THOMAS, one of the most
celebrated musical directors America
has known, was born in the kingdom of Han-
over in 1 835, and received his musical educa-
tion from his father. He was avery apt scholar
and played the violin at public concerts at
the age of six years. He came with his
parents to America in 1845, and joined the
orchestra of the Italian Opera in New York
City. He played the first violin in the
orchestra which accompanied Jenny Lind
in her first American concert. In 1861 Mr.
Thomas established the orchestra that be-
came famous under his management, and
gave his first symphony concerts in New
York in 1864. He began his first "summer
night concerts" in the same city in 1868,
and in 1869 he started on his first tour of
the principal cities in the United States,
which he made every year for many years.
He was director of the College of Music in
Cincinnati, Ohio, but resigned in 1880, after
having held the position for three years.
Later he organized one of the greatest
and most successful orchestras ever brought
together in the city of Chicago, and was
very prominent in musical affairs during the
World's Columbian Exposition, thereby add-
ing greatly to his fame.
CYRUS HALL McCORMICK, the fa-
mous inventor and manufacturer, was
born at Walnut Grove, Virginia, February
15,1 809. When he was seven years old his
father invented a reaping machine. It was
a rude contrivance and not successful. In
1 83 1 Cyrus made his invention of a reaping
machine, and had it patented three years
later. By successive improvements he was
able to keep his machines at the head of
its class during his life. In 1 845 he removed
to Cincinnati, Ohio, and two years later
located in Chicago, where he amassed a
great fortune in manufacturing reapers and
harvesting machinery. In 1859 he estab-
lished the Theological Seminary of the
Northwest at Chicago, an institution for pre-
paring young men for the ministry in the
Presbyterian church, and he afterward en-
dowed a chair in the Washington and Lee
College at Lexington, Virginia. He mani-
fested great interest in educational and re-
ligious matters, and by his great wealth he
was able to extend aid and encouragement
to many charitable causes. His death oc-
curred May 13, 1884.
DAVID ROSS LOCKE.— Under the
pen name of Petroleum V. Nasby, this
well-known humorist and writer made for
himself a household reputation, and estab-
lished a school that has many imitators.
The subject of this article was born at
Vestal, Broome county, New York, Sep-
tember 30, 1833. After receiving his edu-
cation in the county of his birth he en-
tered the office of the ' ' Democrat, " at Cort-
land, New York, where he learned the
printer's trade. He was successively editor
and publisher of the ' 'Plymouth Advertiser, "
the "Mansfield Herald," the " Bucyrus
Journal," and the "Findlay Jeffersonian."
Later he became editor of the "Toledo
Blade." In i860 he commenced his
" Nasby" articles, several series of which
have been given the world in book form.
Under a mask of misspelling, and in a QuaiD*;
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPH1'.
173
and humorous style, a keen political satire
is couched — a most effective weapon.
Mr. Locke was the author of a num-
ber of serious political pamphlets, and
later on a more pretentious work, " The
Morals of Abou Ben Adhem." As a news-
paper writer he gained many laurels and his
works are widely read. Abraham Lincoln
is said to have been a warm admirer of P.
V. Nasby, of " Confedrit X Roads" fame.
Mr. Locke died at Toledo, Ohio, February
15, 1888.
RUSSELL A. ALGER, noted as a sol-
dier, governor and secretary of war,
was born in Medina county, Ohio, February
27, 1836, and was the son of Russell and
Caroline (Moulton) Alger. At the age of
twelve years he was left an orphan and pen-
niless. For about a year he worked for
his board and clothing, and attended school
part of the time. In 1850 he found a place
which paid small wages, and out of his
scanty earnings helped his brother and sister.
While there working on a farm he found
time to attend the Richfield Academy, and
by hard work between times managed to get
a fair education for that time. The last
two years of his attendance at this institu-
tion of learning he taught school during the
winter months. In 1857 he commenced the
study of law, and was admitted to the bar
in 1S59. For a while he found employ-
ment in Cleveland, Ohio, but impaired
health induced him to remove to Grand
Rapids, where he engaged in the lumber
business. He was thus engaged when the
Civil war broke out, and, his business suf-
fering and his savings swept away, he en-
listed as a private in the Second Michigan
Cavalry. He was promoted to be captain
the following month, and major for gallant
conduct at Boonesville, Mississippi, July 1,
1862. October 16, 1862, he was made
lieutenant-colonel of the Sixth Michigan
Cavalry, and in February, 1863, colonel of
the Fifth Michigan Cavalry. He rendered
excellent service in the Gettysburg cam-
paign. He was wounded at Boonesboro,
Maryland, and on returning to his command
took part with Sherman in the campaign in
the Shenandoah Valley. For services ren-
dered, that famous soldier recommended
him for promotion, and he was brevetted
major-general of volunteers. In 1866 Gen-
eral Alger took up his residence at Detroit,
and prospered exceedingly in his business,
which was that of lumbering, and grew
quite wealthy. In 1884 he was a delegate
to the Republican national convention, and
the same year was elected governor of
Michigan. He declined a nomination for
re-election to the latter office, in 18S7, and
was the following year a candidate for the
nomination for president. In 1889 he was
elected commander-in-chief of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and at different
times occupied many offices in other or-
ganizations.
In March, 1897, President McKinley
appointed General Alger secretary of war.
CYRUS WEST FIELD, the father of
submarine telegraphy, was the son of
the Rev. David D. Field, D.D., a Congre-
gational minister, and was born at Stock-
bridge, Massachusetts, November 30, 1819.
He was educated in his native town, and at
the age of fifteen years became a clerk in a
store in New York City. Being gifted with
excellent business ability Mr. Field pros-
pered and became the head of a large mer-
cantile house. In 1853 he spent about six
months in travel in South America. On his
return he became interested in ocean teleg-
raphy. Being solicited to aid in the con-
171
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
struction of a land telegraph across New
Foundland to receive the news from a line
of fast steamers it was proposed to run from
from Ireland to St. Johns, the idea struck
him to carry the line across the broad At-
lantic. In 1350 Mr. Field obtained a con-
cession from the legislature of Newfound-
land, giving him the sole right for fifty years
to land submarine cables on the shores of
that island. In company with Peter Cooper,
Moses Taylor, Marshall O. Roberts and
Chandler White, he organized a company
under the name of the New York, New-
foundland & London Telegraph Company.
In two years the line from New York across
Newfoundland was built. The first cable
connecting Cape Breton Island with New-
foundland having been lost in a storm while
being laid in 1855, another was put down in
1856. In the latter year Mr. Field went to
London and organized the Atlantic Tele-
graph Company, furnishing one-fourth of the
capital himself. Both governments loaned
ships to carry out the enterprise. Mr. Field
accompanied the expeditions- of 1857 and
two in 1858. The first and second cables
were failures, and the third worked but a
short time and then ceased. The people of
both continents became incredulous of the
feasibility of laying a successful cable under
so wide an expanse of sea, and the war
breaking out shortly after, nothing was done
until 1865-66. Mr. Field, in the former
year, again made the attempt, and the Great
Eastern laid some one thousand two hun-
dred miles when the cable parted and was
lost. The following year the same vessel
succeeded in laying the entire cable, and
picked up the one lost the year before, and
both were carried to America's shore. After
thirteen years of care and toil Mr. Field had
his reward. He was the recipient of many
medals and honors from both home and
abroad. He gave his attention after this,
to establishing telegraphic communication
throughout the world and many other large
enterprises, notably the construction of ele-
vated railroads in New York. Mr. Field
died July 1 1, 1S92.
G ROVER CLEVELAND, the twenty-
second president of the United States,
was born in Caldwell, Essex county, New
Jersey, March 18, 1837, and was the son
of Rev. Richard and Annie (Neale) Cleve-
land. The father, of distinguished New
England ancestry, was a Presbyterian min-
ister in charge of the church at Caldwell at
the time.
When Grover was about three years of
age the family removed to Fayetteville,
Onondaga county, New York, where he
attended the district school, and was in the
academy for a short time. His father be-
lieving that boys should early learn to labor,
Grover entered a village store and worked
for the sum of fifty dollars for the first year.
While he was thus engaged the family re-
moved to Clinton, New York, and there
young Cleveland took up Hs studies at the
academy. The death of his father dashed
all his hopes of a collegiate education, the
family being left in straightened circum-
stances, and Grover started out to battle
for himself. After acting for a year (1853-
54) as assistant teacher and bookkeeper in
the Institution for the Blind at New York
City, he went to Buffalo. A short time
after he entered the law office of Rogers,
Bowen & Rogers, of that city, and after a
hard struggle with adverse circumstances,
was admitted to the bar in 1859. He be-
came confidential and managing clerk for
the firm under whom he had studied, and
remained with them until 1863. In the lat-
ter year he was appointed district attorney
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
175
of Erie county. It was during his incum-
bency of this office that, on being nominated
by the Democrats for supervisor, he came
within thirteen votes of election, although
the district was usually Republican by two
hundred and fifty majority. In i866Grover
Cleveland formed a partnership with Isaac
V. Vanderpoel. The most of the work here
fell upon the shoulders of our subject, and
he soon won a good standing at the bar of
the state. In 1869 Mr. Cleveland associated
himself in business with A. P. Laning and
Oscar Folsom, and under the firm name of
Laning, Cleveland & Folsom soon built up a
fair practice. In the fall of 1870 Mr. Cleve-
land was elected sheriff of Erie county, an
office which he filled for four years, after
which he resumed his profession, with L. K.
Bass and Wilson S. Bissell as partners.
This firm was strong and popular and
shortly was in possession of a lucrative
practice. Mr. Bass retired from the firm
in 1879, and George J. Secard was admit-
ted a member in 1SS1. In the latter year
Mr. Cleveland was elected mayor of Buffalo,
and in 1882 he was chosen governor by
the enormous majority of one hundred and
ninety-two thousand votes. July 11, 1884,
he was nominated for the presidency by the
Democratic national convention, and in
November following was elected.
Mr. Cleveland, after serving one term as
president of the United States, in 1888 was
nominated by his party to succeed himself,
but he failed of the election, being beaten
by Benjamin Harrison. In 1892, however,
being nominated again in opposition to the
then incumbent of the presidency, Mr. Har-
rison, Grover Cleveland was elected pres-
ident for the second time and served for the
usual term of four years. In 1897 Mr.
Cleveland retired from the chair of the first
magistrate of the nation, and in New York
City resumed the practice of law, in which
city he had established himself in 1889.
June 2, 1886, Grover Cleveland was
united in marriage with Miss Frances Fol-
som, the daughter of his former partner.
ALEXANDER WINCHELL, for many
years one of the greatest of American
scientists, and one of the most noted and
prolific writers on scientific subjects, was
born in Duchess county, New York, Decem-
ber 31, 1824. He received a thorough col-
legiate education, and graduated at the
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connect-
icut, in 1847. His mind took a scientific-
turn, which manifested itself while he was
yet a boy, and in 1848 he became teacher
of natural sciences at the Armenian Semi-
nary, in his native state, a position which
he filled for three years. In 185 1-3 he oc-
cupied the same position in the Mesopo-
tamia Female Seminary, in Alabama, after
which he was president of the Masonic Fe-
male Seminary, in Alabama. In 1853 he
became connected with the University of
Michigan, at Ann Arbor, at which institu-
tion he performed the most important work
of his life, and gained a wide reputation as
a scientist. He held many important posi-
tions, among which were the following:
Professor of physics and civil engineering at
the University of Michigan, also of geology,
zoology and botany, and later professor of
geology and palaeontology at the same insti-
tution. He also, for a time, was president
of the Michigan Teachers' Association, and
state geologist of Michigan. Professor
Winchell was a very prolific writer on scien-
tific subjects, and published many standard
works, his most important and widely known
being those devoted to geology. He also
contributed a large number of articles to
scientific and popular journals.
176
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRArJIT.
ANDREW HULL FOOTE, of the
United States navy, was a native of
New England, born at New Haven, Con-
necticut, May 4, 1S08. He entered the
navy, as a midshipman, December 4, 1822.
He slowly rose in his chosen profession, at-
taining the rank of lieutenant in 1830, com-
mander in 1852 and captain in 1861.
Among the distinguished men in the break-
ing out of the Civil war, but few stood higher
in the estimation of his brother officers than
Foote, and when, in the fall of 1861, he
was appointed to the command of the flotilla
then building on the Mississippi, the act
gave great satisfaction to the service.
Although embarrassed by want of navy
yards and supplies, Foote threw himself into
his new work with unusual energy. He
overcame all obstacles and in the new, and,
until that time, untried experiment, of creat-
ing and maintaining a navy on a river,
achieved a success beyond the expectations
of the country. Great incredulity existed as
to the possibility of carrying on hostilities
on a river where batteries from the shore
might bar the passage. But in spite of all,
Foote soon had a navy on the great river,
and by the heroic qualities of the crews en-
trusted to him, demonstrated the utility of
this new departure in naval architecture.
All being prepared, February 6, 1862, Foote
took Fort Henry after a hotly-contested
action. On the 14th of the same month,
for an hour and a half engaged the batteries
■of Fort Donelson, with four ironclads and
two wooden gunboats, thereby dishearten-
ing the garrison and assisting in its capture.
April 7th of the same year, after several
-hotly-contested actions, Commodore Foote
received the surrender of Island No. 10, one
of the great strongholds of the Confederacy
on the Mississippi river. Foote having been
wounded at Fort Donelson, and. by neglect
it having become so serious as to endanger
his life, he was forced to resign his command
and return home. June 16, 1862, he re-
ceived the thanks of congress and was pro-
moted to the rank of rear admiral. He was
appointed chief of the bureau of equipment
and recruiting. June 4, 1863, he was
ordered to the fleet off Charleston, to super-
cede Rear Admiral Dupont, but on his way
to that destination was taken sick at New
York, and died June 26, 1863.
NELSON A. MILES, the well-known sol-
dier, was born at Westminster, Massa-
chusetts, August 8, 1 839. His ancestors set-
tled in that state in 1643 among the early
pioneers, and their descendants were, many
of them, to be found among those battling
against Great Britain during Revolutionary
times and during the war of 1812. Nelson
was reared on a farm, received an academic
education, and in early manhood engaged in
mercantile pursuits in Boston. Early in
1 86 1 he raised a company and offered his
services to the government, and although
commissioned as captain, on account of his
youth went out as first lieutenant in the
Twenty-second Massachusetts Infantry. In
1 862 he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel
and colonel of the Sixty-first New York In-
fantry. At the request of Generals Grant
and Meade he was made a brigadier by
President Lincoln. He participated in all
but one of the battles of the Army of the
Potomac until the close of the war. During
the latter part of the time he commanded
the first division of the Second Corps.
General Miles was wounded at the battles
of Fair Oaks, Fredericksburg and Chan-
cellorsville, and received four brevets for
distinguished service. During the recon-
struction period he commanded in North
Carolina, and on the reorganization of the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
177
regular army he was made colonel of in-
fantry. In 1880 he was promoted to the
rank of brigadier-general, and in 1890 to
that of major-general. He successfully con-
ducted several campaigns among the In-
dians, and his name is known among the
tribes as a friend when they are peacefully
inclined. He many times averted war
with the red men by judicious and humane
settlement of difficulties without the military
power. In 1892 General Miles was given
command of the proceedings in dedicating
the World's Fair at Chicago, and in the
summer of 1894, during the great railroad
strike at the same city, General Miles, then
in command of the department, had the
disposal of the troops sent to protect the
United States mails. On the retirement of
General J. M. Schofield, in 1895, General
Miles became the ranking major-general of
the United States army and the head of its
forces.
JUNIUS BRUTUS BOOTH, the great
vj actor, though born in London (1796), is
more intimately connected with the Amer-
ican than wjth the English stage, and his
popularity in America was almost un-
bounded, while in England he was not a
prime favorite. He presented ' ' Richard III. "
in Richmond on his first appearance on the
American stage in 1821. This was his
greatest role, and in it he has never had an
equal. In October of the same year he
appeared in New York. After a long and
successful career he gave his final perform-
ance at New Orleans in 1852. He con-
tracted a severe cold, and for lack of proper
medical attention, if resulted in his death
on November 30th of that year. He was,
without question, one of the greatest tra-
gedians that ever lived. In addition to his
professional art and genius, he was skilled
in languages, drawing, painting and sculp-
ture. In his private life he was reserved,
and even eccentric. Strange stories are
related of his peculiarities, and on his farm
near Baltimore he forbade the use of animal
food, the taking of animal life, and even the
felling of trees, and brought his butter and
eggs to the Baltimore markets in person.
Junius Brutus Booth, known as the elder
Booth, gave to the world three sons of note:
Junius Brutus Booth, Jr., the husband of
Agnes Booth, the actress; John Wilkes
Booth, the author of the greatest tragedy
in the life of our nation; Edwin Booth, in
his day the greatest actor of America, if not.
of the world.
TAMES MONTGOMERY BAILEY, fa-
<J mous as the "Danbury News Man,"
was one of the best known American humor-
ists, and was born September 25, 1841, at
Albany, N. Y. He adopted journalism as a
profession and started in his chosen work on
the "Danbury Times," which paper he pur-
chased on his return from the war. Mr.
Bailey also purchased the "Jeffersonian,"
another paper of Danbury, and consolidated
them, forming the "Danbury News," which
paper soon acquired a celebrity throughout,
the United States, from an incessant flow of
rich, healthy, and original humor, which the
pen of the editor imparted to its columns,
and he succeeded in raising the circulation
of the paper from a few hundred copies a.
week to over forty thousand. The facilities
of a country printing office were not so com-
plete in those days as they are now, but Mr.
Bailey was resourceful, and he put on re-
lays'of help and ran his presses night and
day, and always prepared his matter a week
ahead of time. The "Danbury News Man"
was a new figure in literature, as his humor
was so different from that of the newspaper
178
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHV
wits — who had preceded him, and he maybe
called the pioneer of that school now so
familiar. Mr. Bailey published in book
form "Life in Danbury" and "The Danbury
News Man's Almanac. " One of his most
admirable traits was philanthrophy, as he
gave with unstinted generosity to all comers,
and died comparatively poor, notwithstand-
ing his ownership of a very profitable busi-
ness which netted him an income of $40,000
a year. He died March 4, 1894.
MATTHEW HALE CARPENTER, a
famous lawyer, orator and senator,
was born in Moretown, Vermont, December
22, 1824. After receiving a common-school
education he entered the United States
Military Academy at West Point, but only
remained two years. On returning to his
home he commenced the study of law with
Paul Dillingham, afterwards governor of
Vermont, and whose daughter he married.
In 1847 he was admitted to practice at the
bar in Vermont, but he went to Boston and
for atimestudied withRufusChoate. In 1848
he moved wes-t, settling at Beloit, Wisconsin,
and commencing the practice of his profes-
sion soon obtained a wide reputation for
ability. In 1856 Mr. Carpenter removed to
Milwaukee, where he found a wider field for
his now increasing powers. During the
Civil war, although a strong Democrat, he
was loyal to the government and aided the
Union cause to his utmost. In 1868 he
was counsel for the government in a test
case to settle the legality of the reconstruc-
tion act before the United States supreme
court, and won his case against Jeremiah S.
Black. This gave him the election for sen-
ator from Wisconsin in 1869, and he served
until 1875, during part of which time he was
president pro tempore of the senate. Failing
of a re-election Mr. Carpenter resumed the
practice of law, and when William W.
Belknap, late secretary of war, was im-
peached, entered the case for General
Belknap, and secured an acquittal. During
the sitting of the electoral commission of
1877, Mr. Carpenter appeared for Samuel
J. Tilden, although the Republican man-
agers had intended to have him represent
R. B. Hayes. Mr. Carpenter was elected'
to the United States senate again in 1879,
and remained a member of that body until
the day of his death, which occurred at
Washington, District of Columbia, Feb-
ruary 24, 18S1.
Senator Carpenter's real name was De-
catur Merritt Hammond Carpenter but about
1852 he changed it to the one by which he
was universally known.
THOMAS E. WATSON, lawyer and
congressman, the well-known Geor-
gian, whose name appears at the head of
this sketch, made himself a place in the his-
tory of our country by his ability, energy
and fervid oratory. He was born in Col-
umbia (now McDurfte) county, Georgia,
September 5, 1856. He had a common-
school education, and in 1872 entered Mer-
cer University, at Macon, Georgia, as fresh-
man, but for want of money left the college
at the end of his sophomore year. He
taught school, studying law at the same
time, until 1875, when he was admitted to
the bar. He opened an office and com-
menced practice in Thomson, Georgia, in
November, 1876. He carried on a success-
ful business, and bought land and farmed on
an extensive scale.
Mr. Watson was a delegate to the Demo-
cratic state convention of 1S80, and was a
member of the house of representatives of
the legislature of his native state in 1S82.
In 1888 he was an elector-at-large on the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
179
Cleveland ticket, and in 1890 was elected
to represent his district in the fifty-second
congress. This latter election is said to have
been due entirely to Mr. Watson's "dash-
ing display of ability, eloquence and popular
power." In his later years he championed
the alliance principles and policies until he
became a leader in the movement. In the
heated campaign of 1896, Mr. Watson was
nominated as the candidate for vice-presi-
dent on the Bryan ticket by that part of the
People's party that would not endorse the
nominee for the same position made by the
Democratic party.
FREDERICK A. P. BARNARD, mathe-
matician, physicist and educator, was
born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, May 5, 1809.
He graduated from Yale College in 1 828, and
in 1830 became a tutor in the same. From
1837 to 1848 he was professor of mathe-
matics and natural philosophy in the Uni-
versity of Alabama, and- from 1S48 to 1850,
professor of chemistry and natural history
in the same educational institution. In
1854 he became connected with the Univer-
sity of Mississippi, of which he became
president in 1856, and chancellor in 1858.
In 1854 he took orders in the Protestant
Episcopal church. In 1861 Professor Barnard
resigned his chancellorship and chair in the
university, and in 1863 and 1864 was con-
nected with the United States coast survey
in charge of chart printing and lithography.
In May, 1864, he was elected president of
Columbia College, New York City, which
he served for a number of years.
Professor Barnard received +he honorary
degree of LL. D. from Jefferson College,
Mississippi, in 1855, and from Yale College
in 1859; also the degree of S. T. D. from
the University of Mississippi in 1861, and
that of L. H. D. from the regents of the
University of the State of New York in 1872.
In 1S60 he was a member of the eclipse
party sent by the United States coast sur-
vey to Labrador, and during his absence
was elected president of the American Asso-
ciation for the Advancement of Science. In
the act of congress establishing the National
Academy of Sciences in 1863, he was named
as one of the original corporators. In 1867
he was one of the United States commis-
sioners to the Paris Exposition. He was
a member of the American Philosophical
Society, associate member of the Amer-
ican Academy of Arts and Sciences, and
many other philosophical and scientific
societies at home and abroad. Dr. Barnard
was thoroughly identified with the progress
of the age in those branches. His published
works relate wholly to scientific or educa-
tional subjects, chief among which are the
following: Report on Collegiate Education;
Art Culture; History of the American Coast
Survey; University Education; Undulatory
Theory of Light; Machinery and Processes
of the Industrial Arts, and Apparatus of the
Exact Sciences, Metric System of Weights
and Measures, etc.
EDWIN McMASTERS STANTON, the
secretary of war during the great Civil
war, was recognized as one of America's
foremost public men. He was born Decem-
ber 19, 1814, at Steubenville, Ohio, where
he received his education and studied law.
He was admitted to the bar in 1836, and
was reporter of the supreme court of Ohio
from 1842 until 1845. He removed to
Washington in 1S56 to attend to his prac-
tice before the United States supreme
court, and in 1S5S he went to California as
counsel for the government in certain land
cases, which he carried to a successful
conclusion. Mr. Stanton was appointed
180
Z^VMPENDIUM OF BIOGJRAFXJ,
attorney-general of the United States in
December, 1860, by President Buchanan.
On March 4, 1S61, Mr. Stanton went with
the outgoing administration and returned to
the practice of his profession. He was
appointed secretary of war by President
Lincoln January 20, 1862, to succeed Simon
Cameron. After the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln and the accession of Johnson
to the presidency, Mr. Stanton was still in
the same office. He held it for three years,
and by his strict adherence to the Repub-
lican party, he antagonized President John-
son, who endeavored to remove him. On
August 5, 1867, the president requested him
to resign, and appointed General Grant to
succeed him, but when congress convened
in December the senate refused to concur in
the suspension. Mr. Stanton returned to
his post until the president again removed
him from office, but was again foiled by
congress. Soon after, however, he retired
voluntarily from office and took up the
practice of law, in which he engaged until
his death, on December 24, 1869.
ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, the eminent
theologian and founder of the church
known as Disciples of Christ, was born in
the country of Antrim, Ireland, in June,
1788, and was the son of Rev. Thomas
Campbell, a Scoth-Irish "Seceder. " After
studying at the University of Glasgow, he,
in company with his father, came to America
in 1808, and both began labor in western
Pennsylvania to restore Christianity to
apostolic simplicity. They organized a
church at Brush Run, Washington count}',
Pennsylvania, in 181 1, which, however, the
year following, adopted Baptist views, and
in 181 3, with other congregations joined a
Baptist association. Some of the under-
lying principles and many practices of the
Campbells and their disciples were repug-
nant to the Baptist church and considerable
friction was the result, and 1827 saw the
separation of that church from the Church
of Christ, as it is sometimes called. The
latter, then reorganized themselves anew.
They reject all creeds, professing to receive
the Bible as their only guide. In most mat-
ters of faith they are essentially in accord with
the other Evangelical Christian churches,
especially in regard to the person and work
of Christ, the resurrection and judgment.
They celebrate the Lord's Supper weekly,
hold that repentance and faith should precede
baptism, attaching much importance to the
latter ordinance. On all other points they
encourage individual liberty of thought. In
1841, Alexander Campbell founded Bethany
College, West Virginia, of which he was
president for many years, and died March 4,
1866.
The denomination which they founded
is quite a large and important church body
in the United States. They support quite
a number of institutions of learning, among
which are: Bethany College, West Virginia;
Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio; Northwestern
Christian University, Indianapolis, Indiana;
Eureka College, Illinois; Kentucky Univer-
sity, Lexington, Kentucky; Oskaloosa
College, Iowa; and a number of seminaries
and schools. They also support several
monthly and quarterly religious periodicals
and many papers, both in the United States
and Great Britain and her dependencies.
WILLIAM L.WILSON, the noted West
Virginian, who was postmaster-gener-
al under President Cleveland's second ad-
ministration, won distinction as the father
of the famous " Wilson bill," which became
a law under the same administration. Mr.
Wiison was born May 3, 1843, in Jeffer-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
181
son county, West Virginia, and received
a good education at the Charlestown
Academy, where he prepared himself for
college. He attended the Columbian Col-
lege in the District of Columbia, from
which he graduated in i860, and then
attended the University of Virginia. Mr.
Wilson served in the Confederate army dur-
ing the war, after which he was a professor
in Columbian College. Later he entered
into the practice of law at Charlestown.
He attended the Democratic convention
held at Cincinnati in 1880, as a delegate,
and later was chosen as one of the electors
for the state-at-large on the Hancock
ticket. In the Democratic convention at
Chicago in 1892, Mr. Wilson was its per-
manent president. He was elected pres-
ident of the West Virginia University in
1882, entering upon the duties of his office
on September 6, but having received the
nomination for the forty-seventh congress
on the Democratic ticket, he resigned the
presidency of the university in June, 1883,
to take his seat in congress. Mr. Wil-
son was honored by the Columbian Uni-
versity and the Hampden-Sidney College,
both of which conferred upon him the de-
gree of LL. D. In 18S4 he was appointed
regent of the Smithsonian Institution at
Washington for two years, and at the end
of his term was re-appointed. He was
elected to the forty-seventh, forty-ninth,
fiftieth, fifty-first, fifty-second and fifty-
third congresses, but was defeated for re-
election to the fifty- fourth congress. Upon
the resignation of Mr. Bissell from the office
of postmaster- general, Mr. Wilson was ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy by President
Cleveland. His many years of public serv-
ice and the prominent part he took in the
discussion of public questions gave him a
national reputation.
CALVIN S. BRICE, a successful and
noted financier and politician, was
born at Denmark, Ohio, September 17,
1845, of an old Maryland family, who trace
their lineage from the Bryces, or Bruces, of
Airth, Scotland. The father of our subject
was a prominent Presbyterian clergyman,
who removed to Ohio in 1812. Calvin S.
Brice was educated in the common schools
of his native town, and at the age of thir-
teen entered the preparatory department of
Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and the
following year entered the freshman class.
On the breaking out of the Civil war,
although but fifteen years old, he enlisted in
a company of three-months men. He re-
turned to complete his college course, but
re-enlisted in Company A, Eighty-sixth
Ohio Infantry, and served in the Virginia
campaign. He then returned to college,
from which he graduated in 1863. In 1864
he organized Company E, One Hundred
and Eightieth Ohio Infantry, and served
until the close of hostilities, in the western,
armies.
On his return home Mr. Brice entered
the law department of the University of
Michigan, and in 1866 was admitted to the
bar in Cincinnati. In the winter of 1870-
71 he went to Europe in the interests of the
Lake Erie & Louisville Railroad and pro-
cured a foreign loan. This road became
the Lake Erie & Western, of which, in
1887, Mr. Brice became president. This
was the first railroad in which he had a
personal interest. The conception, build-
ing and sale of the New York, Chicago &
St. Louis Railroad, known as the "Nickel
Plate," was largely due to him. He was
connected with many other railroads, among
which may be mentioned the following:
Chicago & Atlantic; Ohio Central; Rich-
mond & Danville; Richmond & West Point
182
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Terminal; East Tennessee, Virginia &
Georgia; Memphis & Charleston; Mobile &
Birmingham; Kentucky Central; Duluth,
South Shore & Atlantic, and the Marquette,
Houghton & Ontonagon. In 1890 he was
elected United States senator from Ohio.
Notwithstanding his extensive business inter-
ests, Senator Brice gave a considerable
time to political matters, becoming one of
the leaders of the Democratic party and one
of the most widely known men in the
country.
BENJAMIN HARRISON, twenty-third
president of the United States, was
born August 20, 1S33, at North Bend,
Hamilton county, Ohio, in the house of his
grandfather, General William Henry Har-
rison, afterwards president of the United
States. His great-grandfather, Benjamin
Harrison, was a member of the Continental
congress, signed the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, and was three times elected gov-
ernor of Virginia.
The subject of this sketch entered Farm-
ers College at an early age, and two years
later entered Miami University, at Oxford,
Ohio. Upon graduation he entered the
office of Stover & Gwyne, of Cincinnati, as a
law student. He was admitted to the bar
two years later, and having inherited about
eight hundred dollars worth of property, he
married the daughter of Doctor Scott, pres-
ident of a female school at Oxford, Ohio,
and selected Indianapolis, Indiana, to begin
practice. In i860 he was nominated by
the Republicans as candidate for state
supreme court reporter, and did his first
political speaking in that campaign. He
was elected, and after two years in that
position he organized the Seventieth Indi-
ana Infantry, of which he was made colonel,
and with his regiment joined General Sher-
man's army. For bravery displayed at Re-
saca and Peach Tree Creek he was made a
brigadier-general. In the meantime the
office of supreme court reporter had been
declared vacant, and another party elected
to fill it. In the fall of 1864, having been
nominated for that office, General Harrison
obtained a thirty-day leave of absence, went
to Indiana, canvassed the state and was
elected. As he was about to rejoin his
command he was stricken down by an attack
of fever. After his recovery he joined
General Sherman's army and participated in
the closing events of the war.
In 1868 General Harrison declined to
be a candidate for the office of supreme
court reporter, and returned to the practice
of the law. His brilliant campaign for the
office of governor of Indiana in 1876,
brought him into public notice, although he
was defeated. He took a prominent part
in the presidential canvass of 1880, and was
chosen United States senator from Indiana,
serving six years. He then returned to the
practice of his profession. In 1888 he was
selected by the Republican convention at
Chicago as candidate for the presidency, and
after a heated campaign was elected over
Cleveland. He was inaugurated March 4,
18S9, and signed the McKinley bill October
1, 1890, perhaps the most distinctive feature
of his administration. In 1892 he was
again the nominee of the Republican party
for president, but was defeated by Grover
Cleveland, the Democratic candidate, and
again resumed the practice of law in Indian-
apolis.
J
OHN CRAIG HAVEMEYER, the
celebrated merchant and sugar refiner,
was born in New York City in 1833. His
father, William F. Havemeyer, and grand-
father, William Havemeyer, weie both sugar
COArPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
183
refiners. The latter named came from
Buckeburg, Germany, in 1799, and settled
in New York, establishing one of the first
refineries in that city. William F. succeeded
his father, and at an early age retired from
business with a competency. He was three
times mayor of his native city, New York.
John C. Havemeyer was educated in
private schools, and was prepared for college
at Columbia College grammar school.
Owing to failing eyesight he was unable to
finish his college course, and began his
business career in a wholesale grocery store,
where he remained two years. In 1854,
after a year's travel abroad, he assumed the
responsibility of the office work in the sugar
refinery of Havemeyer & Molter, but two
years later etablished a refinery of his own
in Brooklyn. This afterwards developed into
the immense business of Havemeyer & Elder.
The capital was furnished by his father,
and, chafing under the anxiety caused by the
use of borrowed money, he sold out his
interest and returned to Havemeyer &
Molter. This firm dissolving the next year,
John C. declined an offer of partnership
from the successors, not wishing to use
borrowed money. For two years he remain-
ed with the house, receiving a share of the
profits as compensation. For some years
thereafter he was engaged in the commission
business, until failing health caused his
retirement. In 1871, he again engaged in
the sugar refining business at Greenport,
Long Island, with his brother and another
partner, under the firm name of Havemeyer
Brothers & Co. Here he remained until
1880, when his health again declined.
During the greater part of his life Mr.
Havemeyer was identified with many benev-
olent societies, including the New York
Port Society, Missionary Society of the
.Methodist Church, American Bible Society,
New York Sabbath School Society and
others. He was active in Young Men's
Christian Association work in New York,
and organized and was the first president of
an affiliated society of the same at Yonkers.
He was director of several railroad corpo-
rations and a trustee of the Continental Trust
Company of New York.
WALTER QUINTIN GRESHAM, an
eminent American statesman and
jurist, was born March 17, 1833, near Cory-
don, Harrison county, Indiana. He ac-
quired his education in the local schools of
the county and at Bloomington Academy,
although he did not graduate. After leav-
ing college he read law with Judge Porter
at Corydon, and just before the war he be-
gan to take an interest in politics. Mr.
Gresham was elected to the legislature from
Harrison county as a Republican; previous
to this the district had been represented by
a Democrat. At the commencement of
hostilities he was made lieutenant-colonel of
the Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry, but
served in that regiment only a short time,
when he was appointed colonel of the Fifty-
third Indiana, and served under General
Grant at the siege of Vicksburg as brigadier-
general. Later he was under Sherman in
the famous "March to the Sea," and com-
manded a division of Blair's corps at the
siege of Atlanta where he was so badly
wounded in the leg that he was compelled
to return home. On his way home he was
forced to stop at New Albany, where he re-
mained a year before he was able to leave.
He was brevetted major-general at the close
of the war. While at New Albany, Mr.
Gresham was appointed state agent, his
duty being to pay the interest on the state
debt in New York, and he ran twice for
congress against ex-Speaker Kerr, but was
184
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRATHT.
defeated in both cases, although he greatly
reduced the Democratic majority. He was
held in high esteem by President Grant,
who offered him the portfolio of the interior
but Mr. Gresham declined, but accepted
the appointment of United States judge for
Indiana to succeed David McDonald.
Judge Gresham served on the United States
district court bench until 1883, when he
was appointed postmaster-general by Presi-
dent Arthur, but held that office only a few
months when he was made secretary of the
treasury. Near the end of President
Arthur's term. Judge Gresham was ap-
pointed judge of the United States circuit
court of the district composed of Indiana,
Illinois and contiguous states, which he held
until 1S93. Judge Gresham was one of the
presidential possibilities in the National Re-
publican convention in 1888, when General
Harrison was nominated, and was also men-
tioned for president in 1892. Later the
People's party made a strenuous effort to
induce him to become their candidate for
president, he refusing the offer, however,
and a few weeks before the election he an-
nounced that he would support Mr. Cleve-
land, the Democratic nominee for president.
Upon the election of Mr. Cleveland in the
fall of 1892, Judge Gresham was made the
secretary of state, and filled that position
until his death on May 28, 1895, at Wash-
ington, District of Columbia.
ELISHA B. ANDREWS, noted as an ed-
ucator and college president, was born
at Hinsdale, New Hampshire, January 10,
1844, his father and mother being Erastus
and Elmira (Bartlett) Andrews. In 1861,
he entered the service of the general gov-
ernment as private and non-commissioned
officer in the First Connecticut Heavy Ar-
tillery, and in 1863 was promoted to the
rank of second lieutenant. Returning home
he was prepared for college at Powers In-
stitute and at the Wesleyan Academy, and
entered Brown University. From here he
was graduated in 1870. For the succeeding
two years he was principal of the Connecti-
cut Literary Institute at Suffield, Connecticut.
Completing a course at the Newton Theo-
logical Institute, he was ordained pastor of
the First Baptist church at Beverly, Massa-
chusetts, July 2, 1874. The following
year he became president of the Denison
University, at Granville, Ohio. In 1879
he accepted the professorship of homiletics,
pastoral duties and church polity at Newton
Theological Institute. In 1882 he was
elected to the chair of history and political
economy at Brown University. The Uni-
versity of Nebraska honored him with an
LL. D. in 1884, and the same year Colby
University conferred the degree of D. D.
In 1888 he became professor of political
economy and public economy at Cornell
University, but the next year returned to
Brown University as its president. From
the time of his inauguration the college work
broadened in many ways. Many timely
and generous donations from friends and
alumni of the college were influenced by
him, and large additions made "to the same.
Professor Andrews published, in 1887,
"Institutes of General History," and in
1888, " Institutes of Economics."
JOHN WILLIAM DRAPER, the subject
of the present biography, was, during his
life, one of the most distinguished chemists
and scientific writers in America. He was
an Englishman by birth, born at Liverpool,
May 5, 181 1, and was reared in his native
land, receiving an excellent education,
graduating at the University of London. In
1833 he came to the United States, and
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIIV.
181
settled first in Pennsylvania. He graduated
in medicine at the University of Philadel-
phia, in 1836, and for three years following
was professor of chemistry and physiology
at Hampden-Sidney College. He then be-
came professor of chemistry in the New York
University, with which institution he was
prominently connected for many years. It
is stated on excellent authority that Pro-
fessor Draper, in 1839, took the first photo-
graphic picture ever taken from life. He
was a great student, and carried on many
important and intricate experiments along
scientific lines. He discovered many of the
fundamental facts of spectrum analysis,
which he published. He published a number
of works of great merit, many of which are
recognized as authority upon the subjects of
which they treat. Among his work were:
"Human Physiology, Statistical and Dyna-
mical of the Conditions and Cause of Life
in Man," "History of Intellectual Develop-
ment of Europe," " History of the Ameri-
can Civil War," besides a number of works
on chemistry, optics and mathematics. Pro-
fessor Draper continued to hold a high place
among the scientific scholars of America
until his death, which occurred in January,
1882.
GEORGE W. PECK, ex-governor of
the state of Wisconsin and a famous
journalist and humorist, was born in Jeffer-
son county. New York, September 28, 1840.
When he was about three years of age his
parents removed to Wisconsin, settling near
Whitewater, where young Peck received his
education at the public schools. At fifteen
he entered the office of the "Whitewater
Register," where he learned the printer's
art. He helped start the "Jefferson County
Republican" later on, but sold out his
interest therein and set type in the office of
11
the "State Journal," at Madison. At the
outbreak of the war he enlisted in the
Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry as a private, and
after serving four years returned a second
lieutenant. He then started the " Ripon
Representative," which he sold not long
after, and removing to New York, was on
the staff of Mark Pomeroy's "Democrat."
Going to La Crosse, later, he conducted the
La Crosse branch paper, a half interest in
which he bought in 1874. He next started
"Peck's Sun," which four years later he
removed to Milwaukee. While in La
Crosse he was chief of police one year, and
also chief clerk of the Democratic assembly
in 1874. It was in 1878 that Mr. Peck
took his paper to Milwaukee, and achieved
his first permanent success, the circulation
increasing to 80,000. For ten years he was
regarded as one of the most original, versa-
tile and entertaining writers in the country,
and he has . delineated every phase of
country newspaper life, army life, domestic
experience, travel and city adventure. Up
to 1890 Mr. Peck took but little part in
politics, but in that year was elected mayor
of Milwaukee on the Democratic ticket.
The following August he was elected gov-
ernor of Wisconsin by a large majority,
the "Bennett School Bill" figuring to a
large extent in his favor.
Mr. Peck, besides many newspaper arti-
cles in his peculiar vein and numerous lect-
ures, bubbling over with fun, is known to
fame by the following books: "Peck's Bad
Boy and his Pa," and "The Grocery Man
and Peck's Bad Boy."
CHARLES O'CONOR, who was for
many years the acknowledged leader
of the legal profession of New York City,
was also conceded to be one of the greatest
lawyers America has produced. He was
188
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
born in New York City in 1804, his father
being an educated Irish gentleman. Charles
received a. common-school education, and
early took up the study of law, being ad-
mitted to practice in 1824. His close ap-
plication and untiring energy and industry
soon placed him in the front rank of the
profession, and within a few years he was
handling many of the most important cases.
One of the first great cases he had and which
gained him a wide reputation, was that of
"Jack, the Fugitive Slave," in 1835, in which
his masterful argument before the supreme
court attracted wide attention and com-
ment. Charles O'Conor was a Democrat
all his life. He did not aspire to office-
holding, however, and never held any office
except that of district attorney under Presi-
dent Pierce's administration, which he only
retained a short time. He took an active
interest, however, in public questions, and
was a member of the state (New York) con-
stitutional convention in 1864. In 1868 he
was nominated for the presidency by the
" Extreme Democrats." His death occurred
in May, 1884.
SIMON BOLIVAR BU.CKNER, a noted
American officer and major-general in
the Confederate army, was born in Ken-
tucky in 1823. He graduated from West
Point Military Academy in 1844, served in
the United States infantry and was later as-
signed to commissary duty with the rank of
captain. He served several years at fron-
tier posts, and was assistant professor in the
military academy in 1846. He was with
General Scott in the Mexican war, and en-
gaged in all the battles from Vera Cruz to
the capture of the Mexican capital. He
was wounded at Cherubusco and brevetted
first lieutenant, and at Molino del Rey was
brevetted captain. After the close of the
Mexican war he returned to West Point as
assistant instructor, and was then assigned
to commissary duty at New York. He re-
signed in 1855 and became superintendent
of construction of the Chicago custom house.
He was made adjutant-general, with the
rank of colonel, of Illinois militia, and was
colonel of Illinois volunteers raised for the
Utah expedition, but was not mustered into
service. In i860 he removed to Kentucky,
where he settled on a farm near Louisville
and became inspector-general in command
of the Kentucky Home Guards. At the
opening of the Civil war he joined the Con-
federate army, and was given command at
Bowling Green, Kentucky, which he was
compelled to abandon after the capture of
Fort Henry. He then retired tp Fort Don-
elson, and was there captured with sixteen
thousand men, and an immense store of pro-
visions, by General Grant, in February,
1862. He was held as a prisoner of war
at Fort Warren until August of that year.
He commanded a division of Hardee's corps
in Bragg's Army of the Tennessee, and was
afterward assigned to the third division and
participated in the battles of Chickamauga,
and Murfreesboro. He was with Kirby
Smith when that general surrendered his
army to General Canby in May, 1865. He
was an unsuccessful candidate for the vice-
presidency on the Gold Democratic ticket
with Senator John M. Palmer in 1896.
SIMON KENTON, one of the famous pio-
neers and scouts whose names fill the
pages of the early history of our country,
was born in Fauquier county, Virginia,
April 3, 1755. In consequence of an affray,
at the age of eighteen, young Kenton went
to Kentucky, then the "Dark and Bloody
Ground," and became associated with Dan-
iel Boone and other pioneers of that region.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY,
L89
For a short time he acted as a scout and
spy for Lord Dunmore, the British governor
of Virginia, but afterward taking the side
of the struggling colonists, participated in
the war for independence west of the Alle-
ghanies. In 1784 he returned to Virginia,
but did not remain there long, going back
with his family to Kentucky. From
that time until 1793 he participated in all
the combats and battles of that time, and
until "Mad Anthony" Wayne swept the
Valley of the Ohio, and settled the suprem-
acy of the whites in that region. Kenton
laid claim to large tracts of land in the new
country he had helped to open up, but
through ignorance of law, and the growing
value of the land, lost it all and was reduced
to poverty. During the war with England
in 1812-15, Kenton took part in the inva-
sion of Canada with the Kentucky troops
and participated in the battle of the Thames.
He finally bad land granted him by the
legislature of Kentucky, and received a pen-
sion from the United States government.
He died in Logan county, Ohio, April 29,
1836.
ELIHU BENJAMIN WASHBURNE, an
American statesman of eminence, was
born in Livermore, Maine, September 23,
1 8 16. He learned the trade of printer, but
abandoned that calling at the age of eight-
een and entered the Kent's Hill Academy at
Rending, Maine, and then took up the study
of law, reading in Hallowell, Boston, and at
the Harvard Law School. He began prac-
tice at Galena, Illinois, in 1840. He was
elected to congress in 1852, and represented
his district in that body continuously until
March, 1 S69, and at the time of his retire-
ment he had served a greater number of
consecutive terms than any other member
of the house. In 1873 President Grant ap-
pointed him secretary of state, which posi-
tion he resigned to accept that of minister
to France. During the Franco- Prussian
war, including the siege of Paris and the
reign of the Commune, Mr. Washburne re-
mained at his post, protecting the lives and
property of his countrymen, as well as that
of other foreign residents in Paris, while the
ministers of all other powers abandoned
their posts at a time when they were most
needed. As far as possible he extended
protection to unfortunate German residents,
who were the particular objects of hatred of
the populace, and his firmness and the suc-
cess which attended his efforts won the ad-
miration of all Europe. Mr. Washburne
died at Chicago, Illinois, October 22, 18S7.
U HLLIAM CRAMP, one of the most
V V extensive shipbuilders of this coun-
try, was born in Kensington, then a suburb,
now a part of Philadelphia, in 1806. He
received a thorough English education, and
when he left school was associated with
Samuel Grice, one of the most eminent
naval architects of his day. In 1S30, hav-
ing mastered all the details of shipbuilding,
Mr. Cramp engaged in business on his own
account. By reason of ability and excel-
lent work he prospered from the start, until
now, in the hands of his sons, under the
name of William Cramp & Sons' Ship and
Engine Building Company, it has become the
mpst complete shipbuilding plant and flaval
arsenal in the western hemisphere, and fully
equal to any in the world. As Mr. Cramp's
sons attained manhood they learned their
father's profession, and were admitted to a
partnership. In 1872 the firm was incor-
porated under the title given above. Until
i860 wood was used in building vessels, al-
though pace was kept with all advances in
the art of shipbuilding. At the opening of
190
COMr/:XBICM of bjograpiiv
the w^r came an unexpected demand for
war vessels, which they promptly met. The
sea-going ironclad "New Ironsides" was
built by them in 1862, followed by a num-
ber of formidable ironclads and the cruiser
"Chattanooga." They subsequently built
several war vessels for the Russian and
other governments which added to their
reputation. When the American steamship
line was established in 1870, the Cramps
were commissioned to build for it four first-
class iron steamships, the " Pennsylvania,"
"Ohio," "Indiana" and "Illinois," which
they turned out in rapid order, some of the
finest specimens of the naval architecture of
their day. William Cramp remained at the
head of the great company he had founded
until his death, which occurred January 6,
1879.
Charles H. Cramp, the successor of his
father as head of the William Cramp &
Sons' Ship and Engine Building Company,
was born in Philadelphia May 9, 1829, and
received an excellent education in his native
city, which he sedulously sought to sup-
plement by close study until he became
an authority on general subjects and the
best naval architect on the western hemis-
phere. Many of the best vessels of our
new navy were built by this immense con-
cern.
WASHINGTON ALLSTON, probably
the greatest American painter, was
born in South Carolina in 1779. He was
sent to school at the age of seven years at
Newport, Rhode Island, where he met Ed-
ward Malbone, two years his senior, and
who later became a painter of note. The
friendship that sprang up between them un-
doubtedly influenced young Allston in the
choice of a profession. He graduated from
Harvard in 1800, and went to England the
following year, after pursuing his studies for
a year under his friend Malbone at his home
in South Carolina. He became a student
at the Royal Academy where the great
American, Benjamin West, presided, and
who became his intimate friend. Allston
later went to Paris, and then to Italy, where
four years were spent, mostly at Rome. In
1809 he returned to America, but soon after
returned to London, having married in the
meantime a sister of Dr. Channing. In
a short time his first great work appeared,
"The Dead Man Restored to Life by the
Bones of Elisha," which took the British
Association prize and firmly established his
reputation. Other paintings followed in
quick succession, the greatest among which
were "Uriel in the Center of the Sun,"
"Saint Peter Liberated by the Angel," and
"Jacob's Dream," supplemented by many
smaller pieces. Hard work, and grief at the
death of his wife began to tell upon his health,
and he left London in 1818 for America.
The same year he was elected an associate
of the Royal Academy. During the next
few years he painted "Jeremiah," "Witch
ofEndor," and "Beatrice." In 1830 Alls-
ton married a daughter of Judge Dana, and
went to Cambridge, which was his home
until his death. Here he produced the
"Vision of the Bloody Hand," "Rosalie,"
and many less noted pieces, and had given
one week of labor to his unfinished master-
piece, "Belshazzar's Feast," when death
ended his career July 9, 1843.
JOHN ROACH, ship builder and manu-
facturer, whose career was a marvel of.
industrial labor, and who impressed his in-
dividuality and genius upon the times in
which he lived more, perhaps, than any
other manufacturer in America. He was
born at Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ire-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
191
land, December 25, 181 5, the son of a
wealthy merchant. He attended school
until he was thirteen, when his father be-
came financially embarrassed and failed
and shortly after died; John determined to
come to America and carve out a fortune
for himself. He landed in New York at the
age of sixteen, and soon obtained employ-
ment at the Howell Iron Works in New Jer-
sey, at twenty- five cents a day. He soon
made himself a place in the world, and at
the end of three years had saved some
twelve hundred dollars, which he lost by
the failure of his employer, in whose hands
it was left. Returning to New York he
began to learn how to make castings for
marine engines and ship work. Having
again accumulated one thousand dollars, in
company with three fellow workmen, he
purchased a small foundry in New York,
but soon became sole proprietor. At the
end of four years he had saved thirty thou-
sand dollars, besides enlarging his works.
In 1856 his works were destroyed by a
boiler explosion, and being unable to collect
ths insurance, was left, after paying his
debts, without a dollar. However, his
credit and reputation for integrity was good,
and he built the Etna Iron Works, giving it
capacity to construct larger marine engines
than any previously built in this country.
Here he turned out immense engines for
the steam ram Dunderberg, for the war ves-
sels Winooski and Neshaning, and other
large vessels. To accommodate his increas-
ing business, Mr. Roach, in 1869, pur-
chased the Morgan Iron Works, one of the
largest in New York, and shortly after sev-
eral others. In 1871 he bought the Ches-
ter ship yards, which he added to largely,
erecting a rolling mill and blast furnace, and
providing every facility for fcuilding a ship
out of the ore and timber. This immense
plant covered a large area, was valued at
several millions of dollars, and was known
as the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding
and Engine Works, of which Mr. Roach
was the principal owner. He built a large
percentage of the iron vessels now flying
the American flag, the bulk of his business
being for private parties. In 1875 ne built
the sectional dry docks at Pensacola. He,
about this time, drew the attention of the
government to the use of compound marine
engines, and thus was the means of im-
proving the speed and economy of the ves-
sels of our new navy. In 1883 Mr. Roach
commenced work on the three cruisers for
the government, the "Chicago," "Boston"
and "Atlanta," and the dispatch boat
" Dolphin." For some cause the secretary
of the navy refused to receive the latter and
decided that Mr. Roach's contract would
r.3t hold. This embarrassed Mr. Roach,
as a large amount of his capital was in-
volved in these contracts, and for the pro-
tection of bondsmen and creditors, July 18,
1885, he made an assignment, but the
financial trouble broke down his strong con-
stitution, and January 10, 1887, he died.
His son, John B. Roach, succeeded to the
shipbuilding interests, while Stephen W.
Roach inherited the Morgan Iron Works at
New York.
JOHN SINGLETON COPLEY, one of
the two great painters who laid the
foundation of true American art, was born
in Boston in 1737, one year earlier than his
great contemporary, Benjamin West. His
education was limited to the common schools
of that time, and his training in art he ob-
tained by his own observation and experi-
ments solely. When he was about seven-
teen years old he had mapped out his future,
however, by choosing painting as his pro-
192
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIIV.
fession. If he ever studied under any
teacher in his early efforts, we have no au-
thentic account of it, and tradition credits
the young artist's wonderful success en-
tirely to his own talent and untiring effort.
It is almost incredible that at the age of
twenty-three years his income from his
works aggregated fifteen hundred dollars
per annum, a very great sum ki those days.
In 1774 he went to Europe in search of ma-
terial for study, which was so rare in his
native land. After some time spent in Italy
he finally took up his permanent residence
in England. In 1783 he was made a mem-
ber of the Royal Academy, and later his
son had the high honor of becoming lord
chancellor of England and Lord Lyndhurst.
Many specimens of Copley's work are to
be found in the Memorial Hall at Harvard
and in the Boston Museum, as well as a few
of the works upon which he modeled his
style. Copley was essentially a portrait
painter, though his historical paintings at-
tained great celebrity, his masterpiece
being his ' ' Death of Major Pierson, " though
that distinction has by some been given to
his "Death of Chatham." It is said that
he never saw a good picture until he was
thirty-five years old,- yet his portraits prior
to that period are regarded as rare speci-
mens. He died in 181 5.
HENRY B. PLANT, one of the greatest
railroad men of the country, became
famous as president of the Plant system of
railway and steamer lines, and also the
Southern & Texas Express Co. He was
born in October, 1S19, at Branford,
Connecticut, and entered the railroad serv-
ice in 1844, serving as express messenger
on the Hartford & New Haven Railroad until
1853, during which time he had entire
charge of the expr^?? business of that road.
He went south in 1853 and established ex-
press lines on various southern railways, and
in 1 86 1 organized the Southern Express
Co., and became its president. In 1879 he
purchased, with others, the Atlantic '& Gulf
Railroad of Georgia, and later reorganized
the Savannah, Florida & Western Railroad,
of which he became president. He pur-
chased and rebuilt, in 1880, the Savannah
& Charleston Railroad, now Charleston &
Savannah. Not long after this he organ-
ized the Plant Investment Co., to control
these railroads and advance their interests
generally, and later established a steamboat
line on the St. John's river, in Florida.
From 1853 until i860 he was general
superintendent of the southern division of
the Adams Express Co., and in 1867 be-
came president of the Texas Express Co.
The "Plant system" of railway, steamer
and steamship lines is one of the greatest
business corporations of the southern states.
WADE HAMPTON, a noted Confeder-
ate officer, was born at Columbia,
South Carolina, in 18 18. He graduated
from the South Carolina College, took an
active part in politics, and was twice elected
to the legislature of his state. In 1861 he
joined the Confederate army, and command-
ed the " Hampton Legion" at the first bat-
tle of Bull Run, in July, 1861. He did
meritorious service, was wounded, and pro-
moted to brigadier-general. He command-
ed a brigade at Seven Pines, in 1862, and
was again wounded. He was engaged in
the battle of Antietam in September of the
same year, and participated in the raid into
Pennsylvania in October. In 1863 he was
with Lee at Gettysburg, where he was
wounded for the third time. He was pro-
moted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and
commanded a troop of cavalry in Lee's
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
193
army during 1864, and was in numerous en-
gagements. In 1865 he was in South Car-
olina, and commanded the cavalry rear
guard of the Confederate army in its stub-
born retreat before General Sherman on his
advance toward Richmond.
After the war Hampton took an active
part in politics, and was a prominent figure
at the Democratic national convention in
1868, which nominated Seymour and Blair
for president and vice-president. He was
governor of South Carolina, and took his
seat in the United States senate in 1879,
where he became a conspicuous figure in
national affairs.
NIKOLA TESLA, one of the most cele-
brated electricians America has known,
was born in 1857, at Smiljau, Lika, Servia.
He descended from an old and representative
family of that country. His father was a
a minister of the Greek church, of high rank,
while his mother was a woman of remarka-
ble skill in the construction of looms, churns
and the machinery required in a rural home.
Nikola received early education in the
public schools of Gospich, when he was
sent to the higher "Real Schule " at Karl-
stadt, where, after a three years' course,
he graduated in 1873. He devoted him-
self to experiments in electricity and
magnetism, to the chagrin of his father,
who had destined him for the ministry,
but giving way to the boy's evident genius
he was allowed to continue his studies in
the polytechnic school at Gratz. He in-
herited a wonderful intuition which enabled
him to see through the intricacies of ma-
chinery, and despite his instructor's demon-
stration that a dynamo could not be oper-
ated without commutators or brushes,
began experiments which finally resulted in
his rotating field motors. After the study
of languages at Prague and Buda-Pesth, he
became associated with M. Puskas, who
had introduced the telephone into Hungary.
He invented several improvements, but
being unable to reap the necessary benefit
from them, he, in search of a wider field,
went to Paris, where he found employment
with one of the electric lighting companies
as electrical engineer. Soon he set his face
westward, and coming to the United States
for a time found congenial employment with
Thomas A. Edison. Finding it impossible,
overshadowed as he was, to carry out his
own ideas he left the Edison works to join
a company formed to place his own inven-
tions on the market. He perfected his
rotary field principle, adapting it to circuits
then in operation. It is said of him that
some of his proved theories will change the
entire electrical science. It would, in an
cLrticle of this length, be impossible to ex-
plain all that Tesla accomplished for the
practical side of electrical engineering.
His discoveries formed the basis of the at-
tempt to utilize the water power of Niagara
Falls. His work ranges far beyond the
vast department of polyphase currents and
high potential lighting and includes many
inventions in arc lighting, transformers,
pyro and thermo-magnetic motors, new
forms of incandescent lamps, unipolar dyna-
mos and many others.
CHARLES B. LEWIS won fame as arr
American humorist under the name of
" M. Quad." It is said he owes his
celebrity originally to the fact that he was
once mixed up in a boiler explosion on the
Ohio river, and the impressions he received
from the event he set up from his case when
he was in the composing room of an ob-
scure Michigan paper. His style possesses a
peculiar quaintness, and there runs through
194
COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
it a vein of philosophy. Mr. Lewis was
born in 1844, near a town called Liverpool,
Ohio. He was, however, raised in Lansing,
Michigan, where he spent a year in an agri-
cultural college, going from there to the
composing room of the "Lansing Demo-
crat." At the outbreak of the war he en-
listed in the service, remained during the
entire war, and then returned to Lansing.
The explosion of the boiler that "blew him
into fame, " took place two years later, while
he was on his way south. When he re-
covered physically, he brought suit for dam-
ages against the steamboat company, which
he gained, and was awarded a verdict of
twelve thousand dollars for injuries re-
ceived. It was while he was employed by
the " Jacksonian " of Pontiac, Mich., that he
set up his account of how he felt while being
blown up. He says that he signed it "M
Quad," because "a bourgeoise em quad is
useless except in its own line — it won't
justify with any other type." Soon after,
because of the celebrity he attained by this
screed, Mr. Lewis secured a place on the
staff of the " Detroit Free Press," and made
for that paper a wide reputation. His
sketches of the "Lime Kiln Club" and
" Brudder Gardner " are perhaps the best
known of his humorous writings.
HIRAM S. MAXIM, the famous inventor,
was born in Sangersville, Maine,
February 5, 1840, the son of Isaac W.
and Harriet B. Maxim. The town of his
birth was but a small place, in the
woods, on the confines of civilization,
and the family endured many hardships.
They were without means and entirely
-dependent on themselves to make out of
raw materials all they needed. The mother
was an expert spinner, weaver, dyer and
seamstress and the father a trapper, tanner,
miller, blacksmith, carpenter, mason and
farmer. Amid such surroundings young
Maxim gave early promise of remarkable
aptitude. With the universal Yankee jack-
knife the products of his skill excited the
wonder and interest of the locality. His
parents did not encourage his latent genius
but apprenticed him to a coach builder.
Four years he labored at this uncongenial
trade but at the end of that time he forsook
it and entered a machine shop at Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Soon mastering the details
of that business and that of mechanical
drawing, he went to Boston as the foreman
of the philosophical instrument manufactory.
From thence he went to New York and with
the Novelty Iron Works Shipbuilding Co.
he gained experience in these trades. His
inventions up to this time consisted of
improvements in steam engines, and an
automatic gas machine, which came into
general use. In 1877 he turned his attention
to electricity, and in 187S produced an
incandescent lamp, that would burn 1,000
hours. He was the first to design a process
for flashing electric carbons, and the first
to "standardize" carbons for electric light-
ing. In 1880 he visited Europe and exhibit-
ing, at the Paris Exposition of 1S81, a self-
regulating machine, was decorated with the
Legion of Honor. In 1883 he returned to
London as the European representative of the
United States Electric Light Co. An incident
of his boyhood, in which the recoil of a rifle
was noticed by him, and the apparent loss
of power shown, in 188 1-2 prompted the
invention of a gun which utilizes the recoil to
automatically load and fire seven hundred
and seventy shots per minute. The Maxim-
Nordenfelt Gun Co., with a capital of nine
million dollars, grew from this. In 1883 he
patented his electric training gear for large
guns. And later turned his attention to fly-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIlT
195
ing machines, which he claimed were not an
impossibility. He took out over one hundred
patents for smokeless gunpowder, and for pe-
troleum and other motors and autocycles.
JOHN DAVISON ROCKEFELLER,
<J one of America's very greatest financiers
and philanthropists, was born in Richford,
Tioga county, New York, July 8, 1839. He
received a common-school education in his
native place, and in 1853, when his parents
removed to Cleveland, Ohio, he entered the
high school of that city. After a two-years'
course of diligent work, he entered the com-
mission and forwarding house of Hewitt &
Tuttle, of Cleveland, remaining with the
firm some years, and then began business
for himself, forming a partnership with
Morris B. Clark. Mr. Rockefeller was then
but nineteen years of age, and during the
year i860, in connection with others, they
started the oil refining business, under the
firm name of Andrews, Clark & Co. Mr.
Rockefeller and Mr. Andrews purchased the
interest of their associates, and, after taking
William Rockefeller into the firm, established
offices in Cleveland under the name of
William Rockefeller & Co. Shortly after
this the house of Rockefeller & Co. was es-
tablished in New York for the purpose of
finding a market for their products, -and two
years later all the refining companies were
consolidated under the firm name of Rocke-
feller, Andrews & Flagler. This firm was
succeeded in 1870 by the Standard Oil
Company of Ohio, said to be the most
gigantic business corporation of modern
times. John D. Rockefeller's fortune has
been variously estimated at from one hun-
dred million to two hundred million dollars.
Mr. Rockefeller's philanthropy mani-
fested itself principally through the American
Baptist Educational Society. He donated
the building for the Spelman Institute at
Atlanta, Georgia, a school for the instruction
of negroes. His other gifts were to the
University of Rochester, Cook Academy,
Peddie Institute, and Vassar College, be-
sides smaller gifts to many institutions
throughout the country. His princely do-
nations, however, were to the University of
Chicago. His first gift to this institution
was a conditional offer of six hundred thou-
sand dollars in 1889, and when this amount
was paid he added one million more. Dur-
ing 1892 he made it two gifts of one million
each, and all told, his donations to this one
institution aggregated between seven and
eight millions of dollars.
JOHN M. PALMER.— For over a third
of a century this gentleman occupied a
prominent place in the political world, both
in the state of Illinois and on the broader
platform of national issues.
Mr. Palmer was born at Eagle Creek,
Scott county, Kentucky, September 13,
18 17. The family subsequently removed
to Christian county, in the same state, where
he acquired a common-school education, and
made his home until 183 1. His father was
opposed to slavery, and in the latter year
removed to Illinois and settled near Alton.
In 1834 John entered Alton College, or-
ganized on the manual-labor plan, but his
funds failing, abandoned it and entered a
cooper shop. He subsequently was en-
gaged in peddling, and teaching a district
school near Canton. In 1838 he began the
study of law, and the following year re-
moved to Carlinville, where, in December of
that year, he was admitted to the bar. He
was shortly after defeated for county clerk.
In 1843 he was elected probate judge. In
the constitutional convention of 1847, Mr.
Palmer was a delegate, and from 1849 to
106
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
1851 he was county judge. In 1852 he be-
came a member of the state senate, but not
being with his party on the slavery question
he resigned that office in 1854. In 1856
Mr. Palmer was chairman of the first Re-
publican state convention held in Illinois,
and the same year was a delegate to the
national convention. In i860 he was an
elector on the Lincoln ticket, and on the
breaking out of the war entered the service
as colonel of the Fourteenth Illinois Infan-
try, but was shortly after brevetted brigadier-
general. In August, 1862, he organized
the One Hundred and Twenty-second Illi-
nois Infantry, but in September he was
placed in command of the first division of
the Army of the Mississippi, afterward was
promoted to the rank of major-general. In
1865 he was assigned to the military ad-
ministration in Kentucky. In 1867 General
Palmer was elected governor of Illinois and
served four years. In 1872 he went with
the Liberal Republicans, who supported
Horace Greeley, after which time he was
identified with the Democratic party. In
1890 he was elected United States senator
from Illinois, and served as such for six
years. In 1896, on the adoption of the sil-
ver plank in the platform of the Democratic
part)', General Palmer consented to lead,
as presidential candidate, the National Dem-
ocrats, or Gold Democracy.
WILLIAM H. BEARD, the humorist
among American painters, was born
at Painesville, Ohio, in 1821. His father,
James H. Beard, was also a painter of na-
tional reputation. William H. Beard be-
gan his career as a traveling portrait
painter. He pursued his studies in New
York, and later removed to Buffalo, where
he achieved reputation. He then went to
Italy and after a short stay returned to New
York and opened a studio. One of his
earliest paintings was a small picture called
"Cat and Kittens," which was placed in
the National Academy on exhibition. Among
his best productions are "Raining Cats and
Dogs," "The Dance of Silenus," "Bears
on a Bender," "Bulls and Bears," " Whoo!"
" Grimalkin's Dream," " Little Red Riding
Hood," "The Guardian of the Flag." His
animal pictures convey the most ludicrous
and satirical ideas, and the intelligent,
human expression in their faces is most
comical. Some artists and critics have re-
fused to give Mr. Beard a place among the
first circles in art, solely on account of the
class of subjects he has chosen.
WW. CORCORAN, the noted philan-
thropist, was born at Georgetown,
District of Columbia; December 27, 1798.
At the age of twenty-five he entered the
banking business in Washington, and in
time became very wealthy. He was
noted for his magnificent donations to char-
ity. Oak Hill cemetery was donated to
Georgetown in 1847, and ten years later the
Corcoran Art Gallery, Temple of Art, was
presented to the city of Washington. The
uncompleted building was utilized by the
government as quartermaster's headquar-
ters during the war. The building was
completed after the war at a cost of a mil-
lion and a half dollars, all the gift of Mr.
Corcoran. The Louise Home for Women
is another noble charity to his credit. Its
object is the care of women of gentle breed-
ing who in declining years are without
means of support. In addition to this he
gave liberally to many worthy institutions
of learning and charity. He died at Wash-
ington February 24, 1888.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
197
ALBERT BIERSTADT, the noted paint-
er of American landscape, was born in
Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1829, and was
brought to America by his parents at the
age of two years. He received his early
education here, but returned to Dusseldorf
to study painting, and also went to Rome.
On his return to America he accompanied
Lander's expedition across the continent, in
1858, and soon after produced his most
popular work, "The Rocky Mountains —
Lander's Peak. " Its boldness and grandeur
were so unusual that it made him famous.
The picture sold for twenty-five thousand
dollars. In 1867 Mr. Bierstadt went to
Europe, with a government commission,
and gathered materials for his great historic-
al work, "Discovery of the North River
by Hendrik Hudson." Others of his great
works were "Storm in the Rocky Mount-
ains," "Valley of the Yosemite," "North
Fork of the Platte," "Diamond Pool,"
"Mount Hood," "Mount Rosalie," and
"The Sierra Nevada Mountains." His
"Estes Park" sold for fifteen thousand
dollars, and "Mount Rosalie" brought
thirty-five thousand dollars. His smaller
Rocky mountain scenes, however, are vast-
ly superior to his larger works in execution
and coloring.
ADDISON CAMMACK, a famous mill-
ionaire Wall street speculator, was
born in Kentucky. When sixteen years old
he ran away from home and went to New
Orleans, where he went to work in a ship-
ping house. He outlived and outworked
all the partners, and became the head of the
firm before the opening of the war. At
that time he fitted out small vessels and en-
gaged in running the blockade of southern
ports and carrying ammunition, merchan-
dise, etc., to the southern people. This
made him a fortune. At the close of the
war he quit business and went to New
York. For two years he did not enter any
active business, but seemed to be simply an
on-looker in the great speculative center of
America. He was observing keenly the
methods and financial machinery, however,
and when, in 1867, he formed a partnership
with the popular Charles J. Osborne, the
firm began to prosper. He never had an
office on the street, but wandered into the
various brokers' offices and placed his orders
as he saw fit. In 1873 he dissolved his
partnership with Osborne and operated
alone. He joined a band of speculative
conspirators known as the "Twenty-third
party," and was the ruling spirit in that or-
ganization .for the control of the stock mar-
ket. He was always on the ' ' bear " side and
the only serious obstacle he ever encoun-
tered was the persistent boom in industrial
stocks, particularly sugar, engineered by
James R. Keane. Mr. Cammack fought
Keane for two years, and during the time is
said to have lost no less than two million
dollars before he abandoned the fight.
WALT. WHITMAN.— Foremost among
the lesser poets of the latter part of the
nineteenth century, the gentleman whose
name adorns the head of this article takes
a conspicuous place.
Whitman was born at West Hills, Long
Island, New York, May 13, 1809. In the
schools of Brooklyn he laid the foundation
of his education, and early in life learned the
printer's trade. For a time he taught coun-
try schools in his native state. In 1846-7
he was editor of the " Brooklyn Eagle, "
but in 1848-9 was on the editorial staff of
the "Crescent," of New Orleans. He
made an extended tour throughout the
United States and Canada, and returned to
198
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
Brooklyn, where, in 1850, he published the
"Freeman." For some years succeeding
this he was engaged as carpenter and builder.
During the Civil war, Whitman acted as
a volunteer nurse in the hospitals at
Washington and vicinity and from the close
of hostilities until 1873 he was employed
in various clerkships in the government
offices in the nation's capital. In the latter
year he was stricken with paralysis as a
result of his labors in the hospital, it is
said, and being partially disabled lived for
many years at Camden, New Jersey.
The first edition of the work which was
to bring him fame, "Leaves of Grass," was
published in 1855 and was but a small
volume of about ninety-four pages. Seven
or eight editions of "Leaves of Grass" have
been issued, each enlarged and enriched with
new poems. "Drum Taps," at first a
separate publication, has been incorporated
with the others. This volume and one
prose writing entitled "Specimen Days and
Collect," constituted his whole work.
Walt. Whitman died at Camden, New
Jersey, March 26, 1892.
H
EXRY DUPONT, who became cele-
brated as America's greatest manufact-
urer of gunpowder, was a native of Dela-
ware, born August 8, 1812. He received
his education in its higher branches at the
United States Military Academy at West
Point, from which he graduated and entered
the army as second lieutenant of artillery in
1833. In 1834 he resigned and became
proprietor of the extensive gunpowder
manufacturing plant that bears his name,
near Wilmington, Delaware. His large
business interests interfered with his tak-
ing any active participation in political
life, although for many years he served
as adjutant-general of his native stat*' a A
during the war as major-general command-
ing the Home Guards. He died August 8,
1889. His son, Henry A. Dupont, also was
a native of Delaware, and was born July 30,
1838. After graduating from West Point
in 1 86 1, he entered the army as second
lieutenant of engineers. Shortly after he
was transferred to the Fifth Artillery as first
lieutenant. He was promoted to the rank
of captain in 1864, serving in camp and
garrison most of the time. He was in com-
mand of a battery in the campaign of
1863-4. Aschief of artillery of the army of
West Virginia, he figured until the close of
the war, being in the battles of Opequan,
Fisher's Hill and Cedar . Creek, besides
many minor engagements. He afterward
acted as instructor in the artillery school at
Fortress Monroe, and on special duty at
West Point. He resigned from the army
March 1, 1875.
w
ILLIAM DEERING, one of the fa-
also a philanthropist and patron of educa-
tion, was born in Maine in 1826. His an-
cestors were English, having settled in New
England in 1634. Early in life it was Will-
iam's intention to become a physician, and
after completing his common-school educa-
tion, when about eighteen years of age, he
began an apprenticeship with a physician.
A short time later, however, at the request
of his father, he took charge of his father's
business interests, which included a woolen
mill, retail store and grist mill, after which
he became agent for a dry goods commission
house in Portland, where he was married.
Later he became partner in the firm, and
removed to New York. The business pros-
pered, and after a number of years, on ac-
count of failing health, Mr. Deering sold his
interest to his partner, a Mr. Milner. The
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
199
business has since made Mr. Milner a mill-
ionaire many times over. A few years
later Mr. Deering located in Chicago. His
beginning in the manufacture of reapers,
which has since made his name famous,
was somewhat of an accident. He had
loaned money to a man in that business,
and in 1878 was compelled to buy out the
business to protect his interests. The busi-
ness developed rapidly and grew to immense
proportions. The factories now cover sixty-
two acres of ground and employ many thou-
sands of men.
John McAllister schofield, an
American general, was born in Chautau-
qua county, New York, September 29, 1831.
He graduated at West Point in 1853, and
was for five years assistant professor of nat-
ural philosophy in that institution. In 1861
he entered the volunteer service as major of
the First Missouri Volunteers, and was ap-
pointed chief of staff by General Lyon, under
whom he fought at the battle of Wilson's
Creek. In November, 1861, he was ap-
pointed brigadier-general of volunteers, and
was placed in command of the Missouri
militia until November, 1862, and of the
army of the frontier from that time until
1863. In 1862 he was made major-general
of volunteers, and was placed in command of
the Department of the Missouri, and in 1864
of the Department of the Ohio. During the
campaign through Georgia General Scho-
field was in command of the Twenty-third
Army Corps, and was engaged in most of the
fighting of that famous campaign. Novem-
ber 30, 1S64, he defeated Hood's army at
Franklin, Tennessee, and then joined Gen-
eral Thomas at Nashville. He took part in
the battle of Nashville, where Hood's army
was destroyed. In January, 1865, he led
his corps into North Carolina, captured
Wilmington, fought the battle of Kingston,
and joined General Sherman at Goldsboro
March 22, 1865. He executed the details
of the capitulation of General Johnston to
Sherman, which practically closed the war.
In June, 1868, General Schofield suc-
ceeded Edwin M. Stanton as secretary of
war, but was the next year appointed major-
general of the United States army, and order-
ed to the Department of the Missouri. From
1870 to 1876 he was in command of the De-
partment of the Pacific; from 1876 to 1881
superintendent of the West Point Military
Academy; in 18S3 he was in charge of the
Department of the Missouri, and in 1886 of
the division of the Atlantic. In 1888 he
became general-in-chief of the United States
army, and in February, 1895, was appoint-
ed lieutenant-general by President Cleve-
land, that rank having been revived by con-
gress. In September, 1895, he was retired
from active service.
LEWIS WALLACE, an American gen-
eral and famous author, was born in
Brookville, Indiana, April 10, 1827. He
served in the Mexican war as first lieutenant
of a company of Indiana Volunteers. After
his return from Mexico he was admitted to
the bar, and practiced law in Covington and
Crawfordsville, Indiana, until 1S61. At the
opening of the war he was appointed ad-
jutant-general of Indiana, and soon after be-
came colonel of the Eleventh Indiana Vol-
unteers. He defeated a force of Confeder-
ates at Rotnney, West Virginia, and was
made brigadier-general in September, 1861.
At the capture of Fort Donelson in 1862 he
commanded a division, and was engaged in
the second day's fight at Shiloh. In 1863
his defenses about Cincinnati saved that city
from capture by Kirby Smith. At Monoc-
acv in July, 1864, he was defeated, but
200
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
his resistance delayed the advance of Gen-
eral Early and thus saved Washington from
capture.
General Wallace was a member of the
court that tried the assassins of President
Lincoln, and also of that before whom Cap-
tain Henry Wirtz, who had charge of the
Anderson ville prison, was tried. In iSSl
General Wallace was sent as minister to
Turkey. When not in official service he
devoted much of his time to literature.
Among his better known works are his
"Fair God," "Ben Hur," "Prince of
India," and a " Life of Benjamin Harrison."
THOMAS FRANCIS BAYARD, aaAmeri-
can statesman and diplomat, was born
at Wilmington, Delaware, October 29, 1828.
He obtained his education at an Episcopal
academy at Flushing, Long Island, and
after a short service in a mercantile house in
New York, he returned to Wilmington and
entered his father's law office to prepare
himself for the practice of that profession.
He was admitted to the bar in 1851. He
was appointed to the office of United States
district attorney for the state of Delaware,
serving one year. In 1869 he was elected to
the United States senate, and continuously
represented his state in that body until 1885,
and in 1881, when Chester A. Arthur entered
the presidential chair, Mr. Bayard was
chosen president pro tempore of the senate.
He had also served on the famous electoral
commission that decided the Hayes-Tilden
contest in 1 876-7. In 1 885 President Cleve-
land appointed Mr. Bayard secretary of
state. At the beginning of Cleveland's sec-
ond term, in 1893, Mr. Bayard was selected
for the post of ambassador at the court of
St. James, London, and was the first to hold
that rank in American diplomacy, serving
until the beginning of the McKinley admin-
istration. The questions for adjustment at
that time between the two governments
were the Behring Sea controversy and the
Venezuelan boundary question. He was
very popular in England because of his
tariff views, and because of his criticism of
the protective policy of the United States
in his public speeches delivered in London,
Edinburgh and other places, he received, in
March, 1896, a vote of censure in the lower
house of congress.
JOHN WORK GARRETT, for so many
years at the head of the great Baltimore
& Ohio railroad system, was born in Balti-
more, Maryland, July 31, 1820. His father,
Robert Garrett, an enterprising merchant,
had amassed a large fortune from a small
beginning. The son entered Lafayette Col-
lege in 1834, but left the following year and
entered his father's counting room, and in
1839 became a partner. John W. Gar-
rett took a great interest in the develop-
ment of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He
was elected one of the directors in 1857,
and was its president from 1858 until his
death. When he took charge of the road
it was in an embarrassed condition, but
within a year, for the first time in its exist-
ence, it paid a dividend, the increase in its
net gains being $725,385. After the war,
during which the road suffered much damage
from the Confederates, numerous branches
and connecting roads were built or acquired,
until it reached colossal proportions. Mr.
Garrett was also active in securing a regular
line of steamers between Baltimore and
Bremen, and between the same port and
Liverpool. He was one of the most active
trustees of Johns Hopkins University, and a
liberal contributor to the Young Men's
Christian Association of Baltimore. He
died September 26, 1884.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
201
Robert Garrett, the son of John W.
Garrett, was born in Baltimore April 9,
1847, and graduated from Princeton in 1867.
He received a business education in the
banking house of his father, and in 1871
became president of the Valley Railroad of
Virginia. He was made third vice-presi-
dent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in
1S79, and first viceTpresident in 18S1. He
succeeded his father as president in 1884.
Robert Garrett died July 29, 1896.
CARL SCHURZ, a noted German-Ameri-
can statesman, was born in Liblar, Prus-
sia, March 2, 1S29. He studied at the Uni-
versity of Bonn, and in 1849 was engaged in
an attempt to excite an insurrection at that
place. After the surrender of Rastadt by
the revolutionists, in the defense of which
Schurz took part, he decided to emigrate to
America. He resided in Philadelphia three
years, and then settled in Watertown, Wis-
consin, and in 1859 removed to Milwaukee,
where he practiced law. On the organiza-
tion of the Republican party he became a
leader of the German element and entered
the campaign for Lincoln in 1S60. He was
appointed minister to Spain in 1861, but re-
signed in December of that year to enter
the army. He was appointed brigadier-
general in 1862, and participated in the
second battle of Bull Run, and also at
Chancellorsville. At Gettysburg he had
temporary command of the Eleventh Army
Corps, and also took part in the battle of
Chattanooga.
After the war he located at St. Louis,
and in 1869 was elected United States sena-
tor from Missouri. He supported Horace
Greeley for the presidency in 1872, and in
the campaign of 1876, having removed to
New York, he supported Hayes and the Re-
publican ticket, and was appointed secre-
tary of the interior in 1877. In 1881 he
became editor of the "New York Evening
Post," and in 1884 was prominent in his
opposition to James G. Blaine, and became
a leader of the "Mugwumps," thus assist-
ing in the election of Cleveland. In the
presidential campaign of 1S96 his forcible
speeches in the interest of sound money
wielded an immense influence. Mr. Schurz
wrote a "Life of Henry Clay," said to- be
the best biography ever published of that
eminent statesman.
GEORGE F. EDMUNDS, an American
statesman of national reputation, was
born in Richmond, Vermont, February 1,
1828. His education was obtained in the
public schools and from the instructions of
a private tutor. He was admitted to the
bar, practiced law, and served in the state
legislature from 1854 to 1859, during three
years of that time being speaker of the lower
house. He was elected to the state senate
and acted as president pro tempore of that
body in 1861 and 1S62. He became promi-
nent for his activity in the impeachment
proceedings against President Johnson, and
was appointed to the United States senate
to fill out the unexpired term of Solomon
Foot, entering that body in 1866. He was
re-elected to the senate four times, and
served on the electoral commission in 1877.
He became president pro tempore of the
senate after the death of President Garfield,
and was the author of the bill which put an
end to the practice of polygamy in the ter-
ritory of Utah. In November, 1891, owing
to impaired health, he retired from the sen-
ate and again resumed the practice of law.
LUCIUS Q. C. LAMAR, a prominent
political leader, statesman and jurist,
was born in Putnam county, Georgia, Sep-
202
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
temberi7, 1825. He graduated from Emory
College in 1845, studied law at Macon under
Hon. A. H. Chappell, and was admitted to
the bar in 1847. He moved to Oxford,
Mississippi, in 1849, and was elected to a
professorship in the State University. He
resigned the next year and returned to Cov-
ington, Georgia, and resumed the practice
of law. In 1853 he was elected to the
Georgia Legislature, and in 1854 he removed
to his plantation in Lafayette county, Mis-
sissippi, and was elected to represent his
district in the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth
congresses. He resigned in i860, and was
sent as a delegate to the secession conven-
tion of the state. He entered the Confed-
erate service in 1861 as lieutenant-colonel
of the Nineteenth Regiment, and was soon
after made colonel. In 1863 President
Davis appointed him to an important diplo-
matic mission to Russia. In 1866 he was
elected professor of political economy and
social science in the State University, and
was soon afterward transferred to the pro-
fessorship of the law department. He rep-
resented his district in the forty-third and
forty-fourth congresses, and was elected
United States senator from Mississippi in
1877, and re-elected in 1882. In 1885, be-
fore the expiration of his term, he was
appointed by President Cleveland as secre-
tary of the interior, which position he held
until his appointment as associate justice of
the United States supreme court, in 1S88,
in which capacity he served until his death,
January 23, 1894.
BENJAMIN PENHALLOW SHILLA-
BER won fame in the world of
humorists under the name of "Mrs. Parting-
ton." He was born in 1S41 at Portsmouth,
New Hampshire, and started out in life as a
printer. Mr. Shillaber went to Dover,
where he secured employment in a printing
office, and from there he went to Demerara,
Guiana, where he was employed as a com-
positor in 1835-37. 1° 1840 he became
connected with the "Boston Post," and
acquired quite a reputation as a humorist
by his "Sayings of Mrs. Partington." He
remained as editor of the paper until 1850,
when he printed and edited a paper of his
own called the "Pathfinder," which he con-
tinued until 1852. Mr. Shillaber be-
came editor and proprietor of the "Carpet
Bag," which he conducted during 1850-52,
and then returned to the "Boston Post,"
with which he was connected until 1856.
During the same time he was one of the
editors of the "Saturday Evening Gazette,"
and continued in this line after he severed
his connection with the "Post," for ten
years. After 1S66 Mr. Shillaber wrote for
various newspapers and periodicals, and
during his life published the following
books: ' 'Rhymes with Reason and Without, "
"Poems," "Life and Sayings of Mrs. Part-
ington," "Knitting Work," and others.
His death occurred at Chelsea, Massachu-
setts, November 25, 1890.
EASTMAN JOHNSON stands first among
painters of American country life. He
was born in Lovell, Maine, in 1824, and be-
gan his work in drawing at the age of eight-
een years. His first works were portraits,
and, as he took up his residence in Wash-
ington, the most famous men of the nation
were his subjects. In 1846 he went to Bos-
ton, and there made crayon portraits of
Longfellow, Emerson, Sumner, Hawthorne
and other noted men. In 1849 he went to
Europe. He studied at Dusseldorf, Ger-
many; spent a year at the Royal Academy,
and thence to The Hague, where he spent
four years, producing there his first pictures
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
203
of consequence, "The Card-Players " and
"The Savoyard." He then went to Paris,
but was called home, after an absence from
America of six years. He lived some time
in Washington, and then spent two years
among the Indians of Lake Superior. In
1858 he produced his famous picture, "The
Old Kentucky Home." He took up his
permanent residence at New York at that
time. His " Sunday Morning in Virginia "
is a work of equal merit. He was espe-
cially successful in coloring, a master of
drawing, and the expression conveys with
precision the thought of the artist. His
portrayal of family life and child life is un-
equalled. Among his other great works are
"The Confab," "Crossing a Stream,'
"Chimney Sweep," "Old Stage Coach,"
" The New Bonnet," " The Drummer Boy,"
"Childhood of Lincoln," and a great vari-
ety of equally familiar subjects.
PIERCE GUSTAVE TOUTANT BEAU-
REGARD, one of the most distin-
guished generals in the Confederate army,
was born near New Orleans, Louisiana,
May 28, 1 8 1 8. He graduated from West
Point Military Academy in 1838, and was
made second lieutenant of engineers. He
was with General Scott in Mexico, and dis-
tinguished himself at Vera Cruz, Cerro
Gordo, and the battles near the City of
Mexico, for which he was twice brevetted.
After the Mexican war closed he was placed
in charge of defenses about New Orleans,
and in i860 was appointed superintendent
of the United States Military Academy at
West Point. He held this position but a
few months, when he resigned February 20,
1 86 1, and accepted a commission of briga-
dier-general in the Confederate army. He
directed the attack on Fort Sumter, the
first engagement of the Civil war. He was
12
in command of the Confederates at the first
battle of Bull Run, and for this victory was
made general. In 1862 he was placed in
command of the Army of the Mississippi,
and planned the attack upon General Grant
at Shiloh, and upon the death of General
Johnston he took command of the army
and was only defeated by the timely arrival
of General Buell with reinforcements. He
commanded at Charleston and successfully
defended that city against the combined at-
tack by land and sea in 1863. In 1864 he
was in command in Virginia, defeating Gen-
eral Butler, and resisting Grant's attack
upon Petersburg until reinforced from Rich-
mond. During the long siege which fol-
lowed he was sent to check General Sher-
man's march to the sea, and was with Gen-
eral Joseph E. Johnston when that general
surrendered in 1865. After the close of the
war he was largely interested in railroad
management. In 1866 he was offered chief
command of the Army of Roumania, and in
1869, that of the Army of Egypt. He de-
clined these offers. His death occurred
February 20, 1893.
HENRY GEORGE, one of America's
most celebrated political economists,
was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
September 2, 1839. He received a common-
school education and entered the high
school in 1853, and then went into a mer-
cantile office. He made several voyages on
the sea, and settled in California in 1858.
He then worked at the printer's trade for a
number of years, which he left to follow the
editorial profession. He edited in succession
several daily newspapers, and attracted at-
tention by a number of strong essays and
speeches on political and social questions.
In 1 Sy 1 he edited a pamphlet, entitled ' ' Our
Land and Policy, " in which he outlined a.
204
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
theory, which has since made him so widely
known. This was developed in " Progress
and Poverty," a book which soon attained a
large circulation on both sides of the Atlan-
tic, which has been extensively translated.
In 1880 Mr. George located in New York,
where he made his home, though he fre-
quently addressed audiences in Great Britain,
Ireland, Australia, and throughout the
United States. In 1886 he was nominated
by the labor organizations for mayor of New
York, and made a campaign notable for its
development of unexpected power. In 18S7 he
was candidate of the Union Labor party for
secretary of state of New York. These cam-
paigns served to formulate the idea of a single
tax and popularize the Australian ballot sys-
tem. Mr. George became a free trader in
1 888, and in 1892 supported the election of
Grover Cleveland. His political and eco-
nomic ideas, known as the "single tax,"
have a large and growing support, but are
not confined to this country alone. He
wrote numerous miscellaneous articles in
support of his principles, and also published:
"The Land Question," "Social Problems,"
"Protection or Free Trade," "The Condi-
tion of Labor, an Open Letter to Pope Leo
XIII.," and " Perplexed Philosopher."
THOMAS ALEXANDER SCOTT. —This
name is indissolubly connected with
the history and development of the railway
systems of the United States. Mr. Scott
was born December 28, 1823, at London,
Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He was first
regularly employed by Major James Patton,
the collector of tolls on the state road be-
tween Philadelphia and Columbia, Penn-
sylvania. He entered into the employ of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in 1850,
and went through all the different branches
of work until he had mastered all the details
of the office work, and in 1858 he was ap-
pointed general superintendent. Mr. Scott
was the next year chosen vice-president of
the road. This position at once brought
him before the public, and the enterprise
and ability displayed by him in its manage-
ment marked him as a leader among the
railroad men of the country. At the out-
break of the rebellion in 1S61, Mr. Scott
was selected by Governor Curtin as a mem-
ber of his staff, and placed in charge of the
equipment and forwarding of the state troops
to the seat of war. On April 27, 1861, the
secretary of war desired to establish a new
line of road between the national capital
and Philadelphia, for the more expeditious
transportation of troops. He called upon
Mr. Scott to direct this work, and the road
by the way of Annapolis and Perry ville was
completed in a marvelously short space of
time. On May 3, 1861, he was commis-
sioned colonel of volunteers, and on the 23d
of the same month the government railroads
and telegraph lines were placed in his charge.
Mr. Scott was the first assistant secretary
of war ever appointed, and he took charge
of this new post August 1, 1861. In Janu-
ary, 1862, he was directed to organize
transportation in the northwest, and in
March he performed the same service on
the western rivers. He resigned June 1,
1862, and resumed his direction of affairs on
the Pennsylvania Railroad. Colonel Scott
directed the policy that secured to his road
the control of the western roads, and be-
came the president of the new company to
operate these lines in 1871. For one year,
from March, 1S71, he was president of the
Union Pacific Railroad, and in 1874 he suc-
ceeded to the presidency of the Pennsyl-
vania Company. He projected the Texas
Pacific Railroad and was for many years its
president. Colonel Scott's health failed
COMPEND1 1 \M OF BIOGRA PHT.
205
him and he resigned the presidency of the
road June I, 1880, and died at his home in
D.irby, Pennsylvania, May 21, 1881.
ROBERT TOOMBS, an American states-
man of note, was born in Wilkes coun-
ty, Georgia, July 2, 1810. He attended
the University of Georgia, and graduated
from Union College, Scherrectady, New
York, and then took a law course at the
University of Virginia. In 1830, before he
had attained his majority, he was admitted
to the bar by special act of the legislature,
and rose rapidly in his profession, attracting
the attention of the leading statesmen and
judges of that time. He raised a volunteer
company for the Creek war, and served as
captain to the close. He was elected to the
state legislature in 1837, re-elected in 1842,
and in 1844 was elected to congress. He
had been brought up as a Jeffersonian
Democrat, but voted for Harrison in 1840
and for Clay in 1844. He made his first
speech in congress on the Oregon question,
and immediately took rank with the greatest
debaters of that body. In 1853 he was
ekcted to the United States senate, and
again in 1859, but when his native state
seceded he resigned his seat in the senate
and was elected to the Confederate con-
gress. It is stated on the best authority
that had it not been for a misunderstanding
which could not be explained till too late he
would have been elected president of the
Confederacy. He was appointed secretary
of state by President Davis, but resigned
after a few months and was commissioned
brigadier-general in the Confederate army.
He won distinction at the second battle of
Bull Run and at Sharpsburg, but resigned
his commission soon after and returned to
Georgia. He organized the militia of
Georgia to resist Sherman, and was made
brigadier-general of the state troops. He
left the country at the close of the war and
did not return until 1S67. He died Decem-
ber 1 5, 1885.
AUSTIN CORBIN, one of the greatest
railway magnates of the United States,
was born July 1 1 , 1S27, at Newport, New
Hampshire. He studied law with Chief
Justice Cushing and Governor Ralph Met-
calf, and later took a course in the Harvard
Law School, where he graduated in 1849.
He was admitted to the bar, and practiced
law, with Governor Metcalf as his partner,
until October 12, 185 1. Mr. Corbin then
removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he re-
mained until 1865. In 1854 he was a part-
ner in the banking firm of Macklot & Cor-
bin, and later he organized the First Na-
tional bank of Davenport, Iowa, which
commenced business June 29, 1S63, and
which was the first national bank op n for
business in the United States. Mr. Corbin
sold out his business in the Davenport bank,
and removed to New York in 1865 and com-
menced business with partners under the
style of Corbin Banking Company. Soon
after his removal to New York hj became
interested in railroads, and became one of
the leading railroad men of the country.
The development of the west half of Coney
Island as a summer resort first brought him
into general prominence. He built a rail-
road from New York to the island, and
built great hotels on its ocean front. He
next turned his attention to Long Island,
and secured all the railroads and consoli-
dated them under one management, became
president of the system, and under hi.i con-
trol Long Island became the great ocean
suburb of New York. His latest public
achievement was the rehabilitation of the
Reading Railroad, of Pennsylvania, and
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
during the same time he and his friends
purchased the controlling interest of the
New Jersey Central Railroad. He took it
out of the hands of the receiver, and in
three years had it on a dividend-paying
basis. Mr. Corbin's death occurred June
4, 1896.
TAMES GORDON BENNETT, Sr.,
J was one of the greatest journalists of
America in his day. He was born Septem-
ber 1, 1795, at New Mill, near Keith, Scot-
land. At the age of fourteen he was sent
to Aberdeen to study for the priesthood,
but, convinced that he was mistaken in his
vocation, he determined to emigrate. He
landed at Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 18 19,
where he attempted to earn a living by
teaching bookkeeping. Failing in this he
went to Boston and found employment as a
proof reader. Mr. Bennett went to New
York about 1822 and wrote for the news-
papers. Later on he became assistant
editor in the office of the "Charleston
Courier, "but returned to New York in 1824
and endeavored to start a commercial
school, but was unsuccessful in this, and
again returned to newspaper work. He
continued in newspaper work with varying
success until, it his suggestion, the "En-
quirer" was consolidated with another
paper, and became the "Courier and En-
quirer," with James Watson Webb as
editor and Mr. Bennett for assistant. At
this time this was the leading American
newspaper. He, however, severed his con-
nection with this newspaper and tried,
without success, other ventures in the line
of journalism until May 6, 1835, when he
issued the first number of the "New York
Herald." Mr. Bennett wrote the entire
paper, and made up for lack of news by his
own imagination. The paper became popu-
lar, and in 1838 he engaged European jour-
nalists as regular correspondents. In 1841
the income derived from his paper was at
least one hundred thousand dollars. Dur-
ing the Civil war the " Herald " had on its
staff sixty-three war correspondents and the
circulation was doubled. Mr. Bennett was
interested with John W. Mackay in that great
enterprise which is' now known as the Mac-
kay-Bennett Cable. He had collected for use
in his paper over fifty thousand biographies,
sketches and all manner of information re-
garding every well-known man, which are
still kept in the archives of the "Herald"
office. He died in the city of New York in
1872, and left to his son, James Gordon,
Jr., one of the greatest and most profitable
journals in the United States, or even in the
world.
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES, a
noted American, won distinction in the
field of literature, in which he attained a
world-wide reputation. He was born at
Cambridge, Massachusetts, August 29, 1809.
He received a collegiate education and grad-
uated from Harvard in 1829, at the age of
twenty, and took up the study of law and
later studied medicine. Dr. Holmes at-
tended several years in the hospitals of
Europe and received his degree in 1836.
He became professor of anatomy and phys-
iology in Dartmouth in 1838, and re-
mained there until 1847, when he was
called to the Massachusetts Medical School
at Boston to occupy the same chair, which
position he resigned in 1882. The first
collected edition of his poems appeared in
1836, and his "Phi Beta Kappa Poems,"
"Poetry," in 1836; "Terpsichore," in 1843;
"Urania," in 1S46, and "Astraea," won for
him many fresh laurels. His series of
papers in the "Atlantic Monthly." were:
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
207
"Autocrat of the Breakfast Table," "Pro-
fessor at the Breakfast Table," "Poet at
the Breakfast Table," and are a series of
masterly wit, humor and pathos. Among
his medical papers and addresses, are: "Cur-
rents and Counter-currents in the Medical
Science," and "Borderland in Some Prov-
inces of Medical Science." Mr. Holmes
edited quite a number of works, of which
we quote the following: "Else Venner,"
"Songs in Many Keys," "Soundings from
ihe Atlantic," "Humorous Poems," "The
Guardian Angel," "Mechanism in Thoughts
and Morals," "Songs of Many Seasons,"
"John L. Motley" — a memoir, "The Iron
Gate and Other Poems," "Ralph Waldo
Emerson," "A Moral Antipathy." Dr.
Holmes visited England for the second time,
and while there the degree of LL. D.
was conferred upon him by the University
of Edinburgh. His death occurred October
7- 1394-
RUFUS CHOATE, one of the most em-
inent of America's great lawyers, was
born October 1, 1799, at Essex, Massachu-
setts. He entered Dartmouth in 18 15,
and after taking his degree he remained as
a teacher in the college for one year. He
took up the study of law in Cambridge, and
subsequently studied under the distinguished
lawyer, Mr. Wirt, who was then United
States attorney-general at Washington. Mr.
Choatcbegan the practice of law in Danvers,
Massachusetts, and from there he went to
Salem, and afterwards to Boston, Massa-
chusetts. While living at Salem he was
elected to congress in 1832, and later, in
1 841, he was chosen United States senator
to succeed Daniel Webster, Mr. Webster
having been appointed secretary of state
under William Henry Harrison.
After the death of Webster, Mr. Choate
was the acknowledged leader of the Massa-
chusetts bar, and was looked upon by the
younger members of the profession with an
affection that almost amounted to a rever-
ence. Mr. Choate's powers as an orator
were of the rarest order, and his genius
made it possible for him to enchant and in-
terest his listeners, even while discussing the
most ordinary theme. He was not merely
eloquent on the subjects that were calculated
to touch the feelings and stir the passions
of his audience in themselves, but could at
all times command their attention. He re-
tired from active life in 1858, and was on
his way to Europe, his physician having
ordered a sea voyage for his health, but had
only reached Halifax, Nova Scotia, when
he died, July 13, 1858.
D WIGHT L. MOODY, one of the most
noted and effective pulpit orators and
evangelists America has produced, was born
in Northfield, Franklin county, Massachu-
setts, February 5, 1837. He received but
a meager education and worked on a farm
until seventeen years of age, when he be-
came clerk in a boot and shoe store in
Boston. Soon after this he joined the Con-
gregational church and went to Chicago,
where he zealously engaged in missionary
work among the poor classes. He met
with great success, and in less than a year
he built up a Sunday-school which numbered
over one thousand children. When the
war broke out he became connected with
what was known as the "Christian Com-
mission," and later became city missionary
of the Young Men's Christian Association at
Chicago. A church was built there for his
converts and he became its unordained pas-
tor. In the Chicago fire of 1871 the church
and Mr. Moody's house and furniture, which
had been given him, were destroyed. The
208
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
church edifice was afterward replaced by a
new church erected on the site of the old
one. In 1873, accompanied by Ira D.
Sankey, Mr. Moody went to Europe and
excited great religious awakenings through-
out England, Ireland and Scotland. In
1S75 they returned to America and held
large meetings in various cities. They
afterward made another visit to Great
Britain for the same purpose, meeting with
great success, returning to the United States
in 1 884. Mr. Moody afterward continued
his evangelistic work, meeting everywhere
with a warm reception and success. Mr.
Moody produced a number of works, some
of which had a wide circulation.
JOHN PIERPOKT MORGAN, a financier
of world-wide reputation, and famous
as the head of one of the largest banking
houses in the world, was born April 17,
1837, at Hartford, Connecticut. He re-
ceived his early education in the English
high school, in Boston, and later supple-
mented this with a course in the University
of Gottingen, Germany. He returned to
the United States, in 1857, and entered the
banking firm of Duncan, Sherman & Co.,
of New York, and, in i860, he became
agent and attorney, in the United States, for
George Peabody & Co., of London. He
became the junior partner in the banking
firm of Dabney, Morgan. & Co., in 1864,
and that of Drexel, Morgan & Co., in 1871.
This house was among the chief negotiators
of railroad bonds, and was active in the re-
organization of the West Shore Railroad,
and its absorption by the New York Central
Railroad. It was conspicuous in the re-
organization of the Philadelphia & Read-
ing Railroad, in 1S87, which a syndicate of
capitalists, formed by Mr. Morgan, placed
on a sound financial basis. After that time
many other lines of railroad and gigantic
financial enterprises were brought under Mr.
Morgan's control, and in some respects it
may be said he became the foremost financier
of the century.
THOMAS BRACKETT REED, one of
the most eminent of American states-
men, was born October 18, 1839, at Port-
land, Maine, where he received his early
education in the common schools of the
city, and prepared himself for college. Mr.
Reed graduated from Bowdoin College in
1860, and won one of the highest honors of
the college, the prize for excellence in Eng-
lish composition. The following four years
were spent by him in teaching and in the
study of law. Before his admission to the
bar, however, he was acting assistant pay-
master in the United States navy, and
served on the " tin-clad" Sybil, which pa-
trolled the Tennessee, Cumberland and
Mississippi rivers. After his discharge in
1865, he returned to Portland, was admit-
ted to the bar, and began the practice of his
profession. He entered into political life,
and in 1 86S was elected to the legislature
of Maine as a Republican, and in 1869 he
was re-elected to the house, and in 1870
was made state senator, from which he
passed to attorney-general of the state.
He retired from this office in 1873, and
until 1877 he was solicitor for the city
of Portland. In 1876 he was elected to
the forty-fifth congress, which assembled
in 1877. Mr. Reed sprung into prominence
in that body by one of the first speeches
which he delivered, and his long service in
congress, coupled with his ability, gave l.im
a national reputation. His influence each
year became more strongly marked, and the
leadership of his party was finally conceded
to him, and in the forty-ninth and fiftieth
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr.
200
congresses the complimentary nomination
for the speakership was tendered him by the
Republicans. That party having obtained
the ascendency in the fifty-first congress he
was elected speaker on the first ballot, and
he was again chosen speaker of the fifty-
fourth and fifth-fifth congresses. As a
writer, Mr. Reed contributed largely to the
magazines and periodicals, and his book
upon parliamentary rules is generally rec-
ognized as authority on that subject.
rated with the golden cross by the grand
duke of Baden, and with the iron cross by
the emperor of Germany. She also served
for many years as president of the famous
Red Cross Society and attained a world-
wide reputation.
r^ LARA BARTON is a celebrated char-
V> acter among what might be termed as
the highest grade of philanthropists Amer-
ica has produced. She was born on a farm
at Oxford, Massachusetts, a daughter of
Captain Stephen Barton, and was educated
at Clinton, New York. She engaged in
teaching early in life, and founded a free
school at Bordentown, the first in New Jer-
sey. She opened with six pupils, but the
attendance had grown to six hundred up to
1854, when she went to Washington. She
was appointed clerk in the patent depart-
ment, and remained there until the out-
break of the Civil war, when she resigned
her position and devoted herself to the al-
leviation of the sufferings of the soldiers,
serving, not in the hospitals, but on the bat-
tle field. She was present at a number of
battles, and after the war closed she origi-
nated, and for some time carried on at her
own expense, the search for missing soldiers.
She then for several years devoted her time
to lecturing on "Incidents of the War."
About 1868 she went to Europe for her
health, and settled in Switzerland, but on the
outbreak of the Franco-German war she ac-
cepted the invitation of the grand duchess
of Baden to aid in the establishment of her
hospitals, and Miss Barton afterward fol-
lowed the German army She was deco-
CARDINAL JAMES GIBBONS, one of
the most eminent Catholic clergymen
in America, was born in Baltimore, Mary-
land, July 23, 1834. He was given a
thorough education, graduated at St. Charles.
College, Maryland, in 1857. and studied
theology in St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore,
Maryland. In 1861 he became pastor of
St. Bridget's church in Baltimore, and in
1868 was consecrated vicar apostolic of
North Carolina. In 1872 our subject be-
came bishop of Richmond, Virginia, and
five years later was made archbishop of Bal-
timore. On the 30th of June, 1886, he
was admitted to the full degree of cardinal
and primate of the American Catholic
church. He was a fluent writer, and his
book, "Faith of Our Fathers," had a wide
circulation.
/^HAUNCEY MITCHELL DEPEW.—
V-> This name is, without doubt, one of
the most widely known in the United States.
Mr. Depew was born April 23, 1834, at
Peekskill, New York, the home of the Depew
family for two hundred years. He attended
the common schools of his native place,
where he prepared himself to enter college.'
He began his collegiate course at Yale at
the age of eighteen and graduated in 1856.
He early took an active interest in politics
and joined the Republican party at its for-
mation. He then took up the study of law
and went into the office of the Hon. Will-
iam Nelson, of Peekskill, for that purpose,
and in 1858 he was admitted to the bar.
210
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
He was sent as a delegate by the new party
to the Republican state convention of that
year. He began the practice of his profes-
sion in 1.859, but though he was a good
worker, his attention was detracted by the
campaign of i860, in which he took an act-
ive part. During this campaign he gained
his first laurels as a public speaker. Mr.
Depew was elected assemblyman in 1862
from a Democratic district. In 1863 he se-
cured the nomination for secretary of state,
and gained that post by a majority of thirty
thousand. In 1866 he left the field of pol-
itics and entered into the active practice
-of his law business as attorney for the
New York & Harlem Railroad Company,
and in 1869 when this road was consoli-
dated with the New York Central, and
called the New York Central & Hudson
River Railroad, he was appointed the attor-
ney for the new road. His rise in the rail-
road business was rapid, and ten years after
his entrance into the Vanderbilt system as
attorney for a single line, he was the gen-
eral counsel for one of the largest railroad
systems in the world. He was also a
director in the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern, Michigan Central, Chicago &
Northwestern, St. Paul & Omaha, West
Shore, and Nickel Plate railroad companies.
In 1874 Mr. Depew was made regent of
the State University, and a member of the
■commission appointed to superintend the
•erection of the capitol at Albany. In 1882,
■on the resignation of W. H. Vanderbilt
from the presidency of the New York Cen-
tral and the accession to that office by
James H. Rutter, Mr. Depew was made
^second vice-president, and held that posi-
tion until the death of Mr. Rutter in 1885.
In this year Mr. Depew became the execu-
tive head of this great corporation. Mr.
uDepew's greatest fame grew from his ability
and eloquence as an orator and " after-din-
ner speaker," and it has been said by emi-
nent critics that this country has never pro-
duced his equal in wit, fluency and eloquence.
PHILIP KEARNEY.— Among the most
dashing and brilliant commanders in
the United States service, few have outshone
the talented officer whose name heads this
sketch. He was born in New York City,
June 2, 1815, and was of Irish ancestry and
imbued with all the dash and bravery of the
Celtic race. He graduated from Columbia
College and studied law, but in 1837 ac-
cepted a commission as lieutenant in the
First United States Dragoons, of which his
uncle, Stephen W. Kearney, was then colo-
nel. He was sent by the government,
soon after, to Europe to examine and report
upon the tactics of the French cavalry.
There he attended the Polytechnic School,
at Samur, and subsequently served as a vol-
unteer in Algiers, winning the cross of the
Legion of Honor. He returned to the
United States in 1840, and on the staff of
General Scott, in the Mexican war, served
with great gallantry. He was made a cap-
tain of dragoons in 1846 and made major
for services at Contreras and Cherubusco.
In the final assault on the City of Mexico
at the San Antonio Gate, Kearney lost an
arm. He subsequently served in California
and the Pacific coast. In 185 1 he resigned
his commission and went to Europe, where
he resumed his military studies. In the
Italian war, in 1859, he served as a volun-
teer on the staff of General Maurier, of the
French army, and took part in the battles
of Solferino and Magenta, and for bravery
was, for the second time, decorated with
the cross of the Legion of Honor. On the
opening of the Civil war he hastened home,
and, offering his services to the general gov-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
211
eminent, was made brigadier-general of
volunteers and placed in command of a bri-
gade of New Jersey troops. In the cam-
paign under McClellan he commanded a di-
vision, and at Williamsburg and Fair Oaks
his services were valuable and brilliant, as
well as in subsequent engagements. At
Harrison's Landing he was made major-gen-
eral of volunteers. In the second battle of
Bull Run he was conspicuous, and at the
battle of Chantilly, September I, 1862,
while leading in advance of his troops, Gen-
eral Kearney was shot and killed.
RUSSELL SAGE, one of the financial
giants of the present century and for
more than an average generation one of the
most conspicuous and celebrated of Ameri-
cans, was born in a frontier hamlet in cen-
tral New York in August, 1816. While Rus-
sell was still a boy an elder brother, Henry
Risley Sage, established a small grocery
store at Troy, New York, and here Russell
found his first employment, as errand boy.
He served a five-years apprenticeship, and
then joined another brother, Elisha M. Sage,
in a new venture in the same line, which
proved profitable, at least for Russell, who
soon became its sole owner. Next he
formed the partnership of Sage & Bates,
and greatly extended his field of operations.
At twenty-five he had, by his own exertions,
amassed what was, in those days, a consid-
erable fortune, being worth about seventy-
five thousand dollars. He had acquired an
influence in local politics, and four years
later his party, the Whigs, elected him to
the aldermanic board of Troy and to the
treasuryship of Rensselaer county. In 1848
he was a prominent member of the New
York delegation to the Whig convention at
Philadelphia, casting his first votes for Henry
Clay, but joining the "stampede" which
nominated Zachary Taylor. In 1850 the
Whigs oi Troy nominated him for congress,
but he was not elected— a failure which he
retrieved two years later, and in 1854 he
was re-elected by a sweeping majority. At
Washington he ranked high in influence and
ability. Fame as a speaker and as a polit-
ical leader was within his grasp, when he
gave up public life, declined a renomination
to congress, and went back to Troy to de-
vote himself to his private business. Six
years later, in 1863, he removed to New
York and plunged into the arena of Wall
street. A man of boundless energy and
tireless pertinacity, with wonderful judg-
ment of men and things, he soon took his
place as a king in finance, and, it is said,
during the latter part of his life he con-
trolled more ready money than any other
single individual on this continent.
ROGER QUARLES MILLS, a noted
United States senator and famous as the
father of the "Mills tariff bill, "was born
in Todd county, Kentucky, March 30, 1832.
He received a liberal education in the com-
mon schools, and removed to Palestine,
Texas, in 1849. He took up the study of
law, and supported himself by serving as an
assistant in the post-office, and in the offices
of the court clerks. In 1850 he was elected
engrossing clerk of the Texas house of rep-
resentatives, and in 1852 was admitted to
the bar, while still a minor, by special act
of the legislature. He then settled at Cor-
sicana, Texas, and began the active prac-
tice of his profession. He was elected to
the state legislature in 1859, and in 1872 he
was elected to congress from the state at
large, as a Democrat. After his first elec-
tion he was continuously returned to con-
gress until he resigned to accept the posi-
tion of United States senator, to which he
212
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
was elected March 23, 1892, to succeed
Hon. Horace Chilton. He took his seat in
the senate March 30, 1892; was afterward
re-elected and ranked among the most use-
ful and prominent members of that body.
In 1S76 he opposed the creation of the elec-
toral commission, and in 1887 canvassed
the state of Texas against the adoption of
a prohibition amendment to its constitution,
which was defeated. He introduced into
the house of representatives the bill that was
known as the "Mills Bill," reducing duties
on imports, and extending the free list.
The bill passed the house on July 21, 1888,
and made the name of "Mills" famous
throughout the entire country.
HAZEN S. PINGREE, the celebrated
Michigan political leader, was born in
Maine in 1842. Up to fourteen years of
age he worked hard on the stony ground of
his father's small farm. Attending school
in the winter, he gained a fair education,
and when not laboring on the farm, he
found employment in the cotton mills in the
vicinity. He resolved to find more steady
work, and accordingly went to Hopkinton,
Massachusetts, where he entered a shoe fac-
tory, but on the outbreak of the war he en-
listed at once and was enrolled in the First
Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. He partici-
pated in the battle of Bull Run, which was
his initial fight, and served creditably his
enrly term of service, at the expiration of
which he re-enlisted. He fought in the
battles of Fredricksburg, Harris Farm,
Spottsylvania Court House and Cold Har-
bor. In 1864 he was captured by Mosby,
and spent five months at Andersonville,
Georgia, as a prisoner, but escaped at the
end of that time. He re-entered the service
and participated in the battles of Fort
Fisher, Boyden, and Sailor's Creek. He
was honorably mustered out of service, and
in 1866 went to Detroit, Michigan, where
he made use of his former experience in a
shoe factory, and found work. Later he
formed a partnership with another workman
and started a small factor)', which has since
become a large establishment. Mr. Pin-
gree made his entrance into politics in 1889,
in which year he was elected by a surpris-
ingly large majority as a Republican to the
mayoralty of Detroit, in which office he was
the incumbent during four consecutive terms.
In November, 1S96, he was elected gov-
ernor of the state of Michigan. While
mayor of Detroit, Mr. Pingree originated
and put into execution the idea of allowing
the poor people of the city the use of va-
cant city lands and lots for the purpose of
raising potatoes. The idea was enthusiast-
ically adopted by thousands of poor families,
attracted wide attention, and gave its author
a national reputation as "Potato-patch Pin-
gree."
THOMAS ANDREW HENDRICKS, an
eminent American statesman and a
Democratic politician of national fame, was
born in Muskingum county, Ohio, Septem-
ber 7, 1 8 19. In 1822 he removed, with his
father, to Shelby county, . Indiana. He
graduated from the South Hanover College
in 1841, and two years later was admitted
to the bar. In 1851 he was chosen a mem-
ber of the state constitutional convention,
and took a leading part in the deliberations
of that body. He was elected to congress
in 1 85 1, and after serving two terms was
appointed commissioner of the United States
general land-office. In 1863 he was elected
to the United States senate, where his dis-
tinguished services commanded the respect
of all parties. He was elected governor of
Indiana in 1872, serving four years, and in
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHV.
213
1876 was nominated by the Democrats as
candidate for the vice-presidency with Til-
den. The returns in a number of states
were contested, and resulted in the appoint-
ment of the famous electoral commission,
which decided in favor of the Republican
candidates. In 1884 Mr. Hendricks was
again nominated as candidate for the vice-
presidency, by the Democratic party, on the
ticket with Grover Cleveland, was elected,
and served about six months. He died at
Indianapolis, November 25, 1885. He was
regarded as one of the brainiest men in the
party, and his integrity was never ques-
tioned, even by his political opponents.
GARRETT A. HOBART, one of the
many able men who have held the
high office of vice-president of the United
States, was born June 3, 1844, in Mon-
mouth county, New jersey, and in i860 en-
tered the sophomore class at Rutgers Col-
lege, from which he graduated in 1863 at
the age of nineteen. He then taught
school until he entered the law office of
Socrates Tuttle, of Paterson, New Jersey,
with whom he studied law. and in 1869
was admitted to the bar. He immediately
began the active practice of his profession
i 1 the office of the above named gentleman.
He became interested in political life, and
espoused t e cause of the Republican party,
and in 1865 held his first office, serving as
clerk for the grind jury. He was also city
counsel of Paterson in 1871, and in May,
1872, was elected counsel for the board of
chosen freeholders. He entered the state
legislature in 1873, and was re-elected to
the assembly in 1874. Mr. Hobart was
made speaker of the assembly in 1876, and
and in 1879 was elected to the state senate.
After serving three years in the same, lie
was elected president of that body in 1SS1,
and the following year was re-slected to
that office. He was a delegate-at large to
the Republican national convention hi 1876
and 1880, and was elected a member of the
national committee in 1884, which pos'tion
he occupied continuously until 1896. He
was then nominated for vice-president by
the Republican national convention, am'
was elected to that office in the fall of 1896
on the ticket with William McKinley.
WILLIAM MORRIS STEWART, noted
as a political leader and senator, was
born in Lyons, Wayne county, New York,
August 9, 1S27, and removed with his par-
ents while still a small child to Mesopota-
mia township, Trumbull county, Ohio. He
attended the Lyons Union school and Farm-
ington Academy, where he obtained his ed-
ucation. Later he taught mathematics in
the former school, while yet a pupil, and
with the little money thus earned and the
assistance of James C. Smith, one of the
judges of the supreme court of New York,
he entered Yale College. He remained
there until the winter of 1849-50, when, at-
tracted by the gold discoveries in California
he wended his way thither. He arrived at
San Francisco in May, 1850, and later en-
gaged in mining with pick and shovel in Ne-
vada county. In this way he accumulated
some money, and in the spring of 1852 he
took up the study of law under John R.
McConnell. The following December he
was appointed district attorney, to which
office he was chosen at tha general election
of the next year. In 1854 he was ap-
pointed attorney-general of California, and
in 1S60 he removed to Virginia City, Ne-
vada, where he largely engaged in early
mining litigation. Mr. Stewart was also in-
terested in the development of the "Corn-
stock lode," and in 1S61 was chosen a
214
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
member of the territorial council. He was
elected a member of the constitutional con-
vention in 1863, and was elected United
States senator in 1864, and re-elected in
1869. At the expiration of his term in
1875, he resumed the practice of law in
Nevada, California, and the Pacific coast
generally. He was thus engaged when he
was elected again to the United States sen-
ate as a Republican in 1887 to succeed the
late James G. Fair, a Democrat, and took
his seat March 4, 1887. On the expiration
of his term he was again re-elected and be-
came one of the leaders of his party in con-
gress. His ability as an orator, and the
prominent part he took in the discussion of
public questions, gained him a national rep-
utation.
GEORGE GRAHAM VEST, for many
years a prominent member of the
United States senate, was born in Frank-
fort, Kentucky, December 6, 1848. He
graduated from Center College in 1868, and
from the law department of the Transyl-
vania University of Lexington, Kentucky,
in 1853. In the same year he removed to
Missouri and began the practice of his pro-
fession. In 1 860 he was an elector on the
Democratic ticket, and was a member of
the lower house of the Missouri legislature
in 1860-61. He was elected to the Con-
federate congress, serving two years in the
lower house and one in the senate. He
then resumed the practice of law, and in
1 879 was elected to the senate of the United
States to succeed James Shields. He was
re-elected in 18S5, and again in 1891 and
1S97. His many years of service in the
National congress, coupled with his ability
as a speaker and the active part he took in
the discussion of public questions, gave him
a wide reputation.
HANNIBAL HAMLIN, a noted American
statesman, whose name is indissolubly
connected with the history of this country,
was born in Paris, Maine, August 27, 1809.
He learned the printer's trade and followed
that calling for several years. He then
studied law, and was admitted to practice
in 1833. He was elected to the legislature
of the state of Maine, where he was several
times chosen speaker of the lower house.
He was elected to congress by the Demo-
crats in 1843, and re-elected in 1845. I'1
1848 he was chosen to the United States
senate and served in that body until 1861.
He was elected governor of Maine in 1857
on the Republican ticket, but resigned when
re-elected to the United States senate
the same year. He was elected vice-presi-
dent of the United States on the ticket with
Lincoln in i860, and inaugurated in March,
1 861. In 1865 he was appointed collector
of the port of Boston. Beginning with
1869 he served two six-year terms in the
United States senate, and was then ap-
pointed by President Garfield as minister to
Spain in 1881. His death occurred July 4,
1891.
TSHAM G. HARRIS, famous as Confed-
1 erate war governor of Tennessee, and
distinguished by his twenty years of service
in the senate of the United States, was
born in Franklin county, Tennessee, and
educated at the Academy of Winchester.
He then took up the study of law, was ad-
mitted to the bar, and commenced practice
at Paris, Tennessee, in 1841. He was
elected to the state legislature in 1847, was
a candidate for presidential elector on the
Democratic ticket in 1848, and the next
year was elected to congress from his dis-
trict, and re-elected in 185 1. In 1853 he
was renominated by the Democrats of his
COMPENDIUM UF BIOGRAPHY.
215
district, but declined, and removed to Mem-
phis, where he took up the practice of law.
He was a presidential elector-at-large from
Tennessee in 1856, and was elected gov-
ernor of the state the next year, and again
in 1859, and in 1861. He was driven from
Nashville by the advance of the Union
armies, and for the last three years of the
war acted as aid upon the staff of the com-
manding general of the Confederate army
of Tennessee. After the war he went to
Liverpool, England, where he became a
merchant, but returned to Memphis in 1867,
and resumed the practice of law. In 1877
he was elected to the United States senate,
to which position he was successively re-
elected until his death in 1897.
NELSON DINGLEY, Jr., for nearly a
quarter of a century one of the leaders
in congress and framer of the famous
"Dingley tariff bill," was born in Durham,
Maine, in 1832. His father as well as all
his ancestors, were farmers, merchants and
mechanics and of English descent. Young
Dingley was given the advantages first of
the common schools and in vacations helped
his father in the store and on the farm.
When twelve years of age he attended high
school and at seventeen was teaching in a
country school district and preparing him-
self for college. The following year he en-
tered Waterville Academy and in 185 1 en-
tered Colby University. After a year and a
half in this institution he entered Dart-
mouth College and was graduated in 1855
with high rank as a scholar, debater and
-writer. He next studied law and was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1856. But instead of
practicing his profession he purchased the
" Lewistown (Me.) Journal," which be-
came famous throughout the New England
states as a leader in the advocacy of Repub-
lican principles. About the same time Mr.
Dingley began his political career, although
ever after continuing at the head of the
newspaper. He was soon elected to the
state legislature and afterward to the lower
house of congress, where he became a
prominent national character. He also
served two terms as governor of Maine.
OLIVER PERRY MORTON, a distin-
guished American statesman, was born
in Wayne county, Indiana, August 4, 1823.
His early education was by private teaching
and a course at the Wayne County Seminary.
At the age of twenty years he entered the
Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and at
the end of two years quit the college, began
the study of law in the office of John New-
man, of Centerville, Indiana, and was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1847.
Mr. Morton was elected judge on the
Democratic ticket, in 1852, but on th*.
passage of the " Kansas-Nebraska Bill " he
severed his connection with that part}', and
soon became a prominent leader of the Re-
publicans. He was elected governor of In-
diana in 1 86 1, and as war governor became
well known throughout the country. He
received a paralytic stroke in 1865, which
partially deprived hiin of the use of his
limbs. He was chosen to the United States
senate from Indiana, in 1867, and wielded
great influence in that body until the time
of his death, November 1, 1877.
JOHN B. GORDON, a brilliant Confeder-
ate officer and noted senator of the United
States, was born in Upson county, Georgia,
February 6, 1832. He graduated from the
State University, studied law, and took up
the practice of his profession. At the be-
ginningof the war he entered the Confederate
service as captain of infantry, and rapidly
216
COMPEXDJUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
rose to the rank of lieutenant-general,
commanding one wing of the Confederate
army at the close of the war. In 1868 he
was Democratic candidate for governor of
Georgia, and it is said was elected by a large
majority, but his opponent was given the
office. He was a delegate to the national
Democratic conventions in 1868 and 1872,
and a presidential elector both years. In
1873 he was elected to the United States
senate. In 18S6 he was elected governor
of Georgia, and re-elected in 1888. He
was again elected to the United States
senate in 1890, serving until 1897, when he
was succeeded by A. S. Clay. He was
regarded as a leader of the southern Democ-
racy, and noted for his fiery eloquence.
STEPHEN JOHNSON FIELD, an illus-
trious associate justice of the supreme
court of the United States, was born at
Haddam, Connecticut, November 4, 1816,
being one of the noted sons of Rev. D.
D. Field. He graduated from Williams
College in 1837. took up the study of law
with his brother, David Dudley Field, be-
coming his partner upon admission to the
bar. He went to California in 1849, and at
once began to take an active interest in the
political affairs of that state. He was
elected alcalde of Marysville, in 1850, and
in the autumn of the same year was elected
to the slate legislature. In 1857 he was
elected judge of the supreme court of the
state, and two years afterwards became its
chief justice. In 1863 he was appointed by
President Lincoln as associate justice of the
supreme court of the United States. During
his incumbency, in 1873, he was appointed
by the governor of California one of a com-
mission to examine the codes of the state
and for the preparation of amendments to
the same for submission to the legislature.
In 1877 he was one of the famous electoral
commission of fifteen members, and voted
as one of the seven favoring the election of
Tilden to the presidency. In 1880 a large
portion of the Democratic party favored his
nomination as candidate for the presidency.
He retired in the fall of 1897, having
served a greater number of years on the
supreme bench than any of his associates or
predecessors, Chief Justice Marshall coining
next in length of service.
JOHN T. MORGAN, whose services in
the United States senate brought him
into national prominence, was born in
Athens, Tennessee, June 20, 1824. At the
age of nine years he emigrated to Alabama,
where he made his permanent home, and
where he received an academic education.
He then took up the study of law, and was
admitted to the bar in 1845. He took a
leading part in local politics, was a presi-
dential elector in i860, casting his ballot
for Breckenridge and Lane, and in 1 86 1
was a delegate to the state convention which
passed the ordinance of secession. In May,
of the same year, he joined the Confederate
army as a private in Company I, Cahawba
Rifles, and was soon after made major and
then lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Regiment.
In 1862 he was commissioned colonel, and
soon after made brigadier-general and as-
signed to the command of a brigade in Vir-
ginia. He resigned to join his old regiment
whose colonel had been killed. He was
soon afterward again made brigadier-gen-
eral and given command of the brigade that
included his regiment.
After the war he returned to the prac-
tice of law, and continued it up to the time
of his election to the United States senate, in
1 877. He was a presidential elector in 1 876,
and cast his vote for Tilden and Hendricks.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
217
He was re-elected to the senate in 18S3,
and again in 1889, and 1895. His speeches
and the measures he introduced, marked
as they were by an intense Americanism,
brought him into national prominence.
WILLIAM McKINLEY.the twenty-fifth
president of the United States, was
born at Niles, Trumbull county, Ohio, Jan-
uary 29, 1844. He was of Scotch-Irish
ancestry, and received his early education
in a Methodist academy in the small village
of Poland, Ohio. At the outbreak of the
war Mr. McKinley was teaching school,
earning twenty-five dollars per month. As
soon as Fort Sumter was fired upon he en-
listed in a company that was formed in
Poland, which was inspected and mustered
in by General John C. Fremont, who at
first objected to Mr. McKinley, as being too
young, but upon examination he was finally
accepted. Mr. McKinley was seventeen
when the war broke out but did not look his
age. He served in the Twenty-third Ohio
Infantry throughout the war, was promoted
from sergeant to captain, for good conduct
on the field, and at the close of the war,
for meritorious services, he was brevetted
major. After leaving the army Major Mc-
Kinley took up the study of law, and was
admitted to the bar, and in 1869 he took
his initiation into politics, being elected pros-
ecuting attorney of his county as a Republi-
can, although thedistrict was usually Demo-
cratic. In 1 876 he was elected to congress,
and in a call upon the President-elect, Mr.
Hayes, to whom he went for advice upon the
way he should shape his career, he was
told that to achieve fame and success he
must take one special line and stick to it.
Mr. McKinley chose tariff legislation and
he became an authority in regard to import
duties. He was a member of congress for
many years, became chairman of the ways
and means committee, and later he advo-
cated the famous tariff bill that bore his
name, which was passed in 1S90. In the
next election the Republican party was
overwhelmingly defeated through the coun-
try, and the Democrats secured more than
a two thirds majority in the lower house,
and also had control of the senate, Mr.
McKinley being defeated in his own district
by a small majority. He was elected gov-
ernor of Ohio in 1891 by a plurality of
twenty-one thousand, five hundred and
eleven, and two years later he was re-elected
by the still greater plurality of eighty thou-
sand, nine hundred and ninety-five. He was
a delegate-at-large to the Minneapolis Re-
publican convention in 1892, and was in-
structed to support the nomination of Mr.
Harrison. He was chairman of the con-
vention, and was the only man from Ohio
to vote for Mr. Harrison upon the roll call.
In November, 1892, a number of prominent
politicians gathered in New York to discuss
the political situation, and decided that the
result of the election had put an end to Mc-
Kinley and McKinleyism. But in less than
four years from that date Mr. McKinley was
nominated for the presidency against the
combined opposition of half a dozen rival
candidates. Much of the credit for his suc-
cess was due to Mark A. Hanna, of Cleve-
land, afterward chairman of the Republican
national committee. At the election which
occurred in November, 1896, Mr. McKinley
was elected president of the United States
by an enormous majority, on a gold stand-
ard and protective tariff platform. He was
inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1S97,
and called a special session of congress, to
which was submitted a bill for tariff reform,
which was passed in the latter part of July
of that vear.
218
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
(-MNCINNATUS HEINE MILLER,
> known in the literary world as Joaquin
Miller, "the poet of the Sierras," was born
at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1841. When only
about thirteen years of age he ran away
from home and went to the mining regions
in California and along the Pacific coast.
Some time afterward he was taken prisoner
by the Modoc Indians and lived with them
for five years. He learned their language
and gained great influence with them, fight-
ing in their wars, and in all modes of living
became as one of them. In 1S58 he left
the Indians and went to San Francisco,
where he studied law, and in i860 was ad-
mitted to the bar in Oregon. In 1866 he
was elected a county judge in Oregon and
served four years. Early in the seventies
he began devoting a good deal of time to
literary pursuits, and about 1874 he settled
in Washington, D. C. He wrote many
poems and dramas that attracted consider-
able attention and won him an extended
reputation. Among his productions may be
mentioned " Pacific Poems," " Songs of the
Sierras," "Songs of the Sun Lands,"
' ' Ships in the Desert, " ' ' Adrianne, a Dream
of Italy," "Danites," "Unwritten History,"
" First Families of the Sierras " (a novel),
" One Fair Woman " (a novel), " Songs of
Italy," " Shadows of Shasta," "The Gold-
Seekers of the Sierras," and a number of
others.
GEORGE FREDERICK ROOT, a
noted music publisher and composer,
was born in Sheffield, Berkshire county,
Massachusetts, on August 30, 1820. While
working on his father's farm he found time
to learn, unaided, several musical instru-
ments, and in his eighteenth year he went
to Boston, where he soon found employ-
ment as a teacher of music. From 1839
until 184411c gave instructions in music in
the public schools of that city, and was also
director of music in two churches. Mr.
Root then went to New York and taught
music in the various educational institutions
of the city. • He went to Paris in 1850 and
spent one year there in study, and on his re-
turn he published his first song, "Hazel
Dell." It appeared as the work of " Wur-
zel," which was the German equivalent of
his name. He was the originator of the
normal musical institutions, and when the
first one was started in New York he
was one of the faculty. He removed to
Chicago, Illinois, in i860, and established
the firm of Root & Cady, and engaged in
the publication of music. He received, in
[872, the degree of " Doctor of Music"
from the University of Chicago. After the
war the firm became George F. Root & Co.,
of Cincinnati and Chicago. Mr. Root did
much to elevate the standard of music in this
country by his compositions and work as a
teacher. Besides his numerous songs he
wrote a great deal of sacred music and pub-
lished many collections of vocal and instru-
mental music. For many years he was the
most popular song writer in America, and
was one of the greatest song writers of the
war. He is also well-known as an author,
and his work in that line comprises: " Meth-
ods for the Piano and Organ," "Hand-
book on Harmony Teaching, " and innumer-
able articles for the musical press. Among
his many and most popular songs of the
war time are: " Rosalie, the Prairie-flower,"
" Battle Cry of Freedom," " Just Before the
Battle," "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys
are Marching," " The Old Folks are Gone,"
"A Hundred Years Ago," "Old Potomac
Shore, "and " There's Music in the Air." Mr.
Root's cantatas include "The Flower Queen"
and "The Haymakers." He died in 1896.
PART II.
A BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
OF
DARKE COUNTY,
OHIO.
DARKE COUNTY,
OHIO.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF DECEASED CITIZENS
OF DARKE COUNTY, OHIO.
By Professor J. T. Martz.
N preparing a biographical sketch of
the prominent dead of Darke county
the writer has been compelled to refer
to such records books and newspaper
reports as are within his reach ; also the per-
sonal knowledge and statements of the
friends of the deceased, and to depend upon
his own recollections. These facts then have
been gleaned from the most authentic sources
which are associated with the early rise and
progress of the county, and are continued
down to the present time.
But few who were contemporary with
the settlement of the town or county in their
earliest stages of history now live. From
them might have been obtained, from per-
sonal recollections, the trials and hardships,
the personal suffering and endurance of the
early pioneers and more recent settlers, but
they have all passed to the other shore. To
the writing and compilation of these events
much labor has been given, and the critical
reader will perhaps find many imperfections,
but tedious and perplexing as the task has
been in many of its details, on the whole it
has proved a source of gratification to col-
lect into one casket what were like "orient
pearls at random strung;" and we would
fain present this sketch b < its readers as a
13
variegated bouquet, culled from the many
gardens that adorn and diversify the unwrit-
ten pages of the history of this county, and
its many absent citizens.
The lives of many of our distinguished
dead are intimately associated with the early
history of the northwest, and particularly
with the defeat of St. Clair and its mourn-
ful results, which occurrence may be stated
as follows : On the evening of November
3. 1 791, his army encamped on the banks of
the Wabash, which location was once a part
of Darke county. Indian scouts in large
numbers were seen skulking through the
woods during the entire march to this place.
St. Clair intended to fortify his camp the
next day, but before four o'clock of Novem-
ber 4th, the Indians attacked the American
camp with a general discharge of firearms
and the most horrid yells. Favored by the
darkness, they broke into the camp and con-
tinued their work of death. The troops
were surprised and recoiled from the sud-
den shock. The artillerists were so rapidly
shot down that the guns were useless. Gal-
lant charges were made by Colonel Darke.
after whom this county was named, but not
having sufficient riflemen to support him,
his troops only exposed themselves t> 1 more
224
GENEALOGICAL AXD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
certain destruction. General Butler was
killed in the early part of the engagement,
and as the only hope of saving the rem-
nant of the army. St. Clair "resolved upon
the desperate experiment" of charging upon
the flank of the Indians and gaining the
road, of which the Indians had possession.
The charge was led by the General in per-
son and was successful. The road was
gained, but not until more than six hun-
dred of his brave men lay dead Upon the field.
The soldiers now abandoned the artillery,
threw away their arms and equipments, and
never paused in their headlong flight until
they reached Fort Jefferson, twenty-nine
miles distant from the location of the battle.
Many were killed in this bloody retreat, and
forty years afterward the farmers in the
northwestern part of the county would fre-
quently find the remains of soldiers who gal-
lantly lost their lives in this unfortunate en-
counter.
History informs us that Adjutant-Gen-
eral Sargeant wrote in his diary that the
army had been defeated and at least half
had been killed and wounded, making a loss
of over nine hundred men. Following the
army were about one hundred women, wives
of officers and men, only a few of whom es-
caped. General Wilkinson, who succeeded
St. Clair in the command of the army, sent
a detachment from Fort Washington to the
battle ground in the following February for
the purpose of burying the dead. The
bodies were horribly mutilated, and those
who had not been killed outright during the
battle had been put to death with tortures
too terrible and revolting for description.
There being a deep snow upon the ground
at this time they failed to find many of the
bodies.
In September. 1794. nearly three years
after the battle, General Wayne sent a de-
tachment to build a fort upon the scene of
the disaster, which was done, and the struct-
ure was very significantly called Fort Re-
covery. It is said that in order to find all
the remains there unburied rewards for
finding skulls were offered. The ground in
places was literally covered with bones ; the
detachment found more than six hundred
skulls. On some the marks of the scalping
knife were plainly visible. Some were
hacked or marked by the tomahawk, while
others again were split open by a blow of
that weapon. The remains were buried, and
these facts prove the correctness of General
Sargeant's statement, that more than nine
hundred men lost their lives in this bloody
affair. Two desperate attempts were made
by the Indians to obtain possession of Fort
Recovery, but in each attempt they were re-
pulsed with severe loss. These transactions
render Fort Recovery one of the most memo-
rable in the history of our country. On the
7th of July, 1851, many of the remains of
these soldiers were found partly exposed,
and on that and the two following days they
were taken up by the citizens of Fort Re-
covery, and on the 10th of the following
September were reinterred at a mass meet-
ing of citizens from Kentucky, Indiana, Vir-
ginia and Ohio, the meeting being called ex-
pressly for that purpose. Thirteen coffins
were prepared, and it was intended to fill
each one partly full, but the remains entire-
ly filled these coffins, and also a large box
prepared for this purpose. They were in-
terred in the old cemetery at Fort Recovery,
by the side of Samuel McDowell, one of
their comrades who died and was buried
there in 1842. where they now rest — a low
circular mound of earth and stone marking
the spot.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
226
These soldiers lost their lives in the de-
fense of their country and while in the em-
ployment of the United States government.
A committee appointed by congress investi-
gated the facts and details of this campaign
and exonerated General St. Clair from all
blame. It was the result of the fortunes of
war, and we can only honor our noble dead
by respecting their memory in the proper
way. No other place in American history is
more deserving of a suitable monument to
commemorate our nation's loss and to mark
the spot of her fallen heroes than is Fort
Recovery. Five or six acres of ground
within the limits of the fort should be pro-
cured suitable for a park.
Let this be done and a monument worthy
to commemorate these sad events be erected
there ; the remains of these soldiers should be
transferred to this monument as a suitable
location for their last resting place. This
is a matter that concerns the states of Mary-
land, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky and
Indiana, as well as Ohio. But these soldiers
did not sacrifice their lives for the protec-
tion of the citizens of these states merely.
It was to protect and defend a territory be-
longing to the general government from
the encroachments of a savage foe instigated
by the emissaries of a government glad to
seek an opportunity to continue a strife, that
by treaty had been settled in the independ-
ence of our country years before. It is
earnestly hoped that congress will soon take
such action, and that a suitable monument
commemorating the events herein named
will be erected at Fort Recovery.
In June, 1794, General Wayne com-
menced his campaign against the Indians of
the northwest, marching from Greenville
with a force of about three thousand men.
When near the northeastern line of Darke
county, the Indians held a council for the
purpose of settling the question as to the ex-
pediency of attacking Wayne's army at once.
Some of General Wayne's scouts, disguised
as Indians, with their faces painted with all
the hideousness of the savage on the war-
path, attended this savage council, listened
to all the arguments there advanced, and re-
ported the same to the General. Major
George Adams, who had so far recovered
from wounds received five years before as
to be in the service of Wayne's army, was
present at this council, disguised in full In-
dian rig and paint. He reported that Lit-
tle Turtle strongly urged that an onslaught
be made before morning. This advice was
withstood by the Crane, head chief of the
Wvandots, and by the Shawnee and Potta-
watomie chiefs, and the head men of other
tribes who were in the Indian force. The
reasons given by those who opposed the
Turtle's council were that they desired
Wayne to be farther away from his home,
as they designated Fort Greenville, and that
they could better engage him when they
were near their friends, as they designated a
British fort and garrison on the Maumee,
which had been kept up in defiance of the
stipulation of the treaty of 1783 ; but the true
reason of their opposition to the Turtle's ad-
vice was their distrust of him excited the
previous autumn at Fort Recovery. Major
Adams had previously been a soldier in Gen-
eral Harmar's army, again in the service as
a captain of scouts under Wayne, as above
intimated, and nearly twenty years later
commandant of the garrison at Greenville,
during the negotiations preceding the exe-
cution of the treaty of 1814, and later in life
was judge of the court of common pleas of
Darke county. Ohio. He was five times
shot and severelv wounded in one of the
226
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
three several defeats of Harmar. He sur-
vived, and was carried on a litter between
two horses to Cincinnati, although on the
way a grave was dug for him three even-
ings in succession. With his ashes in the
Martin cemetery, three miles east of Green-
ville, are two of the bullets of the five which
he carried in his body from 1789 until his
decease in 1832.
On the 20th of August, 1794, the battle
of Fallen Timbers was fought, which for a
number of years subdued the Indians and
caused them to sue for peace, which lasted
until 181 2, when Tecumseh stirred up the
Indians to such an extent as to bring on the
war resulting in the battle of the Thames.
This celebrated Shawnee chief was born at
what was known as the ancient town of Piq-
ua, located on the north side of Mad river,
and about five miles west of Springfield. In
1805 he and his brother, Lau-le-was'-i-ka,
the prophet, took a large part of his tribe to
Greenville, and built an Indian town on what
ij known as the Wiliam F. Bishop farm on
Mud creek. One writer says that Tecum-
seh and the prophet resided from 1805 to
1808 on the tongue of land between Mud
creek and Greenville creek, which place is
still known as Tecumseh's Point. This
point was held sacred by the red men, and
to such an extent did this feeling prevail
among the Indians that when orders were
issued in 1832 to remove them from the set-
tlements at Wapakoneta to their reservation
beyond the Mississippi river, the officer in
charge designed taking them through Miami
count}'' to Cincinnati, but they insisted on
being taken through Greenville that they
might once more visit the home of their chief
and prophet, and their request being granted,
they remained several days. The two loca-
tions are about three miles apart, and there
seems to be but little doubt of the brothers
having resided at both places. Here they
lived, and as the early settlers testify, they
carried on their thieving propensities the
same as they had done at "Old Piqua," from
which place they had been driven because of
these depredations. Nothing that the set-
tlers owned was safe, and they lived in con-
stant dread that they would not only lose
their property, but they felt that their lives
were not safe while surrounded by these
savages. Shortly after coming to Green-
ville the prophet announced an eclipse of the
sun, and that, happening at the time he pre-
dicted, increased the belief in his sacred char-
acter. Hostile movements resulted in the
expedition led by General Harrison, who, on
the 7th day of November, 181 1, encountered
the Indians at Tippecanoe, Indiana, and
gained a decisive victory over them. Te-
cumseh was not present at the battle, but
the Indians were commanded by the prophet,
who had promised them an easy victory.
Not accomplishing what he as a prophet fore-
told, he lost the confidence of the Indians and
was never able to restore his influence over
them. In 1812 Tecumseh was early in the
field. He fought at Brownstown, was
wounded at Magreaga and made a brigadier-
general by the British. He took a part in
the siege of Fort Meigs, and fell, bravely
fighting, in the battle of the Thames, in the
forty-fourth year of his age. His death shot
is ascribed to a pistol in the hands of Colonel
Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky. We
thus make brief mention of these renowned
leaders of the aboriginal races to whose lands
we have become heirs, and in whose biogra-
phy Darke county has the honor of being so
prominently connected.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
227
MURDER OF THE WILSON CHILDREX.
The early settlers of Greenville suffered
many hardships, and were exposed to many
dangers from 1808 to 18 16. Indians were
numerous, and while they were generally
considered friendly, the settlers lived in con-
stant alarm, and a ceaseless dread of treach-
ery and violence hung like a threatening
cioud over them. There were many In-
dian tribes at that time friendly to the
whites, and while scouts were constantly on
the move and vigilant in their efforts to give
the first alarm of danger, these friendly In-
dians were supplied with white flags, prop-
erly marked, which permitted them to pass
the outposts of the whites in safety. This
feeling of dread was not produced by the acts
of the Indians alone, but the whites did
much to increase the anxiety and danger.
At one time a party of whites discharged a
volley into a body of Indians carrying one
of these flags, and approaching with the ut-
most confidence. Two Indians were in-
stantly killed, a third was wounded, and the
rest were taken prisoners and robbed. One
of the settlers, Andrew Rush, was killed by
the Indians, and it was reported that a
trader at Fort Recovery had been killed by
his partner, but the Indians were accused
of the crime. Greenville was then a stock-
ade, and in the summer of 1812 many of the
men were away rendering military service
to the government, and but few men re-
mained at the fort. It is said about this
time a number of white men came upon a
party of Indians with their women and chil-
dren. The whites treated the Indian chil-
dren with cruelty, taking them by the feet
and swinging them around their heads, and
when the Indians remonstrated and asked
them to desist, one man dashed out the
brains of one of the children. An attempt
would have been made to punish the mur-
derer immediately, but the whites were too
strong, and the Indians awaited a future time
in which to obtain their revenge. This time
soon came. In July, 181 2, Patsy and Anna
Wilson, daughters of "Old Billy Wilson,"
and aged respectively fourteen and eight
years, accompanied by their brother older
than they, left the stockade in the afternoon
to gather berries. The brother took a gun
with him for safety, as it is said that some
time previous he had been chased by the In-
dians, and being hard pressed he took shel-
ter behind a tree, then placed his hat on the
muzzle of his gun, exposed the same to the
fire of the Indians, and while they stopped
to load their guns he made his escape. The
three crossed Greenville creek near N.
Kuntz's saw-mill, and were picking berries
under the trees when they were attacked by
three Indians. The brother had left his gun
near by, and the three were some distance
apart at the time of the surprise. Not being
able to secure his gun, the brother escaped
by swimming the stream. His cries and the
screams of the girls attracted the attention
of Abraham Scribner and William Devor,
who immediately ran to the spot, but the
Indians had fled, after killing the girls by
blows on the head with the poll or back of
their tomahawks and scalping one of them,
they not having time to scalp the other one.
When the help came the girl that had been
scalped was already dead, the other gasped a
few times after they reached her. The dead
bodies were carried into the fort and the
alarm given, but the Indians escaped. Two
innocent lives were thus sacrificed in retalia-
tion for the death of the Indian child. The
sisters were buried under the tree near where
228
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
they were murdered, and this was the last
tragedy of those perilous times. It was not
safe for Indians to show themselves in this
vicinity after that atrocious butchery, and
the war being carried to the northwest, fol-
lowed by the treaty of 1S14. left the inhab-
itants of Greenville in comparative safety.
About the 1st of July, 1871, the remains of
these two sisters were taken up, and on the
fourth of the same month, the "Nation's
Birthday," they were deposited in the Green-
ville cemetery with appropriate ceremonies,
a large assembly of the people being in at-
tendance to show their respect for the dead.
On the same day a large granite boulder,
weighing perhaps four tons, swung under a
wagon drawn by six horses, was driven into
the cemetery and placed over their grave.
Here let them rest in peace, and may their
monument be a constant reminder to us of
the trials and dangers through which the
early settlers of our peaceful city passed, and
may it admonish us of the importance of
properly appreciating the privileges and
blessings we enjoy.
ANDREW RUSH.
About the 28th of April. 181 2. Andrew
Rush started for a little mill which had been
built on Greenville creek, a few rods above
where the Beamsville road to Greenville
marks a crossing. He got his grist and set
out to return home. On his way home he
stopped to make a call on Daniel Potter, who,
with Isaac Vail, was occupying each his own
end of a double log house, which stood be-
tween the late residence of Moses Potter
and the creek. The two settlers from some
cause had become fearful of trouble, and had
gone down the Miami for assistance to take
back their families to their former homes.
Mrs. Potter asked Mr. Rush if he were not
afraid of the Indians, and he put his hand
through his hair and replied jokingly, "No:
I had my wife cut my hair this morning so
>hort that they could not get my scalp."
Some time about 4 p. m, he left for home,
and had not proceeded half a mile when he
was shot from his horse, tomahawked and
his scalp taken. Uneasiness was felt because
of his not returning home, but all the fore-
noon next day rain fell steadily and it was
thought he might have stayed with a settler ;
but in the afternoon Mr. Hiller's oldest son
and Mr. Rush's brother-in-law took a horse
and set out to look for him. The boys fol-
lowed the track made by Rush to Greenville
creek, just above the place known as Spiece's
Mill, and there found the body lying on the
sack of meal, mutilated as described. The
boys then visited the houses of the settlers,
but found all the cabins silent and deserted.
They then hastened to the cabin of Henry
Rush, and it was abandoned. The truth was
evident that a panic had seized upon all. and
they had fled for their lives. Xext morning
men from Preble county moved out on the
road to the body of Andrew Rush and gave
it burial.
AZOR AND ABRAHAM SCRIBNER.
Among the first settlers of Greenville was
Azor Scribner. Late in 1806 or early in
1807, he came to Greenville with a small
] stock of Indian goods, including tobacco
and whisky, and began business in a cabin
built by a Frenchman who had deserted the
same two years before because of the thiev-
ing depredations of the Indians. He did not
bring his family, consisting of a wife and
two daughters, from Middletown until 1808,
but what time of the year is not known. It
is conceded that the first white man who,
with a wife and children, emi°rated to the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
229
county and settled in Greenville township
was Samuel Boyd, who came in 1807 and
bulit himself a cabin about two and one-half
miles north by east of the site of Fort Green-
ville on the bank of a branch that yet goes by
the name of Boyd's creek. Boyd was a native
of Maryland, had lived in Kentucky, and
was probably married there before he emi-
grated to Ohio and had, as far as we are
able to learn, stopped one or two years near
the Miami in Butler county, before emigrat-
ing to the wilderness, that, two years after-
ward, created the county of Darke. Boyd
lost his wife about 181 6. and she was the first
person buried in the old graveyard below the
railroad bridge ; the early settlers having pre-
viously used as a cemetery the lot on which
the Catholic church is erected, but during the
occupancy of the fort by General Wayne's
army his hospital was located on the lot now
ocupied by Judge George A. Jobes, while his
graveyard was located upon the lot now oc-
cupied by the dwelling house of R. S. Fri-
zell. Boyd died in 1829 or 1830; one of his
daughters, the wife of John Carnahan, had
died in 1821 or 1822; and another, the wife
of Robert Martin, lived until about thirteen
years ago. recognized as the oldest inhabitant
of the county at that time. Soon after Boyd
came, Azor Scribner removed his family
and, abandoning the cabin on the west side
of the creek, occupied one of the buildings
of the fort that had escaped the fire which in
a measure destroyed the fort inside of the
pickets. Azor died in 1822 and his widow,
in the early part of 1825, married a Yankee
adventurer, who in less than a year deserted
her, and the last ever heard of him was that
he was in jail in Canada, on a charge of
treason, having been involved in what was
there known as McKenzie's rebellion.
Abraham Scribner, brother of Azor, came to
Greenville in the summer or early fall of
181 1. He had previously been master of 1 • ne
or more vessels engaged in the navigation of
the Hudson river, from New York to Troy,
or in the coasting trade from Passamma-
quoddy bay to the capes of the Chesapeake,
and, sometimes, as far south as Cape Hat-
teras. When he came to Darke county he
was about thirty years old. From exposure
while commander of a vessel a year or two
before he nearly lost the sense of hearing,
and this infirmity in connection with some,
other peculiarities made him a man singular
and exceptional in character and deport-
ment. Part of his time he spent in Green-
ville, in the family of Mrs. Armstrong, until
his death in January. 1812, and part of the
time in Montgomery county in the family of
John Devor, one of the proprietors of Green-
ville, whose daughter Rachel he married in
1814. What he did to make a living for him-
self for a year or more after he came to this
county none now living knows. He appeared
tc be always busy, and yet no one could tell
whether he was doing anything. Being at
Day ton in the spring of 1813, he enlisted in
Colonel Dick Johnson's mounted regiment,
and with it went to upper Canada where, in
the fall of that year, he participated in the
battle of the Fallen Timber, where Proctor
was defeated and Tecumseh was killed.
After being discharged from the service he
married Miss Rachel Devor, and having en-
tered the prairie quarter-section of land above
the mouth of Mud creek, now owned by the
estate of J. W. Sater, deceased, he erected a
log house upon it ; also brought his wife from
Montgomery count}', and began housekeep-
ing. In about two years Scribner sold his
quarter-section, on which he had paid only
230
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his entrance money, eighty dollars, to John
Compton, of Dayton, for sixteen hundred
dollars, and took his pay in a stock of goods
at retail price, and opened out a store. In
the summer of 1821 Scribner lost his first
wife, and, after an interval of a few weeks,
married a second wife. Miss Jane Ireland,
of the vicinity of Xew Paris, who also died
in the summer of 1822. After the death of
his second wife, he sold out his stock of
goods, and having placed his children among
friends, went to the Maumee, where he pur-
chased land in Henry county, and squandered
his money in half clearing some land, and
having several thousand rails made, con-
cerning which, five years afterward. Jacob
DeLong wrote to him that "they were lying
in the woods and getting no better very fast. '
In a few months he returned to Greenville
and resumed the mercantile business, in
which he continued the residue of his life.
In January, 1825. lie married his third wife.
He died in March, 1847. >n the sixty-sixth
year of his age. Mr. Scribner was a pecu-
liar character. During ten or twelve years
of his life he was the power of the county.
He was the autocrat and ruler of the Dem-
ocratic party, and discharged all the func-
tions of caucuses, primary elections and
nominating conventions. Those he allowed
to run for office ran and were elected, and
those he forbade had to keep shady and hold
their peace. But at last he switched off from
Jackson Democracy, although he would be
"right in line" now among Democrats, for
he was an uncompromising adherent to the
resolutions of 1798. His last wife died
several years ago, as did Mrs. S. J. Arnold,
who was the last of the children of his first
wife, and was the wife of Henry Arnold,
deceased, for many years a successful dry-
goods merchant in Greenville.
ABRAHAM STUDABAKER.
A pioneer of Darke county, Ohio, Abra-
ham Studabaker was born in Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1785,
and died in Darke county. Ohio, March 16,
1852. He was brought with his father's fam-
ily to Ohio in the year 1793, and passed his
youth in Clinton count}', where his parents
died. In the spring of 1808 he became one of
the first settlers of Darke county, which was
then a wilderness, inhabited by wild beasts
and Indians. At this time there were but two
habitations in the territory that now corn-
pries the county. He erected a third rude
log cabin, having a chimney built of sticks
cemented with mud. as a home for his fam-
ily, a wife and one young child. Mr. Studa-
baker's experience was a good illustration
of some of the difficulties that disheartened
the early settlers. He brought with him a
horse and cow, and after awhile his little
>t< ick of domestic animals was increased by
the birth of a calf. During the first year he
cleared an acre or two of ground, which he
planted in corn. He had just gathered his
little crop when his faithful horse died of
milk-sickness, and shortly afterward the
calf was killed by wolves. Hoping to catch
some of these ravenous beasts, he baited a
wolf trap with the mangled remains of the
poor calf, and the cow. in hunting for her
lost baby, put her head into the trap which
fell and broke her neck. Soon after the
breaking out of the war of 1812, he erected
a block-house in the vicinity of Gettysburg,
as a protection against the Indians. All other
families fled the surrounding part of the
country, but he remained through the dan-
gers of the struggle. He used to remark
that he was too poor to get away. For about
two weeks after dangers began to thicken
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
231
he was housed up in his wooden fort, himself,
wife and one young child being the only oc-
cupants, threatened with ail manner of bar-
barities and outrages by the frenzied Indians,
against which as a means of defense he had
but two rifles and a small amount of ammu-
nition. The second (or garret) story of this
structure projected on all sides a few feet
over the first or ground story, thus giving
its inmates a fair chance to repel parties at-
tempting to break in. or to fire the building
from below. For protection against this lat-
ter mode of attack on the part of the Indians,
he kept constantly ready two hogsheads
filled with water. After he had for about
two weeks been in this isolated and danger-
ous condition, the government, greatly to his
relief, sent six soldiers with arms and ammu-
nition for the protection of his little. family.
This block-house, which Studabaker had
charge of during the war. served as an inn.
a port of refuge, official headquarters and
other valuable purposes. Upon one occasion
he captured five armed Indians and turned
them over to the government officer. They,
however, -subsequently escaped and killed
two United States soldiers near Greenville,
named Stoner and Elliott. While Abraham
Studabaker and his family escaped the bar-
barities of this savage conflict, his brother
David was murdered by the Indians near the
site of Fort Wayne, Indiana. After the war
closed Mr. Studabaker was employed by the
government to furnish cattle to feed the In-
dians till the treaty of peace could be con-
summated. Upon the organization of Darke
county in 1817, he was placed on the first
board of commissioners and served with it
for thirteen years. He was also a captain in
early day militia. He was reared and lived
amid scenes of pioneer privation and hard-
ships, and as a natural result his education
was exceedingly meagre. He was. however,
endowed with fine natural business abilities,
and had a most successful financial career.
He was largely instrumental in securing the
first railroad through Darke county, for-
merly the Greenville and Miami, now the
Dayton and Union. He also advanced the
money to build the first court house in the
county. He was a man of excellent judg-
ment, great sagacity, large hospitality, and
of unquestionable integrity. He spoke his
mind without reserve, and was very decided
in his opinions, and in politics strongly
Democratic. His first wife was Mary Town-
send, daughter of William Townsend, of
Clinton county, Ohio, and she bore W.ra
seven children. His second wife was Eliza-
beth Hardman.. of Butler county, Ohio, who
bore him five children. She died in the fall
of 1868. David Studabaker, .second son of
his first wife, was born in the old block-
house, September 17. 1814. On February 13,
1835, he married Maria, daughter of Will-
iam Folkerth of Darke county, who bore him
five children. Mrs. Studabaker died in April,
1846. On December 13, 1849. ne married
Jane, daughter of Samuel Culbertson, of the
same county. David Studabaker was one of
the movers in the organization of the county
agricultural society, also a prominent par-
ticipant in securing the first railroad through
the county, and for two years was president
of the company. By occupation he was a
farmer, and a very active, industrious and
a good citizen. He also held the office of
county commissioner, being elected on the
232
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Democratic ticket. This office he filled with
honor ; no better financier, and no one more
honorable and trustworthy than he, has ever
filled the responsible position; he died several
years ago.
JOHN DEVOR.
John Devor was born in Pennsylvania
and came to Darke county in 1808. He
died in Greenville in the year 1828. He and
one Rachel Armstrong entered the first
half-section of land within the present limits
of the county, being the west half of section
35, township 12, range 2 east, and laid out
the town of Greenville in 1810. The legis-
lature of Ohio, in session at Zanesville, by
their act of January 3, 1809. created the
county of Darke out of the territory pre-
viously forming a part of the county of
Miami and, within a year afterward, a com-
mission appointed by the legislature estab-
lished the seat of justice of the newly formed
county at Terry's, town of Greenville, north
of Greenville creek ; but there being some
dissatisfaction, it may be well to state that
by the enactment of the legislature at its ses-
sion of 1810-11 a new commission was cre-
ated, to whom was confided the duty of re-
locating the seat of justice of the county.
This commission consisted of two members
from Miami county and one from Preble,
and after considering the proposition of
Terry. Briggs. and that of Devor and Mrs.
Armstrong, and looking to the material
benefits to the county, as proffered by the
parties, accepted the proposition of Devor
and Mrs. Armstrong, and selected as the
future county seat the town laid out at
Wayne's old fort of Greenville. The ac-
cepted proposition covenanted to donate to
the county one-third of all the town lots then
laid out, or that they or their heirs might
thereafter lay out, on the adjoining lands in
the west half of said section 35, in which
their town plat was located. Some years
after. Mrs. Armstrong having died in the
meantime, Devor, for himself, and on behalf
of the heirs of Mrs. Armstrong, pursuant to
the order of the court of common pleas, exe-
cuted their contract so far as the lots then
laid off was concerned, by conveying to the
commissioners of Miami county in trust for
the county of Darke, when it should there-
after be organized, thirty-two of the ninety-
six lots then laid out. but, although addi-
tional town lots on the adjacent land of the
half-section have since been laid out by the
heirs of Devor. and also by the heirs of Mrs.
Armstrong, no further donation or convey-
ance has ever been made, nor have the com-
missioners of Darke county ever demanded
or required any further performance of their
covenant. John Devor's son, James, was
born near Maysville, Kentucky, while their
family were on their way from Pennsylvania,
in 1795. He learned surveying from his
father and for a number of years was county
surveyor of Darke county. He was the first
auditor of Darke county, from May, 1S44,
to October, 1847, ne was county treasurer,
and for a number of years was a justice of
the peace; he died in October, 1855. His
wife, Patience Dean, was a daughter of
Aaron Dean, one of the early settlers of the
county. They were married March 1, 1828,
and ten children were born unto them, of
whom five now survive, John and Elijah be-
ing prominent attorneys of the Greenville
bar, the latter being also a referee in bank-
ruptcy, under the late United States bank-
ruptcy law. John Devor is a prominent
politician, an unswerving Republican ami a
warm personal friend of Hon. John Sher-
man. He was the Republican elector for the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
283
fourth congressional district in 1888 and had
the honor of casting his vote for Hon. Ben-
jamin Harrison for president of the United
States.
JOHN LEOPOLD WINNER.
Merchant, banker and legislator of Green-
ville, Ohio, J. P. Winner was born in Frank-
lin, Warren county, Ohio, November 19,
1816. His parents were Isaac and Mary
(Powell) Winner, natives of New Jersey.
They were married in Philadelphia and in
18 1 6 came to Ohio, where they passed their
lives. Mrs. Winner died in April, 1832, and
her husband in October, following. For
about four years subsequent to his father's
death our subject worked at the cooper's
trade. In April, 1836. he came to Darke
county and located in Greenville, where he
extensively identified himself with the busi-
ness of the community and also held promi-
nent places in the political councils of the
county and state. In November, 1837, he
married Miss Charlotte Clark, daughter of
John Clark, Esq., of Warren county, Ohio.
For some five years Mr. Winner was in the
grocery business. Eight years he kept a
hotel. Four years he kept a drug store. In
1853 he engaged in banking in company with
the late Colonel J. W. Frizell, and thus con-
tinued till May, 1865, when he became a
stockholder in the Farmers National Bank of
Greenville, and in January, 1866, he was
made cashier of that institution, which po-
sition he held until January, 1872. In April,
1873, ne opened the Exchange Bank of
Greenville and conducted the business of
that flourishing institution. His wife died
August 12, 1863. She possessed in a high
degree those noble qualities of mind and
heart so essential to a true wife, and was
revered in the community for her sweet-
ness of disposition and sympathizing charity
for the poor and unfortunate. She left an
only daughter, Hattie, who inherited the
sterling qualities of her mother, but the loss
of her mother so affected her that she sur-
vived her but a few weeks, dying at the age
of fifteen years. On April 1, 1867, Mr.
Winner married Mrs. Jane Crider, of Green-
ville, daughter of John W. Porter, of the
same place. In 1863 Mr. Winner became
a member of the firm of Moore & Winner,
which for a long time was one of the leading
dry-goods firms of the county. In 1846 he
was appointed auditor of Darke county, and
from 1857 to 1861 he represented Darke
county in the legislature of the state, and
from 1867 to 1 87 1 he served in the state
senate. In 1874 he was elected mayor of
Greenville and served two years. In politics
he was a Democrat. Although his school
advantages were very meager, his active mind
grasped a knowledge of men and things that
fully compensated the loss. During the years
1861-63 he was treasurer of the committee
to secure a county fund to encourage enlist-
ments in the Union army and gave the sub-
ject much attention. He died several years
ago.
W. A. WESTOX.
Washington .Mien Weston, deceased,
of Greenville. Ohio, was born in Alexandria,
Virginia, March 3. 18 14. and died at Green-
ville, Ohio, April 24. 1876. His father,
William Weston, was a sea captain and
perished at sea. His mother, Rebecca Con-
yers. was an English lady, and died soon
after the death of her husband. When an
orphan boy of fifteen he came to Ohio, and
was six years a salesman in a mercantile
house in Dayton, Ohio, where he made a
record for fine business talent, industry and
234
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
honesty. About 1835, w'tn a small capital,
he began business in Piqua, Ohio, but the
financial crisis of 1836-37 swept away every
dollar he possessed. Nothing daunted, how-
ever, he soon began again in Covington,
Miami county, where he prospered and be-
came leader in the public affairs of the com-
munity. In 1847 ne was elected on the Whig
ticket to the general assembly of Ohio and
acquitted himself with credit. In the fall of
1848 he located in Greenville and opened
the first hardware store of the place. In
1856 he purchased the Dayton Paper Mills
and for seven years conducted a thriving
business in that city. In 1863 he returned
to Greenville, resumed the hardware trade
and in January, 1866, became one of the or-
ganizers of the Farmers' National Bank of
Greenville and president of the same, re-
maining such until his decease. He was
prominently active in the local enterprises
of the community and his generosity was
as universal as mankind, with a heart ever
open and hand ever extended to relieve the
necessities of the poor and unfortunate. He
possessed a fine literary and scientific taste
and had a very fair education; was a good
conversationalist, excelled as a writer and
contributed a number of timely articles to
the public press of the day. The guiding
principle of his life was the golden rule and
he practiced its teachings in his daily busi-
ness. Ever industrious and careful, he ac-
cumulated a large competency, provided well
for his family and was respected by all who
knew him. In his death this community
suffered the loss of a good financier and a
worthy citizen.
W. M. WILSON".
William Martin Wilson, lawyer, judge
and legislator, was born near Mifflin, luniata
county, Pennsylvania, March 11. 1808, and
died in Greenville, Ohio, June 15, 1S64. His
parents were Thomas Wilson and Jane Mar-
tin and in 181 1 they came to Ohio, passed
about a year in Fairfield county, and in 1812
settled in Butler county, where Mr. Wilson
was raised. He was educated in Miami
University, at Oxford, Ohio, studied law
with the late Hon. Jesse Corwin, of Hamil-
ton, Ohio, was admitted to the bar in 1832
and then began practice in that place. In the
fall of 1835 he located in Greenville and at
once took a leading position as a lawyer.
For a number of years he served as prosecut-
ing attorney of Darke county. On Septem-
ber 19, 1837, ne married Miss Louise Dosey,
of Greenville, Ohio. She was born in But-
ler county April 23. 181 5, and died August
2, 1856. In December, 1837, he started the
Darke County Advocate, which, with a
change of name, is now the Greenville Jour-
nal. In October, 1840, he was elected
auditor of Darke county and was twice re-
elected, thus serving six years. In the fall
of 1846 he was elected to the Ohio senate,
from the district composed of the counties
of Darke, Miami and Shelby, and held the
seat two years, during which time he rose
to a very prominent position in that body,
and came within one vote of being elected
state auditor, having already gained the
reputation of being one of the most efficient
county auditors in the state. This one lack-
ing vote he could have supplied by voting for
himself, a thing which his manly modesty
forbade. In the fall of 1856 he was ap-
pointed by Governor Chase as common pleas
judge of the first subdivision of the second
judicial district of Ohio to fill a vacancy.
His decisions were distinguished for great
research and ability. Being too old to enter
the service during the war for the Union,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
235
he was. nevertheless, as a member of the
military committee of his district, an active
and earnest supporter of the government.
He stood for many years at the head of the
Greenville bar and was regarded as one of
the best jurists in Ohio, and by his moral
worth gave a higher character to the profes-
sion. He was a man of unusually quiet and
retiring disposition ; his words were few, but
well chosen, and his sarcasm and repartee
were like a flash of lightning on an op-
ponent. At the same time he bore a heart
of the warmest and tenderest sympathies.
For a number of years he held the office of
elder in the Presbyterian church of Green-
ville. He lived and died an honest, upright
man, in whom, as friend, neighbor and citi-
zen, the community had the fullest con-
fidence.
THOMAS DUNCAN STILES.
This gentleman, physician, surgeon and
legislator, at Fort Jefferson, Darke county,
Ohio, was born near Carlisle, Pennsylvania,
August 6, 1809. His father was Edward
James Stiles, and his mother, Ann Stiles,
was a daughter of Thomas Duncan, who
for many years was one of the supreme
judges of the state. In his early days our
subject attended school at Carlisle and was
then admitted to Mount St. Mary's College,
near Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he spent
nearly three years. During this time Rev.
Eagan McGeary and Rev. John B. Purcell
were presidents. He subsequently entered
a military school at Mount Airy, German-
town, Pennsylvania, taught by Colonel A.
L. Roumfort, where he remained until he
was appointed a cadet to the military acad-
emy at West Point. Remaining there for
over two years, he returned to Carlisle, com-
menced the study of medicine under Dr. D.
N. Mahon and attended medical lectures at
the University of Pennsylvania. After com-
pleting his medical studies he located at
Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained
about eighteen months, and then went as
surgeon on the whale-ship North America,
df Wilmington, Delaware, which vessel,
after an eight-months cruise, was lost on the
coast of Australia. After the wreck of this
vessel he made his way to China and engaged
in the opium trade about two years, when he
returned to the United States. Finding his
mother dead and his home broken up, he
again went on a voyage to Montivideo, in
South America. On the arrival of the vessel
at that port he quarreled with his captain,
left the vessel and went to Buenos Ayres.
Finding that country engaged in war with
Montivideo he entered the army as a cap-
tain, but not having received the stipulated
salary he resigned, and returning to Monti-
video entered the naval service of that coun-
try. Finding the prospects of payment no
better than before, he withdrew and returned
to the United States in the sloop of war De-
catur, under command of Captain, after-
ward Admiral, Farragut. After spending a
few months with his friends in Philadelphia
he went to the Rocky mountain country,
and for more than a year was engaged in
trading with the Indians. Returning to the
United States he resumed the practice of
medicine near the mouth of Red river, in the
state of Louisiana, but finding the climate
injurious to his health he remained but a
short time, and in 1843 came to Ohio, set-
tling at Fort Jefferson, Darke county, where
he resided until his death, which occurred
several years ago, with the exception of a
few years passed in Lewisburg, Preble coun-
ty. While in Lewisburg he served in the
capacity of mayor, and upon his return to
236
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Darke county he was elected to the Ohio as-
sembly, in 1872, and served two years. Upon
the opening of the civil war Dr. Stiles en-
tered the three-months service in the
Eleventh Ohio as a private, although his mil-
itary qualifications would have secured for
him a high official rank. In August, fol-
lowing, he enlisted in the same capacity in
the Fifth Ohio Cavalry and after one year's
service was discharged on account of ill
health. Upon the invasion of his native
state by the rebels, in 1863, he enlisted in
the heavy artillery service in the Eleventh
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and
served one year, when he was honorably dis-
charged. In 1878 he was appointed by Gov-
ernor Bishop one of the trustees of the Day-
ton asylum for the insane and on the or-
ganization of the board was elected president.
He was twice married. His first wife was
Sarah Jane DeCamp, whom he married in
1846. She died in 1854, having been the
mother of three children, all now deceased.
In 1856 he married Mrs. Eliza, widow of
Samuel Hannah, and daughter of Thomas
and Mary Beatty. The result of this union
were two children, a son, James Buchanan
Stiles, a teacher by profession, and a daugh-
ter. In politics Mr. Stiles had always been a
firm and consistent Democrat. Dr. Stiles
when advanced in years was remarkably hale
and hearty, and buoyant and mirthful in
spirit. He was a man of clear head, strong
feelings, independent but conscientious in his
opinion, which upon proper occasion he ex-
pressed without reserve.
WILLIAM HENRY EMERSON,
general of militia and a banker, was born
in Butler county, Ohio, May 8. 1808, and
died in Greenville, Ohio, December 11, 1877.
His parents were James and Eve Emerson ;
the former born in Vermont, July 17, 1783,
died January 31 1853; the latter born April
3, 1788, died May 13, 1847. He was a
distant connection of the American author
and lecturer, Ralph Waldo Emerson. When
our subject was eight years of age the fam-
ily settled in Darke county, Ohio. His
wife, Catharine Buckingham, was born near
Baltimore, Maryland, November 6, 1807,
and he married her in Fort Nesbit, Preble
county, Ohio, November 2, 1826. From
this marriage were born one son, Martin
Van Buren, and four daughters, Malinda,
Sarah Ann, Mary Jane and Elizabeth. Mrs.
Emerson's father was Mash Buckingham,
born in Maryland, June 31, 1785. At an
early day Mr. Emerson held the position of
brigadier-general in the militia, and was
also for a number of years justice of the
peace. For several years he conducted the
business of a banker in Hollansburg, Darke
county, and in' 1865 moved to Greenville,
where he became a director in the Farmers'
National Bank of that place, of which for
nearly two years he was president, holding
the position at the time of his decease. He
was also for several years president of the
Darke County Pioneer Society. He was a
man of very decided traits of character, and
was conceded to be a leader in all circles in
which he moved. In natural ability he was
far above the average, but his early oppor-
tunities were such as to afford him nothing
more than a very ordinary education. He
possessed unusual good sense, and was a
very superior counselor. All his business
transactions were characterized by the great-
est particularity and caution, as also by im-
partial dealing. He was plain, prompt and
positive in all he did. His social qualities
were attractive, and his powers of imita-
tion wonderful. He would have made a
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
287
first-class comedian. His memory also was
very remarkable. He is said to have been
the shrewdest financier that Darke county
ever had. He was exceedingly careful in his
business and accumulated a handsome for-
tune.
ANDREW R. CALDERWOOD.
Andrew Robeson Calderwood, attorney-
at-law of Greenville, and one of the old
settlers of Darke county, was born in Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, September 14, 1818,
and died at Greenville several years ago.
He was a son of George and Margaret
( Robeson) Calderwood, natives of Hunt-
ingdon county, Pennsylvania. They were
married September 14, 1811, and in the fall
of 1 817 moved to near Dayton, Ohio, going
thence in 1832 to Darke county, where
George Calderwood died September 7, 1849.
His wife survived him until August 12,
1873, when her death occurred. George
Calderwood was of Scotch parents and
though uneducated was a man of sound judg-
ment, great firmness and courage, of large
stature and possessed of an iron constitu-
tion. He was kind and generous to a fault.
Margaret Robeson descended from Scotch,
Welsh and Irish ancestry, and was a woman
of remarkable good sense, fine natural tal-
ent and great kindness. Our subject was
employed in early life upon a farm, digging
ditches, mauling rails, etc. His education
was meager, but being called upon to serve
as juror, he was so inspired by the eloquence
of some of the attorneys in the case that
he resolved to become a lawyer and at once
commenced the study of law, being admitted
to the bar and beginning practice in 185 1.
He was elected probate judge in 1854 and
after serving three years he entered the
Union army as second lieutenant; was pro-
moted to captain of Company I, Fortieth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry; resigned his com-
mission on account of injuries received from
being thrown from a horse, and on regain-
ing his health he was re-commissioned by
Governor Tod, and by Colonel Cranor was
assigned to the command of his old company.
After six months' service in the above posi-
tion, by loss of his voice and previous in-
juries, he was again compelled to leave the
active service of the army and acted in the
capacity of recruiting officer until the close
■of the war, after which he resumed the prac-
tice of law. On December 3, 1876, he as-
sumed the editorial control of the Sunday
Courier, a leading organ of the Republican
party of Darke county. He was three times
elected mayor of Greenville, and in 1868
the Republicans of Darke county presented
his name in the fourth congressional district
of Ohio for congress, his competitor, Mr.
McClung, being nominated by a small, ma-
jority over him. He always had a liberal
share of the law practice in this county and
enjoyed more than a local reputation as a
criminal lawyer; at the forum his abilities
were best known; he had an original faculty
of developing a subject by a single glance
of the mind, detecting as quickly the point
upon which every controversy depended.
There was a deep self-conviction and em-
phatic earnestness in his manner, and a close
logical connection in his thoughts. He
wove no garlands of flowers to hang in fes-
toons around a favorite argument, yet for
impromptu appeals and eloquence he stood
among the first of his profession, and, by his
great knowledge of human nature he was
acknowledged to be one of the best judges
of a jury at the bar.
23S
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
WILLIAM J. BIRELEY
was born in Frederick county. Maryland.,
in 1812, and died suddenly in Adams town-
ship, Darke county, Ohio, several years ago.
He was the son of John and Barbara Bire-
ley. John was born in the first county
above named and Barbara was born in
Hagerstown, Maryland. Her maiden name
was Brindle. The grandfather, John Bire-
ley, was born in Saxony and emigrated to
this country before the Revolutionary war.
The grandmother was from Wurtemberg,
Germany, and also came to this country
prior to the Revolutionary war. Mr. Bire-
ley's father came to Lancaster, Ohio, in the
spring of 1822 and in the fall following-
went to Montgomery county, where he lived
until his death, which occurred in 1827.
Mr. Bireley, the subject of this sketch, came
to Darke county, October 15, 1830, and lo-
cated in Greenville. He carried on the
boot and shoe business for William Martin.
Sr., and continued with him about five
months, when he returned to his mother, in
Montgomery county, where he remained
until 1833, when, on January 24th, of the
same year, he was united in marriage with
Elizabeth Martin, daughter of Christopher
and Elizabeth Martin. Sr. They were born
at Sewickley, Pennsylvania, came to Ohio
in 1814, and located in Butler county in
1815, settling about five miles east of Green-
ville. After raising a large family of chil-
dren they moved to Greenville, where they
lived and died. Mr. Bireley. in May, 1833,
came back to Greenville and entered upon the
manufacture of earthenware, which occupa-
tion he followed for twenty-eight years, do-
ing an extensive business. He then bought a
farm of one hundred and fifty acres, one
mile out of the corporation of Greenville,
and in 1851 he moved his family to this
farm. In 1858 he sold this farm and bought
another, five miles east of Greenville, upon
which several quarries of limestone were lo-
cated. He engaged in the manufacture of
lime and continued at this business until
January, 1880, when he rented the place
to Martin Smith and Emanuel Hershey for
five years, receiving four hundred dollars
yearly, or two thousand dollars for the five
years. In 1870 Mr. Bireley moved from the
farm into Greenville, where he resided for
a number of years, or until the expiration of
the above lease, when he moved back on the
farm, where he resided at the time of his
death, and where his widow now resides with
her daughter, Mary R. Mr. Bireley was
the father of ten children, seven of whom
are now living: Henry P., Elizabeth E.,
William W., Barbara C., Harry H, Wade
G., all married and settled in life, and Mary
R., the youngest, who remains at home with
her mother. Mr. Bireley united with the
Methodist Episcopal church in 1835, lived a
consistent Christian life and the record he
has left here upon the pages of time is surely
a worthy example for all future generations
to follow.
JOHN WHARRV.
John Wharry, surveyor, lawyer and
judge, Greenville, Ohio, was born in what
is now Juniata county, Pennsylvania, No-
vember 27, 1809. His parents were James
and Margaret ( Crorie ) Wharry, the former
born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, July
30, 1780, the latter in Frederick county,
Maryland, February 7, 1780. They came
to Ohio in 1810. and after spending
two years in Butler county, settled in
Columbus, in December, 1812, at which
time there were only three log cabins on
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
239
the present site of that city. In the sum-
mer of 1 812 he was a. member of General
Findley's regiment that was sent to Detroit
to assist General Hull, but he was taken sick
on the march and was compelled to return
home. His occupation was that of a car-
penter, and he made the desks for the first
state house in the city of Columbus. He
died in that city March 19, 1820. His
widow died in Richmond, Indiana, in May,
1848. In 1824 our subject, then a lad of
fifteen years of age, came to Greenville,
Ohio, and for several years was engaged as
a store clerk. He obtained a very fair math-
ematical education, with some knowledge of
Latin. By assisting at the work of survey-
ing and by personal application he obtained
sufficient knowledge to become a practical
surveyor, and engaged in this business from
1 83 1 to 185 1, for most of which time he
filled the position of county surveyor. In
the fall of 185 1 he was elected probate judge
of Darke county and served three years.
In the spring of 1855 he was admitted to the
practice of law. having previously read un-
der the late Judge John Beers, of Greenville,
Ohio. April 21, 1838, he married Miss Eliza
Duncan, of Warren county, Ohio, who bore
him ten children. Mrs. Wharry died De-
cember 6, 1868. Until the passage of the
Kansas-Nebraska bill, in 1854, Judge Whar-
ry was a Jacksonian Democrat, but from that
time until his death he was a Republican.
He was endowed with a remarkable memory
and at the time of his death had, doubtless,
the best recollection of early events of any
man in Darke county. He was a member
of the County Pioneer Association. For
thirty years he had been connected with the
Presbyterian denomination. He was one of
the best draftsmen in the county, and an ex-
cellent penman, his records in the depart-
14
ment of the interior, in Washington city,
being pronounced unexcelled. He was a
fine surveyor, a good legal counselor, a su-
perior business man, and a much respected
citizen. Two of his sons served through
the late war — James Wharry as captain and
Kenneth as assistant surgeon.
D. H. R. JOBES.
D. H. R. Jobes, lawyer, judge of pro-
bate and teacher, was born in Montgomery
county, Ohio, September 14, 1829, and died
in Greenville, Ohio, January 13, 1877. He
was a man of noble traits of character. His
parents being poor he was early thrown
upon his own resources, but by a faithful
improvement of limited privileges obtained
a good English education, and for a num-
ber of years followed the occupation of a
teacher. In October, 1857, he was elected
probate judge of Darke county and served
nine years, during which time he devoted
his spare time to reading law under the di-
rection of D. L. Meeker, of Greenville, Ohio,
and was admitted to practice in January,
1867. He formed a partnership with his
preceptor and so continued until 1872. On
January 1, 1875, 'le formed a law partner-
ship with C. M. Anderson, of Greenville,
which was dissolved by the death of Mr.
Jobes. He was cut down in the meridian
of life, and in the height of the practice of
his profession. His death was the occasion
of an unusually cordial action on the part
of the members of the GreenVille bar, in
resolutions and speeches expressive of deep
regret at his demise, tender sympathy for
his bereaved family, and exalted apprecia-
tion of his moral worth. On this occasion,
among other remarks, J. R. Knox, Esquire,
said : "During the nine years of service as
probate judge, I had frequent occasion to ap-
240
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
pear before him and observe his conduct
in that capacity, and I take pleasure in this
solemn hour, as I have always done, to say
that as by law recognized next friend of the
widow and guardian of the orphan — the
highest and most sacred trust which the law
imposes upon that officer — and in the vari-
ous duties of his position, he was a careful,
impartial and vigilant accountant, and de-
serving the honored name of a just and up-
right judge. As a practitioner at the bar,
none stood fairer than he. We had not
among us a more diligent office lawyer, nor
any safer or more thoughtful counselor or
adviser than Judge Jobes; and when he ad-
dressed himself to the court and jury the
weight of his character for integrity and
fairness made his appeals forcible and in-
fluential, carrying conviction." C. M. An-
derson, Esquire, a law partner of the de-
ceased, as well as formerly his pupil, said :
"His was a mind that did not require the
light of precedents. He was a chancellor
by nature, and only needed the advantages
of an early education in the law to have
marked him as one of the foremost and most
powerful jurists of his time." Judge Will-
iam Allen reverted to the fact that the in-
tegrity, the honor, the moral worth and no-
bility of heart which made him pre-eminent
as a public officer and private citizen during
his maturer years were the graces that
adorned his life in his earlier years. Dur-
ing the three consecutive terms he held the
office of probate judge of this county no
lawyer nor litigant ever called in question
his integrity as an officer or doubted the
honesty of his motives. David Beers, Es-
quire, said : "In boyhood and manhood, he
ever pursued a moral, upright, honorable
course which gave him a deserved and en-
viable position in society." C. G. Matchett
said : "His many virtues and great worth
are best expressed by the couplet,
'None knew him but to love him.
None named him but to praise.' '
He left a wife and two sons. Mrs. Jobes
is a lady of talent, a leader in the Christian
church of Greenville, and an active worker
in moral and religious enterprises. She is
a daughter of Isaac and Sarah Reed, of
Darke county, Ohio, and was married to Mr.
Jobes May 6, 1858. Her father died Jan-
uary 18, 1871, aged sixty-two. He was
one of the pioneers of Darke county, kind
and obliging in disposition, a good neighbor
and a Christian gentleman. He was re-
spected by all who knew him.
GABRIEL MIESSE.
Gabriel Miesse, physician and surgeon,
Greenville, Ohio, was born in Berks coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1807, and died
in Greenville some time ago. His parents,
Jacob and Catherine (Dundor) Miesse, were
both natives of the same county. Indica-
tions of superior mental energy and prac-
tical talents were developed in the person of
our subject at an extremely early age. His
education was begun when he was a mere
child and was conducted chiefly under the
direct superintendence of a private teacher,
Dr. Charles Ouinedon, a finely cultured
physician from Prussia. This instruction
was supplemented by an attendance upon
lectures at the medical college in Philadel-
phia. His beginning in life was very hum-
ble. He left Philadelphia on foot, with a
few surgical instruments, a small stock of
medicines and a few dollars in money, to
seek a location. On a pleasant mid-summer
day he found himself about one hundred
miles west of the city, and weary and dis-
heartened he sat down to examine the con-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
241
tents of his purse, when to his surprise and
mortification he found it contained but sev-
enty-five cents. Being an entire stranger,
"in a strange land," and without any pros-
pect of location, he was on the verge of de-
spair, but having been religiously educated
he resolved to appeal to the source of in-
fiinite wisdom for direction, and falling
upon his knees offered a fervent prayer for
guidance. To his great astonishment, on
rising from his position a voice responded,
"All right, sir !" His eyes rested on the per-
son of an old gentleman but a few steps dis-
tant, who had providentially been passing
by and whose attention had been arrested
by the actions and prayer of the young
stranger, and through the assistance of this
"friend in need," he was introduced into
the community and rapidly obtained an ex-
tensive practice. In the spring of 183 1 he
located near Lancaster, Fairfield county,
Ohio, and on August 24, 1832, married
Mary Wiest, whose father, Jacob Wiest, had
moved there from Pennsylvania. In 1S4S
Dr. Miesse settled in Greenville, Darke
county, Ohio, and by application and per-
severance in the years previous to his death
he acquired an enviable reputation as a good
citizen, an eminent practitioner of medicine
and a distinguished surgeon. Notices of
his remarkable cures and delicate experi-
ments in surgery frequently appeared in the
public prints and in medical journals of the
west. The Doctor had always been a tem-
perate man, "after the strictest sect," and
never used ardent spirits or tobacco. He
claimed a number of important discoveries
in medical science. One, in search of which
he had been more or less engaged for many
years, was the cause of that fatal malady
known as sick stomach, or milk-sickness,
and which annually resulted in the loss of
thousands of valuable animals and in great
sacrifice of human life. The cause of and
remedy for this disease he believed he had
discovered, and said that a few days atten-
tion to it, if known by farmers, would be
sufficient to eradicate this poison from any
ordinary-sized farm. He did not live long
enough to bring this matter before the public,
to have his discovery of the origin of the
disease and the remedy thoroughly tested.
Dr. Miesse possessed a highly cultivated,
esthetic taste, and his cabinet of relics,
curiosities, etc., would in its size and choice
selection have done credit to a university.
Among the finely executed works of art that
at one time adorned the walls of his parlors
were some that were the handiwork of his
accomplished wife, and one in particular, an
oil painting, would compare favorably with
the finest specimens of professional artists.
His family comprised eight children. His
oldest son. Dr. Gabriel Miesse, Jr., of Lan-
caster, Ohio, is distinguished as a physician
and surgeon, and possesses rare musical
qualifications. His third son, Dr. Americus
Miesse, is a prominent physician of Lima,
Ohio. His youngest son, Dr. Leon Miesse,
is a noted physician and surgeon of Chicago,
Illinois. Three of his daughters are now
widows, Priscilla, widow of John Harper,
a gifted photographer; Sophia, widow of
A. F. Koop, a successful hardware mer-
chant, and at the time of his death cashier
of the Second National Bank, of Greenville,
Ohio; and Mary, widow of the late Dr.
Jacob L. Sorber, who at one time represented
the Ross county district in the Ohio senate.
Dr. Sorber was a thorough physician, a dis-
tinguished surgeon, and was by Governor
Tod commissioned to serve professional^ in
the late war of the Rebellion. He designed
and constructed a planetarium for illustrat-
242
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing the movements of the various planets
of the solar system, and including the peri-
odical visits of certain comets. Lanassa is
the wife of J. K. Turner, a dealer in real
estate, and Hirondo has for a number of
years been truant officer of Greenville.
PHILIP ALBRIGHT.
Philip Albright was born in North Caro-
lina, in the year 1797, and emigrated to the
state of Ohio in 1818, settling on Twin
creek, in Harrison township, Preble count}'.
He remained here until the year 1822, when
lie removed to east Tennessee, settled in An-
derson county, and cleared a farm. He
remained there, following the occupation of
a farmer, until the year 1835, when he re-
turned to Ohio, ami settled in Twin town-
ship in Darke county, in what is now known
as the fertile "Painter Creek" valley, not
far from the town of Arcanum. He was
one of the early settlers in this locality, and
having a large family of eight boys and
four girls, soon had a fine farm in a good
state of cultivation. Mr. Albright was a good
mechanic and led all others as a builder of
houses ami barns, both frame and stone.
He was one of the leading stone masons of
Darke and Preble counties, and lived to
witness the wonderful change of the dense
fi irests t< ' the fertile fields, and the mud roads
to the finely graveled and macadamized
pikes, and he saw the building of the rail-
road, and the thriving village of Arcanum,
Gordon and Pittsburg spring up in his lo-
cality as if by magic. He was universally
respected, and died in his eighty-fourth
year. He was an extraordinary man, physi-
cally large and strong, and strictly temperate
in his habits, liberal to the needy, foremost
in all public gatherings where physical
strength and endurance were in requisition,
ami by his influence and example he induced
many to live sober and exemplary lives.
Notwithstanding the fact that schools were
poor and continued in session only a few
months of the year, he had in his family
among his sons three regularly ordained
ministers of the gospel, and seven of his
children followed, successfully, the occu-
pation of teaching. One of his sons, men-
tioned elsewdiere, was killed in the late Civil
war. Mr. Albright was not only an advo-
cate of temperance, but he lived a consistent
Christian life, and died in the full hope of a
blessed immortality. .
MILITARY.
We think it appropriate to introduce in
this connection a few thoughts relative to
Darke county's soldiers of the war of the
Rebellion. On April 24, 1861, three volunteer
companies, enlisted for three months, had
left the county for the seat of war. Two of
these were from Greenville, led by Captains
J. W. Frizell and J. M. Newkirk, and one
from Union City, led by Captain Jonathan
Cranor. These were followed in quick suc-
cession by many others, and all in any way
familiar with Darke county know that she
did her duty nobly. The enlistments in the
fall of 1 86 1 were for three years. On Oc-
tober 28, 1 861, the ladies of Greenville met at
the court house and organized as "The La-
dies' Association of Greenville for the Relief
of the Darke County Volunteers." Public
meetings were held at various points, and
on November 6 it was reported that the coun-
ty had turned out two hundred volunteers
within twenty days. Letters came from men
in the held, some containing the sad tidings
of the death of a soldier, who fell nobly
fighting for his country. Among these
noble men we may mention Colonel J. W.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
243
Frizell, who led one of the first companies
into the field as its captain. He was soon
made lieutenant-colonel of the Eleventh
Ohio, and when the colonel of this regiment,
having incautiously exposed himself, was
captured, the command devolved upon Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Frizell. Resigning this po-
sition, he was afterward appointed colonel
of the Ninety-fourth Ohio, and while gal-
lantly leading his regiment in the battle of
Stone river he was severely wounded and
compelled to resign his position on account of
his injuries. He died at his home in Green-
ville, Ohio, a few years ago.
Jonathan Cranor, who entered the ser-
vice as captain of a company in the three-
months service, afterward became colonel
of the Fortieth Ohio, served in that capac-
ity with distinction and died a few years
ago. We note that R. A. Knox was cap-
tain of a company of the Eleventh Ohio and
Charles Calkins, first lieutenant in the same
company, afterward captain in the Eighty-
seventh Ohio, both of whom are now de-
ceased. James B. Creviston served with
honorable distinction as adjutant of the
Fortieth Ohio. He followed the profession
of teaching after the war and died a few
years ago. William H. Matchett served as
assistant surgeon of the Fortieth Ohio, and
died at his home in Greenville, Ohio, in
August, 1898. C. G. Matchett entered the
service as sergeant in the three-months ser-
vice ; was afterward captain of Company G,
Fortieth Ohio, for awhile commanded the
regiment, was honorably mustered out of
service, followed the profession of law, .and
died a few years ago. A. R. Calderwood
entered the service as captain of Company
I, Fortieth Ohio ; resigned on account of
injuries received ; practiced law in Green-
ville ; was a noted criminal lawyer and died
at his home a few years ago.
James Allen was promoted to captain
while in the service, and is no longer among
the living- here. Clement Snodgrass served
as captain in the Fortieth, and was killed in
battle July 21, 1864. B. F. Snodgrass, also
a captain in the Fortieth, was killed in battle
September 20, 1864. Cyrenius Van Mater,
first lieutenant of Company G, Fortieth
Regiment, was killed at Chickamauga.
J. W. Smith, captain of Company I, For-
tieth Ohio, served with honor through the
campaigns of this regiment ; was honorably
mustered out of service at the close of the
war; carried on a livery business in Green-
ville after his discharge, and died at his
hi ■me a few years ago. Of the officers of
the Sixty-ninth Ohio, we mention Eli Hick-
ox, who went into the service with the
regiment as captain. For bravery on the
field of battle and meritorious conduct he
was promoted to major of the regiment;
was mustered out at the close of the war,
and died a few years ago, universally re-
spected. Color-Sergeant John A. Compton,
Lieutenants Jacob S. Pierson and Martin V.
Bailey, Corporal Daniel T. Albright, and
privates Stopher and four others fell in the
battle of Stone River. Color-Sergeant Allen
L. Jobes. after whom Jobes Post, G. A. R.,
Greenville, Ohio, is named, and five men
were killed at the battle of Jonesboro. Of the
Ninty-fourth Regiment Captain T. H. Work-
man and H. A. Tomlinson, second lieuten-
ant of Company F. have died since the war,
and Sergeant Leonard Ullery, of the Eighth
Ohio Battery, was killed in the service. In
addition to those already mentioned, we wish
to refer to Jacob W. Shivley, second lieuten-
ant of Company D, Sixty-ninth Regiment,
244.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
who served his company gallantly as a sol-
dier, was honorably discharged and died
at his home in this county not long ago.
Jonathan Bowman, sergeant of Company D,
same regiment, was honorably discharged
and died in Greenville, Ohio, some years
ago. Isaac N. Arnold, sergeant of Company
E, same regiment, was honorably discharged ;
was candidate for probate judge on the Re-
publican ticket, and died at his father's home
near Jaysville, Ohio. Alexander McAlpin,
captain of Company G, Eighth Ohio Cavalry,
served in the army with distinction, was
honorably discharged and died shortly after
returning home. Of the One Hundred and
Fifty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer In-
fantry, we note in addition to those men-
tioned elsewhere: Edwin B. Putnam, adju-
tant, practiced law after his discharge from
the army and died many years ago. Elias
Harter, captain, and C. B. Northrop, first
lieutenant of Company B, were honorably
discharged and are now deceased. A. H.
1 [yde, first lieutenant, and Harrod Mills, sec-
ond lieutenant of Company H, were honor-
ably discharged and are now dead. Walter
Stevenson, second lieutenant, Alfred Town-
send, first sergeant, and William Pearson,
sergeant of Company L, were all honorably
discharged and are now dead. Many others
oi our noble dead deserve honorable men-
tion here, but our knowledge of their per-
sonal history is too limited and uncertain
to enable us to do justice to their memory.
We will close this chapter by inserting
a paper read at the late banquet of the Green-
ville bar on the subject of Our Deceased
Members.
"It has been said that every person de-
parting this life leaves behind a record that
exerts an influence upon the lives of the liv-
ing to a greater or less extent, and as the
subject presented to us in this 'toast' is Our
Deceased Members outside of the influence
of personal recollections, which you all may
have, their records, if any, will be found in
the epitaph or biography they have left, and
to which we can refer and profit by the les-
sons they teach.
"A visit to our cemetery and the last
resting place of many of our members dis-
closed a dearth of information on this sub-
ject that is remarkable. Examining twenty-
six graves of our deceased members, while
we found quite a number who had entered
the military service of their country and had
given the best days of their lives to its pro-
tection and perpetuation, the company and
regiment to which a few of these only be-
longed are the only records engraved upon
their tombstones. But is not that simple
inscription as grand and enduring as any
that was ever made? It tells that the mem-
bers lying beneath that monument saw the
tide of victory roll backward and forward,
at times seeming to engulf all hopes for the
preservation of the Union, yet finally sweep-
ing onward in one grand, irresistible swell
to victory and peace. They saw the Union
preserved, the contending armies quietly re-
turning to their homes and a new reign of
peace and good will inaugurated. They
were personal actors in that drama which was
the most sublime and thrilling that human
pen can relate, and which points to but one
moral, that the institutions which -the}' knew
were worth fighting for so nobly are worth
preserving, that the Union which has cost
us so much blood and treasure, which has
brought us freedom and prosperity must be
cherished as the most precious possession we
can transmit to future generations.
"On this list of our country's defenders
we are proud to enroll the names of J. W.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
245
Frizell, A. R. Calderwood, David and Theo-
dore Beers C. G. Matchett, Charles Calkins
and J. W. Sater. Inscribed on the monu-
ment of Hiram Bell is the following: 'Died
December 21, 1855.' He was a lawyer by
profession, represented this district in the
legislature of Ohio and in the congress of
the United States and his record is on high.
On the monument of D. H. R. Jobes is in-
scribed, 'Died January 13. 1877. To live in
hearts we leave behind is not to die.' On
that of Joseph McDonald, 'Died August 17,
1885. Farewell, my companions." These
are the only epitaphs we could find. Twelve
graves are not marked by monument, and on
twenty-three no epitaph. So sleep our de-
ceased brethren. Their work on earth is
done. With the labors and success of many
of them in the legal profession many of you
are familiar, and I could add but little to
that knowledge were I to make the effort.
Suffice it to say that we do not think any
of them were of that peculiar class of law-
yers of whom the great Master said. 'Woe
also unto you lawyers for ye lade men with
burdens grievious to be borne, and ye your-
selves touch not the burden with one of your
fingers.' From the epitaphs we pass to biog-
raphy and history and note extracts only con-
cerning those members who have left them
on record, and first that concerning David P.
Bowman, who died May 30, 1878. He was
entirely devoted to his chosen profession.
His knowledge of the law was both accurate
and profound. His preparation was thorough.
' He believed in the Bible and in the efficacy
of the attonement made on Mount Calvary.'
In the biography of William Allen we note :
'Mr. Allen, although he had risen from
poverty to affluence by his own unaided ex-
ertions, is one of the most charitable of our
citizens, and his integrity has never been
questioned ; his positive character, while it
wins friends true as steel, also makes bitter
enemies, but even his enemies conceded to
him great ability and unflinching honesty
of purpose. He represented this district in
the thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh congress-
es of the United States, being elected in the
fall of 1858 and again in i860.
"Of the Hon. D. L. Meeker it is said :
'He is one of the most highly respected citi-
zens in Darke county and his repeated calls
to the highest office in the gift of the people
of this county is an index of the universal
esteen in which Judge Meeker is held in this
section of Ohio.'
"Of J. W. Sater it is written : 'While
on the bench he had the well deserved rep-
utation of being one of the most able judges
who ever held court in this district.'
"Of A. R. Calderwood it is said: 'He
is endowed with superior natural abilities,
which have been developed by industrious
personal application; he stands in the front
ranks of his profession and is one of the
best criminal and jury lawyers in the state.'
"Of Charles Calkins we write: It was
accorded to him unanimously by' the Green-
ville liar that he was the most able, con-
ceptive, decisive and successful lawyer in
this section of Ohio.
"Of J. E. Breaden, Jr. : He attended
law school at Cincinnati and having read law
was admitted in January, 1879.
"L. B. Lot represented Darke county one
term in the legislature.
"C. G. Matchett : 'He entered the service
immediately after the firing on Sumter and
remained till the close of the war. In [865
he resumed the practice of law in Greenville
and stands prominent in the profession.'
246
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
"J. T. Meeker, admitted to the bar in
1873, was probate judge seven years; retir-
ing, he entered upon the practice of law.
"Of Swan Judy it is said: 'With the
natural ability, high legal education, force
of character, honest and pure determination
that he possesses (health permitting) he is
surely destined to reach the summit of his
profession within the near future.'
"In the action taken by this bar relative
to the death of J. R. Knox occurs the fol-
lowing: 'He despised a court or jury that
was not unsullied. He left the world better
for having lived therein and his upright life
and noble virtues will survive him for the
emulation of all who knew him.'
"We note on our list twenty-six de
ceased members, many of whom have left
us no written biography or epitaph, and our
knowledge of their qualifications and success
in the profession is too limited to even ven-
ture a statement. Their lives are before us
and we are susceptible in a greater or less
degree to their influence, and we believe th?
influence never dies. No thought, no word,
no act of man ever dies. They are as im-
mortal as his own soul. Somewhere in this
world he will meet their fruits. Somewhere
in the future life he will meet their gathered
harvest, it may be and it may not be a pleas-
ant one to look upon. Take care of your in-
fluence, consecrate it tn virtue, to humanity,
and our lives will be like a star o-]Jtterin°-
in its own mild lustre, undimmed by the
radiance of another. Earth is not man'-.
only abiding place. This life is not a bubble
cast upon the ocean of eternity to float an-
other moment upon its surface and then sink
into nothingness and darkness forever. N< >.
the rainbow and clouds come over us with
beauty that is not of earth, and then pass and
leave us to muse on their faded loveliness.
The stars which hold their festival around
the midnight throne, and are set above the
grasp of our limited faculties, are forever
mocking us with their unapproachable glory,
and our departed brethren, we trust, are now
enjoying those high and glorious aspirations
that are born in the human heart, but are not
satisfied in this life.
"Brethren, we are born for a higher des-
tiny than that of earth. There is a realm
where the rainbow never fades, where the
stars will spread out before us like the islands
that slumber on the ocean, and where the
beautiful impressions that here pass before
us like visions will stay in our presence f< r-
ever. This is that far-away home of the
soul, where hill and dale are enriched by
divine liberality, the inhabitants clothed in all
the beauties of moral perfection, every so-
ciety cemented by the bond of friendship and
brotherhood, and displaying all the virtues
of angelic natures. May we not trust that
our departed members are now inhabitants
of that home, where the storms of this life
never beat."
JACOB T. MARTZ.
Jacob T. Martz, lawyer and educator,
Greenville, Ohio, was born in Darke county,
Ohio, September 14, 1833. He is the son
of John Martz, who was born in Somerset
county, Pennsylvania, June I, 1798, settled
in Darke county in 1829, and died at the
home of his son, January 5, 1883, aged
eighty-four years, seven months and four
days. His wife. Barbara Hardinger, the
mother of our subject, and a native of Bed-
ford count)-, Pennsylvania, died in 1841.
Jacob T. Martz attended the Ohio Wes-
leyan University, at Delaware, at which in-
stitution he was graduated in June. 1856.
J c7.%JLoaXi~
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
247
During the nine succeeding years he was en-
gaged in teaching, and superintending the
schools of Greenville. During part of this
time, and while engaged in teaching, he also
read law under Judge D. L. Meeker, and
was admitted to the bar in June, i860. In
March, 1865, he resigned the superintend-
encv of the Greenville school and funned a
law partnership with the Hon. J. R. Knox.
In August, 1865, he was appointed receiver
of the Cincinnati & Mackinaw Railroad
Company, which work occupied his time for
nearly five years. In 1871 the superintend-
encv of the Greenville school was tendered
to him without his solicitation. This he
accepted, but at the end of that school year
he asked to be relieved by the board of edu-
cation from further supervision of the
school, but his work had been done so well,
having brought the schools out of a state of
chaos, as it were, to one of order and effi-
ciency, that the board prevailed upon him
to continue his good work, which he did for
seventeen consecutive years, and closed his
labors as superintendent on the 1st of June,
188S. In this year the enumeration in the
district was twelve hundred and eleven, and
the enrollment in the school for the year was
ten hundred and ninety-eight, showing that
ninety-one per cent of the entire enumera-
tion was enrolled upon the school registers,
while in efficiency the school stood second
to none in the state. Under his supervision
he saw the school grow so steadily that the
corps of teachers was increased from four
to twenty-two. When he took charge of
the school there was no laboratory, no ap-
paratus and no geological cabinet, except a
few ordinary specimens, but, in June, 1888,
over six hundred dollars had been expended
for educational and philosophical apparatus
of various kinds, and there was a large and
convenient laboratory arranged with all the
modern conveniences, geographical maps
and globes, and physiological charts, en-
abling the teacher to illustrate and explain
all the modern methods of teaching, together
with a human skeleton procured, prepared
and mounted by Mr. Martz and the janitor
of the old school building, and which they
have kindly permitted to remain in the labor-
atory, for the benefit of the students in phys-
iology and hygiene. The cabinet containing
various specimens of value, including the
bones of the mastodon found in this county,
and which are in a remarkable state of preser-
vation, are the result of Mr. Martz's personal
purchase and labor. During all these years,
modern methods of teaching and govern-
ment were introduced by the superintendent
and adopted by the teachers, so that tardiness
was measurably controlled by the teacher,
and truancy, except in a few chronic cases,
was almost a thing of the past. Order, sys-
tem and good government prevailed in all
the rooms and in the deportment of pupils,
while improper language was seldom heard
on the play-grounds, and so potent was the
influence of the superintendent in maintain-
ing order and decorum among the pupils on
the play-ground that it became the pride of
all, even the most combative element among
the boys, the moment they reached the school-
grounds to stand upon their good behavior.
The high school course of study contained
no more branches than could be mastered by
every pupil of ordinary intelligence in the
five years given to complete the same, while
the elocutionary drill and composition writ-
ing, in all the grades in which they were
taught, strengthened the memory and exer-
cised the reasoning faculties to the great
248
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
benefit of the pupils. No partiality was
shown in these exercises as all were expected
to clo their part.
The method of graduation from the high
school was Mr. Martz's suggestion and it has
been adopted by at least four union schools
in this county, and the one hundred and four
alumni, all graduated under his supervision,
speak of good order, management and effi-
ciency of the school. Superintendent Martz
with two other teachers organized the Darke
County Teachers' Association in 1859, and
though for several years it struggled for ex-
istence, yet by his untiring energy and en-
thusiasm for its success it increased in num-
bers and interest almost beyond expecta-
tion. During the greater part of this time
he presided over its deliberations. He was
also a member of the board of county school
examiners for about twenty-two years, and
assisted greatly in advancing the qualifica-
tions of the teachers in the county.
He has also taken an active part in devel-
oping the resources of the county, and was
for six years secretary of the Darke County
Agricultural Society, and was mainly in-
strumental in selling the old grounds of the
society and purchasing the large and com-
modious grounds it now owns. For eight
years he was secretary of the first building
association organized in this county; having
closed out the same, and he has been for
more than eight years secretary of the larg-
est company of the kind now doing business
in the county. Mr. Martz has always mani-
fested a deep interest in the moral and relig-
ious influences in the county, has for a long
time been identified with the Methodist Epis
copal church, has been superintendent of the
Sabbath school for a number of years, and
for more than eight years has been record-
ing steward of its official board. For the
past years he has been associated with his
law partner of 1865 and the mayor of the
city of Greenville in the legal profession.
Fie has also assisted in all the local enter-
prises that were intended to advance the pub-
lic good ; has been associated with the trus-
tees of the Greenville cemetery as their sec-
retary since 1865, and assisted in bringing
about that order and system which has re-
sulted in beautifying, adorning and enlarg-
ing those grounds to meet the public wants.
On September 19, i860, he married Miss
Esther M., daughter of James H. Jamison, of
Delaware, Ohio, with issue of four sons :
John H., born November 8, 1861 ; Adel-
bert, born September 28, 1868; James J.,
born May 8, 1872, and Benjamin F., born
December 18, 1874. John H. is married
and is engaged in farming and raising fine
registered stock. Adelbert is also married
and is "teller of the Greenville Bank. James
J. is a teacher in the Greenville high school,
and Benjamin F. is engaged in farming his
father's place.
WILLIAM COX.
In the year 18 16 the Cox family was
founded in Darke county, and through the
intervening years the name has been insep-
arably interwoven with the history of this
locality on account of the prominent part
its representatives have borne in the devel-
opment and progress of this section of the
state. It is therefore with pleasure that we
present to our readers the record of William
Cox, who is known as a successful and highly
esteemed agriculturist of Washington town-
ship. His grandparents, Jacob and Eve Cox,
were the first of the name of whom we have
authentic record. They had eight children,
and in 1816 the entire family emigrated west-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
249
ward to Darke county, Ohio, from Fayette
county, Pennsylvania. A settlement was
first made in the northeast portion of German
township, and they were among the first to
take up their abode in what was then an al-
most unbroken wilderness. The trip from
Pennsylvania had been made with teams and
wagons, and often they had to mark out a
road for themselves or follow an old Indian
trail. There in the midst of the woods Mr.
Cox, assisted by his children, made a small
clearing and erected a rude log cabin, in
which they began life on the frontier in true
pioneer style. Of sturdy and courageous
spirit, they were well prepared to meet the
hardships of such a life and in a short time
they had a portion of their land under culti-
vation. Year by year the cleared tracts were
enlarged and improved, and when Mr. Cox
passed to his final rest the home farm pre-
sented every appearance of thrift and pros-
perity and was regarded as one of the valu-
able properties of this section of the state.
The land was inherited by his son, Henry
Co'x, who shortly afterward disposed of it
and removed to Missouri, but when a few
years had passed he returned to Ohio, taking
up his abode in Miami county, near Pleasant
Hill, where he spent his remaining days.
The other two sons of the family, Jacob
and Martin, came to Washington township,
Darke county, after the death of their father,
and were the first white men to enter claims
in his locality. Jacob Cox, Jr.. the father
of our subject, was born in Fayette count}',
Pennsylvania, on the 14th of July. 1887, and,
as before stated, came west with his people,
living with them in German township until
1 81 7, when he and his brother removed to
Washington township. They took up ad-
ji lining claims, and the first cabin was erected
where the home of Samuel Cole now stands.
In that little home both brothers with their
families lived for some time, or until a cabin
could be erected on the land owned by Jacob
Cox, now the property of his son, William.
The little pioneer home stood on the site of
the present handsome residence, and in this
rude domicile, the second one to be erected
in Washington township, the sturdy pioneer
family began life in the midst of the forest.
With characteristic energy the father con-
tinued to clear away the trees and trans-
formed the tract into rich and fertile fields.
He was a man of undaunted energy and per-
severance, and soon a valuable farm indi-
cated what may be accomplished by people
of determined purpose who are not afraid
to meet the obstacles and difficulties in their
path. At the time of his death Jacob Cox
owned four hundred and eighteen acres of
valuable land, and was considered one of the
most prominent and successful farmers and
influential citizens of Darke county. In
the early days the Indians often camped in
a small ravine near his home, but they were
friendly and occasioned no trouble to the
settlers. Jacob Cox married Elizabeth
Wise, who was a native of Hardy county,
Virginia, and removed to Ohio with her par-
ents, who afterward went to Indiana, where
they spent their last days. Twelve children
were born to Mr. ami Mrs. Cox: Jesse,
who was born April 24, 1817, and died Sep-
tember 28, 1873; Job. who was born Feb-
ruary 8, 1819, and died September 28, 1834;
Hannah, who was born May 20, 1821, and
became the wife of Lorenzo Dixnn, their
home beino- now in Greenville township,
Darke county; Samuel, who was born Octo-
ber 7. 1823, and died April 16, 1840: Mar-
tin, who was born June 20, 1826. and died
December 14, 1876; Jacob, who was born
January 2, 1829, and died on the 22. 1 of Oc-
250
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tober of the same year ; Alary, who was born
August 17, 1830, and is the wife of Philip
Rodgers, of Washington township; John,
born March 17, 1833; Eliza Jane, who was
born February 26, 1835, and is the wife of
Samuel Van Fleet, of Washington town-
ship; a daughter who was born in 1S36 and
died before being named: Israel, who was
born June 22, 1838, and died in 1889: and
William, the immedite subject of this review.
Jacob Cox, the father of these children,
was a stanch supporter of the Baptist church
and a consistent Christian gentleman. He
exercised his right of franchise in support of
the men and measures of the Democracy and
earnestly advocated its principles, but was
never an aspirant for political honors. He
died April 3, 1842, and his estimable wife,
surviving him many years, passed away
in 1877. Both were honored and respected
1))' all who knew them, and when they were
called to the home beyond their loss was
mourned not only by many relatives but
throughout the entire neighborhood, for all
who knew them were their friends. Upon
the farm on which he settled in 181 6 Mar-
tin Cox, the brother of Jacob, lived up to
the time of his death, in 1856.
In taking up the personal history of Will-
iam Cox we present to our readers the life
record of one who is widely and favorably
known in Darke county. He was the
youngest child in his father's family, and was
born in the hewed-log house which is still
standing on the farm that is yet his home,
his natal day being January 2j, 1841. The
old log cabin is now used for storage pur-
poses, and stands as a mute reminder of pio-
neer days, and the habits of life at that time.
His school advantages were somewhat lim-
ited, but he mastered the elementary branches
of the English language in the district
schools of the neighborhood, and by expe-
rience and observation has added greatly to
his knowledge. His training at farm labor
was not meager, for as soon as old enough
to handle the plow he began work in the
fields, and was thus largely engaged from
the time of spring planting until crops were
garnered in the autumn. Upon attaining
his majority he came into possession of a
portion of his father's estate. He has al-
ways carried on general farming, and for
years has made it a practice to manufacture
maple syrup and sugar on an extensive scale,
disposing of this product to regular cus-
tomers in Greenville. He has a large sugar
camp and the excellence of the product en-
ables him to secure a ready market therefor.
In 1892 he erected upon his farm a fine,
modern residence, and near by stands good
outbuildings. The place is neat and thrifty
in appearance, and the owner is recognized
as one of the practical and progressive agri-
culturists of his community.
' On the 22d of August, 1872, was cele-
brated the marriage of Mr. Cox and Miss
Margaret A. Van Fleet, daughter of John
D. and Mary (Fradmore) Van Fleet. This
family came from New Jersey to Ohio at an
earl_\- day, locating in Washington township,
Darke county. Mrs. Cox is now the only
representative of the family living in the
county. By her marriage she has become
the mother of four children : Ory Newton,
who was born January 22, 1873, was mar-
ried December 20, 1898, to Miss Jennie,
daughter of William Young, of Greenville,
and they reside upon the old home farm ;
Harriet A., born November 5, 1874, is with
her parents; a son, born in 1876. died the
same year unnamed; and John Jacob, born
December 18, 1877, also resides at home.
In his political views Mr. Cox was a sup-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
251
porter of Democratic principles for some
time, but now votes the Socialist ticket. He
holds membership in the Christian church.
He has neither time nor inclination for po-
litical office, but finds ample time to faith-
fully discharge every duty of citizenship.
He is a man of determined character, of
sterling worth and of inflexible integrity,
and among the residents of Darke county
he has a host of warm friends. He resides
upon one of the oldest developed farms in
Washington township, and is a worthy rep-
resentative of an honored pioneer family,
whose connection with the history of Darke
county has ever been creditable.
CHRISTIAN ERISMAN.
Among the pioneer familes of Darke
county, Ohio, were the Erismans. Jacob Eris-
man, the father, was a native of Pennsyl-
vania, and at the time of his emigration from
that state to Ohio, 1839, his family con-
sisted of wife and fifteen children. At that
time but little of the land in Adams township
had been cleared and the only improvements
on their claim consisted of a small clearing
and a little log cabin containing one room.
Not far distant was another log cabin and
in these two cabins and the wagons the fam-
ily slept at night. Another child was born
to this pioneer couple shortly after they
landed here, this being the eighteenth ; two
had died in Pennsylvania. The mother died
at the age of forty-six years, and the father
at the age of sixty-eight, both passing away
at the homestead. Of this large family only
five sons and one daughter are now living.
Christian Erisman, whose name heads
this sketch, was the fourth child and second
son, his birth occurring in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, December 24, 1820. At the
time of their removal to Ohio he was nine-
teen years of age. Strong and energetic,
he was his father's chief assistant in the work
of clearing and improving the farm and al-
ways resided upon it. This farm consists of
one hundred and sixty acres and is well im-
proved with good buildings and fences, all
of which have been placed here by the sub-
ject of our sketch.
Among the other pioneer families who
settled in this same locality was one that bore
the name of Long. Jacob Long and his
wife, whose maiden name was Catherine
Rinacker, were natives of Pennsylvania,
and were the parents of eleven children, the
third of whom was Catherine, born in Adams
county, Pennsylvania, near Gettysburg, Feb-
ruary 16, 1827. Her mother died in Penn-
sylvania, and when she was seventeen years
of age she came with her father and other
members of the family to Darke county,
where on the 6th of February, 1845, *'ie
became the wife of Christian Erisman.
Their union has been blessed with eleven
children, five of whom are living, namely:
Lizzie, Frank, Lewis, Cora and Arthur.
The youngest, Arthur, now has charge
of the farming operations at the old home
place.
The subject of our sketch was long affil-
iated with the Republican party and during
his earlier years took an active part in local
affairs, serving as township trustee, school
director and in other positions. For a period
of forty-five years he and his good wife
were consistent and respected members of the
Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mrs.
Erisman still belongs. He departed this
life August 23, 1900, and the funeral ser-
vices were held at the residence on Sunday
morning, August 26. by the Rev. Jesse Carr,
of Bradford, Ohio. His body was placed
252
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in a most beautiful couch casket and laid
to rest in the old family cemetery on the
farm which he had owned and on which he
had so long lived.
CHARLES E. DUNKLE.
Charles E. Dunkle, who is in the United
States railway mail service, was born in the
city of Dayton, Ohio, December 10, 1866,
and is the eldest son of Simon P. and Mary
E. (Troutrnan) Dunkle. The Dunkle fam-
ily originated in Germany and the first
American ancestor, Peter Dunkle, came to
this country more than two hundred years
ago, locating in Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
vania, where he remained until his death.
The father of our subject was born in Penn-
sylvania, May 17, 1842. and was a son of
David and Anna (Freilich) Dunkle, who
also were born in the Keystone state. With
their family they cam'e to Ohio when their
son, Simon, was but eight years of age and
in this section of the country he was reared
to manhood. After obtaining his majority
he married Miss Mary E. Troutrnan, who
was born in Maryland, March 30, 1844, a
daughter of Michael and Rebecca (Holler)
Troutrnan, who were also natives of the same
state and came to Ohio at an early period
of its development. In 1867 the parents of
our subject removed with their family to
Gordon, Darke county, and later made a
permanent settlement at Greenville.
Charles E. Dunkle spent his boyhood
clays in Gettysburg and Greenville, where he
received the educational advantages afford-
ed by the public schools. His preliminary
course was supplemented by study in Gettys-
burg, Ohio, and later he engaged in teach-
ing school, for one term. He was appointed
as railway postal clerk on the 12th of No-
vember, 1887, his route being from Pitts-
burg, Pennsylvania, to St. Louis, Missouri,
over what is the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chica-
go & St. Louis Railroad. Later he was trans-
ferred to the Vandalia Road, which is his
present run. He has a force of eight clerks
under his control and is now occupying a
very important position, to which he has
steadily worked his way upward from a hum-
ble capacity.
On the 4th of May, 1893, Mr. Dunkle
was married to Miss Emma Kraus, daughter
of John G. and Anna C. (Gensley) Kraus,
residents of Covington, Miami county. She
was born May 30, 1875, and received her
education in the Greenville and Covington
schools and is a very cultured lady. They
now have one son, a bright boy of six years.
They occupy a fine residence on Washington
avenue and their pleasant home is celebrated
for its gracious hospitality. Mr. Dunkle is
a member of Greenville Lodge, No. 195,
I. O. O. F. His long connection with the
railway mail service well indicates both his
fidelity and his ability, and he is certainly one
of the most trusted employes in the mail
department.
ALFRED H. JUDY.
Alfred H. Judy, of Butler township, re-
sides at his home farm on section 21, and has
his office and store rooms at Castine. One
of the successful agriculturists of Darke
ci lunty, he annually does a thirty-thousand-
dollar business in farm machinery, vehicles
and harness.
A. H. Judy was born at Enon, Clark
county, Ohio, June 8, 1861. His father,
Samuel H. Judy, of Greenville, Ohio, was
born near Plattsburg, Clark county, Ohio,
December 23, 1821. He is a son of Jesse
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
253
and Nancy Judy, deceased, who were buried
in the family graveyard on the old Judy es-
tate near Plattsburg. Nancy Judy's maiden
name was Johnson. She was of Irish de-
scent; small and beautiful, and famous as
both a horsewoman and a weaver in her day.
Jesse Judy, son of John Judy, was born in
Germany, in 1753. He came to the United
States landing in Virginia, and later went
td Kentucky, where he met the famous Dan-
iel Boone. Their friendship was lasting, but
John Judy crossed the Ohio where Cincin-
nati now stands and took up eighty acres of
land, exchanging a horse for the settler's
claim. Later he disposed of the land and
settled near Plattsburg, acquiring the estate
referred to. He married Phoebe Lamastrus.
She was born in Scotland, in 1760, and they
are buried in the grounds referred to above.
Samuel H. Judy was married to Miss Lydia
Wilson, May 21, 1847. She is the daughter
of Isaac and Mary A. (Coffield) Wilson,
who are deceased, their remains being in-
terred in the cemetery at Fairfield, Ohio.
Isaac Wilson was of English descent, came
to Ohio from Kentucky and located on the
farm east of Fairfield, Greene county. He
was a clear-headed dealer, a fine judge of
stock, and one of the successful fianciers of
his day. At his death, in 1864, he was one
of the wealthiest men in Greene county.
J M. Wilson, a grandson of Isaac Wilson,
and a fine type of the old Wilson stock, owns
the old homestead. Mary A. Coffield was
born in Ireland and emigrated to the United
States about 18 16. She was famous as a
weaver, and was one of the most charming
conversationalists and entertaining hostesses
of her day.
The subject's parents resided in Clark
county, Ohio, until 1867, when they pur-
chased of James Knoff what is now known as
the old Judy farm, east of Greenville, Ohio,
and moved there the same year. This they
improved from the forest to a snug home.
Eleven children were born to Samuel H. and
Lydia Judy. Three died in infancy, while
eight grew to man and womanhood, and are
known as follows : B. F. Judy, deceased, was
a well-known educator of this county. He
married Alice Meritt, of Miami county, who
with her son, John H. Judy, a fine promis-
ing young man, resides at Palestine, Ohio.
Swan Judy, deceased, was a member of the
Darke county bar, and a graduate of the Uni-
versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. He
married Lillie May Birch, of Darke county,
who with her son, Hawes Judy, resides in
Dayton, Ohio. Martha C. Judy married
Henry Worley, of this county, and they have
four children : Kittie and Mattie, who are
married; also a son, Luan Worley, who is
married ; while Clyde, the youngest, lives
with his parents. Rev. DeKalb Judy, a min-
ister in the Christian church, married Miss
Mollie Steele, of Camden, Indiana, and they
have three sons and one daughter: B. H,
A. H, Paul and Vera Judy. Ada Judy was
married to Michael Dwyre, one of the most
thorough master builders of Ohio and Indi-
ana, and they reside at Anderson, in the lat-
ter state. They have one child, Zola, a very
charming young lady. Justine Judy mar-
ried John Weimer, of the firm of A. Weimer
& Sons, millers of Greenville, Ohio. He is
one of the rising business men of this county.
They have one son. Hattie Judy married
Stephen Bard, of this county.
The subject's early days were spent as a
little spindle-shanked, white-headed boy,
running the woods and prairies over, with
a passionate fondness for the flowers and
beautiful stones or odd specimens of nature.
An early comprehensiveness of what he saw
254
GEXEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and rend made gateways for pleasure on
every hand in the study of things about him.
so at his little duties, at fishing, trapping,
bathing, and in all the boys' pastimes of his
day, the mixture of acquiring knowledge and
work and play has been the means of devel-
oping in him a mind broad enough to grasp
the great things of the world and complete
enough to enter into the joys or sorrows of
the smallest child. Ambitious to excel in
evervthing he undertook, he was at the head
of his class in the old log schoolhouse at No.
9. Greenville township, and won the honors
of graduation in 1880, at the union school,
of Greenville, Ohio. After finishing his
course in 1880 he secured a clerkship with
Henry St. Clair in his retail house on Broad-
way, in Greenville. The duties of clerk were
not harmonious with his disposition and at
the end of four weeks he resigned his posi-
tion and engaged to teach the school at Con-
cord, east of Greenville; afterward he ac-
cepted the principalship of the schools at
Hillgrove, Ohio, thence went to District No.
5, in Butler township ; next he became prin-
cipal of the school at Castine, Ohio. His
schools were successes and many of his old
pupils are holding positions of honor and re-
sponsibility. For fifteen years he has held
the office of magistrate, and so earnest has he
been in promoting the ideas of arbitration
and compromise that years go by without
soiling a page in his docket. He has faith-
fully represented his party, the Democratic,
at county, district and state conventions. In
1899 he made the canvass of the county for
nomination to the office of representative.
There were five candidates in the field and
the best of good will abounded. The Hon.
Clem Brumbaugh was the successful man,
with Mr. Judy a close second. He is a bi-
metalist and an anti-imperialist.
While conducting the school in District
Xo. 5 the subject met Miss Jeanetta E. Cob-
lentz. she being one of his pupils at that
school, and a daughter of Harrison and Car-
oline Coblentz, whose biography will be
found elsewhere in this volume. Their
daughter, Jeanetta E., seems to have inher-
ited from her parents an abundance of their
many virtues and the sterling qualities of
those old baronial ancestors at Coblentz on
the Rhine. As a girl at home her bright and
winning ways were the light and sunshine
of the parental abode. As a scholar she was
ever apt and perceptive; gifted with a talent
for music, and richly endowed in language,
she entertained charmingly those about her.
Moreover, she has ever been a good counselor
and a ready helper. A lady in the fullest
sense of the term, it is not strange that she
was loved by all who knew her, and quite
natural that the teacher and pupil should
have a kindly regard for each other and that
the association should be kept up after
"school was out." and as a result the subject
and this charming lady were united in mar-
riage at the home of the latter, by Rev. Ches-
ter Briggs, February 16, 1884. The affairs
of housekeeping were begun in the old log
house in the center of the farm where they
now live. Time has been very good to them.
In 1892 they built one of the handsi imest res-
idences in the county. The fire fiend con-
sumed this in 1896, the family barely escap-
ing unhurt. Immediately they rebuilt, but
on a less pretentious scale, the home they
now enjoy. Mr. and Mrs. Judy have had
five children born to them: Eva. a sweet
little child born September 14. 1888, died
September 29. 1888. Edith Esther, born
October 11. 1890, is one of the brightest pu-
pils of her school, and although very young
is an expert pianist. She is a lover of the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
255
beautiful and greatly resembles her mother;
Kate Caroline, born February 17, 1894,
reads all newspapers, plays the piano, and is
a jolly little sprite and a type of her father ;
Harrison Coblentz, born February 28, 1897,
is a shrewd little man, can read his primer,
and is a type of his father. These little
folks are polite and entertaining and favor-
ites with all they chance to meet. With the
advantages of these times at their hands a
bright future surely awaits them. Air.
Judy divides all. honors with his worthy help-
mate and their home is one of the most
'pleasant to be found, both being well-in-
formed people, although their lives have
been crowded with cares and years of hard
w ■( 'ik have been theirs, yet they have found
time to keep pace with the events of the day
and the developments that have gradually
put f' irth, so that their stock of knowledge is
such that the caller will find a very pleasing
and entertaining host and hostess. They are
members of the Otterbein class of the United
Brethren in Christ; and to their manage-
ment is due the fact that their class is able
to ask to be set off from the circuit to a sta-
tion. Many donations to different institu-
tions for good have been made by this \v< >r-
thy couple and their names will long be re-
membered by the recipients of their gener-
osity. The subject is a member of the order
of Knights of Pythias and of the Masonic
fraternity, and is in high standing with his
fellows and brothers. He is quite a fluent
speaker and his oratory has frequently been
commented upon and complimented. Al-
though reticent, when he does talk, as people
say, "it is worth hearing." For several
years he was a writer for the National Stock-
man, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Many of
his articles were copied by the leading ag-
ricultural journals of the land. And now we
15
leave them in their cozy home, one of the
happiest, brightest families of this great
county.
JAMES McCABE.
For almost sixty years this gentleman
has been a resident of Darke county, Ohio,
and during this long period, which covers
nearly the whole span of the county's devel-
opment from a primitive state to its pres-
ent flourishing condition, he has been active-
ly interested in its progress. His upright
course in life commands the respect and
commendation of every one, and he is justly
entitled to prominent mention in the his-
tory of his adopted county.
Mr. McCabe was born near Franklin,
Warren county, Ohio, October 14, 1826,
and is a son of John McCabe, born August
31, 1798, a native of New Jersey and of
Scotch-Irish descent. The father grew to
manhood in his native state, and followed
the occupations of a carpenter and farmer.
About 181 7 he removed to Warren count}-,
Ohio, making the journey on foot, and there
he remained until 1842, when he came to
Darke county, locating in Neave township,
where he remained until his death, February
8, 1887, at the ripe old age of eighty-nine
years. He was three times married, his
first wife being Anna Yantilburgh, the
mother of our subject. She was a native of
Warren county, of which her parents were
pioneers, and it is supposed that they were
of lowland Dutch descent.
James McCabe is the second child and
oldest son in a family of five children, three
sons and two daughters, and is the only
one now living. During his boyhood he
pursued his studies in a primitive log school
house; and remained in his native county
256
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
until 1842. when he came with his parents to
Darke county, locating on a farm in Neave
township, which he helped his father to
clear and improve. At the age of nine-
teen he started out for himself, working by
the month for nine dollars. Having ac-
quired a good education he commenced
teaching school, in 1845, receiving his first
certificate from John Briggs, one of the
pioneers of the county. As they had no
printed forms at that time, the certificate was
all written. At that time the school houses
were all of logs, and most of them had
greased-paper windows and very rude fur-
nishings. His first school was in the Spring
Hill district, but was then called the Ohler
district. For eight years Mr. McCabe con-
tinued teaching, with good success, and
came to German township in 1852, having
charge of the school in Palestine, where the
Teaford twin boys were among his pupils.
In 1854 he turned his attention to farm-
ing on what is now known as the Armstrong
farm, where he remained two years, and then
bought the Weaver farm, now owned by Mr.
Philipi, on section 11, German township.
In 1863 he sold that place and moved to Pal-
estine, where he bought a half interest in a
mill, but sold out in 1871. He next formed
a partnership with Mr. Kester and bought
a saw-mill, which they conducted together
until 1874, since which time Mr. McCabe
has operated it alone and has met with good
success in this venture.
On the 10th of January, 1852, Mr. Mc-
Cabe was united in marriage with Miss Eba-
liah Wagoner, who was born October 26,
1823, a native of Neave township, this
county, and a daughter of George and Sa-
rah (Stephens) Wagoner, who were among
its pioneers. Mr. Wagoner was a pioneer,
and was in the war of 1812, being in the
surrender of Hull. By this union four chil-
dren were born, namely : Flora Bell, who
died in infancy ; Orlando, who married Anna,
the daughter of Dr. Stiles, of Greenville,
and now lives in Dayton, Ohio; Virgil, who
married Jennie Starbuck, of Dayton, and
they have five children : Roscoe, Hallie M.,
Bepo, Emma and Mary; and Ida May, who
is the wife of Eli Overman, of Dayton, and
they also have five children : Omer, Frank,
Mary, and Harry and Terry, twins. Con-
cerning Mrs. McCabe, we should add that
she lived with her parents until 1852; com-
ing to German township, she resided there
until her death, which took place July 26,
1899, when she had attained the age of
seventy-five years and nine months. She
died as she had lived, a member of the Uni-
versalis! church, and a consistent Christian,
believing in the fatherhood of God and the
brotherhood of man. The funeral sermon
on the occasion of her death was preached
by one of her dearest friends in the blessed
faith of her denomination, Rev. Thomas S.
Guthrie, now of Muncie, Indiana.
In early life Mr. McCabe was a Whig in
politics, but he assisted in organizing the
Republican party, in 1856, and has since
been one of its stanch supporters. He has
filled the office of township assessor and
township clerk many terms, and has always
taken an active and commendable interest in
public affairs. In 1864, during the civil
war, he enlisted in Company H, One Hun-
dred and Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer In-
fantry, and served one hundred days. He is
now an honored member of Reed Post, No.
572, G. A. R., in which he has served as
commander and is now filling the office of
chaplain, and he has also been a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for
some years, and the Universalist church.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
257
He is widely and favorably known through-
out the county, and well, deserves the high
regard in which he is uniformly held.
JOHN G. FISCHBACH.
John G. Fischbach is now living retired
upon his farm of eighty acres on section 2J,
Allen township, Darke county. He is num-
bered among the valued residents of this lo-
cality that the fatherland has furnished to
the new world. He was born in Prussia,
Germany, on the 17th of April, 1829, and is
a son of Lawrence and Phillipina ( Metz-
ker) Fischbach. The father was born in
1778, and his wife was about twelve years
his junior. They were married about 1808,
and became the parents of nine children, all
born in Germany. The eldest child, a
daughter, was born about 18 12. There are
now three living children of the family :
Henry, who resides in Dayton, at the age
of eighty-one years; John George, of this
review; and Christina, the widow of Henry
Hass, of Dayton.
When but eighteen years of age the fa-
ther volunteered for service in the German
army in the Spanish war. He was a carpen-
ter and builder, and followed that pursuit
Loth in Germany and in the United States.
In 1832 he sailed with his family from
Bremen for America, but the vessel on which
they took passage was shipwrecked on a
sand bar by the captain, who wished to get
a heavy insurance. This was a most dia-
bolical act, which resulted in the death by
freezing of some thirty-nine of the emigrant
passengers. Our subject was at that time
a little child of only about three years. He,
too, was laid with the dead piled upon the
deck, but his sister saw the pulsations of his
neck and he was thus snatched from the
grave. He had, however, been so severely
burned that skin and flesh came off, but
life came back to him and he yet lives to
tell the wonderful tale. After enduring
many hardships, the family finally reached
America, and made their way to Dayton,
Ohio, where the father followed contract-
ing and building and became well-to-do.
He died March 21, 1857, at the age of sev-
enty-nine years, and his widow passed away
May 26, 1858, at the age of sixty-seven
years, their remains being interred in Wood-
land cemetery. They were members of the
Methodist church, and were respected Christ-
ian people.
John George Fischbach was reared in
Dayton and learned the shoemaker's trade,
which he followed to a greater or less ex-
tent until 1862. He was drafted for service
in the army in 1864, but was not accepted.
On the 3d of April, 1850, he was united in
marriage to Caroline Kimmel, who was born
in Germany, and their union has been blessed
with nine children : George, of Dayton,
who is married and has two sons and one
daughter ; Louisa, who died at the age of
fifteen months; Emma, who became the wife
of Lewis Sink and died at the age of thirty-
two years ; Edward, a resident of Horatio,
Darke county, who has a wife and seven
children ; Frederick Lawrence, who owns
and operates a farm near his father's ; Clara,
the wife of M. H. Burnhart, a farmer of Al
len township, by whom she has two chil-
dren; Sarah M., who died at the age of
three years ; William, who operates the home
farm and has a wife and three sons ; and
Arthur, who is still with his father. The
mother of these children was called to her
final rest January 19, 1892. She was a
faithful companion and helpmeet on life's
journey, was a loving wife and tender
258
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
mother, and throughout the community her
loss was deeply mourned.
In his business Mr. Fischbach has been
successful. He started out in life for him-
self at the age of eighteen years, and all that
he possesses has been acquired through his
own efforts. His has been an energetic and
industrious life, and these qualities have en-
abled him to overcome all difficulties and
work his way upward to a position of wealth,
and he is living retired.
HENRY LEPHART.
Henry Lephart is one of the representa-
tive German-American citizens of Darke
county, and is classified among the prosper-
ous farmers of Brown township. The name
Lephart is of German origin, and was spelled
Lepphardt or Liephardt. The father of our
subject, Augustus Lephart, was born in the
little duchy of Hesse-Cassel, on the 27th of
December, 1818, and is now living a retired
life in the city- of Greenville. He was edu-
cated in his native land, where he spent the
first eighteen years of his life, after which
he determined to seek a home and fortune
in the new world. He accordingly bade
adieu to the fatherland and the friends and
home of his youth and sailed for America in
the year 1836, taking passage on the sailing
vessel Henrietta, bound for Baltimore,
Maryland. Eight weeks and four days
passed ere they sighted land, for contrary
winds detained the vessel, but ultimately
they reached the Baltimore harbor in safety,
and Mr. Lephart landed in America, a
stranger among strange people, with whose
language he was unfamiliar. He had a
capital of only one dollar, but he possessed
strong determination and resolute will, and
with those essential qualifications of success
he started out to make his own way. He
soon secured work on a canal along the
James river, and was there employed for
four years.
He is a thrifty and industrious man,
qualities which have been inherited by his
children. Establishing a home in Pennsyl-
vania, he there resided for four years, and
about 1849 came with his family to Darke
county, Ohio, locating in German township,
where he was employed as a wage worker.
He remained for two years in German town-
ship, then known as Washington township,
after which he purchased eight}' acres of
land, of which about twelve acres had been
cleared and improved. His first home was
a log cabin, and a log barn gave shelter to
his stock. Mr. Lephart remained upon the
old family homestead until 1 886, and then
became a resident of Greenville. Through-
out the intervening years he had carried on
agricultural pursuits, and his untiring indus-
try and enterprise enabled him to add to his
possessions until he was the owner of a valu-
able farm of one hundred and sixtv acres
and a comfortable competence, which now
supplies him with all the necessities and
many of the luxuries of life. The thrift and
frugality which are cardinal characteristics
of the German race were ever manifest in
his business career, and he is also known as
a man of much resolution and decision of
character. In politics he has always been a
Democrat, save when in i860 he cast his
vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has never
held office, preferring to devote his time and
attention to his business interests. In his
religious views he is a Lutheran and has
been very liberal in his contributions to
church work, having aided in the erection of
five different churches in Darke county. He
gave material assistance to the church in
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
259
Greenville, and has withheld his support
from no benevolences worthy of considera-
tion. His life, honorable and upright, has
commanded the respect of all.
In Pennsylvania he was united in mar-
riage to Miss Katherine Estella Strukoff,
who was born near Hanover, Germany.
Her birth occurred in 1814, and her death in
1886. Her life was one of spotless Christ-
ian purity and her teachings have had
marked influence upon the lives of her chil-
dren, to whom her memory remains as a
grateful benediction. In the family of this
worthy couple were eight children, four sons
and four daughters, but only three are now
living, namely: Henry; Sarah, the wife of
Peter Blizzard, a prosperous agriculturist
of Champaign county, Illinois; and Will-
iam, who is married and is a successful
farmer of Washington township, Darke
county. He resides near the old family
homestead.
Henry Lephart was born July 15, 1843,
in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and was
the second child in his father's family. He
was a little lad of six summers when he came
with his parents to Darke county, where he
was reared and educated. Throughout his
life he has been identified with agricultural
pursuits, and for nineteen years he also en-
gaged in the manufacture of brick, the prod-
ucts of its kilns being seen in many of
the most beautiful homes in Brown town-
ship. Several of the school-houses of the
neighborhood have also been erected from
brick manufactured by him, as was the
Greenville Bank. He had no special advan-
tages to fit him for life, receiving but a lim-
ited education in the public schools. The
first school he ever attended was held in a
log building in Washington township, the
dimensions of the structure being 16x20
teet.
The building" was covered with a
board roof, and was furnished with a box
stove, and slab benches formed of puncheons
with the flat side up, placed upon wooden
pins. The writing desk used by the big
boys and girls was a wide board resting upon
wooden pins driven into auger holes in the
wall. The discipline of the school was
maintained through fear of the rod and the
dunce-cap, and the old adage, '"Spare the
rod and spoil the child," found exemplifica-
tion in those primitive institutions of learn-
ing. Mr. Lephart remained with his par-
ents until he had attained his majority and
gave them his wages during the greater part
of the time. He received eighteen dollars
per month in compensation for his services,
and as one-half of this was turned over to
his father he had a small capital of his own
when he attained his majority, comprising
fifty dollars in money and a young horse.
He was, however, industrious and energetic,
qualities which form an important element
in a prosperous career.
On the 19th of November, 1863, Mr.
Lephart was united in marriage to Miss
Sarah J. Moyer. She was born in Darke
county, November 2, 1S43, a"d 's t'ie sixth
in a family of ten children, three sons and
seven daughters, the parents being Michael
and Margaret (Etter) Moyer. Of their
family four daughters are yet living, three
being residents of Darke county, while one
sister, Margaret, is the wife of Jackson
Stump, an agriculturist of Oklahoma. The
parents are both deceased. The father was
born in Virginia, in 1812, and died in the
fall of 1865. He was of German lineage
and was reared as an agriculturist. His
parents entered one hundred and twenty
acres from the government during Martin
Van Buren's administration. His family
260
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
came to Ohio in an early day, when the In-
dians were still very numerous in this sec-
tion of the country, and deer and other kind
of wild game could be had in abundance.
Mr. Moyer was a typical Virginian, dis-
playing old-time courtesy and hospitality so
common in that state. He held member-
ship in the German Lutheran church. His
wife was born near Germantown, Ohio,
about i 817, and died about 1874. She was
e'ducated in the common schools, and was
a consistent Christian woman, who reared
her children in the faith of the church. Mrs.
Lephart, a daughter of this worthy couple,
has been to her husband a faithful counselor
and helpmate. She has a kind disposition
and affable manner, and is highly esteemed
by a large circle of friends.
Air. ami Airs. Lephart began their do-
mestic life in Washington township upon a
rented farm, for they had little of this
world's goods to aid them in making a start.
They removed to Brown township, where
they again rented land, and after spending
four years upon property belonging to others
Mr. Lephart was able to purchase, in connec-
tion with his sister, an eighty-acre tract that
had formerly belonged to their father. Dur-
ing the four years in which he rented he
had saved four hundred dollars, but in order
to make his purchase of land he had to in-
cur an indebtedness of four hundred dol-
lars. His first eighty-acre tract was forest
land, upon which not a ditch had been dug
nor an improvement made, save that there
was a little log cabin and a log barn. With
characteristic energy he began the further
development of the property, and soon trans-
formed the wild land into rich and fertile
fields. As his financial resources have in-
creased he has added to his property until
he is now, in 1900, the owner of three hun-
dred acres of valuable land in Brown town-
ship. His farm is supplied with all mod-
ern improvements and conveniences, includ-
ing splendid buildings, high-class machin-
ery and everything found upon a model
farm. His property stands as a monument
to his thrift and enterprise, and to the as-
sistance of his e'stimable wife. There are
two good residences upon the place, and the
land is in a good state of cultivation.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Lephart has
been blessed with thirteen children, eight
sons and five daughters, and of this large
family eleven are yet living: Margaret A.,
who was educated in the common schools
and received instructions in music, is now
the wife of Henry Foreman, a farmer of
Allen township; Sarah Jane is the wife of
Finley Riffle, an agriculturist of Brown
township; William H. is married and lives
in Greenville, Ohio; John W.. who possesses
much natural mechanical ability and is a
practical carpenter and joiner, is also a pros-
perous farmer of Darke county; Charles A.'
is married and is employed as a mechanic
by the Panhandle Railroad Company; Peter
I. is married and follows blacksmithing in
Arcanum, Ohio ; Catherine Estella, who has
been instructed in music, is now the wife of
Hugh Westfall, the proprietor of a restau-
rant in Ansonia, Ohio; Augustus C. is mar-
ried, and follows farming in Brown town-
ship; Elizabeth A., who has also been in-
structed in music, has successfully passed
the Boxwell examination and is now at home
with her parents; Fred X., who possesses
considerable musical talent, passed the
Boxwell examination in 1900; and
James M., the youngest living mem-
ber of the family, is now a stu-
dent in the eighth grade in the public schools.
Mr. and Airs. Lephart have given their chil-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
261
I
dren excellent educational privileges, realiz-
ing the importance of learning in the prac-
tical affairs of life. In his political senti-
ments our subject is a Democrat, and has
loyally supported the party of his choice
since casting his first presidential vote for
General George B. McClellan. He has fre-
quently been chosen as a delegate to sena-
torial and county conventions, and has ever
been firm in support of his honest convic-
tions. He is a public-spirited and progress-
ive citizen, giving his aid and influence to
all measures calculated to prove of public
benefit. For six years he has served as
school director, and his efforts in support
of the cause of education have been very ef-
fective. He and his family are all mem-
bers of the Christian church — certainly a
most creditable record and one well worthy
of emulation. They have aided financially
in the erection of seven different churches
in this vicinity, which indicates their deep
interest in all that pertains to the uplifting
of the human race. Socially Mr. Lephart
is connected with the Masonic order, Lodge
No. 488. at Ansonia, and he is a worthy
representative of the craft. He and his
family enjoy the high regard of all who
know them, and he is truly a self-made man
whose advancement in life is creditable,
showing what may be accomplished by de-
termined purpose and unflagging industry.
CYRUS BIGLER.
This well-known and representative cit-
izen of Darke county, Ohio, — Cyrus Bigler,
whose home and farm are on section 36,
Wayne township — is a native of the coun-
ty and dates his birth in Adams township,
August 13, 1844.
Mr. Bigler traces his ancestry along the
agnatic line for a hundred years back to Den-^trle^
mark. Three brothers of the name of Big- MW_- £"*s
ler came together to America and here they "^
soon separated, one settling in New York,
one in Pennsylvania and one in Virginia, and
from these three have sprung all the Biglers
in this country. Moses Bigler, the father of
Cyrus, was a native of Maryland, born in
1818, and his father, David Bigler, was also
born in that state. The former came to
Ohio at an early day, about 1828, and was
one of the first settlers of Darke county.
Through his mother Mr. Bigler is related to
the Millers, one of the largest and a much-
respected family of Darke county, they hav-
ing removed here from Kentucky about the
time it was admitted as a slave state. Mrs.
Bigler. the mother of our subject, was form-
erly Miss Mary Miller. She was born in
Adams township, this count}-, a daughter of
Jacob Miller, and is still living, at the age
of seventy-four. To Moses and Mary Big-
ler were born five children, two sons and
three daughters, Cyrus being the eldest. The
others are as follows : Jacob, who is mar-
ried and living on a farm in Michigan;
Nancy, wife of John Long, of Adams town-
ship, Darke county; Mary, wife of David
Martin, also of Adams township; and Lyd-
ia, wife of Charles Jackson, of Pleasant Hill,
Ohio.
In his youth Mr. Bigler had good edu-
cational advantages, attending school in his
native township, later being a student in the
Greenville schools, and still later entering
what was then known as Whitewater Col-
lege, at Centerville, Indiana. It was at the
last named institution that Henry I'. John-
son was educated, and they were in schoi >1 at
the same time. At the age of seventeen
years Mr. Bigler began teaching school,
which occupation he followed in his native
262
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
county during the winter season for several
years, or up to the time of his marriage, af-
ter which lie located on the farm where he
in nv resides, and where he has since been
engaged in agricultural pursuits. His
home place comprises one hundred acres
and he has seventy acres in another tract,
all of which he operates.
Mr. Bigler married Miss Lydia A. Lowe,
a native of Palestine, German township,
Darke county. Ohio, who died in 1887 leav-
ing a family of eight children, namely:
Lulu, who is now the wife of Noah Grove,
and has four children — Mary, Estella. Mil-
lard and Carl ; Charles, who married Man-
Wade and has one child, Ivan; Earl, who
married Ollie Brewer and has one daughter,
Bernice ; Jacob, who married Ida Farmer ;
Clyde, who married Carrie Robinson; Es-
tella Mabel and Bessie, at home. For his
second wife Mr. Bigler married Miss Ida
Seifert, and by her has one son, Herman.
Politically Mr. Bigler has always given
his support to the Democratic party, and
has at different times filled local office. In
1880 he was assessor. At this writing he
is a director in the German Baptist Mutual
Fire Insurance Company, of Covington,
Miami county, Ohio. He is a member of
the German Baptist church.
. JOHX L. BAILEY.
While memory remains to the American
citizens the "boys in blue" who fought for
the defense of the Union will ever be held
in grateful remembrance, and well do they
deserve all the love that can lie bestowed
upon them. A man does not lightly risk
life, but when in the face of great danger
he bravely stands for his country and his
principles he awakens the highest admira-
tion of all who know aught of his gallantry.
With the splendid army that marched to
the south to aid in crushing the rebellion
went John L. Bailey, and today he is num-
bered among the veterans of the civil war,
and is also regarded as one of the leading
and substantial citizens of Darke county,
Ohio.
It was in Brown township, this count)-,
that he was born, August 26, 184 1. His
father, Henry Bailey, was also a native of
Ohio, his birth having occurred in Perry
county, on the 19th of December, 181 1. He
was reared as a farmer and obtained his edu-
cation in the primitive subscription schools
of the early part of the nineteenth century.
During his boyhood he accompanied his par-
ents on their removal to Preble county,
Ohio, at which time that section of the state
was an unbroken wilderness. He was mar-
ried in that county to Miss Nancy Runyon,
whose birth occurred in Kentucky, on the
joth of February, 18 18. In 1833 he came
to Darke county and located in Brown town-
ship, upon a tract of one hundred and twen-
ty acres of dense forest land. No house
had as yet been builded, and his first home
was a little log cabin. Bears, wolves and
deer were still killed in the neighborhood,
and venison was a dish often found upon the
board of the early settlers. Everything was
wild and gave little promise of the wonder-
ful development and progress which was
soon to work a splendid transformation
here. Our subject can remember when
deer traveled over his father's farm as a
drove of sheep passes through a field. In
the midst of the forest the father hewed out
a homestead.
He was a man of strong decision of char-
acter, well known for his reliability and
trustworthiness. His fellow townsmen,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
2G3
recognizing his ability, called him to office,
and he served as trustee and in other local
positions, discharging his duties with
promptness and fidelity. He was a warm
friend of the cause of education and of all
measures calculated to contribute toward
the general good.. In politics he was first
an old-line Whig, supporting the party until
the organization of the new Republican
party, when he joined its ranks, becoming
a warm advocate of the "rail-splitter" who
was raised to the presidential chair. He
aided in the first Christian church of the lo-
cality, known as the Teegarden church, and
also contributed toward the building of two
other churches in this vicinity. He was a
man of kind and benevolent purpose and
made the Golden Rule the motto of his life.
On the 6th of July, 1887, he was called to
his final rest, and his remains were interred
in the Teegarden cemetery. His wife still
survives him. at the age of eighty-two years,
and her mental faculties are still unimpaired.
She makes her home with her children and is
a consistent Christian woman, holding-
membership in the Christian church. In
the family were five sons and four daugh-
ters, of whom seven are yet living, namely:
Mary A.; John L., of this review; Samuel,
a resident of Darke county ; Stephen, who is
married and lives in Ansonia, from which
place he travels as a commercial agent ; Re-
becca, the wife of David Bennett, who is
also a veteran of the civil war, and is now
living in Woodington, Ohio ; Hannah, the
wife of Wesley McKay, who served as a
soldier in the Union arm}-, and is now an
agriculturist of Brown township; and Adda,
the wife of Oscar Strait, also a farmer of
Brown township. She is the youngest
member of the family. One son, William
Bailev, served for three years in the civil
war and was wounded at the battle of Look-
out Mountain.
John L. Bailey, the immediate subject of
this sketch, was reared in Darke county and
received such educational privileges as the
common schools of the neighborhood af-
lorded. His time, however, was largely oc-
cupied with the work of clearing and devel-
oping the home farm, and thus he early be-
came familiar with the work of field and
meadow. He was only twenty-one years of
age when, at the president's call for troops,
he enlisted, at Greenville, Ohio, on the 8th
of August, 1862, as a member of Company
G, Fortieth Ohio Infantry, under Captain
Charles Gordon Matchett. They rendez-
voused at Columbus, Ohio, and the regi-
ment was ordered to report at Big Sandy
river, but Mr. Bailey was taken ill with ty-
phoid fever and forced to remain in the In >s-
pital for three months. On the expiration
of that period he rejoined his command at
Big Sandy, the forces being there encamped
under General James A. Garfield. From
that place they went up the Ohio and Cum-
berland rivers to Nashville, Tennessee, by
steamer, and at the latter place the Fortieth
Ohio was assigned to the Army of the Cum-
berland. The Union troops proceeded to
Franklin, Tennessee, and participated in the
hotly-contested engagement against Gen-
eral Hood. Mr. Bailey served as provost-
guard in the city of Franklin, and was so
close to the rebels that they could easily
have shot him, but he managed to make his
escape. The next battle in which he took
part was the three days' engagement at
Chickamauga. He was in the front of the
action where the rebel lead fell thick and
fast. Many of his companv were killed or
wounded, and a pine tree near him was cut
down by the shot and shell of the enemy
2Qi
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
aid fell among the boys who were there
fighting to preserve the Union. At that
battle Mr. Bailey was struck by a piece of
spent shell, but was not injured. The next
engagement in which he participated was at
Lookout mountain, known as "the battle
above the clouds." and there it was that
his brother William was wounded. It was
one of the most picturesque engagements of
the entire war, for the field lay upon the
mountain crest, and commanded a magnifi-
cent view of the surrounding country. Mr.
Bailey also took part in the battle of Mis-
sionary Ridge, where with his regiment he
was on the extreme right of the Union army.
The Confederates were there signally de-
feated and the Union troops were jubilant
over the splendid victory. They suffered
many hardships, however, often having
nothing to eat save the com which had been
dropped by the mules and which they picked
up and parched, eating it with relish. Mr.
Bailey also followed the stars and stripes
on the battlefields of Chickamauga, Jones-
boro, Lovejoy Station and through the cele-
brated Atlanta campaign from the 3d of
May until the 9th of September, during
which time the troops were almost daily
under fire. So constant was the action that
they had scarcely any rest, and on more than
one occasion he sat leaning against a
tree in order to get a few moments' sleep.
At other times he and his comrades would
lie down between two rails and in the morn-
ing would find that their bed was sur-
rounded by water, so constantly did it rain
during that campaign. He was present at
the battles of Peach Tree Creek, Kenesaw
Mountain and Resaca. — all hotly contested
engagements, — Buzzards' Roost and Ring-
gold. At Kenesaw Mountain while his
company was marching toward the rebel
works, he narrowly escaped bding killed,
and a ball struck his comrade next to him.
During the first day's battle at Chickamau-
ga he had a narrow- escape from capture.
He endured all the hardships and trials of
war save imprisonment, and loyally fol-
lowed the old flag where it led. After the
Atlanta campaign his division of the army
was ordered to pursue General Hood, and
at Franklin, Tennessee, they encountered the
rebel commander and participated in one of
the fiercest battles that raged during the
four years of warfare. Later the battle of
Nashville occurred, in which General Hood
was hopelessly defeated. The Union troops
then followed the rebel commander to
Huntsville. Alabama, and thence returned
to join Grant's army, making repairs on the
railroad lines as they were on the march.
When in the vicinity of Greenville, Tennes-
see, the joyful news reached them of the
surrender of Lee and his army. The F< iurth
Corps, to which Mr. Bailey belonged, was
sent back to Nashville, Tennessee, and
thence to Texas, but as his time had almi >st
expired, he received an honorable discharge
on the 27th of June. 1865, and with a happy
heart returned to home and friends, having
for almost three years faithfully served his
country upon the battlefields of the south.
Mr. Bailey has been twice married. He
first wedded Elizabeth E. Teegarden. a rep-
resentative of one of the well known pioneer
families of the county. Their marriage oc-
curred September 2, 1869, and was blessed
with three children, two sons and a daugh-
ter, of whom two are living. Harvey, the
elder, was educated in the common schools,
wedded Miss Catherine Harp, and is a
farmer of Greenville township, while Henry
A. is a resident of Woodington, Ohio, where
he is engaged in merchandising and grain
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
2G5
dealing in partnership with Bert Teegarden.
The firm are doing a large business and en-
joy a creditable reputation in commercial
circles. Henry A. Ba'iley married Miss
Minnie Cox. One daughter, Nancy Laura,
was born April 24, 1874, and was married
December 24, 1892, to William H. Slick,
and died of consumption May 31, 1896.
She was an earnest Christian woman, great-
ly beloved for her many excellencies of char-
acter, and the memory of an upright life she
left to her husband and her two motherless
little children. The mother of these chil-
dren was born on the old Teegarden farm
in Brown township, in 1847, and died Au-
gust 19, 1875. For his second wife Mr.
Bailey chose Sarah M. Strader, the wedding
taking place October 19, 1877. She was
born in Darke county, December n, 1854, a
daughter of John A. and Margaret L.
(Weber) Strader. Her father was born
in Knoxville, Tennessee, October n, 1818,
and died October 12, 1899, at the age of
eighty-one years and one day. He was a
farmer and a devoted Christian man, es-
teemed by all who knew him. His wife,
who is a consistent member of the Christian
church, was born October 11, 1823, and is
still living. In their family were fifteen
children, seven sons and eight daughters,
eleven of whom yet survive. Unto Mr. and
Mrs. Bailey have been born two sons and two
daughters, but their son Howard died on
the 1st of September. 1884, at the age of
seven months. The following stanzas were
written by a friend :
"We loved him; yes, we loved him ;
But angels loved him more.
And they have sweetly called him
To yonder shining shore.
"The golden gates were opened,
A gentle voice said Come,
x\nd with farewells unspoken
He calmly entered home."
Ida, the eldest child, is now the wife of
George Andrews, a farmer of Union City,
Indiana, and they have one child living, a
daughter. Their little son, John William,
was born April 14, 1897, anc' cned August
24, 1898. He was a sweet, lovable child,
and his death was a great blow to the par-
ents; but the Master said, "Suffer little chil-
dren to come unto Me and forbid them not,
for of such is the kingdom of heaven," and
the little one passed to the home above.
Lemuel H. is living at home with his par-
ents, and assists in the work of the farm.
Mattie completes the family and is a stu-
dent in the public schools, and is also a stu-
dent of music.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Bailey
had a capital of about one thousand dollars,
which he had accumulated through hard
work. Year by year he has added to his
property, and is today the owner of one
hundred acres of valuable land, which is in
a good state of cultivation. He has a good
residence, substantial outbuildings and all
the modern accessories and conveniences of
a model farm. He follows progressive and
practical methods, and is widely known as a
leading agriculturist of his community. He
votes with the Republican part)', and has
been a stanch advocate of its principles since
casting his first presidential vote for Abra-
ham Lincoln. He has served for a number
of years as a school director, and his labors
have been effective in promoting the cause
of education. Otherwise, however, he has
never held office, preferring to devote his
266
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
time and energies to his business affairs, in
which he has met with signal success. So-
cially he is connected with Fifer Post, G. A.
R., of Ansonia, and he and his family are
consistent members of the Christian church
in Woodington. He has contributed largely
toward the erection of the house of worship,
and has also given material assistance to
other churches and to many benevolences
worthy of consideration. He and his wife
enjoy the warm regard of many friends and
the hospitality of many of the best homes
in this section of the state. Their lives
have ever been upright and honorable, and
their many excellencies of character have en-
deared them to a large circle of acquaint-
ances.
NATHAN S. WARVEL.
One of the gallant defenders of the Union
during the dark days of the civil war and
now a prominent farmer residing on section
I, Greenville township, Darke count}-, is
Nathan S. Warvel, who was burn in Rich-
land township, the same county, April 18,
1839, and is a son of John H. and Alary
(Souders) Warvel, natives of Warren and
Montgomery counties, Ohio, respectively,
and the founders of the family in Darke
county, their home being near Beamsville,
where they located in 1838. In 1839 the
paternal grandparents, Christopher and
Charlotta (Lilly) Warvel, natives of Rock-
ingham, Virginia, also came to Darke coun-
ty and located on a farm near Beamsville, in
Richland township. The)- were members of
the United Brethren church, and the grand-
father donated the logs to construct the first
church erected in Beamsville. He also gave
to the town the land comprising the original
cemetery at that place. The first to be
buried there was Enos Hathaway, a son of
Thomas Hathaway, who died in 1847. The
grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812,
under the command of Colonel Methias. He
died March 15, 1851, aged fifty-five years,
and his wife departed this life March 14,
1855, aged fifty-six. Of their nine children
five are still living, namely :
George, a
United Brethren preacher of Butler county,
Ohio; Daniel, a resident of Richland town-
ship, Darke county; Mrs. Elizabeth Beam, of
Ansonia, Ohio; Mary, the widow of Daniel
Hartzell, of Pikeville, Darke county ; and
Mrs. Margaret Hathaway, of Washington,
D. C. Those deceased were: John H.,
William, Sarah Ann and Adeline.
After residing in this county for three
years, John H. Warvel, the father of our sub-
ject, returned to Montgomery county, owing
to his wife's ill health, and there she
died, May 15, 1842. He then located
on his father's farm in Richland town-
ship, Darke county, where he resided
until 1847, when he removed to the
farm now owned and occupied by our
subject. He died here February 2/,
1898, at the age of seventy-nine years, hon-
ored and respected by all who knew him.
He served as infirmary director of the coun-
ty two terms. He was a man of good busi-
ness ability and was particularly well quali-
fied for the settlement of estates and as an
executor he settled many during his life time.
He was one of the original members of the
United Brethren church at Beamsville, and
later assisted in organizing the church at
Pikeville, being a man of strong religious
convictions and an active worker, whose life
was in accordance with the teachings of the
Golden Rule. In politics he was independ-
ent, voting for the man rather than the party.
He was four times married, his first wife
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
267
being the mother of our subject, and to them
two children were born : Nathan and Mary,
the latter of whom died in infancy. His
second wife was Barbara Ann Holloway, by
whom he had two sons : Allen C, of
Bradford, Miami county, Ohio; and Irvin,
deceased. The third wife was Phcebe Hor-
ney. and Phoebe, the only child of this union,
died at the age of one year. For his fourth
wife he married Elizabeth Beenblossom, who
bore him five children : Charlotte, now the
widow of Calvin Garver, of Greenville; Sa-
rah Adaline, wife of Adam Johnson, of
Darke county; Elizabeth, the wife of O. J.
Hager, of Muncie, Indiana ; and Emeline,
the wife of George Garbig, of Darke county.
Our subject lived on the homestead farm
in. Richland township until eight years of
age, and then removed to the farm in Green-
ville township, which he now owns and oc-
cupies. During his youth he assisted his fa-
ther in the laborious task of clearing and
improving the farm, and attended the dis-
trict schools when his services were not
needed at home. He remained with his fa-
ther until attaining his majority, and then
began life upon his own responsibility. For
a year after his marriage he lived near
Beamsville, and then located upon his pres-
ent farm, where he owns fifty acres of well
improved and highly cultivated land.
On the 23d of December, i860, Mr.
Warvel led to the marriage altar Miss
Nancy J. Royer, a daughter of David and
Sarah (Grafford) Royer, of Logan county,
Ohio. By this union five children were
born, but two died in infancy unnamed, and
Mary E., who became the wife of William H.
Huber, is also now deceased. The living
are : Martha L., now the widow of Riley
Yonker; and Eva, the wife of G. H. Mills,
of Beamsville.
Mr. Warvel joined the "boys in blue"
during the civil war, by enlisting on
the 2d of May, 1864, in Company G, One
Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry, and was mustered into the
service as sergeant of his company. They
were with Hunter on his raid through
the Shenandoah valley, and for more than
a month were kept constantly on the march.
At Cumberland, Maryland, the company was
detached from the regiment and stationed at
what was called Fort Cumberland, where
they performed garrison duty until their
term of enlistment had expired. One en-
gagement occurred between this force and
a part of Colonel Mosby's regiment. Com-
pany G supported the batteries while under
fire, repelling the enemy. Twenty days af-
ter his term of enlistment had expired Mr.
Warvel was mustered out at Camp Denni-
son, September 22, 1864. He had left the
plow standing in the furrow when he en-
tered the service, and upon his return home
resumed farming. He is now a member
of the Grand Army Post at Greenville, and
politically is identified with the Democratic
party, while he and his wife are active and
consistent members of the Christian church
at Beamsville.
AMOS P. MILLER.
The farming interests of Butler township
are well represented by Amos P. Miller, who
resides on section 33, where he has a fine
farm under a high state of cultivation. He
was born near Dayton, Ohio, September 9,
1849. His father, David T. Miller, was a
native of Rockingham county, Virginia,
born February 15, 1812, and in 1S22, at the
age of ten years, he removed to Montgomery
county, Ohio, with his parents, David and
20S
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Hannah ( Foutz) Miller, both of whom were
natives of Virginia. The grandparents of
our subject had five sons and one daugh-
ter, all of whom reached mature years, were
married and reared families of their own,
namely: Michael, Joel, Solomon,David T.,
John and Barbara. All are now deceased.
The mother of these children survived her
husband about twenty years and died in
1863, in her ninety-first year. Her remains
were laid by his side in the Hull cemetery
in Perry township, Montgomery county.
David T. Miller spent the greater part
of his youth in Ohio, being reared amid the
wild scenes of the frontier. After he had
attained to man's estate he chose as a com-
panion and helpmate on life's journey Miss
Eliza Souders, by whom two children were
born, one of whom died in infancy, and
one, Ephraim, lived until about thirty-five
years of age, leaving three children. After
the death of his first wife David T. Miller
married Miss Anna Shock, who was born
in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1819.
They were married about 1838 and ten chil-
dren graced their union, of whom nine
reached mature years, as follows : John,
who died in 1866; Susannah, who became
the wife of Noah Comer and died about
1878, leaving five children; Hannah, who
became the wife of David Grove and died
in the fall of 1898, at the age of fifty-one
years, leaving four sons; David I., who died
in 1874, leaving two sons; Amos P. ; Rachel,
who first married Noah Ulrey, by whom
she had three children, and is now the wife
of Cyrus Devilbiss, by whom she has four
children ; Samuel, who is living on the home-
stead farm west of Dayton and has seven
daughters and one son; Aaron, who re-
moved from Kansas to southern California
in 1895 and is there living with his family
of seven children; and Kate Ann, wife of
Charles Millard, who resides near the
home farm in Montgomery county with his
wife and four children, three daughters and
a son. Mrs. Miller was called to her final
rest in December, 1872, and the father was
afterward married again. His death oc-
curred in August, 1886. He was a tanner
by trade and carried on business along that
line on his own account for about twenty
years. He owned three hundred acres of
land in Montgomery county, also land in
Kansas, and liberaly aided all of his chil-
dren. Both he and his wife were members
of the German Baptist church, and their re-
mains were interred in the Hull cemetery.
Mr. Miller, of this review, received
an ordinary common-school education and
remained at home until his twenty-third
year, when he was married, on the 26th
of March, 1872, to Barbara E. Garber,
whose birth occurred in Montgomery coun-
ty, in 1 85 1, her parents being Jonathan and
Catharine (Rife) Garber. Nine children
have been born of this union : Elsie M.,
wife of Abram Wholsinger, of Preble coun-
ty; Clement L., a farmer of Butler town-
ship, who is married and has one son and
one daughter; Catherine V., wife of Will-
iam Petry, of Preble county, by whom she
has one daughter; Olive I., wife of John
Hapner, of Preble county, by whom she has
one daughter; Rachel E., wife of Charles
Slusher, of Preble county; David I., who
aids his father in the operation of the home
farm; Jonathan O., who died at the age
of eight years ; and George E. and John D.,
who are yet under the parental roof.
Mr. Miller located upon his present farm
in the spring of 1882 and has here eighty
acres of land. In addition to the raising
of cereals he makes a specialty of the grow-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
269
ing of tobacco, and for several years has
operated a threshing machine. His place is
improved with fine buildings, and every-
thing about the farm is neat and thrifty in
appearance, indicating the careful supervis-
ion of the owner. Mr. Miller is independent
in politics and has not voted since casting
his ballot for General Hancock, twenty
years ago. His time and attention are
largely given to his business affairs and in
these he has met with creditable success.
Activity in the affairs of life, guided by
sound judgment, has brought to him a com-
fortable competence and he is therefore clas-
sified among the substantial farmers of his
community.
MRS. ELIZABETH SHERRY.
Mrs. Elizabeth Sherry belongs to one of
the pioneer families of Darke county, and
within the borders of the Buckeye state she
has spent her entire life. She was born in
Versailles, August 26, 1840. and is the eld-
est of a family of nine children, three sons
and six daughters, whose parents were Da-
vid and Mary (Conner) Grissom. Her fa-
ther came to Darke county during his early
boyhood, acquiring his education in the pub-
lic schools and throughout his active busi-
ness career carried on agricultural pursuits
here. The greater part of his life was passed
in York township and he has met with a fair
degree of success in his undertakings. He
died when about sixty-two years of age,
in the faith of the United Brethren church,
of which he had long been a consistent
member. Of his children seven are yet liv-
ing, namely: Mrs. Sherry; Alfred, a soldier
in the civil war, who is now married and
follows farming in Jay county, Indiana;
Hiram, who also was one of the "boys in
blue," and is now living with his family on
the farm in Jay county ; Lucinda, the wife of
Samuel Lehman, a farmer of York township;
Louisa, who is a twin sister of Lucinda, and
is the wife of Cornelius Bertram, of York
township; Martha Ellen, the wife of Webster
Ward, an agriculturist of Wayne township;
and Squire Francis, who is an enterprising
merchant of Miami county.
Mrs. Sherry was a little girl of three
summers when she removed with her parents
to the farm, the home of the family being
a log cabin situated in the midst of the wild
country where the work of progress and
improvement had as yet made little trans-
formation. She has seen deer upon her fa-
ther's premises and remembers the day when
wild game furnished many a meal for the
settles. The first schoolhouse in which she
pursued her studies was built of round logs
and the seats were made of split sapplings,
without backs. Upon a broad board resting
on wooden pins driven into the wall the larg-
er boys and girls wrote their exercises, and
the curriculum was hardly more than the
three "R's." After she had reached wom-
anhood she promised her hand in marriage
to Lewis Sherry, and the marriage was cele-
barted on the 4th of November, 1859. He
was born in Montgomery county, Ohio,
February 13, 1838, and was a lad of five
summers when he came to Darke county,
which was the place of his abode until he
was called to his final rest. Diligence and
enterprise were numbered among his chief
characteristeics and in his various business
pursuits he manifested untiring activity,
supplemented by sound judgment. He car-
ried on farming for a number of years and
for some time conducted an agricultural im-
plement store in Versailles and in Greenville.
He carried forward to successful comple-
270
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tion whatever he undertook and his business
methods were at all times above question.
His advice and counsel were often sought by
his friends and neighbors and his opinions
were fair and impartial and based upon prac-
tical sense. With his family he occupied a
farm of one hundred and twenty acres in
York township, and his father's old home-
stead there is still owned by his brother.
Such was his upright character that naught
was said against his motives or his acts and
thus he left to his family an untarnished
name.
Mr. and Mrs. Sherry became the par-
ents of four children, but one daughter died
in early life. Those still living are Samuel,
a merchant of Versailles, who married Min-
erva J. Wilson ; William, who is represented
elsewhere in this volume; Ahvilda E., the
wife of Frank Oliver, who was born in
Darke county, March 1 1, i860, and by whom
she has one son and one daughter, Ernest
and Bertha B.
Mr. Sherry exercised his right of fran-
chise in support of the men and meas-
ures of the Democratic party from the
time he cast his first presidential vote for
Stephen A. Douglas. He was repeatedly
elected justice of the peace of York town-
ship, a fact which indicates the confidence
reposed in him, as well as his fidelity and
impartiality in the discharge of his duty.
He was also a member of the executive com-
mittee of the Versailles Farmers' Institute
and took great interest in its meetings. Of
the Masonc fraternity he was a valued and
exemplary member and was likewise a lead-
ing representative of the Evangelical
Lutheran church, with which he united May
26, 1855. He died January 20, 1898, when
almost sixty years of age, death coming
very unexpectedly. In the early morning of
that day he awakened and held some conver-
sation with his wife. A little later it ap-
peared that he had again fallen asleep, and,
thinking it time to arise, Mrs. Sherry address-
ed him. No answer came and noting his ir-
regular breathing, she hastily summoned
by telephone her son-in-law and his family.
Before medical aid came, however, he had
passed away and in his death the community
mourned the loss of one of its valued and
worthy citizens.
Mrs. Sherry makes her home with her
daughter, Mrs. Oliver, in one of the
pretty frame residences of York township.
She has been to her family a kind and faith-
ful mother and has long been a consistent
member of the Lutheran church, and in her
life has exemplified its teachings. For al-
most sixty years she has resided in Darke
county and she has witnessed the greater
part of its growth and improvement. She
belongs to one of the representative pioneer
families of the community, for both the
Sherrys and Grissoms were long identified
with the substantial growth and upbuilding
of this section of the state. Her many ex-
cellent qualities have gained her friends
whose regard is tried and true and those
who have known her longest hold her in
highest esteem.
MRS. SAMUEL WILSON.
Mrs. Samuel Wilson has been a witness
of almost the entire growth and develop-
ment of Darke county. She was born in
Ohio, August, 21, 1836. and is the second of
a family of three daughters, whose parents
were Jacob and Ann Rebecca (Staup) Eyler.
Her father was born in Frederick county,
Maryland, August 30, 18 14, and died Sep-
tember 26, 1886. He was reared upon the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
271
farm and acquired a good education in the
schools near his home, but at an early age he
was left to care for his widowed mother,
and his educational advantages were meager.
He came with his family to Ohio in 1836.
locating in Montgomery county, where he
resided for seven years. He afterward spent
three years in Greene county and in 1846
came to Darke county, locating in Van
Buren township, and in this county he re-
mained until his death. His political sup-
port was given to the Democracy, and in
religious belief he was a Lutheran. His wife.
who belonged to the same church, was born
in Maryland, April 27, 181 2. and died on
the 20th of November, 1897. She was an
affectionate wife and mother and her teach-
ings have had marked influence over her chil-
dren, for she was an earnest Christian
woman and reared her children in the fear
and admonition of the Lord.
Mrs. Wilson, of this review, was a little
maiden of ten summers when her parents
became residents of Darke county. She re-
mained in Van Buren township until her
seventeenth year and pursued her education
in the common schools. She was then mar-
ried, on the 20th of September, 1853, to
Samuel Wilson. They had little capital with
which to start out in life, but they possessed
resolute spirits and determined purpose; and
the labors of the wife supplemented the work
of the husband, who devoted his energies to
the tilling of the soil. The first piece of land
which they owned was eighty acres in Van
Buren township. Subsequently they sold
it and purchased sixty-five acres in Wayne
township. Their first home was a little log
cabin and for six years they resided in
Wayne township, Mr. Wilson being actively
engaged in agricultural pursuits. He also
possessed considerable natural mechanical
16
ability and was a practical carpenter and
bridge-builder. Perhaps no better account of
his life can be given than to copy the obit-
uary which was published in the Versailles
Policy, in June, 1897. five days after his
death. It says :
"Samuel Wilson was the son of Samuel
and Mary Frances Wilson, and was born in
Greenville township, February 21, 1829.
His grandfather and two aunts were killed
by the Indians near Greenville. The two
aunts. Patsy and Anna Wilson, were mur-
dered in July, 1812. They had left the stock-
ade to gather berries in the afternoon when
they were attacked by the Indians and killed
by blows on the head with tomahawks.
"The parents of the deceased died when
lie was young, his father being drowned in
Greenville creek and his mother died soon
after the sad death of the father. After the
death of his parents he was compelled to live
among strangers until eighteen years of age
when he apprenticed himself to Orrin Cul-
bertson as a carpenter. He remaned with
him until he was twenty-one, when he be-
came a contractor for himself. He proved
himself to be a good business man. By fru-
gality he had become a well-to-do and pros-
perous farmer.
"In the year 1853 he was joined in holy
wedlock with Mary C. Eyler, with whom he
lived happily until death separated them.
To them eleven children were born, eight of
whom are now living, seven girls and one
son. He was always kind and true to his
wife and children. During his life the de-
ceased proved himself a public-spirited man,
serving as the treasurer of Yorktown town-
ship for four years, a trustee for one
and commissioner of Darke county for six
years. Thus his life of usefulness in the
home, in the community and the county is
272
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ended and he has gone the way of all the
earth. In the last solemn obsequies we could
but manifest our tender regard for him and
tenderly lay the lifeless form to sleep in
mother earth, committing his spirit into the
hands of the Great Giver of life. May his
rest be sweet ! To his companion is due an
expression of our deepest sorrow, for she,
most of all, feels this sad separation. She will
be most lonely. May the infinite Father
comfort and abundantly bless her ! May the
children profit by the counsels of their father
and emulate his virtues! Remember there is
one above who has promised to be a friend
to the orphan and the widow. May heaven
smile upon you and bless you. To the dozen
grandchildren we say, mourn not that a
loved one is taken away. These experiences
you will meet often along life's pathway.
" We shall miss thee a thousand times
along life's weary track;
Not a sorrow or a joy but we shall long
to call thee back, —
Yearn for thy true and tender heart, long
thy bright smile to see,
For many dear and true are left, but
none quite like thee.
Not upon us or ours the solemn angel
has wrought;
The funeral anthem is a glad evangel:
the good die not;
God calls our loved ones, but we lose
not wholly what he has given:
They live in thought and deed as truly
as in heaven."
Such is the account of the life and char-
acter of Samuel Wilson by one who knew
him long and well.
He was for many years identified with
agricultural pursuits in Darke county.
After residing on two different farms in
Wayne township, he sold his poperty there
and purchased eighty acres of land in Rich-
land township. Two years later he disposed
of that tract and bought one hundred and
thirty acres in Wayne township, but lived
there for only two years, after which he sold
cut and bought a quarter-section of land in
York township. This was partially covered
by timber and brush and the improvements
on the place were a little log cabin and log
stable. In his business affairs, however, Mr.
Wilson prospered and year by year added
to his possessions. At one time he was the
owner of six hundred acres in Darke county
and in Indiana. In 1876 he erected on his
home farm in this county a beautiful brick
residence and the following year built a large
and commodious barn. He also made other
substantial improvements which added to
the value and attractive appearance of this
place. About 1S90 he erected on section 15
a tasteful and pleasant house in which their
daughter, Mrs. Gilbert, now resides. Mr.
Wilson was a very successful farmer and
stock-raiser, and his careful management
of his business interests brought to. him a
w ell deserved success. He was known far
and wide as a benevolent gentleman, always
just and fair in his dealings. To his family
he not only left a handsome estate but also
that priceless heritage which is rather to be
chosen than great riches.
In politics he was a Democrat and filled
the office of township treasurer for four
years. He was also a township trustee for
two years and county commissioner for six
years. In all these positions he discharged
his duty with marked promptness and fidel-
ity and won the high commendation of all
concerned. The poor and needy ever found
in Mr. and Mrs. Wilson warm friends who
were willing to aid them, and to many pub-
lic movements and measures which have
contributed to the general good they were
liberal supporters.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
273
This worthy couple became the parents
of eleven children, two sons and nine daugh-
ters, of whom eight are yet living, as fol-
lows: Cynthia H., who resides with her
mother on the old homestead; William J.,
who is represented elsewhere in this volume ;
Minerva J., the wife of Samuel Sherry, a
merchant of Versailles, by whom she had a
son and daughter; Iola Belle, the wife of
Charles Ewry, who was formerly a teacher
but is now engaged in the hardware business
in Portland, Indiana, as a member of the
firm of Yount & Ewry ; Ida May, the wife
of Harry A. Gilbert, formerly a teacher but
now a prosperous farmer of York township,
by whom she has one son and two daugh-
ters; Mary Frances, the wife of William D.
Yount, who is a partner of Mr. Ewry in
the hardware business, and by whom she has
two sons; Edith G., wife of S. A. Over-
liolzer, who was formerly a successful teach-
er and is now a prominent farmer in Rich-
land township, by whom she has one son ;
and Minnie, the wife of William C. Hile,
an agriculturist of Wayne township. They
too have one son. The children were all
provided with good educational privileges
to fit them for life's practical and responsible
duties, and their life records are a credit to
the family name.
Mrs. Wilson is now residing in her
beautiful home, surrounded by her children
and a host of warm friends, among whom
she has long resided. Her beautiful Chris-
tian character and her upright life have
gained to her the love and esteem of many.
In the Versailles cemetery stands a beautiful
Scotch granite monument sacred to the
memory of her husband, who so long trav-
eled life's journey, sharing with his family
its joys and sorrows, its adversity and pros-
perity. She bravely met the hardships and
trials of pioneer life in the early days and
now well deserves the enjoyment which
comes to her through the comforts witli
which she is surrounded.
R. K. BEAM.
The name Beam figures conspicuously
on the pages of Darke county history. The
ancestry can be traced back to the father-
land, and many of his sterling qualities found
their origin in the Teutonic race. He was
born in Darke county, December 28, 185 1,
and in a family of ten children, three sons
and seven daughters, was the fourth in or-
der of birth. His parents were Solomon
and Elizabeth (Warvel) Beam, and the
father was born in Richland township,
Darke county, on the 26th of February,
1823. He was one of the oldest native sons
in this locality. In his early life he was a
sawyer in Brown township, following that
pursuit at a time when the county was large-
ly covered with a heavy growth of timber.
In later years he carried on agricultural pur-
suits.
At the time of the civil war, prompted
by a spirit of patriotism, he responded to
the call for aid and joined the "boys in blue"
of Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-
second Ohio Infantry. His regiment was
assigned to the Army of the Cumberland,
and he participated in a number of import-
ant engagements and all of the trying ordeals
which make up a soldier's life. He went
with Sherman on the celebrated march to
the sea, and on one occasion he had his leg
broken, which necessitated his discharge.
He entered the service as second lieutenant
of the company, and was always known as a
loyal soldier.
274
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
A man firm in support of his honest con-
victions and earnest in all things, he com-
manded genuine regard from all those with
whom he came in contact. As his guide
through life he followed the precept of the
Golden Rule, and it was exemplified in
his daily conduct with men. In politics
he was an old-line Whig, and in ante
bellufn days advocated abolition princi-
ples and became a great admirer of Abraham
Lincoln, becoming one of the early support-
ers of the Republican party, upholding by
bis ballot its men and measures. He was
regarded as one of the substantial farmers
of the community, and on coming to Brown
township he entered eighty acres of forest
land on section 1 1, where he built a log cabin
and made his home until his death, which
occurred on the nth of January, 1866. He
was progressive and public-spirited, and
gave his support to many interests which he
believed would prove of benefit to the com-
munity. He was interested in the construc-
tion of the old Mackinac Railroad, now
known as the Cincinnati & Northern Rail-
road, and his material assistance was given
to many other measures. His father,
George Beam, came to Ohio from the state
of Pennsylvania, and was one of the pio-
neers of Richland township. He staked out
the first lot in Beamsville and the town was
named in his honor.
The mother of our subject was a daugh-
ter of Christopher and Charlotte (Lilly)
Warvel, who were early settlers of that coun-
ty. She was born May 16, 1827, and is
still living in the village of Ansonia. For
many years she was a member of the United
Brethren church, but now holds membership
in the Methodist Episcopal church, and is
an earnest Christian lady, whose belief finds
exemplification in her upright life. Her
influence has had marked effect on the char-
acter of her children, who have every reason
to be grateful' for the wise teachings of a
tender and loving mother. Six of her chil-
dren yet survive, namely : Daniel C, who
was a soldier in the civil war, is married and
is now following farming in Allen township;
R. K., of this review; Paulina, the wife of
John Ketrow, a commercial traveler resid-
ing in YanWert, Ohio; Jane, wife of A. J.
Lickel, a farmer of Mercer county, Ohio;
Leroy S., a farmer who is married and lives
in Brown township; and Mollie A., wife of
Dr. De Ford, who is a graduate of the Cin-
cinnati Medical College, and is now a suc-
cessful practitioner in Rossville.
R. K. Beam, whose name forms the cap-
tion of this sketch, is a typical Ohioan. He
was reared to farm life, and throughout his
active business career has carried on general
farming and stock raising. The common
schools afforded him his educational privi-
leges, but he is largely self-educated, for
when he was fifteen years of age his father
died, leaving him to support his widowed
mother and the other children of the family,
as he was the eldest. His life has been one
of industry and earnest toil, but the difficul-
ties which he has met have served to develop
in him a strong character. Many obstacles
were in his path, and at times his boyish
heart almost failed him, but he would re-
new his courage and press manfully up-
ward. As the years passed he worked
his way steadily upward, and today
he is numbered among the substan-
tial farmers and stock raisers of his
native county. He remained with his
mother until twenty-five years of age, and
at that time he married Miss Sarah C. Rue,
the marriage taking place on the 15th of
March, 1877. She was born November 4,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
275
1856, a daughter of William and Lovina
(Birman) Rue. In the family were ten
children, of whom nine are yet living, all
residents of Darke county.
The father was born in Hanover, Ger-
many, September 9, 183 1, and died April
16, 1896. He was brought to America by
his parents when only three years of age, the
family locating in Germantown, Ohio. He
became a well-to-do citizen of York town-
ship, and lived an honorable life. His
widow still survives him and is making her
home on the old farmstead in York town-
ship, at the age of sixty-four years. She
has been a life-long member of the Luth-
eran church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beam
have been born nine children, eight yet liv-
ing, as follows : Augustus, who was edu-
cated in the common schools, is associated
with his father in farming and stock raising
in Brown township : he is married and
in his political views is a Democrat; Myrtle,
who is a most estimable young lady of ex-
cellent character and a favorite with her
many friends, died June 13, 1897; Willie,
who assists his father in the operation of
the home farm ; Daisy, who is attending
school and is also studying music; Ivy,
Thomas, Byrell, Virgie and Thelma com-
plete the family circle. Mrs. Beam is of a
genial and affectionate disposition, and thus
makes a model wife and mother. She and
her husband have traveled life's journey to-
gether for a quarter of a century, sharing to-
gether its joys and sorrows, its adversity and
prosperity.
At the time of their marriage they be-
gan housekeeping in a little log cabin upon
rented land, and Mr. Beam's possessions con-
sisted of two old horses and just money
enough to enable him to place his land under
cultivation. He continued renting for
about five or six years, and then purchased
forty acres of land, constituting a part of
his present farm. He was materially as-
siste'd by James Tynan, who had formed a
strong friendship for Mr. Beam, when he
was a fatherless boy, endeavoring to sup-
port his widowed mother and her children.
As the years passed our subject was enabled
to add to his property, and is today the
owner of a valuable farm of three hundred
and thirty-one acres in Brown township,
supplied with the best modern improvements,
including a beautiful brick residence which
was erected in 1890. Near by are found
commodious barns and outbuildings and
well fenced fields which are highly culti-
vated, giving evidence of the thrift, enter-
prise and perseverance of the owner. For
some time he has made a specialty of stock
raising, and for a number of years has raised
fine hogs, having a large drove of registered
Poland China hogs. He also makes a spe-
cialty of registered short horn cattle, and is
well known throughout the entire country
as a stock raiser who has done much to im-
prove the grade of stock which is raised in
this section of the state. He is well in-
formed in all agricultural and stock raising
subjects, and the methods which he follows
are progressive. For nine years he was the
vice-president and superintendent of the cat-
tle and other departments of the Darke
County Fair Association and is also official-
ly connected with the Darke County Agri-
cultural Association, his labors having been
very effective in promoting the interests of
the farmers of western Ohio.
Mr. Beam cast his first presidential vote
for Samuel J. Tilden and has since been a
stanch Democrat, who has frequently been
selected to serve as a delegate to the county,
state and congressional conventions. His
276
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
opinions always carry weight in the coun-
cils of his party. He was elected as as-
sessor of Brown township when twenty-two
years of age, and has been a trustee of the
township for two terms, discharging his
duties in a most creditable manner. He is
a stanch friend of the little red schoolhouse
and his labors have greatly promoted the
cause of education through twenty years'
service as a member of the school board, of
which organization he is now the president.
In 1885 he was elected one of the commis-
sioners of Darke county and filled the office
with such marked ability that he was re-
elected in 1888. Although but a young
man, his fellow townsmen recognize the fact
that the community was never better repre-
sented on the board, for he gave his support
to all progressive measures calculated to
prove of public benefit and at the same time
was practical in his advocacy of such. He
has never failed of election when a candi-
date for office, and in 1888 received thirty-
seven votes in the county more than were
given Grover Cleveland. He has always
been fearless ami faithful in the discharge
of his duty, standing by those principles
and measures which he believed to be right.
Prior to his election the Democrats of Darke
county were divided into factions and even
county commissioners were displaying
marked dissimilarity of opinion concerning
the erection of beautiful modern buildings
which constituted the "Children's Home,"
but Mr. Beam's proposition to the commis-
sioners and the public met the demands that
were made by those officers and their con-
stituents. A part <f tlic Manix estate was
sold and about fifty-two acres were retained
upon which was erected the beautiful home
which certainly is highly creditable to Darke
county, as well as to the men who were
influential in its erection, prominent among
whom was Mr. Beam. Although his duties
were arduous and difficult to perform he
discharged them fully and to the best of his
ability — and that ability is of a high grade.
He is now serving as one of the present pike
board of commissioners. He lent his aid
and influence toward the work of repairing
and modernizing the county court house
and has always been found in favor of prog-
ress and advancement. The building was
thoroughly overhauled, a complete plumbing
system was put in and due regard was given
its sanitary arrangements.
Socially Mr. Beam is connected with
the Masonic lodge of Ansonia and his life
exemplifies its noble and benevolent teach-
ings. He is also a member of the Darke
County Horse Thief Association, one of the
worthy organizations of the county, and
acted as its president at one time. This is
a chartered institution of the state of Ohio
and has done creditable work in apprehend-
ing criminals. He has contributed to the
support of the churches and schools and has
been active in promoting all measures for the
general good. He and his wife are num-
bered among the most respected citizens of
Brown township and Darke county, and his
close connection with its progress and ad-
vancement would render any history of the
count)- incomplete that did not contain the
record of their lives. He is truly a self-
made man, one who has worked his own
way upward, and his example is indeed in
many respects well worthy of emulation.
FRANCIS MARION EIDSON.
This gentleman, who is now successfully
engaged in farming in Greenville township,
has led a life of honest toil. Throughout
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
277
his career of continued and far-reaching use-
fulness lhs duties have heen performed with
the greatest care, and business interests have
been so managed as to win him the confi-
dence of the public and the prosperity which
should always attend honorable effort.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Eidson was born
in Preble county December 14, 1835, and is
a son of Boyce and Rebecca (Griffin) Eid-
son. natives of Virginia and Delaware, re-
spectively, and a grandson of Henry and
Nancy ( Bunch) Eidson. the former also a
native of Virginia, the latter of Scotland.
On the paternal side our subject is descended
from an old colonial family of English
origin, the first to cross the Atlantic being
his great-grandfather.
The grandfather,
Henry Eidson, was a soldier of the con-
tinental army during the Revolutionary war,
and was a farmer by occupation. Oln leav-
ing his native state in 1806 he removed to
Preble county, Ohio, accompanied by his
wife and three children — Boyce, Shelton
and Nancy. In this state the family circle
was increased by the birth of two other
children, — Margaret and William. The
grandfather took up land i.i the woods three
miles southeast of West Alexandria, where
he made his permanent home, devoting his
time to the development and improvement of
his farm. He and his wife were devout Chris-
tians and active members of the Methodist
church. Upon his farm lie built a log church,
which took his name, and his home was al-
ways the stopping place for the early itin-
erant preachers. In politics he was a Whig.
He died in 1846, aged seventy-five years,
and his wife passed away in 1850 at che age
of eighty-two. All of their children are in iw
deceased and their descendants are widely
scattered.
The father of our subject was born in
1802 and was only four years old when
the family removed to Preble county, Ohio,
where he grew to manhood. Although the
educational privileges of this state were
meager at that day, he and two brothers pre-
pared themselves for teaching and success-
fully taught in the schools of Preble county.
One brother, William, became a physician ;
the other, Harry, became somewhat noted
as a local politician and also served his fel-
low townsmen as a justice of the peace for
over twelve years'. About 1839 Boyce Eid-
son married Rebecca Griffin, a daughter of
Jacob and Hannah Griffin, who removed
from Smyrna, Delaware, to Preble county,
Ohio, at a comparatively early day. The
Griffin family was founded in America by
three brothers, natives of Wales. To Mr.
and Mrs. Eidson were born ten children,
namely : Griffin. Henry and Charles, all
deceased ; Nancy, the widow of Chester
Rensman; Frank M.; Priscilla, the widow
of James Gable ; Willard ; Lucy, the wife of
H. H. Payne; Olevia, the wife of William
Shuman; and Anna, the deceased wife of
Benjamin Smith. After his marriage the
father of our subject engaged in farming
in Preble county for a few years and then
removed to West Alexandria, where he con-
ducted a hotel until 1884, when he returned
to the farm for two years. He next moved
to Johnsville, Montgomery county. Ohio,
where he died in 1847. He was a man of
good business ability and was highly re-
spected by all who knew him. He served
as assessor in Preble county, and fraternally
was a Mason. His estimable wife died at
her home in Preble county in [898, at the
ripe old age of e'ghty-seven years.
In the county of his nativity Francis M.
Eids .n grew to manhood and obtained a
good practical education in the public
278
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
scln iols which he supplemented by a course of
study in a commercial college in Eaton. He
remained with his mother until eighteen years
of age, and then began life upon his own re-
sponsibility. For three years he was en-
gaged in the tanning business with his eldest
brother at Eaton, and in i860 came to Pal-
estine, Darke county, buying the tannery
from George Kester at that place and form-
ing a partnership with Jonathan Hardin.
The following spring, however, when Presi-
dent Lincoln issued his call for seventy-
five thousand men to assist in putting down
the rebellion, he enlisted for three months
in Company K, Eleventh Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, and left his business in the hands
of his partner. His term of service was
principally spent at Camp Dennison, Ohio,
doing picket duty.
Upon receiving his discharge in July,
1861, Mr. Eidson returned home and re-
sumed the tanning business. Shortly after-
ward he was appointed by the military
authorities to take the poll of German town-
ship, preparatory to a draft that was being
contemplated and was afterward marie. On
the 24th of June, 1862, he married Miss
Lousetta A., a daughter of George and Eve
(Frank) Kester. of Darke county. By this
union have been born seven children, name-
ly : Boyce : Clara, the wife of Jacob Schafer.
who lias a position in the Merchants' Na-
tional Bank, of Indianapolis; Virginia, the
wife of Orla Harrison, an attorney of Green-
ville; Harry and Frankie, both deceased;
George Mclntyre and Frank Murray.
In 1864 Mr. Eidson purchased his part-
ner's interest in the tanning business, and
putting all his energy into the same he was
soon doing an extensive business. Employ-
ing extra help, he accumulated a large stock
of finished and unfinished stock, but on the
night of February 14, 1865. his plant and
the entire contents of the building were de-
stroyed by tire, at a total loss of five thou-
sand dollars, as there was no insurance upon
the property. With characteristic energy,
however, he rebuilt on the old site and about
the same time entered into negotiations with
Elisha Dawes, of Greenville, which resulted
in selling Mr. Dawes a half interest in the
Palestine tannery, and he himself buying a
half interest in Mr. Dawes' tanning business
in Greenville. Mr. Eidson then moved to
Greenville to assume charge of the manu-
facturing part of the business. They car-
ried on business together to their mutual
profit and satisfaction for three years, when
our subject purchased his partner's interest.
His next partner was D. M. Stephenson,
who had a shoe finding and leather store,
to which lie gave his personal attention,
while Mr. Eidson conducted the tanner)'.
This connection was dissolved in 1876, when
the business was divided, Mr. Eidson taking
the tannery as his portion, and Mr. Stephen-
son the store and stock. Our subject was
then alone in business until 1881, when, be-
coming somewhat weary of that line of
trade and the business outlook not being-
particularly good, he sold out to T. B. War-
ring, and subsequently purchased Mr. War-
ring's Fruit Hill farm of two hundred and
twenty acres on section 10, Greenville town-
ship, upon which he has resided for the most
part ever since, carrying- on farming and
stock raising, and for fourteen years pre-
vious to 1899 he conducted the Fruit Hill
dairy with good success.
As a Republican Mr. Eidson has been
prominently identified with local politics for
many years. His popularity is attested by
his being elected township trustee in a town-
ship that has an overwhelming Democratic
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
279
majority, and he filled that office one term.
He was a member of the city council of
Greenville six years, the school board of
that place four years and is no\v serving his
sixth year as a member of the County Ag-
ricultural Society, having been re-elected for
a two-years term in 1S99. In 1890 he took
the census in the west precinct of Green-
ville township, and all of his official duties
have been most faithfully and satisfactorily
performed. For twenty-eight years he has
been a member of Greenville Lodge. No.
195, I. O. O. K, and he also belongs to
Jobes Post. No. 157. G A. R. Mrs. Eid-
snii is a member of Rebekah's Bee Hive
Lodge, No. 266, of Greenville. She was
the first noble grand of the lodge and de-
livered the noble grand *s charge the first
five years of the lodge's existence, since
which time she has delivered the past grand's
charge. She served as a special deputy of
the grand master of Ohio for five years,
has been sent as delegate to the state as-
sembly nine years and served as state chap-
lain one year. In all the public entertain-
ments of the lodge she has always been ap-
pointed to deliver the addresses of the Re-
bekah branch of the order. Mrs. Eidson is
a member of Jobes Post Corps, No. 223,
W. R. C, and is the assistant patriotic in-
structor. In religion she is one of the active
and prominent members of the Universalist
church of Greenville, and Mr. Eidson leans
toward the doctrines enunciated by that de-
nomination. He is one of Darke county's
representative business men and is widely
ami favorably known.
WILLIAM ALLEN LIVINGSTON.
This well-known farmer and stock raiser
of Wabash township, Darke county, Ohio,
was born in Preble county, Ohio, March
16, 1856, and is a son of John Livingston,
a retired farmer living near Greenville, who
was born in West Virginia. The paternal
grandfather, John Livingston, Sr., was a
native of Virginia and a butcher by trade.
He married and later emigrated to Preble
county, Ohio, where both he and his wife
died and were buried, though the grand-
mother survived her husband several years.
They had eight children, five sons and three
diaughters, all of whom are still living, and
with the exception of one son all have fam-
ilies.
Throughout his active business life the
father of our subject followed farming but
now, at the age of seventy years, he is living
retired near Greenville. About 1850 he
married Ann Rebecca Vance, a native of
Preble comity and a daughter of Michael
and Ann Rebecca (King) Vance, both de-
ceased. Mrs. Livingston died on Christmas
day, 1898. By this union were born the
following children: John W.. who died in
infancy; Elly. the wife of David Heckman;
William A., our subject; Isabelle, who died
at the age of fifteen years; Martha Jane,
the wife of Dase Stults and a resident of
Piqua; Lucy Ann, at home with her fa-
ther; Mary Margaret, the wife of Irvin
Earsman; and Charles Elmer, who lives
near Greenville.
Our subject was reared to farm life and
acquired his education in the district schools.
On the 23d of October, 1881, he led to the
marriage altar Miss Rebecca Gipe. of Darke
county, and to them were born seven chil-
dren: Mary Jane, who died at the age of
one year; Grade, John, Rosa, Murley, Clara
and Emma A., the last named aged two
years, all at home.
In 1898 Mr. Livingston rented Uriah
Medford's farm in Wabash township, a place
280
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of one hundred and fifty-nine acres, which
lie is now successfully operating. He is en-
gaged in mixed farming, raising mostly corn
and wheat, and keeps all kinds of stock,
horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. He is a
thorough, up-to-date farmer and hard
worker, and has made sometimes as much
as fifteen hundred dollars per year. Po-
litically he is identified with the Republican
party, and religiously is an earnest member
of All Saint's church.
THOMAS BAKER.
This well-known and prosperous farmer
of Harrison township has an excellent and
finely improved farm in the southwest corner
of Darke county, the same being only one-
half mile from his birthplace, which was in
Preble county, where he was ushered into
the world on the 30th of November, 1832.
His father, Thomas Baker, Sr., was a na-
tive of the state of Xew Jersey, where he
was born November 19, 1795, and died in
Preble county, Ohio, in 1879, on the place
where the subject of this sketch was born.
The great-grandfather of our subject also
bore the name of Thomas and he was born
in the Passaic river valley of New Jersey
in 1762, his death occurring near Win-
chester, Indiana, about 1841. The latter's
father, Thomas Baker, of Long Island, New
York, was a man of prominence in his day.
The original ancestor, who bore the same
Christian name, was an officer in the English
army and at one time owned all of Long
Island. His sword was owned by the grand-
father of our subject and he had it manu-
factured into butcher knives while he was
living in Butler county, Ohio, where he set-
tled in 1801. He married Lydia Hand, of
New Jersey, where they were married, and
they reared five sons and four daughters.
One daughter. Sarah, the first born, joined
the organization of the Shakers before she
was of legal age, so her parents brought
her home, but she eventually returned to the
Shakers, with whom she passed her life,
attaining the great age of ninety-one years.
The youngest child. Abner, lived to be
eighty-eight.
The mother of our subject bore the
maiden name of Elizabeth Wesley and she
was born in Pennsylvania in 1806, John
Wesley, the father of Methodism, having
been her granduncle. Our subject is one of
twelve children, and of this number four
sons and six daughters were reared to ma-
turity and all except one were married.
Those living at the present time are: Ann,
wife of Henry Hutton, of New Paris, Preble
county; Martha, wife of Michael Reid, of
the same locality ; Thomas, the immediate
subject of this review; Elizabeth, widow of
David Roberts, resides near Hollansburg,
this county; Mary Ann, widow of John
Benson, resides near New Paris, Treble
county. The mother of this large family
of children died at the age of about sixty-
four years, and the father subsequently con-
summated a second marriage, his death oc-
curring in the spring o"f 1879, at the age of
eighty-four years. He was an extensive
and opulent farmer, owning about six hun-
dred acres of land in this section of the state
and in Indiana.
The subject of this sketch is the owner
of two hundred and seventy acres in three
farms, all of which he received from his fa-
ther's estate, and other tracts are still owned
by members of the family. Thomas never
left the parental home, but on the 13th of
December, 1855, he was united in marriage
to Margaret Todd, of Preble county, who
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
281
bore him four children, three of whom grew
to maturity: Elma E., widow of Wesley
Clark, of Spartansburg, Indiana, has three
sons. Thomas O. Baker is principal of the
high school at Yonkers, New York; he is
a college graduate, having taken the de-
gree of Doctor of Pedagogy, and stands high
in his profession; he is married. Lennis W.
Baker, a resident of Dayton, Ohio, has one
son and one daughter. Mr. Baker, of this
sketch, consummated a second marriage
October 23, 1870, being then united to Miss
Sarah C. McClure, of Harrison township,
the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Rob-
erts) McClure. Of this union seven chil-
dren were born, and of the number only two
are deceased. We offer the following brief
record of the children: Lucy L. is tlie wife
of Alvah Hunt of Preble county, and they
have one son and one daughter. Fanny
May died at the age of six years. Will-
iam Wesley Baker, who is engaged in the
meat business at Hollansburg, has one son.
George H. Baker is a farmer in Wayne coun-
ty, Indiana, and has one daughter. Cora
E. still remains at the parental home, as
do also Lester E. and Naydean, who are
interesting young folk, lending joy and
brightness to the family circle.
Mr. Baker gives his support to the Re-
publican party and fraternally he is identi-
fied with the Masonic order. He has served
several terms as road supervisor and also as
school director. He comes of a large and
vigorous race, being' about five feet and
eleven inches m height personally and weigh-
ing two hundred ten pounds. He has given
careful attention to general farming upon
the most approved methods and has been
successful in raising stock in which line he
has carried on quite extensive operatiohs.
He has bred many good horses, having
owned twenty at one time and having foaled
one hundred and ten colts. Mr. Baker's
home is in the extreme southwest corner of
Darke county, but he is known all over this
section of the state and in the adjacent por-
tions of Indiana, being recognized as one of
our representatives and influential farmers
and as a man of sterling character.
SAMUEL B. MINNICH.
For forty years Mr. Minnich has been
the postmaster of Castine and is one of the
well-known citizens of his locality, whose
sterling worth and upright character have
won him the respect and confidence of his
fellow men. A native of Pennsylvania, his
birth occurred in Dauphin county on the
roth of December, 1824. His father, John
Minnich, was born in the same locality Feb-
ruary 18, 1790, and his wife, Susannah
Minnich, was born February 6, 1793. The
parents have both long since passed away,
the former having died October 22 [865,
at the age of seventy-five years, while the
latter was called to the home beyond in
1856, when sixty-three years of age. Our
subject, the fourth son, when a little lad of
seven summers came with his parents to
Ohio, where he enjoyed the usual common-
school advantages, pursuing his studies un-
til seventeen years of age. Through the
summer months he worked in the fields and
assisted in the cultivation of the home farm
until twenty-two years of age, when he left
the parental roof and worked at the mill-
wright's trade for three years. In 1858,
more than half a century ago, he came to
Castine and has since been a worthy and
honored citizen of this place.
On the 14th of December, 1850 Air.
Minnich was married, by Squire Peter V.
282
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Banta. to Miss Theressa St. Clair, and to
them were born the following children:
Joseph, born September 19. 1851, is now a
resident of West Sonora and is engaged in
grain dealing. He has a wife, and a daugh-„
ter, who is married. John W., born Octo-
ber 31. 1856, is a traveling salesman, repre-
senting a Cincinnati house. Bertha is the
wife of H. C. Minnich, a resident of Hills-
boro. Ohio, and unto them were born two
children. Mrs. Theressa Minnich was called
to her final rest in i860, at the age of thirty-
nine and a half years, and Mr. Minnich was
again married, February 9, 1862. his second
imii m being with Evelina Law, the cere-
mi my being performed by Peter Y. Banta.
the same worthy justice of the peace who
first married him. Her father, Thomas
Law, was born in Allegheny county, Penn-
sylvania, November 17, 181 5, and died in
1858, at the age of forty-three years. His
wife, Mrs. Catherine Law, passed away Oc-
tober 27. 1870. at the age of fifty- four years
and five months. By the second marriage
there is one daughter. Bertha, born October
26, 1870.
When Mr. Minnich located in Castine,
more than a half century ago, he engaged in
the manufacture of hard-wood lumber, own-
ing and operating a steam sawmill. About
ten years later he exchanged that for the
general merchantile store, and the firm of
Minnich & Hamiel has always held the first
place in the business interests of the village,
their annual sales amounting to from fifteen
to twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Minnich
purchased his first bill of goods in Dayton,
its value being three hundred dollars. He
offered to pay cash if they would discount
five per cent on the bill, but the wholesale
merchant declined this, telling him to bring
his money home and loan it. This he did,
at six per cent per annum, and the goods
were purchased on a year's credit without
interest. The firm have had as high as forty
thousand dollars on their books at one time,
and the unpaid accounts due the house at
this time are over thirty thousand dollars.
During the intervening years the firm of
Minnich & Hamiel have taken large con-
tracts for the building of pikes, constructing
twelve miles of pike which forms an im-
portant part of the system in the county.
Mr. Minnich has one of the largest and
most pleasant homes in the village sur-
rounded by spacious grounds and well kept
gardens. All that he has he has acquired
through his own efforts and his well directed
labors have brought to him very desirable
success. For thirty years he has been a
Knight Templar Mason and, with a thor-
ough understanding and appreciation of the
benevolent principles of the order he has
loyally exemplified its teachings. In poli-
tics he is a Republican and for forty years
has filled the office of postmaster in Castine,
accepting the ofhce in i860 and filling it
continuously since, with the exception of
the period of President Cleveland's admin-
istration. He has served as township trus-
tee and also as township clerk. His life has
been well spent and his useful, active and
honorable career has gained him rank among
the leading representative and esteemed
citizens of his community.
WILLIAM H. REPPETO.
Among the public-spirited and progres-
sive citizens of Greenville probably none
have done more to advance the welfare and
prosperity of the town than the gentleman
who is now serving as the president of the
city council. He has also been a prominent
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
283
factor in business circles, and is a man whose
worth and ability have gained him success.
honor and public confidence.
Mr. Reppeto was born near the city of
Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, in Decem-
ber, 1845, and is a son of Dabner and Char-
lotte (McEowen) Reppeto, in whose family
were two children, but the daughter, Mar-
tha, died in infancy. His grandfather, Alex-
ander McEowen, was one of the pioneers of
Darke county and fought under General
Wayne when he was making" his raid
through this county. The father of our
subject was a native of Virginia, but during
his youth came to Ohio, where he grew to
manhood and married. He and his wife be-
gan their domestic life in Butler county,
where he followed his trade, that of cooper,
for a number of years, but at the time of
his death, in i86r, was living in Davenport,
Iowa. His wife had died in Miami county,
Ohio, in 1848.
William H. Reppeto received the greater
part of his education in the schools of Daven-
port, Iowa. Although only fifteen vears of
age he joined the "boys in blue" at the
opening of the civil war, enlisting in 1861
in Company C, Eighth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, as a musician, under Colonel Will-
iam P. Benton. After being mustered into
the United States service he was ordered
with his regiment to Missouri and Arkan-
sas, and took part in the battles of Pea
Ridge, Wilson's Creek and Duvall's Bluff,
Arkansas. He served faithfully until Feb-
ruary, 1863. when he was taken ill and sent
to the hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, where
he remained some months and was then
sent to Belleville, Illinois. On recovering
his health he re-enlisted in Company B,
Twenty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
and served until the close of the war, tak-
ing part in the siege of Mobile, the capture
of that stronghold and Fort Blakelv. He
was mustered out October 11, 1865.
After the war Mr. Reppeto came to
Greenville, Ohio, where he attended school
for a time, and then learned the cabinet-
maker's trade, which he has made his life
work, having followed that occupation in
several different states. On the nth of
August, 1890, he married his second wife,
Miss Amanda E. Cline, a daughter of F.
M. Cline, and to them have been born two
children, Virgil and Ester. The latter died
at three years of age.
Socially Mr. Reppeto is a member of
Flora Lodge, No. 526, I. O. O. F., at Flora,
and has been D. D. G. M. of that order. Po-
litically he is a pronounced Democrat. He
lias been a member of the city council of
Greenville and has been the president of
that body for the last year. He takes an
active and influential part in public affairs,
and was one of the first to agitate and rec-
ommend the construction of sewers and the
propriety of paving the streets of Green-
ville. This was met by the most stubborn
opposition on the part of many of the citi-
zens, and they went so far as to get out an
injunction against the enterprise, but he car-
red his point, and the city now has great
reason to be proud of its streets.
WILLIAM EWRY.
As the name indicates, the Ewry family
is of German lineage and probably not many
generations have been residents of this coun-
try, for the grandfather, John Ewry, could
fluently speak the German tongue. During
the greater part of this- century representa-
tives of the name have been identified with
the agricultural interests of Ohio. Will-
iam Ewry was born near the site of the
284
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of Dayton, in Montgomery county, Septem-
ber 14. 1826, the second in a family of six
children, three sons and three daughters,
whose parents were David and Alice
(Tyron) Ewry. Only two of the children
are now living, the brother of our subject
being Bazil, who is married and resides in
Versailles, Ohio. The father was born in
Maryland about 1803 and died in 1866.
Throughout his life he followed farming
and also possessed considerable mechanical
ingenuity. During his early boyhood he
came with his parents to Ohio, a settlement
being made in Montgomery county in the
midst of the heavy forest. The beautiful
city of Dayton, now containing about one
hundred thousand inhabitants, was then a
mere hamlet. The family experienced the
usual hardships and trials of pioneer life
and David Ewry continued his residence in
Montgomery county until 1838, when he
came to Darke county, entering one hundred
and sixty acres of land in York township.
The land office was located in Cincinnati
and thither he went to establish his claim to
the property. The old parchment deed con-
taining a description of the farm and signed
by President Van Buren is now in the pos-
session of our subject. The father met with
a fair degree of success in his farming op-
erations.
Only in memory can one picture the pio-
neer home in which he lived — a cabin built
of round logs, the dimensions of the house
being 16x20 feet. There was a mud-and-
stick chimney, a clapboard roof and the
second floor, or loft, was so small that noth-
ing but a bed could be placed therein. Not
a furrow had been turned or an improvement
made upon the farm, and a road had to be
cut through the brush and timber from
the York farm to their home. The town of
Ansonia was not known and Greenville was
a mere hamlet, while the leading trading
post was at Beamsville. Wolves frequently
made the night hideous with their howling,
bear was sometimes killed and stately deer
stalked through the forests. The traveler
of to-day can scarcely realize that such was
the condition of the country only about a
half century ago and that many who are
still living in the community have seen this
section of the state when it was in its prim-
itive condition, unchanged by works of civ-
ilization.
David Ewry voted with the Whig party
until the organization of the Republican
party, when he joined its ranks. He held
membership in the Methodist Episcopal
church and aided in the erection of the house
of worship which stood on his farm. Of
kindly and helpful spirit, his sterling qual-
ities were well worthy of emulation. His
remains now rest in the Beamsville cem-
etery, where a substantial monument has
been erected sacred to his memory. His
wife, who was born in Greene county, Ohio,
died when her son, William, was six years
of age.
Mr. Ewry, of this review, was a lad of
twelve summers when he became a citizen
of Darke county, and for sixty-two years
he has witnessed the wonderful progress and
development of this section of the state.
He was trained to habits of industry upon
the home farm, giving his father the benefit
of his services until he was eighteen years
of age, when he started out to make his own
way in the world. He began work in a
brick yard for six dollars per month, and
his father was to receive half of his salary.
Going to Montgomery county he was there
employed to cut wood for twenty-five cents
per cord. The following year he secured
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
285
work as a farm hand at nine dollars per
month, and was thus employed for six
months. At the end of that time he had
drawn only ninety-five cents of his salary,
so that he was the possessor of a capital of
fifty-three dollars. It was such an indus-
trious and economical spirit that enabled
him to gain a good start in life and steadily
work his way upward to a position of af-
fluence. He has been employed at different
times and at various kinds of labor in Mont-
gomery, Shelby and Greene counties, hav-
ing been absent from Darke county for
twenty-three years.
In Dayton, Montgomery county, Mr.
Ewry was united in marriage to Miss Mary
E. Prugh, the wedding taking place May
25. 1 85 1. She was born in that county
October 12, 1831, a daughter of Peter and
Charlotte (Mitchell) Prugh. They have six
children, three sons and three daughters, five
yet living : Anna C. is the widow of W.
D. Anderson and resides with her parents
in the Anderson cottage in Ansonia ; Mar-
garet Viola is the wife of D. J. Lyons, a
prosperous resident of York township ;
Charles S. is married and is engaged in the
hardware business in Portland, Indiana ;
David S., who graduated in the United
Brethren College in Dayton, Ohio, is now a
minister of the Methodist Episcopal church,
living in Brown county, this state ; and Will-
iam Franklin, a prosperous young farmer
of York township, is serving as justice of
the peace. For forty-nine years the parents
have traveled life's journey together, their
mutual love and confidence increasing as
the years have passed by. They have reared
a number of children, of which they have
every reason to be proud, and have provided
them with educational privileges, thus fitting
them for life's practical duties. When Mr.
and Mrs. Ewry began their domestic life
their possessions were very limited, their
cash capital being a five-dollar bill, and in
addition they had a span of horses and a
wagon and a few farm implements. The
first real estate which Mr. Ewry ever owned
was a house and lot in Beavertown, Mont-
gomery county.
About 1867 he returned to Darke coun-
ty to the old home farm, becoming its owner
by purchasing the interests of the other
heirs. He has here erected an elegant brick
residence, substantial barns and outbuild-
ings, and now has a splendidly improved
farm. He has paid off all indebtedness, has
seventy-five acres of his land under cultiva-
tion and is to-day one of the substantial
and progressive farmers of his community.
His life illustrates what may be accomplished
through determined purpose, unfaltering
energy and honorable business methods.
He makes a specialty of the cultivation of
tobacco, corn, wheat and oats, and the crops
bring to him annually a good income. In
politics he is a Republican and has served
as township trustee for two different terms.
Through the passing years he has been an
eye witness of the upbuilding and improve-
ment of the county, having located here
when few of its roads were builded. Now
there are over one thousand miles of pike
road and the county is crossed and recrossed
by a network of steel tracks. He has been
the friend of progress and is regarded as a
public spirited citizen who well deserves
representation in this volume.
WILLIAM P. iMcGRIFF.
Through many decades the name of Mc-
Griff has figured in connection with the agri-
cultural annals of Darke county, and of this
286
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
honorable calling William P. McGriff is a
representative. He was born in Twin town-
ship, August 3, 1850, and his father is
Price McGriff, who is a native of Preble
county and is now living retired in Darke
county. The grandfather, Patrick McGriff,
was also born in Preble county, and thus it
will be seen that the family has long been
connected with Ohio in its history. Mr.
McGriff, of this review, was reared upon
the old homestead, where he remained until
he was eighteen years of age. He received
a meager education, pursuing his studies
through the winter season in the district
schools of the neighborhood until about six-
teen or seventeen years of age. During
the summer months he worked in the fields,
aiding in the cultivation of the crops.
He remained at home until his marriage,
which occurred on February 18, 1S75, the
lady of his choice being Melzoni Braddock,
who was born in Preble county, and is a
daughter of James and Margaret (Shields)
Braddock. Her father was born in Mont-
gomery county in 1833 and her mother in
Virginia in 1836. They were married about
1852 and had six children, all of whom are
yet living, with one exception, Jane, who
became the wife of Charles Barnus and died
soon after her marriage, leaving one child.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. McGriff are
Clayton, Flora, Dewitt and Gorman. The
family reside in a pleasant home upon a
farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which
Mr. McGriff purchased in 1888, the purchase
price being sixty-five dollars per acre. On
the farm is a large barn and other substantial
improvements. The owner is engaged in
raising corn and hogs and also has eight
head of horses. He raises about two thou-
sand bushels of corn annually and feeds
much of this to his stock, selling; about one
hundred head of hogs each year. He is an
enterprising farmer, whose diligence results
largely in the acquirement of a comfortable
competence. In politics he is a Democrat
and for two terms has served as justice of
the peace, discharging his duties in a prompt,
faithful and impartial manner.
GEXERAL C. M. AXDERSOX.
Conspicuous among those who have
conferred honor upon the legal profession
of Ohio is Hon. Charles M. Anderson, of
Greenville, who is conceded to be one of the
most successful, eloquent and powerful ad-
vocates of the Darke county bar. His splen-
did command of the English language has
made him an orator. Exactness and thor-
oughness characterize all his attainments,
and added to these is a broad and compre-
hensive knowledge of the principles of juris-
prudence in all its departments. Prominent
in professional and political circles, he is
and has been connected with the public af-
fairs which have borne marked influence
upon the progress of the state and nation. A
man of scholarly attainments, accurate in his
judgment of men and events, he is undoubt-
edly not without that ambition which is so
powerful and useful in public affairs, yet he
regards the pursuits of private life as being
in themselves abundantly worthy of his best
efforts. He is one who subordinates per-
sonal ambition to public good and seeks
rather the benefit of others than the ag-
grandizement of self.
He was born in Juniata county, Penn-
sylvania, January 5, 1845, an'l >s a son of
James and Ruth (McCahan) Anderson, the
former born in Lancaster 0 iunty, Pennsyl-
vania, in April, 1792. the latter in January,
1800. His paternal grandparents were Irish
&-■&*.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
287
and lived about twenty miles from Dublin,
where all of their children except James
were born. They emigrated to the new
world in 1 791. The maternal grandfather
of our subject was Patrick McCahan, also
a native of the Emerald Isle, and his wife,
who bore the maiden name of Sarah Green,
was a relative of General Greene, one of the
brilliant commanders of the American forces
in the war of the Revolution. The parents
of our subject were married in November,
1820, and lived on a farm throughout their
lives.
Charles M.. Anderson was a lad of ten
years when, in April, 1855. he came with
his parents to Ohio. Upon a farm he spent
the days of his boyhood and youth and later
he engaged in teaching school. During the
war he served as a private soldier in Com-
pany B, Seventy-first Regiment of Ohio
Volunteers, and was honorably discharged
January 6, 1866, the day after attaining his
majority. For some months subsequent to
his return from the army he attended the
normal" school at Lebanon, Ohio, and also
engaged in teaching. Having determined
to make the practice of law his life work, he
took up that study under the direction of
judge D. L. Meeker, of Greenville, and was
'admitted to the bar on the 21st of May,
1868. At once he engaged in practice, open-
ing an office in Greenville, where he has
since risen to a position as a leader of the
bar. His success has been enviable, grati-
fying and creditable. He is noted for the
wide research and provident care with which
he prepares his cases. In no instance has
his reading ever been confined to the limita-
tions of the questions at issue; it has gone
beyond and compassed every contingency
and provided not alone for the expected,
but for the unexpected. His logical grasp
17
of facts and principles and of the law ap-
plicable to them has been another potent ele-
ment in his success.
Mr. Anderson has always been a close
and discriminating student of political ques-
tions, supporting his position by an intelli-
gent understanding of the issues of the day,
and yet for many years he refused all pro-
motion in that line. In 1878, however, he
made an effort to secure the nomination for
congress. The convention met in Sidney,
Ohio, and continued in constant session for
three days and three nights, and Mr. An-
derson was defeated for the nomination by
only one-fourth of a vote. Again on the
7th of August, 1884, he was a candidate for
nomination for congress in the Dayton dis-
trict, which resulted in his securing the nom-
ination on the first ballot. He was elected
in the following October, and while in con-
gress served upon the military committee
and the committee of expenditures of the war
department. He was also appointed by the
speaker of the house of representatives one
of the board of visitors at West Point, and
served with the board ten days under that
appointment.
In January, 1884, Mr. Anderson was
commissioned judge advocate general of
Ohio, by Governor Hoadley, which position
he held during the term of that chief execu-
tive. During the time of the great riot in
Cincinnati, by virtue of his office of briga-
dier general, Mr. Anderson was on duty
most of the time, being second in command
of the Ohio troops. He received special com-
plimentary notice from the governor for his
splendid service on that occasion. In 1890 he
was appointed by Governor James E. Camp-
bell one of Ohio's commissioners at the
World's Fair, and was chairman of the com-
mittee on entertainment at the Ohio building.
288
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
having charge of that service throughout the
continuance of the Fair. In 1894 he was cho-
sen by a joint resolution of the two branches
of congress as one of the board of managers
for the National Home for Disabled Volun-
teer Soldiers, which office he filled for six
years, with such credit as to secure a reap-
pointment by coiagress, by a unanimous vote
of both its branches, in April, 1900.
His investments have always been in real
estate. In this way he has not only ad-
vanced his individual prosperity, but has
done more to improve and upbuild the city
than any other one man, having erected,
up to this time, more business houses than
any other resident of Greenville. He with-
holds his support from no movement or
measure which he believes will prove of
public benefit, but heartily co-operates in all
that he believes will secure advancement
along material, social, intellectual or moral
lines.
Of many fraternal organizations Mr.
Anderson is a valued representative. He
was a charter member of the Improved Or-
der of Red Men, also the Knights of Pythias
fraternity, and the Masonic order, in which
he has taken all the degrees of the York
and the Scottish rites, with the exception of
the thirty-third. He also takes an active
part in the Grand Army post at Greenville.
He is an officer and the largest stockholder
i.i the Greenville Law Library. He has a
fine private library of over two thousand
volumes, containing many rare and choice
works, including the celebrated writings of
the most noted authors. With the contents
of the library Mr. Anderson is widely fa-
miliar. He possesses a very retentive
memory and "is particularly well versed in
history. He has traveled extensively in
European countries and is a man of partic-
ularly fine descriptive powers and a most
entertaining talker, as well as an instructive
lecturer. His acquaintance is very extended,
embracing many men of prominence in all
parts of the country, and wherever known
he is highly esteemed for his social qualities,
his intellectual activity, his professional
qualifications and his upright character.
On the 7th of June, 1870, was celebrated
the marriage of Mr. Anderson and Miss
Ella Hart, the only daughter of Moses Hart,
a builder and contractor of this city. Their
marriage has been blessed with two sons.
The elder, William H., is a graduate of the
West Point Military Academy, and Robert
T., the younger, is now a student at law.
Mr. Anderson and his family are widely
and favorably known in this county. His
life has been a success. His entire career
is illustrative of the fact that certain ac-
tions are followed by certain results. As a
lawyer he has few peers in this section of
the state; as a soldier he displayed bravery
and true patriotism ; as a public official his
actions have been above reproach or criti-
cism; and as a citizen he is an illustration of
our highest type of American manhood.
GEORGE EMRICK.
George Emrick is an octogenarian, and
through the long years he has ever lived so
to command the respect and confidence of his
fellow men. He has put aside business cares
and is now enjoying a well merited rest,
while from those who know him he receives
the veneration and respect which should
ever be accorded one who has traveled thus
far on life's journey. His home is on sec-
tion 34, Butler township, Darke county, and
he is numbered among the native sons of
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
289
Montgomery county, Ohio, his birth having
occurred in Germantown, on the 25th of
November, 1818, and he is a son of Conrad
Emrick, who was born in Bucks county,
Pennsylvania, in 1786. At an early period,
in the development of Ohio he came to this
slate, establishing his home here in 18 10.
The journey was made in the usual emi-
grant style, the destination being reached
after five weeks of travel. The parents of
our subject were in limited circumstances
and never owned a farm, but had a little
home in Germantown, where the father en-
gaged in blacksmithing. He married Eliza-
beth Fie, of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania,
and they became the parents of ten children,
two of whom were born in Pennsylvania,
while eight were natives of Ohio. The fa-
ther died in Germantown, in 1828, at the
age of forty-two years and was survived
by his widow for twenty-two years, her
death occurring in 1842, when she had at-
tained the age of sixty-two.
Mr. Emrick, of this review, learned the
blacksmith's trade under the direction of his
elder brother, Daniel, who died about 1874,
at the age of sixty-six years. He was sur-
vived by his second wife and ten children.
Our subject received very limited school
privileges, but experience in the practical af-
fairs of life has added greatly to his knowl-
edge and made him a well informed man.
He was married in his twenty-third year to
Frances Arnold, of Montgomery county,
where her birth occurred and their marriage
was celebrated. Fourteen children blessed
their union, of whom nine sons and three
daughters reached mature years : Josiah,
who reared two of his three children ; Cy-
rus, who had ten children; Levi, who died
at the age of seventeen years ; Barbara, who
had six children; Uriah, who had eight chil-
dren; Matilda, whose family numbered
three children; Benjamin, who was the fa-
ther of six children ; George, who had a
family of four children : Solomon, who had
one child, and Lizzie, who had two children.
The mother died in 1885, at the age of sixty-
four years, and fifteen months later Air.
Emrick was again married, his second union
being with Mrs. Coy, who was a widow and
by her first marriage had seven children, as
follows: William, a farmer of Preble coun-
ty; Edward, who is living in Indiana and
has one daughter ; Amila Bechtol, who has
five children; Levi, of Cleveland, Ohio;
Frederick and Ira, who are enterprising
young men and manage the Emrick farm,
making a specialty of tobacco ; and Emma
Williams, who has one daughter.
The farm which Mr. Emrick owns and
occupies comprises one hundred and sixty
acres of land, upon which he has made his
home since 1865. He bought this property
for nine thousand dollars, but at that time
was enabled only to make a partial payment
on it. He has carried on general farming,
making a specialty of the raising of wheat
and has harvested as high as fourteen hun-
dred bushels in a season, for which crop he
received one dollar and five cents per bushel.
He has sold wheat as high as three dollars
per bushel. In all his farming operations
he has manifested a practical, progressive
and enterprising spirit and has worked his
way steadily upward, becoming the posses-
sor of a handsome competence, which now
enables him to live retired. In all his deal-
ings he has been straightforward and hon-
orable, enjoying the respect and confidence
of his fellow men in an unusual degree.
Duringf his Ions' residence in the county he
has become widely known and his circle of
friends is extensive.
290
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
PHILIP KESTER.
One of the most progressive and success-
ful agriculturists of Greenville township,
Darke county, is Philip Kester, who owns
a valuable farm of one hundred and thir-
teen acres pleasantly located a mile and a
half west of the city of Greenville. His
method of farm management show deep
scientific knowledge combined with sound,
practical judgment, and the results show that
"high-class" farming as an occupation can
be made quite profitable.
A native of Darke county, Mr. Kester
was born near Hill Grove, in Washington
township, September I, 1844. and is a son
of Christian and Catherine (Burgin) Kester,
who were born in Germany, but became ac-
quainted after their emigration to America
and were married in this county, the cere-
mony being performed by Judge Armstrong,
in 1838. The father was left an orphan at
an early age and had to depend upon his
own efforts to secure a livelihood. During
his boyhood he came to the United States
and first located in Baltimore, Maryland,
where he found employment for a time at
railroad building. From that city he came
to Darke county, Ohio, in October, 1838,
and purchased a farm of forty acres in
Washington township, only ten acres of
which had been cleared, while a small cabin
had been partially erected on the place.
Here he and his wife began housekeepings
and it continued to be their home for forty-
five years, during which time they were
reasonably prosperous, accumulating a hand-
some competence by years of incessant toil.
The father was a man of exceptional char-
acter, fully enjoyed life, and was highly re-
spected by all who knew him. He took an
active interest in educational affairs, and
was officially connected with the schools of
his district. In politics he was a Republi-
can. Both he and his wife held membership
in the Reformed church, though she was
reared a Lutheran. He died February 2,
1882, aged seventy-five years, and she passed
away December 13, 1886, aged sixty-six
years. In their family were eight children,
namely : Catherine, who is now the wife of
George Wise, of Darke; Philip, our subject,
the next in order of birth; Louisa, who is
the wife of W. H. H. Martin, of Darke;
Susanna, who is the wife of Eli Cook ; La-
vina, who is the wife of S. S. Staudt ; ami
Millie, the wife of Edward Oliver: all these
are residents of Darke county; and Lewis
and Henry. Lewis enlisted August 11,
1862, in Company K. Ninety- fourth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, and was in active ser-
vice until taken prisoner at Lexington, Ken-
tucky, September 1, 1862, by General. Kirby
Smith's forces. He was soon paroled and
sent home, and after being exchanged re-
joined his regiment at Christmas, 1862, but
in April of the following year he was taken
il! with measles and died in a hospital at
Mufreesboro, Tennessee, May 10, 1863, at
about the age of twenty-one years. Henry
died in i860, at the age of six years.
Philip Kester's educational advantages
were such as the common schools of Wash-
ington township afforded during his boy-
hood. He remained under the parental roof
until twenty-three years of age, and then be-
gan life for himself as a farmer, purchas-
ing forty-eight acres of land north of Green-
ville in Greenville township, which he op-
erated four years. On selling that place
he bought eighty acres of land in Washing-
ton township, where he carried on farming
for seven years, and when he disposed of that
property he moved to Greenville, where he
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
291
lived four years. In 1887 he located upon
his present farm in Greenville township, to
the cultivation and further improvement of
which he has since devoted his energies with
most gratifying results.
In 1871 Air. Kester married Miss Fannie
E. Keefawver, daughter of George and
Keziah (Rahn) Keefawver, and by this
union were born three children : Lewis Ulys-
ses, Elmer E. and Rolla G. The second son,
Elmer E., married Effie Finard and has one
child, Esther, anil they reside in Jackson
township, this county.
Politically, Mr. Kester is a Republican,
and he gives his support to every enterprise
which he believes will prove of public bene-
fit, being one of the most progressive and
public-spirited citizens of his community.
In the summer of 1900 he made a trip to
Europe, visiting all the principal cities and
points of interest, including the Paris Ex-
position.
HARRISON COBLENTZ.
One of the native sons of Butler town-
ship. Mr. Coblentz is still residing within
its borders, his home being on section 21.
where he is actively engaged in agricult-
ural pursuits. He was born June 2, 1840.
and is a representative of an old Maryland
family. His grandfather, George Coblentz,
was a farmer of that state and became one
of the early settlers of Montgomery county,
Ohio, where he took up his abode in 1829.
He married Catherine Hemp, and they have
fourteen children, of whom five sons and
seven daughters reached mature years, while
three are yet living. The grandfather died
about a year previous to the death of his
wife. They had both reached the prime of
life when called to the home bevond and
their remains were interred in the German-
town cemetery. George Coblentz, the father
of our subject, was born in Frederick county,
Maryland, in November, 181 2. and married
Eve Foutz, whose birth occurred in Mont-
gomery county. Ohio, in December, 18 13.
She was a daughter of Frederick Foutz.
The 'marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Coblentz oc-
curred in March, 1834, and for two years
they resided near Germantown, Ohio, but
in 1836 came to Butler township, Darke
county, locating on eighty acres of timber
land. After a year, however, they removed
to another farm of fifty-five acres, on which
some improvements had been made, and at
other times the father added to his posses-
sions until he was at one time the possessor
of six hundred acres of choice land. His
success was very creditable, as it came to
him in return for his earnest toil, guided by
sound judgment. In his family were ten chil-
dren, of whom three sons and six daughters
reached mature years, and one son and five
daughters still living. The mother died in
February, 1882, at the age of sixty-eight
years, and the father passed away in May,
1896, in his eighty-second year.
Harrison Coblentz, of this review, was
reared to farm life, early becoming familiar
with the labors of field and meadow. He
was thus engaged through the summer
months and in the winter season pursued
his studies in the district schools. The fa-
ther gave to each of his children a farm and
Mr. Coblentz thus secured eighty acres of
land, valued at two thousand dollars. He
was married, September 18. i860, to Caro-
line Hittle. of Butler township, who was
born in 1843, a daughter of Nicholas and
Elizabeth (Frishman) Hittle. The mother
was twice married, her first husband having
been a Mr. Smith. Four children have
292
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
been born to Mr. Coblentz, as follows : John
C, who resides in New Madison and has
two sons and a daughter; Elizabeth, who is
the wife of A. H. Judy, and has three chil-
dren; Kate, the wife of C. C. Brawley, of
New Madison, by whom she has three chil-
dren ; and Frank, a farmer, residing on land
adjoining our subject's home. He married
Delia Crawford.
Mr. Coblentz was formerly the owner
of three hundred and fifty acres of valuable
land, and now has one hundred and two
acres, which yields to him a golden tribute
in return for the care and labor he bestows
upon them. He has carried on general
farming on an extensive scale and has also
engaged very largely in the purchase and
shipment of live stock for many years. He
has made the most money through dealing
in corn and hogs. In i860 he moved on the
farm he now occupies. He enlarged his
home in 1875. making it a very attractive
country residence. His business affairs
have been care full}- directed and his efforts
have been crowned with a greatly merited
degree of success. In politics he is a Demo-
crat and for twenty years served as the
township treasurer — a fact which well in-
dictates his fidelity toduty and the confidence
reposed in him by his fellow townsmen.
He was also a justice of the peace for six
years and has been a member of the board
of education for fifteen years. He, his wife
and some of their children are members of
the United Brethren church, and the family
is one of prominence and influence in the
community.
Mr. Coblentz inherited a strong consti-
tution, and his strength and endurance have
been very great, but during the past three
years his health has failed him and he leaves
the active care of his farm to others, simply
giving it his supervision. His wife is a
highly cultivated lady, hospitable and kind-
]v and generous, and few. if any, residents
of Butler township are more generally or
more highly esteemed than the subject of this
review and his wife. They are broad-
minded people, generous and benevolent, and
their many estimable characteristics have
gained for them the warm friendship of
manv.
DANIEL BURNS.
Daniel Burns is a member of the manu-
facturing firm of Daniel Burns & Company,
of Rossville, and is a progressive, wide-
awake business man, whose efforts have con-
tributed in a large measure to the upbuilding
and progress of the community with which
he is connected. Mr. Burns was born in
Mercer county, Pennsylvania, August 26,
1846, and is of Scotch lineage on his fa-
ther's side, his grandparents having come
from Scotland to America. He was a
farmer by occupation and reared a family
of two sons, one of whom, C. Burns, died
soon after the death of our subject's father.
The latter, Thomas Burns, was also a native
of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and was
living there when called to his final rest, in
18^0. His wife bore the maiden name of
Sarah Fry. and was burn in Pennsylvania,
in 18 1 7. She came of old "Pennsylvania-
Dutch" stock. She is still living, at the ad-
vanced age of eighty-three years, and makes
her home with her children. She was mar-
ried in 1835 and for a half century has been
a willow. Her family numbered five sons
and two daughters, but she lost her young-
est son, James, who died at the age of two
years. The other children reached adult
age. Lewis, the eldest, was a farmer, born
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
293
in 1840, and died in Crawford county, Penn-
sylvania, in 1869, leaving a son and a
daughter. Catherine became the wife of
Alvah Long, in Erie county, Pennsyl-
vania, and died leaving one son. Abi-
gail is a resident of Jamestown, Pennsyl-
vania. Daniel is the next of the family.
Curtis was born in 1848 and IS now a farmer
in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and has five
children, three sons and two daughters.
Thomas died at the age of twenty-two years.
In taking up the personal history of
Daniel Burns we present to our readers the
life record of one who is widely and favor-
ably known in Darke count}'. He was reared
to farm life amidst the forest. His father
was celebrated as a woodsman and cleared
several farms, one of which he owned at the
time of his death. His widow, however,
was left with seven children the eldest being
but twelve years of age and the youngest
a babe. She carefully reared them, instil-
ling into their minds lessons of industry,
honesty and perseverance. She gave them
the best educational advantages she could
afford and her daughter, Catherine, became
a school teacher. Daniel Burns pursued his
education through the winter months, be-
tween the ages of twelve and eighteen years,
but in the summer time his services were
needed on the farm and he worked in the
fields from early morning until late at night.
Be remained with his mother until he was
twenty-six vears of age, and during that time
followed the carpenter's trade to a consider-
able extent.
When a young man of nineteen he began
making staves, which he split by hand. He
purchased timber on the stump and prepared
it entirely alone. Possessed of considerable
mechanical ingenuity he did his work well
and his patronage steadilv increased. The
first mill which he owned was located in
Warren county Pennsylvania. He became
interested in the enterprise in icX8_\ as a
member of the firm of Clark, Allen & Com-
pany. In April, 1885, the business was
established in Rossville under the firm name
of Daniel Burns & Company, the firm own-
ing the mill at this place and one at Cold-
water until 1893, when the latter was sold
out. The business has been a success and
is constantly growing, its sales amounting
annually to from twenty-five to forty thou-
sand dollars. Employment is furnished to
about fifteen workmen in the mill at lv iss-
ville, and the carefully conducted enterprise
has secured to its owners a good financial re-
turn. They manufacture tight barrels,
wagon spokes and other cooperage manu-
factures. He is also engaged in the grain
business, embarking in this line in 1894.
He owns an elevator, of which his son-in-
law has charge, and his business in this di-
rection is extensive and constantly increas-
ing. Some days he takes in as high as two
thousand bushels of grain, embracing ci >rn,
wheat and oats.
In April, 1872, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Burns and Miss Mary C. Covey, who was
born in Allegany county, New York, in 1855,
a daughter of Wilson and Lydia ( Sissem)
Covey, both of whom were natives of the
Empire state and are now deceased. They
were the parents of five children, of whom
three are now living, namely: Mrs. Burns;
William, a resident of Michigan; and Mrs.
Elizabeth Tappan, also of the Wolverine
state. Their mother died at the age of
thirty-two years, and by the second mar-
riage the father had two children: Arietta,
the wife of Dayton Johnson, and Frank, who
is living in Michigan. Mrs. Burns and the
other children of the first marriage were
294
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
born in New York, and she became the
mother of three daughters and one son.
Sarah Lottie, the eldest, was formerly a
school teacher and is now the wife of
Charles Haber, of Rossville, by whom she
has one son. Nellie Abigail possesses con-
siderable musical talent. The remaining
are Olive May and Lewis Edmund.
Air. Burns is a Master Mason and for
the past twenty-seven years he has been a
member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. I lis political support is unswerv-
ingly given to the Democracy and through
the past six years he has served as township
treasurer and as a member of the city coun-
cil, discharging his duties in a most ac-
ceptable manner. His wife holds member-
ship in the United Brethren church and he
has contributed to the building fund for the
erection of two churches and two parsonages
in Rossville. As a citizen he is public
spirited, and his co-operation is withheld
from no movement or measure that he be-
lieves calculated to prove of bublic benefit.
In business he is most energetic, carefully
forms his plans and is determined in their
execution, and his capable management and
sound judgment have brought to him a
creditable and desirable property.
WILLIAM REQUARTH.
Prominent among the leading farmers
of Darke county, Ohio, is found the subject
of this sketch, William Requarth, who re-
sides on his farm on section 29. Greenville
township.
Mr. Requarth was born in Hesse. Ger-
many, in the village of Exten, September 22,
1833, a son of John Henry and Catherine
(Rochmeier) Requarth. natives of north-
ern Germany. There is a legend that the
Requarths are of French origin, but so far
back as the family history can be traced,
which is for many generations, they were
residents of Germany. Both the father and
grandfather of William Requarth were
named John Henry. The younger John
Henry Requarth was born January 9, 1796;
grew to manhood on his father's farm in
Germany and was married in his native land,
living there until 1847. In 1847, with his
eight children, he emigrated to America, his
wife having died in 1842. Their voyage
across the Atlantic was made in a small
sailing vessel, the Anne, and occupied nine
weeks, during which time there was much
suffering on account of the heat, as the ves-
sel drifted into the tropics.
Landing in safety in New York, January
S. 1848, Mr. Requarth and his family im-
mediately set out for Dayton, Ohio, their
objective point, traveling across the moun-
tains of Pennsylvania by stage, via Phila-
delphia and Pittsburg, and arriving at their
destination that same month. The follow-
ing March he bought one hundred and sixtv-
nine acres of land in Clay township, Mont-
gomery county, and into the cabin already
erected thereon he moved his family. On
that farm he was engaged in agricultural
pursuits the rest of his life and there he
died, January 2j, 1880, at the age of eighty-
four years and eighteen days. He married
his second wife in Dayton a few days after
their arrival at that place. The second Mrs.
Requarth was a Miss Fredericka Stock, a
native of Hesse, who accompanied the Re-
quarths and other families from Germany
to this country. She died in 1899. Mr.
Requarth's children by his first wife were
named as follows : Gustena, Charlotte,
Henry, Mena, William, August. Mollie and
Frederick. Bv his second wife he had seven
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
295
children, one of whom died in infancy, the
others being, Charles, Caroline, Henry,
Sophia, John and Harmon.
The senior Mr. Requarth was a man who
possessed the sterling characteristics of the
successful pioneer. He brought witli him
to this country about eighteen hundred dol-
lars in cash, and with this for a foundation
he accumulated considerable property and at
the same time provided for a large family.
A member of the Lutheran church, he was
an earnest Christian man and made it the
aim of his life to follow the Golden Rule.
When a young man in the old country he
served for a time in the army, but was re-
leased from further service on account of his
being the only son of his parents. In this
country he affiliated with the Democratic
party.
Having thus briefly referred to the life
history of his worthy father, we turn now
to a personal mention of the son, "William Re-
quarth.
At the time the Requarth family emi-
grated to America, as above stated, William
Requarth was fourteen years old, their de-
parture from Germany being made on his
birthday. He had attended school from
the time he was six years until he was four-
teen, according to the custom in Germany,
ami had acquired a practical education in his
native language. His confirmation took
place at St. John's Lutheran church, Dayti >n.
Ohio, under Pastor A. Hordorf, soon after
their arrival in this state. He attended
school in Montgomery county, where he
quickly acquired the English language, and
he was soon able to adapt himself to the
conditions in this country.
He remained on the farm with his father
until reaching the age of twenty-three years.
Then he went to Dayton and entered the em-
ploy of Henry Kimes, a plow manufacturer,
with whom he remained eleven months. At
the end of this time he bought an ax and
started out on his own account as a wood-
chopper, in Greene county, Ohio. Subse-
quently he engaged with Daniel Beckel, of
Dayton, as a hostler, and was with him eight
months in that capacity, after which he
farmed on one of Mr. Beckel's farms.
While thus occupied he was married, in
Dayton, May 5, 1859, to Miss Wilhemena
Ostermier, of Greenville, but who was a
native of the same place where he was born,
she being a daughter of August and Carolina
Ostermier, who came to Darke county in
1854. Mr. Requarth remained on the
Eeckel farm four years, until Mr. Beckel's
death, after which he rented an adjoining
farm, known as the Abraham Nichols place.
He had saved up a little money meantime,
which he invested in stock and farming im-
plements, and on this latter farm he lived
three years.
In 1864 he bought one hundred and six-
ty-three acres of the farm on which he now
lives, which was then uncleared and mostly
under water, and was known as the "wet
quarter." For this land he paid twenty-six
dollars an acre. His purchase was made
in the fall. The following spring he settled
on his land, in a small cabin built of logs
and containing only one room. Also on the
place was a log stable. The work of drain-
ing and improving- this farm was no small
undertaking, and few would have under-
taken it. Mr. Requarth. however, set to
work with a will. Through rain or shine,
heat or cold, he could be found at his task,
and he seemed never to tire. People often
remarked that " Requarth was working
himself to death." He cut down the forest
and hauled his cord-wood to market, receiv-
296
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing three dollars per cord for soft wood and
four dollars for hard wood, this for some
time being his only source of income. Soon
he got a piece of land cleared and a crop
planted, which he increased each year. He
spent much time and means in ditching and
draining his land, and was the first man
in this locality to plan and carry out a sys-
tem of drainage. For a time his neighbors
were not in sympathy with his plans. Fin-
ally, however,' he secured the co-operation
of the township trustees and the matter of
drainage was made a public enterprise. In
1866 Mr. Requarth sold forty acres of his
land, receiving thirty-seven dollars and fifty
cents an acre. He made his home in the
original log cabin already referred to until
1879. when he built his present brick resi-
dence, a handsome two-story house, with an
L, attractive and home-like and giving every
evidence of comfort and refinement. He also
from time to time erected other buildings,
his barn in 1870, tobacco sheds in 187 J.
In 1881 Mr. Requarth was bereaved by
the death of his devoted wife, her death oc-
curing on the 9th of January. For more than
twenty years she had shared the joys and
toils of life with him, doing nobly her part
toward the making of their new home. She
bore him ten children, eight of whom reached
adult age, and of that number seven are now
living, namely: Henry William, who died
August 21, 1897; Henry F. A.; John II .
F. ; Henry F. ; Louisa W. ; Wilhemena J. C ;.
Caroline W. C. ; Mollie A. ; Carl H. W., who
died December 17, 1880, at the age of six
years, and Frederick W. A., who died Janu-
ary 22, 1878 ,at the age of ten months. The
members of the family now living are all well
to do financially. Three are in Springfield,
Illinois, — John H. F., Henry F. and Louisa
W., wife of Henry Miller. Wilhemena is
now Mrs. Mohr and resides in Lima, Ohio.
Mollie A. makes her home with her sister in
Lima. Henry F. A. and Caroline reside in
Greenville, the former engaged in the gro-
cery business; the latter is the wife of James
Moore.
January 20, 1882, Mr. Requarth married
Mrs. Wilhemena Koester, whom he has
known from girlhood. By her first husband,
Ferdinand F. Koester, she had four chil-
dren, all of whom are living: William, of
Springfield, Illinois; Sophia, now Mrs.
Charles Friark, also of Springfield, Illinois;
Mena. the wife of Henry, the second son
of Mr. Requarth, Greenville. Ohio; and
Charlotte, the wife of Frank Stauffer. of
Darke county. By her marriage to Mr.
Requarth she also has four children, namely:
Frederick H., Catherine A., Carl H. F. and
Maria R. C.
Mr. Requarth has long been known as
one of the most enterprising men of the
county. Whatever he has taken hold of he
has pushed with vim and energy. He is
progressive in every line of thought and ac-
tion ; and that he is appreciated by his fellow
citizens is evidenced by the fact that they
have frequently called him to places of re-
sponsibility. In this connection it may be
mentioned that he has held the office of town-
ship trustee five terms, and he has been a
school director a number of years. He was
the nominee of the Democrats of his county
for the office of county commissioner in
1887, but was defeated through party de-
fections arising from strife between warring
factions in the party, the majority against
him, however, being less than any other man
on the ticket. He is one of the directors
of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Com-
pany of Darke county. For years he has
been active in church and Sundav-school
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
297
work, having been prominently identified
with St. John's Lutheran church since 1865,
all this time serving in some official ca-
pacity, at present being a trustee and the
treasurer. For many years he was secretary
of the Sunday school, recently having re-
linquished this work on account of failing
eyesight and loss of hearing. He is, how-
ever, a well preserved man. He is five feet
seven inches in height, weighs one hundred
and thirty-five pounds, stands perfectly
erect and possesses, so far as the eye can
see, all the vitality of men in middle life.
JOHN F. SPENCER.
Upon a farm on section 16, Harrison
township, John Francis Spencer resides.
He is numbered among the native sons of
the Barnhart farm February 6, 183 1. His
father was Anderson Spencer, who was born
in Greene county, Ohio, January 29. 1806,
Ins parents being Francis and Sarah Spen-
cer. The grandfather was born in England,
about 1778, and died in Harrison township,
Darke county, in 1870, at the age of ninety-
two years. His wife prior to her marriage
bore the family name of Spencer and was
a distant relative of her husband. Both lived
to an advanced age and when called to the
home beyond their remains were interred, on
a farm in this township, where they settled
at an early pioneer day. The}' had ten chil-
dren, namely: Anderson; Ludlow: William;
Clark; Jackson; Mark; Elizabeth, the wife
of Henry Watson; Delilah; Eliza Ann, who
became the wife of David Polly and resides
in Indiana, and Sarah, who is a widow liv-
ing in Iowa.
Anderson Spencer was reared to man-
hood in the Buckeye state and married Emily
Hi]], of Harrison township, Darke county,
a sister of Milton Hill. Their marriage
took place in 1830 and was blessed with the
following children : John Francis ; Hugh,
who died at the age of sixteen years; Saul,
who resides in Rock Island county, Illinois;
Sarah Keziah, the wife of William Alex-
ander, of Harrison township: William, who
served in the civil war and died soon after
his return home : Lemuel of La Platte, Mis-
souri; Anderson, who died in middle life;
and George W., a manufacturer of Ander-
son. Indiana; and there were also two chil-
dren who died in infancy. The mother of
this family passed away in 1880. at the age
of seventy-three years, and the father's death
occurred in 1892, at the age of eighty-six
years. His life was one of industry and
honest toil and he was actively connected
with business affairs until well advanced in
years. He held a number of township of-
fices, including that of township clerk. He
possessed more than ordinary ability and had
considerable mechanical genius.
Mr. Spencer began work when very
young, being employed in the fields when
he was so small that he could scarcely reach
the plow handles. His educational privileges
were very limited, but he pursued his studies
as opportunity offered in a log school house
adorned with a mud and stick chimney.
Through the greater part of his youth he re-
mained at home and in 1855 he went to
Kansas. He was married on the 26th of
February, 1857. to Miss Alar}', a daughter
of Lewis and Elizabeth (Brower) Ouker-
man. the former a native of Preble county,
Ohio, and the latter of Virginia. Her par-
ents were farming people, who reared thir-
teen children, seven sons and six daughters,
Mrs. Spencer being the second in order of
birth. The father died at the a ■ of fifty-
298
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
two years and the mother when eighty-three
years of age. their remains being interred
in the Palestine cemetery. Mrs. Spencer
was born in Palestine, in 1832, and by her
marriage has become the mother of eight
children, as follows: Lewis, who is living
in Anderson, Indiana; Laura Alice, the wife
of Calvin Young, of Washington township,
by whom she has two children and three
children by her former marriage to David
O. Baker, who died in February. 1887;
Oliver, of Indiana, who has one son and one
daughter; Minerva Jane, wife of Robert
Simpson by whom she has one son ; Settie
Ann. who married Newton Clapp. and has
one son; Minnie, who was born and died in
1 87 1 ; Charles, who married Miss Effie
White and operates the home farm ; and
Phenie Elizabeth, who died at the age of
six years. Mr. Spencer located upon his
present farm of eighty acres in 1867 and
has led a busy, useful and active life, but
is now living retired. He has relegated to
others the care of his land and is enjoying
a rest which he has truly earned and
abundantly deserves. He holds membership
in Snodgrass Post, G. A. R., of Xew Madi-
son, is a stanch Republican in politics and
has served as school director. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Spencer are members of the Univer-
salist church and are people whose well spent
lives make them worthy of the veneration
and esteem which should ever be accorded
to those who have accomplished the greater
part of life's pilgrimage.
ALBERT HARTER.
Albert Harter is the senior member of
the firm of Harter & Coblentz, dealers in
farm machinery, buggies, etc., and also lead-
ing shippers of stock of Xew Madison. Mr.
Harter is but a recent acquisition to the
goodly array of progressive business men
of this thriving town, but his ability, enter-
prise and upright methods have already
established for him an enviable reputation.
He was born in Butler township, this
county, October 5, 1857, and is a son of
Lewis Harter, a farmer of that township,
who was born near Xew Madison about
1825, and is a son of Samuel Harter, a na-
tive of Pennsylvania. Our subject was
reared on his father's farm near Savona. and
was given a liberal common-school educa-
tion. He remained at home until he was
married, April 19, 1879, to Samantha B.
Crawford, of Butler township, a daughter
of A. J. and Catherine (Lewis) Crawford,
now residents of Greenville township. Of
the seven children born of this union, the
first and third, both daughters, died in in-
fancy, and the second, Earl, also died in in-
fancy. Ivy May died July 20, 1896, when
nearly sixteen years of age. being taken in
the bloom of youth. She was a most prom-
ising young lady, of lovely character and be-
loved by all who knew her. Erta D. has
finished school and is now at home. Edna
May and Virgil, aged respectively twelve and
eleven years, are still in school and are very
bright and studious.
In July, 1899, Mr. Harter purchased
a farm of eighty acres just outside the cor-
poration limits of XTew Madison, and he lo-
cated thereon in the spring of 1900. He
embarked in his present business on the
19th of January, 1899, and has already suc-
ceeded in building up a good trade. The
firm deals in all kinds of agricultural im-
plements, carriages, etc., and ships cattle,
sheep and hogs to different markets, averag-
ing about seventy-five carloads per year.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
299
Thev are wide-awake, progressive business
men of known reliability, and have the con-
fidence and respect of their fellow citizens in
a marked degree.
BARTON W. LONG.
Among the representative farmers of
Darke county distinctive recognition must
needs be given to Mr. Long, whose fine
homestead is located on section 16, Harrison
township, his postoffice address being New
Madison. Barton Webster Long was born
in Hamilton county, Ohio, six miles distant
from the city of Cincinnati, August 21, 1862.
His father, Joseph Long, was a native of
bonnie Scotland, where he was born in the
year 1830, coming of stanch old Scotch-
Irish stock. The latter's father was James
Christopher Long, who emigrated from
Scotland to the United States about the year
1840, sending for his family to join him
about two years later. After a few years'
residence in the east the family came to
Cincinnati, where he did effective service as
a clergyman of the Methodist church. He
was a victim of the memorable epidemic of
cholera in 1849, his wife and one son also
succumbing to the dread disease within
twenty-four hours. The father of our sub-
ject fled from the plague-stricken city, going
to Bartholomew county, Indiana, where he
remained for some time. He was married
in the year 1855, at the age of twenty-five
years to Nancy Jessup, who was born near
Cincinnati, in 183 1, the daughter of Daniel
and Nancy (Stewart) Jessup, the former
of whom emigrated to Ohio from New Jer-
sey in the early pioneer days, being an in-
spector of the Indians, many of whom were
installed upon the reservation here. He was
of a studious nature and through his own ef-
forts acquired a good education for his day.
The parents of Mr. Long owned a small farm
near Cincinnati, and to brighten the little
home there came to them six children, name-
ly: Virginia, who died in infancy: Zendora,
who is unmarried and who resides at the
home of her brother; Barton \Y.. the im-
mediate subject of this review ; Madallia,
who is the wife of the Rev. T. J. Halstead,
an itinerant clergyman of the United Breth-
ren church; Genevra, wife of J. W. Miller,
cf Newcastle, Indiana; and Douglass E.,
who died at the age of six months. The
mother of our subject died in May, 1884,
the father surviving her four years, and their
mortal remains were laid to rest in Otter-
bein cemetery, Butler township, this count}-.
Barton W. Long received excellent edu-
cational advantages and prepared himself
for pedagogic work, having pursued his
studies in New Madison and in the New
Parison high school, after which he entered
the normal school at Danville, Indiana, and
thereafter supplemented his already thorough
discipline bv a course in a commercial col-
lege. Circumstances, however, led to his
adopting the life of an agriculturist, and his
success has been such as to leave him no re-
gret that he chose this field of endeavor.
The place which Mr. Long owns and culti-
vates was secured by his father about twen-
tv years before his death, the latter having
been for many years an itinerant preacher,
and the original place comprised one hun-
dred and sixty acres. At his death the fa-
ther left a good estate, including a life in-
surance of six thousand dollars, and it be-
came the duty of his son, Barton W., to
finally assume the management of the prop-
erty, which was somewhat encumbered. By
careful management and well directed efforts
lie eventually cleared the estate of indebted-
300
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ness and put the farm into excellent condi-
tion. In 1895 he sold one-half of the place,
retaining his present farm of eighty acres,
which is under a high state of cultivation,
with permanent improvements of the best
order, indicating the progressive spirit and
wise methods brought to bear by Mr. Long.
Though there are more pretentious homes to
be found in the county, there is none which
is more pleasant and attractive that that of
our subject, for the home idea is evident
and neatness and good taste characterize all
the improvements that have been made.
The buildings are most eligibly located on
a natural building site, the knoll command-
ing a fine view of the surrounding country
and affording excellent drainage facilities.
The residence grounds are rendered attract-
ive by fine shade trees and shrubbery and an
air of refinement and cultured taste per-
vades the home, both in its exterior and in-
terior appointments. Climbing about the
porch at the rear of the house is a fine speci-
men of the sweet-briar rose, the dainty blos-
soms and fragrant leaves perfuming the
house and bearing a perpetual tribute to the
memory of the gentle mother of Mr. Long,
v. In 1 with her own hands planted the shrub
and trained it during many years. It is thus
doubly dear to the family, being hallowed
by the associations of the past and breathing
the fragrance of the gentle life which it so
happily typifies.
On November 1, 1890, Mr. Long was
united in marriage to Miss Dora M. Thomas,
a native of this township and the daughter
of J. V. Thomas, a well, known citizen of
the county. Of this union one child was
born, but did not long survive to brighten
the home.
Mr. Long's natural predilection is not
for farming and though his success has been
gratifying he feels that he has done his
share in the line, and he contemplates turn-
ing his attention to some commercial or me-
chanical pursuit when favorable opportunity
shall offer, and as he is in the vigor of his
young manhood, is fortified with excellent
education and has shown marked executive
ability and business acumen, a continued
success may be predicted for him in what-
soever field he sees fit to turn his effort. He
has carried on general farming, having made
somewhat of a specialty of raising swine,
and his place is one which is a credit to him
and to the county. Mr. and Mrs. Long have
a wide circle of acquaintances and are highly
honored in the community.
DAVID A. CLEAR.
This well-known blacksmith of Green-
ville township, is a native of Darke county,
his birth occurring in German township,
August 30, 1856. His father, David Clear,
was born April 1, 1823, in German town-
ship, but he now lives in Washington town-
ship, this county, where he owns a good farm
of sixty acres. He married Esther Ann
Ross, born in German township, April 13,
1823, and both are now well advanced in
life. They have five children, namely :
Reuben ; Sophia, the wife of Abraham Haw-
kins; Maggie, the wife of John Burch, who
lives in Randolph county, Indiana, near the
Ohio state line; David A. and Jeremiah S.
With the exception of Maggie al.l make their
home in Darke county.
On the home farm David A. Clear grew
to manhood receiving a common-school edu-
cation and remaining with his parents until
attaining his majority. At the age of twen-
ty-two years he commenced learning the
blacksmith's trade, serving an apprentice-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
301
ship of three and a half years with B. M.
Bright and J. F. Lane, and mastering the
trade in all its details during that time.
Eighteen months of this time were spent in
Coletown, Darke county, and in 1882 he em-
barked in business at his present stand. He
does a general blacksmithing business, and
being a good mechanic and reliable man he
has built up an excellent trade.
September 26, 1880, Mr. Clear was
united marriage with Miss Lila, a daughter
of Mrs. Mary Ann Arnold, of Darke county,
and to them have been born two children that
are now living, Dessie and Frank, besides
Bessie, deceased. For ten years Mr. and
Mrs. Clear have been members of the Chris-
tian church of Coletown, and take an active
interest in religious work. In his political
affairs he is a stanch Republican. He is a
well informed man who keeps abreast of the
times, and is highly respected and esteemed
by all who know him. Fraternally he is a
member of Greenville Lodge, K. of P.
LARKIN G. TURNER.
Prominent among those who have con-
tributed to the agricultural advancement
of this section of the Buckeye state is he
whose name initiates this paragraph. He is
now a valued resident of Hollandsburg, Har-
rison township, Darke county, where he is
living practically retired from the active
duties which so long claimed his attention.
Mr. Turner is a native of Wayne county,
Indiana, where he was born July 19, 1831,
his father, Jeptha Turner, having been the
first white child born in Wayne county, the
date of his nativity having been October 29,
1806. His father, John Turner, had the
distinction of being the first sheriff of
Wayne county. He was a native of Henry
county, Kentucky, was born about the year
1785, and his death occurred in 1835. The
latter married a Miss Holman, daughter of
George Holman, who was one of the earliest
settlers in Wayne county, Indiana, having
located there in 1803. The mother of the
immediate subject of this sketch bore the
maiden name of Martha Gaar, and she was
born in Wayne county, Indiana, on the 25th
of September, 1810. Her marriage to Jep-
tha Turner was solemnized January 14, 1830
and they became the parents of nine chil-
dren, namely: Larkin Gaar, subject of this
sketch; Levi P., a resident of Abington,
Wayne county, Indiana; Abraham W., of
Brazil, Clay county, Indiana, where he is a
prominent merchant; Sarah Jane, wife of
John Endsley, of the same county; Eliza
Ann Turner, who still remains at the old
home; Martin Van Buren, a resident of
Lincoln, Nebraska; John Milton, of Brazil,
Indiana; Martha Ellen, who died, unmar-
ried, at the age of twenty-eight; and Jesse
D., who remains upon the old homestead,
which he operates successfully. Al.l of the
married children are well established in life
and have small families. The father died
April 16, 1885, and his venerable widow sur-
vived him until September 15, 1890, their
remains being laid to rest in the cemetery
at Elkhorn, Indiana.
Larkin G. Turner, with whom this re-
view has more specifically to do, remained
on the old homestead until he had attained
his majority, when he entered a machine
shop at Connersville, Indiana, where he
served a careful apprenticeship of four years,
after which he farmed on rented land for a
time, being successful in his efforts. In
he made his first purchase of land, the
same -comprising one hundred acres, located
in Harrison township, which has ever since
802
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
been his home. He moved on to his farm
within the succeeding year and there con-
tinued to live and labor for the long term
of eighteen years, when he removed to his
present place, where his tenure has now con-
tinued for twelve years, so that he is known
and honored as one of the old representative
farmers of this township, being held in the
highest esteem for his integrity and ability.
On the 15th of February, 1855, Mr.
Turner was united in marriage to Miss Sarah
Endsley, whose brother married a sister of
our subject, as has already been noted. Mrs
Turner was born March 3, 1835, and of her
marriage four children have been born:
Clara, wife of X. T. Irelan, of Hollansburg,
is the mother of seven children; John Perry
Turner, also of this township, is married and
has one son and one daughter; Rose Emma,
wife of Henry Wolfal, who operates the
homestead farm of our subject, and has two
daughters, and Charles F. Turner, who died
at the age of two years.
Fraternally Mr. Turner is a Master
Mason, having been prominently identi-
fied with this time honored order for
the long period of thirty-five years, hav-
ing been initiated into its mysteries July
21. 1865, an<i having served as master of
Bethel Lodge, No. 250. F. & A. M., of
Wayne county, Indiana, for two terms. In
his political adherency he is a Democrat,
and in 1859 was elected on that ticket a jus-
tice of the peace of Abington township,
'Wayne county, Indiana, where he served two
terms. After his removal to Darke county
he was five times elected to this honorable
office, in which he served with marked abil-
ity and discretion, and in 1891 he was ac-
corded the honor of being elected as a di-
rector of the county infirmary, in which ca-
pacity he served two terms. He has several
times been called upon to preside over the
destinies of Hollansburg, as president of its
board of trustees, is at the present time the
incumbent of that position and at this writing
is just entering upon his third term as justice
of the peace.
Mr. and Mrs. Turner inherited the farm
owned by her father. Her grandfather,
John Endsley, came from North Carolina to
Wayne county, Indiana, in 1805, the latter's
father having been a native of Ireland. Our
subject has a well denned genealogical record
of his mother's family, the Gaar line, the
same running back two hundred and seven-
ty-five years. The family has been one of
marked prominence in the history of Wayne
county, Indiana, and in the annals of the
nation, as is evident when the fact is recalled
that the family had three representatives in
the war of the Revolution ; fifteen in the war
of 1812; sixteen in the Mexican war; while
in the war of the Rebellion over one hun-
dred members were enlisted in the Union
armies and a practically equal number in the
Confederate forces.
JACOB HALDERMAN.
For many years this gentleman has re-
sided in Darke county and his name is in-
separably connected with the agricultural
and building interests of this region. Hi
thoroughly American spirit and his great
energy have enabled him to mount from a
lowly position to one of affluence. One of
his leading characteristics in business affairs
is his fine sense of order and complete sys-
tem and the habit of giving careful atten-
tion to details, without which success in any
undertaking is never assured.
Mr. Halderman was born in Dayton,
Ohio, October 25, 1835, and is a son of
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
303
John Halderman, a native of Pennsylvania,
who settled in Dayton the year of our sub-
ject's birth, and died there when his son
was only three years old. At that tender
age Mr. Halderman passed to the care of
strang'ers and relatives, and when twelve
years old went to Indiana, where he spent
two years. At the end of that time he came
to Darke county, Ohio, where he worked
as a farm hand one year, and then served
an apprenticeship to Reuben Heffner, a con-
tractor, at the carpenter's trade, and re-
mained with him as a journeyman after his
apprenticeship was complete, being in his
emplo\r nine years. In the meantime he had
attained man's estate, and at the end of that
period commenced contracting and build-
ing on his own account, at the same time
carrying on farming on rented land. In
1861 he rented a farm of one hundred and
twenty acres in Greenville township, which
he subsequently purchased, and to which he
has since added until he now has a valuable
and well improved farm of two hundred and
sixty acres. Upon his place he has erected
commodious barns of the best construction,
a fine residence, tobacco sheds, granaries,
etc. His principal crops are wheat, corn
and tobacco, and he also gives considerable
attention to the raising of hogs. He is one
of the most intelligent and successful farm-
ers of the county.
December 27, i860, Mr. Halderman was
united in marriage with Miss Mary Baker,
by whom he had seven children, but one
died in infancy unnamed. The others are
Lenta, the wife of S. E. Bishop, of Hamil-
ton. Ohio; Alice, the wife of William Mc-
Neil, of Columbus, this state; Ida Bird, the
wife of \Y. J. Wagner, a farmer and school
teacher of Darke county; Herschel V., a
resident of El Paso, Texas ; Elnora, at
18
home ; and Pearl, the wife of William G.
Bishop, of Greenville. The mother of these
children died in 1875, aged thirty-six years.
For his second wife Mr. Halderman mar-
ried Miss Frances E. Helm, a native of
Darke county and a daughter of Eli and
Catherine (Zimmerman) Helm, and to them
was born a son. Roll H.
In Mr. Halderman we have a perfect
illustration of a self-made man. Being left
an orphan at the age of three years, he be-
gan the battle of life much younger than
most men, and his success has been phenom-
enal, though of a steady, healthful growth.
For twenty-eight years he has been con-
nected with Greenville Lodge, I. O.
O. F.. and is also a member of the En-
campment and Patriarchs Militant. He has
filled all the chairs in the subordinate lodge
and encampment. He has also served as
ensign and lieutenant in the Patriarchs Mil-
itant. Politically he is a supporter of the
Democratic party and has served as town-
ship trustee and in other minor offices. To
strangers he is always most cordial and enter-
taining and is widely and favorably known
throughout his adopted county.
JOHN G. FRANK.
On sections 17 and 18, Harrison town-
ship, is located the fine farmstead of one
hundred and twenty-six acres which is
owned and cultivated by the gentleman
whose name introduces this review, and we
are pleased to give a resume of his career in
this connection, for he stands forth as one
of the leading German-American citizens of
Darke county and as a representative of our
best yeoman that has gained to this section
its reputation as one of the most attractive
804
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
farming communities in the favored state,
noted for its agricultural pre-eminence.
John George Frank was born in Wur-
temberg. Germany, the 26th of May, 1834,
and when a young man of twenty, in 1854,
emigrated to America for the purpose of
trying his fortunes in the new world, where
he felt better opportunities were offered to
the energetic and industrious young men.
He made the eventful voyage on a sailing
vessel, and after leaving Bremen fifty-three
days elapsed ere the boat dropped anchor
in the port of New York. A stranger in a
strange land. Mr. Frank at once set about
making his way, being determined to suc-
ceed, if success could be gained by honest
and earnest endeavor. He stopped for a
time on the Delaware river, fifteen miles
north of Philadelphia, where he secured
work as a farm hand at eight dollars per
month. He had but a small amount of cash
when he left home and fatherland, and when
he reached America his financial reinforce-
ment amounted to only ten dollars. After
remaining in Pennsylvania for four and
one-half months he came on to the west,
being employed for about the same length
of time in a wagon shop at Richmond, In-
diana, after which he identified himself with
the interests of Darke county, coming to
Harrison township, hiring out by the month
until the winter of 1857. On the 5th of
December of that year Mr. Frank showed
his confidence in himself and his ability to
succeed by assuming a definite responsibil-
ity, being then united in marriage to Miss
Jemima Brown, who was born in this town-
ship on the 17th of December, 1833, the
daughter of Edward Brown, who is still liv-
ing at the venerable age of ninety-two years,
being one of the wealthy and honored farm-
ers of the county. He was born in Penn-
sylvania and his marriage to Miss Mary M.
Blocher, who was born near York, that state,
was solemnized in Harrison township, Darke
county. Mrs. Brown died in Madison in
1888, at the age of seventy-eight years, hav-
ing become the mother of three sons and
six daughters, of whom the three sons are
living and only one of the daughters, —
Mrs. Frank, the estimable wife of our sub-
ject. Her brothers are farmers in this town-
ship and in contiguous sections of Indiana,
and the venerable father now makes his
home with his children, being cared for with
the deepest filial solicitude and being now
feeble and broken in health by reason of
great age.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank have become the
parents of four sons and four daughters,
of whom we offer the following brief rec-
ord : Mary is the wife of Philip Rogers,
a successful farmer of Washington town-
ship, this county, and they have six children ;
Sarah Jane is the wife of Newton Rogers
and is the mother of seven children ; Fred-
erick W. resides on the old homestead, which
he operates for his father; he married Alice
Miller and they have four sons and two
daughters : Jonas A., who is a successful fruit
grower, residing north of Greenville, this
county, is married and has seven children ;
Rebecca is the wife of Charles Albright and
has one child; Charles Edward,' a meat
dealer in Hollansburg, is married and has
one daughter; John G. is a tenant fanner in
an adjoining county in Indiana, and of his
marriage two children were born, but both
are deceased; Emma is the wife of Leonard
Moore, who resides in this immediate vi-
cinity, and they have one son ; and the other
child of our subject and wife was a son who
died at the age of seven months.
In the year 1859 Mr. Frank purchased
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
805
fifty-two acres of land, the same being a
portion of his present farm, and for this
original tract he paid thirty dollars per acre,
no permanent improvements having been
made on the place, and the young man hav-
ing to assume an indebtedness for a por-
tion of the purchase price. He erected a
small frame house, one story in height and
16x24 feet in dimensions, and also put up
a log barn. The original house is now a
part of his present attractive and com-
modious residence and is occupied by his
son. Improvements were made as rapidly
as circumstances would permit, — he erected
a small frame barn eventually, and in 1879
built his large and well equipped barn, 42X
52 feet in dimensions, and in 1885 the new-
residence of two stories was erected. Mr.
Frank has made three additions to the
acreage of his farm since his original pur-
chase, and he now has one hundred and
twenty-six. acres under a fine state of culti-
vation and devoted to mixed farming-. He
makes it a point to rotate crops every three
years, thus keeping up the vitality of the
land. He also raises swine somewhat ex-
tensively and keeps a dairy of from sixteen
to twenty high-grade Jersey cows, all
eligible for registration. He operates his
own creamery, the products of which find
ready demand in the direct family trade con-
trolled in Richmond.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank are members of the
German Baptist church, in whose direct and
collateral work they have an abiding inter-
est, our subject being a deacon in the church.
In politics he gives his support to the Dem-
ocratic party, but he has invariably declined
to accept official preferment. He and his
wife continue to be actively concerned in the
affairs of the homestead, though the opera-
tion of the farm has been consigned to their
son, who is a practical and capable young
agriculturist and business man. They en-
joy a marked popularity in the community
and the high estimation in which they are
held stands in unmistakable evidence of their
sterling worth of character. The farm is
one of the most attractive in this section and
everything about the place gives indication
of the care and attention bestowed. On the
place Mr. Frank has a sorghum mill, which
has brought a good revenue and has yielded
much valuable fertilizing material.
REUBEN BROYYX.
Among the reliable and progressive citi-
zens who have given their attention to the
basic art of husbandry and have aided ma-
terially in advancing the interests and sub-
stantial development of Darke county is
Reuben Brown, whose finely improved and
well cultivated farm is located on section 20,
Harrison township, his postoffice address be-
ing Whitewater, Indiana. Mr. Brown was
born on a farm one mile northeast of his
present place, on the 20th day of May, 1840,
his father being Edward Brown, who was
born in the vicinity of Baltimore, Maryland,
on the 28th of March, 1809. The latter's
father, John Brown, was likewise a native
of Maryland, whence he emigrated to Ohio
as early as 18 17. He was twice married, his
first union being with Mina Stochsiel, whom
he wedded in the year 1802, and who bore
him seven sons and one daughter. Her
death occurred in February, 1834. Of the
second marriage no children were born.
Grandfather John Brown died at about the
age of sixty years. He was an extensive
land-owner in this section of Ohio, having
entered a half-section here, and his first
abiding place in the frontier wilds was a
306
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
sort of a tent, made by setting up a series
of poles in conical shape and covering them
with blankets. He finally erected a more
substantial dwelling, of hewed logs, and also
put up a large barn of the same character.
He was a sturdy and energetic pioneer and
cleared up his farm, making the large tract
one of the most valuable in this section.
Edward Brown, father of our subject,
chose for his companion on life's journey
Miss Mary Magdalene Blocher, who was
burn in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Joseph
Blocher, who was one of the early pioneers
of Darke county. Edward and Mary M.
Brown became the parents of nine children,
of whom six lived to attain maturity, name-
ly: Jemima, who is the wife of John G.
Frank, to whom specific attention is di-
rected on another page of this work; Mary,
who became the wife of Andrew Wind-
miller, was born in 1838 and died in 1884,
leaving four sons and four daughters ;
Reuben is the immediate subject of this
sketch ; Jonas is an extensive farmer in
Huntington county, Indiana; Frederick is
engaged in agricultural pursuits in Wayne
ci unity, Indiana ; and Malinda, the wife of
Uriah Dowler, died in 1892, at the age of
forty years, leaving three children. The
mother of our subject entered into eternal
rest October 10, 1878, but the father is still
living, having attained the patriarchal age
of ninety-two years, and having made his
home with his children since 1892.
Reuben Brown became inured to the
duties of the farm at a very early age, and
his educational advantages were of limited
scope, but the fundamental training which
he received in the primitive schools has
been most effectively supplemented by that
valuable learning which is the result of per-
sonal application and participation in the
practical activities of life. He remained on
the old homestead until he had attained his
majority, when he assumed connubial re-
sponsibilities, being united in marriage on
the 25th of April, 1861, to Miss Esther
Bausman, who was born in Miami county,
Ohio, the daughter of John and Esther
(Weneich) Bailsman, who became the par-
ents of four sons and five daughters, all of
whom are living except one daughter, a
brief record concerning them being here in-
corporated: David, a resident of Harper
county, Kansas, has eight children; Thom-
as, of Wabash county, Indiana, has twelve
children ; Eli, a resident of Henry county,
Missouri, has five children; Daniel, a pros-
perous farmer of Neave township, Darke
county, has two children; Harriet, widow
of Solomon Bollinger, is a resident of Wa-
bash county, Indiana, and has two children :
Esther, who is the wife of Mr. Brown, of
this review ; Fannie, wife of Jacob Root,
died in Kansas, leaving no issue ; Susanna,
the wife of William Fry, has one son; and
Elizabeth, wife of Elias Rogers, has four
children.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown lost one son ami
one daughter in infancy, and of the chil-
dren who attained maturity we make more
detailed mention, as follows: Frances I.,
wife of Jacob Hollinger, has two children;
Harriet Rebecca is the wife of John Hol-
linger, and has five children; Lydia is the
wife of Thomas Jordan; Amanda Victoria
is at the parental home ; Elva L. is at home ;,
John Edward, who is now a student at
Dayton, Ohio, is a successful teacher; Eli
Roscoe died September 27, 1889, at the
age of fifteen years; Jennie Leola, Cyrus
Oscar, Alpheus,, Efne Melinda and Esther
Magdalene are at home.
In national affairs Mr. Brown gives his
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
C07
support to the Democratic party, but in
local elections he supports the man whom
he considers most eligible for office, being
liberal in his views. He served one term as
road supervisor, but has no desire for offi-
cial preferment. He farms upon an ex-
tensive scale, and brings to bear a practical
knowledge and a wise discrimination which
have conserved his success in this import-
ant field of endeavor. He owns two farms,
having an aggregate area of two hundred
and five acres, and by the careful rotation
of crops he keeps his land in excellent pro-
ductive condition, giving also considerable
attention to the raising of a high grade of
live stock. He has an annual product of
from two to three thousand bushels of corn
and ten to twelve hundred of wheat. From
a fine herd of twelve Jersey cows he obtains
the best of butter, for which a ready demand
is always found. He purchased his fine
farms in 1871, and is known as one of the
representative agriculturists and able busi-
ness men of the county. Mrs. Brown is a
zealous member of the Dunkard church, and
is a woman of many graces of character, and
she is highly esteemed in the social circles
of the community.
JOHN PARENT.
■ The career of him whose name heads
this review illustrates most forcibly the pos-
sibilities that are open to a young man who
possesses sterling business qualifications. It
proves that ambition, perseverance, steadfast
purpose and indefatigable industry, com-
bined with sound business principles, will be
rewarded, and that true success follows in-
dividual effort only.
Mr. Parent was born near New Madison,
Ohio, February 17, 1830, a son of William
and Hannah (Ellston) Parent, both natives
of New Jersey. The father was born near
Monmouth, in 1804, and at an early day
came to Darke county, Ohio. In 1835 he
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of
land in Washington township, only three
acres of which had been cleared, the other
being covered with a heavy growth of tim-
ber. Wild animals, such as bears and wolves,
were plentiful, and Indians still roamed
through the forests. While Mr. Parent and
his wife were clearing their land and encoun-
tering dangers incident to such a life, their
family of children were increased to eight
five of whom are still living, namely : George,
a resident of Union City, Indiana ; Mrs. Eliz-
abeth Barr, of Washington township, Darke
county; Mrs. Amy J. Roe, of Jackson town-
ship; William Henry Harrison, of Ander-
son, Indiana; and John, our subject. As was
the case with all early settlers, their educa-
tional advantages were very limited. The
old log schoolhouse was reached after
tramping through miles of almost impene-
trable undergrowth and the rod was strongly
in evidence. The father died Monday, No-
vember 28, 1887, on the farm where he first
settled, but the place had been enlarged until
it contained one hundred and ninety acres.
John Parent grew to manhood on the
home farm, and was married, October 6,
1852, to Miss Ann Arnold, the ceremony
being performed by Aaron Hiiler, at his
home near Sharpeye. The young couple be-
gan their domestic life on his father's farm,
but two years later Mr. Parent purchased
eighty acres of wooded land five miles dis-
tant, which was school property, and for
which he paid four hundred and eighty dol-
lars, buying it on twelve years' time. He used
to walk five miles twice each day while clear-
ing a space and erecting a cabin thereon. In
308
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
that primitive abode the family lived for ten
years. At the end of six years Mr. Parent
had succeeded in paying off the debt on his
place, which was chiefly done by fattening
calves for market. He would buy them in
the spring at a nominal price, and allow them
to run in the wild pasture until fall, when
they were sold at a good profit. For seven
years he operated a sawmill in connection
with his farming, and at the opening of the
civil war he sold his eighty-acre farm for
two thousand dollars, his sawmill for the
same amount, which, together with his two
thousand dollars he had saved from the
profis of both made six thousand dol-
lars, that had been accumulated in ten
years. On starting out in life for
himself his father had given him a colt
which he sold for seventy-five dollars, which
was the capital that he had to embark in
business with. Prosperity has attended his
well-directed efforts, and he has been able to
give his children ten thousand dollars, at
different times. He still owns two hundred
and fifteen acres of fine farming land, and
is at the head of an extensive grain business
in Union City, where he owns two elevators.
While Mr. Parent and his wife were
laboring and prospering six children came to
biess their union, four of whom are now
living: Mrs. Alice Cramer, who is the wife
of a lumber dealer of New Orleans, Louis-
iana, and they have two daughters; Dora,
who is the wife of George A. Lambert, the
latter being at the head of the extensive
Buckeye Factory of Anderson, Indiana,
whose products are chiefly gas engines, and
they have one son and two daughters ; Addie,
who is the wife of Thomas G. Warren, a
machinist of Cleveland , Ohio, and they also
have one son and two daughters; and W. G.,
who has charge of his father's grain busi-
ness in Union City. One son, John, died
August 1 6, 1895, aged twenty-six years,
and a daughter, Mrs. Luella Edgar, died
September 22, 1891, at Colorado Springs,
Colorado, where she had been taken with the
hopes of prolonging her life. Miss Acha
Roe, a daughter of Mr. Parent's sister, has
made her home with our subject and his wife
since she was only four days old.
In looking into the clear eye and strong
countenance of Mr. Parent one would be
led to suppose that every educational advan-
tage had been his portion instead of early
struggles and privations and a continuous
life of hard labor. His estimable wife has
been to him a true helpmeet and the prosper-
ity that has come to them is certainly well-
merited. They are both well-preserved and
in good health and are now enjoying the
fruits of their labors in a beautiful home
near Union City, where they are surrounded
by every comfort and many luxuries.
CHARLES W. RARICK, A. M., M. D.
Dr. Charles Wesley Rarick is numbered
among the native sons of Darke county, his
birth having occurred in Washington town-
ship, on the 9th of December, 1843. His
great-great-grandfather was born at Erbach,
Wittenberg, Germany, in 1722, and in 1749
crossed the Atlantic to America arriving in
Philadelphia on the 2d of September. There
he spent his remaining days, passing away in
1799. He was the father of seven children,
including Henry Rarick, the great-grand-
father of our subject. He was born in the
city which his father had chosen for his
home on arriving in the new world. His
birth occurred in 1755, and he died at his
home west of Dayton in 1819. He had a
family of seven children, one of whom was
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
309
Philip Rarick, who was born in Pennsyl-
vania, in 1774, and died near Sharpeye,
Darke county, Ohio, on the William Ellston
farm, in 1844. Philip Rarick, Jr., the Doc-
tor's father, was born in 1808, and was four
times married, becoming the father of fif-
teen children. He first wedded Miss Sarah
Chenoweth, who was born October 2, 181 1,
and by their union they became the parents
of ten children. By his third wife the father
had five children. Those of the first mar-
riage were: Abraham C, who was born
April 12, 1833. and served in the Civil
war for two years with the rank of second
lieutenant, is now a farmer and cattle-raiser
in Clark county, Iowa; Isaac N., born April
19, 1835, is a practicing physician of Red-
key, Indiana; Jacob J., born May 2, 1837,
was for four years a soldier in the Civil war,
rose to the rank of major, and is now a
teacher and farmer in Lawrence, Kansas;
David H., born February 28, 1839, died six
months later; Adam C, born Juiy 5, 1841,
is a stock-raiser in Clark county, Iowa, where
he owns one thousand acres of land, all of
which except forty-seven acres, he has ac-
cumulated since the close of the Civil war,
in which he served for four years in the
Iowa Volunteer Infantry; Charles W. is the
next of the family; Ira O., born December
23, 1845, ^s a farmer and dairyman in Har-
nsonville, Missouri ; Susanna B., born June
30, 1848, .is the wife of Charles A. More-
house, a farmer of Jay county, Indiana,
living near Hector ; Caroline, born July 20,
1850, is the wife of Samuel L. Roberts, and
in the spring of 1900 they traded a horse
ranch in western Nebraska for a farm near
Dunnville. Indiana, upon which they now
reside; and Catherine, born March 25, 1853,
died at the age of sixteen years. The chil-
dren of the third marriaire were Mrs. Elsie
Green, Mrs. Rosie Tharp, Mrs. Clara Wall,
Mrs. Cora Carbaugh and John, and all are
living near Deerfield, Indiana. The father of
these children died September 1, 1886, and
the Doctor's mother passed away on the 6th
of March, 1863.
Dr. Rarick began his education in the
country schools, which he attended about
thirteen weeks during the winter season.
Throughout the remainder of the year he as-
sisted his father in the operation of the farm,
aiding in clearing and developing two hun-
dred and eighty acres of land. He was thus
engaged at the time of the Civil war, when,
prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he put
aside all personal considerations and on the
28th of August, 1862, joined the volunteer
service of the country, in Company H, One
Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, re-
maining at the front until peace was de-
clared. He participated in thirty battles and
escaped uninjured. His was a very honorable
record, one of which he may well be proud.
After the close of the war the Doctor en-
tered Liber College, near Portland, Indiana,
and there pursued his studies for fourteen
months. After teaching and attending school
until March 11, 1869, he matriculated in Ma-
rietta College and was graduated in 1874,
with the degree of bachelor of arts. Three
years later his alma mater conferred upon
him the degree of master of arts. Subse-
quently the Doctor studied medicine and was
engaged in teaching school for several years.
He was the superintendent of the Ridgeville
school for one year and was known as a suc-
cessful educator, having the ability to im-
part clearly and concisely to others the
knowledge he had acquired. In 1S83 he re-
ceived his diploma as a medical practitioner
and has since been successfully engaged in
practice, having for more than seventeen
310
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
years occupied a suite of rooms over the
Farmers' National Bank in Greenville. He
has been a close student of his profession,
has kept abreast of the times in his work, and
his knowledge of the medical science is com-
prehensive and accurate. ■
On the ioth of March, 1880. was cele-
brated the marriage of Dr. Rarick and Miss
Ella J. Griffin, who was born in Montgomery-
county Ohio, March 17, 1852. One son,
Harry G, was born to them December 12,
1880. and was graduated in the public
scln I' ils of Greenville, in May, 1899. The
family occupy an enviable position in social
circles and enjoy the hospitality of many of
the best homes in the city. The Doctor has
gained enviable prestige in his chosen call-
ing and to-day ranks among the leading rep-
resentatives of one of the most noble and
humane professions to which man can devote
his energies.
SAMUEL PAULIN.
Samuel Paulin, deceased, was born in
Mahoning county, Ohio, May 15, 1822, a
son of Peter Paulin, a native of Pennsylva-
nia and of German origin. In Peter Pau-
lin's family were eleven children, eight sons
and three daughters, of whom Samuel was
the fourth son. He was reared on his fa-
ther's farm and was more or less interested
in farming the greater part of his life.
When a young man lie served an apprentice-
ship to the trade of carpenter. After his
marriage, which event occurred in 1844, he
settled in his native county, where he con-
tinued to reside for five years, coming thence
in 1849 to Darke county and settling at
the "Beach," which was his home six years,
his time during this period being devoted
to contracting and building-. He did as
much work perhaps as any other contractor
in the county, if not more. Country
life then becoming rather monotonous for
him, he moved to Greenville, where, how-
ever, he resided but a year. Then purchasing
a farm in Adams township, he removed with
his family to it, in the year 1861, and here
he passed the rest of his life in agricultural
pursuits. He died October 7, 1895.
Mr. Paulin was a man of many excellent
traits of character. Honorable and upright
in all his dealings, his word was always re-
garded as good as his bond. He was inter-
ested in everything he believed was for the
good of the community in which he lived and
he could he counted upon to support any
worthy enterprise. He was a strong tem-
perance advocate. Formerly a Republican,
he left that party in order to cast his vote
with the Prohibition party, with which he
affiliated up to the time of his death. He
was for fifty-one years a member of the
Evangelical church, in which he was an act-
ive and efficient worker, and for a period of
forty-one years was a reader of the Evangeli-
cal Messenger. Mrs. Paulin is also a devot-
ed member of this church and continues to
take and read the Messenger.
Before her marriage Mrs. Paulin was
Miss Lucinda Martin. She was born in Ma-
honing county, Ohio, May 3, 1826. a daugh-
ter of George and Susan ( Smich ) Martin,
both natives of Maryland, her father by oc-
cupation a farmer. She was the third born
in a family of six children, the other mem-
bers of the family being as follows : Aptill,
who resides on the old homestead in Mahon-
ing county: Neazer, deceased; Harriet, wife
of Solomon Martin, of New Middleton, Ma-
honing county: Lena, deceased; and Lucy,
deceased. Mrs. Paulin is the only one of
the family in Darke county, and she still re
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
311
sides on the farm above referred to in Adams
township, a tract of ninety-two acres, which
is operated by her son. She is the mother of
seven children and her grandchildren and
great-grandchildren now constitute a large
number. Of her children six are still living,
namely : Sarah, who is the wife of Benjamin
Gower, a hotel man of Arcanum, Ohio, and
has three children — James, Edward and
Nannie ; Lucy, who is the wife of Clay Fork-
ertz, of Indianapolis, and has five children —
Bert, John, Harry, Samuel and Walter;
Amos, who married Mary Sentman and lives
in Gettysburg, Ohio, and has one son, Lew-
is, who is married and has one child, Amos
H. ; Nancy, deceased, was twice married,
first, to John Dunn, and after his death to
Phillip Albright, the children by both mar-
riages being deceased ; Calvin, who married
Martha Shuetce and is the father of six
children, two of whom — Lula and Nettie —
are living; and Tobias, who married Molly
"Willis and has had five children, four of
whom are living — Dora, Elsworth, James
and William.
Tobias Paulin resides on the home place
with his mother and conducts the farming
operations.
ELIAS D. SNYDER, M. D.
Among those who devote their time and
energies to the practice of medicine and have
gained a leading place in the ranks of the
profession is Dr. Snyder, of Arcanum, Ohio.
He is a native of Maryland, born on the old
homestead in the beautiful Antietam valley
August 20. 1837, and is of German descent.
His grandfather, Jacob Snyder, was born
near Hagerstown. Washington county,
Maryland, and lived to the age of ninety-
four years, while his wife reached the age of
ninety-two, and her mother, who was a Miss
Wyand before marriage, lived to the ad-
vanced age of one hundred and two years.
He was blind the last thirty years of his
life.
John A. Snyder, the Doctor's father,
was born on the old homestead in Wash-
ington county, Maryland, in 1807, and
married Elizabeth Ann Benner. In 1838
they came to Ohio by wagon with several
other families and stopped for a short time
near Winchester. Preble county. Mr. Sny-
der then purchased a farm of sixty-one
acres west of Dayton in Montgomery coun-
ty and subsequently removed to West Alex-
andria, Preble county, where he lived retired
until his death in 1892. During his long
and useful career he was honored and highly
esteemed by all with whom he came in con-
tact, and was called upon to fill several local
offices. His wife, who was born in 1810,
died in 1890. Both were consistent mem-
bers of the United Brethren church. Their
children were Aaron \V., a resident of Preble
county; Elias D., our subject; Jacob S.. who
served four months in Company F, One
Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, during the civil war, and is now
a resident of Preble county ; and Marietta,
who married Elias Mumma and died in West
Alexandria. Ohio.
It was during his infancy that Dr. Sny-
der was brought by his parents to this state,
and during his early life, spent in Preble
ci >unty, he saw much of the pioneer life of
this section. He attended the country
schools until twenty years of age, and dur-
ing the following ten years successfully en-
gaged in teaching school. Having deter-
mined to enter the medical profession, he
studied under Drs. Huggins & Campbell, of
312
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
West Alexandria, for three years, and then
entered the Ohio Medical College, where he
was graduated with the class of 1872. The
same year he opened an office in Arcanum,
where he has since actively engaged in prac-
tice and has met with marked success. For
four years he was in partnership with Dr.
Donavan Robeson, but with that exception
has been alone.
In 1865 Dr. Snyder was united in mar-
riage with Miss Elizabeth Myers, a native
of Preble county and a daughter of John
and Mary (Russell) Myers, and by this
union was born one child, John Arthur,
who married Emma Gerder and has one
child.
During the dark days of the civil war
Dr. Snyder enlisted as a private in Com-
pany C, One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, for one hundred days'
service, and with his regiment was located
in and about Baltimore. Maryland, until dis-
charged. Religiously he is an active mem-
ber of the United Brethren church. The
Doctor is one of the oldest practitioners in
Darke county. On first coming to Arcanum
he visited many of his country patients on
horseback and sometimes in a light sulky,
as the roads were bad, and he often had to
tie his horse at some point along the road
and walk the rest of the way. His skill and
thorough knowledge of medicine soon won
him the confidence and esteem of the people
and he was not long in building up an ex-
tensive and lucrative practice. A man of
prudent foresight and good business capacity.
he has invested in farming property, and
now has a fine farm of seventy-two acres
in Van Buren township, especially adapted
to tobacco culture. His crop off eight acres
has brought him one thousand dollars in one
season, and in three years he has made three
thousand dollars from the same tract. He
also owns an interest in a farm in West
Alexandria.
ANDREW JACKSON DOWNING.
For a quarter of a century this well-
known and popular druggist has been promi-
nently identified with the business interests
of Hollansburg, and his affairs have been so
managed as to win him the confidence of the
public and the prosperity which should al-
ways attend honorable effort.
A native of Darke county, Mr. Downing
was born in Harrison township, February
9, 1840, and is a son of Robert Jay and In-
diana (BairdJ Downing. He traces his an-
cestry back to Sergeant John Downing, a
native of Ireland, who came to America in
Colonial days and served for eight years in
the colonial war, taking part with Francis
Marion in the battle of Cowpens. He was
born in 1726, anil died in South Carolina
when about seventy years of age. being laid
to rest three miles from the town of Ches-
ter. His son, John, our subject's grandfa-
ther, was born in Chester county, South Car-
olina, December 7, 1776, and died in Harri-
son township, Darke county, Ohio, May 17,
1870. He was a remarkable man physically
and possessed his strength up to the last,
dying of an acute disease of the bladder at
the age of ninety-four years. From South
Carolina he removed to Lexington, Ken-
tucky, and in 181 7 came to New Paris. Ohio.
At one time he owned about a section of
land in this county, having entered the same
at the land office, and paying for it one dollar
and a quarter per acre. Some three hundred
acres of the original tract is still in posses-
sion of the family. He married Margaret
Faris, a native of Ireland, and to them were
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
313
born seven children, five sons and two
daughters, who reached adult age.
Robert J. Downing, the father of our
subject, was born in Bourbon county, Ken-
tucky, and was only two years old when
brought by his parents to Darke county,
Ohio, locating on a tract of government land
in Harrison township. About 1836 he mar-
ried Indiana Baird, of Butler township, this
county, a daughter of John Baird, and to
them were born eleven children, of whom
three sons and five daughters reached man
and womanhood, and five are still fixing,
namely: Andrew J., our subject; Margaret,
wife of Henry Sells, of Hollansburg; Jason;
Ella A., wife of Mark T. Mills, of Ennis,
Ellis county, Texas ; and Amanda E., wife of
A. A. Loudenslager, of Harrison township,
this county. The mother died at the age of
sixty-five years and was buried in New Mad-
ison, and the father died at the age of
seventy-three and was buried in Hollans-
burg.
The boyhood and youth of Andrew J.
Downing was passed upon his father's farm
and he was educated in the district schools
of the neighborhood. On leaving the par-
ental roof at the age of twenty-three years,
he commenced teaching and followed that oc~
cupation for five years. In June, 1875. he
opened a drug store in Hollansburg, and has
since devoted his entire time and attention
to that business, having built up a good trade.
Besides his business property he owns a
pleasant residence in the village which he
has rebuilt.
May 31, 1863, Mr. Downing was unit-
ed in marriage with Miss Rebecca A. Gib-
son, of this county, a daughter of Nathan
Gibson, and to them were born three chil-
dren,namely : Orville A., a farmer of German
township, who is married and has five chil-
dren, four sons and one daughter, Eleanora,
who married George W. Skinner, of Arba,
Indiana, and they have three children; and
Harry H., who died at the age of two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Downing are both active
and faithful members of the Christian
church, of which he is a trustee, and are
held in high regard by all who know them.
He affiliates with the Democratic party, and
has most efficiently served as township
clerk four years, village trustee two years,
and councilman four years. In all the rela-
tions of life he has been found true to every
trust reposed in him, whether public or pri-
vate, and is justly numbered among the
useful and valued citizens of his commu-
nitv.
WILSON S. BOWERS.
Wilson S. Bowers, a prominent contrac-
tor and carpenter residing on the old home-
stead farm in Mississinawa township, Darke
county, Ohio, was born in Twin township,
Preble county, this state, July 14, 1848. His
father, John Bowers, was born in Montgom-
ery county, Ohio, May 6, 18 14, a son of
Samuel and Elizabeth (Emerick) Bowers,
pioneers of this state. Samuel Bowers was
born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, about
1785^ and died near West Alexandria, Preble
county, this state, in 1869. In his fam-
ily were nine children, five sons and four
daughters, all of whom married and with
one exception all reared families of their
own. Only one is now living, George, a
resident of Tippecanoe a unity, Indiana. The
grandfather was a cooper by trade, and was
one of the soldiers who fought against the
Indians at Fort Defiance.
In 1837 John Bowers, the father of our
subject, married Catherine Judy, who was
314
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
born in Rockingham county, Virginia, Jan-
uary 5, 1813, a daughter of Frederick and
Polly (Hoover) Judy, who moved to Preble
county, Ohio, in 1817. Both her parents
died of milk-sickness, and were buried in
one grave at Lewisburg, Ohio. She is the
only one of their seven children now living.
Her sister, Sarah, who was born March 13,
1807, died in November, 1898. After their
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bowers lived on
rented farms in Preble county until Septem-
ber 24, 1857, when they moved to the farm
on section 14, Mississinawa township, Darke
county, now owned by their sons, Cornelius
and Wilson S. In the midst of the forest
they made their home. Wild game was still
plentiful, and Cornelius has a fine pair of
antlers from a noble buck that he and his
father killed in the winter of 1866, it being
the last one killed in this region. For his
farm of one hundred and fifteen acres the
father paid twelve hundred dollars in cash,
which he made by honest toil and strict
economy. Here he died October 25, 1872,
honored and respected by all who knew him,
but the mother is still living and retains her
faculties unimpaired. They had five chil-
dren, namely: Lovey, the wife of John
Briner, a farmer living near the old home-
stead, by whom she has six children : Will-
iam, who died at the age of twenty-seven
years, leaving a wife and one son, Ronert;
Elizabeth, who died at the age of twenty-
four years; Cornelius, who lives on the old
homestead with his mother; and Wilson S.,
our subject.
Wilson S. Bowers was reared in the usual
manner of farmer boys, and received a good
common school education. He remained
a^ his parental home, working much of the
time with his father at the cooper's trade un-
til twenty-six years of age, when he em-
barked in business for himself as a carpenter
and contractor. He has met with success
in this venture, and is today quite well-to-do.
He and his brother have a good farm of
eighty acres, and he also owns an adjoin-
ing" tract of six acres.
On the 25th of May, 1873, Mr. Bowers
was united in marriage with Miss Mary A.
Condon, of Warren county, Ohio, and they
have eight children: John H., who is mar-
ried and lives in Union City, Ohio; William
C, who is working at the carpenter's trade,
with his father; James A., a young widower,
who is learning the carpenter's trade;
and Wilson, Sylvia J., Mary O., Ernest and
Addie. all at home, the youngest being nine
years of age. Like the other members of his
family, Mr. Bowers is a Democrat in poli-
tics, and for seven years he most creditably
and satisfactorily served as trustee of his
township. He is one of the representative
and prominent citizens of his community,
and is highly respected and esteemed by all
who know him.
JOHN STEPHENS.
The subject of this sketch, who through-
out life has been identified with the indus-
trial and agricultural interests of Darke
county, and is now the owner of one of the
best and most desirable farms of its size in
Greenville township, was born in German
township, Darke county, November 11,
1825, a son of David and Lydia (Wagner)
Stephens, early settlers of this county. The
father was a native of Berks county, Penn-
sylvania, and a soldier of the war of 181 2.
The paternal grandfather came to Ohio
about 1818, and settled in Preble county.
John Wagner, the maternal grandfather,
was also a native of Pennsvlvania and an
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
315
early settler of Darke county. Our subject
is the third child and second son in a family
of nine children, the others being : Anna,
widow of Jesse Woods, of German town-
ship, Darke county; Joseph, a resident of
Indiana ; Mary, the widow of John McClure,
of Indiana; Catherine M., the deceased wife
of Eli Armacost, of Washington township ;
Noah and Levi, both deceased ; and Allen
and Isaac, who died during their youth.
John Stephens was reared in his native
township when most of that region was
still wild and unimproved, and his early rec-
ollections are of seeing deer, wolves and
other wild animals of the forest. lie at-
tended the" subscription schools conducted in
a log school-house with a puncheon floor,
and at the age of nineteen commenced serv-
ing an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's
trade at Palestine, Ohio, faithfully putting
in three years at the forge. Subsequently
he spent a short time in Indiana, and on
his return to Darke county located in Neave
township, where he engaged in blacksmith-
ing on his own account for three years. In
1853 he located on the farm in Greenville
township, where he now resides, and opened
a shop upon his place, which he conducted
while his farm was mainly cleared and im-
proved by hired help. It consists of one
hundred and thirty-nine acres, now under a
high state of cultivation and improved with
good and substantial buildings.
Mr. Stephens has been twice married.
February 13, 1851, in Greenville township,
he wedded Miss Maria Dininger, of Darke
county, who died August 15, 1865. Of
the seven children born of this union two
died in infancy, and only four are now liv-
ing, namely: William, who married Miss
Sarah Johnson; Margaret, the wife of II.
S. Bookwalter ; Lewis C, and Lydia, the
wife of John Sando. For his second wife
Mr. Stephens married, October 4, 1868, Ma-
tilda Finfrock, widow of Jacob Risser, and
to them have been born three children :
Alva A., who married Hattie Gurlin; John
C, who married Malinda Johnson; and
Clara, who married Stephen Rose.
Though nominally a Democrat, Mr.
Stephens may be said to be independent in
politics, voting for men and principles rather
than party. Both he and his estimable wife
are members of the Lutheran church, and
have a wide circle of friends and acquaint-
ances in the community where they reside.
CAPTAIN JOHN T. HERSHEY.
John T. Hershey, deceased, was born in
Gettysburg, Darke county, Ohio, August. 16,
1844, and in this little town passed his life,
for many years occupying a leading place
among its representative citizens.
He was a son of Jacob Hershey, who
came with his father from Pennsylvania to
Ohio at an early day and selected a location
in Darke county, where they laid out the
town of Gettysburg, with which they were
identified during the rest of their lives.
Jacob Hershey married Mary McCune, in
Darke county, and John T. was the first
born and only son in their family of three
children. He was reared at Gettysburg.
At the time the civil war broke out he was
yet in his 'teens, but, young as he was, he
was among those who were first to enlist.
He enlisted from Darke county, state of
Ohio, on September 10, 1861, and was mus-
tered into the United States service at Camp
Clark, state of Ohio, on September 12, 1861,
as a private of Company B, Forty-fourth
Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under
Captain J. C. Langston and Colonel S. A.
310
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Gilbert, to serve three years, or during the
Avar. He took part in the battle of Lewis-
burg, West Virginia, May 23, 1862, where
he was severely wounded through the ex-
plosion of a shell; Dutton's Hill, Kentuckv,
and others. He was honorably discharged
January 5, 1864, at Strawberry Plains,
Tennessee, on account of re-enlisting as a
veteran in Company B, Eighth Regiment,
Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, under Captain An-
son N. Thompson and Colonel A. S. Moore,
to serve three years or during the war. The
Eighth Cavalry was assigned to the Second
Brigade, Third Division, Cavalry Corps,
Army of the Potomac, and he participated in
the following engagements, viz : Coving-
ton and Otter Creek, Virginia; Lynchburg,
Liberty, Maryland Heights, Winchester and
Martinsburg, West Virginia; Fisher's Hill,
Winchester, and North Shenandoah valley,
or Lurayj Virginia; Cedar Creek, and Bev-
erly, West Virginia, October 29, 1864, where
he was captured and confined in Libby prison
for about three months and a half, when he
joined his regiment. He was appointed
sergeant February 19, 1865, and commissary
sergeant June 1, 1865. He received his
final discharge July 30, 1865, at Clarksburg,
West Virginia, on account of the close of
the war. Afterward he recruited Company
B, Third Ohio National Guards, and was
made its captain, a position he filled for a
period of eight years, and throughout his
life he took a deep interest in military af-
fairs. For a number of years he was a mem-
ber of the G. A. R.
In many ways he was identified with the
business interests of Gettysburg. He was
at one time the postmaster of the town, also
at various times filled numerous other offices,
and for a number of years previous to his
death was engaged in general merchandis-
ing, conducting a successful business. He
died March 13, 1900. A man of many laud-
able traits of character, generous and unsel-
fish, he had man)- warm friends, and was
respected by all who knew him or in any
way had dealings with him. For many years
he was prominently connected with the
Methodist Episcopal church of Gettysburg,
active in both church and Sunday school,
serving as the superintendent of the latter.
His political affiliations were with the Re-
publican party.
Mr. Hershev's widow, Mrs. Celia Jane
(Hoover) Hershey, resides at the home-
stead in Gettysburg, she being, like her hus-
band, a native of this place. Her father,
Absalom Hoover, was born, reared and mar-
ried in Miami county, Ohio, and from that
place came to Darke county in pioneer days
and established his home in the woods, in
Franklin county, southeast of Gettysburg,
where he acquired the title to one hundred
and sixty acres of land. Shortly after his
settlement here he was killed by a falling
tree. He was a member of the Christian
church, and was an active and efficient
worker in both the church and the Sunday
school, having served as superintendent of
the latter. Politically he was first a Whig
and afterward a Republican. The Hoovers,
originally Quakers, came to Ohio from
North Carolina in the early history
of the Western Reserve. Mrs. Her-
shey's mother, before marriage Sarah
Fatty, was born and reared in Miami
county, Ohio, and her father, David
Patty, like the Hoovers, came to this
state from North Carolina. The Pattys
also were Quakers. Absalom and Sarah
Hoover were the parents of six children,
three sons and three daughters, namely :
Noah, a resident of Adams township, Darke
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
317
county; Bell, deceased; Celia Jane, now
Mrs. Hershey; Charles; Albert, a teacher in
the Union City schools; and Mary, who
died in early life. Mrs. Hershey was reared
in Gettysburg, where she received her edu-
cation in the common schools, and in 1865,
at the close of the civil war, she was united
in marriage to John T. Hershey. Their
union was blessed in the birth of three chil-
dren, as follows: Mabel, the wife of J. L.
Selby, who is the principal of the Green-
ville schools; Wilbur, who died in early life;
and Gertrude, a teacher, residing with her
mother. Mrs. Hershey is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church.
FRANK L. RYAN.
The subject of this sketch, a well-to-do
agriculturist of Greenville township, is a
typical self-made man, and in the following
record of his career there is much to arouse
respect and esteem. He has placed his reli-
ance on industry and perseverance rather
than "luck," and by making the most of cir-
cumstances, however discouraging, he has
made his way to a substantial success.
Mr. Ryan was born March 3, 1840, in the
township where he still makes his home, and
is a son of Rudolph and Ellen (Hamilton)
Ryan. The father was a native of Virginia,
but his early life was passed in Maryland,
and in the early '30s he came to Darke coun-
ty, Ohio, where he died in 1847, at the age
of forty-five years. By trade he was a shoe-
maker and followed his occupation here. His
widow was left with nine children, and with
true motherly devotion she reared them in re-
spectability and inculcated in them the ways
of industry and usefulness. She died in May,
1886. at the age of seventy-five years. The
children of the family still living are : Emily
Gilliam, Mrs. Mary Thorn, Daniel and
Frank L., all residents of Darke county; G.
\V., of Miami county, Ohio; Mrs. Eliza J.
Potter, of Reno county, Kansas; and Mrs.
Amelia Griffin, of Nebraska. William en-
listed during the civil war for three months'
service in the One Hundred and Fifty-sec-
ond Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in
the hospital at New Creek, West Virginia;
and John, who enlisted for three years in
the Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
was seriously wounded and captured at
Chattanooga, and it is supposed he died in
Libby prison, although nothing was heard
of him after being captured.
During his boyhood Frank L. Ryan ob-
tained a very limited education, as his mother
needed his assistance in caring for the fam-
ily. He, too, was one of the "boys in blue"
during the Rebellion, enlisting September
6, 1 86 1, at the age of twenty-one years, in
Company K, Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, for three years. He first went to
Camp Piatt on the Ohio river, and soon af-
terward crossed the river into Virginia,
where his regiment saw much service. He
participated in all of the engagements in
which the regiment took part, numbering
thirty-two in all, including the battles of
Witheville, Virginia, Cloud Mountain, Stras-
burg, and the two engagements at Cedar
Creek and Winchester. At the last men-
tioned place, July 24, 1864, he was captured
just before his term of service expired, and
lor five days he was held within the rebel
lines. One morning he saw his opportunity
to escape, of which he took advantage, creep-
ing away in a ditch full of briars and lying
all day in seclusion near the rebel camp.
That night he walked twenty-one miles, and
fell in with a negro who cared for him
eighteen days, all the time being within gun-
318
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
shot of rebel soldiers on North mountain.
He struck the Union lines at Martinsburg,
Virginia. In the meantime his regiment
had returned to Ohio to be mustered out,
and he followed in time to be mustered out
with them, being discharged at Columbus,
September 13, 1864.
Returning to his home in Darke county,
Mr. Ryan engaged in farming on rented
land for a time, but in 1870 purchased sixty-
two and a half acres in Greenville township,
which he has converted into one of the best
improved farms of that locality. He was
married, January 26, 1865, to Miss Mary
Potter, a daughter of Daniel and Catherine
(Cumerine) Potter, early settlers of Darke
county, their home being the farm on which
our subject now resides. By this union
were born four children, namely : Mary C,
the wife of Owen Curtner, of Hamilton,
Ohio; John D., a prominent salesman of
Dayton, whose wife died leaving two chil-
dren, Agnes and Frankie; Cora, at home
witli her parents; and Minnie, the wife of
William Appenceller, of Greenville. For
many years Mr. and Mrs. Ryan have been
active members of the Coleville Christian
church, and they are held in high regard by
all who know them on account of their ster-
ling worth. Politically he affiliates with
the Republican party, and socially is an hon-
ored member of Jobes Post, G. A. R., of
Greenville, and the Horse Thief Protective
Association, of Darke county.
Daniel Potter, the father of Mrs. Ryan,
was born January 26, 1809, and died Sep-
tember 20, 1862, while his wife was born
December 15, 181 7. and died April 7, 1861.
The)' came to Darke county in early life and
were married there. The}- took an active
part in church work, and were among the
oreanizers of the Christian church in this
county. In their family were the follow-
ing children : William, a resident of Reno
county, Kansas, enlisted as a private in 1861,
i:: Company G, Fortieth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, and passed the grades of promo-
tion to a first lieutenancy. He participated
in many hard-fought battles, and was hon-
orably discharged in 1865. Mrs. Phoebe
Vail is a resident of Oklahoma. ■ John en-
listed in 1862 in Company K, Ninety-fourth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in
the battle of Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 1863.
Jonas died when small. Charlotte and Mrs.
Ryan complete the family.
HENRY M. COLE.
While the disposition to do honor to
those who have served well their race or
their nation is prevalent among all enlight-
ened people and is of great value everywhere
and under all forms of government, it is
particularly appropriate to and to be fostered
in this country, where no man is born to
public office or to public honor, or comes to
either by inheritance, but where all men
are equal before the law. where the race
for distinction is over the road of public
usefulness and is open to every one who
chooses to enter, however humble and ob-
scure he may be, and where the advantageous
circumstances of family or wealth count,
in the vast majority of cases, for but little or
nothing. One who is now occupying an im-
portant position in the system of government
in Darke county, having attained thereto as
the result of individual merit is Henry M.
Cole, who is now serving as common pleas
judge.
He was born upon a farm in this county
on the 17th of March, 1845, a son nf Samuel
Cole, who was born in Washington town-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
319
ship, Darke county, on the old family home-
stead, in 1 82 1. He represented one of the
pioneer families of the locality. The Coles
originally lived in Amsterdam, Holland, but
in what year the family was founded in
America is not definitely known. Samuel
Cole, Sr., the grandfather of the Judge, was
a native of New Jersey and emigrated west-
ward to Darke county, Ohio, at a pioneer
period in its development. He was a man of
broad general information, was popular with
his neighbors and was generous and kind,
being always ready and willing to assist in
securing a location for a new comer, while
his generous hospitality was known far and
wide. He wedded Mary Elston, a native of
Orange county. New York, and upon their
farm in Washington township their son,
Samuel Cole, was reared, Having attained
man's estate he married Miss Nancy C. Cox,
who was born in 'Washington township in
[822, a daughter of Martin Cox, a native
of Pennsylvania.
Henry M. Cole was also reared upon a
farm, his time being largely occupied with
the duties of field and meadow through the
summer months. Throughout the remainder
of the year he pursued his education in the
district schools of the neighborhood, and
under the parental roof he remained until
twenty-one years of age, teaching, however,
in the district schools near his home during
the winter. Not content to follow the plow,
his preference being for professional life,
he read law under the direction of the law
firm of Knox & Sater, of Greenville, and
later attended the law school in Cincinnati,
Ohio, in which he was graduated in the class
of 1869. The same year he was admitted
to the bar and at once entered upon the prac-
tice of his profession. During the first eleven
years of his connection with the legal fra-
19 &
ternity he practiced in partnership with
Judge A. R. Calderwood, of Greenville, now
deceased. He rose steadily, step by step,
as he demonstrated his ability to success-
fully cope with the intricate problems of
jurisprudence and soon won a large and dis-
tinctively representative clientage.
In 1879 Judge Cole married Miss Eliza-
beth Porter, of Greenville, a daughter of
John W. Porter, a native of Montgomery
county, Ohio, and they have always main-
tained their residence in this city, where
they have a large circle of friends. So-
cially the Judge is connected with Greenville
Lodge, No. 195, I. O. O. F. During the
war of the Rebellion he manifested his
loyalty to his country by enlisting in an
Ohio regiment, in which he served his c< mn-
try faithfully and well until the close of hos-
tilities, when he was honorably discharged.
He is now a member of Jobes Post, G. A. R.,
of Greenville. Politically he cast in his lot
with the Republican party and has labored
effectively in its interests. In 1897 he was
nominated on that ticket as the candidate for
judge of the common pleas court and was
elected by a handsome majority for a term of
five years, over J. C. Elliott, the Democratic
candidate, the district being composed of the
counties of Preble, Darke, Miami, Clark and
Champaign. He possesses good legal talent,
is a close student and is devoted to his pro-
fession. While practicing at the bar he ap-
plied himself diligently to the preparation
and trial of cases and to the handling of the
legal matters entrusted to his care. His
industry and integrity brought him the con-
fidence of the community and a large prac-
tice made his professional career a success.
Endowed with these qualifications, which are
combined with an agreeable address and
methodical and regular habit.-, promotion to
3:20
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his present position of honor and confidence
became a matter of course. Judge Cole at-
tends to his judicial duties with careful at-
tention to detail and a total disregard of
self, seeming to be animated only by a de-
sire to discharge his duty with fairness and
impartiality. He is also well versed in gen-
eral literature and is a polished, conscientious
gentleman.
CHARLES BEERS, M. D.
Among the prominent and successful
physicians of Darke county, Ohio, is Dr.
Charles Beers, of Painter Creek! who has
spent his entire life in this county, his birth
occurring in Greenville, May 11. 1S72.
There he grew to manhood and acquired his
literary education in its public schools, which
he attended until eighteen years of age. He
then commenced the study of medicine, un-
der Dr. J. H. Spitter, of Greenville, with
whi im he remained eighteen months, and
then entered the Ohio Medical College at
Cincinnati, at which he was graduated with
the class of 1896. Immediately after his
graduation he opened an office at Painter
Creek, and has met with marked success in
the prosecution of his chosen profession, it
being said that he has as large a practice as
any physician in Darke county. He is
strictly self-made as to his attainments, as he
borrowed the money to pay for his tuition
at college, and is deserving of the highest
commendation for the success that he has
achieved. He was reared in the Methodist
faith and as a Democrat, but is liberal in his
political views.
On the 24th of November, 1898, Dr.
Beers Mas united in marriage with Miss
Alma, a daughter of Harvey H. and Henri-
etta V. Bireley, of Painter Creek.
AARON A. IRELAN.
It is now our privilege to enter a brief re-
view of the career of one of the venerable and
honored pioneer citizens of Darke county,
and the province of a compilation of this
nature is most perfectly realized in offering
a resume of such character. Aaron Abel
Irelan. who is a resident of Hollansburg,
Harrison township, is a native son of the
Buckeye state, having been born in Monroe
township, Preble county, on the 12th of
September, 1818, the son of Moses Irelan,
who removed from Cincinnati to Preble
county about 18 16. He was born in Pennsyl-
vania, September 15, 1790, and his death oc-
curred November 22, 1872. His father was
Aaron Irelan, of an old and long-lived
Pennsylvania family. Ail of his brothers
and sisters except one lived to advanced age,
his death being the result of an accident, as
he was killed by a horse, when about fifty
years of age. Grandfather Irelan removed
from New Jersey to Pennsylvania and thence
to Cincinnati, and he died in Coleraine town-
ship. His widow subsequently married a
man named Robinson, and she died of par-
alysis, at the age of eighty years.
Moses Irelan married Hester Abel, who
accompanied a family named Beten from
New Jersey to Ohio when a child of seven
years, in 1808. She was born in 1799 and
her marriage to Mr. Irelan was c< msum-
mated when she was sixteen years of age. Of
their ten children we make record as fol-
lows: Polly, wife of George Painter, died,
leaving five children; Aaron A. is the subject
of this sketch; Dorcas was three times mar-
ried and she died at the age of seventy-two,
leaving three children ; Ephraim died young ;
Hettie and Jane have both passed away, each
leaving children; and the three others of
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
821
the family died in infancy. The mother died
in 1837, and the father was again married,
one child being the issue of this union. He
died November 22, 1872, as before noted.
Aaron A. Irelan was reared in the forests
of the pioneer farm and he early became in-
ured to hard work, aiding in the reclaiming
and cultivation of the old homestead. He re-
mained with his parents until he had reached
the age of twenty-five years, after which he
engaged in huxtering for four years, begin-
ning his independent career without cash or
credit. In 1845 ne engaged in the general
merchandise trade in Hollansburg, continu-
ing this enterprise until 1852, when he de-
termined to resume the pursuits to which he
had been reared, and since then he has been
very successful in his farming operations,
having owned at one time six hundred and
seventy-five acres, of which he still retains
two hundred and forty acres of the most de-
sirable and best cultivated land in the coun-
ty. Though he has operated so extensively
in the agricultural line he has continued to
hold his mercantile interests until quite re-
cently, when he disposed of the same.
On the 1 8th of October, 1841, Mr.
Irelan was united in marriage to Miss Phcebe
Tillson, and they have had nine children,
namely : The first born was a son, who died
in infancy; Josephine died at the age of five
years; Norman Tillson is engaged exten-
sively in farming and stock-raising, utilizing
his father's farm and also his own place, of
one hundred and sixty acres; he is married
and has seven children; James died young;
Isaiah died at the age of twelve years and
George at the age of five; William A., a suc-
cessful teacher, died in April, 1900, at the
age of thirty-nine years, leaving a wife and
three children; Cora Belle is the wife of
Samuel Williams, of Greenville, and has four
sons; and Leona is the wife of O. S. Down-
ing and has five children. The Tillson family
is of good old New England stock, the orig-
inal representatives having come to America
in the Mayflower. Aaron Irelan, grand-
father of our subject, was a son of Dayton
Irelan, who came to America from England
prior to the Revolution, and his brother, who
came with him, was taken prisoner and taken
back to England, returning to the United
States after the close of the war. Dayton
Irelan married Dorcas Buck, of New Jersey,
and they have five sons and five daughters,
all of whom attained adult age and were mar-
ried in Ohio. The present generation of the
Irelan family is the eighth in line from the
original American progenitor.
Mr. Irelan is a Master Mason, having
been identified with this time-honored fra-
ternity for many years, and in politics he
renders allegiance to the Democratic party,
having served as township trustee for the
lo ig term of fifteen years and having also
held the office of justice of the peace for a
similar period. Mrs. Irelan is a member of the
Christian church.
Rev. Hosea Tillson, an uncle of Mrs.
Irelan, was born November 24, 1810, and is
still living, being a resident of Bethel, Indi-
ana. He was the tenth child of Luther and
Mehitable Tillson, who removed from
Woodstock, Connecticut, to Cincinnati, in
1802, and later to Butler county, Ohio, near
the present site of Somerville, and there
Hosea was born. In 18 17 the family re-
moved to Darke county, near the Indiana
line, and here, amid the perils and vicissi-
tudes of pioneer life, he grew to manhood.
At the age of twenty-one years he married
Jane A. Anderson, of Bethel, with whom he
lived twenty-three years. They reared one
son. Reuben, who was a merchant, and at
322
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
present postmaster of Hollansburg. After
the death of his first wife Mr. Tillson mar-
ried Margaret Harlan, of Bethel, and their
married life has extended over a period of
forty years. They are the parents of three
daughters. The Rev. Mr. Tillson is a sound
Bible student and an unswerving advocate of
truth and virtue. In his patriarchal age he
has the veneration of all who know him. His
father was for six years a sailor on the ocean
ami related many interesting tales of adven-
ture and peril. Rev. Mr. Tillson has been a
licensed preacher in the Christian church for
sixty-two years. He settled in Bethel in
1866 and was an elder in the church for
thirty-six years. He lived close to the Indi-
ana line and became very popular as "the
marrying parson."
Though for many years Mr. Irelan has
been in somewhat impaired health, he has
nevertheless been a most active and energetic
business man, having shown a mature judg-
ment and due conservatism in the conduct of
his large interests. He is animated by the
most absolute integrity of purpose and de-
spises intrigue and dishonesty in every form.
His vig >n >us intellect would have insured
him success in any field of endeavor, and
though now an octogenarian he has more the
appearance of a man of sixty. He is recog-
nized as the leading citizen of Hollansburg,
and his friends are in number as his ac-
quaintances.
JACOB L. HERCULES.
Upon a farm on sections 25 and 26, Al-
len township, Jacob Le Fevre Hercules is
now successfully carrying on agricultural
pursuits, and the well tilled fields indicate
his progressive methods and capable man-
agement. He was born in Warren county,
Ohio, February 8, 18 18, a son of William
Hercules, whose birth occurred in New Jer-
sey, July 24, 1786, and who in 1796 became
a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. The grand-
father, William Hercules, was born in Scot-
land, about 1730, and after emigrating to
Xew Jersey, was there married to Amy
Groves. He reared two sons and five
daughters, the former being William James,
who was born in 1786, and lived in Darke
county for many years, dying in Kokomo,
Indiana, at an advanced age ; and Samuel.
The grandfather died about 1828, at the age
of ninety-six years. He was by trade a
weaver of fine fabrics, including silks and
linens. During the Revolutionary war he
loyally served in the colonial army, and at
the close of hostilities took his musket home
with him, and the barrel and a portion of
the stock are now in the possession of our
subject. The grandfather never became a
wealthy man, but was a farmer in comfort-
able circumstances. His remains were in-
terred in Muddy Creek graveyard, in War-
ren count}', Ohio, and his wife, who died
when about ninety years of age, was laid to
rest in Ithaca cemetery, in Darke county.
The father of our subject died January
21, 1868, at the age of eighty-one years.
He wedded Elizabeth French, who was born
March 7, 1793, and was a twin sister of Da-
vid French. Their marriage took place about
1 812, soon after the close of the father's
service in the war of 1812. Their first child,
David Hercules, was born October 4, 18 14,
was married and had four daughters and
two sons, and died in York township, Darke
county, in his fortieth year. Amy. the sec-
ond child, born in 1816, was married in
1835 to William Bolvy, and they had four
sons. Her death occurred July 1, 1898.
James Hercules, born in 1817, died in 1893.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
323
He was twice married and had six children.
Jacob L. is the next of the family. Mary,
born in 1820, became the wife of Abner
Colby, and had two sons and four daugh-
ters. Her death occurred March 2$, 1887.
Catherine, born in 1822, married Arthur J.
Wheeler, and died October 26, 1846. Philip,
born September 17, 1823, died near Rose
Hill. William Hercules, born July 3, 1825,
is living in Livingston county, and has two
sons and two daughters that yet survive.
Christopher, born April 3, 1827, lost an
arm in the war of the Rebellion, and is now
serving as a deputy sheriff at Pontiac, Illi-
nois. Elizabeth Jane, born in 1829, died at
the age of nine years. Margaret, born in
1 83 1, died in 1836. Sarah Ann, born in
1833, is now acting as the housekeeper for
a minister's family in Minnesota. Samuel
died in infancy. The mother of these chil-
dren passed away about 1838, and the father
afterward married Mrs. Hamilton, a widow.
Jacob L. Hercules, whose name intro-
duces this review, was reared to farm life
and received no educational privileges. He
was married August 15, 1843. t0 Mary Ann
Heathorn, who was born in Hamilton coun-
ty, Ohio, February 11, 1832, a daughter of
George and Margaret (Bonham) Heathorn.
Mr. and Mrs. Hercules settled at once on
their farm in a little log cabin in the midst
of the forest. He secured the lease of one
hundred and sixty acres, agreeing to clear
forty acres and to divide the crops for five
years. During that time he purchased a
quarter-section, paying for it over six hun-
dred dollars. The nearest houses were a
mile or two distant. Mr. Hercules has
cleared the heavy timber from one hundred
acres of land, and is today the owner of
four farms, comprising three hundred and
thirtv-five acres. He resided in his cabin
home from 1843 until 1868, when he erected
and moved into his present residence. He
has made excellent improvements on his
land, and is an enterprising farmer.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hercules have been
born six children : Mrs. Sarah Jane Wil-
liamson, a widow living in Allen township
who has six children ; Mrs. Mary Ann Ber-
ry, who has one son and one daughter, and
whose husband is a farmer in Allen town-
ship; Margaret Eliza, the wife of Mr. Mi-
chael, of Allen township, by whom she has
two daughters and one son ; Mrs. Frances C-
Michael, whose husband is a farmer in Wa-
bash township, and who has two daughters
and three sons; Emma L., now the wife of
Mr. Beam, of Brown township, by whom
she has five sons and three daughters; and
William, who died in infancy. Mr. Hercules
is a Republican in his political affiliations.
His has been a busy and industrious life,
and all that he has achieved is the result of
his own labors.
DANIEL H. RYAN.
Daniel H. Ryan, one of the honored vet-
erans of the civil war, and a well-known
farmer of Greenville township, is" a native
of Darke county, born in 1843, an^ a son
of Rudolph and Ellen (Hamilton) Ryan,
natives of Virginia, who came to this coun-
ty at an early day and settled in Greenville
township. Further mention is made of this
worthy couple in the sketch of Frank L.
Ryan on another page of this volume.
Our subject was reared on a farm and
received a common school education. On
the 24th of August, 1862, he enlisted in
Company F, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, which was assigned to the Army
of the Cumberland under the command of
324
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
General Grant. The regiment was drilled
and equipped at Piqua, Ohio, and partici-
pated in the battles of Perryville, Stone
River, Resaca, Chickamauga, Louisville.
Missionary Ridge and Lookout mountain ;
in fact, taking part in all the engagements
of that memorable campaign, numbering
thirty-two. They were with Sherman on
the march to the sea; were in the battles of
Jonesboro and Savannah and the Can 'Una
campaign, including the battles of Bentnn-
ville and Averysboro ; and took part in the
grand review at Washington, D. C. Mr.
Ryan was twice slightly wounded, being hit
in the left hand by a spent ball at Chicka-
mauga. and was honorably discharged at
Columbus, Ohio, in 1865.
Returning to his home in Darke county,
Mr. Ryan has since engaged in farming.
In 1868 he married Catherine Butt, a daugh-
ter of Otto Butt, and to them have been
bi 'rn six children : Leonora, Ella, Omer,
Lilly, Raymond and Maude. Mr. Ryan is a
stanch Republican in politics, and is a mem-
ber of Jobes Post, No. 152, G. A. R.
PRICE McGRIFF.
A wide-awake and progressive farmer
actively connected with the agricultural in-
terests of Darke county for many years, Mr.
McGriff is now living retired, enjoving a
rest which he has truly earned and richly
deserves. He has reached the eightieth
mile-stone of life's journey, and his record
is an honorable one, well deserving mention
in this volume. He was born August 18,
1820, just over the line in Preble county. His
father, Patrick McGriff, was born in Vir-
ginia in 1786, and died in Preble county in
1854. The grandfather, Thomas McGriff,
was a native of Ireland, and was of Scotch-
Irish lineage. He and his brother, together
w ith two comrades, were held prisoners by
the Indians for some time in the colonial
epoch of our country's history, but one
night while the guards were asleep all suc-
ceeded in escaping with the exception of
one. They suffered many trials and dan-
gers trying to return to their homes, but at
length reached safety in Virginia.
On leaving the Old Dominion the fa-
ther removed to Tennessee, and afterward
to Ohio, coming to this state when the town
site of Cincinnati was entirely unimproved
save by a little blacksmith shop. Mr. Mc-
Griff located on rented land between the
big and Little Miami rivers, and in 181 1 be-
gan the development of a farm in the midst
of the forest in Preble county. He was mar-
ried in Virginia to a Miss Atkins, and they
had a large family of eleven children, five
sons and six daughters, all of whom were
married and all of whom had children with
one exception. Richard is probably the only
surviving member of this family. The
grandfather died about 1828, leaving a claim
consisting of a quarter-section of land. He
was a survivor of his wife for several years,
her death having occurred about 183 1. She
was a woman of resolute and noble nature,
well-fitted to brave the hardships of pioneer
life.
Patrick McGriff, the father of our sub-
ject, paid for his grandfather's claim, and
there made his home through a long period.
He married Elizabeth Price, who was born
in Virginia, about 1782, and in 1809, in
Preble county, Ohio, became the wife of Mr.
McGriff. The father of our subject served
as a soldier in the war of 1812, and accu-
mulated a good property, owning nearly an
entire section of land in Ohio and Indiana,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
325
besides considerable valuable personal prop-
erty. He died in 1854, and bis wife passed
away ten years later, their remains being
interred in the churchyard near Manches-
ter, Ohio, This worthy couple became the
parents of six sons and three daughters, who
reached mature years and with one exception
were married, John having died at the age
of sixteen years. Wear died at the age of
thirty-three, leaving a wife and six chil-
dren. Rachel became the wife of Joseph
Clark and died about 1886. Price is the
next of the family. Alfred, of Twin town-
ship, has three living children. Patrick
died of typhoid fever in 1855, leaving four
children. Phcebe Guard, born about 1827,
died about 1892, survived by four of her
six children. Andrew Jackson resides near
New Madison, and has four children. Eliz-
abeth died in July, 1899, at the age of sixty-
eight years. Parker C. is a farmer near Ar-
canum, and has three living children.
The educational privileges which Price
McGriff received were very limited. He
pursued his studies in a little log cabin, fit-
ted up with puncheon seats, but though he
did not spend much time over text-books, he
has gained a practical knowledge that well
fitted him for his business affairs. As a
companion and helpmeet on life's journey he
chose Miss Jane Mullenix, the wedding
taking place on the 10th of April, 1845. She
was born in Twin township, Darke county,
in 1827, and is a daughter of Philbert and
Mary (McDonald) Mullenix. Her parents
were farming people and came from Penn-
sylvania to Ohio with their respective fam-
ilies at an early date. In their family were
six daughters and a son, of whom four are
now living: Jesse, a retired farmer of But-
ler township; Mrs. McGriff; Margaret, now
Mrs. Harriman, a widow of Davton; and
Mary, the wife of William Price, of Darke
county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. McGriff have been
born seven children : John B. W., who had
seven children and died in 1881, at the age
of forty years; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of
Wesley Mellin, of Preble county, by whom
she has six children, including twin sons
whose likeness to each other is very strong;
Jesse A., a farmer of Butler township, who
has been twice married; William P., a
farmer of Butler township, who has three
sons and a daughter; Phcebe Jane, the wife
of Jacob Wolverton, and the mother of Dr."
Wolverton, of Castine; Samantha A. Mc-
Lear, of Indiana, who has a son and daugh-
ter; and Cordelia, the wife of Calvin Brad-
dock, of West Manchester, by whom she
has one daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. McGriff began their do-
mestic life empty-handed. He operated his
father's farm and other lands until he was
enabled to purchase property of his own.
becoming the owner of eighty acres on which
a few improvements had been made, includ-
ing the erection of a small log house. The
purchase price was one thousand and
fifty dollars, and of this he paid twelve
hundred dollars down. From his fa-
ther's estate he received twelve hundred dol-
lars, but later in life he lost through one
debt twelve hundred and thirty dollars, so
that all he has has been acquired by himself.
He at one time was the owner of three farms,
comprising altogether five hundred acres.
He had three hundred and twentv acres in
the old home place, and still owns two hun-
dred acres of this. Pie has found greater
profit in the raising of corn and hogs than
in any other department of farm work,
though he has also raised wheat extensively.
frequently having from ten to twelve hun-
326
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
dred bushels in a season. His corn he
feeds to his stock, and one year his drove of
eighty head of hogs brought him sixteen
hundred dollars. His farm has long been
in the possession of the McGriff family, it
having been the property of John McGriff,
the father of the famous twins, John and
Richard McGriff. It was in 1813 that he
built his log cabin here, and the present home
was erected by Richard McGriff, one of the
twins, nearly fifty years ago. Our subject
has accumulated the property for thirty-four
years, and has made it a very valuable tract
of land. In politics he is a Democrat, but
has never been an aspirant for office, al-
though he has served the township as su-
pervisor and trustee. He. is now well ad-
vanced in years, and is living retired, enjoy-
ing a rest which he has truly earned and
greatly deserves. Straightforward in all
his dealings and upright in every relation of
life, lie certainly deserves mention among
the representative citizens of Darke county.
SAMUEL ROSS KEMBLE.
The journalistic interests of Darke
county number among other representatives
the gentleman whose name introduces this
review. He is well known as the editor and
proprietor of the Daily and Weekly Trib-
une. The daily was founded by him in
1890, and in 1802 the weekly was begun by
him. He is well fitted for his present work
by practical knowledge of the "art preserva-
tive," as well as by editorial ability.
Mr. Kemble was bom in Salem, New
Jersey, September 19, 1847, and spent his
childhood in that city. In 1854 he came
to Greenville, where he attended the public
schools until he put aside text-books in order
to learn the printing business. His knowl-
edge of the newspaper business is therefore
supplemented by a thorough course in the
printing office. After the civil war broke
out. and before completing his apprentice-
ship, he enlisted and served as a soldier un-
til the rebellion closed. He was employed
at divers times as a compositor on a number
of leading newspapers in different cities of
the United States.
Mr. Kemble is a writer of force and
ability, clear and concise in his expressions,
and presents his ideas with precision. He
has an extensive acquaintance with many
public met , and possesses those qualities
w Inch render him popular with all circles.
The Tribune was first founded in Ar-
canum, Darke county, in 1880, and pub-
lished there weekly for nearly ten years. The
office was then moved to Greenville, and in
1890 the Daily Tribune, the first daily news-
paper established in Greenville, was first is-
sued. The publication of the Weekly Trib-
une was resumed in 1892, and both editions
have been continued ever since, growing in
popularity and steadily increasing in circula-
tion and patronage.
In 1871 Mr. Kemble was united in mar-
riage to Miss Theodosia B. Calderwood. the
youngest daughter of the late Judge A. R.
Calderwood, a prominent attorney of Green-
ville. Four children were born to them —
Charles Ross, Georgiana, Bessie and Alice — ■
the last named dying in infancy.
TOHN W. McKAY.
Numbered among; the honored veterans
of the war of the Rebellion and as a repre-
sentative of that noble rank and file which
is so rapidly being decimated by the ravages
of time, stands Mr. McKay, who is now
living a comparatively retired life at Hoi-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
327
lanshurg, Darke county, where lie is well
known and highly honored, being particu-
larly deserving of representation in this vol-
ume.
Mr. McKay is a native of Indiana, hav-
ing been born in Wayne county, on the 12th
of July, 1841, the son of James W. McKay,
'who was born in Waterford, Erie county,
Pennsylvania, in 181 7, and who died there
in 1893, having lived to attain a venerable
age and having passed away in the fullness
of years and honors. His father was a na-
tive of Scotland, whence he emigrated to the
United States, where he reared his family
of children. The maiden name of our sub-
ject's mother was Rachel Reed, and she is
likewise a native of the old Keystone state,
having been born in Elizabethtown, Alle-
gheny county, Pennsylvania, on the 1 8th of
February, 1818. She is still living, being in
her eighty-third year at the time of this
writing, and is well preserved, having been
a woman of' marked mental and physical
vigor, and now resting secure in' the love
and veneration of all who have come within
the sphere of her influence and gentle char-
acter. The family has been notable for
longevity, her father. John Reed, having at-
tained the age of ninety-four years and his
death occurred more than half a century
ago. He was one of the pioneers of this
section of Ohio, whither he came from Penn-
sylvania. Her grandfather, John Reed,
was a soldier in the war of the Revolution,
and was a cousin of the famous General
Wayne, whose deeds of intrepid valor gained
to hiin the title of "Mad Anthony."
The parents of our subject were married
about the year 1837, and they became the
parents of five children, of whom the only
survivors are John W., subject of this re-
view, and his brother, William Roland Mc-
Kay. The father was a tailor by trade, and
he devoted his attention to this line of work
for somewhat more than a decade in his
early manhood, after which he was en-
gaged in other lines of occupation. For
several vears he was with the VanAmburg
circus, celebrated in the old days, having
been treasurer of the same and having been
a man of conspicuous business and executive
ability. His death occurred about the year
1802.'
John W. McKay apprenticed himself at
the painter's trade when thirteen years of
age. his training in this line being secured
at Richmond, Indiana, where he served for
three years under the direction of his uncle,
George W. Beard, who was an artist of re-
nown, having painted the well-known pic-
tures reproduced in the illustration of "Para-
dise Lost" and "Pilgrim's Progress." Our
subject continued to work as an artist and
ac the painter's trade until ten years ago,
when he practically retired from active busi-
ness. When the cloud of civil war spread
across the national horizon Mr. McKay was
one of the first to take up arms in defense of
the Union, enlisting for service at the first
call, in April, 1861, for three months. His
is the signal, distinction of having been the
first man to enlist from this section -of the
state, and his military career is one which
will bear to his name a perpetual honor as
one of the brave defenders of the nation.
He served during practically the entire pe-
riod of the war, having been out for four
years and seven months, and having been
in five different commands — first in Com-
pany K, Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry;
second, in Company F, Fortieth Ohio In-
fantry; third, was transferred to the Vet-
eran Reserve Corps. Company H. Second
Regiment, from which he was discharged
328
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
on account of physical disability ; fourth, he
re-enlisted as a member of Company I,
Eighty- fourth Indiana Infantry; and, fifth,
was transferred to Company K, of the
Fifty-seventh Indiana Infantry, being dis-
charged January 15, 1866. He was twice
in service as a non-commissioned officer,
was always faithful and to be found at the
post of duty, and while he escaped the leaden
missiles of death and the horrors of the Con-
federate prisons, his health was shattered by
the exposures and constant duties at the
front, and he was confined in the hospitals
at various times. He was in numerous en-
gagements and was a valiant soldier of the
Republic, well meriting the recogniton which
is accorded him by the government in the
way of a pension. He has kept alive his
interest in and association with his old com-
rades in arms by identification with the
Grand Army of the Republic, having per-
sonally brought about the organization of
Sackman Post, No. 618, at Hollansburg, of
which he served as commander. To his re-
gret this post was disbanded about 1895,
while he was an inmate of the National Sol-
diers' Home, at Dayton.
In politics Mr. McKay is a Democrat,
and his personal popularity has been at-
tested by his having been called upon to
serve in offices of public trust and respon-
sibility. He has been president of the board
of village trustees, and at other times has
held membership in the village council, being
at all times interested in all that concerns
the public welfare and the legitimate im-
provement of the village. Mr. and Mrs.
McKay are active and devoted members of
the Christian church. In the year 1893
they took up their abode in their present
snug and attractive little home, and though
his health is much impaired, as the result of
his military service, Mr. McKay maintains
a cheerful attitude, and is appreciative of the
pleasures which come to him through divers
sources, taking particular pleasure in his
garden and among his fine poultry, of which
he is a genuine fancier, and in which line
he has recently engaged in breeding quite
extensively, employing a well-equipped incu-
bator in the business.
JOSEPH BRYSOX.
Joseph Bryson is a representative of one-
of the oldest families of Darke county. His-
father. James Bryson, deceased, was one of
the pioneers of Darke county, and in the
history of this section of the state no name
figures more frequently or honorably than
does his. His life record was so closely
interwoven with the annals of this section of
the state that the Ohio volume would be in-
complete without his history, and it is
therefore with pleasure that we present it
to our readers. Mr. Bryson was born near
Hagerstown, Maryland, May 21, 1786, and
at the age of four years removed with his
parents to Bedford county, Pennsylvania,
wdiere he was reared to manhood. His ad-
vantages in early life were such as were en-
joyed by the sons of frontiersmen in 1816-
When yet unmarried he came to Darke
county, and in 1816 entered a tract of land
from the government, the same upon which
his son Joseph, now his only surviving son,.
yet resides.
In 1 81 7 James Bryson was married to
Rachel ( Creviston) Rush, a representative
of one of the pioneer families of Ohio, her
parents being Nicholas and Cynthia Crevis-
ton, who located near Chillicothe, in 1799.
Her father died in Ross county, in 1801.
After his marriage Mr. Bryson took up his
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
329<
abode upon his farm on section 9, Green-
ville township, and in 1820 he entered an-
other tract of land from the government.
Removing" to the new farm, he there lived
throughout the remainder of his life, pass-
ing away on the 20th of March, 1863. He
was a self-made man, and the success which
he achieved was due entirely to his own ef-
forts. Hediad only three hundred dollars
when he came to Darke county, but at the
time of his demise was the possessor of a
comfortable competence. In politics he took
a very active interest, recognizing and fully
meeting the duties and obligations of citi-
zenship. He voted with the Whig party in
early life, and on the formation of the Re-
publican party in 1856 he joined its ranks.
He held the office of justice of the peace,
was county commissioner, served as associate
judge for seven years, and in 1843-4 was
a member of the state assembly. A man of
strong mentality and keen discernment, he
kept well informed on the issues of the day.
abreast of the times in every particular, and
was a representative citizen. In educa-
tional matters he was particularly interested
and the public schools found in him a warm
friend and an earnest champion. Although
not a member of any orthodox church, he
lived according to the Golden Rule, observ-
ing always the highest principles of life.
Of his six children two survive — Joseph
and Eliza — who live together upon the old
homestead. The deceased are as follows :
Morris, who died in Darke county, in De-
cember, 1897; Mary Ann. who became the
wife of Henry Teegarden, and died De-
cember 16, 1854; Rachel Jane, who became
the wife of Jared Poffenbarger and died
March 10, 1898; and James Harvey, who
resided in Osage county, Kansas, and died
December 12, 1890. The mother was
called to her final rest February 14, 1855,
at the age of seventy-one years, her birth
having occurred in Bedford county, Penn-
sylvania, in 1784. When fifteen years of
age she rode horseback from Pennsylvania
to Chillicothe, Ohio. This was in the year
1799. She was one of the noble pioneer
women, whose influence has been must
marked in the development and upbuilding
of the state. Of deep religious convictions,
she was a member of the New Light church
and did all in her power to promote the cause
of Christianity among those wth whom she
was associated in her daily life. Her first
husband was Henry Rush, with whom she
came to the county in 1810. He died
within less than a decade. By that marriage
she had five children, three of whom reached
mature years, namely : William, who died
in 1868; Lemuel, who died in April, 1880;
and Thomas, who died in 1841. James died
in 18 14, and the daughter, Maria, became
the wife of Daniel Snell and died in Darke
county, in 185 1.
On the Bryson farm was located the In-
dian village of Prophetstown, which also
included the adjoining farms, and the coun-
cil house was situated where Mr. Bryson's
orchard is now planted. Of this Joseph
Bryson has a boyhood recollection, having
during his youth pulled from the ground
some of the posts of which the council house
was constructed. The burying ground was
on the Bishop farm, though there were inter-
ments on the Bryson farm. Blue Jacket, a
Shawnee chieftain, was buried on a little
knoll near where the council house stood,
and along the hillside Indian bones were
frequently found. On one occasion Air.
Bryson's father observed a hog busy with
something and on investigation found it to
be a skull filled with nuts which were stored
330
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
therein by a squirrel. It is not certainly
known that Tecumseh lived in this locality,
but his brother, the prophet, here made his
home. In 1815 Airs. Bryson, the mother of
Joseph Bryson, witnessed a shocking cere-
monial of the Indians who returned to visit
the grave of -Blue Jacket, the noted chief-
tain. The)- held very queer funeral rites
according to their tribal custom. They par-
ticularly requested that the plow never be
run over the grave of Blue Jacket, saying,
"he good Indian." It is supposed that Blue
jacket was poisoned, a statement to that
effect being made at Fort Rush, where an
Indian in reply to a question as to what
caused Blue Jacket's death made a move-
ment to indicate that Blue Jacket had taken
a pill and soon afterward died.
Joseph Bryson is a well-known and hon-
ored representative of a pioneer family and
was born on the old homestead, November
30, 1 82 1, and there his boyhood days were
passed amid the wild scenes of frontier life.
His education was limited to such advan-
tages as the subscription schools afforded.
He pursued his studies for a few months
each year, from 1832 until 1838. He was
early inured to the arduous labors of the
farm, and remained with his parents until
they were carried to the home beyond. By
his own efforts he prepared himself for
teaching, and followed that profession dur-
ing the winter months, from 1846 until
1864. Besides acquiring a knowledge of
the branches taught in the common schools,
he familiarized himself with a number of
the sciences, including astronomy, geology
and higher mathematics. In the summer of
1864 he enlisted in Company D, One Hun-
dred and Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, in
which he served for four months. He was
at once sent to the front, and was with Gen-
eral Hunter's army before Lynchburg, Vir-
ginia. He passed through the renowned
Shenandoah valley, witnessing the destruc-
tion of Governor Letcher's home and the
Washington Military Institute at Lexington,
Virginia. He participated in several sharp
skirmishes while guarding the supply train
of the armv. At Greenbrier Gap, Virginia,
they were engaged by the enemy, and Mr.
Bryson was saved from instant death by his
canteen and belt, a ball striking and piercing
the canteen ; it sent him reeling a distance of
ten feet before he could recover, but the
belt stopped the bullet. On the expiration
of his term of service be was honorably dis-
charged and returned to his home in Septem-
ber, 1864, with the rank of orderly.
Since that time Mr. Bryson has remained
on the old farmstead, where his entire life
has been passed, and to its cultivation and im-
provement he devotes his energies, having
there a valuable and desirable property. His
life has been a busy and useful one. In po-
litical affiliations he is a stanch Republican
since the organization of the party, previous
1. 1 which time he was a Whig, his first presi-
dential vote being cast for Henry Clay, in
1844. In educational matters he is, and
has alwavs been much interested. He is
one of the best farmers and business men
of the township, having a retentive memory
which enables him to relate with ease and
accuracy accounts of events and their dates,
which occurred many years ago. He is a
well-preserved man, bearing his four-score
years with erectness of figure and clearness
of thought and expression equal to that of
many of the business men many years his
junior. He is a member of Greenville
Lodge, No. 143. F. & A. M., and in his life
exemplifies the benevolent principles of the
fraternity. Through Ions: vears he has
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
331
watched the progress of events in Darke
county, has seen its growth and improve-
ment, and at all times has borne his part in
the work of advancement as a public-spirited
citizen.
JOSEPH COLE.
No history of Darke county would be
complete without the record of the Cole fam-
ily, for, since the earliest development of this
portion of the state representatives of the.
name have been prominently connected with
its business interests and have aided in pro-
moting its material welfare. It is therefore
with pleasure that we present this record
to the readers of this volume. The family
is of Holland Dutch lineage, belonging to
a race which has done much in the develop-
ment of this great country. The original
American ancestors settled at New Amster-
dam, now the city of New York, and were
soon recognized as leading factors in that
location. David Cole, the great-grandfa-
ther of our subject, was born in New Am-
sterdam and there married and reared a fam-
ily of children, one of whom was Samuel
Cole, the grandfather of our subject. He
was born November 5, 175 1, in New York,
and was a farmer by occupation. He took
an active part in the events which contribut-
ed to the upbuilding of this section of the
state and remained in the east until 1819,
when he retired from the active du-
ties of business life and came to Darke
county, Ohio, making his home in Wash-
ington township with his son, Sam-
uel, until 1824, when the family re-
moved to Greenville township. The grand-
father there spent his last days, dying Jan-
uary 8, 1828. He was twice married : first
to Janey Davis, who was born the 7th of
July, 1755, a native of the Empire state.
They had three chilidren : Sophia, who was
born July 5, 1773, and became the wife of
Cornelius Van Fleet, of New York; Mar-
garet, who was born November 20, 1775,
and married David Christy, of New York;
and Janey, who was born October 11, 1778,.
and married Abraham Doty, of New York.
After the mother died Samuel Cole mar-
ried Miss Anna Rider, who was born Oc-
tober 25, 1760. They had eight children:
Lorana. born July 22, 1783, died Novem-
ber 13, 1803; Samuel was the father of our
subject ; Phcebe, who was born July 20,
1789, became the wife of Charles Wood;
David, who was born September 10, 1791,
wedded Mary Brady and died in Darke coun-
ty, February 14, 1854; Martha who was
born August 6, 1793, and died July 23,
i860, wedded Nathaniel Skidmore, of New
Jersey, and in 18 19 they came to Darke
county, one of their descendants, Peter
Skidmore, being now a resident of Wash-
ington township; Joseph, who was born
February 15, 1796, and died January 17,
1882, married Anna Sweet, who was a resi-
dent of Hamilton county. Ohio, and died in
Washington township, Darke county, Ohio,
in 1875 ; James, who was born May 6, 1798,
wedded Sarah Rupel, of Darke county, and
died in St. Joseph county, Indiana, July 6,
1856; and Sarah, who was born March 6,
1802, became the wife of Henry D. Will-
iams and died in Darke county, April 24,
1876. Samuel Cole, the father of this fam-
ily was a Baptist in his religious belief and
took a prominent part in the affairs of the
church. His political support was given to
the Whig party. He possessed a retiring-
disposition and devoted his time and ener-
gies to the work of securing a comfortable
and pleasant home for his family. His
332
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
sterling worth was recognized by his friends
and neighbors, who gave him their warm
regard.
Samuel Cole. Jr., the father of our sub-
ject, was hern in Xew Jersey, July 3. 1787.
His early life was spent on his father's
farm and he received such educational ad-
vantages as were afforded by the common
schools of those days. Possessing a studi-
ous nature, he quickly embraced every op-
portunity for mental improvement and be-
came an exceptionally well educated man.
He assisted his father in the operation of
the home farm until 181 2, when he was
married t< 1 Miss Mary Elston, of New Jer-
sey. Through the following three years he
remained in his native state, but on learning
of the advantages to be secured in the west,
he started on horseback in 181 5, reaching
Montgomery county, Ohio, after a long and
wearisome journey. He was, however,
greatly pleased with the prospects offered in
that section and returned to the east with
the intention of taking up his abode in Ohio.
During this time he kept a diary which is
now in possession of the subject, and gives
an account of his journey and of the early
pioneer experiences in the west. Mr. Cole
of this review also has a Spanish coin, bear-
ing the date of 1774, which was found in the
old pocketbook owned by his father.
In 1816 Samuel Cole, Jr., again started
for the Buckeye state, being accompanied
this time by his family and James Brady, a
brother-in-law. The journey must have
seemed a long one, as it was made before
the days of railroads and all travel was by
private conveyance. Day after day they
continued on their way, often over roads
that were in poor condition. At length,
however, their travels were ended and they
took up their abode on the Mad river, in
Montgomery county. However, they were
not satisfied with that location and in March,
181 7, they came to Darke county, Mr. Cole
securing a claim comprising the southeast
quarter of section 2~, 'Washington township.
Since that time Mr. Cole has been identified
with the growth and progress of that section
of Darke count}-. Mr. Cole and his sons
cleared a small tract and erected a log cabin,
which was the third home in the township,
the other two being the property of Jacob
and Martin Cox, who were brothers. In
this primitive abode Mr. Cole and his fam-
ilv resided for some time, but later an ad-
dition was built and in this, during the
winter of 1821, Mr. Cole conducted the first
school ever held in Washington township.
Here he resided until 1824, when he removed
to Greenville township and purchased of
David Williamson the southeast quarter of
section 19, passing his remaining days upon
that farm. His wife. Miss Mary Elston,
was born in Xew Jersey. November 7, 1792,
and died August 10, 1831. She was a
daughter of William Elston, of Monmouth
county. Xew Jersey, and a granddaughter
of John Elston, who emigrated from Lon-
don, England, about 1730. He was a ship
carpenter by trade. Her father, William
Elston, married Elizabeth Walling, who was
born in New Jersey, August 26, 1766.
They had twelve children, of whom Mrs,
Cole was the fifth. Unto the parents of our
subject were born five children : William,
whose birth occurred July 25, 1813, mar-
ried Mary Chenoweth, of Washington town-
ship, in December, 1835, and died April 3,
1836; Asa, born July 26, 181 5, was married
September 13, 1840, to Rachel Fisher and
died May 29, 1857; Jane, born April 20,
181 7, the first white child born in Washing-
ton township, is now living in Boston,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
833
Wayne county, Indiana, with her daughter,
Mrs. Mary C. Druly, she having been mar-
ried, in December, 1834, to Leonard Win-
termute, who died in Missouri, in 1839;
Betsy, who was born March 23, 1819, and
died February 6, 1872, was married Octo-
ber 16, 1836, to George Elston, who died
January 29, 1872; Samuel, who was born
April 5, 182 1, and now resides in Wash-
ington township, was married in March,
1844, to Miss Elizabeth Cox, their son, H.
M. Cole, being the present judge of the court
of appeals; Joseph, of this review, is the
next of the family; Polly died in infancy;
Henry, who was born June 20. 1829, now
resides in Reno county, Kansas. He has
been twice married, his first union being with
Margaret Hoffman, his second with Matilda
Tegarden. For the past fifty years he has
been a well known minister of the gospel
in the Christian church and the influence of
his life and teachings have been most marked
All of the children were residents of Darke
county at the time of their marriage. The
father of this family passed away Febru-
ary 1, 1866. He never sought public posi-
tion nor office, but was a man who was hon-
ored and respected, for his life was upright
and honorable and he enjoyed the confidence
and regard of all who knew him. In his
death Darke county lost one of its valued
citizens.
Joseph Cole, whose name introduces this
review, was born in Washington township,
December 29, 1823, and spent the first eight-
een years of his life upon the old homestead
assisting his father through the summer
months in the work of the fields, while in the
winter season he pursued his education in
the schools of the neighborhood. In those
days schools were held in any vacant cabin
that could be secured and were conducted on
the subscription plan. Mr. Cole's educational
privileges were thus somwhat limited, but
he improved what chances he had, and at
the age of eighteen obtained a teacher's cer-
tificate. From 1841 until 1857 he engaged
in teaching and his different certificates,
with one exception, are still in his posses-
sion. In 1846, in company with his brother,
Samuel, he erected a saw-mill, which they
operated until 1850, when they sold the
property. Up to this time Mr. Cole had
always made his home with his parents, but
on the 6th of April, 1850, he married Miss
Sarah Ann Shively, daughter of Daniel and
Christina (Heck) Shively. Her parents
were natives of Pennsylvania and on com-
ing to Ohio located in Montgomery county,
whence they removed to Darke county in
1817. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs.
Cole took up their abode in Coleville, which
town was laid out by our subject, and there
he engaged in merchandising from 1852 until
1855, when he disposed of his interests and
turned his attention to farming in Green-
ville township, being thus occupied until
1865. In that year he purchased his present
farm of one hundred and sixty acres in
Washington township, and in addition to the
cultivation of cereals best adapted to this cli-
mate, he has engaged in stock dealing, both
raising and buying stock for the market.
His business affairs have been capably prose-
cuted and have brought to him creditable
success.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cole have been born
seven children, six of whom are living, name-
ly : Wallace S., who was born April 6, 1853,
\ was wedded to Nancy Wise, of Darke coun-
tv, and now resides in Reno county, Kan-
sas, where he is engaged in feeding fine
cattle. They have six children : Flora A.,
who was born March 26, 1855, was married
334
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
September 26, 1878, to B. F. Chenoweth
and resides in Greenville. They have one
child, Jesse A. William Henry, who was
born December 16, 1859. was married De-
cember 22, t88l, i" Lucy Manuel, by whom
he has three children. Their home is in
Washington township. Mary C, who was
born April 25, 1862, resides with her par-
ents. Charles W., who was born October
12, 1866, was married. December 20, 1890,
to Lucy Bickel and resides in Washington
township. They also have three children:
Benjamin F., who was born November 12,
1874, was married on the 12th of Decem-
ber, 189(1. l" Myrtle Jeffries and resides on
the old homestead. They have two chil-
dren.
Mrs. Cole is a prominent worker in the
Christian church and Mr. Cole contnoutes
to its support. In politics he was originally
a Whig, casting his first presidential vote for
Zachary Taylor, but since the organization
of the Republican party he has loyally sup-
ported its principles and L one of its m : t
earnest advocates. He has had neither time
nor inclination to enter the political arena,
yet has filled many township offices and was
once candidate for the office of probate
judge. Although he has passed the age of
three score years and ten, he retains his
mental faculties unimpaired and keeps well
informed on all the issues and topics of the
day. He is blessed with an excellent mem-
ory, especially for dates, and can relate many
interesting incidents of frontier life in
Ohio. His marked characteristics have
ever been such as to commend him to the
confidence and regard of his fellow towns-
men and he enjoys the good will and respect
of all with whom he has been brought in con-
tact. So long and actively have the Cole
family been identified with the interests of
Darke county that no history of the com-
munity would be complete without mention
of its representatives. From pioneer days
d< nvn to the present epoch of advancement
and progress they have borne their part in
the work of public progress and improve-
ment and none more actively than he whose
name introduces this review.
LEWIS P. WALTERS.
In Darke county are found many repre-
sentatives of the fatherland and they form
an important element in the citizenship of
this locality. The enterprise and industry
j so characteristic of the Teutonic nations
have been an important element in the sub-
I stantial progress and material develi ipment
j of this section of the state and Mr. Walters
is one who has never withheld his support
from any movement or measure which he be-
lieved would prove of public good. He was
born in the little village of Schleterbach, Ger-
many. October 23, 1840. His father. Lewis
Walters, Sr.. was born in the same locality,
November 6. 1806, was reared in the land
of his nativity and obtained his education
in the public schools. By trade he was a
stone-mason. He spent the first forty-i me
years of his life in his native land and ere
he emigrated to America he was married
and all of his children were born. He sailed
from Havre de Grace for New Orleans, and
after a voyage of sixty-three days reached
his destination. During; the long trip across
the Atlantic the vessel encountered heavy
storms and the passengers frequently thought
they would never again see land, but fate
was kind and they eventually reached their
destination in safety. Mr. Walters can well
remember how on one occasion during a
terrible storm the father planned to wrap
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
335
all of the children in a sheet that they might
go down together into the depths of the sea,
but an overruling providence had destined
that they should reach the American harbor.
After landing in New Orleans they made
their way to Pittsburg bv steamer and thence
came to Ohio, locating in Monroe county.
where the father purchased eighty acres of
land. He was an industrious man, who ac-
quired a comfortable competence by the
careful conduct of his business affairs. He
added to his estate until he owned one hun-
dred and twenty acres and upon the farm
he resided until 1883, when he sold his land
and with his family came to Darke county.
His wife having died he made his home with
his son. Lewis, until his death, which oc-
curred July 9, 1 89 1. He was a good man,
upright and honorable in all things and he
aided in the erection of the Evangelical
church, in Monroe county, laying the founda-
tion of the building, as he was a practical
mason. In politics he was a stalwart Dem-
ocrat. He passed away at the advanced age
of eighty-four years and six months, and
his remains were interred in Brown town-
ship. His wife, who was born in the prov-
ince of Dimbach, in 1805, died in Monroe
county. Ohio. February 6, 1876. She was
an estimable lady, who possessed many ex-
cellent characteristics, and before her chil-
dren she set an example well worthy of emu-
lation. She had two sons and two daugh-
ter-, namely: Barbara, wife of Christian
Kliner, a resident of Virginia; Jacob, who
served throughout the civil war, participat-
ing in many engagements, and is now resid-
ing in the Soldiers' Home," in Sandusky;
Louisa, widow of Daniel Lutevig, of Vir-
ginia; and Lewis P.
The last named was a lad of seven sum-
mers, when, with his parents, he crossed
20
the Atlantic to the new world. He is a
typical German-American farmer, of social
disposition and kindly nature and of marked
industry. He obtained his education in the
common schools and was reared to the work
of the farm. On the 14th of December,
1862, he married Miss Rachel Peters, whose
birth occurred in Monroe county, Ohio,
June' 10, 1844. Her parents were Jacob and
Elizabeth (McKalla) Peters. Her father
was born in Germany and came to America
with his wife and children, the latter all hav-
ing been born in that country, with the ex-
ception of Mrs. Walters. He was a farmer
by occupation and followed that pursuit
throughout his business career. In his
family were fourteen children, of six are yet
living, namely: Elizabeth, wife of Jacob
Detling. of Brown township; Sarah, widow
of Harmon Hess, of St. Louis, Missouri ;
Magdalene, wife of Henry Sheets, an agri-
culturist living in Angola, Steuben county.
Indiana; Jacob, who follows farming in
Brown township; Michael, who is living in
Monroe county, Ohio : and Mrs. \\ "alters.
Unto our subject and his wife have been
eleven children, ten sons and one daughter,
and eight of this number yet survive : Will-
iam, who was educated in the common
schools, is now married and has four chil-
dren. He is section foreman on the Cin-
cinnati & Northern Railroad, resides at
Lewisburg, Preble county, and is a Demo-
crat in his political affiliations. Harmon
is married and lives in Lewisburg, where he
follows the stone-mason's trade. He, too,
votes with the Democracy. Jacob, a prosper-
ous farmer, married Miss Ida Lephart and
has three children. Like his brothers, he
gives his political support to the Democratic
party. Charlie married Miss Newbower,
and is a farmer living in Greenville. Theo-
336
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
dore, who lives with his parents in Green-
ville, desires to be a telegraph operator,
Clarence. Leonard and Ray are still under the
parental roof. The parents, realizing the
importance of educational privileges, have
allowed their children to attend school and
have also instructed them in habits of in-
dustry and honesty.
Mr. and Mrs. Walters began their do-
mestic life upon the old home farm, and as
he was the eldest in his father's family the
responsibility of caring for his parents de-
volved upon him. In 1880 he removed with
his wife and children to Brown township and
is now accounted one of the successful farm-
ers of Darke county. He owns sixty-three
acres of valuable land under a high state of
cultivation and raises the various crops best
adapted to the climate. He proudly cast
his first presidential vote for General George
B. McClellan and has since been a Demo-
crat in his political affiliations. In 1896 he
was elected trustee of Brown township and
served the people faithfully while in that
office. He has also been school director for
nine years and has done all in his power to
promote the cause of education. He and his
wife are consistent members of the Luther-
an church and their lives are in harmony
with their professions.
HENRY WARNER.
Henry Warner, who is living on section
5, Greenville township, was born in Ran-
dolph township, Montgomery county, Ohio,
March 12, 1835. His father, John Warner,
was a native of Pennsylvania and came to
the Buckeye state in 181 1, taking up his
residence in Montgomery county the follow-
ing year. The unsettled condition of the
state is indicated by the fact that there wTere
only two cabins in Dayton at that time.
Henry Warner, the grandfather of our sub-
ject, was born in Maryland, and during the
war of 1 81 2 was drafted for service, but his
brother went to the front as his substitute.
He was a farmer by occupation and died in
Miami county, Ohio. The mother of our
subject bore the maiden name of Charity
Hill, and her death occurred when her son,
Henry, was only seven years of age. She
had six children, all of whom reached years
of maturity. After the death of his first
wife, the father married Polly Booker, and
they had nine children.
Henry Warner is the third child and
second son of the first marriage. He was
reared in Montgomery county, Ohio, and
the common schools of the neighborhood af-
forded him his educational privileges. He
remained with his parents until his marriage,
which was celebrated in Miami county, Oc-
tober 28, 1858, Miss Elizabeth Stager be-
coming his wife. She was born in Lebanon
county, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1836, a
daughter of William and Katie (Ensell)
Stager. Her father was born in the Key-
stone state, was a tailor by trade and in
1846 came to Miami county, where he died,
at the age of eighty-four years. His first
wife died when Airs. Warner was only six
years old. They had five children, two
daughters and three sons. The father
was again married, his second union
being with Caroline Walters, by whom
he had seven children. Mrs. Warner was
the second child and eldest daughter of the
first marriage, and was ten years of age
when, with her parents, she removed to Mi-
ami county. After their marriage, our sub-
ject and his wife located on the old home-
stead farm of the Warners in Montgomery
county, Ohio, and in 1864 removed to
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
337
Huntington county, Indiana, where he was
engaged in general farming until 1869.
They then came to Darke county, locating
at Baker, in Neave township, on the Jacob
Baker farm, where they remained for two
years. On the expiration of that period
Mr. Warner purchased the farm upon
which he now resides, then a tract of eighty-
eight acres, which at that time was poorly
improved, but is now under a high state
of cultivation. Upon it are found excellent
buildings, good fences, drainage and all the
accessories and modern conveniences found
upon the best farms of this period. The
land being well cultivated, the harvests re-
turn a good income to the owner.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Warner has
been blessed with the following children :
William H., the eldest, married Frances Ar-
nett and they have two children — Elsworth
and Gertie. Vallandingham married Laura
Westfall, and they had three children —
Ollie M., Estella E. and Alva. But the
mother is now deceased. Samuel A. mar-
ried Jennie Kefover, by whom he has four
children — Melvin, Isaac, Nellie and Holly.
German, the present surveyor of Darke
county and a resident of Greenville, mar-
ried Sallie Huffman. Katie is the wife of
'Burr Evans, a grocer of Greenville, and they
have one child, Dorothea. Mr. and Mrs.
Warner also have an adopted daughter,
Emma, who has been a member of the fam-
ily since three years of age.
Our subject and his wife are members of
the German Baptist church and he is a Dem-
ocrat in politics. He has served as super-
visor of roads and as school director. He
and his wife are people of genial nature and
kindly disposition and are very hospitable
to friends and strangers. Their lives have
at all times been commendable and worthy
of emulation and they command the good
will and esteem of all with whom they have
been associated.
WILLIAM SHIELDS.
Among the honored veterans of the Civil
war and the prosperous farmers of Van
Buren township, none stand higher in pub-
lic esteem than William Shields, a native of
that township, who was born on the old
homestead, November 9, 1840. His early
educational advantages were meager as the
nearest school house was four miles from his
home and the path thither was mainly
through swamps. The school house was
built of logs, contained slab seats and other
primitive furniture, and few branches were
taught. His first teacher was Joseph Drew,
a very able instructor for those times. When
not in school he tended stock in winter and
worked on the farm during the summer
months, using the old-fashioned sickle and
scythe. At the age of sixteen he assisted
thirteen grown men in mowing a field and
held his own with any of them.
When the Civil war broke out Mr.
Shields enlisted at Greenville, in August,
1861, in Company G, Forty- fourth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Xewkirk,
Colonel Wood, and later under Colonel Gil-
bert. They went into camp at Camp Clarke,
Springfield, Clark county, where they spent
two months, and from there proceeded to
Camp Piatt, West Virginia. After drilling
six months they were ordered to the front
and took part in the battle of Louisburg,
where parts of the Thirty-sixth and Forty-
fourth Ohio Infantry and the One Hun-
dredth New York Cavalry, numbering nine
hundred in all. met thirty-five hundred rebels
with eight pieces of artillery, but captured
338
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
seven hundred prisoners, wounded five hun-
dred and killed a great many. After one
year spent in West Virginia, they went to
Kentucky, where they served as mounted in-
fantry for six months, taking part in many
skirmishes in that state and Tennessee.
After being dismounted they were in the
breastworks siege of Knoxville for twenty
days and were fed on crushed corn. After
the battle of Lookout Mountain resulted vic-
toriously for the Union troops, Thomas
went to the assistance of the besieged at
Knoxville. The rebels made a fierce on-
slaught but were repulsed and moved back
to Smoky Camp, followed by the Union
troops. This was the last engagement in
which Mr. Shields participated before re-
enlisting at Strawberry Plains, in the Eighth
Ohio Cavalry. Eeing granted a forty days'
furlough he returned home, and at the end
of that time rejoined his command at
Camp Dennison. From there they proceeded
to Camp Piatt, West Virginia, and were
under the command of General Sheridan in
the Shenandoah valley, taking part in the
battle of Cedar Creek. Mr. Shields wit-
nessed General Sheridan's famous ride, and
saw him pull off his hat and shout to his
retreating men, ''Boys, come back and we'll
have everything on wheels till four o'clock."
In the engagement at Winchester many of
our subject's schoolmates fell. After the
battle of Cedar Creek the Eighth Ohio
moved back to Martinsburg and was en-
gaged in skirmishing through the valley for
over a week. About this time Mr. Shields
was driving a team, and was at Wier's
Cave, Brown's Gap, when it was shelled by
the rebels. His command was scattered,
but after getting together again proceeded
to Stockland, setting fire to farm houses as
they went, rescuing the inmates and with
wagons conveying them to the railroad sta-
tion when desired. They next went to
Beverlv. West Virginia, where many of the
regiment were captured, but Mr. Shields es-
caped, as he had been sent that morning
for a load of rations. On his return he got
as far as Phillippi, when he heard the news
and remained at that place one month. He
then secured a horse and entered the ranks
but his command took part in no other en-
gagements. He was mustered out at Clarks-
burg. Virginia, at the close of the war, and
was discharged at Springheld, Ohio, July 14,
1865.
Mr. Shields reached home July 15, and
the fi illowing day resumed work on the farm.
He remained under the parental roof until
he was married, June 27, 1867, to Miss
Maria Hathaway, who was born in Green-
ville township, a daughter of William and
Lena (Amole) Hathaway, and ten children
blessed this union, namely : Edward, at
home; Delia, wife of Lewis Binkley : Wiley.
who married Elizabeth McNutt and lives in
Van Buren township; Deo, who died April
1, 1 89 1, at the age of sixteen years; Lucy,
wife of Melvin Miller, of Van Buren town-
ship; Lewis. Maud. Orpha, Jennie and
Treva. at home.
After his marriage Mr. Shields located
on a farm of eighty acres in Van Buren
township, which he had purchased, but two
years later returned to the old homestead,
where he spent three years. In the mean-
time he bought sixty acres of land in Van
Buren township, adjoining his present farm,
on which he located in August, 1869, and
two years later removed to his present farm,
consisting of two hundred acres, which he
has placed under a high state of cultivation
and improved with good and substantial
buildings. On his return from the war he
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
839
had twelve hundred dollars, which he in-
vested in land, and being industrious, enter-
prising and progressive he has succeeded in
accumulating a handsome property. For a
tract of ninety-six acres he gave over nine
thousand dollars, paying over four thousand
dollars in cash. He always affiliates with the
Republican party and gives his support to
everp enterprise which he believes calculated
to prove of public benefit.
THOMAS J. SHELLEY.
While memory remains to the Ameri-
can people the nation will ever feel a debt
of gratitude to the boys in blue who fought
for the preservaton of the Union and made
possible the perpetuation of the glorious na-
tion over which the stars and stripes now
proudly float. Among the veterans of the
Civil war is Thomas J. Shelley, who, with
the Ohio troops, went to the front and braved
danger and death in support of his native
land. He was born in Preble county, Ohio,
December 19, 1844. and is a son of Ebenezer
and Julia (House) Shelley. His father was
a native of North Carolina, born about thirty
miles from Fayetteville. in 18 12. He was
educated in the common schools, learned the
mason's trade and also followed farming.
Emigrating westward, he took up his abode
in Indiana, and joined a company for service
in the Black Hawk war, under command of
Captain A. E. Burnsides, but the company
was not called out. In his politica. senti-
ments in an early day he was an Abolition-
ist, and when the Republican party was
formed to prevent the further extension of
slavery he joined its ranks and was one of
its stanch advocates. From Indiana he re-
moved to Preble county. Ohio, about 1836,
and died in that county sixty years later.
He was a member of the United Brethren
church and a man of sterling worth. The
Shelley family was of English lineage. The
father of our subject married Julia House,
who was born in Fairfax county, Virginia,
' and belonged to one of the "F. F. V.'s"
Her birth occurred in 1813, and she died at
the age of eighty years. In the family of
this worthy couple were nine children, six
sons and three daughters,of whom five are
living, as follows : Amanda, wife of Robert
Banta, a farmer of Preble county ; Richard,
who served in the Fifth Ohio Cavalry in the
Army of the Tennessee during the Civil
war, and is now married and resides in
Powers, Indiana ; Thomas J., of this review;
William, a farmer, who is married and lives
in Powers: and James M., who is an em-
ploye of a railroad and resides in Baltimore,
Preble county.
Thomas J. Shelley, whose name intro-
duces this record, spent his boyhood days
in Preble county and acquired his education
in the public schools, but his privileges were
somewhat meager, as his services were need-
ed on the home farm. During the Civil war
he responded to the country's call for aid, en-
listing in Company D, Eighty-first Ohio In-
fantry, under Captain P. A. Tyler and Col-
onel Thomas Morton, on the 20th of Au-
gust, 1862. His regiment was assigned to
the Army of the Tennessee, under command
of General Grant, and he participated in the
battles of Corinth, Iuka, Resaca, Kenesaw
Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and the siege
of Atlanta. He was also in the battles of
Xew Hope Church, Flint River and Jones-
boro, and went with Sherman on his cele-
brated march to the sea and through the
Carolinas, participating in the engagement
at Bentonville. the last regular battle of the
war. At the battle of Atlanta, where the
340
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
gallant McPherson fell, Mr. Shelley's com-
rades immediately on the right and on the
left were both killed, and at the same place
he had four minie balls shot through his
coat, while in another engagement a ball
pierced his cap, and in the siege of Atlanta
the nail from the third finger of his left
hand was shot away. At Kenesaw Moun-
tain, when he was on the firing line, a rebel
bullet struck the edge of the United States
plate on his belt and split it into two parts,
one of which he still has in his possession.
When the army was near Raleigh, North
Carolina, the joyful news reached them of
the surrender of General Lee, and it was
received amidst great excitement and en-
thusiasm, for the boys at the front knew
that it meant the end of the war and the pos-
sibility of their return to home, family and
friends, but about the same time there also
came the sad news of the assassination of
President Lincoln. With his command Mr.
Shelley marched through the Carolinas and
Virginia to Washington, D. C, and there
participated in the grand review, the most
brilliant military pageant ever seen on the
western hemisphere. He received an hon-
orable discharge June 13, 1865, and with a
nmst creditable military record, of which be
has every reason to be proud, he returned
to his home. When his company began the
Atlanta campaign it numbered fifty-eight
men, and at the battle of Jonesboro only
seven were left to engage in active service,
some being on detail duty, while others were
prisoners, others were wounded and others
were dead.
On the uth of March, 1868, Mr. Shelley
was united in marriage to Miss Josephine
• Higgins, and unto them were born seven
children, two sons and five daughters, name-
ly : Lillian, who is successfully teaching in
the schools of Tippecanoe City, Ohio ; Myr-
tle, wife of Daniel Hinderer, of Greenville;
Tillie, wife of Arthur Moore, a railroad man
on the Pennsylvania system, residing in In-
dianapolis; Josie and Bessie, at home; Ar-
thur and Wilbur. Mr. Shelley was called
upon to mourn the loss of his wife April 27,
1886. She was a faithful companion and
helpmate to her husband, a loving mother
and an active and consistent member of the
Methodist church.
In his political views Mr. Shelley is a
stalwart Republican, supporting the party
since he cast his first presidential vote
for Abraham Lincoln. He was a del-
egate to the state convention that nom-
inated J. B. Foraker for governor of
Ohio, for the first time. He has been a
resident of Darke county since 1870, and
was engaged in the manufacture of lumber
for eleven years at Dawn, where he is still re-
siding and where he is well known as a rep-
resentative and reliable citizen. The cause
of education finds in him a warm friend, and
for fourteen years he has been officially con-
nected with the school system of the county.
He was strongly in favor of the erection of
the beautiful brick schoolhouse in his district
and has done all in his power to promote ed-
ucational interests. Socially be is connected
with the Masonic lodge of Ansonia, Ohio,
and has contributed toward the erection of
the Methodist church in Dawn. His record
is that of a man who has ever been true to his
duty to his neighbor, himself and his coun-
try, and he enjoys the well merited regard
of all with whom he has been brought in con-
tact.
On the 17th day of May, 1879, he met
with a severe accident by getting his right
foot caught in a circular saw while the mill
The big toe was cut off
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
341
and a part of the inside of the foot, which
made him a cripple for life. He has been en-
gaged in the manufacture and sale of medi-
cine since 1880. He was census enumerator
in 1890 and was postmaster under Benjamin
Harrison's administration.
WILLIAM L. ROBERTSON.
A retired blacksmith of Hollansburg,
Darke county, and an honored veteran of the
war of the Rebellion, is William Lane Rob-
ertson, whose life has been one of signal
usefulness, entitling him to consideration in
a work of this nature. He was born in
Monroe township. Preble county, this state,
on the 25th of May, 1833, the son of Isaac
VanDoran Robertson, who was born in the
same township, on June 28, 1809, his death
occurring on the 4th of July, 1845. The
latter's father was Ephraim Robertson, a
farmer of Virginia. Isaac V. Robertson
was a teacher and preacher, and his zeal
and determination may be understood when
we revert to the fact that he secured his
education through his own efforts, poring
over his books by the light of a pine-knot
torch, and being indefatigable in his efforts
to advance himself intellectually. He de-
voted himself to teaching when a young man
and eventually became an able clergyman
of the United Brethren church, in which he
labored earnestly and effectively for the
Master's cause. He was an excellent singer,
and this ability gave added power to his
ministerial work. He was one of a large
family, and his mother survived her hus-
band by many years, her death occurring in
1868, at Castine, this county, where she
sleeps her last sleep, having passed away at
a very venerable age. The father of our
subject lies buried in the Baptist church-
yard in Monroe township, Preble county.
The mother of our subject bore the
maiden name of Harriet Brown, and she
was the daughter of Michael Brown, who
was of German lineage and an early pioneer
of Ohio, having settled on Twin creek, in
Preble county. The marriage of Isaac V.
Robertson and Harriet Brown was solem-
nized on the 3d of June, 1830, and they be-
came the parents of four children : Marv
Jane, born March 1, 183 1, became the wife
of John Coblentz, of New Paris, Preble
county, and they have two sons and two
daughters; William L. is the subject of this
sketch ; Sarah Elizabeth, widow of C. B.
Tillson, is a resident of Greensburg, Indiana,
and has three children ; Rhocla Ann became
the wife of John S. Starbuck, by whom she
had three children, and died in Union City,
Indiana. The father owned a part of the
old farm of one hundred and sixty acres,
but he devoted himself to the work of the
church and was also a marble cutter by
trade, personally chiseling the inscriptions
on the tombstones for his parishioners. He
was a man of distinctive genius, beinq' ex-
tremely versatile, and it is recalled that he
would often do a hard day's work and then
preach at night.
William L. Robertson, to whom this re-
view is specially dedicated, had hut limited
educational advantages in his youth, but
was favored in having grown up under the
benign influences of a home in which refine-
ment and purity of life were ever in evidence.
Plis opportunities were lessened by reason of
the fact that his father died when he was but
a lad of twelve years, and thereafter our sub-
ject found his services in constant demand
upon the home farm. He left home at the
age of sixteen and apprenticed himself at
342
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the blacksmith's trade, serving three years
and becoming an expert artisan in his line.
His mother in the meantime consummated a
second marriage, being united to James J.
Alexander, who survived her and who was
again married. The mother of our subject
died March 2. 1865, her birth having oc-
curred November 12, 1810.
Loyal and patriotic in his attitude, our
subject was ready to go forth to protect his
country when her integrity was menaced by
armed rebellion, and in April, 1861. he re-
sponded to the first call for seventy-five thou-
sand men, deserting his forge and anvil for
the stern duties of warfare. He enlisted in
Company K, Eleventh Ohio Volunteer In-
fantry, for the three-months service, and
at the expiration of his term he veteranized
and in 1862 responded to the call for three
hundred thousand men for "three vears or
during the war," becoming a member of
Company H, One Hundred and Tenth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, and being mustered in
as first sergeant. He served two years, and
was promoted second lieutenant of Com-
pany D. Mr. Robertson was constantly on
duty, participating in all the engagements
and marches of his regiment, and among the
more important battles in which he took part
may be mentioned the following: Win-
chester, the Wilderness,- the twenty-, me
days' fighting in the Wilderness, Spottsyl-
vania, and Cold Harbor, where he was
wounded on the 3d of June, 1864, receiving
a grapeshot in the left breast. He was
taken by transport to the Armory Square
hospital at Washington, D. C, and here
his life was threatened by reason of g-an-
grene having settled in his wound. He
rallied, however, and in December, 1864,
he was honorably discharged by reason of
his disabilities, and returned to his home.
With health seriously impaired. In recog-
nition of his services and the sufferings he
lias endured the government grants him a
pension of fifteen dollars per month.
Soon after his return home, on the 29th
of December, 1864, Mr. Robertson was
united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Hor-
ney, who was horn July 10. 1835, in Fay-
ette county, Ohio, the daughter of Anderson
and Mary Homey. Our subject and his
devoted wife have no children of their own,
but their home is brightened by the pres-
ence of the little daughter of their adopted
daughter, who died at her birth. Mrs.
Robertson's mother was born in Frederick
county, Virginia, in 1803, and was brought
by her parents to Ohio in 18 10. She was
the daughter of Reese and Lydia Baldwin,
who were farmers in Greene county, Ohio,
and who became the parents of ten children,
of whom five are living, namely: Caroline,
a resident of Yellow Springs, Ohio; Mary
A. ; Eliza, widow of James Gist, and a resi-
dent of Hollanslmrg; Hester Hamilton, of
Yellow Springs ; and David, of Goes Sta-
tion, Greene county, Ohio.
Mr. Robertson is fraternally identified
with the Grand Army of the Republic, the
Masonic order and the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows. He is a stanch Republi-
can in politics. He was engaged in the
mercantile business for a quarter of a centu-
ry— from 1865 to 1890, and has been since
retired from active business, owning and at-
tractive home in Hollansburg, and also a
house which he rents. He and his wife are
consistent members of the Christian church.
In concluson we may revert to the fact
that Mrs. Robertson's mother lived to the
venerable age of ninety-three years, her
death occurring at the home of our subject
on the 25th of Fehruary, 1900. She came
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
343
to Ohio when this section was a veritable
wilderness, and her memory linked the
primitive past with the latter-day prosper-
ity and advancement. In her religious be-
lief she was a Methodist, and her years were
a blessing to all who came in touch with
her gentle and kindly life.
HENRY J. ROYER.
Henry J. Royer, who is farming on sec-
tion i, Harrison township, is numbered
among the native sons of German township,
Darke county, his birth having occurred
there on the 6th of November, 1845. His
father, Henry Royer, was born in Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, near Germantown, in
181 5, and died in German township, in 1892.
The grandfather, George Royer, was a na-
tive of Germany and became the founder of
the family in America. He spent his last
days in Montgomery county, Ohio, and at
his death left six children, of whom Henry
Royer was the fifth in order of birth. All
were married, and with one exception all
had children, but none of the sons or daugh-
ters of that family are now living. Henry
Royer was reared in the Buckeye state, and
as a companion and helpmeet on life's jour-
ney he chose Miss Caserine Kunkle, of
German township,. Darke county, whose par-
ents were born in Pennsylvania, and were of
German lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Royer were
married about the year 1836, and the chil-
dren born to them were : Fanny, who be-
came the wife of Eli Bollinger, and died
in Page county, Iowa, leaving a family;
John, a representative farmer of Harrison
township; Jacob, who follows farming in
Iowa; David, who is living in Washington
township ; Henry J. ; Michael, whose home
is at Camden, Illinois; George, who resides
in Iowa; and Samuel, who is living in Darke
county, Ohio. The mother died in 1854,
and the father afterward married Nancy
Bollinger, by whom he had ten children, of
whom eight reached years of maturity and
are still living. Five of the number had
families, and the descendants of Henry
Royer are now numerous. His second wife
is still a resident of German township. He
was a self-made man, who entered upon his
business career empty-handed, but at his
death each of his children received eleven
hundred dollars and his widow was well pro-
vided for. He accumulated his large prop-
erty by unceasing endeavor and his example
was well worthy of emulation.
Mr. Royer, of this review, received but
limited educational privileges, but his train-
ing at f~rm labor was not meager and he
assisted in the cultivation of his father's
land until he was twenty-one years of age,
when he was married. On the 3d of Janu-
ary, 1867, he married Miss Malinda Hamil-
ti .11, who was born in German township in
1845, twelve days after her father's death,
her parents being David and Caroline Ham-
ilton. Both are now deceased. The chil-
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Royer are : Josiah,
a grain dealer of Greenville, who is married
and has one son; David, who is also living
in Greenville; Ida. the wife of William Eli,
of Butler township, by whom she has one
son and daughter ; Sylvester, at home ;
Luella, the wife of Michael McCabe, of
Neave township, by whom she has two
daughters ; Fanny, the wife of George Eli, by
whom she has one son; an infant, who was
the twin sister of Fannie, but died unnamed ;
Isaac Omar, at home; and Herschel M., who
died at the age of four years. The mother
of these children was called to her final rest
on the 6th of November, 1884, and on the
344
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
6th of September, 1890, Mr. Rover was
again married, his second union being with
Miss Dinah Bollinger, who was born, in
Washington township and is a daughter of
John Bollinger. The children of this union
are: Glenmore, born August 10, 1891 ;
Gracie Marie, born September 24, 1892;
Nellie Elma, born May 16, 1894; and Oscar
Leroy, born May 5. 1896.
In 1878 Mr. Royer took up his abode
upon his present farm, which comprises
eighty-two acres of land. He also owns a
fifty-acre tract on section 12, Harrison
township. He superintends the operation
of his land, the active work being done by
his sons, who carry on farming on the shares.
Wheat, corn and clover are the principal
crops, and hogs and cattle are also raised.
Much of the farm is of a black loam bottom
land, and corn crops can be raised for many
consecutive years. He feeds nearlv all of
the farm products, with the exception of
wheat, to his live stock. With the exception
of the eleven hundred dollars which he in-
herited from his father's estate, all that he
possesses has been acquired through his
own efforts; and he is today the owner of a
very valuable property. Upon the home
place he has erected a large, pleasant resi-
dence and a large barn. All the improve-
ments are modern and are kept in good re-
pair, showing the owner to be an enterpris-
ing, practical and progressive man. He
votes with the Democracy and is a Dunk-
ard in religious faith, but his wife holds
membership in the Christian church. They
have a v.ide acquaintance in Darke county,
and their many excellent qualities have in-
sured to them the friendship of all with
whom they come in contact. The energy
and keen discrimination of Mr. Royer have
made him very prosperous in his business
undertakings, and he is now accounted one
of the substantial farmers of his commu-
nity.
DANIEL SNYDER.
The fitting reward of a well-spent life is
an honored retirement and a period of rest
in which to enjoy the fruits of former toil.
This has come to Mr. Snyder, who has put
aside the more arduous duties of life and
is living quietly at his pleasant home in
Rose Hill. He was born in Mississinawa
township, Darke county, January 20, 1842.
His father, John K. Snyder, was a native
of New Jersey, and when a young man
came to Ohio, locating in Butler county,
where, in 1835, he married Amy Hideley,
whose birth occurred February 10, 1818.
They had seven sons and one daughter, the
latter being Sarah, the wife of F. A. Lehigh,
of Illinois. They were married at her
uncle's home in that state, and she died in
Illinois, when about thirty-eight years of
age, leaving a family. The sons are : Asa,
a resident of Rockford, Ohio ; George, who
is living in Springfield, Ohio; William V.,
a farmer of Butler county, this state ; David ;
James A., who carries on farming near 'Rose
Hill; Cyrus, who died in 1888, at the age
of forty-six years; and John W., a painter
of Darke county. In April, 1839, the par-
ents came with their children to Darke
county, where the father soon afterward
purchased six hundred acres of land from
the government, for one dollar and a quar-
ter per acre. This was divided into five
tracts of forty acres, three tracts of eighty
acres and a farm of one hundred and sixty
acres. The father was a drover" and drove
his stock to Cincinnati, and was also the
proprietor of a country store, and hauled
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
845-
his goods from Cincinnati by way of Cas-
tine, Darke county.
For six generations the Snyder family,
of which our subject is a representative, has
been connected with American interests, but
many of the sterling characteristics of their
Scotch ancestry are shown in their lives. On
the maternal side our subject is descended
from one of the old families of Pennsylva-
nia, and the grandfather, Henry Hidelev, re-
moved from the Keystone state to Ohio,
where he spent his remaining days, pass-
ing away at the age of seventy-nine years.
Mr. Snyder of this review is familiar
with the story of pioneer life, having ex-
perienced the usual hardships, trials and
pleasures which fall to the lot of the fron-
tier settlers. When the family came to this
portion of the state, everything was wild
and the forests stood in their primeval
strength; many kinds of wild animals were
found, and the cattle and hogs of the pioneer
settlers quickly lost the traits of domestic ani-
mals by running wild in the woods, and it
required considerable strategy to capture
them; but they resorted to the plan of cap-
turing the leaders of the cattle and tying a
handspike some eight feet long across their
horns, so that they could not run through
the brush, thus preventing the cattle from
straying away. The parents were not in a
good financial condition, and the privileges
which the sons enjoyed were rather limited,
but' they were early trained to'habits of in-
dustry, economy and honest)-, and thus be-
came practical business men, winning suc-
cess in later life. The father, too, by the
aid of his sons, accumulated a comfortable
property, although he died in the prime of
life. His widow afterward married Hugh
McKibbon, who proved a kind husband
and considerate stepfather.
In his early youth Daniel Snyder learned
the harnessmaker's trade, at Greenville, en-
tering upon the business in 1858. He had
before attended school to a limited extent,
but in the practical affairs of life he has
gained a good knowledge and is now a well
informed man. He continued working at
his trade until after the inauguration of the
civil war, when he enlisted in the One Hun-
dred and Eighty-seventh Ohio Infantry,
as a member of Company C. For a year
he was at the front, and returned as a non-
commissioned officer. He then resumed
work as a harness maker, and carried on the
business for a number of years, winning an
excellent trade and thereby securing a de-
sirable competence. He owns two small
farms in Mississinawa township, improved
with good buildings and other substantial
accessories of the model farm. He has in
Rose Hill a four-acre lot, adorned with a
comfortable residence, and there he is now
making his home and living retired from the
active duties of life.
His fellow townsmen, recognizing his
worth and ability, frequently call Mr. Sny-
der to public office. He served as the town-
ship treasurer for seven years, resigning
that position when elected county recorder
in the fall of 1886. The following January
he entered upon the duties of the office, which
he discharged in a most satisfactory man-
ner for six years. He served for two terms
as postmaster and for a long period has been
a member of the school board, doing all in
his power to promote the growth of the
schools and make them most effective.
On the 31st of October, 1869. occurred
the marriage of Mr. Snyder and Miss Lydia
I. Winterrowd, who was born in Mercer
county, Ohio, July 8, 1850, a daughter of
David and Sarah Jane ( Murphy) Winter-
346
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
rowd. Her parents are both now deceased.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder has
been blessed wth eight children : R. W.,
who is living at Redkey, Indiana, and has a
wife and two daughters; J. H., who lives on
the home farm with his wife and daughter;
Amy, who is married, lives at Germantown,
Ohio, and has one son and one daughter;
Sally, the wife of Lee Williamson; Cliff C,
a cigar manufacturer of Burkettsville, Ohio ;
Daniel E., a cigar manufacturer, working
for his brother; a son who died in infancy;
and Ralph, a manly little lad of seven sum-
mers, who completes the family. The
daughters display considerable musical tal-
ent, and the family is one of prominence in
the community, its members occupying en-
viable positions in social circles. Mr. Sny-
der labored earnestly and untiringly in for-
mer years, acquiring a comfortable compe-
tence, and throughout his career his honor-
able business methods commended him to
the respect and unqualified confidence of
his fellow men.
CHARLES H. MAYER.
Rev. Charles Henry Mayer, the pastor
of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church,
two and one-half miles northeast of Green-
ville, Ohio, is the subject of this biograph-
ical outline. In the various callings of men
in the activities of life none wield a higher
influence in the elevation of their fellows
in ethical, and Christian culture than min-
isters of the gospel. That this is so is evi-
denced by the tender bond that unites
preacher and parishioner in the insoluble
relations of love. He who administers to
a spiritual need has performed the highest
service one is capable of rendering to a fel-
low being, and by its rendition the recipient
almost unconsciously is led to shape his life
to meet the requirements of that ever calling
"small voice" that prompts men to strive
for the attainment of higher aims and nobler
purposes in life. The preacher's work must
be but poorly done if by his teachings he
did not inspire his people to form ideals
that are higher than ordinarily emanate from
minds not inculcated with highest religious
truths. In this connection it may be said
of Mr. Mayer that he happily is the pos-
sessor of those requisites of natural endow-
ment which constitute him an efficient
worker in his Master's vineyard.
Mr. Mayer's birth occurred in the his-
toric city of Strasburg, province of Alsace,
France, now a German state, one of the
fruits of victory accruing to German arms
in the Franco-German war of 187 1. It
was on the 14th day of February, 1854,
that he was born, his parents being Charles
Henry and Anna (Duerringer) Mayer, na-
tives of Strasburg, the former born Sep-
tember 6, 1829; and the latter November
3, 1826. While yet young in years, the
elder Mayer attached himself to the army
of France, and, having an aptitude for mili-
tary life, he quickly became informed on
military tactics, and for his efficiency as a
drill-master he was promoted to official po-
sition. He was also an expert swordsman,
an accomplishment in a European soldier
that never fails to obtain recognition from
his superiors. He was married in the fa-
therland, and in 1858, with his wife and
two children, sailed for America and set-
tled in Cincinnati, where, for several years,
he was engaged in manufacturing brushes.
During that time he organized two compa-
nies of militia, one German, the other
French, of both of which he served as the
captain. He now resides at Covington,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
347
Ohio, where he carries on a brush-making
business. To him and his wife were given
three children, the youngest of whom, "Louis,
died in France; Charles Henry, and Caro-
line, now Mrs. Peter Willman, of Hartford
City, Indiana. The elder Mr. Mayer and
his estimable wife are members of the Evan-
gelical Lutheran church, and are active
workers in the -same.
The Rev. Mr. Mayer was four years old
when his parents crossed the ocean in quest
of opportunities which they believed ex-
isted in the new world that would lead to
higher fortune for themselves and children
than would ever be enjoyed in their beloved
France.
When he had arrived at a proper age
he was put to study in the public schools of
Cincinnati, where he made rapid progress
in the elementary branches, and when suffi-
ciently advanced a private tutor gave him
supplementary instruction in German and
music. After removing to Covington,
Ohio, he attended the high school, where his
final preparation for college was made. He
then entered the Capital University at Col-
umbus, Ohio, where he took the full course,
minus mathematics, which he found expe-
dient to do to accommodate his slender
means, saving by so doing a whole year of
time. Subsequently he took the theolog-
ical course in the seminary of the same in-
stitution, at which he graduated in 1876.
In June, 1876, he assumed his first
charge at Hartford City, Indiana, a small
congregation which had been split into fac-
tions by dissensions. He at once courage-
ously set about restoring harmony between
the discordant elements in the congregation;
established a parochial school into which he
gathered the children of his warring flock,
making them largely the medium through
which to accomplish his purpose of restor-
ing tranquil relations. In the various de-
partments of his work he applied himself
vigorously, giving much time and labor to
the preparation of sermons that would in-
terest and instruct his parishioners. A
Sunday school was organized, which became
a powerful factor for good, and at the end
oi a few years his labors were rewarded by
the complete restoration of peace and the
church being placed in easy financial condi-
tion.
December 14, 1876, he was united in
marriage with Miss Margaret, a daughter
of Henry and Elizabeth (Clemmens) Paff,
of Columbus, Ohio. The wife's health fail-
ing in 1880, at the advice of her physician
to make a change of location, he tendered
his resignation, which the trustees were
loath to accept, and offered him a hand-
some increase of salary to induce him to
remain. Thisdie declined, that Mrs. Mayer
might be given a much-needed change.
In 1880 he received a joint call from the
Evangelical Lutheran (St. John's) congre-
gation, two and a half miles northeast of
Greenville, and the Dininger congregation,
four miles west of Greenville. At that time
St. John's congregation was small and the
seeds of discord had taken deep root, caus-
ing much dissension among the members.
There was also a heavy church debt hang-
ing over them. Manfully putting his
"hands to the plow again and never looking
back," Mr. Mayer proved himself capable
of his calling by again triumphing over
warring discord in a church organization,
and paying off a church debt, both of which
were accomplished at the end of the first
year. In 1882 he organized a congrega-
tion at Versailles, Ohio, the effort at first
being: directed toward restoring a society
348
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
that had divided into two factions, each lay-
ing claim to the church property. The mat-
ter was finally litigated in the courts and
was decided against Mr. Mayer. After this
he undertook and completed an organiza-
tion on a new basis, erected a new church,
and preached there every two weeks in the
afternoon for twelve years, leaving it in a
highly prosperous condition, so much so
that the congregation now maintains its own
pastor, who, in addition, serves a small
charge at Ansonia.
In 1886 he organized another church at
Delvin, Ohio, which soon after passed to
the charge of Rev. John Lautenschlager,
wh< 1 remains its pastor to the present time.
For the last twenty years Mr. Mayer has
untiringly devoted himself to building up
the St. John's and Dininger congregations.
The handsome parsonage at St. John's was
■erected in 1884, at a cost of twenty-three
hundred dollars without the labor, and in the
fall of 1899 was erected the parochial school,
at the expense of one thousand dollars, not
counting the labor. The cemetery ground
has been extended and improved, and, tak-
ing all things together, St. John's is one of
the handsomest church homes in the county.
Its communicants number between two hun-
dred and fifty and three hundred, while the
Dininger congregation has about fifty com-
municants. The services at St. John's are
in German; at Dininger, in English. Both
are practically free from debt.
Mr. Mayer is a member of the Evangeli-
cal Lutheran joint synod of Ohio and adja-
cent states. He was the secretary of the
western district of the joint synod seven
years; secretary of the Auglaize conference
thirteen years; president of the Auglaize
conference one year; visitor of the western
district three years; and secretary of the
board of directors of Wernlee Orphans'
Home, Richmond, Indiana, three years.
In addition to regular pastoral work,
Mr. Mayer has found time to contribute to
both secular and religious periodicals for
many years regularly. He is a forceful,
trenchant writer and the emanations from
his orderly, well-trained mind receive the
commendation they justly merit.
In all his labors Mr. Mayer has been
ably seconded by his amiable wife, who has
ever proven herself a helpmate in the
broadest sense of the word as applied to a
minister's wife. Her sunny nature, refined
culture and pleasing personality have made
her a telling adjunct in aiding her hus-
band to carry to fruition his well-con-
ceived plans.
Three children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Mayer, one of whom is living, Eliza-
beth, a promising young lady of nineteen
years. The deceased children were named
Carl H. and Theodore F., both of whom
died in childhood.
MARSHALL ADELBERT BROWX.
The cause of popular education is rec-
ognized as one of paramount importance in
every community, and in furthering the
same has enlisted the effective services of
mam- whose co-operation has been product-
ive of the maximum of good. The New
Madison graded schools have reached a
standard of excellence and efficiency that
reflect credit not only upon the community
directly, but upon those to whom particu-
larly is due the admirable result attained.
In reviewing the life histories of those who
have contributed to the worthy annals of
the county, we may thus revert with pleas-
ure to the career of Mr. Brown, who has
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
349
for the past eight years been the incum-
bent as principal of the schools of New
Madison.
Mr. Brown is a native of Harrison town-
ship, where he was born on the 14th of De-
cember, 1865. Here occurred also the
birth of his father, George Washington
Brown, on the 20th of December, 1839.
The latter's father, Lloyd Brown, was born
in Baltimore county, Maryland, July 27,
1807, and his death occurred at his son
George's homestead, in German township,
Darke county, June 5, 1885. He came to
Ohio October 30, 1837, driving a team
through and transporting by this means his
family and their effects. His wife, whose
maiden name was Rachel Miller, was born
February 15, 1804, in Baltimore county,
Maryland, and there their marriage was
solemnized on March 7, 1830. Grand-
father Brown, the honored pioneer, had sev-
eral brothers, one of whom was blind, and
of the family two brothers, Lloyd and Bea-
son, and one sister, Honor, came to Ohio
in the early days. Lloyd and Rachel (Mil-
ler) Brown reared five sons and three daugh-
ters, of whom the three living at the pres-
ent time are as follows: .Elizabeth, widow
of David Ketring; David M., one of twins,
resides on the old homestead ; and Jesse,
a resident of Brightwood, Indiana. Grand-
father Brown died at the age of about
seventy-eight years, his venerable widow
having preceded him February 20, 1884,
passing away at the age of eighty years
and five days. It is not definitely known
whether the Brown family is of German or
Scotch extraction, though the subject of
this review has made careful search for
genealogical data of an authentic order.
Grandmother Brown had several brothers,
the last of whom died February 28, 1897.
The mother of Marshall A. Brown bore
the maiden name of Henrietta Heistand,
and she was born in Manner township, Lan-
caster county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of
April, 1844, her marriage to George W.
Brown having been celebrated December 3,
1864. The young couple were married in
this county and soon after the birth of their
son, the subject of ths sketch, settled on the
old homestead which continued to be their
place of abode until death set its seal upon
their mortal lips. They became the parents
of four sons and two daughters, of whom
we offer brief record, as follows : Marshall
A. is the direct subject of this review; Alice
L. is the wife of Jesse Woods, of Palestine,
German township, this county, and has one
son; Bertha E. D. is the wife of Vandalia
White, of Harrison township, and has two
sons and one daughter; C. H. Brown is a
resident of Hollansburg, this county, and has
two sons; S. V. Brown, unmarried, resides
upon the old homestead, of which he is the
owner; and the youngest is William H., a
youth of seventeen, who is stil.l at home. He
is a graduate the present year in the New
Madison high school. The father of these
children passed to his reward June 29, 1897,
and the mother died on the 30th of August,
1898, so that in death they were not long
divided.
Marshall A. Brown, whose name initiates
this sketch, received his preliminary educa-
tional discipline in the public schools of his
native county, after which he matriculated
at the Ohio Normal University, at Ada,
Ohio, where he graduated as a mem-
ber of the class of 1892. Prior to this,
however, he had put his scholastic acquire-
ments to practical test, his pedagogic career
having had its inception in the fall of 1883,
in sub-district No. 7, German township,
350
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
being at the time in his eighteenth year, and
it is worthy of note in this connection that
he has ever since devoted himself to this,
his chosen line of work, having taught each
winter consecutively from the start, while
his labors in the later years have covered the
full school year. He passed the county ex-
amination for a teacher's certificate on the
4th of February, 1882, receiving a twelve-
months certificate. He has taught nine
years in four different district schools and his
work has been invariably attended with
success, so that it was but a natural se-
quence that when he assumed the position
as principal of the New Madison schools
he should make his influence felt for good
from the beginning. He has now held the
principalship for eight years, which fact
is in itself significant, showing conclusively
that the public have an appreciation of his
ability as a teacher and an executive. He
is thoroughly interested in his profession,
and his ambition prompts him to study ways
and means and to secure in every detail of
the work the best results possible. He now
holds a life state common-school certificate.
When he took charge of the Xew Madison
schools three teachers were employed and
one hundred and eight pupils enrolled ; at
the present time four teachers are demanded
in the work, and one hundred and sixty pu-
pils are enrolled. The class of 1900 is the
fifth to graduate, but when Mr. Brown as-
sumed the principalship there had never
been a graduate. The alumni now number
fifteen gentlemen and five ladies.
On the 20th of November, 1890, Mr.
Brown was united in marriage to Miss Sa-
rah Elizabeth Teaford, of German town-
ship, this county, she being the daughter
of Jonathan and Sophia (Smelker) Tea-
ford, well known residents of that town-
ship. Mrs. Brown has three brothers and
one sister living. Mr. Brown erected a
tasteful and attractive residence in New
Madison, taking up his abode therein No-
vember 3, 1892, and this proves the center
of a refined social circle, including the best
people of the community, Mrs. Brown pre-
siding over the home with grace and dignity
and proving to her husband an able coadju-
tor in his work. He has won the reputa-
tion of being one of the successful and com-
petent teachers of the county.
JOHN C. CLARK.
The subject of this review is actively
connected with a profession which has im-
portant bearing upon the progress and stable
prosperity of any section or community, and
one which has long been considered as con-
serving the public welfare by furthering the
ends of justice and maintaining individual
rights. He seems to realize in superior
measure the importance and value of the
profession and the fact that justice and the
higher attribute of mercy he often holds in
his hands. His professional career has there-
fore been one most commendable and has
won for him prestige among the leading
members of the legal fraternity in the west-
ern section of Ohio.
Mr. Clark was born in a log house in
Washington township, Darke county, on
the 17th of January, 1849, a son ot Benjamin
H. and Mary (Martin) Clark. English,
German and Irish blood is commingled in
his veins, and many of the sterling traits
of those nationalities find exemplification in
his career. His father was of English and
German extraction and his mother was of
German and Irish lineage. The former
was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
351
in September, 1821, and removed to Ohio in
1 83 1, when ten years of age, in company
with his parents. After reaching man's es-
tate he devoted his attention to farming in
Ohio. He was married in Darke county
to Miss Mary Martin, whose birth occurred
in Washington township, in 1830. When
our subject was eight years of age his par-
ents removed to what is known as the old
Clark homestead, four miles north of Green-
ville. At that time the land was practically
untillecl. and the father, with the aid of bis
young sons, cut away the trees, fenced the
property, made ditches and erected substan-
tial buildings, making the farm one of the
best in the county.
Thus upon the family homestead John
C. Clark was reared, working in the fields
through the summer months, while in the
winter, until eighteen years of age, he pur-
sued such studies as formed the curriculum
in the district schools of the neighborhood.
He afterward attended the high school of
Greenville for three years and was thus
enabled to secure a teacher's certificate. He
had 116 opportunity to pursue a college course,
but while engaged in teaching he added
largely to his fund of knowledge by private
study in leisure hours, mastering Latin, high-
er mathematics and other sciences, also
studying history and English literature
Early becoming imbued with a desire to make
the practice of law his life work, he began
reading law with Judge A. R. Calderwood
and H. M. Cole, on the 6th of October, 1875,
and when he had largely mastered the prin-
ciples of jurisprudence he successfully passed
an examination and was admitted to the bar
by the district court at Greenville, in May,
1877. ^ is said that he answered correctly
every question put to him in that examina-
tion.
21
Since that time Mr. Clark has ensraeed
in practice, and his clientage has steadily
increased in volume and importance until his
I connection with important litigated interests
is extensive. His success in a professional
way affords the best evidence of his capa-
bilities in this line. He is a strong advocate
with the jury and concise in his appeals be-
fore the court. Much of the success which
has attended him in his professional career
is undoubtedly due to the fact that in no
instance will he permit himself to go into
court with a case unless he has absolute con-
fidence in the justice of his client's cause.
Basing his efforts on this principle, from
which there are too many lapses in profes-
sional ranks, it naturally follows that he
seldom loses a case in wdiose support he is
enlisted. He is always painstaking and
thorough in the preparation of a case, and
When he enters the courtroom his position
as regards the law and its application to the
principles involved in his suit is well nigh
incontrovertible. At the time that Mr.
Clark was a student Ed Breaden was also
reading law in the same office, and on the
19th of February, 1878, these two young-
men commenced the practice of law to-
gether, under the firm name of Breaden &
Clark. The partnership was dissolved three
years later, but they remained close friends
until the death of Mr. Breaden. In the fall
of 1885 Mr. Clark formed a law partner-
ship with General Anderson and Mr. Cheno-
with, and their practice was varied and re-
munerative. He also held several offices in
the line of his profession, having been elected
prosecuting attorney for Darke county, serv-
ing from the 1st of January, 1881, to the
1st of January, 1886. In the discharge of
his duties he manifested marked prominence
and fidelitv and won the high commenda-
352
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tion of all interested in law and order. In
May. 1893, he became one of the judges of
the court of common pleas for the second
judicial district. The term of Judge Meeker
was at that time nearing its end and he was
given the nomination and elected for a term
of five years. On the bench Judge Clark
was most fair and impartial in his rulings
and his decisions were models of judicial
soundness. He seemed to readily grasp
every point presented, to know the law ap-
plicable thereto, and his decisions were
framed with due regard to precedent and to
the equity of the case. In the summer of
1896 Judge Clark was nominated, in Colum-
bus, for judge of the circuit court of the
second judicial district of Ohio, competing
therefor with some of the ablest lawyers of
the circuit, and in the November election he
carried his home county by the largest major-
ity ever given to any candidate with a com-
petitor, but was not elected on account of
the unprecedented majorities given against
his party in Franklin and Montgomery coun-
ties.
On the 27th of September, 1888, the
Judge was united in marriage to Miss Ada
J. Greene, a highly educated and cultured
lady of Franklin, and their home in Green-
ville is celebrated for its gracious hospital-
ity. In his political views the Judge has
always been a Democrat and has taken a
deep and active interest in the success of his
party. However, when on the bench he never
allowed party politics to influence in any
way his official acts. In the campaign of
1880 he displayed such ability that he at
once became one of the leaders of his party,
and with the exception of the time of his
judicial service has since continued to exert
a marked influence in its councils. He has
always likened public leadership to that of
the duties of a general in command of an
army, and has held that the only way to win
success is to make good all promises and to
inspire confidence in the desirable outcome
of the cause in question. These qualities,
combined with an excellent knowledge of
humane nature and unflagging prosecution
of a campaign, will nearly always bring the
desired result in a just cause. As a citizen
he is public-spirited and progressive, as a
friend is true and faithful and as a man is
moral and upright. In manner the Judge
is very modest and unpretentious, but com-
mands that uniform regard which is every
where given to true worth of character. He
has always resided in Darke county, and the
fact that many who have known him from
boyhood are numbered among his warmest
friends is an indication that his life has ever
been honorable and upright.
WILLI AM LUDY.
Success is determined by one's ability to
recognize opportunity and to pursue " this
with a resolute and unflagging energy. It
results from continued labor, and the man
who thus accomplishes his purpose becomes
an important factor in business circles. Mr.
Ludy, through such means, has attained a
leading place among the representative busi-
ness men of Greenville township, and is now
the proprietor and manager of a brickyard
near the city of Greenville.
He was born May 3, 1858, in a log cabin
in Greenville township, which is still stand-
ing, and is a son of Samuel Ludy, whose
sketch appears on another page of this vol-
ume. He obtained a good business edu-
cation in the public and high schools of
Greenville, and at the age of twenty-one he
began his business career by taking charge
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
353
■of his father's brickyard, which he has since
successfully operated. It was established
1 y his father in 1875, and has since been in
successful operation, turning out from one
to one and a half million bricks annually at
the present time. The product, being of a
superior quality, finds a ready sale in the
local markets, and is also shipped ex-
tensively. Many of the principal buildings
of Greenville have been constructed of these
bricks, including the school houses, electric
light plant and water works. Twenty men
are furnished employment in the yards. In
addition to the manufacture of brick Mr.
Ludy is also engaged in getting out railroad
ties, hard wood lumber, etc., during the
winter months, and in this way manages to
give his employes work all the year round.
Besides his business property, he owns one
hundred and forty-five acres of good land
in Greenville township, and his entire pos-
sessions evidence the success that has at-
tended his well-directed efforts.
On the 20th of April, 1880, Mr. Ludy
was united in marriage with Miss Alice M.
Reck, of Gettysburg, a daughter of Levi
Reck, and to them have been born four
children: John, in >w nineteen years of age;
Maude, seventeen; Grace Alice, twelve; and
Laverna, one year. The parents are both
active members of the Christian church, and
the family is one of prominence in the com-
munity where they reside.
LEWIS C. MILLER.
Lewis C. Miller, one of the representa-
tive and prominent agriculturists of Darke
county, owns and operates a fine farm of
one hundred and twenty-six acres on section
9, Greenville township. Its neat and
•thrifty appearance indicates the careful su-
pervision of the owner and shows him to be
not only a skillful farmer, but also a man of
good business and executive ability. He
located where he now resides in 1873, at
that time purchasing eighty acres of par-
tially improved land, to which he subse-
quently added another eighty-acre tract, but
has since given a part of this to two of his
sons.
Mr. Miller was born in Fairfield county,
Ohio, March 6, 1S34, and is a son of Chris-
tian and Martha (Stronn) Miller, natives of
Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Our sub-
ject's maternal grandfather was Enos
Stronn, an early settler of Ohio. In 1801,
when only a year old. the father was taken
to Fairfield county, this state, by his par-
ents, Christian and Elizabeth Miller, also
natives of the Old Dominion. This was
some time before Ohio was admitted to the
Union, and near where the Miller family
settled was an Indian village. Upon the
farm where they first located the grand-
parents of our subject spent their remain-
ing years, and his parents were also life-
long residents of Fairfield county. The
father lived to the advanced age of eighty-
two years. He was a farmer and also a
mechanic, manufacturing wagons, plows,
etc., and making the first left-handed plow
constructed in Ohio, designing the molds
himself. Both he and his wife were mem-
bers of the United Brethren church, taking
an active interest in religious work, while
their home was always the stopping place
for the ministers visiting their locality.
Lewis C. Miller was reared and edu-
cated in Fairfield, and remained there until
after his marriage, operating his father's
farm and taking care of his parents until
their death. As previously stated, he came
to Darke county in 1873, and has since re-
354
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
sided upon his present farm. He was united
i'i marriage to Miss Elizabeth Sites, and
to them were born nine children, namely:
Cletus, Laura, James, Charles, Fannie;
Emma, deceased; Mollie, Mannel and
Maude.
Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Miller are
active and influential members of the Grand
View Union Brethren church. They have
always taken a very prominent part in all
church work, and assisted in organizing
the churches of their denomination at Hill
Grove, Coalville and Grand View. Mr.
Miller has also been officially connected with
his home church for many years, and has
led a most exemplary life. Politically he
affiliates with the Democratic party, but
t;.kes only a nominal interest in political
affairs, such as is exercised by our best citi-
zens. He well deserves the high regard in
in which he is uniformly held.
SAMUEL LUDY.
This gentleman, who was for a number
of years a leading brick manufacturer of
Darke county, is now living a retired life
in the enjoyment of a rest which he has
truly earned and greatly deserves by reason
ot his industrious efforts of former years.
He was born in Frederick county, Mary-
land, May 30- 1833, but was only four years
old when brought by his parents, David and
Alary (Burns) Ludy, to Ohio. His father
was also a native of Maryland, the mother
of Pennsylvania, and their marriage was
celebrated in the former state. On conting
to Ohio they located in Miami county, and
here they made their permanent home on
a farm, where both died. When they took
up their residence there their family num-
bered seven children — Daniel, Sarah, Eliza-
beth, John, Mahala, David and Samuel ; and
in this state three others were added to the
family — Eliza, Mary Ann and William.
The last named was a member of the Tenth
Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the civil
war, and died from disease soon after the
battle of Stone river.
Since coming to Darke county, in 1856,
Samuel Ludy has resided upon his present
place. Being in limited circumstances, he
worked at day labor for a time, and event-
ually bought seven acres in Greenville town-
ship, for which he paid fifty dollars per acre.
For some years he followed farming, but
about 1875 ne embarked in the manufac-
ture of brick, to which he devoted his time
and attention throughout the remainder of
his active business life.
In Greenville, in 18^6, Air. Ludy mar-
ried Miss Christina Guntrum, a daughter of
John Guntrum, whose family came from
Pennsylvania to Ohio about 1844. By this
union were born four children: William,
who now has charge of the brick business,
and is represented on another page of this
volume; David; Rebecca, the wife of Peter
Roher; and Samuel, who is engaged in ship-
ping stock. Mr. Ludy has always taken
an active interest in educational matters, and
has provided his children with good advan-
tages along that line. His son David suc-
cessfully taught in the schools of Darke
county for twelve or more years.
In 1864 Mr. Ludy enlisted in Company
D, Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
and was one of two men chosen from ten
thousand to carry returns from the regi-
ment to headcjtiarters. In that capacity he
frequently visited the headquarters of Grant,
Sheridan, Sherman and other noted gener-
als, and remained in the service until May
1 2, 1865, when honorably discharged. He
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
355
participated in some engagements and was
wounded at the battle of Bowling Green,
Kentucky, being knocked senseless by a bul-
let in the forehead. At another time he wa's
accidentally wounded by the discharge of a
comrade's gun, the ball striking his right
hand and disabling it.
Though not strictly partisan, Mr. Ludy
usually supports the Democratic party, and
he takes an active interest in public affairs,
having served as the trustee of Greenville
township eight consecutive terms, and as in-
firmary director six years. He is a man of
broad and liberal views, and is willing to give
the hand of Christian fellowship to all. He is
widely and favorably known and it is safe to
say that no man in his community is held in
higher regard. For a half century he has
been a consistent member of the Christian
church, and socially belongs to Greenville
Lodge, No. 195, I. O. O. F.
HENRY ALTER.
Henry Alter is well and favorably known
in Darke county and the history of his life
therefore cannot fail to prove of interest to
our readers, many of whom are numbered
among his friends. He was born in Harris-
burg, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1837, and is
a son of Jacob and Eliza (Tice) Alter. The
former was a native of Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, and was a son of William
Alter, who was born in the Keystone state
and belonged to an old colonial family. The
grandfather of our subject was a farmer,
miller and distiller and was a man of influ-
ence in his community. During the war of
1812, he was captain of a company, raised in
his vicinity, that participated in the battle of
North Point, Baltimore, Marvland. His
brother-in-law, Joseph Ritener, was then
governor of the state. William Alter held
a number of official positions of prominence
and for one or more terms was a member of
the state senate. In his family were the fol-
lowing children : William, John, David. Ben-
jamin, Simon, Jacob, Eliza, Mary and Susan.
The parents died in the Keystone state, the
grandfather passing away in May. 1840.
Jacob Alter, the father of our subject,
was reared to manhood in the county of his
nativity, became a farmer and later conduct-
ed the Shakespeare House, then the most
prominent hotel in Harrisburg. He had the
honor of entertaining Charles Dickens at the
time of his visit to the United States. He also
entertained General W. H. Harrison at a
banquet given him during the presidential
campaign of 1840. The late Thaddeus Ste-
vens also made his home at the Shakespeare
House. Jacob Alter was married in Wash-
ington county, Maryland, to Miss Eliza Tice,
a native of that state. They began their do-
mestic life in Pennsylvania, wdiere they re-
mained for ten or more years, and then re-
moved to Preston county, West Virginia,
where Jacob Alter purchased a farm, making
his home there for some time. He afterward
spent several years in western Maryland and
then returned to Washington county, that
state, where he remained for a number of
years. With his family he emigrated to
Ohio, taking up his abode in Clark county,
upon a farm which he made his place of res-
idence for twelve years, after which he came
to Darke county, Ohio, here remaining
until his death which occurred May 24,
1875. His wife also passed away in Darke
county, surviving him for some time, and
both were well advanced in age when called
to the home beyond. They had a family of
five children, two of whom are living. Frank,
356
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
who resides in Cincinnati, where he is recog-
nized as a prominent citizen, and Henry, of
this review. The daughters who have passed
away are Mary, Laura and Lucy. The first
two died in childhood and the last named is
the deceased wife of William McCaughey.
Henry Alter, whose name forms the cap-
tion of this article, spent his early boyhood
days on the home farm in Cumberland coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, and attended the "pay
schools." His educational advantages how-
ever, were somewhat limited. He walked
from three to five miles each night and morn-
ing in order to acquire an education, but as
his services were needed on the home farm,
he found little opportunity to remain in the
school room. He assisted in the cultivation
of his father's fields until twenty-one years of
age, when he began life on his own account
and followed farming in the Keystone state
until 1854, when he accompanied his parents
on their removal to Clark county, Ohio. In
1866 he came to Darke county, taking up his
abode in Greenville township upon the place
where he now resides. He was married in
Clark county to Elizabeth Ilges, a daughter
of Martin Ilges, of that locality. Their wed-
ding was celebrated in April, 1864. and from
1866 until 1887 they resided upon the old
homestead in Darke county. In the latter
year, however, Mr. Alter and his wife went
to Tennessee, in order that he might obtain
relief from asthmatic troubles, and there he
remained until December, 1889, when he re-
turned to the farm, which has since been his
place of abode. By his first wife he had two
children: Mary, now the wife of Harmon
Hartzell, of Greenville, and Florence, who
died at the age of two years. The mother
passed away in 1870, and Mr. Alter was
again married. His second marriage was
consummated December 18, 1874, the lady of
his choice being Miss Mary M. Clew, a
daughter of D. B. and Rachel (Thompson)
Clew, then residents of Darke county. Her
father, however, was a native of Pennsylva-
nia, and her mother was born in Ohio. Her
maternal grandparents were Moses and
Christine (Ireland) Thompson, the former a
native of Xew York, and the latter of Ohio.
She was probably born in Clermont county,
where her people settled at a very early
epoch in the development of the state. Moses
Thompson and his wife had ten children,
namely : Rachel, Isaac, Annie, Daniel,
Rhoda, Lvdia, Samuel, Ephraim, Malinda,
and Azenia. The grandfather of Mrs. Al-
ter came to Darke county at an early date,
entered land from the government near New
Madison, and there made his home until his
death, which occurred about 1856. His wife
survived him until 1859. Mr. and Mrs.
Clew, the parents of Mrs. Alter, were mar-
ried in Cincinnati, December 4, 1842, and
located in Darke county in 1848, here spend-
ing their remaining days. Her father, who
was born in Philadelphia, April 6, 1813,
died April 21, 1867. His wife who was born
in Clermont county, Ohio, May 22, 1814,
was called to her final rest December 8, 1844.
They had four children, of whom three are
living, namely : Christine Elizabeth, who was
born in Cincinnati, February 18, 1844, and
died August 29, 1849; Henry D., born in the
same city, May 1, 1846; Mary M., born
September 4, 1849; and William M., born
December 24, 185 1. The father was auditor
of Darke county for four years, and previous
to that seiwice had been deputy auditor for
lour years. He took an active interest in pol-
itics, and was a stanch advocate of the Dem-
ocracy, yet enjoyed the respect and confi-
dence of people of both parties. He dis-
charged his public duties with marked fidel-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
mi
ity and his books were the best kept of any
in the county-
Mr. Alter is also an advocate of Demo-
cratic principles and keeps well informed on
the issues of the day, yet has never sought or
desired office. He and his wife are most
highly respected and their circle of friends
is very extensive, embracing many of the
best people of the community.
OSCAR F. DAVISON.
One of the well known citizens of Green-
ville, Oscar F. Davison, is numbered among
the native sons of Darke county, for his birth
occurred on a farm in Richland township,
on the 16th of October, 1837. His grandfa-
ther, Edward R. Davison, was one of the
pioneer settlers of Ohio, locating in Pick-
away county, in 18 10. and taking up his
abode in Darke county in 1822. The name of
Davison has since been inseparably con-
nected with the substantial growth and de-
velopment of the county. The father of our
subject, Robert Davison, was born in Bour-
bon county, Kentucky. April 8, 1798, and
having attained man's estate he wedded Miss
Mary Stratton. the wedding taking place
March 26, 1829. She was born May 23,
1807. Soon after their marriage they came
to Darke county, locating in Richland town-
ship where Mr. Davison hewed out a farm in
the midst of the forest. There he engaged in
raising rain and stock and was the owner of
a valuable property, comprising two hundred
and fifty acres in Brown township, and was
an enterprising agriculturist whose well di-
rected labors brought to him merited success.
His wife died March 22, 1847, and he was
again married, his second union being with
Mrs. Mary Brown, nee White. She died on
the old homestead in 1867.
Oscar F. Davison was the second son of
the first marriage. The other children of the
family were: Edward A., who died in 1877;
Louise Olover, who is a widow and resides
in Salem, Indiana; Sarah Ann, wife of Adam
Coppess, of Darke county: and Amanda,
wife of Isaac Deardoff, of Brown township.
Under the parental roof Oscar F. Davison
was reared, remaining with his parents until
he had attained his twenty-third year, when
he was married. It was in 1861 that this im-
portant event in his life occurred, Miss Se-
rena Plessinger, of Richland township, Be-
coming his wife. She is a daughter of David
and Louise (Johnson) Plessinger. After
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Davison took
up their abode in Richland township, upon a
farm, where they made their home for two
years, on the expiration of which period our
subject entered into partnership with C. L.
Pecken, under the firm name of Pecken &
Davison. They opened a general store,
which they conducted for a year, when they
sold out. During that time Mr. Davison
lost his first wife and was again married, the
lady of his choice being Sarah J. Plessinger,
a second cousin of his former wife. Her
parents were George and Mary (Harmon)
Plessinger. They took up their abode upon
a farm, which Mr. Davison operated from
1877 until 1894. and during that time he also
dealt quite extensively in live stock.
In the fall of the latter year he was
elected treasurer of Darke county, taking
charge of the finances in September, 1895.
for a term of two years. On the expiration of
that period he was re-elected, serving in all
four years. His duties were discharged in a
a most prompt and commndable manner and
every cent was faithfully accounted for, so
that he retired from office as he entered it—
with the good will and confidence of the peo-
358
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
pie. Since his retirement he has devoted his
attention to the supervision of his farming-
interests, being owner of two hundred and
forty acres of valuable land in Allen town-
ship, which he rents.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Davison has
been blessed with four children, namely :
Tessa II.. wife of Elijah York, of York
township; Mary G., wife of Charlie Baman,
of York township; Claude E.. who married
Anna Medford and is now telegraph opera-
tor at Ansonia; and Cora May, wife of John
Armstrong, a resident of Allen township.
Mr. Davison is a member of Ansonia Lodge.
No. 4. E. & A. M., and enjoys the regard of
bis brethren of the fraternity. In his politi-
cal views he is a Democrat, is recognized as
one of the leading members of the party in
his locality and keeps well informed on the
issues of the day. His home is a fine resi-
dence located at No. 216 Harrison avenue,
and there he is enabled to surround his family
with all the necessities and many of the lux-
uries of life, as the result of his well directed
and enterprising efforts.
JAMES YOUNG McCOOL.
The subject of this personal narrative is
one of the most successful and progressive
farmers within the borders of Franklin t< iwn-
ship, Darke county. Giro. He has made his
special field of industry an eminent success,
and is highly esteemed and respected by all
who know him.
Mr. McCool's paternal grandparents
were fames and Charity (Chapman) Mc-
Cool, who were born, reared and married in
South Carolina, whence they removed to
North Carolina and later to Virginia. In
1 814 they came to Ohio and located west of
Milton in Miami county, where the grandfa-
ther died shortly after, in 1816. His wife
survived him several years, dying in Freder-
ick. Miami county, about 1839. Their chil-
dren were William C, father of our subject;
Young Gabriel, who married Margaret
Cloyd and died in Frederick: Elizabeth, who
married Alexander Hoover, and died in
I.ockport, Indiana; and Sally, who married
Michael Roderick and died near Jonesboro,
Indiana.
William C. McCool, our subjects father,
was born in South Carolina, December 3,
1803, and accompanied his parents on their
various removals, coming to this state in
[814, the journey being made by wagon.
After his father's death he learned the shoe-
maker's trade and became the main support
of his widowed mother, with whom he re-
mained until his marriage. Walter D. Jay,
a friend and relative, took a great interest in
the boy and gave him work until his mar-
riage. It was in 1825 that Mr. McCool
wedded Miss Mary, daughter of William
and Jane Cloyd, natives of Tennessee. They
made their home for a time on the James
lav farm near Tippecanoe and on leaving
there Mr. McCool bought eighty acres of
land in Union township Miami county,
fi ir which he went in debt, the cost of the
place being four hundred and fifty dollars.
Only fifteen acres of the land had been
cleared and an old log house and barn con-
stituted the only improvements. Being indus-
trious and persevering, he soon paid off the
debt and bought another farm of eighty acres
near Frederick for one thousand dollars.
After paying for the latter he purchased
eighty acres of W. D. Jay, for which he paid
thirty-three dollars per acre. In 1850
he bought two hundred and eighty acres of
land south of Milton, for which he paid five
thousand dollars, and made his home thereon
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
359
until 1864, when he rented the farm and with
our subject as a partner engaged in general
merchandising and in the grain business at
De Lisle. Darke county. At the end of four
years lie purchased our subject's interest in
the business and continued alone until 1872,
when he sold to his son John and bought a
seventy-eight-acre farm in Neave township,
paying for it thirty-six hundred dollars.
There he lived retired for some time, but
finally removed to Jaysville, where he died
in 1888. honored and respected by all who
knew him. Politically he was first a Whig
and later a Republican, and religiously was a
member of the Society of Friends. His esti-
mable wife, who was born in Tennessee, in
1808, died April 20, 1853. In their family
were ten children, namely : Albert married
.Susan Smith and died in Union township,
March 16, 1856; James Y., our subject, is
next in order of birth ; Charity married
Ahiga Shearer, of West Milton; Isaac mar-
ried Elizabeth Siler, and died in Union town-
ship, Miami county, March 16, 1862; John
married Elizabeth Daniels and died in Arca-
num; Harriet is the wife of D. Yount, of
Union township, Miami county; Esther
married William Cress and they moved to
Morris county. Kansas, in 1884; William
Henry Harrison married Ellen Arnold, and
lives in Jaysville, Ohio ; Elizabeth married
first. Harrison Voer, and secondly, Titus
Shearer and lives near Spring Valley, Ten-
nessee: and Mary E. died in infancy.
James Y. McCool was born October 24,
1828, and being reared on his father's farm
he early became familiar with all the duties
which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. As
a boy he was not over-fond of study, but was
hard working and industrious. He attended
-country schools until eighteen years of age
.and was quick to learn, easily keeping up
with the other scholars in his studies. For
fourteen months he attended Eli Jay's select
school and then passed the teachers' examina-
tion at Troy. He taught school for about
fourteen months in Miami and Darke coun-
ties, but his early life was mostly devoted to
farming until 1864. when he and his father
embarked in business at De Lisle. During
the war they paid as high as three dollars
and five cents per bushel for wheat. After
withdrawing from the business Mr. McCool
located on his farm in Union township,
Miami county, which he operated until 1871,
and then moved to another farm which he
owned in Franklin township, Darke county,
consisting of two hundred and forty acres
of well improved land. In 1874 he Ik night
the farm of sixty-three acres on which he
now resides, and took up his residence there-
on the following year though he still retains
the two-hundred-and-forty-acre tract which
was entered by Samuel Horn. His commo-
dious and pleasant residence was built in
1880, and all of the other improvements
upon the place in the way of buildings have
been made by him.
On the 1st of April, 185S, Mr. McCool
was united in marriage to Miss Man- Long,
who was horn in Miami county Ohio, a
daughter of William and Elizabeth Long.
1 By this union were born six children, name-
ly: Amanda C who died in infancy: Emma
Jane, who married Frank Reed and both died
in Franklin township ; Sarah A., wife of T.
W. Stoltz. of Gettysburg; Rosie B., wife of
Charles Stoltz, of Franklin township; Minor,
a school teacher residing at home: and Mary
E., who wedded George Myers, of Franklin
township and lias one child. Mary A.
Mr. McCool is strictly a self-made man,
as he began life without a dollar, and every
thine- he owns is the fruit of his own labor,
360
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
enterprise and good management. He is to-
day one of the largest land-owners of Frank-
lin township, and is one of its most successful
business men. He is intelligent and well in-
formed, is kind, hospitable and generous, and
a good friend and neighbor. He is a devout
Christian and prominent member of Union
Chapel Christian church, in which he has
served as deacon for several years. In his
political affiliations he is a Republican, and
on his party ticket was elected justice of the
peace, in 1895, for a term of three years.
GEORGE W. HARLEY, M. D.
There is no profession that demands of its
votaries a more careful preliminary training
than does that of the physician, and as the
destinies of life and death, the alpha and.
omega of our human existence, rest often in
his hands, it is but natural that he should feel
the grave responsibilities placed upon him
and should gird himself well for the stern
duties of his noble calling. Among those
who lend dignity to the profession of med-
icine in Darke county is he whose name in-
itiates this paragraph, and we are pleased to
incorporate in this work the following brief
review of his personal and ancestral history.
Dr. Harley is a native son of the Buck-
eye state, having been born in Clark county,
Ohio, on the nth of January, i860. His
father, a man of sterling worth of character,
is a retired blacksmith at North Hampton,
Clark county. This honored citizen. John
A. Harley. is of German nativity, having
been born in the province of Hesse-Darm-
stadt. Germany, about the year 1832. At
the age of seventeen years, in 1849. the
young man determined to seek his fortune in
the new world and fortified only by his ster-
ling integrity and his capacity for productive
effort, he was confident of making his way,,
though far from home and friends. He
made the voyage by sailing vessel, forty-nine
days elapsing ere he disembarked in New
York city, where the boat finally dropped
anchor. He had at the time no knowledge
of the English language and was not
even familiar with a trade but he was equal
to the exigencies of the hour, and by indus-
try and honest enterprise soon gained a foot-
hold in his adopted country. Within a short
time he came to Clark county, Ohio, and here
he apprenticed himself to learn the black-
smith trade, in which he eventually became
an adept workman, continuing to devote his
attention to the same for many years and
gaining the confidence and esteem of all with
whom he came in contact. In Clark county
he was united in marriage to Miss Martha
Meranda, a daughter of George Meranda,
this union being- consummated about the year
1859, and to the same seven children being
born, of which number five are now living,
namely : George Washington, the immediate
subject of this review; Hettie Harlev. who
is a successful teacher; Emma Harley, a
maiden lady; Eliza, who is the widow of
John Brandenburg and resides in Clark coun-
ty; and Charles Irvin, a prominent farmer of
Clark county, who is married and has one
daughter. The parents of the Doctor are
both in excellent health and in temporal
affairs are very comfortably situated, this
being the reward of the well directed efforts,
of the father, to whom his cherished wife has
ever proved a true helpmeet.
Doctor Harley secured his preliminary
educational discipline in the district schools-
and in the normal school at Lebanon, War-
ren county, Ohio, after which he secured bis-
more purely technical training or profes-
sional training by matriculating in the well
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
361
known Eclectic Medical Institute, at Cincin-
nati, where he was graduated with the de-
gree of Doctor of Medicine on the 7th of
June, 1892, having proved a most careful and
discriminating student and having shown a
peculiar fitness for the work to which he had
determined to devote his life. Immediately
after his graduation he located in Hollans-
burg, entering upon the active practice of his
profession here on the 26th of July, 1892.
He has firmly established himself in the con-
fidence and esteem of the people and his
patronage is of a representative order. The
Doctor is an enthusiast in his profession, is
a close student and keeps fully abreast of the
discoveries and developments in the science
of medicine, while his personality is that
which infuses confidence and begets cheerful-
ness in the sick room — attributes essential to
the successful physician.
On the 12th of August, 1885, Doctor
Harley was .united in marriage to Miss Mary
C. Rust, daughter of Simon and Rebecca
(Myers) Rust, of Clark county. Of this
union four children were born, Mabel E.
Harley, who was born May 10, 1886, and
died April 5, 1898, of meningitis; Russell,
who was born August 12, 1887, and died at
the age of twenty-eight days; Howard, who
was born April 25, 1889; and Norene, a lit-
tle daughter, born May 11. 1891. The fam-
ily occupy an attractive residence, which was
erected by the Doctor in the fall of 1898, and
here he finds his solace from the cares and
perplexities of his active professional career;
here he may usually be found when not in his
office or attending his patients, and here a
generous hospitality is dispensed to a large
circle of loyal friends.
Professionally Doctor Harley is identi-
fied with both the state and county organiza-
tions of the Eclectic Medical Society ; polit-
ically he renders allegiance to the Democratic
party, and fraternally he is identified with
the Knights of Pythias. The Doctor is
widely known and distinctly popular in the
community, both as a physician and as a
THOMAS H. MONGER.
This gentleman is well known as the su-
perintendent of the Darke County Orphans'
Home, and is well qualified for the important
position which he is filling. He is not only
a man of excellent business ability, capable
of directing the business affairs of the insti-
tution, but is also a gentleman of broad hu-
manitarian principles, of deep human sym-
pathy, and his interest in children and their
welfare is earnest and sincere. He does all
in his power to make the institution not only
a home in name but in reality, and labors to
prepare the little ones for life's practical and
responsible duties.
Mr. Monger was born in Fayette county,
Indiana, November 18. 1854. His parents
were George H. and Catherine ( Holland)
Monger, both natives of Fayette county, In-
diana, and representatives of pioneer fam-
lies of that state, but both are now deceased.
T. H. Monger's boyhood days were spent
in that locality, upon a farm. During the
winter months he pursued Iris education in
the common schools and to his parents he
gave the benefit of Ins services until after he
attained his majority, living with them until
his removal to Darke county, on the 7th of
November, 1888. At that time he took up
his abode in Greenville and entered the em-
ploy of L. D. Hally. a dealer in implements,
with whom he remained from March, 1889,.
until February, 1892, at which time he was
appointed superintendent of the Home. He
362
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
has since remained in charge of this splendid
institution of Darke county, and under his
supervision its object has been carried for-
ward in spirit, winning the approval of prac-
tical business men as well as of those of a
more emotional nature.
Mr. Monger is a member of Champion
Lodge, No. 742, I. O. O. F., and Greenville
Camp, No. 90. of the encampment, and also
■of the Patriarchs Militant, the highest order
of Odd Fellowship. This order inculcates
an* nig its members the spirit of helpfulness,
■charity and benevolence, and Mr. Monger
exemplifies in his conduct of the Orphans'
Home the fraternal spirit of the order. He
affiliates with the Democracy in politics, and
is a prominent and faithful member of the
Methodist Episcopal church. Hewas married
December 21, 1876. to Estella M. Woods,
and having no children of their own. they
have reared his brother's son, John E. Mon-
ger. This nephew came to them when six
years of aee and is now a student in the
Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. Mr.
Monger is a well informed man. courteous
to strangers, kindly in his dealings with
those with whom lie is daily thrown in con-
tact and is possessed of excellent executive
ability. The term of superintendent lasts
but one year and that he has been re-elected
each February for the past eight years is a
high testimonial to his ability and fidelity.
THE DARKE COUNTY CHILDREN'S
HOME.
The Darke County Children's Home is
•situated three miles north of Greenville,
Ohio. The erection of the building was be-
gun in 1888 and it was occupied on the 13th
ol August, 1889. The building is of brick
:and is fitted throughout in modern style, the
approximate cost of the improvement being
about forty thousand dollars. The grounds
comprise fifty-two and a half acres of land
and are well improved. Children are re-
ceived into the home between infancy and
sixteen years. The girls are taught house-
work of all kinds, while the boys are in-
structed in various outdoor duties of the
farm. School is held nine months in the
year in a model building erected especially
for the purpose. There are now fifty-three
inmates of the home, thirty-six boys and
twenty-seven girls. As it is deemed advis-
able and requests are made, the children are
put into families for thirty days' trial and the
institution demands that the adopting parties
should give the children good school and
church privileges and kind treatment, and. if
a boy. at the age of twenty-one he should re-
ceive one hundred dollars. The boys are
also to receive one hundred dollars in five
payments of twenty dollars each, the first
payment to be made at the age of sixteen,
the Home remaining the custodian of the
money until his majority is reached. The
girls are to receive fifty dollars at the age of
eighteen years, payment to be made in three
equal installments. The school is conducted
in the usual manner of public schools. The
home is under the control of a board of trus-
tees appointed by the county commissioners.
There is a visiting board appointed by the
common pleas judge and the superintendent
and matron appointed by the board of trus-
tees. The first board meeting was held July
7. 1885, the members being Samuel Wilson,
H. Corwin and William Andrews, all county
commissioners. These men appointed the
board of trustees as follows : S. A. Hostetter,
J. H. Martin and Thomas McCnvan. At
the first meeting an appropriation of fifteen
thousand dollars was made. Some time
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
36£
subsequently an additional appropriation was
made and still later this was again increased.
After the appropriations were made the com-
missioners made a levy of seven-tenths of a
mill, which continued until the debt was
paid, or until 1894, when there was a balance
of twelve hundred dollars to the credit of the
school. Since that time there have been erect-
ed a school building, ice house and other im-
provements. During the winter of 1899- 1900
an annex was built. The building is heated
by steam, and gas is used as fuel. At the
opening of the institution there were thirty-
Eve children, and the number has since in-
creased to fifty-six. On the 2d of February,
1889, at a meeting of the board of trustees
of the Orphan Childrens' Home, Thomas E.
Teal was chosen superintendent and Mrs.
Teal, his wife, was made matron, serving
until March 1, 1892. On the 10th of Feb-
ruary, of that year, the successor, Thomas H.
Monger, was chosen superintendent and Mrs.
Monger became managing matron. For
nine years only one death has occurred in the
Home, a record probably without a parallel
in similar institutions of the state. The in-
stitution is creditable to the county and its
superintendent should ever have the patron-
age and support of the worthy people of this
locality.
ANDREW WILSON RUSH, M. D.
Dr. Rush was born in Harrison town-
ship, Darke county, upon his father's farm,
May 12, i860, and on both the paternal and
maternal sides is descended from honored
pioneer families of this locality. Harvey
Rush, his father, was born in Harrison town-
ship, January 30, 1827, and was a son of
Asa Rush, whose birth occurred in Pennsyl-
vania, April 25, 1799. In 1808, however, the
latter removed with his parents. Peter and
Mary Rush, to Darke county, taking up his
abode in Greenville township while the In-
dians were still very numerous in this section
of the state and the forests st< >od in their
primeval strength. He cleared and developed
a farm, reared his family and was known
as a citizen of great energy and force of char-
acter, whose influence was very marked in
public affairs, and did much to promote the
substantial development and improvement of
the county. Peter Rush died on what is now
known as the Albright farm in Xeave town-
ship in 1817. His political support was giv-
en the Democracy and he was one of the first
members of the L niversalist church in Darke
county. In 1817 Asa Rush with his mother,
brothers and sisters, moved to the farm in
Flarrison township that had been entered
from the government by his father just prior
to his death. Asa Rush married Margaret
Hill, a native of South Carolina, and they
were the parents of six children that reached
adult age, three boys and three girls. Mar-
garet Rush died in 1856, while Asa Rush
passed away in 1874.
Their son, Harvey Rush, was reared to
farm life and throughout his active business
career carried on agricultural pursuits. He
married Miss Lillie Porter Wilson, a daugh-
ter of Andrew Porter Wilson, a native of
Kentucky, born July 2, 1801. He married
Sarah Allen, whose birth occurred in Wayne
county, Indiana, near the Ohio line, August
10, 1808. From Butler county, Ohio, he re-
moved to Darke county in 1834 and set-
tied upon a farm which is still known as the
Wilson farm and is owned by the Doct< ir's ■
mother, who is still residing in Greenville.
Her great-grandfather, Andrew Wilson, a
native of Ireland, who was brought to Vir-
S61
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ginia when young, was a soldier in the Rev-
olutionary war and valiantly aided the colo-
nies in their struggle for independence. The
children of Harvey and Lillie Rush are as
follows: Olive is a teacher in Wyoming,
Ohio ; Alice S. is a teacher in the high school
of Rock Island, Illinois; Carrie is a teacher
in the Greenville schools; William Harvey,
who is a graduate of the State University of
Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was graduated
in Harvard College in 1894, has for the past
five years been a member of the faculty of
the Washington University at St. Louis,
Missouri; one son died in infancy; and Ella,
the eldest of the family, married Thomas J.
Leinbach, of Rossville, Georgia, and died
February 13, 1891. Prior to her marriage
she engaged in teaching for several terms.
Doctor Rush, whose name introduces this
record, spent his youth upon the home farm
and attended the district schools of Harrison
township during the winter months until
nineteen years of age, when he began teach-
ing school. In the summer season, while a
student and teacher, he devoted his energies
.to the cultivation of the fields, but he did not
find agricultural pursuits to his taste and re-
solved to prepare for professional life. To
this end he read medicine under the direction
of Dr. C. W. Otwell, of New Madison, Ohio.
He pursued his first course of lectures in the
Columbus Medical College and graduated in
the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati in
the class of 1884. Immediately afterward
he began practicing in Chattanooga, Tennes-
see, where he remained until October, 1886,
when he located at Greenville, where he has
secured a large and constantly increasing
patronage. His marked devotion to his pro-
fession, his thorough preparation and his
ability in successfully solving the intricate
problems which come to the physician, have
gained him marked prestige and he has long
since left the ranks of the many to stand
among the successful few.
On the 28th of June, 1892, Dr. Rush
married Miss Ora Porter, of Greenville, a
daughter of John and Anna (Spade) Porter. •
She died May 18, 1893, and her remains
were interred in the Greenville cemetery. The
Doctor is a member of Darke County Med-
ical Society and is its honored and esteemed
president. He also belongs to the Miami
Valley Medical Society, the American Med-
ical Association, the Ohio State Medical So-
ciety and is physician to the Darke county
infirmary and surgeon for the Dayton &
Union Railroad. Socially he is connected
with the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He
is a social, genial gentleman, interested in
everything that pertains to the welfare of
Greenville and Darke county and has a large
circle of warm friends, his friendship being
best prized by those who know him best.
MRS. MARY J. PLOWMAN.
Mrs. Plowman, whose home is on section
21, Neave township, is a worthy representa-
tive of one of the honored pioneer families
of Darke county, and none of its citizens are
better entitled to a place in its annals. She
was born in Harrison township, April 5,
1840. and is a daughter of Andrew Porter
and Sarah (Allen) Wilson, supposed to have
been natives of Kentucky and Indiana, re-
spectively, the latter born in 1808. Her ma-
ternal grandfather, Jacob Allen, however.
was born in Ohio, while her paternal grand-
father, Andrew Wilson, was a native of Ire-
land, but was only a year old when brought
to America by his parents. He was reared
in Virginia. Mrs. Plowman's father was
born July 2, 1801, and during his boyhood
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD:
365
removed with his family to Butler county,
Ohio, being reared on a farm near Hamilton.
Throughout his business life he followed ag-
ricultural pursuits, and died in Darke county,
in 1852, honored and respected by all who
knew him. He held local offices in his town-
ship, and was an active worker and influen-
tial member of the Presbyterian church, in
which he served as elder. His estimable
wife lived until November 19, 1885, passing
away at the age of seventy-seven years. To
them were born ten children, five sons and
five daughters, eight of whom reached years
of maturity. They were as follows : Lily,
now the widow of Harvey Rush, of Green-
ville, Darke county; Eleanor, who died at the
ap-e of fourteen months; Nathaniel M., a res-
ident of California; Augustus, who died in
Kansas; Elihu C, who died in California;
Mary J., our subject; Sarah Alice, wife of
Milton Brown, of Spiceland, Indiana; An-
drew P., who died in California; one who
died in infancy; and Julia AY., wife of Ma-
thias Earl}-, of Indiana.
The early life of Mrs. Plowman was
passed upon her father's farm in this county,
and having acquired a good, practical educa-
tion in its common schools, she success full v
engaged in teaching for one term. On the
14th of January, i860, she gave her hand in
marriage to Anion Plowman, who was born
and reared in Carroll county, Maryland, and
came to Darke county. Ohio, in 1858. He,
too, was a farmer by occupation, and in pol-
itics was first a Whig and later a Democrat.
During his residence here he served as school
director, and was one of the highly esteemed
men of his township. He was a faithful
member of the Methodist Episcopal church,
and died in that faith September 26, 1881,
his remains being interred in the Fort Jef-
ferson ccmeterv.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Plow-
man were as follows : Helen A., a successful
teacher, is a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan
University, at Delaware, this state, and is
now attending the Normal School, at Val-
paraiso, Indiana. Arra M. is a graduate of
the Greenville high school and has also en-
gaged in teaching, but is now giving her at-
tention to the poultry business on the home
farm. Alvar D. E., a teacher and farmer,
now deceased, married Flora Kerst. and their
only child died at the age of six months.
Eddie P. died at the age of two months.
George Wilson, who died at the age of
twenty years, was also a teacher and was a
student at the university in Delaware, Ohio,
for three years. Anion Benton is a graduate
of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Dela-
ware, and is now instructor in physics in that
institution.
Mrs. Plowman rents her farm of one
hundred acres. She has displayed excellent
business and executive ability in the manage-
ment of her affairs since her husband's death,
and has carefully reared her children, pro-
viding them with good educational advan-
tages. With the exception of one year
spent in Missouri and six years in Indiana,
her entire life has been passed in Darke coun-
ty, and she is highly respected and esteemed
by all who know her.
MRS. MARY E. DETLING.
This esteemed resident of Darke county
is one of the oldest citizens of Brown town-
ship, having attained the advanced age of
eighty-one years. She receives the venera-
tion and respect which should ever be ac-
corded those who are upon the declivity of
life, and her influence has ever wrought for
good.
36*3
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
She was born within sight of the grand
and beautiful cathedral in Strasburg, Ger-
many, February 5, 1820, and was the oldest
in a family of fourteen children, four sons
and ten daughters, whose parents were Jacob
and Mary E. ( Michella) Peters. Six of
these children are yet living, the eldest being
Mrs, Detling of this review. The others
are : Sarah, the widow of Mr. Hess, and a
resident of St. Louis, Missouri; Lena, the
wife of Henry Sheets, of Indiana; Jacob, a
successful agriculturist living in Brown
township, Darke county; Michael, who is
living in Monroe county. Ohio; and Rachel,
the wife of Louis Walters, a resident farmer
of Brown township.
The father of these children was born in
the province of Alsace, near Strasburg, and
was reared as a farmer. He not only fol-
lowed agricultural pursuits but also engaged
extensively in the cultivation of grapes and
the manufacture of Rhenish wine, for which
he found a good market in Strasburg. He
was prosperous in his business career and ac-
quired a comfortable competence. 'Well ed-
ucated, he added to the knowledge acquired
in school by extensive reading, experience
and observation, and was known throughout
the community as a man of scholarly tastes
and acquirements. He was especially anx-
ious to provide his children with good edu-
cational privileges, and thus they were well
fitted for life's responsible duties.
When his daughter Mary E. was a young
lady of nineteen years, she joined two of her
friends who were coming to America. She
had mastered the English language and they
desired that she should act as interpreter for
them. Obtaining her father's consent to the
trip, he sold a little piece of land and gave
her three hundred guilders, telling her that
if she did not like the country he would send
fi ir her to come back. The little party sailed
from Havre, France, and after a voyage of
thirty-two days, during which heavy storms
prevailed and drove them from their course,
they finaliy reached the harbor of New York,
and fom the eastern metropolis Mary E.
Peters made her way to Monroe county,
Ohio, where she arrived in the year 1839.
In 1S40, in Monroe county, she gave her
hand in marriage to Jacob Detling. Her in-
terests therefore centered in her adopted
country, and though she still loves the land of
her birth she has never wished to make it
again her home.
Mr. and Mrs. Detling began their domes-
tic life in Monroe county, upon rented land,
and when they had acquired sufficient capi-
tal purchased sixty acres of timber laud.
Their first home was a cabin built of round
logs. Mr. Detling cut the timber from the
forests, shaped the logs and erected his prim-
itive residence. The floor was made of pun-
cheons and the furnishings were also crude,
hut happiness and contentment took up their
abode in that little home and the owners
thereof strove to improve their financial con-
dition. They had gone in debt for a part of
their land, but they possessed great energy
and unfaltering determination which qual-
ities enabled them to overcome all difficulties
and to work their way steadily upward. Sell-
ing their first farm, they removed to Brown
township, Darke county, in the spring of
1847 ancl purchased one hundred and twenty
acres of virgin soil in this li icality. The town
of Ansonia was then known as Dallas. Not
a tree had been cut nor a furrow turned upon
their place, but soon they erected another
cabin home, and by the light of the old-
fashioned fire-place they passed many a
pleasant hour. It is such pioneer settlers as
Mr. and Mrs. Detlingthat have laid the form-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
367
elation for the present prosperity of the coun-
ty. Thev made the
ilderness blossom as
the rose," and in the midst of the wild forest
they developed a valuable property, which
yielded to the owners a golden tribute in re-
turn for the care and labor bestowed upon it.
Thirteen children — seven sons and six
daughters — came to bless the marriage of
Mr. and Mrs. Detling, and seven of the num-
ber are yet living: Jacob, a successful farmer
who is married and lives in Brown township ;
Katie, the wife of James Earhart, of Brown
township; Mary, the widow of Enos Baugh-
man and a resident of Brown township ; Her-
man, who is married and is a prosperous ag-
riculturist of the same township; John, who
i- living in Brown township: Jefferson, who
resides upon the old family homestead and
superintends the farm for his mother; and
Charles, who also lives in the same locality.
The children have all become honored and
upright citizens owing to the tender care and
wise teachings of the mother, whose instruc-
tions will never be forgotten. Mrs. Detling
is one of the grand old ladies who have care-
fully moulded the characters of their chil-
dren. At the time of the husband's death
Mr. and Mrs. Detling had accumulated four
hundred acres of valuable land, which was a
merited reward of their labor. They were
kind and benevolent people, had aided in the
erection of different churches in this locality,
have supported the different schools and
have done much to promote various meas-
ures calculated to prove of public good. Mr.
Detling died March 14, 1896, and his re-
mains were interred in the Ansonia cem-
etery, where a beautiful monument has been
erected sacred to his memory by his wife,
lie was a kind and affectionate husband and
father, a faithful friend and a considerate
neighbor and enjoyed the warm regard of all
22
who knew him. Like his wife, he held mem-
bership in the Christian church at Ansonia.
Mrs. Detling's beautiful Christian character
has endeared her to many friends and she is
loved and esteemed by young and old, rich
and poor. Her interest in life is yet active,
and, although she has advanced far on
earth's pilgrimage, she keeps in touch with
the progress of the times. The love and
veneration in which she is held was shown on
her eightieth birthday, whenjier children and
many friends gathered on her beautiful lawn
to celebrate the day and wish her many happy
returns thereof. She has always been a
friend to the poor and needy, assisting those
to whom fate had been unkind and sympa-
thizes with those in distress. She is now
passing the evening of life in a beautiful
home which was gained through the united
efforts of her husband and herself. Her
children rise up and call her blessed, and
when she shall have passed from this life her
memory will remain as a grateful benedic-
tion to all who knew her.
JOHX J. STENTZEL.
The gentleman whose name introduces
this record is so well known that he needs no
special introduction to the citizens of Brown
township. He is not only regarded as one
of the prosperous agriculturists of his com-
munity, but is well known as a reliable and
trustworthy official of his township — a citi-
zen both loyal and patriotic, who in the
faithful discharge of his duties has lai
promoted the public welfare.
Mr. Stentzel is of French and German
lineage. He was born in Monroe county,
Ohio, August 30, 1853, and is the sixth in
order of birth in a family of ten children,
four sons and six daughters, whose parent-
3-3>
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
were George F. and Barbara ( Peters )
Stentzel. The father was born near the
boundary line between France and Germany
on the 28th day of July, 1812, and died on
the 4th of March. 1878, when in his sixty-
sixth year. He possessed much natural me-
chanical ability and was a cooper by trade.
He acquired a liberal education, being fa-
miliar with the German. French and English
languages. After attaining his majority he
determined to seek a home and fortune in
America, and, in 1839. bidding adieu to the
land of his birth, he sailed for the new
world, landing in the United States with
little capital, but possessed of strong de-
termination to make the most of his oppor-
tunities. Not long after his arrival he ti n ik
up his abode in Monroe county. Ohio, where
he was married. He followed his chosen
vocation of coopering and was also a success-
ful brewer and landlord. As his financial
interests increased he extended his business
to other lines and was quite successful in his
various dealings. He was a man of strong
determination, of decided character and
resolute purpose, and these qualities largely
insured him success. For a fourth of a
century he owned property in Miltonsburg
and its rental added largely to his in© »me.
He was a stanch advocate of Democratic
principles, firm in his advocacy of the meas-
ures of the party. He and his wife were
both members of the German Lutheran
church and he was very charitable, always
aiding in the various benevolent organiza-
tions. His wife was born August 26, 1821,
in the same neighborhood as her husband,
and died July 19. 1888. Hers was an earnest
Christian life and in the belief of Christian-
ity she reared her family. Of the children
six are yet living, namely: Elizabeth, the
wife of Philip Wengert, a merchant resid-
ing in Miltonsburg, Monn <e a iunty, Ohio :
Callie, the wife of Henry Miller, a dairy-
man and capitalist of Wheeling, West Vir-
ginia; John J., of this review; Emma, the
wife of Charles Gramlich, a dairyman of
Wheeling; Lusetta the wife of John Bau-
mann, a capitalist and real estate dealer of
Wheeling-; and Jennie, the wife of Lewis
Baumann, of Canton, Ohio.
Tohn J. Stentzel remained with his par-
ents until seventeen years of age, during
which time he pursued his education in the
public schools. He then entered upon his
business career, working for ten dollars a
month, and came to Darke county, where
he remained for three years. He had been
reared as an agriculturist, but while residing
in Virginia learned the butcher's trade.
However, he has given his attention largely
to his farm throughout his entire life and is
now accounted one of the leading agricult-
urists of his community.
On the 13th of February, 1876. Mr.
Stentzel was united in marriage to Miss
Alice Baughman, who was born in Darke
county June 2$, 1857, a daughter of John
and Maria (Riffle) Baughman. Her par-
ents had five sons and four daughters and of
this number five yet survive, all being resi-
dents of Darke county with the exception of
John, who makes his home in Van Wert,
Ohio. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Stent-
zel has been blessed with four children, all
sons, and three are yet living. John F., the
eldest, acquired a good education, complet-
ing his course in the Ansonia high school.
Preferring commercial to agricultural life,
he entered that department of the world's
work, and for six years has been connected
with commercial affairs. He was for six
months employed as a salesman in Wheel-
ing, West Virginia, and in 1S89 he entered
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
CC9
into partnership with H. Mendenhall in the
boot and shoe business at Ansonia. He
then bought his partner's interest and con-
ducted the enterprise alone. He carries a
stock valued at two thousand dollars, which
includes goods of both eastern and western
manufacture, and in this enterprise he is
meeting with creditable and gratifying suc-
cess. John Stentzel is an enterprising
young man of marked ability, and his future
will no doubt be a prosperous one. In pol-
itics he is a Democrat. He successfully
passed the teacher's examination in Darke
county and is a well informed young man.
I lerman. the second son, is now in the eighth
grade in the public school, and Frank, the
youngest, is also a student. Mr. and Mrs.
Stentzel have given their children good edu-
cational privileges, believing that there can
be no better preparation for life's practical
work.
At the time of their marriage Mr. Stent-
zel was the owner of one horse and had a
capital of about one hundred dollars. To-
day he is the owner of a valuable farm of
eighty acres, and all the improvements upon
the place stand as monuments to his thrift
and enterprise. He is a practical ami pro-
gressive farmer who follows advanced meth-
ods, and his well tilled fields indicate to the
passerby his careful supervision. His labors
have been ably supplemented by the capable
management and economical methods of his
wife, who is a lady of kindly disposition,
having many warm friends in the commun-
ity. In politics Mr. Stentzel has been a
stanch Democrat since casting his first presi-
dential vote for Samuel J. Tilden, and has
frequently been chosen as a delegate to sen-
atorial and county conventions. In 1894
he was elected township trustee and for nine
3-ears he has served as school director, his
labors being very efficient in promoting the
standard of the schools in this community.
Socially he is connected with the Independ-
ent Order of Odd Fellows at Ansonia and
is a charter member of the encampment of
which lie is serving as senior warden, while
in the lodge he is one of the trustees. He
is also a member of the Ansonia Horse
Thief Detective Association and is serving"
as the president of the organization, which
was formed for the apprehension of crim-
inals, especially those given to stealing
horses. He is a member of the Lutheran
church, while his wife belongs to the Chris-
tian church, and both are people of sterling
w< irth, whose many excellent qualities ci im-
mend them to the confidence and regard of
all with whom they are associated.
HOX. HARVEY C. GARBER.
Success is never a matter of easy achieve-
ment, and he who attains a success worthy
the name must have devoted his best energies
and given clear definition to the course he
would pursue. Success so earned by honest
endeavor and marked discrimination is that
which has attended the career of him whose
name forms the caption of this article, and in
reviewing the lives of the representative citi-
zens of Darke count}' it is well that we grant
due recognition to one who has wrought
well in the affairs of life and gained a posi-
tion of distinguished honor, our subject be-
ing a resident of the thriving little cit;
Greenville.
In Hill Grove, Darke county, Ohio, on
the 6th of July, 1865, occurred the birth of
Harvey C. Garber, and two years later his
parents removed to Greenville, which lias
been the scene of his well directed efforts
and his worthy success. He received his
870
GENEALOGICAL AXD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
preliminary educational discipline in the pub-
lic sell. nils, which he attended regularly until
1878. when he began to assume the respon-
sibilities of life, securing a position as m •
senger boy for the Western Union Tele-
graph Company. Here the lad manifested
much interest in the art of telegraphy, to
which he gave his attention when his time
was not otherwise required in the duties of
his position, and when he was but fourteen
years of age he was a first-class operator
and was practically eligible for taking charge
of an office, though he was not permitted to
do this until he had attained the age of six-
teen, when he secured a position with the
Panhandle Railroad, working at some of
their most important stations and proving
equal to the duties and responsibilities as-
signed to him, though he was still a mere
1 11 iy.
In 1884 Mr. Garber resigned his posi-
tion with the Panhandle Company and was
appointed manager of the Western Union
telegraph office at Greenville, giving to his
important duties the same discriminating
care and supervision which insured his ad-
vancement to the important trust. In 1896
Mr. Garber was appointed the manager of
the Central Union Telephone Company for
Dayton. Ohio, and surrounding towns; re-
signing his position with the Telephone
Company and was promoted as assistant su-
perintendent of Ohio for the same company,
with headquarters at Columbus, in i 81 17 :
was advanced again in 1898 to the position
of assistant general solicitor for the same
company, with headquarters at Chicago,
which position he still holds.
Mr. Garber has been an enthusiastic
worker in the cause of the Democratic party
and September 16, 1889, he was nominated
in the county convention of his party for rep-
resentative in the general assembly of the
state, being successful at the polls in the en-
suing November election. His election to
this important and honorable office was a
tribute to the ability and sterling character
of the young man and amply attested his
popularity in the county. He was renom-
inated in 189 1 and elected in November.
As a member of the legislature he was as-
signed to membership on several important
committees and his record as a legislator
shows that he has ably represented his con-
stituency and has used every means to pro-
mote the best interests of the public. Air.
Garber hail the distinction of being the
youngest member of the sixty-ninth general
assembly of the state. He is at the present
time (1900) a member of both the state
Democratic central ami the state executive
committees, being selected as vice-chairman
of the former committee by acclamation. He
has won his way to a position of prominence
and honor and is a type of that self-reliant
manh 1 and broad mentality which have
made the American nation the most progres-
sive in the world. Mr. Garber has probably
the most extensive personal acquaintance,
compared with that of any man, young or
old. in Ohio, being gifted with a remarkable
memory for calling bis acquaintances by
name almost invariably.
RUSSELL SEARL;
The name of Searl is of Scotch origin
and the ancestry of the family can lie traced
back to the year 1640. In the early peril "1 of
the colonial settlement of Massachusetts one
or mure representatives of the name left bon-
nie Scotland for the new world. It is certainly
known that the time when John Alden, Aides
Standish and other good Puritans were
GIIXEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
371
founding the colony of Massachusetts John
Searl lived in what was later to become the
old Bay state. Among his descendants are
found the strong and sterling characteristics
of the Scotch race, people renowned for their
morality, fidelity to principle, their industry
and their thrift. In August. 1881, there as-
sembled about two hundred and fifty repre-
sentatives of the Searl family at a reunion,
and the following account of the same was
given in the Hampshire Gazette.- published
at Northampton, Massachusetts.
"The gathering of the descendants of
John Searl at the Mount Tom picnic grounds
last Wednesday was attended by about two
hundred and fifty, and it proved a very pleas-
ant and interesting occasion. Dr. C. S. Hul-
burt, of Springfield, presided. The his-
torical address was given by Rev. H. L. Ed-
wards, of Northampton. The materials
for Mr. Edwards' address were obtained
largely from the town and church records
of Northampton and Southampton and must
have required much time and research. The
address it was voted to have published. John
Searl was one of the early settlers of Spring-
field, and in 1640 moved to Northampton
and from him it is supposed all the Searls in
Northampton, Southampton and Easthamp-
ton sprung, as well as the Huntington Searls.
Indeed, nearly all of that name in all this
region are, doubtless, descendants from him.
About half a mile from where the picnic was
held a little settlement was begun some-
where about 1700, known in history as Pas-
commuck. On Sunday morning, May 24.
1704. this hamlet was destroyed by the In-
dians, who killed nineteen or twenty of the
inhabitants, nine of them by the name of
Jaes. The wife of John Searl, a descend-
ant of John, the progenitor, was taken cap-
tive and carried to the top of Pomeroy's
mi •untain, where she was knocked on the
head and scalped, when the Indians found
they were pursued and left her for dead.
But when the cavalry that came from North-
hampton in pursuit reached her they found
her alive and carried her on a stretcher to
Northampton, and she lived many years.
One of her descendants had a silver hair-
pin which was in her head at the time she
was scalped. One of the family character-
istics is that they are rather short in stature.
They are generally industrious and frugal
and consequently have homes as wel.l as fam-
ilies. Very few are found in prisons or
poor bouses, but few are drunkards and as
a family they are not given to using tobacco.
Speeches were made by quite a number, and
after a good time generally they made ar-
rangements for the next reunion and ad-
journed."
Among the addresses delivered on the
occasion of the family reunion was one by
Rev. H. E. Edwards, and from a printed
copy the following account of the ancestry
has been taken. Nothing authentic has
been learned concerning the history of the
family in the old world. Its origin is left
in doubt, but it is known that John Searl was
a resident of Massachusetts in 1630. From
him is descended the numerous progeny.
Many changes have occurred in the spelling
of the name, which is found as Serl, Serle,
Serlo. Searl, Searle, Searls. Searles, Serrells,
Serleson and Serelsonjout the most common
spelling is Searl. The Christian names
borne by the family were mostly of Biblical
origin, and through many generations most
of the members of the family have been de-
voted to agricultural pursuits and have been
noted for their industry and thrift.
John Searl, the original ancestor, mar-
ried Sarah Baldwin, the wedding taking
372
GEXEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
place in Springfield, Massachusetts, March
19, 1639. They were separated by death
August 11, 1 64 1, and John Searl was laid
to rest in Springfield, his being the first in-
terment in the town. They had one child,
John Searl, who was born March 30, 1641.
In April following her husband's death Mrs.
Searl became the wife of Alexander Ed-
wards, and soon afterward the family re-
moved to Northampton. Her son. John
Searl, the second, was married in Northamp-
ton, July 31, 1667, to Ruth Jones, and about
thirty-three years later, in 1700. when he was
fifty-nine years of age, he removed from
Northampton Center, then called Nonotuck
Plantation, to Pascommuck-. He was one
of five to receive by vote of the Nonotuck
Plantation four acres of land each in Pas-
commuck. He died there October 3, 171S,
in his eightieth year. He had a son, John,
who went with his family to Pascommuck
and four years later, with three of his chil-
dren, was massacred by the Indians. John
Searl (second) had another son, Nathaniel,
who was born May 3, 16S6, and in 1732 re-
moved to what is now Southampton. It is
recorded that Nathaniel. Searl drew a home
lot, as did thirty others, and also a ten-acre
lot in the south precinct, and two years later
he occupied the place, there making a clear-
ing. Ruins of his cellar are yet to be seen.
He lived to be ninety-two years of age, dy-
ing in 1777. He had two wives, Priscilla
and Sarah, but their family names are not
remembered.. His children numbered nine
sons and three daughters, and all of the sons.
like the father, followed agricultural pur-
suits. Nathaniel Searl was the most im-
portant character in his community. He
prospered in his business and was greatly re-
spected and in the church compact his name
stands next to that of the pastor, while that
of his wife, Priscilla, heads the names of the
women. He served on many committees,
was moderator of their meetings and select-
man and counselor in religious affairs. For
ten or fifteen years his was the only In mse
in the town that contained more than one
room, and his had two. From records it is
found that the family was loyally repre-
sented in the colonial army during the Revo-
lution, and two members of the name died.
While most of them followed agricultural
pursuits, some have attained prominence in
professional circles, having been graduates
of our universities and colleges, and have
won distinction along many lines.
Mr. Searl, whose name introduces this
review, was born in the old Bay state, at
Southampton, on the 6th of June, 1848,
and is the youngest of three children, two
sons and a daughter, whose parents were
Moses and Tirzah N. (Hannum) Searl. The
brother of our subject, Ozro M., is now liv-
ing a retired life in Ansonia. He served
as a soldier in the Civil war. The father
was born in Southampton, amidst the verd-
ant hills of Massachusetts, November 22,
1813, and died May 18, 1895. His strong
characteristics were those which in every
land and in every clime command respect
and admiration. His education was ac-
quired largely through his own efforts out-
side of the school room, for he was early
forced to earn his own livelihood, and thus
his school privileges were limited. He
possessed considerable natural mechanical
ability, and during the greater part of his
life followed mechanical pursuits. He
worked in a smithy during his younger years
and later engaged in business as a contractor
and builder of highways through the moun-
tainous and hilly districts of his native state.
At Southampton he wedded Miss Hannum,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
373
and two of their children were born there.
He was a kind and loving husband and fa-
ther, a true-hearted friend who would do
anything possible to accommodate a neigh-
bor. This trait led him to going security,
and through this he lost considerable
amounts of money. His honesty was pro-
verbial and his business reputation at all
times unassailable.
In 1854 he emigrated westward, locat-
ing at Sidney, Ohio, where, under contract,
he was engaged on the construction of rail-
r< ad bridges for the Big Four Road. In
March, 1855, he came to Darke county and
purchased fifty-five acres of swamp and for-
est land in Brown townshi] . The prosperous
village of Ansonia now stands upon a part
of his original farm. He first lived in a
gel's residence, later he built a frame house
on his farm and with characteristic energy
began transforming the virgin soil into
richly cultivated fields. While residing in
this primitive home the daughter of the fam-
ily, Hattie N. Searl, died, at the age of fif-
teen years, eleven months and eight days,
her death being a great blow to her parents
and brothers. Later Mr. Searl sold his
farm and purchased one hundred and twenty
acres of land southwest of Greenville.
There he lived until the fall of 1869, when
be disposed of that property and in the
spring of 1870 he and his wife made a visit
to their old home in Massachusetts, return-
ing in the autumn of that year. The fa-
ther then purchased the farm now belonging
to his son, Russell. He died in Brown town-
ship, respected by all who knew him, for his
life was ever honorable and upright. In
politics he was an old line Whig, and took
an active part in the hard-cider campaign,
often joining in the rallying cry of "Tippe-
canoe and Tyler too," when log cabins with
coon skins about the doors formed an im-
portant feature in the campaign. On the
organization of the Republican party he
joined its ranks, for he had been a stanch
advocate of abolition principles and was
anxious to support any movement calculated
to curb slavery. Fearless in the support of
his honest convictions, he never failed to
uphold the principles in which he believed.
He lived in Brown township during the pio-
neer epoch in its history, when the vil-
lage of Ansonia was known as the hamlet
of Dallas and contained only about eight
houses, part of which were built of logs.
There was also a little log hotel and a com-
bination store conducted by Allen Reed and
George Turpen, occupying the present site
of the Ansonia Bank building. Mr. Searl
took an active interest in everything pertain-
ing to the upbuilding and development of
the community and bore his part in the wi irk
of progress and advancement. He was 1 me
of the graders and constructors of the old
Mackinaw Railroad, now known as the Cin-
cinnati & Northern Road, was elected one
of the directors and afterward lost consider-
able money in that venture. However, suc-
cess crowned his efforts in business during
the greater part of his career and he ac-
cumulated a valuable estate of two hundred
and ninety-three acres, which he left to his
two sons, who also received from him the
priceless heritage of an untarnished name.
His wife was born in Southampton, Massa-
chusetts, April 12, 1818, was reared in that
state and died December 3, 1872. Her many
womanly qualities and Christian character
won her the love and esteem of all, and her
admonitions have had a marked effect upon
her sons, who tenderly cherish her mem »rv.
Mr. Searl, of this review, was a lad of
seven summers when he came with his par-
374
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ents to Ohio. He acquired a good practical
education and by close application mastered
the elementary branches of learning, which
formed the foundation for all our knowledge
and fitted him for life's practical duties.
He has carried on farming as a life work.
and remained upon the old homestead until
his parents were called to their final rest.
On the 14th of September, 1871, he wedded
Miss Jennie Freel. whose birth occurred in
Darke county, July 31, 1S50. She is the
eldest of thirteen children, five sons and
eight daughters, whose parents were Jesse
and Elizabeth (Mills) Freel. Her father
w as born near Warren county. May 12. 1825,
and the mother in Butler county, on the 25th
of August, 1830.- She is still living, spend-
ing her declining years with her children.
Her husband died June 9. 1879. after hav-
ing devoted his time and energies to farm
work through an active business career. He
loyally served his country during the Civil
war. enlisting in the Twenty-ninth Ohio In-
fantry, participating in many important en-
gagements and the celebrated march to the
sea under Sherman. In politics he was a
stanch Republican. Twelve of the children
of this worthy couple are yet living, namely :
Airs. Searl; Sylvania, wife of Dennis Mc-
\ icker, of Apland, who was formerly a
teacher, but is now a farmer; Martha E.,
the wife of Dr. Aaron Bates, a successful
medical practitioner at Kokomo, Indiana;
Hannah, the wife of Preston Shields, a
farmer living at Roseburg, Indiana: John
L.. who married Miss Nellie Hunt and is a
successful druggist of Marion, Indiana:
Ella, the wife of Orvis VVilsey, a machinist
and inventor of Marion, Indiana ; Alma, the
widow of Jacob Druky Miller and a resident
of Marion, Indiana; William, who married
Miss Bessie Smitson, and as a surveyor of
Marion, Indiana, who formerly served as
county surveyor of Grant county; Rachel,
the wife of Frank Dilling. a wholesale manu-
facturer of confectioner}', employing sev-
enty-five or one hundred hands at Marion,
Indiana; Alvin N., who wedded Miss Mita
Mann and is the manager of a hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri: Asa, a printer of Marion.
Indiana, who wedded Miss Josephine Ma-
Lott; and Lucy, the wife of Edward Cullers,
1 if Marion, Indiana.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Searl has
been graced by six children, and the family
circle yet remains unbroken. Hattie X.,
the eldest, is the wife of George A. Lephart :
both were graduated in the Ansonia high
school in the class of 1894. Both have been
successful teachers of Darke county and
Mrs. Lephart is also proficient in music, and
lias been a teacher in instrumental music.
She belongs to the Christian church. Orpha
A. is the wife of Rev. C. B. Kershner. of
Xew Carlisle, Ohio, a graduate of the An-
sonia high school, and is now a well known
minister of the Christian church, having
charge of two pastorates. His wife is a
graduate of the Ansonia schools of the class
of 1897, and possesses considerable musical
ability. Wilbur, the third child of the fam-
ily, was educated in the public schools, pos-
sesses considerable mechanical talent and
now resides in Ansonia. He married Miss
Ollie A. Lyons, and a little son. Ralph,
graces their union. Ozro F.. who was edu-
cated in the public schools of Ansonia. is a
practical farmer and stock raiser living with
his parents. Nellie E. is now a student in
the Ansonia high school, a member of the
class of 1902. and is specially proficient in
mathematics and Latin. Chester M. is also
a student in the public schools. The par-
ents are warm friends of the cause of edu-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
375
cation and have given their children ex-
cellent opportunities in that direction.
In 1871 Mr. and Airs. Sear] began their
domestic life upon the old family homestead.
He has always followed the plow and is an
enterprising agriculturist, successful in his
methods, yet practical at all times. His
business dealings have ever been character-
ized by the strictest integrity and his work
has brought to him a good financial return.
In politics he has always been a stanch Re-
publican since casting his first presidential
vote for General U. S. Grant, and since that
time he has supported each man whose name
has headed the national Republican ticket.
At local elections, however, where no issue
is involved, he frequently votes without re-
gard to party lines. He withholds his co-
operation from no measure which he be-
lieves will prove of public good, believes in
maintaining good schools and does all in
his power to assist public advancement.
Socially he is connected with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows of Ansonia, has filled
all of the chairs in Lodge No. 605 and is
a member of the encampment No. 285, while
his daughters Orpha and Hat-tie are members
of the Rebekah lodge at Ansonia. He and
his wife belong to the Christian church at
that place and have aided financially in the
•erection of seven different churches in their
neighborhood. They are benevolent and
Christian people, whose belief is exemplified
in their lives. Air. Searl attended the first
church in Ansonia, a log structure that stood
on the site of his brother Ozro's home. He
lias been an eye witness to the wonderful
growth and development of the country, has
seen the great transformation that has been
wrought, the forests being replaced by rich
and fertile fields, in the midst of which
stand fine country homes with all of the im-
provements of a model farm. Here and
there are found thriving towns and villages,
containing all the comforts and civilization
known to the older east. Air. Searl has at
all times been a public-spirited citizen, true
to the bests interests of the community and
his life, guided by high Christian principles,
has gained for him the respect and c< trifidence
of his fellow men.
JOHN REILY KNOX.
John Reily Knox was born in Butler
county, Ohio. May 20, 1820, and' died at
his home in Greenville February 7, 1898.
His father, John Knox, was born April 20,
1780. He married Jane Martin Wilson De-
cember 5. 181 5, at the Indian Hill farm, in
Butler county, Ohio. She was born in Mif-
flin county, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1788.
James Knox, father of John Knox, was born
in county Down, Ireland, April 17, 1753,
and came to America with the British army.
He married Sarah Stewart, who was born
Alarch 26, 1768.
John Reily Knox, the immediate sub-
ject of this sketch, was graduated with hon-
ors in Aliami University in the class of 1839,
and has been a member of the board of trus-
tees of this university since 1869. After
leaving college he studied law and was ad-
mitted to the liar in 1S43. While studying
law he had a great reputation as a speaker
and was greatly in demand during the excit-
ing Harrison campaign of 1840.
He was elected in i860 one of the presi-
dential electors in Ohio, and as such cast his
official ballot to make Abraham Lincoln
president of the United States. During the
war of the Rebellion he supported the gov-
ernment openly by his public addresses and
his personal influence in carrying out every
B76
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
effort made to obtain volunteers or to secure
aid and supplies to relieve the sufferings of
the soldiers or the wants of their families
at home. He was president of the Greenville
Law Library Association from its founda-
tion until January, 1889, when he became
president of the Darke County Bar Associa-
tion, which position he held until his death.
L. O. Landis, for the Miami Chapter, the
Alpha of Beta Theta Pi, writes :
"Never were the members of Alpha
Chapter more surprised than when a tele-
gram was received by J. K. Lansdowne, a
grandson of 'Pater Knox,' telling of the
death of his grandfather, our beloved
founder and brother. Death came suddenly,
entered his home unseen, touched the fine
machinery of his brain and stopped it for-
ever, liberating the soul into the leisure of
heavenly rest. As is well known to every
Beta, he was one of the founders of Beta
Theta Pi and, in fact, the idea of the fra-
ternity was first suggested by him. His
death comes as a great blow to the thousands
of Betas all over the United States, and
particularly is it felt by the members of Alpha
Chapter, at whose initiations he was often
present and where he was always a very wel-
come guest. He seemed to have never grown
old in respect to fraternity matters, but al-
ways was a pleasant and entertaining
speaker at the banquets and seemed to be
never more at home than when surrounded
by the boys of the fraternity. He lived
long enough to see his two grandsons, J.
K. Lansdowne and H. M. Lansdowne, be-
come members of Alpha Chapter. The lat-
ter was initiated on the Saturday night just
preceding his grandfather's death. We had
hoped that he would be present at the initia-
tion, but the letter inviting him was mis-
carried and he did not get it in time to ar-
range to be present. A letter expressing his
regret was received after the telegram an-
nouncing" his sudden death. This letter will
be framed and preserved by the chapter.
"His funeral occurred on Thursday,
February 10, at the Methodist church in
Greenville. At his funeral resolutions
adopted by the vestry of the Episcopal church
and the resolutions adopted by the Darke
County Bar Association were read. Both
sets of resolutions spoke very highly of his
many virtues, as did also the paper read by
J. T. Martz, his partner fi ir a number of
years in law. No one could feel, as he heard
these different resolutions and this paper
read, but that he was better for having
kiv iwn John Reily Knox, and that he had
lived in a way worthy of imitation by all
Betas.
''He has gone from us, but he has left
an example of a noble and upright life.
He seemed, in an eminent degree, to have
lived up to the principles of the fraternity
which he helped to establish, and especially
had he 'developed those talents with which
God had so beneficently endowed him," un-
til he became a- man of great power and in-
fluence among men. He lived to enjoy the
gratitude, respect and confidence of all. He
died at peace with men and, doubtless, in
favor with God."
In a published article appeared the fol-
lowing under the heading,
GLOWING TRIBUTE FROM THE DARKE COUNTY
BAR ASSOCIATION.
"The following resolutions were pre-
pared by Hon. C. M. Anderson on behalf
of the committee appointed by the Darke
County Bar Association and read by him at
the meeting, and unanimously adopted by
a risine vote:
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
::77
"To the Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas and the Members of the Darke County
Bar : Your committee appointed by the
court to prepare resolutions on the occasion
of the death of the Hon. John Reily Knox
beg leave to submit the following :
"It has been the long established custom
of the bar, upon the death of one of its mem-
bers, to take suitable and proper action to
express its appreciation of the history and
merits of the departed. In our sorrow for
the death of Brother Knox and as a feeble
tribute to his memory we may note some
facts and deeds out of the many connected
with the life and professional career of him
win ) was so unexpectedly and suddenly
called from the activities of his profession
by the hand of death.
"John Reily Knox was born May 20,
1820, and died February 7, 1898. He grad-
uated with honors at the Miami University
in the class of 1839. He was connected with
the management of that institution of learn-
ing as one of its officers for twenty-nine
years and was holding the position of trus-
tee thereof, by appointment of the governor
of Ohio, at the time of his death. In the
spring of 1839 he founded that great college
fraternity known all over the United States
as the Beta Theta Pi. He organized the
fraternity, wrote its constitution and was
the last survivor of its charter members.
He was married, November 27, 1845, t0
Isabel S. Briggs. Four children were born
of this union, — a son, Harry, an officer in
the United States navy and at present hold-
ing the rank of commander ; a daughter,
Elizabeth, the esteemed wife of our fellow
townsman, James Lansdowne, cashier of
the Farmers' National Bank, survive him
to comfort and console his widow in her
bitter bereavement and irreparable loss.
"After graduating at college he com-
menced preparing for the bar and was ad-
mitted to practice law in the year 1843, :in<l
from that time up until the hour of his death,
about fifty-five years, he actively followed
the profession of his choice. He labored
arduously in the organization of the County
Bar Association and was made its first presi-
dent, continuing in such office until the time
of his death. In organizing the Greenville
Law Library the labors of Mr. Knox and
his liberal donations assisted most materially
in its creation. His efforts in this regard
were appreciated by his associates, and lie
was selected as its first president, which
office he held for two years, and has been a
trustee of the association for the past eight
years.
"Although a consistent Republican in
politics, he disliked the scramble for office
and was but once a candidate before his
party for nomination. He was elected in
i860 one of the presidential electors in Ohio
and as such cast his official ballot to make
Abraham Lincoln president of the United
States.
"As a lawyer he was noted for his de-
votion to the interests of his clients and
his ability, and the careful pains with which
he prepared his cases and his vigor in pre-
senting them to court and jury were rec-
ognized all through his life. In his inter-
course with his brethren at the liar he was
always generous, polite and courteous. As
a lawyer he sought no advantage through
favoritism, and never tried to win his bat-
tles by doubtful methods. He relied solely
upon his knowledge of the law and the merits
of his case. He despised a court or jury
that was not unsullied. His fidelity to his
clients was never open to suspicion. To
the poor he gave counsel and advice without
:i7>
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
fee or reward. For the last quarter of a
century lie was the recognized leader at the
bar. There was no malice in his heart and
no tyranny in his nature. Refined in his
tastes, he was always, in and out of court,
a cultured and polite gentleman. Trained
in the -schools, a lover of bocks, a great
reader, a ripe scholar, he was by nature
most kind and courteous, unostentatii ius
and unpretentious. In his feelings he was
as tender as a woman. He lived a life alu >ve
reproach, and was universally esteemed
when he died. He left the world better for
his having lived therein. His upright life
and noble virtues will survive him for the
emulation of all who knew him.
"What more need be said of him? What
higher tribute can be paid to the memory
of an}' man than to say, as we do of Mr.
Knox, that he was true to every trust, 1< lyal
to every obligation, faithful in the per-
formance of every duty, generous and kindly
in every impulse, sincere in his friendship,
esteemed by his associates and beloved by
his family.
"He lived to enjoy the gratitude, re-
spect and confidence of all. He died after
.the sun of life was well set in the west, but
like the great law giver of old, 'his eye was
not dim, nor his natural force abated.' He
died at peace with men and, doubtless, in
favor with God.
"Be it therefore resolved by the members
of the bar of Darke county that we join with
the family and immediate friends of John
Reily Knox in their mourning for his death,
and with the general public and all who
knew him in the regret that our city has
lost one of its most useful citizens.
"Resolved, that we extend to the be-
reaved widow and sorrowing son and daugh-
ter of the deceased our deepest sympathy
in this time of their great distress over the
death of husband and father.
"Resolved, that we will attend the
funeral in a body, and that we wear the usual
badge of mourning while engaged profes-
sii mally in the court room and that the
judge's bench be draped for thirty days.
"Resolved, that the judge of the court
of common pleas be requested to spread
these resolutions on the journals of the
court, and that the clerk of this court fur-
nish a copy of the same, duly certified under
the seal of the court, to the family of the
deceased.
"Resolved, that the editors of the sev-
eral newspapers of the county be respect-
fully requested to publish these resolutions
ii their respective journals. And as a
further mark of respect be it resolved that
this court adjourn.
"C. M. Anderson, Chairman.
"J. T. Martz,
"A. C. Robeson,
"Henry M. Cole,
"Martin B. Trainor.
"Judge James A. Gilmore, of Eaton,
Ohio, was present and made an address
eulogizing the deceased.
"Mr. J. T. Martz, of the firm of Knox.
Martz & Rupe, read a paper, in which he
spoke very highly of his late associate in
the practice of law.
"Short addresses were a|lso made by
Hon. John Devor, now the oldest surviving
member of the Darke county bar ; Judge
H. M. Cole. Judge J. I. Allread, D. L. Gas-
kill, L. E. Chenowith, D. W. Bowman. A.
C. Robeson, Probate Judge Bickel, J. C.
Elliott, Judge Clark, Hon. C. M. Anderson,
M. B. Trainor and Rev. C. H. Lee, pastor
of the Episcopal church of this city."
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
379'
WILLIAM LESLIE RIES.
William Leslie Ries was born in Green-
ville township, Darke county, August 24.
1844. and is one of the four sons of Jere-
miah and Catherine (Gilbert) Ries. His
paternal grandfather was William Ries and
his maternal grandfather was John H. Gil-
bert. The latter married Miss Morning-
star, who belonged to an old family of the
Buckeye state. The parents of our subject
were both natives of Berks county, Penu
sylvania, and his mother was born in 1808,
removing with her parents to Darke county
in her early girlhood. After her marriage
she took up her abode in Greenville, her
husband being a blacksmith, which trade he
followed continuously almost to the time of
his death, which occurred in 1863, when he
was in his fifty-second year. His wife long
survived him and passed away in 1897, in
her eighty-seventh year. The children of
this worthy couple were: David, now de-
ceased; James A., a blacksmith who is also
connected with farming and banking in-
terests; and John H., who is engaged in
blacksmithing and is chief of the fire depart-
ment of Greenville.
William L. Ries, the fourth member of
his father's family, acquired his education in
the schools of Greenville and was graduated
in the high school of this city. On putting
aside his text books he learned the ma-
chinist's trade under the direction of Jacob
Taylor, of Greenville, serving a regular ap-
prenticeship. On completing his term of
service he responded to the country's call
for aid, joining the One Hundred and Fifty-
second Ohio Infantry, under command of
Colonel David Putman. The regiment was
sent to the front and took part in the Hun-
ter raid and in many of the skirmishes in
and around Lynchburg. Virginia, and in
the Shenandoah valley. On the expiration
of his four-months term Mr. Ries was In m-
orably discharged in September, 1864, and
returned to his home. His brother, John
H., was also one of the Union soldiers dur-
ing the civil war, having joined the Ninety-
fourth Ohio Infantry. He took part in the
battles of Stone River, Perryville, and other
important engagements, and was honorably
discharged in April,- 1863. In September of
the same year he re-enlisted as a member of
the Eighth Ohio Battery and served until
the close of the war. David Ries joined the
army for three years' service, but was dis-
charged for disability after six months spent
on the field. He died June 8, 1868.
On his return from the war William
L. Ries resumed work at his trade and after-
ward became interested in farming in con-
nection with his two brothers, operating two
hundred and fort)' acres of choice land in
Greenville township, pleasantly located two
and a half miles from the city of that name.
He has since devoted his energies to its cul-
tivation and the well tilled fields indicate
his careful supervision and" give promise of
rich harvests. His farm is also well stocked
with cattle and hogs of a high grade and in
both branches of the business Mr. Ries is
meeting with creditable success. He does
not reside upon the farm, but makes his
home with his brother in Greenville. His
fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and
ability, have several times called him to
public office and for two years he
street commissioner, while for four years
he was a member of the city council, ex-
ercising his official prerogatives in support
of all measures which he believes will prove
of public benefit. He takes an active in-
terest in local and county politics, affiliating
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
with the Republican party, for he believes
that the platform of that party contains the
best elements of good government. As a
business man he is energetic, diligence be-
ing one of his chief characteristics. His
farming interests therefore are earnestly and
systematically conducted and are bringing
to him good financial returns. In all of his
transactions he is reliable and honorable and
he is enjoying the unqualified confidence of
his fellow men in a high degree.
MOSES S. TEEGARDEX.
No student can carry his investigations
far into the history of Darke county with-
out finding the name of Teegarden figuring
o mspicuously on its pages in connection wit"
the account of its development along ma-
terial, moral and intellectual lines. For more
than half a century Mr. Teegarden has been
a resident of that county and is numbered
among the honored pioneers who have laid
broad and deep the foundation for the pres-
ent prosperity and advancement of this sec-
tion of the state. Mr. Teegarden was born
on the homestead where he now resides
April 9, 1836, and is the third in a family
of eight children, six sons and two daugh-
ters, whose parents were Abram and Eliza-
beth (Stevenson) Teegarden. Of these chil-
dren six are yet living. One sister is a resi-
dent of Kansas and two brothers are living
in Indiana, but the others make their home
in Ohio.
The father was born in Butler county,
this state, and died on the old homestead
in Darke county November 15, 1868, at the
age of seventy-two years. He was reared
as an agriculturist and obtained his educa-
tion in the primitive schools of the day. He
started out in life for himself without capital
working first by the day or month as he
found opportunity, saving his money which
he earned and thus acquired a sum sufficient
to secure a claim and entered one hundred
and sixty acres of land from the government,
the deed bearing the signature of Martin
Van Buren. then the president of the United
States. The first home which he erected
upon the place was a log cabin and in that
primitive residence occurred the birth of our
subject. Many Indians still roamed through
the forests and to them Mr. Teegarden fre-
quently sold corn meal. He killed deer
upon his own place and venison was a fre-
quent article of diet on the family board.
The old-fashioned cradle, sickle and scythe
were used in harvesting their crops and farm-
ing was done without any of the improved
machinery which both lightens and hastens
labor at the present day. In his business
affairs, however, Mr. Teegarden was very
successful and at the time of his death owned
a thousand acres of land in Jackson and
Brown townships. He started out in life
a poor boy, but by industry and frugality
he worked his way steadily upward, over-
coming all difficulties and obstacles in his
path and attained a proud position among
the substantial residents of his adopted coun-
ty. His descendants are now in possession
of two deeds from the government, one ex-
ecuted August 1. 1838, for one hundred
and sixty acres, and the other on July 11,
1837. for eighty acres, and both are signed
by Martin Van Buren.
Mr. Teegarden was originally an old-
hue Whig and at the organization of the
Republican party he became one of its stanch
supporters and a great admirer of Abraham
Lincoln. His fellow townsmen, realizing his
worth and ability, called him to public of-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
MSI
fice, and lie served as trustee and as school
director at various times. He was himself
particularly expert as a mathematician and
always stood firm in support of his honest
convictions, and his word was as good as
his bond. He and his wife were consistent
members of the Presbyterian church and he
■was one of the foremost builders of the first
house of worship erected by that denomina-
tion in Brown township, the building stand-
ing upon a part of his farm. His connection
with Darke county extended back to the time
when his voting place was at Beamsville,
underneath an apple tree. He took a deep
interest in the development and progress of
the county and his name should be inscribed
on the pages of its pioneer history. His wife
was born in Virginia and died March 27,
1864, at the age of forty-two years. She
was a kind and loving mother, strict in her
religious belief, and her Christian teaching
have borne fruit in the upright lives of her
children.
Moses S. Teegarden, whose name begins
this article, has spent his entire life in Darke
county. He was reared in the usual manner
of farmer lads of that period and received
but limited educational privileges, for the
schools of that day were not of the best class
and his labors were needed upon the home
farm. He early became familiar with the
arduous task of developing new land and his
life has ever been one of marked industry
and enterprise. He married Miss Nancy
J. Hetsler, who was born in Butler county,
Ohio, March 22, 1840, a daughter of Peter
and Mary M. (Wagner) Hetsler. Her par-
ents had four children, — two sons and two
daughters, — and all are yet living in Darke
county with the exception of Katurah A.,
the wife of Jacob Kilmer, a carpenter and
contractor. Mrs. Teegarden spent the first
thirteen years of her life in Butler county
and has since been a resident of Darke coun-
ty. She has been to her husband a faithful
companion and helpmeet and to her children
a kind and loving mother. Mr. and Mrs.
Teegarden have one son and one daughter,
the former being J. P. Teegarden, who re-
sides in Woodington. Ohio, where he is en-
gaged in general merchandising and grain
dealing. He was educated in the common
schools and married Miss Lura Belle Men-
denhall.
In politics he is a Republican, is now
serving as justice of the peace and is a young
man who merits and receives the respect of
all who know him. -The daughter, Telitha
A., is the wife of William Hopper, a farmer
residing in Jackson township. In his po-
litical views Mr. Teegarden, of this review,
was a stanch Republican and has supported
the party since casting his first presidential
vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is unwaver-
ing in his advocacy of the party principles
and does all in his power to secure their
adoption. He and his wife are faithful and
consistent members of the Teegarden Chris-
tian church. He contributed most liberally
to the erection of the house of worship and
was a member of the building committee.
Both he and his wife are kind and generous
people and have won that good name which
is rather to be chosen than great riches.
They now occupy a pleasant home, which
was erected in 1887. It is a tasteful brick
residence and stands upon a farm of one hun-
dred acres in Brown township, where are
found all of the improvements and acces-
sories of the model farm. The respect so
freely accorded them results from their up-
right lives, and throughout the community
Mi-, and Mrs. Teegarden are widely and
favorably known.
382
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
JOHN II. RIES.
John H. Ries is chief of the fire depart-
ment of Greenville, which is his native city,
his birth having here occurred on the 15th of
April, 1843. He 's a son °f Jeremiah and
Catherine ( Gilbert ) Ries. In Greenville he
spent the greater part of his boyhood and
youth, enjoying such educational advantages
as the public schools afforded, and thus be-
coming well prepared for life's practical
duties. In 1862, prompted by a spirit of
patriotism, he responded to his country's call
for aid and joined the Union army as a
member of Company F, Ninety-fourth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel J. W.
Frizell. After spending some time in camp
at Columbus the regiment was ordered to
the front and was assigned to General Rose-
crans' army. Mr. Ries took part in the
battles of Perryville and Stone River, where
he was severely wounded by a gunshot in
the left leg. He was then taken to the hos-
pital at Nashville, Tennessee, and his wounds
necessitated his remaining there for three
months. On the expiration of that period lie
was discharged on account of his disability,
but when his health was restored he re-en-
listed in the Eighth Ohio Independent Bat-
tery and was sent to Vicksburg, Mississippi.
In the spring of 1864 he was put on detached
duty as a blacksmith, having learned the
trade before entering the army. He con-
tinued to act in that capacity until the close
nf the war, when lie was honorably dis-
charged in July, 1865. His loyal service
commended him to all who believe in the
Union cause, and with patriotic ardor he
did what he could for his country.
Returning to Greenville Mr. Ries re-
sumed work at his trade, which he has since
followed to the present time in connection
with his brother, James A. Ries, under the
firm name of Ries Brothers. They have a
general blacksmith and repair shop and re-
ceive a liberal patronage in their line. In
May. 1900, Mr. Ries was appointed chief
of the fire department and is now acceptably
filling that position. * Socially he is con-
nected with Greenville Lodge, No. 195, I.
O. O. F. He is also a member of Jobes
Post, No. 157, G. A. R., of which he for-
merly served as commander. He receives
a pension in recognition of his services and
is possessed of good property interests. His
life has been one of honorable and useful
activity, and he is well known among Green-
ville's citizens.
JAMES I. ALLREAD.
The name of this gentleman figures
prominently in connection with political and
professional interests in Darke county and
Ids reputation and acquaintance are In- no
means limited by the confines of the county.
He is now practicing law in Greenville, with
excellent success, and his analytical power,
executive ability and thorough understand-
ing of tlie principles of jurisprudence have
gained him a leading position in the ranks
of the legal fraternity of this community.
He was born upon his father's farm in
Twin township, September 29, 1858. and is
the eldest son of Isaac and Hannah C.
( Houk) Allread. The paternal great-grand-
father was William Allread, one of the he-
roes of the Revolutionary war, who. under
command of General Wayne, aided the col-
onists in their struggle for independence.
The grandfather, Henry Allread. became
one of the early settlers of Butler county,
Ohio, where he located about 1820, enter-
in- one hundred and sixty acres of land in
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
383
the midst of the forest. Isaac Allread, the
father of our subject, was born in Butler
county, in 1826, and became a farmer by
occupation. He married Hannah C. Houk,
daughter of James and Abigail Houk, who
removed to Darke county about 1820. The
latter lived to the advanced age of eighty-
nine years. The mother of our subject was
born in Darke county about 1830, and by
her marriage had three children: James I.,
Stephen W. and Mary. The parents held
membership in the Methodist Episcopal
church, and the father, a stanch Republican
in -politics, was often found in the councils
of his party, where his opinions carried con-
siderable weight. He died July 2, 1876, and
his wife passed away in 1866.
James I. Allread spent his boyhood clays
upon the home farm in Twin township, and
in the winter months he mastered the com-
mon English branches of learning taught in
the district schools. He afterward contin-
ued his education in Greenville under the
instruction of Professor J. T. Martz and
Professor Seitz. He then returned to the
farm where he remained until nineteen years
of age, when he began reading law in the
office and under the direction of William
Allen, of Greenville, teing admitted to the
bar before the supreme court, on the 6th of
October, 1S80. He then established an of-
fice in this city, where he has since engaged
in practice up to the present time — a period
of twenty consecutive years — with the ex-
ception of a short interval when he served
as judge of the circuit court, to which posi-
tion he was appointed by Governor McKin-
ley to fill, out the unexpired term of Judge
Shauck, who was advanced to a seat on the
supreme bench of the state. When the term
was ended Mr. Allread resumed the private
23
practice of law and has been connected with
important litigation in all of the courts, local,
state and federal. He has tried many cases
involving large interests and intricate legal
problems and has been very successful in
winning verdicts favorable to his clients, for
lie gives careful, preparation and marshals the
strong points in evidence with the skill of a
general in the field of battle.
On the 1st of August, 1883, Mr. All-
read was united in marriage to Miss Emma
S. Roland, of Greenville, the third daughter
of Charles Roland, editor and proprietor of
the Greenville Democrat. Unto the Judge
and his wife have been born two children:
Marie A., born July 1, 1886, and Charles
Harold, born August 13, 1889. They have
a pleasant home in Greenville, and their
many friends speak in high terms of its hos-
pitality.
A well-known Mason, Judge Allread
holds membership with Greenville Lodge,
No. 143, F. & A. M.; Greenville Chapter,
No. yy, R. A. M. ; Coleman Commandery,
No. 17, K. T., of Troy, Ohio. He was for
several years a high priest of the chapter,
and in 1899 he was representative to the
grand lodge and served as grand junior
deacon. As every true American citizen
should do, he takes a deep interest in the
political questions of the day, studies closely
the political aspect of the country and as
the result of his mature deliberations gives
his support to the Republican party. In 1898
he was a member of the Republican slate
executive committee, ami his labors have
been effective in promoting the success oi
his party. His arguments in its defense are
strong and decisive and the same earnestness
marks his support of everything which tends
toward the public weal.
3S4
GEXEALOGICAL AMD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
JACOB B. MARTIN.
In the records of York ti iwnship, Darke
countv. the history of Jacob B. Martin well
deserves a place, for he is a leading agricult-
urist of the community and is now acceptably
serving for his third term as township trus-
tee. He is both widely and favorably known
in this locality, the circle of his friends be-
ing extensive. He was born in Adams town-
ship, Darke county, July 30. 1S48, and is
the second in a family of thirteen children,
nine sons and four daughters, whose par-
ents were David and Eliza (Burns) Mar-
tin. Of this family two daughters and seven
sons are vet living and are residents of Darke
county, the sons all being farmers. One
sister is the wife of a farmer, but Flora is
the wife of John Kniseley, a teacher of
Gettysburg.
David Martin was born near the city of
Dayton, in Montgomery county, in 1822,
and died in October. 1844. He was reared
to agricultural pursuits and pursued his
studies in the common schools, but his edu-
cation was somewhat limited, as he was com-
pelled to aid in the development of the home
farm. He was a lad of only five years when
his parents came to Darke county, where his
father entered one hundred and sixty acres
of land in Adams township from the govern-
ment. Their first home was a typical, prim-
itive log cabin, with its puncheon floor and
mud-and-stick chimney. This pioneer struc-
ture made a deep impression upon the mind
of our subject, who can also remember many
incidents of pioneer life, including the
friendly visits of the Indians. Deer were
frequently killed on the prairies and other
wild game was to be had in abundance. The
farming implements of those days were the
old-fashioned cradles, sickles and scythes.
and with such farm machinery Mr. Martin
has spent many a day in the harvest fields,
working from early morn until the setting of
the sun. His father was a successful agri-
culturist and became the owner of a good
property. In his political sentiments he was
a Democrat, firm and inflexible in support
of its principles. He was also a friend of
the "little red school house" and advocated
the education of the masses. He cared noth-
ing for the honors and emoluments of pub-
lic office, preferring to give his energies to
his business interests. He held membership
in the German Baptist church, aided in the
erection of a number of churches in this lo-
cality and was charitable and benevolent,
withholding not the hand of assistance from
the needy. His grandmother was a native
of Germany and his grandfather Martin
was born in Pennsylvania. His great-grand-
father Martin was born in Germany and
took up his abode in the Keystone state.
The mother of our subject was born in Darke
county about the year 1832 and is yet liv-
ing in Adams township. She is a good
Christian woman and her teachings have
had a marked influence on the characters
developed in her children.
Jacob B. Martin was reared in Adams
township and became a citizen of York town-
ship about 1883. He worked in the fields
from an early age, and, as his school priv-
ileges were necessarily somewhat limited.,
he devoted much of his leisure time to read-
ing and study and later had the advantage
of instruction in the public schols of Green-
ville and in the Normal Training School.
He began his study, however, in the little
log school house which his father had fre-
quently attended. The building was about
30x24 feet and was heated by an old-time
fireplace, while the writing desk for the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
:.<>
big boys and girls was formed of a rough
board resting upon wooden pins driven inti
the wall. The puncheon seats were without
backs and the master dextrously used the
birch rod in maintaining discipline. The
windows were formed by sawing out a sec-
tion of a log from the side of the building
and inserting in the aperture panes of glass
8xio inches. The first teacher which Mr.
Martin had was Dr. Lewis Lecklider, who
is now deceased. Those old-time school
houses are in marked contrast with the
substantia] structures of the present day
in which the youth now receives his educa-
tional privileges. When twenty-one years
of age Mr. Martin successfully passed a
teachers' examination and for thirteen years
followed the profession for which he was
prepared, giving satisfaction to all in the
localities where he taught. For his first
school he received one hundred dollars in
cash and with this capital he began life on
his own account.
On the 9th of March, 1882, Mr. Mar-
tin was married to Miss Malinda Puter-
baugh, who was born in Darke county March
3, 1858, a daughter of David and Annie
(Parent) Puterbaugh, who were early set-
tlers of the county and were familiar with
its pioneer development and progress. Her
father entered his farm from the govern-
ment and on his land on more than one oc-
casion has killed deer. In his family were
twelve children and all became identified
with the agricultural interests of the county.
Mrs. Martin acquired her education in the
common schools and was a lady of genial
nature and kindly disposition, who in her
every-day life won friends by her many
estimable characteristics. Mr. and Mrs.
Martin began their domestic life upon a
rented farm in Richland township, where
they lived for one year, and in 1S83 they
purchased their present farm of eighty acres
on section 16. York township, going in debt
for a portion of the property. In his busi-
ness affairs our subject has been prosperous,
and the many improvements which he has
placed upon his land indicates that he has
successfully carried on his business. He has
built a new barn and good sheds and fences
and now has one of the most desirable farm-
ing properties in York township. Honesty
and integrity have characterized his entire
business career and have gained him the re-
spect and confidence of his fellow men.
In his political views Mr. Martin is a
Democrat, having supported the party since
casting his first presidential vote for Hon.
Samuel J. Tilden. He is unflinching in his
advocacy of Democratic principles and has
been called upon to serve as a delegate to
the county conventions, which indicates his
standing in the party ranks. In 189 1 he
was elected township trustee and after serv-
ing for a full term was appointed to fill out
an unexpired term. In 1897 he was 1
elected and in 1900 he was again chosen, —
a fact which well indicates his personal pop-
ularity and his fidelity to duty. He ad-
vocated every measure which would advance
the welfare and prosperity of his township
and county along material, intellectual and
moral lines, and he and his wife are classed
aim nig the best citizens of York township,
and as such we present them to the readers
of this volume.
HERMAX F. KRUCKEBERG.
. Among the native sons of Darke county
is numbered Herman F. Kruckeberg. who is
also classified among the most enterprising
and progressive representatives of agricult-
386
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ural interests in this section of the state.
Washington said more than a century ago
that "agriculture is the most useful as well
as the most honorable occupation to which
man can devote his energies," and the say-
ing remains as true to-day as when uttered.
The past aggregate of business along all
lines depends in greater measure upon the
farming interests of the world than upon
any other pursuit. Continually commercial
and professional ranks are recruited by those
\yh< i a une from the farm, and it is no longer
considered that such men occupy a higher
plane of life. The farmer is a business man,
actively identified with the affairs of life, the
equal of his city brother in education and
his associate in business affairs. He has
recognized the fact that scientific principles
underlie his labors and takes due cognizance
of this in the operation of his land, as is
shown by rotating crops, the use of fertil-
izers and the adoption of many improve-
ments which facilitates his work and pro-
duces better results. Air. Kruckeberg is one
of the wide-awake and enterprising farmers
of Darke county, possessing many of the
sterling characteristics of his German an-
cestry. As his name indicates, his forefa-
thers lived in Germany, and came to America
to seek a home and fortune in the land of
the free.
Our subject was born in Brown town-
ship, on the ioth of December, 1868, and is
the fifth in a family of twelve children, six
sons and six daughters, whose parents were
Karl Frederick Ludwig and Hermina Char-
lotte ( Bartling) Kruckeberg. The father
was born in the little province of Chaun-
burg [Schaumburg ?], near the beautiful
river Rhine, whose vine-clad hills are adorned
by many an ancient castle erected in baronial
days. The date of his birth was April 17,
1832, and he died on the 13th of May, 1895.
He belonged to one of the old and promi-
nent families of the fatherland and acquired
an excellent education in his native tongue.
He was reared as an agriculturist and spent
the first twenty years of his life in the coun-
try of his nativity, after which he deter-
mined to take up his abode in the new world,
hoping to better his financial condition in
this country.
In company with his parents and four of
their children he sailed from Bremen in a
sailing vessel, the voyage continuing through
seven weeks. A landing was effected at
Xew York, in June, 1852, and the family
made their way westward to Darke county,
where three hundred and fifty acres of land
in Brown township was purchased. The
first home of the family was an old frame
building lined with brick. In this regon,
then largely wild and unimproved, the grand-
father of our subject laid the foundation of
his future prosperity and in the primitive
home Karl Kruckeberg began life as an
American citizen. He acquired a knowl-
edge of the English language through con-
tact with the people of his adopted country.
He was a man of firm decision of character
and possessed all the cardinal virtues of an
upright, honorable citizen. He was highly
respected, was a consistent member of the
St. John's Lutheran church, of Greenville
township, and contributed liberally toward
the erection of the church and toward main-
taining its work along its various lines of
activity. He was a good man, and his
liberality was well known by all. The poor
and needy found in him a friend and were
never turned away from his door empty-
handed. He gave freely in support of all
benevolent measures which he believed would
benefit his fellow men and lived a life well
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
387
worthy of emulation, leaving to his family
the priceless heritage of a good name. He
was fond of travel and enjoyed studying the
different manners and customs of different
parts of the country. He did not believe
that any one should live the life of a hermit,
but should have accurate knowledge of his
fellow men and be in close touch with them.
Accompanied by his estimable wife, he made
a number of journeys to distant parts of
his adopted land and gained that knowledge
and culture which only travel can bring.
In politics he was an ardent supporter of
the Democracy, believing firmly in its policy
and earnestly advocating its doctrines. He
was, however, not bitterly partisan and
granted to others the right which he reserved
for himself, of forming their own opinions.
His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth
and ability, frequently called him to public
office and he served for two terms as town-
ship trustee of Brown township, discharg-
ing his duties in a very prompt and capable
manner. His co-operation was given to all
movements calculated to prove of general
good, and he was especially earnest in his
advocacy of maintaining an excellent public
school system. He believed in the German
idea of educating the masses and making it
compulsory that all children should attend
school, for he realized fully the value and
importance of education as a preparation for
life's responsible duties. He served as
school director for a number of years and his
labors in behalf of the schools were practical
and effective.
In his private business affairs he was suc-
cessful, becoming the owner of four hundred
acres of fine land in Brown and Richland
townships. In 1880 he erected upon his farm
a fine two-story barn, with a basement 40x76
feet. He also built one of the best brick
residences in the county, and these structures
stand as monuments to his thrift and enter-
prise. The home is a two-story house with
an attic and basement, and is built of stone
and brick, in the English style of architect-
ure, and adorned with a slate roof. Nearly
all of the interior finishings of this residence
have been made from wood taken from the
farm. The place commands a splendid view
of the surrounding country and is one of
the most attractive homes in Darke county.
Everything about the place is neat and
thrifty in appearance, outbuildings and
fences being kept in good repair and the
well tilled fields give promise of golden har-
vests.
When Mr. Kruckeberg died his town-
ship lost one of its most valued citizens,
his neighbors a faithful friend and his chil-
dren a kind and devoted father. His re-
mains were interred in the St. John's cem-
etery, where a beautiful Scotch granite
monument has been erected to his memory
by his loving children. His wife, who was
born in Fredericksburg, in the province of
Oldendorf, Germany, September 15, 1839,
died January 8, 1899, when in her sixtieth
year. She was a devoted Christian woman,
a loving and faithful wife and mother, and
her teachings are treasured by her children,
upon whom her influence was most marked.
Her kind deeds will long be remembered
by those who knew her, and her memory is
enshrined in the hearts of all with whom she
was brought in contact.
In the family of this worthy couple were
twelve children, of whom eleven are yet liv-
ing, namely: Amelia, the widow of William
Requarth, a resident of Greenville, Ohio;
Charles, a farmer, who is married and lives
in Edinburg, Illinois; Caroline, the wife of
W. F. Ostemeier, an agriculturist of Wood-
: 38
GENEALOGICAL AXD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
side. Illinois: Herman F.. of this review:
Sophia, the wife of H. E. Ostemeier. who
follows fanning near Chatham. Illinois:
Charlotte, the wife of F. J. Ostemeier, an
agriculturist living near Springfield. Illi-
nois: John, who is living on the old home-
stead in Brown township: Mary, who makes
her home with her brothers. Herman and
John: Oddie, an agriculturist living in
Springfield. Illinois: Emma, who is living
on the old homestead : and Willie, the young-
est of the family, who is yet in sch
Herman F. Kruckeberg has spent his
entire life in Darke county, his boyhood days
being passed in the usual manner of farmer
lads. He enjoyed the educational privileges
afforded by the common schools of the ne §
borhood, and through the summer months
SS isted in the labors of held and meadow,
so that he gained a practical knowledj
the work to which he now devotes his en-
The sturdy independence, perse-
verance and industry characteristic of the
German people are manifest in his life. In-
dolence an idleness are utterly foreign to
his nature and the labors on the home farm
have resulted in securing good crops, which
annually augment his income. He resides
with his brothers upon the old family home-
. his time being given almost exclusive-
ly to the work of the farm. His methods
are progressive and he and his brothers keep
up in first-class condition the fine farm which
their father developed.
In his political views Herman F. Krucke-
berg is a Democrat and cast his first presi-
dential vote in 1896, for William Jennings
Bryan. At the age of fourteen years he
was confirmed in the German Lutheran
church, with which he has since been iden-
tified. His life has been an honorable and
upright one. which has cast no blot upon the
untarnished family name. He commands
the respect and confidence of all with whom
he is brought in contact and is known as a
reliable business man and loyal citizen, who
gives a public support to all measures which
he believes will prove of general benefit.
No history of Darke county would be com-
plete without the record of the Kruckeberg
family, and it is therefore with pleasure that
wt present their history to the readc
this volume.
DAXIEL LAKEN DRILL.
This well-known citizen of Darke coun-
ty, who departed this life in 188^. was for
many years actively identified with the de-
velopment and upbuilding of Greenville
township, where he made his home. He
was born on the 14th of August. 1814. in
Frederick county. Maryland, where the fam-
ily was founded at an early day by two
brothers, Jacob and George Drill, natives of
Germany. Jacob afterward removed to Vir-
ginia. So far as known all the Drills in
America are descendants of these two. The
first fourteen years of his life our sul
spent in his native state and then came to
Ohio with his parents. George and Jemima
(Laken) Drill, also natives of Maryland.
settled on Stillwater river, north of
Dayton, in Montgomery county, where the
father cleared and improved a farm and
where both he and his wife died.
Our subject was reared and educated in
the usual manner of boys of his day and on
reaching manhood he married Miss Ann
Kiler. daughter of Daniel and Ellen ( Lowe)
Kiler. also natives of Maryland. By this
union were born six children, namely : Ellen
and Urith, both deceased: Daniel K.. who is
mentioned below : John H. and George M..
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
889
both deceased; and Rebecca, who resides on
the old homestead with her brother, Dan-
iel K.
Mr. Drill continued his residence in
Montgomery county until 1853, when he
purchased mie hundred and sixty acres of
land in Greenville township, Darke county,
to which he moved his family on the 17th
of March of that year. There was a small
1( ig cabin standing on the place, but only
three acres of the land hail been cleared,
the remainder being timber and swamp land.
It seemed a herculean task to clear and im-
prove this place, but perseverance and en-
ergy won, and the land was transformed
into a highly cultivated and productive farm.
Mr. Drill began life here with a small cap-
ital, but he met with success in his farming-
operations, and became one of the prosper-'
OUS and substantial men of his community,
as well as one of its highly respected and
In mored citizens. He was somewhat re-
served in manner, always attending strictly
to his own business. He was conservative
in his judgment and his decisions were all
the result of a careful process of reasoning.
Religiously he was a member of the Epis-
copal church, his father being one of the
founders of that church in Montgomery
county, and always an active worker in the
same. Mrs. Drill died in 1873, at the age
of fifty-nine years. Like her husband, she
had many warm friends in the community
where they made their home, and was held
in high regard by all who knew her.
Daniel K. Drill, son of our subject, was
born in Montgomery county. April 2, 1843,
and was educated in the public schools. He as-
sisted his father in the arduous task of clear-
ing and improving the farm, and is still liv-
ing on the old homestead, successfully en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits. He married
Miss Margaret E. Kilbourn, a daughter of
Thomas F. and Margaret (Martin) Kil-
bi iurn, who came to Darke county about 1830
and settled on a farm in Greenville township
adjoining the Drill homestead. Her father
was born in Marietta, Ohio, in 1801, but
was reared in Vermont, lie died in Janu-
ary, 1882, his wife in June, [890. Both
were active members of the Episcopal church
of Greenville, of which Mr. Kilbourn was
one of the founders, and his picture, in
honor of his virtues, has always ado
the walls of the parsonage at that place. Of
his three children, Clarissa and Martin are
both deceased, so that Mrs. Drill, the young-
est of the family, is the only one now living.
She is a most estimable lady, and is a mem-
ber of the Universalist church of Greenville.
Mr. and Airs. Drill were married. May 29,
1873, and have become the parents of five
children, namely: Anna M., Frank K.. Will-
iam E., Daniel C. and Hazel, all of whom are
living.
WILLIAM REICHARD.
The subject of this review was 1 me 1 if the
honored and highly esteemed citizens of
Twin township, Darke county. Ohio, where
for several years he was successfully en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits. His father,
Joseph Reichard, a native of Pennsylvania,
came to this state in early manhood, ac-
companied by his wife and their eldest child,
Elizabeth, and settled near Pyrmont, Mont-
gomery county, close to the Preble county
line, where he developed a farm and
the remainder of his life. His children were
Elizabeth; William, our subject: Joseph,
who married Susan Sepp and died in Illi-
nois; and Mary, who married Andrew
House and died in Brookville, Ohio.
390
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
William Reichard was born October 1 1 ,
1820, on the homestead farm in Montgom-
ery county, where he grew to manhood and
married Elizabeth Huffman. They began
their domestic life upon a tract of eighty
acres of land in Twin township, Darke coun-
ty, given him by his father, who had en-
tered the land from the government. Later
his wife was taken ill and returned to her
parents' home in Preble county, where she
died, leaving: one child, Levi, who was born
March 7, 1848, married Martha Deisher and
died near Louisburg, Ohio.
Air. Reichard was again married, April
22, 1852, his second union being with Miss
Nancy C. Fritz, who was born in Perry
township, Montgomery county, April 19,
1834, a daughter of Jacob and Lydia
(Horner) Fritz, and granddaughter of John
Horner, whose family came to Ohio from
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. By this
union were born the following children :
Elizabeth, born March 17, 1853, married
Pharas Baker, of Twin township, this coun-
ty; Mary, born September 2, 1854, died in
infancy; Sarah, born March 9, 1856, mar-
ried Levi Foreman, of Van Buren township ;
Amzi, born October 19, 1857. married Mary
Catherine Baker and resides in Monroe town-
ship; Susan, born February 22, 1859, died at
the age of six years; Ira, born October 17.
i860, married Emma Niswonger and lives
in Twin township ; Emma, born October 9,
1862, is the wife of Harvey Baker, of Mon-
roe township; Ella, born September 5, 1864,
is the wife of George W. Fryman, of Monroe
township; and Joseph, born January 1, 1861,
married Malinda Shumaker and died on the
home farm in 1893.
Mr. Reichard followed farming in Twin
township until called from this life May 28,
1868, his remains being interred in Ithaca
cemetery. He was a well informed man,
was a stanch supporter of the Democratic
party, and a loyal citizen who gave his sup-
port to every enterprise which he believed
calculated to prove of public benefit. He
was a good husband and a kind father, and
was held in hig'h regard by a large circle
of friends and acquaintances on account of
his strict integrity and sterling worth.
Since the death of her husband Mrs.
Reichard has successfully managed her busi-
ness affairs, and has proven herself to be a
thorough and capable business woman. She
now resides in Arcanum, where she owns a
comfortable home and is surrounded by
many friends.
Michael Fritz, the paternal grandfather
cf Mrs. Reichard, was a native of Germany,
and was a young man when he came to the
United States. He was one of the earliest
settlers of Preble county, Ohio, where he
entered land and engaged in farming. There
he married Nancy Repe, and both died in
that county. Their children were : Mary,
who wedded Michael Horner, a son of John
Horner, and died in Perry township, Mont-
gomery county, Ohio; Jacob, the father of
Mrs. Reichard; Mrs. Lavina Kearns, of
West Alexandria, Ohio; Lewis, who lives
near Denver, Colorado; Sarah, the wife of
George Wikel, of Darke county; John, who
married Elizabeth Siler and died near West
Alexandria; Michael, who married, first, An-
nie Stibbs, and, secondly, Sarah Guntle, and,
thirdly, Eliza Bixler, and died in Miami
county, Ohio; Daniel, who married, first,
Sarah Loy, and, secondly, Sarah Orebaugh
and is now married to Lavina Magee;
Nancy, who died in childhood ; Katy, who
married John Gentner and resides on a part
of the homestead farm; and Maria, who
married George Lov and both are deceased.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
391
Jacob Fritz, the father of Mrs. Reichard,
was born in Preble county, in 1809, and in
1846 located in Twin township, Darke coun-
ty, on a tract of land which he had entered.
He married twice, his first wife being Lydia
Horner, who was born in 1816 and died in
1870, leaving three children : Elizabeth, Mrs.
John Sharp; Nancy C, Mrs. Reichard; and
Michael, who married Nancy Brock. For
his second wife the father married Saloma
Holsapple. He died June 12, 1892, hon-
ored and respected by all who knew him.
W. J. WILSON.
When the greater part of the land of
Darke county was still wild and unimproved,
when the few homes of the early settlers
were log cabins situated on little clearings
in the midst of dense forests, the Wilson
family was founded in this section of the
state, and since that early time representa-
tives of the name have been prominent and
active in promoting the welfare of the
county.
The subject of this review was born in
Wayne township, March 20, 1856, and is
the only living son in a family of eleven chil-
dren, whose parents were Samuel and Mary
C. (Eyler) Wilson. His father was born
in Greenville township, Darke county, Feb-
ruary 21, 1829, and in the common schools
obtained his education. His mother died
when he was two years old and his father's
death occurred previous to that time, so
that he was early left an orphan. In
his youth, as he missed the care and protec-
tion of a home, he met many adversities and
hardships, but these developed in him a
strong character and resolute purpose, and
throughout an active business career he com-
manded the respect and confidence of his fel-
low men. He had considerable mechanical
ability and early entered upon an apprentice-
ship at the carpenter's trade under Oren
Culberson, of Greenville. At the time
when he attained his majority he had no cap-
ital save the little he had accumulated
through his own industry. He spent his en-
tire life in Darke county and became cpiite
successful in his undertakings. Locating
in York township, about 1830. he there se-
cured large landed interests and was also the
owner of property in Richland, Wayne and
York townships. He likewise engaged ex-
tensively in stock raising, which proved a
profitable source of income. At his death,
which occurred June 12, 1897, he was the
possessor of six hundred and forty acres
of valuable land, all of which was in York
township, with the exception of a tract of
seventy-one acres in Richland township. All
.of the improvements upon his farm were
placed there by him and the property be-
came one of the most attractive, desirable
and valuable in his section of the county.
As a citizen Mr. Wilson was public spir-
ited and progressive and his fellow towns-
men, recognizing his worth and ability, fre-
quently called him to public office. He
served as township treasurer and trustee and
in the year 1877 was elected to the important
office of county commissioner for a three-
years term. He discharged his duties so ac-
ceptably that in 1880 he was re-elected, and
he gave his support to many marked and
valuable improvements in the county. He
appreciated the value of good roads and sup-
ported all measures in the establishment of
the fine pike system, and also believed in
draining by ditching. Many of the bridges
in the county were built during his service
in office and he co-operated in every measure
for the public good. He was an extremely
392
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
successful and methodical man, both in his
private and public interests, and his integrity
was proverbial. At his death the community
lost one of its valuable citizens and the poor
and needy a faithful friend, for he never
withheld his support from those who were
in need of aid. He contributed toward the
erection of churches and did what he could
to promote the material, intellectual and
moral welfare of his community. Called to
the home beyond, his remains were interred
in the Versailles cemetery, where a beauti-
ful Scotch granite monument now stands
sacred to his memory. His estimable wife,
who was born in 1836, is still living on the
old homestead. In their family were two
sons and nine daughters, and of this num-
ber eight are yet living, namely : Cynthia
A., who is living with her mother in York
township; W. J., of this review; Jennie, the
wife of Samuel Sherry, a shoe dealer in
Versailles, Ohio; Belle, the wife of Charles
Ewrv. who was formerly a successful teacher
but is now engaged in the hardware busi-
ness in Portland, Indiana, as a member of
the firm of Yount & Ewry; May, the wife
of Harry Gilbert a prosperous agriculturist
of York township; Mary, the wife of Will-
iam Yount, of the hardware firm of Yount
& Ewry, of Portland; Edith, the wife of
Samuel Overholzer, a prosperous farmer of
Eichland township; and Minnie B., the wife
of William Hill, a farmer residing in Wayne
township.
Mr. Wilson, whose name introduces this
record, has spent his entire life in Darke
county, and as he was the only son in his
father's family that reached mature years the
duties and labors of the farm largely de-
volved upon him. He began his education
in the schools of Wayne township and later
pursued his education in the Lyons school
in York township. This was held in a log
school house 24x32 feet, of typical style in
its furnishings and structure. Great changes
have occurred since that time in the edu-
cational privileges which are now afforded
the children of the present generation, for
substantial brick or frame school houses dot
the country here and there, well qualified
teachers are employed and excellent prepara-
tion is made that the children may be well
prepared for life's practical and responsible
duties. Mr. Wilson continued upon the
home farm until 1884, when he bought
eighty acres ■ in York township. Subse-
quently he disposed of this property and pur-
chased the farm of one hundred and sixty-
six acres where he now resides.
As a companion and helpmate on life's
journey he chose Miss Lucy Warvel a
daughter of Daniel Warvel, a prominent
citizen of Richland township. She was born
May 9, i860, her parents being Daniel and
Sarah (Powell) Warvel. Their marriage
occurred September 5, 1880. and four sons
anc' three daughters graced the union, but
of t is number only four are now living —
Mar Belle, Samuel C, Eliza May and
Ern st Ray. The parents are giving to their
children good educational privileges so that
they may be well fitted to meet life's active
duties. Mrs. Wilson has been to her hus-
band a faithful companion and helpmate on
life's journey, and her labors and counsel
have proved important factors as he has en-
deavored to gain a competence. When they
began their domestic life they had forty
acres of land, upon which rested an indebted-
ness, but as the years have passed they have
become the owner of one of the model farms
of York township. The soil is especially
adapted for the raising of corn, wheat and
tobacco. The last, named is a very profit-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
393
able crop and has added not a little to Mr.
Wilson's income. He is also a natural me-
chanic and built and equipped a blacksmith
shop, in which he does his own work, making
all repairs on harness and farm machinery
as well as shoeing his own horses. He has
a four-horse-power engine and his mechan-
ical ability is supplemented by his modern
tools, enabling him to save much time and
money.
Politically Mr. Wilson is a Democrat and
cast his first presidential vote for Samuel
J. Tilden. He has twice been selected as a
delegate to congressional conventions and
was a delegate to the state convention in
Dayton, in 1898. In 1899 he was elected the
land appraiser of York township, and though
he takes a deep interest in political affairs
he has never been an officeseeker, preferring
to devote his time and energies to his busi-
ness interests, in which he has met with
very creditable success. His marked ener-
gy, diligence and capable management have
enabled him to advance step by step until he
now stands upon the plane of affluence md
throughout his long and active busines • ca-
reer he has ever commanded the re. lect,
confidence and good will of those with w hom
he has been associated. >
JOHN J. PETERS.
The German element in this national
commonwealth has been an important one in
promoting the material progress and pros-
perity of the community; the enterprise,
economy, thrift and perseverance so charac-
teristic of the race are manifest in the sub-
ject of this review, who has been a resident
of Brown township, Darke county, for al-
most half a century. He has been an eye-
witness of the remarkable development of
this section of the state, for he came here
when the county was almost an unbroken
wilderness and has not only seen the trans-
formation that has been wrought, but has
also borne his part in the work that has
produced this great change.
Mr. Peters was born in the little province
of Alsace. Germany, near the bank of the
beautiful Rhine, far-famed in story and song.
Plis native place was also near the city of
Strasburg, Germany, which contains the
most beautiful and splendid cathedral in
Europe. His natal day was March 31, 1837,
and he is the tenth child and eldest son in
a family of fourteen children, the last four
children all being sons. His parents were
John Jacob and Mary Elizabeth ( Machale)
Peters. His father was born in the province
of Alsace and died at the advanced age of
eighty-three years, eight months and thirteen
days. He was reared to the life of an agri-
culturist and became an expert pomoloyist,
making a specialty of the cultivation of
grapes and the manufacture of a favorite
brand of Rhenish wine. He found a good
market for his products in the city of Stras-
burg and conducted a profitable business.
At one time he served his a mntry in the
German army as a guard and his brother
did military duty under Napoleon in Spain.
He with eleven others of his company was
poisoned by drinking water in which poison
had been placed by the Spaniards. Mr.
Peters, the father of our subject, was a man
of sterling character, strict in his adherence
to principle and an intelligent German citi-
zen who met success in his business career.
Ever honorable and upright in his dealings
he left to his family the priceless heritage
of a good name. He was widely known in
his community and among his acquaintances
394
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his word was considered as good as his
bond.
It was about 1839 when he concluded
to bid adieu to the fatherland and seek a
home in free America, believing that he
could thus afford his children better ad-
vantages. Accordingly, in the spring of that
year ,at Havre, France, they took passage
on a sailing vessel, which, after a voyage
ct thirty-seven days, dropped anchor in the
harbor of Xew York. They experienced
storms which occasioned great delay and
broke the main mast, rendering: it unfit for
use. So great was the violence of the wind
and waves that many times the passengers
thought that they would never see land
again, but Providence intended otherwise
and at length they reached New York harbor
in safety. The Peters family at once made
their way eastward to Cleveland, Ohio, by
way of the Erie canal, Wheeling, West Vir-
ginia, to Monroe county on the Ohio river,
where the father purchased eighty acres of
improved land, making his home there until
his death. In religious belief he was a
Lutheran and never failed to perform his
-Christian duty. He had acquired an excel-
lent education in his native town, was char-
itable and benevolent, aiding in the erection
of a number of Lutheran churches. At one
time he gave one hundred and fifty dollars
toward the erection of one of the houses of
worship of that denomination. His life day
by day was upright and honorable; the poor
and needy found in him a friend and those
who sought his assistance were never turned
•empty away. His wife was born in the
province of Alsace and died at the age of
seventy-seven years. She, too, led a faith-
ful and consistent Christian life and reared
her children in the faith of the Lutheran
<church. Both parents were laid to rest in
one of the cemeteries of Monroe county,
where a beautiful monument marked their
place of interment, erected by their children.
They have six living children, the eldest be-
ing Mrs. Detlinger, and the others are Sarah
the widow of Harmon Hirs, who was a
butcher; Lena, the wife of Henry Sheets, a
retired farmer living in Angola, Steuben
county, Indiana ; John, of this review ;
Michael, a retired farmer, who is living in
Monroe county, Ohio; and Rachel, the wife
of Louis Walters, of Brown township.
John Peters, of this review, was only
about three or four years of age when he be-
came the adopted son of America. He was
brought by his parents to the new world and
remained in Monroe county until he attain -d
his majority. At the age of sixteen years
he began to earn his own livelihood, work-
ing for seventy-five dollars per year, driving
a four horse team for a Methodist exhorter.
The following year his employer raised his
wages to eighty-five dollars per year. The
third year he was given one hundred dollars,
the fourth year one hundred and ten dol-
lars and for the fifth year's service he was
offered one hundred and forty dollars, but
by that time he had attained his majority
and he concluded to engage in other service.
He had given every dollar of his wages to his
father and when he was twenty-one years
of age his sole capital was a ten-dollar bill
which his father gave him when he came to
Darke county. He carried with him an ax
and on the mth of Februarv, 1855, arrived
in Brown township, having made the jour-
ney hither by train and on foot. Ansonia
was then known as Dallas and was the first
place of his location. He started in life here
at the very bottom of the ladder and steadily
worked his way upward, at first working for
fifty cents per day. He afterward pumped
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
895-
water for the Big Four Railroad for two
months and sawed wood for the same com-
pany. He afterward engaged in cutting
wood and making rails for others and scorn-
ing no employment which brought to him an
honorable living. He was very industrious
and worked hard. He cut one hundred
cords of wood for thirty-three dollars and
he cut and in one day split three hun-
dren rails. In Brown township he has
swung an old-fashioned four-fingered cra-
dle from early morn until dewy eve and has
cut four acres of wheat in a single day. He
has also cut three acres of grass in a single
day with an old-time scythe. He is a man
of fine physique, of large frame, strong and
vigorous and thus was enabled to perform
much work. His perseverance and energy
have enabled him to steadily work his way
upward and his strict integrity has been one
of his sterling characteristics. All these
qualities have gained for him the confidence
and respect of his fellow men and made
him well worthy of the warm regard reposed
in him.
On the 2d of April, 1861, Mr. Peters
was married to Miss Eliza Jane Baughman,
a member of one of the well known families
of Brown township. She was born in Brown
township, December 5, 1842, a daughter
of John and Maria (Riffle) Baughman.
Her father was born in Prussia, Germanv,
and when a little boy came to America. He
was one of the early pioneer settlers of
Brown township and his wife also lived here
in an early day and has often seen bands
of Indians in Darke county. Unto Mr. and
Mrs. Baughman were born nine children, of
whom two sons and three daughters are yet
living, namely: Mrs. Peters; Mary Ellen,
who is the widow of Chris Peterson, of
Brown township, and has three children liv-
ing; Alice, the wife of Jake Stentzel, ex-
trustee of Brown township and a well known
resident of the community; William, who is
married and living in Union City, Indiana;,
and John, who is married and living in Van
Wert, Ohio. Eight children grace the
union of Mr. and Mrs. Peters, two sons and
six daughters, of whom four are yet living,
Mary Elizabeth, the eldest, received a good
education in the Ansonia high school and
married Frederick Prachter, a farmer of
Brown township, by whom she has three
children; Florence B. is the wife of Henry
Detling, a telegraph operator, and both are
intelligent and well informed people. Rachel
Lucinda, who completed her education in
the high school of Ansonia, is the wife of
Frederick Singer, who operates a part of
her father's farm in Brown township. They
have two children, Carl J. and Forrest F.
Charles J., the youngest child living, is a
young man of more than ordinary ability
and in his studies is particularly proficient in
mathematics, drawing and history. The
children have all been provided with excellent
educational advantages, well fitting them for
life's practical and responsible duties.
Mr. and Mrs. Peters began their domestic
life upon a rented farm, where they remained
for two years. The first land which he
owned was a tract of eighty acres covered
with dense forests. He had no money to
make payment upon his property, but it was
not long before he had met the indebted-
ness. Their first home was a log cabin,
which is still standing. The logs were cut
from trees which were felled upon his own
land and the house therefore stands as a
monument of his own handiwork. The
forest was so dense that he had to clear a
space before he could erect his orimitive
home. Wild game, including deer and tur-
-396
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
keys, were to be had in abundance and Mr.
Peters has killed many wild turkeys, thus
supplying his larder. He, however, never
indulged in hunting as a sport, for his time
was fully occupied by the work of the farm
and through his well directed and untiring
labors he has developed one of the most
beautiful and highly productive farms in
this section of the county. The forest has
disappeared and in its place are beautiful,
fertile fields, fenced and tiled. The cabin
home has long since been replaced by a com-
modious brick residence and there are large
barns and other outbuildings. The bounda-
ries of the farm have also been extended un-
til now it comprises one hundred and sixty
acres, divided into two portions and con-
veniently situated within three-quarters of a
mile from Ansonia. All of the splendid
pike roads of the county have been built
since Mr. Peters' arrival here, and he and his
neighbors blazed saplings in order to indi-
• cate his ownership in his eighty acres of
land. He has paid out toward the construc-
tion of the pike system one thousand dol-
lars, and gave one hundred and fifty dollars
ti iward the construction of the Mackinaw
Railroad, now known as the Cincinnati &
Northern Railroad. Today he has not a
dollar of mortgage upon his property, and
enjoys an unlimited credit at the banks of
the city. He is widely known for his hon-
esty and reliability in business affairs, and
his word is as good as any bond that was
ever solemnized by signature or seal. His
example is indeed well worthy of emulation
in many respects, showing what can be ac-
complished by determined purpose and un-
flagging energy. All his father ever gave
him was this parting admonition: "Good-
bye, Jake; you are married now. Be up-
right and honest before God and man and
you will get along." Not a dollar in money
did he receive, yet today he stands among
the substantial citizens of the community.
In politics Mr. Peters has been a stanch
Democrat since casting his first presiden-
tial vote, for the "Little Giant of the West,"
Stephen A. Douglas. He has always been
firm in support of the principles of the party,
and has frequently been sent as a delegate
to county conventions. He has served as
township trustee for eight years, a fact which
indicates his popularity among his fellow
townsmen, and the confidence they repose in
him. He is a strong advocate of education
and has done much to advance the cause of
the schools in his community, believing in
securing good teachers and paying them
sufficient wages to secure valuable instruc-
tion for the children.
Socially he belongs to the Masonic order,
Lodge No. 488, of Ansonia, in which he is
serving as treasurer, a position he has filled
for eight consecutive years. He has also
passed all of the chairs of the Ansonia Lodge,
No. 605, I. O. O. F., is its treasurer, and is a
member and treasurer of Encampment No.
285, of Ansonia. He is also a charter mem-
ber of the Patriarchs Militant of Greenville,
and is a charter member of the Darke
County Horse Thief Detective Association,
which organization was formed for the pur-
pose of apprehending horse thieves or other
robbers, and the connection of this associa-
tion with similar organizations throughout
Ohio and Indiana has enabled them to ac-
complish much good in this community.
There are fifty-seven members of the Darke
county society, and Mr. Peters is also its
treasurer. The fact that he is treasurer of
four different organizations shows how
faithful he is to the trust. He also belongs
to the Eastern Star Lodge, of Ansonia, of
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
897
which his wife is the treasurer, and she, too,
is a member of Rebekah Lodge, in which she
holds the office of right supporter of the
a ice grand. He and his wife and family are
members of the Christian church, and Mr.
and Mrs. Peters have aided financially in the
erection of the Christian, Methodist and
Lutheran churches of Ansonia ; Teegarden
Chapel, the German Reformed church near
Woodington; Grandview Chapel, the Pike-
ville Reformed church, the Christian church
at Beamsville and the Berry church in Rich-
land township. He is very benevolent and
contributes liberally to many charitable in-
terests. The poor and needy found in him a
friend, and Mrs. Peters shares with him in
all of his good work. They have the warm
friendship of all with whom they have been
brought in contact, and no history of Darke
county would be complete without the rec-
ord of their lives.
JOHN F. HEETER.
John F. Heeter, now a prominent
merchant of Arcanum, Darke county, Ohio,
is a worthy representative of an old colonial
family, being of the fifth generation in de-
scent from Isaac Heeter, a farmer, who
was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and
came to America about 1750, with his wife
and two children, landing at Boston. He
undoubtedly died in Pennsylvania, as he took
up his residence in that state soon after his
arrival in this country.
Sebastian Heeter, a son of Isaac, was
born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania,
in 1760, and enlisted from that state under
General Compton at the breaking out of the
Revolutionary war, although only fifteen
years of age. He was captured by Indian
allies of the British.' compelled to run the
gauntlet and received a severe wound in
the shoulder from a tomahawk thrown by
one of the Indians, but made his escape and
rejoined his command, fighting valiantly un-
til hostilities ceased. After the war he set-
tled down to the peaceful life of a farmer
in Huntingdon county. "When a boy he
and his brother, George, would set a fish
basket in the Juniata river, and one evening
when George went to the river to look after
the catch for the day he was waylaid by the
Indians while returning home and killed.
He was sixteen years old at the time. Se-
bastian Heeter married Elizabeth Compton,
a relative of General Compton. She died
in Huntingdon county leaving four chil-
dren : John, who married Ruth Bryan and
died in Jackson township, Montgomery
county, Ohio; George, who married Eliza-
beth Heck and died at his home on Wolf
creek, Perry township, Montgomery coun-
ty, Ohio ; Barbara, who married John Rarick
and lived for a time in Perry township.
Montgomery county, Ohio, but spent her last
days in Elkhart county, Indiana; and Eliz-
abeth, who died in Pennsylvania unmarried.
For his second wife Sebastian Heeter mar-
ried Elizabeth Rarick, by whom he had
the following- children: Henry, who mar-
ried Hannah Bernamon and died in North
Manchester, Indiana; Frederick, the grand-
father of our subject; Abraham, who mar-
ried Catherine Kreitzer and died in Mont-
gomery county, Ohio; Mary, who married
John Keener and died in the same county;
David, who married Elizabeth Hay and died
in North Manchester, Indiana; Catherine,
who married John Shank; Daniel, who
married Mary Earnest and died in Clay
township, Montgomery county, Ohio; Sarah,
who married James Thompson and lives in
Huntingdon county, Indiana; Jacob, who
398
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
married Susan Keener and lives near Louis-
burg, Montgomery county, Ohio ; Samuel,
who married Ruhami Nation and died on
his father's old homestead in Montgomery
county ; and Sebastian, who married Cath-
erine Earnest and died on his farm adjoin-
ing the old homestead. The father of these
children came to Montgomery county. Ohio.
in 1814, traveling by wagons to Wheeling.
West Virginia, and from there drifted down
the Ohio river to Cincinnati on rlatboats.
He located eight miles west of Dayton on
a one-hundred-and-sixty-acre tract of land
on what is now the Dayton and Eaton pike.
and in the midst of the forest built a rude
log cabin, which was the home of the family
until a hewed-log house could be erected.
He died on that farm June 7, 1840.
Frederick Heeter, the grandfather of our
subject, was born in Huntingdon county
Pennsylvania, in 1798, and was sixteen years
of age when the family removed to Ohio,
where he passed through all the hardships
incident to pioneer life. In 1821 he mar-
ried Elizabeth Kreitzer, who was born in
Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, a
daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Geb-
hart) Kreitzer and granddaughter of Daniel
Gebhart. Her family came to this state in
181 1, and her father entered one hundred
and sixty acres of land in Montgomery
county, upon which he spent the remainder
of his life. After his marriage Frederick
Heeter lived on a rented farm north of Trot-
wood, Montgomery county, for a time, and
then bought sixty acres of land on Bear Creek,
Perry township, upon which farm he died
in 1861. His wife survived him many years.
dying in 1891. Their children were Diana,
the wife of Daniel Imler, of Perry town-
ship, Montgomery county; Elizabeth, the
wife of David Earnest, of Johnsville, the
same county ; David, who married Elizabeth
Clayton and lives in Dayton, Ohio ; Cath-
erine, wife of George Earnst, of Brook-
ville, Montgomery county ; Absalom, who
married, first, Elizabeth Cotterman and, sec-
ondly. Fanny Brant and lives in Johnsville;
Daniel, the father of our subject: Hannah,
who married David Rough, and died in
Montgomery county ; Mary, the wife of
Daniel Smith, of Preble county, Ohio ; Sarah,
the wife of Levi McNally,, of Louisburg,
Ohio; John, who married Elizabeth Shock
and lives in Johnsville ; Lucinda, the wife of
David Clemmer, of Johnsville; and Eli. who
married Lavina Stauffer and lives in Darke
county.
Daniel Heeter, our subject's father, was
born on the Higgins farm, Madison -town-
ship Montgomery county, June 19. 1830, and
grew to manhood on the old homestead.
When his services were not needed on that
farm, and that was seldom, he attended the
subscription and public schools until nine-
teen years of age, but the greater part of his
education was gained by subsequent read-
ing and observation. He remained at home
until his marriage, at the age of twenty-
four years, and then lived on one of his
father's farms for a time, after which he
lived on the Daniel Schneck farm, owned
by his mother-in-law. At the end of five
years he returned to the farm he had pre-
viously occupied and remained there until
1861. the following two years being passed
on his uncle Abraham Heeter's farm near
Liberty. M< mtgomery county. He then pur-
chased thirty acres of land of William Dik-
ler, and after residing there for seven years
exchanged it for a forty-acre tract in Frank-
lin township. Darke count}", t< 1 which he sub-
sequently added twenty acres, but in 1878
he sold it and moved to Arcanum, being-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
899
employed for a time as foreman of bridges
on the Big Four Railroad. Afterward he
followed contracting, house building, etc.,
until 1892. when he retired from active life.
He is a highly esteemed citizen of Arcanum,
a consistent member of the Lutheran church,
with which he united at the age of seven-
teen years, and a stanch Democrat in politics.
On the 6th of April, 1854, he married
Catherine Schneck. who was born near Pine
Grove, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, De-
cember 2, 1835, and is a daughter of Daniel
and Magdalena (Stine) Schneck. Her fa-
ther also was a native of Schuylkill county,
Pennsylvania, and a son of Peter and Cath-
erine Schneck. In 1839 his family came
tc Montgomery county, Ohio, and settled
on the farm in Perry township purchased
for him by his father. Owing to illness he
remained with his father in Pennsylvania
until 1848, when he joined his family in this
state. He died upon his farm in 1853, his
wife in 1869. Our subject is the eldest in a
family of seven children, the others being as
follows: Mary, born November 25, 1856,
died young; Amanda Magdalene, born Feb-
ruary 18, 1859, is the wife of George Steck,
living near Brookville, Montgomery county ;
Laura Alice, born July 12, 1862, died at the
age of twenty-two years; William Allen,
born April 24, 1867, died young; Ida Eliza-
beth, born March 10, 1870, died in infancy;
and David Orville, born April 28, 1876. is a
school teacher of Arcanum.
John F. Heeter, our subject, was born
near Pyrmont, in Perry township, Mont-
gomery county, Ohio. February 19, 1855,
and was eight years old when his parents lo-
cated near Liberty, but two years later they
removed to Perry township. He was reared
in about the usual manner of farmer boys
and attended the country schools until sev-
24
enteen years of age, the last year being spent
in Franklin township, Darke county. He
remained with his father until twenty-two
years of age, and then returned to Perry
township, Montgomery county, for a short
time. Later he worked by the day in Ar-
canum, and then had a rented farm in Frank-
lin township, this county, for a time. He
next rented the Tillman farm in Van Buren
township for two years, and at the end of that
time returned to Arcanum, where he was en-
gaged in teaming for five years. Subse-
quently he followed farming on the old
Swinger homestead near Painter, and while
engaged in agricultural pursuits devoted
considerable attention to stock-raising. In
April, 1899.be opened his present store in Ar-
canum, and although in business at that place
but a short time he has reason to be proud of
his success, for he has already built up a large
and constantly increasing trade, and by fair
and honorable dealing has gained the confi-
dence and respect of all with whom he has
come in contact. He is a faithful member
of the Dunkard church and a stanch Demo-
crat in politics. In the fall of 1876 he was
united in marriage with Miss Anna Maria
Stauffer, who was born on the Samuel Bean
farm in Franklin township, this county, in
1857, a daughter of David and Sarah
(Swinger) Stauffer. By this union have
been born three children, namely : Viola
Catherine, now the wife of George Wine, of
Adams township, Darke county; Delia Alice.
wife of Jesse Rhodes, of Franklin township;
and Charles Albert, at home.
HEXRY H. McEOWEN.
There is in the life of every individual a
period free from care — happy childhood
days; then ernes the period of labor and re-
400
GEXEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
sponsibility which falls to the lot of every
individual. The years pass and man's duties
are manifi ild and often of an onerous nature ;
but if his labors are wisely directed and his
energies guided by sound judgment, he may
again reach a stage in life in which he can
enjoy rest from the cares of former years.
having acquired a competence which enables
him to put aside the heavier burdens that
were his in the prime of life. Such has been
the career of Henry Hagerman McEowen,
wlio is now living retired in Rossville.
He was born in Turtle Creek township,
Warren county, Ohio, on the 21st of July,
1823, and has therefore passed the seventy-
seventh milestone on life's journey. The
family is of Scotch lineage. The grand-
father of our subject was a native of Scot-
land, and now lies buried near Trenton, New
Jersey. Alexander McEowen, the father
of Henry H., was born in Xew Jersey in
17S7, served as a wagon boy in General
Wayne's army, and died near Greenville,
Ohio, in 1864. He married Miss Ollie Hag-
erman, also a native of Xew Jersey, the mar-
riage taking place about 1813. The father
had been previously married, and by the first
union had two daughters and one son, —
Eliza, Mary and Ord. After the death of
his first wife the father married Miss Hager-
man, and they became the parents of seven
children, as follows: Alexander, who was
born in 1814, and died in 1884, leaving a
widow; Harriet, who became Mrs. Atkin-
son and died leaving five children; Jane, who
became the wife of Peter Bercaw and died
in 1882, while of their family of seven chil-
dren one daughter and two sons survive ;
Batie, who died at the age of twelve years ;
Henry H, the next younger; Charity Ellen,
who became Mrs. Reppetowe, and died in
Piqua about 1850, leaving one son; and
John, who died at the age of eighteen years.
After the death of the mother of these chil-
dren, the father was a third time married,
and had one son by that union, Jacob R.,
who is now residing at Dawn, Darke county.
Mr. McEowen, whose name introduces
this review, was bereft of a mother's care
when only nine years of age. He then went
to live with his uncle, Henry Hagerman, a
farmer of Warren county, Ohio. At the
age of nineteen he began learning the wagon-
maker's trade, serving a three-years ap-
prenticeship. He followed that pursuit as
a journeyman for less than one year, and
then began learning the planemaking trade,
for which he served a three-years appren-
ticeship. In 1S50 he came to Darke county
and opened a wagon shop in Ithaca. Sub-
sequently, however, he turned his attention
to agricultural pursuits for seven years, re-
siding upon a farm of eighty acres in Allen
township. He then located in his village
home in 1896, where he is now enjoying a
well earned rest. His has been an ener-
getic and industrious life, and his indefati-
gable efforts have brought to him a comfort-
able competence.
On the 13th of September, 1S51, Mr.
McEowen was united in marriage to Miss
Melissa Millette, who was born in Ithaca in
1834, a daughter of John and Sybil Millette.
Their marriage was blessed with eleven chil-
dren, three sons and eight daughters, and
they lost one daughter in infancy. Florence
Emily, the eldest child, was born September
28, 1852, and is now the widow of Ezra
Heistand, by whom she had four children, of
w In nn three are living. John, a farmer in
Greenville township, is married and has two
sons. William Henry, a resident farmer
of Allen township, had eight children, of
whom five sons and two daughters are vet
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
401
living. Ollie died at the age of nineteen
years. Sarah Ann is the wife of Tobias
Heistand, and has ten children. Jennie is
the wife of Jacob Replogle. Nellie May,
who was a pianist and music teacher, died at
the age of twenty-eight years. Charles W.
engaged in the operation of the home farm of
eighty acres, where he lives with his wife
and two sons. Lillie Pearl is the wife of
William Howard, of Greenville township,
and has only one son. Mattie is the wife of
Richard Kineson, of West Alexandria, and
has two children.
During the civil war Mr. McEowen loy-
ally responded to his country's call for aid,
enlisting on the 5th of August, 1862, at
Greenville as a member of Company G,
Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He
served until the close of the war in mounted
infantry and cavalry forces, was once taken
prisoner and twice his horse was shot from
under him, at Martinsburg. He was incar-
cerated one month at Richmond, in the
Pemberton building, and then released. Al-
ways found at his post, he faithfully de-
fended the old flag and stood by the Union
cause until its supremacy was established.
He now holds membership in the Grand
Army of the Republic, and finds much pleas-
ure in recalling memories of tented fields in
the midst of his old army comrades. in
politics he is a Republican, but has never
been an aspirant for office. At the age of
nineteen years he joined the Methodist Epis-
copal church, and has since been one of its
consistent representatives. He has served
as a class leader, and he has always endeav-
ored to mold his life after the teachings of
the denomination with which he is connected.
I 'is has been a useful and honorable career,
such as commands the respect and confidence
of all.
JOSEPH W. CORWIN.
Widely and favorably known in Darke
county, Joseph W. Corwin needs no intro-
duction to the readers of this volume, among
whom he has lived as a respected and hon-
orable citizen for many years. He has now
reached the Psalmist's span of three-score
years and ten, and to him is accorded that
veneration and esteem which should ever
be given those who have advanced thus far
on life's journey. From the genealogical
records of the Corwin family it appears that
the original American ancestors emigrated
from the country of Hungary, Matthews
Corwin, of that country, crossing the At-
lantic, and later several branches of the fam-
ily settled in Kentucky, where, on the 29th
of July, 1794, in the county of Bourbon.
Thomas Corwin, one of the ancestors of our
subject, was born. He was celebrated for
marked oratorical ability, and was an own
cousin of Matthias Corwin, the father of
our subject.
Matthias Corwin was a native of the
Blue Grass state, his birth having occurred
in Bourbon county on the 10th of Septem-
ber, 1794. He was brought to Ohio by his
parents when a child of three or four years,
and located in Warren county ere the Buck-
eye state had been admitted to the Union.
He was reared to manhood in that county,
and with the family shared in all of the pri-
vations and hardships of pioneer life. He
acquired his education in the old-time sub-
scription schools where advantages were
meager. Having arrived at years of matu-
rity, he married Miss Margaret Shnorf, a
lady of German descent, and six of their
nine children were born in Warren county,
which was then known as the Miami Valley
county. The father was a man of resolute
402
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
will, strong character, straightforward and
honorable in all his dealings. In 1828 he
removed with his family "to Preble county,
where he passed the remainder of his life,
being called to his final rest December 2,
1881, at the age of eighty-seven years. Suc-
cess had crowned his efforts in business and
at his death he left to each of his children a
quarter-section of land.
His first purchase of land comprised a
tract of eighty acres of "beech openings,"
and his first home was a hewed-log cabin,
1 8x22 feet. The kitchen was built of round
logs and clapboards, and was heated by an
old-fashioned fireplace four and a half feet
broad, the smoke finding an outlet through a
nmd-and-stick chimney. In those pioneer
days Matthias Corwin was a firm disciple of
Nimrod, and many a time has his table been
replenished through the agency of his trusty
rifle, with which he secured venison, turkey
and other wild game. On more than one
occasion Joseph Corwin, the subject of this
review, has grown weary through carrying
a heavily laden game bag filled by his father ;
and when Joseph was a lad of ten or twelve
years the father was one day sitting at
breakfast when he heard the crack of a rifle,
and going to the cabin door saw that wild
turkeys were near. He then took from its
accustomed place his old flint-lock rifle,
known as the Wabash, and, calling his s m
to accompany him, they started to capture
some of the birds. Inside of an hour, in six
si ints, Joseph Corwin, although but a boy,
bad brought down five good-sized turkeys,
with which he returned triumphant ti 1 the
cabin home.
The family endured many privations in
those early days in the attempt to transform
the tract of wild land int 1 a richly culti-
! farm, but their united eff irts brought
the transformation desired. The father
was a stanch Whig in his political sentiments
in early life, and was a great admirer of
William Henry Harrison. Later he sup-
ported abolition principles, and when the
Republican party was formed to prevent the
extension of slavery he joined its ranks and
was selected to serve as a township trustee
of Preble county, and proved a competent
and faithful officer. He took a great in-
terest in the public school system, and he
and his wife were most earnest and consist-
ent members of the Christian church, and
aided in the erection of the various houses
of worship in their locality. The world was
better for their having lived, for they trained
their children to lives of uprightness and
exerted an influence for good throughout
the entire community. Mrs. Corwin was
born July 22, 1791, eight years before the
death of George Washington, and on the
3d of May, 1850, at the a.ee of fifty-eight
years, she passed away. She was the
mother of six sons and three daughters, of
whom five are yet living, namely: Susan,
the wife of Richard Bunnell, who is living
retired in Arcanum, Ohio; George S., a suc-
cessful agriculturist of Twin township,
Darke county; William, who is also carry-
ing on farming in Van Buren township,
Darke county; Joseph W.. of this review;
and Margaret, wife of Severe Brown, a
farmer of Brown township.
Joseph W. Corwin was born in Preble
county, Ohio, November 28, 1830, and is
the seventh in his parents' family of nine
children. He began his education in the
little log school-house, 14x18 feet, built of
round logs ami covered by a clapboard roof.
There was a six-foot chimney and across the
whole end of the building was a small win-
dow, in which panes of glass 8x10 inches
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
403
were inserted. The seats were made of
slabs cut from saw-logs, supported upon
wooden pins, and were of different heights
to accommodate the different-sized pupils.
The vvrting-desk was formed of a broad
board resting upon wooden pins driven into
the wall, and only a few moments each day
were devoted to mastering the art of writ-
ing. The teaching was very primitive in
character, and corporal punishment was of-
ten thought to be a very important part of
the school work.
During the summer months, from the
time of early planting until the crops were
harvested, Mr. Corwin assisted in the work
of the fields, giving his parents the benefit
of his services until he had attained his ma-
jority. The first wages he ever received
were earned by cutting cord-wood for fifty
cents per day. He has long followed the
occupation to which he was reared and has
steadily worked his way upward. He lost
much of his earnings in early life, owing to
the fact that the "wild-cat currency" was in
circulation and became worthless. He has
met with many difficulties and obstacles in
his path to success, but he has steadily con-
tinued upon the upward way until he has
now reached a position of affluence. He
has had to work hard, performing the ardu-
ous task of clearing and developing the new
land. When he began farming on his own
account he lived upon rented land, and for
over half a century he lived upon the old
family homestead; but on the ioth of March,
1S83, he came to Brown township, where
lie now owns one hundred and fifty-five
and a half acres of valuable land. Nearly
all of the improvements upon his place have
been made by him, the farm is in excellent
condition, and is a monument to 'the thrift
and enterprise of the owner.
Mr. Corwin has been twice married. On
the 28th of December, 1854, he married Miss
Jane P. Martin, and one son was born to
them, Oscar ,M., who is now a successful
farmer of Brown township. He was edu-
cated in the common schools and now de-
votes his attention largely to stock raising.
He married Miss Leota Riegel and has a
pretty and comfortable home. Mrs. Cor-
win, the wife and mother, died January II,
1856, and Mr. Corwin was again married,
Miss Barbara Pease becoming his wife.
They had eight children, two sons and six
daughters, of whom five yet survive. Mrs.
Corwin was born July 25, 1836, her parents
being John and Mary (Stickler) Pease. Her
father was born in Xew Jersey, October 5,
1 796. and died at the advanced aee of eighty-
seven years. He followed farming as a
means of livelihood, and was a Whig in his
political belief until the organization of the
Republican party, the ranks of which he
then joined, and in his religious connections
was a Methodist. His wife was a native of
Pennsylvania and of German descent, and
her death occurred when she was about
eighty-five years of age. In the family of
this worthy couple were thirteen children,
six sons and seven daughters, ten of whom
are yet living, six being residents of Ohio,
while four are living in Indiana. The living
children of Mr. and Mrs. Corwin are: Ci-
villa, at home; Lizzie, wife of Frank Ziler,
a farmer of Darke county ; Matthias Marion,
who married Miss Effie Flinn and is a suc-
cessful physician and surgeon of Savannah,
Ohio, who graduated from the Starling
Medical College, of Columbus ; Ina, who was
graduated in the Ansonia high school in the
class of 1895. and is now one of the success-
ful teachers in the public schools of that
place
; and Clinton, who has passed the Box-
401
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
well examination, entitling him to admis-
sion to any high school in Darke county.
During the civil war Mr. Corwin mani-
fested his loyalty to the government by en-
listing on the ist of Maw 1804, as a member
of Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-
sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He reported
for duty at Camp Dennison, in the vicinity of
Cincinnati, and was thence sent with his
command to Kentucky to intercept General
E. Kirby Smith. The regiment afterward
went to Cumberland, Maryland, joining the
Army of the Potomac, and in an action near
that place eight members of the company to
which Mr. Corwin belonged were slightly
wounded. On the ist of September, 1864,
he received an honorable discharge, his term
of service having expired. He then re-
turned to his home and family. He has al-
ways been numbered among the loyal cit-
zens of his community.
The Republican party has always had his
stanch support since he cast his first presi-
dent'al vote, for General John C. Fremont,
its first presidential candidate. He has been
selected as a delegate to the county and dis-
trict conventions of his party, and also the
state conventions, and does all in his power
to promote and secure the adoption of the
Republican principles. Socially he is con-
nected with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and has passed all of the chairs in
the lodge, at West Manchester, Ohio. He is
also a member of the order of Knights of
Pythias of that place, and of Fifer Post. G.
A. R., of which he has been the chaplain.
He withholds his co-operation and aid from
no measure or movement which he believes
would prove of public benefit, and has as-
sisted financially in the erection of six dif-
ferent churches in Preble and Darke coun-
ties. He is well known throughout his sec-
tion of the state for his sterling worth, his
fidelity to principle and his upright life. His
record is in many ways well worthy of emu-
lation, and he justly deserves representa-
tion in the historv of his countv.
ALEX NYSWANGER.
Alex Xyswanger is one of the veterans of
the civil war. and is now living a retired life
in Butler township, Darke ci unity. He was
born in this county on the '28th of October,
1829, his parents beinp- Daniel and Mary
( Taylor ) Xyswanger. He was reared to
farm life in Butler township, early becom-
ing familiar with the labors of field and
meadow'. He assisted in the cultivation of
the land until August, 1862, when, believ-
ing that his country needed his services, he
responded to the call for troops, enlisting in
the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Infantry,
as a private in Company H. With Jus com-
mand he went to the front and was wounded
in the head at Occocjuan. Virginia, on the
19th of September, 1864. He was then
sent to the field hospital and while recover-
ing from his injuries was engaged in Click-
ing for two and a half months. He then
returned to his company, and after three
years of faithful service was mustered nut
near Washington and discharged from the
state service at Columbus. He was a loyal
soldier, always found at his post of duty,
faithfully defending the old flag and the
cause it represented. He has since been a
member of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lic, thereby maintaining his acquaintance
with his old army comrades, living again
through reminiscence the scenes of camp and
battlefield.
In his political views he is a Republican,
unswerving in his advocacy of the principles
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
405
of his party. He has never married, and
since 1896 lias made his home with his sis-
ter, Airs. D. F. Harter.
DAVID F. HARTER.
The farming interests of Butler town-
ship are well represented by David F. Har-
ter, who resides on section 5, where he owns
and operates a good tract of land. He was
born in this neighborhood July 30, 1829,
and at the age of four years came to the
farm upon which he now lives. His father,
David Harter, was born in [Maryland, July
30, 1 79 1, and when a lad of four summers
was taken to Bedford county, Virginia, by
his father, Francis Harter, who had seven
sons and one daughter. He came to Ohio
in 1 81 7, and here David Harter entered a
half-section of land from the government a
half mile south of our subject's present
home. There he and his sons cleared a farm
of one hundred and sixty acres, and the prop-
erty is still, in the possession of the family.
He married Sarah Boon, who was born on
Black AYater river, Virginia, about 1793.
Their marriage occurred in that state, about
181 1, and they became the parents of four
sons and six daughters: Naomi, who be-
came the wife of Isaac Teeter and both died
in Kansas; John B., who married Catherine
Cooper, of Preble county, but both are now
deceased ; Francis, who married Nancy
Dixon and died in Bond county, Missouri ;
Mary, who became the wife of John A.
Reader and died in 1898, in Douglas county,
Illinois, where her husband's death also oc-
curred; Elizabeth, who became the wife of
Joel Williamson and had two daughters and
a son; Sarah, who married Christian
Schlechty, but both are now deceased; Silas,
who died in 1S01, leaving a widow who mar-
ried a Mr. Clark and is again a widow, li\ in.;'
in Butler township; Elias, who died on the
old homestead farm in the fall of 1898. since
which time his wife has also passed away,
leaving five sons and four daughters; Re-
becca, who married George Reigle, and af-
ter his death became the wife and subse-
quently the widow of John Eubank, and has
four children ; and Pamelia, who is now liv-
ing on the homestead farm. The mother of
these children died during the civil war, at
the age of seventy-two years, and the father
died in 1880, in his eighty-ninth year. He
was a member of the Dunkard church, served
a3 one of the first jurors of Darke county,
and was a leading and influential citizen.
He located many of the roads of the locali-
ty, and took an active interest in everything
pertaining to the public welfare and prog-
ress. In his business affairs he prospered,
and at the time of his death was the owner
of three hundred acres of valuable land.
David F. Harter spent his boyhood days
on the home farm, and cared for his parents
until they were called to their final rest. At
the time of the civil war he was a patriotic
and loyal advocate of the Union, but feeling
that his first duty was to his parents he hired
a substitute to go in his place, and also paid
out several hundred dollars to fill the town
quota, thus giving time and money for the
advancement of the Union cause. On the
24th of September, 1808. he wedded Miss
Isabelle Nyswanger, and they had three chil-
dren : Alonzo, who was a bright and prom-
ising youth, died in 1887, in his fifteenth
year; Edwin Stanton, who married Carrie
M. Jordan, by whom he has a little daughter,
Mary, now three years old, is secretary and
treasurer of the Gem City Boiler Company,
406
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in Dayton, Ohio; and Francis Taylor, who
remains upon the home farm, was married
April ii, 1900, to Bessie M. Grubbs, of But-
ler township.
For many years Mr. Harter was actively
identified with the agricultural interests of
his community, and, although he has sold a
portion of his property, he still owns one
hundred and twenty-nine acres of rich and
productive land. All of the improvements
upon the farm were placed there through his
own efforts, and the property is a monument
to his thrift and enterprise. He erected the
large barn there seen, and in 1880 he built a
commodious, two-story frame residence,
which stands upon a solid stone foundation
and has three cellars underneath it. He has
carried on general farming, making a spe-
cialty of the cultivation of wheat. His
crops have been usually very good, and have
brought to him an excellent income. He
also raises tobacco, having about twelve acres
planted to that crop, and has warehouses with
a capacity of about fourteen thousand
pounds. He has raised two thousand bush-
els of corn and fourteen hundred bushels of
wheat in a single season, and in all his farm
methods he is progressive and enterprising.
He believes in the rotation of crops, in se-
curing the best seed and in using the best im-
proved farm machinery. His enterprise and
capable management are numbered among
his chief characteristics, and have in a large
measure led to his creditable success.
In politics he is a stanch Republican, and
has served as a member of the election board
and as township trustee. He is also a trus-
tee in the United Brethren church, in which
he and his wife are faithful members. His
life illustrates what may be accomplished
through earnest toil and well-directed ef-
forts, and should serve to encourage others
who are dependent upon their own labor for
advancement in life. His career has ever
been straightforward and at all times he is
regarded as a trustworthy man and citizen.
HANSON T. FOWLER.
Among the honored and highly respected
citizens of Washington township, Darke
county, Ohio, none are more deserving of
mention in a work of this kind than Hanson
T. Fowler, who was born in that township,
December 14, 1823, on what is now known
as the George Mills farm. His father, Hez-
ekiah Fowler, was born in Frederick coun-
ty, Mayland, in 1785, and was married in
Darke county, Ohio, in 1820, to Miss Isabel
Duvall, who was born in Fayette county,
Pennsylvania, in 1801. To this worthy
couple were'born ten children, and the birth
of all occurred in Darke county, but only
three are now living, namely : Mrs. Elsie
Brubaker, a resident of Jay county, Indiana;
Benjamin, who is living at the Soldiers'
Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; and Han-
son T., our subject.
Mr. Fowler was reared and educated in
his native county. He removed with his
parents to Jackson township in 1831, where
he still resides. On the 22nd of December,
1850, he was united in marriage with Miss
Sarah Livingood, by whom he had four chil-
dren, namely: W. W., a prominent attorney
of Union City, who married, May 31, 1879,
Miss Ella Brumbaugh, of Union City. Indi-
ana, and they have one son named Hanson T.
Fowler, Jr., who is a graduate of the schools
of that city ; Hezekiah married, in September,
1883. Jennie Wilson, of Greene county, Ohio,
a school-teacher by .whom hy has three
bright daughters, Gertrude, Mildred and
Ethel, and they reside on a farm in Indiana ;
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
407
Jacob married, in 1896, Miss Anna Barkley,
of Greene county, Ohio, and is a collector for
the Deering Binder .Company and a resident
of Piqua, Ohio; and the fourth child died at
the age of six months. The mother of these
children died December 24, 1S59, and Mr.
Fowler was again married, October 18, 1863,
his second union being with Harriet Kemp,
who was born in Baltimore county, Mary-
land. June 3, 1832. Of the four children
born of this marriage the two daughters died
in infancy. The sons are Benjamin F., who
was born December 7, 1865, and is now a
practicing attorney of Fillmore county,
Minnesota: and Edward F., who was born
September 13, 1864, and lives on the home
farm with his parents. The children were
all given the advantages of the public schools
and then allowed to complete their education
by their own efforts.
In his early manhood Mr. Fowler taught
school during the winter seasons in the rural
school districts of his native county and of
Randolph county, Indiana, receiving for his
services from ten to twelve dollars per month
and boarding around by turns with the dif-
ferent patrons of the,schools he taught ; and
during the spring and summer seasons he
hired out as a farm hand by the month, re-
ceiving for his services from eight to twelve
dollars per month and his washing and mend-
ing additional. He now devotes, and has
for several years devoted, his attention to
farming, the rearing of hogs, cattle and
horses, and is a reader of the local papers,
two general weekly newspapers and two farm
journals. He is what may well be termed
a self made man, and has held' many minor
positions of private and public trust.
He is the owner of one hundred acres of
excellent land, which he has placed under a
high state of cultivation, and his son, Ed-
ward F., has seventy-six acres adjoining.
The latter, with the help of a hired man, now
cultivates both tracts, while our subject lives
somewhat retired, though he still attends to
his garden and drives home the cows. He is
now seventy-seven years of age, and his wife,
who does all the work for her household, is
sixty-eight years of age. They still enjoy
good health and are in full possession of all
their faculties. They are widely and favor-
ably known and have a host of warm per-
sonal friends.
HARMON C. COPPESS.
Harmon C. Coppess is a representative of
one of the pioneer families of Richland ti iwn-
ship, Darke county. He was born there
April 2, i860, and throughout his life has
been interested in agricultural pursuits. In
his early youth he worked in the fields, as-
sisting in the cultivation of crops from the
time of early planting in the spring until
harvests were garnered in the late autumn.
The public schools afforded him his educa-
tional privileges and therein he gained the
knowledge which has made him a practical
business man. When he had arrived at years
of maturity he chose as a companion and
helpmate on life's journey Miss Florence
Brewer, the wedding being celebrated on the
4th of September, 1881. She is a native of
Darke county, her birth having occurred in
Adams township, March 18, i860, her par-
ents being Alfred and Mary J. (Rice)
Brewer. She was educated in the common
schools, and by her marriage she had three
children, namely: Ollie O., who is a student
in the Ansonia high school and has also been
a student in music; Ivy and John C. The
mother was called to her final rest June 29.
1899. She was a member of the Christian
408
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
church, and her loss was felt throughout the
entire community, for she was known as a
lady of many excellent qualities, of kindly
manner and genial disposition.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Coppess
began the operation of the old homestead
farm, which he rented for two years. On
the expiration of that period he purchased
forty acres, which he afterward sold and
again operated his father's farm for four
rears. 'When that interval had elapsed he
turned his attention to merchandising and
the grain business in Dawn, being thus en-
gaged for seven months, after which he be-
gan the operation of a gristmill. On dispos-
ing of his interest in that property he pur-
chased eighty-eight acres of land in Brown
t> iwnship and has since lived upon that farm.
A glance at the place indicates that the owner
is one of the practical and progressive agri-
culturists of his community, for everything
is neat and thrifty in appearance and kept in
first cla>s ci mdition. His practical training in
farm work in his youth made him well fitted
for the labors of manhood, and at the present
time the well tilled fields yield to him a gold-
en tribute for the care and labor he bestows
upon them.
Mr. Coppess votes with the Democracy
and first upheld its banners by his ballot in
j 884, when Grover Cleveland was a candi-
date for the presidency. The public school
system finds in him a stanch advocate, and he
is at present serving as a member of the
board. He belongs to the Christian church
at Stelvideo and aided in its erection. He
belongs to one of the best known families in
Richland township, and his career is credit-
able to the family history. Passing his en-
tire life in the county, he has become widely
known, and the fact that many of his stanch-
est friends are those who have known him
from boyhood is an indication that his career
is one that has ever been worthy of commen-
dation and respect.
MICHAEL LOY.
This well known and honored citizen of
Jackson township, Darke county. Ohio, was
born November 14. 1827. His grandfather,
Jacob Loy was born in Washington county,
Maryland, in 1766, of German parentage,
and became a fair German scholar. He saw
George Washington and Cornwallis when
the latter was a prisoner. He married Bar-
bara Bock and three of their eight children
were born before leaving Maryland. In
1800 they moved to Cincinnati, which at that
time contained only a few huts and Camp
Washington. After spending a short time
there they located in Preble county, where
Mr. Loy entered one hundred and sixty acres
of land. The country was very wild, In-
dians were numerous, and the few settlers
were widely scatered. Mr. Loy built a log
cabin upon his farm on Twin Creek, cleared
nearly all his land, ami followed the cooper's
trade. He was a supporter of the Demo-
cratic party and an active man of the German
Lutheran church, serving as a trustee for
many years. He died upon his farm January
1, 1854, aged eighty-eight years, and his
wife, who was badly injured in shooting a
deer, died in 1851 or 1852. aged eighty-four
years.
Jacob Loy, the father of our subject, was
born in Maryland, in 1794, and was nearly
seven years of age when the family came to
Ohio. He was never able to attend school,
but taught himself as well as he could, and
acquired an excellent knowledge of farm
work at home. In March, 1816, he married
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
409
Susanna Temple, also of Maryland, and a
daughter of John Temple. He rented land
in Twin creek until 1832, when he purchased
one hundred and sixty acres from Christian
Kuhn for five hundred dollars. At that time
there were no roads or public schools in the
locality, and while serving as a school direc-
tor he built a schoolhouse with money from
his own pocket. He improved his land and
built thereon a log house and stable. He was
very stout, hardy and rugged, and a good
farmer and all-around man. He served as a
private in the war of 1S1 2 and was stationed
at Fort Nesbit for six months. Politically
he was originally a Democrat, and supported
Andrew Jackson for his first term, but later
became a Whig and finally a Republican.
Religiously he was a member of the German
Reformed church. He died in 1885, and his
wife departed this life in 1855. Their chil-
dren were Conrad, a successful brickmaker
and general contractor ; George, who died in
1846, aged twenty-eight years; Greenberry,
a farmer ; David, a resident of Greene coun-
ty, Ohio; Mrs. Catherine Fritz; Mrs. Mary
Gettner; Michael, our subject; Lewis, a
farmer; John, who died in 1864; and Jacob
Harvey, a farmer.
Michael Loy began his education in a
hewed-log schoolhouse, and after acquiring
a fair district-school education he followed
farming until his marriage in 1849. when he
turned his attention to brick-making. From
185 1 to 1858 he cultivated a rented farm, and
after moving to his own farm of forty-five
acres in the latter year he often rented other
land also. He has drained his land, erected
all of the buildings thereon, and has success-
fully engaged in general farming.
In 1849 ^r- Loy married Miss Abigail
Evans, who was born in Montgomery coun-
ty, Ohio, in 1825, a daughter of John Evans,
and to them were born five children, concern-
ing whom we record items as follows: Isaac
Newton received a good public-school'educa-
tion and is now the pastor of the Reformed
church at Versailles; Mary E. is the wife of
Solomon Hart ; Jacob Henry, who is at home
with his parents, married Catherine Null, a
native of Union City, and they have two
sons. David Earl and John Russell, now in
School; Conrad Madison married Laura
Rowe and followed farming; and Clara Belle
is the wife of James M. Lea.
In 1864, during the Civil war, Mr. Loy
enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and
Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under
Captain Creveston, and took a wagon train
to General Hunter, remaining in active serv-
ice until the company was mustered out.
He is now an honored member of the Mc-
Pherson Post, G. A. R. He cast his first
presidential vote for Zachary Taylor, and is
now an ardent supporter of the Republican
party, but has never cared for political pre-
ferment, though he served eight years as
school director. He is an advocate of temper-
ance principles and is an active and consistent
member of the Reformed church, in which
he has served as deacon for twelve years.
HARVEY HILL.
A biographical record of Mississinawa
township would be incomplete were there
failure to mention Harvey Hill, who is an
enterprising farmer living on section 20.
Ohio numbers him among her native sons,
for be was born in Clermont county. January
15, 1838. His father. Nathan Hill, was a
native of the same locality, born August 1.
1806, and the grandfather, Thomas Hill.
was born in North Carolina. He there be-
came the owner of a plantation and a number
410
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of slaves, but he left his bondsmen in North
Carolina, save one old negro. Uncle Dick,
who was very much attached to him and fol-
lowed him to Ohio, on his removal to the
Buckeye state, about 1801. Thomas Hill
became one of the pioneer residents of Cler-
mont county, taking up his abode in the
midst of the forest. He wedded a southern
lady, a wealthy planter's daughter, who knew
nothing of work or of pioneer life, but she
possessed a heroic spirit and became a prac-
tical housewife, proving to her husband an
able helpmate. She reared a large family
of sons and daughters, but all are now de-
ceased. One daughter, Mrs. Sarah South,
removed to Danville, Indiana. The mother
of these children after her husband's death
made her home with her son, Nathan Hill.
When called to her final rest her remains
were interred in the old family burying
ground by the side of Thomas Hill. The
farm has now passed out of the possession of
the family, but Mr. Hill has a description
and deed of the old tract of two hundred and
fifty acres where his grandfather settled be-
fore Ohio was admitted to the Union. This
was divided into four sections in 1822. The
Hill ancestors were Irish, and at the time of
the Revolutionary war Thomas Hill became
one of the loyal Colonial soldiers who aided
in establishing the independence of the
nation.
On the maternal side our subject is de-
scended from one of the old families of Ohio.
His father, Nathan Hill, on attaining man's
-estate was joined in wedlock, in Clermont
county, to Mary Ann Frazee, who was born
in that county, December 8, 1816, a daughter
of John Frazee. whose wife bore the maiden
name of Miss Higbee. Their marriage oc-
curred June 29, 1837, and was blessed with
.seven children : Harvey, of this review ; Ja-
cob, who died in infancy ; Elizabeth, who was
born in 1842 and died in 1843; Albert F.,
who was born in January, 1844. and died the
same year ; William, who was born in De-
cember, 1844, and now resides with his fam-
ily in Anderson, Indiana ; John F., who was
born December 15, 1846, and is now living
in Chicago, whither he went in 1891 and
during the World's Fair made ten thousand
dollars in the hotel business, so that he is
now comfortably situated in life ; and the
youngest child of the family, a son, died in
infancy. The mother died June 1, 1849,
and the father afterward wedded Elizabeth
Bricker. His last days were spent upon the
old homestead farm, where he died August
7, 1869. He had located thereon in 1854,
purchasing a quarter-section of rich timber
land, on the river bottoms, and in order to
build a cabin he had to clear away the trees,
for the forest was very dense. His first home
was a very primitive one and the family lived
in true pioneer style. Deer, turkeys and all
kinds of small game were very plentiful and
the subject of this review has often shot wild
game, thus supplying the table with meat.
Harvey Hill began his education in the
old-time school-house, with its puncheon
floors, slab seats, greased-paper windows and
roughly made writing desks. He attended
school from four to six months in a year dur-
ing his early boyhood and was afterward in
school only during the winter season. He
was early inured to the arduous labor of de-
veloping and improving land and in early life
not only worked for his father but was also
employed by others in preparing the land for
the plow. On leaving the home farm, at the
age of twenty-three, he worked out in the
county until 1864, when he removed to Illi-
nois, spending some time in McLean and
Livingston counties, also a part of one season
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
411
in Iowa. On the expiration of that period
he returned to the old homestead.
On the 17th of November, 1873. Air. Hill
was united in marriage, at the age of thirty-
four years, to Martha Ellen Matthews, who
was born in Preble county, August 5, 1854,
a daughter of Robert Matthews. They lo-
cated in the old home which the father had
erected in 1854, and their union was blessed
with two children : William Jesse, who was
born November 2, 1874, and Amy Grace,
who was born March 8, 1880, and is now the
wife of Charles Jones, by whom she has a
little son, Claudius Jones. Mrs. Hill died
March 2 2, 1895. She was a woman of many
excellent, characteristics, respected and es-
teemed by a large circle of friends, and her
loss was deeply mourned throughout the en-
tire community.
Mr. Hill devotes his time and energies
to general farming and is the owner of
eighty-five acres of rich and arable land
which he keeps under a high state of cultiva-
tion. Like most of the farmers of this local-
ity he has given much attention to the raising
of corn and hogs and also raises some cattle.
His business affairs have been earnestly pros-
ecuted and his diligence and careful manage-
ment have secured to him a comfortable com-
petence. He has followed in the political
footsteps of his father, who cast his first pres-
idential vote for General Jackson, and is a
stanch Democrat in his political belief. In
1870 he was elected township clerk, in which
office he served for thirteen consecutive years
and for six years he has served as a justice
of the peace, discharging his duties with
marked promptness and impartiality. He
was also township trustee for five years, has
been a member of the board of education for
six years and is now serving his third year
as infirmary director. He is a citizen whose
devotion to the public welfare is most
marked, and his official prerogatives as well
as his efforts in private life are exercised f >r
the benefit of those measures which he be-
lieves will contribute toward the public good.
He has served for thirty years in office and
has yet to meet the first political defeat.
Mr. Hill has in his possession an illus-
trated primer which his father studied on
first attending school, and this is a much-
prized heirloom. He has long been a wit-
ness to the development of this section of
the state and from pioneer days down to the
present time the name of Hill has been asso-
ciated with all that is best and most com-
mendable in connection with the public
affairs and progress of his part of the Buck-
eye state.
FRANK M. W'HITACRE.
Frank M. Whitacre is a representative
tanner of Mississinawa township in whom
his fellow citizens have manifested their trust
and confidence by electing- him to public of-
fice. He resides on section 26, and was born
on this farm February 15, 1858. His grand-
father was Jonas Whitacre, who died in
1818, after which his widow married a Mr.
Baldwin and died about 1827. By her first
marriage she had four sons and two daugh-
ters and by the second union had two chil-
dren. After the death of the mother they
were scattered, going to live with strangers,
but on attaining their majority each re-
ceived two hundred dollars from the old es-
tate. The old Baldwin home is still owned
by Benjamin Baldwin, who was a child of
his father's first marriage and is now a
wealthy resident of the county.
Francis B. Whitacre. the father of our
subject, was born in Warren county, Ohio,
412
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in 1815. and sixty years ago came to Darke
county, taking up his abode upon the farm
where his son Frank now resides. It was
then a wild tract on which the native timber
grew so thickly that he had to cut away the
trees in order to make room for a little cabin.
The log house which he erected is still stand-
ing, having been weatherboarded since that
time, and is a mute reminder of the progress
which has occurred through the passing
years, making this one of the best developed
sections of the entire state. Mr. Whitacre
married Nancy Replogle, a daughter of
Philip Replogle, who was the first settler of
this locality. His descendants are still wide-
ly and favorably known in this part of Ohio.
The parents of our subject were married Oc-
tober 8, 1837 and unto them were born five
sons and five daughters: John R., who was
born in Jul}-, 1838, and is living in Lights-
ville; Jacob G., who was born September 21,
1840, and is living in Mississinawa t< iwnship ;
Robert, who was born September 5, 1842,
and is now living in Jay county, Indiana ;
Nancy A., who became the wife of Reuben
Barnhart and died July 17, 1873, when al-
most thirty years of age; Larissa R., who
married James Barnhart and died November
3, 1867, at the age of nineteen years and
four months ; Frederick, who was born Sep-
tember 2, 1849, and is living on a farm ad-
joining the old homestead; Sarah E., who
died at the age of eighteen years; Rachel
A., at home; Mary J., who died at the age of
twenty-six years; and Frank, of this review.
Of this family three brothers. John R., Ja-
cob G. and Robert B., were soldiers in the
civil war. The first named joined the
Fifty-second Ohio Infantry for the one-hun-
dred-day service, while Jacob and Robert
were members of the One Hundred and
Tenth Ohio Infantry, the former enlisting-
for three years, and was wounded in the hip,
the injury being quite a serious one. Robert
was incarcerated in Libby prison for nearly
three months and both endured many of the
hardships which fall to the lot of the soldier
in camp and on the field of battle. The
mother of our subject was called to her final
rest March 31, 1895, when seventy-six years
of age.
Frank M. Whitacre received his educa-
tion in the common schools. He has never
been away from home for any length of time,
having always lived upon the old farmstead,
in whose fields he has labored day after day
in the cultivation of the crops, which have re-
turned good harvests in the early summer
and the golden autumn. He was married,
January 25, 1882, to Miss Mary Ware, of
Eaton, Preble county, a daughter of Kerry
and Catharine ( De Land) Ware, both of
whom are living in Union City. Their mar-
riage has been blessed with four children :
Jcsie M., Walter D., Rosa L. and Fern M.
The three younger children are in school.
The family is one of prominence in the com-
munity and Mr. and Mrs. Whitacre enjoy
the hospitality of the best homes in this sec-
tion of the state.
Farming has been Mr. Whitacre's life
occupation. For twenty years he has culti-
vated the old homestead place of one hun-
dred and twenty acres, and like most of the
agriculturists of the community raises corn,
wheat and hay, making a specialty of the
last named, for his upland meadows yield
a splendid quality of hay. He also raises
horses ami cattle and the sales of his stock
and farm products bring him an excellent in-
come. He is now regarded as one of the
prosperous and progressive farmers of the
community, and has a fine property whose
neat and thrifty appearance indicates to every
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
418
passerby his careful supervision. In his po-
litical views he is a stanch Republican and,
though living in a Democratic township, has
frequently been called to public office. He
was the township clerk for four years, has
been notary public for the past nine years,
and was appointed census enumerator for his
township in May, 1900. He holds member-
ship in the United Brethren church, is the
circuit steward and has acted as teacher and
superintendent of the Sunday-schools. His
life is upright an honorable, unclouded by
a shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil,
and his useful career is in many respects well
worthy of emulation.
MRS. DELIA VIOLA TAYLOR.
Mrs. Taylor, a highly esteemed and hon-
oner citizen of Arcanum, Darke county,
Ohio, was born in Tarlton, this state, April
30, 1849, an<l is a daughter of Michael and
Elizabeth (Van Tress) Bitler, both natives
of Pennsylvania. Her paternal grandfather,
George Bitler, was born in Lancaster, Penn-
sylvania, and from there removed to Lan-
caster, Ohio, where he owned and operated
a large iron foundry for some time and later
lived retired.- He finally moved to Missouri
and located near Edina, where he owned
large tracts of farming land, and there died.
He was twice married.
Michael Bitler, Mrs. Taylor's father, was
born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and
was only four years old when brought by his
parents to Lancaster, Ohio, where he grew
to manhood and married. At the age of nine-
teen years he was licensed to preach in the
United Brethren church, but as he afterward
joined the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows while that church was opposed to se-
cret societies, he entered the Methodist Epis-
copal ministry, joining the Cincinnati con-
ference. He was the chaplain of the Forty-
seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the
Civil war. He preached in Cincinnati two
years and in the suburbs of that place for
many years, but finally removed to Ithaca,
Darke county, where he remained for a short
time, and then came to Arcanum, where he
practiced medicine until his death, having
graduated at a medical college during his
younger years. He died May 10, 1889, aged
seventy years, and his wife died May 25,
1896, aged seventy-six years. They were
the parents of ten children, namely : Clin-
ton, who died at the age of eighteen years;
Mary C, who died in infancy; Sarah, de-
ceased wife of Z. H. Delapp; Samuel, a resi-
dent of Gordon, Darke county; Isadore, the
wife of Joseph Brown, of Columbus, Ohio;
Delia Viola, our subject; John, a resident
of Galveston, Indiana; Mary, the wife of
Rev. J. Klingel, of Devil's Lake, North Da-
kota; Emma, the wife of Professor B. F.
Peters, of Indiana; and Leota, the wife of
William Mummert, of Wawaka, Indiana.
During her girlhood Mrs. Taylor attend-
ed the public schools, completing her educa-
tion at Ithaca, this county. On the 13th of
September ,1863, she gave her hand in mar-
riage to John Smith, a prominent merchant
of Arcanum, who was born in Adams county,
Pennsylvania, in 1828, a son of Jesse and
Christina (Dietrich) Smith, also natives of
that county. In 1835 he removed with his
parents to Preble county, Ohio, where he
made his home until 1850, and then came to
Sampson, Darke county, where he remained
about a year. In 185 1 he took up his resi-
dence in Arcanum and embarked in general
merchandising, opening the first store in the
place. His popularity, strict integrity and
honorable dealing soon won for him an ex-
414
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
cellent trade, which was second to none in
the county. He died February 18. 1890, hon-
ored and respected by all who knew him. In
1 85 1 he married Sophia McNutt, who died
February 7, 1859, leaving three children,
namely: Milton W., Leonidas H. and The-
ophilus D., all living at the present time. By
his second marriage he had eight children :
Elmer Ellsworth,- who died in infancy; Ed-
win Stanton; Bertelle; Roy; Maud C, the
wife of Eldredge Faulkner; Mamie Wini-
fred, who died at the age of five years ; John
A. ; and Chester, who died in infancy. On
the 14th of September, 1894, our subject
married W. Scott Taylor, but has no chil-
dren by this union. She is a lady of cult-
ure, refinement and high social qualities, and
has a large circle of friends and acquaint-
ances in Arcanum where she makes her
limine.
JOHN CHAMBERS ARNOLD.
\\ herever there is pioneer work to be
done men of energy and ability are required
and success or failure depends upon the de-
gree of those qualities. In wresting the land
of Darke county from its native wildness; in
fitting it for the habitation of men; in de-
veloping the natural resources of the com-
munity in which they live, few if any have
contributed more largely than Mr. Arnold,
whose home is on section 13, Neave town-
ship, and it is meet and proper that for the
arduous and important labor he has per-
formed he should receive due reward.
Jn the township where he still resides,
Mr. Arnold was born August 20. 1826. His
father, George Arnold, was born in South
Carolina, March 1, 1800, but was only
eight years old when brought by his parents
to this state. They located first in Clinton
county, but in the spring of 181 7 came to
Darke count}-, where our subject's grand-
father, Moses Arnold, died at the age of
eighty-seven years. He was of English de-
scent and was born and reared in North Car-
olina, but about the time of the Revolutionary
war moved to South Carolina, and in 1807
c;.me to Ohio, as previously stated. George
Arnold, father of our subject, was married
in Warren county, Ohio, to Mary Dynes,
a native of Kentucky, who was born No-
vember 4, 1800, and was about four years
old when her family moved to Warren coun-
ty this state. Her father, Chambers Dynes,
was born in Ireland and was four months
old when brought to this country by his par-
ents, being reared in Maryland. After his
marriage George Arnold located on section
13, Neave township. Darke county, where
he spent the remainder of his life, dying
there April 9, 1882, at the age of eighty-
two years. In early life he was a Jacksonian
Democrat, but later supported the Whig
party, voting for Harrison in 1840, and be-
came a Republican on the organization of
that party. He filled the office of justice
of the peace for nine years, and was highly
respected and esteemed by all who knew him.
His estimable wife died at the age of eighty
years. They had a family of five children, all
of whom were born in Neave township :
Amelia is now the widow of Michael Floyd,
and a resident of Cowley count}-. Kansas;
Lizzie died in Missouri ; Rachel died in
Darke c< runty, Ohio ; and Mary died in Ran-
dolph county, Indiana.
John C. Arnold, the third child and only
son of this family, was reared in Neave
township and attended school conducted in
a log building with stick chimney, rude
benches and a desk made by laying a board
on pins driven into the wall. As soon as
& <^/L^C^
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
415
old enough to be of any assistance he com-
menced to aid his father in clearing and cul-
tivating the farm, and throughout his active
business life continued to engage in agri-
cultural pursuits, but is now living retired.
He remained on the old homestead and took
care of his parents until their deaths, con-
tinuing his residence there until 1885, when
he built his present home on the Dayton
pike three miles southeast of Greenville,
where he has since lived, with the exception
cf two years spent in Jackson township. His
fine farm of two hundred and seven acres he
now rents.
On the 14th of January, 1847, Mr.
Arnold married M. Elizabeth Shephard, by
whom he had nine children: George W.,
pastor of the High Street United Brethren
church at Dayton, Ohio, married Adeline
Pickett, by whom he had two children, Flor-
ence and Harry, and for his second wife
wedded Mary Brant, by whom he has a
daughter, Ruth; Mary is the wife of Will-
iam Delk, of Arcanum, Darke county, and
tbey have one child, Orpha ; John H. mar-
ried Jane Crawford, and they have seven
children, Laura, Reuben, Pearl, Clifford,
Sophia, Ella and Opal ; Jane is the wife of
Nelson Batten, and they have eight children,
Alford, Martha, Jesse, Millie, Molly, Joseph,
Cbarles and Jasper; Sophia J. is the wife of
Oscar Jay and they have four children,
Effie, Wilma, Carma and Otho; Winheld
married Rebecca Eisley and they have six
sons, Ora, Frank, John, Carl, Hugh and an
infant; Amanda is the wife of Adrian Aten
and has no children; Martha is the wife of
Archer Pearson and they have seven chil-
dren, Ethel, Ruth, A^irgie, Zella, Katie, Wal-
ter and an infant daughter ; Charles married
Martha Galbreth and they have two •children,
Clarence and Douglass. Our subject also
25
has several, great-grandchildren. After the
death of his first wife he married Mary
Pickett, widow of Isaiah Pickett. His third
wife was Elizabeth Clark, widow of Elisha
Clark, and his present wife was Catherine
(Mathews), widow of George Dynes. She
was born in Warren county, Ohio, April
24, 1826, and is a daughter of Job and
Catharine (White) Mathews, both natives
<■! Xew Jersey, the father's birth occurring
February 25, 1789, and the mother's March
i/, 1799- The father died April 10, 1874,
ami the mother passed away December 5,
1880.
Mr. Arnold served as corporal in the
Home Guards during the dark days of the
Civil war, having enlisted in 1864 in the
one-hundred-clay service. Politically he is
a Republican, but has always supported the
Prohibition party, having always been a
strong temperance man. He takes a deep
interest in every enterprise calculated to
prove of public benefit, and is justly recog-
nized as one of the valued and useful citi-
zens of his community. In early life he
was a friend and playmate of Professor J.
T. Martz, the boys having been born and
reared on farms not more than a mile
apart.
CHRISTIAN SCHAEFER.
The subject of this sketch, Christian
Schaefer, of Greenville township, Darke
county, Ohio, was born in Tabbenstadt,
Luebeke county, Westphalia, Germany, on
September 13, 1836. He attended the com-
mon schools of his country from April 1,
1844, until he was confirmed on April 1,
185 1, at which time he made a confession of
the Evangelical Lutheran faith, to which he
has been true up to the present day, being
416
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
affiliated with the Lutheran church now and
one of the trustees of St. John's congrega-
tion. He united in marriage with Miss
Louisa Dorethea Homeier, in Germany, on
May 17. 1S57, and emigrated to America
with his wife soon after, locating at Dayton,
Montgi unery county, Ohio, on July 9, of the
same year. He resided there for seven years
and in 1865 came to Darke county, Ohio,
locating in Greenville township, upon the
farm still in his possession. A large family
of children, six sons and two daughters,
were the fruit of the union with his wife, who
are a credit to their parents and an honor to
the community in which they live. The com-
panion of his life preceded Mr. Schaefer
and all his children to eternity, having been
called away by death on August 31. 1897.
Christian Schaefer is one of the influen-
tial citizens of his community, of old German
stock, honest, industrious, law-abiding and
true. He has been and still is a successful
farmer, owning the beautiful farm upon
which he resides, with its handsome build-
ings. He is a loyal church member and a
sound old Jeffersonian Democrat in politics,
reliable at all times.
ABRAHAM BYRD.
A farmer of York township, Abraham
Byrd is numbered among the native sons of
Darke county, bis birth having occurred here
on the 27th of July, 1854. He is the sixth in
the family of ten children, four sons and six
daughters, born unto Abraham and Emma
(Rodenfeldt) Byrd. A short history of his
parents is given in connection with the sketch
of George Byrd, the trustee of Richland
township, who is represented on another page
of this work.
Abraham Byrd, of this review, was reared
in Wayne township and was early inured to
the labors of the farm, working in field and
meadow through the summer months, while
in the winter season he pursued his education
in the district schools. In his leisure hours
he devoted much atention to the perusal of
good books and has thus added largely to
the knowledge gained in the schoolroom.
He gave his father the benefit of his services
in the fields during his early years and later
the care of his parents devolved entirely upon
him, so that he was thus enabled to repay
them for the loving attention which was be-
st" 1 wed on him through his youth. He wed-
ded Miss Sarah Boyer on the 23d of Novem-
ber, 1848. and a little son graces their union.
Grover C., who is a bright and interesting
boy now pursuing the work of the eighth
grade in the public schools. Mrs. Byrd was
born in Wayne township, May 15, 1865, a
daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Cable)
Boyer. Her father was a native of Penn-
sylvania, born in 1833, and bis death occur-
red November 1, 1892. Throughout his
active business life he carried on farming,
and, coming to Darke county at an early day,
was long a representative of the agricultural
interests of this community. He was a mem-
ber of the River Brethren church and in pol-
itics was a Democrat. His wife, who was
born in Darke county, is still living, at the
age of sixty-two years, and is an earnest
Christian woman whose careful teachings
have had marked influence over her family.
She became the mother of twelve children,
five sons and seven daughters, nine of whom
are yet living, as follows : Ella, the wife of J.
N. Bashore. who was formerly a teacher and
is now a farmer of Wayne township, Darke
county; John, who is married and lives in
Richland township; Mrs. Byrd; Milton, who
is married and follows farming at Stelvideo,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
41'
Ohio; Maggie, the wife of J. E. Stoner, a
horticulturist of Sedgwick, Kansas ; Emma,
the wife of Clyde E. Morris, a salesman in a
hardware store in Sedgwick, Kansas; Daniel
and Mada, who are also living in Sedgwick,
Kansas; and Eddie, who completes the
family.
Mr. and Mrs. Byrd began their domestic
life upon a rented farm in Wayne township,
where they resided for about seven years,
after which they passed four years in Shelby
county and then took up their abode on a
farm near Gettysburg, in Darke county.
Four years later they located in York town-
ship, having charge of the Bayman estate.
They enjoy the high regard of many friends
in this locality and are people whose com-
mendable characteristics have won for them
high respect. Since casting his first presiden-
tial vote for Tilden, in 1876, Mr. Byrd has
been a stanch Democrat, but has never been
an aspirant for office, preferring that his time
and attention shall be given to his business
interests, in which he is meeting with credit-
able and desirable success. He and his wife
attend the services of the Methodist Episco-
pal church and contribute liberally to its sup-
port. Socially he is connected with the Odd
Fellows lodge at Versailles, in which he has
passed all the chairs, and he and his wife are
members of Rebekah Lodge, No. 216, Mrs.
Byrd having served as chaplain in the order.
In their life they exemplify the noble and be-
nevolent principles of the order and are true
to its humanitarian teachings.
L. R. HOUSHOLDER.
For sixty-three years Mr. Housholder
lias been a resident of Darke county, his birth
having occurred in York township, July 28,
1837. He is one of the pioneer families of
the locality. His father, David Housholder,
was born in Pennsylvania, near Hancock,
Maryland. July 21, 181 1. and was the only
son in his parents' family. He was a man of
much mechanical skill and became a mill-
wright. He also possessed considerable in-
genuity in manufacturing machinery, espe-
cially the old-time cradle. Through his active
labors in this direction, as well as upon the
farm, he accumulated a comfortable compe-
tence. In all his business affairs he was care-
ful, methodical and reliable, and his word
was as good as his bond. His educational
privileges were meager, but experience in the
practical affairs of life added largely to his
knowledge. He remained in the Keystone
state until he was twenty-five years of age,
and was married in Pennsylvania to Miss
Rachel Stahl, on the 22d of February, 1836,
this date being recorded in the old family
Bible now owned by our subject.
The young couple determined to seek a
.home farther west and in a one-horse vehicle
started for Ohio. They had little of this
world's goods but were possessed of resolute
spirit and determined purpose and bravely
met the difficulties and hardships of pioneer
life. Mr. Housholder manifested the ster-
ling characteristics of his German ancestry,
for he was of German lineage, being de-
scended from one of two brothers who came
tn America from the Fatherland and thus
established the Housholder family in the
new world. The date of their emigration
was about 1700. It was in the fall of 1837
that the parents of our subject arrived in
York township. Darke county, and for a
short time they resided in a log cabin with
their brother-in-law. Soon, however, they
took up their abode upon a farm of one hun-
dren and twenty-seven acres in York town-
ship, which was entered by Mr. Housholder
413
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
at the land office in Cincinnati, the old parch-
ment deed being signed by Martin Van
Buren. who was then president of the United
States. This gave the description of the
property and the date of purchase and is
still in possession of the family.
Soon the plow was placed in the virgin
soil, for with characteristic energy the father
began to clear away the tress and develop his
land. The family lived in a little log cabin,
which was heated by an old-time fireplace.
The meals were cooked in utensils suspended
in im a crane and in an old Dutch oven, and
had the relish which, it is claimed, is seldom
f ( mnd at the present day when more modern
methods of cooking are in use. Deer and
turkey often formed a part of the meal, for
these could be obtained by the skilled hunts-
man who, with his rifle, went into the woods
and often brought back excellent game. Mr.
Housholder was prosperous in his business
undertakings and before his death had accu-
mulated one thousand and three acres of land,
situated in Brown and York townships, in
Darke county, and in Cherokee county, Kan-
sas. From the time that he cast his first
presidential vote, for Andrew Jackson, he
was a stanch Democrat in his political affilia-
tions. He held the office of township trustee
and filled other positions of responsibility.
As a man and a citizen he was highly es-
teemed for his sterling worth ; and at his
death, which occurred August 6, 1897, the
community lost one of its valued citizens.
His wife was born in Maryland, April 3,
1 81 5, and died July 26, 1868. In the family
of this worthy couple were seven sons and
three daughters, of whom eight are now
living, the eldest being L. R., of this review ;
Esther Anna is the wife of R. B. Kunkel,
a carpenter and joiner living in Greenville;
Louanna. who was educated in the Greenville
high school, in Lebanon, Johnstown, Erie
and Bradford, Pennsylvania, having gradu-
ated in two colleges, is now an editor and
authoress of merit ; Iselius is a farmer living
in Brown township; Newton S. Is married
and follows farming in Williamsburg, Ohio ;
Moses A., a farmer residing near Columbus,
Kansas, and formerly a successful attorney,
is a prominent and influential citizen and is
serving as a member of the state legislature;
Franklin is married and follows horticultural
pursuits near Guthrie, Oklahoma, where he
has an orchard of one hundred and ten acres ;
and Ella is the wife of Jerome Lodermilk,
of Baldwin, Kansas, who was a teacher of
music.
Mr. Housholder. whose name introduces
this ■ record, obtained his elementary educa-
tion in the common schools and was for a
time a pupil under the instruction of Profes-
sor J. T. Martz. He successfully passed the
teachers' examination at the age of twenty-
two years, and has capably followed the pro-
fession in Darke county for nine terms. He
has the ability to impart clearly and concisely
to others the knowledge he has acquired and
is regarded as a most competent instructor.
He also possesses considerable mechanical
ability and is familiar with the carpenter and
joiner's trade. He started out on his own
account empty-handed. When he had at-
tained his majority he had no capital and
earned his first money by cutting cordwood
for his father at twenty-five cents per cord.
He was industrious and energetic and
scorned no labor that would yield him an
honest living. Through determined purpose
he has steadily worked his way upward, and
his position as a substantial citizen of the
community has for a long time been assured.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
419
On the 20th of June, 1867, Mr. Hous-
holder was united in marriage to Miss Pearl
Nevius, who was born in Huntington, Indi-
ana, November 24, 1846. They became the
parents of five sons and four daughters, of
whom eight are yet living, as follows : Ivie
Olive, the wife of J. A. Patterson, who re-
sides in Washington county, Pennsylania,
and is an expert oil driller; Lucy Grace, the
wife of John E. Longcreek. a farmer of
York township; Lot Franklin, who is living
in York township; Xellie Gail, the wife of
Joseph Rox, a teamster of Dayton; Minnie
Alice, Carl Nevius, Harry Leo and Glen
George, at home. The mother of this family
was called to her final rest June 27, 1897.
She was for thirty years a faithful compan-
ion and helpmate to her husband along the
journey of life, and her loving words and
counsels are sadly missed in the household.
She held membership in the Christian church
in Ansonia and was ever true and loyal to its
teachings. Mr. Housholder and his chil-
dren still reside upon the home farm. In
politics he is a Democrat and his first pres-
idential ballot supported Stephen A. Doug-
las. He is a stanch advocate of temperance
and strongly favors the abolition of the li-quor
traffic. For two terms he served as trustee
of York township and was township clerk
for one year. He. too, belongs to the Chris-
tian church and contributed liberally toward
the erection of the house of worship. To-
day he is the owner of one hundred jand
thirty-seven acres of land under a high state
of cultivation, and all that he possesses has
been acquired through his own efforts.
JOHN WALKER.
John Walker, deceased, was for many
years one of the honored and highly es-
teemed citizens of Darke county, his home
being in Van Buren township. He was of
Scotch-Irish descent, his ancestors having
left Scotland on account of religious perse-
cution and located in Ireland, of which a >un-
try his paternal grandfather was a native.
His father, Joseph Walker, was born in the
North of Ireland, and on his emigration to
the United States, when a young man, settled
at Gettysburg, Adams county, Pennsylva-
nia, where he spent the remainder of his life,
becoming a very successful farmer. There
he married Elizabeth Stewart, who was also
of Scotch-Irish descent and had a brother
John living near Gettysburg. By this union
were born the following children : William,
born in 1794. took part in the war of 181 2
at Baltimore, and died unmarried ; Jane, born
in 1795, married her cousin, Andrew Stew-
art, and died in Pennsylvania; Nancy, born
in 1796, married David Withrow and died
in Adams county, Pennsylvania; Andrew,
born September 17, 1798, married Elizabeth
Blakely,- and in April, 1830, moved to Mus-
kingum county, Ohio; Elizabeth, born De-
cember 21, 1800, married Gibson Wade and
settled in Adams township, Darke county,
Ohio; Joseph, born February 27, 1803, mar-
ried Annie Seltzer and lived near Emmits-
burg, Maryland ; John, our subject, is next
in order of birth; and Mary, born July 1,
1808, married Nathaniel Patterson, a noted
lawyer of Columbus, Ohio, where both died.
The subject of this sketch was born on
the old homestead at Gettysburg. March 31,
1805, and was reared in the midst of pleas-
ant home surroundings, his parents being
earnest members of the United Presbyterian
church. His education was obtained in the
common schools. He remained on the farm
until he was married, March 9, 1830, to
Miss Sarah Moore, who was born in Adams
county. August 23. 1808. Ten days after
420
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
their marriage they left their old home in
Pennsylvania and came by wagon to Darke
county, Ohio, landing in Van Buren town-
ship on the 19th of April. Mr. Walker's
father had died when he was seventeen years
of age, and he had but little to begin life
with in the west. He purchased one hundred
and sixty acres of land from John Carnihan
and entered a like amount, all in one tract.
A small log cabin stood on the place, and
in it they made their home until the follow-
ing spring, when Mr. Walker prepared brick
and built a more substantial and commodious
residence. In the meantime he commenced
to clear and improve his land. His first
wife died December 2~, 1S43, leaving four
children, namely: Elizabeth Jane, deceased,
born October 27, 1831, married Levi Reck;
Sarah Alary, born July 22, 1834, married
David Campbell and died in Adams town-
ship, Darke . county, in 1859; Harriet F.,
born April 24, 1837, is a resident of the home
farm; and Joseph S., born March 28, 1841,
married Malissa Van Winkle and lives in
Greenville.
Air. Walker was again married, Decem-
ber 4. 1845. his second union being with Miss
Ann Eliza Reck, who was born in Bedford
county, Pennsylvania, October 1. 1825, and
is a daughter of Jacob and Mary M. (Sipes)
Reck, the former a native of Adams coun-
ty. Pennsylvania, the latter of Maryland.
After the marriage of her parents they set-
tled in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where
the father died in 1839. He was three times
married, his first wife being Mary Ann Ben-
ner, of Adams county, Pennsylvania, who
bore him one child, Mary E., who married
Rev. Thompson and went to Minnesota.
His second wife was Eve Cluts, of the same
county, by whom he had two children : Cath-
erine and Sarah, who both died unmarried.
His third wife was the mother of Mrs.
Walker, and by that union were the follow-
ing children : Ann Eliza, already men-
tioned; Susan, born December 21, 1826;
Mary Jane, September 22, 1828; William,
July 4, 1830; Jacob, July 3, 1832; and Sam-
uel, June 14, 1834. The mother was left a
widow with eight small children, six of
whom were her own, and with her family she
came to Darke county, Ohio, by wagon in
1839, locating in Adams township. She
died August 30, 1868.
Her father was Joseph Sipes, a native of
Germany, who came to this country to es-
cape military service, and hired out to pay
his passage. One of his fellow passengers
on the voyage was a Miss Rent, with whom
he soon became acquainted, and after land-
ing they were married. They located near
Maryland, and he. was sta-
Emmitsburg,
tinned at Baltimore while serving as a sol-
dier of the war of 1812. In religious belief
they were strict Lutherans. Their children
were John, who died in Maryland ; Mary
M.. the mother of Mrs. Walker; Catherine,
win 1 married George Carls and located near
Bedford, Pennsylvania ; and Henry, who
made his home in Bedford county, that state.
Mrs. Walker's paternal grandfather was
Christian Reck, who was of German descent,
and married Sophia Beaker, of Adams coun-
ty, Pennsylvania. Their children were as
follows : John, who married for his first wife
Annie Hiner, and died in Gettysburg, Ohio;
Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Lichten-
walter and came to Canton, Ohio, after her
husband's death; Jacob, the father of Mrs.
Walker, was next in order of birth; Chris-
tian, who married a Miss Routzong, and
lived in Canton ; Sarah, who was the wife of
John Stutzler, of Pennsylvania; William,
who married Christina Miller and died in
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
421
Gettysburg; Catherine, who was the wife of
Samuel Routzong, a soldier of the war of
1812; Samuel, who married Sarah Chits
and died in Pennsylvania ; and David, who
married Maria Lightner, of Pennsylvania,
and died in Van Buren township, Darke
county, Ohio. By his second marriage Mr.
Walker had three children, namely : Will-
iam Harrison, who was born November 22,
1847, and died March 27, 1852; Catherine
Ann, born April 2j, 1853, who is with her
mother; and John Newton, born January 24,
1859, married Nellie G. Keefauver, and they
have five children — Mary E., Hazel H., Wil-
lard Ward, Helen Gertrude and Lulu.
Mr. Walker died June 23. 1895. He was
a stanch Republican in politics and as one of
the leading citizens of his community he was
called upon to serve as township trustee and
in other local offices. Reared in the United
Presbyterian church he joined the Greenville
Presbyterian church on coming to this coun-
ty, and remained one of its faithful and con-
sistent members throughout life. He was a
true husband and kind father, devoted to his
family, and in his death the community real-
ized that they had lost one of their most
valued and useful citizens.
JOHNSON K. ALBRIGHT.
After years of active labor as an agri-
culturist, this worthy citizen of Twin town-
ship, Darke county, is now living a retired
life. He belongs to an honored pioneer fam-
ily of this state, and traces his ancestry back
to three brothers who came to America from
Germany prior to the Revolutionary war.
One settled in North Carolina and one in
Pennsylvania, but all trace of the third has
been lost. It was from the first that our
subject is descended. He served all through
the Revolutionary war. His son, Philip Al-
bright, the grandfather of our subject, was
born and reared in Orange county. North
Carolina, and in early life learned the tail-
or's trade. Some time previous to 1804 he
and his wife Christina came to Preble coun-
ty, Ohio, and he entered land on the pres-
ent site of Lewisburg, where he erected a
primitive log cabin and followed farming
throughout the remainder of his life. He
died November 20, 1820, his wife, December
29, 181 7, and both were buried at Lewis-
burg. Of their children John died in Ar-
kansas; Catherine, the wife of John Thomas,
died in Preble county, this state ; Elizabeth,
the wife of Daniel Sharp, died in Twin town-
ship, Darke county; Barbara, the wife of
Lewis Thomas, died in Preble county ; Phil-
ip died in Twin township, Darke county;
Adam died in the same township; Mary, the
wife of Philip Nation, died in Eaton, Ohio;
Jonas also died in Eaton ; and Simpson, the
father of our subject, died in Arcanum.
Simpson Albright was born in Lewis-
burg, November 2, 1804, and received only
a limited education. He was an excellent
reader but had little knowledge of other
branches of study. As his father was lame
and in limited circumstances most of the
farm work fell to his sons, and when he died
the family were left poor. Simpson was
only thirteen years of age at that time and
was forced to earn his own livelihood by-
working as a farm hand, being thus empL yed
until his marriage. He drifted to Anderson
county, Tennessee, where he met Miss Mary
Snoderly. who became his wife November
9, 1828. She was born in Guilford county,
North Carolina, November 1, 1808, and was
a daughter of Philip and Man- (Thomas)
Snoderly, who moved to Tennessee about
1816.
422
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
After his marriage Mr. Albright contin-
ued to make his home in that state until
August, 1832, when he returned to Ohio and
located in the northeast corner of Preble
county- The following spring he rented a
farm in Preble county, where he resided
two years, and during that time bought
eighty acres of wild land in Twin township,
this county. At that time no improvements
had been made and there were but few- fam-
ilies in the neighborhood. Philip Mullenix
had squatted near the Albright farm and
built a house, but William Nealeigh, of Lew-
isburg, had paid him a small sum for his
right to the tract and entered the land. The
pn iperty Air. Albright rented until he could
clear a small tract of his own land and erect
a cabin thereon, which was accomplished
in April, 1836. The house, which was six-
teen by twenty feet, was built of round logs
and contained but one room. He cleared his
land and transformed it into a beautiful
farm, finally selling it, after his children were
grown, for one hundred dollars per acre.
He then moved to Arcanum and lived retired
until his death, which occurred May 17,
1886. His wife died November 7, 1883.
They were leading members of the United
Brethren church of Arcanum, and were very
charitably disposed, their home being a
refuge for the poor and needy. In early life
the father was a Democrat, but in 1854 sev-
ered his connection with that party and later
became an ardent Republican.
Our subject is the oldest in a family of
eleven children, the others being as follows :
Henry M., born in Anderson county, Ten-
nessee, December 29, 1830, married Eliza-
beth Eichelberger. He was a member of
Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-second
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the one-hun-
dred-day service during the civil war. and
was a farmer of Van Buren township,
Darke county, Ohio, where he died August
24. 1878. Henderson L., born in Tennes-
see. February 19, 1832, married Cather-
ine Leecly. He was a member of the same
regiment as his brother, and now resides
on a farm in Neave township, this
county. Daniel S., who was born in Preble
county, this state. October 6, 1834, married
Elizabeth Leedy. He, too, was a member
of Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-
second Regiment, and is now living in Arca-
num, rhilip S., born in Twin township,
Darke county, in 1836, married first Ma-
linda Raines and secondly Nancy ,
and is now a farmer of Greenville township,
this county. He served for three years in
the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry, and then veteranized, remain-
ing in the service until hostilities ceased.
\\ illiam K., born in Twin township, March
22, 1838, married Nancy Clark, and resides
in Greenville. He enlisted first for nine
months in the Eighty-seventh Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry, and after being discharged
joined Company B, One Hundred and Tenth
Regiment, serving until the close of the war.
Adam C, born in Twin township, November
21, 1842, married Nancy Robeson and now
lives in Adams county, Nebraska. He
served through the war as a member of the
Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Catherine S., born in Twin township, No-
vember 24. 1843, married Anderson Till-
man, and died in Arcanum. Sarah Ann,
born in Twin township, February 13, 1845,
married George F. Hapner and resides in
Arcanum. Elizabeth, born in Twin town-
ship, August 13. 1848, married Dr. Royal-
ston Ford, of Greenville, Ohio, and died in
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
423
Arcanum. Margaret Minerva, born in
Twin township, January 21, 1856, died in
infancy.
Johnson K. Albright was born in Ander-
son county, Tennessee, June 13, 1829, and
was only three years old when brought by
his parents to Ohio. He received his edu-
cation, as he says, "in the woods." He at-
tended school when lie was not needed at
home: was fond of study and spent much
time with his books. He qualified himself
for a teacher, received a certificate from the
county examiners and taught one year. He
passed through all the different phases of
pioneer life. Being the oldest son the re-
sponsibilities of the farm work fell upon him
at an early age, as his father was not strong,
and he did much of his father's business un-
til leaving home.
On the nth of September, 1851, at Phil-
lipsburg, Montgomery county, Ohio, Mr.
Albright was united in marriage with Miss
Mary Ann Reichard, who was born in Pyr-
mont, that county, December 8, 1834, a
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Winicke)
Reichard. Two children were born to them,
but Edward Henry, born September 28,
1853, died April 6, 1854; and Granville
Moorey, born May 15, 1859, died May 3,
1870. Mrs. Albright died September 21,
1897, and was laid to rest in Abbottsville
cemetery. She was a devout member of the
United Brethren church, possessed a beauti-
ful disposition and was a loving wife and
mother.
After his marriage, Mr. Albright re-
mained with his father until the following
December and then moved to his present
farm of eighty acres, which he purchased
November 3, 185 1. His first home here was
a hewed-log house, 18x20 feet, but he and
his wife were very happy in their humble
abode, and in 1876 he built his present beau-
tiful home of red brick. When the civil
war broke out he was operating a saw-mill,
and was engaged in that business for three
years. He also owned and operated a
threshing machine for the same length of
time. The first school house erected in the
north precinct of Twin township was built
on a corner of his farm, it being of round
logs and about 12x20 feet in dimension.
The first teacher was William McGriff, who
taught the first year in an old log cabin which
was built by Alfred Ayers and stood on what
is now the Aaron Wellbau place.
Mr. Albright was also one of the "boys
in blue" during the war of the Rebellion,
enlisting May 2, 1864, in the one-hundred-
day service, as a private in Company A, One
Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer
Infantry. The regiment was continually on
the march, and participated in Hunter's raid.
Mr. Albright was discharged at Camp Den-
nison, Ohio, September 2, 1864. and is now
an honored member of Rosser Post, G. A. R.,
at Arcanum, of which he has been the com-
mander two years. He cast his first presi-
dential vote for Franklin Pierce, in 1852,
and is now a stanch supporter of the Repub-
lican party. Quiet and unassuming, he has
the confidence and respect of all who know
him, and justly merits the high regard in
which he is held.
DAVID SWINGER.
Among the enterprising, energetic and
well-to-do agriculturists of Franklin town-
ship, Darke county. Ohio, who thoroughly
understand the vocation which they follow,
and are consequently enabled to carry on
their calling with profit to themselves, is the
subiect of this sketch. He was born in
424
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Franklin township, October 6, 1845, and
grew to manhood on the old homestead
farm, assisting in the labors of the fields
and attending the district schools from the
age of six to twenty-one years, when his
services were not needed at home. He re-
mained under the parental roof until after
his marriage.
On the 16th of April, 186S, Mr. Swinger
wedded Miss Luvena Richardson, who was
born near Pittsburg, Monroe township,
Darke county, June 29, 1850. and belongs to
one of the pioneer families of the county,
being a granddaughter of William ami Sa-
rah ( Markham ) Richardson, natives of Ten-
nessee, who came to Ohio at an early day and
entered land near Pittsburg, Darke county.
They were members of the Christian church.
George Richardson, Mrs. Swinger's father,
was born near Pittsburg, September 20,
1830, and died September 1. 1850, at the
early age of twenty years. He married Es-
ther Haworth, a daughter of John and Sa-
rah (Penny) Haworth, and by that union
was born only one child, Mrs. Swinger.
For her second husband the mother married
Aaron Wellbaum, and now lives in Dayton,
Ohio. By that marriage she had eight chil-
dren : Harvey, who died in infancy; Sarah,
who died at the age of eight years; Chris-
tian, who married Sarah Yanatta and died
in Hamilton, Ohio, January 15, 1898; Hi-
ram, who married first Allie Dersham, and
secondly Martha Daubmyer, and resides in
Greenville, Ohio ; Albert, who married Mar-
garet Morrison and died in Greenville;
Sampson, who married, first, Lizzie Hussey,
and, secondly, Carrie Witt, and lives in
Lexington, Kentucky; Dora, the wife of Ar-
thur Bond, of Dayton, Ohio; and Martha,
the wife of John Emerich, of Dayton, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Swinger are the parents
of six children, concerning whom we make
the following observations: Esther M.,
born June 10, 1869, is now the widow of
Isaac Newton Bashore, and they have two
children, Simon and Myrtle. She lives in
Franklin township, Darke county. Simon,,
born February 10, 187 J, married Martha
Kauffman and has one child, Velma Ruth.
Lucinda, born February 12, 1874. is at home.
Edward T-. born October 22, 1876, is also
at home. Annie M., born January 18, 1879,
is the wife of Harvey Small, and they had
three children: Iva Luvena, who died in
her third year; Lucinda Venice and Ruby
Norine. They moved to Madison county,
Indiana, in 1895, but returned to Darke
county in June, 1898, and are now living in
Franklin township. Walter Ray, born April
27, 1890, is attending school.
For three years after his marriage Mr.
Swinger remained upon his father's farm,
and then moved to his present place of one
hundred and thirty-six acres, which was
deeded him by his father. He has erected
good and substantial buildings, and made
many other improvements, which add great-
ly to the value and attractive appearance of
the farm. He is a stanch Democrat in poli-
tics, and since April, 1870, has been an active
member of the German Baptist church, to
which his wife also belongs. They are
highly esteemed on account of their sterling
worth and many excellencies of character,
and have a large circle of friends and ac-
quaintances throughout Darke county.
ELI A. FISHER, M. D.
The subject of this review is one of the
leading physicians and surgeons of the
northern part of Darke county, being now
successfully engaged in practice at York-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
425.
shire. He is a native of this county, born
in Mississinawa township, May 24, 1864,
and is a son of Ephraim Henry Fisher, who
was born near Columbus, Franklin county,
Ohio, May 26, 1822. His paternal grand-
father also was a native of Ohio and a
farmer by occupation, while his father was
of English and his mother of Spanish de-
scent, the latter tracing her ancestry back to
Queen Isabella. The Doctor's father was
only six weeks old when his mother died,
and was left an orphan at the age of four-
teen years. On the 12th of August, 1847,
at the home of the bride's father in Missis-
sinawa township, he married Sarah Peters,
who was of Pennsylvania Dutch and Welsh
descent on her mother's side, and English
on her father's side.
Mr. and Mrs. Fisher began their domes-
tic life on a farm in Mississinawa township,
which the father commenced at once to clear
and cultivate. He held several township
offices and was a stanch Republican in poli-
tics. During the civil war he was drafted
three times, but, having a family of ten
children depending upon him, his neighbors
refused to allow him to go to the front. He
died in 1878, but his wife is still living, and
makes her home on the old farm of one hun-
dred and sixty acres, all of which has been
cleared with the exception of twenty acres.
It is pleasantly located one-half mile west
ot Lightsville, and consists of the eighty-acre
tract given her by her father, and another
eiehty acres, which Mr. Fisher purchased at
one dollar and a quarter per acre. In their
family were thirteen children, ten of whom
reached maturity, and eight are still living,
namely: Libbie O., who lives with her
mother; Harrison T., a farmer of Shelby
county; Elva J. Marsh, of Dayton; Mrs.
Efne L. Staight, of Paulding county, Ohio ;
Mrs. Harriet A. Symonds, whose husband
has the old home farm; Mrs. Rachel E.
Erooks, of Washington township; Eli A.,
our subject; and George W., an undertaker
of Arcanum. Amy died in 1871, at the age
of twenty-three years, and was buried in
her bridal dress, and John P. died in 1893,
at the age of thirty-eight.
Dr. Fisher received a liberal common
school education, and was granted a teach-
er's certificate, but decided to devote his life
to the medical profession, and entered the
Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, where
he was graduated in 1888. In March of
that year he opened an office at Pleasant
Hill, but in September, 1889, ne removed
to North Star, and in 1896 came to York-
shire, where he has since successfully en-
gaged in general practice. His skill and
ability in his chosen profession were soon
widely recognized, and it was not long be-
fore he received a liberal share of the public
patronage.
On the 16th of June, 1888. Dr. Fisher
was united in marriase with Miss Ella Irena
Hance, of Shelby county, a daughter of
William Hance, whose grandfather, Joseph
Hance. a young Englishman, during the
Revolutionary war, desiring to c<>me to
America to assist the patriots, could find no
means of coming except to join the British
army. This he tried to do, but was too short
in stature. He retired, put a deck of cards
in his shoes and returned and this time came
up to the standard and came over to Amer-
ica, where he promptly deserted and joined
the American army. After the war he lo-
cated in Kentucky, where the father of Will-
iam Hance was born, who in time emigrated
to a point near Cass, Miami county. Ohio.
Here William was born, October 2j, 1833,
and he married Margaretta Wise. October
426
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
16, 1856. To them were born three daugh-
ters— Florence E., Ella I. and Minnie A.,
and one son. Forest P. When Airs. Fisher
was seventeen her mother died, at the age of
forty-eight years, leaving four children, one
son and three daughters. The Doctor and
his wife have three children: Lloyd R.,
born March 24, 1889; Stanley Paul, born
February 8, 1S91 ; and Amy Irena. born
October 9, 1895. All are healthy and bright
children.
Dr. Fisher is a member of the Versailles
Medical Association, and of the Masonic or-
der, and politically he is identified with the
Republican party. He has served as a
school trustee, but has never cared for the
•honors or emoluments of public office, pre-
ferring to devote his undivided attention to
his professional duties. He is very popular
socially, and his friends are many through-
out the county.
EASAM SHUFF.
Among the representative farmers of
Darke county the record of whose lives fills
an important place in this volume, it gives
us pleasure to commemorate the name of
this gentleman, who owns and operates a
highly cultivated and well improved farm
of eighty acres in Franklin township. He
"was born in Montgomery county, this state,
May 7, 1832, and is a son of Samuel and
Delilah (Rinert) Snuff, natives of Mary-
land and Pennsylvania, respectively. His
maternal grandfather was a soldier of the
war of 1812, and after serving out his own
term of enlistment took his son's place, the
latter being taken ill while in the service.
■Our subject's father was born in 1800, and
was a young man when he located in Mont-
gomery county. Ohio, where he purchased
land near Phillipsburg and engaged in farm-
ing throughout the remainder of his life,
dying there in 1884. He had married in
that county and his wife died about 1872.
Their children were David, now a resident of
Marion county, Indiana; Margaret, the wife
of Joshua Weisner, of Darke county ; Rachel,
who married Samuel Oldham and died in
Franklin township, Darke county; Easam,
our subject; Elizabeth; Nancy; and Sarah,
who married Jesse R. Hyer and died at
Painter Creek.
The first nine years of his life our sub-
ject passed on the old home farm near Phil-
lipsburg, at the end of which time the fam-
ily removed to a farm of eighty acres in
Franklin township, Darke county, where he
grew to manhood and was educated in the
public schools. In 1856 he married Miss
Sarah Jane Shaffer, a daughter of Freder-
ick Shaffer, and to them have been born the
following children : Samuel, who died at the
age of two years ; John, who died at the age
of four ; Francis, who married Florence Eck
and lives in Franklin township; Earcy E.,
who married Nan Ditmer and lives in
Franklin township; Molly, the wife of
David Wright, of Greenville; Jesse, de-
ceased; Lydia Ann, who married Henry
Poock, of Franklin township; Zachariah,
who married Minnie Surber and lives in
Monroe township ; Irvin. who married Clara
Eck and makes his home in Franklin town-
ship; Sylvester, Charles, Ora and Roy, all
at home.
For several years after his marriage Mr.
Shuff lived on his father's farm, and for
ten years rented the place now owned by his
sisters — Elizabeth and Nancy. At the end of
that time he bought his present farm of
eighty acres from his father's estate, and
has since made many improvements upon the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
427
place, which add greatly to its value and
attractive appearance. Although he is en-
gaged in general farming, he makes a soe-
cialty of tobacco raising and is meeting with
good success. He is a Republican in politics
and has capably filled local offices of honor
and trust. Religiously he is an earnest mem-
ber of the German Baptist church.
ALLEN NETZLEY.
At this time the younger generation of
farmers and professional men are coming
to the front and taking the lead among men
in their respective callings. Darke county,
Ohio, has its full proportion of young farm-
ers, and among them there is none more de-
serving of the success that he has attained
than Allen Netzley, of Monroe township.
Allen Netzley is a son of George Netzley,
whose wife was Catherine Kauffman, and a
grandson of George Netzley, the elder, who
married Elizabeth Landis. His grandfa-
ther was born in Lancaster county, Penn-
sylvania, and in 1836, when George Netzley,
Jr., also a native of Lancaster county, Penn-
sylvania, was in his fourteenth year, made
the journey by wagon to Montgomery coun-
ty, Ohio. From there he came to Darke
county and he and his wife both died in
Franklin township. Something of the his-
tory of George Netzley, Jr., is given in a
biographical sketch of Eli Netzley, which
appears in this work. George and Cather-
ine (Kauffman) Netzley had eight children,
of whom Allen was the fifth in order of
birth.
This prominent citizen and farmer of
Monroe township was born on the Netzley
home farm in that township, February 10,
1857. He was educated in the common
schools, where his first teacher was Lydia
Paterson, and in the Greenville high school,
presided over by Professor Jacob T. Martz,
at Greenville, Darke county, Ohio, and in
his vacations gave his best energies to help-
ing about the work of the family farm. He
taught his home school two winters. For
his wife he married Miss Dora Jones. Feb-
ruary 4, 1882. She is a daughter of H. H.
and Jane (Graham) Jones, who are favor-
ably known for their culture and high re-
spectability. After his marriage he located
on his present farm, a part of the family es-
tate, which became his by purchase after his
mother's death.
Mr. and Mrs. Netzley have children
named Hiram, Clara and Harold. They are
members of the Christian church, in which
Mr. Netzley is a deacon, and are active in
promoting all its important interests. He
is a Republican and a citizen of patriotic
impulses and much public spirit.
ELI NETZLEY.
It is pertinent now to consider how valu-
able and important a factor in our national
progress and prosperity is the farmer. When
it is remembered that he is indispensable to
our very national existence, it may be
thought that there is little more to say of
and for him, but this sweeping statement
does not by any means exhaust the subject
and a big book, both interesting ami in-
structive, might be written about the tiller
of the soil and his relations to all other
classes of our population, to whom he stands
primarily in the relation of an essential but
not too generously appreciated provider oi
food, which is as necessary to existence as
is the air itself. Besides, history tea
that the farmer provides not only the pabu-
lum essential to all time., and all conditions
428
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of men, but in a broad and comprehensive
sense the sinews of war as well,. Since its
early settlement, Ohio has poured the wealth
of its land out upon the tables of the nation
and the revenue from the taxation of that
land has gone to help make plethoric the
public treasury. The farms of Darke county
have contributed their share to these ends,
and the farmers of Monroe township, of
whom Eli Netzley is a worthy representative,
have not been laggards in the work.
Eli Netzley is a son of George and Cath-
arine (Kauffman) Netzley and was born on
the old Netzley homestead, in Monroe town-
ship, January 27, 1855. George Netzley
was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
vania, born November 23, 1823. He was
reared in his native town and received some
education in the German schools. In 1836,
when he was thirteen years old, his parents
emigrated bv wagon to Ohio and settled in
Montgomery county, where the boy grew to
manhood, dividing his time between farm
work and attendance at the public schools,
which were kept in primitive log houses near
his home. He early acquired a practical
knowledge of the carpenter's trade, but did
not work at it long. He came of a fam-
ily of farmers and took naturally to the farm-
er's life. He married in March, 1847. His
wife was born in Montgomery county, Ohio,
November 8, 1829, a daughter of Daniel and
Mary (Stauffer) Kauffman. For three
years after his marriage he remained in that
county, then moved to Monroe township,
Darke county, where he bought sixty acres
of land, which constituted the place now
owned by his daughter, Mrs. Lowery. He
later added twenty acres to this farm; then
by subsequent purchases eighty acres on the
west of the original homestead and forty on
the north ; forty acres more ; then another
forty; and still later twenty acres adjoin-
ing his land on the south, until he owned
three hundred acres. When he moved to
the spot there was on the place a one-room
hewn-log house, with a lean-to log shed on
one side of it. A family occupied the log
hi itise proper and Mr. Netzley and his house-
hold were obliged to take refuge in the shed,
a fragile structure with an insufficient roof
resting on poles, in which they lived for
six weeks. During the first night of their
habitation there, there came a heavy snow-
storm and in the morning the sleepers found
that they had been given an additional
blanket of snow. Game was plentiful and as
Mr. Netzley was an expert hunter, he drew
on the surrounding wilderness for a good
part of the food for his family. He pushed
his work of clearing and getting his land
under cultivation with much vigor and per-
severance and became a prosperous farmer
with productive fields and ample conven-
iences long before some of his neighbors
who came into the country earlier. His in-
dustry and integrity gave him good stand-
ing among his fellow citizens and his friend-
ly and helpful disposition made him well
liked by all who knew him. A lover of
human liberty, he was a Whig and from the
birth of Republicanism a Republican. For
several years he held the office of treasurer
of Monroe township and from time to time
he filled other offices, with the greatest credit.
He died in September, 1879; his wife, Feb-
ruary 22, 1892. The children of this worthy
pioneer couple were named as follows : Mar}-,
born December 3, 1847, who married Jacob
Lowery, June 18, 1899. Uriah, born Sep-
tember, 1849, wn0 married Jane Hunt and
lives in Monroe township. Joseph was born
July i, 185,1, and married Sarah Minnick.
He lives at Muncie, Indiana. Eli is the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
4-2d
subject of this sketch. Allen and Jesse are
represented by biographical sketches in this
work. Rosa Etta was born November 27,
1865, and married Levi Litton. David was
born August 30, 1S61. and married Rachel
Brumbaugh and lives at Greenville, Darke
county. George Netzley, the grandfather
of Eli Netzley and father of George Netzley,
the pioneer, married Elizabeth Landis, a
daughter of David and Annie (Springer)
Landis. He came to Franklin township,
Darke county, from Montgomery county.
He bought and improved a farm and he and
his wife died many years ago. Their chil-
dren were: David, of Union City, Ohio;
John, of Van Buren township; George, the
father of Eli; Nancy, who never married.
Eli Netzley received his primary educa-
tion in the common schools of his day and
locality, mostly taught in log school houses,
and finished his studies at the Greenville
normal school at the age of twenty-one.
During vacations he worked on the farm.
At twenty-two he went west and spent some
time in Iowa and Missouri, seeing the coun-
try and making his living by farm work at
different places. Returning home he re-
sumed work on the family homestead and
after his mother's death bought sixty acres
of it, cleared twenty-five acres of this por-
tion and erected adequate buildings on it.
He has since improved his farm in many
ways and is one of the careful, industrious
and successful farmers of his neighborhood.
In 1890 Mr. Netzley married Annie
Mann and they have children named Harry,
Eva, Albert and Ray. Mr. Netzley is a
Republican and believes that the principles
of his party applied to our national develop-
ment will produce better results than cculd
be brought about by any other political party.
He is a studious reader of scientific works
and is well versed in the world's hisl
He belongs to no church, but sets before his
neighbors the example of an upright life.
As a citizen he is public spirited and help-
ful to all measures which in his good judg-
ment promise to enhance the weal of his fel-
low citizens.
ABRAHAM SHIELDS.
The subject of this review was for many
years prominently identified with the agri-
cultural interests of Van Buren township,
and was one of its most substantial, as well
as one of its honored and highly respected
citizens. He was born on the old Shields
homestead in that township, July 14, 1829,
and there grew to manhood, early becoming-
familiar with all the duties which fall to
the lot of the agriculturist. He was industri-
ous, far-sighted and progressive, and was a
man of far more than ordinary business abil-
ity and accordingly he acquired a handsome
property, owning six hundred and eighty
acres of land at the time of his death, which
occurred October 14, 1887. By his ballot he
supported the men and measures of the Re-
publican party and he was called upon to fill
several township offices. In all the relations of
life he was found true to every trust reposed
in him and well merited the high regard in
which he was uniformly held.
On the 1st of January, 1852, Mr. Shields
married Miss Salina Smith, who was born in
Van Buren township, April 18, 1833, and
began her education under the instruction of
Mr. Diler, of Covington, a heavy-set man
of great strength, who used often to whip
the young men attending his school To
Mr. and Mrs. Shields were born the follow-
ing children: Isaac W-, born February 4-
1853, wedded Mary Ann Snyder and lives in
430
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Greenville township, this county; Mary J.,
born January 4, 1855, is the wife of Isaac
Marker, whose sketch appears on another
page of this volume; George, born February
6, 1856, died June 13, 1856; John, born
January 12, 1857. married Jane Kendall and
lives in Van Buren township; Jamas Sam-
uel, born February 11, i860, died May 12,
1891 ; Sarah E., born September 12, 1864,
is the wife of Elman Townsend, of Van
Buren township; Minerva Ellen, born July
28, 1867, is the wife of Chesley Yount, of
Preble county, Ohio; Abbie Keziah, born
July 1, 1870, died August 28, 1871 ; Marion
Wiley, born December 17, 1872, died Oc-
tober 22, 1892; Rhoda, born March 28, 1875,
is the wife of Clarence Galbreath ; and Aman-
da, born September 29, 1878. married Wil-
son Goodman Rogers, who was born Sep-
tember 24, 1880, a son of Martin and Mar-
tha (Hutton) Rogers, of Arcanum.
Mrs. Shields" paternal grandfather was
Michael Smith, who spent his entire life in
Pennsylvania, and had three sons — Michael
John and Frederick — who all came to Darke
county, Ohio, but his daughters remained
in the Keystone state. Frederick Smith,
the father of Mrs. Shields, was born in 1793,
in Peimsvlvania, where he was reared, and
when a young man came with his two
brothers to Darke county, Ohio. Here he
married Nancy Ann Freeman, a native of
Ireland, who came to America when a young
girl. She was twice married, her first hus-
band being Benjamin Shrives, and by that
union had five children : Benjamin, who died
in infancy; John, also deceased; Polly, the
wife of O. M. Eiler; Phcebe, the wife of
William Westfall; and Libbie, the wife of
William Thompsc n. After his marriage
Mr. Smith located in Van Buren township.
where he engaged in farming for mam-
years. He died in Union City, Darke coun-
ty, in 1865, and his wife departed this life
in 1854. To them were born five children,
namely : Aaron, who married Amy Riley and
lives in Van Wert county, Ohio ; Amos, who
married Mary Jane Hershaw and lives in
Starke county, Indiana; Celina, the widow of
our subject ; George W., who died in Ten-
nessee while a soldier of the Union army
during the Civil wa/ ; and Susannah, who
died in infancy.
JOHN F. MILLER.
Among the representative young farmers
of Monroe township, Darke county, Ohio, is.
found John F. Miller, who is of German
descent and who possesses many of the ex-
cellent traits of character for which the Ger-
man-American citizens are distinguished.
Frederick Miller, the father of John F.,
was born in Wurtemberg, Germany. On
leaving school, at the age of fourteen, he
learned the trade of a stone-mason and brick-
layer, and at eighteen emigrated to America,
landing at New York after a voyage of six-
ty-two days. From New York he at once
came west to Dayton, Ohio, and here secured
employment as a farm hand. He worked on
a farm six months. Then he turned his at-
tention to his trade, which he followed suc-
cessfully for some time, after which he mar-
ried, came to Darke county and settled down
to farming. His first purchase of land in
this county, an eighty-acre tract, he subse-
quently sold, investing the proceeds in one
hundred and sixty acres in Monroe township,
which he improved and on which he made his
home the rest of his life. He also acquired
by purchase two forty-acre tracts of land
in Franklin township. He died in Novem-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
431
ber, 1863. A faithful member of the Lu-
theran church, a strong Democrat, a public-
spirited citizen, baying served several years
as trustee and treasurer of his township, be
was a man who was as highly respected as
be was well known. His widow, whose
maiden name was Susannah Flory and whom
he married at Brookville, Ohio, survives him,
and at this writing is seventy-four years of
age. The fruits of- their union are : Mary,
now Mrs. Peter Xeswonger; Susannah, now
Mrs. William Murray; Jennie, who died at
the age of seven years; John F., whose name
introduces this sketch ; Amelia, now Mrs.
Harvey Hattsborger ; and Maria, now Mrs.
Christopher Becbler.
John F. Miller was born on his father's
farm in Franklin township, Darke county,
Ohio, October 24, 1856, and received his ed-
ucation in the district schools of Franklin
and Monroe townships. He spent his youth
in assisting in the work on the home farm,
and bas continued to reside thereon up to
the present time, having acquired eighty
acres of the homestead. On this land he has
carried forward the work of improvement,
ditching, erecting buildings, making fences,
etc., until his farm is classed with the best
in the locality.
Air. Miller married, July 22, 1881, Miss
Belle Grise, a daughter of Peter Grise, and
their children are as follows : Opal, who died
in infancy; Frederick P., born September
15. 1883; Jennie, September 29, 1885; Su-
sannah, February 19, 1888; and Roscoe, Au-
gust 19, 1890.
Like his father before him, Mr. Miller
is a stanch Democrat. He is also a Knight
of Pythias and an Odd Fellow, maintain-
ing membership in these orders at Ar-
canum.
23
JESSE NETZLEY.
Soldiers, statesmen and professional
men, however necessary they may be in car-
rying forward our work of advancement
and of civilization, do not constitute the real
foundation of our national prosperity. The
great industrial class fills this place in our
political structure, and in that class our
farmers are the most important and depend-
able element. The farmers of Darke county,
Ohio, are up to date in all ways and are
by far the most important part of the coun-
ty's population from more than one point of
view. Monroe township has its full propor-
tion of pushing, well-to-do and reliable tillers
of the soil, and one of the best known and
most highly respected of them is the gentle-
man whose name is the title of this brief
sketch.
Jesse Netzley was born on the old fam-
ily homestead of the Netzleys, in Monroe
township, April 12, 1861. At the age of
six years he entered the public school taught
by Miss Sybil Smith in the Cassel school
house. He continued attending school dur-
ing the winter season and assisting his fa-
ther in the work of the farm during the
spring, summer and fall until he was nine-
teen years old, and remained with his father
until 1884, when, at the age of twenty-three,
he married Miss Eunice Hunt, a daughter
of Richard and Rebecca (Oakes) Hunt.
The marriage of the young couple was cele-
brated in the month of August of the year
mentioned, and they located immediately
thereafter on a portion of the Netzley In 1 ne
stead, which Mr. Netzley now owns, ha.
bought it after the death of his moth. r.
Mrs. Netzley died June 20. 1888, leaving a
son, named Elmer. January 11. [892, Mr.
432
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Netzley married Miss Minnie D. Roof, a
daughter of Allen G. and Jane (Anderson)
Roof, who has home him children named
Edward. Chester. Clark and LeRoy.
In politics Mr. Netzley is a Republican,
wholly committed to the policy of President
McKinley and having full faith in the fu-
ture of our country if its progress is sought
along the lines which now open out to his
view of current interests and their influence
upon our national future; but he is not and
never has been a seeker for office or any
personal advantage that might come to him
through politics or political favor. His
public spirit leads him to espouse every
movement tending to improve the condition
of the people of his county and state. He
is a Knight of Pythias.
Tesse Netzley is a grandson of Georee
Netzley, who was born in Lancaster coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, and married Annie
Springer and brought his family from Penn-
sylvania out to Montgomery county, Ohio,
in 1836, making the long and wearisome
journey by wagon. This emigrant and his
good wife ended their days in Franklin town-
ship, Darke county. When they located in
Ohio, their son, George, the father of Jesse
Netzley, was only thirteen years old. A
somewhat detailed account of the career of
George Netzley, who married Catherine
Kauffman and had eight children, of whom
Jesse was the sixth in order of nativity, is
included in the biograhpical sketch of Eli
Netzley, which appears in this work.
FRANK S. GORDON.
Among the enterprising and progressive
citizens of Greenville whose active con-
nection with the affairs of the city have been
an important factor in its substantial growth
and development is Frank S. Gordon, who
is widely known as the senior nartner in the
Gordon & Alter Company. He possesses
untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms
his plans readily and is determined in their
execution, and his close application to busi-
ness and his excellent management have
brought to him the high degree of prosperity
which is to-day his.
Mr. Gordon is of Scotch lineage and in
his life exemplifies many of , the sterling
traits of the Scottish race. The family was
founded in America in 1684 by ancestors
who came from Scotland and aided in estab-
lishing the 'town of Perth Amboy, New-
Jersey. .They were also instrumental in
founding St. Peter's Episcopal church at that
place. The original American ancestor died
in 1722 and his remains were interred in the
cemetery near the town which he had found-
ed. The paternal- grandfather of our sub-
ject, Philip Gordon, was born in Hunter-
don county, New Jersey, and, emigrating
westward, became a pioneer settler of Darke
county, Ohio. He married a Miss Hayden,
who also was born in Hunterdon county,
New Jersey. He made the journey west-
ward by wagon, traveling through wild dis-
tricts where white man had never lived.
He made his home in the town of Gor-
don, which was named in honor of the
family. Henry Gordon, the father of
our subject, was likewise a native of
New Jersey and there remained until he
had attained man's estate. He arrived
in Ohio in 1838, locating in Miami
county, and soon afterward came to Darke
county, where he was engaged in agricult-
ural pursuits for a number of years and sub-
sequently returned to Miami county. He
married Miss Nancy Owen, who was of
Welsh lineage, her ancestors having come
I
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
433
to the new world from the little rock-ribbed
country of Wales. They settled in Bote-
tourt county, Virginia, and later represent-
atives of the name removed to Knoxville,
Tennessee, and thence to Darke county,
Ohio, taking up their abode in Twin town-
ship. Here the father of Mrs. Gordon was
recognized as a leading member of the Demo-
cratic party and was honored with a number
of local offices. The mother of our subject
died in Twin township, in 1862.
Her son, Frank S. Gordon, was then
only about one year old, for his birth oc-
curred in that township on the 5th of March,
1 86 1. He spent his boyhood days in the
town of Gordon, where he mastered the
rudiments of an English education in the
common schools, under the direction of Pro-
fessor J. T. Martz. In his fifteenth year he
entered the store of Nathaniel Webb, of
Greenville, with whom he remained for some
months in the capacity of clerk. He after-
ward entered the employ of Wilson & Hart,
dealers in dry goods, remaining with that
firm until 1887, when, with the capital he had
acquired through his economy and well-di-
rected efforts, he engaged in merchandising
on his own account, entering into partner-
ship with John H. Martin, under the firm
name of Martin & Gordon. That connec-
tion continued for three years, on the expira-
tion of which period the business was in-
corporated under the name of Gordon &
Grant, and later the present title of the Gor-
don & Alter Company was assumed, the pres-
ent officers being Franklin Alter, president ;
Frank S. Gordon, vice-president and general
manager, and Henry A. McCaughey, secre-
tary and treasurer. They own one of the lead-
ing stores of Darke county, occupying three
floors and the basement of a building 40x85
feet. Each floor has its own special depart-
ment, the third floor being devoted to car-
pets and rugs. The company employ from
fifteen to twenty-five people and carry a
large and well selected stock of dry goods.
Close attention is given to the needs and
wishes of the patrons and their business is
steadily and constantly increasing both in
volume and importance. The employes
recognize the fact that faithful, service means
promotion as opportunity offers, and Mr.
Gordon and the other members of the firm
are so fair and considerate to their help that
the most harmonious relation is ever main-
tained between employer and employe.
Mr. Gordon is a man of resourceful busi-
ness ability, whose efforts have by no means
been confined to one line. He is connected
with various important concerns in Green-
ville, including the Hollinger Fence Com-
pany, of which he has served as the president
since its organization. He is a man of keen
discernment and his splendid executive force
and resolute purpose have secured to him
prosperity in every undertaking with which
he has been associated.
In September, 1884, occurred the mar-
riage of Mr. Gordon and Miss Etta Mc-
Caughey, a daughter of Rev. William Mc-
Caughey, a Presbyterian clergyman of Darke
county. They now have two children —
Ralph F. ami Virginia E. Mr. Gordon is
a member of Greenville Lodge, No. 146,
F. & A. M., and of the Knights of Pythias
fraternity. He and his wife hold member-
ship in St. Paul's Episcopal church, of which
he is the treasurer. He withholds his sup-
port from no movement or measure which
is calculated to secure advancement along
material, social, intellectual and moral lines.
His career has ever been such as to warrant
the trust and confidence of the business
world, for he has ever conducted all transac-
434
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tions on the strictest principles of honor and
integrity. His devotion to the public good
is unquestioned and arises from a sincere
interest in the welfare of his fellow men.
JOSEPH ALEXANDRE.
The subject of this sketch is one of the
important factors in the business circles of
Yorkshire. Darke county, and his life is an
exemplification of the term, "the dignity of
labor." He has met with many ups and
downs in life, but has never become dis-
couraged and is now successfully engaged
in business as a wholesale dealer in eggs and
poultry, which he ships principally to Xew
York.
He is a native of Darke county, born in
York township. May 24. 1857. His father^
Andrew Alexandre, was born in Hannoville,
France, May 1, 1828, and came to the
United States at the age of twenty-three
years, having stood his first draft for the
army. He was seventeen days crossing
the ocean from Havre, France, to New York
city. His means were limited, but he soon
found employment on the construction of the
Big Four Railroad. He is a wagon-maker
by trade, but since 1873 has engaged in the
saw-mill business in Darke county. Here
he was married, in 1854, to Miss Mary
Couchot, who also was born in Hannoville,
France, in May, 1834, and in 1837 was
brought to America by her parents. Tln-irs
was a long, tedious and hazardous voyage,
which lasted two months. To Mr. and Mrs.
Alexandre were born nine children, eight
sons and one daughter, namely: John F., a
wagonmaker, who died in February, 1886;
leaving a widow and two sons; Joseph, our
subject; Albert, a farmer of Wabash town-
ship, this county; Alexander, a resident of
North Star; Mary, the wife of Frank
George, a merchant of that place; Nicholas,
a blacksmith of Yersailles ; Andy, who is
engaged in merchandising at Osgood for the
firm of George Brothers ; August, at home
with his parents in North Star, and is the
clerk of Wabash township; and Frank, who
died in infancy.
Joseph Alexandre received a fair com-
mon school education in Frenchtown. near
Brock, this county, and also pursued his
studies for a time in a log school house in
Wabash township, attending school until
eighteen years of age. He remained at his
parental home until he was married, January
22, 1882, to Miss Mary Connaughton, who
was born in Wabash township, July 11,
1855. Her parents were Timothy Con-
naughton and Mary, nee Hill, both of whom
were born in county Roscommon, Ireland,
but were married after their emigration to
America, in Hamilton, Ohio. They are now
deceased and are buried at Frenchtown. Of
sons and
reached manhood or wo-
manhood. Those still living are John, a
farmer of Wayne township, this county;
Patrick, a farmer of Wabash township;
Maggie; Eddy; Timothy; and Mary, the
wife of our subject. Bridget married Au-
gust Ganbaux and died in middle life. Mr.
and Mrs. Alexandre have no children of
their own, but have given a home to Irene
Smith, born in Cunel, Wyandot county,
Ohio, March 1, 1891.
For six years after his marriage our sub-
ject followed farming, but was obliged to
give up that occupation on account of fail-
ing health, and for a time was interested in
the breeding of horses. He purchased three
thoroughbred stallions of Norman, English
and French stock, for which he paid five
-
their eight children seven — four
three daughters-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
435
thousand dollars, but this venture prove un-
profitable ami for a few years he and his
brother operated a threshing machine. Since
1897 he has given his time and attention to
his present business and during the busy
season ships a carload of eggs per week,
while during the year he ships on an average
of six thousand dozen per week. His sales
now amount to about eight hundred dollars
per week, or some forty thousand dollars
per year. He is an enterprising and pro-
gressive business man, and his success is cer-
tainly worthily achieved.
The Democratic party finds in Mr. Alex-
andre a stanch supporter of its principles,
and in 1899 be was elected county commis-
sioner by thirteen hundred majority over Mr.
Meyers, the Republican candidate. There
were two other candidates in the field, and
his nomination plainly indicates his personal
popularity and the confidence and trust re-
posed in him by his fellow citizens. Re-
ligiously he and his wife are members of
the Catholic church.
THOMAS C. MAHER.
Thomas C. Maher, son of James and
Catherine (Fanning) Maher, was born Au-
gust 20, 1859, in Champaign county, Ohio,
and was the tenth in order of birth in a fam-
ily of fifteen children. He is of Irish line-
age ; his parents were both natives of Ireland,
the father being burn in Tipperary county
and the mother in Queens county. In 1849
they emigrated with their family to the
United States, arriving at New Orleans,
whence they made their way up the Missis-
sippi and Ohio rivers, taking up their abode
in Cincinnati, Ohio. The father was a con-
tractor and in this way was engaged in the
construction of public works. In 1864 he
took up his abode in Darke county, Ohio,
where he carried on farming ami contract-
ing, having purchased a farm north of
Greenville, upon which he resided until his
death. He died in 1873, leaving the mother
with many children to support. There was
also an indebtedness on the farm, but in the
face of many difficulties she bravely prose-
cuted her labors, kept her children together,
educated them and paid for the farm. She
is still living and from her children she re-
ceives the love, care and respect which is
certainly due to the mother whose labors
and sacrifices for them were so great in
earlier years. Although now in her seven-
ty-sixth year, her mental and physical fac-
ulties are yet vigorous and she is a well pre-
served and estimable old lady of Greenville.
Thomas C. Maher, whose name intro-
duces this review, removed with his parents
to Darke county in 1864 and was reared upon
the home farm, his educational privileges be-
ing those afforded by the district schools of
the neighborhood. He remained on the old
homestead until reaching his twentieth year,
when he entered the Greenville high school,
then taught by Professor J. T. Martz. On
completing his education he engaged in
clerking for a time, and in 1885 he accepted
the position of deputy clerk of the courts
of Darke county, continuing in that position
for several succeeding terms, capably filling
the office for twelve and a half years. On
the expiration of that period he turned his
attention to the real estate, insurance and
loan business, having an office in connection
with that of Hon. J. C. Clark, a prominent
attorney of Greenville. He now represents
the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company
and the Preferred Accident Insurance Com-
pany, and writes considerable business an-
nually. He also handles both city and farm
436
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
property and is well informed concerning
real estate values. His knowledge enables
him to capably direct the purchases and sales
of his patrons. In 1898 he became asso-
ciated with other leading business men of
Greenville in the organization of the Citi-
zens' Loan & Savings Association, of which
he has since been secretary and one of its
leading organizers.
'On the 6th of November, 1887, Mr.
Maher married Miss Catherine Ryan, of
Greenville, a daughter of Daniel Ryan, one
of the early residents of Darke county. Her
mother bore the maiden name of Catherine
Eagan. Mr. and Mrs. Maher now have
four children: Cecilia and Mary, in school;
Clarence and Clara, twins. Theirs is one
of the pleasant and hospitable homes of
Greenville and they enjoy the kind regard'
el many friends. Mr. Maher is a very pub-
he-spirited citizen, who takes a deep and
sincere interest in everything pertaining to
the general welfare. He has served as the
secretary of the Darke County Agricultmal
Society since 1897. and its success is due
in no small measure to his labor and influ-
ence.
EDWARD GLANDER.
Edward Glander, who figures conspic-
uously in connection with the business inter-
ests of Greenville and is accounted one of
the representative men of the city, was born
in Preble county, on the 27th of July, i860,
Ins parents being Detrick and Sena (Hudof )
Glander, both of whom were natives of Ger-
many. The father was born in the year
1818, and after spending the first eighteen
years of his life in the land of his nativity he
determined to seek a home in the new world,
believing that he might thereby better his
financial condition. Accordingly, in 1836.
lie bade adieu to friends and family and
sailed for the United States, landing in New
"X ork city. He did not remain in the eastern
metropolis, however, but made his way at
once to Buffalo, New York, thence to Cleve-
land and Columbus, and after spending a
short time in the last named place proceeded
to Dayton. Subsequently he removed to
Preble county, where he owned and operated
a distillery, in which business he continued
until 1874, when he disposed of his interests
there and came to Darke county. In 1877
he took up his abode in Greenville, where he
still resides. Twenty years previous to that
day he had been married to Miss Sena
Hudof, and unto them were born ten chil-
dren,••four sons and six daughters, all of
whom are living, with the exception of one
daughter, who died in infancy.
Under the parental roof Edward Glander
was reared and accompanied his parents on
their various removals. To the public school
system of the state he is indebted for the
educational privileges which he enjoyed and
which fitted him for life's practical duties.
On putting aside his text-books he became
his father's assistant and under his direction
received his business training. In 1881 he
purchased the wholesale and retail beer
business of Chris Jenney and also purchased
a three-story brick block in which is located
the J. P. Wolf tobacco works. Mr. Glander
occupies a part of the first floor and base-
ment, while the remainder of the building
is rented, bringing to him a good income.
His sales of the commodities which he han-
dles are extensive and are constantly increas-
ing, showing that the public have confidence
in his business integrity. In 1890 he built
extensive ice houses and leased the artificial
ponds of D. L. Meeker for ten years, and in
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
-i:J7
1900 he extended the lease for an additional
ten years. From these he secures pure
spring-water ice, with which he supplies his
customers. In 1898 he was one of the in-
corporators of the Greenville Lumber Com-
pany. He was a director the first year and
is now serving as vice-president. He is also
a director in the Farmers' National Bank.
His close application, capable management
and marked energy have been important
factors in winning him success.
In 1884 occurred the marriage of Mr.
Glander and Miss Mary J. Frank, of Kirk-
wood, Illinois, a daughter of Jacob Frank.
Their children are : Sadie, Alice and Clar-
ence. Mr. Glander is recognized as one of
the enterprising citizens of Greenville, active,
progressive and reliable in his business
methods, and by his well directed efforts he
has acquired a very desirable competence.
JONAS WELTY HARTZELL.
The subject of this sketch is one of the
honored veterans of the Civil war and an
enterprising and progressive agriculturist of
Greenville township, Darke county, Ohio.
Flis grandfather, Jonas Hartzell, was a na-
tive of Germany, and as a young man came
to the United States, locating in Adams
county, Pennsylvania, where he spent the re-
mainder of his life engaged in farming.
The father, who also bore the name of
Jonas, was born and reared in that county,
and there married Eliza Welty. With his
wife and three children he came to Darke
county, Ohio, 1835, and entered forty acres
of land and at the same time purchased
eighty acres. In his native state he had
worked at the hatter's trade, but after coming
to Ohio devoted the remainder of his life to
agricultural pursuits, and at one time was
the owner of two hundred and forty acres
of fine farming land. His first home here
was a rude log cabin. He died on his farm
in 1884, and his wife, who survived him
several years, passed away in 1893. Both
were members of the Jaysville Methodist
church, and he was a Democrat in politics.
Concerning the children of this worthy
couple we make the following remarks :
Louisa married Stanley Gower and died in
Darke county; Catherine married William
Howe, who was a member of the One Hun-
dred and Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer In-
fantry during the civil war, and she died in
Darke county, in 1897; Elizabeth, twin sister
of Catherine, is now the widow of William
Townsend and a resident of Jaysville; Sa-
rah Ann is the wife of Alfred Slade, of Jays-
ville; Charles married Emily Sheppard and
lives in this county; Edward married Lyra
Burns and lives in this county; Jonas W.,
our subject, is next in order of birth ; Han-
nah is the wife of John Seabring, of North
Star; Loretta is the wife of Abraham Long;
and James married Phoebe Blakely and lives
in New Weston.
Our subject was born on the home farm
in Greenville township, May 2, 1841, and
pursued his studies in the old log school
house of that locality, but completed his edu-
cation in the old church under the instruction
of J. T. Martz. He manifested his patriot-
ism during the civil war by enlisting at
Greenville, in September, 1861, in Com-
pany D, Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer In-
fantry, commanded by Captain Hitchcock;
Colonel Lewis Campbell and Colonel J. H.
Brigham. He participated in twenty-one
battles, and at the close of the war was hi >n-
orably discharged, at Cincinnati, in June,
1865.
Returning to his home. Mr. Hartzell was
438
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
married, May 2, 1867, to Miss Catherine
Thomas, who was reared in Greenville, and
they began their domestic life upon his pres-
ent farm <~f eighty acres in Greenville town-
ship. Throughout his active business life
he has successfully engaged in agricultural
pursuits, and his career has been such as to
commend him to the confidence and respect
of all with whom he has come in contact.
Religiously he is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and politically is a Repub-
lican.
Mr. Hartzell's first wife died in 1890,
leaving five children, namely : Anna C, the
wife of James Thomas; Iona. the wife of
Elmer Shields; Andrew, who married Alice
Galbreth, and is now in Arizona ; Ira E., who
was connected with the Darlington scouts
under command of Roosevelt in the Cuban
war, and now as a private in the First Ohio
Volunteer Infantry is with the army in the
Philippines; and Jennie E., who is at home.
In December, 1891, Mr. Hartzell was again
married, his second union being with Mary
Thomas, of Hollansburg, Darke county.
GEORGE D. NEYYBAUER.
Occupying a representative place among
the leading citizens of Darke county, Ohio,
is George D. Newbauer, who owns and oc-
cupies a nice farm in Adams township and
who for more than three decades has been
identified with the educational work of this
county, devoting a portion of each year to
school teaching.
Mr. Newbauer is a native of Darke coun-
ty. He was born on a farm March 15,
1852. and is of German descent, his parents
having emigrated to this country some years
previous to that time. Jacob Newbauer, his
father, was a native of Alsace, Germany
(at the time of his birth a French posses-
sion), and was there reared and married.
In the year 1836, accompanied by his fam-
ily, he came to America, landing in New
York city, and shortly afterward coming
west to Montgomery county, Ohio, via Buf-
falo and Cleveland. After a brief sojourn
in Montgomery county he removed to
Darke county and took up his abode in
Greenville township, where he spent the rest
of his life and where he died at the age of
sixty-eight years, respected by all who knew
him. Both, he and his wife were members
of the Lutheran church, in which faith they
reared their family. Mrs. Jacob Newbauer
was by maiden name Miss Elizabeth Lorenz
and she, too, was a native of Alsace, Ger-
manv. She was born December
1813,
and died January 29, 1900. They were
the parents of ten children, seven of whom
reached adult age. and of that number six
are still living namely: Lewis P.. a farmer
of Greenville. Darke county ; Jacob, a retired
farmer residing in Greenville, this county,
Minnie, the wife of E. Williams, a farmer of
Greenville township; Elizabeth, the widow
of Jacob Robey. is a resident of Hartford
City, Indiana; John A., also a resident of
Hartford City; and George D., whose name
introduces this sketch and who is the young-
est member of the family living.
George D. Newbauer was reared in
Greenville township and the first and only
school he attended was the district school.
There he laid the foundation of an education
that has been broadened year by year by ob-
servation, home study and a wide range
of reading. So closely did he apply himself
to his studies when a boy that he soon mas-
tered the branches taught in the district
schools, and at the early age of sixteen
began his career as teacher, having success-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
489
fully passed an examination before the school
board. His first school was in Van Buren
township. The next year he was employed
in District Xo. 6, Adams township, where
he taught four successive winters. After-
ward we find him in District No. 9, Green-
ville township ; District No. 9, Brown town-
ship; Woodington, four years; the Detling
District, two years : in Allen township, and
for the past four years he has been teach-
ing in Greenville township. Thus for over
thirty years he has been connected with the
township schools of this county, has come
in close touch with many of the leading
people of the county, both as pupil bud
patron, and is perhaps as well known as any
teacher in Darke county. In connection with
his school work he was also for some time
interested in the publication of The School
Visitor, an educational monthly, which he
and John S. Rover established in 1879, and
which was devoted to the study of mathe-
matics and grammar.
Mr. Newbauer was married, September
9, 1875, to Miss Mary E. Clapper, a native
of Adams township, Darke county. Ohio,
and they are the parents of seven children, as
follows : Lillie May, George Edward,
Emma E., John Jacob, Mary E., Clarissa
M. and Georgiana, all at home except the
eldest. Lillie May, who is the wife of
Charles Watters and resides in Greenville.
Mr. Newbauer has a valuable house and
lot in Greenville, Ohio, a pleasant home
and a nice farm of eighty acres on section
28 in Adams township, where he resides and
carries on general farming, devoting his en-
ergies to the care and management of his
farm when not occupied in the school room.
Politically Mr. Newbauer casts his vote and
influence with the Democratic party.
We add the following from the pen of
J. T. Martz: "From a long personal ac-
quaintance with George D. Newbauer, which
gives me a good opportunity to know his in-
tellectual qualifications, I wish to say that
in science and literature he stands at the
head of his profession, and I consider him a
natural mathematician. In his youth, while
engaged in his daily vocations on the farm,
he would be computing numbers, making
calculation and solving problems that many
in advanced years and more experience than
he could not master. He loved intellectual
arithmetic for the mental solutions and train-
ing it gave; and no matter how intricate or
complex the problem his mind was never
satisfied until a comprehensive solution was
reached.
"He attended the district school until
nearly sixteen years of age, when he went be-
fore the Darke county board of school exam-
iners and secured the highest grade certifi-
cate that the examiners were allowed to grant
to any one not having experience in teaching.
I might further say that he never failed, nor
secured the lowest grade certificate, in all his
thirty years' teaching. At the age of sixteen
he began to teach school, and gave entire
satisfaction to his employers.
"His construction of a table giving the
Easter Sundays from 1778 to 1878 was a
mathematical achievement which placed him
in the front rank with eminent mathemati-
cians of academy and college, while his con-
tributions to the various mathematical pub-
lications gave him a world-wide reputation.
Later he extended this table over four hun-
dred years, giving ages of the moon and
dates of movable feasts.
"His mathematical career began in 1870.
by contributing problems and solutions to the
mathematical department of the Greenville
Times, which department was edited by that
440
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
distinguished mathematician, Enoch B.
Seitz. He next contributed to the School-
dav Magazine, published in Philadelphia,
until the same was discontinued in 1875. He
also contributed to the following periodicals :
Yates County Chronicle, National Educator,
Normal [Monthly, Ohio Farmer and the
Philadelphia Weekly Press, in which he en-
couraged his daughter Lilly in securing the
Twenty-Weeks prize; and in that paper,
dated May 8, 1891, occurs the following:
'Lilly Newbauer has captured the first prize
awarded for the twenty consecutive weeks'
correct work. From December 17. 1890,
to April 29, 1 89 1, inclusive, she lfas not
missed a solution and has fairly won the
promised prize, a handsome mapped and il-
lustrated dictionary of the Bible, which will
be forwarded at once.'
"He was the prime mover in starting the
School Visitor, published at Ansonia, Ohio,
and had charge as editor of the department
of Pract'cal Mathematxs and Notes and
Queries in the same. He also made many
contributions to the Wittenberger, The An-
alyst and the Educational Department of the
Greenville Journal of 1900. In Mr. New-
bauer's thirty years' experience as a teacher,
he has ever been seeking to elevate the stand-
ard of qualifications for teacher and pupil
in the county, and is noted for the care and
thoughtfulness of his work.
"He is especially distinguished for his
unassuming manners, strict integrity ami
upright life. In his devotion to principle he
is unyielding. A man of the most unim-
peachable integrity and morality, he fully
vindicates in his own personal character his
consistent life. Accuracy is a leading char-
acteristic of his mental as well as his moral
nature, and having learned by experience
what the duties of a teacher are he has be-
come a painstaking, indefatigable instructor.
Far-seeking and thoughtful, his views of
teaching are eminently practical and sensi-
ble, and success has abundantly crowned his
efforts."
THOMAS J. ROBESON.
Thomas J. Robeson, one of the highly
respected citizens of Van Buren township, is
a native of Darke county, his birth occurring
in Butler township, February 2, 1841. His
father, John Robeson, spent most of his life
on a farm in Van Buren township, where he
passed away September 15, 1872. He mar-
ried a cousin. Margaret Robeson, and to
them were born five children : Martin, who
died in infancy; Thomas J., our subject; Al-
len, a resident of Gladwin, Michigan; Will-
iam A., deceased; and Mary E., the wife of
Elias Bidwell.
Our subject was only a year old when
the family located in Van Buren township,
and eleven years of age when they moved to
the farm near Jaysville, where he grew to
manhood. His education was begun in an
old log school house, and his early advan-
tages were limited, as he was reared in a re-
gion then wild and sparsely settled. He as-
sisted Ids father in clearing and improving
the farm, and experienced many of the hard-
ships and privations incident to pioneer life.
He remained upon the home farm until his
father's death, and then located upon his
present place, where he owns twenty-five
acres of land, which he has improved and
placed under excellent cultivation.
In 1864 Mr. Robeson married Miss Sa-
rah Fry, a daughter of Thompson Fry, and
they had four children, namely: Nancy A.,
the wife of Milo Perkins, of Arcanum ; Dora,
the wife of L. T. Grubb, of Arcanum ; Betsey
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
-14t
Jane, who died in 1893; and Opal, at home.
The mother died August 4, 1899.
While a boy Mr. Robeson broke his arm
and this prevented him entering the service
during the civil war. He has efficiently
served as a constable in Van Buren town-
ship one term, and is a stanch supporter of
the Democratic party. Religiously he is an
earnest member of the United Brethren
church, and is now serving as a trustee of
the same.
ANDREW POE.
One of the old and much respected citi-
zens of Monroe township. Darke county,
Ohio, is Andrew Poe, who has carried on
farming operations at his present place for
forty years.
Mr. Poe is of French origin. His grand-
father, George Poe, was a native of Fayette
county, Pennsylvania ; his grandmother,
whose maiden name was Elizabeth Mater,
was born in France, and in her girlhood
came to America on a visit, while here meet-
ing and marrying George Poe. They sub-
sequently came to Ohio and located in Mont-
gomery county, near Salem, where he died,
his death being the result of injury received
by falling from a barn. He was a captain
in the Revolutionary war. His son George,
the father of Andrew, was also a native of
Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and at the
time the family removed to Ohio was eight
or nine years old. He was married, near
Germantown, Ohio, to Elizabeth Arnett, a
daughter of Bartholomew Arnett. Mr. Ar-
nett was a Hessian soldier in 1776, and de-
serted and joined the American ranks to
fight for independence. After bis marriage
the younger George Poe removed to Darke
county, where he spent the rest of his life,
his chief occupation being farming-. He
died at Arcanum, in 1890, at the age of
eighty-eight years. His first wife's death
occurred some years before his. His second
wife survives him. She was Mrs. Polly Fry,,
nee Townslee, and resides at the home of her
daughter, Airs. Henry Besecer. Mr. Poe's
children by his first wife, were named as i'< al-
lows: Andrew, the direct subject of this
sketch ; George and Bartholomew, deceased :
Daniel, Isaac and John C., deceased.
Andrew Poe was born in Salem. M >nt-
gomery county, Ohio, June 14. 1826; re-
ceived his education in one of the primitive
log school houses of that period, and as
he grew up learned all the details of pioneer
farming. After his marriage, which event
occurred in Phillipsburg, Ohio, Mr. Poe lo-
cated near there and remained until 1840,
when he moved to Monroe township. Darke
ci lunty, where he has since lived. At the
time of his settlement here he bought forty-
two acres of land, thickly covered with
forest, and the work of clearing and making
a home at once occupied his energies. As
soon as he cleared a little patch of ground he
built a cabin, 18x22 feet, one room with a
loft above it, and here he established his
family, has since lived and labored, carry-
ing on general farming, and has been fairly
prosperous in his undertakings.
Air. Poe's wife was formerly Miss Sarah
Eisenbarger, and they are the parents of
five children, namely: Isaac, of Arcanum,
Ohio; Lewis, of Beamsville, Ohio; Simon,
of Mami county, Ohio; Lafayette, of Sa-
lem, Ohio; and Albert, a resident of the same
township in which his father lives.
Politically Mr. Poe is a Democrat. He
belongs to no church.
442
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
GEORGE J. WELBOURN.
George Joshua Welbourn is one of the
■leading agriculturists and stock raisers of
Darke county, his home being on section 19,
Mississinawa township. He follows the
most advanced and progressive methods, and
has one of the most highly improved farms
and most desirable homes in this section of
the state. He is one of Ohio's native sons,
his birth having occurred in Marion county,
on the 29th of April, 1841. His father.
■George Welbourn, was born in Lincolnshire,
England, in 1793, and soon after attaining
his majority came to America. He was a
•son of Benjamin Welbourn, who was a free-
holder and was worth ; t least three hundred
•thousand dollars. His farm of one hundred
.and sixty acres was valued at three thousand
dollars per acre. A man of democratic prin-
ciples and spirit, he preferred to mingle with
the yeomanry of his country rather than the
.aristocracy, and would often go to the mar-
ket with his own farm produce, while his
servants remained at home in idleness. He
wedded Miss Mary Miller, and they became
the parents of nine children — William,
^George, Foren, Michael, Hannah, John,
Benjamin, Mary and Joseph. All came to
America with the exception of Benjamin,
Foren, Hannah and Joseph.
Of the family William and Michael
crossed the Atlantic in 1818 and took up
their abode in Marion county, Ohio. They
were free to take their choice of land lying
between the old homestead in Marion county
^nd Lower Sandusky. Each brother se-
cured a quarter-section and became well-to-
•do farmers, and at their death left families.
John Welbourn, of the same family, also
■came to Ohio, but later all trace of him was
lost. His sister Mary reared thirteen of her
fifteen children in England, and in her
widowhood came to America, living with
her children in Kansas, where she died at
ai; advanced age.
George Welbourn, the father of our sub-
ject, crossed the Atlantic in 1820, landed in
Philadelphia, and crossed the Alleghany
mountains. He was obliged to pack his bag-
gage over the mountains, for it was all his
team could do to haul an empty wagon up
the steep slopes. They were all day in
crossing the ridge. He married Miss Jane
Lawrence, who also was born in Lincoln-
shire, England, March 16, 1808. She was
present at the crowning of Queen Victoria.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Welbourn
occurred in 1836. The lady crossed the
Atlantic in 1835, with her parents, Edward
and Martha (Steeper) Lawrence. Their
sons, James and William, had crossed the
Atlantic in 1832. In the family were eight
children, of whom Mrs. Welbourn was the
eldest. She was born March 16, 1808;
James was born February 21, 18 10; George
March 31. 1814; Ann in 1822; Richard, a
Methodist minister, who was born January
17, 1 82 1, and died in Hardin county, Ohio,
April 28, 1895; William Lawrence, the next
of the family, was born February 19, 1812,
and died in Illinois; Sarah, born February
12, 1819, died April 15, 1839; and Elizabeth,
born December 27, 1816, is also deceased.
The father died on the 1st of May, 1864, at
the age of eighty-three years, and his wife
passed away April 17, 1855, at the age of
seventy-seven.
Of this family James Lawrence, the eld-
est son, wedded Susanna Welbourn, who
was not a relative of our subject. James
Lawrence died June 29. 1883, leaving three
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
44a
hundred and eighty acres of very valuable
land. The marriage of George Welbourn
and Ann Mills was blessed with three daugh-
ters— Susanna, Elizabeth and Mary. Su-
sanna is the widow of James Lawrence, of
Marion county, and six of her seven chil-
dren are now living. Elizabeth became the
wife of John Duncan, of Morrow county,
Ohio, and died at the age of thirty years,
leaving one child. Mary is the widow of
Jonathan Denton, of Doniphan county, Kan-
sas. The daughters were born in Ohio.
The mother died in early life, and the father
afterward married Miss Jane Lawrence, by
whom he had five sons and a daughter. Will-
iam, the eldest, died in 1853, at the age of
twelve years; George is the second of the
family; Edward is a well-known physician
of Union City, Indiana; James, a practicing
attorney, died in Union City, leaving four
sons; Jane also died in Union City; and Ben-
jamin died at the age of four years.
The parents were married May 31, 1837,
and took up their abode on an eighty-acre
farm which Mr. Welbourn had entered from
the government office in Chillicothe, walk-
ing from Marion county, that state, in order
to secure the title for the tract. Later he
purchased eighty acres of timber land. He
died on the 8th of October, 1855, leaving a
widow and four of their six children, also
three children by a former marriage. He
was then about sixty-three years of age.
Mrs. Welbourn remained a widow for over
forty years, and died at the home of her
son, Dr. Welbourn, in Union City, at the
age of eighty-four. She was a woman of
great courage, strong intellect and of reso-
lute purpose, and carefully reared her chil-
dren. She carefully instilled into their
minds lessons of practical industry, economy
and unfaltering honesty. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Welbourn were members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal church and were faithful
Christian people.
George Welbourn, whose name intro-
duces this record, received but limited edu-
cational privileges. He was early inured to
farm labor, beginning work in the fields al-
most as soon as old enough to handle the
plow. He is not only familiar with the most
advanced methods of agriculture but also
possesses much mechanical ability and is an
architect and draughtsman. He has mod-
eled all of the buildings upon his place. He
was married April 29, 1863, to Sarah A.
Lawrence, the wedding ceremony being per-
formed by his uncle, Richard Lawrence. The
lady was born in Indiana, near the Ohio line,
and is a daughter of George and Anna
(Clough) Lawrence, the former a native of
Lincolnshire, England, and the latter of New
Hampshire, but both are now deceased. Mrs.
Welbourn is a child of the pioneer days, liv-
ing in this section of the country when it
was a border settlement, upon the very out-
skirts of civilization. In order to attend
school she had to follow a cow path through
the woods for a mile. On one occasion she
came upon a drove of deer in the path and
the animals stood looking at her. For a few
moments she hesitated, undecided whether
to approach or retreat, but concluded to
throw a stick at the animals, which she did.
and they fled, so that she was enabled to
proceed on her way to school. This occur-
rence took place just over the Indiana line,
near her present home. On another occa-
sion when hunting the cows in the woods
she followed the sound of the cow-bells and
became lost upon a farm where there was a
small clearing, now their present home, and
to that the cows made their way instead of
o-oinp- home. She was accompanied by her
to to
444
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
mother, and they concluded to remain upon
a log until morning, although they heard the
weird hoot of the owls and the howling of
the wolves. The husband and father, how-
ever, returned to his home, and, finding the
loved ones missing, he realized the situation
and instituted a search. Soon they were
found and very quickly returned to their little
cabin. Mrs. Welbourn completed her edu-
cation by a collegiate course at College Cor-
ner, in Jay county, Indiana. By her marriage
she has become the mother of six children :
Jane, now the wife of Manford Aukerman,
who resides in this locality, and by her mar-
riage she has four children; George E., a
farmer of the same neighborhood, who has
a wife, three sons and two daughters; Luella
Horine, who resides near the old home and
has one son and one daughter ; Lillie. the
wife of William Crumrine, a farmer of Mis-
sissinawa township; Ollie Ida and Mattie
Isolena. They have been provided with
good, educational privileges, thus fitting
them for the practical and responsible duties
of life.
In the spring of 1863 Air. Welbourn left
the old family homestead in Marion county,
and with his saddle-bags mounted his horse,
taking with him all his earthly possessions,
valued at about two hundred dollars. It
was his intention to go to Illinois, but a
journey of two days brought him to the home
of his future bride, and he concluded to abide
in Darke county. This section of Ohio was
then an almost unbroken wilderness, and his
father-in-law here owned one hundred and
sixty acres of land, which Mr. Welbourn af-
terward inherited. After his marriage our
subject began his domestic life upon an
eighty-acre tract of land which now forms
the northern portion of his farm. He
•cleared that property, but after his father-
in-law's death came to his present home and
developed this tract. He owns three hun-
dred and thirty-eight acres. His real es-
tate possessions also include twenty-four
town lots, in Union City, Ohio, and many of
these are improved with substantial build-
ings. When he started out in life for him-
self he had only his horse and assets to the
amount of two hundred dollars. Later he
inherited about seven hundred dollars from
his father's estate. His first home was a
log cabin, 15x30 feet. His second residence
was a frame, 19x30 feet, which he built in
forty days, beginning on the 15th of Octo-
ber, 1883. He built his barn the following
winter, and in 1899 he erected his present
fine home, which is a model of beauty and
comfort, supplied with all the modern im-
provements and conveniences of a city home.
It is built in a most substantial manner and
finished in beautiful quarter-sawed oak,
which he took from the trees upon his own
place. The farm is one of the most highly
improved in this section of the country. He
has his own gas well, which has been drilled
to a depth of twelve hundred and four feet,
and furnishes light and heat for his own
home and that of his son and of his son-in-
law. There are also excellent water works
upon the place, operated by the Hawley &
Dunn automatic system. There are three
flowing wells of water, and he has several
hydrants at different places about the farm,
so that he can force a strong stream into
the house and outbuildings in case of fire.
The fields are under a very high state of cul-
tivation and yield to the owner a golden
tribute in return for the care and labor he
1 lestows upon them.
In his political views Mr. Welbourn is a
K'epublican, but has never sought public
office. However, he served as a road super-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
-445
visor for several years and lias been a mem-
ber of the school board. He belongs to the
Rose Hill Property Protection Company,
and has served as one of the pursuers, whose
duty it is to capture all robbers. At the age
of fifteen years he became a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and for the past
twenty years has been a member of the
United Brethren church. His life has in-
deed been an honorable and upright one, and
all who know him esteem him for his ster-
ling worth, his fidelity to principle, his manly
courage and fearless support of his honest
convictions.
HENRY C. JACOBI.
This well-known and highly respected
citizen of Greenville, Ohio, has throughout
life been prominently identified with the
business interests and public affairs of Darke
county. He was born three miles east of
the city, in Greenville township, March _>i,
1854, and is a son of Henry and Margaret
(Knott) Jacobi, natives of Hamburg, Ger-
many, the former born April 25, 1814, the
latter in 1824. It was in 1853 that the par-
ents emigrated to America and took up their
residence in Darke county, Ohio, on the farm
where our subject was born. Both died in
Versailles, the father in 1894, the mother in
1882. In their family were nine children,
but only two are now living: William and
Henry C. William was born in 1859, and
now lives in Versailles. He wedded Mary
Klase, and they have three children.
Our- subject spent his boyhood mostly
upon a farm of one hundred and twenty
acres near Versailles, and his educational ad-
vantages were only such as the country
schools afforded. At the age of eighteen
he removed with the family to Versailles,
where he became interested in the saw-mill
business, and later carried on the butcher
business at that place for ten yeai 3.
On the 12th of June, 1877, Mr. Jacobi
was united in marriage with Miss Anna
Jetter, a native of Huron county, Ohio, who
died January 2, 1895. By this union were
born five children, namely : William, Henry.
Albert, Charles and Clara. William was
married in September, 1899, to Florence
Gutermuth, but the others are all at home.
They have been provided with good educa-
tional advantages, and Henry and Albert are
both graduates of the Greenville high school.
The former is now a trusted employe of the
Farmers' National Bank of that place.
As previously stated, Mr. Jacobi has al-
ways taken quite an active and prominent
part in public affairs. His fellow citizens,
recognizing his worth and ability, have
elected him to positions of honor and trust,
and it is needless to say that he proved a
most competent and praiseworthy official.
He served as a justice of the peace of Ver-
sailles six years, and the mayor of that place
two years, at the end of which time, in 1S94,
he was elected sheriff, on the Democratic
ticket, jmd held that office for four years.
In the meantime he moved to Greenville,
where he still makes his home, at 420 Mar-
tin street. When he retired to private life
he became the manager and secretary of the
Greenville Lumber Company, in which he is
an extensive stockholder, and now devotes
his time and energies to that business. Be-
sides his property interests in Greenville, Mr.
Jacobi still owns a good farm of sixty acres
near Versailles. Industrious, enterprising
and progressive, he has met with a well-
deserved success in life, and is numbered
among the best citizens of Greenville.
440
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
JACOB R. STOCKER.
Jacob R. Stacker, ex-county clerk of
Darke county, Ohio, and one of the repre-
sentative farmers of the county, is a native
of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, his birth
having occurred near the city of Lancaster
February 3, 1857.
Mr. Stocker is of German descent. His
father. Andrew Stocker, was born and reared
in Germany, came to this country when a
young man, married Miss Margaret Rader,
anil settled, in 1865, near Miamisburg, in
Montgomery county, Ohio, which was the
family home until 1872. That year he re-
nv ived to Darke county and took up his
abode in Adams township, purchasing at
the time fifty-two acres of land, to which he
added by subsequent purchase fifty acres
more. On this farm he still lives. His wife
died in 1868, at the age of forty-two years.
Their union was blessed in the birth of
twelve children, ten of whom reached mature
age, namely: John R.. of Webster, Ohio;
Jacob R., the immediate subject of this
sketch; Andrew R., of Miamisburg. Ohio;
Lizzie, deceased; Mary, of Miamisburg;
Henry P., of Darke county: Albert Frank-
lin, Flora and Adam, all of Darke county;
and Elmer, of La'wrencevllle, Illinois. The
father has long been a consistent member
of the Lutheran church.
Jacob R. Stocker grew up on his father's
farm, receiving his education in the com-
mon schools and early became familiar with
every detail of farm work. Farming has
claimed the whole of his time and atten-
tion since he reached man's estate excepting
the term of years he served in 1 .fficial posi-
tion. In August, 1 89 1. he was nominated
for the office of county clerk, was duly
elected at the November election and as-
sumed the duties of that position in Feb-
ruary, 1892. In 1894 he was renominated
and elected and served a second term, at
the expiration of which he moved to his
present farm, located one mile south of
Greenville, which he had purchased three
years previously. This farm comprises one
hundred and seventy acres of fine, well im-
proved land and is devoted to general farm-
ing and stock purposes.
Mr. Stocker was married, September 20,
1877, to Miss Rhoda A. Coppess, a daughter
of Daniel Coppess, of Richland township,.
Darke county, anil the children of this union
are seven, namely: Evan E., Orion D., Ed-
ward A., Roy. Bessie, Orville and Clifford.
The political affiliations of Mr. Stocker
have always been with the Democratic party.
He has frequently served as a delegate to
county and congressional conventions, ever
working for the best interests of his party,
and his election to county office was a fit
recognition of worth.
Reared by Lutheran parents, he is identi-
fied with the Lutheran church and is one of
its leading supporters. Fraternally he main-
tains a membership in the Improved Order
of Red Men and in the Uniform Rank.
WILLIAM ROBESON.
After a long and useful career William
Robeson is now living a retired life on his
farm in Van Buren township, enjoying a
well-earned rest. He comes of good Rev-
olutionary stock, his paternal grandfather,
Andrew Robeson, having fought for Amer-
ican independence. He spent his entire life
in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. The
father, David Robeson, was born and reared
in that county, and there married Mary Ann
Beard, a native of Germany, who came to
Jacob R. Stocker.
Mrs. Jacob R. Stocker.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
447
the United States at the age of fourteen
years, with two sisters and a brother, and
worked two and a half years in New York
city to pay her passage.
In November, 1817, David Robeson,
with his family, started for Ohio in a one-
horse wagon, but was taken ill on the road
and was unable to continue his journey until
the following spring. He first located eight
miles below Dayton, in Butler county, where
he made his home sixteen years, and then
sold two horses and purchased eighty acres
of land in Butler township, Darke county,
at one dollar and a quarter per acre. Being
an old man at this time, his sons cleared the
farm and built a hewed-log house, eighteen
by twenty feet, which was heated by an old-
fashioned fire-place. He died in 1836, aged
seventy-eight years, and his wife died in
1845, age about seventy years. She was an
earnest member of the Presbyterian church,
while he was a Baptist in religious belief. In
their family were six children, namely :
David, who died in Van Buren township;
Daniel, who died in Brown township, this
county ; Elizabeth, who married Jacob
Brown, and died in Darke county ;
Margaret, who married John Robeson,
and died in this county ; William, our sub-
ject ; and Rosamond, who married James
Dungan and died in Indiana.
The subject of this sketch was born in
Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, October
21, 181 7, and was only three weeks old when
his parents started for Ohio, consequently he
remembers nothing of the journey. He
attended school but three months through: m
his life, there being no free schools in his lo-
cality during his boyhood; but he has ac-
quired a good, practical education through
lis own unaided effc irts. He was the youngest
son of the family, and after the others left
27
home he remained with his parents, assisting
in the arduous task of clearing the land and
transforming it into highly cultivated fields.
On the death of his father he inherited forty
acres of land, and remained at home caring
for his mother, until she, too, was called to
her final rest. In 1843 he sold the place and
bought his present farm of one hundred and
twenty acres, to which he has since added
twenty acres. When be located thereon
only thirty acres had been cleared, and to its
further improvement and cultivation he de-
voted his energies for many years, but since
1893 has lived retired. He erected all the
buildings on the farm, and met with success
in its operation.
In 1849 Mr. Robeson married Miss Es-
ther Dungan, who died in 1874. To them
the following children were born : David,
who died at the age of fifteen years; Isaac,
a farmer of Van Buren township ; Ann, who
died in infancy; Joseph, who died young;
Margaret, who also died young; Deborah,
now Mrs. Curtner, who lives with our sub-
ject ; Mary Ann, the wife of Cyrus F. Young,
of Jaysville; Ida, the deceased wife of Craw-
ford Brown ; Alfred, Oada and William, who
all died young; and one who died in infancy.
FRANKLIN P. HARTLE.
He wdiose name initiates this sketch is a
representative of one of the old and honored
pioneer families of Richland township,
1 'arke county, Ohio, and as he himself is a
native son of the county and has worthily
upborne the honors of a worthy name, there
is eminent propriety in giving a brief resume
of his personal and genealogical history in
this compilation. A native of this county,
Mr. 1 lartle was born May 30, [852, being the
eldest of the children of David and Eliza-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
beth (Shults) Hartle, concerning whom
complete and detailed information is given
on other pages of this work.
Franklin P. Hartle received his educa-
tional discipline in the district schools in the
vicinity of his home, and it is needless t i say
that the advantages in this line were meagre,
for his youth was passed under the pioneer
influences, when the march of development
had but just begun, but .he has broadened his
education through personal application and
association with the active affairs of life,
thus learning lessons which have made him
a man of distinct intellectual strength and
Ci imprehensive knowledge. As a youth his
time was in constant demand, and his' ser-
vices required in the arduous w< irk of clear-
ing away the forests on the home farm and
making the same ready for cultivation. Air.
Hartle began life upon his own responsi-
bility at the age of twenty years, when he
commenced working for wages, and on at-
taining his majority he had but meager capi-
tal upon which to base his future career and
lay the foundations of his success. Youth,
confidence and energy consider no obstacle
insuperable, h< wever, and the young man
was confident of his own ability to face the
world and win his way, and his confidence
was amply justified, as the results of his well
directed effort clearly show in these latter
days of the century.
On the 30th of October, 1873, Mr. Hartle
was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Ann
Martin, and of this union one son and four
daughters have been born, namely : Bethey,
who is the wife of Frank Smith, a pn
ous agriculturist of Richland township, was
educated in the common schools and is a
lady of distinct popularity: Mollie L.. who
il attending school, is well advanced in
studies, having already passed the Box-
well examination, which entitles her to ad-
mission to any high school in the count}-;
Charlie Earl is in school, as is also Maudie;
while the youngest. Clo Hilda, lends life
and brightness to the family circle.
Mrs. Hartle is a native of Fountain
county, Indiana, having been born near At-
tica, September 15. 1858. the daughter of
Silas and Maria ( Shields ) Martin. There
was one other daughter in the family, but
Mrs. Hartle alone survives. Her father
was born in Darke county. Ohio, and de-
voted his life to agricultural pursuits. He
is now deceased, but his venerable widow is
still living, being a resident of Versailles,
Ohio.
Mr. Hartle is a Republican in his political
adherency. having cast his first presidential
vote for General Grant, and he is at all
times a zealous advocate of the principles
advanced by his party. On various occa-
sions he has served as delegate to the county
conventions, in which he has taken active
part. Socially Mr. Hartle is identified con-
spicuously with the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, into which he was initiated at
Versailles, Ohio, on the 23d of September,
1873. while he became a charter member
of the Ansonia Lodge. No. 605. on the 18th
of June, 1875. He has passed all the chairs
in the lodge and is a member of Encamp-
ment, No. 90, while his wife and daughters,
Bethey and Mollie, are members of the ad-
junct organization, the Daughters of Re-
bekah, retaining their membership in Lodge
No. 396, at Ansonia. this county. The
elder daughter, Mrs. Smith, has passed all
the chairs in the lodge. The family are
well km >wn and highly esteemed in Rich-
land township, and their circle of friends is
one oi representative character. No history
touching the annals of this county could be
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
449
complete without reference to the subject of
this review, and this brief sketch is sure to
be read with interest.
GOTLEAP RIESLEY.
Among the leading young farmers of
Mi mroe township, Darke county, Ohio, is in-
cluded the subject of this sketch, G. Riesley,
who, as his name indicates, is of German
origin.
Mr. Riesley's father, Frederick Riesley,
was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in the
year 1828; was reared on a farm, received a
common-school education, and served in the
German army during the revolution. In 1854
he came to the United States, landing at New
York, and from there coming direct to Darke
county, Ohio, where he was employed by the
month to do farm work for Frederick Stauf-
fer. In this county he was married to Miss
[Jacobin Kuhn. also a native of Wurtem-
berg, Germany, the date of her birth being
1826. She came with relatives to this coun-
try about 1845. After their marriage they set-
tled on a rented farm in Franklin township,
Darke county, where they lived a few years
and by industry and economy accumulated
sufficient means with which to buy a little
farm of their own. He first purchased forty
acres, to which he added subsequently
another forty, and still later sixty acres more.
He exchanged his eighty acres for one hun-
dred and sixty-five in Monroe township to
which he moved in 1882, and where he spent
the close of his life, dying October 29. 1884.
His wife survived him several years, her
death occurring July 7. 1891. They were
members of the Lutheran church, and polit-
ically he was a Democrat. The children of
this worthy couple are three in number, the
subject .if this sketch and his two sisters
Anna Mary and Lydia.
Gotleap Riesley was born February 1^,
1857, in Franklin township, Darke county.
Ohio, and grew up on his father's farm,
wi irking on the farm in summer and attend-
ing the district school during the winter
months. He was married September 27.
1883. to Miss Fannie Ingloff. Mrs. Riesley
was born near Trotwood, Montgomery
county, Ohio. June 7, 1861 and when four
years old was brought ' by her parents to
Monroe township, Darke county, where she
was reared. Her parents, John and Chris-
tianna (Myers) Ingloff, were natives of
Wurtemberg, Germany, who came to this
country in 1845 m the same vessel that
brought Mrs. Riesley, the mother of our sub-
ject. Mr. Ingloff was a tailor by trade,
working as such for a time after coming to
this country, then carried on farming for a
number of years, and now lives retired in
Dayton, Ohio. He and his wife are mem-
1 lers 1 >f the Lutheran church. Their children
are Christianna. the wife of George Alleman ;
Lizzie, the wife of Alexander Mack; John,
Mary, the wife of Charles Bless; and Mrs.
Riesley.
Mr. Riesley continued to reside at the
homestead after his marriage until his fa-
ther's death. The portion of the home farm
which he inherited he sold and shortly after-
ward purchase his present farm, one hundred
and forty-seven and one-half acres, in Mon-
n * ti iwnship, mi which he has made numer-
ous improvements, thus materially increasing
the value of his farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Riesley have seven chil-
dren, namely: Fred. Lawrence, John X., Eel-
ward Freeman. Willis O.. Carl William. Rus-
sell R. and Ira Estry.
Reared in the Lutheran faith Mr. and
450
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mrs. Riesley attend the services of the Lu-
theran church. His political support he
gives to the Democratic party.
In the summer of 1895 Mr. Riesley paid
a visit to the home of his forefathers in the
old country. He sailed from New York
city in July, on board the steamship Wester-
land, landed at Antwerp, and spent three
months in Germany. The chief place of in-
terest to him was the old house in which his
father was born, in the town of Redrick,
now occupied by his uncle, Jacob Riesley.
This house was erected in 171 7, and is of
stone.
CASVILLE MOTE.
A resident of Pittsburg, Mr. Mote is now
living retired after many years of active con-
nection with agricultural interests in Darke
county. He is of English descent, his ances-
tors having come from the "merrie isle" in
colonial days. His paternal grandfather.
h Mote, was born in Georgia, and hav-
ing arrived at years of maturity married
Miss Mary Polly North, whose father was
one of the heroes of the Revolution. Jo-
seph Mote also joined the American army
and aided in the overthrow of British rule
in the colonies. At an early period in the
development of Ohio he emigrated t < > the
Buckeye state, settling in Union township,
Miami county, where lie made his home for
a number of years. While there he entered
eighty acres of land in Monroe township,
Darke county, to which he afterward re-
moved, taking up his abode in a log cabin in
the midst of the wilderness. lie died a year
later, and his widow subsequently became
the wife of Isaiah Penny, with, whom she re-
moved t'> Indiana, where her last days were
passed. Unto Joseph and Mary Mote were
born the following named: Enoch, who
married Catherine Burkett, and died in
Union township, Miami county; Ezekiel,
vim married Miss Vernon and afterward
Rachel Jones, and died at Laura, Ohio; Si-
las, who wedded Sarah Hall, and departed
this life in Indiana; Epsie, who became the
wife of John Markham, and died in Monroe
township; Noah; Alexander, who married
Rhoda Miles, and after her death wedded
Mrs. Annie Peppinger, and died in Iowa;
Rachel, who became the wife of John Wal-
ker, and died in Indiana; and William, who
died in Missouri. He, too, was twice mar-
ried, his first union being with Miss Hunt,
while Margaret Emery became his second
wife.
Noah Mote, the father of our subject,
was born in Union township, Aliami county,
in 18 1 J. and when ten years of age accom-
panied his parents on their removal to Darke
county, where he was reared to manhood.
He obtained such educational advantages as
were afforded in the old-time log school-
houses, and was reared in the usual man-
ner of farmer lads of the period. He mar-
ried Catherine Sharp, whose father served
his country in the war of 1812. She was
born in Twin township, Darke county, and
after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Aiote took
up their abode upon his farm of eighty acres,
west of the old homestead. There Mr. Mi >te
passed the remainder of his life, his death
occurring on the 29th of September, 1892.
His wife passed away in 18S8. They were
members of the Society of Friends and were
people of the highest respectability. In
tl eir family were eight children : Levi, who
died in infancy; Nelson, of Monroe town-
ship, who married Sarah Hansbarger, and
ter her death wedded Mary Studebaker ;
Casville, of this review; Mary, the wife of
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
451
Simon Limbert, of Monroe township; Bar-
bara, the deceased wife of Henry Baer;
George, who married Catherine Weeks, and
resides in Laura ; Allen, who wedded Ella
Bowers, and is living in Twin township; and
Daniel, deceased.
As a representative of one of the honored
pioneer families of the county and as a man
of sterling worth, Casville Mote well de-
serves mention in this volume. He was
born on his father's farm in Monroe town-
ship, June 18, 1844, and was there reared
to manhood. He pursued his studies in the
log school-house of the neighborhood, his
first teacher being Henry Richardson. In the
labors of the home farm he bore his part,
remaining with his parents until eighteen
years of age, when, prompted by a spirit of
patriotism, he responded to his country's
call for aid, enlisting, at Arcanum, as a pri-
vate of Company B, One Hundred and
Tenth Ohio Infantry, under Captain Jason
Young. The date of his enlistment was Au-
gust 7, 1862, and he took part in the battles
of Winchester, Cedar Creek, Petersburg,
Richmond and Sailor's Creek. At the last
named he was wounded by a grape shot in
the right elbow and was sent to the field hos-
pital and thence to City Point Hospital, at
Annapolis, Maryland. Later he was in the
Baltimore Hospital, where he was honorably
discharged, on the 21st of June, 1865.
After his return home Mr. Mote resumed
work upon his father's farm, and was thus
engaged until his marriage, which occurred
April 3, 1869, Miss Sarah Jane Limbert be-
coming his wife. The lady was born in
Clay township, Montgomery county, Ohio,
January 29, 1843, and when six months old
was taken by her parents to Monroe town-
ship, Darke county, where her girlhood days
were passed. Her first teacher was Weaver
Richardson. She was a daughter of Henry
Limbert, who was born in Perry county,
Pennsylvania, September 6, 1816, and was
a son of Henry Limbert, Sr., also a native
o'f Perry county. The latter married Katie
Wagner, and in the spring of 1822 re-
moved to Ohio, locating in Clay township,
Montgomery county, where he entered land
and developed a farm. There he lived until
his death, which occurred when he was
eighty-three years of age. His wife also
passed away at the same age. Their chil-
dren were : John, who died in Montgomery
county, Ohio; Lewis, who died in Greenville;
Henry, the father of Mrs. Mote; Barbara,
who became the wife of Joseph Spitler'and
died in Clay township, Montgomery county ;
Polly, who married Peter Raisor; George, a
resident of Indiana ; Levi, of Clay township,
Montgomery county; Adam, of Dayton,
Ohio; Susan, who became the wife of Henry
Whistler, and died in Clay township ; Betsey,
wife of Solomon Spitler; and Sarah, wife of
John Baker.
Henry Limbert, the father of Mrs. Mote,
was a little lad of six summers when he came
with his parents to Ohio. He was reared in
Clay township, Montgomery county, mar-
ried Betsey Spitler, and in 1844 removed to
Monroe township, Darke county. He was
called to his final rest September 15, 1873,
and his wife departed this life September 7,
1878. In their family were the following
named: Mrs. Mote; Barbara Ann, the wife
of Henry Snyder; John, who died at the age
of twenty-one years; Amanda C, who died
in infancy; Simon Peter, of Monroe town-
ship; Mary Ann, who became the wife of
Andrew Linder and died in 1885; Susan,
who died in infancy; Harvey, who died in
Oklahoma, in 1890; Ira, of Portland, In-
diana : and twins who died in infancy.
452
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Unto Mr. and Airs. Mote have been born
five children: Elmer, who was born March
8, 1870, married Clara Chase, and has one
child. Harold: Charles, born May 28. 1872,
wedded Nettie Niswonger, and their chil-
dren are: Susie, Gertrude. Paul and Lillian;
Emma, born November 10. 1875. is the wife
of Charles Sower and has one child, Mar-
guerite: Forrest, born June 13, 1881, is at
home; and Noah, born November 14. 1883.
died on the 2d of March. 1884.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mote
took up their residence upon his farm, and
for many years he devoted his energies to
agricultural pursuits, meeting with good suc-
cess in his undertakings. Until his retire-
ment he resided in Monroe township, with
the exception of a period of two years passed
in Franklin township. He still owns a good
farm of thirty-three acres, and has a com-
fi rtable competence saved from his earnings
in firmer years. This enables him to live
retired, enjoying a well-earned rest. In
: 81 13 he removed to Pittsburg, where he now
resides. He is a member of the Union Vet-
eran Legion, and in politics is a stanch Re-
publican. As a citizen he is today as true
and loyal as when he followed the starry
banner upon the battlefields of the s >uth and
aided in the preservation of the Union.
EPHRAIM C. RICHARDSON.
Ephraim C. Richardson, a farmer and
undertaker of New Weston, was born in
Monroe township, Darke county, on the 15th
of March. 185 1. and is a representative of
one of the old families of Tennessee. His
grandfather. William Richardson, was a na-
tive of Claiborne county, Tennessee, and be-
came one of the pioneers of Monroe town-
ship, Darke county, Ohio. When he first lo-
cated here the howling of the wolves at night
was a familiar sound, for the region was
wild and the work of improvement and prog-
ress scarcely begun. He married Sarah
Markham, and they became the parents of a
large number of children, of whom our sub-
ject remembers only six sons and one daugh-
ter. Only three are now living : Weaver,
a resident of Patterson township; John M.
and Thomas M., both of Wabash township:
and Mrs. Lovina Warner, a widow now liv-
ing in Miami county. The mother of these
children survived her husband for several
years and was an octogenarian at the time of
her demise. She now sleeps in Holsapple
cemetery.
Josiah M. Richardson, the father of our
subject, was born in Monroe township about
1830, and after arriving at years of maturity
he wedded Mary Thompson. She was born
in Monroe township. October 22, 1831, and
is a daughter of Israel and Nancy Thomp-
son. The marriage occurred about 1850,
and their union has been blessed with one
son and two daughters, the first being
Ephraim C, of this review. The daugh-
ters are Lovina and Drusilla. The former
is the wife of Michael Wick, of Patterson
township, and they have nine children.
Drusilla is the wife of Syl.vinas Jones,
oi Miami county, and they have one son.
The father was a carpenter by occupation.
At the time of the civil war, however, he
put aside all personal considerations and en-
listed in Brown township on the 22d of Oc-
tober, 1 86 1, as a private in Company D,
Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry. He died in
Nashville on the 24th of August, 1864, his
death resulting from a wound received at
Atlanta, Georgia. He had faithfully served
his ci iuntry f< ir three years, and had veteran-
ized on the 2 1 st of February, 1864, at Chat-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
453
tanooga. He now sleeps in a soldier's grave
in the Nashville cemetery. His widow af-
terward became Mrs. Jones, and is now liv-
ing in Laura, Miami county.
Ephraim C. Richardson, whose name in-
troduces this record, obtained his education
in the district schools and resided with his
mother until his marriage, which occurred
October 8, 1874, Miss Almeda C. Jones, of
Newton township, Miami county, becoming
his wife. She is a daughter of Alvin and
Mary Ann (Walker) Jones, whose family
embraces six children, namely: Mrs. Rich-
ardson; Sylvinas, a resident of Laura, Ohio;
Elvira, the wife of William Yount; Sum-
ner, who died at the age of sixteen years ;
Loren, who died in infancy; and Warren,
who makes his home in Newton township,
Miami county. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson
are also the parents of six children : Ar-
mina Viola, who died at the age of twenty-
two months; Melville Montro, Pearlie Iona,
Osco Arlington, Forest Valeria, and the twin
brother of Forest, who died in infancy.
After his marriage Mr. Richardson en-
gaged in the operation of a saw-mill for one
year, but in 1876 located on his farm, com-
prising eighty-seven acres of rich land.
There he carried on agricultural pursuits
with excellent success until July, 1899, and
during that time he also engaged in the man-
ufacture of tile. At the present time he is
renting his farm, having since July, 1899,
been a resident of Xew Weston, where he
is engaged in the undertaking business, as a
member of the firm of Richardson & Med-
ford. They are the only undertakers in the
town, and are doing a good business. Mr.
Richardson is a man of marked energy and
carries forward to successful completion
whatever he undertakes, and it is this quality
that has made him successful.
In his political views Mr. Richardson
is a Republican and on that ticket he has
been elected to several local offices. He
served for six years in Wabash township as
a township trustee, and for seven years was
a member of the board of education. He
and his wife are members of the Xew Light
church, and in the community where they are
known they are regarded as most highly re-
spected people, well worthy of the esteem
and confidence of all with whom they are
associated.
JAMES FROST.
This well-known and popular citizen of
Greenville, Ohio, is today the leading florist
of Darke county. In his special line of busi-
ness he has met with well-deserved success,
as he started out in life for himself with no
capital, and by the energy and zeal which he
has manifested he has won the confidence and
esteem of the public.
Mr. Frost was born in England, in 1853,
a son of Joseph and Rose Hannah (Leach)
Frost, life-long residents of that country,
where the father was employed as a shep-
herd. Our subject received a good common
school education in his native land, where
he spent the first sixteen years of his life,
and in 1868 emigrated to the United States,
landing in Xew York city. From there he
went to Auburn, Xew York, where he se-
cured work of a Mr. Ellitson, a successful
florist, with whom he remained ten years,
during which time he thoroughly mastered
the business in every detail. The following
years were spent with W. W. Green & Son,
and in 1890 he came to Greenville, Ohio, and
purchased the greenhouses belonging to Na-
than Rasor. These he has rebuilt, added to
and improved, putting in a hot-water sys-
iol
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tern for heating purposes. All of his build-
ing's are in good repair, and everything about
the premises indicates thrift and a careful
attention to business. He has many choice
and rare plants : has established a large local
trade, and also ships large quantities of flow-
ers and plants outside the state, sending
them both east and west, doing a large
wholesale business throughout the United
States. His life has been one of industry
and perseverance, and his success is due en-
tirely to his own well-directed efforts.
In February. 1SS6, Mr. Frost married
Miss Mary E. Lent, of Auburn, New York.
They have no children. Fraternally he is
a member of Greenville Lodge. Xo. 143. F.
& A. M. ; Greenville Chapter. No. 77, R. A.
M. ; Champion Lodge, Xo. 742, I. O. O. F. ;
Greenville Encampment, Xo. 90; and both
he and his wife have been members of the
Daughters of Rebekah for several years.
He is also a member of Little Turtle- Tribe.
Xo. 1 19, Improved Order of Red Men.
PETER ALBRIGHT.
Peter Albright, one of the leading citi-
zens of Van Buren township, Darke county,
Ohio, owns and operates a fine farm of one
hundred and eleven acres, which he has
placed in a high state of cultivation and im-
proved with good buildings. His posses-
sions have all been acquired through his own
efforts, and as the result of his long sustained
endeavor he has won a place among the well-
to-do citizens of his community.
The first of the Albright family to come
to America was our subject's great-grand-
father, George Albright, a native of Ger-
many, who settled in Berks county, Penn-
sylvania. The grandfather. Jacob Albright,
spent his entire life in that county, as a
farmer, and died about 1842, when over
eighty years of age. The father, Peter Al-
bright, was born on the old homestead in
Berks county, and on reaching manhood
married Catherine Heffner. a native of the
same county. Later they moved to Cum-
berland county, Pennsylvania, locating
eighteen miles west of Harrisburg, where
the father bought a farm of eighty acres,
which he operated until his death in 1885.
He was twice married, his first wife being
Catherine Heffner, by whom lie had several
children. There were two children by the
second marriage: Peter, our subject; and
Lucy. The mother died in 1841. She, too,
was twice married, her first husband being
Air. Cline, and she had children by that
union.
Our subject was born in Berks county,
Pennsylvania. August 1. 1836. and was quite
small when the family moved to Cumberland
county, where he made his home until six-
teen years of age. his education being ob-
tained in the country schools. At the age of
fi lurteen he commenced learning the cabinet
maker's trade, and was to receive thirty-five
dollars for three years' work, three weeks of
rest and three months of schooling in winter;
but he was not given the educational ad-
vantages. At the age of sixteen he came to
Ohio, having just enough money to bring
him to Greenville, where he found work at
his trade. After his marriage he rented a
farm near that place, but did not remain
thereon a year. The following year was
spent upon a farm west of Greenville, in Van
Buren township, and for seven years he
rented-Dr. Gard's farm. At the end of that
time he purchased fifty acres of land in Van
Buren township, erected a house and other
buildings, and continued the improvement
and cultivation of that farm for twenty vears.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
455
Since then his home has been on his present
farm, and he has built thereon a good barn
and made many other improvements, which
add to the value and attractive appearance
■of the place.
While a resident of Greenville, Mr. Al-
bright married Miss Maria Pearson, who
was born in Van Buren township, September
15. 1837, a daughter of Allen and Mary
(Arnold) Pearson. Of the five children
born of this union, Monta L. and Mary Es-
telle died young; Allan married Annie
"Weaver, and has two children, Opal and a
son not named ; William, at home, married
Mary Rainbarger, and has one child, Ruby;
and Pearl is also at home. The family are
members of the Caylor Chapel, United
Brethren church, and in his political views
Mr. Albright is a stanch Democrat. He is
strictly a self-made man, whose success in
life is due to industry, enterprise and per-
severance, and he has the respect and confi-
dence of all who know him.
HENRY STRAKER.
The subject of this sketch, whose home is
on section 13, Patterson township, is the
possessor of a handsome property which now
enables him to spend his days in the pleasur-
able enjoyment of his accumulations. The
record of his early life is that of an active,
enterprising, methodical and sagacious busi-
ness man, who bent his energies to the hon-
orable acquirement of a comfortable compe-
tence for himself and family.
Mr. Straker was born in Hanover, Ger-
many, November 13, 1827, and is a- son of
John Straker. The father, who was a labor-
ing man, died in 183 1, at about the age of
fifty years, leaving a widow and three sons :
Harmon, who died in Hamilton, Ohio, at
the age of twenty-one; Henry, our subject;
and John Henry, who died at the age of
four years. The mother, who was in lim-
ited circumstances, brought her children to
the new world in 1834, with the hope of im-
proving their financial condition. Later
she married Henry Connerman, who died in
Baltimore, Maryland, in 1861, and she died
on a farm a mile and a half west of 1 >ur sub-
ject's place, in i860, at about trie age of
sixty years.
Mr. Straker relates a few reminiscences
of early life in Darke county which ought
to be preserved in print. When his father
and family first arrived here, and the subject
of this sketch was about ten years of age,
the neighbors were Isaac Finkbone, Henry
Stotsenbergh, L. Hutcher and Fred Ludacre.
the distances to whose residences were re-
spectively six miles south, two miles east,
two miles west and ten miles north. The
nearest grist-mill was eight miles distant,
but it was only a "wet-weather" mill and
ran but a small portion of the year. At this
mill the grain had to be elevated up to t'.ie
second story on an incline similar to that
which is used at some saw-mills, while the
meal as it was ground was delivered by the
machinery in a bin below on the first floor.
On one occasion the meal ceased to tl< iw
down, and an investigation disclosed the fact
that a woodpecker was at the hopper pick-
ing up the grains from the shoe as fast as
they ran down. This was one of those faith-
ful old mills, as a pioneer once said, that as
soon as they had completed the grinding of
one grain of corn promptly "tackled" the
next grain.
The most reliable grist-mill in those days
was the one at the falls of Greenville creek,
twenty miles distant; and it required practi-
cally two days to make the round trip to it,
456
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
on horseback at first and by wagon after-
ward. On horseback young Henry would
take two bushels of grain to be ground, be-
sides a sack of feed for the horse and some
provisions for himself. By wagon, after-
ward, they had always to take along an ax,
with which to cut new roads around mud-
holes and other obstacles, and for other
emergencies
Henry Straker never attended school
more than six months during his life, making
his way each morning through the woods a
distance of two miles to a rude school-house
built of round logs. Among his school-
mates was his present wife. It was in 1837
that he came with his mother and stepfather
to Darke county and located in wdiat was
then a part of Patterson township, but now'
Wabash township. For half a century he
has resided upon his present farm on section
13, Patterson township, first purchasing
eighty acres of woodland, for which be paid
two hundred and twenty-seven dollars and a
half, by working for fifty cents per day. At
one time he owned five hundred and fifty-six
acres, and though he has given away some
six pieces of this property, he still has two
hundred and eighty acres, which be has
placed under a high state of cultivation and
improved with good and substantial build-
ings. On the 1st of January. 1889, he mar-
ried his present wife and soon afterward
erected his fine brick residence, while his
large barns were built, one in 1890, the other
in 1899.
On the 1st of July, 1852, Air. Straker
married Miss Nancy Swallow, and to them
were born ten children, eight sons and two
daughters, of whom one son died in infancy.
Of them we make the following observa-
tions : Matilda is now a widow, a resident
cf Patterson township; John operates a part
of his father's farm; Ellen is the wife of
Harrison Brining ; Aan .11 A. is a resident of
Dayton, Ohio ; Harrison makes his home in
\ ersailles; Isaiah is engaged in the grain
business in Osgood ; Grant, born in Feb-
ruary, 1865, is at home; William died in
1891 ; and Iven and Irvin were twins, and
the former is now a grocer of Yorkshire,
while the latter died at the age of four
months. The mother of these children died
in 1871, when the twins were only fourteen
days old. For his second wife Mr. Straker
married Mrs. Kate Greer, nee Swallow, who
died in 1880. leaving one son by her former
marriage.
On the 1st of January. 1889, Mr. Straker
married Mrs. Elizabeth (Mendenhall)
Woods, who was born November 23. 1836,
and has been three times married. Her first
husband was Jacob Brining, by whom she
had six children, and her second a man
named Woods, by whom she had five. She
has four sons ami three daughters still liv-
ing. Mr. Brining died after serving seven-
teen months as a soldier of the civil war, and
was buried at Ashland, Kentucky. Her
second and third husbands were also among
the defenders of the Union during that ter-
rible struggle. Richard Mendenhall, the
father of Mrs. Straker, was born in North
Carolina, in 1793. and brought his family to
Darke county, Ohio, in January, 1837, locat-
ing in Patterson township, where the year
previously he had entered four hundred and
ten acres of government land, and soon af-
terward bought two eighty-acre tracts for-
four hundred dollars. Of his ten children,
three sons and four daughters reached years
of maturity, and all reared large families,
Joseph having ten children, Robert and
Aaron both twelve, Delia eleven, Rachel six
and Mrs. Straker eleven.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
457
On the 2d of May, 1864, Mr. Straker en-
listed in an independent company and was
in the service four months. He is now a
member of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lic and a Republican in politics. He was
the township treasurer seventeen years, and
has also filled the offices of trustee and su-
pervisor, in a most commendable and satis-
factory manner. His estimable wife is a
member of the Christian church. Both are
still well preserved, and Mrs. Straker does all
her own work, still finding time for a favor-
ite recreation, that of fishing- in the mill-
pond on their farm. She can relate many
interesting incidents of pioneer life in this
region, and well remembers, when only four
years old, of seeing her husband, then a
flaxen-haired boy, who had been sent to her
home for some onions. Her mother lifted
her into a tree gum to pick up the onions,
and as she looked up at the white-haired boy
it made an impression upon her mind that
has always been fresh. The question that
comes to the mind of the writer is, Has Cu-
pid's arrow been rankling these many years,
while the romance of life and love is still
preserved in them? They are widely and
favorably known, and it is safe to say that
ii' ) ci inple in their community has a larger
circle of friends.
CHARLES L. KATZENBERGER.
The sturdy German element in our na-
tional commonwealth has been one of the
most important in furthering the substantial
and moral advancement of the country, for
this is an element signally appreciative of
practical values and also of the higher in-
tellectuality which transcends all provincial
confines. Well may any person take pride
in tracing his lineage to such a source. Of
the Teutonic race Charles L. Katzenberger
is descended and in his life displays many of
the sterling qualities characteristic of that
people. While taking no part in public af-
fairs as to officeholding, he has vet exerted
a wide influence on public opinion, bavins:
ever been active in the support of all meas-
ures which he believes will contribute to the
general good. He has long been a potent
element in the mercantile circles of the city,
and is a man whose sterling qualities of
character have gained for him the admira-
tion and respect of all with whom he has
assi iciated.
Mr. Katzenberger was born at Rastadt,
in the grand duchy of Baden, March 14,
1834. His native city is an old historic place
which had its foundation in the middle ages.
It is surrounded by high walls with outer
moats, and as a fort is considered of great
strategic value, being near the Rhine. Ras-
tadt is memorable for an important treaty
of peace completed there in 171 4. when the
war of the Spanish succession was ended.
For many years it was the residence of the
mark-grafs, or marquises, of Baden Baden,
during which time Mr. Katzenberger's an-
cestors, as butchers, were purveyi irs to the
court Joseph C. Katzenberger, the father
of our subject, was born at Rastadt, August
27, 1788, and died December i_\ 1852;
while his wife, Margaretha Becker, was born
at Sulzbach, in the Black Forest mountains,
in 1798, and reached the age of seventy-
three years. Mr. Katzenberger of this re-
view highly prizes a diploma received by
his father from the guild of butchers, printed
by pen in colors on parchment, announcing
that the elder Katzenberger had finished his
apprenticeship in 1806. The certificate of
mastership granted in 1770. to his grand-
father, Franz Jakob Katzenberger, who was
458
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
born in 1752 and died in 1830, is even more
ornate.
At the time of Charles L. Katzenberger's
birth, his father had acquired a hotel prop-
erty known as "Zum Goldenen Schwan ;"
and as he was the youngest son among eleven
children he early had to begin work to pro-
vide fi ir his 1 mil maintenance. After spend-
ing a few years in the public schools, he was
apprenticed to a tanner at Offenburg and
later continued learning his trade at Gerns-
bach and Lorrach, being thus engaged until
called home by the death of his father. His
brother Frank had emigrated to America in
1847, and his brothers, Joseph and Anthonv,
bad crossed the Atlantic, after having joined
the forces of Sigel, Schurz and Hecker in the
.unsuccessful attempt to establish a republic
h: Baden, in 1848. Wishing to obtain a
foothold in the new land of hope, Mr. Kat-
zenberger secured passes through French
territory and sailed from Havre, in May,
1854, crossing the Atlantic in sixty-three
days on the vessel Carolus Magnus.
Arriving in Greenville he was employed
.as a salesman by his brother Anthony, who
had, in connection with a Mr. Pretzinger,
established a grocery in the Potter corner of
the public square, July 27, 1853. After
clerking until 1861, he entered into partner-
ship with his brother Joseph in the brewing
business, on Water street, where he toiled
seven years, during which time he also
traversed Darke and surrounding counties.
After being engaged in the grocery business
with Anthony Weitbrecht for three years,
lie entered into a partnership with his brother
Anthony in 1871, and at the death of the lat-
ter, in 1894, he acquired the other half of
the grocery by purchase, and has since con-
ducted the business so long established.
In March, 1863, he married Elizabeth
Ashman, a daughter of the pioneer, Peter
Ashman, born in 1S01, two children being
the result of this union : Mary, who died in
1873, four years after her mother's death;
and George A., whose biography is included
in this work. After the death of his wife
and daughter, Mr. Katzenberger lived in
rooms adjoining the grocery with his brother
and son for about thirty years.
Bound to his native land by the ties of
mother tongue and the memories of child-
hood, he holds that a man who does not
honor his native land will not be a worthy
citizen of an adopted country. He returned
to his native land for a visit in December,
1857, on the sailing clipper Dorothea, re-
turning in the spring of 1859 on the steamer
Vanderbilt. In June, 1868, accompanied by
his sister, who had been here three years, he
started for Paris and his native city, and re-
turned, accompanied by his nephew, who
had spent three years in Rastadt, during
November, 1868. Accompanied by his son
George, he started across the ocean for the
sixth time April 19, 1877, on the steamer
Suevia, bound for Hamburg via Cherbourg,
and after a tour through Germany as far
south as Lake Constance they started on the
return trip on the Frisia, October 24, 1877.
Again in July, 1890, they left for Bremen
on the Werra, visited parts of Austria,
Switzerland, Italy and Alsace, and returned
en the Columbia in October and November,
1 89 1. Mr. Katzenberger is particular fond
of tours afoot, and has roamed in the beauti-
ful Black Forest mountains and in the Vos-
ges. He has traveled extensively in this
country also, more particularly in the forests
of the northwestern states while on hunting
tours with friends.
In politics he has been a consistent Re-
publican, although whenever any policy was
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
45$
proposed by his party which he did not deem
to be the best for the present or future inter-
ests of this country, he never hesitated to
express his opinion definitely. He joined
the order of Odd Fellows in 1857, was a
charter member of Champion Lodge, No.
742, Encampment No. 90, and was raised
to the degree of Master Mason in 1868.
While careful and conservative, he has
always favored projects that would benefit
the city without involving unreasonable ex-
pense and local indebtedness, and his con-
tributions to prospective railroads, diggings
for gas, and the like have been liberal. While
not connected with any sectarian move-
ments, he has respected the views of others
and has given bountifully to hospitals, fra-
ternal homes and aided needy poor in the
matter of house rent and groceries. For the
public benefit he has been a voluntary ob-
server for the weather bureau of the United
States department of agriculture, his rec-
ords being accurately kept. With his
brother Anthony he collected a room full of
aich;eological specimens of all kinds, not
only displaying them gratis but also endeav-
oring to interest the public in matters his-
torical. Among the German-Americans Mr.
Katzenberger has stood in the foremost
ranks because of his intelligence, honesty,
affability and kindness. He has willingly
given aid and counsel to all. His life is an
object lesson of the success attending hard
work and plain living.
DANIEL CAUPP.
Daniel Caupp, who owns and operates a
valuable farm on section 23, Mississinawa
township, was born in Ross county, Ohio,
on the 10th of August, 1844, and is of Ger-
man lineage. His father, Frederick, Caupp.
was a native of Stuttgart, Germany, born in
1808, and about 1824, when sixteen years
of age, he crossed the Atlantic to the
new world. He wedded Barbara Zim-
merman, also a native of Germany, and
they took up their abode on a farm of
forty acres in Ross county, Ohio, where
most of their children were born. There
were six children by the first marriage :
John," who enlisted for the service in the
Fortieth Ohio Infantry during the civil war
and died of typhoid fever while in service,
his remains being interred at Plain City,
Ohio; Susan, the wife of Andrew Horlocker;
Daniel, of this review ; David, who died at
the age of twenty years, of typhoid fever;
Frederick, who died of the same disease and
about the same time ; and Gottleib, a farmer
residing near the old homestead. The par-
ents of this family started out in life in lim-
ited circumstances, but their united efforts
enabled them to work their way steadily up-
ward until they became the owners of a val-
uable farm of ninety acres. The father died
about 1880, at the age of sixty-five years,
and was laid to rest in Pleasant Ridge cem-
eterv. but the mother still survives him.
Mr. Caupp, of this review, pursued his
education in the district schools and remained
upon the home farm through the period of
his boyhood and youth. Mo event of special
importance occurred during that time, yet
his was a busy existence, his time being de-
voted to the labors of the fields through the
summer months and the mastery of the com-
111 m English branches of learning during the
winter season. He was married ( )cfc iber 12,
[873, to Louisa Beal, of this county.a daugh-
ter of Isaac and Mary (Miller) Heal. Their
union has been blessed with thirteen child
of whom ten are living, as f< >11< >w s : Lemuel
S. who assists in the operation of the h
400
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
farm: David, who is married and lives on a
farm in this locality; William: Myrtle, the
wife of George Thomas, of Mississinawa
township, by whom she has one son: Daniel
N., Earl, Florence Iva, Ira and Mabel.
Mr. Caupp votes with the Democracy
and keeps well informed on the issues of the
•day, but has never sought or desired office.
He carries on general farming and recently
has devoted eight or ten acres to the cultiva-
tion of tobacco. His sixty-acre farm was a
part of his father's homestead and bis rich
and fertile tract is under a high state of cul-
tivation. He believes it is best to keep his
I)
land in good condition and to follow progres-
sive methods of farming. He has upon his
place a large, fine, frame residence, which be
erected in 1858, and near by stand a commo-
dious barn and other outbuildings, provid-
ing ample shelter for the grain and stock.
He has planted many fruit and shade trees
around bis place, which add much to the
comfort and beauty of his rural home. His
work has been carried on so systematically
and carefully that he is to-day the possessor
of a comfortable competence and is regarded
as one of the representative citizens of his
community — which fact entitles him to men-
tion in the history of Darke county.
WILLIAM K. KERLIN.
History and biography for the must part
record the lives of those only who have at-
tained military, political or literary distinc-
tion, or who in any other career have passed
through extraordinary vicissitudes of for-
tune. The unostentatious routine of private
life, although in the aggregate more import-
ant to the welfare of the community, cannot
from its nature figure in the public annals.
But the names of men who have distin-
guished themselves in their day and genera-
tion for the possession, in an eminent degree,
of those qualities of character which mainly
contribute to the success of private life and
to the public stability of men who without
dazzling talents have been exemplary in all
their personal and social relations, and en-
joyed the esteem, respect and confidence of
tin ise around them, ought not to be allowed
to perish. Their example is more valuable
to the majority of readers than that of illus-
trious heroes, statesmen or writers. Few
can draw rules for their own guidance from
the pages of Plutarch, but all are benefited
by the delineation of those traits of character
which find scope and exercise in the common
walks of life.
Among the individuals of this class in the
state of Ohio none are better entitled to rep-
resentation in this work than the subject of
this sketch. Hs record is the account of a
life, uneventful indeed as far as stirring in-
cident of startling adventure is concerned,
yet distinguished by the most substantial
qualities of character. His life history ex-
hibits a long and virtuous career of private
industry, performed with moderation and
crowned with success. It is the record of a
well-balanced mental and moral constitu-
tion strongly marked by those traits 1 >f char-
acter which are of especial value in such a
state of society as exists in this country. A
community depends upon business activity,
its welfare is due to this, and the promoters
of legitimate and extensive business enter-
prises may well be termed its benefactors.
William K. Kerlin was long prominent
in agricultural and financial circles of Darke
Ci unity, but is now living retired in Green-
ville, having recently resigned the presidency
of the Second National Bank. He was
born in Wavne county, Indiana, March 2,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
401
1832, and is a son of Elijah and Malinda
( Sands) Kerlin, both natives of Washington
county, Tennessee. The paternal grandfa-
ther was William Kerlin, a native of Norfolk,
Virginia, who loyally served his country as
a soldier in the war of the Revolution. He
married Miss Elizabeth lies, who was born
in Scotland and during her girlhood emi-
grated to America. Her father fought
under General Jackson at the battle of New
Orleans and located in the south, but after-
ward made his way northward to Winches-
ter, Pennsylvania. John Kerlin, the great-
grandfather of our subject, came from the
north of Ireland to the new world, one hun-
dred and fifty years ago ; and on the maternal
side our subject is descended from one of the
old families of Tennessee, his grandfather
being Jacob Sands, a native of that state. His
wife, however, was born in North Carolina,
and bore the maiden name of Elizabeth
Brown. Elijah Kerlin, the father of our
subject, was born in Washington county,
Tennessee, in 1809, and his wife's birth oc-
curred there in 1808. Leaving the state of
their nativity they emigrated to Indiana, in
183 1, locating in Wayne county, where Mrs.
Kerlin died in September, 1879.
William K. Kerlin, whose name intro-
duces this record, was reared in the usual
manner of farmer lads, early becoming an
active participant in the work of field and
meadow. The district schools afforded him
his preliminary education, which was later
supplemented by study in a select school at
Richmond. Indiana. , On putting aside his
text-books he returned to the farm and for a
time assisted in its cultivation through the
summer months, while in the winter season
he engaged in teaching school. In 1853 lie
was married to Miss Hannah Jeffris, of
Wayne county, Indiana, and a daughter of
Isaac and Eliza Jeffris. of that county. The
parents, however, were natives of Chester
county, Pennsylvania.
After his marriage Mr. Kerlin located on
a farm in Wayne county. Indiana, where he
carried on general agricultural pursuits until
he was thirty-eight years of age. In 1865 he
moved from that county to Harrison town-
ship, Darke county, where he continued farm-
ing until 1870, when he took up his abode in
Greenville. While residing in Harrison
township he was elected justice of the peace
and was also appointed deputy treasurer, fill-
ing the latter position for four years. In
1874 he was elected county treasurer for the
regular term of two years and being re-
elected served in that position for four con-
secutive years, proving a most capable and
reliable official. On the expiration of his
second term, he gave his attention to live
stock dealing and also engaged in loaning
money. This proved an introductory work
to the banking business and in 1883 he be-
came the leading organizer and principal
stockholder of the Second National Bank of
Greenville. Upon its organization he was
chosen its president, which responsible posi-
tii hi he filled until January, 1900, when he re-
signed on account of failing health. The
success of the institution was due in a large
measure to his efforts his known reliability,
conservative methods and honorable dealing,
which have secured a liberal patronage.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kerlin have been
born eleven children, ten of whom reached
years of maturity, namely, four daughters
and six sons, as follows: Anna E., the wife
of Professor Seitz; Emma; Mary W., the
wife of D. W. Bowman; Carrie, the wife of
Melville Hunt, a clothing merchant in Green-
ville; Oscar, who is engaged in the practice
of dentistry: John D., a physician of Green-
462
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ville; William L., an undertaker at Fort
Wayne, Indiana ; Edward J., who is in a
freight office in Indianapolis, Indiana ; James
R., a telegraph operator at Columbus, Ohio;
and Leo E., a law student in Cincinnati.
Mr. Keiiin has a good farm of eighty-
four acres and also owns considerable city
property, including his fine brick residence
on West Fourth street. In his political
views he is a gold Democrat. In seeking for
the causes of his success we find them not so
much in their rarity as in their harmonious
union, and they may be briefly summed up
by saving that he has the tastes of a scholar,
the manners of a gentleman and the habits
of a man of business, — a combination of
qualities that are bound to produce the high-
est results. It is no very rare thing for a
poor boy in our country to become a pros-
perous man and occupy a commanding posi-
tion in the business world, but many who
have fought their way from poverty to
wealth, from obscurity to prominence, retain
some marks and scars of the conflict. They
are apt to be narrow and grasping, even if
not unscrupulous. Mr. Kerlin, however, is
an instance of a man who has achieved suc-
cess without paying the price at which it is
so often bought, for his prosperity has not
removed him farther from his fellow men.
but has brought him into nearer and more
intimate relations to them. The more means
he has had, the more he has done for those
around him, and numbered among Green-
ville's most honored citizens is William K.
Keiiin.
JOHN E. BREADEN, Sr.
Among the retired farmers residing in
Greenville is John E. Breaden, who is en-
joying a rest which he has truly earned and
richly deserves. He has won prominence
through honorable business methods, close
application, unflagging energy and keen dis-
crimination, steadily working his way up-
ward until he now occupies a position of
affluence. His career has indeed been
straightforward and honorable, winning him.
the respect, confidence and good will of his
fellowmen and his example is one well
worthy of emulation.
Mr. Breaden is one of Ohio's native sons,
his birth having occurred on the 19th of
June, 1828, on a farm near Glendale, a small
village in Hamilton county, Ohio. His fa-
ther, Dr. Jeremiah Breaden, was born on the
Emerald Isle, but in early life came to the
new world and was married in New Jersey.
Flis wife bore the maiden name of Epenetus
Sorter, and was a daughter of Thomas
Sorter, a native of New Jersey. With her
husband she came to Ohio and they took up
their abode upon a farm near Glendale,
where they spent the greater part of their
lives, Mrs. Breaden dying in Springdale, this
state.
John E. Breaden, whose name introduces
this review, enjoyed such educational priv-
ileges as were afforded in the common
.schools of Hamilton county, his tutor being
Professor Ferman, a most earnest and able
educator. On leaving school he entered a
drug store belonging to his brother, Will-
iam, in Hamilton, where he learned the
druggist's business, continuing his connec-
tion with that enterprise for three years.
In 1850 he came to Greenville, purchased the
drug store and stock of J. F. Howell and
succeeding to the business he conducted his
store there for three years, after which he
sold out and removed to Brown township,
Darke c< unity, locating on a farm which he
made his home for two years. He then re-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
463
turned to Greenville and became associated
in business with John Hufnagle, his father-
in-law, conducting a general mercantile es-
tablishment until 1865. Once more Mr.
Breaden disposed of his mercantile interests
in this city and resumed agricultural pur-
suits, locating in Richland township, where
he engaged in diversified farming. Through
a period of nineteen years he devoted his time
and energies to the cultivation of field and
meadow and to the raising of stock. That
period of his life was one of marked in-
dustry, guided by sound judgment and char-
acterized by careful management, and thus
he yearly augmented his capital until he
found himself in the possession of a hand-
some competence. When almost two dec-
ades had passed he removed from his farm
to Greenville, Ohio. His place comprised
three hundred and fifty acres of rich and
arable land, which was under a high state of
cultivation. In addition he raised stock in
considerable number, including cattle, hogs
and sheep, all of a high grade. He raised
sheep for both wool and mutton and his stock
brought to him a good income. After his last
retro >val to Greenville he retired from active
business, yet superintended his investments.
On the 29th of May, 1S51, Mr. Breaden
was married to Miss Anjumila Hufnagle,
who was born in Dauphin county, Penn-
sylvania, on the 19th of May. 1832, avd is a
daughter of John Hufnagle, deceased, who
was the president of the Greenville Bank
and for many years a leading merchant of
the city. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Breaden have
been born three children: John Edward,
who was born July 28, 1852. was graduated
at Chickering Institute, in Cincinnati, with
the class of 1873, subsequently read law in
the office of the firm of Calderwood & Cole,
in Greenville, was admitted to the Darke
28
county bar in 1876 and died June 9, 1897,
respected by all who knew him ; Marie Eva,
born February 8, 1854, and died in infancy;
and Lillian Vincincia, born December 30,
[861, who was educated at St. Mary's of
the Springs Convent near Columbus, Ohio,
and afterward became the wife of Frank T.
Conkling, who is one of the enterprising-
citizens of Greenville and the capable cashier
of the Greenville Bank. They have one son,
Pierson Breaden, born June 19, 1887.
Mr. Breaden still owns his fine farm in
Richland township and rents it to tenants
of whom he requires that it shall be kept in
a high state of cultivation. In 1899 ne be-
gan the erection of one of the finest resi-
dences in Darke county, probably unsur-
passed by any home in this locality. It is
located on North Broadway and is built of
stone and brick in a late and beautiful archi-
tectural design ; its exterior appearance and
internal adornment, together with its splen-
did modern improvements, makes it an orna-
ment to the city and reflects credit upon the
owner. It stands as a monument to his
thrift and enterprise in former years and
is a fitting abode for one who has led such
an active, useful and honorable life, that he
may therein spend his last years in quiet re-
tirement. Mr. Breaden is a citizen of
sterling worth, commanding the esteem of
all with whom he has been brought in con-
tact and without any special advantages of
education in his youth he has advanced
steadily upward step by step to a prominent
place among the substantial representatives
of Darke county.
JOHN D. KERLIX, M. D.
Careful preparation for the practice
medicine and surgery, together with close
attention to the duties of his profession, has
464
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
gained for Dr. Kerlin an enviable place
in the ranks of the medical fraternity of
Darke county, and the record of his life can-
not fail to prove of interest to many of our
readers, for he is widely and favorably
known not only in Greenville, where he
makes his home, but also throughout much
of the surrounding country. He was born
at Whitewater. Wayne county. Indiana, Feb-
ruary 2j, 1865, and is the second son of
W. K. and Hannah (Jeffries) Kerlin. His
boyhood days were passed in the county of
Lis nativity, and with his parents he removed
to Darke county, living for a time upon a
farm, after which the family took up their
abode in Greenville. Here he enjoyed the
educational advantages afforded by the pub-
lic schools, completing the high school course
by graduation in the class of 1882. De-
termining to devote his life to professional
labors, he soon afterward began reading
medicine in the office and under the direc-
tion of Dr. L. S. Kelsey, of Richmond, In-
diana, a noted surgeon of that place. Sub-
sequently he entered the Medical College of
Ohio, at Cincinnati, and, mastering the regu-
larly prescribed course in that institution,
was graduated in 1886, with high honors.
He won the special prize offered by the col-
lege, which was a hospital appointment to
the Good Samaritan Hospital, and there he
served for one year, supplementing his the-
oretical knowledge by practical and varied
experience.
On the expiration of that period Dr.
Kerlin located in Stelvideo, Darke county,
Ohio, where he remained for six years, and
in the fall of 1893 he came to Greenville,
where he has since conducted a general prac-
tice, giving special attention to surgery,
gaining from his faithful performance of
each ''.ay's duties strength and inspiration
for the labors of the following day. He
keeps in close touch with the progress made
by the profession through his perusal of
medical journals, and carries his investiga-
tions far and wide into the realms of med-
ical science and research.
In 1893 the Doctor was united in mar-
riage with Miss Minnie Martin, a daughter
of Eli and Harriet (Trump ) Martin. They
have a pleasant home in Greenville and a
large circle of friends, and the hospitality
of many of the best homes in the city is ex-
tended to them. The Doctor is now serv-
ing as the health officer of Greenville. Si -
cially he is connected with Greenville Lodge,
F. & A. M. ; Greenville Chapter. R. A. M. :
the I. O. O. F. ; Independent Order of Red
Men, and Knights of Pythias, and he finds
ample opportunity along professional lines
to exemplify the beneficent and helpful prin-
ciples which underlie these orders.
PETER ARMSTRONG.
It is with pleasure that the publishers of
this volume are able to present the life his-
b iry of the gentleman whose name appears
above and to note the success which he has
achieved and the honorable methods he has
followed in winning prosperity. His life
has been in exemplification of what ma}' be
accomplished by determined purpose and un-
faltering energy, and in many respects his
history is well worthy of emulation. Un-
deterred by the difficulties and obstacles in
his path he has advanced steadily step by-
step until he is now found upon the plain of
affluence, enjoying the comforts and ad-
vantages which have come to him as the re-
ward of his well directed labors.
The Armstrong family, of which he is a
representative, is of sturdv Scotch origin.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
405
James Armstrong, the grandfather, was a
native of Scotland and emigrated to this
country soon after the struggle in which our
forefathers secured national independence.
He settled in Washington county, Pennsyl-
vania, which at that time was an almost un-
broken wilderness, and in years of toil
cleared a farm, upon which he reared his
family and spent his remaining days, an
honored and respected citizen of this com-
munity. It was upon that farm that John
Armstrong first opened his eyes to the light
cf day, in the year 1793. There he remained
until 1818, assisting his father in the work
of cultivating and improving the land, ami
attended the district schools of the neigh-
borhood.
In the year mentioned he determined to
try his fortune in the more recently devel-
oped section of the country, and after a
long and tiresome journey through a wild
region he arrived in Darke county, Ohio,
finding a mere hamlet where now stands the
beautiful and thriving city of Greenville.
There he sought and found employment at
his trade of carpentering, which he had
learned in the east. Later he also engaged
in the manufacture of brick, carrying on
that pursuit in connection with contracting
and building for a period of three years. He
then disposed of his village interests and en-
gaged in farming in Greenville township,
but in a short time he again returned to
Greenville, where he lived for about two
years. In 1833 he purchased eighty acres
of land in Jackson township. At that
early day the country was covered with
heavy forests and it was necessary for this
hardy pioneer to cut his own road through
the woods, a distance of three miles, in order
to reach his land. Such obstacles as these,
however, did not discourage him and serve
now to illustrate the sterling character and
resolute purpose of the pioneers. What
would now seem to lie insurmountable ob-
stacles seemed but to serve as the impetus
for renewed effort on the part of those early
settlers, who in the midst of the for-
est hewed out their homesteads. Upon
his eighty acres of land Mr. Armstrong
made a small clearing and erected a
log cabin in which he lived until 1856,
when a frame house was built. It is still
standing, and in this more modern abode
the father passed away July 15, 1864. He
was one of the most prominent men in Darke
county, who not only ably performed the
work of his farm, but also found time to
devote to public duties. He was a man of
strong mentality and excellent education.
Soon after his arrival in Darke county he
took up the study of law, which well quali-
fied him to discharge the duties of justice of
the peace, to which office he was elected.
He was afterward chosen associate jud.°'e
and for a period of six years served in that
capacity, filling the position with marked
ability and fidelity. On the expiration of
his term he- was again elected justice and
held that office up to the time of his death.
He also took a prominent part in town-
ship affairs and served his fellow townsmen
in all its offices. In politics he was first a
Whig and later a Republican. He was long
a faithful and consistent member of the
Christian church, contributing liberally to
its support and doing all in his power to
promote its wOrk, and during its early ex-
istence its meetings were held at his home
or in a beautiful grove on his land.
Mr. Armstrong was twice married. He
first wedded a Miss Vail, and by their union
two children were born, one of whom. Mrs.
Fanny Douglass, a resident of Jackson
46(5
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
township, is still living. For his second
wife the father chose Miss Elston, a daugh-
ter of Levi and Elizabeth El.ston. She was
born in New Jersey and came to Washing-
ton township with her people about 1820.
Nine children were born of their union, eight
of whom reached years of maturity : Thomas,
now deceased; Peter, whose name intro-
duces this record; Sarah, deceased; Hugh,
who resides in German township; Eliza-
beth, who married Silas Hart and is living
in Darke count}- : John, who met death upon
the battlefield March 26, 1865; Mary Jane,
widow of Daniel. Dowler and a resident of
Washington township; and Catherine, wife
of Augustus Stoner, who resides on the old
Armstrong homestead in Jackson township.
The mother of these children survived her
husband several years, passing away in
April. 1884, and thus the lives of two of
Darke county's honored pioneer people were
ended, but the}- left behind them the priceless
heritage of a good name and the memory of
m ible deeds.
Peter Armstrong was bom in Green-
ville township. November 21, 1831, and his
early life was spent in the usual manner of
farmer lads of that period. He pursued his
education" in the district school when it was
in session and worked upon the home farm
1 hiring the summer months. He remained
with his parents until he had reached the
age of sixteen years, when he began to earn
his own livelihood by work in a saw-mill in
Jackson township. He was there employed
for nearly six years, and on the expiration
of that period was married. In August,
1854. he leased some land in Washington
township, living there for a year and a half,
and in 1856 he purchased eighty acres — a
portion of his present farm — which com-
prises one hundred and thirty-one acres.
The place was but partially cleared and some-
what improved, a log house having been
built. This was his home for some years,
but as time passed he was enabled to add
all the comforts of civilization, and to-day
he is recognized as one of the leading, in-
fluential and prosperous agriculturists of
Darke county. Where once stood the forest
trees in their primeval strength are now seen
beautiful fields under a high state of culti-
\ation, and the primitive log cabin, witli
its mud-and-stick chimney, has long since
been replaced by a modern and commodious
residence. Good barns and other outbuild-
ings provide shelter for grain and stock,
and the owner for some years has been ex-
tensively engaged in stock dealing. His
life has been one of marked industry and
great labor has been required to accomplish
the changes which have been made, but his
marked enterprise was one of his leading
characteristics and has brought to him well
merited success.
The lady who has been to Mr. Arm-
strong a faithful companion and helpmate
on life's journey for nearly a half century
was in her maidenhood Miss Catherine
Henning, daughter of Jacob and Barbara
Henning. Her people came to Darke coun-
ty from Montgomery count}-, locating in the
southeast corner of Washington township.
They had five children, of whom Mrs. Arm-
strong is the second. The father died in
io'4i and the mother in 1881. The mar-
riage of Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong occurred
July 25, 1854, and has been blessed with
lour children: David, a locomotive engineer
on the Big Four Railroad, now residing in
East St. Louis; Sarah J., the deceased wife
of Andrew Bickel; Hugh S. : and Mary, the
wife of William Oukst. who is living on the
homestead farm.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
467
Mr. Armstrong gave his political sup-
port in early life to the Whig party and on
its dissolution joined the Republican ranks.
His first ballot was cast for General Winfield
Scott for the presidency. He has always
taken an active interest in township affairs,
having served as assessor for five years, as
treasurer for five years, as trustee for two
years and as constable. He has also been a
member of the board of education for fifteen
years and has ever discharged his duties
with marked promptness and fidelity. Both
he and his wife are consistent members of the
German Baptist church. They have now
reached the evening of life, and their many
friends join in the wish that they may live
to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniver-
sary. They have ever been people of re-
liability, honesty and worth and enjoy the
respect of all with whom they have been
associated.
JOHN E. BREADEX, Jr.
By Judge H. M. Cole.
In the death of John Edward Breaden,
Jr., Greenville and Darke county lost a citi-
zen whom it had learned to respect and
honor. At the funeral services Judge
Henry M. Cole pronounced the following-
eulogy upon his fellow member of the bar:
"John Edward Breaden, Jr., was born in
Greenville, Ohio, July 28, 1852, and was
partly educated in the schools of our city
and finished his educational course at Chick-
ering Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio, at which
institution he graduated in 1873. Soon after
that he entered the law office of Calderwood
& Cole, of which firm I was the junior mem-
ber, and commenced the study of law. con-
tinuing there until he was admitted to the
bar in 1876. He soon afterward formed
a partnership with Judge Clark and entered
upon the active practice of his profession,
which business relation continued for more
than three years. He afterward formed a
partnership with his former preceptor, Judge
Calderwood, with whom he continued to
practice his profession until Judge Calder-
wood's death, June 9, 1891. From that
time up until his last sickness, he continued
in the active practice of his profession alone.
"The deceased was kind and respectful
in his intercourse with all who came in con-
tact with him. As a student he was indus-
trious and possessed a broad and compre-
hensive mind, and when he was admitted to
the bar he was well equipped to commence
the following- of his chosen profession. By
prompt business habits and courteous treat-
ment of his clients and friends he soon ac-
quired a practice of which any young lawyer
might well be proud, and in a few years be-
came eminently successful and prominent in
his profession. By his association with his
former tutor, Judge Calderwood, who was
then especially prominent as a criminal law-
yer, he seemed to imbibe his taste for crim-
inal practice, and long before his death he
had become one of the most prominent crim-
inal lawyers in this county, and his reputa-
tion as such extended even far beyond the
limits of his own county.
"In the pursuit of his calling and in his
intercourse with his fellow members of the
bar, he was respectful, kind and courteous
and possessed without exception their respect
and esteem. He was industrious and his
cases were well prepared. lie was an able
and eloquent advocate, ever zealous in pre-
senting the cause of his client in both civil
and criminal cases, and if they failed of suc-
cess it was not the fault of their counsel,
but the fault of their cause: in short, we
408
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
may truthfully say that at. and for a long
time before, his untimely end, he stood in the
front rank of his profession. The earnest-
ness and zeal he manifested for his clients,
the energy and ability with which he pre-
sented their claims and advocated their
causes before a court or jury, won for him
the confidence of those who had sought his
services, and by a course of fair dealing and
generous treatment he retained their friend-
ship, their confidence and their business.
"He was modest in his intercourse with
others and careful not to wound the feelings
of any. Many of us have been associated
with him in the preparation and trial of
c;:>es and we always found in him an agree-
able associate, ever willing' to make a valu-
able suggestion and ever able to render valu-
able assistance; and when a few years ago
he was engaged with a number of us in im-
portant criminal cases, involving days of
labor, in our consultations I always listened
anxiously for his suggestions and advice;
J believe that all of us did; for he scarcelv
made a suggestion but that it was concurred
in and adopted by his co-counsel. I then be-
came most favorably impressed with his
abilities as a lawyer. Honorable in his
dealings with all. straightforward in his
course through life, he won a reputation
worthy of imitation, not only by the young
man who is just beginning his career in life.
but by those of us who are older and vet to
live after him.
''We have all heard his eloquent and en-
ergetic appeals in our worldly courts in the
behalf of the cause of his many clients. We
have seen him defend and contend for their
rights with a zeal and in a manner that could
but excite the admiration of all, and that
won for him the reputation of an able ad-
vocate and jurist. Yet to-day that voice so
often listened to by us, so eloquently and
ably advocating the causes of his clients,. is
hushed forever — forever hushed in death.
Those eloquent appeals to earthly courts and
earthly juries will be heard no more, that fa-
miliar voice will never again reverberate
throughout our halls of justice. His life is
ended. His history has begun and ceased.
He who was so intimately connected with us
has passed from life into eternity.
"Our associations, which have for many
years been so intimate, are forever ended.
At the time of his death he was a member
of the Ohio state board of pardons, to
which position he was appointed by Gov-
ernor Bushnell. who- held him in high es-
teem, and who in his own language said of
him, 'He was an honest man ami a good
officer.'
"This is the fifth time within the past
year that we have been called upon to per-
form this sad duty ; to pay our last respects
to a deceased member of our profession.
These recurring events remind us not only
of our duties to ourselves, but to our fellow
men. and that there is an end to all earthly
tilings. It reminds me that almost all of
those who were practicing at the bar of this
county when I entered upon the stage of pro-
fessional life, which seems but a short time
ago, have passed from time into eternity,
and that to-day I am attending the last sad
funeral rites of one who was my student,
long after I had entered upon the stern duties
of life. By his death a bright and shining
light has gone out. By it we are reminded
of the uncertainties of this life and the un-
certainty of all that is mortal. His manly
form, which has until so lately moved among
us and with us, is forever laid low in death,
and will soon return to mother earth. The
high esteem in which he was held by the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
409
members of the Greenville bar, who knew
him best, are fully expressed in the resolu-
tions just read. These resolutions were
adopted unanimously and sincerely as evi-
denced by the trembling voices of those who
spoke at the meeting of our bar this after-
noon. His memory will ever be held in
high esteem among us all. We, as his friends
and associates, now bid him a final and eter-
nal farewell on earth."
HUGH L. ARMSTRONG.
The Armstrong family is so well known
in Darke county that this representative of
the name needs no special introduction to the
readers of this volume. His entire life has
been passed within the borders of the county
and he is classified among the reliable and
progressive business men. He was born on
the old home farm, June 15, i860, and is a
son of Peter Armstrong, a worthy pioneer,
who is represented elsewhere in this volume.
It was his ambition to become a lawyer, but
this desire met with the objection of his
parents and his attention was therefore given
to farming and kindred interests. His edu-
cation was pursued in the district schools,
which he attended through the winter
months until he had attained the age of nine-
teen years. Through the summer season he
assisted in the farm work, from the time
of the early spring planting until the crops
were harvested in the autumn. When he
was seventeen years of age he joined his
brother, Davis, in the purchase and opera-
tion of the first traction engine ever used in
that county. They continued business in
that line until April, 1885, when Hugh Arm-
strong became associated with the firm of
Gaar, Scott & Company, of Richmond, In-
diana, one of the most extensive manufactur-
ing houses turning out threshing and milling
machinery in the world. Mr. Armstrong
began with them as local agent and so con-
tinued until 1889, when he went upon the
road as traveling agent, representing the
firm in western Ohio. He was thus em-
ployed until 1892, when he was appointed
to the position of general agent and now has
control of twenty counties in the western part
of this state and eight ci 'initio in eastern In-
diana. He has full charge of all their goods
in this territory and the position is a lucra-
tive one, owing to the extensive sales made
in this region. Mr. Armstrong maintains
his headquarters at Hillgrove, and in addi-
tion to the general agency he carries 1 m
farming. On his land in Washington town-
ship he has a large machine repair shop,
where he is prepared to repair all machines
of which he is the agent.
On the 1st of September, 1881, Mr. Arm-
strong was married to Miss Elizabeth By-
ram, a daughter of James and Elizabeth
Byram, now residents of Dayton, but for-
merly of Hillgrove. Their union has been
blessed with three children — Jennie. Clara
B. and John E. — and the family circle yet
remains unbroken by the hand of death.
Mr. Armstrong exercises his right of fran-
chise in support of the men and measures of
the Republican party and keeps well in-
fi irmed on the issues of the day, but has
never sought or desired office for himself.
He is a member of the Masonic lodge in
Greenville, in which he has attained the
Master Mason degree. A man of good
business ability, he is sagacious and tar-
sighted in his undertakings and at all times
reliable and trustworthy. Me is well known
in commercial circles in western Ohio and
enjoys the high regard of all with whom
he lias been brought in contact. In manner
470
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
he is genial and courteous and his many
excellent qualities have made him a very
popular citizen in his native county.
GEORGE W. SIGAFOOS.
On the roster of the county officers of
Darke county appears the name of George
W. Sigafoos, who is holding the position
O- auditor, and in the discharge of his duties
is manifesting a loyalty and ability that has
gained for him uniform commendation. He
was born in Miami county, Ohio, June 8,
1856, a son of James and Margaret ( Bitner)
Sigafoos. His paternal grandfather, Fred-
erick Sigafoos, was one of the pioneers of
Holmes county. Ohio, and the great-grand-
father of our subject was a native of Scot-
land. James Sigafoos was born in Holmes
county, January 19, 1821, and spent his en-
tire life in the Buckeye state. Having ar-
rived at years of maturity he married Miss
Bitner, who was born in the city of Phila-
delphia. Pennsylvania, January 21, 1823, and
was a daughter of Tobias Bitner.
George \Y. Sigafoos, whose name intro-
duces this record, spent the first twelve years
of his life in Miami county. Ohio, and pur-
sued his education in its public schools.
Later he resided in Iowa, Missouri and
other western states, enjoying such educa-
tional privileges 'as were afforded by the
common-school systems of the localities with
which he was identified. In 1874 he re-
turned to Gordon, Darke county, Ohio,
where he engaged in school teaching, follow-
ing that profession through eight winters.
On the expiration of that period he engaged
in the manufacture of drain tile at Bradford,
Darke county, for three years, conducting a
successful enterprise. He was then ap-
pointed postmaster of Bradford and filled
that position for two years. He has since
continued in the public service and is a most
reliable and competent official. In 1889 he
was appointed deputy auditor under Louis
C. Klipstine, acting in that capacity for six
years. In the fall of 1894 he was nominated
on the Democratic ticket as their candidate
fi >r county auditor, being elected by a hand-
some majority for a term of three years. He
filled that position so acceptably that in the
fall of 1898 he was re-elected, so that his
service in that office will cover a period of six
years. He thoroughly understands the du-
ties of the position, both in principle and de-
tail, and is prompt, accurate and reliable in
their discharge.
In September, 1880, Mr. Sigafoos was
married to Miss Catherine Routzong, of
Bradford, Darke county, a daughter of Sol-
omon and Susan (Kendall) Routzong. They
now have one interesting son, Robert S.,
who was born February 24. 1891.
In the fall of 1899 Mr. Sigafoos made
the race for auditor of state on the Demo-
cratic ticket and won a large vote, but Ohio
went Republican that year. He began teach-
ing in his seventeenth year and since that
tune has depended solely upon his own ef-
fort. During the years of his active con-
nection with the profession he was regarded
as one of the most capable educators in that
locality. Clearly defined purpose and con-
secutive effort in the affairs of life have se-
cured his advancement and made him one
of the highly esteemed residents of his adopt-
ed county.
JACOB B. YOUXG.
Certain qualities are indispensable to the
successful conduct of a hotel. Not only must
the host be a man of excellent business and
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
471
executive ability, enterprising and progres-
sive, but he must also possess a genial dis-
position and a cordial nature, which will
lead to a sincere interest in his guests and
prompt him to labor earnestly to promote
their welfare and comfort. Upon such
qualities depends his prosperity and in none
of these regards is Air. Young lacking. Since
1897 he has been engaged in the hotel busi-
ness in Pittsburg, and has become widely
and favorably known to the traveling pub-
lic, his genuine worth winning him the warm
regard of all with whom he has come in con-
tact.
He is of German lineage, his grandfa-
ther, Daniel Young, having been a native
of Germany, whence he came to America
when six years of age, in company with his
parents. They landed at Philadelphia and
he was reared in Berks county, Pennsylvania.
Later he was engaged in farming there and
was a resident of that county till his death.
Kis son, Daniel Young, the father of our
subject, was born in Berks county, was edu-
cated in the common schools and was reared
upon the old homestead. He became a
farmer and butcher and died at the age of
fifty-six years. He was twice married and
by the first union had one child, Lavina, who
died unmarried. After the death of his
first wife he wedded Mary Berchle, a native
of Berks county, Pennsylvania, who sur-
vived her husband about twenty-six years
and passed the eightieth milestone on life's
journey. Albert Young, their eldest child,
came to Ohio in 1855 and spent his remain-
ing days in Montgomery county. He served
for four years in the Sixty-ninth Ohio Cav-
alry during the civil war and was a most
loyal defender of the Union. Annie is now
the wife of David Davidheiser, of Dayton.
William, who served for four vears in the
Sixty-ninth Ohio Cavalry and was sh.it
through the arm and leg, is now living in
the Soldiers' Home in Dayton. Jacob 1'..
is the next younger. George, who is living
near Dayton, served for one hundred days
as a defender of the Union. Sarah is the
wife of John Moymer, of Montgomery coun-
ty, Ohio. Daniel was a noted trapper and
hunter, but has not been heard from for
twenty-two years.
Jacob B. Young, whose name begins
this review, was born in Exeter, Berks coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1838. He
began work on the farm almost as soon as
old enough to hold a pitchfork and since
the age of twelve years has been entirely
dependent upon his own efforts. He was
at that time left fatherless and through the
passing years his labors have brought to
him the money which has supplied him with
life's necessities and its comforts. He at
first received only six dollars per month in
compensation for his services. He remained
for one year with Mr. Stoner, and at the
expiration of that period was two hundred
and fifty dollars in debt. He was an expert
-
farm hand, accomplishing more work than
almost any other man of his neighborh 1.
He mowed with a scythe with thirty-two
other men in the field and had two swaths
all day. He worked in the harvest field.
with eighteen hands and received but fifty
cents per day for his labor. The highest
wages he ever obtained while residing in
Pennsylvania was eleven dollars per month.
In 1859 Mr. Young came to Ohio in
company with his brother. George, and on
reaching Dayton had but twenty dollars in
his pocket. He began wi irk as a farm hand
in that locality, receiving sixteen dollar.-, a
month for his services. On the expiration
of six months his aunt desired him to op-
472
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
erate her farm on the shares and when his
employer learned of his decision to leave.
he offered him twenty dollars a month. He,
however, took charge of the farm of Mrs.
John Stanffer. his aunt, remained thereon
for two years, cultivating the land on the
shares for eighteen months, during which
time he became the owner of two good horses
and a wagon. He then rented a large farm
and sent for his mother and two sisters to
join him in Ohio. This they did and to-
gether they remained upon the rented farm
for a year.
Mr. Young was married, in 1863, to
Miss Martha Kantner, and then located at
Stringtown, Montgomery county, where he
engaged in farming for a year. He after-
ward spent five years on Mrs. Flory's farm,
on the expiration of which period he re-
moved to Dayton, where he engaged in team-
irg. He was also engaged in raising to-
bacco for five years, after which he again
devoted his energies to farming for five
years on two tracts of land. On the expira-
tion of that period he came to Arcanum
and rented a farm east of town, there car-
rying on agricultural pursuits for nine years.
Li the meantime he had purchased seventv-
five acres of land in Monroe township and
ai. the end of nine years took up his abode
upon his property, making it his home for
six years. In the spring of 1891. however,
he purchased property in Pittsburg and
opened a general store, which he conducted
for eight years. Since 1897 he has been
the proprietor of the Young Hotel. He is
an enterprising business man and in the con-
duct of the various interests with which he
has been connected he has followed progres-
sive methods and modern ideas, which have
led to his advancement step by step until he
has reached the plane of affluence.
Mrs. Young was born May 11, 1844. i'1
Jefferson township, Montgomery county, a
daughter of William and Nancy (Carter)
Kantner. Her father was a native of Lan-
caster county, Pennsylvania, was educated
in the common schools, was reared on a farm
and when a younp man came to Ohio. He
was married in Montgomery county and lo-
cated on his farm in Jefferson township,
where he spent his remaining days, his death
occurring in 1864, when he had reached the
age of fifty-eight years. His wife survived
him until 1896. and passed away at the ad-
vanced age of ninety-seven. They were
members of the Reformed church and in
politics Mr. Kantner was a stanch Demo-
crat. Their children were Edward and Per-
ry, now deceased; Mary, the wife of Abra-
ham Toot, of Dayton ; Lizzie, the deceased
wife of John Caylor ; Maria, the wife of
George Anderson; and Mrs. Young. The
mother of these children was born in Hagers-
town, Maryland, and when a young lady
came with her parents to Ohio, the journey
being made in wagons. After six weeks
spent upon the road they arrived in Mont-
gomery county, where a location was made.
Into Mr. and Mrs. Young have been
born ten children: Charles, who married
I>elle Eisenbarger and resides in Monroe
township; William, who wedded Katie To-
bias and is Living in Pittsburg; Cora, who
married Allen Spiller and resides in Pitts-
burg; Mollie, the wife of Charles Wolf, of
Pittsburg; John, who wedded Louis Woods
and is located in Missouri; Clinton, who
married Blanche Fynn and resides in
Idaho; Levi, who died at the age of four
years; Joseph married Ethel Oakes. and
Jessy and Ira, both at home. The fam-
ily is widely and favorably known in Pitts-
burg and in Darke county, and Mr. Young is
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
473
recognized as a public-spirited citizen, who
manifests a deep and active interest in every-
thing pertaining to the general welfare. He
gives his political support to the Democracy,
and while in Montgomery county he served
in several township offices, discharging his
duties with promptness and fidelity. He
may truly be called a self-made man, for he
started out in life empty-handed and has
steadily worked his way upward, overcom-
ing all difficulties and obstacles in his path
by determined purpose. Thus he has ad-
vanced and to-day he occupies a position
among the substantial citizens of the com-
munity.
JOSEPH M. BICKEL.
Joseph M. Bickel is now a well known
and able practitioner at the Darke county
bar and formerly served as probate judge.
He maintains his residence in Greenville and
has a large and distinctively representative
patronage there. He was born upon a farm
in Washington township, on the 2cl of 1 De-
cember, 1852, and is of German lineage.
The grandfather, Andrew Bickel, was a na-
tive of Germany, whence he crossed the At-
lantic to the new world. Tobias Bickel,
the father of our subject, was born in Center
county, Pennsylvania, May 6, 181 1, and in
the same year was brought by his parents to
the Buckeye state. In 1848 he became a
resident of Darke county, locating in Wash-
ington township, where he carried on gen-
eral farming, becoming one of the thrifty
agriculturists of his community. He was
a Democrat in his political affiliation.'-, but
never sought nor desired the honors and
emoluments of public office. He married
Miss Elizabeth Mc Adams, who was born in
Clermont county, November ii. 1815. She
is still living and occupies the old homestead
in Washington township, but her late hus-
band died May X. 1899, at the age of eighty-
eight years. This worthy couple were the
parents of eleven children, eight of whom —
five sons and three daughters — reached ma-
ture years, while three sons and three daugh-
ters are yet living.
Joseph M. Bickel, of this review, is the
eight in order or birth in the family. He
spent his early days upon the home farm,
pursuing his education in the district schools
of the neighborhood through the winter sea-
son. At the time of early spring plowing
and planting he took his place in the fields
and assisted in their cultivation until after
the crops were garnered in the autumn.
Later he attended the normal school at Ada,
Ohio, where he prepared for teaching. In
his eighteenth year he had charge of his
first school and for twelve years he con-
tinued to follow that profession in Darke
county. This was but a stepping stone to
higher professional labors, however.
He came to Greenville and read law in
the office of Hon. David L. Meeker, being
admitted to the bar in June, 1885. He
began the practice of law in Greenville and
soon after entered into partnership with lb m.
M. T. Allen and Judge James I. Allread,
which connection was continued until Mr.
Allen's removal to California, when the firm
name was changed to Allread & Bickel.
That partnership was continued until the
junior member was elected probate judge,
in the fall of 1893, having been nominated
on the Democratic ticket. He took charge
of the office February 9, 1894. He was re-
elected in 1896, his term of office expiring
in February, 1000. J le proved a very com-
petent and reliable official ami at the latter
date left the position to be succeeded by
474
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
George A. Jobes. He then resumed the pri-
vate practice of law in Greenville and has a
large patronage whereby he is connected with
much of the important litigation there in
the courts of the district. In February,
1900, he entered into partnership with Guy
C. 1 laker, under the firm name of Bickel &
Baker, and they enjoy a liberal share of
the public patronage. Mr. Bickel owns a
good farm in Greenville township and also
has valuable city property.
On the 1st of October. 1883. was cele-
brated the marriage of Mr. Bickel and Miss
Mertie Clark, of Wood county. Ohio, a
daughter of Silas and Mariah Clark! By
their marriage were born two children:
Lucile, born October 11. 1885, and Paul C,
who was born September 30. 1887. Judsre
Bickel is a member of Fort Black Lodge,
No. 413, F. & A. M., at New Madison, Ohio.
For four years he has served as a school ex-
aminer by appointment, and he is recoo-nized
as one of the most valuable citizens of Green-
ville.
As a lawver he possesses excellent ability,
is a close and discriminating student and his
devotion to his clients' interests in proverbial.
He throws himself easily and naturally into
the argument with a self-possession and de-
liberation that indicates no straining after
effect, but a precision and clearness is found
in his statement, an accurateness and
strength in his argument which speak a mind
trained in the severest school of investiga-
tion and to which the closest reasoning is
habitual and easy.
JESSE WOODS.
Jesse Woods, deceased, was for many
years prominently identified with the agri-
cultural interests of German township, Darke
county, Ohio, where his widow still owns
a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres,
which she rents. He was born in Tyler
county, Virginia, March 25, 1819, and was
a son of James Woods, a native of London,
England. The father was a silk weaver by
trade, but for about twenty-two years fol-
lowed the sea. He was married at the age
of forty and died at the extreme old age
of one hundred and two years, two months
and twenty-six days. His death occurred
at the home of our subject in German town-
ship and at that time he was the oldest man
in Darke county, where he located in 1821.
Jesse Woods was about three years old
when brought to this county by his parents
and here be was reared to manhood.
Throughout life he followed agricultural
pursuits and continued to reside on the old
homestead in German township, where he
died September 3, 1896. He was widely
and favorably known and at one time served
as a county commissioner in a most credit-
able and satisfactory manner. In his po-
litical views he was a Democrat.
January 19, 1844, Mr. Woods married
Miss Anna Stephens, who was born in Ger-
man township July 21. 1822, a daughter of
David and Lydia (Wagner) Stephens, both
natives of Pennsylvania, the former born
in Washington county, the latter near Har-
risburg. The father enlisted in the war of
1812 when about nineteen years of age, but
had to run away to enter the army, as his
parents were Dunkards and opposed to war.
He was one of the boys employed in carry-
ing provisions to the Kentuckians. As a
young man he located in Preble count}-. Ohio,
and after his marriage came to Darke coun-
ty, making his home in German township
throughout the remainder of his life. He
died when past the age of eighty-eight years,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
475.
his wife at the age of seventy-five years.
In his political views he was a Democrat.
Mrs. Woods is the eldest in a family of
ten children, seven sons and three daughters,
but i mly four are now living. She has
traveled extensively over the United States,
visiting Washington, the centennial in 1876
and other places of interest, but is now liv-
ing quietly at her pleasant home in Pales-
tine, Darke county. She is well preserved
for one of her age and is highly respected
and esteemed by all who know her. Re-
ligiously she is an earnest and consistent
member of the Reformed church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Woods were born thir-
teen children three sons and ten daughters,
namely : Jennie, now the wife of Dr. Squire
Dickey, of German township, this county;
Ella W.. the wife of Thomas J. Perry;
Sarah the wife of Charles Harp; Levi, a
resident of German township; Rebecca, the
wife of John A. Lease, of Greenville; Ada,
the wife of James Wilcox, of Palestine;
Laura the wife of J. C. Turner, of Neave
township; Milton, who died at the age of
five years ; Malinda, who died at the age of
four years ; Cordelia, who died at the age of
three years; Louisa, who died at the age of
nineteen years; James, who died in infancy;
and Alice, who died at the age of two years.
JAMES M. LANSDOWNE.
No compendium such as the province of
this work defines in its essential limitations
will serve to offer fit memorial to the life and
accomplishment of the honored subject of
this memoir, a man remarkable in the breadth
of his wisdom, in bis indomitable persever-
ance, his strong individuality, and yet one
w hose entire life had not one esoteric phase,
being an open scroll, inviting the closest
scrutiny. True, be accomplished much in
life, and yet his entire accomplishments but
represented the result of the fit utilization of
the innate talent which was his, and the di-
recting of his efforts along those lines where
mature judgment and rare discrimination
lead the way. He was indeed an important
factor in the business and moral life of the
community with which he was connected,
and in his death Greenville and Darke county
I' 'St one of its most valued citizens.
James Moreton Lansdowne was a native
of Clermont county, Ohio, bom on the 24th
of December, 1840, his parents being Dr.
Zachariah M. and Mary Gray (Hoover)
Lansdowne. His father was a native of
Kentucky, and in childhood removed to
C iermont county, Ohio, where he was reared
and married Miss Hoover, a native of that
county. This worthy couple became the
parents of eight children, James M. being
the only son and second child. About the
year 1S50 his parents took their family to
Cincinnati, and in 1855 came to Greenville,
where Mr. Lansdowne, of this review, made
his home until his life's labors were ended.
In the public schools he acquired his pre-
liminary education, which was supplemented
by one's years study in Antioch College ; but
in 1864, when not yet eighteen years of age,
lie put aside all personal considerations, and
responded to his country's call for troops.
Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he en-
listed as a member of the One Hundred and
Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and
served until the close of hostilities, taking
part in the short but active engagements oi
his regiment, and remaining faithfully at his
post until the starry banner of the natii >n v, as
planted in the capital of the southern
federacy.
After hi- return to ( heenville Mr
476
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
downe was connected with the business in-
terests of the city in various clerical capaci-
ties until 1869, when he accepted the posi-
tion of cashier in the Greenville Exchange
Eank, which position he acceptably filled un-
til 1880, when the bank was closed. He ac-
cepted a position with the Philadelphia
Provident Life & Trust Company, which po-
sition he held until the 27th of September,
1889, when he resigned in order to become
the cashier of the Farmers' National Bank,
in which capacity he served until his death.
He contributed in no small measure to the
success of both institutions* He possessed
excellent business and executive ability, a
discriminating mind, sound judgment and
never-failing courtesy — qualities which se-
cured to the banks many of their patrons.
He was justly regarded as one of the ablest
financiers and reliable men in western Ohio,
and in business circles his reputation was un-
assailable.
In private life he was equally respected
and honored, for he held friendship inviola-
ble, was quick to note and appreciate true
worth in the individual, and in his home he
could not do too much to enhance the wel-
fare and promote the happiness of his wife
and children.
On the 26th of September, 1876, in
Greenville, Mr. Lansdowne was united in
marriage to Miss Elizabeth Knox, who was
born in this city, December 21, 1851. She
was educated in Cooper Seminary, in Day-
ton, Ohio, and is the only daughter of John
Riley Knox, a prominent lawyer of Green-
ville, now deceased. She now resides with
her mother, and the two ladies enjoy the
warm regard of a large circle of friends in
Darke county. Mrs. Lansdowne has three
children — John Knox. Harry and Zachariah.
As a citizen Mr. Lansdowne was public-
spirited and progressive, and gave a gener-
ous and earnest support to all measures
which he believed would prove of public
benefit. His judgment of such matters was
practical and reliable, and his co-operation
with any movement was an indication of its
worth. For many years he was a leading
and- active member of the Episcopal church,
and a member of its vestry. For some
years prior to his death his health grad-
ually failed, and for a few months he was
confined to his home by tuberculosis until
the end came on the 30th of October, 1899.
At a meeting of the board of directors of
the Farmers' National Bank, held on the 1st
of November, 1899^ the following resolu-
tions were adopted :
Whereas, Our honored associate, James
M. Lansdowne, has passed away; be it
Resolved, That by his death this board
has lost a wise and attentive adviser and the
community a trusted and public-spirited citi-
zen. To us, as individuals, the loss is that
of a companion and friend, and our sincere
sympathy is extended to his widow and fam-
ily in this affliction.
Resolved, That these resolutions be
spread upon the minutes of the bank as a
mark of our esteem and respect for his mem-
ory, and as an expression of our apprecia-
tion of his many years of valuable service
as director and cashier of this bank, and that
a copy hereof, signed by each member of
this hoard, be presented to his widow, and
that the Greenville papers be requested to
publish the same.
G. YV. Studabaker.
William Kipp.
Henry St. Clair.
J. F. Henne.
At a special meeting of the vestry of St.
Paul's Episcopal church, of Greenville, Ohio,
called together on October 31, 1899. to
take suitable action in regard to the death of
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
477
our honored and beloved brother vestryman,
James M. Lansdowne, upon motion a com-
mittee was appointed to prepare suitable
resolutions expressive of our loss. The
committee reported as follows :
Whereas, In the providence of God our
dear friend, James M. Lansdowne, has been
called home from the sphere of his earthly
labors;
Resolved, That we desire to express in
this public way our appreciation of his worth
and our sense of the loss which his death has
brought to us.
As a Christian he was loyal and sincere,
ever responsive to duty's call and ready to
answer the Master whom he followed. As
a member of this vestry, his interest was
shown by a self-sacrificing expenditure, of
time and means and effort to promote the
welfare of the church in our midst. As a
citizen, in public and private, he made true
manhood honored in his person.
Resolved, That in the death of Mr. Lans-
downe this church and this community alike
have suffered a great loss. We extend our
sincere sympathy to his family whose sor-
row is our sorrow, and we rejoice with
them in the name and example he has left
behind.
Resolved, That these resolutions be
signed by every member of this body and
spread up< in the minutes ; that a copy be
sent to Mrs. Lansdowne and copies to our
daily papers for publication.
Charles H. Lee, Rector.
H. A. Webb,
John C. Turpex, Wardens.
These resolutions indicate in unmistak-
able terms Mr. Lansdowne's high position
in the community, in business circles, in his
church and in the private walks of life. The
veil was lifted to gain the new glory of a
true and beautiful life when death set the
. seal upon his mortal lips. His was the faith
that makes faithful. Any monument erected
to his memory will have become dim and tar-
nished by time ere the remembrance of his
noble example shall cease to exercise an in-
fluence upon the community in which he
lived and labored to such eoodly end--.
WILLIAM CALVIN MOTE.
Numbered among the enterprising and
energetic business men of German town-
ship is the well-known assistant postmaster
of Noggle, who is now successfully engaged
in the grain business and in general mer-
chandising. He was born n Laura, Miami
county, Ohio, April 3, 1841, and on both
sides is of good old English Quaker stuck.
The Mote family was founded in this coun-
try by two brothers, who first settled on
Penn's reservation, but afterward moved to
North Carolina. On account of the insti-
tution of slavery then existing in the south
the paternal grandparents of our subject,
Joseph and Mary Mote, came from North
Carolina to Ohio in 1805 and located on the
banks of Stillwater river in Union town-
ship, Miami county. Later they removed to
Darke county and entered land in Van Buren
township, the place being still known as the
old Mote farm.
Ezekiel Mote, our subject's father, was
born in Union township, Miami county, in
1808, and there spent his entire life. He
married Grace Vernon, also a native of that
county. Her father, Nathaniel Vernon, was
one of three brothers who came to this coun-
trv from England when young men. He
settled in Ohio and was the only one of the
three to marry. To Ezekiel Mote and wife-
were born seven children, three sons and
four daughters, of whom one son died in
infancy, and two daughters are now de-
ceased.
478
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Of this family William C. Mote is the
youngest. He was only four years old when
his mother died and he was then reared by
his grandmother Mote in Burlington, How-
ard county, Indiana, until about ten years
of age. Returning to Miami county, Ohio,
he lived with a sister for a time, and was
bound out for four years to work on a farm.
At the age of eighteen he began life for
himself by working as a farm hand by the
month and was thus employed until his mar-
riage.
On the 25th of October, i860, Mr. Mote
wedded Miss Rebecca Elleman, also a native
of Miami county, where she was reared.
Her parents were Enos and Margaret Elle-
man, early settlers of Darke county, and the
latter a daughter of David Ward, of this
county. Of the seven children born to our
subject and his wife only two are now liv-
ing, namely: David L., who is in partner-
ship with his father in the grain business,
married Susie Jones, of Laura, Miami coun-
tv. and they have two children, — William
Clark and Charles Harvey; and Olive C.
is the wife of Harvey Clemm, of Troy, Ohio,
and thev have two children, — Merrill W.
and Herbert. The other children of our
subject all died young with the exception
of Margaret, the wife of Lewis Hale, who
died at the age of twenty-one years:
After his marriage Mr. Mute located on
a 'rented farm in his native county and
worked for a man fur two bushels of corn
per day, when corn was only worth sixteen
cents per bushel, though when he contracted
to work for that amount it was worth thirty-
two cents. He continued to operate rented
land until 1880, when he purchased a farm
in Union township, Miami count}-, and in
connection with his farming operations he
followed carpentering and contracting for
a time. In 1894 he came to Clark's Sta-
tion, Darke county, and purchased a grain
house and elevator, and the following sum-
mer, when appointed assistant postmaster
of that place, he established a general store
there, which he has successfully carried on
in connection with his grain business. He
owns seventv-one acres of land north of the
railroad and five acres south of it. His
property has all been acquired through his
own efforts, perseverance and good manage-
ment, for he started out in life for himself
empty-handed and has received no aid.
Mr. Mote supported the Republican
party until after the election of James A.
Garfield and then voted the Prohibition
ticket until 1896, when he cast in his lot with
the Liberty party, and in June, 1898, helped
organize the Union Reform party. He
takes an active part in political affairs, was
a delegate to the state convention held in
Columbus and the national convention held
in Cincinnati in 1899. Religiously he is
a member of the New Light Christian
churzh and at one time was an active mem-
ber of the Grange.
EDMUND CULBERTSON.
Edmund Culbertson, one of the extensive
farmers and stock raisers of Greenville t< iwn-
ship. was born on the old farm August 24,
1 86 1, a son of T. W. and Elizabeth (Har-
per) Culbertson. Samuel Culbertson, the
grandfather of our subject, was a native
of Pennsylvania, born in June, 1801. and
emigrated with his family to Van Buren
township, Darke county, Ohio, at an early
day. He married Miss Rebecca West fall
in 1823 and six children were born of their
union, namely : Orin, Mary J., John, T. W.,
Elizabeth and James. The privations and
(_£}<!*/ y^^^>^--<^>-^^--^^-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
479
hardships of pioneer life soon told upon the
father's health and he died in 1837. His
wife remained upon the homestead and sur-
vived him about sixteen years, dying in 1853.
His son. T. W., the father of our sub-
ject, was born in Darke county, Ohio. Oc-
tober 25, 1828. His educational advantages
were necessarily very limited, as a pioneer's
life is one of constant exertion for subsist-
ence, but such opportunities as did offer in
this direction were well improved. He
learned the brick mason's trade when very
young and afterward engaged in farming
and stock raising. When a mere lad his
father died and from that time until her
death be was the main support of his
widowed mother. After her death he went
to live with his sister, Mrs. Studebaker, with
whom he remained until his marriage, which
was celebrated November 26, 1857, his bride
being Elizabeth Harper, a daughter of Will-
iam S. Harper, a native of Pennsylvania,
who then lived in Darke county. Im-
mediately after their marriage they removed
t,i a piece of land in section 7 which toe bad
previously purchased. This was timber land
and he was obliged to clear off a spot on
which to erect a cabin. This constituted
the first home of his own and here in the
midst of the dense forest they began their
domestic life. By their own exertions they
soon caused the golden grain to wave where
once stood the mighty forest, the rich har-
vests bountifully rewarding them for their
industry and frugality. They became the
parents of seven children : Frank, Edmund,
Charlie, William H.. Harry. Cora B. and
1'urley.
Edmund Culbertson, the subject of tbi>
review, was reared upon his father's farm,
assisting in the labors of field and meadow
in the summer time and attending the coun-
try schools in the winter. He studied three
years in the Greenville high school anil later
took a commercial course in the Greenville
Business College. After completing his edu-
cation he engaged in farming, which occupa-
tion he has since followed and is now, in
connection with his brother, Charlie, operat-
ing their father's farm of two hundred and
forty acres. He is also extensively engaged
in stock raising. He was united in marriage
July 24, 1884, to Elnora Baer, a daughter
of Frederick and Mary Baer. at present resi-
dents of Springfield, Missouri. Their union
has been blessed with five children, namely:
Muriel E., Rolla W., Hazel E., Lloyd A.
and Mar-y E.
In his political affiliations Mr. Culbertson
is a Democrat and since reaching his ma-
jority has been prominent in politics, being-
often a delegate to county and congressional
conventions, and in the spring of igoo he re-
ceived the nomination at the hands of his
party for county auditor, having a majority
of four hundred and four over four com-
petitors. Fraternally he is a member of
Greenville Lodge, No. 195, I. O. O. F. He
is a rising and popular young man, who
counts his friends by the hundreds. His
business integrity is established on a sound
foundation and he is prosperous, capable
and influential.
CHRISTIAN KNODERER.
A native of Germany, Christian Kno-
derer was born in Baden on the 5th of Au-
gust. 1820, and is a son of Samuel and
Frederica ( Gerber ) Knoderer. The father
was born at Ammenbengen, the county seat
of that county, and became the proprietor
of a hotel. Both he and his wife spent their
entire lives in the land of their nativity,
480
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the former passing away at the age of sev-
entv-four years, the latter in her fifty-eighth
year. In the schools of his native land
Christian Knoderer acquired his education
and was well fitted for life's practical duties
by a thorough intellectual training. He
studied German, French and Latin in addi-
tion to the elementary branches that are al-
ways taught in the schools, and at the age of
eighteen years he was apprenticed to learn
the butcher's trade, serving a two-years
term. On the expiration of that period he
was employed as a journeyman for four
years in different countries, after which he
embarked in business on his own account
in Emendingers, Germany, conducting his
market until 1848. He then joined the rev-
olutionists and served in the war of 1848-9,
being taken prisoner by the forces opposing
the revolution. After two months' im-
prisonment he emigrated to America, land-
ing at Xew York on the 4th of July, 1850.
It was quite fitting that he should reach the
home of the free on the anniversary of the
day on which the nation's independence was
proclaimed, for he was a great lover of
liberty, and this element in his character
prompted him to join the revolutionists in
their opposition to certain features of mon-
archical rule in Germany.
From Xew York city Mr. Knoderer
made his way to Reading, Pennsylvania,
where he had a brother living. He followed
farming for two years in the Keystone state
and thence emigrated westward to Illinois,
where he remained for nine months. He
was also employed in butcher shops in In-
diana and in 1856 took up his abode in
Darke county, Ohio. For six years he en-
gaged in farming in Wayne township, meet-
ing with a fair degree of success in his un-
dertakings, and in 1862 he came to Green-
ville, where he opened a butcher shop, which
he has since conducted. Before removing
to the farm he was engaged in the grocery
business at Piqua. In the conduct of his
market he met with prosperity, securing a
large and liberal patronage, whereby he won
a very desirable income.
In 1854 Mr. Knoderer married Miss
Catherine Kern, a native of Baden, Ger-
many, born in 1826. For forty-five years
she was to him a faithful companion and
helpmeet on life's journey, but on the 9th
of March. 1899, they were separated by
death, Mrs. Knoderer being called to the
home beyond. She was a devoted and con-
sistent member of the Lutheran church and
a lady whose many estimable characteristics
won her the regard of all with whom she
came in contact. Socially Mr. Knoderer is
connected with Champion Lodge, I. O. O.
1.. of which he has been a member since
1863, and in his life he exemplifies the
benevolent principles of that fraternity. He
was the township treasurer of Greenville
township in the year 1876, but has never
taken a very active part in political affairs,
preferring to give his time and energies to
his business interests. He has accumulated
considerable property and is now the pos-
sessor of a handsome competence, which
indicates his wisdom in seeking a home in
America, where ambition and enterprise are
not hampered by caste or class.
JACOB F. WARE.
Jacob F. Ware, a retired agriculturist of
Palestine. Darke county, is an honored rep-
resentative of the early pioneers of Ohio,
and is a true type of the energetic, hardy
men who have actively assisted in developing
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
481
and improving this beautiful and fertile ag-
ricultural country. A native of this state,
he was born in Preble county, December
13, 1820. His father, John Ware, was born
in Knox county. Tennessee, in 1789, and was
a son of John Paul Ware, a native of Ger-
many, who, when a young man, was cap-
tured and brought to America as a soldier
ir. the employ of the British during the
Revolutionary war, but after serving six
months he deserted and joined the Con-
tinental forces, with which he fought seven
years. About 18 14 he came to Preble coun-
ty. Ohio, where he was killed by a horse
at the age of sixty-six years. His wife had
died previously in Tennessee.
The father of our subject grew to man-
hood in his native state and in Guilford
county, North Carolina, married Sarah
Coble, a native of that county. Her father,
Lewis Coble, was also born in Germany and
came to this country when a young man. In
North Carolina he married a native of Penn-
sylvania. By occupation he was a farmer.
It was in 1810 that John Ware and wife re-
moved to Preble county, Ohio, and located
in Twin township, where he lived for sixty-
two years. He died at the age of eighty-
five, honored and respected by all who knew
him. He was a soldier of the war of 181 J.
under General Harrison, and was at the
treaty of Greenville in 18 14. He was a
prominent member of the Lutheran church
at West Alexandria, where he helped to
build the house of worship. His wife died
at the age of sixty-six years. In their fam-
ily were fourteen children, six sons and
eight daughters, all of whom grew to man-
hood or womanhood, and five sons and three
daughters are still living.
In this family our subject is the sixth
child and third son. He was reared in
Twin township, Preble county, and attended
school in a building constructed of round
logs, with puncheon floor, greased-paper
windows and a slab laid on pins driven into
the wall for a desk. During his youth he
assisted in the work of the home farm and
learned the carpenter's trade, and after at-
taining his majority engaged in contracting
and building for five years, doing all the
work, such as hewing the raw timber into
braces, studding, rafters, etc., which was all
done by hand. Two of the barns built by
him in Darke county, in 1844, are still stand-
ing and in a good state of preservation. He
employed from four to twelve men, but at
the end of five years his health failed and he
came to Darke county, locating in German
V unship, in the woods, where with his own
hands he cleared one hundred and twenty
acres of land. He made the first jumping
shovel plow ever made in the countv. He
raised fifty bushels of corn per acre for his
first crop, and continued to successfully en-
gage in farming until 1899, when he re-
moved to Palestine and has since lived re-
tired. At one time he owned two hundred
and forty-four acres of land, but has since
given his son, Joseph, eighty acres of this.
In 1 87 1 his barn, 40x80 feet, and one of the
best in the count)', was destroyed by fire,
together with its contents, including two
thousand bushels of threshed wheat, fifteen
thousand bushels of corn, five hundred
bushels of oats and fifteen tons of hay and all
farming implements, amounting to five thou-
sand dollars. He rebuilt the barn the fol-
lowing year. On the 2d of April. 1898. he
had the misfortune to lose his house in the
same way, but this was insured and was
afterward rebuilt.
On the 2 1 st of October, 1S44. -Mr. Ware
wedded Miss Mary C. Ritnoure. and to them
482
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
were born five children: John R.. who is
married and lives in Wabash county.Indiana;
Weltha Ann, the wife of William Stover,
of Lightsville, Darke county. Ohio; Sarah
Jane, the wife of Joshua Jeffries, of German
township. Darke county; Martin A., who
died at the asre of two years; and Joseph \Y..
a business man of Gordon, Mississippi. The
mother of these children died February 16,
1878, ami for his second wife Mr. Ware
married Mrs. Lydia (Paulus) Fry, widow
of George Fry. She was born in Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, April 10, 1836, hut
was reared in Darke coanty from her first
year. By her first marriage she had four
children: Mary A , Sarah J.; Franklin L.,
deceased ; and Kachael Alice. Her father,
Daniel Paulus, was horn in 180;, and is still
l;ving. in Randolph county. Indiana, at the
age of ninety-three years, and enjoys good
health. He had thirteen children, four sons
and nine daughters, all of whom reached
years of maturity and three sons and five
daughters are still living. Mrs. Ware is the
sixth child and fifth daughter in this family.
In his political affiliations Mr. Ware is
a Democrat, and he has most efficiently filled
the offices of school director and supervisor
of his township. In 185 1 he was a member of
the first board of education ever organized in
the county, and served as school director in
one district eighteen years. He has been
chairman of four different old settlers' or-
ganizations— the West Alexandria, Preble
county; Lightsville, Spring Hill and Ger-
man— and is an active and prominent mem-
ber of the United Brethren church in Pales-
tine, in which he served as assistant class-
leader five vears. He has been a hard w< irk-
ing and industrious man, and the success
that he has achieved in life is due entirely to
his own well directed and energetic efforts.
HEXRY KARN.
Henry Karn is a retired merchant and
farmer living at the village of Glen-Karn.
which was named in his honor, a fact which
indicates his prominence as a man and citi-
zen. He was born in Butler county. Ohio,
.April 20, 1835. His grandfather. Henrv
Karn, was a native of Pennsylvania, who
followed farming as a means of livelihood
and died in Butler county, Ohio. As the
name indicates, the family is of German line-
age. Henry Karn, the father of our sub-
ject, was born in the Keystone state, in June.
1801, and was a young man of seventeen
vears when he came with his parents to But-
ler county. In Montgomery county he was
married, in 1824, but located in Butler coun-
ty, where he operated his farm, conducted a
mill and distillery and also engaged in mer-
chandising. He was an enterprising, pro-
gressive business man, well known through-
but the county, and became the possessor of
a handsome competence, but lost property to
the value of ten thousand dollars in a single
night, caused by a flood. He built a mill
on Seven Mile creek and carried on business
there for many vears, or until his removal
to Darke count}', in 1852. He then located
in Butler township, where he was engaged
in farming until his removal to Neave town-
ship, where he died March 21, [878, at the
age of seventy-six years and nine months.
His political support was given to the Dem-
ocracy, and he was a member of the Re-
formed church. His wife bore the maiden
name of Susan Good. She was of German
descent, removed from Virginia to Ohio and
was reared in Montgomery county. By
her marriage she became the mother of eight
children, all of whom are still living. John,
the eldest, is seventy-five vears of aee, and
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
483
Amanda Judy, the youngest, is fifty-nine
years of age : John, of Darke county ; Reu-
ben, who is living in the same place ; Eliza-
beth, the wife of John Yogt.a minister of the
Reformed church, of Delaware county,
Ohio; Susan, the wife of Jacob Baker, of
tin's county; Henry; David, who is living in
Hollansburg, Darke county; Nathan; and
Amanda, the wife of Samuel Judy, who re-
sides near Greenville. The mother passed
away November 29, 1849, at the age of
forty-six years and ten months.
Henry Karn is the fifth of the family,
and was about seventeen years of age when
he came to Darke county. He remained
with his father until his marriage, which
important event in his life occurred on the
nth of March, 1856, Miss Mary Jacoby be-
diming his wife. She was born in Butler
county, Ohio, December 25, 1835, a daugh-
ter of John Jacoby. Her grandfather was
John Jacoby, Sr., and was of Dutch descent.
He removed from Pennsylvania to Butler
county, Ohio, where he followed farming.
Her maternal grandfather was John \\ ickle,
and he, too, was born in Pennsylvania, and
became a resident of Butler county, Ohio,
at a very early age. He was of German
lineage. Air. Jacoby was a native of Penn-
sylvania, and became one of the pioneer set-
tlers of Butler county. His wife bore the
maiden name of Mary Wickle, and was also
born in Pennsylvania. They had eight
children who reached years of maturity, but
only four are now living, as follows : Daniel,
now deceased ; Sarah, the widow of Tilman
Troxell and a resident of Arcanum. Ohio;
Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Jonathan
Fisher; Susan, the wife of Stephen Bark-
halter, of Oregon; Mrs. Karn; Frank, of
Nebraska; Kate, deceased wife of John Mar-
ker; and Luanda, wife of David Marker, of
Lucas county, Iowa. Mrs. Karn was the
fifth in order of birth, and was about nine-
teen years of age when she came to Darke
county.
After his marriage Mr. Karn located in
Butler township, where he was engaged in
farming until his removal to a tract of land
in Twin township, which he had purchased
and where he remained until 1865. He then
sold his farm and returned to Butler town-
ship, and afterward lived in Jacksonburg,
Butler county, where he was engaged in mer-
chandising, following that pursuit for seven
years. On the expiration of that period he
sold his store and took up his abode in Shelby
county, Illinois, where he conducted a mer-
cantile establishment for six months. He
then returned to Darke county, Ohio, and
located in Baker. He next went to Hollans-
burg, where he conducted a store for six
years. He also engaged in farming for a
time, and was engaged in the manufacture
of tiling, but at the present time he is living
retired. His business career has been one
of activity, enterprise and honesty, and his
well-directed efforts have brought to him a
handsome competence which now enables
him to enjoy a rest which he has truly earned.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Karn were born
three children : John Edwin, born April 17,
1859. now deceased; Celinda A., the wife
of George W. Thomas, of German township,
by whom she has six children. Eddie C.,
Myrtle, Ada, Harry H., Joyce and an infant
girl: and Lewemma F., the wife of James
C. Chenoweth, by whom she has seven chil-
dren.— Nellie. Raymond, Bertha, Charlie,
Frankie, Ernest and a boy infant.
Mr. Karn has accumulated about one
hundred acres of land, and has a good prop-
erty in Glen-Karn. Tbere were no build-
ings at that place when he located there, no
484
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
railroad and no pike, and the introduction of
these improvements have been secured
largely through his own efforts. He laid
out the town in 1884, built the first house
there, and has since sold many lots. It now
contains sixteen dwellings, two stores, an ice
depot, and is an enterprising little village in
the midst of a rich farming district. In his
political views Mr. Karn is a Democrat. He
has never sought office, preferring to devote
his time to his business interests. He is a
member of the Reformed church, and with-
holds his support from no movement or
measure which he believes will prove of
public good. He may truly be called a self-
made man, and is the architect of his own
fortune, having builded wisely and well.
JOHN BIDDLE.
The subject of this review is one of the
representative citizens of German town-
ship, Ohio, who has been actively identified
with its agricultural interests for many years,
and has also done a more extensive ditch-
ing business than any other man within its
borders. He is a native of the county, born
in Xeave township June 26. 1835. and is a
son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Dixon) Bid-
die, natives of Maryland and Ohio, re-
spectively. The Biddies are of German de-
scent, but have been residents of this coun-
try for several generations. Our subject's
paternal grandmother, however, was a na-
tive of Wales, and his maternal ancestors
were of Scotch-Irish descent and early set-
tlers of Darke county, Ohio. His grand-
father, Baldwin Biddle, was a slaveholder
of Maryland, and in coming to this state
brought thirteen negroes with him, who as-
sisted in clearing his farm near Fort Jeffer-
son in Neave township, but he afterward set
them free. Our subject's father was thir-
teen years of age when brought by his par-
ents to this county, and he grew to man-
hood in Neave township, where he continued
to make his home throughout life, dying
there in 1862, at the age of fifty years. In
politics he was a Democrat.
John Biddle is the oldest of a family of
eight children, six sons and two daughters.
of whom seven are still living. He was
reared in Neave township and pursued his
studies in the log schoolhouse, remaining
at home until after the civil war broke out.
On the 2d of August, 1862, he enlisted in
Company I, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, and served until the close of the
war, being mustered out as corporal June
6, 1865. He participated in the engage-
ment at Tate's Ferry, near Richmond, the
battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chick-
amauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary
Ridge, the Atlanta campaign and those of
1 Bentonville and Greensboro, where John-
ston surrendered. Mr. Biddle being on the
skirmish line that night. Although he had
his clothes pierced by bullets many times and
the top of his hat shot off at the battle of
Chickamauga, he was never wounded.
After the war Mr. Biddle returned to his
home in German township, Darke county,
and was married in 1866 to Miss Anna Smel-
ker, a native of this county, and to them have
been born three children : Nora is now the
wife of Clarkson Lowdenslayer, of German
township, and they have two children, Otto
and Arnold; Orlando married Blanch Cable
and lives in German township: and Cora is
at home.
Thoughout his active business life Mr.
Biddle has followed farming and for thirty-
five years has been a contractor in ditch dig-
ging. He has made mjbst of the ditches in
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
485
German township, where lie makes his home
and has also constructed many miles of ditch
in Neave township and in Randolph county,
Ohio. In this capacity he is widely known,
and has made an enviable reputation as a
business man.
Mr. Biddle is a prominent member ot
Reed Post, No. 572, G. A. R. ; has been the
officer of the day in that post since its organi-
zation ; was the major of the Darke County
Battalion three years, and the president of
the same one year. In his political views he
is a stanch Democrat.
WILLIAM H. RIKE, M. D.
The thriving" little town of Versailles.
Ohio, has its quota of professional men, and
occupying a leading position among them
we find Dr. William H. Rike, a brief review
of whose life is as follows:
William H. Rike was born in Newberry
township, Miami county, Ohio, December 3,
1850. He is of German origin, but for sev-
eral generations the Rike family have lived
in this country. The Doctor's great-grand-
father was born on board the vessel while
his parents were en route from Germany t<>
America. John Rike, the Doctor's grand-
father, was a native of Maryland, who at
the age of twenty-one came west to Ohio and
located on a farm near Dayton, in Montgom-
ery county. It was on that farm that Henry
Rike, our subject's father, was born, and
there he passed the first twenty years of his
life. He then went to Miami county, this
state, where he subsequently married and
settled down to farming, and where he still
resides. The Rikes have been known as a
liberty-loving, patriotic family, many of them
engaged in agricultural pursuits, and all oc-
cupying useful positions in the respective lo-
calities in which they have lived. John
Rike, the Doctor's grandfather, was a pri-
vate soldier in the war of 181 2.
Dr. Rike's mother descended from
Scotch-Irish ancestry. Her maiden name
was Rebecca Dowler, and Newberry town-
ship, Miami county, Ohio, the place of her
nativity, where she was reared and married.
Her father, William Dowler, came to this
country when a child, and from that time his
home was in Miami county. Ohio, where he
was for many years engaged in farming and
school teaching. He taught from early
manhood until he was sixty-five years of age.
Henry Rike and wife became the parents of
nine children, seven sons and two daugh-
ters. All the sons lived to adult years, and
the daughters died when young.
The second born and second son in this
family is William H., whose name intro-
duces this sketch. He was reared on his
father's farm, receiving his early training
in the district school and later attending the
Piqua high school, of which he is a grad-
uate, having completed his course with the
class of 1870. In 1872 he began the study
of medicine at Covington, Ohio, in the office
of Dr. John Harrison and Dr. James Shel-
lenberg, the latter now a physician in the
Philippines. Young Rike carried forward
his studies in the Ohio Medical G>liege at
Cincinnati, and from this institution re-
ceived his diploma March 2, 1876. On the
9th of that month he married -Miss Emma
V. Fetter, a native of Miami county, and
on the 29th of the same month he located in
Versailles, where for nearly a quarter of a
century he has been successfully engaged in
the practice of his profession. He is a
member of the Versailles Medical Society
and the Darke County Medical Society, and
at this writing is employed as a physician
486
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
for the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail-
road Company. Dr. and Mrs. Rike have
two children, Blanch and Mary.
JOHN J. WINBIGLER.
This well-known resident of Versailles,
Ohio, is serving as a justice of the peace
in Wayne township, a position which he
has filled for four terms with credit to him-
self and satisfaction to his constituents. He
is thoroughly impartial in meting out justice.
his opinions being unbiased by either fear
or favor, and his fidelity to the trust reposed
in him is above question.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Winbigler was
born in Miami township, Montgomery coun-
ty, May 2^. 1839, and on the paternal side
traces his ancestry back to three brothers —
Henry, John and Elias Winbigler — who
were born in a province of France that n< >w
forms a part of Germany, and came to this
country prior to the Revolutionary war. in
which they all took part. John and Elias
located in Frederick county, Maryland, and
Henry in Frie, Pennsylvania. John was the
great-great-grandfather of our subject. His
grandson, Jacob Winbigler. the grandfather
of our subject, is supposed to have been a
native of Pennsylvania, but he died in Mary-
land. He was a soldier of the war of 1812.
The father was born near Harper's Ferry,
Frederick county, Maryland, in 1817. and
when about fifteen years of age removed to
Montgomery county. Ohio, where he was
married, in 1838, to Anna Maria Weaver,
who was born in Miami township, that coun-
ty, in February, 1821, and died in Darke
county, in 1887. Her father. John T.
Weaver, was a native of Berks county, Penn-
sylvania, and an early settler of Montgomery
county. Ohio, where he located about 1805.
There he entered a large tract of land for
his children and engaged in farming, dying
there at about the age of seventy years. On
the 2d of November, 1844, the father of
our subject came to Darke county and lo-
cated in York township, where in the midst
of the forest he developed a farm, devoting
his attention to agricultural pursuits
throughout life. He died May 4, 1876. In
religious belief he was a Lutheran, and in
politics a Democrat. He was widely and
favorably known, and was called upon to
serve as a justice of the peace and township
trustee. In his family were nine children,
all of whom married and are still living.
John J. Winbigler, the eldest of this
family, was five years old when brought by
his parents to Darke county. His educa-
tion was not begun until he was ten years
of age, when he became a student at a log
school-house in York township, and for
three months he attended a select school in
Jaysville. He assisted his father in clear-
ing and improving the home farm until he
attained his majority, and in i860 com-
menced teaching school, an occupation which
he successfully followed for about twenty
years, in the meantime devoting some at-
tention to other lines of business. He served
three years as a member of Company D,
Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and
did garrison duty most of the time. At the
close of the war he was honorably dis-
charged. July 3. 1865. Returning home he
resumed teaching and for three years, from
[867, engaged in the saw-mill business in
York township. He was also employed as
a traveling salesman for a time until 1880.
In 1 871 he removed to Versailles, where he
has since made his home with the exception
of four years spent on the old homestead.
In October, 1865, Mr. Winbigler mar-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
487
ried Miss Susana A. Lyons, by whom he had
three children that are still living, namely :
John S., Armena J. and Harry F. He was
again married in October, 1888, his second
union being with Leah Plessinger.
Religiously Mr. Winbigler is a member
of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and
fraternally is a member of G. W. Larimore
Post, No. 445, G. A. R., of which he was the
first commander. By his ballot he supports
the men and measures of the Democratic
party, and he takes quite a prominent and
influential part in local politics. He has
served as clerk and assessor of York town-
ship, assessor of Wayne township two terms,
and as deputy assessor many times, having
made out about twenty assessment books.
He is now serving his fourth term as the
justice of the peace of Wayne township, and
is a notary public. He is also interested in
the real estate and fire insurance business.
Mr. Winbigler is regarded as one of the
leading and highly respected citizens of Ver-
sailles, and it is therefore consistent that
he be represented in a work whose province
is the portrayal of the lives of the promi-
nent men of Darke county.
FRANCIS G. WILEY.
Francis G. Wiley is filling the position of
clerk of the courts at Greenville. He was
born upon a farm in Harrison township,
Darke county, on the 15th of January, 1857.
His father. Caleb Wiley, was a native of Vir-
ginia, born October 1 3, 1799, a son of John
Wiley, also a native of the Old Dominion.
The latter removed to Madison county, Ohio,
with his family, in 181 2, and in 181 7 the
Wileys went to Preble county, this state,
where the father of our subject resided until
1827. That year witnessed his arrival in
Harrison township, Darke county, where he
secured one hundred acres of land on sec-
tions 27 and 28, much of which was cov-
ered with a heavy growth of timber. He
cleared away the trees and transformed the
land into richly cultivated fields, also im-
proving the farm with good buildings. He
there devoted his attention to agricultural
pursuits throughout the remainder of his
life, and on the 13th of March, 1890. at the
very advanced age of ninety-one vears, was
called to his final rest. His wife still sur-
vives him and is yet living on the old home-
stead. Her maiden name was Elizabeth
Sproul. and she was born in Preble county,
Ohio. She became the mother of seven chil-
dren, namely: Marshall J.: Mary A., the
wife of John C. McKem ; Josephine, who
married Andrew P. Wilson, and is now a
widow living in Los Angeles. California;
William H., who resides upon the home
farm; George W., a dealer in hardware,
boots and shoes at New Madison, Ohio;
Francis G., of this review ; and A. J., who is
with his brother in New Madison.
Francis G. Wiley was sent to the district
school when he had attained the usual age.
and, applying himself closely to his studies,
he gained considerable proficiency, while
during the summer months he gave his time
and attention to the work of cultivating the
farm, following agricultural pursuits until
his election to the office of clerk of the a mrts
in Darke county in 1897. He entered upon
the discharge of the duties of the office on
the 1st of August, 1898, for a term of three
years, so that he will continue as the in-
cumbent until August, 1901. He soon mas-
tered the duties of the position, is thorough
and accurate, and has the confidence and re-
spect of the bench and bar and all with whom
488
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
he has been brought in contact through his
official service.
In 1883 Mr. Wiley was married to Miss
Anna Templeton, of Preble county, Ohio, a
daughter of N. F. Templeton. They have
three children, — Edith. Lizzie and Harmon
E. They occupy a pleasant home in Green-
ville, and have here a large circle of
friends. Mr. Wiley also owns a good farm
of fifty acres under a high state of cultiva-
tion, which he rents. He is a member of
the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and be-
longs to that class of enterprising American
citizens who recognize their duties to their
township, county and state, and never fail
in its performance.
SAMUEL S. THOMAS.
After a useful and well-spent life this
gentleman can well afford to lay aside busi-
ness cares and spend his declining days in
ease and quiet at his pleasant home on section
2,2, German township, Darke county. He
is a native of that township, his birth oc-
curring just across the road on section 31,
July 29, 1828. His father, Charles W.
Thomas, was a native of Maryland and a
son of Daniel Thomas, who entered the land
on which our subject was born and spent his
last days in German township, dying Feb-
ruary 14. [847, at the age of eighty-one
years. When a young man the father came
to this state and first settled in Greene coun-
ty, where he married Mercy Sackett. a native
of North Carolina. It was in 1826 that they
came to Darke county, and in the midst of
the forest the father cleared and developed
a farm, making it his home until some time
during the '60s, when he removed to Hol-
lansburg. He was taken ill while on a visit
to Greene county, and died there September
1, 1872, at the age of seventy- four years.
Religiously he was an active member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, in which he
served as a local preacher and class-leader.
He was a soldier of the war of 181 2, and one
of the most prominent and highly respected
men of his community. In his family were
nine children, namely : Mary Ann, deceased;
Nancy, the widow of Jared Mutchner and a
resident of Arba, Indiana; Samuel S.. our
subject; Cyrus, of Winchester, Indiana;
Phcebe, deceased: Sarah Jane, the wife of
Samuel Slates, of Iowa ; Abner, deceased ;
Absalom, of Iowa; and David, of Hollans-
burg, Darke county, Ohio.
Samuel S. Thomas grew to manhood <>n
the farm where he was born, and being the
oldest son he earlv began to assist in the
arduous task of clearing and improving the
wild land. His educational privileges were
necessarilv limited, and he attended school
only about two months during the year.
The school-houses of that early day were
built of logs with greased-paper windows,
and slab seats with pins driven into them for
legs, and the desks were made by laying a
plank upon pins driven into the wall. When
not writing the pupils generally sat with their
backs to these desks. On leaving the home
farm at the age of eighteen years Mr.
Thomas went to Newport, now Fountain
City, where he learned the cabinetmaker's
trade, serving a two-years apprenticeship.
Subsequently he worked at his trade in Rich-
mond and Winchester, and then engaged in
the same line of business for himself at Pal-
estine for about two years. At the end of
that time he located upon the farm in Ger-
man township where he now resides, though
he continued to work at his trade in connec-
tion with farming for some years. His
farm comprises two hundred and four acres,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
489
which he has placed under a high state of
cultivation, but he has now retired from
active labor and is enjoying a well earned
rest.
On the 29th of April, 1855, Mr. Thomas
married Miss Caroline Berry, who was born
in Hamilton. Butler county, Ohio, January
15, 1837, and was about two years old when
she first came to Darke county, but she sub-
sequently spent some time in Indiana. She
was educated in the district schools of Ger-
man township, this county, and at Camden,
Indiana, and the Randolph county (Indiana )
Seminary. Her father, Thomas Berry, was
born in Virginia, in 1804, and when a young
man removed to Hamilton, Butler county,
Ohio, later coming to Darke county, where he
died September 8, 1839, at the age of thirty-
five years. In 1830 he married Betsey Ran-
dolph, whci was born in Butler county, in
1814, and of the four children born to them
Mrs. Thomas is the only one who reached
years of maturity. For her second husband
the mother married Dr. William Freeman,
by whom she had two sons: Dr. Benjamin
R., of Spokane, Washington; and David W.
She also died at the age of thirty-five years.
Of the ten children born to Mr. and Airs.
Thomas six are living, concerning whom
we record the following items: Elizabeth M.
is the wife of George Horn, of Franklin
township, this county, and they have two
children — Carl and Clara. Ellen is the wife
of George W. Hill, whose sketch will be
found on another page of this volume.
Philip B., a practicing physician of De-
catur, Indiana, married Estella Hart, and
they have one daughter, Carrie. Edward
R. devotes his attention to the cultivation
of the home farm. Bertha is the wife of
Rev. James A. Jenkinson, and they have
three sons and one daughter — Lawrence
W., Thomas Clayton, James A. and Doro-
thy Amelia. Mr. Jenkinson is the pastor of
the Methodist Episcopal church of West-
chester, Ohio, and a member of the Cincin-
nati conference. Caroline is at home. All
of the children were born on the farm where
our subject still resides. Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas have one great-grandchild, Emel
Jones, a daughter of Harry T. and Caroline
Jones.
In 1864, during the civil war, Mr.
Thomas enlisted as a private in the Eighth
Ohio Independent Battery, and was in the
service eighteen months, taking part in the
battles of Black River and Yazoo, Missis-
sippi, and receiving his discharge at Camp
Dennison, Ohio, August 7, 1805. He is
now a member of Reed Post, No. 572, G.
A. R., of Palestine, and is a prominent mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church in
Hollansburg. of which he is a trustee. In
his political views he is a stanch Republi-
can and gives his support to every enterprise
which he believes will advance the moral,
social or material welfare of his township
and county.
DAVID J. VANNOY.
David }. Vannoy, manufacturer of oak
and hickory spokes and dealer in lumber at
Webster, Darke county, Ohio, is one of the
enterprising and successful business men of
his locality.
Mr. Vannoy was born in Knox county,
Kentucky. August 22. 1856 His father,
Jonas Vannoy, also a native of Kentucky;
removed from that state to Ohio in i860
and located first in Warren county, whence
he removed to Darke county in 1870, where
he passed the closing years of his life and
where he died in 1878. at the age of forty-
490
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
five years. He was a son of Alexander
Vannoy, a Scotchman, who had emigrated
when a young man to this country and settled
in Kentucky, where he subsequently mar-
ried a Miss Cline. He died near Coving-
ton, Kentucky, and was buried in the cem-
etery at that place. The mother of David
J. Vannoy was before her marriage Miss
Mary Barnes. She was born and reared in
Mississippi. Her father, Joseph Barnes,
was a contractor and was one of the sur-
veyors and promoters of the Erie Canal.
The Barnes family is of German origin, but
many generations bearing that name have
lived in America. Jonas and Mary ( Barnes)
Vannoy were the parents of three children —
two sons and one daughter. The daugh-
ter, Alice, died at the age of twenty-eight
years. The two sons, David J. and Samuel,
are both residents of the same place, the
former being the eldest of the family.
David J. Vannoy was five years old at
the time he was brought by his parents to
Ohio, and in Warren. Ross and Darke coun-
ties he was reared. He remained a member
of his father's household until he was twenty
years of age, when he started out in life on
Ids own account. He was variously em-
ployed, in different places, until June 21,
1 89 1, when he engaged in his present busi-
ness. July 28, 1896, his mill was destroyed
by fire. He immediately rebuilt, opening
his mill for business on the 15th of Au-
gust, less than a month after the fire. From
the start he has done a constantly increasing
business, for some time past has employed
an average of thirty-five men, and now does
an annual business of seventy-five thousand
dollars. From time to time he has invested
in land, and at this writing has four farms,
comprising three hundred and fifty acres,
which he rents. As showing the prosperity
which has attended his efforts, we state that
in 1890 his property was valued at six thou-
sand dollars. To-day he has a rating in
Dun's report of sixty to eighty thousand
dollars.
Mr. Vannoy married Miss M. E. Menser,
a daughter of Robert Menser, who previous
to her marriage was a teacher. They have no
children.
Politically Mr. Vannoy is a Democrat.
When the town of Webster was incorporated
he was elected its first mayor, a position
which he has since filled, having been re-
elected from time to time, now being on the
eleventh year and sixth term of his service.
He is a member of the K. G. E.
ELMER E. C ALDER WOOD.
Elmer E. Calderwood is practicing law
at the bar of Darke county and has added
new laurels to a name distinguished in this
connection. He was born in the city of
Greenville December 19. i860, and is the
only living son of the second marriage of
Andrew Robeson Calderwood, who was a
distinguished representative of the legal fra-
ternity in Greenville for many years and
an early settler in Darke county. The fa-
ther was born in Montgomery county, Ohio,
September 14, 1818, and was a son of
George and Margaret ( Robeson ) Calder-
wood, both of whom were natives of Hunt-
ingdon county, Pennsylvania. They were
married on the 14th of September. 181 1,
and in the fall of 181 7 removed to Ohio,
locating near Dayton, whence they came to
Darke county in 1832. Here George Calder-
wood died July 9. 1849, but his wife long-
survived him, passing away on the 12th of
August, 1873. He was of Scotch parentage
and though he did not enjoy very good ed-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
491
ucational privileges in youth lie was a man
of sound judgment, practical common
sense, of great firmness of character and was
very courageous. He was of large stature
and possessed an iron constitution, and with
this a kind nature generous almost to a
fault. His wife was descended from Scotch,
AYelsh and Irish ancestry and was a woman
of remarkahle good sense, fine natural talent
and great kindliness.
Andrew Robeson Calderwood, the fa-
ther of our subject, spent a youth of activity
upon his father's farm in digging ditches,
mauling rails and performing other such
labors as fell to the lot of a boy in limited
circumstances in pioneer days. His edu-
cation was rather meager, hut he was en
flowed by nature with strong mentality and
was ambitious and energetic. Being called
upon to serve as a juror he was so inspired
by the eloquence of some of the attorneys
in the case that he resolved to hecome a
lawyer, and with characteristic energy at
once began to study the text books through
which one hecomes familiar with the prin-
ciples of jurisprudence and with the opin-
ions that make precedents in the court. He
was admitted to the bar and began the
practice of law in 1851. and from the be-
ginning met with success in his calling. In
1854 he was elected prohate judge, hut after
serving for three years he entered the Union
army as second lieutenant and was after-
ward promoted to the rank of captain of
Company I, Fortieth Ohio Volunteer In-
fantry. He resigned his commission on ac-
count of injuries received from being thrown
from a horse, hut on regaining his health
he was recommended for a captaincy by
Governor Tod and by Colonel Cranor. He
was then assigned to the command of his
old company, hut after six months' service
in that position he was again compelled to
leave the field on account of the loss of his
voice, which he had previously sustained.
He afterward acted in the capacity of re-
cruiting officer until the close of the war, '
when he resumed the private practice of
law.
On the 3d of December, 1876, Judge
Calderwood assumed the editorial control
of the Sunday Courier, a leading organ of
the Republican party in Darke county. H •■
was for many years a recognized leader in
the Republican ranks and was three times
elected to the office of mayor of Greenville,
in which position he served in a most com-
mendable manner, his administration being
businesslike practical, progressive and bene-
ficial. In 1868 the Republicans of Darke
county presented his name to the fourth
congressional district of Ohio as a candidate
for the nomination of congressman, but he
was defeated by a small majority by Mr.
McClung. For mam- vears he enjoyed a
liberal share of the law practice in his county
and had more than a local reputation as a
criminal lawyer, being an earnest pleader,
his eloquence and logic always carrying
weight and seldom failing to convince. He
had the ability to recognize the points in a
case almost by a single glance and readily
recognized the important one upon which
the decision of every case finally turns.
There was a deep self-conviction, an em-
phatic earnestness in his manner and a close
logical connection in his thoughts. He did
not adorn his speech with flowers of rhetoric
which often obscure the thought, but his
words rang with the eloquence which arose
from the occasion and prompted by a belief
in the righteousness of Irs position. His
ability to correctly judge human nature
made his labors with the jury very effective.
49:
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and he is regarded as one of the most dis-
tinguished members that have ever practiced
at the Darke county bar. He died June 9.
1891, but is survived by his wife who was
'born in Montgomery county, Ohio, near
New Carlisle, and is still living in Green-
ville.
Elmer E. Calderwood was educated in
the Greenville schools. He learned the
printer's trade in the office of the Greenville
Courier and continued in that line of busi-
ness for ten years. He read law under the
direction of the firm of Calderwood &
Breaden and on the 8th of October, 1893,
was admitted to the bar. He then opened
an office and has since engaged in the prac-
tice of law in connection with the real estate
and loan business, making loans for eastern
parties. He exercises his right of franchise
in support of the men and measures of the
Republican party and has served two term?
in the city council, acting as its president
for one year. Socially he is connected with
the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He is
regarded as one of the enterprising and
representative citizens of Greenville, alive to
the best interests of the community and of
the county. He possesses the true western
spirit of progress, and throughout an active
business career he has won confidence and
regard by his honorable methods.
JOHN H. SMALL.
John Henry Small, who is engaged in
blacksmithing and carriage-painting in Pitts-
burg, was born in Perry township, Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, July 24, 1864. His
grandfather, Henry Small, was a native of
New Jersey, and the father, Robert Carlisle
Small, was also born in that state, where he
remained until eight years of age, when he
accompanied his parents on their removal to
Ohio, the family locating in Perry township,
Montgomery county. There the grandfather
soon died. The father was reared to man-
hood in that county and enjoyed such educa-
tional privileges as the common schools of
that day afforded. He made farming his
principal occupation throughout his business
career and led a busy and useful life. He
married Susan Tissel and they resided in
Perry township. Montgomery county, until
1883. when they removed to Painter's Creek,
where the father died in 1894, and where the
mother is still living. He was a member of
the German Baptist church and was a Dem-
ocrat in his political affiliations. In his fam-
ily were the following children: Sarah E.,
wife of Perry Mills; Mary: John H. ; Ste-
phen D., who married Margaret Wagerman;
David who wedded Annie Oswalt : Harvev,
who married Annie Swigert ; William, who
married Lillie Foreman: Benjamin: Rachel,
who died at the age of fourteen years; and
Martha, who completes the family.
In taking up the personal history of our
subject we present to our readers the life
record of one who is widely and favorably
known in this locality. He attended the dis-
trict schools until sixteen years of age and
spent the intervening months in work upon
the home farm, early becoming familiar
with the labors of field and meadow. At
the age of twenty he came with his parents
to Darke county and then began business on
his own account, working by the month as
a farm hand for fifteen dollars per month.
The following summer he engaged in farm-
ing for G. W. Cramer, of Gettysburg, op-
erating his land on the shares. At the close
of the summer of his twentieth year he went
to the west, spending some time in different
parts of Missouri. He worked at carpenter-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
4(,)P,
ing, in the winter was employed in a butcher
shop in Leavenworth, Kansas, and in the
spring secured employment on a farm in
Brown county. Kansas. He then returned
home and again entered the employ of Mr.
Cramer. The following summer he pur-
chased stock and diligently prosecuted his
business interests, meeting with creditable
success.
After his marriage, in 1888, Mr. Small
located in Landis and was there engaged in
farming for two years. He then took up his
abode on the Besecker farm in A'an Buren
township and in the fall engaged in thresh-
ing. He next went to Franklin township
and through the fall engaged in threshing,
while in the winter months he engaged in
the manufacture of tobacco boxes and in
carpenter work. He was employed in that
way for four years, after which he conducted
a blacksmith shop in Landis for three years.
On the expiration of that period he sold
out and on the 28th of February, 1899.
opened his blacksmith shop and carriage
painting establishment in Pittsburg, where
he has since carried on business. He has se-
cured a liberal patronage by reason of his
excellent workmanship and his earnest de-
sire to please, and his success is well merited.
On the 23d of December, 1888. Mr.
Small was married, in Franklin township,
to Miss Annie Lantz, a daughter of Henry
R. Lantz. Unto them have been born five
children: Orville S., April 5, 1890; Carroll
M., June 2, 1893; Hazel. April 2, 1894.:
Roy Albert, June 13. 1898; and Robert
Henry. July 15. 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Small
have many warm friends in the community
and enjoy the high regard of all. In politics
he is quite active, stanchly advocating Dem-
ocratic principles. He has served as a con-
stable, was the supervisor of Franklin town-
ship, and is now serving as the mayor of
Pittsburg. He exercises his official prerog-
atives for the advancement of all measures
which he believes will prove of public good
and his administration is progressive, prac-
tical and commendable. Socially he is con-
nected with the Knights of Pythias fra-
ternity of Gettysburg and is a member of the
Christian church. Through the careful
prosecution of his business interests he has
won success and through honorable methods
has gained the confidence and good will of
all with whom he has been brought in con-
tact.
REV. E. ORTLEPP.
For eleven years Rev. E. Ortlepp has
neen the beloved pastor of St. Paul's Lu-
theran church of Greenville, Ohio, and has
ministered faithfully to the spiritual needs
of his people and has given power and ef-
fective aid to all influences which work for
the advancement of the community.
He was born April 2^, 1867, in the city
of Naumburg, Germany, in which country
his parents spent their entire lives. He was
reared and educated in his native land.
After leaving the select school where his
primary training was received he entered the
university at Halle and later in Berlin. Sub-
sequently he was a student at the theological
seminary at Breklum, Schleswig-Holstein.
In 1888 Mr. Ortlepp came to the United
States, landing in New York city. He ac-
cepted his first charge as the pastor of a
Lutheran church at Paterson, New Jersey,
where he remained one vear and on the 15th
of September, 1889. came to Greenville as
the pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran church.
He also has charge of the church at Wake-
field, Darke county, the two churches having
494
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
a membership of three hundred. The church
edifice at Greenville was erected in 1891
at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. On
the 10th of November, 18S9. Mr. Ortlepp
was ordained in the did Methodist Episcopal
church at Greenville by Dr. Severinghaus,
of Chicago, by the authority of the New
York and Xew Jersev Lutheran synods, and
he is now the manager and treasurer of the
literary hoard of the Lutheran Wartburg
and Nebraska synods of the Lutheran book
department, and is its manager of religious
periodicals and author of Lutheran cate-
chisms, almanacs and 'other literary works.
He devotes his entire time and attention
to the work of the church, and under his
past, irate the congregations of which he now
has charge have largely increased and have
been greatly strengthened spiritually.
On the t8th of October, 1892. Mr. Ort-
lepp married Miss Gertrude Hemic, the only
daughter of the late Daniel Hemic, a prom-
inent citizen and for many years a leading
merchant of Greenville. Mrs. Ortlepp was
born and reared in that place and was edu-
cated in its high school. She is an accom-
plished lady and has been of great help to
her husband in his work.
CALVIN M. YOUNG.
During the early pioneer period in the
development of Ohio the Young family
were found within the borders of the Buck-
eye state. The year 1805 witnessed the ar-
rival of representatives of the name and
since that time the Youngs have been prom-
inent in promoting" the business interests
which have contributed largely to the de-
velopment and progress of this section of
the country. Phillip Young, the great-
grandfather of our subject, was a son of
William Young and was born in Germany.
He emigrated to this country in 1767, lo-
cating in Maryland, but remained in that
state for only a short period, removing to
Greenbrier county, Virginia. He was both
a tailor and farmer and, when the colonies
attempted to throw oft the yoke of British
oppression and establish an independent na-
tion in the new world, he joined the Amer-
ican army and loyally served as a soldier in
the Revolution, doing all in his power toward
making them free from the old country.
Me married Elizabeth Fox, but little is
known concerning her family history. It is
known, however, that her people were noted
for their physicial strength and that one of
them could lift a barrel and drink from it.
The marriage of Phillip Young and
Elizabeth Fox occurred about 1790. They
remained in Virginia until 1805, when they
emigrated westward to Ohio, taking up their
abode in Clay township, Montgomery coun-
tv. where Mr. Young entered a tract of land
three and a half miles west of Harrisburg
and two miles north of Salem. He died
about [836 and his remains were interred
on the old homestead farm, the grave being
now surrounded by a paling fence. His
wife survived him for a few years and died
on the old homestead at a ripe age. The
only relic of that early pioneer day yet re-
maining on the farm is a pear tree which
stands a mute witness of the wonderful
changes that have c< >me and the events that
have occurred in the passing vears. The
children of this worth}' couple were Philip,
who married Miss Elizabeth Royer; Adam,
who married Peggy Fox; Christian; Eliza-
beth, wife of Henry Harshbarger; Polly,
wife of Jacob 'Wisner; Daniel, who wedded
Abbie Rinard; David, who married Eliza-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
196
beth Knee; and Joseph, who married Re-
becca Stoner.
Phillip Young, the grandfather of Cal-
vin Young, was bom in Virginia in [791,
and when a young man came with his parents
to Ohio. He assisted his father in the de-
velopment of the home farm until about
1810. when he married Elizabeth Royer, and
began farming on his own account. Dur-
ing the early part of the year 1812 he joined
the American army and served under Gen-
eral Brown in the second war with England.
He participated in the battles of Chippewa,
Lundy's Lane and the siege of Forts Meigs
and Erie. He would often tell of the hor-
rible scenes at the first two battles, where
one could walk over acres of ground with-
out touching the soil, so thick were the
In idies of the British scattered there. Phillip
Young was not wounded and at the close of
hostilities he received an honorable dis-
charge. He was a large man, five feet,
eight inches in height, weighing over two
hundred pounds. ■ In disposition, however,
he was mild, genial and courteous and won
the warm regard of all who knew him. In
his later years he became a member of the
Dunkard church and died in that faith. In
1845 '1L' was called upon to mourn the loss
of his wife and later he removed to Fulton
county, Indiana, to live with his son-in-
law, with whom he remained until his death
in 1866. He had then attained the ripe old
age of seventy-five years and his remains
were interred on the bank of the Tippecanoe
river.
(Jnto Phillip and Elizabeth (Royer)
Young had heen horn nine children: Susan,
the wife of John Sherow ; Elizaheth, the wife
of Jacob Baret; Polly: Catherine, the wife
of John Jenkins: Sarah, wife of Wiley
North; Phillip, who married Martha Mow;
30
Christian, who married Mary Ann Arnott;
Daniel, who was a twin brother of Chris-
tian and became the father of our subject;
and Joseph, who married Mary Arnott.
The mother of these children was a
daughter of Henry Royer, who was of ( ler
man birth and came to America in colonial
clays, taking up his abode in the Keystone
state, lie married Susan Swenk and about
[807 joined a colony of Dunkards, who
started for Ohio for the purpose of estab-
lishing a location near Cincinnati. About
the time the journey was begun, however,
Mr. Royer was taken ill and prevented from
joining the party. Later he hoped to make
the trip, but about the time of the start was
again taken ill and died. He had three chil-
dren : Henry; George, who was born in
1776. married Miss Swenk and djed in
[876; and Elizabeth, who married Phillip
Young in 18 10.
Daniel Young, the father of him whose*
name introduces this record, was born Sep-
tember 7. 1824, in Clay township, Mont-
gomery county, Ohio. His school privileges
were very limited, but he became a m >ted
marksman and had ample opportunity for
practice, for the forests of Ohio were filled
with an abundance of wild game. When
a young man he went to Indiana, where he
spent four years in traveling and hunting
in company with three companions. lb
then returned to his native state and on the
31st of December, 1848, married
Martha Ann Mote, who was born March
jo. [834. She was of English lineage, trac-
ing her ancestry back to Daniel Mote, her
great-grandfather, who emigrated from
England to Pennsylvania about 175 1 and
later went to Georgia, where he man-:
Miss Cobb. They had three children:
Rachel, who became the wife of Dr. M
196
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
a celebrated physician ; Joseph, who mar-
ried Mary North; and Rebecca, the wife
of Thomas Mattock. The son, Joseph Mote,
was married about 1800, and in 1805 emi-
grated to Ohio, coming with a Quaker col-
ony, who had become disgusted with the
practices of slavery in Georgia and conse-
quently sought a home where they might be
free from the influence of that institution.
A settlement was made in Miami county,
Ohio, but subsequently Joseph Mote removed
to Monroe township. Darke county, where lv
remained until his death in 1824. He was
the father of ten children : Enoch, who mar-
ried Catherine Burcate ; John ; Silas, who
married Sallie Hall; Ezekiel, who married
Grace Vernon ; Epsy, the wife of John Mark-
ham ; Rachel, the wife of John Walker;
Noah, who married Catherine Sharp; Alex,
who married Rhoda Miles ; William, who
married Polly Hunt ; and Joseph, who died
in childhood.
The maternal grandfather of these chil-
dren was John North. He was born in
England and there married Rachel Nickel.
Subsequently he emigrated with his family
to Georgia, taking up his abode in the new
world when the colonies along the Atlantic
coast still belonged to Great Britain. He
sympathized, however, with the American
army during the Revolutionary war, and as
many Tories lived in that section of the
country he had many narrow escapes. At
one time he was hidden under a puncheon
floor until he could finally make his way
from that region. Joining the colonial army
he loyally bore his part in the struggle that
brought independence to the nation. Both
he and his wife lived to be more than one
hundred years of age and died in Darke
county, Ohio, the former on the 20th of
March, 1846, and the latter on the 26th of
October, 1842. Their children were: Will-
iam; John, who married Tamer Mendenhall ;
James, who married Tamer Vernon ; Mary,
wife of Joseph Mote; Ezekiel; Thomas, who
married Elizabeth Eler; Richard; Joseph,
who married Elizabeth Berry ; Sarah the
wife of Martin Howe; Samuel, who married
Elizabeth Brooks; and Nancy, the wife of
Jacob Loge.
Ezekiel Mote, the grandfather of our
subject and the son of Joseph and Mary
(North) Mote, was born February 22, 1808
in Miami county, Ohio. He acquired a fair
education and in 1828 married Grace Ver-
non, who was descended from a prominent
English family. Thomas Vernon was prob-
ably a son of Admiral Vernon, who was an
admiral of the English navy and was in
charge of several voyages of exploration.
Nathaniel Gideon and Thomas Vernon came
to America in 1772, locating in Georgia,
and when the war of the Revolution was in-
augurated Gideon and Thomas started for
England, but the former, died on the way.
Nathaniel Vernon, however, remained in
Georgia and upheld the cause of the mother
country during the struggle. About 1780
he married Grace Mendenhall and for thirty-
five years he was a resident of Georgia, but
in 1805 came to Ohio. The mother of
Grace Mendenhall was massacred by the
Creek Indians about 1781, not far from
where Atlanta now stands. It is supposed
that Mount Vernon was named in honor of
the Admiral and the family name figures
conspicuously in connection with English
and American history. After the marriage
of Ezekiel Mote and Grace Vernon the fa-
ther commenced farming and also engaged
in merchandising, and became a very prom-
inent and influential citizen of the commun-
ity in which he resided. He was one of the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
497
first supporters of the Abolition party in
Ohio and was almost ostracised from so-
ciety on account of his position " on the
slavery question. He was, however, an ef-
fective speaker and was firm in the support
of his honest convictions. His first wife
died in April, 1845, anc^ sne was ^ie mother
of seven children : Sirena. who became the
wife of Hiram Jones and lived near Laura.
Miami county; Irving, a resident of Green-
\ille; Martha, the wife of Daniel Young:
Alpha, deceased ; Olive, the wife of Charles
O'Neil; Calvin, who married Rebecca Ele-
man ; and Penuel, who died in infancy. In
April, 1847, ^r- Mote married Rachel Rich-
ardson and they had four children, of whom
two are living, — Grace and Alvin. the for-
mer now the wife of an ex-soldier liv-
ing in Indiana, having had four children by
a former husband, whose name was George
Swab. Alvin is married and lives in the
west. The second wife of Mr. Mote died
March 16, 1855. and subsequently he mar-
ried Mary Burns, by whom he had three
children : Anson a grocer of Pickaway.
Ohio; Mary and Emma. Ezekiel Mote
died in 1885.
For fifteen years after the marriage of
Daniel Young and Martha Ann Mote they
lived in Darke county, but in the fall of 1863
removed to Whitley county, Indiana, where
they remained until 1870. They now re-
side near Pleasant Hill, Miami county, Ohio,
where they have a very comfortable home
and are enjoying a hale and hearty old age,
Daniel Young having passed the seventy-
sixth milestone on life's journey. The mar-
riage of this worthy couple has been blessed
with five children : Calvin, Sylvester,
Amandes. Nuel and Ida May, and with the
exception of the third named all are yet
living.
Calvin M. Young, whose name intro-
duces this record, was born May 6, 1851,
in the county which is still his home, the
family then being residents of Franklin
township. He acquired his education in
the district schools of the neighborhood and
at the age of fourteen years began working
as a farm hand, giving his father the benefit
of his wages. He went to Indiana with his
parents and there remained for seven years,
but as he did not enjoy good health in the
Hoosier state he returned to Ohio on the
24th of April, 1870. He ..as then employed
on the brick yard in Montgomery countv
until the following winter, when he entered
school. In the spring he came to Wash-
ington township, Darke county, securing
employment in the service of Esquire Jef-
fries, of German township, with whom he
remained for two years. On the expiration
of that period a very important event in his
life occurred — his marriage to Miss Sarali
Ann Houpt. the wedding being celebrated
on the 9th of January, 1873. The lady is
a daughter of Frederick and Sarah Houpt.
For five years following their marriage Mr.
Young rented land in German township be-
longing to his father-in-law. On the 10th
of November, 1885. he removed to his pres-
ent home, which at that time was a tract of
eighty-two acres, the greater part of which
is under a high state of cultivation and im-
proved with all modern accessories and con-
veniences. He is a very enterprising and
energetic agriculturist, following the most
progressive methods, and his home property
is one of the most desirable farms in his
section of the county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Young were born
six children: Wellington, who resides in
Randolph county, Indiana, operates a hack-
line and is engaged in carrying the mail;
498
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Rosa Lee, who became the wife of Jesse
Dove Marshall and died, leaving a daughter,
Opal Marie, who resides with her grand-
father. Mr. Young; Garfield, Ollie. Leona
and Martha Anna, who are still at home.
The mother of these children died Novem-
ber 5. 1890, and on the 16th of December,
1895, Mr. Voting wedded Mrs. Laura Alice
Baker, by whom he lias two children. Xellie
Edith and Bessie Edna. Her people now
reside in Harrison township, Darke county,
her parents being John F. and Mary (An-
kerman ) Spencer. ,
On attaining his majority Mr. Young
became a supporter of the Republican party.
continuing as one of its followers until
1884, when, believing the cause of temper-
ance the most important issue before the
people, he joined the ranks of the Prohibi-
tion party. In May. 1888, he was a delegate
to the ( )hio Prohibition state convention and
was a visitor to the national convention of
the party held in Indianapolis, Indiana, the
same year. He was also a delegate to the
state convention held at Cleveland in 1893
and alternate to the Columbus convention in
18941 Aeain in 1896 he was a state dele-
gate and in the work of the part}' he takes
a deep and active interest. He is a stanch
advocate of American principles, believing
that the voice of the people should be the
voice of the government. The cause of ed-
ucation has found in him a warm friend,
who does all in his power to promote the
interests of the schools. He belongs to the
Farmers' Alliance of Elm Hill, and Pales-
tine Lodge, No. 652, K. of P., of which
he is a charter member. He visited the
World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago
in 1893 and the Atlanta Exposition, and
has seen many of the prominent battle fields
of the south. He has always been an hon-
orable and patriotic citizen and in [896 he
delivered the Memorial Day address at Pales-
tine.
He is a man of broad scholarly attain-
ments, his investigations being carried far
and wide into the realms of science. He
has a particular love for the studies of arch-
eology, geology and paleontology and has
some of the finest collections in the state.
Although bis time and means are limited,
his researches and investigations have given
him greater knowledge of these subjects and
rilled his cabinets with many fine specimens
of these fields. Indeed his collections are
so rare and valuable-and his knowledge of
the subject so extensive that he is recognized
as an authority on such matters. Particular
mention may be made of his archeological
specimens showing the implements used by
men in matters of warfare and also in times
of peace. In 1882 some farm hands digging
a township ditch discovered what they sup-
posed to he pieces of petrified wood. Know-
ing Mr. Voting's reputation, however, he
was summoned and immediately recognized
the supposed wood as bones of the extinct
mastodon giganteus. After working several
hours they unearthed the lower jaw bone,
which was very much decayed and crumbled
very easily, but with great care Mr. Voting
proceeded in his work and had the bones
exhumed, and although broken in several
places the skeleton was in a fair state of
preservation. This lower jaw of the masto-
don was the largest specimen ever found,
weighing one hundred and six pounds and
measuring thirty inches between the two
sides at the rear. The length of the jaw
bone is three feet, six and a half inches, and
its thickness near the molar teeth is about
eight inches. The two molar teeth weighed
seven pounds each and the four incisors
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
499
about three pounds each. The bones were
later sold to Kendall & Collett, who placed
them in the museum, at Terre Haute, Indi-
ana where, with over twenty thousand dol-
lars' worth of other valuable specimens, it
was destroyed by fire. The total weight of
the mastodon must have been over two hun-
dred thousand pounds!
Mr. Young lias also made a deep study
of the "Mound-builders," and his relics that
came from the mounds of Ohio form an
interesting and valuable collection, of which
he has every reason to be proud. The col-
lection comprises everything used by the
"Mound-builders" for agricultural, domestic
or warlike purposes. He has some very rare
pipes of beautiful workmanship.
He has done more to awaken interest in
this particular line of research by his con-
tributions to the daily and weekly news-
papers, and his articles are noteworthy for
the interesting manner in which he presents
his subject, doing more to popularize and
make attractive to the general public these
important branches of science. His ambi-
tion now is to complete and classify a full
collection of the archeological relics and
make it the best private collection in the
state.
WILLIAM H. MATCHETT, M. D.
Among the citizens who have contrib-
uted to the development of the county and
left their impress upon its history was Dr.
William Hendrickson Matchett, who for
sixty-eight years was a resident and for more
than forty years one of the practicing physi-
cians and surgeons of Darke o unity. As the
river whose deep and stead}- current, wind-
ing among fair landscapes, past blossoming
fields and through busy towns, blessing
millions of people and enhancing the wealth
of nations, affords a little of that wild and
romantic scenery which startles the traveler
or delights the artist, so those lives which
contribute most to the improvement of a
state and the well-being of a people are
seldom the ones which furnish the most
brilliant passages for the pen of the his-
torian or biographer. There is, in the
anxious and laborious struggle for an
honorable competence and a solid career
of the business or professional man fight-
ing the every-day battle of life, but little to
attract the idle reader of a sensational chap-
ter; but for a mind thoroughly awake to the
reality and meaning of human existence,
there are noble and immortal lessons in the
life of a man, who, without other means
than a clear head, a strong arm and a true
heart, conquers adversity, and, toiling on
through the workaday years of a Ling ca-
reer, finds that he has won not only wealth,
but also something far greater and higher — ■
the deserved respect and esteem of those with
whom his years of active life have placed
him in contact.
Such a man, and for many years one of
the leading citizens of Darke county, was
Dr. Matchett. Born in Butler county,
Ohio, he was of French Huguenot extrac-
tion, a descendant of one Jean Machet, of
Normandy, and later of John Matchett
(called "The Pine" on account of his re-
markable height) who distinguished himself
in the battle of Trenton, and whose memory
was honored by a memorial tablet, which still
hangs in a church in Monmouth county, New
Jersey. The sword which he carried, hav-
ing wrested it from a British officer, is still
in possession of the family of C. < ■■ Matchett,
and did service in both the war of [812
and the civil war. having heen carried by
500
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the Doctor's grandfather in the former and
by his brother. Captain C. G. Matchett, in
the latter. The Doctor's parents, Eric, of
New York, and Joanna Matchett, of Mon-
mouth county, New Jersey, removed to
( >hio about 1820, and in the early '30s came
with their family to Darke county, settling
at the cross-roads, where later there was a
small neighborhood known as Matchett's
Corner. The Doctor was here reared and be-
came thoroughly acquainted with the most
primitive features of the country and the
varied experiences of pioneer life. So fa-
miliar was he with the log-cabin period that
he remarked to the man in charge of a fac-
simile pioneer's dwelling at the World's
Columbian Exposition, "Why, you have
your coonskins hung wrong-side out," —
meaning that the pelt should be turned to-
ward the wall, as he had always seen them
when cabins were usually decorated with
Ci 11 inskin currency.
Fi ir two years Dr. Matchett carried the
mail from Greenville to Hamilton, riding
through a wilderness of swamp and prairie
land. He was then only fourteen years old.
He was a boy of very studious habits, hav-
ing great thirst for knowledge, and his earn-
ings were invested in school books, which he
studied before an old-fashioned fireplace by
the light of the blazing logs. His school ad-
vantages were meager, but he mastered the
common branches and did some work in the
higher, thus advancing along educational
lines until he was enabled to teach, being
connected with the schools of Darke and
Preble counties in that way for several terms.
However, the- practice of medicine was the
profession which he desired to make his life
work, and he early began preparation for
that calling under the tutelage of Drs.
Jaqua & Lineweaver, of West Alexandria,
Preble county. He also attended two
courses of lectures in Cleveland and Cincin-
nati and graduated at the Ohio Medical
College.
Dr. Matchett was united in marriage to
Miss Eleanora, the accomplished daughter
of Dr. William Lindsay, of Richmond, In-
diana, and granddaughter of Dr. Peter
Smith, of the "Miami country," a graduate
of Princeton and the author of the first work
on Materia Medica ever published west of
the Alleghany mountains, and who, said
Rafinesque, was among the first to formu-
late the microbe theory. ( Vide "Dr. Smith
and his Medical Dispensatory," by John Uri
Lloyd, Pharmaceutical Journal, Philadel-
phia, 1897). Six children were born of this
union, but only two are living. Dr. Matchett
officiated at the entrance of life of over three
thousand of the population in this section
of the state. He was the loved family physi-
cian in many a household, and no man in
the entire community deserved in higher de-
gree the confidence and respect given him.
During the war of the Rebellion, the
Doctor served for four years as surgeon of
the One Hundred and Eighty-sixth Ohio
Regiment and first assistant surgeon of the
Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He be-
lieved firmly in the policy of arbitrating all
national disputes. In consequence, be was
dubbed a "copperhead." in i860, by those
who mistook his principles for southern sym-
pathy; but when the country needed loyal
men, he was ready to give his aid and. if
need be, his life in defense of the Union. He
was a man ahead of his times, regarding ar-
bitration and many other questions; and
while he often assisted in breaking the
ground for the propagation of some new
principle, unpopular at its beginning, he lived
to behold many a blossom and fruitage in the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
501
growth of public opinion. He hid his
timidity behind a cloak of reserve and oft-
times seemed austere, but his intimate friends
recognized his true worth and kindly nature,
and, though he led a life apparently self-
centered, he was in reality sympathizing with
and encompassing in interest men of every
station. But principle rather than popu-
larity was the keynote of his character.
During President Cleveland's adminis-
tration Dr. Matchett was the president of
the board of pension examiners. He was
an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army
Post, and ofttimes addressed public gather-
ings on war topics and experiences. His
loyalty was one of his marked characteris-
tics, but he brought to bear on all public
questions careful and mature judgment. In
politics he was a Jeffersonian Democrat of
the strictest school until 1873, when he
espoused the cause of political temperance,
and with the birth of the Prohibition party
allied himself to that body, laboring for the
the promulgation of its principles with voice
and pen, and as host and helper of any of
its votaries until the day of his death. His
business life was one of honorable, upright
dealing with all men. A common saying
of Dr. Matchett's was: "1 want t<> be on
good terms with myself. 1 want my own
self respect." Of him it was often said,
"Dr. Matchett's word is as good as his
bond." In his life he might be said t>> ex-
emplify the Shakesperean precept.
"This above all. To thine own self be true.
And it must follow as the night the day I
Thou canst not then be false to any man."
An early love of truth, a high sense of honor
and a disposition to defend the right and
condemn the wrong, instilled in him by a
good, wise mother, in early boyhood, in a
quiet country home, laid the foundation of
that in his character which was noble and
pronounced. He was greatly interested in
Masonry, to the study of which he devoted
much time, serving for many years as high
priest in the Greenville Chapter, and o >n-
tributing from time to time to the Masonic
literature of the state.
Dr. Matchett's deatli occurred on the
28th of August, 1898. as the result of a
cerebral hemorrhage, his illness lasting only
two weeks. In religious belief he was a
Methodist, believing in the Wesleyan doc-
trine, as evidenced bv one of his sayings:
"I want always-to attend church so garbed
that the poorest man there may not surfer
bv contrast." His life was an uneventful
one, the greatest eulogy upon which was
pronounced by his pastor, Rev. C. L. Conger,
of the Methodist Episcopal church of Green-
ville, who said : "There have been but few
men in my experience of whom it can lie said,
"He has kept the faith;' hut Dr. Matchett
is one of them. He was not the best edu-
cated man I have known, but he was the
best informed man." He thought of the
"beyond" as one eternal progress and he
regarded death as only a stepping nut of
the old house into the new. He was ready
for promotion into the higher school
"where Christ himself doth rule" and when
death came he welcomed his commencement
day of immortality, feeling that he had en-
deavored to do his best in the lower grades.
HUGH ARMSTRONG
The stock and farming industries oi
Darke county, Ohio, have for many years
had a representative in Hugh Armstrong.
of German township, who is well-known as
a breeder of shorthorn cattle.
502
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mr. Armstrong was born in Jackson
township, Darke county, Ohio, three miles
east of Union City, July 19. 1837. His
father. John Armstrong', a native of Wash-
ington county, Pennsylvania, born Decem-
ber 1 8. 1793, came when a young man to
Darke county. Ohio, and so well pleased was
he with the locality that he decided to make
it his permanent home. Returning to his
native state he married the girl of his choice
and came back, about 18 12, and settled on
a tract of government land in Greenville
township, to which in due time he secured a
title, and on which' they made their home
for some time. Afterward- he sold out and
removed to Greenville, where he engaged
in the hotel business. He was an all-around
man. figuring prominently in various ca-
pacities. By trade he was a brick mason
and he built one of the first brick houses in
the town, the one formerly known as the
Peilv Knox property His hotel, or "tav-
ern" as it was then called, was one of the first
in Greenville. Farm life, however, was his
choice, and he again sought a rural home.
He entered eighty acres of land in Jackson
township, to which he subsequently added
eighty acres more, and on this farm he spent
the rest of his days and died July M>. [864,
being about seventy-one years of age at the
time of his death. Politically he was first
a Whig and later a Republican. He gave
some time to the practice of law and was
for a number of years, up to the time of his
death, a justice of the peace. Also he was
at one time the judge of the circuit court
of Greenville. He was only reasonably suc-
cessful in a financial way. Of a generous
nature, ever willing to help others, he not
infrequently neglected his own business to
give a helping hand to others. But he left
to his family what was of far more value
than money or land, — the heritage of a good
name. Judge Armstrong's father was James
Armstrong. He was born, reared and mar-
ried in Scotland, and with his wife emi-
grated to this Country, locating in Pennsyl-
vania, where he passed the rest of his life
i hi a farm and where he died.
Judge John Armstrong- was married
three times. His first wife, whom he mar-
ried in Pennsylvania as above stated, died
shortly after their settlement in Darke
county. His second wife was a daughter
of Isaac Vale, and by her he had two chil-
dren viz. : Martin M., born January 19,
[822, and is now deceased, and Frances A.,
born November 23, 1823. is the widow of
William Douglas and resides with her son,
Greer Douglas, in Jackson township, this
county. His third wife, the mother of the
subject of this sketch, was Jane Elston, a
native of New Jersey, born March 24, 1805,
who came to Darke county, Ohio, with her
parents when she was a small child. The
children of this marriage were nine in num-
ber, as follows: Thomas, born July 31.
[826 now deceased; Margaret, born Jan-
uary 15, 1829, also now deceased; Peter E.,
born November 21. 1831, is a resident of
Washington township. Darke county; Sarah,
born January 31, 1835, is deceased; Hugh,
the direct subject of this review; John H.,
horn January 12, 1840. who died while in
the service of bis country during the civil
war; Elizabeth, born February 14, 1843, 's
the wife of Cyrus Hart, of Darke county;
Mary J., born February 6, 1846, is the widow
of Daniel Dowlar, of Washington town-
ship, Darke county; and Hannah C, born
April 8. 1849. is tne u'te of Augustus
Stoner, on the old home farm in Jackson
township.
Hugh Armstrong passed his boyhood
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
503
and early manhood on his father's farm
and was there at the time of the civil war.
In the spring of 1864 lie enlisted in the
Union army as a member of the One Hun-
dred and Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer In-
fantry, for ime hundred days' service, and
at the end of that time was honorably dis-
charged. Returning home, he continued
work mi his father's farm until 1867. That
year he purchased eighty acres, cornering
with his father's land. Two years later he
si >ld this tract and bought one hundred and
twenty-nine acres in Washington township,
which was his home nine years and which
he then exchanged for a farm in Franklin
township. ( )n the last named place he lived
two years. In r88l he .-old out and came
to his present location in German township,
where he has a fine farm of two hundred and
five acres, nicely improved and specially
fitted for stuck purposes. He has one of the
finest barns in the county. The residence is
just outside the corporate limits of Pales-
tine.
Mr. Armstrong was first married, in Oc-
tober. 1867, to Miss Elizabeth J. Van Skaik,
who was horn April 14, 1839, and died De-
cember jo, 1880, leaving four children,
namely: Ida J., born March 13, 1870. who
is now the wife of \Y. M. McCartney, a
Disciple minister near Worden, Ohio; Eva
>C, born December 14, 1873, at home; Ret-
tie A., born August 6, 1876, is the wife of
Charles Wilt, of Palestine; and George, born
September 16, 1879, is a farmer of Jackson
township, this county. Mr. Armstrong's
present wife was formerly Miss Carlesta
McCabe, who was born July 4. 1865, and
who is a daughter of George McCabe, of
Palestine, a native of Darke county. Ohio.
By this marriage there is one child, Mer-
ideth. born March 23, 1894.
Mr. Armstrong harmonizes with the
Republican party and is a member of that
popular organization, the G. A. R., holding
bis membership in Reed Post, No. 572.
JAMES A. SNYDER.
The subject of this sketch is one of the
representative farmers and stock raisers of
Mississinawa township, Darke count}-, Ohio.
whose success in life is due to their own
well directed and energetic efforts. Mr.
Snyder is the sixth child and fifth son in a
family of eight children — seven sons and
one daughter. The father, John K. Snyder,
was born in Hunterdon county. New Jer-
sey, February 10, 181 1. and was married in
Butler county, Ohio, February 10, 1835,
to Amy Ilidley, who was born in Hunter-
don. New Jersey, February 10, 1818, their
marriage being celebrated on the anniversary
of both their births. The bride's trousseau
consisted of a calico dress, and being in very
humble circumstances they began their mar-
ried life in a most primitive manner. In
[838 they removed from Butler county to
.Mississinawa township, Darke county, where
the father died July -'8, [849, leaving his
widow with eight small children to care for.
On the 13th of December, 1855, she mar-
ried Hugh McKibben, who died January
S. [881, and her death occurred February
4, 18S8, within six days of her seventieth
birthday.
After his father's death James A. Snyder
and the other children were put out to earn
their own living. While in his ninth year he
left home hurriedly to escape a whipping
from his stepfather, who he thought had
no right to whip him. and he well remem-
bers what good time he made in climbing
fences and race down the road. Me finally
504
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
reached the residence of Mahlon Peters, with
whom he found a good home, living with
him without wages until fifteen years of
age, when he made an agreement to stay
until he was twenty-one, Mr. Peters giving
him a new suit of clothes and eleven dol
lars and a quarter per month, hut soon after
this his employer discontinued farming and
Mr. Snyder found employment in the lumber
woods, driving two yoke of cattle at thir-
teen dollars per month and board during
the winter.
On the last day of December, 1867, Mr.
Snyder landed in Iroquois county, Illinois,
where he contracted to work for a man who
had a hard name, at twenty-five dollars per
month as long as they could agree. He re-
mained with him [nine months and they
parted good friends. Here Mr. Snyder was
in his element as his employer was a drover
and stock dealer, for he had become thor-
oughly famil'ar with that business during
his boyhood at home. The following year
he worked for another farmer in Iroquois
county and then decided to return to Ohio
Before going west he had saved one hundred
and seventy five dollars, and while there
increased the amount to three hundred, but
was defrauded out of one hundred dollars
in a business transaction, leaving him two
hundred when he returned to Ohio. Lo-
cating in Darke county, he rented his pros-
pective father-in-law's farm in Mississinawa,
where be still resides.
Mr. Snyder was married. September 10,
1869 to Miss Sarah I. Dutro, a daughter of
John M. and Susan (Bechtol) Dutro. The
father was born in Frederick county. Mary-
land, in 1822, the mother in Berkeley coun-
ty. West Virginia, in 1827, and they were
married in Montgomery county, Ohio, in
1848. In [862 they came to Darke county,
and in the midst of the forest Mr. Dutro
purchased one hundred and three acres of
land for which he paid six hundred dollars.
At that time it was all wild and unimproved,
but has since been transformed into a fine
farm. Mr. Dutro worked at his trade of
bricklaying during the summer, while
through the winter months he would clear
ten acres of land. He died February 17,
1893. honored anil respected by all who
knew him. His widow is still living and
finds a pleasant home with Mr. and Mrs.
Snyder. She is still quite active both in
body and mind, and enjoys household cares
and work among the flowers. Of her five
children only two reached maturity, Mrs.
Snyder being the younger. Oliver T., the
only son, is a brick mason, now serving as
a foreman for a large firm in Buffalo, New
Y ork, and he stands high in business circles.
He is married and has three children.
Mr. Snyder is now the owner of the old
Dutro homestead, comprising two hundred
and eighteen acres, which he has placed un-
der a high state of cultivation. As a stock
raiser he has been eminently successful, hav-
ing made the most of his money in that way.
He raises cattle, sheep and horses, and also-
buys cattle, which he fattens for market and
then sells. During the first few years of
their married life he and his wife toiled
hard, early and late, but prosperity has
crowned their efforts and they can now take
life easy. They have a charming home,
their brick residence being surrounded by
extensive grounds shaded by a fine variety of
fruit and ornamental trees.
Fraternally Mr. Snyder is a member of
tl.e Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and
political!)' is an ardent Repubbcan. During
the civil war he made an effort to enter the
service, but was prevented from enlisting
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
iOb-
by his family on account of his youth. In
civil affairs he has rendered his full share
of puhlic service, having for a quarter of a
century filled some office, including those
of school director and supervisor. In 1872
he was elected trustee of Mississinawa town-
ship, overcoming the Democratic majority
of sixty, his opponent receiving only twenty
votes in the caucus and twenty in the elec-
tion. He most creditably filled that office
for ten years, and has faithfully discharged
every duty devolving upon him, whether
public nr private.
JOHN RUFUS HILL.
German township, Darke county, Ohio,
includes among its leading farmers John
Rufus Hill, who is a native of this county
and is a member of one of its pioneer fam-
ilies. He was born in Harrison township,
April 13, 1845, a son °f Hugh L. and Eliza-
beth (Kunkle) Hill. Elizabeth Kunkle was
the daughter of John and Susan Kunkle,
was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania,
January 25. 1815, and came with her par-
ents to Darke county in 1818. She was united
in marriage with Hugh L. Hill March 16,
1837, and died at her home in Palestine No-
vember 25, 1894.
J. R. Hill is the fourth in a family of
eight children, seven of whom are still liv-
ing. When he was twelve years of age the
family removed from Harrison township to
German township, where he grew to man-
hood on his father's farm, and where he has
since lived. The first school he attended
was held in log school house in the woods
of Harrison township; later he attended dis-
trict school in German township, and it may
be added that the greater portion of his
education has been obtained in the broad
school of experience. When the civil war
broke out he was too young to enter the ser-
vice of his country, but before the conflict
was ended he enlisted and was in active serv-
ice four months. It was May 2, 1864, at the
age of nineteen, and as a member of Com-
pany H, One Hundred and Fifty-second
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that he entered the
Union army. This was a one-hundred-day
regiment, under Colonel Putnam. Mr. Hill
was on some hard marches, guarding a pro-
vision train, and performed faithful service,
after which, September 1, 1864, he was hon-
orably discharged.
Returning home after his army experi-
ence, Mr. Hill resumed work on the farm
and remained there until after his marriage,
in September of the following year, when
he located on a farm of his own on the Hol-
lansburg & Palestine pike, three miles south
of Palestine. He lived on that farm three
years. Then he sold it and bought the farm
on which he has since lived, one hundred and
twenty-three acres, in section 15, German
township, all of which is under cultivation,,
devoted to a diversity of crops.
September 11, 1875, Mr. Hill married
Miss Amanda Harding, a native of German
township, Darke county, Ohio, and a daugh-
ter of James and Polly Harding, early set-
j tiers of the township. In the Harding fam-
ily were six children, of whom Mrs. Hill
is the eldest. She received her education in
the schools near her home and for a short
time previous to her marriage was engaged
in teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have four
children — Alba, Ressie. Odlin and James-
all at home.
On reaching his majority Mr. Hill sup-
ported the Republican party and has adhered
to it ever since. He has always taken an
active interest in public affairs in his lo-
.-.m;
GEXEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
cality and has served officially in various ca-
pacities. He was land assessor in 1890,
school director about six years, and at this
writing is township treasurer. He is a mem-
ber of Reed Post, No. ?J2. G. A. R., and a
member of the Knights of Pythias. Palestine
Lodge, No. 652. Mr. and Airs. Mill are mem-
bers of the Universalist church at Palestine
and contribute to its support and all measures
calculated to advance the public welfare. An
upright citizen, honorable in all his deal-
ings, having at heart the development of the
comity and giving his support to whatever
he believes is intended to advance its best
interests, he is entitled to the esteem in which
he is held by his fellow citizens.
ADAM C. FRAMPTON.
The subject of this memoir, now de-
ceased, was born in Richland township.
Darke county. ( »hio, November 5, 1826, the
son of Hugh and Mary (Coppess) Framp-
ton, early pioneers of Darke county. Hugh
Frampton was the sou of Arthur Framp-
ton, ami Englishman, and was born in Penn-
sylvania, from which state he came to Ohio
in [824 and took up his residence in Darke
county, where he soon afterward met and
married Miss Coppess. She was a native of
North Carolina, and when a young woman
came with her father. Adam Coppess, to
Darke county. Ohio. Hugh and Mary
Frampton were the parents of five children,
Adam C. being the eldest. The others were
William, Martha. Mary Jane and Ellen.
Mr. Frampton was reared on his fa-
ther's frontier farm, and in his young man-
hood was engaged in teaching school, teach-
ing during the winter months, both before
and after his marriage. He was married in
1849. From that time until 1853 he carried
on farming, and in 1853, w'tn Mrs. Framp-
ton's brothers, John and Samuel Patterson,
he turned his attention to the saw-mill busi-
ness, in which he was engaged until 1866.
That year he removed to a farm in Adams
township, where he passed the rest of his
lite in agricultural pursuits, and where his
widow, Mrs. Mary Jane ( Patterson) Framp-
ton, still resides. Plere he died, March 30,
[892. He was a Democrat until the break-
ing out of the Civil war in 1861, when he
joined the Republican ranks, to which he
ever afterward gave active support. He
served as a trustee of Adams township, also
filled, acceptably, other local offices, and
ever ti ok a deep interest in all that pertains
to the welfare of the locality. The church
of his choice was the Christian church, in
which he was an active and worthy member
for many years. Fraternally he was for
twenty-five years identified with the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and uiiring
that time the records show that he. never
drew a benefit. He helped to organize the
Farmers' Mutual Fire Association in 1877,
was elected its secretary at the time of organ-
ization, and continued to fill that position
up to the time of his death.
Mrs. Mary Jane Frampton. nee Patter-
son, was born in Washington count}'. Mary-
land. January 20, 1826, of Irish and German
descent. Her father. Robert Patterson, a
native of the north of Ireland, born in 1794,
came to America at about the age of twenty
years and took up his residence in Maryland,
where he subsequently married Mis.-- Anna
Stahl, a native of Pennsylvania, born in
1792, who had moved with her parents to
Maryland in her young womanhood. The
Stahls were of German origin. After their
marriage Robert Patterson and wife located
in Washington county. Maryland, where they
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
507
lived until 1833, and that year came to
Darke county, Ohio, and settled in Rich-
land township, where he engaged in farming
and where he resided until his death. Sep-
tember 23, 1842. His wife died January 27,
1855. The}' were the parents of five chil-
dren, two daughters and three sons, as fol-
lows: John, Esther. Samuel and Michael, all
deceased, and Mrs. Frampton, the third born
and the only living representative of the
family. All had as good educational ad-
vantages as the schools of the community
afforded and all spent some time in teach-
ing. The eldest son, John, was a great
student and an author (if some note. He
wrote "Conflict in Nature and Life." "Re-
forms: Their Difficulties and Possibilities,"
and a number of other works.
Mrs. Frampton is the mother of five
children, one son and four daughters, name-
ly : 1'obert P., born August 17, 1850, mar-
ried Annua Herberger in December, 1883,
and died April 8, 1898. Currie F.. born Oc-
tober 8, 1854. married. May 27. 1873, Will-
iam H. Burns, a farmer of Adams township,
and they have seven children — Earl E,
Harry D., Rossella, Mary, Adam C, Cath-
erine and Minnie — and one — Stella — de-
ceased. Minnie, born October 17, 1857, re-
sides with her mother. Rossella, born April
16, 1861, died March 3, 1878. Lillian E.,
born June 20, 1863, married, June 7, 1883,
W. B. Marshall, a farmer and teacher, and
they have three children living — Hugh F.,
Robert P. and Clement H. — and twins —
Maud and Minnie — that died in infancy.
W. B. Marshall, who was horn in Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, May 22, 1862, and
came to Darke county, settled in Adams
township, in 1873. His father came to
Ohio from Rockingham county. Virginia.
He (the father) enlisted in the Seventy-
first Ohio Volunteers and was killed at
Shiloh, in April, [862. His mother's -peo-
ple came from Ireland.
The subject of this sketch is a member
of Gettysburg Lodge, I. O. O. E., a Republi-
can in politics and has taught in the coun-
try schools continuously since 1883.
JOHN W. LARIMER.
In the origination and evolution of sur-
names there have been many transitions and
corruptions, and this is true of the honored
patronymic borne by the subject of this
sketch, the name being a corruption of the
old orthography, Lorimore, which as desig-
nating a worthy Scottish race has been
known in the annals of Scottish history from
the earliest days, the name being familiar
in both the highlands and lowlands of bon-
nie Scotland and having been borne by many
brave men and many women of most genteel
breeding. In the United States are found
various corruptions of this illustrious and
patriarchal name, which appears so frequent-
ly in Scotch song and story. In Ivanhoe
and Rob Roy, the beautiful productions of
Sir Walter Scott, the names of Lord and
Lady Lorimore appear, and of this line our
subject is clearly a representative. Tw
his ancestors adopted the present orthog-
raphy, which has obtained for the past cen-
tury.
Mr. Larimer is a native of Perry county.
Ohio, having been born near Lexington, on
the 24th of June. T840, the fifth in order of
birth of two sons and four daughter- ol
Isaac and Margaret ( Ray ) Larimer. Five
of the children are yet living, namely: Ma-
tilda, wife of John Rodahefer, a prosper-
ous farmer of Fairfield county. Ohio: Sam-
■uel R. was a soldier in the civil war and
508
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
for the past twelve years has been a guard
at the Iowa state prison, at Anamosa ; Re-
becca, wife of William Rowles, a farmer of
Fairfield county, Ohio ; Mary E., who is the
wife of George Seitz, a carpenter and con-
tractor of Effingham, Illinois, and a brother
of Professor Enoch Seitz, of Greenville,
Ohio, one of the most profound and emi-
nent mathematicians in the world ; and John
W., who is the immediate subject of this re-
view.
The father was born about the year 1808,
and his death occurred in 1874. He was
a man of great decision of character, strong
intellectuality and vigorous thought, having
a fine command of language and being a
forcible and ready public speaker in an im-
promptu way. His fountain of knowledge
was not fed so much by definite scholastic
training as by self-application and careful
study of the best literature and of the prob-
lems and questions of the day. As may be
imagined he had clearly defined political
convictions, which he always had the cour-
age to maintain. He was a Democrat and
was a strong advocate of abolition, though
at variance with the majority of his party
in the crucial period culminating in the war
of the Rebellion. He was held in high es-
timation by the people of Perry county,
which he represented with signal efficiency
in the state legislature, being also district
member from Perry, Hocking and Fairfield
counties. He advocated strenuously the
cause of abolition during the Lincoln-Doug-
las campaign and was a great admirer of
the martyr president. The public-school sys-
tem was then in its infancy and he was one of
the foremost advocates of its expansion and
careful maintenance. In religion his faith
■was that of the Presbyterian church. His
father, who also bore the name of Isaac
Larimer, was a soldier in the war of 1812,
entering the service as a private and being
mustered out with the rank of captain. He
held this office at the time of his capture by
the enemy when General Hull made his ig-
nominious surrender, and he was the only
officer in his regiment who was allowed to
retain his side arms. When the British offi-
cer approached and demanded his sword and
revolver Grandfather Larimer raised his
sword in the air and said : "When I took
this sword I resolved to free my country
or die in the attempt." The officer smiled
and passed on, and the subject of this review
has his grandfather's sword in his posses-
sion to-day — a souvenir -to him of priceless
worth.
Isaac Larimer, the father of our subject,
came to Darke county in 1865 and pur-
chased land in Greenville township, south-
east of Greenville, and there he made his
home until his death. His wife, who was
likewise a native of Ohio, died in Novem-
ber, 1873, at the age of sixty years. She
was also a member of the Presbyterian
church, in whose work she took a zealous in-
terest. John W. Larimer passed his youth-
ful days in Perry and Fairfield counties, as-
sisting in the work of the farm and attend-
ing the district schools. He had entered a
select school or academv, for the purpose of
continuing his studies, but at this time the
nation was menaced by armed rebellion and
the young man showed his loyalty and patri-
otic ardor by entering the Union service,
putting aside all personal consideration to
go forth in defense of his country. On the
23d of February, 1864, at Bremen, Fairfield
county, he enlisted as a member of Company
B, Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
under Captain J. T. Weakley. The regi-
ment was ordered to report at Chattanooga,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
LOO
Tennessee, and arriving there, the first night
he slept on the battle ground of Mission
Ridge, and at dawn of the next day Mr.
Larimer was awakened by lis comrade, who
said. "Wake up, comrade, and see whom
you have been sleeping with ;" and as he
looked around to where his head had rested
he saw a half-buried human hand protruding
from the ground the gruesome sight sending
a shudder through his system ! He was in
the command of General "Pap" Thomas and
participated in every battle and skirmish in
which his regiment took part, among the
most prominent engagements being Resaca
and the siege of Atlanta. He was present
at all the battles in the Atlanta campaign,
including the engagements at Kenesaw
Mountain and Jonesboro, Georgia; and he
participated also in the battles of Fayette-
ville. North Carolina, Bentonville and Ra-
leigh, North Carolina, after accompanying
General Sherman on his famous march to the
sea. He experienced many of the hard-
ships of the soldier's life. At Savannah,
Georgia, where the boys were suffering
from hunger and foraging was the one topic
of conversation, they were called upon to
again take up the long and weary march
through the Carolinas to Richmond and
thence on to Washington, the aim of certain
officers being to see who could reach the
capital first, no matter at what suffering
and sacrifice to the poor fellows in the ranks.
The engagement at Bentonville, North Caro-
lina, was the last of the war, and the Fed-
eral army encamped near Jonesboro, where
the news of Lee's surrender was learned by
the second division in town, who hailed the
intelligence by firing their guns and other
demonstrations. The division in which Mr.
Larimer was assigned was encamped about
five miles distant, and when the firing in the
town was heard it was thought another at-
tack was being made by the Confederates and
I the division made ready to take part in the
i affray. On reaching the out-picket line the
news of the surrender was communicated
and the boys began to fire their guns, where-
upon General Baird, commanding, exclaimed :
"Stop that at once! If the other fellows
have made d — d fools of- themselves, don't
you !" The regiment finally marched on-
ward to Washington, where it participated in
the grand review, one of the most impos-
ing military pageants of modern times. Mr.
Larimer served his country faithfully and
bravely for eighteen months, within which
time he was never absent from his regi-
ment, never in the guard house or hospital
and always ready to perform the duties as-
signed him. Receiving his honorable dis-
charge, he returned to his home to resume
the vocations of peace.
On the 1 2th of November, 1872, Mr.
Larimer was united in marriage to Miss
Margaret C. Mowen, and to them one son
and four daughters were born, the son,
Isaac Wright, having died at the age of
nine years. The daughters are as follows:
Pearl, who . was educated in the public
schools, and is a member of the Reformed
church and of the Aid Society; Ethel, who
has also received good educational ad-
vantages, and has shown marked musical
talent ; Sara has attended the public schools
in her native county and also .the graded
schools at Effingham, Illinois, being an
earnest student; and Virgie is the youngest
of the family.
Mrs. Larimer was born in Darke county.
January 18, 1847, a daughter of David and
Sarah (Hartle) Mowen. She lias one sis-
ter and one brother— Urilla, the widow of
George Creager, a contractor and builder,
510
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
is a resident of Columbus, Ohio; and Frank-
lin, who resides in Dayton, this state, being
a successful carpenter and builder. Mrs.
Larimer lias been reared and educated in this
county and is a woman of high character
and ideals, presiding with grace and dignity
over her pleasant home. At the beginning
of their married life our subject and his
wife rented land in Greenville township,
where they remained about a year, when they
took up their abode on the old homestead of
Mrs. Larimer's father, the same comprising
two hundred acres, where our subject asso-
ciated^ himself with' his brother-in-law in
renting the place for one year, after which
he decided to purchase eighty acres of the
homestead, assuming an indebtedness of
one thousand seven hundred and fifty dol-
lars. By industry and good management,
and aided by the efforts and counsel bf his
devoted wife, Mr. Larimer has not only met
all financial obligations but has also made
many fine improvements upon his homestead,
erecting a beautiful brick resilience in 1879.
All the barns and other outbuildings have
been built by our subject and 2,500
rods of tiling have been put in. In addi-
tion to the home place Mr. and Mrs. Lari-
mer have purchased another farm of seventy-
three acres, which is likewise free from en-
cumbrance. Their success has been notable
and has been worthily achieved and in the
community no family enjoys a more marked
popularity and esteem. Mrs. Larimer has
in her possessii >n the original deed of the
farm, executed August 14, 1834, and signed
■by President Andrew Jackson.
■ Mr. Larimer has always given his sup-
port to the Republican party and its princi-
ples, casting his first vote for Abraham
Lincoln. He was a delegate to the state
convention of his party in 1896, and has also
been a delegate to county and district con-
ventions at various times. In 1890 he was
census enumerator for Richland township
and also served in that capacity for the census
of 1900. Fraternally he is identified with
Lodge Xo. 742, I. O. O. F., at Greenville,
in which he has passed all the chairs ; and
also with Jobes Post, G. A. R., at Greenville,
thus keeping alive his interest in his old com-
rades in arms, whose ranks are so rapidly
'■ being- decimated bv the ravages of time.
HARRISON A. KEPNFA
It is always of interest to study the his-
tory of a self-made man, to examine into
the secret of his success and to determine
the qualities which have led to his pros-
perity. It is this understanding of the
methods which have been followed and
which have "led on to fortune" that have
made biography, as Carlyle expresses it,
"the most universally profitable and the
most universally pleasant of all studies."
Mr. Kepner, after long and lionorable con-
nection with business affairs, is now living
retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly
earned. For many years he was identified
with the business interests of Arcanum, and
his activity- proved an important element in
the commercial prosperity and progress of
the community.
Harrison Augustus Kepner is a repre-
sentative of one of the old families of Penn-
sylvania. His grandfather. Jacob Kepner,
was born near Port Royal in Juniata coun-
ty, and was twice married. He first wedded
a Miss Gross and after her death married
Sarah Eliza Dupes, who survived him for
some years. He died upon his farm in Penn-
sylvania about 1848. By his first marriage
he had three children : John ; Catherine,
^^.eAjftM&L
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
511
who became the wife of David Suloff and
died in Patterson, Pennsylvania ; and Jacob.
The children of the second marriage were
Elizabeth, who married Samuel Aughey and
died in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in
February, 1900; Henry, who married Cath-
erine Rice and died at Sandy Hill, Perry
county, Pennsylvania; Sarah, who married
Samuel Rice and died in Port Royal, Penn-
sylvania, where her husband also departed
this life; Christina, a resident of the Key-
stone state, who married Jacob Hertzler, hut
is now the widow of George Heikes; Ben-
jamin, who wedded Margaret Frankhauser
and died in July, 1900; Polly, who became
the wife of George Boyer and died in May,
1900; and Samuel, who died in July, 1900.
He married Barbara Kohler and after her
death wedded Carrie Dukeman, who also is
now deceased.
Jacob Kepner, Jr., the father of our sub-
ject, was born on the old homestead in
Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and
received a common-school education. In his
native county he was united in marriage to
Miss Catherine Knawel, who was born near
McAllisterville, Juniata county, in 1808.
Some time after his marriage he located be-
tween Millerstown and Newport, in Perry
county, Pennsylvania, and thence removed
across the river to the Mitchell farm. Sub-
sequently he purchased one hundred acres
of land near Milford, Perry county, and
there engaged in farming for a number of
years. Upon that farm his wife died in
1880. Some time afterward he visited his
son, Harrison, in Ohio, and upon his return
wedded Mary Reisinger. of Ickesburg,
Perry county. He spent his last years in
Milford, in retirement from active labor.
and died June 16, 1888. He was a stanch
Democrat in politics, and in his religious
views was a Lutheran. Of his eleven chil-
dren. Wilhelmina, the eldest, died in infancy ;
Edward died at the age of eighteen year :
William T., who married a Miss Mayer,
and after her death wedded Mary Clark, of
New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, and died
at his home in Lima, Ohio, in December,.
1899; Harrison A. is the next in order of
birth ; Margaret became the wife of James
Hostetter and died in Juniata county, Penn-
sylvania; Martha died in childhood; Cath-
erine is the wife of Howard Andrews, of
Newport, Pennsylvania ; John is a resident
of Greenville, Ohio ; Theodore makes his
home in Lima, Ohio ; Samuel died at the
age of ten years; and Lloyd L. is also de-
ceased.
Harrison A. Kepner, whose name intro-
duces this review, was born May 14, 1836,
in the old stone house which was the home
of his parents at the time they resided in
Perry county, Pennsylvania, between New-
port and Millerstown. He was reared to
manhood on his father's farm near Milford,.
acquired a good practical education in the
public schools and at the age of sixteen be-
gan teaching in the Thompson Lock school
During the summer he attended the high
school at Markleville and completed his edu-
cation in the Port Royal Academy. He
taught the Thompson Lock school for one
term and then accepted a position as teacher
in the Gilfillen school at Pfout's valley, in
Perry county, where he received forty-five
dollars per month, — a much larger salary
than it was customary to pay at that time,
but his ability to teach both English and
German gained for him the larger o impensa-
tion. He afterward continued his educa-
tional labors near Loysville, Perry county,
and at Center. Juniata county.
Having acquired some capital as the re-
31
512
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
suit of his energy and economy, Mr. Kepner
traveled west and visited Chicago, Iowa
City and other points. He then went to the
home of his uncle, Joseph Roush, in Lima,
Ohio, where he was employed in a saw-mill
for a few months. During those years,
through practical experience, he had gained
a good knowledge of the carpenter's trade,
which lie subsequently followed in Darke
county through the summer months for a
number of years, while in the winter season
he engaged in teaching for eight years. It
was in the spring o^ 1859 that he located in
Neave township, Darke county, where he
owned and operated a farm for three years.
In 1867 he removed to Arcanum, where he
engaged in hardware business with marked
success for seventeen years. He also as-
sisted in organizing the First National Bank
of Arcanum and served as its vice-president
until October 10, 1898, when he resigned,
since which time he has lived retired, en-
joying a well earned rest. He is a director
and vice-president of the Troy Wagon
Works, located at Troy, Ohio, and was one
of the original incorporators.
In Neave township, on the 4th of Sep-
tember, 1859, Mr. Kepner was united in
marriage to Miss Sarah Brumbaugh, a
daughter of George Brumbaugh. She died
in 1893, and on the 20th of February, 1895,
Mr. Kepner wedded Miss Josephine Ivester.
of Arcanum, who died in 1896, leaving one
child, Helen Beatrice. There were three
children born of the first marriage, but Will-
amina Alverda died in infancy. Clara C.
is now the wife of Nathan W. Bloom, of
Fort Wayne, Indiana. Harry V. was grad-
uated in the Arcanum high school and later
entered Delaware College, in which he was
graduated with the class of 1890. He after-
ward engaged in teaching for two terms in
the high school at Sidney. Ohio, was the
principal of the high school at Pueblo, Col-
orado, for two terms, and resigned the latter
position to become a teacher in the high
school at Denver, where he is at present lo-
cated ; he married Miss May Fritz, of
Holmes county, Ohio ; and Bertha, who died
in 1891, at the age of fourteen years.
Mr. Kepner, of this review, has always
been a loyal and devoted American citizen,
true to the best interests of the nation and
unfaltering in support of its policy and its
institutions. During the civil war, when one
dollar in gold was worth two dollars and
seventy-five cents in paper money, he con-
verted one hundred dollars into greenbacks
and also the amount he had received on his
farm, having received payment for the prop-
erty in gold. During these turbulent times
he never lost faith in the government or its
ability to redeem its pledges. In early life
he took an active part in political affairs and
during the campaign of 1856 supported Bu-
chanan, delivering many campaign ad-
dresses through Perry county. He lias al-
ways been a stanch Democrat. For several
years he served as mayor of Arcanum, was
a justice of the peace in Neave township for
six years, and in Arcanum was elected to
the same office in 1869, serving twenty- four
years. In the early '70s he became identi-
fied with the Masonic fraternity, has attained
the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite
and is one of the active and exemplary mem-
brs of the craft in this locality. He attended
the triennial conclave at New Orleans in
1877; Chicago in 1880; San Francisco in
1883; St. Louis in 1886; Washington, D.
C. in 1889; Denver in 1892; Boston in
1895, and Pittsburg in 1898. At the last
named place he met with an accident. While
attempting to board a street car or just after
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
518
he had stepped on, he was thrown violently
to the pavement and suffered severe injuries,
from which he has never- recovered. Mr.
Kepner has a beautiful home in Arcanum,
which was built in 1887 and is of red brick.
Amid pleasant surroundings he is spending
his days quietly, enjoying a rest which he
has truly earned. Through an active busi-
ness career, as the results of capable man-
agement and straightforward dealing, he ac-
quired a handsome competence, which sup-
plies him with all the necessities and many
of the luxuries of life. His record has ever
been honorable and worthy of emulation,
and he belongs to that class of straight-
forward, industrious and highly respected
citizens who constitute the best portion of the
community.
GEORGE W. HILL.
A representative of one of the old fam-
ilies of Darke county, Ohio, and a leading
figure in the business enterprise of the little
town of Glen Karn, is found in the subject
of this sketch, George W. Hill, the proprietor
of Glen Karn Hotel.
Mr. Hill was born in Harrison town-
ship, Darke county, Ohio, November 2,
1852, the seventh of the family of nine chil-
dren of Hugh L. and Elizabeth (Kunkle)
Hill. Hugh L. Hill has passed eighty-three
continuous years in this county, he having
been brought to Harrison township when
he was two years old. When his son, George
W., was two years old the family removed
from Harrison to German township, and on
a farm in this township the subject of our
sketch was reared. He was engaged in ag-
ricultural pursuits for a number of years.
He then turned his attention to the merchan-
dising business, which he followed for about
five years. In 1895 he built the Glen Karn
Hotel, which he has since conducted, and in
connection with which he is also running
a grocery and livery and feed business.
November 7, 1877, Mr. Hill married
Miss Ella Thomas. Mrs. Hill is a native of
German township, and a daughter of S. S.
and Caroline (Berry) Thomas, the former
a native of Greene county, Ohio, and the lat-
ter of Jay county, Indiana. She was the
second born in their family of ten children,
six of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs.
Hill are the parents of six children, namely:
Caroline, the wife of Harry H. T. Jones, a
farmer of this county, and they have one
daughter, Emel; Lulu May, who died at the
age of three months ; Herschel Thomas and
Grace W., at home ; and two died in in-
fancy.
Mrs. Hill is the postmistress at Glen
Karn, and is assisted in the duties of the
office by her husband. Both are consistent
members of the Methodist Episcopal church
ac Hollansburg, in which he is a deacon and
an active worker. Politically he gives his
support to the Republican party.
FREDERICK COPPESS.
While great credit is justly due to those
who have aided in the progress and magnifi-
cent development of these latter days, it was
upon the pioneers that the greater responsi-
bility was placed ; theirs the greater obstacles
to overcome; theirs to lay the foundations
and to initiate the work whose results have
been cumulative and have conserved the ma-
terial prosperity of our nation. One of the
honored pioneers of historic old Darke coun-
ty is he whose name forms the caption of this
article, and it is with much satisfaction that
we direct attention to his career in this con-
514
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
nection. Mr. Coppess, who can well recall
the period when our beautiful and prosper-
ous county was almost a wilderness, has the
distinction of being a native son of the coun-
ty and of being a representative of a pioneer
of pioneers. He was born in Richland
township on the 27th of June, 1830, being
the second in order of birth of the ten chil-
dren— five sons and five daughters — of Peter
and Mary (Hartle) Coppess. Of the chil-
dren only three are living at the present
time, the following brief record being con-
sistently entered relative to the family : Hi-
ram, who was a soldier in the civil war, is
now deceased ; Catharine, the. widow of D.
W. Kersner, is a resident of Dawn, this
county, her husband having likewise served
ii. the war of the Rebellion; Frederick, the
next in order of birth, is the direct subject
of this review; Benton, a resident of the
city of Chicago, ranks among the oldest rail-
road engineers in the Union, his record in
this line having been one of much importance
and interest, as he has incidentally had in-
trusted to him many thousands of dollars'
worth of property and the safeguarding of
many lives, having been employed on the
Baltimore & Ohio, the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe and other leading railway lines,
and being still in the harness, as a valued
engineer of the Chicago, Burlington &
Ouincy Railroad ; he is married and is com-
fortably placed in life, being a man of broad
experience and knowledge and one who has
ever been faithful to the responsible dnties
ci unmitted to him.
Peter Coppess was born in i8or, in
North Carolina, and his death occurred in
1879. He was reared upon the farm and
received his educational training in the com-
mon schools of the place and period. When
he was about ten years ot age his father,
Adam Coppess, and his uncle, Peter Cop-
pess, came through from their southern home
to Cincinnati, where the two brothers sep-
arated, Adam coming to Greene county and
locating not far from the present city of
Xenia, where he remained two years, with-
in which time the Indian war of 1812 broke
out and the settlers were forced to take
refuge in the block houses which were erect-
ed for protection from the hostile red men.
The father of our subject could well remem-
ber the incidents of the Indian war and the
troubles and privations endured by the
hardy pioneers of the Buckeye state. He
was about fourteen years of age when his fa-
ther came to Darke county, which was then
a practical wilderness, with here and there
the rude cabin of the pioneer of the frontier,
and the present attractive city of Greenville,
which now has a population of about eight
thousand, was then marked by a fort and was
known as Fort Greenville, a place of refuge
tor the settlers when menaced by the crafty
Indians, who were far more numerous than
white men throughout this section. Here
the family located on a farm in Richland
township, the same being a heavily timbered
tract, and when danger threatened from the
Indians they took refuge in old Fort Briar,
which was located on Stillwater creek, in
the eastern part of the township. When a
little girl the mother of our subject was on
one occasion sitting on a stone in the middle
of the creek, when an Indian approached in
his canoe and, paddling close to her, gave
her a wild duck. She was much frightened
but her fears were dispelled by the friendly
action of the dusky son of the forest. In
her childhood she was often detailed to op-
erate the old "horse fiddle," whose doleful
groans were supposed to be efficacious in
frightening the crows and squirrels from the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
515
little corn patch, which was jealously guard-
ed against the inroads of these pests. Fa-
ther Coppess killed many deer in this lo-
cality in the early days, and our subject him-
self can recall that in his boyhood bears
were still plentiful in this section, and on one
occasion he narrowly escaped attack from
a savage old she bear, having fortunately
found refuge in the home of a neighbor.
Father Coppess was one of those sturdy pio-
neers who gave of brain and brawn to the
opening of the wilderness to cultivation, and
to such must ever be given a tribute of re-
spect and honor for the efforts which led
to the magnificent results which the present
generations are permitted to enjoy.
Peter Coppess was a Democrat of the
true Jacksonian type, was firm in his con-
victions and was always ready to defend
the principles which he advocated. Though
be had received but limited educational ad-
vantages, he was a man of much intellect-
ual vigor and mature judgment, being al-
ways ready to give his support to measures
looking to the public good and being a stanch
friend of the cause of popular education. His
wife, who was a native of Pennsylvania, was
a member of the Christian church and was a
woman of gentle and winning character and
many noble attributes. Her memory is en-
shrined in the hearts of all who knew her,
for her life was filled with kindly words and
deeds.
Frederick Coppess. whose name intro-
duces this sketch, has spent almost three-
fourths of a century in this, his native coun-
ty, and here he is held in the highest esteem
as an influential citizen and a worthy repre-
sentative of our best pioneer stock. He re-
ceived his education in the primitive district
schools of the early days, his third teacher
being John Bidwell, who afterward was for
half a century a resident of California and
was nominated for president by the Pro-
hibition party; and his first school days
were passed in the little log school house,
with its puncheon floor and slab seats and
benches, light being admitted through the
opening made by leaving a portion of a log
out of the north end of the building, while
in the winter the cheery fireplace, with its
great back-log, made the little room com-
paratively comfortable for the little band of
students. To avoid the winter blasts the
window mentioned was covered with greased
paper, which served in lieu of glass. In
the discipline of the school the birch or -hazel
switch was brought into frequent requisi-
tion— in harmony with the old aphorism:
"Spare the rod and spoil the child." Air.
Coppess gives a graphic and interesting ac-
count of these good old days when the
"young idea" was gaining the seeds of
knowledge, and , the recounting brings into
sharp contrast the superior advantages en-
joyed by the youth of to-day. The amuse-
ments provided by the pioneers included the
apple-parings, corn-huskings, taffy-pulls and
spelling bees, and the homely gatherings
were animated by a true social spirit which
made each person feel that he was among
friends who were close to him in sympathy
and personal interest.
Mr. Coppess has known through per-
sonal experience what hard work is and he
has the greatest respect for the dignity of
honest toil. He began as a wage-earner at
the early age of sixteen, his daily stipend
ranging from twenty-five to fifty cents, and
many a day has he assisted in garnering
the grain with the old-fashioned four-
fingered cradle, and he can recall that the
labor was one which was a test of endurance
and strength and one in which he was able
516
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
to. make a record for himself. The transi-
tion in this line, as in all other phases of in-
dustrial and social life, seems almost in-
credible when we consider that the memory
of a living man covers the entire period
from the old pioneer days to the present end-
of-the-century period.
Mr. Coppess has been twice married, his
first wife dying without issue. On May 25,
1890, he was united in marriage to Mrs.
Ella ( Hartle) Shields, and they are the par-
ents of two sons — Forrest Benton, a bright
and ambitious youth, now attending the pub-
lic schools; and Frederick H., the youngster,
who lends brightness and cheer to the home
circle. Mrs. Coppess is a daughter of Solo-
mon and Sarah Ann E. (Warvel) Hartle, who
were the parents of two sons and two daugh-
ters, all of whom are still residents of Darke
county, The father was- a soldier in the
civil war, being a member of Company E,
Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he
did valiant service at the front, having been
t;:ken prisoner and having experienced the
horrors of the prison pens of Libby and An-
dersonville, his death taking place in the for-
mer, where his life was sacrificed on the al-
tar of his country. He was a native of
Darke county, and was numbered among the
pioneers of this section of the state. He
was not an ultra-partisan in his political
views, and in religion was a member of the
Christian church, as was also his wife. By
trade he was a blacksmith.
Mrs. Coppess was born in Darke county,
February 14, 1854, and here received her
education in the public schools. Her first
husband was William V. Shields, and of
this union one daughter was born, Josie El-
len, wife of John Hoobler, who is an ener-
getic and prosperous young farmer of the
county. They have two daughters, Dora O.
and Lottie.
Mr. Coppess' first purchase of land com-
prised sixty acres, with no improvements.
He set himself vigorously to the work of
clearing and improving his farm, and his
long years of steady and indefatigable in-
dustry have brought their reward, and he
now has one of the fine farms of this favored
section of the great Buckeye state. He has
cleared all of his land, has put in about one
thousand rods of tiling anil has erected ex-
cellent buildings, including a commodious
and attractive residence. He now owns one
hundred and forty acres of rich and pro-
ductive land, and upon this is no financial in-
cumbrance of any sort, a fact which shows
what may be accomplished through diligence
and wisely directed industry. Mr. Coppess
has been successful in life and has richly
merited this success. In all the relations of
life he has been honorable and upright, and
his character has gained and retained to him
the confidence and high regard of those
among whom he has lived and labored to
such goodly ends. His first presidential
vote was cast for Franklin Pierce, but in later
years he has given his support to the princi-
ples and policies of the Republican party.
But he has always been guided by his own
judgment, not being bound by partisan ties,
and always supporting the men who in his
judgment stood for the principles that would
benefit the country at large. He is well in-
formed in regard to the political history of
the country, and his personal recollections
touch many of the critical and interesting
phases. In the early days Mr. Coppess held
distinction among the pioneers by reason of
his prowess as a rail-splitter, and his record
in the line is one to which he reverts with
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
517
peculiar satisfaction. He has endured the
hardships and deprivations incidental to
frontier life, has had his quota of disappoint-
ments, but he has maintained an unflinching
courage and has shown that true manhood
which invariably makes for success and
honor. He was chosen a trustee of Rich-
land township at the time of Lincoln's sec-
ond election, and the war caused great dis-
satisfaction in this section, but he was firm
in upholding the cause of abolition, casting
his vote at the time for Salmon P. Chase as
governor of Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Coppess are consistent
members of the Christian church at Beam-
ville, and he was a member of the building-
committee at the time the church edifice was
erected, contributing liberally of his time and
means to the work. He has aided financially
in the building of three churches in his lo-
cality, being ever ready to encourage good
works and being broad and charitable in his
views. Mrs. Coppess is a woman of gentle
refinement and true courtesy, presiding with
grace and dignity over the home and having
the love and esteem of a wide circle of
friends. In this compilation, which is to
leave a perpetual record of those who have
lived and wrought to goodly ends in this
beautiful section of the Buckeye state, it is
with singular propriety that recognition be
given to Mr. and Mrs. Coppess, as among
our representative people, and as coming
from the worthy pioneer stock which so
honored and advanced the county of Darke.
JOHN S. COPPESS.
The sturdy pioneers of Darke county are
those to whom the fullest mead of honor is
to be attributed since they came here in the
earlv daws and wrested from the hand of
nature the treasures which she had in store,
developing the sylvan wilds into rich and
productive farms and opening up the high-
way along which progress should later march
in majesty and power. The subject of this
review is one who has figured as a pioneer
of historic old Darke county, which is one
of the finest agricultural sections of the
state, and in this specific genealogical work
touching the county his name and deeds and
ancestral record should find a conspicuous
place. Mr. Coppess is a native son of the
county in which he has lived and labored to
such goodly ends, the date of his birth hav-
ing been October 25, 1830, and the place
being Richland township, which has been
his home during all the long intervening
years. He was the sixth of the twelve chil-
dren of Devault and Mary (Smith) Cop-
pess, there having been seven sons and five
daughters, of whom only' four are now liv-
ing, namely: Adam, a retired farmer and
a carpenter and joiner by trade, now resides
in Union City, being a widower and having
one child; John S. is the immediate subject
of this sketch; Catherine is the wife of Adam
Brewer, a farmer of Adams township, this
county; and Chipman. a farmer by occupa-
tion, is a resident of Union City, Indiana.
The lineage of the family in the agnatic line
traces back '.o pure German origin and the
name has been long identified with the annals
of American history.
Devault Coppess was born in North
Carolina January 25. 1795, and his death
occurred in 1870. When he was a mere lad
his parents emigrated from their southern
home to the wilds of Greene county. <
locating near the present city of Xenia,
where they remained until he was a young
man of about twenty-two years, when the
family removed to Darke county, thi-
518
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tion of the state having at the time more
Indian inhabitants than white settlers. The
father of our subject purchased from the
government a tract of land in Richland town-
ship, and the original deed is still in the
possession of the Coppess family. Our sub-
ject has in his keeping a deed of one-quarter
of a section of land (section 9, Richland
township, then known as township 10), exe-
cuted September 20, 1825, and signed by
President John Ouincy Adams. The first
habitation erected by Devault Coppess was
the typical log cabin of the pioneer settler,
the primitive edifice having been so fre-
quently described as to render it unnecessary
to give further details in this connection.
Deer, hears and other wild game abounded,
while the wolves menaced the live stock of
the settlers and made the night resound with
their uncanny howls. The father of our
subject helped to build the first church and
the first school house in the township, and
was known as a leader among the early set
tiers, beinp- a man of stron? mentality and
sterling integrity. In politics he was a
stanch Jacksonian Democrat, ever loyal t>>
the principles of his party. His death oc-
curred in 1870, and he passed to his reward
in the fullness of years and good works.
The mother of John S. Coppess was horn
in' Montgomery county, this state. January
29, 1799, and her death occurred in May,
1*74. She and her husband were kind and
benevolent people, full of sympathy for the
afflicted and ever ready to extend tangible
aid to those in need or distress. Thev are
.at rest in the Coppess cemetery, located on
the farm of our subject, and there beautiful
monuments stand sacred to the memory of
these noble pioneers. It may well be stated
at this point that our subject has in his
keeping the family records, which were
written by one of his old teachers, who
utilized a quill pen and wrote in the fine
copper nlate hand so much in vogue a half-
century or more since.
John S. Coppess has been reared and ed-
ucated in this his native county, and his
life has been an honor to an honored name
and to the county as well. Having a natural
predilection for mechanical pursuits lie be-
came a carpenter and joiner by trade and
worked at the same for a number of years,
though the greater part of his life has been
devoted to agricultural pursuits, to which
he was reared. He received his education
in the common schools and can well recall
the fact that his first school days were passed
in one of the typical log school houses so
often described in this and numberless other
publications. His first teacher was named
John Curtis, while Mrs. Coppess' rudi-
mentary instruction was received from one
Washington McKee. Our subject was able
to attend school from ten to thirty days in
the year, and this minute scholastic dis-
cipline was as much as the average boy of
the place and period received, for their serv-
ices were in constant requisition in the work
of clearing and improving the pioneer farms.
Mr. Coppess is endowed with an alert and
vigorous mentality, however, and has made
good use of the "spare moments" in his life,
so that he is a well informed man and has
broadened his intellectuality to the utmost
through personal application and the reading
of good literature. He remained with his
parents until he had attained his majority,
and by hard work and economv had saved
three hundred dollars, having earned this
amount by splitting rails at thirty-five cents
per hundred and doing other work at the
rate of fifty cents a day.
Mr. Coppess has been thrice married, his
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
519
.first union having been with Miss Susannah
Studabaker, who bore him a son and daugh-
ter, both of whom are deceased. For his
second wife he chose Miss Rebecca Hitts,
to whom lie was married December 13,
1857, and four sons and three daughters
blessed this union, while four are yet living.
Henry, who is a resident of Stelvidio, is
a prosperous and active business man. hav-
ing become associated with his father in the
grain business about the year 1890. He
owns one-half interest in the enterprise con-
ducted bv his father and himself. He was
reared on the farm and educated in the com-
mon schools; in politics he is a Democrat.
He married Miss Lucy Bowman and they
have a pleasant and attractive home. Har-
mon C, a successful farmer of Brown town-
ship is married and has three children; Val-
landingham is engaged in agricultural pur-
suits in Randolph county, Indiana, and is
also a very successful breeder of live stock.
Ida became the wife of Milton Boyer and
they reside on the homestead of her father
and have five children. The mother of
the above was summoned into eternal
rest in 1873. She was a model wife and
mother and her loss was deeply mourned
bv a wide circle of admiring friends.
On the 1 2th of October, 1873, Mr. Cop-
pess wedded Mrs. Mahala (Brewer) Smith,
widow of Alvin Smith, to whom she bore one
son. She was born in Richland township,
011 Christmas day, 1829. a daughter of John
and Elizabeth (Coppess) Brewer, who were
the parents of ten children, only one of whom
is deceased. Mrs. Coppess and her husband
were classmates in the old pioneer school and
were reared in the same township, her par-
ents having been pioneers of the township.
Her father was born in Pennsylvania and her
another in North Carolina. Andrew Smith.
the son of Mrs. Coppess by her first marriage,
is a prosperous young farmer of Adams
township. He married Miss Etta Rynard
and they have six children.
Our subject's first purchase of land was
in Brown township and comprised forty acres
partially improved, his finances rendering it
necessarv to assume an indebtedness1 for a
part of the purchase price. At the expiration
of two years he sold this place and purchased
seventy-five acres on section 6 Richland
township, subsequently adding fifteen acres to
the farm, and here he remained a number of
years. In 1 86 1 he purchased forty acres
more and paid for it, and finally traded nine-
ty acres for the ninety acres which was the
nucleus of his present estate, to which addi-
tions have been made until its area is one
hundred and eighty-eight acres, in Brown
and Richland townships. He has an attrac-
tive and commodious brick residence and ex-
cellent outbuildings, and all these permanent
improvements were made by him. The en-
tire estate is free from financial incumbrance,
and as one of the fine places of the county is
a credit to its owner, who has achieved a
worthy success through his own efforts. He
has been fair and upright in all his dealings
and enjoys the confidence and high regard
of all who know him, being classed among
the representative citizens of the county. In
1899 he removed from his farm to the pleas-
ant village of Stelvideo, where he has since-
maintained his home, having partially retired
from active work, though maintaining a per-
sonal supervision of his various interests. He
is a gentleman of seventy years, and has been
an eye witness of the development of Darke
county from a sylvan wilderness to its pres-
ent status as one of the most attractive and
opulent sections of the Buckeye state. As a
boy he remembers the present thriving city
520
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of Greenville as a mere hamlet, with five or
six stores or shops, while not a railroad or
turnpike then traversed the county. To-
day fine roads, excellent railroad facilities,
prosperous and beautiful villages, fine farms,
the best of schools and other evidence of
modern progress are to be seen on every
hand, and the result must seem indeed mar-
velous to the memory which can link the
present to the pioneer days.
Mr. Coppess is a stanch supporter of the
Democratic principles and policies, having
cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce. His
grandfather, Adam Coppess. was a soldier in
the war of 1812. Officially our subject has
been called upon to serv'ein positionsof public
trust and responsibility, having been trustee
of Richland township for ten or twelve years,
and having been a member of the board of di-
rectors of the county infirmary for three
years. For many years he has been a director
of the school district, taking advanced views
in the matter of popular education, while in
religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Coppess are
zealous members of the Christian church at
Stelvideo. He is interested in all Christian
work being charitable in his vews, and has
aided financially in the erection of six differ-
ent churches in this part of the county. His
life has been characterized by kindness and
helpfulness, and in his declining years, as the
shadows lengthen in the golden west, he rests
secure in the esteem of all who know him.
His estimable wife has been his coadjutor in
all good works and they will both be held in
lasting honor and given a prominent place in
the true record of Darke county.
JOB M. SHAFER.
The sturdy pioneer of Ohio is the im-
portant personage who should be accorded
marked homage and credit. The pioneers
have blazed the way to civilization and have
made the wilderness blossom as the rose.
They came to the primeval forests of the
Buckeye state in the early days and have
felled the stately monarchs of the forest,
cleared away the brush and broken the vir-
gin soil. They have eventually erected the
beautiful modern homes and developed the
broad acres of waving grain while their
efforts have brought to the state the vast
network of railroads, which are always in the
vanguard of progress. Darke county has
been honored in the personnel of her pio-
neers, and here the improvements have been
of that advanced order that places the coun-
ty among the foremost in the state. Here
are the finest of villages, the most carefully
cultivated farmsteads, and the most excellent
roads, over one thousand miles of stone turn-
pike having graced the face of the county,
affording facilities for intermediate trans-
portation that can not be excelled. All these
improvements are due to such men as he
whose name initiates this review.
Mr. Shafer is a native of the picturesque
Keystone state, having been born in Bedford
county, Pennsylvania, within six miles of
Hancock, Maryland, the section being now
known as Fulton county. He was horn Sep-
tember 4, 1830, being the third in order of
birth of the two sons and three daughters
of John and Dorothy (Mann) Shafer. and
being now the only survivor of the family.
John Shafer, father of our subject, was a
native of Pennsylvania, but resided in Vir-
ginia about eight years. He was born July
17, [802, and his death occurred January 4,
[882. He was reared to the vocation of a
farmer, was industrious in his habits and
was animated by the deepest integrity in all
the relations of life and left the invaluable
heritage of an honored name. The Shafer
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
521
lineage is of pure German extraction. The
father of our subject emigrated direct from
Pennsylvania to Darke county, and the long
journey five hundred miles, was made by
the family in a three-horse wagon, the ve-
hicle being one provided with the long,
scoop-shaped boxes so common in the early
days. This trip was made across the wilds
of Ohio, the smaller streams being forded,
while the entire outfit was ferried across the
Ohio river at Wheeling, whence the family
continued their way to their destination in
Richland township, this county. The first
land located by Father Shafer was one hun-
dred and sixty acres on section 2j, and the
subject of this review has the original deed
of this land, the same having been executed
April 12, 1819. over the signature of Presi-
dent James Monroe. The deed is one of the
oldest which the biographer has found in
Darke county, and it is in an excellent state
of preservation. The first habitation of the
Shafer family was the primitive log cabin,
the building being one and one-half stories
in height, the old-fashioned fireplace, with
huge brick chimney, supplying heat for the
dwelling, whose roof was made of clan-
boards. This modest little domicile stood
on the site of the present attractive residence
of our subject. The primeval forest sur-
rounded the humble home, the family having
settled on the banks of the Stillwater, while
old Fort Briar stood about five hundred rods
southwest of the present home of Mr. Shafer.
He can remember some of the old palisades
of the fort, which the settlers had erected as
a refuge in times of Indian attacks. Mr.
Shafer was a pioneer of pioneers. There
was not a church building in Richland town-
ship and only two or three log school houses
when the family took up their abode there.
The father was a stanch Democrat in politics
and was a great admirer of "Old Hickory,"
as General Andrew Jackson was known. He
and his wife were members of the Chris-
tian church, the latter having been born in
the same locality as her husband, on the
20th of February. 1804, while her death oc-
curred April 11, 1865. Mr. Shafer. of this
sketch, has one of the oldest family bibles
in Darke county, there being entries dating
as far back as 1761, thirty-eight years before
the death of General Washington.
Job M. Shafer was but a lad of seven
years when he became a resident of Darke
county, and here he has been an honored
citizen for the long period of sixty-two years.
He began h:s education in the old-fashioned
subscription schools, which were held in the
primitive log school houses so familiar to the
pioneers of this section and so frequently de-
scribe I in this and other publications. The
reminiscences of the early days are full of
interest and as related by Mr. Shafer are
sure to bring out the striking contrasts be-
tween the pioneer epoch and the present era
of progress and substantial prosperity. Mr.
Shafer remained on the home place with his
father until he had attained the age of fifty-
years, and these years were marked by peace
and contentment.
In the meanwhile, on the 20th of March.
185 1, he married Miss Elizabeth Brandon,
and three sons and three daughters were
horn to them, all being alive at the present
time, namely : Dennis, who is a resident of
Celina, Ohio, was formerly a school teacher,
but is now a salesman having a wife and
three children : Maggie A. is the wife of Cy-
rus White, a farmer of Brown township,
this county, and they have two children:
John C. a farmer of Richland township, is
married and has two children; Allen \\ ..
who resides on the old homestead, is mar
&22
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ried and has two children, — Minnie and Job
Ernest; Mary is the wife of E. H. Miller,
formerly a teacher but now engaged in ag-
ricultural pursuits, and they have two sons,
—Webb B, and Dennis Raymond; and Ber-
tha is the wife of V. X. Fackler, the owner
of the city laundry at Versailles, Ohio, and
they have one son and one daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Shafer gave their children
excellent educational advantages, being fully
appreciative of the value of such discipline.
A matter well worthy of mention in connec-
tion with the family is that the same now
includes twenty-six individuals — our subject
and his children and grandchildren, — and
there has been but one death in the family
from the time of the marriaee of Mr. and
Mrs. Shafer until March 31, 1900. when
the good wife and mother, Mrs. Elizabeth
Shafer, passed to the home beyond this life,
her remains being laid to rest in Green Lawn
cemetery at Versailles. This is certainly an
exceptional record. Mrs. Shafer was born
in Wayne township this county, on the 10th
of October, 1831, being one of the thirteen
•children born to James R. and Anna fHole)
Brandon. Of this large family the only
survivor at the present time is Mrs. Shafer's
sister, Maria, now the widow of John Teeter.
Mr. and Mrs. Shafer traveled life's journey
together hand in hand and sharing alike the
joys and the sorrows which come to all, for
half a century. Their lives together were
indeed golden in kindness, sympathy and
goi nl works.
Mr. Shafer can well remember the time
when there was not a mile of railroad in
Darke county, nor even a mile of pike road.
He recalls the intense excitement which pre-
vailed when the first railroad entered the
city of Greenville, which was then but a
small hamlet. Thither he used to go to mar-
ket on horseback, carrying a crock of butter
in one end of a sack thrown across the sad-
dle and balanced by a stone in the other end
and with a basket of eggs on his arm, which
produce was in due time borne over the six
intervening miles to find sale or exchange in
the little market town. All the modern im-
provements which are now to be seen in
the county have been made within the mem-
ory of our subject, and he has seen plenty
of deer on his own premises, as well as wild
turkeys and other game.
Mr. Shafer has always been a stanch
supporter of the principles of the Democratic
party, having cast his first presidential vote
for Buchanan. He has served for many
years as trustee of his township, and also as
justice of the peace, being deeply interested
in all that concerns the welfare of the com-
munity where he has lived and labored for
so many years. He and his family are mem-
bers of the Christian church at Beamsville
and he was an important factor in securing
the erection of the present attractive church
edifice. He has aided financially in the build-
ing of nine different churches, — a fact that
attests his liberality and his interest in all
that makes for the betterment of his fellow
men. Mr. Shafer is one of the honored pio-
neers of the county and his long identifica-
tion with the history of this section entitles
him to specific mention in this work, while
his life has been one of such signal worthi-
ness and so devoted to all that represents
the deeper and truer values, that this record
cannot but offer both lesson and incentive,
even when the genial shadows lengthen in
the west to indicate the declining of the sun
of the pioneer's life. Mr. and Mrs. Shafer
were favored in retaining their family circle
unbroken until the sad event of March 31.
1900. occurred, already mentioned.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
52!}
WILLIAM RUNKLE.
It is seldom that men who lack spirit
attain to positions of public trust, for the
public is a discriminating factor and its
judgment is usually accurate, and therefore
when one gains the confidence of his fellow
men and is honored with public office it is
an indication that he is worthy of the trust
reposed in him. Such is certainly the case
with William Runkle, win.) is now serviiv
as the sheriff of Darke county. The law-
abiding citizens regard him as a bulwark of
safety, and those who are not amenable to
the rules which govern society have reason
to regard him with fear.
He was born in Harrison township,
Darke county, August 28, 1858, upon his
father's farm, and is the eldest son of Jerry
and Isabella (Hindsley ) Runkle. His fa-
ther, who is still living, was born in Fairfield
county, Ohio, on the 15th of August, 1835,
and during his early bovhood came with his
parents to Darke county, where he was left
an 1 irphan at the age of nine years. He was
then bound out to work on a farm, forced
to begin the battle of life unaided at that
tender age. He lived in Butler township
from 1844 until 1855. at which time, with
the capital which he had acquired through
his own well directed efforts, his enterprise
and economy, he purchased a farm of forty
acres in Harrison township, upon which he
located and made his home until January 1,
1880, when he removed to Greenville. In
the spring of 1879 he had received the nom-
ination for sheriff upon the Democratic
ticket and was elected in October <>f that
year by a majority of six hundred and sev-
enty-five. He then removed to the city in
order to be more closelv in touch with the
seat of justice, an 1 filled the office in an ac-
ceptable manner. In 1857 he was married
to Miss Isabella Hindsley, a daughter of
W. H. and Anna (Butt) Hindsley, pioneer
settlers of Darke county. The marriage of
Mr. and Mrs. Runkle occurred in Harrison
township and has been blessed with four
children: William, Joseph E., Frances and
Edith I. The father is now serving as dep-
uty sheriff.
William Runkle, whose name introduces
this review, was reared in the usual manner
of farmer lads and was sent to the district
school for three months during the winter
season. Throughout the remainder of the
year he assisted his father in the cultivation
of the fields and meadows and in the other
work of farm improvements. When his
father was elected sheriff William Runkle
was appointed his deputy and served accept-
ably in that capacity for four years. Later
he filled the position of deputy sheriff under
John Welker and at the close of his term
he joined his father, who was engaged in
the construction and repairing of pikes in
Mercer and Darke counties. They followed
that business for two years, after which Mr.
Runkle, of this review, engaged in baling
hay and straw in connection with farming,
following that pursuit until 1897. when he
was nominated by the Democracy for the
office of sheriff of Darke county. The elec-
tion returns showed that he was the success-
ful candidate and he took charge of the office
on the 1st of January, 1898. In the fall of
1899 he was re-elected, his term expiring
in 1 901, at which time he will have filled
the position for four years in addition to
six years' service as deputy. He has been
a competent officer, against whom no 1
plaint has been made, and throughout the
community in which he resides he is held
in high regard for his fidelity as a citizen
and his worth as a man.
524
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
E. W. OTWELL.
E. W. Otwell is the editor and proprietor
of the Greenville Journal and has gained
prestige as a leading representative of the
newspaper interests of western Ohio. For
forty years he has been connected with this
paper and has placed it upon a par with the
best journals published in this section of the
country. Probably no man in all the com-
munity exerts a greater influence on public
thought and opinion than the wide-awake
journalist whose paper finds its way into
many homes, carrying his views upon mat-
ters of public importance to its many readers,
his forceful, logical and convincing writings
becoming a potent element in gaining sup-
port for the measures which he advocates,
or in augmenting opposition to those to
which he does not give his sanction. It is a
widely recognized fact that Mr. Otwell has
through the columns of his paper done much
for the progress and development of Darke
county and his life record has thus become
an integral part of the history of this com-
munity.
A native of North Carolina, he was born
in 1 83 1, and the following year was taken
by his parents to Richmond. Indiana. Re-
maining there a short time, they went to
Williamsburg, Wayne county, Indiana, where
they remained eight years, and in 1840 came
to Darke county, locating at a small place
which was afterward called Otwell's Mills.
There the father. Curtis Otwell, operated
a gristmill and also continued in the practice
of medicine, having graduated at the Ohio
Medical College at Cincinnati, in the class
of 1846-7. In 1847 lie removed to Preble
county and one year later came to Green-
ville, where he continued the practice of
medicine until September, 1881, when he re-
moved to Independence, Kansas, his death
occurring there on the 19th of January,
1894. in the eighty-eighth vear of his age.
His wife, whose maiden name was Eunice
Wilson, died in December, 1881, soon after
their removal to the Sunflower state.
E. W. Otwell, whose name introduces
this record, spent the greater part of his
youth at Otwell's Mills, where he acquired
his early education, that was later supple-
mented by study in the schools of Greenville
and in the Wesleyan University at Dela-
ware, Ohio. He left the latter institution on
account of ill health, but subsequently en-
gaged in teaching for some years in the
district schools of Preble and Darke coun-
ties. While engaged in teaching he pur-
sued the study of law and was admitted to
the bar in Greenville in 1858. He then be-
gan practicing at the county seat of Preble
county and at the same time continued the
publication of the Greenville Journal. In
1878 he formed a law partnership with Will-
iam Allen, a prominent attorney, and the
connection was maintained until 1881.
The Greenville Journal, of which he is
the proprietor, was established in 1832 and
is the oldest paper of Darke county. From
the time of its establishment until i860 it
passed through many hands, but in the latter
year was purchased by E. W. Otwell and
James M. Craig, who took possession on
the 14th of March, i860. Business was
carried on under the firm name of E. W.
Otwell & Company. When they came into
possession of the paper the list of subscrib-
ers did not exceed one hundred and fifty,
but under the new management numerous
additional subscriptions were received and
the paper rapidly extended its influence. On
the 14th of December, 1865. a change oc-
curred in the ownership, E. W. Otwell buy-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
525
ing Mr. Craig's interest and becoming sole
owner, editor and publisher. He has since
been the proprietor of the paper, which in
1873 was enlarged to a nine-column folio,
making it at the time the largest newspaper
published in Darke county. He continued
his active connection therewith until 1878,
when his son, E. C. Otwell, took charge of
the paper as the managing and local editor,
E. W. Otwell still continuing owner and
editor thereof.
On the 19th of November, 1857, Mr.
Otwell w^as married to Miss Lucinda Hart-
zell, of Darke county, Ohio, a native of
Greenville and a daughter of John Hartzell.
There were four children born of this union,
two sons and two daughters: E. C, who
is the managing and local editor of the
Greenville Journal; Lula May and William
Grant, now deceased; and Onellia B., at
home. The family is widely and favorably
known in Greenville, enjoying the hospital-
ity of many of the best homes in the city.
In 1 861 Mr. Otwell was appointed the post-
master of Greenville by President Lincoln
and held the position for four years. So-
cially he is connected with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. Probably no man
in the community is more widely known
or more highly esteemed than the popular
and respected editor of the Greenville
Journal.
HARVEY LONGENECKER.
Whitney, Stephenson, Morse and Edison
and other great inventors have been the most
valuable factors in insuring the marvelous
growth and development which give basis
to our magnificent commercial activities of
tc-day. The utility of their inventions is
such that the curtailing of manual labor has
almost revolutionized the methods and being
of the commercial world. Mr. Longenecker
of tins review, is an inventor of useful and
practical instruments which will be indis-
pensible in the bank, the counting room, the
office of the accountant and in the schools
and commercial colleges and all places where
accounts are- kept. He invented the "Du-
plex" penholder and the "Special Duplex."
which may cause his name to be a household
word in the time to come.
Mr. Longenecker is a product of Darke
county, having been born March 6, 1863,
one of the three sons constituting the family
of John and Elizabeth (Beam) Longenecker.
The eldest of the sons is Frank, who is as-
sociated with his brother. Harvey, in the
manufacture of the penholders and who is,
likewise, of a mechanical turn of mind. He
received a good common-school education, is
married, is a Democrat in politics and is a
member, of the Knights of Pythias. Indi-
vidual reference is made to him on another
page of this work, and to this we refer the
reader who would trace the family history
in detail. Harvey, the immediate subject
of this review, was the second in order of
birth, and Theodore, the youngest, is a resi-
dent of Briceton, Paulding county, Ohio,
where he is prominently concerned in busi-
ness as a carpenter and joiner, being a prac-
tical workman and also having distinctive
musical ability.
John Longenecker, the father of our sub-
ject, is a native of the state of Pennsylvania
and is still living, venerable in years. He
emigrated to Darke county about 1842. He
was always a mechanic, as was his father be-
fore him, and his active life was devoted to
his trade, that of a carpenter and builder.
In his political views he is a stanch Dem-
ocrat. Elizabeth B. Longenecker, the mother
526
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of our subject, is a native of Ohio, and she
is sixty-four years of age at the time of j
this writing. The parents are members of
the German Baptist church in Adams town-
ship and are among the old and honored resi-
dents of the county.
Harvey Longenecker, of this review, has
been reared in Darke county, and he has
followed in his father's footsteps, in that
he is a natural mechanic, his talent in this
line being instinctive. He has devoted much
of his time to the art of architecture, and in
the county are many specimens which give
evidence of his skill and taste as an archi-
tect and builder. He has given particular
attention to the building of mantels and stair-
cases, in which lines the most artistic con-
ceptions have been skillfully wrought out
by him, his strength as a designer being
equalled by that as a practical workman.
The young man has found demand for his
work in this line not only throughout Darke
county but also in the city of Cincinnati. I le
is well known in Richland and adjoining-
townships by reason of his ingenious skill,
and it was while he was engaged in his draft-
ing that there came to him the essential idea
of his present important invention, to which
reference has been made. The idea was
evolved within the year 1899 and within
three days after the conception had come
to him Mr. Longenecker had made a perfect
penholder after the design he had formulated
in his mind. It will be interesting to briefly
recapitulate the story of this invention, which
isc destined to be one of the greatest prac-
tical value. One day Mr. Longenecker was
in conversation with Hon. Henry McCoy,
ex-clerk of the United States treasury at
Cincinnati, the gentleman finally bringing
up the matter of inventing a penholder of
the sort, and he said : "Longenecker, if you
could devise a penholder holding ink for
black and red work on the books in the ac-
countant's office, without changing penhold-
ers, you could have a fortune." Mr. Long-
enecker replied : "I think it can be accom-
plished," and through his efforts the result
has, indeed, been attained. The invention is
a perfect and signal success and is an article
for which there will be a constant demand
on the market. Our subject and his brother,
Frank, are the sole manufacturers of this
useful article, and the demand already tests
the capacity of their manufactory. The
work of manufacturing- was inaugurated
within the last year, and a patent has now
been secured on the Spiral Duplex Holder,
which is a positive improvement upon the
original design. It will be but a short time
before the article is known and used th ugh-
out the length and breadth of our country.
The holders are now manufactured at Bea'11--
ville and all correspondence in regard the: .
should be addressed to Longenecker Broth-
ers, Beamsville, Darke county, Ohio, where
it will receive prompt attention.
Mr. Longenecker was engaged in work
at his trade until 1895, when he entered
upon the general merchandise business in
Beamsville, where a complete and select stock
is carried, including all lines customarily
found in a village store of the sort. By
fair and courteous treatment of his patrons
he has built up an excellent business and he
is known as an alert and enterprising young-
business man, ami one worthy of the most
implicit confidence.
January 27, 1S84, Mr. Longenecker mar-
ried Miss Laura Belle York, and of this
union have been born two sons and three
daughters, four of the number surviving:
Nellie is a student in the Beamsville public
school and has shown marked musical talent ;
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
527
Nola E. and Jennie. E. are also in school;
and Otto E. is the youngest in the home
circle. Mrs. Longenecker was horn Octo-
her 25, i860, being the daughter of Squire
and Mary (Gilbert) York. She received
her education in the common schools and
both she and her husband are consistent
member,; of the Christian church at Beams-
ville. Mrs. Longenecker's father is deceased,
but her mother is still living, as are also two
brothers and two sisters, all of whom are
residents of the county. Her grandfather.
Judge York, was one of the first three judges
in Darke county, the family being of English
extraction, while the Longenecker family is
of pure German origin. Four brothers of
the name came from Germany about the
opening of the sixteenth century, and from
them \ive sprung the various branches of
the family in the Union.
Pur subject has always exercised his
;hise in support of the Democratic
party, having cast his first presidential vote
for Grover Cleveland. He held official pre-
ferment from the time he was twenty-two
years of age until the last year, having served
as constable and justice of the peace, his aim
in all the relations of life being to do credit
to himself and to the honored name which
he bears. He served with much efficiency
as postmaster of Beamsville for a period
of six years, having been the incumbent dur-
ing the Cleveland administrate >n.
GEORGE A. KATZENBERGER.
George A. Katzenberger, the only son of
Charles L. Katzenberger, a merchant in
Greenville, was born December 11, 1867.
His mother, Elizabeth nee Ashman, was a
daughter of the pioneer, Peter Ashman, and
departed this life in 1868, being followed a
few years later by her only daughter, Mary.
Our subject's early life was spent in Green-
ville, his rearing having been given in charge
of Mrs. Rosina Rehfuss. He attended the
public schools in Greenville, completing the
preparatory high-school course in May, 1884.
In July of the same year he began a course
in Nelson's Business College, at Cincinnati.
Completing the same, he accepted the posi-
tion of head bookkeeper for the firm of Gil-
more & Company, bankers of Cincinnati,
and from July, 1885, to January 1, 1886,
was the business manager for said firm,
owing to the absence abroad of its principal,
Virgil Gilmore. At the close of this time
the continued illness of Mr. Gilmore made
the dissolution of the firm a necessity, and
our subject entered the service of the Cin-
cinnati News Company in the capacity of
bookkeeper.
In the fall of 1886, desiring to pursue
a course in science, he resigned his position
and entered the Ann Arbor high school, at
which he graduated in June, 1888, three'
weeks after his class at Greenville. After
reading law in the office of Hon. John Reiley
Knox he began a course in the law depart-
ment of the University of Michigan and re-
ceived the degree of LL. B. in June, 1890,
being subsequently admitted to the liars of
Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. During his.
collegiate term he was honored by being ad-
mitted to the leading fraternity of Phi Delta
Phi, a Greek-letter secret society, founded
in the law department in 1869 by Judge-
Thomas M. Cooley, a very eminent jurist,
subsequently the chairman of the inter-state
commerce commission. During his college
career he was actively interested in various
organizations, namely: The Shakespeare
33
■ >2S
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Club, Hobart Guild, Choral Union, Knowl-
ton Nine and others; was also an associate
editor of the Michigan Argonaut and a cor-
respondent in Michigan for the Columbia
Law Times.
In July, 1890, he for the second time
accompanied his father to the old country,
where he spent a year and a half, chiefly in
the grand duchy of Baden, Germany. Ar-
riving in Bremen in August, he enjoyed a
Rhine tour, and was at Bingen and Ruedes-
heim, their famous "Laetitia Deorum." Soon
thereafter he visited the castles and palaces
of the late King Ludwig II, of Bavaria, and
attended the Passion Tlay at Oberammer-
gau. In October he entered the far-famed
University of Heidelberg and spent two
most enjoyable semesters, being a member
of various musical, duelling and social or-
ganizations. Here, while attending the lec-
tures on Grecian and modern philosophy,
by His Excellency, Kuno Fischer, he im-
proved his knowledge of the German lan-
guage, and, collaterally, acquainted himself
with the literature of the land of his ances-
tors. Rather than spend several years more
enjoying a dolce-far-niente life, he preferred
to return to his "own, his native land"
("than which none other," he said) and enter
upon the duties of his profession. He there-
fore, with his indulgent father, made a tour
through Switzerland to Milan and the north-
ern lakes of Italy and then returned to this
country in November, 1891. In December
of the same year he chose Chicago as the
seat of his future endeavors and hung out
his shingle opposite the court house. Mod-
erate success soon was his and his standing
in his profession was one worthy of his
years.
During the Columbian year he was the
secretary of one of the educational commit-
tees of the World's Congress Auxiliary and
served during i8qv4 as an assistant attorney
of the bureau of justice. At a national
convention of his college fraternity in 1893
he was elected the secretary and treasurer of
the governing council, to which position he
has been re-elected four times at successive
conventions in Washington, Chicago and
Ann Arbor, Michigan. During his admin-
istration nine additional chapters of the order
have been placed in the leading law schools
of this country and Canada, and in his ca-
pacity as secretary he compiled a catalogue
of the members, gathering data covering five
hundred and seventy-five pages.
After the death of his uncle. G. Anthony
Katzenberger, he returned to Greenville,
where he has since resided with his father,
whom he has collaterally been assisting in
his business. In the autumn of 1897 he made
a fair race for representative on the Repub-
lican ticket in a county overwhelmingly
Democratic. As the treasurer of the vestry
of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church,
one of a board of directors and secretary
of a building association, a councilor of the
American Institute of Civics and as an in-
terested member of the Masons and Odd
Fellows, he enjoys being of some service to
his fellow men. For diversion and employ-
ment of spare time he indulges in collecting
curios, coins and postage stamps as well as
in writing for the press, more particularly
for The Brief, a magazine published in New
York city and of which he is one of the five
editors.
In June. 1899, ne married Miss Grace
Miesse, a young lady of solid merit and
varied accomplishments. A son, Charles
Hirundo, completes a happy household.
GENEALOGICAL AND- BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
529
DANIEL J- HARTZELL.
The better class of citizens of the state or
the nation are those to whom must be given
the basic credit in considering the progress
and material prosperity of such state or na-
tion, and, as the history of the nation is best
told in the lives of the best citizens, so is
found justification for the careful compila-
tion of works of this nature.
Daniel J. Hartzell, the subject of this
brief sketch, is a scion of one of the prom-
inent pioneer families of Richland township,
which was one of the first settled townships
of historic Darke county. He was born on
his father's homestead and this homestead
still continues to be his place of abode, the
date of his nativity being December 8. 1856.
He is the sixth in order of birth of the ten
children — three sons and seven daughters —
of Daniel and Mary (Warvel) Hartzell. Of
the children six are living, namely : Han-
nah M. is the wife of M. F. Myers, a prom-
inent attorney of Greenville, Ohio, and she
was reared and educated in Darke county,
where for some time she was a successful
teacher; Charlotte A. is the wife of G. M.
Skinner, a telegraph operator at Royal Cen-
ter, Indiana ; Daniel J. is the immediate sub-
ject of this review; Maggie E. is the wife
of B. N. York, a representative of the prom-
inent pioneer family of this township and
himself a prosperous and influential agri-
culturist here; John H, a prominent farmer
of Pikeville, Ohio, married a Miss York ;
Rosa M., the youngest of the children, is the
wife of G. M. Hench, a telegraph operator
at Logansporf, Indiana.
Daniel Hartzell. the father of our sub-
ject, was born near the historic battle field
of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the 21st
■of February, 1819, and his death occurred
March 27, 1896. He was reared to agri-
cultural pursuits, but upon attaining ma-
turity learned the trades of cabinetmaker
and carpenter and joiner, to which lines of
work he gave his attention, meeting with a
due measure of success. His educational
discipline was secured in the old-time sub-
scription schools and his advantages in this
regard were necessarily limited. He started
out in life for himself as a poor boy and from
the foot of the ladder worked his way up-
ward to success and to a position of honor
among men. As the name indicates, he was
of German extraction, and being imbued
with the indomitable spirit and energy of
that sturdy race, he soon established for
himself a reputation as a man who aimed
to lay firm foundation for the future. At
the age of nineteen he started for the wilder-
ness of what was then considered the far
west, his destination being Darke county,
whither he came to join his brother, Philip.
He eventually returned to Pennsylvania and
soon thereafter, in company with his mother
and stepfather, again set out on the weary
journey to Ohio, and it is a matter of record
that he actually walked the entire distance
from Pennsylvania to Gettysburg, Darke
county, with the exception of three miles.
This statement indicates the sturdy char-
acter of our honored pioneers. After lo-
cating- in the primitive home in the western
wilds he went to work with vigor, at first
being employed by others at such work as
he could secure. It is recalled that the first
distinctive work he ever did in Darke county
was to split one hundred rails before break-
fast. He was an energetic young man and
soon accumulated a tract of one hundred
and thirty-seven acres in the forests of Rich-
land township, which was at that time a
practically unbroken wilderness, wild game
530
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of all sorts being seen in abundance. At
one time when he was working at plowing
corn on bis brother's farm, east of Green-
ville, be saw three or four deer playing
around him in a circle. Securing his trusty
gun. he concealed himself behind a tree un-
til the animals were so near that he was dis-
cussing with himself which one to select for
his fire, when he was severely attacked with
"buck fever," or "buck ague," or, as the
modern vernacular would have it, was so
"rattled" that he did not secure a shot at
any of the deer, greatly<to his chagrin. Po-
litically Mr. Hartzell was a standi Democrat
of the Jackson type, and he was a valued
representative citizen of the township, which
be served effectively and with much wisdom
in official capacities, having been trustee
several terms and having been a zealous
advocate and supporter of the public schools.
He and his wife were faithful members of
the German Reformed church and he was a
liberal contributi >r to the erection of the pres-
ent church edifice at Pikeville, Ohio.
The mother of our subject is a native of
Montgomery county, Ohio, where she was
born in the year 1830, and is still living at
Tikeville. Though venerable in years she
still retains her mental and physical faculties
t< 1 an exceptional degree, and she is held in
the deepest love and veneration in the com-
munity where she has lived and labored to
such goodly ends. Her gentle character has
ever prompted her to unostentatious works
of charity and kindness, and her example
and teachings are cherished and held sacred
in the church of which she has so long been
a devoted and zealous member.
Daniel J. Hartzell, the subject of this
sketch, is a native of Richland township, as
has been previously noted, and in this coun-
ty be has been reared and educated and has
taken his place as a worthy representative
of an honored name. He was afforded the
advantages of the common schools and was
reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm,
remaining with his parents until he attained
his majority, having thereafter continued
to work for his father at the rate of ten T il-
lars per month, so that he has a full appre-
ciation of the values of honest toil. He
chose for his helpmeet along life's journey
Miss Amanda Weikert, their marriage be-
ing solemnized February 4, 1879. Of this
union four sons have been born and three of
the number are living namely: Earl E.,
born May 6, 1882, who has completed the
eight grades in the public schools and passed
the Boxwell examination, which admits the
i successful candidate to any of the high
schools in the county, is a studious youth
; and his trends of thought and natural in-
clinations seem to lead to the professional
life; Ward C, born October 16, 1884. who
is the practical agriculturist of the three
bright and promising boys, is perfectly at
home on the estate and takes an interest in
all phases of its work; he is in the eighth
grade of the public schools; Charlie R., born
February 18, 1894, is the youngest of the
home circle.
Mrs. Hartzell was born near the. great
battle field of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on
the 6th of June, 1859, being the second in a
family of twelve children — five sons and
seven daughters — born to Jacob and Matilda
(Slyder) Weikert. Of this large family of
children nine still survive and of these we
give a brief record as follows: Henry I.
is engaged in the tent and awning business
at St. Paul, Minnesota; John D. is a farmer
at Bbwdle. South Dakota; Emma E. is the
wife of Charles Sebring, of Darke county,
Ohio ; Daisv L. is the wife of Georgfe Reeves,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
531
of St. Paul, Minnesota; Lilly M. is the wife
of Eugene Cowell. of Bangor, South Dako-
ta ; Rosa M. resides with her parents near
Madison, Indiana, as do also Eva Pearl and
Charles D.
Jacob Weikert is a native of Pennsyl-
vania, where he continued to reside until he
reached maturity. He was present at the
great battle of Gettysburg, and though not
a soldier rendered effective service in caring
for the wounded and assisting in the burial
of the dead. He had to forsake his home,
as it was on the site of this ever memorable
conflict, and he was compelled to take what
few effects could be picked up and to place
these in the wagon and with his family make
his way out in the midst of the incessant
firing, which was at so close range that leaves
and twigs from the trees were clipped off by
the leaden bail and fell into their wagon,
where they were found after a place of com-
parative safety had been reached. This is
an incident that will not be recorded again
in this narrative of those concerned in the'
history of Darke county. Though but a
child of six years, Mrs. Hartzell has a faint
recollection of this terrible struggle. The
family came on through to Montgomery
county, Ohio, and there Mrs. Hartzell's ma-
ternal grandmother is yet living, at the ad-
vanced age of eighty-eight years.
Mrs. Hartzell has been her husband's
ci iunselor in all his business transactions and
her aid and advice have always been timely
and valuable. When they began their mar-
ried life, according to Mr. Hartzell's state-
ment to the biographer, his wordly posses-
sions were practically summed up in a horse
and buggy. He secured the endorsement of
bis father in purchasing the requisite sup-
plies for carrying on his farm and he earned
every dollar with. which to liquidate his in-
debtedness. He began farming on shares
and eventually he and his wife bought out
the interests of the other heirs to the estate,
and it is with a feeling of pride that they
can look back over the rough road they have
traveled, the obstacles overcome in order to
accumulate their beautiful property, which
is a just reward for their earnest efforts.
Mr. and Airs. Hartzell have been peculiarly
successful in life, and the success has been
most worthily achieved, as in all the rela-
tions of life they have been characterized by
that honor and integrity which are more to
be desired than gold. As Mr. Hartzell is a
native of Darke county he has had the priv-
ilege of witnessing its growth and develop-
ment from a veritable wilderness to one of
the most prosperous and attractive sections
of the entire state, improved with fine pike
roads, substantial and attractive residences
of modern architecture and all other ele-
ments which bespeak substantial prosperity.
The beautiful town of Greenville, which now
has a population of about eight thousand, is
far different from what it was when his fa-
ther located in the county, for at that time
the stockades of old Fort Greenville were
still standing.
Mr. Hartzell is a stanch adherent of the
Democratic party, his first presidential vote
having been cast for General Hancock. He
has maintained a lively interest in the work
of his party and his personal popularity has
led to bis being chosen for positions of
marked preferment. He has been a dele-
gate to various senatorial, congressional and
countv conventions and he was the incum-
bent of the important office of trustee of
Richland township in 1896, and was re-
elected to the office in 1899, his administra-
tion having reflected great credit upon him
and the township which he represents. He
m-2
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
has served for about six years as director of
the public schools, both he and his wife be-
ing zealous advocates of the best possible
educational advantages for the youth of our
land. They are members of the German
Reformed church at Pikeville and he is an
elder in tbe same.
Tbe estate of our subject comprises
eighty-five acres, lying one-hall mile east of
Pikeville and five miles from Greenville.
The soil is a rich loam and is admirably
adapted to the cultivation of corn, wheat,
oats and tobacco, — the last mentioned in
particular. In 1899 Mr. Hartzell realized
ninety dollars per acre from two acres of to-
bacco. This farm was purchased by his fa-
ther in 1849 an(J bas remained in the hands
of tbe family for more than half a century.
Mr. and Mrs. Hartzell are well known
for their many admirable traits of character
and for this reason, as well as for that of
their being representatives of honored pio-
neer families, we are pleased to accord them
this slight recognition in the genealogical
record of Darke county.
LEWIS MANSFIELD.
The gentleman whose name introduces
this sketch and who resides on section 31,
German township, Darke county, Ohio, is
one of the representative farmers of his lo-
cality. The facts regarding his life and
family history are as follows :
Lewis Mansfield was born in Preble
county, Ohio, November 3, 1833, son of
one of the pioneers of that county. His fa-
ther, Joseph Mansfield, was a native of Ken-
tucky, was born in 181 1 and came with
his parents to Preble county, Ohio, in 18 19,
vhen he was about eight years old and who
was reared and married there. About a
year after his marriage, with his wife and
babe, he came to Darke county and they es-
tablished their home on a farm in Harrison
ti iwnship, where he carried on agricultural
pursuits the rest of his life and where he
died at the age of forty-two years. William
Mansfield, the grandfather of our subject,
was a native of Delaware, from which state,
when a young man, he emigrated to Ken-
tucky, where he married, and whence he
subsequently came up into Ohio, as above
recorded. He was of English descent.
The mother of Lewis Mansfield was,
before her marriage. Miss Nancy Bowles.
She was a native of North Carolina, born
in February, 18 10, and came to Preble coun-
ty, Ohio, in her girlhood, where, as already
stated, she was married. She died at the
age of fifty-two years. The Bowles also
were of English origin. Stephen Bowles,
the father of Mrs. Mansfield, was born in
North Carolina and was the son of a Revo-
lutionary soldier. Joseph and Nancy Mans-
field were the parents of two children, one
dying when three weeks old, the other being"
Lewis.
Lewis Mansfield was brought to Darke
county in his infancy and was reared on his
father's farm in Harrison township, receiv-
ing his education in a log school house near
his home. He remained on the homestead
until after the death of his father. Early
in the winter of 1859 he married and im-
mediately afterward removed to the farm
upon which he has since resided, and which
he had purchased previous to his marriage.
This farm comprises one hundred and twenty
acres, all of which is cleared and under
cultivation except twenty acres, the work
of clearing and improving it having all been
done under his supervision. Here for over
forty years he has carried on general farm-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
533
ing and has been fairly successful in his op-
erations. Mr. Mansfield's mother lived with
him until her death, which occurred in 1862.
Mr. Mansfield was married December 1,
1859, to Miss Lucretia Lanie. born in Preble
county, Ohio, August 12. 1835, and which
was her home until the time of her marriage.
They are the parents of five children, name-
ly: Eliza, the wife of C. Junes, a farmer re-
siding near Madison, Ohio, and they have
one son, Paul; Albert, who married Mary
McClure, of German township, Darke coun-
ty, and has one son, Lewis O. ; Ella, at home;
Minnie, the wife of Charles Harland, of
Richmond, Indiana, they having one daugh-
ter, Lucretia: and one that died in infancy.
Mr. Mansfield casts his franchise with
the Democratic party. He is not a member
of any church nor does he have any lodge
affiliations. His religious creed is embodied
in the golden rule. This he has tried to fol-
low, and in so doing he has won the confi-
dence and respect of his fellow men.
D. W. K. MARTIN.
D. W. K. Martin, the well-known editor
and proprietor of the Versailles Policy, pub-
lished at Versailles, Ohio, is a native of
Darke county, born in Adams township,
June 2, 1849, and 's a son °f John B. and
Rachel (Kreider) Martin, natives of Mont-
gomery county, this state, the former born
i:i December, 1820, the latter in 1822. On
leaving Montgomery county, at the age of
nineteen years, the father came to this
county and settled in Adams township, where
he followed his chosen occupation — that of
farming — throughout life, dying in his
seventy-sixth year. He was of German de-
scent and a member of the Dunkard church.
He was three times married, his first wife
being Barbara Bigler, by whom he had one
daughter. His second wife was the mother
of our subject, who also was of German de-
scent and died in 1872. By this union there
were nine children, all of whom grew to
manhood or womanhood, all married and all
are still living, with one exception. For his
third wife the father married Catherine
Sword, by whom he had two children, both
1 if whom are living.
The subject of this sketch is the second
child of the second marriage. He was
reared in his native township, and acquired
a good practical education in the district
schools, remaining at home until twenty
years of age. At the age of nineteen he
commenced teaching school and successfully
followed that profession for twenty-one
years, three years of which time he was su-
perintendent of the schools at Fort Recovery,
Ohio. He taught for two years in Ver-
sailles, for one year in Bradford, and the re-
mainder of the time in country schools. He
became interested in the newspaper business
in 1889, when he purchased the Versailles
Policy, which he has since so successfully
carried on. When he took possession of the
office it was supplied with an old Washing-
ton hand press, but he has added an engine
and Campbell press and also job presses, and
now has a well equipped office. He conducts
the paper in the interests of the Democratic
party, and has made it one of the best and
most popular journals of Darke county.
In 1870 Mr. Martin was united in mar-
riage with Miss Lydia A. Apple, a natr
Wayne township, Darke county, and a
daughter of George and Catherine ( Rh ides I
Apple. To them have been born nine chil-
dren, namely: Minnie A., Cora D., tra J.
and Estella M. (twins), Laura V., Marion
A., Grace E., George J. and Clissie < ".
534
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
SAMUEL V. HARTMAN.
Samuel V. Hartman is one of the young-
est representatives of the legal fraternity in
Greenville. He was born in Montgomery
county, Ohio, on July 19, 1864, and is a
son of C. B. and Catherine (O'Donnell)
Hartman. The father was born in Lan-
caster county, Pennsylania in 1816, and the
mother was a native of Limerick. Ireland,
whence she emigrated to the United States
with her parents at the age of thirteen years.
After their marriage they removed to Ohio,
locating in the vicinity of Dayton, and the
father engaged in teaching school for some
years. He was also the school examiner of
Montgomery county for a number of years.
In 1866 he removed with his family to Darke
county, locating in Xeave township, where
he engaged in farming. He is ^till living,
i.i Hill Grove, Darke county, and is a well
preserved and energetic man, his vears rest-
ing lightly upon him.
Samuel V. Hartman, whose name intro-
duces this record, spent his youth upon the
farm in Xeave township and pursued his
education in the public sc1i<h,]> of Fort Jef-
ferson until sixteen years of age, when he
attended the high school in Greenville,
taught by Professor J. T. Martz. Later Mr.
Hartman successfully engaged in teaching
for two years in Woodington and New
Weston, and later, to still further perfect his
own education, he entered the National Nor-
mal University at Lebanon, Ohio, where he
prosecuted his studies for one year. Leav-
ing school he read law with Judge f. M.
Eickel and Judge J. I. Allread, both of
Greenville, and under their able preceptor-
age was well fitted for his chosen calling.
On the 4th of March, 1890, he was admitted
to the Darke county bar and was soon after-
ward elected prosecuting attorney, filling
that position for two terms of three years
each. On the expiration of that period, he
retired from office and has since engaged
i;i practice in the different courts, local, state
and federal. The care with which he pre1
pares his cases enables him to arrive at the
strong points in his case, and these he pre-
sents forcefully and logically to court and
jury, thereby winning many notable forensic
o mtests. Socially he is connected with the
order of Knights of Pythias.
RILEY M. BRANDON.
All hi uii ir is due the pioneers of any
section, for they blazed the way for the
march of progress and laid broad and deep
the foundation of the magnificent prosperity
which forms the superstructure reared in
later days, but with facilities which were
denied to them in their sterner and more
self-abnegating labors. In this favored sec-
tion of the Euckeve state, now grilled with
railroads and with fine pike roads, none
of these improvements were in evidence
when the subject of this sketch first opened
his eyes to the light of day, as a native of
the county, but here the pioneer settlers still
disputed dominion with the crafty red men
and the beasts of the forest. He has borne his
part in the work of development and im-
provement, and is worthy of definite con-
sideration in this publication.
Mr. Brandon was born in Darke county,
March 18, 1849, being the second in order
of birth of the eight sons and two daugh-
ters of Alex B. and Anna (Shafer) Brandon.
Of the ten children eight are living, namely :
Riley M., the immediate subject of this
sketch ; Dora B., wife of Nathaniel P. Kersh-
ner. a farmer of Brown township; Eugene,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
535
a farmer of York township; Aaron C, a
prominent lawyer of Greenville; Frank, a
farmer of Jefferson county, Indiana ; Noah,
a salesman in a wholesale grocery at Day-
ton, Ohio; and Arthur, who is a graduate
of the Ohio Medical College and is a well
known physician and surgeon of Ansonia,
this county; Bertha B. is the wife of Clifford
Thomas, of Chicago, and is the youngest of
the family.
Alex Brandon was born in Darke county,
in 1820, and died in April, 1882. His pro-
genitors came from the Old Dominion state
of Virginia to Darke county, the agnatic
line being of English or Scotch origin and
having long been identified with the annals
of American history. Grandfather Brandon
was a volunteer in the war of 181 2. Inn the
conflict terminated before he had been called
into action. Alex Brandon passed most of
his life in Darke count}', having resided for
a few years in Miami county. He became a
member of the Republican party upon its or-
ganization and was a zealous advocate of its
principles. He and his wife were devout
members of the Christian church at Beams-
ville, and he was one of the pillars of the
organization, being one of its charter mem-
bers and having aided very materially in the
erection "of the first church building. His
life was ordered upon a high plane of in-
tegrity and he was held in uniform respect
and confidence as a man of sterling worth.
The mother of our subject was born in
Pennsylvania, in 1826, and her death oc-
curred December 17, 1881, she and her hus-
band being laid to rest in the cemetery at
Versailles, where a fine monument has been
erected to their memory. She was a woman
of gentle refinement and true Christian
grace, and her influence upon the character
of her children was marked and is held by
them in deepest reverence.
Riley M. Brandon, whose name inl
duces this review, has passed his entire life
in Darke county, and Richland township has
been his home for the greater portion of
this period. His initial educational dis-
cipline was secured in the district schools
and. supplemented by a course in a select
school at Versailles, where he so advanced
himself in his studies as to he eligible as
a teacher, devoting himself to this vocation
for a short time. Mr. Brandon has been
twice married, his first union having been
with Miss Jane Siegmund, who bore him
one daughter, Irene May, who is the wife
of Charles York, a farmer of Richland town-
ship, and they have a little daughter. May
Ethel. Mrs. Brandon was summoned into
eternal rest March 21, 1874, and on the 7th
of October, 1877, our subject married Miss
Sarah J. Davidson. Two sons and two
daughters grace this union — Edwin A., who
is associated with his father in carrying on
the work of the old homestead; Hattie B.,
who passed the Boxwell examination with a
general percentage of seventy, when she was
but thirteen years of age, and who is thereby
entitled to admission to any high school in
the county ; Charles D., who is at present in
school; and Hazel May, a bright and inter-
esting little maiden, now attending to her
school work.
Mrs. Brandon was born in Darke county,
June 28, 1853, a daughter of Edwin R. and
Rebecca J. (Warvell) Davidson, who were
the parents of two sons and three daughters,
only one of whom is deceased: Mrs. Brandon
is the eldest; William II. is a farmer of
Hancock county, Ohio: Robert is a farmer
of York township, Darke county: May is
536
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the wife of John Beery, of Springfield, this
state. The father of Mrs. Brandon is de-
ceased, his birth having taken place in
Clinton county, Ohio, and it is a matter of
record that her grandfather ate dinner with
the Indians near the site of the village of
Beamsville, pronouncing the corn bread
which they prepared to have been the best
he had ever eaten. The parents of Mrs.
Brandon were both devoted members of the
Christian church. The mother was born in
Virginia, and was a maiden of twelve years
when the family came to Ohio, her birth
having occurred May 4, 1833. She is still
living, making her home with her youngest
son, in Richland township, and retaining her
mental faculties unimpaired. Mrs. Brandon
has endeared herself to a large circle of ac-
quaintances, through her gentle refinement
and consideration of the feelings of others,
and she has proved a true helpmeet to her
husband.
Our subject purchased at the start a
farm of ninety acres, being compelled to as-
sume an indebtedness for a considerable por-
tion of the purchase price, but his capable
management and energy have made him one
of the independent and influential farmers
of the county, where he is held in the high-
est esteem. He has witnessed the remark-
able development of Darke county from the
condition of a wilderness to its present era
of prosperity and fine improvement, and his
estate lies contiguous to the site of old Fort
Briar, which was an important place in the
early days. He has in his possession the
original deed for the quarter-section 34,
township 11, range 3, the document hav-
ing been executed December 6, 1823, and
bearing the signature of President Monroe.
This deed is retained as a valuable historical
relic. Mr. Brandon renders allegiance to
the Democratic party, having cast his first
vote for General Grant, and for ten years
he gave active support to the cause of prohi-
bition. His aim has been to support men and
measures rather than to render supine al-
legiance to party dictates. He has been a
delegate to the convention of the Prohibition
party at various times and has been a zealous
worker for all that makes for the better-
ment of his fellow men. He is a stanch
friend of popular education and was strongly
in favor of the establishment of the town-
ship high .school, but this measure was de-
feated. He was a member of the school
board for five years. He and his wife are
members of the Christian church at Beams-
ville, and he has lent effective and timely
aid to the cause of religion. The family is
one of the representative families of the
county, and we are gratified to be able to
present this brief review at this time.
FRANKLIN WISE.
In this work there is much interest at-
taching to the records, both personal and
genealogical, of those wdio stand represent-
ative of the worthy pioneer element in the
history of Darke county, and wdio are ex-
ponents of the progress and prosperity which
mark the later years. To the gentleman
wdiose name heads this record we must ac-
cord an honorable place among the leading
citizens of the county, and no publication
having to do with the annals of this histor-
ic section could legitimately omit such spe-
cific reference to his genealogical record and
individual accomplishment.
Mr. Wise was born on the old homestead
in Richland township, the land comprised in.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
537
the same having been entered by his grand-
father, John Wise, the entry having been
made August 14, 1834. and executed over
the signature of President Andrew Jack-
son, this being one of the oldest deeds of
the township and being cherished as an heir-
loom by the Wise family. In the days to
come it will be valuable as a relic of the pio-
neer days. Mr. Wise was born January
12, 1853, being the sixth in order of birth
of the seven sons and two daughters born to
Daniel and Catharine ( Longenecker) Wise,
and one of the eight who are living at the
present time, namely: Benjamin L., a farmer
of Patterson township, served for three
years as a Union soldier in the war of the
Rebellion; Iarena is the wife of Tobias
Overholser, a farmer of Allen township;
Samuel A. is a farmer of Eaton county,
Michigan; John M. is a farmer of Missis-
sinawa township, Darke county; Franklin
is the immediate subject of this review;
Clara A. is the wife of John Cable, a farmer
of Wayne township; Harvey is engaged in
agricultural pursuits in Ionia county, Mich-
igan; and Daniel C, the youngest, is a
farmer of Adams township, Darke county.
Daniel Wise, father of our subject, was
born in the old Keystone state, being "i
the old Pennsylvania German stock. The
date of his nativity was July 12, 1816, and
he died September 18, 1869. It is presumed
that he was about eighteen years of age
when he became a resident of Ohio, and
he was reared under the conditions prevalent
at that time, receiving such meager educa-
tional advantages as were afforded in the
early subscription schools, which, like other
farmer boys, he was permitted to attend for
a brief time each year. He was early inured
to the hardships of frontier life, growing
to be a strong and sturdy man physically
and one of marked mental vigor. Politic
he was an old-line Whig until the birth of
the Republican party, when he transferred
his allegiance to the new party, which more
clearly expressed his views in its code of
principles and policies. He and his wife
were members of the German Baptist church.
Franklin Wise, subject of this review,
is a thorough Ohioan, having been born and
reared in Darke county, and he has unmis-
takably embraced the dominating principles
of his parents as to thrift ami honor. He
has been reared to the sturdy discipline of the
farm and has incidentally carried on a suc-
cessful enterprise in the ma ire of
brooms. He received a go nmon-
school education, which has been supple-
mented by personal application and practical
experience in the affairs of life. Mr. Wise
worked for wages until he reached his ma-
jority, after which he prepared to establish
his household goods upon a firm foundation.
April 29, 1886, he was married to Miss Ruth
A. Craig, who has borne him two daugh-
ters— Ethel and Hazel — who are very bright
and interesting little maidens. Mrs. Wise
is a native of Darke county, having been born
November 10, i860, a daughter of David
and Malinda 1 Baird) Craig, who became the
parents of six sons and five (laughters, nine
of whom are yet living and all these are
residents of Darke county except Lieu El-
mer, wdio is now an express agent at Tiffin,
Ohio.
David Craig was born in Xew Jersey,
February 5. 1S14, and died January 5. 1884.
He was three years of age when his parents
moved to Warren county. Ohio, and in 1857
he became a resident of Darke county, be
coming a farmer by occupation. Mrs.
538
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Wise's great-grandfather in the agnatic line
came from Scotland, the name Craig being
of the pure Scotch origin. Malinda (Baird)
Craig, mother of Mrs. Wise, was born in
Warren count}", Ohio, September 16, 1825,
and her death occurred July 21, 1898. She
and her husband were members of the Pres-
byterian church at Greenville and were very
zealous in their religious work. They owned
a fine farm two and one-half miles east of
Greenville. Mrs. Wise was educated in the
common schools, and she is of that genial and
candid nature which will ever insure warm
and lasting frieiwlships. She has been a true
helpmeet to her husband and they are known
and honored far and wide throughout the
section where they have passed their lives.
They began their domestic life on the old
homestead of our subject's parents, renting
the land at the start, and finally Mr. Wise
undertook to purchase the estate, a work
which he accomplished within six years,
with the aid of his devoted wife, and in ad-
dition to this he also cared tenderlv for
his widowed mother until her death. The
estate comprises one hundred and forty-
nine acres and this is kept in a fine state of
repair and cultivation.
In politics Mr. Wise is a Republican, hav-
ing cast his first presidential vote for Hayes.
Socially he is a member of Lodge No. 605,
I. O. O. F., at Ansonia, and also of Stelvideo
Grange, No. 295, with which Mrs. Wise
is also identified. He is the treasurer of
the grange and Mrs. Wise is overseer. In
religious adherency Mr. and Mrs. Wise
maintain the faith of the Christian Scien-
tists, having made a careful study of the
wonderful developments and comforting
promises to be noted in this line of religious
thought. They are among the represent-
ative people of Richland township and are
well worthy of this slight tribute in the
genealogical and biographical history of the
county.
JAPHETH BYRD.
It is unmistakably true that upon the
young, progressive men of the day the great-
est responsibility rests. The gentleman
whose name initiates this review is one who
enjoys the confidence and respect of all who
constitute the better class of citizens in Rich-
land township, Darke county, and as a rep-
resentative young man of the township it is
consistent that a review of his life and gene-
alogy be incorporated in this connection.
Mr. Byrd is a native son of the Old
Dominion state, having been born in Rock-
ingham county, Virginia, on the 16th of
February, 1861, being the second in order of
the three sons born to Isaac and Mary
(Gaines) Byrd. The brothers of our sub-
ject are Rev. Rudolph Byrd, clergyman of
the United Brethren church and a resident of
Chewsville, Maryland; and Isaac D., who is
a successful agriculturist in Rockingham
county, Virginia. The father was born in
Rockingham county, and his father was
a soldier in the war of 181 2. The
family is of English extraction and
has been long identified with the an-
nals of American history. One Colonel
Byrd located near the famed old city of
Richmond, Virginia, at a very early day,
and from him the line of descent to the sub-
ject of this sketch is directly traced. The
father was a carpenter by trade and was in
active service in the war of the Rebellion,
supporting the cause in whose justice he
firmly believed. He was a stanch Democrat
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
589
in politics. His death occurred Septem-
ber 3, 1864. His wife, Mary (Gaines)
Byrd, was likewise a native of Virginia, and
in that state she is still living, venerable in
years and loved by all who have felt the in-
fluence of her gentle life.
Japheth was a mere child at the time of
his father's death, and as the family were
left in moderate circumstances he was
thrown upon his own resources at an early
age. His first employment netted him the
modest sum of three dollars per month and
upon this basis he managed to clothe himself
and pursue his preliminary educational work.
His independent spirit was thus manifested
at an early age, and by this he has always
been animated, being essentially progressive
and active.
At the age of eighteen Mr. Byrd de-
termined to seek his fortune in the west, and
he accordingly came to Ohio, coming to
Montgomery county about 1880, where lie
remained one year, after which he located
in Darke county, which has ever since been
his home and field of endeavor. He came
here without influential friends or financial
reinforcement, began working for wages and
step by step won his way to a success which
is gratifying to note — a success honorably
achieved through energy, economy and inde-
fatigable application. On the 14th of April,
1884, Mr. Byrd was united in marriage to
Miss Dora B. McFarland, and to them one
son and three daughters have been born —
Bessie F., Josephine, George and Mary — all
being bright and attractive children, show-
ing marked interest and proficiency in their
educational work. Airs. Byrd was born in
Darke county, upon the old homestead where
she and her husband now reside, the date of
her nativity having been September 28,
1866, and she being the youngest of the nine
children born to James and Rachel (John)
McFarland. Of the children eight are still
living, namely: William, who is a resident
of Dawn, this county; Newton, a resident
of Greenville; Ellen, wife of Charles Beedle,
of Miami county; Albert, of Greenville;
Thomas, who resides at Dawn; Clark, of
North Star, Ohio; Madison, who resides at
Dawn, and Airs. Byrd, who is the youngest.
James McFarland was born in Greene coun-
ty, Ohio, on the 8th of May, 1822, and his
death occurred March 25, 1893. He was
a blacksmith by trade, and was a very suc-
cessful business man, having become the
owner of one hundred and sixty acres of fine
farming land in Richland township. He
secured a common school education in his
youth, and lived an honest and noble life,
which gives the richest of heritage to his
children and children's children, who ven-
erate his name and memory. In politics he
was a Jacksonian Democrat, and as one of
the leading men of the township he was
called to positions of public trust, having
served as trustee, land appraiser and in other
offices of responsibility. He and his wife
were zealous and devoted members of the
Christian church, and he aided materially in
the erection of the church edifice at Beams-
ville, and also contributed liberally to the
building of the Methodist church at Dawn.
He was liberal and benevolent, charitable
and kindly in his judgment of others, and
was always ready to lend his aid and in-
fluence in any good work. Fraternally he
was a charter member of the lodge of Free
and Accepted Masons at Versailles, and his
funeral obsequies were conducted according
to the impressive rites of this noble frater-
nity. In his death the community mourned
the loss of one of its most honored and
valued citizens.
540
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mrs. Rachel McFarland, mother of Mrs.
Byrd, was born in Montgomery county,
Ohio, on the 25th of November, 1823, and
her death occurred March 17, 1895. She
was a kind, Christian mother, and her teach-
ir.gs and admonitions will be held in deep
reverence by her children as long as memory
remains with them.
Mrs. Byrd has been reared and educated
in Darke county, having received the ad-
vantages of our excellent public schools. She
is of that sunny nature which brightens all
with which it conies in contact, and she pre-
sides with grace and dignity over her happy
home, being to her husband a true helpmeet
and aiding him with her sympathy and ad-
vice in all the temporal matters which come
up for consideration, their mutual sympathy
and confidence making their married life
one of ideal nature. When they began life
together Mr. Byrd was employed as a wage
earner at Dawn, this county; later they
leased land and there carried on farming,
and finally, about the year 1892, they pur-
chased the old homestead of Mr. McFar-
land, assuming an indebtedness for a por-
tion of the purchase price. They went to
work earnestly, and the success which has
justly attended their efforts is shown in the
fact that they now own the old homestead
and an additional twenty-three acres, en-
tirely free from encumbrance, this being one
of the finest farms in this section of the
state.
Mr. Byrd is a Democrat in his political
proclivities, his first presidential vote hav-
ing been cast for Grover Cleveland. Both
he and his wife are consistent members of
the Christian church at Beamsville, and they
have always contributed liberally to its work
and its collateral. charities and benevolences.
They are cordial and genial in their attitude,
having that intrinsic refinement which be-
gets deep and lasting friendships, and their
popularity in the community stands in evi-
dence of their sterling worth of character.
FINLEY R. REED.
Finley R. Reed is a retired farmer liv-
ing at Versailles. He was born in Wayne
township, Darke county, June 17, 1828.
The family name is one long and actively
identified with the history of the Buckeye
state. William Reed was a native of county
Tyrone, Ireland, and when a young man
came to America, reaching this country
while it was still a province of Great Britain.
At the time of the Revolutionary war he
joined the Colonial army and served under
Washington. In Pennsylvania he was mar-
ried, afterward removed to Kentucky and
thence came to Ohio, where he died at the
advanced age of ninety-three years.
His son, Allen Reed, the father of our
subject was born in Pennsylvania, in 1782,
and by his parents was taken to Kentucky
when five years of age. They located at
Miller's Station and became well acquainted
with Daniel Boone, the noted pioneer of
that state. Allen Reed was married in Ken-
tucky, and there engaged in the manufac-
ture of salt. In an early day, however, he
removed to Clinton county, Ohio, where he
followed the same pursuit and also con-
ducted a distillery. He removed from Clin-
ton to Darke county, and during the war of
1812 served under General William Henry
Harrison, with the rank of lieutenant. He
afterward became the captain of the first
company of the Second Battalion and Third
Regiment. In 181 5 he was the captain of
the first company of the added battalion of
the Second Brigade of the First Division of
GMEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
541
the militia of Ohio, and in 1823 was elected
the captain of the Second Company of the
Second Regiment, Second Brigade and
Tenth Division of the militia of the state of
Ohio, being sworn in by Governor Swishe,
a justice of the peace. He was thus the first
captain of the militia in the northern part
of Darke county. In military affairs and in
business circles he was a very prominent
man of the time. He served as a justice of
the peace, and was a recognized leader in the
Whig party until its dissolution, when he
became a stanch Republican. In early life
he was reared in the Presbyterian faith, but
afterward became a member of the New
Light church. He made farming his life
work, and his well-directed labors enabled
him to secure a comfortable home. He mar-
ried Margaret McGrifr, who was born in
Kentucky and died when our subject was
about two and a half years old. -The Mc-
Griff family was prominent in Ohio. Among
them were twin brothers, Richard and John,
who were born in Darke county, in 1804.
The former lived to be ninety-five years of
age, and the latter is still living at the age
of ninety-seven. After the death of his
first wife Allen Reed wedded Mrs. Jerome,
but they had no children. By the first mar-
riage, however, there were sixteen children,
and with the exception of the eldest and the
youngest, all reached mature years. These
were: William, who died at the age of two
years; John, who died at the age of fifty;
Richard, who died when more than sixty
years of age; Isaac, who died at the age of
sixty-four; James, at the age of seventy-
three; Sarah, who is the widow of Alexan-
der Wilson, of Versailles; Margaret, who
died at the age of eighty, and was the wife
of James Greer, an early settler of Topeka,
Kansas; Elizabeth, wdio became the wife of
O. S. Brandon and died at Jefferson, Wis-
consin; Allen, who was born July 18, [818,
and is now living retired in Topeka, Kan-
sas ; Thomas, who was a minister of the
United Brethren church and died in Fulton
county, Indiana; Matilda, who died at the
age of thirteen years; Amberson, who died
at the age of sixteen; William, who was a
pioneer physician in Jefferson City, Wis-
consin, having begun practice there about
1850, and for eleven consecutive wjinters
was a member of the senate of that state,
and fur fourteen years the medical examiner
of the charities and reforms of the state;
Huldah, wife of Solomon Young, of Union
City, Indiana; Finley R., our subject; and
one child wdio died in infancy.
kinky R. Reed, the fifteenth in the fam-
ily, was reared in Wayne township, within
sight of the town of Versailles, the farm
being now within the corporation limits.
He obtained but primitive educational privi-
leges, for there was no school-house near
until after he was married. He hauled the
timber for the first school-house in Ver-
sailles, and saw the county when it was in
its pioneer condition. He is the only man
known to be living that saw the old horse-
mill that ground the meal that was used in
making mush in the early days. He re-
mained with his father until his marriage,
which occurred in October, 1852, Alice
Brandon becoming his wife. She was born
111 Wayne township, May 19, 1830, a daugh-
ter of James and Susannah (Sark) Bran-
don. The father was a native of Virginia
and was reared in Kentucky, in which state
the mother was born. They were married
there and became the parents of .seven chil-
dren, Mrs. Reed being the fifth in order of
birth, and the only surviving one. She was
reared in Wayne township and ai tended the
542
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
same school of which her husband was a
student.
After their marriage Mr. Reed located
on section 19, Wayne township, where he
followed general farming until 1865, when
he purchased a farm on section 23, of the
same township. He then took up his abode
on that place and continued to operate his
land until 1900, when he sold the property
and took up his abode in Versailles, where
he is now living retired. On the 2d of May,
1864, he joined the boys in blue of Com-
pany F, One Hundred and Fifty-second
Ohio Infantry, with which he served four
months, holding the rank of second lieuten-
ant. He was honorably discharged on the
2d of September.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reed have been born
eleven children, of whom ten are living:
Martha, the wife of Isaac Hitz, who is liv-
ing in Kansas, and by whom she has eight
children; Juanita A., at home; Susanna, the
wife of Albertus Firestone, of Kansas, by
whom she has three children; Margaret, the
widow of Lewis Dobe, of .Marseilles, and the
mother of seven children; Maria, the wife of
Charles Mier, of Picrua, Ohio, by whom she
has two children; Sarah, the wife of Ed
Garris, of Union City, Indiana; A. Lincoln,
who is married and resides southwest of To-
peka, Kansas, with his wife and five chil-
dren; Andrew J., of Versailles, who is mar-
ried and has two children; Georgie at
home; James A., who died at the age of
two years; and Xellie, the wife of Law-
rence Bachman, of Ansonia, by whom she
has one child.
In his political views Mr. Reed is a stal-
wart Republican. He belongs to the Grand
Army Post at Versailles, and has been a
member of the Masonic fraternity since
1862. He holds membership in the Chris-
tian church, was for many years one of its
trustees and still holds a number of offices
therein. He is to-day one of the most hon-
ored and widely known of the pioneer set-
tlers of Darke county, and has witnessed its
development from the time when the greater
part of its land was in its primitive condi-
tion. His life has ever commended him to
the confidence and respect of those with
whom he has been brought in contact and his
record is in many ways well worthy of emu-
lation.
COLONEL DAVID PUTMAN.
As one of the representative and promi-
nent citizens of Darke county Colonel Put-
man well deserves representation in this vol-
ume. He was born at Fort Black, now called
Xew Madison, on the 4th of August, 1821,
and his present residence is Palestine, in
German township. His father, Ernestus Put-
man, was a native of Xew York, born Octo-
ber 27, 1776. There he was reared, re-
maining at home until fourteen years of age,
when he was apprenticed to learn the gun-
smith and whitesmith trades. He served
for a term of seven years, and on the ex-
piration of that period went to Springfield,
Massachusetts, where he accepted a position
as foreman in the stocking department of
the government armory. For two years he
served in that capacity. In the meantime he
returned to his native place and was mar-
ried. With two companions he made his
way over the mountains to Pittsburg, Penn-
sylvania. These men were accompanied by
their young wives, and on reaching Pitts-
burg they constructed a flat-boat, on which
they made their way down the Ohio river.
This was in 1809. Where the city of Madi-
son now stands they effected a landing. Gen-
y<zZ/Z<&£?& (L%Lt<4Ust^&^' „.^M(2^. ^^rm^i<E)...
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
543
eral Harrison was at that time governor of
the Northwiest Territory and was employed
in surveying the town. These three mren
each took a lot and erected a log cabin, which
was the foundation of the city of Madison.
On the nth of February, iSn. his first
child was born in the town. His name was
Aaron. He died in California in 1897.
Soon after the birth of this son the mother
died. Ernestus Putman established a gun-
smith shop in Madison and as soon as his
child was old enough so that he could care
for it he went to Harper's Ferry. He
there entered the government employ, again
serving in the same capacity throughout the
war of 1812. At Shepherdstown, Virginia,
he was married, on the 24th of March,
1814, to Miss Elizabeth Gray, a lady of
Scotch-Irish descent and a daughter of
David and Jane (Pollock) Gray, who came
to the new world from the Emerald Isle.
They lived in county Tyrone, but in 1802
crossed the Atlantic, Fueling in Baltimore,
Maryland, whence they made their way to
Boonsboro. Four years later they took up
their abode in Fredericktown, Virginia. Mrs.
Putman was born in Ireland and was a
maiden of twelve summers when she came
with her parents to America. Her eldest
brother, Thomas, was a sea captain and lost
his life at sea about 1818. The next child
was Nancy, who became the wife of Thomas
Carson, and was married in Baltimore. Mrs.
Putman was the third of the family and is
followed by Sarah, who became the wife of
John Kinnear, by whom she had a family of
ten children. John M., the next of the family,
settled in Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, and
became a prominent man of the town. He en-
gaged in merchandising and was a recog-
nized leader in political affairs, being elected
to the legislature on the Whig ticket. He
died in 1853. There was also one child,
Mary, who was born soon after the arrival
of the parents in Baltinn ire, Maryland. She
became the wife of William Watt, and they
had four children, two sons and two daugh-
ters, all of whom are yet living.
After the marriage of the parents of our
subject Ernestus Putman went direct to
Washington city, where he opened a gun-
smith's shop and took the contract for exe-
cuting all 1 if the iron w irk for the White
1 Ii iuse. His business assumed Aery extensive
proportions and he furnished employment
to a large number of machinists. While re-
siding in Washington city two children were
added to the family: Jane Gray, who was
born in 1816. and John G., born June" n,
1818. Mr. Putman remained in Washington
city until 1819, when with his wife and chil-
dren he came direct to what is now New
Madison, in Darke county, Ohio, the journey
being made with a one-horse wagon. Here
he entered land, securing a portion of the
tract upon which the town of New Madison
in iv stands. He conducted not only the first
store in the village but also the first in the
southern part of the county. Not long after
his arrival the third child, Elizabeth S., was
added to the family. She was born in 1819,
and became the wife of Dr. Rufus Gill-
patrick. who went to Kansas in 1854 and
was killed during the Civil war. He was one
of the conductors of the underground rail-
road, and his strong sympathy for the Union
cause and his opposition to slavery led to his
death. David Putman, the next of the fam-
ilv. wtis born August 4. 1821 : Mary I., born
in 1824, became the wife of Dr. Charles
Jaquay, and is now deceased; Ernestus J..
born in 1S26. married Sarah J. Deem
afterward died in Colorado; Tl
born in 1828, is deceased: James, born in
544
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
December, 1830, has also passed away;
Nancy C, born in 1833, is the wife of Dr.
James G. Blunt, who became a major-general
in the war. He went to Kansas and became
an active factor in support of the Union
cause at the time of the trouble in that state.
Prior to 1856 he was prominent in political
affairs in Darke county, and was an adherent
of the newly organized Republican party,
giving' his support to Fremont. He died from
the effect of a sunstroke, in Washington c'tv
Ernestus Putman continued in business
in New Madison from 1819 until 1842 and
was instrumental in promoting the progress
and upbuilding of the town. He laid out the
town in 1831. and was one of the oldest
merchants of the county. He served as the
first postmaster and withheld his co-operation
from 110 movement which he believed would
prove of public good. In politics he was a
stanch Whig in early life and on the dissolu-
tion of that party became a Republican, sup-
porting Lincoln in i860 and again in 1864.
He was in his eighty-ninth year when Lin-
coln was elected a second time. He held
membership in the Presbyterian church at
New Madison, and all the expenses of that
organization in building the church, with the
exception of eighty dollars, were paid by the
Putman family. He was widely and favor-
ably known in Darke county as one of its
honored pioneers and he lived to the ripe old
age of eighty-nine years, respected by all
who knew him. He was a member of the
Masonic fraternity for sixty-seven years.
His wife passed away in February, 1864, at
the age of seventy-seven.
Colonel Putman of this review is the
fourth child and second son in their family,
ami he. and his sister are now its only repre-
sentatives living. He was reared in Xew
Madison and obtained all his school privi-
leges before he was thirteen years of age.
He pursued his studies in a subscription
school, conducted in a log building, and at
the age of fourteen he went into his father's
mill. This was one of the first in the county
and was built at Weaver Station. He was
there employed for two years, after which
Ik returned home to New Madison, and for
a short time remained in his father's store.
On Christmas day of 1836, in company with
thirteen companions, he started for Texas,
walking to Cincinnati. This company was
under command of Colonel George D. Hen-
dricks. It nroceeded by steamer to Xew
Orleans and thence to the capital of Texas,
where they remained until the 24th of March.
The company separated there and Colonel
Putman, together with William Maronev,
started on foot from Columbia, securing a
passport from the secretary of state.
They walked four hundred and thirteen miles
ultimately reaching the town of Nachatocha.
near Alexandria. Thev returned home by
way of New Orleans, where Colonel Putman,
who had been intrusted by his father with
a cargo of produce, which he had sold, leav-
ing the money until his return, invested it in
coffee, sugar and molasses, which was his
first commercial transaction. The venture
proved a success. He made his way to New
Madison and continued in the store until he
was twenty-four years of age, and in the
meantime spent about a year in Hamilton,
where he gained a practical knowledge of
business transactions and of the value of
merchandise. He was twentv-one years of
age when his father retired from business,
and the Colonel then entered into partnership
with his brother John, in the spring of 1842.
On the 1 sth of November, 1842, he was
united in marriage to Miss Sarah Mills, who
was born two miles from Xew Madison, on
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
545
the 17th lit January, [822, and was a (laugh-
ter of Colonel Mark T. Mills and a grand-
daughter of General James Mills, who be-
longed to a prominent family of the county
that was established in Ohio at an early
epoch in its history, coming here in 1810.
and settling on land two miles north of New
Madison. He was a nat ve of Xew Jersey,
and emigrated to Hamilton, Butler county,
< >hio, in 1800. He was one of the first set-
tlers in the county and was colonel of the
First Ohio Militia, Third Detachment, in
the war of 1812. He left Hamilton, Ohio,
February 5, 1813, in command of the First
Ohio Militia, and marched to Dayton; from
there to Piqua, Lpramie, St. Mary's, and
finally, on the 7th of April, was ordered to
Fort Meigs, where his regiment remained on
guard duty till discharged from service.
We find the following entry in his regimental
boi ik :
"Colonel Mills with a portion of his com-
mand, having honorably served out the
period for which they were called into the
service of their country, are hereby dis-
charged and permitted to return to their re-
spective homes. Events not within the control
of the present commander-in-chief of this
arm}- or of our government have rendered it
necessary that the militia of the western
states should compose a considerable portion
of the northwest army. Ohio stands conspic-
uous for the great zeal and promptness
with which her citizens have yielded the com-
forts of private life for the toils and priva-
tions of the camp. In the return of this de-
tachment of Ohio troops to their families
and homes, it is due to Ohio and her sons to
record their honorable service. To Colonel
Mills and his staff, and his respective com-
missioned and non-commissioned officers and
private^, whose term of service has expired,
and to whose promotness in the discharge of
every duty he has been an eye witness, the
commanding general gives his sincere
thanks.
"By command of Gen. Greene Clay."
Colonel J. Mills served in both brandies
of the Ohio legislature. He died of cholera
in 1833, at Fort Jefferson, and is buried on
the land he first settled. His wife was a
physician of much note in the early history
of this county. Colonel Mark T. Mills, son
of the former, was one of the early sheriffs
of this county, and while serving his second
term was elected a member of the legislature.
1 le was continued a member of that body for
tour or five years by the suffrage of the peo-
ple. He was married to Miss Lydia Burdge
March 29, [821, and died in March. 1843.
his wife surviving him until March. [886.
Colonel Putman remained in business in
Xew Madison until June, 1845, when lie ^■<\<\
out to his brother John and came to Pales-
tine. Here he engaged in general merchan-
dising until 1848. when he traded his stock
of goods for a farm in Sugar Valley, Preble
countv. Ohio. There he followed agricultural
pursuits for two years, when he returned to
Palestine and accepted a position as general
traveling agent for the Xew York Mutual
Insurance Company. He was for two years
connected with that line of business, trawl-
ing over Xew York and Ohio. Again he toi k
up his abode in Palestine and was engaged
in the hotel business for a year, when he
. opened a stock of groceries, successfully con-
ducting his store until the 10th of October
1861.
At that date Mr. Putman was commis-
sioned second lieutenant, and on the 171!! ol
I lecember had raised a full company and w.\
elected captain. He was mustered mi" ser-
vice as a member of the Sixty ninth Ohio
Re°iment, and remained at Columbus until
546
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the 19th of February, 1862. There they
guarded rebel prisoners at Camn Chase until
the 19th of April, when they started for
Nashville. Captain Putman did duty with
the regiment in all its engagements until
June 20, 1863, when he was discharged on
account of disability and returned to his
home. As soon as able, however, he began the
organization of the Twenty-eighth Regiment
of the Ohio National Guards, and when it
was formed was elected colonel. On the 2d
of May, JN04, this regiment was ordered
out for one hundred days' service and went
direct to Camp Dennison. Two companies
from Clark county were added to the eight
companies of the regiment, making a full
command, which was mustered into the Uni-
ted States service as the One Hundred and
Fifty-second Ohio Infantry. They were
ordered to New Creek, Virginia, and thence
to Martinsburg. They left there on the 4th
of June, with a simply train of two hundred
and forty-nine wagons, and orders to reach
General Hunter, who was then in the neigh-
borhood of Staunton, Virginia. They were
joined by live companies of the One Hundred
and Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantrv,
Second Maryland, one company of the Fif-
teenth New York Cavalry and a section of
Lowery's Battery, all, under command of
Colonel Putman. They were annoyed each
day by small bands of the enemy and lost the
captain and live men of the New York Ca\
airy. They overtook the rear of Hunter's
army on the 10th, at Midway, and the main
body of the army next day at Lexington.
Here under Hunter's command the famous
mills and military institutions of Lexington
were destroyed by fire. At the latter
was found a life-size statue of George
Washington erected in 1788, which was
turned over to Colonel Putman with special
instructions to deliver it to the governor of
West Virginia, at Wheeling. These instruc-
tions were faithfully executed.
On the 17th of June General Hunter
turned over his prisoners, his sick and
wounded and one hundred and fifty wagons
to the command of Colonel Putman and for
ten days they were on the retreat, arriving at
Eeverley on the 27th of June, and at Cumber-
land, Maryland, on the 2d of July. They
there remained until the 25th of August,
were next at Camp Dennison, and on the 2d
of September they were honorably dis-
charged, and upon the return home the regi-
ment was transferred back to the . ate ser-
vice as the Twenty-eighth Ohio National
Guard, so commissioned until the cl • of
the war.
On his return home Colonel Putman be-
gan the study of law- under the direction of
Judge A. R. Caldenvood, at Greenville, and
was admitted to the bar in 1866. He imme-
diately began practice and gave his attention
to bounty pensions. In 1870 he was elected
justice of the peace to serve for three years
and has been a notary public for forty-seven
years. He is a member of the Grand Army
of the Republic, with which he has been iden-
tified since its organization. He was the first
commander of Reed Post, No. 572, and is the
present commander. He also belongs to the
Masonic fraternity. In politics he is a Re-
publican, has been active in support of the
party since its formation in 1854, and was a
delegate to the state convention at Colum-
bus, in 1856. In 1897 he was called upon to
mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the
24th of January, after a long and happy mar-
ried life of fifty-four years, two months and
nine days. They bad celebrated their golden
wedding in the In mse where the first wedding
party had been held and one hundred and
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
547
seven guests were invited to the dinner. The
photographs from which the pi irtraits that
appear in this work were made were taken
on their fiftieth anniversary. Almost eighty
years Colonel Putnam has resided in Darke
a mnty. He is probably the oldest native res-
ident within its borders, and has been a wit-
ness to its wonderful growth and devel-
opment, has aided in its progress and has
withheld his support from no movement or
measure which he believed would prove of
public good. In all life's relations he has been
true and faithful, in public office has been fair
and impartial, in business strictly honorable
and in social life has been a trusted friend
and esteemed neighbor. He certainly de-
ser . mention among the honored pioneers
of I arke count v.
ADDISON J. WOODS.
Among the highly respected and well-
known citizens of German township, Darke
county, Ohio, is Addison J. Woods, who
has spent nearly the whole of his life on his
farm.
Moses Woods, the father of Addison J.,
was one of the pioneers of Darke county,
where he spent a long and useful life, ac-
tively identified with the affairs of his lo-
cality. He was of Virginia birth, born June
26, 1793, and when a young man, as early
as 1 8 14, came out to what was then called
the Western Reserve, stopping first at Cin-
cinnati. Then he came north to Darke coun-
ty and became a resident of Harrison town-
ship. He taught the first school in that
township at Yankeetown, in 18 19, in a log
school house, with paper windows, and for
several years taught in winter and farmed
in summer. He also worked some at house
building. Politically he was a Democrat.
took an active interest in the campaigns and
in 1839 was elected county commissioner of
Darke count}-, receiving as compensation for
his services the sum of fifteen dollars per
year. In 1S32 he moved to the farm on
which the subject of this sketch now lives,
and there Moses Woods lived until 1856,
When he moved to Hollansburg. In 1858
he moved to Palestine, where he passed the
rest of his life and died, being about eighty-
three years of age at the time of his death.
The mother of Addison J. Woods was
before marriage Miss Hannah Moore, the
date of their marriage being June 27, [822.
She was born March 26, 1794, in Pennsyl-
vania, a daughter of Matthew Moore, a
native of Ireland. He served seven years in
the Revolutionary war. Mr. Woods has in
his possession a cone-shaped bottle which
his grandfather Moore carried with him
during his service in the army. Mrs. Woods
outlived her worthy husband several years,
passing away May 24, 1891, her age at death
being ninety-eight years. They were the
parents of six children that reached adult
age. and three of that number are now liv-
ing, namely : Addison J., Lewis and their
sister, Mrs. Caroline McGrew.
Addison Woods was the fourth in his
father's family, born in Harrison township
June 20. 1830, and was eighteen months old
at the time they settled in German township,
on the farm where he was reared and where
he has ever since resided. This farm com-
prises one hundred and sixty acres, is located
on section 29 and is devoted to stock-raising
and the usual crops of the vicinity.
Mr. Woods was married, February 28,
1856, to Miss Hannah Steele, who was born
in Butler county Ohio, March 18. 1830, and
reared in Darke county. She died July 1,
1889. The children of this union were four
548
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in number, as follows: Alice, born May 14.
1857. now the wife of Theodore Gist, who is
engaged in the real-estate business in Indian-
apolis. Indiana : they have one son, Addison,
born March 9. 1879. Lillie, born December
27, 1870, who died in infancy; William, born
January 29, 1874. who also died in infancy;
Caldwell, born September 16, 1863, on the
home farm with his father, married Ella
Chenoweth, a native of this count}- and a
daughter of Wesley Chenoweth, of Hollans-
burg.
In his political affiliations Mr. Woods is
Democratic. His father was a member of
the Christian church, but he has never identi-
fied himself with any church, nor is he a
member of any secret societies. He has
always been known as an honorable, upright
citizen, and is justly entitled to the esteem in
which he is held by all who know him.
A. L. EIKENBERRY.
The records of the lives of our fore-
lathers are of interest to modern citizens
not alone for their historical value, but also
for the inspiration and example they afford.
Yet we need not look to the past; although
surroundings may differ, the essential con-
ditions of human life are ever the same and
man can learn from those around him if he
will heed the obvious lessons contained in
their history. Turning to the life record
of A. L. Eikenberry. studying carefully the
plans and methods he has followed, he will
learn of splendid business and executive
ability. He is a man of keen perception, of
great sagacity and unbounded enterprise,
and in addition is an excellent manager. He
is today the senior partner of the firm of
Eikenberry & Christopher, the proprietors of
the Mozart department store at Greenville,
Ohio.
A native of Darke county, he was born
in the vicinity of Palestine, April 11, 1857,
and is a son of Dr. R. L. Eikenberry, whose
birth occurred in Preble county, Ohio, in
1837. The paternal grandfather, David
Eikenberry, was a native of Virginia, and
became one of the early settlers of the
Buckeye state. He married Miss Hannah
Cloyd, a representative of one of the pioneer
families of Ohio. Dr. Eikenberry was
reared to manhood under the parental roof,
prepared for professional life and for many
years was engaged in the practice of medi-
cine in Preble count}- and western Ohio. He
also practiced in Indiana for several years.
In 1850 he married Catherine Gever, a na-
tive of Preble county and a daughter of
George Geyer, who was born in Pennsylva-
nia. To this union four children were
born: Oscar B., of Eaton, Ohio: William
11.. of Greenville; Albert L.. of this review,
and Ida M., the wife of D. O. Christopher,
of Greenville.
A. L. Eikenberry, whose name introduces
this record, spent his early boyhood days
in Randolph count}-. Indiana, to which place
his parents removed during his early boy-
hood. He acquired the rudiments of a com-
mon school education in the schools near his
home, and completed his literary course in
a select school. He then started out to make
his own way in the world, and entered upon
his business career in the capacity of clerk
in a store in West Alexandria, Preble coun-
ty, belonging to his brother, O. B. Eiken-
berry. There he remained in the capacity
of salesman for eight years, at the end of
which time he and David O. Christopher
purchased the interest in his brother's store,
which was then conducted under the firm
name of Eikenberry & Christopher. This
relationship was maintained for five years.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
549
on the expiration of which time they sold
their interest, removing to Greenville in
1894, where they built a fine brick block,
which was totally destroyed by fire June 16,
1895. They immediately built in its place
a large and substantial brick block, 66x165
feet, and three stories in height, which is
known as the Mozart store. The three
floors and basement are all occupied by their
goods, thus securing to them thirty thou-
sand square feet of floor space. Their trade
has steadily increased and they have con-
stantly enlarged their facilities in order to
meet the growing demand. They now em-
ploy from twenty— five tn thirty-five persons,
and not only enjoy a large local patronage
but also ship their goods into all the coun-
ties in this part of the state. The stock is
varied and well selected, including every-
thing found in a first-class department store.
In 1885 occurred the marriage of Mr.
Eikenberry to Miss Alice Black, of .West
Alexandria, Ohio, a daughter of Joseph
Black. She was born and reared in Preble
county, and by her marriage has become the
mother of five children, three daughters and
two sons, namely : Joseph, Harley, Lorine,
Juneita and Heldred. The family occupy
an elegant residence, which is celebrated for
its hospitality. The members of the house-
hold occupy a very enviable position in social
circles, and have many friends in the com-
munity. Mr. Eikenberry belongs to the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and as
a citizen is public-spirited and progressive,
withholding his support from no measure
or movement which he believes will prove of
public good.
He is very practical in his business meth-
ods, svstematical and methodical, and at all
times is perfectly reliable in his business
transactions. For some years he lias de-
voted his entire time, and concentrated all
his energies, to the supervision of the active
details of his business, and his has been the
will to resolve, the understanding to direct
and the hand to execute all of the various
transactions. His worth as a man and citi-
zen is widely acknowledged and he has con-
tributed in a large measure to the commer-
cial prosperity of Greenville.
ISAAC F. DEARDOFF.
The subject of this genealogical record is
so well known throughout Darke county that
he needs no introduction to the readers of
this volume. He is the efficient township
trustee of Brown township, having held this
important office for the past two years. As
the name implies, Mr. Deardoff is of pure
German extraction in the agnatic line, and
individually he gives full indication of those
sterling traits which have made the Teu-
tonic race such a power in the economies oi
the world. He is a native of Warren county.
Ohio, having been born in the vicinity of
Franklin, July 17, 1837, being' the fourth in
order of birth of the four sons and one
daughter of John and Sarah ( Rush ) Dear-
doff, and being now the only survivor of the
family, though all of the children lived to
attain maturity. It is presumed that the fa-
ther was born in Xew Jersey, the date of
his nativity being August 23, 1804. and he
died October 6, 1861. He accompanied his
parents on the long and monotonous over-
land trip to the wilds of the western frontier,
their destination being Warren county,
where the Indians were far more in evidence
than the white settlers, who were just be-
ginning to open up the way for civilization.
The only pathway through the forest was
the Indian trail indicated by blazed tree-.
.-,:,! i
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and at this time a colony of people came in
company and all aided in erecting the prim-
itive log cabin home for each family in turn.
The father of our subject was a cabinet-
maker by trade and also a carpenter, and his
services were in ready requisition at all
times. He remained with his parents until
he attained his majority, beginning life on
his own responsibility as a poor man. but
strong in courage and in capacity for con-
secutive endeavor. His father showed his
wisdom by entering from the government
a large tract of land between Greenville and
Ansonia, and it was on this tract the family
located as pioneers of Darke county. The
father of our subject came to Greenville and
worked at his trade, and here he met and
married Miss Rush, after which he returned
with his wife to Warren county. In 1S40
he located permanently in Darke county and
here he resided until his death. He was a
man of great industry and unswerving in-
tegrity, being firm in his convictions and
having the courage to maintain them. He
was a Jacksonian Democrat, stanchly sup-
porting the principles of the party through-
out his life. He never aspired to official
preferment, but was a valued counselor in
matters of public polity in the community,
bing a strenuous advocate of the cause of
papular education and of all legitimate im-
provements in the locality. Mr. Deardoff,
of this sketch, has in his possession one of
the oldest family bibles the biographer has
thus far found in the county, the entries
dating back as far as 1828 and being made
with the old quill pen of the early day. This
volume is cherished as a valuable relic in the
family.
The mother of our subject was born
near Chillicothe, Pickaway county. Ohio,
March 1, 18 10, and she entered into- eternal
rest June 3, 1892. She accompanied her
parents to Darke county when a mere child,
ami the settlers erected palisades about the
primitive cabins for th protection of the
families from the depredations of the In-
dians. It is a matter of record that the
mother of our subject, when a small child,
was nearly enticed from her home by an In-
dian squaw, who made offers of bright orna-
ments to attract the child through the
palisade, but she was fortunately rescued
by old "Uncle Thomas" McGinnis, who
thwarted the plans of the would-be abductor.
Mrs. Deardoff was reared in the Baptist faith
and both she and her husband are sleeping
their last sleep in the Greenville cemetery,
where rest many others of the honored pio-
neers of the county.
Isaac F. Deardoff was about three years
of age when his parents removed to Darke
county, and here he has maintained his home
ever since, having received his education in
the common schools. His educational ad-
vantages were meager as compared with
those afforded the youth of to-day, but he
made the most of the few months which he
ci add devote to his school work each year,
and his natural predilection for study and
the reading of good literature has made him
a man of broad and exact information. So
often has the pioneer school, with its pun-
cheon floor, slab desk and benches and other
primitive equipments, been described in this
compilation that we deem it supererogatory
to more than mention the fact that our sub-
ject's first scholastic training was received
in one of these little log school houses. He re-
mained with his parents until his marriage,
which was solemnized on the 12th of No-
vember. 1865, when Miss Amanda F. Davi-
son became his wife. To them were born
three sons and three daughters, and in the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
551
succeeding paragraph we give a brief record
concerning the children, all of whom are
Jiving.
Hattie is a professional modiste and is
located in the city of Chicago, where she
conducts a successful business. She was
educated in the Greenville high school, after
which she learned the millinery and dress-
making business, in which she was engaged
for five years in Ansonia. Mary A. is the
wife of George Barron, of Dayton, Ohio,
and they have three sons, — Louis, Earl and
Roy. Robert J., a professional miller by
trade, is located at Arcanum, Ohio, and is
a young man of marked business ability.
He married Miss Ada Stafford. In politics
he is a Democrat and fraternally is identi-
fied with the I. O. O. F. Frank is at home
with his parents and takes special interest
in all details of the farm work, for which
he seems to have a natural inclination and
taste. He was educated in the Greenville
public schools, as were the other children,
being especiallv strong in mathematics and
penmanship. He is a member of Ansonia
Lodge, No. 605, I. O. O. F. Augustus has
shown a marked talent as a musician, hav-
ing prosecuted his studies in the Cincinnati
Musical College, and he intends to devote
himself to the musical art as his profession
in life. Nellie E., the youngest of the chil-
dren, is attending school and is making ex-
cellent progress in her studies.
Mrs. Deardoff was born in Richland
township, this county, December 16. 1841,
being the seventh of the eight children —
three sons and five daughters — born to Rob-
ert and Mary (Stratton) Davison, and four
of the children are yet living-. The full
genealogy of the Davison family is given in
the record of Oscar Davison, ex-treasurer
of Darke county, entered on other pages of
this work. Mrs. Deardoff spent her girl-
hood (lavs in Richland township, and, like
her husband, she attended the primitive
schools of the early days. Her father was
born April 8, 1798, and his death occurred
February 23, 1881. Her- mother was born
May 23, 1807. and died March 22, 1847,
having been a Quaker in her religious views.
Mr. Deardoff is a stanch Democrat in
his political allegiance, having cast his first
presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas.
He has served as delegate to county, congres-
sional and senatorial conventions of his party
and has been an active worker in the party
ranks. He was elected land appraiser in
1889 and in 1898 was chosen township trus-
tee of Brown township, which office he still
holds, administering its affairs to the satis-
faction of his constituents and ever aiming
to advance the general welfare of the county.
He is conscientious in everv action and his
honesty and integrity have never been
brought into question in any of the relations
of life. He has been a strong advocate of
the cause of education and has served as a
school official in his district and township.
Socially he is a member of Greenville Lodge,
No. 195. I. O. O. F.. in which he has passed
all the chairs, as has he also in the encamp-
ment of the order. Mrs. Deardoff is a mem-
ber of the adjunct organ:zation the Daugh-
ters of Rebekah, Lodge No. 396. at An-
sonia. Our subject and bis wife are kind,
benevolent and God-fearing people, believ-
ing in the golden rule as a guide in the walks
of life and being charitable and liberal in
their views and judgment. They have aided
in the erection of the Lutheran, the Meth-
odist and the Christian church edifices in this
township, realizing the value of all Chris-
tian work. Their estate comprises eighty
acres of good land, well adapted to the cul-
552
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tivation of the cereals and other products
raised in this locality, and the family are held
in the hierhest esteem by all who know them.
MRS. AXXA W. STAHL.
The fair ladies of our state and nation
play a most conspicuous part in the true
record which makes the aggregate of our
history, and they are becoming an important
factor in all avenues of business and pro-
fessional life. The lady whose name ini-
tiates this review comes from one of the
well-known and highly honored families of
Richland township, and she conducts her
own estate with thorough business acumen.
Mrs. Stahl was born in Dearborn county,
Indiana, near Dillsborough, on the 29th of
July, i860, being the fourth in order of birth
of the six children of Andrew and Mary
( Whiteford) Whiteford. Of the three sons
and three daughters the only survivors are
Mrs. Stahl and her younger brother, James
C, who is a commercial traveler for the
Piano Manufacturing Company, having his
territorial assignment in the state of Ohio.
He was educated in the common schools and
in the public schools at Gettysburg, being a
young man of fine mind and exemplary hab-
its and standing high in the estimation of
all who know him. He is honorable and in-
dustrious, and has business faculties of a
high order. Socially he is a member of the
Knights of Pythias Lodge, at Greenville,
this county, and he is a devoted member of
the Presbyterian church in that place.
Andrew Whiteford, father of Mrs. Stahl,
was born near the famed old city of Glas-
gow. Scotland, and in the land of heather
and shaggy wood he remained until he had
attained hs legal majority. He wedded his
bonnie lassie in his native land, and, leaving
her to the tender care of those near and dear,
bade farewell to his native land and came
across the Atlantic to lay the foundation of
his fortunes in America. He sailed from
Liverpool in a sailing vessel, and the voy-
age was of seven weeks' duration. He came
direct to Aurora, Indiana, where he was a
stranger in a strange land and among strange
people, being fortified with but little of this
world's goods. He remained here about one
year, as a wage earner in a saw-mill, and
then sent for his wife, who came across the
ocean in a steamer and joined her husband.
They began as renters and it was about
1870 that they came to Greenville township,
this county, where they rented land. The
first purchase of land was the present estate
of ninety acres, in Richland township, and
here they settled and lived until the death
of Mr. Whiteford, October 2$, 1893. The
first home erected was a primitive log cabin,
and at this time there were few improve-
ments to be found in the county. There
was not a mile of pike road, and quite a
number of the railroads were built after
they emigrated to Darke count}'.
The devoted mother of our subject died
September 7, 1877, in Brown township.
Both she and her husband were strict Pres-
byterians in their religious belief, and Mr.
Whiteford aided financially in erecting the
beautiful brick church in Greenville, and all
benevolences were sure of the hearty interest
and support of this worthy man and his
gentle wife. Mr. Whiteford was a man
who stood firm in all his convictions, was
animated by the most inflexible integrity,
and his word was as good as his bond. He
and his wife lived lives that were exemplary
in character, and this is a rich and valued
heritage to hand down to their children —
far better than riches and gold. In politics
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Out>
Mr. Whiteford was a standi Republican,
and always upheld the orinciples of his party.
The parents of our subject sleep their last
sleep in the beautiful cemetery at Greenville,
and their resting place is indicated by a beau-
tiful stone which was there erected by their
children and which stands sacred to their
memory.
Mrs. Stahl was reared in her native state
of Indiana till she was a maiden of ten sum-
mers, having spent about three years in the
schools there. The major part of her edu-
cation, however, was received in the Anso-
nia public schools, of which she was one of
the first graduates, being a member of the
class of 1877. She passed the teachers' ex-
amination, after which she devpted herself
to pedagogic work for two years in the An-
snnia schools. She was successful in her
work, but at this time her dear mother
died, and she relinquished all her previous
plans, giving up her chosen profession, In
come home and act as her father's compan-
ion and housekeeper. She made his last
years as pleasant as she could, ably fulfill-
ing her filial mission. She is possessed cf
that kind and affectionate nature which al-
ways wins lasting friendships, and the poor
and needy never need go empty-handed
from her door.
The marriage of our subject to H. J.
Stahl was celebrated May 4, 1893, and one
little son graces this union, Whiteford J.,
who was born October 19, 1894, the sunbeam
of his mother's home. Mr. Stahl was born
in Adams township, Darke county. January
7. 1853, and was reared and educated here.
His lineage traces back to German extrac-
tion, being of the old Pennsylvania stock.
He was successful in life, and all he had
was accumulated through his own industry
and careful methods. He was held in the
highest esteem by the citizens of Darke
county, living a noble and upright life, well
worthy of emulation. He was first mar-
ried to Miss Lottie Long, who bore him one
son, Walter E., who is a young man of high
standing in Richland township. He re-
sides with his stepmother, and their mutual
love and devotion could scarcely be greater
were they, indeed, mother and son. He
is a young man of marked intellectuality,
being a fine mathematician, and he is bound
to make for himself a place of honor and
usefulness in connection with the active du-
ties of life. Mrs. Lottie ( Long) Stahl died
February 13. 1891, when her son was a lad
of twelve years. She was a member of the
Christian church at Beamsville, and was a
representative of one of the pioneer fami-
lies of the count}-.
Air. Stahl had two brothers in the civil
war, and one died from wounds received in
the battle of Chattanooga. He was buried
on the battlefield. Mr. Stahl was a Repub-
lican in politics, and his first presidential
vote was cast for Rutherford B. Hayes, in
the centennial year. He was an ardent sup-
porter of his part}-, and locally his influence
was always cast on the side of all that made
for the general welfare and the advance-
ment of the interests of his fellow men. He
was a stanch friend of the cause of educa-
tion, and he served effectively as a director
of the home schools. His life was as an
open volume to the people of the commu-
nity, and his memory is held in lasting In im >r
by all who knew him. He believed in the
Golden Rule, and lived to it day by day, and
his daily admonitions to his children were
ever creditable to him as a father. His
was a pure and noble life, and the death of
such a man leaves a void which cannot be
filled. Mr. Stahl was summoned into eter-
554
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
nal rest November 20, 1898. loved and es-
teemed by all, and his widow now resides
on her estate with her loving children. The
sacred memory of the husband and father
will ever cling about the home. We are
pleased to perpetuate this brief record of
Mrs. Stahl and her family in this genealog-
ical history of Darke count}-, and in all the
days to come such a compilation will have a
place of distinct and unmistakable value.
MRS. SAMUEL BAILEY.
Mrs. Bailey is a native of Darke county,
Ohio, where she was born on the 2n\ of Oc-
tober, 1852, being the second in order of
birth of the eight children of Moses and
Hannah D. (Mendenhall) Teegarden. Of
the four sons and four daughters only two
are now living — Mrs. Bailey, the immediate
subject of this review, and her brother,
William W. Teegarden, who is a promi-
nent attorney of Greenville, this county.
Moses Teegarden was a representative
of one of the pioneer families of Darke
county, and here his birth occurred on the
9th of December, 1827. He died in the
prime of his useful manhood, his demise
having taken place on May 19, 1875. He
was educated in the common schools of his
native county and was reared under the in-
vigorating discipline of the pioneer farm,
devoting bis attention to agricultural pur-
suits until the end of his life. He was a
man who gained and retained the uniform
respect and confidence of all who knew him.
In the paternal line he was of Holland Dutch
lineage, as the name indicates. He com-
menced his life work with only his phvsical
strength, his industrious habits and his up-
right character as stock in trade, but this
proved adequate capital, and success at-
tended his earnest and well directed efforts.
His life's labors ended, he left to those near
ami dear to him the priceless heritage of a
good name — a name significant of good
thoughts and kindly deeds. In his political
proclivities Mr. Teegarden was a stanch
Democrat, being a great admirer of Andrew
Jackson. He was endowed with a strong
mentality, and through his personal appli-
cation and his contact with men had gained a
broad fund of information, and was known
as a man of discrimination and sound judg
inent. He was a devoted member of the
Christian church, and was one of the found-
ers of what is known as the Teegarden
church. It was through the efforts of his
father that the cemetery was laid out in this
township (Brown), and the land for the
same was donated by this honored pioneer,
William Teegarden, for whom also the
church above mentioned received its title.
Moses Teegarden was truly a God-fear-
ing man, was imbued with those deep re-
ligious convictions and principles which in-
dicate the true Christian gentleman, and he
was, indeed, one of the pillars of the church.
He presided many times as the preacher in
this vicinity, being regularly ordained as a
minister of the Eastern Indiana conference,
and was well known for his wisdom, integ-
rity of purpose and deep piety. He was al-
ways known as the friend of the poor and
distressed, never turning the needy empty-
handed from his door.
Hannah D. Mendenhall, who became the
wife of Moses Teegarden, was a native of
Preble county, Ohio, where she was born
March 8, 183 1, and her death occurred on
the 5th of November, 1863. She was a
woman of gentle character and deep religious
convictions, and the careful and conscien-
tious training which she gave to her chil-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
555
dren had a perpetual influence upon their
lives, anil will ever be held in fond and grate-
ful remembrance by the two who survive.
Mr. and Airs. Teegarden are both interred
in the cemetery which bears their name, and
they will be long remembered in the com-
munity where they lived and labored to
goodly ends, their lives being consecrated
to all that was true and beautiful.
Mrs. Bailey, the immediate subject of
this sketch, was reared and educated in this
county, and here she was for some time en-
gaged in teaching, meeting with success in
her pedagogic work. On the 19th of
March, 1873, she was united in marriage to
Samuel Bailey, and of this union three sons
and three daughters were born, three of the
number surviving, namely : Oliver Clin-
ton, who is a successful farmer of Green-
ville township, married Miss Sadie Puter-
baugh ; Tracey Lerton is at home, having
passed the Boxwell examination, which en-
titles him to admission to any high school in
the county; and Cora Ethel, who is at home,
and who has likewise passed the examina-
tion mentioned.
Samuel Bailey is a native of Darke
county, where he was born February 8,
1847, a son of Henry and Nancy ( Runyon)
Bailey, who were the parents of five sons
and four daughters. The father died in July,
1876, having been an honored and success-
ful farmer of the county. His venerable
widow, who was born in the state of Ken-
tucky, is now eighty-three years of age.
•Samuel Bailey was reared to agricultural
pursuits and has always devoted his atten-
tion to this basic line of industry. In poli-
tics he is a Republican, having cast his first
presidential vote for General Grant. As
a man and as a representative of one of the
1 >ld pioneer families of the county, he is held
in the highest esteem, both he and his wife
having a distinctive popularity in the social
circles of this community, where practically
their entire lives have been passed. They
are charter members of the Christian church
at Woodington, Ohio, and are active and
zealous workers in the same.
HEXRY A. CLAWSON.
As a representative and influential farmer
of Brown township, and as a scion of one
of the old and honored pioneer families of
Darke county, it is certainly incumbent that
we accord a brief review of the life of that
well-known gentleman whose name initiates
this paragraph. Mr. Clawson traces his an-
cestry back to English origin, but he him-
self is a native son of the township in which
he now lives, having been born on the old
homestead which he now owns and occupies.
The date of his nativity was January 5,
1862, he being the only child born to Aaron
and Rachel (Fisher-Cole) Clawson. His
father was a native of New Jersey, where
he was born in 1813, and he was but a child
of two and one-half years when he accom-
panied his parents on their removal to the far
west, as Ohio was then considered. Butler
county was their destination, and the family
figured as pioneers of the state, which they
enriched by their example and earnest
efforts. Aaron Clawson remained in Butler
county until his marriage, when he came to
Washington township, Darke county, and
later came to Brown township, where he con-
tinued to make his home until death released
him from the labors of this world. He was
reared to agricultural pursuits on the frontier
farm, receiving such educational advantages
-556
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
as were afforded in the common schools of
the day. and lie ever gave his attention to the
great basic art of agriculture. He started out
for himself without capital or influential
friends, but through his well directed efforts
and his sterling integrity in all the relations
of life he won his way unaided to a success
which was worthy of the name. At the in-
ception of his individual career as a farmer it
is recalled that he even manufactured his own
harness and other necessary equipments, this
economy being enforced by his lack of means.
He was a careful and hard-working man,
strictly honorable and upright and one who
held the respect and confidence of all with
whom he came in contact. At one time he
was the owner of one hundred and sixty
acres of land in Brown township, this
county.
Mr. Clawson was a stanch Republican in
politics, and he cast the first abolition vote in
Washington township. He was firm in his
beliefs and convictions and was not afraid to
express himself upon questions of import-
ance. In the later years of his life he fully
endorsed the principles of the Prohibition
party and was a strong advocate of temper-
ance in every detail. He was a devoted and
consistent member of the Christian church,
holding membership in what was known as
the Teegarden church, of which he was one
of the founders, aiding materially in the
erection of the first church edifice here. In all
questions pertaining to morality and religion
he stood firm, a tower of impregnable
strength in the community. This hon-
ored pioneer passed to his eternal rest
March 31, 1888, secure in the esteem and
veneration of the community where he had
lived and labored to so good purpose.
The mother of Henry A. Clawson, the
immediate subject of this sketch, was born in
Darke county, August 2, 1821, and she died
March 13, 1895, at the residence of her son,
on the old homestead, so hallowed to her by
the associations of years. Her life was gen-
tle and was filled with kind words and deeds
so that her place was secure in the love and
esteem of all.
Henry A. Clawson was reared to agri-
cultural pursuits upon the old homestead
where he now resides, his educational dis-
cipline being received in the common schools
and effectually supplemented by discriminat-
ing reading and association with men in the
practical affairs of life. On the i6tli of May-,
[886, he was united in marriage to Alice
A. Dunham, and to them two sons and three
daughters were born, of whom three are
living: Mary O., a very bright and studious
little maiden is now in the seventh grade in
her studies; James G. Blaine Clawson has
reached the third grade in his school work;
and Esther Rachel, the baby of the family,
lends joy and brightness to the home circle.
The parents are firm believers in the work of
education and will give to their children
the best possible advantages in this line.
Mrs. Clawson was born in Darke county
on the 27th of February, 1858. the daughter
of Henry and Sarah Jane (Martin) Dun-
ham, who were the parents of two suns and
two daughters, of whom the only survivors
are Mrs. Clawson and her brother, John H.,
who is well known as Colonel Dunham, of
Greenville, this county, being an agriculturist
and tobacconist by occupation. He wedded
Miss May C. Mendenhall. Mrs. Clawson's
father was a native of Darke county, and
here he died at the age of thirty years. Her
great-grandmother was a native of bonnie
Scotland, and Mrs. Clawson is able to recall
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
557
her venerable relative, the cheery old Scotch
lady. Mrs. Clawson's mother was likewise
a native of Darke county, and she died Feb-
ruary 13, 1886 aged fifty-two years. Mrs.
Clawson has been reared and educated in this
county, and she has gained the love and high
regard of all, through her true womanly
character and generous and kindly disposi-
tion.
In connection with his farming Mr.
Clawson has become deeply interested in the
breeding of fine short-horn cattle, and to this
branch of his industry he expects to devote
careful attention and to conduct extensive
operations as the years go by. He has at the
present time nine head of the fine-bred short-
horn stock, and a portion of the herd are reg-
istered, as will the remainder be in due time.
Mr. Clawson keeps well posted on the topics
pertaining to the breeding' of stock, and he is
a patron of the best literature of the day in
this and general lines. In politics he gives an
unwavering support to the Republican party,
his first presidential vote having been cast
for James G. Blaine. He has been chosen
as a delegate to county conventions of his
party. He lends a ready support to the
causes of education and religion and to all
other good works which tend to elevate the
community. He gave substantial aid in the
erection of the Christian church at Wood-
ington, of which Mrs. Clawson is a devoted
member. The fine homestead of our subject
comprises seventy acres, excellently improved
and located in Brown township. Mr. and
Mrs. Clawson are classed among our leading
citizens and for this reason, as well as for
their being representatives of honored pio-
neer families of the county, they are clearly
entitled to consideration in this compilation.
DANIEL MILLER.
Daniel Miller, who follows farming on
section 25. Harrison township, is a highly
respected farmer, whose life has been quietly
and unostentatiously passed, yet contains fea-
tures that may well be emulated, for in all re-
lations he has been found true to his duty to
his neighbors, his family and his country.
He was born near West Alexandria, Pre-
bie county, November 19, 1829, and in Au-
gust, 1 83 1, was brought by his parents to the
farm upon which he now resides. His fa-
ther. George Miller, was born in Fayette
count}', Pennsylvania, about 1793, and died
in Xew Madison, Ohio, in 1872, having lo-
cated there the previous year. John Miller,
the grandfather, was a well-to-do farmer of
I ennsylvania, anil reared five children, in-
cluding George Miller, who spent almost his
entire life in the Buckeye state. Having ar-
rived at years of maturity he married Eliza-
beth Cunningham, who was born in Ireland
and during her girlhood was taken to Penn-
sylvania. By her marriage she became the
mother of eleven children, one of whom,
Nancy, died at the age of two years. Seven
sens and three daughters reached adult age :
Mrs. Anna Adams, a widow now living in
Kansas at the age of eighty-three years;
Mary, the wife of Washington Ulam,
a farmer living near Winchester, Indiana;
William, a farmer of Harrison township,
who died at the age of seventy-eight years,
leaving three children ; John, who died in the
prime of life on his farm in Indiana, leaving
five children ; Robert, who died in New Mad-
ison, in his sixtieth year, leaving four sons;
Elizabeth, the wife of John Ray, who died
ai the age of seventy-three, leaving four
558
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
daughters, while four died in infancy;
George, who died at the age of twenty-seven
years ; David, who died at the age of twenty-
four ; Samuel, who died in Harrison township
about 1893, leaving three sons and a daugh-
ter ; and Daniel, of this review. The mother
passed away about 1852, and the father after-
ward married Mrs. Hannah Gray, nee Wor-
thington. She was the mother of five
children, including I. P. Gray, a prominent
statesman of Indiana, who served as minister
to Mexico. The father of our subject was
reared and married in West Virginia, and
after the birth of the greater part of his chil-
dren came to Ohio, where in 1830 he pre-
empted eighty acres of land, taking up his
abode thereon in August, 1831. Not a fur-
row had been turned, a tree cut or an im-
provement made upon the farm. He se-
cured his land from the government for a
dollar and a quarter per acre and subse-
quently he made other purchases until he was
the owner of a valuable tract of two hun-
dred and twenty acres, together with a house
and lot in New Madison. He also hail a
g 1 hank account and was one of the sub-
stantial residents of the community.
Daniel Miller was reared upon a large
farm and early took his place in the forest
with an ax, aiding in clearing away the trees
and preparing the land for the plow. He
attended school for two or three months
each year in a little frame building, sup-
plied with puncheon seats. The writing
desk was formed of rough boards laid upon
wooden pegs driven into large auger holes
bored into the wall. To his father he gave
the benefit of his services until his marriage,
which occurred October 15. 1871. Miss Re-
becca Lawrence becoming his wife. Their
acquaintance had continued from childhood,
for they were reared on adjoining farms.
Mrs. Miller was born October 6, 1829, a
daughter of Rial and Minerva (Braffet)
Lawrence. ■ Her father was a native of
Pennsylvania, and at an early epoch in the
pioneer history of Darke county came to
Ohio, locating near the home of C. C. Walk-
er. At his death, which occurred May 7,
1885, tne following obituary appeared in one
of the local papers : "Death has claimed an-
other of the pioneer citizens of Yankeetown.
On the 7th instant died Rial Lawrence, in
the eighty-fourth year of his life. He was-
born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, on
January 19. 1802. and in 1825 was married
to Minerva Braffet. They lived together
sixty years and had six children, who with
their mother survive him." Now, in 1900.
the children are all living, but the venerable
mother passed away at their home in Jan-
uary, 1899. at the advanced age of ninety-
two years. Mr. Lawrence was an indus-
trious and economical husbandman, a good
manager and a square man in his business
dealings, his word being as good as his bond.
His remains were interred in the new ceme-
tery at Madison, by the side of those of his
wife.
Mr. Miller is the owner of three hundred
and twenty-two acres of valuable land, lying
in Harrison and Butler townships. He pur-
chased one hundred and forty-six acres of
land of his father, and the farm includes
ninety acres of good timber land. He car-
ries on general farming and stock-raising,
making a specialty of short-horn cattle and
fine sheep, having from fifty to a hundred
head of the latter upon his farm most of the
time. His well-tilled fields yield to him
good returns, and he raises annually from
two to three thousand bushels of corn and
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
559
about fourteen hundred bushels of wheat.
He sowed fifty acres of wheat in the fall of
1899. and for the first time in years the crop
proved a total failure. He feeds all of his
corn to his stock, and in addition to his cat-
tit and sheep he raises about one hundred
head of hog's annually. His place is one of
the best improved in this part of the county.
In iSS_> he built a large red wagon house,
and the foil iwing year an immense barn, 42X
72 feet, with an L .32x42 feet. There is a
good two-story residence upon 'the place,
which was erected in 1886. He has never
moved but once, and that was when he left
the old home for the new. The old frame
house, however, erected by his father, in
1842, is still standing, but in 1886 he tore
down the log cabin which had been built in
early days of round logs with a mud-and-
stick chimney. He is very thorough, sys-
tematic and methodical in his work, and is
at the same time progressive and enterpris-
ing. His land is divided into fields of con-
venient size by well kept fences. The place
is well drained and everything upon the farm
is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating
the careful supervison of the owner. Both
Mr. and Airs. Miller are widely known in
Darke county, and enjoy the warm friend-
ship 1 d" a large circle of acquaintances, and
their many excellencies of character have
gained them high regard and esteem, and
it is with pleasure that we present to our
readers their life record:
FRANZISKUS M. KATZENBERGER.
In the formation of the American nation
the German element has been an important
one. The qualities of earnestness, stability
and perseverance characteristic of the people
of the fatherland have contributed in no
34
small degree to the substantial building of
American character and among the best cit-
izens of the Republic are many of German
birth or of German descent.
As the name indicates, Franziskus Mathi-
as Katzenberger is of German lineage. He
traces his ancestry back to Franz Jacob Kat-
zenberger. who was born at Etlingen, in the
grand duchy of Baden, Germany, and died at
Rastatt, January 10, 1788. He was rathsver-
wander and hof-metzger. He married Ma-
rianna Stroh, of Baden Baden, and died in
Rastatt, January 15, 1783. They had four
children : Katharina ; Marianna, who married
a Mr. Rammelmaier and died October 8,
1 793 ; Franz Jacob ; Franziska, who was born
in 1766 and died March 15, 1816. She mar-
ried Johann Frank.
Franz Jacob Katzenberger, the second of
the name, was born at Rastatt, in 1752, and
died December 27, 1830, at the age of seven-
ty-eight. He engaged in the butchering
business in his native town. His wife,
Franziska Frank, whose family owned the
Hotel Krone, was born in 1756 and died on
the 29th or 30th of April, 1826. She was a
sister of Dr. Johann Peter Frank, born at
Rastatt. Baden, March 19, 1745. He was a
professor at Goettingen and Vienna, and was
physician to Czar Alexander I. He died in
1 82 1, at the age of seventy-six. Franz Ja-
cob and Franzisca Katzenberger had six
children : Margaretha, who was born Oc-
tober 11, 1779, was married September 10,
1800, to Franz Joseph Witschger ; Franzisca,
born March 31, 1783, died December 23,
182 1. She was married October 26, 1804,
to Franz Haver Maier, of Baden Baden, who
was born November 29, 1777, and died July
8,1831. She was his second wife. Joseph
Calasanz was the third of the family. Ma-
rianna, who was born May 21, 1791, and
5(50
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
died February 27, 181 5, was married Jan-
uary 9, 1809, to Joseph Vogel, who was
born in 1781, and died February 25, 1815.
Magdalena, born August 17, 1795, died Feb-
ruary 27, 1849. She was the third wife of
Franz Haver Maier, their marriage taking
place June 17, 1822. Katrina, the youngest
of the family, died September 15, 1846, at
Achern, at the age of forty-nine.
Joseph Calasanz, son of Franz Jacob and
Franzisca Katzenberger, was born August
27, 1788, and died December 12, 1852. In
early life he was a butcher, and later became
the proprietor, of the Hotel Zum Goldenen
Schwan. His third wife was Margaretha
Becker, of Sulzbach, who was born in 1798,
and died May 16, 1871. Her grandmothers
were both born in 1751, and both reached
the age of eighty-eight years. Her mother
died at the age of seventy-five. Joseph Cal-
asanz Katzenberger and his wife are buried
in the cemetery at Rastatt. They had eleven
children. Mariana Franzisca, born Febru-
ary 20, 1 82 1, died March 9, 1821. Maria
Josephine, born June 20, 1822, died Decem-
ber 12, 1888. Maria Louisa, born February
10, 1824, died April 3, 1858. She was the
wife of Herman Grosholz, a merchant of
Baden Baden, and they were the parents of
two children, namely: Hermann, who was
born June 28, 1854, and died March 28,
1893, married Juka Peter, who was born
April 19, 1859, and their children are Gre-
tha, who was born in Baden Baden, April
24, 1885; Toni born April 13, 1887; and
Hertha, born September 20, 1892; and
Louisa, the younger child of Mr. and Mrs.
Grosholz, who was born at Baden Baden,
December 5, 1856. She is the wife of En-
glehard Spitz, who was born February 5,
1844. Their children are: Albert, who
was born at Freiburg, Baden, December 2,
1883; and Ernst, bom November 1, 1887,
and died May 31, 1894.
Franziskus Mathias Katzenberger, the
fourth in the line of descent, and the imme-
diate subject of this sketch, was born Tues-
day, October 4, 1825, in Morgens Uhr im
Zeichen des Krebs. He spent the days of
his boyhood and youth in his native land, and
in March, 1847, when twenty-one years of
age, crossed the Atlantic to the new world.
He took passage on the sailing vessel Arago,
which weighed anchor in the harbor of
Havre, and reached New York after a voy-
age of twenty-one days. Two or three days
later he went to Bucks county, Pennsylva-
nia, where he worked in a boarding school
for fourteen months, and then went to Phil-
adelphia, where he was employed in various
ways that would yield him an honorable liv-
ing. After he had spent three years in
America he came with his brothers, who
had followed him to this land, to Ohio, and
took up his abode upon a farm of fifty acres
near Greenville. He began business in
Union City, and was there married in 1853.
Two years afterward he removed to a farm
near Pikesville, belonging to his wife's fa-
ther, and later took up his abode upon his
present farm three miles west of Greenville,
where he now owns two hundred and twenty-
five acres of valuable land.
On the 7th of November, 1853, Mr. Kat-
zenberger was united in marriage, by Squire
Jones, to Maria Magdalena Mergler, who
was born Thursday, March 23. 1837. Her
father, Andrew Mergler, was born at Gern-
sheim on the Rhine in Hesse Darmstadt,
Germany, December 18, 1807, and died Feb-
ruary 21, 1877. His wife, Catherine Mar-
garetha Herberger, was born in Langenkan-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
561
del, Rhenish Bavaria, Germany, February 7,
1818, and died July 23, 1894. Mr. and Mrs.
Katzenberger are the parents of nine chil-
dren, eight of whom are living: Joseph
Andrew, born Sunday, July 9, 1854, was
married November 23, 1882, by Rev. C. W.
Hoeffer, to Mary Elizabeth Wolf, who was
born near west Baltimore, Preble county,
Ohio, July 11, 1863, a daughter of Jacob
Wolf, who died September n, 1889, at the
age of fifty-eight years. Her mother,
■Christina Paulus Wolf, was born August 11,
1829. The children of Joseph Andrew and
Elizabeth Katzenberger are : Charles Al-
pha, born September 15, 1880; Clara Cla-
dola, born April 15, 1884; Etta May, born
March 30, 1886; and Karl Leopold, born
August 11, 1889. Catherine Margarethe,
the second child of the family, was born
March 16. 1856.
Josephine, born October 8, 1857, was
married January 13, 1880, by the Rev. C. W.
Hoeffer, to Nathan Little DuBois, who was
born February 28, 1845, the eldest son of
Norman and Hannah (Vankirk) DuBois;
the former, born in 1814, died July 26, 1883,
and the latter, born February 18, 1818, died
April 17, 1894. On the 22d of June, 1869,
Nathan DuBois married Lucinda Jane Her-
shey, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Her-
shey, and her death occurred March 1, 1878.
By that marriage four children were born :
Clara, who was born April 3, 1871, was mar-
ried December 20, 1893, by Rev. C. W.
Hoeffer, to George Smith, who was born
May 23, 1870, a son of Martin and Lydia
(Wagner) Smith, and they have a little
daughter, Lottie, born July 23, 1896; John
Harrison, a resident of Montezuma, Iowa,
was born March 22, 1873, and was married
June 16. 1896, to Harriet Elizabeth War-
ren, who was born October 2, 1874, a daugh-
ter of Charles F. and Mary E. (Hayne)
Warren. Mr. and Mrs. DuBois have one
son, Nathan Warren, born July 13, 1900.
Jennie Clyde, the third child, was born De-
cember 25, 1874, and was married Novem-
ber 28, 1894, to Charles E. Furrow. They
reside in Picpia, Ohio, and have a little
daughter, Benrxe Mure, born January 21,
1899. Hannah Bell, the youngest child of
the first marriage, was born October 2, 1876.
The children of Nathan and Josephine
DuBois are : Charles Otho, born Septem-
ber 27, 1880; Bessie Mabel, born January 4,
1882 ; Lucinda, born January 31, 1883 ; Ben-
jamin Stanley, born August 27, 1886;
Maude Moiselle. born December 5, 1891 ;
and George Dewey, born June 27, 1898.
Mary, the fourth child of Mr. and Mrs.
F. M. Katzenberger, was born February 23,
1859, and was married November 27, 1878,
by Rev. C. W. Hoeffer, to George Carlisle,
a son of Norman and Hannah DuBois, born
in Warren county, October 3, 1851. Their
children are : Frank Mergler, born No-
vember 29, 1879; Dorsey Darke, born March
13, 1882; Arlie Elizabeth, born November
27. 1884; Hattie Emily, born December 21,
1888; Helen, born September 15, 1894; and
Harold, born July 6, 1861.
Frances Isabelle, the next member of the
family, is mentioned on another page of this
volume.
Charles Leopold, born April 21, 1865,
died July 17, 1871, and Elizabeth Anna was
Lorn August 30, 1867.
Emily, born June 9, 1869, was married
August 17, 1887, by the Rev. C. W. Hoeffer,
to Henry Louis Lott, who was born April
24, 1 86 1 a son of Louis B. and Matilda E.
(Wintermote) Lott, the former born Sep-
tember 1, 1825, the latter May 23, 1838.
The father died March 7, 1889.
5G2
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
' Frank Mathias Katzenberger, Jr.. born
October 12, 1872, was married March 9,
1893. by the Rev. Henry Louis Lott, to
Cora Mills, who was born October 17, 1873,
a daughter of George and Fryannah (Bar-
tow ) Mills, the former born March 18,
1847, the latter March 27, 1850. Mr. and
Mrs. Katzenberger, Jr., have one little child,
Nellie Iona.born April 8, 1894.
The personal characteristics and qualities
of F. M. Katzenberger, whose name heads
this sketch, are such as have endeared him
to his family and gained him many friends.
He had the advantages of an excellent edu-
cation in his youth, and has always been of a
studious nature. He is what might be
termed an omnivorous reader, his field of
reading embracing various subjects, history,
science, fiction — everything from a light na-
ture to the most solid. His aim is to gain
infonnatii m, and he has a mind well stored
with knowledge gained from varied sources.
He never leaves home, but is of a most hos-
pitable nature, and is never happier than
when entertaining company at his own fire-
side. Of strong domestic tastes, he regards
no effort or sacrifice too great on his part if
it will enhance the happiness or promote the
welfare of his wife and children. He is a
man of peaceable nature, and probably has
nnt a single enemy. His wife is of a very
practical nature and has thus been an excel-
lent supplement to her husband's life and
character. In the care of her children she
was most wise. She endeavored to instill
into their minds lessons of right and then
allowed them largely to plan their own ca-
reer, trusting that her precepts and example
would duly influence them, and the family
is one of which she has every reason to be
proud. Her self-sacrifice in raising her
family amounted to the heroic and in the
management of her children and less prac-
tical husband her skill could not well be sur-
passed. In appearance she was as youth-
ful as when in her maidenhood until a few
years ago, when she was thrown from her
carriage, which accident impaired her
health. She still possesses her old-time en-
ergy, however, although she is sixty-two
years of age. Mr. Katzenberger has
reached the age of seventy-five, and has
never known illness. Surrounded by every
comfort of life, they are enjoying a well-
earned rest, and their daughter, Elizabeth,
devotes her time to the care of the old home
and of her parents. The name of Katzen-
berger is an honored one in Darke county,
and this volume would be incomplete with-
out the family record.
FRANCES I. KATZENBERGER.
Miss Frances Isabelle Katzenberger, the
fifth child and fourth daughter of F. M. and
Mary Magdelene Katzenberger, was born
near Pikeville, Darke county, Ohio, July 6,
1861. Her paternal ancestors resided for
several centuries in western Germany, amid
the pine-clad Black Forest mountains famed
for legend and beauty. Her maternal an-
cestors came from the region of. the Rhine
further northwest. For further information
of her ancestral history the reader is referred
to the biographies of her father and Uncle
Charles, which appear elsewhere in this vol-
ume. Amid pastoral scenes the girlhood of
Miss Katzenberger was passed, and from the
influence of a rural environment bent was
given to the characteristics of mind that
have, in a marked degree, dominated her so-
cial and literary career. By the time she
had reached her "teens" her mental develop-
ment had clearly presaged the course in life
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
563
■she would take; and as the river flows in the
course marked by its confining lines of em-
hankment so has her life sped its course
al'ing- a groove channeled by unseen forces,
which, while directing, enkindled as well an
enthusiasm whose constantly glowing flame
has unbrokenly fed the fires that have ener-
gized her to the performance of tasks that
might well appall a heart less stout.
The condit'ons under which her early
mental training was acquired were not such
as would generally be conceded advantageous
to a literary career. The country schools
afforded the only privilege she enjoyed dur-
ing girlhood days for obtaining an educa-
tion. Books were her delight. During the
formation period of her characteristic mental
traits she read with avidity whatever came
into her hands, and so great was her
passion for reading she did not hesitate
to shirk doing tasks imposed by her
mother, that thereby might be gratified
the ruling passion of her life. Her favorite
hiding place at such times was among the
dense branches of a willow tree which over-
hung the spring house, or in the hay mow,
where she would lie with her bonk. While
yet quite young bits of writing, both of prose
and poetry, fell from her pen. These were
of a miscellaneous character and often quite
good, indicating well the trend of her mind
t > literary pursuits. The originality in
thought of those early emanations from her
pen, and their varied styles of construction
may be regarded as resulting from the per-
fect freedom she enjoyed in the exercise of
her mental faculties. She was never ham-
pered by an enforced cultivation of style for
artistic effect. She thought and wrote as
one who had something to say. and who re-
quired no rule either to conceive or express
il. The beauty of utterance is in simplicity,
not in stilted rhetorical phrases, and therein
lies not one of the least charms of all her
writings; As her mental horizon expanded
she became cognizant of the disadvantages
resulting from a limited education, and to
improve her educational equipment she en-
tered the National Normal University of
Lebanon. Ohio, in January, 1893, taking the
literary course. By vigorous work she
quickly acquired a comprehensive knowledge
of those branches 6f learning indispensably
necessary to one engaged in literary work.
It was while at college she conceived the idea
Of writing her first work, "He Would Have
Me Be Brave," a half of which was written
during her brief collegiate career. The
manuscript was completed early in 1895, and
in July of that year it was issued. The story
sprang into immediate favor, not only among
her friends and acquaintances, but also with
the reading public generally. Flattering no-
tices in local papers were excelled by press
reviews in larger cities.
It is a well-conceived tale, pleasingly
written. Her character delineations are por-
trayed in a manner true to life, and in no
single instance does she introduce exagger-
ated Or even improbable conditions. It is
achievement of the possible by man that fur-
nishes the incentive to fire other men's hearts
with similar aims and purposes; and to re-
count in books that which will not admit of
practical accomplishment serves no purpose
other than to pervert the minds of those who
■read them. The wholesomeness of a book
consists in the moral and spiritual influence
it imparts to its readers. The mind that is
fed by the impracticable is soon diverted into
eddying channels on whose surface swirls the
wrecked plans of minds whose concepts were
5(34
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
too often formed by reading the exaggerated
dreams of absurd fiction.
Her second work, "The Three Verdicts,"
is also charmingly written — a well-told tale
depicting first the verdict of the world, sec-
ond of the jury and, last, the verdict which
awaits us all in the world to come. Through-
out both these works the author's concep-
tions are not only healthfully moral, but they
breathe a spirit of practical Christianity.
Encouraged by her friends, Miss Katzen-
berger dramatized "He Would Have Me Be
Brave," and it was successfully played in
Greenv'lle by local talent upon two occa-
sions to appreciative audiences. Miss Kat-
zenberger's poem, "Westward, Ho," deals
with the stirring scenes of pioneer life, and
was read by the author at Greenville upon
the occasion of celebrating the one hun-
dredth anniversary of Wayne's treaty with
the Indians. While it is not written in the
conventional style of poems of its class^ there
is in it a charm of thought and expression
most pleasing to the reader, and some of her
friends maintain it displays more merit and
strength than her first work.
In closing this sketch it may be noted
that Miss Katzenberger's life has been one
of incessant toil, and for the attainable she
has striven with pluck and zeal, allowing no
adverse circumstances orconditions to thwart
her purpose. While she has encountered de-
feats such as would engulf in despair the
average person, her courage at such times
arose to the heroic, subduing adversity. Her
severest loss occurred through the failure of
a large eastern publishing house with which
she had contracted to bring out an edition
of "The Three Verdicts," turning over to
them at the time the plates of the work, and
an advance payment of several hundred dol-
lars, all of which she lost. This necessitated
a temporary discontinuance of her literary
work, as she had need of an avocation im-
mediately remunerative.
MRS. CATHARINE MILLS.
The ladies of the good old Buckeye state
have ever played a most conspicuous part in
her history, from the annals which tell of
the pioneer struggles and vicissitudes down
to the records which bespeak the unexam-
pled prosperity of the end-of-the-century pe-
riod. In connection with the history of
Darke county the good lady whose genealog-
ical record here appears is one who is held in
high regard and respect by all the citizens of
Richland township, which is essentially the
pioneer township of the county. She was
born in Lebanon, Lebanon county, Pennsyl-
vania, on the 7th of November, 1835, being
the fourth in order of birth of the four sons
and three daughters of John and Catharine
( Bowman) Fettery, and she is now the only
survivor of the family. Her father was a
native of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania,
where he was horn July 19, 1803, and his
death occurred February 7, 1872. In the
agnatic line he was of Scotch ancestry, and
in the maternal of English extraction. John
Fettery, who was educated in both the Eng-
lish and German tongues, was a blacksmith
by trade, and was employed for some time
in the great shops at Cornwall. The parents
of Mrs. Mills emigrated to Ohio, from their
Pennsylvania home, in 1837, being mem-
bers of a colony which comprised seven fami-
lies, the journey being made by means of
horses and wagons, and the objective point
being old Fort Greenville. At this time the
wily red men of the forest were far more
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
565
numerous than the white settlers in this sec-
tion of the Union. Mr. Fettery worked at
his trade to some extent in Preble county,
and after a time removed to Darke county,
where he established himself as a pioneer
farmer. He was active and energetic, and
was possessed of the most sterling attributes
of character. His father was a soldier in
the war of 1812, in which connection he had
personally traversed some of the historic
ground of Darke county. In his political
adherency John Fettery was a zealous Demo-
crat in his support of the cause and was act-
ive for many years, but in the later years of
his life he esnoused the cause' of Prohibi-
tion, taking high grounds on the subject of
temperance. He was a great friend of the
public schools, and, in fact, of all those
worthy enterprises which tend to elevate the
moral or intellectual standing of the com-
munity. He was a good man, and had the
utmost respect of all who knew him. He
and his wife were members of the Lutheran
church at Wakefield, Ohio.
Catharine (Bowman) Fettery the mother
of Mrs. Mills, was born in Schuylkill coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1808, and
her death occurred July 18, 1862. She was
of German lineage, and her life was one of
signal kindness and devotion to all that is
good. Her prayers and her admonitions to
her children will ever live as the years roll
on, such influences being cumulative in char-
acter.
Mrs. Mills was but a child of eighteen
months when her parents removed to Ohio,
and thus she has been reared and educated in
this section of the state and has dignified
Darke county by her life and example and as
a worthy representative of a pioneer family.
She was educated in the primitive schools
of the early da vs. and the first school she
attended was in the little log school house,
with puncheon floor, slab benches, etc., which
is so frequently mentioned in this compila-
tion, such institutions being typical of the
time and place. Mrs. Mills gives most inter-
esting reminiscences of the early days and
graphically describes the amusements which
were in vogue among the pioneers, who as-
sembled together for the apple-parings, the
quilting bees and the corn huskings, while
at night innocent games attracted the atten-
tion of the young folks. Under the influence
of these good old pioneer days she passed
her girlhood, and when she was about e:ght-
een years of age she consented to preside over
a home of her own. On the nth of August,
1853, she wedded Marion Mills, their union
being solemnized in Greenville, and they be-
came the parents of two sons and three
daughters, of whom four are living at the
present time, namely: Sophia C. is the wife
of Jasper N. Riggle, the well-known insur-
ance agent in Greenville, this countv. Mrs.
Riggle was educated in. the high school at
Greenville and the normal college at Leb-
anon, Warren county, and she was for sev-
eral years successfully engaged as a teacher
in Darke county. She and her husband are
members of the Methodist church. Lucy B.
Mills became the wife of Daniel Oliver, a
successful farmer of Mount' Heron, Ohio,
and they have three children — Everett, Nola
Belle and Chester. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver are
members of the Christian church. George H.
M. C. Mills, a resident of Beamsville, Ohio,
is a paperhanger and painter by trade. He
wedded Miss Callie Warvel, and they are the
parents of two children — Otto and Ethel.
They are members of the Christian church.
Lewis Alphonso, the youngest of the four
living children of Mrs. Mills, resides with his
mother on the old homestead. He married
566
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Miss Leona Stahl, and they have three sons
and one daughter, — Orville, Melvin M.,
Blanche L. and Raymond V. Alphonso will
conduct the farm for his mother, being well
fitted for this charge as he is an able and in-
dustrious young man, being a practical and
advanced agriculturist, and also taking
marked interest in mechanics. He was edu-
cated in the public schools of the county. In
politics he is a Democrat, having cast his first
presidential vote for Grover Cleveland. Fra-
ternally he is identified with Ansonia Lodge,
Knights of Pythias.
Marion .Mills, whose death occurred
March 6, 1900, was born in Greene county,
near Clifton. Ohio, July .28, 1831, continuing
to reside in his native county until he was
eleven years old, when he accompanied his
parents t<> Union county, this state, where he
learned the trade of wagon-maker, as an arti-
san in which line he came eventually to
Greenville, Darke county. He was a man
who was liberally educated, having carefully
disciplined his mind through well directed
study. When he and his young wife started
out in life together they had but little of this
world's goods, but they were determined to
live goodly lives and to lay a permanent foun-
dation b ir the future. In both these objects
success attended them in full measure. Mrs.
Mills recalls the fact that the first taxes which
they were called upon to pay amounted to
thirty-five cents. The first realty which they
purchased comprised twenty-five acres of the
present estate and to secure even this much
they had to assume an indebtedness. As the
years passed on, by dint of economy and
thrift, this worthy couple accumulated
eighty-five acres of fine land, and all the nice
improvements of the estate — the cosy and
comfortable farm residence, the barns and
outbuildings and the well kept fences — all
indicate the care and thrift of Mr. and Mrs.
Mills. They had resided in Beamsville for
twenty-three years, and there Mr. Mills was
engaged at his trade. He served for nearly
twenty years as township clerk. Twenty-
two years ago, in 1878, he located on the
present beautiful farm now occupied by his
widow.
Mr. Mills was unostentatious in his man-
ners, kindly and genial, and one who aimed
to live a model life. He found in his home
his greatest satisfaction and enjoyment, and
there his hopes and affections centered. He
commanded the confidence and respect of all
who knew him, and in lis example and wor-
thy life has given the most valuable of heri-
tages to his children. Politically he was a
Democrat, but for the last twenty years he
advocated prohibition and labored zealously
for the cause of temperance; and he and his
wife always manifested their stanch friend-
ship for the cause of popular education and
for all other worthy instruments concerning
the advancement of their fellowmen. Mr.
Mills. was reared in the faith of the Methodist
church, and he and Mrs. Mills have aided
financially in the erection of the churches in
this yicinity and have otherwise contributed
hberally to all good works in the community
and the poor and needy have never gone
hungry from their door.
Mr. Mills was suddenly called from the
scene of mortal activities on March 6,
1900, entering into eternal rest with the as-
surance of the rewards prepared for those
w ho have lived according to the precepts of
the Divine Master. To his cherished and
devoted wife the bereavement was severe in
the extreme, but the soft dew of consolation
and compensation comes in the memory of
having touched so worthy a life and through
the hallowed associations of the days that are
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
507
gone. They had traveled the journey of life
side by side, sharing in the joys and the sor-
rows which touch the lives of us all. and after
a half-century of such close and loving com-
panionship the husband and father was sum-
moned to the 1 letter land, leaving his devoted
companion to complete the journey withi >ut
him, but sustained by the filial solicitude of
her children. She has nobly acted her part,
and can recall with satisfaction the days that
have passed and the blessed reunion in the
hour when the mortal veil shall he lifted.
She is surrounded by many kind friends, who
are ever ready to comfort and console her in
her bereavement, and as the vears come and
go her life will bear its benediction to all who
have come within its sphere of action. The
record of such true and worthv lives is what
gives the utmost justification to works of this
nature, and this tribute is gladly accorded in
this great genealogical history of Darke
■county;
HIRAM CLARK.
Among the early settlers of German
township, Darke county, Ohio, was the Clark
family, of whom the subject of this sketch,
'Hiram Clark, is a representative.
Hiram Clark was horn on the farm join-
ing on the south of where he now lives, on
section 36. German township. Darke county,
Ohio. March 23, 1840. His father. James
Clark, was a native of Pennsylvania, who
came when a boy to Darke county with a
brother-in-law and first made his home in
Neave township, where he subsequently mar-
ried Miss Nancy Reed, and where he re-
sided a short time after his marriage. He
then bought the farm in German township,
where his son Hiram lives, and here he spent
tthe rest of his life, with the exception of his
last three years, which were passed in New
Madison, Ohio, where he died in his sev-
enty-eighth year. He was an only son and
his father had died when he was a small boy.
Mrs. Nancy Clark was a native of German
township- and a daughter of Donivan Reed,
one of Darke county's early settlers. She
died at about the age of forty-six years.
They were the parents of thirteen children,
seven sons and six daughters, and six of the
family are still living, namely : Rufus ; Rea-
son ; Nancy, the wife of John Noggle; Hi-
ram; Elizabeth, the wife of Peter Roberts;
and Sophronia, the wife of Frank Matchett.
All are residents of Darke county except
Elizaheth, who lives in Texas.
On his father's farm Hiram passed his
boyhood days, assisting with the farm work
in summer and during the winter months at-
tending school in the log school house near
his home. July 12, 1863, he married Aman-
da Kettring", who was born and reared on a
farm near his father's, a daughter of David
and Elizaheth Kettring. early settlers of the
county. In the Kettring family were eight
children — five sons and three daughters.
After his marriage Mr. Clark took his bride
to his father's farm and they began house-
keeping in a log cabin he had erected, and
here thev ever since lived, the log house
having long since been replaced by a com-
fortable frame one. He has built a good
barn and made other valuable improvements,
and his farm, comprising one hundred acres,
is ranked with the representative ones of his
locality. He now rents it to his youngest
son, who has charge of the farming opera-
tions, while he devotes his time and attention
to dealing in stock, buy'ng and selbng.
Hiram Clark and wife are the parents of
four children, two sons and two daughters,
as follows: Tames L.. who married Emma
568
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Garling and has five children, — Edward,
Blanch, Arie, Hiram and Bertha; Ida, the
wife of Ira Garling, has one daughter, Opel ;
John W., who married Edna Coble, has
three children, — Ruba A., Bessie M. and
Charlie C. ; and Nancy, the wife of Harry
Henning, has one son, Joseph.
Mr. Clark is a stanch Republican and a
member of the Knights of Pythias, affiliat-
ing with Fort Black Lodge, No. 546, at
New Madison.
DAVID WEAVER.
In the respect that is accorded to men
who have fought their way to success
through unfavorable environments we find
an unconscious recognition of the intrinsic
worth of a character which cannot only en-
dure so rough a test, but gain new strength
through the discipline. The following his-
tory sets, forth briefly the steps by which our
subject, now a successful merchant of Baker,
Ohio, overcame the disadvantages of his
early life.
Mr. Weaver is a native of Darke county,
born in German township November 4, 1853,
and is a son of Henry and Eve (Beachler)
Weaver, who were born and reared in Mont-
gomery county, this state, and came to
Darke county about 1852. The father, who
was born February 8, 181 5. is of German
descent and a carpenter by trade. His fam-
ily came to Ohio from Pennsylvania. He
is still living at the age of eighty-five years,
and now makes his home in Neave township.
The mother of our subject died Februarv 7,
1858, aged forty years, one month and two
days. They had six children, three of whom
reached adult age.
David Weaver, the fourth child and only
son of this family who grew to manhood,
began life for himself at the tender age of
seven years, working at first for his board
and clothes. At the age of eleven he be-
came a clerk in a grocery store at Clayton,
Montgomery county, and later worked as a
farm hand for one man for fifteen years,
after which he engaged in farming on his
own account for about five years. In 1894
he embarked in his present business at Baker
and now carries a well selected stock of gen-
eral merchandise. He has built up a large
trade by fair and honorable dealing and
has gained the confidence of all with whom
he has come in contact, either in business or
social life. Being industrious, energetic and
ambitious, he has met with well deserved'
success, and is now quite well-to-do. With
the exception of three years spent in Mont-
gomery county, he has always made his home
in Darke county, and is quite widely and
favorably known. He is serving as post-
master of Baker and is an active member of
the Reformed church.
GEORGE J. MARTZ, M. D.
Among those who are devoting their en-
ergies to the healing art in Greenville is Dr.
George J. Martz, who was born in the city
which is still his home on the 21st of Au-
gust, 1867. his parents being George II. and
Angie E. (Jamison) Martz. His paternal
grandfather, John Martz, was a native of
Pennsylvania, born in Somerset county June
1. 1798, and in 1829 came to Ohio, taking
up his abode in Darke county. George H.
Martz. the father of the Doctor, was born
upon a farm in Greenville township, Darke
county, April 19, 1831. For a number of
years he engaged in teaching in Greenville
and Darke county. His wife was one of
Ohio's native daughters, her birth having
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
509
occurred in Delaware county in February,
1837-
Dr. Martz, of this review, acquired his
elementary education in the public schools
of Greenville and continued his studies in
the high school, in which he was graduated
in the class of 1887. Subsequently he en-
gaged in teaching in Darke county for a
time, and then took up the study of medi-
cine under the direction of Dr. W. EL
Matchett, of Greenville. He entered the
Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati and on
completing the prescribed course in that in-
stitution was graduated in March, 1891.
In the village of Palestine, Darke county,
he began practicing, remaining there for
eight years, when, wishing to seek a broader
field of labor, he took up his abode in Green-
ville, where he has since remained. He has
gained a prestige which many an older prac-
titioner might envy and excellent results have
attended his care of the sick, making him a
most successful young medical practitioner
with a bright future before him. He has
been a close and earnest student of his pro-
fession, and in 1899 took a post-graduate
course in the Ohio Medical College at Cin-
cinnati, Ohio. He is a charter member of
the Darke County Medical Society and also
of the Ohio State Pediatric Society.
On the 31st of October, 1898, was cele-
brated the marriage of Dr. Martz and Miss
Bitha Cassatt, of Greenville, a daughter of
Rev. J. W. Cassatt. a minister of the Meth-
odist Episcopal church. They enjoy the
hospitality of the best hemes in the city and
their own residence is the center of a cul-
tured soc'al circle. The Doctor is a prom-
inent and valued member of Greenville
Lodge, No. 143, F. & A. M., and of the
Knights of Pythias, and has represented
the latter in the grand lodge. His profes-
sional career has been one of continued ad-
vancement and his future will undoubtedly
be a successful one, for he is a man of
strong mentality, which enables him to mas-
ter the principles of medical science and
practice, and at the same time he possesses
that deep human sympathy without which
no one ever made much advancement as a
representative of the medical fraternity.
FRANK LONGENECKER.
Elsewhere within these pages will be
found a review which takes into account the
ancestral and personal history of Harvey
Longenecker. who is associated with his
brother, the subject of this review, under
the title of Longenecker Brothers, in the
manufacture of the duplex and spiral duplex
penholders, with headquarters at Beams-
ville, Darke county, Ohio, the unique and
valuable penholders being the invention of
Mr. Harvey Longenecker. In the sketch of
the latter gentleman, which may be found on
another page, more complete details are given
in regard to the invention and the reception
which has been accorded it, and to that re-
view we are pleased to refer our readers,,
while incidentally will be also found interest-
ing data in regard to the genealogy of the
family of which our subject is a worthy rep-
resentative.
Frank Longenecker is of pure German
lineage in the agnatic line, four brothers of
the name having come from Germany to the
United States about the beginning of the
sixteenth century, and these four being un-
doubtedly the progenitors of the numerous
branches of the family in the Union to-day.
Our subject is a native of the county in
which he now makes his home, his birth
having occurred November 28, 1857, he be-
570
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing the eldest of the three children of John
and Elizaheth (Beam) Longenecker, both of
whom are living, the father being one of the
honored old residents of the county, where
he has had a long and active career as a car-
penter and builder, being a natural mechanic
and having made many ingenious devices in
a mechanical line. Frank Longenecker
seemed to inherit the mechanical skill and
taste of his ancestors, and in Ids youth he
learned the carpenter's trade under the ef-
fective direction of his father. Since his
marriage, however, lis has devoted his at-
tention principally to agricultural pursuits,
in which line of endeavor he has been very
successful. He received a common-school
educat'on, which has served as the basis of
a broad fund of exact and valuable knowl-
edge which he has acquired in his peculiarly
active association with the affairs of life.
On the 1 2th of January. 1881, was sol-
emnized the marriage of Mr. Longenecker
and Miss Ella Plessinger, and to them have
been born three children, — Charles C,
Arthur B. and E. Ruth, all verv bright and
interesting children and an honor to their
devoted parents. Mrs. Longenecker was
born in Richland township, this county,
May 25. 1861, being the daughter of Will-
iam and Amy Jane (Byrom) Plessinger,
and the onlv child of their marriage. Mrs.
Longenecker was reared by her paternal
grandparents. David and Elizaheth Plessin-
ger. the former being of Pennsylvania Dutch
stock and the latter of Welsh extraction.
\\ illiam Plessinger was born in Montgomery
county. Ohio. May 17. 1835, and is now-
living in southern Indiana about fourteen
miles from Madison, being a farmer by oc-
cupation, lie is. now about sixty-five years
of age. He is a Democrat in politics and
within his lifetime has been a great traveler.
The mother of Mrs. Longenecker passed
away when the latter was a mere infant, and
she knows little regarding this ancestral
branch of the family. Her death occurred
June 4, 1 86 1, at the age of twenty-four
years, two months and twenty-six days. She
was a woman of gentle character and intel-
lectuality, having been a teacher for some
time prior to her marriage.
In his political adherency Mr. Long-
enecker is an ardent Democrat, and he cast
his first presidential ballot for 'General W.
S. Hancock. He has been often solicited
to accept offices of local trust and responsi-
bility, but has invariably declined, though ap-
preciative of the honor. He is a stanch
friend of the public schools and is now one
of the board of directors of the school dis-
trict in which he lives, being in favor of main-
taining the highest possible standard in all
branches of the school work. Fraternally he
is a member of Lodge No. 356, Knights of
Pythias, at Ansonia, and he also has a mem-
bership in the Darke County Horse Thief &
Protective Association. He and his wife are
consistent members of the Christian church
at Beamsville and they have contributed of
their means to the support of the church and
all worthy benevolences collateral thereto.
They are representatives of old and honored
families and are themselves to be considered
among the representative citizens of our
county, peculiarly worthy of representation
in this work.
LEVI HUDDLE.
Levi Huddle was born in Rockingham
county, Virginia, on the 20th of December,
1820, and died at bis home in Adams town-
ship, Darke county. Ohio, on the 7th day
of February, 1881. His father, Frederick
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
571
Huddle, was born in Shenandoah county,
Virginia, on the 21st of September, 1791.
He married Magdalena Byrd, who was a
native of the same state and county and who
was born on the 25th of August, 1792. They
emigrated to Ohio in 1829, locating in Fair-
field county, where they remained about six
months, when they removed to Montgomery
county, eight miles north of Dayton. Here
they resided until 1833, when they came to
Darke county, locating in Wayne township,
near the present site of Webster, where, on
the 5th day of June, 1834, he sank peace-
fully to rest in the hope of a blessed immor-
tality. Magdalena, his widow, survived the
storms of life until the 27th of April, 1866,
when she, too, was summoned to the un-
known world. They were the parents of
five children, none of whom are now living.
Levi Huddle, the subject of the memoir,
spent his boyhood days on the farm, assist-
ing his mother by clearing the land and cul-
tivating the soil. He received his education
in the district schools. His father died when
he was fourteen years of age, which left his
widowed mother with the family to care
for and support, which duty she nobly per-
formed. He commenced teaching school at
the age of seventeen, and his first school was
taught in an old log school house which
stood on the farm upon which he died. He
taught during the winter months and in the
summer was engaged in farming and trad-
ing. He followed educational work for
about twenty-three years, and while teach-
ing a term of eleven months in Vandalia,
Montgomery county, he took lessons in
higher arithmetic, algebra, penmanship and
drawing of David Ecker, and by hard study
and close application he acquired a good
academic education. On the 9th of April,
1854, he celebrated his marriage to Miss
Lucinda, daughter of Abraham and Salome
Hetzler. Three children were born to them,
of whom two are now living, namely : Mary
L., married to R. B. Jamison, of Delaware,
Ohio, and S. Jennie, wife of J. H. Martz,
of Greenville, Ohio. Mary and Jennie re-
ceived their collegiate education at Otterbein
University, at Westerville, Ohio, at which
institution Jennie was graduated in the year
[881, but Mary was compelled to leave the
institution before graduating, her health fail-
ing. Mr. Huddle celebrated his second
marriage on the 16th of September, 1872,
to Mary, daughter of Anson and Lydia
Aldrich. She is a native of Massachusetts,
born on the 19th of September, 1825, and
makes her home with the two daughters be-
fi ire mentioned. Mr. Huddle was a member
of the United Brethren church; his wife is
a member of the Christian church and his
two daughters, are active members of the
Methodist Episcopal church and take a deep
interest in its financial and spiritual welfare.
'Mr. Huddle was a keen financier and success-
ful business man, providing bountifully for
his family and leaving a safe and ample es-
tate to each of his surviving daughters.
JOSEPH MOTE.
This well-known depot agent and gen-
eral merchant at Weaver Station, Ohio, was
born in Monroe township. Darke county,
October 23. 1836, and is a son of Enoch
Mote, a native of Georgia and a pioneer of
this state. The paternal grandfather, Joseph
Mote, was born near Augusta, Georgia, of
English ancestry, and continued his residence
in that state until 1802, when he came to
Miami county, Ohio, but spent his last days
in Darke county, where he died at about the
age of sixty years,' The father of our sub-
57:
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ject was only two years old at the time of
the removal of the family to Ohio and he
was reared near West Milton, Miami coun-
ty. There he married Catherine Burket, a
native of North Carolina and a daughter of
Joseph Burket, who was of Holland de-
scent and is supposed to have taken part in
the Revolutionary war. When quite young
Mrs. Mote was taken by her parents to Ken-
tucky, and was only six years old when
brought to Miami county. Ohio. About
1824 the parents of our subject took up their
residence in Darke county and the father im-
proved and, developed a farm in Monroe
township. The deed for the first land he
purchased was signed by John Q. Adams,
the second by Andrew Jackson. He re-
mained upon that farm until fifty-seven
years of age and then moved to West Mil-
ton, Miami county, where he died at the age
of sixty-nine years. In early life he was a
German Baptist, but after his removal to
West Milton joined the New Light Chris-
tian church and remained one of its con-
sistent and faithful members. His estimable
wife died at about the age of seventy years.
Their children were : Mary, deceased ; Dily,
widow of Levi Burket ; Epsy, who died at
the age of fourteen years; Margaret, wife
of Samuel Giant, of Indiana; John and
Philip, both deceased; Joseph, our subject;
and Noah, who died in the service of his
county during the civil war in 1864.
Until twenty years of age Joseph Mote
assisted his father in the operation of the
farm and at the same time attended the
local schools. On attaining his majority he
entered the Southwestern Normal School, at
Lebanon, Ohio, where he pursued his studies
for two terms, and for twelve years there-
after he successfully engaged in school teach-
ing. This occupation was interrupted, how-
ever, by his service in the civil war. He
enlisted September 15, 1861, in Company E,
Forty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as
a private, but was later promoted corporal.
Subsequent to the battle of Shiloh he was
taken ill and sent to the general hospital at
Evansville, Indiana, and after his recovery
was placed on detached duty. After three
years and two months of arduous and faith-
ful service, he was honorably discharged, in
December, 1864.
Soon after his return home Mr. Mote
went to Evansville, Indiana, where he en-
gaged in truck farming and later taught
school for one winter in Henderson, Ken-
tucky. In the winter of 1866 he engaged in
teaching at Georgetown, Miami county,
Ohio, and the following year came to Fort
Jefferson, Darke county, and opened a gen-
eral store, which he conducted until coming
to Weaver's Station in 1875. Here he has
since engaged in the same line of business,
and to-day is one of the oldest merchants in
the county. He has also acted as freight,
ticket and express agent at the same place
for twenty-five years, and has served as
postmaster during that period with the ex-
ception of four years during President Cleve-
land's administration.
Mr. Mote has been twice married, first
in 1858 to Emeline Simpson, of Troy, Ohio,
by whom he had two sons : Lewis, deceased,
and Elmer E., who is now a resident of Kan-
sas City and manager of the Missouri Valley
Car Service Association. On the 25th of
December, 1867, Mr. Mote married Eliza-
beth A. Leas, of Fort Jefferson, Darke coun-
ty, a representative of one of the pioneer
families of the county. By this union were
born seven children, six sons and one daugh-
ter, namely: Alvin J., who is employed as
bill clerk bv the Vandalia Railroad Com-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
573
pany, at East St. Louis; Walter H., who
is connected with his brother, Elmer E., in
the car service at Kansas City; William E.,
a stenographer for the Missouri, Kansas &
Texas Railroad at Kansas City; John H.,
who is a private in Company G, Twenty-
third United States Infantry, and is now
stationed in the Philippines; Stanley E., who
is a teacher by profession and is now at-
tending the normal school at Ada, Ohio;
Horace G., who died August 27, 1898, at the
age of eighteen years; and Mable E., who is
still in school.
As a Republican Mr. Mote takes an ac-
tive and prominent part in local politics, was
a delegate to the state convention at Colum-
bus in 1900; was also a delegate when Mc-
Kinley was nominated for governor of Ohio,
and was assistant sergeant at arms of the
national convention at St. Louis in 1896.
Besides serving as postmaster he has also
filled the office of school director. For about
forty years he has been a member of the
Odd Fellows society, first Stillwater Lodge,
then Greenville Lodge, No. 190, and now
a member of Champion Lodge of Greenville.
He has filled several chairs in the order and
is an honored member of Frizell Post, No.
257, G. A. R., of Greenville, of which he is
now quartermaster. As a citizen he ever
stands ready to discharge any duty devolv-
ing upon him, and is certainly deserving of
honorable mention among the representative
citizens of his county.
GEORGE E. MARKER.
The bulwarks of our national prosperity
have ever been found represented in the
sturdy and basic art of agriculture and in
every community the husbandman is a rec-
ognized power and is accorded the honor
which is his just due. Richland township,
Darke county, is one of the opulent agricult-
ural sections of the Buckeye state, although
it is small in area, and one of the representa-
tive and influential farmers of this town-
ship is he whose name introduces this sketch,
and he is a member of a family which stands
high in social and educational fields as well.
Mr. Marker was born in Darke county, Ohio,
May 7, 1853, being the youngest in the fam-
ily of five sons and three daughters born to
Ezra and Catharine (Weaver) Marker. Of
the children only one is deceased, and a brief
record concerning the other members of the
family will be appropriate at this juncture :
Perry, a veteran of the civil war, is a resi-
dent of Versailles, Ohio; Levi is a farmer
of Montgomery county, this state; Isaac, a
resident of Versailles, is a prosperous agri-
culturist, having for some years been en-
gaged in mercantile pursuits also, from
which he has now retired; Susannah is the
wife of John Nichol, a merchant of Ver-
sailles ; and Sarah E. is the wife of George
Hively, a contractor and builder of Dayton,
Ohio. The other member of the family is a
twin of our subject, Lucinda by name, and
she became the wife of William Markland, a
mechanic of Dayton.
Ezra Marker was born in Erederick
county, Maryland, April 30, 1810, and his
death occurred August 27, 1893. He was
apprenticed in his youth to learn the wagon-
maker's trade, having received a rudimentary
education in the subscription schools of the
early days, .and through his alert mentality
and personal application he became a man
of broad information and mature judgment.
He remained with his parents in the state of
Maryland until he was about thirteen years
of age, when the family came overland in a
wagon to Montgomery county, Ohio, which
574
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
was then practically a wilderness, and there
the parents were numbered among the
earliest pioneer settlers. The grandfather of
our subject died in that county and the death
of his paternal grandmother occurred in
Preble county, this state. Ezra Marker was
a young married man when he came to Darke
county and though his financial means were
of diminutive order he was reinforced by
sterling integrity of character and a capacity
for hard work. He came to this county in
1839 and located on a tract of land known
as the Winbigler farm in York township,
the township at that time being still a portion
of the primeval forest, save here and there
the lonely cabin of the pioneer. The young
couple settled in the forest, having had to
hew a way through the woods to the place
selected for the erection of their little cabin
of logs, which in due time became their
modest home. The Indians were their neigh-
bors and deer and other wild game were
plentiful, while the implements utilized in
clearing up the new farm and instituting the
work of cultivation were crude and primitive
in the extreme. Mr. Marker's original pur-
chase comprised eighty acres and through his
industry and good management he eventually
attained a high degree of success, owning
one hundred and seventy-one acres of land,
besides real estate in the city of Versailles.
He was possessed of that energy and frugal-
ity so characteristic of those of German
lineage and in all relations of life he was
honorable, gaining the esteem and confidence
of all. His father, George Marker, was born
in Maryland and was there married to Mar-
garet Storm, who had emigrated thither
from Germany, where she was a member of
a wealthy farmer, whose estate in the father-
land is yet to be divided among the de-
scendants. Ezra Marker was a true Jack-
sonian Democrat in political proclivities, his
first presidential vote having been cast for
"Old Hickory." He enjoyed a marked pop-
ularity in his township, and held at different
times almost every local office in the gift of
the people of the community. His honesty
ami judgment were proverbial and he was
often chosen as administrator of estates and
to perform other duties implying the im-
plicit confidence in which he was held. He
and his wife were members of the Lutheran
church and aided in the erection of the
church edifices in York township and in Ver-
sailles, showing their liberality of spirit also
by contributing to similar enterprises of
other denominations. The mother of our
subject was born near Miamisburg, Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, February 16, 1816,
and her death occurred February 17, 1898.
She was a tender and devoted mother and
her teachings will serve as beacon lights to
brighten the lives of her children through all
the days to come.
George E. Marker, the immediate subject
of this review, was reared in Wayne township
and is distinctively a Darke county boy. He
received a common-school education of a
practical nature and his life has been spent
as a tiller of the soil, the free and independ-
ent vocation to which he was reared, though
he devoted about two years of his early
yi lUth to work at the cabinetmaker's trade.
He remained with his parents until he at-
tained the age of twenty years, giving them
his labor and his wages, and when he reached
his majority he was fortified by only a ster-
ling caracter, an alert mentality and a de-
termination to make a success of his life.
For his companion in life he chose Miss
Belle Kershner, whom he wedded August
16, 1874, and three sons have graced this
union — Albertus, who was born August 18,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
575
1875, and is with his parents, is one of the
most highly respected young men of the
township, being a successful teacher, having
received his teacher's certificate at the early
age of sixteen and having been engaged in
pedagogic work almost every year since that
time. He has passed the teacher's examina-
tion in both Darke and Montgomery coun-
ties and at all times keeps abreast of his pro-
fession, being a close and ambitious stu-
dent, and gaining his physical reinforcement
by assisting in the work of the old homestead
during the summer vacations. In politics
he supports the Democracy. The second son,
Village, born September 3, 1877, is, like his
brother, a successful teacher, having secured
his certificate when only fifteen years of age,
and he has made his mark as a teacher of
tact and discrimination. He was married,
April 8, 1900, to Miss Daisy Beanblossom,
of Greenville township. He and his elder
brother are experts in amateur photography,
and both cast their first presidential votes
for William Jennings Bryan. Claude, born
September 13, 1879, tne youngest of the
children, is the farmer of the family, as he
seems to have a natural predilection for the
vocation to which he was reared. He suc-
cessfully passed the Boxwell examination,
which entitles him to admission into any
high school in the county. He wedded Miss
Grace Wolfe January 7, 1900, and they re-
side in Wayne township. The young- men
are all creditable to their parents and to their
native county, having shown exceptional
talent and having the esteem of all who have
known them from their childhood days to
the era of personal' accomplishment pf effect-
ive order.
Mrs. Marker is a native of Richland
township, this county, where she was born
June 16, 1853, being the second of the three
35
daughters of Daniel and Catharine (Cop-
pess) Kershner. One sister is deceased and
the other survivor is Cordelia, who is the
wife of George Kissinger, a farmer of Rich-
land township, and who is the mother of
eight children. Daniel Kershner was born
in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, April 12,
1830, and died March 30, 1895. He was a
blacksmith by trade, having come to Darke
county in 1840, when a lad of ten years, and
here he made ljis home more than half a
century, being one of our honored and in-
fluential citizens. He was a veteran of the
civil war, having been a member of the One
Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer
Infantry. He was a stanch Republican in
politics and was a strong advocate of abo-
lition. The mother of Mrs. Marker was
born in Darke county November 15, 1828,
and she is yet living, retaining her mental
and physical vigor to a marked degree. She
is a member of the Reformed church and is
a resident of Dawn.
Mrs. Marker received her educational
discipline in the public schools of her native
county and she has been to her husband a
faithful assistant and wise counselor, while!
to her careful and devoted training may be
ascribed much of the success and the ster-
ling characteristics of her sons, who cherish
her counsel and admonitions and give her the
deepest filial affection. When our subject
and his wife began their wedded life they
were poor in all save mutual affection, am-
bition and intrinsic ability, even having to
secure credit for a portion of their first mea-
ger supply of farming implements, while the
first money they had to invest in land was
secured from the sale of a cow. They be-
gan as renters in Richland township and for
nearly sixteen years they spared neither mind
nor hands in the indefatigable efforts to se-
576
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
cure a foundation for future prosperity.
Their first purchase of land was nineteen
acres, to which they later added twenty acres,
finally disposing of this tract and purchasing
eighty acres of their present homestead,
which is one of the fine estates of Richland
township, improved with a beautiful and
commodious brick residence and in all por-
tions showing the discriminating care and
attention bestowed. They have attained a
marked success in temporal affairs through
their own efforts and they stand high in the
social circles of the community.
In politics Mr. Marker gives stanch al-
legiance to the Democratic party, having
cast his first presidential vote for Samuel
J. Tilden. Fraternally he is a member of
the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 286, located
at Versailles, and in this lodge he has passed
all the chairs. He and his wife are zealous
members of the Christian church at Beams-
ville and they have always aided liberally in
church and benevolent enterprises. As rep-
resentatives of that sterling citizenship which
has so signally conserved the progress and
prosperity of this favored section of the
Buckeye state, the family is peculiarly
worthy of consideration in this edition.
WILLIAM J. IRWIN.
William J. Irwin is engaged in taking
and executing contracts for public works
and in this capacity has been in control of
many extensive and important public inter-
ests. He was born in Cobourg, Ontario, Can-
ada, February 22, 1859, his parents being
Stephen and Bridget (Rooney) Irwin. His
father, Stephen Irwin, was born in the coun-
ty of Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1829, and with
his parents crossed the Atlantic to the United
States in 1847. Li 1%5A ne leit this country
and went to Canada, where the same year he
was united in marriage, in Cobourg, to
Bridget Rooney, who was born in county
Leitrim, Ireland, in 1835. She emigrated
to Canada in 1847, an(i after their marriage
Mr. and Mrs. Irwin remained in that coun-
try until 1861, during which time their two
eldest daughters and their son, William J.,
were born. Their eldest child, born Novem-
ber 22, 1855, was married, and their second
daughter was Annie, born May 22, 1857.
Their family now numbers eight children,
of which l.umber three sons and three daugh-
ters are yet living. In 1861 the parents
removed with their three children to Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, taking up their abode
in Dayton, where, on the 24th of March,
1861, their son, Felix, was born. The other
children are: John, born December 28, 1862 ;
James, born January 2, 1865; Rose Ellen,
born May 30, 1867; and Stephen Edward,
born August 24, 1870. All are living at
the present writing with the exception of
John and James. In 1864 Stephen Irwin
enlisted in Company K, Thirteenth Regiment
of Ohio Cavalry, in which he served until
July 4, 1865, when he was honorably dis-
charged. He then returned to his home and
soon afterward removed with his family to
Dayton, Ohio, where he resided until 1868,
when they went to West Baltimore, Ohio,
where the father engaged ia farming. In
1874 the mother was called to her final rest,
and five years later, in 1879, Stephen Irwin
went with the rest, locating in Scott county,
Minnesota, where he remained until 1885.
He then returned to the Buckeye state and
made his home with his son, William J.,
until 1898, when he went to the National
Military Home, in Dayton, Ohio, where he
still resides.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
577
William J. Irwin received the ordinary
country school educational privileges and as-
sisted his father in the work of the home
farm until 1879, when he began taking con-
tracts for putting in drainage ditches upon
farms. He did considerable ' work of this
character in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa
and was frequently awarded such contracts
by county commissioners. In 1881 he went
to Muscatine county, Iowa, where he en-
gaged in county work. In this work he was
very successful and continued there until
1883, when he returned to Ohio and in part-
nership with A. Gallagher continued to take
public contracts for drainage in Ohio, In-
diana and Illinois. In 1888, however, he
dissolved rjartnership with Mr. Gallagher
and continued in business alone. He also
began taking contracts for sewer, street and
municipal work, carrying on the business un-
til 1889, when he went into partnership with
M. A. Maher, of Greenville, Ohio, a con-
nection that was maintained until 1892.
That partnership was then dissolved and Mr.
Irwin was once more alone in business un-
til 1893, when on account of the extent of
the contracts which he managed he was un-
able to continue alone and admitted his
brother, Stephen Edward, to a partnership
in the business. In 1894 the Greenville Con-
struction Company was formed as an incor-
porated stock company, of which Mr. Ir-
win was general manager. He does general
contracting, making a specialty, however,
of street and sewer work. In 1897 he built
a system of sewers in Chihuahua, Mexico,
being the first system completed in Mexico.
In 1898 he entered into partnership with his
two brothers, Stephen Edward and Felix,
under the name of Irwin Brothers. In 1899
he began the manufacture of building brick,
establishing a yard at Greenville, where he
manufactured all grades of brick. In con-
nection with his other interests he carries on
farming, owning a valuable tract of land,
which is pleasantly and conveniently located
a mile south of Greenville. In the manu-
facture of brick he is meeting with excellent
success, finding a good market for his prod-
ucts. His various business interests amount
to over two hundred thousand dollars an-
nually, for the different firms with which he
is connected employ from five hundred to
eight hundred men.
In 1885 Mr. Irwin was united in mar-
riage to Miss Catherine Dwyre, a daughter
of Martin and Mary Dwyre. She was born
and reared in Darke county and her parents
were natives of Ireland, but became early
settlers of this locality. The mother died
March 21, 1896, and the father passed away
a year later. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin now have
five children: William E., Mary Beatrice,
Helen, Catherine and Irene. Their home
is a very substantial brick residence at No.
451 East Fourth street, and as the result
of his success in business Mr. Irwin is en-
abled to surround his family with all the
comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
He is a well informed man, possessing broad
general information, and in his nature there
is nothing narrow or contracted. He has
a spirit that, while devoted to his residence
community, is liberal, recognizing and ap-
preciating advancement and progress in any
other part of the world. His actions have
during his life been such as to distinctively
entitle him to a place in this publication, and
although his career has not been filled with
thrilling incidents, probably no biography
published in this book can serve as a better
illustration to young men of the power of
honesty, integrity and enterprise in securing
success.
578
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
JONATHAN TEAFORD.
Prominent among the citizens of Darke
comity who have witnessed the marvelous
development of this section of the state in
the past seventy-five years and who have,
by honest toil and industry, succeeded in ac-
cumulating a handsome competence, is the
o-entleman whose name introduces this
sketch. He was born on his present farm on
section 21, German township, February 3,
1S24, a son of George and Molly (Ketring)
Teaford. >The father was born in Virginia
and when a young man came to Darke coun-
ty, locating in German township, where they
were married, and the mother was born in
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was a repre-
sentative of one of the oldest families of th's
county. In German township the father of our
subject took up a tract of government land
and he cleared and improved many acres.
He died upon his farm in German township,
at the age of seventy-six years. His was an
honorable and useful life, in which he se-
cured the confidence and respect of all with
whom he came in contact. Of the thirteen
children born to him, ten reached manhood
or womanhood, but only Jonathan and his
twin brother, Barney, of German township,
are now living.
During his boyhood and youth Jonathan
Teaford remained at home and on the 8th of
March, 1848, he married Miss Sophia Smel-
ker, who was born in Germantown, Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, April 4, 1826, and is
the third child and oldest daughter in a
family of thirteen children. Her parents,
Jacob and Christina Smelker, who were early
settlers of German township, this county,
were born in Germany and were married in
Montgomery county. Ohio. Mr. and Mrs.
Teaford are the parents of ten children, but
only five are now living, namely : Leander,
who married Clara Jeffries and follows farm-
ing in Washington township ; Mary Jane, the
wife of Andy Biddle, of Randolph county,
Indiana; Eli, who married Mina Teffries and
lives in Neave township, Darke county ;
Ephra'm, who married Dora, a daughter of
Henry Mills, and resides in German town-
ship, this county; and Elizabeth, the wife of
Marshall A. Brown, of New Madison.
For six years after his marriage Mr.
Teaford lived upon a rented farm in German
township, but at the end of that time he was
able to purchase a tract of eighty acres on
section 21. just west of where he now lives.
His first home was a log house, 18x15 feet,
which in 1869 he replaced by his present
comfortable and substantial residence,
erected at a cost of four thousand dollars.
As this was soon after the close of the civil
war prices were very high, and his barn, built
about the same time, cost twenty-five hun-
dred dollars. In business affairs he has
steadily prospered, being a man of keen dis-
crimination and sound judgment, and he has
.given to each of his sons eighty acres and to
his daughters forty acres. His success in
life may be attributed to his own industry,
perseverance and good management, for on
starting out in life for himself he had only
one hundred and thirty dollars in money.
He is one of the most prominent old settlers
and highly respected citizens of Darke coun-
ty, and is certainly deserving of honorable
mention in its history. Politically he is
identified with the Democratic party.
DAVID O CHRISTOPHER.
No history of the business interests of
Darke county would be complete without
containing mention of the important enter-
prises with which David O. Christopher is
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
579
connected. He is a member of the firm of
Eikenberry & Christopher, proprietors of the
Mozart department store, one of the largest
in Darke county- A casual visit at this em-
porium of trade indicates the enterprise and
progressive spirit which there prevails in the
arrangement of his goods. The stock has
been carefully selected' and the patrons re-
ceive uniform courtesy and attention, while
the well-known business policy of the firm
.commends them to the confidence of all who
give to them their support.
Mr. Christopher is a native of the neigh-
boring state of Indiana, his birth having oc-
curred in Randolph county in March, 1854.
His parents were A.G. and Sarah A. (Lamb)
Christopher, the former a native of Tennes-
see and the later of Virginia. During her
■early girlhood, however, he mother accom-
panied her parents to Tennessee, where she
"was reared and married, and with her hus-
band she removed to Indiana, a settlement
being made in Randolph county, where they
spent the remainder of their days.
David O. Christopher was reared in the
usual manner of farmer lads and with a vigor,
strength and resolution so often found in
those who are reared on a farm, he left home
to recruit the ranks of commerce. His edu-
cation was obtained in the district school
near his home and in the high school of
Winchester, Indiana, also taking a course in
a normal school where he fitted himself for
teaching, following that profession for fifteen
years. In 1889 he came to Ohio and entered
into partnership with A. L. Eikenberry,
under the firm name of Eikenberrv & Chris-
topher. They established a general store
in West Alexander, Preble county, and con-
tinued there for five years, doing a success-
ful business. Wishing to have a broader
field of labor, however, he came to Green-
ville and founded the Mozart department
store, which has secured a liberal patron-
age that has constantly increased. He is a
thorough-going business man and merchant
who studies closely the needs and wishes of
the public, and makes every effort to meet
them. The business block which they own
and occupy is a three-story brick structure,
with basement, and their goods are found
upon every floor They are constantly en-
larging thir facilities to meet their growing
trade, and from the establishment of their
enterprise they have been recognized among
the leading merchants of Greenville.
In 1878 Mr. Christopher was united in
marriage to Miss Ida Eikenberry, daughter
of Dr. R. L. Eikenberry, of Trenton, In-
diana. She was born in West Manchester,
Preble, Ohio, and her parents removed to
Randolph county, Indiana, where her edu-
cation was acquired. By her marriage she
has become the mother of one son, Thomas
B. In Greenville Mr. Christopher is widely
and favorably known. He is a man of
broad capability, as his extensive business in-
terests indicate. He is at all times approach-
able and patiently listens to whatever his
callers have to say, is always courteous and
a gentleman of his word. He cares nothing
for notoriety, nor is there the least shadow
of mock modesty about him, and he and his
wife occupy a leading position in social cir-
cles— such a place as he fills in commercial
circles.
GEORGE SCHLECHTY.
For the long period of thirty years Mr.
Schlechty, who resides on section 33, has
served as justice of the peace in Neave town-
ship, and is still an incumbent of the office.
He is thoroughly impartial in meting out
580
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
justice, and his fidelity to the trust reposed
in him is above question. He is regarded as
one of the leading and most highly respected
citizens of his community, and it is. there-
fore, consistent that he be represented in a
work whose province is the portrayal of the
lives of the prominent men of Darke county.
Mr. Schlechty first opened his eyes to
the light of day upon his present farm, Feb-
ruary 27, 1824, a son of Christian and Su-
sannah (Noggle) Schlechty, both natives of
Pennsylvania. The father was born in
Berks county, in February, 1796, and was a
son of Christian Schlechty, also a native of
Pennsylvania. The latter's father was born
in Switzerland and came to this country at
an early day, locating in the Keystone state.
At the age of twenty-one years Christian
Schlechty came to Darke county, Ohio, and
received the patent signed by J. O. Adams,
then president, on November 1, 1826, for
one hundred and fifty-nine and eighty-six
one hundredths acres, the northeast quarter
of section 33, Neave township. He spent
the remainder of his life upon this farm, now
belonging to our subject, where he died Au-
gust 2, i860, at the age of sixty-four years.
In January, 1821, he was married to Susan-
nah Noggle, who came to this county when
young with her parents, and died in 1875,
at the age of seventy-five years. Her fa-
ther, George Noggle. was one of the pio-
neers of Darke county. She had two chil-
dren, but Levi, the older, is deceased, leav-
ing our subject the only survivor of the
family.
During the boyhood of George Schlech-
ty, Darke county was all wild and unim-
proved, and many kinds of wild animals still
roamed through the forests. He was
reared in much the usual manner of farmer
boys living in a frontier settlement, and pur-
sued his studies in the old-time subscrip-
tion schools conducted in a primitive log
school-house. He attended school both near
Weaver's Station and at Fort Jefferso i. His
entire life has been passed on the old home-
stead, comprising two hundred and fifty-
four acres, which he has placed under a high
state of cultivation, and has improved by
the erection of good and substantial build-
ings. For many years he was actively en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits, but for some
time has rented his farm.
On the 10th of March, 1859, Mr.
Schlechty was united in marriage with Miss
Arebecca Winders, who was born April 13,
1840, and reared in New Castle, Indiana—
the fifth in order of birth in a family of six
children. Her parents. Alexander and
Nancy (Miracle) Winders, were natives of
Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively, and
both were of German descent. The father
died when Mrs. Schlechty was quite young',
and the mother passed away October 12,
1865. Mr. and Mrs. Schlechty have six
sons, namely: Willis M., born September 1,
i860, a resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee,
married Sarah Ault, and they had seven
children, Orvil, Rosa, Earl, Charlie, Becca,
and two who died in infancy ;Edson V., born
December 3, 1862, a resident of Fort Jeffer-
son, Ohio, married Barbara Hebb, and their
children are Alpha and Garnett G. ; Levi
D., who was born October 12, 1865. and
died June 29, 1889, married Mary Noggle
and had one son, Virgil; Charles A., born
June 18, 1870, a grocer of Savona, Darke
county, married Minnie Hinsinger; J. New-
ton, born July 2, 1872, a resident of Fort
Jefferson, married Vinnie Dull, and has
two children, Hershell and Loy; and John,
born September 15, 1875, is attending nor-
mal college, at Chattanooga, Tennessee.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
581
Mr. Schlechty once spent six months in
Tennessee, but with that exception lias
passed his entire life in his native county.
He has always affiliated with the Demo-
cratic party, and is a member of the Ma-
sonic lodge, of New Madison, and Green-
ville Chapter, R. A. M., at Greenville. His
course in life has ever been such as to com-
mend him to the confidence and respect of
all with whom he has been brought in con-
tact, and his circle of friends and acquaint-
ances in this section is extensive.
BERNHARD MENKE.
Among the worthy citizens that the
fatherland has furnished to the new world
is Bernhard Menke, the popular tailor of
Greenville. He was born in Cloppenburg,
Germany, January 16, 1845, his parents
being Joseph and Frances (Hill) Menke.
The father was a farmer by occuption, and
both parents died in their native land. Their
son Bernhard was the second in a family of
six children. At the age of six years he
entered school, where he pursued his studies
until fourteen years of age in accordance
with the laws of his native land. He then
learned the tailor's trade, serving for three
years. On the completion of his appren-
ticeship he was employed as a journeyman
in the fatherland until 1868, when he bade
adieu to home and friends and sailed for the
United States, landing at Baltimore, Mary-
land. He made his way thence direct to
Dayton, Ohio, where he worked at bis trade
for one year, and in 1869 he came to Green-
ville, Ohio, where he was employed by the
firm of Chenoweth & Haberling, merchant
tailors. Subsequently he entered the service
of Moses Hughn, by whom ne has been em-
ployed for the past thirty years. He is par-
ticularly expert as a coat-maker and is n< w
the oldest tailor engaged in active business
in Greenville. As the years have passed
his financal resources have been increased,
and he is now the possessor of good and val-
uable city property. Indolence and idle-
ness are utterly foreign to his nature, but
in consequence he does not wish to put aside
business care and continues in the active
prosecution of his trade.
In his twenty-seventh year Mr. Menke
was married to Miss Susannah Bashore, the
eldest daughter of Jacob G. Bashore, of
Webster, Ohio. Their union has been
blessed with seven children: Ann, now the
wife of Henry E. Mohler; Jacob, a tailor;
Joseph, who occupies the position of teller
in the Farmers National Bank, of Green-
ville; Ida, at home; Orville, Chester and
Barnard. They also lost two children in
infancy. The mother of Mrs. Menke was
Sarah (Miller) Bashore, and her death oc-
curred in 1892, in her seventy-second year.
The father, Jacob G. Bashore, was one of
the early settlers of Darke county, and died
within its borders in his sixty-ninth year.
Mr. and Mrs. Menke are widely known
in Greenville and have a large circle of
friends. They occupy a pleasant residence
here, and also own two or three dwellings
in the city, besides some good business
houses, which he rents and a forty-acre farm
in Wayne township, which is under a high
state of cultivation. He has never had oc-
casion to regret his determination to seek a
home in America, for here, where opportu-
nity is unhampered, he has worked his wav
steadily upward and his advancement along
well defined lines of labor has secured to
him merited financial reward.
582
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
NORMAN TEAFORD.
Norman Teaford, one of the most prom-
inent and prosperous farmers of German
township, whose home is on section 21, has
spent his entire life upon the farm where he
was l)oi-n March 24, 1861. His father, Bar-
ney Teaford, was horn in German township,
February 3, 1825, and is a twin brother of
Jonathan, the two being the only survivors
of a family of twelve children. He
was reared and educated in his na-
tive township, and was there married,
March 20,, 1859, to Miss Margaret E.
Stapleton, who was horn in Wayne
county, Indiana, November 13, 1838, and
when six years of age came to Darke county,
Ohio, with her parents, Thomas and Eliza-
beth Stapleton. They began their domestic
life in a log house on the farm in German
township, where the father still lives. He has
ever been devoted to his home and family,
and has never been outside of Darke county
a week during his life, and has been in only
two states — Indiana and Ohio. In his fam-
ily were seven children, six sons and one
daughter, but Norman, the second child an 1
sec. Mid son, is the only one now living. Jona-
than died Oct. her 29, 1862, at the age of two
wears: a son died in infancy, April 15, [862;
Oscar, born June 30, 1864. died September
25, 1866; Samuel, born July 20, [867, died
February 28, 1889; Charles B., born Novem-
ber 18. 1870, died June 25. 1871 ; and Flora
A., born May 10, 1874, died December 19.
1892. The mother passed awav March 14,
1889.
Our subject passed his boyhood and
youth upon the home farm, where he is still
living, early becoming familiar with every
department of farm work, and he acquired
his literary education in district" school No.
7, German township. He has a valuable and
well improved farm of four hundred and
seventy-five acres, which is devoted to gen-
eral farming, and has an interest in sixteen
hundred acres of timber land in Mississippi.
He is also interested in the Greenville Lum-
ber Company of Greenville, and a hardware
sti ire and livery stable at Palestine, this coun-
ty. He is an enterprising, progressive busi-
ness man, upright and reliable, and has been
uniformly successful in his investments.
On the 6th of August, 1882, Mr. Teaford
was united in marriage with Miss Lillie I.
Brown, who was born in German township,
August 18. 1865, and (lied May 30, 1897,
leaving one daughter. Grace, born Decem-
ber 24, 1884. Mrs. Teaford's parents, Jesse
and Martha (Mansfield) Brown, were na-
tives of Maryland and early settlers of Darke
county.
By his ballot Mr. Teaford supports the
men and measures of the Democratic party,
and he has efficiently served as a member
of the school hoard in his district. He is
also a member of German Grange and has
held office in the same. He is one of the
most popular and influential citizens of his
community and is held in high regard by all
with whom he comes in contact, either in
business or social life.
ROBERT B. JAMISON.
Robert B. Jamison, a native of the county
of Delaware, Ohio, was born September 22,
1858, his parents being James M. and Eliza-
beth (High) Jamison. The father was a
native of Virginia and the mother of Penn-
sylvania, and they were among the early set-
tlers of Delaware county. Ohio. Robert
Jamison, the grandfather, was also a native
of the Kevstone state, but removed to Dela-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
583
ware county. Ohio, at an early day, spending
his remaining days within its borders. He
married a Miss Baird, who with her hus-
band came to the Buckeye state in 1812,
when its lands were wild, its forests uncut
and when there was little to indicate that
civilization was soon to work a marvelous
change in this section of the country.
Robert B. Jamison spent his youth upon
the farm, attending the district schools and
he made rapid progress in his studies, mani-
festing special aptitude in mastering the
branches therein taught. A love of knowl-
edge incited him to secure a college educa-
tion and he entered the Wesleyan Univer-
sity, at Delaware, Ohio, in which institution
he was graduated with the class of 1879.
He afterward engaged in teaching, follow-
ing that profession in the county of his na-
tivity until 1882. In that year he came to
Greenville, Ohio, and entered into partner-
ship with John H. Martz, under the firm
name of Jamison & Martz. They purchased
the hardware stock belonging to R. A.
Shuffleton and continued in that business un-
til 1887, when they sold this store to the
firm of Foster & Son. They then turned
their attention to the real estate and insur-
ance business. They buy and sell real estate
•on commission, loan money and are agents
for the Union Central Life Insurance Com-
pany, of Cincinnati. Mr. Jamison also car-
ries on five farms in connection with his
real estate and insurance business, the places
comprising several hundred acres of land,
much of which is under a high state of cul-
tivation and well stocked with horses, sheep,
cattle and hogs. He is thus a representative
of the agricultural as well as the commercial
interests of the county.
On the 18th of May, 1882, Mr. Jamison
was united in marriage to Miss Mary L.
Huddle, of Darke county, in which place she
was born and reared. She is a daughter of
the late Levi Huddle and Lucinda (Hetzler)
Huddle. Mr. and Mrs. Jamison have two
sons, Roy H. and Walter I., who are with
their parents. Their home is a large and
substantial brick residence on Washington
avenue and the household is noted for its
hospitality. Socially Mr. Jamison is a mem-
ber of Greenville Lodge, No. 143, F. & A.
M.. and is a valued representative of that
beneficent fraternity.
HENRY BEACHLER.
For many years this gentleman was one
oi the prominent farmers and highly re-
spected citizens of Neave township, Darke
county, Ohio, his home being on section 18.
He was a native of this state, born Decem-
ber 20, 1 819, in Montgomery county, where
he grew to manhood and married Miss Mary
Weaver, who was born in the same county,
about two miles from Miamisburg, June 10,
1823. The birth of her father, Henry
Weaver, occurred four miles from that city,
his parents being among the first settlers of
Montgomery county from Pennsylvania. All
were farmers. Mrs. Beachler is the young-
est in a family of seven children. Her oldest
brother, Henry Weaver, is living with her
at the age of eighty-six years, they being
now the only survivors of the family.
To our subject and his wife were born
six children, of whom the oldest, Louisa,
and the fifth, Ambrose, are deceased. Me-
lina, the second in order of birth, is now the
wife of George Barnhart, and they have two
children, Ambrose and Ella. Sarah Jane
is the wife of Samuel Kerst, and they have
six children, Henry_N., Herman, Flora, Ma-
mie, Grace and Vanda. Mary Ann is the
584
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
■wife of Hartman Plock, but they have no
children. Henry is married, and lias two
children, Ward and May. He lives in Mis-
souri.
On the 26th of February, 1S46, Mr. and
Mrs. Beachler came to Darke county, and
located on the farm on section 18, Neave
township, where she still resides. To its
further improvement and cultivation he de-
voted his energies throughout life, and died
there in November, 1891, at the age of
seventy-two years, leaving behind him an
honorable record well worthy of perpetua-
tion. He was a man of the highest respect-
ability, was faithful to his church, to his
country and to his friends, and in his home
was a most exemplary husband and father.
His death occasioned the deepest regret
throughout the community. He was an
active and prominent member of the Re-
formed church, in which be served both as
deacon and elder, and his remains were in-
terred in the Reformed church cemetery.
Mrs. Beachler is still living on the farm
which has now been her home for fifty- four
years, but she rents the land. To her other
business interests she gives her personal at-
tention, and has met with success in the
management of her affairs. She is a lady
of many sterling qualities, and she and her
family have a large circle of friends in the
community where they reside.
HENRY L. YOUNT.
The name of this gentleman appears on
the roster of county officials in Darke coun-
tv. where he is now filling the position of
deputy county clerk, discharging his duties
in a most efficient, prompt and reliable man-
ner. He is numbered among Ohio's na-
tive sons, for his birth occurred on the banks
of Stillwater creek, in Miami county, on the
6th of April, 1865. His father, Daniel
Yount, died when the son was but six years
of age. The mother, who bore the maiden
name of Elizabeth Brumbaugh, was born
in Miami county, Ohio, where she was reared
and married. Mr. and Mrs. Yount began
their domestic life on a farm in Miami coun-
ty, and the latter died when her son Henry
was fifteen years of age. Her parents were
Daniel and Susan (Warner) Brumbaugh,
early settlers of Miami county.
Henry L. Yount has made his own way
in the world since the age of fifteen years, at
which time he was left an orphan. He ac-
quired a good common school education and
afterward worked as a farm hand for seven
years, being employed by the month by dif-
ferent farmers of the neighborhood. He
worked early and late in the fields from the
time of early planting until crops were har-
vested in the autumn, and attended the dis-
trict schools during the winter. By close
application to his studies he prepared for
teaching, and at the age of twenty years en-
tered upon that profession in the district
schools of Adams township, Darke county,
where he was employed at intervals for
seven years. During that period he pursued
a special course of study in the Ohio Normal
University at Ada, Ohio, from which he re-
ceived the degree of bachelor of- science, in
1895, and durinp- his summer vacations con-
ducted a teachers' institute. He was for
four years a member of the Darke county
teachers' executive committee, and for two
terms president of the Teachers' Associa-
tion, and at this writing, in the summer of
iqoo, he is president of the board of teachers'
examiners. He has filled the office of school
examiner for the past six years, has labored
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
585-
most earnestly and effectually for the best
interests of the schools, and the cause of edu-
cation has ever found in him a warm friend,
who has done much to promote its welfare.
In 1891 he was elected superintendent of the
Bradford schools, in which capacity he
served for five years. He then resigned this
position to accept the office of mayor of
Bradford. After serving one term he re-
fused a renomination and accepted a position
in the county clerk's office at Greenville. He
read law with the Hon. A. C. Robeson, of
Greenville, and he is now preparing for prac-
tice in the courts of this district. In Au-
gust, 1898, he was appointed deputy county
clerk under F. G. Wiley, and is now accept-
ably filling that office.
In 1886 was celebrated the marriage of
Mr. Yount and Miss Anna Etter, a daugh-
ter of Levi and Amanda (Krunkleman) Et-
ter. Thev now have three children, two
sons and a daughter, Daniel E., Minnie E.
and Howard L. In his political views Mr.
Yount is a Democrat, and is a leading mem-
ber of the party in Greenville. He keeps
well informed on the issues of the day, both
politically and otherwise, and as a citizen is
active in support of every measure which
he believes will prove of public benefit. He
holds membership in Gettysburg Lodge. No.
247, F. & A. M., the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias fra-
ternity. He was for some time a member of
the Regiment, Ohio National Guards, and
was commissioned second lieutenant of
Company G. He has traveled quite exten-
sively throughout the central and western
states, and has gained that knowledge and
culture which only travel can bring. He is
particularly observing, and this, combined
with a retentive memory, has enabled him
to store his mind with many interesting ac-
counts of his travels. He is much esteemed
by his numerous friends in Darke county;
and is recognized as a popular citizen.
WILLIAM W. TEEGARDEN.
William W. Teegarden, the subject of
this sketch, is a member of the Darke county
bar. He was born July 17, 1862, and is a
representative of one of the oldest pioneer
families of Darke county. The family is of
Dutch origin and its history in this county
antedates the period of the American Rev-
olution, the place of original settlement be-
ing in southwestern Pennsylvania, where, in
an early day, certain of its members took a
prominent part in the disputes which arose
between Pennsylvania and Virginia con-
cerning the boundary line between these two-
provinces. His great-grandfather. Moses
Teegarden. was born in Pennsylvania in
1762. He married Mary Huston and in
about the year 1795 removed with his fam-
ily to Ohio, settling near Cincinnati. Subse-
quently he removed to Butler county, Ohio,
settling at Darrtown, where he resided un-
til his death, following the occupation of
farming. He reared a family of ten chil-
dren and his death occurred April 20, 1844.
His wife was burn in 1765 and died June 21,.
1830.
William Teegarden, the grandfather of
our subject, was born in Pennsylvania Feb-
ruary 22, 1793, and accompanied his parents
on their removal to Ohio. His early life was
spent at the old home at Darrtown, where
he grew to manhood, and when the war of
1 Si 2 broke out he joined the American army
and served loyally in the defense of his coun-
try until the end of the conflict. He then
returned to his home, where he was married
to Catharine Watts. While in the service
■586
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of the United States his company marched
through Darke county and lie discovered a
fine spring flowing from the side of a hill on
the old St. Clair trail from Greenville to
Ft. Recovery and about eight and one-half
miles north of Greenville. He marked the
place and after the close of the war he
gathered together what property he then had
and with his family returned to the location
of the spring, entering from the government
the quarter-section of land on which it was
located. Here, in 1S17, he established his
In 'me. and here he resided until his death,
which occurred on February 16, 1855. His
wife, who was born November (>. 1792,
passed away September 24, 1856. They
were the parents of ten children. — five sons
and five daughters.
William Teegarden, the grandfather, was
a farmer and engaged largely in stock rais-
ing. He was very successful in his business
enterprises and Tit the time of his death was
possessed of more than fourteen hundred
acres of land. At the time of his settlement
in Brown township his was the only house,
save one, between Greenville and Ft. Re-
covery, a distance of twenty-two miles. For
miles in all directions the country was al-
most an unbroken wilderness, inhabited by
wild beasts common to that region. There
were still many Indians, but they were al-
ways friendly, and with them a profitable
trade was carried (in until they became ex-
tinct. As one of the earliest pioneers of the
locality in which he spent his life, he bore
an active part in subduing the wilderness
and of reclaiming it from the wild state of
nature in which he found it, and no man was
more actively identified with the work of
■development than he.
Moses Teegarden, the father of the sub-
ject of this review, was born on the 9th day
of December, 1827, on the home farm in
Brown township. With the exception of the
last two years prior to his death he passed
the whole of his life in the near vicinity of his
birth. He was the fifth child and the third
son of the family. His educational priv-
ileges were limited to the advantages af-
forded by the common schools of the day,
imperfect as they then were. On October
7, 1849, he was united in marriage to Han-
nah D. Mendenhall, a native of Preble coun-
tv, Ohio. She cftne to Darke county with
her parents, Marmaduke and Nancy Men-
denhall, in the year 1844. Her father was
horn in the state of Georgia October 4. 1797,
and removed to Preble county in the year
1818. He died April 11, 1864. Her mother
was Nancy Griffin. She was born April 20,
1803, and was called to her final rest Octo-
ber 18, 1849. The Mendenhalls are of Eng-
lish descent and came to this country and
settled in Pennsylvania about the time that
province was founded by William Penn.
Moses Teegarden, the father of our subject,
was chiefly engaged in farming as an occu-
pation, but also spent considerable time in
the construction of turnpikes under contract
with the county, and in buying and shipping
timber. He was a regularly ordained min-
ister of the Christian church and labored
earnestly, both through his ministry and by
example, for the cause of Christianity in the
community in which he lived. He was
chiefly instrumental in organizing the Tee-
garden Christian church, his father having
donated a plot of ground as a site for a
church building, and also the five acres of
land comprising the Teegarden cemetery.
He was a stanch advocate of the right as
he conceived it, generous and hospitable in
disposition and ever ready to extend the
hand of sympathy to the needy and dis-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
587
tressed. As the result of his first marriage
■ eight children were born, all of whom, ex-
cept three, died in early childhood. Of the
three survivors Mary F., the oldest, is now
the wife of Samuel Bailey, residing in Brown
township ; Evangeline married Henry J.
Courtner, of Winchester, Indiana, and died
on March 18, 1881, at the age of twenty-six;
the third and youngest is the immediate sub-
ject of this sketch. On November 5, 1863,
he lost his wife by death, and later he again
married, his second union being with Mrs.
Elizabeth Beardslee. Two children were
born of this union, — Wilson L., who died
July 2, 1890, and Bertha M., now the wife
of Charles D. Stephens, of Oklahoma terri-
tory. The mother of these children died in
187 1 and for his third wife Mr. Teegarden
chose Mrs. Elizabeth Travis, by whom he
had one child, Mary E., born in 1875, and
now residing in Illinois. She is a popular
teacher in the public schools of that state.
The father died May 19, 1875, near Bryant,
Jay county, Indiana, to which place he had
removed with his family about two years
previous. By his death the community lost
one of its most valued members, whose life
is well worthy of emulation.
The subject of this review was born in
Brown township. His mother died when he
I was little more than a year old and the death
of his father occurred when he had not yet
reached the age of thirteen. After the death
of bins father he made his home with his sis-
ter, Mrs, Samuel Bailey, in Brown township,
until he was eighteen years of age and as-
sisted in the work of the farm. He at-
tended school in the winter season, where,
though in attendance not more than half of
each season's term, he managed, by close ap-
- plication to his studies, to keep up with his
classes composed of pupils in attendance the
whole of the term. At the age of eighteen
he had acquired sufficient education to ob-
tain a county teacher's certificate and three
years later he began teaching, his first ex-
perience as a teacher beinQ" in his home dis-
trict at Woodington. He continued to teach
in the district schools for three years and
then obtained a position in the graded schools
of Ansonia, which position he held for six
years. During this time he worked himself
rapidly to the front in the profession, spend-
ing a part of two years as a student in the
Northwestern Ohio Normal University, at
Ada, Ohio. He held a five-years teacher's
certificate, this being the highest class of
certificate then granted by the county board.
He was prominently connected with the
County Teachers' Association and his in-
fluence was always exerted for the advance-
ment of the interests of the profession and
the adoption of a higher standard of quali-
fications among teachers. Not finding the
work of teaching congenial to his ambitions,
he determined to leave the profession and im-
mediately began the study of law under the
direction of the firm of Knox, Martz & Rupe,
of Greenville, Ohio. He continued to teach,
however, pursuing his legal studies of eve-
nings and in the summer vacations until
1893, when in June of that year he passed a
successful examination before the state board
at Columbus and was admitted to the bar. He
removed to Greenville in the autumn of that
year and began the practice of his chosen
profession in partnership with D. W. 'Youn-
ker. This business connection continued un-
til February, 1896, when it was dissolved and
Mr. Teegarden associated himself with
Judge J. I. Allread. The firm of Allread &
Teegarden enjoys an enviable reputation
and is one of the leading firms of the Darke
county bar.
■588
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
On the 24th day of December, 1885,
Mr. Teegarden was united in marriage with
Catharine C. Hershey, who was born No-
vember 20, 1865. in Darke county. Her par-
ents, John S. and Anna "(Young) Hershey,
are natives of Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
vania. The former was born March 29,
1829, and the -latter February 23, 1836.
They now reside in Greenville township, this
county. Mr. and Mrs. Teegarden are the
parents of four children, — Chester H., born
January 20, 1887; Rolland E., born No-
vember 22, 1888; Harold B., born May 17,
1894; and Anna L., born January 29, 1896.
Mr. Teegarden is a prominent member
of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and
was at one time, since his removal to Green-
ville, a member of the city board of school
examiners. He is a Republican in politics
and is always actively identified with the in-
terests of his party in the conduct of its af-
fairs, though never an aspirant for office.
He is deeply interested in his profession and
strives to elevate the ethical standard of the
practice. He despises the trickery and other
questionable methods too often resorted to
hy members of the profession and prefers to
gain whatever advantages the profession may
offer by a straightforward course of deal-
ing. He is regarded as one of the rising
members of the bar, well versed in the
science of jurisprudence, careful and accur-
ate in his application of law principles to
points in litigation and conscientious in the
discharge of his duty to his clients.
JESSE R. HYER.
Jesse R. Hyer is a grain dealer and
undertaker at Painter Creek, and the sterl-
ing qualities of an honorable and successful
business man are found in the history of
his career. He is of German lineage, but
his father, Absalom Hyer, is numbered
among the native sons of Ohio, his birth hav-
ing occurred near Dayton, Montgomery
county, in August, 1814. During his early
lite he followed carpentering and later be-
came a miller. He was married in Mont-
gomery county, in 183^ to Miss Elizabeth
Hess and moved to the Solomon Wilds farm
in Franklin township, Darke county, where
he devoted his energies to farming for two
years. In 1856 he took up his abode at'
Burkett's Mill, near Ludlow Falls, and was
engaged in the operation of the mill until
1865, when he removed to Crawford county,
Illinois, and purchased sixty-five acres of
land, continuing its cultivation until his
death, in 1878. His first wife died in 1859
and he afterward married Rebecca Shearer,
who died in Crawford county, about 1886.
Absalom Hyer was a minister of the Ger-
man Baptist church and both by precept and
example led many to seek a higher life. His
children were as follows : Martha Ellen,
wife of Jacob Swinger, of Crawford county,
Illinois, where she died in 1894, at the age of
fifty-eight years; Rachel Ann, who became
the wife of Daniel Langston and died in
Franklin township, in January, i860; Jesse,
of this review; Serena, wife of Eli Duncan,
who lives near Ludlow Falls; Noah, who
was twice married and died in Johnson coun-
ty, Illinois; Margaret, who became the wife
of Oliver Shearer and died in Illinois ;
Joshua, who married Ellen Rudy and died
at Gettysburg, Ohio, in 1896; Abner, who
died in Crawford county, Illinois, after hav-
ing been twice married, his second union
being with Miss Horning; Mary, who was
accidentally drowned at Burkett's Mills, in
1857; and Susannah, wife of Mortimer Sey-
mour, of Crawford county, Illinois.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
589
Jesse R. Hyer was born April i, 1840,
in Madison township, Montgomery county,
and in his youth enjoyed the advantages
afforded by the common schools. At the
age of fourteen he was brought to Darke
county by his father, under whose direction
he learned the miller's trade. In the spring
of 1 861 he went to Painter Creek to learn
the wagonmaker's trade, and was continu-
ously employed at his chosen vocation until
the 13th of August, 1862, when with a spirit
of patriotism he responded to the country's
call for troops, enlisting on the 13th of Au-
gust, 1862, as a member of Company B, One
Hundred and Tenth Ohio Infantry, under
Captain Jason Young and Colonel J. War-
ren Keifer. At the battle of Winchester
he received a severe wound, a musket ball
piercing his left thigh and for sixteen
months he was in the hospital at that place,
at Harper's Ferry, Baltimore, Columbus
and Cleveland. On regaining his health he
was sent on detached duty to Todd's bar-
racks, in Columbus, where he remained for
three months, when he rejoined his regiment
which was then stationed in the vicinity of
Petersburg. He took part in the battle in
that locality and the engagement at Sailor's
Creek, and in Washington was honorably
discharged June 25, 1865, for the war was
ended and the country no longer needed his
services.
Returning to his home at Painter Creek,
Mr. Hyer completed his apprenticeship to
the wagonmaker's trade, and a year later
opened a shop in the town, carrying on busi-
ness there until 1884. He enjoyed a good
trade and met with creditable success in his
undertakings. He was suffering fearfully
from the wound received at Winchester and
therefore could not attend longer to his busi-
ness. In consequence .he rented a part of
his shop, and the parties who took possession
put in an engine, which set fire to the shop
and destroyed it. In 1878 Mr. Hyer en-
gaged in the undertaking business, continu-
ing in that line up to the present time. In
December, 1894, he also established a feed
store, and has conducted business along both
lines. He is very energetic and enterprising,
and these qualities have contributed in a
large measure to his success.
On the 14th of March, 1869, was cele-
brated the marriage of Mr. Hyer and Miss
Sarah A. Snuff, daughter of Samuel and
Delilah Shuff. She died July 1 1, 1881, and
in 1886 he was again married, his second
union being with Vina Battson, of Franklin
township, daughter of James Battson. He
has two children born of the first marriage :
Martha L., wife of John L. Swinger, of
Franklin township; and Walter S., who
married Pearl Wilds ; and by his second mar-
riage one son, Earl A., at home.
Mr. Hyer was reared in the faith of the
German Baptist church He is a member
of Daniel W. Williams Post, G. A. R., of
Pleasant Hill, and through that association
keeps up his acquaintance with his old army
comrades, delighting in the reminiscences
of field and camp fires. He is a man of
many sterling qualities, reliable and ener-
getic in business and trustworthy in all life's
relations. As a citizen he is as true today as
when he followed the stars and stripes upon
the battle-fields of the south.
OSCAR C. KERLIN, D. D. S.
One of the popular citizens and success-
ful dentists of Greenville, Ohio, is Dr. Ker-
lin, who was born in Wayne county, Indi-
ana, in 1 86 1, and is a son of William K. and
Hannah B. (Jefferis) Kerlin, also natives
590
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of that county, the former born [March 2,
1832, and latter November 28, 1830. They
were married on the 1st of December, 1853.
More extended mention is made of this
worthy couple on another page of this vol-
ume.
Dr. Kerlin spent the first four years of
his life in the county of his nativity and in
March, 1865, was brought by his parents to
Harrison township, Darke county, Ohio,
where the father was engaged in agricultural
pursuits for a few years. In 1870 the fam-
ily removed to Greenville, where the Doctor
attended the public schools conducted by
Professor J. T. Martz, and later graduated
at the Greenville Commercial College. He
began his business career as a bookkeeper
for Rody Ryan, a railroad contractor, with
whom he remained six years, and on the ex-
piration of that time commenced the study
of dentistry under the instruction of Dr.
Little, of Greenville. Subsequently he en-
tered the dental department of the Univer-
sity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he
was graduated with the class of 1889. Im-
mediately after his graduation he opened an
office in Versailles, Darke county, where he
remained twelve months, and then returned
to Greenville and formed a partnership with
his former preceptor, Dr. Little, with whom
he was engaged in practice for three years.
Since then he has been alone. He has a
well equipped office, supplied with all the
latest appliances known to the profession, for
he is progressive and enterprising and keeps
well informed on the latest discoveries and
theories made in the science of dentistry.
He has built up a large practice, which is
constantly increasing, and his patronage
comes from the best class of people.
November 26, 1896, Dr. Kerlin married
Miss Avarilla K. Fahnestock, who traces her
ancestry back to Germany. Her parents
were Rev. James and Rachel A. (Worley)
Fahnestock, and her maternal grandparents
were Rev. Caleb and Elizabeth (Adams)
Worley. The Doctor and his wife have two
sons: Oscar F., born November 4, 1897,
and William Worley, born November 2t
1899. Fraternally Dr. Kerlin is a member
of Champion Lodge, No. 742, and Green-
ville Encampment, No. 90, I. O. O. F.
DAVID C. FOUREMAN.
Among the well-to-do farmers and hon-
ored citizens of Van Buren township, Darke
county, Ohio, is the subject of this sketch.
His father, Henry J. Foureman, was born
in Berks count)-, Pennsylvania, October 28,
1818, a son of John and Elizabeth (Stager)
Foureman. The former was born in 1797
and his wife was born in 1794. He passed
away August 17, 1872, aged seventy-five
years, nine months and twenty-three days,
his wife having died June 10, 1870, aged
seventy-six years, five months and six days.
The son was educated in the common schools
of his native state. At the age of sixteen
he came with his parents to Darke county,
Ohio, the journey being made by team and
wagon, and the grandfather of our subject
entered the northeast section of Van Buren
township, where Henry J. Foureman grew
to manhood in the midst of the wilderness.
He married Susannah Baker, who was born
in Brookville, Montgomery county, Ohio,
January 2, 1823, a daughter of Jacob and
Sarah Michael Baker. After his marriage he
located on a tract of one hundred and sixty
acres given him by his father, having erected
thereon a two-room house 28x20 feet, built
of round logs and a story and a half in
height. At the time his land was all wild and
<§?C2-0-Z^ /(&> ^^r^Jte^v^A^f^
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
591
unimproved, but he placed it under a high
state of cultivation, and added to his landed
possessions from time to time until he had
four hundred and forty acres. After a long
and useful life he retired to Arcanum, where
he died in 1892. and his wife passed away
a year later. For over a third of a cen-
tury they were active and consistent members
of theNGerman Baptist church, and prior to
his death Mr. Foureman affiliated with the
Republican party. They had a family of
four children, namely : Elizabeth, born De-
cember 22, 1841, married Henry Baker, who
died in Monroe township, this county, and
she died there in 1886; Jacob B., born Feb-
ruary 15, 1844, married Mary Besecker and
lives in Van Buren township; David C, our
subject, is next in order of birth; and An-
nias, born August 1, 1852, died at the age
of two years.
David C. Foureman was born March 12,
1848, on the old homestead in Van Buren
township, where he passed his boyhood and
youth in much the usual manner of farmer
boys of his day. accpiiring his education in
district school No. 6, which was near his
home. It was a log building, supplied with
slab seats and other primitive furniture. Mr.
Foureman's first teacher was Lewis Albright,
under whose instruction he learned to speak
English. On the 14th of October, 1866, he
was united in marriage with Miss Eliza
Linger, a native of Lancaster county, Penn-
sylvania, and a daughter of George and
Sarah (Merkley) Unger. By this union
nine children were born as follows : Sarah,
wife of Albert Foureman, of Van Buren
township; Susannah, who married Frank
Michael and died in 1898; Lydia, wife of
John Judy, of Van Buren township;
Delilah, wife of James Allread, of the same
township; Annie, wife of Willis Davis,
36
also of Van Buren township; llarlus,
Charles, Pharon and Worley, all at home.
After his marriage Mr. Foureman lo-
cated on eighty acres of land, one mile north
of the homestead, which was given him by
his father, and for fifteen years he success-
fully operated that tract which he cleared
and improved by the erection of good build-
ings. He then traded it for the old home-
stead; upon which he also made many im-
provements, but in March, 1894, he removed
to his present farm of one hundred and sixty
acres, on which he erected a barn 72x46 feet,,
in the spring of 1900. Besides this prop-
erty owns an adjoining farm of one hun-
dred and twenty-three acres. He is wide-
awake and energetic and usually carries for-
ward to successful completion whatever he
undertakes. By his ballot he supports the
men and measures of the Republican party.
He has served as township trustee three
years, and is now serving his second term
as township treasurer.
WILLIAM E. GUNTRUM, M. I).
A man's reputation is the property of
the world. The laws of nature have for-
bidden isolation. Every human being sub-
mits to the controlling influence of others,
or as a master wields a power for good or
evil on the masses of mankind. There can
be no impropriety in justly scanning the acts
of any man as they affect his public, social
and business relations. If he be honest and
successful in his chosen field of endeavor, in-
vestigation will brighten his fame and point
the path along which others may follow with
like success. Dr. Guntrum is one who has
attained enviable prestige as a representative
of the medical profession and his prominence
is accorded him by reason of his superior
592
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ability, for in the science of medicine ad-
vancement comes only through individual
merit.
Dr. Guntrum not only deserves represen-
tation in this volume as one of the leading
physicians of Greenville, but also because of
his connection with one of the honored pio-
neer families of Darke county. His paternal
grandfather settled in Greenville township,
Darke county, in the green woods, and clear-
ing away the trees developed a good farm,
which he placed under a high state of culti-
vation, continuing to make his home thereon
until his life's labors were ended in death
in 1865. fie was born in Pennsylvania and
married Martha Gingrich. One of their chil-
dren was John Guntrum, the Doctor's fa-
ther. His birth occurred in Darke county
on the 15th of December, 1839, and after
arriving at years of maturity he married
Miss Rebecca Jamison, also a native of this
county, where she grew to womanhood and
was married. Her father, John Jamison,
was also one of the early settlers of the lo-
cality, having located in Greenville town-
ship when it was a frontier region. John
Guntrum followed farming for many years
and later in life conducted a meat market in
Greenville, where he was well known as a
reliable and industrious business man.
The Doctor was reared upon his father's
farm, where he remained until eighteen years
of age. The district schools afforded him
his early educational privileges and his busi-
ness training was received in the fields, where
he assisted in planting and harvesting the
crops. Not wishing to make agriculture his
life work, however, he resolved to devote his
energies to the alleviation of human suffer-
ing, fitting himself for the practice of medi-
cine as a student in the office of Dr. A. F.
Markwith. He began his studies in 1887
and subsequently took a course of lectures in
the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati.
He took his second course at the Starling
Medical College, at Columbus, and was grad-
uated in the Ohio Medical College in the
class of 1893. He began practice in Stel-
video, Darke county, where he met with grat-
ifying success, remaining in that town for
seven years. He then removed to Green-
ville, where he is now well established in
general practice. He is a member of the
Darke County Medical Society and is a
reader and student of current medical jour-
nals as well as the text books, thus keeping
abreast with the progress which is contin-
ually being made in the science of medicine.
The Doctor was married on the 1st of
May, 1894, the lady of his choice being
Miss Maud Rupe, a daughter of Martin
Rupe, who belonged to one of the old fam-
ilies of the county. Both Dr. and Mrs.
Guntrum enjoy the warm regard of a large
circle of friends in Greenville and have a
wide acquaintance in Darke county, within
whose borders they have spent their entire
lives. Socially the Doctor is connected with
the Improved Order of Red Men. His man-
ner is genial, his deportment courteous and
kindly, and these qualities, added to profes-
sional skill, have made him a popular physi-
cian of his native county.
CHRISTIAN D. GROFF.
This worthy citizen of Painter Creek,
Franklin township, is of German descent,
his great-grandfather having come to this
country from Germany in company with two
brothers and settled in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder
of his life. Our subject's father, Abraham
Groff. was born in that county in 1801 and
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
593
in early life learned the trade of a fuller with
his father. He married Nancy Dunkle and
in 1849, witfi his wife and family, came to
Ohio in wagons, landing near Covington,
Newberry township, Miami county, after
twenty-eight days spent upon the road. Soon
afterward he purchased eighty acres of land
in Newton township, the same county, for
which he paid six hundred and fifty dollars.
At that time it was mostly wild land and the
few buildings standing thereon were of logs.
To the further improvement and cultivation
of that place he devoted his energies through-
out the remainder of his life, dying there
about 1870. He took no active part in pub-
lic affairs, was a God-fearing man, a devout
Christian and a faithful member of the Ger-
man Baptist church. His wife died some
years later at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
Mary Dunkle, of North Star, Darke county.
To this worthy couple were born sixteen
■children, as follows: Daniel, born in 1826,
came to Ohio prior to 1849 and died of
typhoid fever a short time after his arrival ;
Abraham, born in 1828, died in 1833 > Annie,
born in 1830, died in 1833; Elizabeth, born
in 1 83 1, married David Murray and died in
Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1850; Martha,
horn in 1833, married Daniel Groff and died
in Newton township, Miami county, in 1853 •
Christian D., our subject, is the next in order
of birth; Joseph, born in 1836, is a farmer of
Newberry township, Miami county; Nancy,
born in 1838, is the wife of Emory Jenkins,
of North Star, Darke county; Samuel, born
in 1839, married Sarah Smith and moved
to Ionia county, Michigan, where he was ac-
cidentally killed; John, born in 1841, died
in 1859; Jacob, born in 1842, died in 1843;
Mary, born in 1844, is now the wife of John
Dunkle, of Piqua, Ohio; Nathaniel, born in
1846, married Emma Patterson and lives in
North Star; George, born in 1848, is a
quartz-mill builder in the state of Colorado ;
Henry, born in 1851, died in 1856; and
Susanah, born in 1853, died in 1855.
Christian D. Groff was born January 20,
1835, near Lisbon, Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, in which state he was reared
as a farmer boy and attended school until his
fifteenth year, when he accompanied his par-
ents on their removal to Ohio. He was an
industrious lad, willing to work and was of
great assistance to his father in clearing the
land and tilling the soil. When the farm
work was done he attended school during the ■
winter months and partly learned the carpen-
ter's trade.
On the 5th of December, 1858, Mr.
Groff was united in marriage with Miss
Hannah Smith, who died July 25, 1868.
By that union he had four children, namely :
Sarah, now the wife of William Sellers, of
Paulding county, Ohio ; Ellen, wife of Moses
Fry, of Perry county, Michigan ; Henry, who
married Eva Fox; and Abner, who died in
infancy. In 1869 Mr. Groff married Miss
Margaret, daughter of John Spade, of
Franklin township, Darke county. She died
in October, 1894. The children born to
them were: Amos, who married Mattie
Rupert and lives in Missouri, near the Kan-
sas line; Mary, wife of William Collins;
Martha, Emma and Jesse, who all died in in-
fancy; Clara, wife of Walter Pifer, of Get-
tysburg, Ohio; Nancy, who died in infancy;
Cora and Dora, twins, the latter deceased ;
and Susie, at home.
After his first marriage Mr. Groff lo-
cated on a tract of twenty acres near his
father's farm and continued to work at his
trade until i860. In 1863 he removed to
the farm of his father-in-law, Henry Smith,
south of Bradford, in Newberry township,
594
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Miami county, which lie rented for three
years. He then sold his twenty-acre tract
and purchased a farm of forty acres on
Painter creek. Franklin township, and the
following spring bought eighteen and a half
acres adjoining, with the buildings thereon,
into which he moved. At the end of four
years lie sold that property and purchased
his present farm of one hundred and thirty-
eight acres of land, a part of which is now
within the corporate limits of Painter Creek
and which has been divided into town lots.
Mr. Groff has always been a hard working-
man, of known reliability, and is entirely self-
made, his success in life being due to his in-
dustry, perseverance and good management.
He cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln
and has since been a stalwart supporter of the
Republican party. Religiously he is a de-
vout member of the old order of Dunkards,
and commands the confidence and respect of
all with whom he comes in contact, either in
business or social life.
HEXRY J. BISH.
Prominent among the prosperous and in-
fluential farmers of Darke county who have
been the architects of their own fortunes and
have builded wisely and well, is the subject
of this sketch, whose home is on section 20.
Neave township, — a man honored, respected
and esteemed wherever known, and most of
all where he is best known.
Mr. Bish was born September 8. 1832,
in Carroll county, Maryland, about thirty
miles from Baltimore, and is a son of Will-
iam and Catherine (Bixler) Bish, also na-
tives of Carroll county, and of German de-
scent, though their respective fathers, Adam
Bish and Peter Bixler. were both born in
Maryland, where they spent their entire lives
as farmers. William Bish was a tailor by
trade, but he also engaged in agricultural
pursuits and in politics was a Democrat, tak-
ing an active interest in political affairs. He
died in his native county about 1874, at the
age of seventy-four years, his wife Decem-
ber 30. 1875, at the age of seventy-three.
In their family were twelve children, of
whom eleven grew to adult age and seven
are still living.
Of this family Henry J. Bish is the fifth
in order of birth and the fourth son. He
was reared and educated in his native place,
where he remained until twenty years of
age and then came to Ohio, arriving in
Montgomery county with only one dollar
and a half with which to begin life for him-
self. Having previously learned the miller's
trade, he soon found employment in a mill
at Dayton, where he remained about two
yeass. At the end of that time he located on
a farm thirteen miles west of that city and
engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own
account.
In November, 1855, Mr. Bish was mar-
ried there to Catherine Clemmer, a native of
Montgomery county, and five children were
born to them : Phcebe died at the age of
twelve years. Mar}' Frances married John-
son Warner and they had two children, —
Herman and Harry. She died December 12,
1892. Eva Jane is the wife of James Lam-
berton, of Greenville township, Darke coun-
ty. Emma is at home. Ward C. is a resi-
lient of Union City, Indiana.
Mr. Bish continued his residence in
Montgomery county until 1873, when he
came to Darke county and located on the
farm where he still makes his home. He has
always engaged in general farming^ and that
he thoroughly understands his chosen vo-
cation is evidenced by the remarkable sue-'
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
595
•cess that he has achieved. As his financial
resources have increased he has added to his
landed possessions from time to time and
now owns four valuable farms in Darke
■county, one of two hundred and thirty-six
acres on section 20, Neave township, where
he now resides ; one of one hundred and six-
ty-four acres in Butler township; one of one
hundred and sixty-eight acres in York town-
ship ; and the other of one hundred and
twenty acres in Greenville township, making-
six hundred and eighty-eight acres in all.
He has ever made the most of his opportuni-
ties, and being a man of keen discrimina-
tion and sound judgment has been unusually
fortunate in his investments. He is a trustee
of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of
Darke county and a member of the board of
the Children's Home. He has also filled
the office of school director and by his ballot
supports the men and measures of the Repub-
lican party. He is a member of Champion
Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Greenville, in which
he has filled all the chairs, and is a member of
the encampment, having filled all the chairs
in that organization. He also belongs to the
Horse Thief Detective Association.
CHARLES H. BOLLES.
Among the professional men of Green-
ville, Ohio, none are more deserving of rep-
resentation in this volume than Dr. Bolles,
who has been one of the leading dentists of
that place for almost thirty years. He has
that true love for his work without which
there can be no success, and his skill and
ability are attested by the liberal patronage
he enjoys.
The Doctor was born near tbe city of
Cleveland in Cuyahoga county. Ohio, De-
cember 27, 1834, and is a son of Gurdon
and Louise (Carior) Bolles, natives of Hart-
ford, Connecticut, while the former was of
English and the latter of Scotch descent.
The father was born in 1790, and in early
life learned the tanner and currier's trade,
together with shoemaking, which he fol-
lowed for a number of years, but later turned
his attention to diversified farming. In
1 816, some time after his marriage, he and
his wife started for Ohio in a wagon drawn
by oxen and were seven weeks in making
the trip. They experienced all the discom-
forts of such a journey, as well as all the
hardships and privations incident to fron-
tier life after settling in Lake county, this
state. In 1827 they removed to Cuyahoga
county, where the father developed and im-
proved a farm, upon which they spent
their remaining days, living in a very modest
way. During his residence there be de-
voted his entire time and attention to agri-
cultural pursuits. He died about the close
of the Civil war, in 1865.
Dr. Bolles was reared upon the home
farm in Cuyahoga county, and began his
education in the district schools of the neigh-
borhood, but for a time be attended school
in Medina, the homestead being near the
county line. From the common schools he
entered the Richfield Academy, where he
completed his literary education, and then
took up the study of dentistry with Drs.
Pollock & Finch, of Cleveland, in 1859. He
commenced the practice of his chosen pro-
fession in Cleveland, Olv'o, in 1859, and re-
mained at that place for four years. In
1 87 1 he came to Greenville, where he opened
an office and has since successfully engaged
in practice, being one of the oldest dentists
of Darke county in point of continuous serv-
ice. He keeps well abreast with tbe times,
is progressive in his methods and justly
596
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
merits the liberal patronage which he re-
ceives. Socially as well as professionally he
is a man of prominence in the community,
and is well liked by all who know him. He
is a member of Ithaca Lodge, No. 245, F.
& A. M., of Arcanum, Darke county.
December 1, 1857, Dr. Bolles was united
in marriage with Miss Arabella Finch, of
Medina county, Ohio, a daughter of Lewis
and Mary (Garrett) Finch. By this union
were born two daughters, namely : Clara,
May 21, 1858, wife of James Helm, by whom
she has a little daughter, Adda Bell ; and
Ina May, born May 8, 1878, now a success-
ful teacher in the public schools of Green-
ville.
W. A. LAYER, M. D.
Careful preparation for the practice of
medicine and marked devotion to the duties
of his profession have gained Dr. Layer en-
viable prestige in the ranks of the medical
fraternity in Darke county. He is now prac-
ticing in Hillgrove and his patronage is large
and lucrative. He was born in this county
October 28, 1868, his parents being George
and Elizabeth (Niswinger) Layer. His fa-
ther was a native of Pennsylvania, born in
Lancaster county April 1, 1837, and was
a son of Peter Layer, whose birth also oc-
curred in the Keystone state. In 1S40 the
grandfather came to Ohio with his family,
locating where the town of Painter now
stands. He followed farming and made
his home in Darke county for a few years,
but long before the town of Bradford was
laid out he removed to Miami county, where
he spent his remaining days, passing away
in June, 1883. He married Hannah Miller,
who died in March, 1893, an(i tnev were the
parents of seven sons and two daughters,
who reached years of maturity, while all
are still living with the exception of the
eldest son.
George Layer, the father of the Doc-
tor, was the fifth son and was three years
of age when brought by his parents to Darke
county. He acquired his education in the
common schools and remained at home until
he had reached the age of twenty-six, when
he was married. Until 1870 he continued to
live in Darke county, operating rented land.
In that year he lost his wife and with his
eldest son he went to Miami county, spend-
ing two and a half years in his father's home.
On the expiration of that period he returned
to this county, but after four years again
went to Miami county, where he has since
maintained his abode. His first wife was
Elizabeth, the daughter of John and Susan
Niswinger, of Darke county. Her father
came to the Buckeye state from Virginia and
her mother was a native of Montgomery
county, Ohio, her maiden name being War-
ner. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Layer
three children were born : Harvey J., whose
birth occurred Octol>er 17, 1864, is now a
general merchant at Bradford, Miami coun-
ty ; Susella, Avho was born October 15, 1866,
and resides at Arcanum, Darke county; and
W. A., who is the subject of this review.
The mother died in August, 1870, and in
1873 Mr. Layer, the father, married Mrs.
Stauffer, whose maiden name was Landis.
She was born in Montgomery county and by
her second marriage has one child, Lydia,
who was born January 1, 1875, and is now
the wife of William Brown, of Miami coun-
ty. Mr. Layer votes with the Democracy,
but has never been active in political affairs,
and is a member of the German Baptist
church.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Wi
After the death of his mother Dr. Layer
made his home with Henry Swank, an uncle,
with whom he remained until his father re-
turned from Miami county, at which time
he went hack to his home. He attended the
district schools until sixteen years of age,
when he went to Kansas, where he continued
for two and a half years. On reaching home
he became a student in the Bradford high
school, where he pursued his studies until
1891, when he was graduated, having com-
pleted the course. He next went to Lebanon,
Ohio, and entered the National Normal Uni-
versity, pursuing a preparatory course of
eighteen months with the intention of taking
up the study of medicine. On the expira-
tion of that period he went to Baltimore,
Maryland, and matriculated in the Baltimore
Medical College, completing a full three-
years course in that institution, being grad-
uated in April, 1895. His studies had been
directed by Professor Holbrook at Lebanon
and in Baltimore by Professor Johnson,
teacher of surgery, and Professor Street,
teacher of medicine. Among his other in-
structors were Professor Rhenling, teacher
of surgery of the eye ; Professor Brinton ;
Professor Merrick, who lectured on diseases
and treatment of the nose, throat and chest ;
Professor Samuel T. Earl, who lectured on
intestinal obstruction ; and Professor Penni-
men, who was a teacher of chemistry. His
studies were also directed by Professor
Ames ; Professor John Blake, teacher of sur-
gery; A. C. Pole, teacher of anatomy; Pro-
fessor H. P. Ellis, teacher of materia medica ;
and Professor Charles G. Hill, whose in-
struction concerned nervous and mental dis-
eases. In June, 1895, after being thus care-
fully prepared for practice, Dr. Layer lo-
cated at Macedon, Mercer county, Ohio, and
after eight months took up his abode at Hill-
grove, where he has since engaged in prac-
tice, meeting with creditable success.
On the 20th of October, 1897, the Doc-
tor was united in marriage to Miss Estella
White, a daughter of Ernest and Mollie
White. Her father was born in Preble coun-
ty, Ohio, and for thirty years has been a resi-
dent of Darke county. His wife is a daugh-
ter of Jesse Cox. Dr. and Mrs. Layer reside
in a beautiful home, which is noted for its
hospitality and good cheer. The Doctor is
a Democrat and belongs to Invincible Lodge,
No. 84, K. of P.. of Union City, Indiana.
His wife is a member of the German Re-
formed church of Hillgrove.
Dr. Layer finds in the faithful discharge
of each day's duties inspiration and encour-
agement for the labors of the next, and has
already gained in his profession a standing
that many an older practitioner might well
envy.
WILLIAM II. SHERRY.
William H. Sherry was horn in York
township, Darke county, December 12, 1864,
and has always been connected with the ag-
ricultural interests of his community. His
father, Lewis Sherry, was a native of Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, born near German-
town, and throughout his active life was
connected with farming, save for two years
passed in Versailles as a grain merchant.
He obtained a good education and met suc-
cess in his business endeavors. About
1850 he came to Darke county and per-
formed a prominent part in the work of re-
claiming its wild lands. His life was well
spent and honorable, and commended him
to the uniform regard of those with whom
Ik- was associated. His political support
was given the Democracy, and upon its ticket
598
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
he was frequently elected justice of the peace,
holding the position for many years. So-
cially he was connected with the Masonic
fraternity at Versailles and was buried with
Masonic honors. He was lung a devoted
member of the Evangelical Lutheran church,
and when his life's labors were ended on the
.20th of January, i8y8. when he was fifty-
nine years of aee, his remains were interred
in the Lutheran cemeterv in York township.
There a beautiful monument has been erect-
ed to his memory. His widow still sur-
vives him, and is living in this county with
her daughter, Mrs. Oliver. She is a lady
ol high Christian character, and in the minds
of her children instilled lessons of upright-
ness, honesty and industry. In her family
were three children: Alwilda. the wife of
Frank Oliver, a farmer of York township;
William; and Samuel, who is a merchant of
Versailles. He married Minerva Wilson,
and resides in that city.
William H. Sherry remained with his
parents until he had attained his majority,
and the public school system afforded him
his educational privileges. He has always
been a tiller of the soil, and is a practical and
enterprising agriculturist, whose well-di-
rected efforts have brought to him good
financial returns. He now owns eighty
acres of land, the greater part of which is
under a high state of cultivation. The soil
is rich and is especially adapted to the rais-
ing of corn, wheat and tobacco, of which
Mr. Sherry obtains good crops and thus an-
nually adds to his income. He has excel-
lent buildings and other improvements upon
his place, and everything about the farm is
neat and thrifty in appearance.
On the 29th of August, 1886, Mr. Sherry
was married to Miss Ellen L. Longcreek,
whose birth occurred in -German town, Mont-
gomery county, November 13. 1864, her par-
ents being Lewis and Susan (Zechar) Long-
creek, and during her early girlhood she
came with them to Darke county, where she
has spent the greater part of her life. By
her marriage she became the mother of five
children, four sons and one daughter, name-
ly: Rilla May, Russell R., Homer, Law-
rence and Chelcie O. It is the intention of
the parents to give their children good edu-
cational privileges and thus lay the founda-
tion for successful careers in later life. Po-
litically Mi". Sherry is a Democrat, and has
warmly advocated the party principles since
casting his first vote for President Cleveland.
He has been elected a delegate to the county
conventions, and has served as township
treasurer of York township, filling the posi-
tion in an acceptable and creditable manner.
He has also served for seven years as school
director and does all in his power to pro-
mote the educational interests of his com-
munity. He and his wife hold member-
ship in the Christian church at Brock, and
have contributed liberally to its support, also
aiding largely in the erection of the house of
worship. Well known in Darke county,
they have a large circle of friends and are
classed among the representative farming
people of their locality.
GEORGE SHIELDS.
George Shields, a practical and enter-
prising agriculturist of Van Buren town-
ship, owns and cultivates two hundred and
ninety-five acres of land, constituting one
of the valuable and highly improved farms
of the locality. He was born upon this
place. June 1. 1838. and on the paternal side
is of Irish descent. His grandfather, Pat-
rick Shields, was horn in Ireland about 1776,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
509
and was a boy of five years when lie came to
the United States with his parents, landing
in Xew York. Later the family settled in
Kentucky, where his parents are supposed
to have died. When a young man he came
to Preble county, Ohio, where he entered
land, and in the midst of the wilderness
made for himself a home. He enlisted in
the war of 1812 under General Harrison,
and carried important dispatches, passing
through Cincinnati when that place con-
tained but two log cabins. He married, and
his first wife died in Preble county, and he
later wedded Salina Smith. While living
in Preble county he purchased land in Van
Buren township, Darke county, on which
he located after his second marriage, and for
six years conducted a tavern at what was
called Sampson. Later he moved to De
Lisle, where he died, and his wife died at
the home of a daughter in Darke county.
Their children were : Isaac, the father of
our subject; Rachel, who married William
Neely and died in Arcanum ; Abraham, who
married Nancy Price and died in Greenville;
Sarah, who married John Dyninger and died
in Preble county ; a daughter, who married
Tice Sailor and died in Preble county; Pat-
rick, who married Elizabeth Guilder and died
in the same county; and Samuel, who mar-
ried and also died in Preble count}-.
Isaac Shields was born in Preble coun-
ty, in 181 5, and there he grew to manhood
and married Elizabeth Rusk, also a native
of Preble county, where they continued to
make their home until after the birth of two
of their children. They then came to Darke
county, Mr. Shields purchasing eighty acres
of land in Van Buren township from his
father, only two acres of which had been
cleared and a rough log cabin and stable
erected thereon. To the further improve-
ment and cultivation of his place he at once
turned his attention, and as his financial re-
sources increased he added to his landed
possessions until he had five hundred acres.
As a citizen he always took an active and
commendable interest in public affairs, and
supported first the Whig and later the Re-
publican parties. He died upon his farm
in 1880, at the age of sixty-five years, his
wife in 1887, at the age of sixty-seven. In
the family of this worthy couple were thir-
teen children, concerning whom we make
the following observations: Abraham
married Salina Smith and died in Van Bu-
ren township ; Patrick married Jane Brown,
and lives in Greenville; Mary is the wife of
Alfred Townsend, of Van Buren township;
Matilda is the wife of John Roll, of the
same township ; George, our subject, is next
in order of birth; William is represented on
another page of this volume; Isaac, a vet-
eran of the civil war, married Ellen Weaver
and lives in Van Buren township; Sarah
Jane is the wife of Jesse Smith, of Dayton,
Ohio; Isabelle is the wife of Isaac Allread,
of Van Buren township; Alfred married
Amanda Jobes and died in that township;
Elizabeth died young; and two died in in-
fancy.
George Shields did not have the advan-
tages of an education, much of his early life
being devoted to the arduous labors of the
farm. He assisted his father in clearing the
land, and continued to aid in its operation un-
til he entered the army during the dark days
of the Rebellion. At Greenville, in Au-
gust, 1 86 1, he enlisted in Company G, Forty-
fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was
under the command of Captain Xewkirk,
Colonel Wood and Colonel Gilbert. He
drove a team a part of the time, handled
trains and hunted forage. At Beverly,
600
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
West Virginia, he was captured and held a
prisoner in the Pemherton House, Rich-
mond, for thirty-three days, at the end of
which time lie was paroled and came home
on a furlough. He had re-enlisted at Straw-
berry Plains as a veteran in the Eighth Ohio
Cavalry, and remained in the service until
the close of the war, being honorably dis-
charged in June, 1865.
For fifteen years Mr. Shields rented the
old home farm .and after the death of his
father purchased it. He has added to his
property from time to time until he now has
two hundred and ninety-five acres of land
in Van Buren township, and has made great
improvements upon his place. He is one
of the most skillful and thorough farmers
of his community, and is a man of good busi-
ness ability and sound judgment, and to
these characteristics may be attributed his
success in life. In his political views he is a
Republican.
On the 4th of March, 1850, Mr. Shields
was united in marriage with Miss Mary
Taylor, daughter of the late William Tay-
lor, of Franklin township, and to them were
born three daughters, namely: Eleanora,
wife of John Jobes, of Van Buren township;
Susan, wife of Joshua Poe, of the same
township; and one who died in infancy.
THOMAS A. SHIVES.
• The subject of this sketch is one of the
progressive agriculturists of Brown town-
ship, and his is also the distinction of being
an honored veteran of the war of the Rebel-
lion. All praise and gratitude is due the
brave men who offered their services, and
lives, if need be, in defense of their glo-
rious land of united thought and liberty.
Mr. Shives traces his lineage to the sturdy
old Pennsylvania German stock, so notable
for integrity, industry and frugality. Mr.
Shives was born in Bedford county, of the
Keystone state, on the 25th of April, 1836,
being the only child born to John Shives,
who was likewise a Pennsylvanian by birth,
the latter's father having been a native of
Maryland, where he was educated. The
subject of this review has in his possession
an old letter which was written with a quill
pen, before envelopes were invented, the
letter being folded up for mailing like an
old-fashioned thumb-paper such as the boys-
and girls used to make in the old-time spell-
ing books to avoid soiling the same. He
has also one of the finest collections of In-
dian relics that the historian has seen in
Darke county, the display including stone-
darts, arrow-heads, knives, etc. These in-
teresting specimens have been found on his
estate, and it is supposed that an Indian bat-
tle occurred on the grounds — possibly at
the time when "Mad Anthony" Wayne
passed over the old Fort Recovery road,
which was about one mile west of Mr.
Shives' residence. He also has a picture of
William Henry Harrison, painted on glass,
the work being done during the campaign
of 1840.
Mr. Shives was but two years of age-
when he was brought by his mother and
grandfather to Perry county, Ohio, the jour-
ney being made overland with team and
wagon, which were ferried across the Ohio
river at Wheeling. On March 20, 1851,
our subject made his advent in Darke coun-
ty, locating in York township, where he re-
mained until the fall of 1854, when he came-
to Brown township, where he has made his
home for nearly half a century, engaged in
farming and known as one of the representa-
tive citizens of the community. He was
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
601
reared to the trade of a carpenter and joiner,
to which line of occupation he gave his at-
tention for the period of sixteen years, hav-
ing received a liberal education for the day
in the schools of his native state, the first
institution of learning which he attended
having been a subscription school, so com-
mon in the early days. The first school he
attended in Darke county was in York town-
ship, and a description of the same will be
appropriate in this connection. The building
was about twenty feet square, constructed
of unhewed logs, the floor being of punch-
eon and the seats of split logs, with wooden
pins for legs, while the desk for the "big"
boys and girls was a broad board supported
by wooden pins inserted in the side wall,
the boys being placed upon the large, high
seats, which had no backs. The mode of
punishment was chastisement with the birch
or hickory rod, which was wielded vigor-
ously, as occasion demanded, and our sub-
ject can personally testify as to the adequacy
of this primitive method of correction, while
for minor offenses the old-fashioned dunce-
block was brought into requisition. Under
these primitive advantages Mr. Shives ac-
quired such knowledge as to make him eligi-
ble for pedagogic work, and he taught for
three terms in the schools of the county.
Mr. Shives is the architect of his own
fortune, having won for himself a marked
success in temporal affairs, through his own
industry and effective methods. He started
out in life upon his own responsibility as
soon as he attained his majority, and soon es-
tablished for himself a home, by choosing
a companion for life's journey. March 12,
1863, he was united in marriage to Miss
Dona M. Clawson, and four sons and seven
daughters blessed this union. Of the seven
who are living at the oresent time we offer
the following brief data : Phcebe Ellen, who
was a successful teacher, became the wife of
Augustus Huddle, who is a successful
farmer of Brown township; Charles, who
is also a farmer of this township, married
Miss Gertrude Poling; Emma is the wife of
J. C. Poling, of Allen township, who is a
successful teacher, being a graduate of the
college at Ada, Ohio, while she herself is a
graduate of the Ansonia high school, and
did effective work as a teacher for eight
year; Etta is the wife of Enos Sipple, a
farmer of Brown township; Iva R., who is
at home with her parents, passed the Boxwell
examination seven years ago, which entitles
her to admission to any high school in the
county; Estella, who attended the Ansonia
high school, is at home ; and Lowell Clawson,
the youngest, is in school and making ex-
cellent progress in his work.
Mr. Shives was born in Darke county,
August 24, 1845, being the daughter of
Aaron and Deziah (Vail) Clawson, the for-
mer of whom was born in Boundbrook, Mid-
dlesex county, New Jersey, August 23, 181 2.
Mr. Clawson moved to Washington town-
ship, Darke county, in 1837. Politically he
was a Whig, but of strong anti-slavery sen-
timent, leading off with the Free-soil party
and casting the first Free-soil vote in the
tcwnship. He was also among the first to
engage in the cause of temperance, begin-
ning with the Washingtonians, advancing
with the Sons of Temperance, and lastly
was a firm Prohibitionist. For a half cent-
ury he was prominently identified with the
history of Darke county, and here he died
on the 31st of March, 1888. Of his ten
children only three are now living — Mrs.
Shives; Phcebe, a resident of Jay county,
Indiana, is the widow of Benjamin Miller,
who served in the civil war, as a member of
602
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Company G, Eighth Ohio Cavalry; and Eli-
liu is a prosperous agriculturist of Brown
township, this county.
Mr. Sliives did valiant service in the war
of the Rebellion, enlisting- in Company K.
Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under
Captain Newkirk. At President Lincoln's
lirst call for volunteers he proffered his ser-
>, enlisting for the three-months ser-
vice at Greenville, this county, and heino-
sent with his regiment to Camp Dennison.
He received his discharge August 17. 1861,
and forthwith re-enlisted in the one hundred-
days service, Its a member of the Ohio Na-
tional Guards, while on the 2d of May. 1864,
he again volunteered in the United States
service and received his honorable and final
discharge September 2, 1864. He partici-
pated in the Lynchburg raid, and was always
at the post of duty, ready to respond to any
service required of him as a true soldier of
the republic.
In politics our subject is a stanch Re-
publican, having cast his first presidential
vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has fre-
quently represented his township in the
county conventions of his party. He is a
member of Ansonia Lodge. No. 48S. A. F.
& A. M.. and of the G. A. R. Post. Xo. 632.
He began life as a poor man. but by indus-
try and perseverance, with the effective aid
of his estimable wife, to whom he accords a
large quota of credit, he has accumulated a
nice estate of eighty acres, well improved
and under a high state of cultivation. When
they came into possession of their present
homestead it was given over to the virgin
forests, but the ax has laid low the forest
monarchs. and the fine fields and meadows
bear perpetual testimony to the energy and
arduous labor of our subject, who now has
one of the fine places of the township. Mr.
Shives and his family are devoted members
of the Christian church, and our subject has
been liberal in his contributions to Christian
v. oik. having given financial aid in the erec-
tion of six different churches in this vicinity.
Mr. and Mrs. Shives are sterling citizens of
Brown township, and here are held in the
highest esteem by all who know them, and
we are glad to accord them this tribute in
the genealogical record of their county.
ABRAHAM RHOADES.
Among the wealthy ami influential citi-
zens of Darke county. Ohio, is found the
subject of this review, Abraham Rhoades, a
retired farmer living at his pleasant rural
home on section 4, Greenville township. He
was born in Perry township. Montgomery
county. Ohio, eight miles west of Dayton,
February 8, 1832. His father was Jacob
Rhoades. a native of Bedford county, Penn-
sylvania, who, when seven years old. moved
with his parents to Montgomery county,
Ohio. Grandfather Rhoades, also named
Jacob, and also a native of Pennsylvania,
on coming to Ohio settled on a farm of one
hundred and sixty acres, located six miles
west of Dayton, where he developed his
land and passed the rest of his life. On be-
coming of age the younger Jacob Rhoades
entered eighty acres of land in that county,
married there and settled down to farming,
and in Montgomery county spent his life
and died, his age at death being seventy-six
years. He was a Christian man. a member
of the Lutheran church, and was highly re-
spected in the community in which he lived.
His first wife, whose maiden name was Bar-
bara Souders, was a native of Montgomery
county and a daughter of Peter Souders,
who was of Pennsvlvania birth and Scotch
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
603
descent, his father having been born in Scot-
land. Mrs. Barbara Rhoades died at the age
of forty-five years, she bore her husband
eleven children. By his second wife Mr.
Rhoades had five children. Abraham was
the third-burn in the first family. His
brothers are : John, deceased ; Noah, a resi-
dent of Montgomery county. Ohio ; Jao >b,
deceased; Peter, of Montgomery county;
Jonas, deceased ; and Hiram, of Darke coun-
ty. His sisters are as follows : Katie, the wife
i if Robert Surber, of Darke county; Barbara.
deceased : Malinda. the wife of Henry Smith,
of Darke county. The members of the
family by the second marriage are : Marga-
ret, the wife of John Tompson, deceased;
David, deceased ; Henry, of Montgomery
county; Amanda, the wife of Jefferson La-
mon, of Montgomery county; and Daniel,
deceased.
Abraham Rhoades was reared to man's
estate in his native county, with very limited
opportunities for obtaining an education.
Indeed, it may be said that the whole of his
education has been obtained in the broad
school of experience. In 1854 he came to
Darke county, making the journey 1 in
carrying an ax and an old carpet-bag, which
o ntained his earthly possessions. Arrived
here, he began cutting cordwood, and from
this small beginning laid the foundation of
his present fortune. He soon bought one
hundred acres of land, only two acres of
which were cleared, and in the purchase of
this property he went in debt eleven hundred
dollars. By faithful, honest toil he trans-
formed this piece of wild land into a well-
cultivated farm, with a comfortable and at-
tractive home and other good buildings
thereon, and not only paid off the debt that
he had contracted but also bought adjoin-
ing land, seventy-two acres, which he. has
likewise brought under cultivation. His
life has been one of constant endeavor. A
hard worker and a good manager, he has
made his own success.
Mr. Rhoades was married in 1856 to
Mary Pitzenberger, a native of Montgom-
ery county, Ohio, who came to Darke county
in 1850. She departed this life June 24.
1894. Her children are as follows : Jacob,
who married Mary Lynn and now resides in
Indiana; Matilda, the wife of Crist Appen-
zeller; Elizabeth, the wife of William Pit-
senberger, of Columbus, Ohio; Stephen,
who married Clara Stephens; and Curtis,
who married Charity Mong. Mr. Rhoades
has given to each of his children six thou-
sand dollars, and comfortably settled them
i:". life, at the same time retaining for him-
self an abundance of this world's goods. In
addition to his farm above referred to, he
has valuable property in Greenville and stock
in the First National Bank at that place.
He gives his support, politically, to the
Republican party.
GEORGE W. RAHN,
The history of a state or nation is best
told in the lives and deeds of those who
have conferred dignity and honor upon so-
ciety, and a record of this nature best indi-
cates the true annals of the historic old
county with which this compilation has to
do. In thus considering the lives of the
representative citizens of Darke county the
subject of this particular review will need
no special introduction, for he is widely and
favorably known throughout this so
Mr. Rahn is a native of the Buckeye state.
and of the county in which he now lives,
having been born in Darke county. Adams
township. January 25, 1849, being the fourth
601
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in order of birth of the two sons and three
daughters of Levi and Amanda (Lightner)
Rahn, and one of the four who are yet liv-
ing— Josephine, wife of Chipmaii Coppess,
of Randolph county, Indiana; Francina, wife
of Wesley Armstrong, of Greenville. Ohio;
George W., the subject of this sketch ; and
Addison C, a dairyman of Greenville, this
county. The name Rahn is of German deri-
vation, and our subject may well take pride
in tracing bis lineage to the sturdy Teutonic
stock which so early became conspicuously
identified with the history of Pennsylvania.
Levi Rahn was born in Adams county,
Pennsylvania, about the year 1820, and he
was reared to the life of a farmer. It should
be mentioned in this connection that there
were many of the Pennsylvania Germans
who came to Darke county and colonized as
pioneers in what is now Adams township.
As they came from Adams county, Pennsyl-
vania, and from near the city or town of
Gettysburg, they concluded to name their
new township in honor of their old home
and to confer upon the village of Gettysburg
itc title in honor of the county seat of Adams
county. Levi Rahn came with his wife and
three children from their Pennsylvania home
to Darke county in 1847, making the trip
overland with wagons, in which were trans-
ported the little stock of household goods,
and covering the long and weary journey of
six hundred miles, through the unbroken
forests which then marked much of this sec-
tion of the Union, the work of reclaiming
Darke county having but just begun. When
the Rahn family arrived in Darke county
they had two horses and their wagon, with
a few necessary household goods, and about
five dollars in cash. The Germans are well
known for their industry, frugality and
pragmatic ability, and Levi Rahn showed the
typical thrift of the race, working diligently
and eventually becoming the owner of one
hundred and ninety acres of valuable land
in Darke county. In national affairs he
supported the principles of the Democratic
party, although at the time of the Rebellion,
when the integrity of the nation was threat-
ened, he voted for Lincoln. He and his
wife were members of the German Reformed
church.
George W. Rahn of this sketch has been
reared and educated in Darke county, which
has been his home for more than half a cent-
ury. He is what may be well termed as a
self-educated man, as his educational advan-
tages were perforce limited in the little pio-
neer township where he was reared, and like
most of the other boys of the time and place
he had soon to lend his aid in clearing away
the forests and reclaiming the land for cul-
tivation. He may thus be consistently con-
sidered as one of the founders and build-
ers of the progressive and finely-improved
county of which he is now an honored citi-
zen. He remained at home until the age of
twenty, and in starting out for himself had
to rely solely upon his own industry and
judgment to accomplish his purpose in life.
He was married to Pauline Bailey Novem-
ber 26, 1872, and of this union two sons and
six daughters were born, all living except
one: Alera is the wife of John A. Felt-
man, a farmer of Jackson township, and they
have two children, George R. and Lucille;
Emma D. is the wife of Harry C. Martin, of
Brown township, and their children are
Harold and Fredrick; Vermille M. gradu-
ated in the Union City high school, as a
member of the class pf 1899, and she is now
a successful teacher in Darke county, being
also an excellent musical student ; Hattie E.,
of the class of 1900, in the Union City high
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
G05
school, is also a musical student and has
shown proficiency in the study of languages ;
Ida Opal is now in the eighth grade of the
public schools ; Georgiana is in the seventh
grade; and Charles R., the youngest, is in
the fourth grade.
Mrs. Rahn was born in Brown township,
this county, December 25, 18^2, the daugh-
ter of James and Mary Anil (Teegarden)
Bailey. There were ten children in the fam-
ily, of whom only three are living: Mrs.
Rahn; Anna, wife of Levi Hopper, proprie-
tor of the Farmers Hotel, at Greenville; and
Stephen H., who is a blacksmith and wagon-
maker at Union City. James Bailey was
born in Perry county, Ohio, June 12, 1814,
and died on New Year's day, 1891. In ear-
lier years he was a carpenter and joiner, but
eventually devoted his attention to agricul-
ture. He was originally an old-line Whig,
but identified himself with the Republican
party upon its organizaiton, being an ardent
abolitionist and an admirer of President Lin-
coln. He was a deacon of the Christian
church for thirty years. The mother of
Mrs. Rahn died when the latter was but
seven years old.
When our subject and his wife began
their wedded life they rented land in Green-
ville township, and their excellent success
has been conserved through their ability and
tenacity of purpose. Their first land was a
tract of eighty acres of timber and swamp
land, in Jackson township, with no build-
ings and scarcely any improvements, the
property having been willed to Mrs. Rahn.
Their first purchase was a fifty-acre tract,
for which they assumed an indebtedness rep-
resenting more than seventy per cent of its
valuation, but by economy and wise man-
agement they met all obligations and at-
tained the success which was so justly their
due. Their first home was a log cabin, and
today they have a beautiful brick residence
of two stories, with ample attic and base-
ment, which was erected in 1879, and own
two hundred and forty acres of valuable
land, lying in Brown and Jackson town-
ships. In 1885 Mr. Rahn erected a fine
barn, and the entire estate gives evidence of
thrift and prosperity, while against the same
there is not a dollar of indebtedness. Air.
Rahn has in his possession the old deed of
the Bailey land purchased in Jackson town-
ship, the same having been executed August
1. 1838, and signed by President Van Buren.
Our subject is a stanch Democrat, hav-
ing cast his first presidential vote for Horace
Greeley, in 1872, and he has represented his
party in various conventions He has
served with gratifying success as trustee
of his township, being chosen as his own
successor. In 1899 ne was elected land ap-
praiser of Brown township, and is the pres-
ent incumbent. He and his wife are de-
voted members of the Christian church,
holding membership in what is known as
the Teegarden chapel, in the erection of
which edifice Mr. Rahn was a member of the
building committee. Their daughter Ver-
mille is superintendent of the Sunday school.
Mr. and Mrs. Rahn are representatives of
old and honored pioneer families of the
county, and on this score, as well as by rea-
son of their own beneficent and kindly lives,
they merit full recognition in a work of this
nature, and this tribute we are glad to ac-
cord.
THOMAS C. MILLER.
Thomas C. Miller, a member of the
Darke county bar, was born in West Mil-
ton, Miami county, February 25, 1841, upon
606
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
a farm. His father, Samuel Miller, was a
native of Virginia, born in Charleston, in
1801. He learned the miller's trade and fol-
lowed that pursuit for many years. In
early manhood he removed to Ohio, and in
this state was married to Margaret Bow-
man, a native of Chillicothe, Ohio. Subse-
quently they removed to Miami county,
where Mr. Miller followed his chosen voca-
tion for man_\- years. In i860 he came with
his family to Darke count}", locating in Ar-
canum, where he remained for a number
of years, and then returned to Miami coun-
ty, where his death occurred in 1874. His
wife, who survived him for some time, died
in Greenville in 1890.
Thomas C. Miller, whose name forms
the caption of this sketch, was the only child
born to his parents. He spent his boyhood
days in the vicinity of his native town and
pursued his education in the common
schools, and afterward assisted his father in
the work of the farm and the operation of
the mill ; but, not content to devote his ener-
gies to industrial pursuits, he determined to
enter professional life and to this end began
reading law under the direction of Hon. E.
P. Kellogg, of West Milton, now a promi-
nent lawyer of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Mil-
ler was admitted to the bar at Trov, this
state, and began practice in Bedford, Ohio,
where he remained for twelve years. On
the expiration of that period he removed to
Greenville, where he has since devoted his
attention assiduously to the practice of his
profession and the duties it involves. He is
recognized as one of the leading lawyers
of the Greenville bar, and his devotion to
his clients' interests is proverbial.
Mr. Miller has been twice married, and
by the first union had three children: Perry
E., William E. and Lemuel E. His present
wife bore the maiden name of Miss Anna
Gundell. She was born in Darke county,
was a daughter of Benjamin Gundell, an
old resident of this county, and at the time
of their marriage was the widow of Henry
Beard.
During the civil war Mr. Miller mani-
fested his loyalty to his country by enlisting
in the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Vol-
unteer Infantry, under the command of
Captain Jason Young and Colonel J. War-
ren Keifer. The regiment was ordered to
Virginia, and in the south he faithfully
served until 1865. He participated in a
number of engagements and skirmishes, and
also spent some time in the hospital, and
when the war was ended received an honor-
able discharge, in July, 1865. He is a mem-
ber of the Frizelle Post, No. 227, G. A. R.,
and is as true and faithful to the duties of
citizenship in times of peace as when he fol-
lowed the starry banner upon the battle-
fields of the south. His life has marked a
steady advance in his profession, and by his
careful preparation of cases, combined with
a keen power of analysis, he has won many
notable forensic combats.
JOHN HOSCHOUER.
A representative of one of the pioneer
families of Brown township, Mr. Hoschouer
lias been a resident of Darke county since
his birth, which occurred on the 18th of
May, 1846. His father, Isaac Hoschouer,
was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylva-
nia. May 13, 1809, and died December 13.
1884. He spent the early years of his life
in the state of his nativity, was descended
from one of the old Pennsylvania Dutch
families and could speak the German tongue.
He received a common school education.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
C07
which, however, was quite meager, and was
reared to habits of industry and economy.
Removing" to Ohio, he took up his abode
in Montgomery county, where he located
when Mansfield was a mere hamlet. The
trip was made across the country with teams,
and about 1833 he came to Darke county,
where he entered forty acres of land from
the government. This was a dense forest
tract, upon which not an improvement had
been made. Soon, however, he built a little
log cabin and as the years passed he added
to his property, extending the boundaries of
his farm until at the time of his death he
was the owner of three hundred and seventy
acres of land in Brown township. His politi-
cal support was given the Democracy, and
he was a strong advocate of Jacksonian prin-
ciples. In his early manhood he wedded
Catherine Hutchinson, who was born in
Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the
7th of June, 1807, and passed to her final
rest on the 13th of September, 1885. A
fond and indulgent mother, her influence for
good was marked among her children and by
all who knew her. She had four sons and
five daughters, and of the family five are yet
living, namely : Mary, the widow of Henry
Moore, of Fredonia, Kansas; Jackson, a
farmer who is married and lives in
Friend, Nebraska; Martha, wife of John
Gilbert, a resident farmer of Friend, Ne-
braska; John of this review; and Phebe,
the wife of John Routsong, who resides on
the old family homestead. Mr. Hoschouer
is now the only living male representative
of the family in Brown township.
No event of special importance occurred
to vary the monotony of life upon the farm
in his boyhood days. He began his educa-
tion in a little log school-house, 18x20 feet,
the seats being formed of saplings which
37
were hewed smooth on one side and placed
horizontally upon wooden pins, and across
pins inserted into the wall was laid a long
board which served as a writing desk for the
older scholars. The building was heated by
an immense fireplace, and the smoke made
its escape from a mud-and-stick chimney,
The schoolmaster was often more successful
in maintaining discipline by the aid of a
birch rod than in instructing the scholars
in the branches of English learning taught in
the common schools. The old-time "blue-
back elementary spelling book" and Ray's
arithmetic where used, and the school term
continued for about three months. Through-
out the remainder of the year Mr. Hosch-
ouer was engaged in the operation of the
home farm, in tilling the soil and harvesting
the crops. He remained with his parents
until they were called to the home beyond.
On the 2d of January, 1876, he wedded Miss
Jennie Young, one of Darke county's native
daughters. Her birth occurred February
3, 1855, her parents being Ebenezer Reed
and Sarah (Colby) Young. They had ten
children, five sons and five daughters, and all
are living with one exception. Of the nine
who survive eight are residents of Ohio,
one sister, Lydia, being the wife of Jackson
Hoschouer, of Friend, Nebraska. The fa-
ther of these children was born in Ohio,
May 9, 1820, and died about 1891. He
possessed natural mechanical ability and was
a carpenter and joiner by trade. His educa-
tion was obtained in the common schools.
For many years he was a resident of Allen
township, Darke county, and was known as
a reliable citizen. In politics he was a
stanch Democrat, and in religious belief a
Universalist. His wife, who was born in
Ohio, April II, 182S, and died in April,
1890, was also of the Universalist faith.
608
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Hos-
chouer rented the old family homestead, and
in 1880 purchased fifty-five acres of land,
going in deht for a part of it. His indus-
try and economy, however, have enabled
him to make all payments upon his prop-
erty, and to add to the farm until he is now
the owner of two hundred and seventy acres,
constituting one of the valuable farms of
Brown township. It extends into York
township also. He raises the crops best
adapted to this climate, and the well-tilled
fields are an indication of his careful super-
vision and .yield to him a golden tribute in
return for the care and labor he bestowed
upon them. The home of Mr. and Mrs.
Hoschouer was blessed with the presence of
eight children, six sons and two daughters,
and the living are: Myrtle, the wife of
Charles Harless, a tobacco-grower of York
township; William I., who has passed the
Boxwell examination, admitting him to any
high school in the county, but is now assist-
ing his father in the cultivation of the home
farm; Lewis F., who also aids his father;
and Jackson, Edward, John R. and Leland
C, who are all with their parents and are
making good progress in their school work.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoschouer have traveled
life's journey together for a quarter of a
century, sharing its joys and sorrows. They
are active in support of all measures which
contribute toward the intellectual and moral
development of the community. Both are
representatives of honored pioneer families,
and through this community are widely and
favorably known. Mr. Hoschouer is an ad-
vocate of Democracy, and has cast his bal-
lot for its presidential candidates since vot-
ing for Hon. Horatio Seymour in 1868. His
entire life has been devoted to the work of
the farm, and his practical and progressive
methods have resulted in bringing to him
creditable success, of which he is in every
way worthy.
THE DENISE FAMILY.
The Denise family is one of the most
prominent of the sturdy pioneer families of
Darke county. They came from Butler
county, Ohio, in the autumn of 1832 and set-
tled on a tract of one hundred acres of land
west of Greenville, a mile from the city hall
and on the Union City pike. At that time
the family consisted of the father, John S.
Denise, who was born in New Jersey, in
1803; his wife, who bore the maiden name
of Margaret M. Clark, was of Irish descent,
and was born in Warren county, Ohio, in
August, 1804; and their three . children :
William, born May 13, 1824; Aaron, Jan-
uary 16, 1825, and Eleanor, July 16, 1830.
At that early period there were only about
a dozen houses in Greenville, and the Union
City pike was only an Indian trail extending
as far as Hillgrove. There were two or
three houses and a tanyard at the latter place,
but Union City had not been founded. While
the determined couple were laboring to build
for themselves a home in the wilderness,
where Indians, bears, wolves and wild-cats
abounded and now and then the screams of
the panther were heard, five more children
were added to the family circle, and seven
of the eight children grew to mature years.
William married Miss Catherine Garber,
and after her death wedded Louisa Mc-
Clain. By their union there were six
children, four of whom are living and reside
with their parents in Dayton, Ohio. Elea-
nor became the wife of R. B. Farra, by whom
she had four children, two yet living. Mr.
Farra served for two years in the Mexican
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
G09
war, and for nine months in the civil war.
Charlotte is the wife of John S. Vantilburg,
and of their ten children four yet survive.
Margaret is the wife of Elijah McConnell
and the mother of two children. She and
her family reside at the corner of Fifth and
Devor streets in Greenville, Ohio. Jennie,
Obadiah and Aaron always made their home
with their parents.
The older children were sixteen and
eighteen years of age before any school-
houses were built in that sction of the coun-
try, so the education obtained from text-
books was very limited. Nature, however,
taught them the most essential lessons at
that period, the preservation of life. When
the farmers wanted to take their meager
wheat crop to mill it was necessary to drive
to Franklin, Warren county, or to Piqua,
to have it ground. Their corn was taken to
Coletown, where Samuel Cole, the father
of Joseph Cole, who lives near Nashville,
operated an old burr mill, now known as the
Weimer mill, run by Mathias Dean. The
customer was obliged to wait a whole day
for his grist, and while the miller attended
to the grinding the farmer had to watch be-
low so that the hounds, which were numer-
ous in every household, would not eat the
meal as fast as it was ground. Many times
when the father was too busy to ride to mill
the mother went to the field, gathered some
ears of corn and grated them to make mush
or bread for her family. They tell of a
voice crying around their lonely cabin one
dark night and what an effort it required to
keep Aaron from going out to the relief of
the helpless woman, as he supposed it was.
The man says with a perceptible nervous-
ness even at this late day, "It would have
been all up with me if I had, because the
cry was that of a hungry panther."
The greater part of the Denise farm was
at that time swamp land. The cabin of one
room was built of logs and had no floor or
chimney, while coverlets of the mother's
own spinning served for doors and win-
dows. Corn at that time was worth eight
cents a bushel and wheat forty cents a bushel.
Everything was primitive. Mrs. Margaret
McConnell now tells of a fright that she and
her sister Jennie exnerienced when they were
quite young. Having stolen a watermelon
they quietly made their way into the corn-
field to eat it unobserved, when they sud-
denly came upon a big black bear.
Loyal to the country which the family
had helped to transform from the wilderness
into homes of comparative peace and plenty,
the two sons, Obadiah and Aaron, answered
the call for volunteers at the beginning of
the civil war. Aaron enlisted in the For-
tieth Ohio Infantry in August, 1861, and
served with the company for three years,
after which he was transferred to the Fifty-
first Ohio Infantry, where he remained until
the close of the war, his services therefore
covering more than three years. He bea'13
as a memento of his army experience a shat-
tered thumb. On one occasion he had his arm
raised to shoot when a rebel ball fired from
the side of Lookout mountain broke the gun
to pieces in his hand and injured his thumb.
He was never arrested or in the guard house,
and was in the hospital only for one week.
On one occasion during his four years' ser-
vice he visited home, receiving a twenty-
seven days' furlough. Obadiah enlisted on
the 2d of August, 1862, in the Ninety-fourth
Ohio Infantry, where he served for nine
months, when he was transferred to the One
Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Regiment,
and from the latter was honorably dis-
charged on the 2d of September, 1864, owing'
610
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
to physical disability. He was in the hos-
pital for only a few days, preferring expos-
ure to the close hospital air.
The father of these children died April
25, 1852, and on the 24th of January, 1884,
thirty-two years later, the mother also passed
to the home beyond. In that year Obadiah
and Aaron rented the farm, comprising one
hundred acres of as good land as can be
found in Darke county, and with their sister
Jennie retired from active business life. On
the 4th of August, 1897, the sister died upon
the farm where she was born and had always
lived. On. the /th of October of the same
year the brothers and their sister, Mrs. Elea-
nor Farra, who had been a widow for some
years, and had returned to the old home,
removed to No. 618 East Third street, in
Greenville, where they are now living in the
enjoyment of a well-earned rest.
ELIHU WEAVER.
Numbered among the highly respected
citizens and representative farmers of Van
Buren township, Darke county, Ohio, is the
subject of this review. The family to which
he belongs was founded here by his grand-
father, Peter Weaver, a native of Virginia,
and a farmer by occupation, who on first
coming to Ohio located in Highland county,
but at an early day removed to Miami coun-
ty, where he cleared and improved a farm in
Newberry township. From there he moved
to Adams township, Darke county, and set-
tled on Greenville creek. His last days
w ere spent at the home of the father of our
subject, Henry F. Weaver, where he died,
May 15, 1848, aged eighty-two years. His
wife had died several years previously.
Henry F. Weaver was born in Rock-
bridge county, Virginia, and there married
Susanna G. Winters, also a native of the Old
Dominion. They came with his parents to
this state, and accompanied the family on
their removal from Highland county to
Miami county, and later to Darke county,
locating in Adams township, where the fa-
ther purchased one hundred and sixty acres
of land, mostly wild and unimproved. He
died upon that place November 10, 1865, at
the age of seventy-two years, and his wife
passed away December 18, 1866, aged
seventy-eight years, eight months and eight
days. Their children were : John, who
died in Bradford, Ohio; Andrew, a physi-
cian of Covington; Elijah, who died near
Rose Hill; Nancy, wife of Eli Reck, of Mis-
souri ; Betsey, wife of Samuel Hill, of Cov-
ington, Ohio; Eli, who died in boyhood;
Henry, who died at the age of twenty-eight
years; and Elihu, our subject.
Elihu Weaver was born on the old home-
stead on Stillwater river, Adams township,
Darke county, July 1, 1833, and during his
boyhood this region was wild and the schools
poor and quite a distance from his home.
His educational advantages were necessarily
limited, but for a time he pursued his studies
h: an old log school-house, one of his first
teachers being a Mr. Knowlton. When old
enough to be of any assistance he com-
menced to aid his father in clearing and im-
proving the farm, and remained with his
parents until their death. He was married
soon afterward and located upon his pres-
ent farm of seventy-one acres, then mostly
v ild land, on which was a hewed-log house.
To the further improvement and cultivation
of his place he has since devoted his ener-
gies, until to-day it is nearly all cleared and
under excellent cultivation. He is a stanch
advocate of free silver and Democratic prin-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
611
ciples, and is an earnest and consistent mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On the 14th of March, 1867, Mr. Weaver
married Miss Sarah Weaver, who, though
of the same name, was no relative. She
was born in Franklin township, Darke coun-
ty, January 15, 1845, ancl died April 14,
1879, aged thirty-three years, two months
and nineteen days. Her father, Adam
Weaver, emigrated to Ohio from Virginia
at an early day. To our subiect and his
wife were born two children : James Ed-
ward, born December 30, 1867, who mar-
ried Lizzie Strowbridge; and Harvey, born
January 15, 1874, wno married Elizabeth
Ludy, and lives in Ohio City, Ohio.
JOHN T. HIMES.
All honor is due to those loyal sons of
the republic who arc willing to go forth in
her defence when her integrity is menaced,
and there is no call which demands greater
fortitude and sacrifice than that of volun-
teers to serve their nation on the field of
battle. One of the honored citizens of
Darke county, and one whose is the distinc-
tion of being a veteran of the great war of
the Rebellion, is the gentleman whose name
forms the caption of this article, and it is
clearly incumbent that we accord to him due
recognition in this work.
Mr. Himes is a native of Montgomery
county, Ohio, having been born near the city
of Dayton, May 14, 1839, being the eldest
of the eight children — three sons and five
daughters — born to Thomas J. and Elizabeth
(Ewry) Himes. Six of the children are
yet living: John T., subject of this sketch;
Mary M., wife of Nelson D. Hall, of Day-
ton, Ohio; Martha E., of Dayton; Nancy J.,
wife of Thomas J. Minton, of Eaton, Ohio;
Rose Ann, wife of Richard Edwards, of In-
dianapolis, Indiana; and Laura C, wife of
Wilson Minton, of Covington, Ohio. The
father was born in Ohio in 1807, and he died
December 7, 1872. He was a weaver by
trade, and passed his entire life in Ohio,
where he was duly accredited a position as a
pioneer. He was an expert weaver, and in
the family are still extant some fine speci-
mens of his work. Politically he was first
a Whig and later a Republican, while relig-
iously he was originally a member of the
New Light denomination, though at the
time of his death he held to the faith of
the United Brethren. He was interred in
Montgomery county. The mother of our
subject was born in Montgomery county, and
she died at about the aee of forty-six.
John T. Himes passed the first thirty
years of his life in his native county, his
early educational advantages having been
very limited in extent. He began to earn
wages at the early age of twelve years, re-
ceiving twenty-five cents for a full day's
work. He started at the bottom of the lad-
der, and has toiled early and late to earn for
himself the success which has come as a
just reward for his efforts. The first dol-
lar which he earned seemed an enormous
sum to him. At the age of sixteen he was
paid six dollars a month, and his first work
was as a plowman, though he was not a
farmer's son. He continued as a wage
earner until he reached the age of twenty-
six, and thirteen dollars per month was the
maximum pay received.
At the outbreak of the war of the Rebel-
lion Mr. Himes enlisted in Company H,
One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry, at Dayton, an organization
previously known as the National Guards,
and the date of his enlistment in the United
612
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
States service was May 2, 1864. The regi-
ment was sent to Baltimore, Maryland, and
assigned to guard duty at the forts, the old
soldiers being placed in the ranks. He was
one who was willing to sacrifice his life in
defense of his country if need be. He served
his allotted term, receiving his honorable
discharge August 25, 1864.
Mr. Himes has been twice married, his
union with Miss Mary R. Emick having
been solemnized December 7, 1865. Of the
two sons and three daughters born of this
union three survive : Anna B., wife of David
Reigel, of Dawn, Ohio; Lydia E., wife of
William John, of Dayton, Ohio. Our sub-
ject was called to mourn the death of his
devoted wife on the 13th of February, 1877,
and for his second wife he chose Mrs. Mary
F. (Risch) Reed, their marriage being cele-
brated March 5, 1878. Mrs. Himes is a na-
tive of Boston, Indiana, where she was born
May 10, 1835, a daughter of John and
Catharine (Hapner) Patterson. She became
a resident of Preble county, Ohio, when a
child of six years, and there she passed the
greater portion of her life. She had been
twice married prior to her union with our
subject. Her first husband was Christian
Risch, and of their union two sons and two
daughters were born, of whom only one is
now living — Inez F., who has received a
good education in the public schools, and
who is at the home of her mother. She is
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church
at Dawn, Ohio. Mrs. Himes' second hus-
band was William Reed, to whom she was
married in 1873. It is a noteworthy fact
that each of her husbands was a soldier in
the war of the Rebellion, as were also her
brothers and brothers-in-law. Her brother,
W. H. Patterson, was shot through and
through at the battle of Cold Harbor, but
almost miraculously survived his wounds,
and is still living. His company went into
the engagement with practically a full com-
plement and came out with only three men.
Henry Hapner, grandfather of Mrs. Himes,
emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in a
very early day, the trip being made with a
four-horse team and covered wagon. The
family came through to Cincinnati, thence to
Franklin and finally to Preble county, where
they secured one hundred and sixty acres of
good land. This continued to be the home
of the grandparents until their death. Mrs.
Himes has in her possession the original
deed for this old homestead, the same having
been executed June 13, 181 2, and signed by
President James Madison. These old deeds
are of infrequent occurrence now, and are of
great historical value. The one mentioned
is treasured as an heirloom and is one of the
oldest the writer has encountered in Darke
county, the deed antedating the formation of
Preble county by a number of years, the lo-
cality being then known as the Miami val-
ley region. Upon the old homestead the
first domicile erected was a diminutive log
cabin of one room, and before the windows
and doors had been placed in the dwelling
Grandfather Hapner was drafted for service
in the war of 18 12, and was compelled to
leave his wife and two little children alone
in the forest home. The fortitude demand-
ed of the devoted mother was of the severest
order, for she was menaced by dangers by
night and by day. In the night Indian
camp fires could be seen gleaming through
the forest in many directions. Of stern stuff
were these early pioneers constituted, and
the stories of their trials and deprivations
read like romances in these later days. Mrs.
Himes herself well recalls many incidents of
the pioneer epoch, and she is thus the more
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
613
appreciative of the privileges and facilities
enjoyed by the present generations.
Of Mrs. Mary R. (Emick) Himes, the
first wife of our subject, it should be re-
corded that she was born in Ohio, July 17,
§1838, the daughter of David and Jane (Mor-
gan) Emick, who were among the early
pioneers of the state, settling among the In-
dians, who many times teased "Little Mol-
lie," by saying they would take her away.
They were kindly treated, however, and in
the main did not abuse the courtesy shown
them. David Emick was a cooper by trade,
and he came to Dayton, Ohio, in 181 5. Mrs.
Himes was a true helpmeet to her husband,
assisting him by counsel and aiding him in
his early efforts to lay the foundations of
success. In religion she was a devoted
member of the German Reformed church, in
which faith she died.
It was in the year 1875 that Mr. Himes
purchased his present fine farm of fifty acres,
in Richland towushin, the place having been
partially improved, having a one-story brick
house and an old log barn. He had but lit-
tle means at the time of purchase, and as-
sumed an indebtedness of two-thirds of the
valuation of the property, but he labored en-
ergetically and gave so effective manage-
ment to his interests that he was enabled to
gradually reduce the indebtedness and finally
to clear the homestead of all incumbrance.
His devoted wife, who had nobly shared in
his labors and anxieties, was summoned to
the better land just at the time when pros-
perity began to smile most brightly upon
them, but her memory is cherished and her
efforts are held in lasting appreciation. Our
subject's present companion has been to him
a devoted coadjutor and is a woman of re-
finement and gracious dignity, presiding
over the pleasant home and showing that
spirit of sympathy and' hospitality which al-
ways wins and retains friendships. The
homestead now comprises seventy acres, im-
proved with a commodious and comfortable
brick residence and excellent outbuildings,
while the entire place gives indication of the
care bestowed by an intelligent and thrifty
owner.
In politics Mr. Himes has always given
his support to the Republican party, having
cast his first presidential vote for the mar-
tyred Lincoln. He is not an ultra-partisan
in his political sentiments, and in local af-
fairs often supports men and measures with-
out regard to political affiliations. He has
in his possession the original deed for eighty
acres of land, of which his present place is a
part, the same having been executed No-
vember 7, 1837, during the administration
of President Van Buren. Mrs. Himes has
many interesting old relics, including dishes
of various sorts, one piece having been
handed down from generation to generation
and being more than a century old. Mr. and
Mr. Himes and their daughter, Inez, are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church
at Dawn, and he has contributed his quota
to all worthy benevolences and charities. The
family hold an enviable position in the so-
cial circles of the community, secure in the
esteem of many friends, to whom they al-
ways extend the most genial hospitality in
their pleasant home.
CHARLES W. ROLAND.
Charles W. Roland is the editor in chief
and one of the proprietors of the Greenville
Democrat, which paper was purchased in
1866 by his father, Charles Roland, Sr.. after
it had passed through several hands. It was
made a Democratic paper, placed upon a
614
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
substantial footing and became the leading
Democratic official organ of Darke county.
It is a large sheet, printing the local and
general news, and has an extensive and con-
stantly growing circulation in Greenville
and Darke county. It is issued on Wednes-
day of each week, and its publication was
continued by Charles Roland until June 14,
1899, when be retired from the active man-
agement, which was then assumed by his
sons, Charles W. and Edward H., under the
firm name of Roland Brothers. The paper
is a nine-column, four-page journal, 32x46
inches. The plant is equipped with a gas en-
gine, cylinder power press, three job presses
and all the necessary machinery and type
for turning out first-class work. The paper
is considered an excellent advertising
medium and does a large job printing busi-
ness in addition to the regular newspaper
work. The building occupied was built ex-
pressly for the purpose and is a three-story
brick structure, the entire third floor being
occupied as the printing office, while the sec-
ond floor is used for general office purposes
and the first floor is used as a store room.
Charles W. Roland, the senior partner,
was born in the city of Lancaster, Fairfield
county, Ohio, on the 15th of August, 1857,
a son of Charles and Amelia (Clark) Ro-
land. He came to Greenville, Darke county,
Ohio, with his parents when nine years old.
He pursued his elementary education in the
preliminary schools of Greenville and then
entered the high school, in which he was
graduated in the class of 1876. In 1871 he
began his apprenticeship at the printing trade
and after his school days had ended he con-
tinued the printing business in all its depart-
ments, and assisted his father for a number
of years until, on the 14th of June, 1899, in
company with his brother, Edward H., he
purchased the business, which is now con-
ducted under the firm name of Roland
Brothers. The father retired from the ac-
tive management and the sons took charge,
their practical knowledge and extended ex-
perience well qualifying them for the re-
sponsibilities which they assumed.
Charles W. Roland was married Sep-
tember 6, 1882, to Miss Lizzie Davis, of
Aberdeen, Ohio, a daughter of Elijah Davis,
who served as the postmaster of that place
under Presidents Hayes and Grant. She was
horn January 26, 1858, at Flemingsburg,
Kentucky. They now have four children :
Gertrude, born August 22, 1883; Gladys,
born January 26, 1897; Charles E., Jan-
uary 21, 1888; and Virgil D., October 18,
1894, all born at Greenville, Ohio.
Edward H. Roland was born in Lancas-
ter, Ohio, January 9, 1865, was educated
in the public schools of Greenville and mas-
tered the printer's art in his father's office,
becoming familiar with the business both in
general principles and detail. He is there-
fore a practical printer as well as news-
paper man, and the combined labors of the
brothers have made the Greenville Democrat
a leading journal in this section of the state.
As the name implies, its political support is
given the Democracy, and on the Democratic
ticket Charles W. Roland was elected to the
city council, in which he served for one term.
Both brothers are reliable and energetic busi-
ness men, of agreeable social qualities and
are popular in the community where they
have so long resided.
T. L. BISHOP.
In the history of those men who are ac-
corded recognition as leading and repre-
sentative citizens of Darke county T. L.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
615
Bishop is mentioned. He was born in But-
ler county, Ohio, November 8, 1829, and is
a son of William F. Bishop, deceased, who
came to this county in 1842, locating in
Greenville township near Mud creek, and
was born near Burlington, New Jersey, in
the year 1800, and was a son of Frazee
Bishop, who was descended from one of the
old colonial families.
William F. Bishop was reared in the state
of his nativity until five years of age, when
he was taken by his parents to Ohio, a set-
tlement being made at Middletown, Butler
county, in 1805. Cincinnati was at that time
only a small village and Ohio was thought
to be upon the very border of western civili-
zation. There William Bishop was reared
to manhood and acquired a common-school
education. When still a lad he began the
butchering business, although he had famil-
iarized himself with the tanner's trade. He
followed butchering until 1842, when he
made preparation to come to Darke county.
Three days were consumed in making the
trip and they had a wagon train of thirteen
teams. Mr. Bishop was accompanied by his
wife and eight children. The former bore
the maiden name of Maria Bogas and their
marriage was celebrated in Butler county
in 1825. Their children were Ezra, Thomp-
son L., Peter W., Joseph L., Elizabeth,
Mary, Frances and Valeria F. After cominsr
to this county Theodore, their youngest
child, was born. On the land on which he
located the father made his home until his
declining years when lie removed to Green-
ville, his death occurring there in 1887. His
wife passed awav in 1880 at the age of sev-
enty-five years. She was of Virginian par-
entage. Mr. Bishop was a prominent and
influential citizen and was frequently called
upon to serve in township offices. His wife
was a prominent member of the Baptist
church and an exemplary woman, and their
home was often the meeting place for peo-
ple of the Baptist denomination, services
being held whenever a preacher was in the
neighborhood. Mr. Bishop gave his politi-
cal support of the Whig party until the or-
ganization of the Republican party, when he
joined its ranks. He was a stanch advo-
cate of Abraham Lincoln's administration
during the civil war and was a radical Union
man. He held membership in the Masonic
and Odd Fellows lodges -of Greenville and
in his daily conduct exemplified the benev-
olent and enobling principles of those fra-
ternities. He began life a poor young man,
but by his enterprise and energy he gained
success and acquired a good property. He
was very progressive and at one time was the
owner of shops in three different places, at
least fifteen miles apart, all three of which
were carried on under his personal super-
vision. He never speculated, but depended
upon the more substantial elements of suc-
cess,— honest labor and capable manage-
ment. He modeled his life according to the
Golden Rule and by his adherence to its prin-
ciples he won many friends throughout the
county, being highly respected by all who
knew him. He was familiarly known as
"Uncle Billy." When called to his final rest
he was laid to rest beside his wife in Green-
ville cemetery and thus two of the most
highly esteemed pioneers of Darke county
passed to the home beyond.
On his father's farm in his native county
T. L. Bishop spent his boyhood and in that
locality he obtained a common and high-
school education. With his parents he came
to Darke county in 1842, when fifteen years
of age. His education was quite thorough
for that day, for he learned something of
616
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Latin and the higher branches of science.
He continued with his father until he had at-
tained his majority, when he started out in
life on his own account, continuing to en-
gage in the pursuit to which he had been
reared. He married Miss Cynthia A. Dun-
ham for a companion and helpmeet on life's
journey. She resided in Warren county,
Ohio, and their wedding took place in De-
cember, 1856. Subsequently Mr. Bishop en-
gaged in the operation of a saw-mill at
Gordon, Darke county, where he resided un-
til 1 86 1, when he purchased ninety acres of
land, on winch he now lives. This he bought
and operated in partnership with his brother,
Peter W. Bishop, the business relationship
between them existing for eight years. In
May, 1864, Mr. Bishop enlisted in Company
H, One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio In-
fantry, for one hundred days' service, and
spent that time in Virginia. With lis com-
mand he went to Mart'nsburg, thence on the
Hunter raid through the Shenandoah valley,
penetrating through the country as far as
Lynchburg. He participated in several
skirmishes and at White Sulphur Springs
his comrade, Mr. Thomas, of Arcanum, was
killed by his side. Mr. Bishop served his
term of enlistment and was then honorably
discharged at Camp Dennison on the 2d of
September, 1864.
He has added to his original purchase
and is now the owner of one hundred and
thirty-seven acres of good land, all under
a high state of cultivation and improved
with the various modern accessories which
goto make up the model farm, many of these
having been placed on his land by himself,
and his property is a monument to his thrift
and enterprise. While his life has been a
busy one he has yet found time to faithfully
discharge public duties and has held several
minor offices. For over twelve years he was
supervisor and for eighteen years has been a
school director. In educational matters he
has always taken a deep interest, doing all in
his power to promote the efficiency of the
schools. He was at one time actively con-
nected with the Masonic fraternity, but is
not now associated therewith. At the age
of twenty-nine he was converted and has
since been a prominent and useful member
of the Baptist church. He was one of the
first members of the first Missionary Baptist
church of Greenville, has long been one of
its officers, served as its first clerk, has for
many years been a deacon and has likewise
filled the position of church trustee.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bishop has
been blessed with three children, — Sylvan
E., Cora B. and William L., all yet living.
The mother died in 1884, at the age of fifty-
six years. She was a member of the Baptist
church and an exemplary Christian woman.
Mr. Bishop was again married in 1896. when
Mary F. Sayers, of Troy, Ohio, became his
wife. Mr. Bishop affiliates with the Repub-
lican party, casting his first presidential vote
for John C. Fremont in i8;6. His efforts
in business life were attended with the suc-
cess which never fails to reward honest and
continued labor when directed by sound
judgment. He isone of the widely known and
highly esteemed citizens of Darke county.
His life has ever been an honorable and use-
ful one, his word is as good as his bond and
his example is indeed in many respects
worthy of emulation.
ADAM FRANKMANN.
Prominent among the leading citizens of
the prosperous town of Versailles, Ohio, is
the gentleman whose name introduces this
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
•617
sketch, Adam Frankmann, president of the
People's Bank.
Mr. Frankmann is a native of Germany
and was born April 10, 1829. According
to the custom in Germany, he attended school
until he was fourteen years of age, and then
went to work at a trade. He served an ap-
prenticeship of two years at the tailor's
trade, after which he spent some time as a
journeyman tailor, traveling about from
place to place in the old country. Then,
thinking that his chances for getting on in
the world would be better in America, he
turned his face westward. After a voyage
of fifty days in a sailing vessel he landed at
New Orleans, May 17, 1853, and in that
city remained until June 29 of the follow-
ing year. His next move was up the river
to Louisville, Kentucky, thence to Cincinnati,
and from there to Dayton. At the last
named place he secured a position and spent
six months in work at his trade. The next
six months he worked in West Alexander,
Preble county, and from there he went to
Lewisburg, same county, where, March 1,
1857, he engaged in business for himself.
August 1, 1 88 1, he came to Versailles
and established himself in a tailoring and
clothing business, with his son, E. G, as
partner. This business he conducted suc-
cessfully until February, 1897, when he and
Manier Brothers organized the People's
Bank with a cash capital stock of twenty-
four thousand dollars. Mr. Frankmann was
elected the president of this company; Joe
Manier, vice-president ; Felix Manier, cash-
ier; and E. C. Manier, assistant cashier. In
1898 Mr. Frankmann built what is known
as the Frankmann block, in which the bank
is located, which is a valuable additon to the
town, and he has also made other valuable
improvements. He has accumulated consid-
erable property, all the result of his own en-
ergy and wise investment; and in this in-
stance we find another one of the many suc-
cessful business men who have worked up
from poor boyhood to substantial and hon-
ored position in the business world.
Mr. Frankmann was married September
14, 1857, to Elizabeth Fasig, and the chil-
dren of their union are as follows : Mary
T., who died in 1866, at the age of two
years; Flora F., at home; Edward G., a
merchant tailor of Versailles; Irena, the wife
01 F. L. Wallen, a druggist of Nicholasville,
Kentucky; and Herman A., who married
Jennie O. Burns and resides in Versailles.
Politically, the subject of our sketch affil-
iates wth the Democratic party. He and
his family are members of the Lutheran
church.
WILLIAM E. G. JEFFERIS.
William E. G. Jefferis is well known as
a prominent farmer of German township,
living on section n. He was born on the
farm where he now resides March 24, 1868,
and is the eldest child of Joshua and Sarah
J. Jefferis. His great-grandfather, Job J.
Jefferis, was born in Chester county, Penn-
sylvania, June 9, 1776, and married Barbara
Long. Their only child was Darlington Jef-
feris, the grandfather of our subject. He
was a native of Virginia and when two years
old was brought by his parents to Ohio, the
family locating in Clinton county, where he
was reared. He afterward came to Darke
county and entered a farm on section 11,
German township, where Joshua Jefferis
now resides. He there secured one hundred
and sixty acres at a dollar and a quarter per
acre, and throughout his remaining days
carried on agricultural pursuits there, his
618
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
death occurring in 1880, in his eighty-fifth
year. He was a member of the Universalist
church, of Palestine. He married Mary
Potter, who belonged to an old family of
New Jersey, and they became the parents of
ten children, all of whom were born on the
old homestead in German township, namely :
Rebecca, Julia Ann and Job D., deceased;
Squire, of German township; John, de-
ceased; Milton, of German township; Mary
Ann, who has also passed away ; Joshua ;
William H. H., who died at the age of twen-
ty-two at Nashville, Tennessee, while in the
service far his country; and Elizabeth, the
wife of William H. Mills.
Joshua Jefferis was the eighth child and
fifth son in the family and was born Octo-
ber 15, 1837. He was reared on the farm
where he now resides, pursued his education
in a log school house and remained at home
until 1 §64, when he enlisted in Company H,
One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Infan-
try, with which he served as sergeant. He
was at the front for over four months, lo-
cated at Cumberland, Maryland. He partic-
ipated in the Shenandoah valley raid and the
battle of Greenbrier, in which a man was
killed by his side. He received an honor-
able discharge at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in
1864, and then returned to his home. The
following year he went to Iowa and other
western points on a visit.
On the 10th of January, 1867, Joshua
Jefferis married Sarah J. Ware, who was
born in Darke county, Ohio, June 20, 1849,
the youngest daughter of J. F. and Mary
(Ritenour) Ware. They began their do-
mestic life upon the farm where they now
reside. Four children have been born to
them: William E. G; Marvin R., who was
born November 5, 1877 ; Alma, born May 13,
1879 ; and Hallie V., who was born February
17, 1884, and died August 22, 1885. Marvin
attended school in Ada, Ohio, and was en
gaged in teaching. He is now assisting his
father in the work of the farm. Alma is en-
gaged in teaching piano and organ music.
Joshua Jefferis is the owner of two hun-
dred and fifty acres of land, the greater part
of which is under cultivation. He is now
practically living retired, his son operating
the farm. In politics he is a stalwart Repub-
lican and has served as trustee of his town-
ship, as a member of the school board for
twenty years and has been a director of the
Darke County Mutual Fire Insurance Com-
pany. He is also a member of the German
Grange, which he joined on its organization,
and in its work he has taken an active part
since 1874. He also holds membership in
Reed's Post, G. A. R., of Palestine, and the
Universalist church at that place, of which
his family are also members. He is to-day
as true and loyal to his duties of citizenship
as when he followed the starry banner upon
the battle-fields of the south.
William E. G. Jefferis, whose name be-
gins this record, assisted his father in farm-
ing until he was twenty-one years of age, at-
tending school during the winter months and
received a good common-school education.
After becoming of age he was hired by his
father for nine months' labor on the farm.
He was united in marriage on December 24,
1889, with Miss Harriet V. Harding, also a
resident of German township. She was
born July 10, 1867, and is a daughter of
Samuel and Martha (Clay) Harding. Two
children have been born to this union, both
now living, namely : Mae, born November
5, 1890, and Grace, born April 25, 1894.
After his marriage Mr. Jefferis began
farming on the shares on his father's farm,
and has since been engaged principally in
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
61&'
farming and stock-raising. He is also a
carpenter by trade and when not otherwise
engaged in farming has devoted his time to
that trade. He began keeping books of his
business affairs when lie became of age and
has since kept a careful and correct account
with day and date of all business transactions
and receipts and expenses with yearly state-
ments. He has been an active member of the
order of Patrons of Husbandry for twelve
years, serving for two years as representa-
tive from Darke county to the annual state
meeting of Ohio. By the great interest taken
in the work of this organization he has be-
come a member of national and state orders
of Patrons of Husbandry. Politically he is
identified with the Republican party and is
now serving as a justice of the peace of
German township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jeff-
eris were reared in the Christian faith taught
by the Universalist church.
MORRIS BRYSON.
Morris Bryson, deceased, the eldest son
and child of James Bryson, was born on
the old Bryson farm on Mud creek, Green-
ville township, Darke county, Ohio, May 13,
1818. Here he grew to manhood, obtaining
only a limited education in the schools of
the district, but continuing his studies at
home and thus fitting himself to teach. He
then taught school for a number of terms.
He was married April 8, 1846, to Miss Mary
Annie Cole, a daughter of Joseph and Annie
(Sweet) Cole, both representatives of pio-
neer families of the Western Reserve. Mrs.
Cole was born in 1800, and came to Ohio
at the age of eighteen. She was living near
Oswego, New York, during the war of 181 2,
and from her home could see the smoke of
battle. After the marriage of Morris Bry-
son and Miss Cole they began housekeeping
on a rented farm, on which they resided two
years. In 1848 he bought eighty acres of
improved land in Greenville township, to
which they moved and where he passed the
rest of his life and died, his death occurring-
December 17, 1896.
Of Morris Bryson it may be said that
he was a representative man in his locality.
He was one of the founders of the Mutual
Fire Insurance Company, and for a num-
ber of years, up to the time of his death, was
a director of the company. In educational
matters he always manifested particular in-
terest. For many years, off and on, he was
a school director and always gave his sup-
port to whatever he believed was for the
advancement and best interest of the schools
of his district. A man of recognized busi-
ness qualities, he was sought for by the ad-
ministrators of estates, and thus had charge
of the interests of numerous heirs. Polit-
ically he was originally a Whig, which party
he continued to support until 1856, when he
joined the Republican ranks. During the
civil war he championed the administra-
tion's policy, and his generosity in caring
for soldiers' widows and families during that
period is yet well remembered ; and not only
during that period but throughout his life he
was noted for his generous hospitality. The
needy were never turned empty-handed from
his door. By honest toil and careful man-
agement he worked his way up to a position
of financial independence, and at his death
he left to his family a fine farm comprising
two hundred and eighty-seven acres. Mrs.
Bryson died in 1885, at the age of sixty-
three years. She was a most estimable
woman, a devoted member of the Disciples'
church, and was much beloved by all who
knew her.
620
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The children of this worthy couple were
ten in number, seven of whom are still liv-
ing, namely: James W., Rachel, Joseph
C, Newton, Clarissa, Volney and David.
The deceased were William, an unnamed in-
fant and Mary Alice. Those living are all
residents of Darke county. James lives in
Brown township, and Newton in Washing-
ton township, and the others at the old home-
stead. Joseph married Eva Bennett in 1881.
She died August 28, 1884, leaving one child,
Mary C. Volney married Mollie Vail, by
whom he has four children — Cloe, Elmer,
Belle and an infant. David married Cora
Harris, and they have five children — Will-
iam Ray, Roscoe, Guy, James and Caroline.
The Bryson brothers operate the home
farm in partnership. They are enterpris-
ing, representative citizens and enjoy the re-
spect of the people of the community in
which they live.
CHRISTOPHER M. ARMACOST.
Christopher M. Armacost, deceased, was
for many years one of the respected citizens
of Darke county, Ohio. He was born in
Baltimore county, Maryland. November 2,
1807, and was descended from German and
English ancestors. The Armacosts were of
German origin, but at what time the first
representatives of the family landed in this
country is not now known. Christopher
Armacost, the father of Christopher M., was
born, reared, passed his life and died in Bal-
timore county, Maryland. His wife, whose
maiden name was Malinda Murray, was also
a native of that place, where both her father
and grandfather settled on landing in this
country from England, where both were
born. Christopher and Malinda Armacost
were the parents of twelve children, seven
sons and five daughters, Christopher M.
being the fourth son and seventh child.
In his native county Christopher M.
Armacost was reared and married. Think-
ing to better his fortunes by seeking a home
in what was then called "the west," he came
in the fall of 1837 to Darke county, Ohio,
bringing with him his wife, whom he had
married in the spring of that year. They
first located on a rented farm, where they
spent the winter, and in the spring of 1838
moved to the farm on which Mrs. Armacost
still lives, on section 29, German township.
Their first home here was a little log cabin,
16x14 feet, situated in a small clearing with
heavy timber all around them. On this
farm he lived and labored for more than a
quarter of a century, and as a result of his
industry the primitive log house was re-
placed by a better home, the forest was
cleared away, and the well-cultivated fields
gave evidence of prosperity. Here he lived
until ii
,hen he moved to Hollansburg,
where he died the following year. His life
was a useful, active one, and there were
few, if any, of the early pioneers of this lo-
cality better known or more highly respect-
ed than he. He helped to raise many of the
log houses and barns in the county. He
served as a township trustee and constable;
and he was ever ready to give his influence
and support to whatever he believed to be
for the best interest of the county. Polit-
ically he was a Democrat, being the only one
of the large family of which he was a mem-
ber that voted wth the Democratic party.
The date of Mr. Armacost's marriage
has already been given. Mrs. Armacost
was before her marriage Miss Sarah Hoo-
ver, and is of German origin, her great-
grandfather having been born in Germany.
The German for Hoover is Huber, and the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
621
name was changed after the settlement of
the family in this country. Both Ulrich and
Henry Hoover, the grandfather and father
of Airs. Armacost, were born in Pennsylva-
nia, near Hanover, and from there Henrv
Hoover, after his marriage, moved to Bal-
timore county, Maryland, where the rest of
his life was spent on a farm, and where he
died at the age of seventy-three years. His
wife, nee Susannah Dubbs, was a native of
Pennsylvania, as also was her father, Os-
walt Dubbs, and the Dubbs family also was
of German origin. Henry and Susannah
Hoover were the parents of ten children,
namely: David, deceased; Mrs. Lydia
Cooper, lives in Rutland, Illinois; Mary, de-
ceased; Sarah, now Mrs. Armacost; Henry,
deceased ; Catharine, deceased ; John, de-
ceased ; and Margaret, Peter and Susan-
nah. Sarah, the fourth born and third
daughter in the family, was born in Balti-
more county, Maryland, January 17, 181 3,
and is the only member of her family in
Darke county, Ohio. She is the mother of
ten children, as follows: Eli, living; Henry,
Amanda, Louisa, John and Elizabeth, all
deceased; Lydia, wife of John Harnish, of
Washington township, Darke county; Mary
P., wife of J. B. Jones, of Randolph county,
Indiana ; Margaret C, wife of George Mike-
sell, of Republican county, Kansas ; and
James B.
James B. Armacost, the youngest of the
above named family, resides with his aged
mother on the home farm. He was born
here, April 8, 1857, and in May, 1881, was
married to Miss Emma R. Heironimus, a
native of Darke county, Ohio. She died in
1889, leaving him with four little children:
Eva Gertrude, born March 9, 1882; Her-
bert E., October 23, 1883; Henry Glen, Sep-
tember 3, 1887; and Justin Ray, October 18,
1889. Mrs. Armacost has other grand-
children, numbering in all thirty, and her
great-grandchildren at this writing number
twelve. Her son, James B., has charge of
the home farm and is ranked with the repre-
sentative citizens of the community. Like
his father before him, he affiliates with the
Democratic party. He served three years
as a township trustee, and at this writing is
a school director. Fraternally he is identi-
fied with the Knights of Pythias, having
his membership in Lodge No. 476, at Hol-
lansburg.
HENRY ERISMAN.
Henry Erisman was born in Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania, and tl]ere passed his
early boyhood. As one of a family of fif-
teen children he accompanied his parents to
Ohio, and with them settled in the woods of
Darke county, where he assisted in the work
of clearing and improving the farm. On
reaching manhood he married Miss Mary
J. Reck, and soon afterward located on the
farm in Adams township, this county, where
he passed the rest of his life and died, and
where his widow still resides. He was a
man of sterling worth, interested in what-
ever tended toward the development of the
community, and was ranked with the lead-
ing farmers and most respected citizens of
the township. For many vears he was a
consistent member of the Presbyterian
church. He died July 14, 1892.
Mrs. Henry Erisman, whose maiden
name was Mary J. Reck, dates her birth in
Bedford county, Pennsylvania, September
22, 1828. Her parents were Jacob and
Mary M. (Seips) Reck, natives of Adams
ccunty, Pennsylvania. When she was a
small child her father died and at the age
622
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of eleven years she accompanied her mother
to Ohio, and in Darke county was reared
and married. She has one brother and two
sisters living-: William Reck, of Green-
ville, Ohio; Eliza, the wife of John Walker,
of Van Buren township, Darke county; and
Susan, the wife of John Morrison, of Green-
ville. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs.
Erisman four are now living, namely :
Samuel J., who has been twice married, first
to a Miss Clark, and after her death to a
Miss Forman; John I., who married Miss
Mellie Livingston; William H., who mar-
ried Anna Katzenberger; and Charlie. The
deceased were Frances, Delia, Mary and
Joseph Ed. The grandchildren of Mrs.
Erisman now number nine. Samuel J. has
four children — Fay, Kay, Ruth and Helen;
John I. has two — Delia and Clyde; and
William H. has th/ee — Nellie, Floe and
Myrtle.
The Erisman farm comprises eighty-
eight acres, and is under the management of
William H. Erisman, who resides at the
home place with his mother.
LEONARD MARKER.
Leonard Marker, a well known under-
taker and furniture dealer of Versailles,
Ohio, has the distinction of having won the
proud American title of self-made man. His
great determination and energy have en-
abled him to overcome all difficulties and ob-
stacles in his path and work his way stead-
ily upward to prosperity.
He was born near Dayton, Montgomery
county, Ohio, June 9, 1846, and is of Ger-
man descent, his paternal great-grandfather
having been a native of Germany. The
grandfather, George Marker, was born in
Maryland and became a wealthy slaveholder
of that state, but being a very liberal man
he lost his property by going as security for
others. He then came to Ohio with his
family, and located on the site of the present
Soldiers' Home near Dayton, Montgomery
county, where he spent the remainder of his
life, dying at about the age of seventy-two
years.
Raymond J. Marker, the father of our
subject, was born in Maryland, in 1824, and
was four years of age when the family re-
moved to Montgomery county, Ohio, where
he grew to manhood and married Eliza
Bachman, who was born in Lancaster, Penn-
sylvania, but was reared in Montgomery
county, this state. Her father, Christian
Bachman, was a native of Germany. She
died at the early age of twenty-eight years,
leaving four children : Leonard, our sub-
ject; Allen, who is engaged in the transfer,
dray and express business in Versailles ; Hi-
ram, who died at the age of eighteen years;
and Maggie C, the widow of George Burns
and a resident of Cleveland. In early life
the father followed the butcher's trade, but
after coming to Darke county, in 1850, he
purchased a farm near the old Bowers Mill
and turned his attention to agricultural pur-
suits. He died there in 1855, at the age of
thirty-one years. He was serving at that
time as justice of the peace, and had also
filled the offices of township clerk and land
appraiser. In religious belief he was a
Lutheran, and in politics a Democrat, and he
was one of the most highly respected citi-
zens of his community.
Left an orphan at the early age of nine
years, Leonard Marker went to live with his
uncle, Perry Marker, in Liberty, Ohio, re-
maining with him until nineteen years of age
and attending the village schools. He then
spent two years with B. Engelken, of Ver-
<lUn^%s>^sW<^&sis
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
623
sail.les, learning the cabinet maker's trade,
working the first six months for no material
compensation. On attaining his majority
he embarked in the furniture and undertak-
ing business on his own account at that place,
and now has the oldest established house of
the kind in Darke county. He has kept a
complete record of all the funerals of which
he has had charge since 1867, the date of
the same, the name of the deceased and the
number of miles traveled. He has buried
over two thousand people. When he first
became connected with the business he
manufactured all his own coffins from the
rough lumber, often working all night. He
now has two diplomas as an embalmer, one
from Professor Clarke at Springfield, Ohio,
and the other from Professor Sullivan, of the
Indianapolis (Indiana) School of Embalm-
ing. He has- one of the finest funeral out-
fits in the county, and is doing a large and
successful business. Having prospered in
his life work, he is now the owner of con-
siderable property, including his business
block and residence in Versailles.
At Versailles, April 1, 1869, Mr. Mar-
ker married Miss Gertie Reed, a native of
that place and a daughter of J. C. Reed, one
of its first business men. By this union
were born four children, namely : Grace,
who was graduated at the Versailles high
school, and has successfully engaged in
teaching in the same for eight years; James
R., also a graduate of the same school, who
has engaged in teaching for five years, and
is now completing a four-years classical col-
lege course; Aland, who was graduated at
the Versailles high school and is at home;
and Raymond J., who is still in school.
As a Democrat Mr. Marker has taken
an active interest in local politics, and has
been honored with a number of offices, hav-
38
ing served as a member of the board of
health, the school board and as township
clerk. He has been the chief of the fire de-
partment almost continuously since 1884,
and superintendent of the Greenland Ceme-
tery Company since its organization in 1896.
It is one of the finest cemeteries of Darke
county. Mr. Marker has a fine collection
of geological specimens, and Indian, war and
family relics, and is interested in the found-
ing of a reading room for young men. So-
cially he is a prominent member of the Odd
Fellows Lodge, of Versailles, in which he
has filled all the chairs, and has served as
deputy grand master of the Independent Or-
der of Odd Fellows. He is a member of
Lodge No. 290, F. & A. M., and has served
as the secretary for a number of years. Re-
ligiously he and all of his family are mem-
bers of the Christian church. He has ever
taken an active part in its work, was a mem-
ber of the building committee of the par-
sonage, and is now serving as the clerk of
the church. In all the relations of life he
has been found true to every trust reposed
in him, .whether public or private, and has
done all in his power to advance the inter-
ests of his town and county.
MORRIS HUHN.
Morris Huhn was born in stadt Langs-
feld, in the province of Saxony, Prussia,
Germany, June 21, 1871. His father was
Isaac Huhn, who was born in the same lo-
cality in the year 1836. The mother, Mrs.
Sophia Huhn, was born in 1840. By their
marriage they became the parents of five
children, three of whom are yet living. As
is the custom in his native country, Morris
Huhn attended the common schools until he
was twelve years of age, and then entered
624
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the high school, where he pursued his stud-
ies until he had attained the age of fifteen.
His school life was then ended and he en-
tered upon his business career in a hardware
store, where he served as a clerk for sev-
eral years. Believing that the new world
might furnish him better opportunities for
advancement, he took passage on the Ger-
man steamship Kaiser Wilhelm on the 12th
of September, 1893. After a voyage of ten
days he arrived in New York city, and at
once came to Greenville, where he entered
the clothing store of his uncle, the late
Moses Huhn, being there employed as a
clerk until the death of the proprietor, which
occurred three years after our subject's ar-
rival in the new world. After his uncle's
death Mr. Huhn purchased the store and
carried on business alone for one year. He
then admitted to partnership Frank Point-
ner, who had for many years been a clerk
in the establishment. Success has attended
the enterprise, and the trade has constantly
increased, the firm now enjoying a large and
liberal patronage.
On the 1 8th of October, 1899, Mr. Huhn
was united in marriage to Miss Lottie
Strieker, of Tiffin, Ohio, a daughter of
Samuel and Eurika Strieker, who were na-
tives of Germany, and in early life came to
the United States. The Huhn residence is
at No. 415 West Fourth street, and is cele-
brated for its gracious hospitality, which is
enjoyed by many friends of the family. Mr.
Huhn is the only member of his father's
family who has visited the new world. Al-
though he has been in America for only
seven years, he speaks the English language
with remarkable fluency and ease. It is
wonderful with what readiness one of for-
eign birth adapts himself to the manners,
customs and methods in vogue in this coun-
try. Without capital, our subject came to
the new world and has steadily worked his
way upyard, securing through determined
purpose and honorable effort an enviable po-
sition in the business and social world. Close
application- and gentlemanlv demeanor have
gained for the firm of Huhn & Pointner a
very enviable reputation and secured for
them a business which is bringing to them
excellent financial returns.
HUGH T. McKIBBEN.
Hugh T. McKibben is a retired farmer
living on his seventy-five-acre farm on sec-
tion 26, Mississinawa township. The com-
petence which enables him to rest from his
labors was acquired by active toil in former
years. He was born in Clermont county,
Ohio, December 27, 1826, and his grand-
father, Hugh McKibben, was one of the pio-
neers of that locality, to which he removed
from his former home in Pennsylvania. His
wife was Susanna Hughes, and they became
the parents of thirteen children, six of whom
reached adult age and were married. Of
the family, however, William and Wesley
died in early life. Three sons reached ma-
ture years, and Hugh and Joseph died in Illi-
nois, while Samuel Parker McKibben died in
Kentucky.
John A. McKibben the father of our sub-
ject, was born in Clermont county, Ohio,
June 13. 1802, and was reared amidst the
wild scenes of the frontier. After he had at-
tained to man's estate he married Jem'ma
Pigman, who was born in Greenbrier county,
Virginia. They were married about 1821,
and became the parents of six children, five
sons and one daughter, all of whom were
born in Clermont county. One son, Harri-
son, died in that county, at the age of eight
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
625
years. On the 15th of September, 1839, the
family arrived in Darke county, and the fa-
ther purchased a quarter-section of land
about two miles from the present home of
our subject. In the midst of the forest he
cleared and developed a farm, the timber
being so dense that he had to cut away the
trees in order to erect his log cabin, which
was built of round logs, while the roof was
made of boards cut from a large red oak tree
which stood on the site of the cabin. The
floor above also was made of red oak, while
the lower floor was made of puncheons. The
father, with the aid of his sons, cleared the
greater part of the land, and there he made
his home for eighteen years. But about 1857
he went to live with his son Hugh, and his
death occurred in 1881, when he had reached
the age of seventy-nine years, his remains
being interred at Rose Hill. His widow was
called away about four years later, when
eighty-four years of age. Of their children
we observe: Joshua R., who was born in
1 82 1, followed carpentering and died in In-
dianapolis, Indiana, about 1877, being sur-
vived by his widow ; Levi P. was born in
1824, and died in Rossville in 1895, when
about seventy-one years of age ; his only
child, a daughter, is also deceased ; Hugh T.
is the third of the family; Joseph H. was the
next youngest and died in childhood; Su-
sanna Jane died when about twenty-one years
of age; and William W. was born in 1834,
was a farmer and is now living in Knobnos-
ter, Missouri, his family consisting of four
children, of whom two sons and a daughter
are now living.
The educational advantages which Hugh
H. McKibben enjoyed were limited. He
pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse, six-
teen by sixteen feet, with puncheon seats and
floors. His training at farm labor, however,
was not meager, and he remained at home
until twenty-four years of age, when he was
married to Mary Nesmonger, who was born
in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1827. They
took up their abode in the midst of the forest
and the farm upon which Mr. McKibben re-
sides has been cleared almost entirely by his
own efforts. For forty-six consecutive
years he aided in building houses and barns,
attending all the log-rollings, and was thus
an active factor in the development of this
portion of the county. He always enjoyed
good health, being never ill exc;pt on one oc-
casion, when he suffered an attack of sickness
lasting thirteen days. His life has been one
of marked industry, bringing to him credita-
ble and desirable prosperity.
Eight children were born unto Mr. and
Mrs. McKibben. Amanda, the eldest, became
the wife of William Funke, and after his
death married Jacob Seacrist, of Darke coun-
ty ; he has one living child by the first mar-
riage ; Mary A. is the wife of George Brooks,
a farmer of Jackson township, and they have
five sons and four daughters, and have lost
two other children; Hiram A., a farmer re-
siding five miles from Arcanum, is married
and has three sons and one daughter yet liv-
ing; Sarah J. is the wife of Gottlieb Coupp,
and they have two children living. Albert
J. is married and has five sons and three
daughters; Irving Grant manages the home
farm and has four daughters ; Elmer Els-
worth, twin brother of Irving, resides in
Jackson township and has one son and one
daughter; and Dora Ellen is the wife of
William Stauffer, of Union City, Indiana,
and they have a son and daughter. Mr. Mc-
Kibben has been a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church for fifty-seven years, and
the house of worship is located on his farm.
His wife and most of the children are also
626
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
members of the same church and the family
is one of the highest respectability, enjoying
the warm regard of many friends in the
community.
DAVID L. MEEKER.
Perhaps the public record of no man in
Darke county has extended over a longer
period than that of Judge David L. Meeker,
and certainly none has been more fearless in
conduct, more faultless in honor and more
stainless in reputation. He served for nearly
twenty years as judge on the common pleas
bench, and his career was marked by the ut-
most fidelity to duty, while a comprehensive
knowledge of law and great accuracy in ap-
plying the principles of jurisprudence to the
points in litigation won him high standng
among the legal fraternity.
Judge Meeker was born in Darke county,
Ohio, on the i8th of July, 1827, a son of
David M. and Nancy Ann (Miller) Meeker.
The former, a native of Newark,New Jersey,
came to Ohio in 1802, when about ten years
of age, and for a time worked in brickyards
in Cincinnati. On attaining his majority he
turned his attention to agricultural pursuits,
following farming for a short time in Hamil-
ton county, Ohio, whence he removed to
Darke county, settling within its borders
when it was a wild region almost on the ex-
treme limit of frontier civilization. There the
remainder of his life was passed in the work
of transforming the wilderness into a pro-
ductive farm, and, by the assistance of his
wife rearing a large family of children, who
have honored his memory and added lustre
to his name. He died in 1852, respected
by all who knew him.
Upon his father's farm Judge Meeker
spent his boyhood, becoming familiar with
all of the hard work and discomfort of clear-
ing the land and cultivating the soil when the
financial reward of agriculture was scarcely
greater than the advantages offered for edu-
cation. He attended the school in his native
district a portion of each year and enjoyed
the limited amusements which the country
afforded. The privations of pioneer life were
more than offset by the helpfulness of neigh-
bors and the genuine, unpretentious hospital-
ity characteristic of the occupants of log
cabins in pioneer times. When sufficiently
advanced in his studies he was employed in
teaching the district school for several win-
ters and extended his studies to the advanced
branches in the academy, which marked the
progressive instincts of the people among
whom he lived. While engaged in teaching,
he directed his course of reading with a view
to entering the legal profession as soon as the
opportunity offered.
His preliminary study of the law was
prosecuted under the instruction of the late
Judge Ebenezer Parsons, of Miami county,
and he was admitted to the bar in June, 1851,
For almost a year thereafter he was traveling
in the west, and it was not until 1853 that he
settled in Greenville for the practice of his
profession. The discipline acquired by studv
and teaching, the habits of industry formed
and his close application to books, together
with an excellent natural capacity, qualified
him for success in the law. He made his
way unaided among the attorneys of the
county and soon established himself as a
lawyer. In 1856 he was elected prosecuting
attorney for the county .and re-elected in
1858, serving four years. His preference
for the practice of law rather than the duties
of public office was so pronounced that he
yielded reluctantly to the solicitation of
friends to accept even the judgeship. He
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
627
persistently declined to permit the use of his
name as a candidate for congress, although
he was frequently urged to become a nomi-
nee for that important position. In 1861 he
was elected judge of the common-pleas court
of the first subdivision of the second judicial
district for a term of five years, but resigned
after four years of service and was succeeded
by Judge William Allen. Resuming the prac-
tice, he was permitted to continue it without
interruption until October, 1872, when he
was appointed judge by Governor Noyes, on
the unanimous recommendation and petition
of the bar in every county of the judicial dis-
trict. This appointment was for the unex-
pired portion of the term to which Judge Mc-
Kemy had been elected. Judge Meeker's
service on the bench was so acceptable to all
the people that he was chosen at the next
election for the position without opposition.
Both of the leading political parties nomi-
nated him, and the members of the bar with-
out dissent recommended his election. After
this he was re-elected for two terms and de-
clined a third because of failing health.
It is given to few men to enjoy the pub-
lic confidence to a degree that disarms all
political opposition. The example of Judge
Meeker is almost unique. Although a mem-
ber of the Democratic party and a partisan,
in the sense of supporting its principles and
candidates, he was known to be so fair and
impartial as to be universally trusted by polit-
ical adherents and political adversaries alike.
The Judge was married, on the 18th of
June, 1857, to Miss Mary A. Deardorff, of
Darke county, and to them were born eight
children : Frank D., who married Emma An-
derson, of Franklin, and is engaged in the
real-estate and loan business in Greenville;
Sadie E., who is the wife of D. L. Gaskill,
■who was associated in the practice of law
with her father ; Walter S., who was also his
father's partner, married Minnie Lowry;
Mary C., who is the wife of J. R. Smith, a
druggist, of Dayton, Ohio; Nana, who is
the wife of Dr. S. A. Hawes, of Arcanum,
Ohio; Virginia G., who is the wife of W. H.
Gilbert, an attorney at law. of Troy, Ohio;
Alice M., who is the wife of A. R. Crawford,
of Ventura, California, where he is serving
as deputy clerk of the court ; and Carrie W.,
at home. The mother of these children died
November 21, 1876, and the Judge was
afterward married, on the 5th of September,
1878, to Miss Jennie D. Crisler, of Eaton,
Preble county, a lady of many accomplish-
ments, who presided over his household with
dignity and grace, assisting him to dispense
the hospitality for which his home was noted.
She is a native of Ohio. Her father, Albert
G. Crisler, was born in 18 10 in Culpeper
county, Virginia; and her mother, Ann nee
Foos, was born in Pennsylvania in 1812.
They were married in 1831 in Preble county,
Ohio. The mother died February 28, 1857,
and the father passed away October 19, 1857,
near Columbus, Indiana.
Mrs. Meeker attended the country
schools in her early girlhood, but later en-
joyed, and took advantage of the privileges
afforded by a private school. At the age of
sixteen she began teaching and followed that
profession for a few years, when she went to
reside with her uncle, J. H. Foos, a promi-
nent attorney of Eaton, Preble county, Ohio.
After her marriage to Mr. Meeker she took
charge of his household, discharged faith-
fully all the duties of helpmate, and at once
took a motherly part in caring for, educating
and advising his eight children in the moral
and religious duties of life, the youngest
child being at the time only three years of
age. After the death of the Judge she erected
62S
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
her present residence from a fund set apart
by him, and with the request that after his
death a new dwelling-house should be built
for her because it required too much care and
expense to keep the former residence — a pal-
atial brick — in proper condition. The new
dwelling was planned by Mrs. Meeker, as-
sisted by her stepson, Walter S. Meeker. It
is modern in architectural design, neat, and
commodious in all its appointments. Mrs.
Meeker is an acceptable member of the First
Presbyterian church, is consistent in her pro-
fessions, and her life of Christian fortitude
may wejl be imitated by all.
Judge Meeker's tastes were essentially
domestic, and he found at home the pleasure
some men seek at the club. The time not
necessarily devoted to business was spent in
the society of his family and among the in-
spiring, renewing influences of home. One
of the leading lawyers of the district has fur-
nished a characterization of him substantially
in the following terms :
"Judge Meeker filled a place in the his-
tory of this judicial district that is creditable
to himself and honorable to the profession.
A judge for a period of almost twenty rears,
he retired from the bench with the highest
respect of the profession and admiration of
the public. He was always a close student,
and when in practice was known as a hard-
working lawver, and likewise a successful
one. His greatest reputation, however, will
rest on his work as a judge. His judgeship
was almost unerring. He possessed what is
termed a legal mind; understood thoroughly
the principles of the law; was painstaking
in his investigations, and accurate in his de-
cisions. He was always fearless and impar-
tial in the discharge of every duty. There has
never been on the bench in the history of this
judicial district a judge who held the confi-
dence of the profession to a greater degree.
His perjonal popularity was unbounded.
Nature made him a gentleman, and he made
himself a lawyer. One of the sources of his
popularity was undoubtedly his unassuming
manners, unfeigned cordiality, his fine sensi-
bilities, and readiness to help his fellowmen.
Both in the relations of private citizenship
and in public office, Judge Meeker's life was
irreproachable. Not only was he an able
jurist, but also a successful business man.
He possessed one of the finest homes in the
county, accumulated a competence and left
a valuable estate."
Judge Meeker died suddenly, September
5, 1896, at his home in Greenville. While at
the supper table he was stricken with partial
paralysis, which became complete a few min-
utes later, causing a painless death within
three hours. The tributes to his character
and worthiness, expressed in a memorial
meeting of the bar and in the funeral service,
were hearty and sincere. They testified that
he was not only an incorruptible judge but
also scrupulously, delicately and conscienti-
ously free from all willful wrong, in thought,
word or deed. His uniform kindness and
patience to the younger members of the bar
were marked. In later years he was accus-
tomed to recount for the edification of the
young lawyers his own early struggles to se-
cure success, the discouragements he encoun-
tered and the difficulties he had overcome. He
was not a dreamer in any idle sense, but as a
boy looked forward hopefully, spurred to his
best endeavors by high aspirations. In a pa-
per read at his funeral by D. W. Bowman, a
former law partner, it is said that throughout
a career of nearly half a century at the bar
and on the bench, the day dream of his boy-
hood, the cherished desire of his heart in
youth, was never lost sight of, but kept in full
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
G29
view. With this noble longing for profes-
sional success he wore the judicial ermine for
twenty years, and laid it aside as spotless as
when it first touched his shoulders. He
achieved a fame that posterity will not will-
ingly let die.
CHARLES W. CHENOWETH.
Darke county shows within its bounda-
ries many fine farms, indicating that pro-
gressive and careful methods have been
brought to bear in bringing the section up
to its high standard as one of the most at-
tractive agricultural sections of the Buckeye
state, and among those who have signally
contributed to the prestige of the county in
this ever-important field of endeavor may
be mentioned Charles Wesley Chenoweth,
one of the representative agriculturists of
Harrison township. He is a native son of
the state of Maryland, where the family was
established at an early day, the lineage being
of stanch old Scotch extraction, the first
American ancestors of the name having left
the land of brown heather and shaggy wood
to establish a home for himself in Maryland,
in the new world. Mr. Chenoweth was born
in Maryland, on the 3d of September, 1830,
being one of the thirteen children born to
William and Katurah ( Murray) Cheno-
weth, the former of whom was born on the
same farm as was his son, our subject, the
place being about twenty-two miles distant
from the city of Baltimore. William Cheno-
weth was born in the year 1802, and he died
at the age of seventy-four years and one
month. His wife was born in Maryland in
1804, the daughter of John Murray, and
their marriage was celebrated in Maryland,
in 1822. Of their thirteen children all but
one grew to maturity, a son having died at
the age of eighteen months. Of the others
there were ten sons and two daughters.
Charles W., with whom this sketch has
more particularly to do, was reared to farm
life and remained at the parental home until
he had attained the age of twenty-two years.
His educational advantages were necessarily
of meager extent, as in the early days in
Ohio the primitive log school-house, with 1
puncheon floors, slab benches, open fireplace
and window provided with oiled paper in
place of glass, did not enlist the services of
teachers notable for great learning, and
even had their erudition been greater, the
young boys of the locality were in requisi-
tion during the greater portion of the year
as assistants in the work of clearing off the
t'mber from the pioneer farms and in the va-
rious other duties which went to make up
the routine of labor.
In February, 1853, Mr. Chenoweth was
united in marriage to Miss Minerva Har-
rison, who was born in Darke county, July
17, 1837, the daughter of James and Hanner
C. (Bowen) Harrison, the latter of whom
is still living, having attained the venerable
age of eighty-eight years, and being still well
preserved in both her mental and physical
faculties. James Harrison died in 1864,
leaving his widow and eight children, of
whom only three are now living. Our sub-
ject was called upon to mourn the death of
his devoted and cherished wife in Septem-
ber, 1878, she having become the mother of
seven children, as follows : William Al-
bert, who is a merchant in Glenkarn, this
county, having married and being the father
of seven children ; James Augustus, who is
a successful farmer in German, township,
has six children; Marietta Katurah, who
was born October 19, i860, became the wife
of George Slarp, and she died May 30, 18 15,
030
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
leaving eight children ; Washington Ells-
worth is a farmer in German township and
has six children; Morton Monroe, likewise
a farmer of German township, has three
children; Elnora Belle is the wife of Col-
ville Woods; and Elmer E., born in 1872,
resides in Hollansburg, and is operating the
old homestead for his father, he being the
father of one son and one daughter. In
1879 onr subject consummated a second mar-
riage, being then united to Miss Mary Ann
Felton, who was born in Pennsylvania, Sep-
tember 27, 1846, the daughter of Charles D.
and fjannah (Priestly) Felton, who resided
near Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Of this
union two children have been born — a son,
who died in infancy; and Ethel Olga, who
was born March 11, 1886, and who is a
studious young lady, showing no little talent
in her musical work.
Mr. Chenoweth enlisted for service in
the Union army during the war of the Re-
bellion, having become a member of the One
Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Infantry,
on the 2d of May, 1864, and having been
discharged September 3 following. Though
in active service he participated in no regu-
lar battle. He as a member of the Grand
Army of the Republic post which was or-
ganized in Hollansburg, but which was dis-
banded several years ago. He casts his
ballot in support of the Republican party and
it.' principles, and be and his wife are zealous
members of the Christian church, with which
Mr. Chenoweth has been identified for nearly
a half-century, having served as a deacon
in the same and maintaining a lively interest
in all branches of the church work.
Our subject settled on his present farm
of eighty-four acres in 1875, having pur-
chased previously, in 1864, a tract of one
hundred and eighty acres, which is now oc-
cupied by his two sons, each having a com-
fortable and attractive home and good out-
buildings. When Mr. Chenoweth started
out in life upon his own responsibility he re-
ceived five hundred dollars from his father,
choosing this amount in preference to eighty
acres of timber land. The father's estate
was worth about thirty thousand dollars,
and this was eventually divided among the
nine children. Mr. Chenoweth has devoted
his attention to diversified farming, begin-
ning operations on the farm of his father-
in-law, and later settling on his own eighty-
four-acre farm, and he now owns the two
farms, comprising two hundred and sixty-
four acres. He has been a very successful
farmer and business man, and having done
his full quota of hard work he is now en-
joying that rest which is the just reward of
his many years of toil and endeavor, having
relegated the active duties to his sons. He
is one of our county's prosperous and hon-
ored citizens, and it is incumbent that this
slight recognition be accorded him in a com-
pilation having to do with Darke county and
its interests.
JOHN HUFNAGLE.
John Hufnagle, now deceased, was for
many years a highly esteemed and prominent
resident of Greenville. He was born in
Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, August 27,
1805, and died in this city on the 10th of
March, 1889, at the age of eighty-three
years, six months and twelve days. He
was the youngest son of Valentine and Eve
(Berger) Hufnagle, both natives of the
Keystone state. His father died in 1830,
when seventy years of age.
At the age of seventeen, John Hufnagle,
whose name introduces this record, was ap-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
631
prenticed to learn the hatter's trade, but in
1847 ne changed his base of operations bv
embarking in general merchandising, which
pursuit he followed for thirty-five years, be-
coming one of the best-known and most re-
liable representatives of the commercial in-
terests of this city. In February, 1876, he
opened the Greenville Bank, and filled the
position of president, making the institution
one of the most substantial and trustworthy
financial concerns in the county. In busi-
ness circles he enjoyed an unassailable repu-
tation and a liberal patronage was therefore
accorded him. In September, 1826, Mr.
Hufnagle was married to Miss Barbara
Boardner, of Dauphin county, Pennsylva-
nia. Unto them were born three sons and
five daughters, but only two are now liv-
ing— H. E., of Greenville, and Mrs. J. E.
Breaden.
Mr. Hufnagle was for over half a century
a resident of Greenville, and left the impress
of his strong individuality upon the public
life and commercial improvements of the
city. He was a man of strong mind upheld
l)y a good constitution, was energetic in busi-
ness, frugal and economical. At all times
he lived a moral and upright life, and al-
though not associated with any religious de-
nomination he was nevertheless a firm be-
liever in Chrstianity. In politics he was a
Republican, ardent and liberal, often donat-
ing considerable sums for campaign pur-
poses. To those who did not know him,
Mr. Hufnagle seemed to be close in his deal-
ings with men, but he was always found to
be honest and fair. He stood firmly by his
contracts, and required that those dealing
with him should perform their portion of the
contract as agreed upon. With his family
lie was very liberal, giving generously to
supply their wants and devoted to their com-
fort and desires. As a neighbor he was
kind and obliging, and with him friendship
was inviolable. A few years before his
death he gave to his children by deed land
to the value of seventy-five or one hundred
thousand dollars, and by will he left the res-
idue of his large estate in lands, money and
notes to be equally divided among them.
His success was acquired entirely by his
own efforts, and by his well-directed labors
he rose to a prominent position among the
business men of Greenville, his being the
controlling influence in many public affairs.
He passed away March 10, 1889, and his re-
mains were laid to rest by the side of his
wife in the Greenville cemetery.
PHILIP HARTZELL.
Mr. Hartzell is a native of historic old
Darke county, which is known to be one of
the most important in the state, and one
whose annals have been interesting from
the pioneer days up to the end of the century,
marked by the highest development and sub-
stantial improvements. The date of our
subject's birth was May 23, 1843, and he is
the second in a family of six children, all of
whom were sons. The parents were John J.
and Nancy (Westfall) Hartzell, pioneers of
the county and people well known for their
integrity and genuine worth. Of the six
sons only two are living — Philip, of this
sketch, and David, who is engaged in the
drug business at Rossville, Kansas. The
father was a native of the old Keystone
state, where he was born December 1, 181 5,
and his death occurred in 1852. He was
reared to agricultural pursuits, and to this
line of occupation he gave his attention
throughout his long and active life. He
emigrated to Ohio when he was a young
632
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
man, coming directly to Darke county, where
he purchased a tract of wild land in Rich-
land township, the same tract which fig-
ures today as the beautiful and finely-culti-
vated farmstead of our subject. In his po-
litical proclivities John J. Hartzell was a
Democrat of the true Jacksonian school, and
he was a zealous advocate of the party cause
throughout the course of his life. The
mother of our subject was born in the
Buckeye state, February 22, .1823, and here
was solemnized her marriage to Mr. Hart-
zell. Her death occurred about the year
1863. .Both she and her husband were de-
voted members of the German Reformed
church.
Philip Hartzell was reared on the old
homestead, growing up under the invigorat-
ing discipline attendant upon the operation
of a farm, and his educational training was
secured in the common schools. He has al-
ways devoted his attention to agriculture,
with the exception of eight years, during
which time he was a resident of Ansonia,
and for two years of the interval was en-
gaged in business as a dealer in agricultural
implements. Even at this time he did not
resign his farming interests, though he did
not give them his close personal attention
as he had formerly done. 1 Ie has been very
successful in his endeavors and is known as
one of the substantial and representative
farmers of the county. Mr. Hartzell has
also been a practical thresher for many years,
operating with the best of equipment and
having threshed many hundred thousands
of bushels of wheat and other grain in Rich-
land and Brown townships and throughout
the contiguous territory. He has gained a
wide acquaintanceship in the county and en-
joys a marked popularity wherever he is
known.
Mr. Hartzell has been twice married, his
first union having been with Miss Caroline
Dill, a native of this county. They became
the parents of two children — Rosetta, wife
of J. P. Slyder, a prominent dealer in gen-
eral merchandise at Ansonia, this countv;
and Charles Dill Hartzell, who still remains
at the paternal homestead. The latter re-
ceived excellent educational advantages in
the graded schools of Ansonia and Beams-
ville, Ohio, and is a young man of much in-
tellectual force. He is a Democrat in poli-
tics, having cast his first presidential vote
for William Jennings Bryan, and frater-
nally he is identified with Lodge No. 356,
Knights of Pythias, at Ansonia, in which he
holds the office of master-of-arms. Mrs.
Plartzell was summoned into eternal rest in
September, 1888, and on the 15th of Decem-
ber, 1898, Mr. Hartzell wedded Miss Laura
Sharp, who was born in Darke county, the
daughter of Perry and Maacha (Schwartz)
Sharp, who were the parents of ten chil-
dren. The father was a native of New Jer-
sey, and the mother of Pennsylvania, and
both are residents of Brown township, this
ci lunty. To Mr. and Mrs. Hartzell three
children have been born, one being deceased,
while those living are Maacha and an infant
boy. Mrs. Hartzell ably fills her place as a
wife and mother, being truly a helpmeet to
her husband.
In politics Mr. Hartzell gives his sup-
port to the principles and policies advanced
by the Democratic party, his first presiden-
tial ballot having been for the support of
General George B. McClellan, and he has
ever since been a stanch advocate of the
party cause. Officially he has served as
trustee of Richland township, and, being a
firm friend of the cause of education, he
has been called upon to act as school trustee
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
C33
both in Ansonia and in Richland township,
holding such preferment for more than six
years. He holds advanced ideas in regard
to the schools, and believes that only com-
petent teachers should be employed and that
the highest possible standard should be main-
tained in every branch of educational work.
In the fall of 1899 Mr. Hartzell was elected
land appraiser of Richland township, an ap-
pointment whose tenure extends over a full
decade. This preferment clearly indicates
the confidence and high regard bestowed
upon our subject in the community. Mr.
Hartzell. purchased part of the old home-
stead of one hundred and fifteen acres, all
^located in Richland township. The soil is a
rich black loam, admirably adapted for the
cultivation of cereals, and various other
crops, including tobacco and potatoes. Mr.
Hartzell is classed as a practical, progress-
ive agriculturist, and as a scion of one of
the old and prominent families of Darke
county we are pleased to offer this tribute
ir. connection with this important genealog-
ical record of the county.
Fraternally our subject is a member of
the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 356, at
Ansonia, of which he was a charter member,
and he is also a member of Lodge No. 488,
of the Free and Accepted Masons, at An-
sonia.
VALENTINE GRUSENMEYER.
Among the native sons of Ohio who in
the business world have attained success,
winning prosperity through earnest purpose,
careful management and honorable dealing,
Valentine Grusenmeyer is numbered. He
is a son of George Michael Grusenmeyer,
who was born on the 21st of June, 1820, in
Alsace, France, a section of the country
now in possession of the Germans. Hav-
ing arrived at years of maturity he wedded
Elizabeth Schammer, who was born in Ba-
den, Germany, February 18, 1826. In 1846
George Michael Grusenmeyer emigrated to
the new world, locating near Troy, Ohio,
where he was employed for six years. On
the expiration of that period he returned to
the fatherland, and when he again came to
America brought with him his mother, his
brothers and sisters, the family, eight in
number, locating near Dayton, Ohio. His
father had died during his sojourn in Amer-
ica. Of the family four are still living,
namely : Mrs. Lena Lepbart and Mrs.
Mary Roth, both of Dayton ; and Anthony
and Joseph, who are residents of Logans-
port, Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. George Michael Grusen-
meyer became the parents of eight children,
four of whom are still living, as follows :
Anthony, Mrs. Mary Ruh ; Mrs. Lizzie
Heck, of Dayton, Ohio, and Valentine,
whose name introduces this review.
Valentine Grusenmeyer was born near
Dayton, on the 8th of October, 1854, and
entered upon his business career as a gar-
dener. His father followed that pursuit,
and for him our subject worked until he
was twenty-four years of age, when he went
to Logansport, Indiana, where he was em-
' ployed for a year. On the expiration of
that period he returned and cultivated his
father's garden for a period of two years.
In 1 881 he came to Darke county and com-
menced gardening on his own place, called
the "East Side Garden," but in October,
1 89 1, he abandoned that pursuit and em-
barked in the grocery business in connection
with Jacob Goetz. They conducted a store
in Versailles, Ohio, for a year, after which
they removed their stock into the Anderson
634
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
building in Greenville, where they carried
on business through the succeeding year.
Mr. Grusenmeyer then began business as a
wholesale dealer in fruit and vegetables. In
1893 he purchased the Ruth grocery and
carried on the dual enterprise for a period of
five years. When that time had elapsed he
established a branch store in the St. Clair
building, and in the spring of 1898 he sold
the store in the Ruth building to the firm of
Lampa & Maher, continuing business, how-
ever, in the St. Clair building through the
succeeding sixteen months. He then sold
his large stock of groceries to Ray M. Gil-
bert and removed his fruit and vegetable
store into the Waring building He is a
man of marked enterprise and indefatigable
energy who gives close attention to the con-
duct of his mercantile affairs and follows
most systematic and honorable methods.
In 1881 was celebrated the marriage of
Mr. Grusenmeyer and Miss Mary Seybold,
of Logansport, Indiana. They took up
their residence in Greenville, and unto them
were born nine children : Ersula, born Au-
gust 30, 1882; George B., born July 13,
1884; Frances C, born January 30, 1886;
Savier, born November 25, 1888; Anastasia,
born February 5, 1890; Clara, born March
1,1892, and died September 1 of the same
year; John, who was born September 11,
1894; Oscar, born September 24, 1896; and
Engene, born October 6, 189S. After re-
siding for three years in Greenville Mr. and
Mrs. Grusenmeyer removed to their farm,
which is just outside the city limits, and
there make their home. They were reared
in the Catholic faith, have always adhered to
that religious belief and are now instructing
their children therein. In Darke county
they have a wide acquaintance and are high-
ly esteemed for their many excellencies of
character, while in business circles Mr. Gru-
senmeyer enjoys an unassailable reputation
that has come to him as the result of incor-
ruptible integrity in all his dealings.
DAVID HARTLE.
The pioneers of a county or state play a
most conspicuous part in its history, laying
the foundation not only for its present ad-
vancement, but for its future prosperity and
progress. The pioneers of Ohio, by their
sturdy industry, perseverance and sterling
characters, have made the wilderness to
''blossom as the rose." Among those who.
in early frontier days resided in Darke coun-
ty, bearing his part in the work of advance-
ment and development, is David Hartle.
Some of his ancestors were very early set-
tlers of Darke county, and here entered land
from the government.
The subject of this review is one of its
native sons. He was born January 30,
1824. and is the ninth in a family of eleven
children, seven sons and four daughters,
whose parents were Jacob and Catherine
(Spade) Hartle. He is now the only sur-
vivor of this pioneer family, and is the old-
est native resident of Richland township,
and possibly of Darke county, as he has
ppssed the seventy-sixth milestone on the
journey of life. His father was born near
Hagerstown, Washington county, Maryland,
October 5, 1779, and died April 6, 1850.
His birth occurred twenty years previous
to the death of General George Washing-
ton. He traced his ancestry directly back
to Germany. He was reared as a tiller of
the soil, and was early inured to the hard-
ships and privations of pioneer life. He
received a rudimentary education in the
subscription schools of the early times, and
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
635
during much of his youth remained in his
native state. When a boy, however, he re-
moved to Pennsylvania, and was there mar-
ried. About 1805 he emigrated to Ohio,
reaching the Buckeye state only three years
after its admission to the Union. He lo-
cated in Pickaway county, where he pur-
chased land and made his home for ten
years, after which he came to Darke county
and entered three hundred and twenty acres
of land from the government, in what is
now Richland township. The county was
not then organized, this entire portion of the
state being known as the Miami' district.
The Indians were far more numerous than
the white settlers, and the work of civiliza-
tion and progress seemed scarcely begun.
The first habitation of the Hartles in Darke
county was a primitive log cabin, and during
its erection the family took refuge in old
Fort Briar, which was erected on the banks
of Stillwater creek, in the vicinity of the
farm now owned by Job Shafer. In that
fort the family remained from March until
May, and then took up their abode in their
new home. The county was largely in its
primitive condition, and many a wild deer
and turkey did the father kill in the vicinity
of the Hartle home. Such primitive agri-
cultural implements as the sickle, the flail
and the old-fashioned four-fingered cradle
were in use, and many are the days in which
David Hartle has swung a cradle and scythe
from early morning until eventide. The
father was possessed of an energetic and
sturdy Teutonic spirit, was thrifty and in-
dustrious and was successful to a large de-
gree, accumulating land to the extent of five
hundred and sixty acres in Darke county.
He was imbued with a progressive spirit,
withholding his support from no measure or
movement which he believed would prove of
public good, and this commendable quality
has been inherited by his children and grand-
children. In politics he was a Democrat
and a great admirer of Andrew Jackson, and
throughout his life he gave a loyal support
to the party. He held membership in the
German Reformed church. His wife died
during the early boyhood of our subject,
who therefore knows little of her ancestry,
and has never experienced a mother's kind-
ness and loving care.
David Hartle, of this review, one of the
most honored pioneers of Darke county, has
spent almost three-quarters of a century in
Richland township. He has witnessed a
wonderful transformation in the condition
of Darke county, has seen it crossed by a
great network of railroads, while the forest
tracts have been replaced by beautiful, well-
tilled farms, improved with fine brick resi-
dences; churches and school-houses have
been built and all the accessories of civiliza-
tion added. The beautiful city of Green-
ville, with a population of eight thousand,
has taken the place of Fort Greenville, then
hardly a hamlet. All of these improve-
ments have been made since Mr. Hartle has
been a resident of Darke county, and he has
been instrumental in its development to a
large degree. He has also witnessed the
building of one thousand miles of splendid
stone pike roads within the borders of the
county, and has seen a transformation
wrought that almost equals scenes from the
Arabian Nights, so quickly have the changes
been made.
Mr. Hartle acquired a fair education in
the schools of his day and by personal appli-
cation mastered the studies taught at the
time. He began his education in the win-
ter of 1831, in a hewed-log building, 18x18
feet, into which light was admitted through
636
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
three little windows, the panes being Sxio
inches. The benches were crude in con-
struction, being made of split blue ash
slabs, from fourteen to sixteen feet in length,
placed upon four wooden legs or pins. The
writing desks for the older scholars were
formed of a black-walnut board, sixteen
inches wide and resting on thole pins driven
into the wall. The floor was of puncheon
and the ceiling was constructed in a similar
manner. This primitive school building
was heated by a large, old-fashioned fire-
place, constructed of boulders up to the dis-
tance where the jamb began. The chimney
was made of mud and sticks, as there were
no brick manufactured in that early day in
Darke county. The roof was made of clap-
boards, held in place by a heavy log, and the
birch rod and the dunce-block formed an
important part in the discipline -of the school.
The school was conducted on the subscrip-
tion plan, for the splendid system of public
schools was not then inaugurated. The
text-books used were Webster's spelling
book — the one previous to "Webster's blue-
back speller" — Pike's arithmetic, the Uni-
versal History of the United States and the
old English reader. Mr. Hartle has in his
library a copy of the Tutor's Guide, pub-
lished in 1804, the key of which was pub-
lished in 1806. Such is the description of
the temple of Minerva in which Mr. Hartle
gathered his learning in pioneer days. He
was reared to manhood amid the wild scenes
of the Buckeye state, and throughout his
life has carried on farming. His parents
were sturdy people, of great endurance, and
he resembled his maternal ancestry, being a
man of large size, strong and robust. In
his youth he was particularly fond of ath-
letics, in which he greatly excelled. The
amusements enjoyed by young people in
those days consisted of apple-parings, log-
rollings and corn-huskings, which were fol-
lowed by games and amusements in the eve-
ning. Out of the dense forest Mr. Hartle
hewed a farm for himself and has always
carried on agricultural pursuits.
He was married, June 3, 1852, to Miss
Rebecca Shults, who was born in York
county, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1822,
and died January 22, 1899. She was a
daughter of George and Elizabeth (Gregor)
Shults, and came with her parents to War-
ren county, Ohio, in 1840. In 1845 tney
removed' to Greenville township, Darke
county, where the marriage of Mr. and Mrs.
Hartle was celebrated. For almost a half
a century she was to her husband a faithful
companion and helpmate on the journey of
life, sharing with him its joys and sorrows,
its adversity and prosperity. At length the
wife was taken, leaving a vacant chair in
the household, her death being a great blow
to her husband. Her remains were interred
in the Beamsville cemetery, where a beauti-
ful monument marks her last resting place.
Unto this worthy couple were born four
sons and a daughter. Frank P. is a pros-
perous farmer of Richland township, and
is married and has five children. He is a
Republican in his political views. Orrin C,
an agriculturist of the same township, is
married and has four children. Dayton Fre-
mont, named in honor of the celebrated John
C. Fremont, resides in Richland township,
and is married and has two children. David
O. is a resident .farmer of German township,
and he. too, is married. Calla Belle is the
wife of Hollis Hartzell. an enterprising ag-
riculturist of Brown township, by whom she
has three children. Mr. Hartzell is a Demo-
crat in his political views, but all of the sons
of the family are stanch Republicans.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
OBI
After his marriage Mr. Hartle estab-
lished his home in the midst of a forest so
dense that he could hardly see the sun
through the branches of the trees. He had
eighty acres of land and a little frame house.
He would walk to his work six miles away,
and there fell trees, clearing his land pre-
paratory to placing it under cultivation.
Prosperity has attended his well directed and
continuous efforts, and as his financial re-
sources have increased he has added to his
possessions until he now owns three hun-
dred and seventy acres of land. His chil-
dren are also well situated in life. Much
of his leisure time has been given to the
study of the best literature, and he is now a
well informed man. He retains his mental
vigor to a remarkable degree, although he
is now upon the downward slope of life.
He has in his possession a piece of the con-
tinental currency issued in 1777. His
grandfather was a teamster in the Revolu-
tionary war and was paid in that money,
and after purchasing a little farm in Mary-
land he had a few pieces of the script left,
one of which was inherited by our subject.
Its value was about nine pence, and it is now
treasured as a priceless heirloom, although
at that time in purchasable value it was
almost worthless. On the reverse side of
the bill is the inscription, "To counterfeit
this money is death." It is probably the
only piece of continental currency in Darke
county. In his political views Mr. Hartle
has always been independent, voting for the
man whom he considered best qualified for
office. He cast his first presidential vote for
Martin Van Buren. He supported our two
n artyred presidents, Lincoln and Garfield,
and also voted for General Grant. He is a
warm friend of the cause of temperance and
of the little red school house, and believes
in securing competent teachers and giving
them remunerative salaries. At one time
lie taught school for seven years and long
served as a school director in his neighbor-
hood. His wife was a member of the Ger-
man Reformed church, while he advances the
doctrines of the Universalist church. He is
benevolent and has contributed toward the
erection of four different churches, two in
Greenville, one in Pikesville and one in
Beamsville. He is a man well known for
his sterling honor and integrity, and over
the record of his life there falls no shadow
of wrong or suspicion of evil. His memory
will remain as a blessed benediction to those
who knew him long after he shall have com-
pleted the journey of life.
DAVID WELLER BOWMAN.
Among the leading and prominent attor-
neys of Greenville, Ohio, none are meeting
with better success than the subject of this
review. He is a native of Darke county,
born on a farm two miles east of New Madi-
son, January 20, i860, and is the second son
of George W. and Phebe (Noggle) Bow-
man. The father was a native of Franklin
county, Pennsylvania, and came to Darke
county, Ohio, with his parents in 1838. On
the maternal side our subject's grandfather,
Michael Noggle, was also of Pennsylvania
stock, his ancestors being residents of Frank-
lin county, that state, but early in the nine-
teenth century the family came to Ohio. Our
subject's maternal grandmother was of Eng-
lish descent and her people made their home
in Georgia and the Carolinas before coming
to this state.
The subject of this sketch was reared on
his father's farm and received his education
in the common schools of the neighborhood
635
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and in the high school at Greenville. At the
age of eighteen he commenced teaching
school and taught eighteen months before
attaining his majority. On the 4th of April,
1 88 1, he entered the office of Allen, Riffle &
Otwell, attorneys of Greenville, and began
the study of law. In October following he
entered the office of Hon. J. W. Sater, with
whom he pursued his legal studies until May
1, 1883, on which date he was admitted to
the bar by the supreme court at Columbus.
He at once began the practice of law at
Greenville and on the 4th of February, 1884,
forme'd a partnership with Hon. D. L. Meek-
er, a connection which continued until May
14, 1888, when the firm dissolved partner-
ship on account of the election of Mr. Meeker
to the office of common pleas judge. On
the 1st of July, 1888, Mr. Bowman entered
into partnership with Hon. C. M. Anderson,
with whom he is still associated, and they
enjoy a large and lucrative practice. They
rank among the ablest attorneys of Darke
county, and, as prominence at the bar comes
through merit alone, their skill and ability
are attested by the liberal patronage they
receive.
ABDEL PETERS.
Abdel Peters, who has served his fellow
townsmen in official positions and is known
as a practical and progressive agriculturist
of Darke county, was born in Richland town-
ship on the 14th of October, 1855, a son of
Christian and Marie (Sloniker) Peters, who
had a family of two sons and one daughter.
The father was born January 13, 1815, in
Oldendorf, Prussia, and died on the 10th of
March, 1893, at the age of seventy-eight
years. He remained in the country of his
birth until 1847, when he determined to seek
a home in America, believing that he might
better his financial condition in the land of
the free. He had no money to pay his pas-
sage, but he borrowed the necessary amount
and in a sailing vessel crossed the briny deep
from the city of Havre, France. Eleven
weeks had elapsed before the passengers
sighted land. Mr. Peters not only came to
this country a poor man, but was totally un-
acquainted with the English language. He
possessed strong and resolute purpose, how-
ever, and these qualities stood him in stead
of capital. After arriving he at once made
his way to Dayton, Montgomery county,
Ohio, where he began life in the new world
as a wage-earner. His first purchase of land
was a tract of eighty acres in Richland town-
ship, Darke county. It was covered with
natural forest trees, which he had to cut
away in order to make room to erect his first
log cabin. The first barn which he built
was also a log structure. He resided in
Darke county when there was not a single
railroad within its borders and later he
worked on the construction of the Panhandle
Railroad. He could also remember Green-
ville when it was a hamlet containing not a
dozen houses. He took an active interest
in everything pertaining to the growth and
improvement of his county, and he and his
wife were liberal contributors toward the
erection of the beautiful St. John's church
in Greenville township. They also took
an active part in the church work, doing all
in their power to promote the cause of Chris-
tianity. When called to their final rest their
remains were interred in the St. John's Lu-
theran cemetery, where now stands a beauti-
ful monument sacred to their memory. In
his political views Mr. Peters was a Demo-
crat. His wife, who was born in Adams
county, Pennsylvania, in 1827, passed away
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
G39
in 1899. Her children rise up and call her
blessed, for to them she was a faithful and
loving mother. Maggie, the only daughter,
was educated in the common schools and
now makes her home with her brother,
Abdel, who was the second of the family.
Like her parents, she is a member of the St.
John's Lutheran church at Greenville.
James, a younger son, resides on the old
homestead in Richland township, his atten-
tion being given to farming. He married
Miss Flora Lang and they have one son.
Mr. Peters, of this review, remained with
his parents until he had attained his ma-
jority, assisting his father in the operation
of the home farm. He began to earn his
own living by working as a farm hand, re-
ceiving twelve dollars per month in com-
pensation for his services. He was indus-
trious and energetic, and with the capital
which he had acquired through his un-
flagging effort and his economy, he was at
length enabled to purchase land. He re-
mained with his father until he was twenty-
nine years of age and then spent one year in
raising tobacco for his brother-in-law, John
Clark. After his marriage he rented land
in Greenville township for two years, dur-
ing which time he saved five hundred dol-
lars. This he invested in fifty-six acres of
land, their present home, and though he
took up his abode upon the place burdened
by an indebtedness of thirty-one hundred
and forty dollars, his resolute energy en-
abled him to courageously face the future.
He was assisted and encouraged by his es-
timahle wife, who has ever been to him a
true helpmeet. When he located on the farm
only three fields had been fenced and no
fence had been built around the home, which
was a poor little structure. Since then, how-
ever, Mr. Peters has erected a very pleasant
E9
residence and has built a large barn, 90x32
feet, which furnishes shelter for stock, grain
and farm implements. In 1899 he also
erected a tohacco warehouse at a cost of six
hundred dollars.
It was on the 1st of May, 1884, that Mr.
Peters was united in marriage to Miss Min-
nie Shafer, who was born in Montgomery
county, Ohio, March 10, 1862, a daughter
of Christian and Louisa (Edmire) Shafer,
whose family numbered eight children, two
sons and six daughters. All are yet living
and are residents of Darke county. The
only sister of Mrs. Peters is Mollie, wife of
Louis Dohma, a business man of Greenville.
The father is now a resident of Greenville
township, is a successful farmer and honored
citizen. The mother, however, has passed
away. Mrs. Peters was only two years of age
when brought by her parents to Darke coun-
ty. She received a good education in the
German tongue and when about fifteen years
of age was confirmed as a member of the
Lutheran church. By her marriage she has
become the mother of one son and two
daughters. Susie, the eldest, was confirmed
at the age of fourteen years in the Lutheran
church by Rev. C. H. Mayer. She possesses
considerable musical ability. Louisa, the sec-
ond daughter, is attending school, and Clar-
ence completes the family. The parents have
a thorough appreciation of the value of ed-
ucation and intend that their children shall
have good advantages in that direction, re-
ceiving intellectual training in both the Ger-
man and English languages. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Peters enjoy the high regard of many
warm friends in the community. He ex-
ercises bis right of franchise in support of
the men and measures of the Democratic
party and cast his first vote for i [on. Samuel
J. Tilden in 1876, since which time he has
640
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
upheld the principles of Democracy. He has
served as township trustee, having been
elected to that office in 1895 for a three-years
term. He discharged his duties so capably
that he was re-elected in 1898 and is there-
fore the present incumbent, being recognized
as an official who has the public good at
heart and is prompt and reliable in perform-
ing the duties which devolve upon him. As
a business man he is energetic and trust-
worthy. His time is given to the cultivation
of corn, wheat, oats and tobacco, and he is
a practical and progressive farmer. His
h^me is pleasantly situated about a mile ;md
a half from Dawn, two and a half miles
from Ansonia and nine miles from Green-
ville, the county seat. Everything about his
place is neat and thrifty in appearance and
the owner is regarded as one of the leading
agriculturists of his community. His en-
tire life has been spent in this locality and
Darke county may well be proud to number
him among her native sons. His wife is a
most estimable lady, who has been to him a
capable assistant, and, like her husband, she
enjoys the regard of many friends.
WILLIAM M. HARPER.
William Marii n Harper is the proprietor
of one of the oldest established jewelry
houses of Greenville and belongs to that class
of enterprising merchants who. in the legiti-
mate channels of trade and by the careful
management of their business interests, an-
nually augment their capital, and are known
as substantial residents of the communities
which they represent.
Mr. Harper was born in Greenville town-
ship, Darke county, upon his father's farm
October 30, 1835. He is a son of William
Sanford Horner, who was born in Trumbull
county, Ohio, July 11. 1810, and became
one of the early settlers of this section of
the state. He married Miss Delilah Arnold,
a native of Ohio and a daughter of William
Arnold. On leaving Trumbull county Will-
iam Sanford Harper took up his abode in
Butler county, Ohio, and thence came to
Darke county, in 1823, locating on a farm in
Greenville township, where he remained un-
til 1874. In that year he took up his abode
in the city of Greenville, where he is still
living, in his ninetieth year, — a venerable
old man, receiving uniform respect from'
young and old, rich and poor. His first wife,
whom he wedded September 5, 1832, died on
the farm in 1875. She was the mother of
four children: Elizabeth, the wife of
Thomas Culbertson; William M. ; John;
and Catherine, who died in her eleventh
year. In 1875 Mr. Harper was again mar-
ried, his second union being with Mrs. Sarah
J. Culbertson, the widow of John Culbert-
son and a daughter of Peter Elston. Mrs.
Harper was born in Washington township,
Darke county, December 29, 1823.
In the usual manner of farmer lads Will-
iam M. Harper, of this review, spent his
boyhood days and in the district schools of
the neighborhood he acquired his education,
to which he has added by reading, observa-
tion and experience until he has become a
well informed man. At the age of twenty-
one he entered upon his business career,
learning the jeweler's trade of Mr. Webb in
Greenville, to whom he served a regular ap-
prenticeship. On its completion he started
in business for himself in Greenville and for
a time was associated with Mr. Webb. He
now has a large store and carries a good
stock of clocks, watches and silverware. As
he is a practical and skilled workman he
also does much repairing and cleaning and
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
041
adjusting of high-grade watches in his line.
During his long residence in this city he has
become widely and favorably known and
lias also many acquaintances throughout
Darke county. Many of these are numbered
among his patrons and he is enjoying a good
trade, which shows that his business meth-
ods are reliable and that he has the con-
fidence of the community.
On the 13th' of November, 1861, Air.
Harper was united in marriage to Miss
Helen M. Angel, of Bluffton. Indiana, a
daughter of David Angel and Adaline Por-
ter Angel. Tliev had two sons, William
Angel, who was born August 5, 1862, and
is now living in Columbus, Ohio ; and Harlie
Bliss, who was born February 17, 1869, and
died November 24, 1899, at the age of thirty
years. The sons learned the jeweler's art
in their father's store and became expert en-
gravers and jewelers. The mother passed
away November 1 1, 1877. Mr. Harper mar-
ried Mrs. Vicie C. Barnhiser, of Eaton,
Ohio, August 4, 1886. She died in Green-
ville January 22, 1S91. He was again mar-
ried, February 15, 1893, Miss Anna E.
Manor, of Greenville, Ohio, becoming his
wife. She was the daughter of William
Manor, who was a Union soldier in the civil
war and died in the service. Mrs. Eliza-
beth Manor, her mother, is still living, is
eighty-three years of age and retains her
mental faculties. She is loved and honored
by all who know her. Mrs. Harper was a
teacher in the public schools of Greenville
for several years. She and Mr. Harper are
leading and valued members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal church and are highly re-
spected by all who know them, and the circle
of their friends is only limited by the circle
of their acquaintances. Mr. Harper is a
man of even temperament, of refined char-
acter and appearance. Nature deals kindly
with the man who abuses not her laws, and
though he has long been in business age
rests lightly upon him.
JACOB K. TURNER.
Prominent among the business men of
Greenville, Ohio, is numbered Jacob K. Tur-
ner, who is now successfully engaged in the
real estate and loan business. He is a na-
tive of this state, his birth occurring in the
village of Liberty, Montgomery county, De-
cember 5, 1838, and he is a son of Daniel
and Elizabeth (Burtch) Turner, both na-
tives of Pennsylvania. The father was born
in Lancaster county and in early life learned
the cabinetmaker's trade. After his mar-
riage he located in Liberty, Ohio, where
he followed his chosen occupation for sev-
eral years and enjoyed a large trade, as all
of the furniture at that day was made by
hand. Pie also manufactured coffins and in
that branch of his business was kept ex-
tremely busy, especially during the cholera
epidemics in 1S48 and 1850.
The subject of this sketch began his ed-
ucation in the public schools of Liberty, but
having lost his mother when he was quite
small he removed to a farm and completed
his education in the country schools, which
he attended until eighteen years of age.
Subsequently he was variously employed un-
til 1862. when he came to Greenville and
obtained a position as a clerk in the store
of Adams & Snyder, dry-goods merchants,
with whom he remained for three years.
During the following seven years he was
in the employ of Moore & Wenner, also
merchants of Greenville, and at the end of
tint time embarked in the ) business
on his own account at that place. On dis-
612
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
posing of his stock of groceries he turned
his attention to the real estate and loan busi-
ness, to which he has since devoted his en-
ergies, handling farm and city property for
both local and eastern parties. In this en-
terprise he has met with well deserved suc-
cess.
In 1864 Mr. Turner was united in mar-
riage with Miss Sarah Doty, who died the
following year. For his second wife he mar-
ried Miss Lanasa Meisse, of Greenville, a
daughter of the late Dr. Meisse, an early
settler and one of the prominent physicians
of that place. By this union were born four
children, namely: William A., who is in
the railroad service at Washington, D. C. ;
Frank A., who is interested in the same
business at Decatur, Alabama; August M.,
a civil engineer in the Indian territory; and
Rome E. Turner, at home.
GEORGE S. BYRD.
Long a resident of Darke county, Mr.
Byrd belongs to that class of enterprising
American citizens who while promoting
their individual success also contribute to the
public good through the support of many
measures which they believe will prove of
general benefit. He is numbered among the
native sons of the county, his birth having
occurred within its borders June 2, 1843.
He is the eldest of a family of ten chil-
dren, four sons and six daughters, who were
born unto Abraham and Emma (Radfeld)
Byrd. The father was born in Rocking-
ham county, Virginia, February 18, 1804.
and his parents were natives of Germany,
whence they emigrated to the new world,
becoming the founders of the family in
America. He remained with his parents
during his minority and gave to them the
benefit of his services. At an early age he
learned the brick and stone mason's trade
and later in life became an agriculturist.
His educational privileges were limited, but
he was reared to be an honest lad and to
make the most of his opportunities, and
steadily he advanced in life, commanding
the respect of all with whom he came in
contact. In 1838 he started westward and
made a trip through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
and Kentucky on horseback, after which he
returned to his home. He visited the site
of the present city of Springfield, Illinois,,
when there were but few houses there and
almost the entire state was in a barren, un-
cultivated condition. In 1840 he took up
his abode in Darke county, purchasing
eighty acres of land almost entirely unim-
proved, the greater part of it being covered
with a dense growth of timber, but a small
clearing had been made.
Upon that farm he made his home un-
til his death, which occurred April 28, 1887.
His brothers, Peter, Jacob and William,
were soldiers in the war of 181 2, in which
the noted Indian chief, Tecumseh, took
part. He had formerly been a resident of
what is now Darke county. The father of
our subject was an ardent advocate of De-
mocracy and cast his first presidential vote
for Andrew Jackson. He was always a
firm supporter of the principles of the party,
but never sought political preferment for
himself. His wife, who was born in Read-
ing, Pennsvlvania, November 17, 1820, is
still living on the old homestead in Wayne
township. She is a member of the Lutheran
church and a most estimable lady. The rec-
ord of her children is as follows: Hannah
is the widow of David Shafer, a resident
of Webster, Darke county. Jacob F. is a
mechanic living in Webster. Sarah Isabel
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
C43
is the wife of James Young, a mechanic
living at Dawn, Ohio. Mary M. resides with
her mother on the old homestead in Wayne
township. Abraham and Emma were twins
and the latter is deceased, but the former
is married and follows farming in York
township. Henrietta resides with her
mother on the old home farm. Lucy A. is
the wife of Thomas Omerod, a salesman
of Warren, Indiana ; and Sylvester is a
farmer living at Green Mountain, Marshall
county, Iowa.
In taking up the personal history of
George S. Byrd we present to our readers
the life record of one who is widely and
favorably known in Darke county. He
acquired his education in the common
schools, the first school he attended being
a log structure with a mud and stick chim-
ney; the rooms were heated by a large old-
fashioned fireplace and the benches were
made of slabs placed upon wooden pins,
while the desks used by the '"big boys and
girls" was a board in the rear end of the
building laid on pins inserted in the wall.
The birchen rod and the old dunce block
were important factors in the discipline of
the school. Mr. Byrd laughingly tells
how, in punishment of some boyish prank,
he was forced to sit upon the dunce block
with a sunbonnet on his head. The amuse-
ments enjoyed by the young people of that
day were apple-parings, corn-huskings and
taffy-pullings, together with other innocent
games which are now known only as mem-
ory reverts to them. Greenville, during
the time of Mr. Byrd's boyhood, contained
only about seven hundred inhabitants and
he can well remember the first train which
ran over the Dayton & Union Railroad. He
witnessed the building of all of the fine pikes
of Darke county and aided in the construc-
tion of the Brandon pike. Mr. Byrd spent
a part of the year 1865 in Iowa, Wisconsin
and Minnesota on a prospecting tour, but
preferring Ohio as a place of residence he
returned home. He was married on the
15th of February, of the following year, to
Miss Amanda Plessinger, and unto them
were born four children, three sons and a
daughter, all yet living. Mrs. Byrd was
born in Richland township, Darke county,
March 16, 1839, a daughter of Nicholas and
Rachel (Miller) Plessinger. Her father
was born in Pennsylvania September 24,
1808, and died January 19, 1885. He was
a lad of about twelve years when he came
to Darke county, arriving on the 1st of No-
vember, 1820. He made his way at once
to Richland township, where he afterward
purchased eighty acres of timber land of
the government, walking to Cincinnati to
make payment thereon. He added to his
possessions until he had accumulated two
hundred and twenty-seven acres, constitut-
ing a valuable farm, which was one of the
earliest developed in the county. In politics
he was a Democrat and was of German
lineage. In his family were- six children,
a son and five daughters, but only two are
yet living, — Leah, wife of J. J. Winbigler,
and Philip J., a prominent farmer of Rich-
land township. The children of Mr. and
Mrs. Byrd are as follows: Philip F., the
eldest, was educated in the common schools
and follows farming near Green Mountain,
Marshall county, Iowa, and is a Democrat
in politics. Rachel O., who was born on
the old homestead and attended the com-
mon schools, is her father's housekeeper.
She is a member of the Christian church
at Beamsville and a devoted member of the
Sister's Home, Rebekah Lodge, No. 216,
at Versailles. She has held all of its offices
644
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and is at present deputy grand master. In
April, 1899, she was alternate to the grand
association of the grand lodge, at Piqua,
and she has the honor of being the second
member of the Versailles lodge that has
taken that degree in the grand lodge. She
also belongs to the Ladies' Aid Society of
the church and is a young woman of pleas-
ing manner, highly esteemed throughout
the community. Ira M. married Miss Ella
Mitchell and follows farming in Marshall
county, Iowa. Herschel M. is associated
with his father in the real estate business.
He acquired a good practical education and
is devoting his energies to farming. In
politics he is a Democrat and cast his first
vote for William J. Bryan. In manner he
is courteous and genial and has many friends
throughout the community.
Mr. and Mrs. Byrd began their domestic
life upon a rented farm in Adams town-
ship. Their capital was very meager, but
they were industrious and economical and
their resolute wills enabled them to over-
come many difficulties. In the spring of
1880 Mr. Byrd made arrangements to pur-
chase his present farm of one hundred and
seven acres and installed his family in their
new home, where they lived happily until
death entered the household on the 24th of
September, 1885, carrying away the wife
and mother. She was most devoted to her
family and her loss was indeed a great blow
to husband and children. She was a de-
voted member of the Christian church at
Beamsville and a woman whose many ex-
cellencies of character endeared her to all.
Her remains were laid to rest in the Green
Lawn cemetery at Versailles, where a beauti-
ful granite monument has been raised to
her memory. The following obituary was
written by C. W. Heoffer, her pastor :
"Amanda (Plessinger) Byrd, wife of
George S. Byrd, died September 24, 1885,
aged forty-six years, six months and eight
days. She united with the Beamsville Chris-
tian church in i860 and lived a faithful
member till death. In her death the church
has lost one of her valued members and
the community one of its shining stars.
Sister Bvrd was an affectionate wife and
a loving mother. Though dead, yet she
speaks bv her pure life and noble example.
She leaves a husband, four children, brother
and sister and a host of relatives and friends
to mourn her loss.
'"Dearest sister, thou hast left us ;
Here thy loss we deeply feel ;
But 'tis God that hath bereft us :
He can all our sorrows heal.
"Yet again we hope to meet thee,
When the day of life is fled;
And in heaven with joy to greet thee,
Where no farewell tear is shed."
Since casting his first presidential vote
for General George B. McClellan, Mr. Byrd
has always been a stalwart Democrat. He
has served for thirteen years as school di-
rector and the cause of education has found
in him a warm friend who has done effective
service in its behalf. In 1897 he was elected
by a handsome majority to the office of
township trustee and capably filled the posi-
tion. Socially he belongs to the Versailles
Lodge. Xo. 286. I. O. O. F., in which he
has passed all the chairs. He took the
past grand degree at Sidney, Ohio, in May,
1896. He, too, belongs to the Christian
church at Beamsville and has contributed
to the building of three other churches in
this part of the county. He is a man whom
to know is to respect and honor, for his life
has been an active, useful and upright one.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
645
He enjoys the friendship and regard of all
with whom hs has associated and through
his long residence in Darke county he has
made many friends. Mr. Byrd, with his
daughter, Rachel, and son, Herschel, still
resides on the old home place and their
standing is high in the community.
JAMES B. AVERY.
The subject of this sketch needs no spe-
cial introduction to the readers of this vol-
ume but the work would be incomplete with-
out the record of his life. He has ever
cheerfully given his support to those enter-
prises that tend to public development and
has done all in his power to advance the
moral, educational and social welfare of his
township and county.
This worthy citizen of Greenville town-
ship, whose home is on section 3, traces his
ancestry back to Christopher Avery, who
was born in Wiltshire, England, in 1590,
and who, tradition states, came to America
in 1630 or 1631 and landed in Salem, Massa-
chusetts, though his home was for the most
part in Boston. He had one son, James,
who subsequently settled in Connecticut and
from whom all the Averys in New England
are descended. He left four sons, one of
whom was an ancestor of our subject. The
family has always been well represented in
the wars of this country. Some have been
noted in professional life and have dis-
tinguished themselves in letters and politics,
but it has been in manufacturing circles that
they have been most prominent. Elroy M.
Avery, of Cleveland, Ohio, is the author of
a series of school text books and has rep-
resented his district in the state senate, and
in ministerial work members of the family
are scattered through the various Protestant
denominations.
Our subject was born in New London
county, Connecticut, August 27, 1826, a
son of Billings and Prudence Avery, in
whose family were four children, three of
whom reached years of maturity, namely :
James B., Theopolis and Amos G. Theop-
olis is now deceased. The father died in
Connecticut July 15, 1833, at the age of
thirty years, and the mother March 23, 1833,
at the same age.
In the county of his nativity James B.
Avery grew to manhood, aiding in the work
of the home farm and attending the local
schools. In 1847, °n attaining his majority,
he came west alone, and after looking the
country over stopped in Greenville township,
Darke county, where he taught a district
school during the winter. In the spring of
1848 he returned to Connecticut, but the fol-
lowing fall he located permanently here,
buying eighty acres of the land in Green-
ville township where he now resides. To
this he has added until he now has one hun-
dred and thirty acres, which he has placed
under a high state of cultivation. Only a
few acres had been cleared when he took
up his residence thereon.
In the fall of 1848 Mr. Avery married
Miss Marcella Earhart, a daughter of Sam-
uel and Elizabeth (Scribner) Earhart, early
settlers of this county. By this union were-
born five children : Prudence M., now the
wife of David Hartle, Jr., of Darke coun-
ty; Franklin, deceased; Emily, the wife of
Orin Hartle, also of this county; Lizzie, the
wife of Frank Townsend; and Ira J., who
lives with his parents.
Samuel Earhart, the father of Mrs.
Avery, was a son of George and Mary M.
(Smith) Earhart, who were among the first
646-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
settlers of .Warren county, Ohio, and about
1818 came to Darke county, entering land in
Greenville township. George Earhart was
a Virginian by birth and of German de-
scent. He died in Greenville township in
1852, his wife in 1858. They had ten chil-
dren, namely: Martin, Samuel and Eliza-
beth, all deceased; Mary; Washington; Ma-
hala ; William ; Nancy ; Julia and Henry J.
They were earnest Christian people the
grandfather being a member of the Christian
church, his wife of the Presbyterian. Mrs.
Avery's parents were life-long residents of
Darke county and her father was an elder
in the Presbyterian church, to which both
belonged. He died in 1854, aged fifty-three
years, Mrs. Earhart in 1873, aged sixty-
seven. Their children were Marcella. the
wife of our subject; Anna M., Mary Jane
and William Henry, all deceased ; George
F., a resident of Oregon; Samuel M. and
Mrs. Elizabeth Sarah Warnfelt, both of
Darke county; Stephen James, of Oregon;
Isaac S.. of Oklahoma; David, of Florida;
and Mrs. Lucinna Mergler, of this county.
Azor Scribner, Mrs. Avery's maternal
grandfather, came from New York to Darke
county, Ohio, in 1806 or 1807 and traded
with the Indians. Both he and his brother,
Abraham, were soldiers of the war of 181 2.
He died in 1822, leaving the following chil-
dren: Mrs. Sarah McCann, Mrs. Elizabeth
Earhart, Mrs. Rhoda Clare, Mrs. Emily
Kidder, Mrs. Maria Gates, Mrs. Nancy
Stacy, Mrs. Julia Lee and Mrs. Mary Hool.
The mother of these children was three times
married, her third husband being a Mr.
Davis. She died about 1849.
Mr. Avery is a well informed, enterpris-
ing man who has taken an active interest in
educational affairs, and has efficiently served
as a school director many years. He votes
the Republican ticket, and both he and his
wife are active and consistent members of
the Presbyterian church of Greenville, in
which he has served as an elder. He is a
man of exemplary habits, of strong religious
convictions and has endeavored to live up to
the teachings of the Golden Rule. He has
always been charitably disposed to all worthy
enterprises, is well informed on current top-
ics, possesses a retentive memory and is in-
cisive and clear in speech. In fact he is
one of Darke county's best and most valued
citizens, a kind husband and father and a
good neighbor.
GEORGE H. WIXBIGLER.
Throughout the greater part of his life
George H. Winbigler has been a resident of
Darke county and has watched with inter-
est its progress and development, withhold-
ing not his support from such measures as
he believed would contribute to the public
good. He belongs to the better class of citi-
zens in this community, and the record of
his life well deserves a place in its history.
He is a native of Montgomery county, Ohio,
born on the 4th of March, 1841, and is the
second in order of birth in a family of nine
■ children. His father, Samuel Winbigler,
was born in Maryland, not far from the city
of Washington, D. C, and was reared to
agricultural pursuits. His educational ad-
vantages were quite limited, for he was
only a boy when his father died and he was
thus early thrown upon his own reseurces.
At the age of fourteen years he became a
resident of Montgomery county, Ohio, and
from that time until his death was dependent
upon his own resources. In 1845 he emi-
grated to Darke county and settled upon
ninety-four acres of dense forest land, which
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
647
had been entered from the government by
Jacob Weaver, father of Mrs. Winbigler.
His first home was a log cabin, and the
subject of this review well remembers that
primitive structure. The father continued
a resident of Darke county until his death,
devoting his energies to agricultural pur-
suits. In politics he was a Jeffersonian
Democrat and supported Stephen A. Doug-
las, "the little giant of the west." He served
as township trustee and in other official po-
sitions, discharging his duties in an able
manner. He and his wife were members
of the Lutheran Reformed church in York
township, and this organization he aided
and also contributed liberally to the build-
ing of the house of worship. He was of
German descent, and possessed many of the
sterling characteristics of his German an-
cestry, being economical, thrifty and enter-
prising. In this way he acquired a com-
fortable competence, becoming the owner of
one hundred and thirty acres of rich and
arable land. He died May 4. 1876, re-
spected by all who knew him, and a beau-
tiful granite monument marks the last rest-
ing place of himself and his wife in the
Lutheran cemetery in York township. Mrs.
Winbigler bore the maiden name of Ann
Maria Weaver and was born in Montgomery
county, Ohio, February 13, 1821. She died
December 9, 1887, at the age of sixty-six
years, and, like her husband, was a con-
sistent Christian. Of their family of three
sons and six daughters all are yet living:
Jacob, who resides in Versailles with his
family, was formerly a teacher, but is now
engaged in the insurance and loan business;
George H. is the next of the family; Uriah
is married and follows contracting in An-
sonia, Ohio ; Sarah is the wife of Irvin York,
a farmer and stock dealer residing on the
old Winbigler homestead ; Amanda E. is the
wife of James Renchler, of Wayne town-
ship; Malinda M. is the wife of Levi Kesler,
of Versailles, Ohio; Lovina is the wife <>f
Oliver Miller, also of Versailles; Jane is
the wife of J. B. Werts, a salesman residing
in Wayne township; and Louisa is the wife
of Warren Plessiuger, an agriculturist of
Brown township, Darke county.
George H. Winbigler was a little lad
of four summers when he came with his
parents to Darke county, and since that time
he has resided within its borders. He was
reared to the work of the farm and has al-
ways carried on agricultural pursuits.
Fanner boys were at that early day im-
portant factors in the development and culti-
vation of the land, and educational priv-
ileges were in consequence somewhat limited.
1 he methods of farming were primitive and
"Air. Winbigler can well remember when
horses were used in tramping out the wheat
on the barn floor. He can also remember
seeing the first locomotive that ever came
to Greenville, it making a run over the Day-
ton & Union Railroad. At that time he
and his brothers had accompanied their par-
ents to the town preparatory to making a
visit to Illinois. Now the county is crossed
and recrossed by the iron rails, which have
brought all the improvements ami advan-
tages of civilization. Mr. Winbigler has
also witnessed the building of all the pikes
which constitute such a splendid system of
roads in Darke county, and in connection
with one of his neighbors, Mr. Berch, he
circulated a petition for the building of a
gravel pike to Dawn, to intersect another
pike, and this road is known as the Win-
bigler & Berch pike. He remained with his
parents until twenty-five years of age, and
during a considerable portion of that time
048
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the management of the farm devolved upon
him. When lie attained his majority It's
only property was a horse which his father
had given him.
On the 25th of November, 1866, Mr.
Winbigler chose as a companion and help-
mate on life's journey Miss Faith Plessinger,
who was born September 20, 1845, an<l died
May 24, 1892. On the 21st of July, 1894,
he wedded Mary E. Hartzell, who was born
in Darke county, November 6, 1846, and is
a daughter of Philip and Juliana (Harman)
Hartzell. Her father was born January 3,
181 1, in Adams county, Pennsylvania, near
the famous battle-ground of Gettysburg, and
died April 5, 1873, m Darke county. In
early life he followed the hatter's trade. He
never attended school after attaining the age
of twelve years and was therefore largely
self-educated. He often studied by the light
of a hickory torch or of a rude lamp filled
with grease or oil. In 1836, at the age of
twenty-five, he removed from Pennsylvania
to Ohio. He married Juliana Harman on
the 1 8th of October, 1832, and with a party
of twelve they came to Darke county, set-
tling at Pikesville. Only three of this party
are now living. The journey was made in
wagons, and the homes of these settlers
were primitive. Mr. Hartzell was always
a warm friend of education and gave his chil-
dren the best advantages in that line that
he could afford. He took an active part in
the early development of the county, com-
ing here when there was not a railroad with-
in its borders. In politics he was a stanch
Democrat, and was a true friend of the little
red school house. He and his wife were
earnest Christian people, and he was active
in establishing the Reformed church at
Beamsville, about 1840. He also aided in
the erection of the first Reformed church at
Greenville, of which he and his wife were
charter members. The Children's Home, a
beautiful structure, north of Greenville, is
located on a part of the old Hartzell farm.
Mrs. Hartzell was born in Adams county,
Pennsylvania, October 21, 18 10, and died
June 6, 1893. Her youngest brother, Hen-
ry, was a drummer boy in the war of 1812
and was killed at the battle of Lake Erie.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hartzell
were four sons and five daughters, eight yet
living, namely : Clara, who was a successful
teacher of Darke county and who is the only
living charter member of the first Reformed
church at Greenville, and is now the wife
of C. F. Bartling, who is living retired in
Greenville; George is a farmer of Brown
township; Maria, who resides with Mrs.
Winbigler; Julia A., who was formerly a
successful teacher of Darke county, now en-
gaged in dressmaking in Greenville, where
she is highly esteemed and is known as a
capable worker in the Reformed church,
being especially active in missionary work;
Philip H., who is the twin brother of Mrs.
Winbigler, was educated in the Greenville
high school, was formerly a teacher, but is
now a carp-enter and joiner of Springfield,
Ohio, where he is regarded as a leading
citizen, being a member of the Knights of
the Golden Eagle, a Democrat in politics and
in religious belief connected with the Re-
formed church ; Neander, a farmer residing
at Okarche, Oklahoma, is the father of trip-
lets, Faith, Hope and Charity, and twins,
Alpha and Omega; and Reuben H. is mar-
ried and lives in Springfield, Ohio, where
he occupies the position of foreman in the
Superior Drill Company.
Mrs. Winbigler spent her girlhood days
in Darke county, and, following in her fa-
ther's footsteps, became a successful teacher.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
049
She was educated in the public schools and
in the normal school of Greenville, and for
nine years followed the profession of teach-
ing in Darke county, spending one term as
a teacher in the Children's Home. She is
a lady of broad, general culture as well as
scholarly attainments, and her work in the
schoolroom was signally useful and effective.
She has also been a most active and earnest
worker in the church. She is a member
of the Reform Missionary Society, of Green-
ville, the Ladies' Aid Society, of Pikeville
and of Dawn, and was formerly a member
of the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union.
After his first marriage Mr. Winbigler
began farming upon rented land in Richland
township. His first purchase comprised
forty acres in that township, but later he
sold that property and in 1873 bought ninety-
four acres on section 21, of which only thirty
acres had been cleared. His first home
was a little log house, but to-day he has a
modern country residence and near by stands
a large and commodious barn and other
substantia] outbuildings. All the improve-
ments and accessories of a model farm are
there found. His land is of clay and black
soil, well adapted to the raising of corn,
wheat, oats and tobacco. His marked in-
dustry has been one of the salient features
in his success, and lr's life stands in exem-
plification of what may be accomplished
through determined purpose and enterprise.
In politics he has been an earnest Democrat
since casting his first presidential vote for
Gen. George B. McClellan. He has frequent-
ly served as a delegate to county and con-
gressional conventions. He is an anti-ex-
pansionist and is always firm in support of
his honest convictions. He has three times
been elected to serve as township trustee
of Richland township — a fact which indi-
cates the confidence reposed in him. Both
he and his wife are warm friends of public
schools and believe in employing excellent
teachers. He has acted as school director
for a number of years and in this capacity
has done much for the cause of education.
They are earnest Christian people, the
former belonging to the Lutheran and the
latter to the Reformed church in Greenville,
and Mr. Winbigler has contributed toward
the erection of four different churches in
Darke county. Both he and his wife are
representatives of honored and highly re-
spected families of this community and well
deserve mention in this volume.
ISAAC NEWTON BOOKER.
Darke county has many enterprising and
energetic business men whose success is due
to their industry, perseverance and sound
judgment, and to this class belongs the sub-
ject of this sketch, who is at the head of the
hardware trade in North Star. ■ He was
born in Huntington county, Indiana, Oc-
tober 25, 1863, a son of Jacob and Rebecca
( Detrich ) Booker, the former born in Penn-
sylvania, December 17, 1833, the latter in
Virginia, November 3, 1839. Our subject
never remembers seeing his paternal grand-
father, Emanuel Booker, as he died in Mont-
gomery county, this state, about 1866.
Throughout life the father engaged in farm-
ing. He began for himself in a humble
way, had a hard struggle, and never ac-
cumulated much, though he lived well. He
died September 24. 1896, and his wife de-
parted this life September 3, 1893, both be-
ing laid to rest in Gilbert cemetery, Darke
county. They were active members of the
German Baptist church and most estimable
650
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
people. In their family were ten children,
six sons and four daughters, and with one
exception all grew up, were married and
are still living, namely : Mrs. Mahala Eliza-
beth King, who was born October 27, i860,
and has been three times married ; John
Henry, a farmer of Miami county, Ohio,
born April 5, 1S62; Isaac N., our subject;
Benjamin Franklin, a farmer of Darke coun-
ty, born June 13, 1865; Mrs. Sarah Jane
^ oung, of Delaware county, Indiana, born
January 31, 1867; Jacob Albert, a farmer of
Darke county, Ohio, born July 2, 1869; Mrs.
Harriet Ann Trissell, born July 22, 1871 ;
Samuel Theodore, a resident of Miami coun-
ty, born March 9, 1873; Chloe Ellen, de-
ceased, born November 21, 1874; and Abra-
ham, of Darke county, born September 28,
1876.
During bis boyhood Isaac X. Booker
received a good common-school education,
and remained at home until he attained his
majority. On the 22d of January, 1888,
he was united in marriage with Miss Lillian
Koselle Hartzell, of Greenville township,
who belongs to a most worthy and intel-
lectual family. Her maternal grandfather,
John S. Shepperd, was "a native of this state,
while his wife, Susan Hartpence, was bom
in New Jersey and in early life came to Ohio.
After their marriage, in 1838, they settled
in Greenville, and Air. Shepperd became
one of its most prominent citizens, serving
aj postmaster and in other important official
positions connected with the court house.
His son, \Y. W. Shepperd, was. recorder and
held nearly every county office. He was
born October 12, 1841, and died February
3, 1887. He was a man of unswerving in-
tegrity and irreproachable habits, and he
had the entire confidence and respect of his
fellow citizens. His mother, who was a
most noble woman, died November 10, 1883.
Mrs. Booker's father, Charles W. Hartzell,
was born in 1839, and has spent his entire
life on a farm in Greenville township, en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits. He was
married, March 7, 1866, to Emma Shepperd,
a native of this county, and to them were
born four children, namely : Elmer Sanford,
who was born April 14, 1867, assists in the
operation of the home farm ; Lillian Rozell,
born December 15, 1870, is the wife of our
subject ; John Flomer, who was born Septem-
ber 22, 1873. is a graduate of Delaware Col-
lege, was professor in an educational institu-
tion in Pike county, Ohio, and is now a med-
ical student in Cleveland; and Olive May,
born May 30, 1875, died December 19, 1878,
at the age of three years. Mr. and Mrs;
Booker have four children : Ethel Leonora,
born in 1889; Florence Belle, in 1890; San-
ford Charles, in 1892; and Wallace Hartzell,
in 1895.
In early life Mr. Booker engaged in
farming in Wabash township, but in No-
vember, 1898, he sold his farm and removed
to North Star, buying the hardware stock
and trade of R. Mendenhall. He is now
doing a large and profitable business, and is
the owner of his store building and home
in North Star. As a Democrat he takes
quite an influential part in local politics, and
in 1894 he was elected town clerk, which
effice he has filled for six years in a most
creditable and satisfactory manner. Re-
ligiouslv both he and his wife are members
of the Christian church.
JOB M. WINTERS.
Darke county, Ohio, one of the historical
sections of the Buckeye state, has within
her borders many men who have left the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
651
impress of their individuality upon its his-
tory— men to whose efforts may be attributed
the substantial growth and prosperity of the
community and whose labors have led to
advancement along' social, intellectual and
moral lines. This section of the state, which
was once the home of the red men and the
abiding place of the noted chieftain well
known in connection with Indian warfare
which occurred during the time of our sec-
ond struggle with England, is now a tract
of well tilled fields, the property of prosper-
ous agriculturists, whose sons and daugh-
ters stand side by side with the children of
capitalists and bankers in the colleges and
universities of to-day. Washington has said
that "farming is the most honorable as well
as the most useful occupation to which man
devotes his energies," and the utterance is
as true to-day as when spoken more than a
century ago. It has been largely due to the
agriculturists of the community that marked
changes have occurred in Darke countv,
until it would almost seem as if a magic
wand had been waved over this fair region,
transforming the wild forests into blossom-
ing fields. To this class belongs Mr. Win-
ters, the subject of this review.
He first opened his eyes to the light of
day amid the picturesque scenery of the
Blue Ridge mountains, his birth having oc-
curred in Fulton county, Pennsylvania, on
the 6th of November, 1835. He is the
youngest in a family of five children, three
sons and two daughters. His parents are
George and Anna (Mann) Winters. Four
of the children are yet living, namely : John,
who formerly followed carpentering and
.building, but is now engaged in agricult-
ural pursuits in Pennsylvania ; Margaret,
who is living in this state; Dorothy, wife of
Jonathan Yonker, a farmer of Darke county,
Ohio ; and Job M. The father of this fam-
ily was also a native of Pennsylvania and
was of German lineage. He obtained a
good education and became a mechanic.
He died July 12, 1836, at the age of forty-
two years, when our subject was a little
child. His wife, also a native of Pennsyl-
vania, died July 30, 1855, at the age of fifty-
five years.
J. M. Winters, of this review, was reared
on the home farm, early becoming familiar
with the duties and labors that fall to the
lot of the agriculturist. He remained in
his native state during his minority and ac-
quired a good practical education in' the
common schools. He applied himself dili-
gently to the mastery of his studies and thus
became able to teach, following that pro-
fession for a time. As the result of his
industry and economy he had acquired a
capital of two hundred dollars by the time
he attained his majority, and like many other
enterprising young men of the east he de-
termined to try his fortunes in some of the
newer districts of the west. Accordingly
he came to Darke county, Ohio, and during
his identification with the business interests
of this locality he has steadily worked his
May upward until he has attained a position
among the substantial residents of the com-
munity. He chose for a companion and
helpmate on life's journey Miss Rhoda
Brewer, a native of Darke county, their mar-
riage being celebrated on the 1st of March,
i860. Eleven children, seven sons and four
daughters, have been born of their union,
and nine of the number are yet living. Ella,
the eldest, is the wife of Thomas Mitchell,
a farmer, by whom she has six children.
Clara is the wife of William Warvell, a
resident farmer of Richland township.
Marion, a carpenter and joiner by trade, is
€52
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
married and resides in Muncie, Indiana.
Rufus, who is also married, is a successful
commercial traveler residing in Delaware,
Ohio. Orpha is the wife of George S.
York, a son of one of the prominent pio-
neers of Darke county. George, who was
a student in the schools of Greenville, Ohio,
and a graduate of the Terre Haute Poly-
technic Institute, is now a civil engineer,
following his profession in Mexico. Clar-
ence is engaged in the dairy business in con-
nection with his father and brother, Oscar,
who is the next of the family. Homer, the
youngest, is an expert mechanic. Mr. and
Mrs. Winters have given their children good
educational privileges, thus fitting them for
life's practical and responsible duties.
After their marriage our subject and his
wife located en a farm a short distance east
of their present beautiful homestead, where
Mr. Winters rented land for four years.
He then made his first purchase of real es-
tate, becoming the owner of eighty acres
on section 2$, Richland township. He had
little capital and had to go in debt for the
oreater part of the land, but by diligence and
economy was soon enabled to meet the pay-
ments, and as his financial resources in-
creased he added to his farm until it now
comprises three hundred and forty acres of
rich and arable land. The excellent im-
provements upon it stand as monuments to
his thrift and enterprise. These include a
nice brick residence and commodious barns*
and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and
stock. Mr. Winters engages in the culti-
vation of corn, oats, wheat and tobacco and
is extensively engaged in the dairy busi-
ness in connection with his sons, Clarence
and Oscar. Thev began the manufacture of
butter in 1895, and to-day have a very
modern and complete outfit, their plant con-
taining a six-horse-power engine, a complex
Baby de Lavel separator and other requisite
machinery. Thev have a herd of twenty-
six Jersey, Guernsey and Durham cows and
manufacture a grade of butter which is un-
excelled by any on the market. Their annual
output is nine thousand pounds, and their
business is carried en on scientific and
practical principles, so, that they are enabled
to tell the cost of each cow and the revenue
derived from the herd, in February, 1900,
their butter was tested at Columbus, at the
Ohio Dairymen's Association, where it
scored ninety-nine points out of a possible
hundred, a fact which is certainly creditable,
not only to Mr. Winters and his sons, but to
Darke countv as well.
Oscar Winters is an enterprising young
business man, well qualified to carry on the
enterprise of which he acts as foreman.
Having acquired a good preliminary edu-
cation in the common schools, he took a
course in the Dairy School in the State Col-
lege of Pennsylvania, and is therefore very
competent in the line of his chosen work.
The firm finds a ready sale for all the but-
ter the}- can manufacture and expect to en-
large their facilities at an early date.
For thirty-six years Mr. and Mrs. Win-
ters have resided in Darke county and are
numbered among its most highly esteemed
citizens. In politics he has been a stanch
Democrat since casting hi.s first presidential
vote for Stephen A. Douglas, the
little
giant of the west." He has always stanch-
ly upheld the. banner of Democracy and
advocated those principles and measures
which tend to promote the best inter-
ests of the masses. His felow towns-
men, recognizing his worth and ability, have
elected him for nine consecutive terms to the
office of township treasurer, wherein he has
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
653
discharged his duties in a most creditable
manner. The cause of education finds in
him a warm friend, and for six or eight
years lie has served as a member of the school
board. He has frequently been a delegate
to county and congressional conventions and
is a recognized leader in the ranks of his
party in this locality. Both he and his wife
are devoted members of the Christian church
at Beamsville, and contributed generously
of their means toward the erection of the
house of worship there. He has also aided
in the upbuilding of the churches at Brock
and Ansonia, and has not withheld his sup-
port from other measures and movements
which tend to the betterment of mankind.
His son, Oscar, is organist in the Sunday
school of the Christian church at Beams-
ville. The family is one of prominence in
the community, enjoying the high regard of
all with whom the)' have come in contact.
WILLIAM ALLEN.
William Allen, the prominent lawyer,
judge and legislator of Greenville, Ohio,
was born in Butler county, this state, August
13, 1827, and died July 6, 1881, in Green-
ville. His father, John Allen, was a native
of Ireland, born January 26, 1800, and came
to America in 1812. After residing six
years in New Yi irk, he located in Butler
county, Ohio, in 1818, and in February,
1838, moved his family into the sparsely
settled forests of Darke county, where he
erected a log-cabin, having a split-log floor
and nnul and stick chimney. He died on the
2d of October, 1858, a very much respected
citizen. He possessed fine conversational
powers, and in the latter part of his life was
a preacher of the United Brethren church.
Our subject was favored with the ad-
vantages of the common schools only, yet
by earnest personal application he qualified
himself to teach the English branches at
the age of fifteen, and in this way for sev-
eral years employed his winters. At the age
of nineteen he began reading law under
the late Felix Marsh, of Eaton, Ohio, was
admitted to the bar in June, 1849, and the
following October began practice at Green-
ville. He met with success in his chosen
calling and became one of the most promi-
nent and successful lawyers of Darke county.
On the 30th of September, 1851, Mr.
Allen married Miss Priscilla, daughter of
John Wallace, a native of Pennsylvania,
and an early pioneer of Butler county, Ohio,
who settled in Darke county in 1834, and
died in the summer of 1863, at the age of
about eighty years. He was always recog-
nized as an upright man and an excellent
citizen. The children born of this marriage
were five sons and three daughters, of whi ;:i
only one son is now living. (His sketch is
given next). Four of the children died
of diphtheria under the most afflicting cir-
cumstances, and within the brief space of
two months. This was in the winter of
1861, when Mr. Allen was summoned home
from Washington city to the scene of be-
reavement.
Early in life Mr. Allen became promi-
nently identified with public affairs, and has
been called upon to fill several important
official positions. In the fall of 1850 he
was elected prosecuting attorney of Darke
county, and re-elected in 1852. In the fall
of 1858 he was elected representative to
congress from the fourth district of Ohio,
comprising the counties of Miami, Darke,
Shelby, Mercer, Allen and Auglaize, and re-
elected in i860, thus serving in the thirty-
sixth and thirty-seventh congresses. In the
654
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
-
winter of 1865 he was appointed by Gov-
ernor Cox as judge of the court of com-
mon pleas of the first sub-division of
the second judicial district of Ohio, com-
posed of the counties of Butler, Darke
and Preble, to fill an unexpired term
in the place of Judge David L. Meeker, re-
signed. In 1872 he was a member of the
Grant electoral college, and also an elector
for Garfield in 1880. The electors of Ohio,
after casting their vote for the latter, paid
him a visit of congratulation at his home'
in Mentor, Ohio. Mr. Allen was again
nominated for congress on the Republican
ticket from the fifth congressional district
of Ohio in the summer of 1878, but de-
clined the honor on account of ill health.
Of local positions, it may be mentioned that
he was president of the Greenville Bank,
then a private enterprise, conducted under
the firm name of Hufnagle, Allen & Com-
pany.
Mr. Allen began the world in poverty,
was reared in a rough log cabin, and enjoyed
none of the golden opportunities for social
and educational improvement which are
lavishly bestowed on the youth of to-day,
but he always made the most of his ad-
vantages, and without the aid of influence
or wealth rose to a position among the most
prominent men of his county, his native
genius and acquired ability being the step-
ping stones on which he mounted. As a
lawyer his career was successful, while his
record as a statesman was creditable to him-
self and satisfactory to his constituents.
BENJAMIN M. ALLEN.
This gentleman, the only son of William
Allen, was born in the village of Greenville,
Ohio, July 3, 1868, and his boyhood was
spent there. He obtained his education in
its public schools, was an apt student and
was graduated in the high school in the year
1888, passing through a five-years course of
study with credit to himself. He then took
a commercial course at Eastman's Business
College at Poughkeepsie, New York. Re-
turning to Greenville he turned his atten-
tion to farming and stock raising until 1899
and had one of the finest herds of blooded
cattle in the state of Ohio. He afterward
discontinued his farming operations and is
now successfully engaged in the real estate
and fire insurance business in Greenville.
On the 14th of August, 1889, Benjamin
M. Allen was united in marriage with Miss
Jennie E. Gaskill, a daughter of Abram and
Sarah A. (Youart) Gaskill. Her mother
was an own cousin of Lord Gladstone, of
England. Mrs. Allen died February 12,
1899, leaving one daughter, Alcie, born
February 12, 1891.
On the 5th day of June, 1900, Mr. Allen
was united in marriage to Miss Laura Telma
Shearer, daughter of Samuel and Sarah A.
Shearer, of Somerset, Perry county, Ohio,
the former now deceased.
CYRUS ZELLER.
Among the native sons of the Buckeye
state is numbered Cyrus Zeller, and Darke
county has reason to be proud of such a citi-
zen. His home has always been within the
borders of Ohio, and he is a loyal citizen of
the commonwealth, whose life has been hon-
orable, characterized by fidelity to duty in
every relation of life in which he has been
placed. He was born near the beautiful city
of Dayton, ami traces his lineage back to
German ancestry. The family has ever
been celebrated for the high character of its
BL^: ifl
Cyrus Zeller.
Mrs. Cyrus Zeller.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
G55
representatives, including a number of min-
isters, physicians and other men of note.
One of the number, a brother of Mr. Zeller's
grandfather, was a bishop of the United
Brethren church of Ohio, and wherever the
name of Zeller has been known there have
been found men of sterling worth and
probity.
He whose name introduces this record
was born on the 4th of September, 1835, and
is the second in the family of eight children.
He had four brothers and thre~ sisters and
the parents were George and Susan (Rie-
gel) Zeller. The father was born in Mont-
gomery county in 18 10, and died about the
year 1861. He was educated in both the
German and English languages, and al-
though he started out in life upon his busi-
ness career a poor man, he steadily worked
his way upward, overcoming all difficulties
and obstacles in his path. He was careful
and methodical in his business methods and
untiring in his labors, and his word was con-
sidered as good as any bond that was ever
solemnized by signature or seal. He be-
came the owner of one hundred and fifty-
three acres of land in Montgomery county,
and had in addition considerable money.
The industry and perseverance so character-
istic of his German ancestry were manifest
in his daily life, and it is also shown forth
in the business careers of his children. The
precept, "Do unto others as you would that
they should do unto you," he made the rule
of his life, and this was manifested in his
many benevolent actions. He aided liber-
ally in the erection of churches in his neigh-
borhood and the poor and needy always
found in him a friend who never turned
them from his door empty-handed. His
good deeds are a monument to his memory
more enduring than any slab of granite or
4.0
of stone, and have caused him to be grate-
fully remembered by many who had a prac-
tical demonstration of his kindness. He
left to his family not only a comfortable
property, but also that good name which is
rather to be chosen than great riches. His
was not an exalted or pretentious life, but
his character was noble and upright and his
example well worthy of emulation. His
wife, who was his faithful companion and
helpmeet in all of his good work, was a
native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, born
about the year 18 10, and she lived to reach
the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey.
She brought up lur children in the fear and
admonition of the Lord, being a devout
member of the United Brethren church.
She, too, belonged to an old Pennsylvania
German family.
The first home of the Zeller family in
this locality was a log cabin that still stands,
one of the few landmarks that indicate the
contrast of the past with the present prog-
ress. The children of George and Susan
(Riegel) Zeller once formed a band of eight
around their fireside, but only three are left
to relate the story concerning their pioneer
home in the early days in the development
of Ohio. Cyrus is the eldest survivor.
Abia, the second, served as a soldier during
the civil war, and at its close received an
honorable discharge. He is now a tobacco
raiser and cigar manufacturer, residing in
German township, Montgomery county,
Ohio. Mary E., the only living daughter, is
also a resident of Montgomery county.
Cyrus Zeller is the only one of the name
now living within the borders of Darke
county. He has followed closely the path
of right and duty, and his history is a credit
tc the family. In the common schools he
acquired his education, becoming familiar
6-36
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
with the elementary branches of the English
language. 1 he sports of youth and the
labors of the farm also claimed his attention,
and his practical training in the fields well
fitted him for his work in later years. lie
has devoted much of his leisure time to read-
ing, becoming familiar with many standard
works which tend to elevate thought and im-
prove character, his greatest study being of
the Bible. In business he has ever been
known as an enterprising agriculturist, and
was identified with the farming interests of
Montgomery county until 1864, when he
came- to Mississinawa township, Darke
county, and pmxhased one hundred and
forty-three acres of forest land. The trees
stood in their primeval strength and the place
was destitute of improvements. Mr. Zeller,
however, built a log cabin home and in true
pioneer style began life here, being ham-
pered by an indebtedness which, however,
he was soon enabled to pay off, for his earn-
est, untiring labor added yearly to his capital.
He worked in the fields from early morn un-
til late at night, clearing away the trees and
preparing the land for the plow. Ultimately
rich harvests were garnered where once
stood the wild forests. Good buildings
were erected, including a substantial resi-
dence and barn, and the Zeller homestead is
now one of the most desirable and attractive
in the township. The land has been tiled
and has thus been transformed into a richly
cultivated tract which yields to the owner
a golden tribute in return for the care and
labor bestowed upon it. Mr. Zeller still re-
tains the ownership of the homestead, which
property he acquired by his own hard labor,
his frugality and economy. In recent years
he has inherited seme property from his par-
ents, and that he is a kind and indulgent fa-
ther is shown by fact that he has purchased
for each of his children a good farm, thus
enabling them to start out in life in com-
fortable circumstances. He has recently
purchased what is known as the Samuel Pat-
terson farm in Brown township, comprising
one hundred and twenty acres, and has added
this to his other valuable accpj.sitions.
On the 2d of November, 1862, Mr. Zel-
ler was united in marriage to Miss Mary
Ann Jenkinson, whose birth occurred in
Darke county, on the 1st of March, 1843.
Their marriage was blessed with nine chil-
dren— four sons and five daughters — and
with one exception all are yet living, namely :
Emma F., the wife of Gilbert R. Hand, an
agriculturist living in Brown township;
George W., who wedded Mary Hart and
makes his home in Monroe township; Mary
Elizabeth, the wife of John Van Scoyk, a
farmer of Twin township ; John Wesley, who
married Miss Ola Martin and is a farmer of
Allen township; Susan C,. the wife of Fred
D. F. Amspaugh, an agriculturist of
Brown township ; William Henry, who died
February 22, 1S80, aged seven years, seven
months and twelve days; Addie B., the wife
of Delmont T. Bolinger; Delia, the wife of
Frank Rhoades, of Mississinawa township ;
and David M., born March 6, 1881, who is
living in the same township. In 1896 a
great bereavement came to the family in the
death of the wife and mother, who passed
away on the 5th of May. She was kind and
affectionate, ever careful of the interests of
her family and her presence in the household
was like a ray of sunshine. Her memory
will ever remain as an unalloyed benediction
to those who knew her, for hers was a beau-
tiful Christian character whose influence was
like the pervading fragrance of the vioEt.
After attaining his majority Mr. Zeller,
of this record, cast his first presidential vote
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
057
in support of James Buchanan, and has stood
stanch and firm in support of the Jacksonian
principles. His generosity has been most
marked, and has led to his liberal contribu-
tion toward the erection of six different
churches in his immediate vicinity. In man-
ner he is kindly and benevolent, quickly
touched by the cry of need, his sympathy
being easily aroused; nor is it in words only,
for his substantial aid has been received in
many a household. His life has indeed been
a useful, upright and honorable one, and the
world is better for his having lived. For
many years he traveled life's journey by the
side of a loving and loved wife, and her
death was the heaviest blow that has ever
come to him; but he has borne it with Christ-
ian fortitude, believing in a happy reunion
beyond the grave. When Mrs. Zeller was
called to her final rest, there appeared in the
Ansonia Climax the following obituary no-
tice :
"Mary Ann Zeller was born near Lights-
ville, Ohio, March i, 1843, and died May 5,
1896, aged fifty-three years, two months
and four days. Her illness was of short
duration, proving fatal from' the da)' on
which she took her bed. Although her suf-
ferings were great, yet she bore them with
Christian fortitude, realizing that though her
trials here were many, they would soon be
over and that she would meet the loved ones
who had preceded her to the better world.
She embraced religion and joined the United
Brethren church in Montgomery county, in
1863, and afterward removed to Darke
county and joined the United Brethren
church at Rose Hill, and lived a consistent
religious life till death. She was married
to Cyrus Zeller November 2, 1862. She
leaves her devoted husband, five daughters,
three sons, five sisters and three brothers.
together with a large number of relations
and friends to mourn her loss. The funeral
occurred at Teegarden's chapel, and was
largely attended."
Mr. Zeller has reached the sixty-fifth
milestone on life's journey, and his record
has ever been an honorable one, marked by
firm support of principle and fidelity to every
duty. To his intimate acquaintances he has
ever been a faithful friend and neighbor,
and his devotion to his familv has been
marked by the most unselfish effort to pro-
mote their happiness and welfare.
JOHN HERSCHEL MORNINGSTAR.
This well-known business man of Green-
ville, Darke county, Ohio, was born in that
town, January 3, 1851, and is a son of Will-
iam H. and Elizabeth (Wagner) Morning-
star. The father was born near Xenia, in
Greene county, Ohio, September 5, 1805,
and in early life followed farming, but later
he was for many years engaged in mercan-
tile pursuits in Greenville, where he settled
in 1840. He continued in active business
there until within a short time of his death,
which occurred December 28, 1886. His
wife, the mother of our subject, died in
Greenville, April 7, 1869. Her parents
were George and Sarah (Stevens) Wagner.
Her father was a native of Pennsylvania
and an early settler of Darke county, Ohio.
At an early day he came to this county, and
spent the remainder of his life in German
township.
Reared in Greenville, John H. Morning-
star acquired his early education in its public
schools. Later he was a student at Chicker-
ing Institute, in Cincinnati, and subsequently
took a commercial course at Eastman's Col-
lege, Poughkeepsie, New York. Soon after
653
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his return home he was united in marriage
with Miss Jennie Ferguson, a daughter of
Robert H. and Mary A. (Turner) Ferguson,
of Dayton, Ohio.
Mr. Morningstar embarked in the con-
fectionery business in Greenville soon after
his marriage, March i, 1S77, and has since
successfully engaged in that line of trade.
For thirty years he has dealt in ice. He
owns a beautiful park containing a small
lake skirted by one thousand fruit trees.
He has provided a good band stand, boats
and seats for the convenience of his guests,
and many other accommodations. It has
become a popular resort during the warm
season, and is frequented by large crowds
of pleasure-seekers. Being a pleasant, genial
gentleman, Mr. Morningstar thoroughly
understands the best methods of conducting
such an enterprise. Socially he is a mem-
ber of the Knights of Pythias fraternity.
STEPHEN SHEPHERD.
This progressive and enterprising citizen
of Neave township, Darke county, whose
home is on section 30, was born near Ham-
ilton, Butler county, Ohio, June 22, 1831,
and is a son of Dennis and Hester (Stephen-
son) Shepherd, both natives of Pennsyl-
vania and of Irish descent, the maternal
grandparents of our subject being natives of
the Emerald Isle. The paternal grandfather
was born in New Jersey, of Irish ancestry.
After their marriage the parents of our sub-
ject came to Ohio and settled in Butler coun-
ty, where the father improved a farm and en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits throughout
his active business life. In politics he was
a stalwart Democrat, and was widely and
favorably known. He was about ninetv
years of age at the time of his death, and
his wife lived to be eighty-seven. They
had nine children, eight sons and one daugh-
ter, and with one exception all grew to man-
hood or womanhood.
Stephen Shepherd, who was the eighth
child and seventh son in this family, was
educated in a log school house, and on lay-
ing aside his text books at the age of four-
teen served a six-years apprenticeship at
the blacksmith's trade, after which he en-
gaged in the same line of business on his
own account. He opened a shop at a little
place called Soccom, in Twin township,
Darke county, where he carried on business
until 1862, when he purchased the farm on
section 30, Neave township, where he now
resides. Here he has lived ever since with
the exception of three years spent in Ar-
canum, but at present he is now actively
engaged in agricultural pursuits, renting his
farm of one hundred and fifty-seven and a
half acres to his son-in-law. He is a good
horseman and has always devoted consider-
able attention to the noble steed and now
owns some very good horses, which he is
training for the road, having a half-mile
track upon his place.
In September, i860, was celebrated the
marriage of Mr. Shepherd and Miss Ada-
line Lowry, a native of Neave township,
and a daughter of Reuben and Mary Lowry,
early settlers of this county. Mrs. Shep-
herd is the second in order of birth in their
family of five children. To our subject and
Ids wife have been born three children,
namely: Clayton T., a practicing physician
of Dayton, Ohio; Lizzie C, wife of V. M.
Carry, who operates the home farm ; and
Percy, better known as R. H.
Since casting his first vote Mr. Shep-
herd has always affiliated with the Demo-
cratic party and taken an active interest in
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
659
political affairs. He served as a trustee of
his township five years and is one of its
honored and highly esteemed citizens.
HARVEY H. BIRELEY.
Harvey H. Bireley was born in Green-
ville, Darke county, February 22, 1844, and
is the fourth son of William J. and Eliza-
beth Bireley. His great-grandfather was
born in Wittenburg, Germany, was a tanner
by trade and emigrated to the United
States, locating in Maryland, near Hagers-
town, where he spent his remaining days.
His son, John, the grandfather of our sub-
ject, was born in that locality and was reared
to manhood under the parental roof. He
learned the trades of tanner and shoemaker
and later engaged in the manufacture of
paper, also owning and operating a flour-
mill. He married Barbara Brindle, and
unto them were born eleven children, one
of whom, William J. Bireley, became the
father of our subject. He was born April
3, 1812, in the family home in Maryland,
but his parents removed to Liberty, Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, during his early
youth. There he learned the shoemaker's
trade, and he was wont to relate with pride
that on his thirteenth birthday he made com-
plete the largest pair of shoes manufactured.
(We regret to say that the name of the man
who wore the shoes is forgotten ! ) On the
death of his father the support of the fam-
ily devolved upon William J. Bireley and his
mother, so that his educational advantages
were limited to about three months' study in
the schools. Being of a studious nature,
however, he supplemented his school train-
ing by extensive reading and observation,
and possessing an observing eye and retent-
ive memory he became a well informed man.
In 1832 he was united in marriage to Eliza-
beth Martin, who was born November 19,
1 81 2, a daughter of Christopher and Eliza-
beth (Laurimore) Martin, both of whom
were natives of Maryland To Mr. and Mrs.
Bireley were born ten children, namely : Ira
J., deceased; Anna E. ; Henry P.; William
W. ; Harvey H. ; Barbara C. ; Rebecca, who
died in infancy ; Wade G. ; Margaret, who
died in infancy; and Mary R.
In 1833 William J. Bireley came with his
family to Darke county, locating at Green-
ville, where he built a pottery, which he op-
erated until 1856. In 1859 he bought a
farm in Adams township and commenced
the manufacture of lime, continuing in that
enterprise until 1862, when he returned to
Greenville. During his six years' residence
there he dealt in lime and cement and then
returned to his farm, where he remained
until his life's labors were ended in death,
October 9, 1888. His widow is still living
on the old homestead, at the advanced age
of eighty-eight years.
Harvey H. Bireley spent his early child-
hood in the city of his birth. In the year
1852 his father purchased the Henry House
farm, situated on the Fort Jefferson pike.
Among his schoolmates were John and
Marion Harper, J, M. Craig, Elizabeth Craig
Stephenson, George and Elias Westfall,
John, William and Dan Studebaker, James
and Isaac Arnold and others. Among his
school teachers were D. H. R. Jobes, J. T.
Martz, George Martz, John Shepherd and
others. During his early years as a student
grammar was looked upon with disfavor
and was not taught, but Mr. Bireley's fa-
ther took an active interest in matters of
education and tb rough his efforts a night
class for the purpose of studying grammar
was formed, with George H. Martz as in-
G60
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
structor. Kirkham's grammar was the text
book, and once or tw'ce each week during
the entire winter the class met and made
rapid progress. From that period grammar
was taken up as one of the regular studies
of the curriculum.
While the Bireley family lived upon the
home farm they carried on the work of im-
provement. There were many clumps of
willows growing upon the place, and, wish-
ing that he mie\ht cultivate the land, the fa-
ther made what was called a "harpoon," to
which he attached two yoke of oxen and
soon" there were enormous piles of the wil-
lows ready for the torch. In grubbing up
those trees Mr.' Bireley of this review re-
ceived his first lesson at driving oxen, and
he drove oxen as long as that farm was
owned by his father. The son learned that
the best way to treat dumb animals was to
be kind to them and such a course he has
ever followed.
On the 4th of August, 1862, Mr. Birelev
enlisted as a musician in Company G, Forty-
fourth Ohio Infantry, and the regiment
joined the Army of Kentucky. In August,
1862, it became a part of Burnside's com-
mand, and on the 17th of that month start-
ed on the march to Knoxville, Tennessee,
a distance of two hundred and four miles.
The regiment to which Mr. Bireley belonged
was the first to enter the city. They were
besieged from October until the 7th of De-
cemher, when General Sherman ra:sed the
siege and the troops proceeded to Strawberry
Plains, where they engaged and defeated the
enemy. 1 hey had received neither clothing
nor rations from the government during the
siege and had been forced to live upon half
rations of bran and cornmeal during a part
of the time. The Forty-fourth Ohio veter-
anized on the 1st of January, 1864, and
returned over the same march of two hun-
dred and four miles in the dead of winter,
suffering many hardships and discomforts.
They were obliged to forage for supplies
and slept where night overtook them with-
out other shelter than a "dog tent." In
February they received their first change of
c'othing since the preceding August. They
were granted a thirty-days furlough, and
i>n their return, in May, 1864, they were
mustered in as the Eighth Ohio Veteran Vol-
unteer Cavalry and were sent to Virginia
under the command of Colonel Owens. Sub-
sequently they were transferred to General
Phil Sheridan's command in the Shenan-
doah valley. The band of which Mr. Bireley
was a member was commanded by Sheridan
to listen for the signal of the gun, and when
they heard it they were to play a national
air at double-quick time. The signal was
given and the band, stationed between two
batteries, struck up Yankee Doodle and the
refrain was caught up and echoed by the
men along the entire line of five miles, and
under the inspiring notes of the music the
memorable charge of Cedar Creek was made.
On the nth of January, 1865, Mr. Bireley
was captured at Beverly, West Virginia,
by the troops of General Rosser. He and
his fellow prisoners were taken to Charles-
ton, Virginia, and then to Libby prison,
where they were exchanged February 15,
1865. Mr. Bireley weighed one hundred
and fifty-two pounds when captured and one
hundred and fifteen pounds when released!
1 hey returned to Camp Chase and received
a thirty-days furlough, on the expiration
of which time our subject with his command
was discharged. May 30, 1865.
Returning to his father's farm our sub-
ject engaged in the manufacture of lime
for two years. In 1867, feeling the need
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
061
cf a more thorough business training, he
took a commercial course in the Bryant &
Stratton College at Indianapolis. On the
25th of August of that year he was united
in marriage to Henrietta V. Weills, who
was born May 9, 1850, the eldest daughter
of Rev. Solomon and Lydia (Shaffer)
Weills. To Mr. and Mrs. Bireley have
been born five children — Bessie, Ira, Alma,
Agnes and Sylvia. The son died in in-
fancy.
After his marriage Mr. Bireley removed
to Tippecanoe City, where he was employed
by Ford & Company in a wheel factory for
six years. From there he went to Colum-
bus Grove and engaged in the confectionery
business for two years, after which he re-
moved to Painter's Creek, in Franklin town-
ship, Darke county. He has been engaged
in general merchandising for seventeen years
at this place, conducting a profitable store.
He served seven years as township treas-
urer, for six years as justice of the peace
and for twelve years as postmaster. In pol-
itics he is a Republican and since 1873 he has
been a member of the Odd Fellows society,
belonging to both the subordinate lodge and
the encampment. He is also a member of
Dan Williams Post, G. A. R., of Pleasant
Hill. He and his wife are members of the
Methodist church.
ALLEN FRY.
Allen Fry, a prominent and influential
citizen of Neave township, Darke county,
Ohio, who is now serving as treasurer of
the township, was born on the farm on sec-
tion 23, where he now resides, August 19,
1853, and is a son of Thompson and Phcebe
(Jeffries) Fry, natives of Preble county, this
state, where they were reared and married.
It was on the 1st of April 1835, that they
came to Darke county. The father, who was
born in 1820, died in this county at the age
of sixty-two years. He was a fanner by oc-
cupation, a Democrat in politics and an ear-
nest member of the United Brethren church.
He held the office of school director, but
never cared for political preferment. His
father, Cornelius Fry, who was born in
Pennsylvania, of German ancestry, was an
early settler of Preble county, Ohio. He
followed farming as a life work and held sev-
eral minor offices in the county. His brother.
Rev. Andrew Fry, a Methodist Episcopal
minister, was a prominent citizen of Fort
Jefferson, Darke county, and served as jus-
tice of the peace for several years. The
mother of our subject is still living. Her
father, Seth Jeffries, came to this state from
New Orleans and was one of the early set-
tlers of Preble county.
Allen Fry is the seventh child and fourth
son of a family of eleven children. He ac-
quired his education in the district schools
near his boyhood home and early became
familiar with the duties which fall to the lot
of the agriculturist. He has spent his entire
life on the old homestead and is successfully
engaged in general farming, having a well
improved and highly cultivated tract of sev-
enty-seven acres.
On the 27th of February, 1876, Mr. Fry
was united in marriage to Miss Amanda
Schlechty, a daughter of Chr'stian and Mar-
garet (Thompson) Schlechty, early settlers
of Darke county, where thev were reared
and married. They had five children, three
daughters and two sons, of whom Mrs. Fry
is the fourth in order of birth. To our sub-
ject and his wife have been born five chil-
dren, namely: Minnie, now the wife of
Herman Shellhaus, of Greenville, Darke
66:2
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
county; Frank, now in Minnesota; Harry,
Jay and Susie, all at home.
By his ballot Mr. Fry supports the men
and measures of the Democratic party, and
takes quite an active and prominent part
in local politics, having been a member of
the central committee of his township. He
has filled the offices of school director, con-
stable and road supervisor, and in 1 893 was
elected treasurer of his township, in which
position he has served with credit to him-
self and to the entire satisfaction of the pub-
lic ever since, being twice elected and once
appointed to that office. He is also a mem-
ber of the Horse Thief Protective Society,
and is actively identified with every enter-
prise which he believes calculated to prove
of public benefit, being one of the most pub-
lic-spirited and progressive citizens of his
community.
NOAH W. BROWN.
In the compilation of a work of this na-
ture it is always gratifying to the biographer
to note the salient points in the career of one
who has attained a position of prominence
in any field of endeavor, and in the case at
hand we have to do with one of the repre-
sentative farmers of Darke county, his ex-
cellent homestead being eligibly located on
section 3, Harrison township, while his post-
office address is New Madison. He has at-
tained success through his own efforts, is a
scion of a worthy ancestry and is well de-
serving of honorable mention in this work.
Mr. Brown was born in Hampstead,
Carroll county, Maryland, on the 22d of
February, 1855, being the son of George YV.
Brown, who was a native of the same place,
his birth having taken place in 1814. He
was a blacksmith by trade and was a man
of sterling integrity. He married Martha
Ann Stich, and of their five sons and four
daughters all grew to adult years except the
daughter, Elizabeth, who passed away at the
age of nine years. One son, Christopher W.,
died in September, 1899, in his sixty-fourth
year. He was twice married and left ten
children to mourn his loss. The surviving
children of George W. and Martha A.
Brown are as follows : Thomas, a resident
of Baltimore county, Maryland, has three
children; Alverta, the widow of Frank-
Peterson, has two children; Sally, widow of
John Watson, has three children ; Charles,
a resident of Baltimore county, Maryland,
has eight children; Noah W. is the im-
mediate subject of this sketch; John L. is a
successful farmer in Neave township, Darke
county. The father of these children died
at the a?"e of seventy-eight years, his widow
surviving until March 24, 1900, when she
passed away at the venerable age of eightv-
two years.
Noah W. Brown grew up under the
sturdy and invigorating discipline of the
farm, receiving jhis educational discipline
in the district schools, the advantages af-
forded in this line being limited in scope, as
his services were demanded on the home
farm, early and late. He began an appren-
ticeship at the blacksmith trade when he was
nineteen years of age and soon became an
expert artisan. He came to Ohio in 1878
and for two years was employed by the
month, working for William Thomas and
George M. Noggl'e, to the latter of whom
individual reference is made in another
sketch appearing within these pages. At
the expiration of the interval noted Mr.
Brown rented a farm for one year in this
county, and he then made ready to establish
a home of his own in the proper sense of the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
663
term, being1 united in marriage, on the 3d
of March, 1883, to Miss Susanna Noggle,
daughter of Michael and Mary (Mote)
Noggle. The young couple settled on their
farm of eighty-three acres, the place, which
was entirely unimproved or reclaimed, hav-
ing been given to Mrs. Brown by her father.
This farm has ever since been the home of
our subject, and the place to-day has slight
semblance to the primitive forest tract which
constituted the original farmstead. The in-
defatigable industry and well directed efforts
of Mr. Brown have made the place one of
the most desirable and attractive of the many
fine farms in Darke county, and the im-
provements are all of superior character.
Our subject raises diversified crops, having
grown three thousand bushels of corn and
six hundred of wheat as an annual yield,
and he gives special attention to the breed-
ing of swine of high grade, marketing
from three to four droves each year. This
branch of his business lias been practically
his leading and most profitable enterprise,
and though he had severe losses during the
ravages of the hog cholera he was not dis-
couraged and his efforts have given him
good returns. He is recognized as one of
the best judges of swine in the county, and
is an authority on all matters pertaining to
the care and improvement of this sort of
stock. By the judicious crossing of breeds
he has secured a fine grade of swine, and
he controls a large business in this branch
of farming industry. In his life he has la-
bored without ceasing, has had many ob-
stacles to overcome and has been animated
by a singleness of purpose which would not
recognize defeat. He is thus entitled to
much credit for what he has accomplished,
and bis inflexible integrity in all the rela-
tions of life has won him the confidence and
esteem of all with whom he has come in con-
tact. Though denied the privileges of
scholastic training in his youth he has a
high appreciation of the advantages of ed-
ucation and his aim is to afford to bis chil-
dren the best possible opportunities in this
line. In bis political adherency he is a Dem-
ocrat, but has been signally averse to ac-
cepting official preferment, his only service
in this direction having been as road super-
visor. Mr. Brown is known as an enterpris-
ing and public spirited citizen and is held
in high esteem in the community. Fraternally
he is identified with the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown have a most inter-
esting family of children, — one daughter
and three sons, — of whom we enter brief
record as follows: Bessie E., born Decem-
ber 6, 1883, is an attractive young lady, an
excellent student and one who has marked
musical ability ; George A. was born January
24, 1886; Charles M., August 14, 1889; and
Virgil A., March 7, 1894.
GEORGE M. NOGGLE.
Among the successful agriculturists and
representative citizens of Darke county is
Mr. Noegle, whose fine farmstead is located
on section 3, Harrison township, his post-
office address being New Madison. He is
a native of this township, having been born
on a farm two miles south of his present
place on the 7th of July, 1847, tne son °f
Michael Noggle, who was born in Lee town-
ship, this county, January 10, 18 19. The
latter's father, George No°-gle, was born in
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1775,
and he died on the farm owned by our sub-
ject in the year 1853. His father was a
farmer of the Keystone state, where he died,
the family being of German extraction.
664
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
George Noggle, grandfather of our subject,
was married, in Pennsylvania, to Catherine
Hoenline, who was born in 1773, and they
became the parents of five sons and five
daughters, all of whom lived to maturity
and had families. George Noggle was a
man of great physical power and indomit-
able courage, being the hero of many a
pugilistic encounter and never having been
vanquished. He was very industrious and
energetic and he cleared up two farms in this
section of Ohio. He came here from Penn-
sylvania in 1 81 2, being one of the pioneers
of Darke county, where he took up his abode
in 181 6. In 1825 he entered one hundred
and sixty acres of land in Harrison town-
ship, section 15, and there he died in Tune,
1853, his widow surviving until i860, when
she passed away at the age of eighty-seven,
her death resulting from a severe fall into a
cellar of her home. She was a woman of
fine presence, being of large stature and
noble bearing.
The mother of our subject bore the
maiden name of Mary Mote, and she was
born in this neighborhood June 14, 1821.
On the 1 6th of January, 1840, was solem-
nized her marriage to Michael Noggle, the
groom being twenty-one years of age and
the bride sixteen. Mrs. Noggle was the
daughter of Jonathan and Susanna (Kefler)
Mote, the former of whom was of English
ancestry, his birth having occurred in the
state of Georgia. He was four times mar-
ried, and of the first union six sons and five
daughters were born, and there were several
children by the second marriage. Of the
eleven children of the first marriage and
the three sons of the second all lived to pass
the half-century mile post on life's journey
and five of the number are still living, the
eldest being in his eighty-third year. The
mother of our subject died at the age of sev-
enty-one.
Of the five sons and two daughters of
Michael and Mary Noggle we offer the fol-
lowing data : Phcebe Jane, born April 26,
1 84 1, married and died in 1872, leaving five
children; Alfred, born April 4, 1843, died at
Richmond, Indiana, in 1895, leaving one
son; Ephraim, born May 5, 1845, 's a farm-
er in Butler township, this county, and has
six children ; George M., the fourth in order
of birth, is the immediate subject of this re-
view; David, a successful farmer of Clark
county, Ohio, has five children ; Susanna,
wife of Noah Brown, is mentioned in an
individual sketch of that gentleman else-
where in this volume; and Jonathan, born
in 1855, died in infancy. The mother of
our subject died in 1892, and the father on
the 6th of April, 1898. They were people
of the highest integrity and were among
the honored pioneers of this section of the
state. Like his father, Michael Noggle be-
gan work at an early age and he was soon
inured to the severe labors of clearing up
and reclaiming the frontier farms, having
cleared up the farm now occupied by our
subject and having spent two years in Wa-
bash county. He inherited eighty acres from
his father and he and his brother, David,
took up and owned some four hundred acres
in Harrison township. On the farm which
is the home of his son, Georp-e M., of this
sketch, he erected, in 1868, the fine brick
residence which is one of the most spacious
and attractive country homes in this section.
He farmed on an extensive scale, being as-
sisted in his operations by his four sons,
being very successful in his cledings in the
product of his farms and realizing large
profits at a time when these commodities
commanded high prices. In 1861 he paid
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
G65
fifty dollars an acre for his land, and the
final payment on the same was made within
three years.
George M. Noggle has always lived on
the old homestead and he early became fa-
miliar with the various duties involved in
successful farming. He received such edu-
cational advantages as were afforded by the
district schools and this discipline has been
most effectively supplemented by his ex-
perience in connection with the practical af-
fairs of life.
On the 1 6th of December, 1869, Mr.
Noggle was united in marriago to Miss
Cynthia A. Flatter, a native of this town-
ship, and a daughter of Perry and Eliza-
beth Flatter, both of whom are deceased,
the father passing away in 1898. They
were the parents of five sons and four
daughters. To our subject and his estimable
wife have been born nine children, namely:
Elmer, who still remains on the old home-
stead ; Harry, who died in infancy ; Olive H. ;
Ella Viola ; Andrew Porter ; Clara Edna ;
Harley Webster; Russell G., who was born
June 4. 1892, died at the age of fourteen
months ; and Ethel May, an animated little
maiden of six years.
In politics Mr. Noggle renders alle-
giance to the Democracy, supporting the
Bryan wing of the party, and he served four
years as township treasurer, and has also
1 ten a member of the school board. Fra-
ternally he is a member of the Masonic order.
ANTHONY T. KNORR.
This gentleman is the well known editor
and proprietor of the Greenville Deutsche
Umschau, the leading German paper pub-
lished in Darke county. He was born in
Germany, December 25, 1855, and was ed-
ucated in his native land, attending first the
common schools and later a gymnasium,
where he completed his studies. Having
thus acquired a good practical education he
was well fitted to begin life for himself.
In 1876 he came to the United States, sail-
ing from Hamburg and landing in New
York city. He stopped first in Toledo,
Ohio, and from there went to Omaha, Ne-
braska, where he remained for a short time
and then proceeded to Fort Davis, Texas,
where he spent two years and a hal f.
On his return north Mr. Knorr first lo-
cated in Indianapolis, Indiana, ami En im
there came to Greenville, Ohio, entering
the office of the Greenville Post, when owned
and published by J. G. Feuchtinger. In
1890 he purchased the paper, which he has
since published under its present name. It
is a well edited sheet, neatly printed in Ger-
man and has a large circulation. It is an
eight-page paper, 15x22 inches in size, and is
issued weekly. Mr. Knorr is an able writer
and is a man of social qualities, well liked
by all who know him and very highly es-
teemed by his friends.
WILLIAM C. PLEASANT.
This well-to-do and prominent farmer
of Van Buren township, Darke county, Ohio,
is one of the self-made men of the locality,
whose success in life is due entirely to his
own well directed efforts and the assistance
of his estimable wife. He was born in Gooch-
land county, Virginia, December 25, 1S47.
His father, William Pleasant, was the son
of a slave owner and was born and reared
ir Alabama. When a young man he went
to Virginia and settled in Goochland county,
where he clerked in a store for a time.
There he married Ellen Woodson, who was
666
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
born in Powhatan county, Virginia, but
alter the death of her parents made her
home with her grandmother in Goochland
count)', where she grew to womanhood. The
father died in 1858 at about the age of thir-
ty-eight years, leaving four sons, namely :
William C, our subject; Robert F., a resi-
dent of Trotwood, Ohio, who married, first,
Lizzie Carter and, secondly, Mary Brewer;
James, of Dayton, Ohio, who married Katy
Erown; and George Washington, of Painter
Greek, who married Ollie Miles and has
one child, Willis. After the death of her
husband the mother held her family together
and about 1866 moved to Rockingham coun-
ty, Virginia, and three years later to Trot-
wood, Montgomery county, Ohio. She is
still living and makes her home with her
children.
The family being in limited circum-
stances William C. Pleasant never attended
school but one day in his life, and at the
early age of eight years he commenced work
by the month in order to contribute to the
support of the family. He was about twelve
when his father died and the main support
of the family fell upon his shoulders, as he
was the oldest son. He joined the southern
army at the age of fourteen years, enlisting
in September, 1863, in Goochland county,
Virginia, in Company F, Fourth Virginia
Cavalry, and was under the command of
Captain Hobson, Colonel Mumford and later
Colonel Fitzhugh Lee (now general).
Without any previous drill he went to the
front and the following day took part in the
engagement at Raccoon Ford, where, while
making a charge, he was wounded in the
right side by a piece of bomb shell. For
three days and three nights he lay uncon-
scious in the hospital, but as soon as reason
was restored he would remain no longer and
at once rejoined his regiment, being in ac-
tive duty continuously until the close of the
war. He was in a number of skirmishes,
was at Fredericksburg a short time and then
went into winter quarters at Charlottesville,
Virginia. In the spring of 1864, with his
regiment, he proceeded to the Shenandoah
valley and met Sheridan's army at Win-
chester. They were under fire almost daily
during that campaign, their next important
battle being at Cedar creek. Marching south
tc North Carolina the Fourth Virginia Cav-
alry took part in the battle at Weldon Rail-
road and captured General Alvorell's com-
mand, the general escaping. They were next
stationed on the south side of the James
river and for seven days participated in the
battle of the Wilderness. Being sharp-
shooters they generally took a very import-
ant part in every engagement. Their next
battle was Cold Harbor, after which they
proceeded up the Shenandoah valley as far
as Stanton, and from there were ordered
below Richmond, spending the winter of
1864-5 near that city. Their last fight was
the battle of Petersburg, and were with
the army until the surrender at Appomattox
Court House.
After the war Mr. Pleasant returned
home and commenced work on a farm. In
1866 he came to Ohio, but being taken ill
he soon rejoined his family in Virginia.
He accompanied them on their removal to
this state, and worked in the nursery of John
Wampler at Trotwood for one year, after
which he and his brother Robert F. had a
rented farm for two years, and then bought
five acres of land at Stringtown, Montgom-
ery county. Two years later they sold that
place and purchased the store of Simon
Dunkle at Painter Creek, Darke county,
which they conducted together for one year,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
66'i
and then our subject purchased his brother's
interest and formed a partnership with Sam-
uel Swinger, to whom he sold out a year
later. He next purchased a piece of property
Jrom Dr. McCrew at Painter Creek and
erected thereon a confectory stand which his
wife carried on while he devoted his attention
to tobacco culture. His next purchase con-
sisted of thirty-three acres of land on section
2, Van Buren township, and he later sold his
property at Painter Creek and located on his
farm March 5, 1881, since which time he has
engaged in farming, tobacco culture and the
raising of small fruits with most gratifying
success. He also owns eight acres south of
his farm, and in 1899 he erected a beautiful
residence upon his place.
Mr. Pleasant was married, Augusc 5.
1878, to Miss Isabelle Miller, who wis born
in Van Buren township, April 20, 1857, a
daughter of Emanuel and Nancy (Wager-
man) Miller, and to them have been born six
children, namely: Mollie M., who married
Jesse Flory, of Franklin township, Darke
county, and they have two children, Roy and
Alma; Mattie Rosella, the wife of John Burr
of Greenville; and Allie Viola, Vernie For-
est, May and Jessie Omega, all at home.
Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Pleasant are mem-
bers of the Christian church and politically he
is identified with the Democratic party. For
the success they have achieved in life they
deserve much credit, and they are highly re-
spected and esteemed by all who know them.
WILLIAM S. THOMPSON.
Among the honored and highly respected
citizens of Patterson township, Darke coun-
ty, Ohio, is the gentleman whose name
heads this sketch. He was born in Bucks
county, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1824, and
is a grandson of Staples Thompson, whose
parents were natives of England. He spent
his last days in Bucks county. He was
twice married and reared seven children —
five sons and two daughters. David Thomp-
son, the father of our subject, was born in
Pennsylvania, in 1791, and was married
there, in 1818, to Lucy Ridge, a native of
the same state. In 1832 they came to Ohio,
driving the entire distance and. reaching
Warren county after about five weeks spent
upon the road. With the few hundred dol-
lars which Mr. Thompson brought with him
he purchased sixty acres of partially im-
proved land, to which he subsequently added
until he had a fine farm of one hundred acres
in Warren county. There he died, August
31, 1870, aged seventy-four years. Of his
twelve children one daughter died in infancy.
The others were as follows : Mary Ann, born
in 1819, is now the widow of Levi Cleaver
and a resident of Warren county; Samuel
makes his home in Seneca, Kansas; William
S., our subject, is next in order of birth;
Mahlon died in Missouri ; Hannah became
the wife of William Reason, of Springboro,
Warren county, Ohio, and died October 13,
1900, aged seventy-three years; Sadie, who
died at about the age of sixty-five years;
David Headley met with an accident result-
ing in death, June 6, 1899; Thomas is single
and resides in Lebanon; Comley died in
Perrysburg, Ohio, in middle life; Rachel is
the wife of Edward Roberts, of Warren
county; and Rebecka is the widow of Marion
Allen.
The education which our subject received
during his boyhood was liberal for the times,
and at the age of eighteen he commenced
learning the cooper's trade, serving an ap-
prenticeship of one year, after which he fol-
lowed that occupation for twenty years.
<368
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
For three years he was employed as a fruit
tree agent, but now gives his entire time and
attention to general farming and stock rais-
ing, having located upon his present farm of
eighty acres in March, 1872. He ra.ses
horses, cattle and hogs, making a specialty
of the last named, which he has found quite
profitable, handling about fifty head per
year.
On the 23d of March, 1848, Mr. Thomp-
son married Miss Sarah A. Carter, who
was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia,
in 1827, but during her infancy her parents,
William and Nancy (Shaw) Carter, re-
moved to Montgomery county, Ohio. About
1837 the family moved to Auglaize county,
this state, and settled near Wapakoneta,
where in the midst of the forest Mr. Carter
developed a farm of two hundred and eighty
acres. He died December 24, 1857, at the
age of fifty-seven years, eight months and
twenty- four days, and his wife departed this
life February 12, 1870, at the age of sixty-
five years, both being laid to rest in Auglaize
count}'. When she was eighteen years of
age her name was carved on the Natural
Bridge in Rockbridge county, Virginia, near
her native place. In the Carter family were
twelve children, of whom four sons and
three daughters are still living, one son,
John, dying in the army.
To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born
six children, namely: Horace Monroe, born
April 6, 1859, died at the age of three years:
Nettie E.. born October 6, i860, is the wife
of Bert Faun, of Bradford, Miami county,
Ohio, and they have seven sons and two
daughters, one son dying in infancy; Jennie
B., born July 10, 1862, is the wife of Eli C.
Hanselman, of Piqua, and they have one
son and one daughter ; Mary Jane, born near
Terre Haute, Indiana, June 14, 1864, is the
wife of Isaiah Straker, who lives near
Straker's Station, Ohio, and they have one
son and one daughter, which died in in-
fancy: Anna, born July 11, 1807, is a well
educated lady, possessing considerable mu-
sical talent, and resides at home ; and Birdie,
born October 24, 1870, is the wife of Prentiss
Hardman, who assists in the cultivation of
the home farm, and they have one son,
Cletaus Wayne.
Politically Mr. Thompson is a Repub-
lican, and socially is a member of Tippe-
canoe Lodge, F. & A. M. Both he and his
wife are active members of the Christian
church and are highly respected and es-
teemed by all who know them on account of
their sterling worth.
WILLIAM A. BROWNE, Sr.
William A. Browne, Sr., is the editor
and proprietor of the Daily and Weekly Ad-
vocate. In 1883, he began the publication
of the journal as- the Weekly Advocate, and
on the 1st of January, 1890, completed his
arrangements and put forth the first issue
of the daily paper. His name has long been
connected with the journalistic interests of
this section of the state, and along the line
of his chosen vocation he has wielded a
strong influence in support of many meas-
ures which have largely contributed toward
the public good.
Mr. Browne is a native of Cecil county,
.Maryland, born April 19, 1842. His fa-
ther, the Rev. William A. Browne, was a
Methodist Episcopal minister, who for many
years belonged to the Man-land conference
and continued in the active work of the
church up to the time of his death, which oc-
curred in 1844. His wife bore the maiden
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
CG9
name of Hester A. Touchstone, and was of
English lineage. She survived her husband
for many years anil passed away in 1892.
In her family were five children, three daugh-
ters and two sons. Emma Alice was the
eldest, and was a highly cultured lady, who
for many years was a regular contributor to
the Saturday Evening Post, the New York
Ledger and the St. Louis Republic. She
was a poetess of national reputation.
\\ ill .am A. Browne, whose name forms
the caption of this article, attended the com-
mon schools and later was a student at West
Nottingham, Maryland, until his twelfth
year. He then entered the office of the
Cec.l \\ hig, at Elkton, that state, and there
learned the printer's trade. Subsequently
he was employed in the office of the Cecil
Democrat, of the same town and county, and
later went to Pennsylvania. Afterward he
was employed on the force of a newspaper at
Brighton, New Jersey, and on leaving the
east made his way to St. Louis, Missouri.
Subsequently he went to Leavenworth, Kan-
sas, and also worked in Cincinnati, Ohio,
and other places in the middle states. In
1874 he bought the Covington Gazette, at
Covington, Ohio, and remained as editor
of that paper for nine years. In 1883 he
came to Greenville, Darke county, and
founded the Weekly Advocate, which is a
neat and well-printed eight-page journal,
having a large circulation in the city, county
and adjacent districts. In 1890 he estab-
lished the Daily Advocate, which is one of
the strong Democratic organs of the county.
For both papers he has secured a liberal pat-
ronage, and those journals are welcome vis-
itors in many homes in this section of the
state. Mr. Browne is not only a good
writer, his editorials being forcible and pleas-
ing, but is also a practical printer, familiar
with all departments of the newspaper busi-
ness.
In 1862 occurred the marriage of Mr.
Browne to Miss Sarah A. Hawkins, of St.
Louis, Missouri, a daughter of Samuel Haw-
kins, a prominent resident of that city. 1 he
lady is a graduate of Franklin Academy, of
St. Louis, Missouri, and by her marriage
she became the mother of five sons and four
daughters, five of whom are living, namely :
Annie, wife of N. J. Kuntz, a prominent
lumber dealer of Ohio City, Ohio; Agnes,
wife of Thomas G. Wolf, of the Greenville
Awning & Tent Company; William A., who
is a printer in the office of the Advocate;
Walter E., who is also a practical printer;
and Lineas M., an electrician of Greenville.
Mr. Browne is a member of several of
the leading secret orders. In his political
faith he has ever heen a stalwart Demo-
crat, his labors in behalf of the party being
very effective. His chief recreation is found
with rod and gun in the lake regions of
Michigan, and in the forests of that state,
where, as a successful angler, he has suc-
ceeded in capturing some splendid speci-
mens of the finny tribe. In his business
affairs he has prospered, and is now the
owner of considerable valuable city prop-
erty in Greenville, including his own hand-
some and well-furnished residence at No.
=;i6 Third street.
GEORGE ARNOLD.
Darke county can boast of quite a num-
ber of enterprising and thorough-going
farmers who have given considerable atten-
tion to the raising of fine stock, and have
met with success in this branch of industry.
Among these was George Arnold, a promi-
nent farmer who resided on section 24,
670
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Neave township. He was born October 10,
1846, on the farm where he lived until his
death and was a son of Ncah Arnold, a na-
tive of Warren county, Ohio, who was only
six weeks old when brought to this county.
Tradition says that the Arnold family was
founded in America about the year 1725, by
one Arnold, who settled in the southern part
of North Carolina, having emigrated from
England. It is believed that he was a farmer
or planter. He had a family of seven sons,
but the names of only two are remembered :
Butler, who was a surveyor of government
lands in Kentucky, and John, who emigrated
from North Carolina to South Carolina dur-
ing the Revolutionary war. It is thought
that the other members of the family emi-
grated to Pennsylvania. The John Arnold
just mentioned, on his removal to South Car-
olina, purchased land in the Newberry dis-
trict of that state. His family consisted of
seven sons and one daughter, namely :
George, who emigrated to Ohio in 1805;
Moses, who removed to Ohio in 1808; Will-
iam, who came to this state in 1806; John,
Isaac, Jacob and James, who removed to
South Carolina ; and the daughter, who be-
came the wife of William Jay and located in
Buncombe, North Carolina. It is said the
sons of the family were tall, straight, well
built, of reddish complexion and of a fine
personal appearance in manner and dress.
Of this family Moses Arnold was the
great-grandfather of our subject. He was
born in North Carolina, January 6. 1763, and
with his father went to the Newberry district
of South Carolina, where he was married,
August 14, 1782, to Rachel Lynch. ' He
owned land two and a half miles south of the
Newberry court house. By his marriage he
had seven children : Isaac, Aaron, William,
Lydia, David, George and Mary. With his
wife and all of his children, with the ex-
tion of his eldest son Isaac, he emigrated to
Ohio in the autumn of 1808, taking up his
abode in what was then Warren, but is now
Clinton county. There he remained until
June, 1817, at which time he removed to
Darke county, accompanied by the children
who had come with him to Ohio, with the ex-
ception of William, who had previously lo-
cated in Darke county. He died near Green-
ville, Ohio, April 1, 1850, at the age of
eighty-seven years, two months and twenty-
five days. His wife, who was born in March,
1765, died in Darke county, Ohio, in 1826.
The Lynch family to which she belonged
was of Welsh descent. Moses Arnold was
described as a man five feet, eleven inches in
height, florid complexion, brown beard, red-
dish hair and small, keen black eyes. He
long held membership in the Methodist
church and was very strict in attending to
religious matters, observing the Sabbath
scrupulously, permitting no ordinary work
on that day under any circumstances. His
disposition was kind and amiable and he was
universally respected. He never married
again after the death of his wife and spent
the last twenty years of his life with his
youngest son, George, who occupied the old
homestead property.
William Arnold, the third son of Moses
and Rachel (Lynch) Arnold, was born in
Newberry district, South Carolina, March
12, 1789, and in 1808 accompanied his par-
ents to Ohio. Previous to that time he had
been engaged with his brother Isaac in trans-
porting the products of this section of the
state to Charleston, which was about two
hundred miles distant from his home. Re-
turning they would bring with them salt and
other articles which were imported at the
place and mention is made of negroes
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
671
brought into the interior from slave ships
which arrived. His education was limited,
for public schools were then unknown in that
state. He was, however, a close observer
and listener and became well informed on
matters of general interest. In politics he
was a Whig and was greatly opposed to the
policy inaugurated by President Jackson.
After coming to Ohio with his parents, he
was married in Warren county to Miss Eliza-
beth Townsend, on the 4th of July, 1815,
In the fall of that year he visited Darke coun-
ty, preparatory to his removal thither in the
ensuing spring. The land on which he set-
tled was the northeast quarter of section 11.
township 11, range 2 east. He soon pur-
chased one hundred and sixty acres adjoin-
ing on the north and ultimately became the
owner of four hundred and fifty-six acres.
His first home was a log cabin with puncheon
floor, but about the year 1827 he erected a
two-story brick dwelling, which was one of
the first brick houses in the county. He also
put up good barns and outbuildings and was
a prosperous farmer. On the 5th of Decem-
ber, 1825, he was called upon to mourn the
loss of his wife, and on the 18th of Septem-
ber, 1828, he was again married, his second
union being with Margaret Folkerth, who
was of German descent, .the family having
probably emigrated from Saxony to the new
world. In the fall of 1832 and in Septem-
ber, 1835, he visited the Eel river country of
Indiana, and at the latter date, purchased
four hundred acres of land in Whitley coun-
ty. A purchase made about this time in
Adams county, Indiana, increased his hold-
ings to nearly eleven hundred acres. He was
a remarkably successful farmer, having
started out in life in very limited circum-
stances, but year by year he added to his ac-
cumulations and became very prosperous.
41
He usually kept from sixty to one hundred
head of cattle and his sales annually aug-
mented his income. He was naturally adapt-
ed to farming and thought it the best and
safest occupation that a man could follow,
advising all of his sons to adhere to agricul-
tural pursuits as being the most advantage-
ous. His second wife died February 23,
1867, and at the age of sixty- four years,
after a happy married life of thirty-nine
years. At that time his daughter Lydia was
the only member of the family at home and
she remained with her father until his death,
which occurred February 12. 1875, when he
was almost eighty-six years of age. His
children were as follows : Delilah, who was
born in Warren county, Ohio, November 9,
1813, married William Sandford Harper,
April 5, 1S32, and died at her home near
Greenville, Ohio, April 1, 1874; Noah, born
February 16, 1816, married Amelia Stingley,
September 22, 1839; George, born in Darke
county, September 2j, 1818, married Ann
Maria Welty and lives in Bluffton, Indiana;
John, born November 12, 1820, married
Augennette Fogger, who died in South.
Whitley, Indiana, April 4, 1855, and after
her death he wedded Elmira Thompson, his
death occurring at South Whitley, October
11, 1880; Mary, born March 5, 1832, is the
widow of Rev. Elisha Hook, a Methodist
minister, and is living at Tower Hill, Illinois;
William, born November 29, 1825, married
Mary Ann Stingley and died at Grand Rap-
ids, Wisconsin, in November, i860. Isaac,
the eldest child of the second marriage, died
April 2, 1836, at the age of six years; Jesse,
born October 24, 1831, married Sarah
Thomson and lives in North Manchester, In-
diana ; Maria A., born December 10, 1833,
became the wife of S. V. Hopkins and died
October 2, 1887, in North Manchester, In-
672
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
diana; Henry, born March n, 1836. married
Annie Cleveland and lives in Huntington,
Indiana; Isaac N., born April 5, 1840, mar-
ried Susan Luring and also resides in Hunt-
ington; Lydia, born April 5, 1844, is the
wife of Jacob Worley Ford, of Huntington;
James T., born April 5, 1844, married Eliz-
abeth Johnson, and after her death wedded
Lettie Cleveland, and is now living in Chat-
tanooga, Tennessee. The Arnolds have al-
ways been connected with the Methodist
church and have always been people of prom-
inence and influence in the communities in
which they have lived.
Noah Arnold, the father of our subject.
was born in Warren county, Ohio, February
6. 18 16, was reared on his father's farm in
Darke county, and, making the most of his
educational privileges, was enabled to engage
in teaching at the age of nineteen. When
twenty-three years of age he left the farm
and in February, 1839, embarked in the dry-
goods business in Greenville, conducting his
store there until 1843. I" September, 1839,
he married Emilia Stingley, of German
township. On selling his store in 1843, ne
purchased a farm of two hundred and forty
acres in Neave township, taking up his abode
thereon in September of that year. There he
made his home and was a witness of the won-
derful growth and improvement which has
been made in the county, bearing his part in
the work of progress and advancement. For
nine years he faithfully filled the office of jus-
tice of the peace and was notary public for
twenty-one years. He became one of the
organizers of the Farmers' National Bank of
Greenville in 1864, was a stockholder from
the beginning and for a long time one of its
directors.
In 1848 Noah Arnold was called upon to
mourn the loss of his first wife. They had
four children: Isaac N., the eldest, was born
in Greenville, June 7, 1840, and while attend-
ing the select schools, he put aside his text-
books in 1861 to enlist in Company E, Sixty-
ninth Ohio Volunteers. He served for two
years and re-enlisted as a veteran. At At-
lanta, Georgia, he lost his left arm which was
shattered by a piece of shell, and thus his mil-
itary service of four years was ended. He
had participated in many important engage-
ments. After the war he went to Washing-
ton, where he obtained a position in the treas-
ury department, filling the place for fourteen
years or until his death October 12, 1880.
While in Washington he was graduated with
honors in the Columbia Law Colles'e. He
was married in that city to Mrs. Laura S.
McConnel ; Mary Jane, second child, was
born in Greenville, February 22, 1842, at-
tended the common schools and the Delaware
Female College and afterward engaged in
teaching for several terms. She was mar-
ried October 17. 1866, to Harvey N. Arnold,
a merchant of Greenville, by whom she has
one son, Eddy Arnold. Effy A., the third
child, was born in Xeave township, Darke
county, was married July 3. 1867, to L. E.
Chenoweth, who is now a successful practic-
ing attorney of Greenville and they have two
children, Milly and James. George, the
youngest child of this marriage, was the one
whose name introduces this record.
Noah Arnold was again married in
1850, his second marriage being with Martha
Banfield (Birely) Laurimore. They lived
on the old homestead until his death. January
11, 1 89 1, and had one daughter, Margaret
Ella A., now the wife of W. H. H. McCool,
a merchant of Jaysville, Ohio. Besides aid-
ing his children liberallv Mr. Arnold accu-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
073
nuilated considerable property and his farm
near Jaysville, Ohio, was one of the finest
and most desirable in the county.
George Arnold, of this review, was a stu-
dent at the college at Delaware, Ohio, for
three years, and while there he was called
into active service for one hundred days dur-
ing the Civil war. being a member of the One
Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment of
Hume Guards. After his return home, he
attended the common schools at Dayton,
Ohio, for a time. In 1868 he went west and
held a position in the postoffice at Omaha, for
some years. The following three years
were spent at Fort Laramie, in the post
trading business, and he was subsequently
engaged in the cattle business for about nine
years, having a ranch fifty miles north of tht
North Platte at a place called Arnold, which
is now quite a flourishing town. On
Christmas, 1879, he had a stroke of paraly-
sis, which caused him to lose the use of his
right side. At that time he was quite exten-
sivelv engaged in the stock business, having
thirteen hundred head of cattle upon his
ranch in Nebraska, and was meeting with
most excellent success. He returned to the
old homestead in Darke county, Ohio, in
1884, where he engaged in general farming
and stock-raising, keeping horses, cattle and
hogs until his death, which occurred quite
unexpectedly June 28, 1900. His farm c< in-
sists of one hundred and sixty acres, and is
under a high state of cultivation.
While in Nebraska Mr. Arnold was mar-
ried, in 1868, to Miss Ella Taylor, a native
of Greenville. They had one daughter,
Blanche, who was born at North Platte,
September 8, 1877, and was married August
15, 1900, to Thomas Hughes, a successful
attorney of Greenville. In his political views
Mr. Arnold was a stanch Republican, but at
local elections where no issue was involved
he vi >ted for the man best qualified to fill the
office, regardless of party lines. Socially he
was a man respected and honored by his
neighors.
ROYSTON FORD.
Dr. Royston Ford, physician and sur-
geon at Greenville. Ohio, was born near
Jaysville, in Darke o tunty, on the 28th day
of November, 1845. His father, Mordecai
S. Ford, born in Kentucky. July 18, 1807,
came to Ohio when quite young with his
widowed mother, Delilah Mills Ford, whose
husband, also named Mordecai S. Ford, had
died in the Indian war. The family lived
near Ithaca, this county, until her death,
June 14, 1840.
Another family to be mentioned is that
of John Tillman. He was born in Virginia,
April 17, 1780, and at the age of ten he
moved to Tennessee, whence he removed to
Ohio about two years before the territory
became a state. While living in Tennessee
he was married to Nancy Harless, who was
also a native of Virginia, born September
10, 1790. They lived in Preble county,
reared a family of thirteen children, and died
February 24, 1850, and September 1, 1863,
respectively. One of these daughters was
Polly Tillman, who on March 5, 1829, be-
came the wife of Mordecai S. Ford, the fa-
ther of Dr. Ford.
This young couple lived for two years
near her father's home, in Preble county, af-
ter which one hundred and sixty acres of new
land were bought, in Van Buren township,
Darke county. Here they lived the hard
life of early settlers and succeeded in mak-
ing a comfortable home. Besides being a
farmer Mordecai Ford was a minister of
674
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the Christian church, and also took an active
interest in education. Eleven of their chil-
dren lived to manhood and womanhood, and
became useful members of the community.
All of them taught school and five of the
sons practiced medicine. In the order of
their birth their names are as follows : Jo-
seph. John, Henry, Delilah, Nancy, Worley,
Elijah, Martha, Royston, Mary and Lydie
Ann. The father died November 23, 1867,
but the mother lived to direct the affairs of
the family until the 19th of March, 1888.
The youngest son, the subject of this
sketch, was reared on the old homestead and
there began his education in the district
schools. He remained on the farm until he
was eighteen years of age when he respond-
ed to his country's call for troops. In 1863
he and his brother Worley became members
of the Twenty-eighth Regiment, Ohio Na-
tional Guards, commanded by David Put-
nam. The 2d of May, 1864, Governor
Brough called out the Ohio National Guard
to serve for one hundred days. The next
day the Twenty-eighth Regiment of Ohio
National Guards went to Camp Dennison,
near Piqua, Ohio. Soon afterward they were
combined with two companies from Clark
county, and sworn into the service of the
United States as the One Hundred and Fifty-
second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
with Colonel Putnam commanding. The,
I2th of May this regiment was sent to New
Creek, West Virginia, thence on the 30th
to Martinsburg, which they left on the 4th
of June, accompanied by parts of three other
regiments, all under command of Colonel
Putnam, in charge of a supply train of two
hundred and nine wagons, and with orders
to reach General Hunter at all hazards, who
was then somewhere in the Shenandoah val-
ley. By hard marching they overtook Hun-
ter's army at Lexington, Virginia, on the
nth of June, having passed through Win-
chester, Middletown. Cedar Creek, Stras-
burg, Fisher's Hill, Woodstock, New Mar-
ket, Harrisonburg, Staunton and other places
noted for the many conflicts between the
Union and rebel armies. They remained
with Hunter's army west of Lynchburg un-
til June 17, when Colonel Putnam was or-
dered to return with two hundred wagons,
many sick and wounded soldiers and prison-
ers, but on account of rebel forces in the val-
ley he had to take a long route across the
Alleghany mountains by way of White Sul-
phur Springs, Huntersville, Beverly, Philippi
and Webster, where the Baltimore & Ohio
Railway was reached.
In all they had marched over four hun-
dred miles through a rough country, ob-
structed frequently by parties of rebels. On
the return march, rations were scarce. Be-
fore they reached Beverly ear corn was once
issued to the men, seven ears of corn to
eight men, but the next day a supply of
crackers was obtained. From Webster they
went to Cumberland by train, reaching that
place July 2, 1864, and there the regiment
remained until the 25th of August, when it
returned to Camp Dennison, Ohio. There
on the 2d of September it was mustered out
of the service and on the 5th of that month
its members received their pay and final dis-
charge.
After his return from the war Royston
Ford taught school one winter, and a few
years afterward he began the study of medi-
cine under the direction of his brother John
and Dr. D. Robeson, at Arcanum. He took
his first course of lectures at Ann Arbor,
Michigan, and later studied in the College
of Physicians and Surgeons, at Cincinnati,
where he was graduated in 1880. He be-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
675
gan the practice of medicine at Saratoga,
Indiana, where he remained for five years,
after which he spent three years at New
Madison, this county, where he built up a
good practice.
In 1870 Dr. Ford was married to Miss
Lizzie Albright. After her death in 1883
he became dissatisfied with his location, and.
leaving New Madison, came to Greenville,
where he has since enjoyed a much larger
practice. In 1885 he wedded Miss Clara B.
Albright, a niece of his first wife, and a
daughter of Daniel Albright, of Darke coun-
ty. In 1894 he pursued a post-graduate
course of study in Chicago, taking special
work in a polyclinic school. In recent years
he has spent considerable time in colleges
and hospitals, observing the latest and best
treatments of the diseases of women and
children. During the last two years he has
given special attention to the use of electric-
ity in therapeutics and has obtained excel-
lent results. He is a member of the Darke
County Medical Society, and his extensive
reading and investigations have made him
one of the best physicians of this locality.
Socially he is connected with the Green-
ville Lodge, I. O. O. F., and with Jobes
Post, No. 157, G. A. R. Lie was United
States examining surgeon for pensions dur-
ing the Harrison administration.
WILLIAM W. HINDSLEY.
The subject of this review is now a lead-
ing grocer and prominent citizen of Green-
ville, Ohio. He was born in Randolph
county, Indiana, June 1, 1850, and is a son
of Joseph and Nancy (McGuire) Hindsley,
both natives of North Carolina. His pater-
nal grandfather was John Hindsley, a sea-
faring man, who spent many years on the
Atlantic, sailing principally between New-
York and the West Indies, engaged in the
fruit and coffee trade. In early manhood
the father of our subject removed with his
parents to Randolph county, Indiana, where
he spent the remainder of his life as a farmer,
dying there in 1888, at the age of seventy-
three years. His wife is still living in the
same county, in her seventy-ninth year. To
them were born nine children, six of whom
lived to be grown, and five are still living.
Of this family William W. Hindsley, our
subject, is the seventh in order of birth. He
spent his boyhood and youth on the home
farm in Randolph county, Indiana, assist-
ing his father in its cultivation, and attend-
ing the district schools of the neighborhood.
In 1879 he was united in marriage to Miss
Jennie Denniston, who was born in Darke
county, Ohio, in 1859, and at the time of her
birth had six grandmothers. Her parents
were Joseph and Anna (Money) Denniston.
Her father was born in Hill Grove, Wash-
ington township, this county, in September,
1836, a son of Samuel and Susan ( Wasson)
Denniston, and died January 1, 1894. Her
mother was born in Jay county, Indiana, in
1837, and died August 8, 1893. Mr. and
Mrs. Hindsley have one son living, Joseph
Chelsey, born November 3. 1883, who is
now a student in the high school of Green-
ville.
After his marriage Mr. Hindsley settled
in Mississinawa township, where he engaged
in farming for some time. Subsequently he
conducted a grocery store in Rose Hill for
two years, and in December, 1895, came to
Greenville, where he soon afterward erected
a good store building on Fort Jefferson ave-
nue and stocked it with a good grade of
fancy and staple groceries. He now enjoys
a well established trade, having by fair and
676
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
I
honorable dealings secured a liberal share
of the public patronage. While a resident
of Greenville a comparatively short time, he
has become thoroughly identified with its in-
terests, and is well known as an enterprising
and reliable business man, one who keeps
abreast with the times. He and his wife
are members of the Church of Christ, and all
who know them hold them in the highest
esteem.
DANIEL HENNE.
- By the death of this honored and up-
right citizen Greenville sustains an irrepar-
able loss and is deprived of the presence of
one whom it had come to look upon as a
guardian, benefactor and friend. Death
often removes from our midst those whom
we can ill afford to spare, whose lives have
been all that is exemplary of the true, and
thereby really great citizen. Such a citi-
zen was Mr. Henne, whose whole career,
both business and social, served as a model
to the young and an inspiration for the aged.
He shed a brightness around everything
with which he came in contact by reason of
his upright character. By his usefulness
and general benevolence he created a mem-
ory whose perpetuatii in does not depend
upon brick and stone but upon the sponta-
neous and free-will offering of a grateful
and enlightened people. His connection
with Greenville's development and growth
and with the work of improvement was
largely instrumental in placing the city in
the proud position which it today occupies,
yet there has never been in Darke county a
man more free from ostentation and display.
It is only because his goodness could not
be hid that it was known to the w< irld, and
he more frequently denied than affirmed an
opinion that he had done some noble deed —
such was his horror of appearing ostenta-
tious and his dread of receiving the thanks
of those whom he benefitted. His memory
however is enshrined in the hearts of many
who knew him and is a blessed benediction
to all.
Mr. Henne was of German birth, hav-
ing first opened his eyes to the light of day
in Mindersbach, oberamt Nagold koenig-
reich Wurtemberg, in 1839. There he at-
tended school until fourteen years of age,
obtaining a good education in his native
tongue. After putting aside his text-books
to learn the harder lessons in the school of
experience, he was first instructed in the
miller's trade, which he followed for four
years. He then determined to seek a home
in America, believing this country offered
better advantages to ambitious young men.
Accordingly he crossed the Atlantic, land-
ing at Xew York in 1857. He made his
way westward at once, locating in Hamil-
ton, Ohio, where he remained until 1863,
at which time he went abroad, visiting in his
native land for two years. He there re-
newed the acquaintances of his former years
and viewed the haunts of his boyhood, after
which he returned to the land of his adop-
tion in 1865, and was employed as a farm
hand by the month in the vicinity of Hamil-
ton, Ohio, for a year. In the latter part of
1866 he came to Greenville and became con-
nected with the milling and grain business as
a member of the firm of Poak & Henne.
That relation was maintained for several
years, but for twenty-five years prior to his
death Mr. Henne was alone in business. He
made a specialty of buying grain and shin-
ping it to eastern markets, his shipments
reaching two hundred thousand bushels in
a single season. In business circles he sus-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
077
tained an unassailable reputation, and the
patronage of anyone when once gained was
never lost.
In Greenville, on the 17th of February,
1867, Mr. Henne was united in marriage to
Miss Anna M. Weitbrecht, who was born
in Germany and with her parents came to
America when only a year old. They had
three children by this union, Rosina Ger-
trude, Jacob Frederick and Daniel. Mrs.
Henne is a lady respected by all who know
her. She has a good German education ami
in her are combined good social and benevo-
lent qualities with successful business quali-
fications. Her daughter is the honored wife
of Rev. E. E. Ortlepp, for many years the
acceptable pastor of the Lutheran church of
Greenville, Ohio. The sons became enter-
prising and prosperous grain merchants, con-
tinuing the business so successfully estab-
lished by their father until February 26,
1900, when Jacob Frederick died and was
Lid to rest beside his father in Greenville
cemetery. The younger son, however, is
still in the business.
Mr. Henne became one of the wealthiest
men in Darke county, but the most envious
could not grudge him his prosperity so hon-
orably was it won and so worthily used.
Courteous and kind to all, no one bail more
fast friends than he. Honest and fair in all
his dealings, he lost no customers and his
business increased up to the time of his death.
He died October 23, 1897, and in his death
Greenville lost a good citizen and the poor
and afflicted a fast friend. During his last
days he was attacked by a peculiarly severe
form of quinsy, and this disease forced him
to remain at home for several days. No
evil results, however, were feared until a
week later, when his condition changed
alarmingly and after several hours of suf-
fering heart failure surpervened. He passed
quietly and peacefully away.
"Night fell; and a hand, as from the dark-
ness,
Touched him and he slept."
The funeral services were conducted in
the Lutheran church by Rev. J. Dieterle, of
Ann Arbor, Michigan, who was an intimate
friend of the deceased, and his remains were
laid away in the Greenville cemetery, where
a large and costly granite monument marks
his last resting place.
He had done much for the city along
many lines. In 1878 he was elected town-
ship treasurer and so well did he fill the
office that for nearly twenty years he was
forced to accept a re-election, always gained
by overwhelming majorities. A few years
before his death he retired from active po-
litical life, because of the growing demands
of his business, and it is safe to say that no
official was ever so regretted by the people
he served. He was prominent in educa-
tional matters and did good work for the
school system during his several terms as
secretary of the board of education. The
full measure of Daniel Henne's charity will
never be known in this life. No one ever
appealed to him in vain on behalf of any
needy or suffering one, but his horror of
publicity was so great that his good deeds
were carefully concealed by him. There
was not a poor man in all this region that
did not love and revere Mr. Henne, but any
attempt to thank him for the benefits he
conferred was met by a request for silence.
He enjoyed giving, but he had an intense
dislike of any appearance of display in the
bestowal of benefits. It was his practice to
cause the quiet delivery of flour to dozens of
poor families about Christmas time, but
678
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
when questioned about it he invariably de-
clined to admit that lie was the benefactor.
But while caring for the wants of the desti-
tute he also made ample provision for his
family. Their residence on East Main
street is a fine, substantial brick dwelling,
erected in 1876, and is supplied with fur-
nace and with all modern conveniences and
improvements. One who knew him well
wrote the following beautiful apostrophe:
"Strong, sturdy, honest Daniel Henne !
Greenville mourns fur you to-day, for there
are not many such men as you were. You
hiil- your worthy deeds from your fellows,
but Gail's pour have written them on an im-
mortal page with prayers and tears fur you."
Well might the lines of Oliver 'Wendell
Holmes apply to him :
"You see that boy laughing: you think he's
all fun;
But the angels laugh, too, at the work he has
done ;
The children laugh loud as the)r troop to his
call,
But the poor man that knows him laughs
loudest of all."
MARK McDOXALD.
Prominently identified with a branch of
industrial activity which has important hear-
ing on the progress and prosperity of any
community, Mr. McDonald would on this
score alone merit representation in any com-
pilation touching the history of Darke coun-
ty, but aside from this his ancestral line has
been one which has long been associated
with the history of the Buckeye state, and
to this honorable record he has himself con-
tributed by his well directed efforts in Hol-
lansburg, Harrison township, which is the
place of his nativity, he having been born
here September 18, 1842. His father, Wil-
liam McDonald, was born in Warren county,
Ohio, July 8. 1808. the son of John McDon-
ald, who came from his native state of South
Carolina and settled in Warren county in
1800, he being a son of William McDonald,
who was born in the highlands of Scotland
and who was a worthy representative of the
sturdy clan McDonald. The paternal
grandmother of our subject bore the maiden
name of Sarah Stubbs, and she was a daugh-
ter of John Stubbs. who came to Ohio from
Georgia, being of Irish lineage. She died
in 1840, at the age of sixty years, and her
husband, John McDonald, lived to attain
the age of seventy, his death occurring in
[848. They were the parents of four sons
and four daughters, namely : William,
Joseph, Thomas and Mark; and Hannah,
Lydia, Margaret and Patience. Each of the
children married and reared a family, with
the exception of Hannah, and the only sur-
vivor is Mrs. Margaret Bradfield, of Joplin,
Missouri.
The parents of our subject were William
and Mary (Boswell ) McDonald, and the lat-
ter was born in 1S14. the daughter of Will-
iam Boswell, of North Carolina. Her death
occurred in 1847, ner marriage to Mr. Mc-
Donald having been solemnized about 1840.
She was the widow of Elihu Gist. To Will-
iam and Mary McDonald two children were
born — Mark, the subject of this review;
and a daughter who died in infancy, in 1847.
Mark McDonald attended the little log
school-house in the vicinity of his home un-
til 1855. there gaining the rudiments of his
education. He later attended college at
Dayton, and was for a time a student in the
Whitewater Academy. Reared amid the
invigorating discipline of the farm, he waxed
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
679
strong in mind and body, and at the out-
break of the war of the Rebellion his patriot-
ism was deeply stirred. In 1861 he enlisted
for service, as a member of Company G,
Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and
hi 1864 he re-enlisted in the one-hundred-day
service, as a member of Company B, One
Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment, Ohio
Volunteer Infantry. He was honorably dis-
charged from the service by reason of phys-
ical disability, resulting from a severe cold
which he had contracted while on guard
duty during his first term of service, which
terminated in 1862. The cold so affected
his head as to cause extreme deafness, and
from this time he has never recovered, being
almost totally deaf at the present time, in
recognition of which disability the govern-
ment consistently grants him a pension of
twenty-seven dollars a month. In politics
he is an ardent supporter of the Republican
party.
Mr. McDonald was united in marriage
to Miss Kate Hill, daughter of Hugh L.
Hill, and their only child is William McDon-
ald, burn June 8, 1868. He married Miss
Gladys Williams, daughter of Dr. James W.
Williams, and they are the parents of three
children : Frank W., bom in 1891 ; Fred L.,
born July 14, 1893; and Helen L. H., burn
August 2, 1897.
Mr. McDonald has had a varied busi-
ness experience, having been engaged in the
saw-mill business and associated with the
dry-goods business both as a salesman and
in personally conducting an enterprise of
that character, and for the past nine years'
he has been successfully carrying on busi-
ness as a contractor and builder, having
erected many excellent buildings throughout
this vicinity. He enjoys a reputation- for
careful and faithful work and fidelity to
the terms of contract in every instance. lie
came to Hollansburg in November, 1864,
and has been established in his own Iv >me
here since 1879, there being but two other
men in the town who have lived here an
equal length of time. He maintains a deep
interest in all that concerns the welfare of
the place and its people, and is ever ready to
lend his influence in any legitimate enter-
prise for the public good. Mrs. McDon-
ald is a member of the Universalist church.
A member of no church. Mr. McDonald
nevertheless always aids in support of the
church, and his views on religious matters
are with the Friends or Quakers. Though
when a youth our subject was supposed to
have developed consumptive difficulties, yet
he is now a man of fine physique and robust
health, his only infirmity being his deaf-
ness. He is vigorous both in mind and
body, is genial and courteous in his bearing,
and with his wife enjoys an unmistakable
popularity among the people who know them
so well.
IRVIN MOTE.
Among those who served upon the battle-
fields of the south and aided in preserving
the Union when the southern states at-
tempted to secede is Irvin Mote, a highly es-
teemed resident of Greenville. He was born
in Miami county. March 2~, 1830, and is a
representative of a family that since pioneer
days has left its impress upon the develop-
ment and progress of this section of the state.
His great-grandfather. James Mote, was a
native of England, and on crossing the At-
lantic to America he took up his abode in
New Jersey, and afterward removed to the
south, locating near Augusta. Georgia. In
1802 Ohio was admitted to the Union as a
680
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
free state, and about 1807 the Quaker
church, to which the Mote family belonged,
arose in a body and emigrated from Georgia
to Ohio, the most of the party locating near
West Milton, in Miami county, where they
established a church. There Ezekiel Mote,
the father of our subject, was born. He
became a farmer and merchant, and by his
fellow citizens was honored with the office
of justice of the peace. In 1832 he re-
moved to Darke county, Ohio, taking up
his abode four miles east of Arcanum upon
a farm where he lived for some time. He
then returned to Miami county, where he
spent his remaining days. He married Miss
Grace Vernon, of Miami county, a daugh-
ter of Nathaniel and H. (Mendenhall) Ver-
non. Mr. Mote was three times married,
and by his first wife he had six children, two
sons and four daughters, all of whom lived
to mature years, while four are now living:
William C, a grain dealer on the Indianapo-
lis, Bloomington & Western Railroad at
Clark Station, Darke county; two sisters,
and Irvin. The father of this family died
in Miami county, in 1886.
Irvin Mote spent his early days upon the
farm in Darke county, pursuing his educa-
tion in the country schools until he had
mastered the elementary branches of knowl-
edge. When he was fourteen years of age
his mother died. His father then appren-
ticed him to the shoemaking trade in West
Milton, Miami county. After following
that business for some years he went to Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, where in 1850 he joined an
expedition to go to Cuba, but that adventure
proved a failure. After capturing the city
of Cardenas, Cuba, the noble six hundred
boarded their vessel to go to some other part
of the island and in making their way out
to sea their little craft was grounded. In
order to float it everything that was loose
had to be sacrificed to the waters, and when
the boat was again free it seemed for the
best interests of all parties "to steer for
God's country and get under the protection
of some flag." The next morning the Cre-
ole ran a race with the Spanish steamer of
war Pizarro. For an hour and a half
neither boat seemed to gain an inch on the
other, but at length the Creole came out vic-
torious, going into port at Key West, Flor-
ida, about five minutes before the Pizarro
reached that harbor. Mr. Mote then pro-
ceeded on foot into the middle district of
Florida, where he remained about a year.
Subsequently he went from there to Savan-
nah, and on to Charleston, South Carolina.
At the latter place, however, he continued
less than six months, and then joined an-
other filibustering expedition to go to Cuba.
The part of the expedition he joined, how-
ever, never left the state of Georgia. This-
was in 185 1. After the company had dis-
banded Mr. Mote continued to make his
home in the empire state of the south until
about the year 1856. In the meantime he
attended a select school and to a limited ex-
tent engaged in farming, raising some cot-
ton. During the last year of his residence
there he served as the manager of a cotton
plantation for Enos H. Scarborough, at.
Seventy Mile Station, on the Central Rail-
road.
He then returned to the state of his
birth, Ohio, and subsequently was for sev-
eral terms a student in the State Normal at
Lebanon. He afterward engaged in teach-
ing until the inauguration of the civil war,,
when he enlisted. He watched with inter-
est the progress of events and the growth of
public sentiment prior to the war ; and in
1 86 1, when the attempt was made to over-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
681
throw the Union, he joined Company G, of
the Forty-fonrth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
under the command of Colonel Samuel Gil-
bert. Mr. Mote remained with that regiment
for two years after which he re-enlisted in
the Eighth Ohio Cavalry. Not long after
this he was captured and for three months
was incarcerated in Libby prison. He was
ever a loyal soldier, and until his capture was
always found at his post of duty, faithfully
defending the old flag and the cause it rep-
resented. He was for four years in the ser-
vice and was twice a prisoner of war. The
government now grants him a good pension,
and he maintains a pleasant relationship with
his old army comrades through his connec-
tion with the Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Mote had been married in i860 to Miss
Elizabeth Ricketts, who died soon after,
leaving one son, James J., now a resident of
Anderson, Indiana. In 1869 Irvin Mote
moved to Greenville. Ohio, where he has
since resided, and for his second wife he
chose Catherine J. Felton, of Greenville, a
daughter of Charles Felton. Their union
has been blessed with three children : Will-
iam Vernon, a telegraph operator; Marma-
duke, who is a civil engineer ; and Don Car-
los. For many years Mr. Mote was actively
identified with the official interests of the
city, having been elected in 1886 to the office
of justice of the peace, in which capacity
he served until 1897. His decisions were
always fair and impartial, and he was a most
capable official, discharging his duties with-
out fear or favor. His political support is
given to the Democracy, and he is a stanch
advocate of its principles, believing that in
them are combined the strongest elements of
good government, and the preservation of
the American republic and the liberty of its
people.
JESSE A. McGRIFF.
Jesse Allen McGriff. who is living on a
farm on section 34, Butler township, was
born in Twin township, April 29, 1849, and
is a son of Price McGriff, who is represent-
ed on another page of this volume. Upon his-
father's farm he was reared and early be-
came familiar with all the duties and labors
that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. In
earlv life he began work in the woods of But-
ler township, whither his parents removed
when he was five years of age. His educa-
tional privileges were very meagre, being
limited to two months' attendance at the dis-
trict schools of the neighborhood during the
winter season until he was fourteen years of
age. He was married in his twentieth year,,
on the 14th of January, 1869, to Martha
Jane Holesapple, whose birth occurred June
20, 185 1, her father being David Holesapple.
She died March 4, 1876, at the age of twen-
ty-four years, eight months and fourteen
days. Of her four children, Emma A. died
August 19, 1870, at the age of eleven
months; Levi, born September 8, 1871, is a
farmer of Butler township and has a wife
and one child, having also lost one child; O.
P., born September 7, 1873, is a teacher and
student of civil engineering", and married a
daughter of William Fouble. The next
child of the family died in infancy at the
time of the mother's death. On the 8th of
July, 1877, Mr. McGriff was again married,
his second union being with Lizzie Emerick.
Their children are: Walter Franklin, who
was born June 26, 1878 and lives in Spring-
field, Ohio, with his wife and one child;
Granville Scot, who was born November 13,
1881, and aids in the operation of the home
farm; Perry Allen, born August 10, 1883;
Hester Gertrude, who was born October 8,.
682
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
3889, and is a most interesting child of
•eleven years : Jesse Howard, who was born in
December, 1895, and died at the age of ten
months; and William Herbert, born March
21. 1899.
Mr. McGriff is rearing his family upon
his farm in Butler township, and his atten-
tion is largely given to the cultivation of his
one hundred acres of land. He located
thereon in 1S81 and by the careful manage-
ment of his business affairs he has gained a
place among the representative agriculturists
of the community. He rotates his crops of
clover, corn and wheat or oats and annually
gathers rich harvests. He also engages in
raising hogs and cattle and feeds his crops,
with the exception of his wheat.' In his po-
litical views Mr. McGriff is a Democrat and
has served as township trustee, which posi-
tion he is filling at the present time in a most
commendable manner. Both he and his wife
formerly held membership in the United
Brethren church, but in February. 1894,
severed their connection therewith. Their
litt!e daughter, Esther Gertrude, was an in-
valid up to the age of five years, being alm< >st
entirely helpless. The medical profession
could render her no aid. Her head was ab-
normally large, so that the weak little body
could hardly sustain its weight, and her re-
covery came about through the marvelous
example of the Divine gift of healing in
prompt answer to the prayers and faith of a
company of people attending camp meeting.
Now when the little girl is indisposed she
goes in prayer herself to the Great Healer.
Her recovery was most marvelous, being a
manifestation of the infinite power of which
mortal man has but little conception. Mr. and
Mrs. McGriff are both widely and favorably
known in this locality and the circle of their
friends is extensive.
DANIEL WARVEL.
A native of West Virginia, Daniel War-
vel was born in Montgomery county, Sep-
tember 5, 1834. His father, Christopher
Warvel, was born in Rockingham county,
Virginia, February 27, 1796, three years
before the death of General Washington, and
after arriving at years of maturity he mar-
ried Charlotte Lilly, who was born in the
same county, June 4, 1799. Emigrating
westward thev located in Warren county,
Ohio, and afterward removed their home to
Montgomery county and thence came to
Darke county about 18^9. On arriving in
Warren county they offered their last five
dollars in payment for a purchase and found
that the bill was a counterfeit ! so they be-
gan life in the Buckeye state on absolutely
nothing. On arriving in Darke county they
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of
land in Richland township and thereon built
a log cabin. Red men were much more nu-
merous in that locality than white settlers,
and this region was situated on the very
borders of civilization. Deer were very
plentiful, and other wild game could be had
in abundance. Farming was carried on by
means of the old-fashioned sickles, one of
which is still in the possession of the sub-
ject of this review. The father was an ex-
cellent hand in the harvest field, being able
to cut more grain in a day than the majority
of his neighbors. Many of the roads of
the county were not then laid out. and the
routes to Fort Greenville were indicated by
blazed saplings. The town of Ansonia was
known as Dallas, and Piqua was but a small
village, to which Mr. Marvel would haul
his wheat to market, returning on the fol-
lowing day. During the war of • 1812 he
loyally served his country, and was granted a
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
683;
land warrant in recognition thereof. In
politics he was an old-line Whig, and took
an active part in the campaign of 1840 when
the rallying cry of the Whigs was "Tippeca-
noe and Tyler, too." He was one of the
leaders in the movement for the erection of
the first United Brethren church on the
banks of the Stillwater. The bridges had
been carried away by high water, and Mr.
Warvel had two horses which he swam
back and forth to carry the men back and
forth to work on the church. He was a
very generous man, benevolent to the poor
and at all times kind and considerate. He
died March 18, 185 1, and his wife passed
away March 14, 1855. In their family were
nine children, four sons and five daughters.
Daniel Warvel, of this review, was only
four years old when brought by his parents
to Darke county, where he has since re-
sided. He obtained his education in an old
log school-house, beginning his studies un-
der the instruction of "Uncle David Hantle,"
a pioneer settler of Richland township. The
slab seats, puncheon floor and rude board
desks in which the big" boys and girls wrote
their exercises formed the primitive furnish-
ings of the building-, and were in great con-
trast with the present tasteful and well-
equipped school-houses of today. Mr. War-
vel early became familiar with the work of
the farm, and has always carried on farm-
ing and stock raising. At the age of sixteen
he started out to earn his own livelihood,
working for six dollars per month, and from
this sum he saved enough to purchase a set
of harness. At the time of his marriage he
located on a little farm of forty acres in the
vicinity of Pikeville He had made pay-
ment of four hundred dollars upon the place,
incurring an indebtedness for the remainder.
In the log cabin he began life in true pio-
neer style, and experienced many of the
hardships and privations which fall to the
lot of the early pioneer settlers, but with char-
acteristic energy he worked on day after day
and at length gained the reward which never
fails to attend earnest and persistent labor.
He is today the owner of three hundred and
eighty acres of valuable land in Richland
tc wnship, and the place is well improved
with all the accessories of the model farm.
Mr. Warvel has been twice married. He
first married Catherine Kayler, and they
had one son, Joseph C, who resides in Can-
ton, Ohio, where he is engaged in ci immer-
cial pursuits. The mother died February 3,
1857, and on the 21st of March, 1858, Mr.
Warvel wedded Sarah Powell, by whom he
had five children, three sons and two daugh-
ters, all of whom are yet living. Mrs,
Wrarvel was born in Monroe comity, Ohio,
January 27, 1836, and is a daughter of Levi
and Mary (Linn) Powell, in whose, family
were ten children, five sons and five daugh ■
ters, nine yet living. The parents were
both natives of Pennsvlvania and were mem-
bers of the Reformed church. The father
was a farmer by occupation and is now de-
ceased. The children of Mr. and Mrs.
Warvel are: Mary A., wife of Abram Ela,
a farmer of Richland township, by whom
she has two children; Lucy, wife of W. J.
Wilson; Laban, a farmer who is married
aid lives in Richland township; Amos A.,
a farmer residing in Richland township,
who is married and has six children; and
Clement L., who is likewise married and re-
sides in Richland township.
For sixty-two years Daniel Warvel has
resided in Darke county, and his life has
been filled with good deeds. In his busi-
ness career he sustains an unassailable repu-
tation, for in all transactions he has ever
■684
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
been honorable and upright. His political
support is given to the Democratic party,
and his first vote was cast for James Buch-
anan. He has several times been chosen as
delegate to county conventions, and has been
elected to a number of local offices of public
trust. He and his wife were members of
the United Brethren church, and in their
lives have exemplified their Christian faith,
doing unto others as they would that they
should do unto them. They have carefully
reared their children, have presented them
with comfortable homes and now Mr. War-
vel "resides in the village of Beamsville in a
pretty cottage, where they are enjoying;
many of the comforts and pleasures of life.
HENRY M. BICKEL.
Henry M. Bickel is the representative of
a family that has figured prominently in the
annals of Darke county since the days of its
pioneer development. He traces his ances-
try back for several generations to Tobias
Bickel, who came to America from the fa-
therland in colonial days and took up his
residence in Center county, Pennsylvania.
He was accompanied by his wife and his two
brothers, John and Thomas, and their fami-
lies. Thomas Bickel had no children, but
Tobias and John Bickel each had six sons
and some daughters. ( )ne of the children
of Tobias Bickel bore the name of Andrew
and become the grandfather of the subject of
this review. Among the first settlers of
Center county, Pennsylvania, the Bickels
were also actively connected with the prog-
ress and improvement of that section of the
Keystone state. Each brother secured six
hundred acres of land in the Penn valley,
cleared and developed farms, and to each of
his sons Tobias Bickel gave one hundred
acres of land. He erected a grist-mill upon
his farm and did all of the milling in that
section of the countrv for many years. His
son Andrew inherited the one-hundred-acre
tract upon which the mill was located. He
spent the first thirty years of his life in the
state of his nativity — having been born in
Pennsylvania — and on the 16th of May,
181 1, bade adieu to his old home and started
for Ohio. He was accompanied by his
family and a boy whom he had employed to
act as driver. He had married Catherine
Glass, and unto them had been born three
children: Andrew, John and Tobias. The
journey was made by team to Pittsburg,
where Mr. Bickel secured passage for him-
self and family on a ilat-boat to Cincinnati,
Ohio, while the team was taken overland.
On reaching Cincinnati, they spent six days
with a cousin, Christopher Bickel, while wait-
ing for the team to arrive, and it was during
that time that the grandfather of our sub-
ject decided to make his home in Montgom-
ery county. After a trip of forty-five miles
over a road which thev made for themselves,
they reached their destination and took up
their abode upon a farm of one hundred and
sixty acres, four miles west of Germantown.
When they located thereon the land was in
its primitive condition, but during the firsc
year Andrew Bickel cleared a small portion
upon which he erected a little cabin. In
iSu he was drafted into the service in the
second war with Enp-land, but hired his old
driver to go as a substitute, for he felt that
his own services were needed in developing
the farm and in providing a home for his
children. He lived upon that place for
about fifteen years and erected a hewed-log
house and barn. He also placed a consid-
erable portion of the land under cultivation,
but on the expiration of that period he re-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
085
moved to a farm near Tippecanoe, Indiana,
purchasing a small tract of land that he af-
terward si 'Id. He then went to Laporte
county, that state, where he purchased an-
other small farm, upon which he spent his
remaining days, his death occurring about
1839. His marriage to Catherine Glass was
blessed with the following children : An-
drew became the father of our subject. John
was a resident of Washington township,
Darke county, and reared a family of six
sons and four daughters. Tobias, who was
born in Pennsylvania, May 8, 181 1, was only
eight days old when his father left Pennsl-
vania. Tobias married and reared five sons
and three daughters, the former being Daniel
W., a worthy citizen of Washington town-
ship; John, who is living in Union City, In-
diana; J. M., a leading lawyer of Darke
county and ex-probate judge; and Hamil-
ton and Markus, who are deceased. John
Wesley, who served in the civil war, is now
a resident of Washington township, being
the eldest surviving member of that family.
Jacob went with his father to Laporte coun-
ty, Indiana, and died there. Daniel also
died in the Hoosier state. Mary, who be-
came the wife of Jacob Genger, of Washing-
ton township, where their children still re-
side on the home farm, the parents being
both deceased ; Abigail, who became the wife
of William Dudley, of Indiana, both now de-
ceased ; and Elizabeth, who married a Mr.
Smith, of Indiana, and went to California,
since which time no news has been received
from her. The father of these children was
an old Jacksonian Democrat. He was six
feet in height, of strong physique and well
htted to meet the hardships of pioneer life.
Andrew Bickel, the father of our sub-
ject, was born in Center county, Pennsylva-
nia, September 2, 1803. and in 181 1 came
with his parents to Ohio. He remained at
home until 1830, when he was united in
marriage with Miss Nancy Moyer, a native
of Virginia, who came with her family to
Montgomery county. After his marriage
Mr. Bickel took up his abode on section 16,
Washington township, Darke county, where
he entered eighty acres of land from the
government and afterward added to it by
purchase a forty-acre tract. All of this land
was wooded and in the midst of the forest
be erected a log cabin in which he lived for
about ten years, when the primitive home
was replaced by a weatherboarded In >use
which still stands upon the farm. This was
lu's home up to the time of his death, but
his demise occurred in the home of his son,
Daniel F., who lived just across the way.
He departed this life March 12, 1888, re-
spected by all who knew him. His political
support was given to the Democracy from the
time when he cast his first presidential vote
for Andrew Jackson. He was a noted
mathematician, filled a number of township
offices in a most creditable manner, and was
an attendant on the services of the Lutheran
church. He married Nancy Moyer and
they became the parents of ten children,
seven of whom reached years of maturity.
Henry is the eldest. John, who was born
February 22, 1832, died in 1885. He con-
ducted a store at Hills Grove for more than
thirty years. He married Mattie Lesher,
and they became the parents of ten children,
but only three are now living: Newton,
Oscar and Pearl, the daughter being the wife
of Isaac Butt, of Jackson township. Daniel
F., born in 1837, and now a resident of
Washington township, married Mary Lan-
des, and they have six children, all living.
Catherine, who was born in 1840, is the
wife of Henry Bloclur, of Jackson town-
686
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ship, and they have a son and daughter.
Elizabeth, born in 1842, is the wife of John
J. Norris, of Union City, and they have a
daughter. Andrew, born in 1852. now re-
sides in Washington township. He married
Sarah Armstrong and after her death mar-
ried Lydia Ellen Worth, by whom he has
two children.
Henry M. Bickel was born in Montgom-
ery county, Ohio, January 2, 1831. He
never attended school until ten years of age,
after which he enjoyed such advantages as
were afforded in the district schools of the
neighborhood. He continued his studies
through the winter season until twenty-one
years of age, and during the summer months
he worked upon the home farm. In 1852
he was employed as a farm hand in Green-
ville township for ten dollars per month,
working for three months, and later he en-
gaged in the construction of the Dayton &
Western Railroad for about six weeks. He
was then promoted as foreman and assisted
in the construction of two miles of the track.
During the winter of 1852-3 he was en-
gaged in teaching school, and in the spring
of the latter year went to Cincinnati, where
he hired a gang of men with whom he went
to Illinois to work in the construction of the
St. Louis Railroad, near Bloomington, Illi-
nois. About the 20th of May he returned
to Ohio and going to Dayton entered the
employ of Henry Doolittle, a contractor on
the Dayton, Xenia & Belpre Railroad, his
time being thus occupied until the 20th of
October of the same year, when he was taken
ill with typhoid fever and returned to his fa-
ther's home. He was sick for seven weeks
and after his recovery his father would not
consent to his leaving home, so he remained
upon the farm until his marriage.
That important event in his life occurred
on the 1 2th of June, 1856, Miss Mary Crum-
min, daughter of Moses and Mary Crum-
min, of Washington township, becoming his
wife. Her parents were natives of Xeave
township. After his marriage Mr. Bickel
purchased a farm of ninety-seven acres. All
of his land is in Washington township with
the exception of a forty-acre tract in Ran-
dolph county, Indiana. His first purchase
was all wild land, but with the exception of
eight acres the entire amount is now under
a high state of cultivation, its richly culti-
vated fields yielding to the owner a golden
tribute. He lived in a log house for twelve
years and then erected his present farm resi-
dence. He also built the barns and other
outbuildings and added to the place all of
the substantial and modern improvements
found upon the model farm. He devotes
his time and attention to the* raising of grain
and stock, and is progressive in his business
methods, which are therefore attended with
success.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bickel have been
born six children, four of whom reached
years of maturity. John C, the eldest, who
was born March 12, 1857, is now residing
on the farm in Jackson township, Darke
county. He married Miss Rosa Cook, of
Washington township, and they have three
children: Harley, Carl, and Asa. Adaline,
the second member of the family, was born
in i860, and is the wife of William Mote,
of Randolph county, Indiana, lay whom she
has one child, Ethel. Harrison C, born in
1866, is now a prominent attorney and noted
mathematician of Indianapolis, Indiana.
His wife bore the maiden name of Temie
Richeter. Irving, born in 1868, married
Miss Anna Ware, of Washington township,
and they have two children, Mary and Fran-
ces Helen.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
687
In his political views Mr. Bickel has al-
ways been a Democrat, unfaltering in sup-
port of the principles of the party. In
1886 he was elected county treasurer, took
the oath of office in 1887 and served for
four years, proving a reliable and capable
official. He has filled all the township offi-
ces with the exception of clerk and justice
of the peace, and has ever been found true
and loyal to the duties devolving upon him.
He is a worthy representative of an honored
pioneer family of Ohio, and during his long
residence in Darke county he has ever de-
served and enjoyed the respect and confi-
dence of his fellow men. He has done as
much or more real hard labor than any other
man now living in Darke county, Ohio, and,
thanks to his heaver.ly Father, is still robust
and hearty at the time of this writing.
GEORGE WEAVER.
Throughout almost his entire life this
gentleman has been actively identified with
the upbuilding and development of Darke
county, and is numbered among its honored
pioneers and representative citizens. He is
now engaged in general farming on section
29, Neave township, and also follows the
carpenter's trade to some extent.
Mr. Weaver was born August 22, 1828,
in the township where he now resides, and is
a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Eakins)
Weaver. His paternal grandfather was
Peter Weaver, a native of Germany, who em-
igrated to the United States about 1760,
when fourteen years of age, and first located
in Pennsylvania, where he married. As
early as 1802 he removed to Montgomery
county. Ohio, and in 181 8 came to Darke
county, where he died at the ripe old age of
42
eighty-seven years. Our subject's maternal
grandfather, Benjamin Eakins, was born in
Ireland, and was also about fourteen years
of age when he came to America. He grew
to manhood and was married in Pennsyl-
vania, and on coming to this state took up
his residence in Preble county.
Peter Weaver, father of our subject, was
born August 8, 1802, while his parents were
removing from Pennsylvania to Montgom-
ery county, Ohio, and he was reared on a
farm near Liberty, being sixteen years of age
when the family came to Darke county and
took up their residence on section 29, Neave
township. They built one of the first cabins
in that township, and upon the farm which
he there developed Peter Weaver spent the
remainder of his life, dying in 1885, at the
age of eighty-three years. His wife, who
was born in Preble county, January 12, 1807,
was killed in October, 1869, by a passenger
train on the Pennsylvania Railroad, at Bish-
op's Crossing, Darke county. To this worthy
couple were born fourteen children, of whom
two died in infancy. The others were Jonas,
who died at the age of twelve years ; George,
our subject; Sarah, wife of Justus Smith, of
Missouri ; Elizabeth, who died at the age of
eight years; Mary, wife of Jacob Burket, of
Springfield, Ohio; Nancy, deceased wife of
Aaron Comrine; Benjamin, a resident of
Bucyrus, Ohio; William C. and Calvin P.,
both of Parsons, Kansas; Catharine, wife of
Newton Hayes, of Kenton, Ohio; David, de-
ceased; and Margaret, wife of Hanson
White, of Kansas. After the death of his
first wife, the father wedded Mary Lambert-
son, about the year 1872, and to them were
born a son, Harry O. Weaver, who is now
living in Washington, D. C. At the time of
his death he had eighty-one living descend-
ants, and had had altogether ninety-nine —
6S8
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
fifteen children and fifty-two grandchildren,
and thirty-two great-grandchildren.
George Weaver is now the only repre-
sentative of this family living in Darke
county. He was reared in Neave township
and can relate many interesting incidents of
pioneer days when this region was all wild
and unimproved. He well remembers when
many families had only chairs, tables and
bedsteads of their own manufacture and lived
in true pioneer style. In his own home the
German language was used altogether and
hejcould not speak a word of English before
starting to school at the age of eight years.
His mother made all the clothes for her fam-
ily, spinning the raw wool, weaving it into
cloth, and later converting it into garments.
Mr. Weaver remained at home until
he was married, September 20, 1849, to Miss
Caroline Wagner, who was born in German
township, Darke county, in 183 1, and died
in August. 1888. Her family were among
the pioneers of the county. By this union our
subject had eight children: Minerva, wife of
Cyrus Mc-Keon, of Greenville; Miranda,
wife of John Stephens, of the same place;
William E.. who died at the age of eighteen
months; Peter D., who married Jennie
Brown, of Weaver's Station ; Elizabeth, wife
of M. L. Maxwell, of Kirksville, Missouri;
Estella, wife of William Townsend, of Jays-
ville, Darke county; Rhoda J., now Mrs.
Lawrence, of Kirksville, Missouri ; and
Frank E., who married Ella Baird and lives
in Greenville. On the 27th of July, -1889,
Mr. Weaver married Mrs. Jennie S. (Herr)
Springer, who was born in Montgomery
county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Christ;an
and Sarah J. (Chad wick ) Herr, the former
a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Mont-
gomery county, Ohio. By her first marriage
Mrs. Weaver had one son, Victor L.
Springer, now a member of Company C,
Thirteenth United States Infantry, stationed
at Manasug on the Philippine Islands. Mr,
and Mrs. Weaver have a little daughter,
Marie, born in Darke county, July 27, 1892.
After his first marriage our subject re-
mained upon the old homestead for four
years, and then removed to the farm where
he now resides. About 1855 ne went to Cass
county, Indiana, and built a steam saw-mill
on the Indian Reserve, which he operated for
three years, and then returned to Darke
ci lunty. He purchased a farm in Harrison
ti iwnship, but after operating it for three
years, sold out and bought his present farm
of one hundred and eight acres on section
29, Xeave township. In 1869 he removed to
Greenville, where for seven years he engaged
in business as a carpenter and contractor, but
at the end of that time returned to his farm.
He has erected many houses, barns and busi-
ness blocks throughout the county, but now
devotes his time and energies principally to
general farming, and is meeting with well de-
served success in his labors. He is a con-
sistent and faithful member of the United
Brethren church, in which he is serving as
class leader and trustee, and is a man highly
respected and esteemed by all who know him
on account of his sterling worth, strict in-
tegrity and honorable dealings.
JOHN WINGER.
This well-knownjagriculturist residing on
section 12, Patterson township, Darke coun-
ty, is a native of Ohio, his birth having oc-
curred in Greene county, February zy, 1844,
His father, Peter Winger, was born in Lan-
caster county. Pennsylvania, February 26,
1806, of German descent, and was married
in 1827, to Anna Barr, a native of the same
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
689
county. In 1846 they came to Darke county,
Ohio, and settled in Wayne township on a
tract of wild timber land, on which not a
stick had been cut or an improvement made.
The father built a rude little cabin of rough
logs, without nails, fastening the shacks on
by poles and pegs. Here he owned sixty acres
of land, which he cleared and cultivated until
his removal to Versailles. In i860 he went
to Marshall county, Iowa, where he had
eighty acres of land, but at the end of two
years he sold out and returned to this coun-
ty, buying twenty acres of land in Wayne
township, where he made his home for twelve
years. His next purchase consisted of
forty acres on section 1 . Patterson township,
and upon that place he died. His wife sur-
vived him only a few days. Both were past
the age of eighty-five years, and now sleep
in the Mendenhall cemetery. Of their nine
children the following are still living, name-
ly : Abraham, a farmer of Mercer county,
Ohio; Mrs. Elizabeth Lyme, a widow who is
now engaged in merchandising in Paulding
county; John, our subject; Eliza, wife of
Charles Earnhardt ; and Joseph, a resident of
Saline, Mercer county; Mrs. Catherine
Geaubaux and Mrs. Mary Ann Marker are
both deceased and are buried at Peacock.
Although Mr. Winger's literary educa-
tion was limited, he early became familiar
with all kinds of hard work, and is to-day a
thorough and systematic farmer. Hi's farm
consists of one hundred acres of rich and
fertile land on section 12, Patterson town-
ship, which is devoted principally to wheat
and corn.
In August, 1882, Mr. Winger was united
in marriage with Miss Annie Coble, a sLter
of Hamilton Coble, and to them have been
born four children : Charles, Susie, Alvah
and Maud, the oldest now eighteen years of
age, the youngest eleven. All are attending
the home school and Charles is now ready to
enter the high school.
During the civil war Mr. Winger en-
listed at Versailles, May 1, 1864, in Com-
pany E, One Hundred and Fifty-second
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after serving
six months was honorably discharged on the
expiration of his term of enlistment. He
has never recovered from the effects of his
army life and now receives a pension of
eight dollars per month. He is an honored
member of the Grand Army Post, in which
he is serving as senior vice-commander, and
is a Republican in politics. He filled the of-
fice of road supervisor six years, and at the
end of that time refused to accept the posi-
tion any longer. Both he and his wife are
earnest members of the Christian church and
merit and receive the respect and esteem of
all who know them.
A. L. DUNN.
Among the enterprising and energetic
farmers of Greenville township is the sub-
ject of this review, who on coming to Darke
county in 1866 purchased his present farm
east of the city of Greenville. A native of
Maryland, he was born in Washington coun-
ty, that state, in 1839, and in 185 1 came to
Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, with his par-
ents, S. R. and Letta (Horner) Dunn, also
natives of Maryland. Later they came to
Darke county, where the mother died in
1880. The father is still living and contin-
ues to make his home in this county. In
their family were six children, namely: A.
L., Mrs. Joan Seburn, Mrs. Alletta Wright;
John, deceased ; Samuel 11. and Mrs. Katie
Wise.
For eighteen years A. L. Dunn has now
690
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
resided upon his present farm of eighty
acres in Greenville township, and he has
made many improvements upon the place.
He devotes his time and attention to general
farming and stock raising, and is meeting
with well deserved success in his labors. He
married Miss Sarah Tingley, of Yellow
Springs, Ohio, and to them were born twelve
children, but only seven are now living,
namely; Charles, Mrs. Etta Hinkle, Mrs.
Katie Puterbaugh, Mrs. Lodena Bowman,
Gertie, Delia and Harry. Those deceased
were: Luther, Thomas, Ella, Bertie and
Walter. Mrs. Dunn is a church member,
and is a most estimable lady. By his ballot
our subject supports the men and measures
of the Democratic party, and he has been
called upon to fill some of the township
offices.
JEREMIAH THOMPSON.
Among the brave men who devoted the
opening years of their manhood to the de-
fense of our country from the internal foes
who sought her dismemberment, was Jere-
miah Thompson, now a prominent farmer of
Franklin township, Darke county, Ohio.
The first of the family to come to this state
was his grandfather, Sylvester Thompson,
a native of North Carolina, who settled on
a farm just south of Covington, in New-
berry township, Miami county, at an early
day, and there entered land from the govern-
ment. He died upon that farm, and his
wife is also deceased. The place is now
owned by one of his descendants, Josephus
Thompson.
James Thompson, our subject's father,
was born on the old homestead near Coving-
ton. He also entered land in Newberry
township, and became a prosperous fanner.
He married Elizabeth Bierly, and they are
Loth now deceased ; he died upon his farm
on Greenville creek, a devout member of
the Christian church and highly respected
by all who knew him. Of his children,.
Maria married Joseph Young and moved
to Iowa, dying in Belle Plaine, that state;.
Sarah married David Elmon and died in
West Milton, Ohio; Elizabeth married John
Young and died on the homestead farm;.
Nancy died at the age of eighteen years;
David married Hannah Rench and died in
Newton township, Miami county ; Rebecca
married David M. Fine and died in Newber-
ry township, the same county; James is a
resident of Benton county, Iowa; and the
next three were triplets ; Jeremiah, our sub-
ject; Josiah, who married Lavina Hickman
and now resides in Missouri; and Hezekiah,
who died young.
The subject of this sketch was born June
6, 1840, on his father's old homestead, and
passed his childhood, youth and early man-
hood in the log house where he first saw the
light of day. He was educated in the coun-
try schools, which were principally con-
ducted on the subscription plan, and
among his early teachers was a Mr. Wood,
who taught on his father's farm. He lost
his father when a boy and Samuel Hoover
was appointed guardian for the children.
When the estate was settled our subject re-
ceived his portion in money.
When the civil war broke out Mr.
Thompson was eager to go to the front, con-
sidering it his duty to respond to his coun-
try's call for men to aid in suppressing the
rebellion, and in September, 1861, at Cov-
ington, he enlisted for three years as a pri-
vate in Company B, Forty-fourth Ohio Vol-
unteer Infantry. In 1864 he re-enlisted at
Strawberry Plains, and while home on a
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
691
sixty-day furlough was married, April 24,
1864, to Miss Minerva Brandon, a daughter
of Richard and Hannah (Dayman) Bran-
don. On the expiration of his furlough he
bade good-by to his bride and went to
Camp Dennison, where his company was as-
signed to the Eighth Cavalry, which was
with Sheridan's command from that time
on. Mr. Thompson veteranized as hospital
nurse and commissary sergeant, and at the
close of the war was discharged at Clarks-
burg, West Virginia. He participated in
the battles of Charleston and Louisburg, and
in the latter engagement he was wounded.
A cannon ball struck near him and he re-
ceived a ghastly cut under the chin from a
piece of flying rock. He was sent to the
regimental hospital, but remained with his
command. He was in the battle of Dutton
Hill, the siege of Knoxville, and the battles
■of Lynchburg and Cedar Creek. While at
Cedar Creek a part of the regiment was or-
dered to Beverly, West Virginia, where Mr.
Thompson was taken prisoner, but after be-
ing held for forty-eight hours was released
by his own men.
In 1865, while at the front, Mr. Thomp-
son invested his money in his present farm
of forty-one acres on section 4, Franklin
township, Darke county, which at that time
was covered with heavy timber. On his
return home at the close of the war he rented
the Sally Williams farm for two years be-
fore locating upon his own place, and sub-
sequently was employed in his father-in-
law's stone quarry at Covington for a year
and a half. Then again he spent two years
on the Williams farm and at the end of that
time returned to his own place, which he'
has cleared and placed under a high state
of cultivation. He has made many im-
provements upon the farm, including the
erection of good outbuildings and a com-
fortable home. He raises principally to-
bacco.
Seven children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Thompson, namely : Ora, who died in
infancy; Ollie, who married Charles Ibaugh
and died in Bradford, March 4, 1897; Will-
iam H., who married Blanche Riddle and
lives in Piqua, Ohio; Catherine, the wife
of Charles Bazzle, of Bradford; Dome C,
the wife of B. Westfall, of Adams town-
ship, Darke county; Pearl, who died at the
age of six years ; and William Sylvester, at
home.
Genial, kind, hospitable and fond of a
good story and joke, Mr. Thompson makes
hosts of friends, by whom he is greatly es-
teemed, and he is numbered as one of the
most reputable citizens of his community.
Religiously he is a member of the Chris-
tian church, socially is connected with
Arnold Post, G. A. R., of Bradford, and po-
litically is identified with the Republican
party.
CHARLES ROLAND.
Charles Roland, a journalist of Green-
ville, was born in Washington county, Ohio,
August 6, 1 83 1. He was left an orphan
when an infant, and was reared in the Hill
family, in Fairfield county, Ohio. His fa-
ther was an Englishman of the Isle of Wight,
England, and has two brothers and three
sisters who came with him and his mother to
this country. Mr. Roland has two brothers
living — Edward, at Roland, Indiana, and
Perry, at Hutchinson, Kansas. His boy-
hood was passed on a farm. He received
only a meager common school education,
using the tallow candle and fireplace for
light during his evening study, which termi-
632
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
nated at the age of fourteen when he entered
the office of the Ohio Eagle, at Lancaster,
where he learned the printing business, re-
maining there several years. In 1856 he
became a partner in the ownership of the
paper with John M. Connell, subsequently
a colonel in the Seventeenth Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry. In the latter part of the year
1 86 1 Mr. Roland became sole proprietor and
conducted that journal, which was then
Democratic in politics and was the official
paper of the county, until the spring of 1866,
when he disposed of the Eagle and pur-
chased the Greenville Democrat, of which he
was editor and proprietor until June 14,
1899, when he retired in good health and
well-to-do financially, turning his office and
business over to his two sons, Charles W.
and Edward H. Roland, who had been regu-
lar assistants from the '70s up to the pres-
ent time. Charles \Y. acting as city editor
since 1876. When Mr. Roland took charge
of the Democrat it was a small, poorly-
printed sheet with patronage too limited for
support, but through his earnest work and
superior generalship, close application,
marked ability and economy his business im-
proved, the county gradually advancing
from a small and doubtful majority for the
Democratic candidates for office to that of
a solid and reliable majority, the patronage
therefrom falling wholly to the Democrat
for many successive years, and by this means
Mr. Roland became very prosperous. The
paper has always been a folio, conducted
with ability, widely circulated, and one of
the largest and best weekly newspapers in
the state. Mr. Roland has always been a
stanch Democrat, outspoken, and in favor of
none but honest and incorrutible officials,
having boldly exposed some of his own party
through his paper.
After forty-three years of actual edito-
rial work, and making a full hand at the
case and job-stone, Mr. Roland's remark-
able services have earned him a high rank
among the truest and most faithful journal-
ists of Ohio, and he severed his old-time
brotherhood ties in newspaper business with
the best wishes from numerous warm friends
and admiring associates through the balance
of his days.
Referring back to the fall of 1862, Mr.
Roland, as editor of the Eagle, took ex-
ceptions to the manner in which the civil
war was being conducted and was summoned
by Governor Tod to an interview in his
office at Columbus. He at once presented
lumself before the governor, having with
him three prominent citizens of Lancaster,
as witnesses of what might transpire. The
governor complained that the tone of his
paper was disloyal and tended to discourage
enlistments, and stated that his first impulse
had been to suppress the paper and send
it.', editor to Fort Weaver. Mr. Roland re-
plied that he had taken for his guide the
constitution and laws of the country, and
that of two meetings in the same week at
Lancaster, by Republicans and Democrats,
respectively, at the former five men enlisted
and at the latter thirteen. The interview
closed by a threat somewhat excitedly ex-
pressed by the governor in these words :
"Constitution and laws or not, unless the
t< me of your paper is changed it will be
suppressed and you will be sent to • Fort
Warren. I have the backbone to do it."
Air. Roland returned to Lancaster and pub-
lished an attested account of the interview
in the next issue of his paper, and contin-
ued to publish his views of the eventful
struggle and was not molested.
Mr. Roland was married, in 1851, to
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
693
Amelia, daughter of Lewis Clark, of Lan-
caster, and four sons, Arthur A., Charles
\V., Edward H. and Horace G., and five
daughters, Alary E., Clara J., Emma S.. Ida
A. and Grace V., were born to them. The
eldest, Arthur A. Roland, was at one time
editor and publisher of the Lebanon Patriot,
n< rw a graduate of the Still Osteopathic Col-
lege, at Kirksville, Missouri, and practicing
at Washington, D. C. He was married to
Jennie Trimble, of Lancaster, to whom two
sons were born. Alary E. has been the wife
of J. H. McAlfine since October 14, 1880,
and to them two daughters were burn —
Maud and Vera. They reside at Columbus,
Ohio, where Mr. McAlfine is chief train
dispatcher of the Panhandle Railroad;
Emma S. is the wife of Judge J. I. Allread,
of this city, to whom two children were
bcrn, Marie and Herald ; Clara J. is the
widow of J. H. Rhotehamel and has one
son, named Roland. She is a Still College
graduate and is now practicing at Lancaster,
Ohio. Ida A., wife of Sherman A. Dorman.
of Greenville, did June 8. 1898, aged about
thirty-one years. Grace, the youngest daugh-
ter, is not married, neither is Edward H.,
and they reside with their mother and fa-
ther. Horace G., the youngest son, died
in 1872, aged eighteen months. Charles
W., who is associated with his brother, Ed-
ward H., in the publication of the Demo-
crat, was married to Lizzie Davis, at Aber-
deen, Ohio, September 6, 1882, and has two
sons and two daughters — Gertrude V., C.
Ernest, Virgil D. and Gladys A., all living,
aged seventeen, thirteen, six and four years,
respectively.
On the 22d of April, 1900, Air. Roland
left Greenville on a tour of Europe, return-
ing home on the 31st day of July of the
some year. The trip was the greatest treat
of his life and he enjoyed it immensely
without a moment's illness. During his
absence he furnished twenty-seven excellent
letters of his observations for the Demo-
crat, which were afterward reprinted in book
form and distributed among his friends.
JOHN R. SUTER.
In the village of Scon, Switzerland, on
the 20th of July, 1 86 1, John R. Suter was
lorn, a son of Samuel and Farenia Suter,
both of whom were natives of that land,
where they spent their entire lives. At the
age of six years their son, John, entered
school, pursuing his studies until he was
fourteen years of age. He then began an
apprenticeship at the butcher's trade, serv-
ing for a period of four years, and on com-
pleting his term he traveled as a journeyman
through Switzerland, Germany and France.
Believing, however, that he might better
his financial condition in the new world he
came to the United States in 1881, landing
at Xew York citv, whence he made his way
direct to Miami county. Ohio. He there
spent two years and four months, and in
June, 1883. came to Greenville, Ohio, where
he entered the services of George Buchy,
by whom he was employed for seven years.
Subsequently he worked for Air. Klee, a
butcher, for three years, and then purchased
the meat market of Curtis & Rodakaffer,
succeeding to their business. He has a
good shop, well furnished with every appli-
ance known to the modern butcher, and as he
buys and kills his own stock he therefore
furnishes to his patrons an excellent grade
of meat. His place of business is centrally
located and he now has a large and con-
stantly growing trade.
In 1883 occurred the marriage of Air.
694
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Suter and Miss Ellen Smalenberger, of
Greenville, Ohio. This lady was born in
Germany and came to America in early child-
hood with her parents. Air. and Mrs. Suter
now have three children — Rosa, Albert and
Bertha — all yet under the parental roof. In
his social relations Mr. Suter is connected
with Greenville Lodge, No. 195, I. O. O.
F., and with the Knights of Pythias fra-
ternity of this place. He has a good resi-
dence, well furnished, and is an honest and
reliahle citizen, whose success in life is at-
tributable entirely to his own efforts. Com-
ing to this country without capital and with-
out influential friends to aid him, he has
worked his way steadily upward, overcom-
ing all difficulties and obstacles in his path
by determined purpose. He is well known
as a successful business man of Greenville,
having no occasion to regret the fact that
he sought a home in the land of the free.
WILLIAM J. REICHARD.
Among Ohio's native sons who are de-
voting their energies to the honorable oc-
cupation of farming is William J. Reichard,
who is residing on section 7, Mississinawa
township. He was born in Preble county,
Ohio, April 17, 1847, a°d his father, Isaac
Reichard. was a native of the same neigh-
borhood, born December 12, 1822. The
grandfather, John Reichard, was born in
Center county. Pennsylvania, August 18.
1793, and at an early day came to Ohio,
locating at Pyrmont. Preble county. The
land was wild and unimproved and the fam-
ily bore the hardships incident to the life on
the frontier. John Reichard married Eliza
Winicks and they had eight children, seven
sons and one daughter, all of whom reached
mature vears, married and had families.
The only surviving member of the family.
however, is Samuel Reichard, who is living
in Indiana, at an advanced age. The grand-
mother, who was born October 9, 1792, died
August 6, 1843, and the grandfather of our
subject, surviving her for about three years,
passed away on the 29th of July 1846.
They were laid to rest in the cemetery at
Pyrmont. Preble county. Their marriage
was celebrated February 4, 18 12, and was
blessed with several sons and daughters,
concerning whom we make the following ob-
servations : John, who was born November
10, 1 81 2, died in the seventieth year of his
age; Michael, who was born December 1.
1814. died at the age of seventy-seven years;
Daniel, born March 4. 181 7; Samuel, No-
vember 2/, 1819; Isaac, December 12, 1822;
Philip. June iS. 1825; Henry, June 10. 1828;
and Alary Ann, who was born December
8, 1834. died in the autumn of 1898.
Isaac Reichard, the father of our sub-
ject, was reared to manhood in Darke coun-
ty, and having attained to his majority,
married Sarah Garland, who was born in
Tennessee. June 1, 1824. Thev were
wedded at Gordontown. Ohio, in 1846, and
took up their residence at Pyrmont, where
William J. and his sister, Alary Amanda,
were born. The latter is now the widow
of Louis Horine, residing at Fort Recovery
with her two sons and a daughter. George
W., the third of the family, died November
12, 1899, in his forty-ninth year, but five of
his six children are yet living'. John is a
well known farmer of this township. Eli
F. resides in Union City, Indiana, and has
three children — a son and two daughters.
Alonzo P., who is living on the old home-
stead, has two sons and two daughters. The
father of these children died October 2,
1879, and the community mourned the loss
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
695
of one of its esteemed citizens. He started
out in life with little capital, but by de-
termined purpose worked his way upward
and became the owner of a good property.
His wife is a member of the Methodist
church and a most estimable lady.
Mr. Reichard. of this review, received
limited school privileges in the district in
which he resided and since early life has
had few opportunities to pursue his studies,
his assistance beinsf needed on the home
farm or in other labor that would yield to
him a living. He has carried on agricult-
ural pursuits throughout his entire life and
is to-day the owner of one hundred acres
of valuable land, sixtv of which is contained
within the borders of the home farm. He
carries on general farming and each season
has from five to seven acres planted with
tobacco. He also makes a specialty of corn
and raises hogs, sheep and cattle. He
works four horses in the operation of his
farm and conducts his business along pro-
gressive and energetic lines.
On the 25th of February. 1869, Mr.
Reichard was united in marriage to Miss
Mary Jane Sumner, who was born in Fred-
erick county, Maryland, November 1. 1846,
a daughter of George and Susanna ( Mong-
man) Sumner. Her father was born De-
cember 11. 18,22, and died in 1893, at the
age of seventv-one years, leaving a widow
and fourteen children, of whom thirteen,
nine sons and four daughters, are yet living.
The youngest is now thirty-six years of age.
HEXRY C. BRISTLY.
Among the enterprising farmers and
highly esteemed citizens of Twin township,
Darke county, Ohio, is the gentleman whose
name introduces this sketch. The family
name was formerly spelled Brustle. His
grandfather, Christian Bristly, was a tailor
by trade and spent his entire life in Wurtem-
berg, Germany, where he died at the age
of forty-six years. His wife, who bore the
maiden name of Sabina Wert, also died
in. that country, about 1818. Their oldest
son, Christian, Jr., who possessed a fine ed-
ucation, came to the United States about
1 8 10 and settled in Montgomery county,
Ohio, where he taught a German school.
He made two trips to Germany, and died in
the house where he was born, in 1838, at
about the age of seventy-six vears. Henry
Charles, the father of our subject, was the
next of the family. Sabina married Fred-
erick Moore and died in Logan county,
Ohio. Elizabeth married Christian Shaffer
and died in Germany; and Katy, who mar-
ried a Mr. Schrenk, also died in her native
land.
Henry Charles Bristly was born in
oberamt Maulbron, kingdom of Wurtem-
berg, German)-, November 22, 1780, re-
ceived a good education and became the
proprietor of a vineyard in his native land.
On the 28th of April, 1819, he sailed from
Havre, France, and landed in Philadelphia
on the 25th of the following August. He
proceeded at once to Allentown, Pennsyl-
vania, and found employment on a farm.
Later he worked as a farm hand in Berks
county, that state, for some time. He was
married, August 31, 1823. by Rev. Daniel
Ulrith, to Elizabeth Ohlwein, who was horn
in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, in July,
1795, a daughter of Werner and Katy
(Long) Ohlwein and granddaughter of
Killion Long, a native either of Berks or
Lebanon county. Pennsylvania. Her fa-
ther was a native of Hesse, Germany, and
came to this country during the Revolution-
696
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ary war with the Hessian troops hired bv
the British to fight against the colonies. He
was taken prisoner at the battle of Trenton,
and from that time on fought in the con-
tinental army, becoming intimately acquaint-
ed with General Washington. He died at
his home in Jackson township. Lebanon
county, Pennsylvania, in 182Q, his wife in
1838. Of their children Jacob was drafted
in the war of 181 2, was stationed at Balti-
more, and died in Jackson township, Leb-
anon county, at the age of forty-seven years ;
Samuel, who died in the same township;
and* Elizabeth was the mother of our sub-
ject.
After his marriage Henry C. Bristly
purchased five acres of land in Tulpehocken
township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, but
in 1839 he sold that place and purchased
another in Jackson township, Lebanon o flin-
ty, where he made his home until April.
1853, when he disposed of his interests in
that state and came to Ohio. He purchased
ten acres of land in Clay township, Mont-
gomery county, upon which he spent the
remainder of his life, dying there April
.25, 1S57. He was a Democrat in politics
and a Lutheran in religious belief, but his
wife held membership in the Reformed
church. She died at the home of our sub-
ject, January 19, 1873. They had only two
children. Henry C. being the older. Jonathan,
born in Tulpehocken township, Berks coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1829, died in Clay
township, Montgomery county, Ohio. July
2. 1898. He married Anna Mary Buechler,
a daughter of John and Barbara (Stein)
Buechler. Her father came to this state
with his family in 1836 and settled in Ran-
dolph, Montgomery county, where his death
occurred.
The subject of this sketch was born in
Tulpehocken township. Berks county, Penn-
sylvania, September 7, 1826, and had very
poor educational advantages, attending an
English school for only one month. The
German language was spoken in his own
home. At the age of twenty-one years he
learned the carpenter's trade, which he has
followed ever since, In September, 1852,
he came to Ohio and worked at his trade in
Salem until the new year, when he returned
home; but in the spring he again went to
Montgomery county, Ohio.
In Clay township, that county, he was
married, October 18, 1855, to Miss Leliah
Baker, who was born there November 25,
1834, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah
(Michael) Baker. Her grandparents were
natives of Somerset county, Pennsylvania,.
and were the first to settle near Salem, Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, where they entered
land and spent the remainder of their lives.
Mrs. Bristly's father also was born in Som-
erset county, Pennsylvania, and was ten
years old when brought by his parents to this
state, where he grew to manhood. When
the family located here Dayton contained but
one log cabin, and often Indians camped
upon their farm. Mr. Baker received a very
poor education, as schools were scarce in
this state at that time. He married Sarah
Michael, also a native of Pennsylvania,
whose family settled near Salem, Ohio,
later than 181 2. They located on a farm
given him by his father, and there he died,
in 1882. He was a Dunkard in religious
belief and independent in politics. His chil-
dren were : Katy, who married Jacob Hinkey
and died in Monroe township, Darke coun-
ty ; Susan, who married Henry Foreman
and died in Arcanum ;. Mary, who wedded
Elias Baker and died in Monroe town-
ship ; Sarah, who married John Foreman
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
697
aid died in Van Buren township; Samuel
M., a resident of Monroe township: Delilah,
the wife of our subject; Jacob, who married
Sarah Shonck and lives in Brookville, Mont-
gomery county; David, who married Sarah
Grant and also lives in Brookville ; Tensa,
the wife of George Overholser, of North
Manchester, Indiana ; Lydia, the wife of
Lewis Koehler, of Dayton. Ohio ; and four
who died in infancy.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bristly were born the
following children : Levi, born April 22,
1868, married Cora Fritz and resides in
Twin township, this county; Sarah is the
wife of Lewis Fryman, of Monroe town-
ship; Samuel married a Miss Robinson and
lives at home; and five children died in in-
fancy.
For a year after their marriage Mr. and
Mrs. Bristly lived on her father's farm near
Arlington, and then moved to their present
farm, which was given her by her father.
Ibis place, consisting of eighty-two acres,
was then an unbroken forest, on which had
been built a log cabin, and into it the family
moved March 3, 1857. Mr. Bristly also
owns another farm of fifty-five acres in
Twin township, and in connection with the
cultivation and improvement of bis land he
has always engaged in contracting and build-
ing and has erected many of the houses and
barns in his section. His present home of
red brick was built in 1S72, and good and
substantial outbuildings have also been erect-
ed, so that the farm is one of the best im-
proved in that locality. By his ballot Mr.
Bristly supports the men and measures of the
Democratic party, and has filled the offices
of school director twenty years and town-
ship trustee three years. In 1850 he united
with the Lutheran church and has since
been one of its consistent and earnest mem-
bers, as well as one of the most highly re-
spected and esteemed citizens of Twin town-
ship.
JOSEPH JOHN BULCHER.
Darke county has a no more enterpris-
ing, energetic and progressive business man
than Joseph J. Bulcher, who now makes his
home on section 25, Patterson township.
He was born in Shelby county, this state,
two miles east of Versailles, November 26,
1854, and is a son of Francis Peter and
Celestia (Foisinet) Bulcher, who are now
living a retired life on one of their three
farms. The father was born in Alsace,
France, July 1, 1822. and in the fall of
1846 came to the new world, bringing with
him bis wife and one child. It was a long
and tedious voyage from Havre to New
Vork. and by canal they proceeded to Buf-
falo, by lake to Toledo, and by canal to
Berlin, Ohio, where they arrived in the
woods. By ox team they came to Wayne
township, Darke county, and the father pur-
chased forty acres of land just over the line
in Shelby county, for which he paid three
dollars per acre. He prospered in his new
home and is to-day one of the most sub-
stantial citizens of his community. Of his
twelve children, eleven — three sons and eight
daughters — grew to manhood or woman-
hood, namely : Rosa, the widow of Julius
Moyoto ; Lucy, who married August Henry
and died in middle life; Cecil, who married
Frank Smith and died at the age of forty-
eight years; Celina. the wife of a Mr. Har-
rison; Joseph J., our subject; P. Elizabeth,
the wife of Joseph Alexander, of Wabash
township; Mary, who married Henry
Coucbot and died young; Frank P.. a farmer
of Patterson township; John, who died un-
698
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
married at the age of twenty-three years ;
Louisa, the wife of Constant Liette; and
Lizzie, the wife of Joseph Poly.
Joseph J. Bulcher attended the common
schools until thirteen years of age, and In-
improving his talents in later life has become
a well informed man. He remained under
the parental roof until twenty-four years of
age, when he was married, October 8, 1878,
t<> Miss Adaline M. Poly, who was born
in Wayne township, this county. October
10, i860, and is a daughter of Frank and
Theresa (Dafoire) Poly, natives of France.
Mrs*. Poly died at the age of forty-eight
years, leaving six children, who are still liv-
ing. Thirteen children have been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Bulcher, but one son died in
infancy, and Mary A., born in 1880, died
of a cancerous tumor at about the age of
fourteen years. The names and dates of
birth of the other children are as follows:
Peter F., March 29, 1881 ; Edward J., in
1882; Emma D.. May 5, 1884: Anna Mary,
March 27, 1886; Raymond L., May 17,
1888; Theressa E., February 25, 1890; Stella
Isabel, July 12, 1891 ; Laurence J., Septem-
ber 8, 1893; Clarence Henry, February 7.
1895; Agnes M., January 21, 1897; and
Josephine, November 3, 1898. They con-
stitute a very bright and interesting family
of which any parents might well be proud.
From their German ancestry they have in-
herited a talent for music and several play
oil musical instruments of various kinds.
Mr. Bulcher owns and cultivates a good
farm of ninety-one acres, on which he is
engaged in general farming, but makes a
specialty of tobacco growing, having from
seven to ten acres devoted to that crop. He
also buys and sells tobacco, and deals in to-
bacco boxes, buggies, wagons and surreys.
For several years he engaged in merchan-
dising and in the manufacture of lumber,
and is still interested in a saw-mill which
brings him some revenue. He is a wide-
awake, energetic business man, and the suc-
cess that he has achieved in life is well mer-
ited. As a Democrat, Mr. Bulcher takes
an active interest in local politics and has
served as a delegate to many conventions.
He and his family are members of the
Catholic church, of which he is now the
treasurer.
ALOXZO L. JOXES.
An enterprising and representative busi-
ness man of Greenville, Mr. Jones, is dealing
in leaf tobacco, and is not only connected
with the commercial interests of the city,
but also represents its official corps, for he
is the postmaster of the city, prompt, ener-
getic and notably reliable. He was born in
Monroe county, Ohio, in the vicinity of
West Milton, on the 21st of April, 1845,
his parents being John L. and Catherine D.
(Campbell) Jones. The Jones family is of
Welsh lineage and was founded in the
Buckeye state at an early period in its pio-
neer development by John Jones, the grand-
father of our subject. On the maternal side
our subject is descended from good old
Revolutionary stock. The grandfather,
William D. Campbell, served under General
Wayne in the struggle for independence,
and in 1792 he emigrated westward to Cin-
cinnati, making the trip on a flatboat. He
married a Miss Thomas, and for some years
they remained residents of Cincinnati, when
the city was a pioneer western village.
John L. Jones, the father of our subject,
was born in South Carolina, and in 1816
accompanied his parents to Ohio, the family
locating about sixteen miles north of Day-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
699'
ton. He was therefore reared amid the wild
scenes of the frontier and after arriving at
years of maturity he married one of Ohio's
native daughters — Miss Catherine Campbell.
In 1848 they removed with their family to
Darke county, locating in Neave township,
where the father resided until i860, when
he formed a partnership and embarked in
merchandising in Arcanum, where he re-
mained until a short time prior to his death,
which occurred in 1884. His wife, who still
survives him, yet makes her home in Ar-
canum.
Alonzo L. Jones spent the first five years
of his life near Dayton, and then came with
the family to Darke county, where he pur-
sued his preliminary education in the dis-
trict schools, later attending the high school
of Greenville, where he prosecuted his studies
under the superintendence of Professor J.
T. Martz, a very thorough and noted edu-
cator of that day. After leaving school Mr.
Jones returned to Dayton and accepted a
clerkship in the store of Smith Brothers,
manufacturers of school supplies and fur-
niture. In 1872 he became interested in the
tobacco business, in company with J. P.
Wolf, of Dayton, handling leaf tobacco.
The partnership continued for several years,
after which Mr. Jones continued in the same
line of business alone, in Greenville. He
built a fine brick warehouse for handling
and storing tobacco, and his business has
steadily increased in volume and importance,
Darke county being one of the leading to-
bacco-producing counties in the state, as
the quality of this product is so superior
that tobacco shipped from this locality always
commands the highest market prices. The
warehouse owned by Mr. Jones is con-
structed of stone and brick and was built
especially for the purpose for which it is
used. It is a two-story structure, con-
veniently arranged, and is situated in close'
proximity to the two .railroad depots in
Greenville, thus having excellent shipping
facilities.
During the civil war Mr. Jones was a
stanch advocate of the Union cause, and in
1864 he responded to the call for one-hun-
dred-day men, enlisting in the One Hundred
and Fifty-sixth Ohio Infantry, under the
command of Colonel Dean Putnam. The
regiment was sent to Lynchburg, Virginia,
and did garrison duty, guarding the rail-
road and captured places. In the early part
of the year 1865 Mr. Jones, with his regi-
ment, was honorably discharged, at Camp
Dennison, Ohio.
In 1866 was celebrated his marriage to
Miss Martha Baker, a daughter of C. S.
Baker, who was born in Warren county,
Ohio, and is a representative of one of the
old families of the state. Mrs. Jones was
born in this county, and by her marriage
has become the mother of three children:
Iona, the wife of A. J. Slackhouse, of Fos-
toria, Ohio; Charles R., who is serving as
private secretary for Hon. Robert B. Gor-
don, the member of congress from the fourth
congressional district of Ohio ; and Carl D.,
at home. He married Miss Mabel Turner,
of Greenville, a daughter of Joseph Turner.
In his political views Mr. Jones is an
earnest Republican, well informed on the
issues of the day, and is a recognized leader
in the local ranks of his party. He has
held a number of minor offices and in 1898
was appointed by President McKinley to the
position of postmaster of Greenville, in
which position he has discharged his duties
with marked promptness and fidelity. He
is a member of the Knights of Pythias fra-
ternity and is a man whose sterling qualities,.
700
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
whose faithfulness to every trust and whose
straightforward dealing in business have
won for him the public confidence and good
will of all with whom he has come in con-
tact.
SAMUEL GIBSON.
The Gibson family, of which Samuel
Gibson, the subject of this sketch, is a rep-
resentative, is of Irish origin. Isaac Gib-
son, his grandfather, was a native of the
Emerald Isle, emigrated to this country
when a young man and here married and
reared a large family. He was twice mar-
ried and by his second wife had eleven chil-
dren— four sons and seven daughters — all
of whom have passed away except John, the
father of Samuel. John Gibson was born
August 12, 1814, and is now in his seventy-
sixth year. In 1837 he married Margaret
Rose, who bore him eleven children, eight
sons and three daughters, all of whom
reached adult age and are now living, ex-
cept one, Mary, who died at the age of sev-
enteen months.
His father a farmer, Samuel was born on
a farm and brought up to farm life, the
date and place of . his birth being Decem-
ber 3, 1837, in Wabash township, Darke
county, Ohio. His educational advantages
were limited to the schools taught in the log
cabin school house of that day and place.
He remained a member of the home circle
until he attained his majority, when he
started out in life on his own account, and
the success he has achieved has been through
his own efforts and with the assistance of
his good wife. He owns a nice farm of
sixtv-five acres on section 2, Allen town-
ship, Darke county, his postofhce address
being New Weston, and here he has lived
since 1876, for a period of twenty-four
years.
March 20, i860, Samuel Gibson was
united in marriage to Miss Nancy Joseph,
who was born in Illinois, in 1838, a daugh-
ter of William and Melena ( Bucher) Jo-
seph. Mrs. Gibson had the misfortune to
lose her parents by death at an early age.
She has one sister. The fruits of this union
are four children, namely: Mary, the wife
of John Silvas, who died at the age of thirty
years, leaving a son and a daughter; Hop-
kins, who married and is settled in life;
Malina, the wife of Colonel Thomas, of New
Weston, has had six children, four of whom
are living; and Emma, the wife of Reuben
Sneary, a farmer of Allen township.
Mr. Gibson affiliates with the Demo-
cratic party, while his father is a Republi-
can. He has from time to time been hon-
ored with local office and in the same has
served efficiently. Thirteen years he has
served in the capacity of trustee. Mrs. Gib-
son is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, which the family regularly attend
and to the support of which Mr. Gibson
contributes.
JAMES M. BENSON.
It is certainly incumbent that in this
compilation due recognition be accorded Mr.
Benson, for the family name is one that has
been prominently identified with the annals
of the county for more than half a century
— in fact for nearly sixty-five years — while
throughout all these years this identification
has been maintained through that line of
industry which figures as the basis of all
others, that of agriculture.
Mr. Benson's fine farm is located on sec-
tion 30, Harrison township, Darke county,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
701
and his postoffice address is Whitewater, In-
diana. He is a native of the township, hav-
ing been born on a place about two miles
distant from his present home, on the 16th
of December, 1841. His father, James
Benson, was born in the state of Maryland,
where he was united in marriage to Miss
Susan Murray, about the year 1832. They
continued to reside there until about 1836,
when they set out on the long and tedious
journey to the Ohio frontier, finally arriving
at their destination in Darke county and
taking up their abode in Harrison township,
their occupation of the place now owned
by their son, the subject of this review, hav-
ing begun about six months after their ar-
rival. James M. has often heard the tale
of the eventful journey made by his par-
ents in the pioneer days, for the trip was
made with horses and wagon and by this
medium all their little stock of household
goods was. transported. They .purchased
one hundred acres of timbered land for six
hundred dollars, and in this wilderness be-
gan to clear up a farm, the little home be-
ing isolated and of the most primitive pio-
neer order, with few conveniences and no
luxuries. Stout hearts and willing hands
will accomplish much, as all our pioneer
history has shown, and Mr. and Mrs. Ben-
son did their full share in reclaiming the
wilds and laying the foundations for the
magnificent prosperity which the present
generations enjoy. When the young couple
settled on their woodland farm their nearest
market was Cincinnati, and some seasons
Mr. Benson transported as many as one
hundred head of hogs to this distant point.
Both he and his devoted wife are birthright
members of the Society of Friends, and in
their lives they exemplify the kindly virtues
and unwavering integrity so characteristic of
this religious sect. As the days passed the
farm began to show the results of the ar-
duous labor and care bestowed, and in due
time the fields yielded their harvests in sea-
son. Around the family hearthstone the
children came to lend joy and brightness,
our subject being one of the eleven born to
his parents, and of this number eight were
reared to maturity and six are living at the
present time, namely : Conrad Robert, a
resident of California; Harriet, wife of John
E. Harrison, of Xenia, Ohio; John was ac-
cidentally shot while on a hunting expedi-
tion in the northwest, his death resulting
from the injury inflicted ; Elijah is a farmer
in Nebraska; the next in order of birth was
James M., subject of this sketch; Ephraim
is a resident of Preble count}-, this state ; and
Catherine is the widow of a Mr. Teaford
and resides in Hollansburg, this count)-.
The father of this large family of chil-
dren died about 1871, leaving to his heirs
his farm of one hundred and sixty acres
and some town property, with some incum-
branches. His wife died at the age of seven-
ty-six years. James M. Benson, the subject of
this sketch, remained upon the home place,
and October 1, 1866, be was united in mar-
riage to Delilah Barton, of Wayne count)-,
Indiana, a daughter of Andrew and Celia
(Boswell) Barton, and of the children of
this union we make record briefly, as fol-
lows : James Andrew, who is married and has
three children, resides on the home place and
is associated with his father in the cultiva-
tion of the same; Mabel is the wife of Col-
onel Williams and has one son.
Mr. Benson has a fine farm of one hun-
dred and sixty-three acres, devoted to gen-
eral farming and stock raising. On the
place are two excellent houses and two barns
with other modern improvements of an at-
702
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tractive order. On the place have been
raised as much as eight hundred bushels
of wheat and two thousand bushels of corn
in a year. The corn is utilized for the feeding
of the cattle on the place, special attention be-
ing given to stock raising .Mr. Benson places
on the market an average of fifty hogs
annually, and in the year 1899 dis-
posed of one hundred head. He keeps a
fine herd of hogs and an average of twelve
head of cattle, in which latter line he is
gradually displacing his Jersey stock with
the shorthorn and polled Durham. Much
of 'the farm consists of bottom lands that
were once heavily timbered, and the soil is
not only exceptionally fertile, but is very
durable, as is shown in the fact that one field
produced good crops of corn for twenty-
seven consecutive years, without any alterna-
tion or special fertilizing. The modern resi-
dence on the homestead is a model country
home, and by its side still stands the old
homestead, so endeared by long associa-
tions.
In his political proclivities Mr. Benson
is a Republican, and religiously he and his
estimable wife are identified with the United
Brethren church.
LEWIS C. ANDERSON, M. D.
Darke county has been signally favored
in the personnel and character of her profes-
sional men, and in that most exacting of all
professions, medicine and surgery, a notable
representative is he whose name appears
above. Dr. Anderson, who holds distinctive
prestige as a physician and surgeon of
marked ability in his profession and as a
man of sterling characteristics in all the re-
lations of life, maintains his residence and
office in Greenville, from which headquarters
his practice ramifies throughout the county,
while he is frequently called into consulta-
tion by his professional confreres at points
more or less distantly located. He is a na-
tive of the Buckeye state, having been born
in Montgomery county on the 15th of Jan-
uary, 1850, the son of John and Mary
(Hulse) Anderson. The father was a na-
tive of Pennsylvania and the mother of Ohio.
After their marriage they settled in Mont-
gomery county, this state, where they re-
mained until 1863, when the family removed
to Darke county and settled upon a farm,
which continued to be the home of the hon-
ored parents until death released them from
their labors, — the father passing away in No-
vember, 1869, in the forty-eighth year of
his age, while the mother survived but a
short time after their removal to this county,
her demise taking place in 1864.
The paternal grandparents of the Doctor
were James and Ruth (McCahan) Ander-
son, the former born in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, in April, 1792, the latter in
January, 1800. His paternal great-grand-
parents were Irish and lived about twenty
miles from Dublin, where all of their chil-
dren but James were born. They emigrated
to the new world in 1 791. The maternal
great-grandfather of our subject was Patrick
McCahan, also a native of the Emerald Isle,
and his wife, who bore the maiden name of
Sarah Green, was a near relative of General
Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame.
Dr. Anderson passed the first twelve
years of his life in Montgomery county,
accompanying his parents upon their removal
to Darke county in 1863. Thus he spent
part of his youth upon the farm, growing
strong in mind and body under this sturdy
discipline, supplemented by his attendance
at the district schools in the vicinity of his
i
(X^^U^o^
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
703
home. His father was appreciative of the
advantages of broader education and the
young man was encouraged in his aspirations
to seek a wider field of endeavor in preparing
for the battle of life. He matriculated as a
student in the Normal University at Leb-
aniin, Ohio, where he prepared himself for
pedagogic work, which has served as the
stepping stone for so many of our leading
professional men, and after being duly forti-
fied in this line he devoted himself to teach-
ing for one winter in the district schools
and for two winters in the village of An-
sonia. In the meanwhile he had formulated
specific plans for his future life work, and,
having decided to prepare himself for the
medical profession, began a course of read-
ing under the preceptorage of Dr. Hooven,
a well-known physician of Dayton, Ohio,
later prosecuting his studies and clinical
work in the Miami Medical College, at Cin-
cinnati, where he graduated as a member of
the class of 1874. He immediately entered
upon the practice of his profession at An-
sonia, Darke county, where he remained un-
til 1888, when he removed to Greenville, the
county seat, having been elected to the of-
fice of probate judge, as the nominee of the
Democratic party. He assumed the duties of
this important and exacting office February
9, 1888, and after serving with signal ability
ami impartiality for his term of three years
was chosen as his own successor and con-
tinued his effective administration of the of-
fice for a further three years. At the expira-
tion of his second term the Doctor prepared
to again devote himself to his regular pro-
fessional work, which he had but held in
temporary abeyance. In order to thoroughly
reinforce himself for his duties he went to
Xew York city, where he completed a post-
graduate course at the Xew York Post-
43
Graduate Medical School. Returning to
Greenville he entered into a professional
alliance with Dr. D. Robeson, under t'.ie firm
name of Robeson & Anderson, engaging in
general practice. His success has been the
diametrical result of his ability and personal
popularity and he is known as one of the
able physicians and surgeons of the state,
being a close and indefatigable student and
ever keeping abreast of the advances made
in his profession. The Doctor is a member
of the Darke County Medical Society and
also of the State and National Medical As-
sociations, in whose work he maintains an
active interest. He served two years as a
physician to the Darke County Children's
Home and is a member_ of the soldiers' re-
lief committee of the county and a member
of the Greenville city school board.
In politics the Doctor is a stanch Demo-
crat and has been an active worker in the
cause. Fraternally his allegiance is given
to the time-honored order of Freemasons,
in which he holds membership in Ansonia
Lodge, No. 488, A. F. & A. M., and Green-
ville Chapter, R. A. M., while he is also
identified with Ansonia Lodge, No. 60 =;, I.
O. O. F., and the Knights of Pythias, be-
ing distinctly popular in each of these or-
ganizations, to which he gives as much of his
time as is possible in the midst of the exac-
tions of his professional work.
On the 29th of September, 1875, Dr.
Anderson was united in marriage to Miss
Ollie Tullis, daughter of Milton and Sarah
Tullis, of Ansonia, and of this union one
son has been born, John M., a young man of
much intellectuality and strength of char-
acter, who is now a student in the celebrated
Rush Medical College, in Chicago, where
he is preparing to follow the profession to
so marked success.
roi
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
SOLOMON D. HART.
As education reaches a higher plane and
the intellectual side of our character de-
velops, we find more in our lives than a
mere money-making existence and awaken
to the full realization of our responsibilities.
It is natural that our thoughts and hearts
should go back to the past, and we are com-
pelled to express our deep admiration and
tender sympathy for those brave pioneers,
who, by a life of noble self-sacrifice and un-
daunted courage, teach us the beauties of an
unselfish life. Inspired by religious zeal
and having faith in the Divine Father, an-
imated by a deep love for their families and
a desire for their improvement, they left
their eastern homes and with their worldly
possessions journeyed to the great west, pen-
etrating the heart of the wilderness, build-
ing their cabins where the foot of the white
man had never trod, where only the Indian
contested for supremacy with the wild beasts
of the forest. Having thus selected their
homes, these sturdy pioneers endured with-
out ci iniplaining the privations, misery and
hardships attendant upon such a life. They
displayed a heroism equalled only by those
devoted wives and mothers who accompanied
them. 'When our country's history shall
have been rewritten, when we hand down
to coming generations the names of her
truest heroes, it will not be the names of
men who. surrounded by numerous com-
rades, inspired by the intoxicating strains of
martial music, by the rolling of drums, the
rattle of musketry, the roar of artillery and
the din of clashing steel, fought until they
died. It is not the intention of the biog-
rapher to dispute their bravery or belittle
their deeds ; but it required a greater courage
a deeper religious sentiment and more lofty
ideals on the part of the pioneers to abandon
civilization and bury themselves in the for-
ests, where after a life of labor and unre-
mitting toil they lie down to sleep at last
without knowing- luxury, but happy in the
knowledge that their beloved wives and chil-
dren were placed above the fear of want.
These devoted men and women are our
greatest heroes and their names will go
down the ages when war and its horrors
shall have ceased. To such a family be-
longs S. D. Hart, the subject of this sketch,
now a prominent farmer residing on sec-
tion 36, Jackson township, Darke county,
Ohio.
His father, Joseph Hart, was born in
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania in 181 2, of
English parentage, and like most boys of
that day received only such an education as
he could pick up at odd intervals. Being
left fatherless during his boyhood it was
very necessary that he should help support the
family, and he and his two brothers were
bound apprentices, but when he was old
enough to care for himself he came to Ohio
and settled near Dayton, where he worked
for some time. About 1837 he married
Magdalene, a daughter of John Shidler, and
they reared eight children, namely : B.
Franklin, Peter, Cyrus, Levi, Jonathan, Sol-
omon D., Mrs. Catherine Sullenberger and
Mrs. Esther Geiger. The father rented two
farms near Bradford, where he remained
until he entered land on section 36, Jackson
township, Darke county, where our subject
now resides. There were very few settlers
in this locality at that time ; there was only
a small store where Woodington now stands
and money was exceedingly scarce. Upon
thi> place Mr. Hart built a barn and double
log house, which was the home of the fam-
ily for some years, and was a very good
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
705
building for those days. It was afterward
replaced by a fine brick residence, — one of
the first in the township. It was destroyed
by fire in 1880. but was soon rebuilt. The
original farm of eighty acres was enlarged
to one hundred and sixty acres by the pur-
chase of a tract of land from Peter Shidler.
Mr. Hart was a man of great public spirit
and took an active interest in the development
of the free school system. He was a Dem-
ocrat in politics, but never sought office, and
was a German Baptist in religious belief, an
active worker in church affairs and untiring
in his efforts to advance the general welfare
of his community. He died in 1881 in his
sixty-seventh year, and bis wife survived
him exactly four years.
Solomon D. Hart was born in Miami
county, Ohio, January 16, 1847, and was a
mere infant when the family came to Darke
county. His education, like that of most
boys of those days, was necessarily limited,
pursuing his studies in an old log school house
until his tenth year, and often wading in
water knee deep in going to and from school.
Later a frame school house was built and
here he was a student for about three months
each year, while he assisted his father with
the farm work the rest of the time until
twenty. He then learned the carpenter's
trade, which he followed for a short time.
In 1873 Mr. Hart was united in mar-
riage with Miss Mary E. Loy, a native of
Preble county and a daughter of Michael
Loy. She came with her family to this
county when four years of age. -Mr. and
Mrs. Hart have three children, namely:
Delia, wife of a Mr. Huffard, a merchant of
Elroy; Alva L., who is attending school and
assisting his father on the farm; and Eliza,
also in school.
After his marriage Mr. Hart rented a
farm near his father's place for eighteen
months and then purchased forty acres ad-
joining-, on which he lived for seven years.
He then removed to the old homestead,
where he still resides, having purchased the
interests of the other heirs in the place.
Here he has one hundred and twenty acres
of land under a high state of cultivation,
on which is a fine brick residence and several
large barns, and he also owns forty-five
acres of bottom land in Brown township,
which he has drained and converted into
a very productive tract. He is engaged in
general farming, stock and tobacco raising,
and, being an energetic man, of good busi-
ness ability, he is meeting witli marked suc-
cess in his labors. His genial temperament
makes him a great favorite with his asso-
ciates, and he has a host of warm friends
throughout the county. He takes a very
active part in promoting the interests of the
Reformed church, of which he is a member,
and gives his support to the men and meas-
ures of the Republican party. He has never
aspired to political honors, but has efficiently
served as school director for ten years, dur-
ing which time he has succeeded in making
many improvements in the school system.
GEORGE H. McCLURE.
Among the enterprising and progressive
business men of Greenville who are meeting
with well deserved success in their under-
takings is the subject of this sketch — the
junior member of the well-known firm of
Whiteley & McClure, dealers in farming
implements and machinery, at No. 131 East
Third street. He is a native of Darke coun-
ty, his birth occurring upon a farm in Wash-
ington township October 20, 1866. His fa-
ther, John S. McClure, a successful and
706
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
prosperous farmer, was also born in this
county April 12, 1841, and died here April
10, 18Q5. The paternal grandfather, George
McClure, was a native of Montgomery coun-
ty, Ohio, and an early settler of Darke coun-
ty. He married Maria Myrkle, and they
reared four children. Our subject's mother
was in her maidenhood Miss Mary Cole, a
native of Washington township, this coun-
ty, and a daughter of Samuel Cole, one of
its pioneers. She died in December, 1867.
George H. McClure was reared in much
the usual manner of farmer boys and ob-
tained his early education in the country-
schools. Later he entered the National Nor-
mal University at Lebanon, Ohio, where
he pursued his studies for some time. After
his return home he assisted his father in
the operation of the farm for five years. He
is now the owner of a good farm of one
hundred acres in Washington township,
which is under a high state of cultivation
and well improved. While engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits he devoted considerable at-
tention to stock raising, keeping a high grade
of cattle and hogs. His specialty was the
noted Duroc hogs, which he sold for breed-
ing purposes throughout the state.
In 1897 Mr. McClure removed to Green-
ville and accepted a position in the service of
the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company
of Darke county. Later he entered the em-
ploy of Warder, Bushnell & Glessner, of
Springfield, Ohio, manufacturers of farming
implements and machinery, and remained
with them as a traveling salesman for two
years. At the end of that time he formed
a partnership with Joseph Whiteley, and
under the firm name of Whiteley & Mc-
Clure they have since engaged in their pres-
ent business at Greenville. They carry a
large and varied stock of farm machinery,
and as they have an extensive acquaintance
throughout Darke county and the surround-
ing country they have already built up a
large and profitable trade.
Mr. McClure was married, in 1892, to
Miss Emma Jeffries, of Darke county, the
fourth daughter of Milton and Louisa
(Chenoweth) Jeffries, and to them have been
born three children, namely : Lucile, Harold
and Louise.
URIAH MEDFORD.
The commercial activity of New Weston
is largely promoted through the enterpris-
ing efforts of Mr. Medford, who is engaged
in the undertaking and farm implement busi-
ness. He is also identified with agricult-
ural interests, being the owner of one of the
finest farms of Darke county. He was born
in Wabash township, this county, on the
2 1st day of May, 1857, and is of English
lineage, his great-grandfather, William
Medford, having been a native of England.
His grandfather, Charles Medford, was a
farmer of Darke county and died in this
locality when about seventy years of age.
He was twice married and reared a large
number of children, but all of his children
are now deceased. George D. Medford. the
father of our subject, was born in Franklin
county, Ohio, December 6, 1827, and died
in Kansas in 1893, at the age of sixty-six
years. He wedded Mary Ann Gates, who
was born in Chittenden county, Vermont,
February 20, 1828, their wedding taking
place October 26, 1847, nl Ohio. There they
began their domestic life upon a farm and
their union was blessed with six children,
namely: Myron C, of Dayton, Ohio, who
has one son; Matilda B., who became the
wife of J. M. Rose and the mother of four
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
707
children, and died in middle life; Charles,
a farmer of Wabash township, who has nine
children, three sons and six daughters ; J.
C, who is living in Darke county and has
four children ; Uriah, of this review ; and
Irene, the wife of J. H. Spencer, of Hollans-
burg, by whom she has two children. After
the death of the mother of these children
George D. Med ford wedded Augenette Or-
put, and they had two children, George Guy
and Stanley, both of whom are residents of
Kansas.
Mr. Med ford, whose name stands at the
head of this sketch, was reared to farm life
on the old family homestead and enjoyed the
educational privileges afforded by the com-
mon schools of the neighborhood. At the
age of sixteen he started out in life on his
own account and went to Buchanan county,
Iowa, where he engaged in farming in con-
nection with his eldest brother for four
years. They then sold their property there
and Uriah Medford went to the far west,
spending two years in Washington and Cali-
fornia. On the expiration of that period
he returned to Ohio, and, wishing to better
prepare himself for life's responsible duties,
he pursued a course of study in the business
college in Greenville. He then visited his
father in Virginia and in the spring of 1882
he purchased a farm in Wabash township,
which lie cultivated through a tenant, with
whom he made his home for some years.
On the ;th of October, 1886, Mr. Med-
ford was united in marriage to Linnie
Cottrell, of Wabash township, a daughter
of A. S. Cottrell, who resides with Mr. Med-
ford, his own wife having died, as well as
nearly all of their children. Mr. and Mrs.
Medford have lost their only child, an in-
fant daughter. In his business affairs our
subject has prospered and is to-day the
owner of two hundred and twenty-one acres
of rich and valuable land comprised within
two farms in Wabash township and which
are improved with good buildings and are
under a high state of cultivation. He is
also engaged in the farm implement busi-
ness in New Weston, and in connection with
E. C. Richardson is engaged in the under-
taking business. His well directed efforts
have been crowned with a high degree of
success and all who are familiar with his
straightforward business methods agree that
his prosperity is well deserved. During the
World's Fair in Chicago he was a member
of the Columbian Guards. Both he and his
wife hold membership in the Methodist
church, taking an active part in its work
and he is serving as a steward and trustee.
Socially he is a Master Mason, belonging
to the lodge at Ansonia, and politically he
is a Democrat. He has twice served as town-
ship assessor and for three terms was a jus-
tice of the peace. In both offices he dis-
charged his duties with marked promptness
and fidelity, and at all times he has been
found true to every trust and obligation re-
posed in him. During the greater part of
his life he has been a resident of Darke
county, is familiar with its history, its prog-
ress and its upbuilding, and has given a
hearty support to all measures calculated
to promote the general welfare. In manner
he is free from ostentation, is genial and
courteous and the circle of his friends is
extensive.
FREDERICK MEIER.
Frederick Meier, deceased, was one of
the earlv German settlers of Greenville
township, Darke county, Ohio, a man of
703
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
sterling worth and highly esteemed for his
many excellent qualities of mind and heart.
Frederick Meier was born in Haseling,
Province of Hesse, German}-, December 25,
1802, one of a family of nine children. Ac-
cording to the German custom he attended
the public schools from the time he was six
until he was fourteen and then learned a
trade. His trade, that of cabinetmaker, he
learned in his father's shop, under his fa-
ther's instructions, and he followed it
throughout his life. His first wife, whose
maiden name was Gustena Wissel, bore him
three children. Charles and Caroline, and
one that died in early life in Germany. His
second wife, Gustena Klemme. he also mar-
ried in Germany, April 15, 1850. With his
wife and three children, he embarked from
Bremen for Baltimore, which port they
reached in safety after a voyage of four
weeks and four days. From Baltimore they
started west via the canal, their destination
being Darke county, Ohio, and after about
a month's travel by water and team thev
landed in Greenville township. Mr. Meier's
capital at this time consisted of about six
hundred dollars. With this he purchased
forty acres of land, which had on it a little
"clearing" and a small cabin, and here he
established his home. His money all in-
vested it was necessary for him to go to
work at once to supply the immediate wants
of his family. Work at his trade brought
him sixty cents a day and this, with what
his son, Charles, could earn, was sufficient to
keep the family in food. His land was
nearly all under water and it required much
labor and time to clear and drain it so that
satisfactory crops could be raised. This
however, was finally accomplished and the
land yielded a support for the family. Mean-
time Mr. Meier continued work at his trade,
traveling about from place to place until he
was too old to work. He died January 20,
1885, and his wife March 29, 1888; both are
buried in St. John's cemetery. For many
years they were identified with the Lu-
theran church. Mr. Meier was prominent in
the organization of St. John's church, giv-
ing freely of both his labor and money to
assist the enterprise and for many years he
was one of its official members. The chil-
dren of his second wife were six in number,
but all are now deceased, and his son,
Charles, above referred to, is the only living
representative of the family.
Charles Meier was born in Germany Jan-
uary 19, 1836; was educated in the com-
mon schools and confirmed in the Lutheran
church, and at the time he came with his
father and family to this country was four-
teen years old. He assisted his father in
the improvement of the farm above referred
to and also worked out on other farms and
thus at an early age aided in the support of
the family. He married Miss Augusta
Krickeberg, a daughter of Frederick and
Charlotte CSigsmend) Krickeberg, German
people, who settled in Brown township,
Darke county, Ohio, in 1852. The date of
their marriage was February 9, 1863, and
since then they have lived on the old home-
stead farm, which now comprises one hun-
dred and forty acres, and in addition to this
farm he owns other land. The home farm
is well improved and nearly all under cul-
tivation, the beautiful residence having been
erected in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Meier have
had six children, four of whom are living, —
Charles, Mena, Caroline and John, — and all
except the youngest are married and settled
in life. The deceased children were Sophia
and Frederick.
In his political views Mr. Meier is what
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
709
is termed an independent. In 1863 he was
drafted into the Union army and served
four weeks, at the end of which time he hired
a substitute, for whom he paid nine hundred
and eighty-five dollars, and received his dis-
charge.
MONROE PHILLIPS.
Monroe Phillips, who is now successfully
engaged in the liquor business in Greenville,
was born on a farm near Castine, Darke
county, October 7, 1852, and is a son of
Joseph and Elizabeth (Reiswonger) Phillips,
also natives of this county, the former born
in 1820, the latter in February, 1826. His
ancestors were from Pennsylvania and on
the paternal side were among the very
earliest settlers of Darke county, living in
the neighborhood of Fort Jefferson, when
Indians still inhabited this region and wild
animals were numerous.
Our subject grew to manhood upon the
home farm. He was quite young when
his father died and during his boyhood and
youth he assisted his mother in the manage-
ment of the place. She is still living, at
the age of seventy-four years, and now
makes her home in Savona. On the 21st of
March, 1877, Mr. Phillips was united in
marriage with Miss Harriet McGriff, a na-
tive of Castine, and to them were born two
children, namely : Minnie, who died in child-
hood ; and Burnet, who was born in Arca-
num December 9. 1879. and is still living.
After his marriage Mr. Phillips lived in
Arcanum for a short time and then removed
to Greenville, where he is now carrying on a
profitable business as a liquor dealer, and
also deals in fast horses. He and his family
occupy a beautiful home on West Fifth
street.
JOHN A. WALLACE.
The present well-known and popular
mayor of Union City, Ohio, was born in that
place June 24, 1871, and is a son of James
and Ellen Wallace, natives of county Kerry,
Ireland, the former born November 10, 1834,
the latter August 20, 1836. Both emigrated
to America in 1857, with the hope of finding
a home in the new world adapted to their
mutual tastes. The father located in Sidney,
Ohio, the mother in Toledo, and in 1863
the former came to Union City, where they
were married April 9, 1864. Here Mr. Wal-
lace worked as a section hand for four years
and then embarked in another business,
which lie successfully carried on until five
years ago, having secured a comfortable
competence, which enabled him to lay aside
business, cares. He is now the owner of
considerable farm and city property. His
estimable wife died November 26, 1881. Of
the eight children born to them one son,
Patrick, died in February. 1897, and the
others are still living, namely: James; Mary;
John A., our subject: Margaret, a music
teacher; Bridget, a seamstress; Thomas, a
machinist ; and Johanna.
Mayor Wallace attended the public
schools of Union City until eighteen years
of age, and was then a student at St. Mary's
Institute, Dayton, Ohio, for nine months.
At the close of his school life he was em-
ployed as a salesman for the Peter Kuntz
Lumber Company three years, and then com-
menced the study of law in the office of
Williams & Bolen, with whom he remained
six months and was with Bell & Ross one
year. Since reaching man's estate he has
taken quite an active and prominent part
in public affairs and at the age of twenty-
one was elected a member of the city coun-
710
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
cil. A year later he resigned that position
to become city solicitor and at the age of
twenty-five was elected a justice of the peace,
which office he filled for three years. In
the sprino- of 1900 he was elected mayor on
the Democratic ticket by a majority of
eighty-five votes, which was the largest ma-
jority ever given a city officer in Union
City, and that position he is now most cred-
itably and acceptably filling. He is wide-
awake, energetic and progressive, and has
made a remarkable record for a young man
of his years, and undoubtedly a brilliant fu-
ture awaits him.
GEORGE E. NISWONGER.
George E. Niswonger, county commis-
sioner of Darke county, Ohio, is one of the
represmtative men of the county and be-
longs to a family whose residence in the
state of Ohio covers many years and whose
settlement in America dates back to the
colonial period.
John Niswonger, the great-great-grand-
father of George E. Xiswonger, was born in
Germany, and on his emigration to this
country took up his abode in Virginia. He
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His
son, John, the great-grandfather of our sub-
ject, was born in Rockingham county. Vir-
ginia, where his early life was spent on a
plantation. In that state'he married Eliza-
beth Circle, and about 1'804-they came out
to what was then called the "Western Re-
serve" and settled in Clay township, Mont-
gomery county, Ohio. Here he entered half
a section of government land, developed a
farm and on it passed his remaining years,
his death occurring in 1848, when he was
about sixty years of age. His wife died at
the home of her daughter, Mrs. Samuel
Baker, in Monroe township, Darke county,
when over seventy years of age. They were
members of the Dunkard church. Their
children were as follows: George; John,
who married Susie Warner and is still liv-
ing, having reached the age of eighty-five
years ; Nicholas, whose death was caused by
a runaway horse at the place where Pitts-
burg now stands. He was twice married,
his first union being with Leah Shaffer, after
whose death he chose for his second wife
Lucinda Boyd ; Eli, who died in Clay town-
ship, Montgomery county; Nellie, who mar-
ried Jacob Swank, and is now deceased ;
Mollie, the wife of Samuel Baker, of Mon-
roe township, Darke county; and Elizabeth,
the deceased wife of Samuel Baker.
George Niswonger, the grandfather of
our subject, was born in Clay township,
Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1809, and
there spent his life. He married Elizabeth
Warner, a native of Pennsylvania and a
daughter of David and Esther (Brum-
baugh) Warner. She was brpught by her
parents to Ohio when she was an infant
and died at the age of fifty-eight years.
After her death he married for his second
wife Susan Hinsey. He died at the age of
seventy-one years. He was prosperous in
his business affairs and at one time was the
owner of six hundred acres of land. There
were no children by his second marriage.
The children by his first wife were as fol-
lows : David, who was married in this town-
ship to Carrie Pefney and is now deceased ;
Eli, the father of George Niswonger; Cath-
erine, the wife of John Pefney, of Mont-
gomery count)', Ohio ; Mary, the wife of
Joseph Wenger, of Montgomery county :
and Moses, who married Marie Murray and
resides in the state of Michigan.
Eli Niswonger, the father of the subject
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
711
of this review, was born in Clay township,
Montgomery county, August 31, 1836, and
spent his youth on his father's farm, receiv-
ing his early education in one of the prim-
itive log school houses of that place. After
lie reached his majority he attended school
for a time in Dayton. He was married, in
December, 1859, to Miss Mary Ann Cauff-
man, a native of Little York, Montgomery
/county, her birth having occurred in June,
1838. Her parents, Jesse and Eliza (Mc-
■Chord) Cauffman, were natives of Pennsyl-
vania. After their marriage they lived on
the old Niswonger homestead in Clay town-
ship for two years, after which they came
to Darke county, and settled on a tract of
wild land, ninety acres in extent, in Monroe
township, where lie devoted his energies to
the work of clearing and improving a farm.
He built a hewed-log house, 20x24 feet, and
two stories high, containing four rooms, and
here they lived in pioneer style for a num-
ber of years. In 1889 he sold his farm and
retired to Pittsburg where he has since re-
side:!. He and his wife are true to the faith
in which they were reared, being consistent
members of the Dunkard church. Politically
he is a Democrat. The children of this
worthy couple are as follows : Ella, the wife
of Charles Delk, of Pittsburg, Ohio; Belle,
the twin sister of Ella, married A. Ersen-
borger and is now deceased ; Ola, who mar-
ried Maggie Smith and now lives in New
York city; George; Jesse, who married Dora
Hamel and now resides in Pittsburg, Ohio ;
and William, who married Myrtle Stauffer
and now makes his home in Pittsburg', Ohio ;
Ira, who was a twin brother of Jesse and
died at the age of two years ; and Webster,
who died in infancy.
George E. Niswonger, whose name in-
troduces this review, was born upon the old
homestead farm in Monroe township, Darke
county, March 18, 1866. There he was
reared to manhood, his time being devoted to
the work of the farm through the summer
months, while in the winter seasons he pur-
sued his education in the public schools. He
first attended district school No. 4, his teach-
er being Mr. Wanzer. Afterward a school
house was built on the corner of his father's
farm and there he continued his studies un-
til nineteen years of age. During the periods
of vacation he followed the plow and assisted
in harvesting the crops, remaining with his
father until his marriage, which occurred on
the 1st of March, 1886, Miss Nancy Behrer
becoming his wife. She was born in Miami
county and is a daughter of Ebizah [AbijahJ
Rohrer. For a year after his marriage Mr.
Niswonger remained upon his father's farm
and then engaged in the butchering business
for more than a year. He afterward re-
moved to Pittsburg, where he carried on
business as a stock dealer and was thus en-
gaged until the spring of 1899, when he
was elected county commissioner. He was
chosen to that office in the Democratic ticket,
receiving a majority of nine hundred and
thirty-two votes, and in the discharge of his
duties he manifested such fidelitv and marked
ability that he has won the commendation
of the majority of the citizens of Darke
county.
In 18SS Mr. Niswonger was called upon
to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on
the 3d of February of that year. They had
one child, born August 23, 1887. On the
17th of December, 1890, Mr. Niswonger was
again married, the second union being with
Frances Strader, who was born in Twin
township, Darke county, on the 17th of Feb-
ruary, 1869, a daughter of Emanuel and
Molly (Fisher) Strader. By that marriage
712
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
there were two children, but the elder died
in infancy unnamed. The younger is Wal-
ter S., who was born September 4, 1893.
Mr. Niswonger is a member of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging
to Arcanum Lodge, No. 341, and to the en-
campment. He is also connected with the
Knights of Pythias fraternity, of Arcanum
and is a popular and highly esteemed citi-
zen, who keeps well informed in the issues
of the day and does everything in his power
to promote the welfare and prosperity of his
township and county.
ADAM S. COPPESS.
Adam S. Coppess, a prominent repre-
sentative of the agricultural interests of
Jackson township, belongs to one of the old-
est and most highly respected families of
Darke county, his grandfather, Adam Cop-
pess, having taken up his abode here in 1819,
only two years after Jacob Hartle, the first
white settler, located within its borders. He
was of Dutch extraction and a blacksmith
by trade, being the first to follow that oc-
cupation in this county. On first coming
to Ohio from North Carolina he located
in Greene county, and it is said that he had
to hide to keep from being murdered by the
Indians. In Darke county he entered land
for himself and sons, made a clearing and
built a log house, which stood for a number
of years. He took an active part in laying
out the roads in his locality, cleared many
acres of land and in connection with work
at his trade manufactured cowbells by hand.
In politics he was a Democrat and in relig-
ious belief a Lutheran. He died at the age
of seventy-four years and his wife survived
him several years. Before leaving North
Carolina he married a Miss Mock, whom
our subject well remembers, and to them
were born the following children : John,
David, Peter, Adam, Alfred and Daniel, all
farmers ; Mrs. Phcebe Horning, Mrs. Mary
Frampton, Mrs. Elizabeth Brewer, Mrs.
Catherine Harney and Mrs. Sarah Robison.
John Coppess, the father of our subject,
was born in North Carolina and was only
six years old when brought by his parents
to this state. The family had owned a negro
slave, who was set free on their arrival here.
John Coppess attended the subscription
schools to a limited extent, but was ma'inly
self-educated, and being fond of reading
he became a well informed nian. He was
very ingenious and able to engage in almost
any occupat'on, including blacksmithing,
carpentering and farming. He also followed
the trade of a fuller for some time, and later
operated a water-power saw-mill until steam
came into general use. when he turned his
attention to general farming, owning three
hundred and fifty acres of land, including a
part of the old homestead. Returning to
Greene county, he married Mrs. Susanna
(Stevenson) McFarland, a native either of
Kentucky or Virginia. Her father was a
scout in the war of 18 12 and saw much
active service under General 'Wayne. He
afterward received a land grant in recogni-
tion of his services. Our subject's paternal
grandfather also took part in the same war.
Mrs. Coppess was fairly well educated and
was a great bible student. Her children
were Andrew, a farmer and stock raiser of
Iowa; Adam S., our subject; Jacob P., a
farmer of Ansonia, this county; and B. F.,
now a resident of Greenville. For his sec-
ond wife the father married Rhoda Horny,
who died leaving three children : John, a
justice of the peace; and Pyrus and Peter,
both school teachers. Most of the family
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
713
held membership in the Presbyterian church
and the father was a Democrat in political
sentiment.
In an old cabin on the homestead in Rich-
land township Adam S. Coppess was born
October 2, 1833. He began his education in
a subscription school, but after attending
fifteen days he broke his arm and was forced
to remain at home for some time. At the
age of eleven he entered the public schools,
where he pursued his studies three months
during the year until he was fifteen, and
though his advantages were limited he ac-
quired a fair education. He aided his fa-
ther in the labors of the farm until seven-
teen years of age and then began earning his
own livelihood, though he remained at home
until he attained his majority. During the
following three years he managed his fa-
ther's business, and in 1857 purchased
eighty acres of It's present farm on section
24, Jackson township, which at that time
was practically new land and had to be
drained before it was ready for cultivation.
He now has a fine farm of one hundred and
ninety acres, though he at one time owned
four hundred and forty acres. He is suc-
cessfully engaged in general farming and
stock raising and also devotes some atten-
tion to the dairy business.
On the 4th of June, 1854, Mr. Coppess
married Miss Sarah A. Davison, who was
born in Richland township, this county, April
6, 1834, a daughter of Robert and Mary
(Stratton) Davison. They have five chil-
dren, all of whom were provided with good
educational advantages. James Madison,
the eldest, follows farming; Robert F. is a
druggist and physician of Alger, Ohio, and
was educated in Cincinnati ; Andrew J. is
engaged in farming on the old homestead ;
Stephen A. attended school in Toronto and
Cincinnati, and is now a veterinary surgeon
and horse dealer of Ridgeville, Ohio; and
Mary E. is the wife of George Russ, and
they have one child, Adam Paul.
In religious faith Mr. Coppess is a Uni-
versalis!, and in political sentiment is a Dem-
ocrat. He has efficiently served as road su-
pervisor, was school d'rector twenty-seven
years and clerk of the board when every
brick school house w^as built. Socially. he
is a member of Ansonia Lodge, No. 488, F.
& A. M. He is a very entertaining man,
possesses a good fund of general informa-
tion and is very hospitable.
HENRY WILLIAMS.
Henry Williams is a retired farmer of
Rossville and an honored veteran of the
civil war. He was born in Dauphin county,
Pennsylvania, July II, 1825. Before his
birth his father had died and he was reared
by Michael Castle until he was twelve years
of age. He accompanied Mr. Castle to Will-
iamsburg, Montgomery county. Ohio, and
continued under his roof for a time. He
has depended entirely upon his own efforts
since the age of twelve years. He worked
as a day laborer and as a farm hand, scorn-
ing no employment that would yield him an
honest living. As the years passed he was
enabled to save some capital, which he in-
vested in land, and its cultivation brought
to him a good financial return. He was
married January 9, 1850, to Sarah Replogle,
a daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Gos-
sand) Replogle. Since that time he has en-
gaged in farming, following agricultural
pursuits mostly in Wooster and Allen town-
ships. In 1856 he settled on a tract of land
of thirty-two acres and after the war he
added to his property until it comprised sev-
714
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
enty-three acres of rich land. He afterward
sold a portion of that, retaining possession
of forty-four acres, which he continued to
cultivate until the spring of 1883, when he
practically laid aside business cares and re-
tired to his present home, situated on a
tract of five acres of land at Rossville. In-
dustry and energy have enabled him to add
yearly to his income. He worked in the
fields, cultivated his land, and when the crops
were harvested he obtained a good return
for his labor. Putting aside some of his
earnings he is now in possession of a com-
fortable competence, which enables him to
live retired in the enjoyment of a well earned
rest. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Williams
has been blessed with nine children, — four
sons and five daughters, — all of whom are
yet living with the exception of William
Henry, who was killed by the cars. He
was born February 27, 1858, and died June
27, 1896. The other children are still liv-
ing, are married and have families of their
own and there are twenty-eight grandchil-
dren and eleven great-grandchildren living.
During the civil war Mr. Williams loy-
ally responded to the country's call for aid,
enlisting as a private on the 21st of August,
1 86 1. He was assigned to Company K, of
the Fifty-third Ohio Infantry, and for four
years faithfully defended the old flag and
the cause it represented. He was first
wounded at Resaca on the 13th of May,
1864, but remained with his company until
the 22d of July of that year, when he re-
ceived four shots in front of Atlanta, one
in the forehead, two in the right leg and
•one in the left leg! He was then sent to
Tripler hospital in Columbus, where he re-
mained until honorably discharged. From
1865 until 1875 he received a pension of
twenty- four dollars per year; for the next
eight years he received four dollars per
month, the sum then being increased to six
and later to eight dollars per month, and
since July, 1891, he has received twelve dol-
lars per month. He is a valued member of
the Grand Army of the Republic. In pol-
itics he is a stanch Republican and has served
as a township trustee and road supervisor.
At all times he is as true to his duties of
citizenship as when he defended the starry
banner upon southern battlefields.
WILLIAM TOWNSEND.
At the time of his death this gentle-
man was one of the prominent farmers of
Van Buren township. He had won by an
honorable and upright life an untarnished
name, and the record which he left be-
hind him is one well worthy of emulation.
He was born in Montgomery county, Ohio,
December 24, 1830, a son of James and
Lydia (Arnold) Townsend, who spent their
last days in Van Buren township, Darke
county. They were married in September,
1 81 8. The father was born in South Caro-
lina September 12, 1796, and died when our
subject was quite small, and the mother
was born in the Newbury district of the
same state in January, 1791 , and died when
William was fifteen years of age. He was
reared near Jaysville. this county, and after
the death of his mother remained on the old
homestead until his marriage.
It was on the 8th of February, 1855 that
Mr. Townsend wedded Miss Elizabeth Hart-
zell, who was born in Adams county, Penn-
sylvaiv'a, February 9, 1834, a daughter of
Jonas Hartzell, who is mentioned more fully
in the sketch of J. W. Hartzell on another
page of this volume. Mrs. Townsend was
but three years old when brought by her par-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
F15
ents to Darke county, Ohio, and here she
grew to womanhood, acquiring her educa-
tion in the district schools. To our subject
and his wife were born six children, namely :
Marie Belle, born December 8, 1854, mar-
ried John Markwith, and died August 31,
1885; Josephine, born September 20, 1856,
is the wife of John Bittner, of Keokuk coun-
ty, Iowa; Harrison, born November 21,
1859, is a resident of Dayton, Ohio; James
H., born April 13, 1865, lives in Van Buren
township, this county; and Elman S. and
Elmer Sherman, twins, born June 1, 1868,
are residents of Greenville township, this
county.
After his marriage Mr. Townsend con-
tinued to live on his father's old farm until
1865, when he purchased the mill in Adams
township, which he operated for four years.
He then bought one hundred and sixty acres
of land near the Abbottsville cemetery and
made his home there until his death, which
occurred June 12, 1892. In his political af-
filiations he was a Republican. He was a
consistent and faithful member of the
United Brethren church and merited and re-
ceived the confidence and high regard of all
with whom he came in contact, either in busi-
ness or social life.
AARON VAIL.
This honored and highly respected citi-
zen of Greenville township, Darke county,
where he has made his home since 1852, was
born near Middletown, Butler county, Ohio,
October 19, 1823, and is a son of Shobal
and Mary (Bunnell) Vail, natives of Penn-
sylvania and New Jersey, respectively. In
their family were eleven children, but all
are now deceased with "the exception of our
subject. His grandfather, Stephen Vail,
was one of the early settlers of Butler coun-
ty, Ohio, and was a fuller by trade.
In his native county Aaron Vail grew
to manhood and married Miss Sarah Aedy,
of that county, and to them were born eight
children, five of whom are still living, name-
ly: Daniel, B. Shobal, Stephen, Etta and
Mollie. Those deceased were Joseph, Laura
and Henrietta, nl 1852 Mr. Vail brought
his family to Darke county and subsequently
purchased one hundred and forty acres of
land in Greenville township, where he now
lives.
In 1864 he enlisted for three months in
Company H, One Hundred and Ninety-
fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and pro-
ceeded at once to Camp Dennison, where the
regiment was drilled and equipped. At that
time they were state troops, but at the re-
quest of Governor Brough they enlisted in
a body in the United States service, with
the exception of three or four men. In the
state service our subject was under the com-
mand of Captain Hyde, of Company C, and'
after the reorganization of the regiment was
under the command of Captain Gray, of
Company H. He did guard duty most of
the time. His command was first sent to
Camp New Creek, Virginia, and subse-
quently ordered down the valley to Martins-
burg. The regiment was then detailed as
wagon guard to the army train and pene-
trated to a point near Lynchburg, but the
rebels becoming too numerous for them a
retreat was made. At Greenbrier creek they
participated in quite a fight and here one of
Mr. Vail's comrades standing close to him
was killed. Our subject was mustered out
at Camp Dennison andhonorably discharged.
He had walked out of the corn field to enlist
and on his return home resumed farm work.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Vail have long been
716
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
I
active members of the Christian church of
Coalville, and politically he is identified with
the Republican party. He cast his first presi-
dential vote for Henry Clay, the great com-
moner, and he has filled the offices of town-
ship supervisor and school director, holding
the latter position several terms. He is a
gentleman of inflexible character, true in
friendship and unyielding in all that com-
prises honor. He is charitably disposed
toward the opinions of others, and although
not rich in this world's goods he gives free-
ly tn all worthy objects. He has a com-
fortable and tasteful home, graciously pre-
sided over bv his estimable wife, who has
been to him a true helpmeet.
DANIEL W. STOVER.
The substantial and energetic agricult-
urist residing on section 27, Jackson tqwn-
ship, Darke county, Ohio, whose name in-
troduces this review, was born in Mont-
gomery county, this state. December 30,
1859. His grandfather, Abraham Stover,
moved with his father to that county from
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1838,
and located eight miles west of Dayton.
where he made his home until his removal
to Preble county in 1865. He. too. was a
very energetic man and became fairly well-
to-do, owning land in Darke county be-
sides his property in Preble county. As a
young man he was unusually strong, but
died of heart disease in February, 1875, at
the age of seventy-one years. He was a
very just man. upright and honorable in all
things, and was a consistent member of the
Albright church. He' was very kind to his
family and a good neighbor and his death
was deeply mourned. He married Nancy
Landis and to them were born four children :
John, who died when a young man ; Henry,
the father of our subject; Elizabeth, who
died at the age of twenty-four years; and
Mrs. Annie Brubacker.
Henry Stover was born in Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania, in 1836, and was only
eighteen months old when the family re-
moved to Montgomery' county, Ohio, where
he was reared, receiving a fair education in
the district schools near his boyhood home.
He assisted his father until twenty years of
age and then engaged in clerking in a gen-
eral store for four years, after which he
bought out his employer and carried on the
business. During the war he sold the store
and ran the old homestead farm for one
year, at the end of which time he sold it and
bought another, where he lived two years.
On disposing of it he moved to Brookville,
Ohio, where he was engaged .in the grain
and railroad business and also kept books
at a distillery until 1868, when he purchased
one hundred and eighty acres of land on
section 2j, Jackson township, Darke coun-
ty, only thirty acres of which had been
cleared. Renting his farm he located in
L'nii in City, where he was engaged in the
stock business, his trade being mostly local,
though he shipped stock to some extent.
Later he was interested in the grain busi-
ness and built what is now known as the
Lambert warehouse, which he conducted un-
til 1876, when he sold out and lived on his
farm eight years, during which time he was
still engaged in buying and selling stock.
In 1880 he moved to Union City, Indiana,
where he was engaged in the monument
and marble business for four years and later
in the furniture business. He erected a sti ire
building at that place in partnership with
William Wright, who had also been a part-
ner of his in the sheep business, and the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
71i
firm of Stover & Wright continued in active
business until 1896, when the father of our
subject retired to his farm and built the
pretty two-story brick house now occupied
by our subject. Here he died May 22, 1899.
For twenty-eight years he was an active and
faithful member of the Union City Meth-
odist Episcopal church, in which he served
as a class leader, and when the church was
built in Jackson township transferred his
membership to that organization, serving
as a class leader until his death. His re-
ligion was manifest in his business and
private life and he had the confidence and
respect of all with whom he came in con-
tact. Politically he was a Republican, but
never sought office. He married Catherine
Frantz, a daughter of Daniel Frantz, and
born and reared in Montgomery county.
Our subject was the only child born to
this worthy couple. He came with his par-
ents to Darge county in 1868. His educa-
tion was partly obtained in this and Mont-
gomery counties and was completed in the
schools of Union City. During his boy-
hood he became thoroughly familiar with
every department of farm work, and
throughout his entire life has devoted his
time and attention to agriculture and has
met with most gratifying success. In 1880
he assumed charge of the home farm, which
he managed until his father's death. He
had previously purchased one hundred acres
and has since acquired one hundred and
twenty acres more, on which he is now suc-
cessfully engaged in general farming and
stock raising. He is also somewhat inter-
ested in tobacco culture.
In 1880 Mr. Stover was united in mar-
riage with Miss Matilda Isenhour, who was
born and- reared on a farm, a daughter of
William Isenhour. By this union were born
six children, namely: Ira H., who was
graduated at the district schools of North
Manchester and the Union City high school,
and is now taking a business course; Ella M.
and Emma C, who are students in the high
school of Union City; John H., who died
at the age of eight years; Clara E., who is
attending school; and William D., de-
ceased.
Since his father's death Mr. Stover has
served as a class leader in the Methodist
Episcopal church, of which he is a prom-
inent member. As a public spirited and
progressive citizen he takes an active inter-
est in public affairs; was instrumental in
getting free delivery established in his town-
ship and has efficiently served as a school
director for fifteen years. Politically he is
identified with the Republican party.
BENJAMIN L. GRILLOT.
Prominent among the successful teachers
of Darke county is the gentleman whose
name introduces this sketch and who is now
residing on the C. Treiber farm on section
8, Patterson township. He is a native of
this county, born in Wabash township Au-
gust 4. 1874. and is a son of Henry Grillot,
who was born in France in 1820. and was
brought to America by his parents in 1X34.
By trade the grandfather of our subject was
a stone mason. In his family were seven
children — four sons and three daughters — -
all of whom are now deceased. On attain-
ing man's estate, Henry Grillot was married,
in Darke county, in 1852, to Miss Margaret
Leona Larmanie, who was linn in Lorraine,
France, January 6, 1834, and they began
their domestic life upon a farm of one hun-
dred and sixty acres in the midst of the
forest, where the wolves were often heard
718
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
howling at night, and the deer would enter
the garden and eat the vegetables found
there. Mr. Grillot died in February, 1886,
but his wife is still living and is still very
strong and active both in mind and body.
To them were born nine children — six sons
and three daughters — namely: Lewis J.,
born in 1857, lives in Versailles; John B.
is a farmer and trustee of Wabash township ;
Mary L. married Frank Graff and died at
the age of twenty-five years, leaving three
children ; Joseph S. was severely burned at
the age of three years, and died from the ef-
fects of the same when twenty-one; he pos-
sessed great strength in his hands and
arms; Harriet is the wife of Nicholas
Gouboux and they live on the old home
farm ; Henry J. is a teacher living at French-
town; Emanuel is a blacksmith of Russia,
Shelby county, Ohio; Benjamin L. is next
in order of birth; and Margaret M. is the
wife of Ira Ashman, of Russia, Ohio. There
are also twenty-nine grandchildren.
Our subject received a liberal district-
school education and also attended school
in Versailles two terms. At the age of
nineteen he commenced teaching and has de-
voted his time and energies to that occupa-
tion for eight winters, or forty months, hav-
ing that love for his profession without
which there can be no success. During the
summer season he follows farming. On the
10th of May, 1898, Mr. Grillot was united
in marriage with Miss Louise Monnin, a
native of Shelby county, Ohio, and a daugh-
ter of Justin and Emily (Millet) Monnin.
They now have a little daughter, Emma
Leona, born October 14, 1899.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Grillot are Catholics
in religious faith and in politics he is a Dem-
ocrat, as was also his father. He is a
young man of strength and vigor of both
body and mind, which have been developed
and preserved by habits of industry and a
moral domestic life. He is wide-awake and
observing, possesses studious habits, a good
memory, keen perception and sound judg-
ment, and undoubtedly a brilliant future
awaits him.
CYRUS LITTEN.
Among the well-to-do and prosperous
agriculturists of Patterson township is
Cyrus Litten, a native of Darke county, who
was born in Monroe township, January 13,
1859. His father, Samuel Litten, was a
native of Montgomery county, this state,
and a son of James Litten. who came to
Ohio from Pennsylvania, and spent his last
days in Montgomery county. In his family
were six children, two sons and four daugh-
ters, only one of whom is now living —
Betsey, the wife of Noah Baker, of Brook-
ville. Ohio. She is now about seventy years
of age. In 1855 the father of our subject
married Lucinda Baker, also a native of
Montgomery county and a daughter of Sam-
uel and Elizabeth (Neisswanger ) Baker.
She is still living at the age of sixty-nine
years, and is very active, but the father died
in 1889, at the age of sixty-seven. In their
family were the following children : James,
who is unmarried and cultivates a small
fruit farm near Hot Springs, Arkansas;
Warren, a farmer of Montgomery county ;
Cyrus, the subject of this sketch ; David, a
farmer of Monroe township, Darke county;
Emeline, also a resident of Monroe town-
ship; Levi, a wealthy landowner of Laura,
Miami county, Ohio; Calvin, a resident of
Monroe township, Darke county; Carl, who
is unmarried and lives in this county ; Sarah,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
719
the wife of Charles Johnson ; and John, win >
died at the age of twelve years.
During his boyhood and youth Cyrus
Litten obtained a fair district-school edu-
cation, and early acquired an excellent
knowledge of every department of farm
work. He remained at home until he was
married, October i, 18S1, to Miss Amanda
Brown, of Monroe township, a daughter of
Elias and Eliza (Oaks) Brown, who are
now living with Mrs. Litten. She has two
brothers and one sister, namely : Hige, a to-
bacco grower of Monroe township ; Charles,
unmarried, and Mattie, the oldest of the
family and the wife of Eli Robinson, of
Lee county, Illinois. Four others died
young. Mr. and Mrs. Litten have one child.
Charley, who was born January 30, 1882.
After his marriage Mr. Litten had his
father-in-law's farm for a time, and then
rented land near Brookville for two years.
In 1894 he located upon his present farm of
eighty-three acres in Patterson township,
forty-three acres of which he purchased for
eighteen hundred dollars, the remaining
forty acres belonging to his father-in-law.
He is engaged in general farming and to-
bacco growing, and also raises considerable
stock, each year fattening from thirty-five
to fifty hogs for market. He also keeps cat-
tle and sheep, and three horses for doing the
farm work, besides a colt. Most of the
c<>rn which he raises — some eight hundred
bushels — he feeds to his stock. The fine
residence upon his place was erected by Mr.
Litten, but the barn was built before he lo-
cated thereon. He is a thorough and sys-
tematic farmer and a man of good business
ability, who is upright and honorable in all
his dealings. Reared as a Republican, Mr.
Litten has always affiliated with that party,
and he is a member of the Christian church.
44
Although his residence in Patterson town-
ship is of short duration, he has become well
and favorably known ami has made a host
of warm friends.
PHILIP M. FORD.
Philip M. Ford, an industrious and en-
ergetic farmer residing on section 7. Wa-
bash township, Darke county, was born in
Greene county, Ohio, December 29, 1851,
and is a son of Jacob Ford, who was prob-
ably born in the same house, November 30,
1830, as he was a native of the same town-
ship. The grandfather, David Ford, was
one of the early settlers of Ohio, where he
died in 1861. In his family were ten chil-
dren. ' In February, 185 1, Jacob Ford mar-
ried Hannah Turner, who was also born in
Greene county, May 16, 1831, and died
June 25, 1899, while his death occurred
August 19, 1887, and the remains of both
being interred in Holsapple cemetery. Their
children were Philip M., our subject; Allen,
a resident of Coldwater, Mercer county,
Ohio; Robert H., of New Weston, Darke
county; Martha Jane, the wife of Henry Gib-
son ; and David E., a mailcarrier of New
Weston. All are married and have children.
The boyhood and youth of our subject
were spent on the home farm and his edu-
cation was acquired in the common schools
of the neighborhood. He was married, Oc-
tober 8, 1874, to Miss Mary E. Birt, who
was born May 2, 1854, a daughter of John
Birt, and they have become the parents of
six children, four sons and two daughters,
namely: Stella M., who was born Decem-
ber 4. 1875. and died when nearly fifteen
years of age; Cora A., who died at the age
of six years; Harley D., aged eighteen, who
is now through school and aids his father in
rso
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the operation of the farm; Clem, aged thir-
teen; Harry G., aged ten; and Arthur Rus-
sell, aged eight years.
Mr. and Mrs. Ford began life at the
bottom of the ladder, but have met with
success owing to their industry, enterprise
and good management, and now have a good
farm of thirty-seven acres. He also culti-
vates an additional tract of eighty-eight
acres. His principal crops are corn, wheat
and oats, and he also raises horses, cattle,
sheep and hogs. Although he lives in a
Democratic township and is a strong Re-
publican, he has twice been elected township
trustee, and is now acceptably filling that
office.
WILLIAM HARRISON KIESTER,
M. D.
Dr. Kiester, one of the leading physi-
cians and a prominent resident of Arcanum.
Ohio, was born on the Benjamin Bushore
farm in Newton township, Miami county,
July 5, 1857, and is a son of Peter K. and
Mary (Bushore) Kiester, both natives of
Pennsylvania, the former born in Buffalo
Valley, Union county, the latter near Mif-
flintown, Juniata county. His paternal
grandfather, John Kiester, died in Buffalo
Valley, but the maternal grandparents, Ben-
jamin and Susannah Bushore, spent their
last days in this state. The parents of our
subject came to Ohio with the Bushore fam-
ily and first located in Greene county, but
later removed to Newton township, Miami
county, where the father engaged in farm-
ing until his death, which occurred August
24, 1875. His widow subsequently removed
to Troy, where she still resides. She is a
devout Christian, a member of the German
Baptist church.
In the family of this worthy couple were
five children, of whom our subject is the
youngest. John married Lavina Cauffman
and is now living retired in Dayton, Ohio.
Simon W., born in Newton township, Mi-
ami county, in 1.842, was reared as a farmer
boy, and at the age of seventeen entered the
National Normal School at Lebanon, where
ha spent several summers as a student, while
he followed teaching during the winter
months. At the age of twenty-one he en-
tered the Jefferson Medical College, of Phil-
adelphia, at which he was graduated four
years later. He began practice at Laura,
Miami county, but is now living retired upon
his farm in Newton township. He married
Sophia Williams, October 6, 1867. Louisa,
the next member of the family, is the widow
of Dr. John Senseman, of Tippecanoe City,
Ohio. Benjamin F. was graduated at the
Ohio Medical College, in 1875, and was a
successful practitioner at Arcanum for sev-
eral years, but has lived retired at Dayton
View since 1895. He married Sally J. Hill
who died in Arcanum. Susan is the wife of
J. L. Norris, of San Diego, California.
Dr. Kiester remained on the home farm
until eighteen years of age. About that
time his father built a residence in Troy
with the intention of locating there, but
was taken sick and died after a short illness.
After this sad event the mother and our
subject, then the only child at home, moved
to Troy. He obtained his early education
in the common schools of Pleasant Hall and
the Covington high school, and later spent
two years at the Lebanon Normal School,
at the same time reading medicine when he
found opportunity. Subsequently he was
engaged in the grain business at Troy with
his brother-in-law, John Lee Norris, under
the firm style of Norris and Kiester. This
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
721
was a wide-awake, energetic firm, and soon
their ambition led them to St. Louis, where
they purchased a sugar refinery fitted up
with all the latest improved machinery. It
was in splendid running order when un-
fortunately it was destroyed by fire. They
removed what machinery was left to Dayton,
Ohio, there formed a stock company, and
built a large sugar refinery, which was con-
ducted under the name of the Dayton Sugar
Refining Company, with J. K. Jeeter as
president; Mr. Norris, vice-president, and
Dr. Kiester, superintendent. The capital
stock was seventy-five thousand dollars, but
was afterward increased to one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars.
At the end of two years Dr. Kiester
withdrew from the firm and took up the
study of medicine with his brother, Dr. S.
W. Kiester, who was then at Troy, and after
spending one year with him entered the
Ohio Medical College, being graduated with
the class of 1889. He located at Arcanum,
where both of his brothers were then en-
gaged in practice, but have since retired.
Bv merit alone our subject has built up a
large and lucrative practice and is considered
one of the most successful physicians in
Darke county.
He is a member of the American Med-
ical Society, the Ohio Medical Society, and
the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 341, of Ar-
canum. The Doctor is a man of integrity
and strong personality, is kind, open-hearted
and generous, and as he has a pleasing man-
ner and is an engaging conversationalist, he
makes many friends, and has the happy fac-
ulty of being able to retain them.
On the 1st of December, 1886, Dr.
Kiester was united in marriage to Mary
Elizabeth Williams, of Mystic, Connecticut,
and to them have been born two children,
Edith and Forrest Mabel, both in school.
Mrs. Kiester's parents were William and
Mary Elizabeth (Williams) Williams. From
Connecticut her father went to Wernersville,
Wisconsin, where he invested in timber
lands and rafted lumber down the river to
St. Louis, Missouri. After making one of
three trips he was taken ill at St. Louis, and
died there February 25, i860. He was
born May 29, 1823.
GEORGE RUH.
Among the representative farmers liv-
ing in Darke county is George Ruh. When
we examine into the secret of his success in
life we find that prosperity has come to him
as the legitimate outcome of earnest pur-
pose and well directed and honorable effort.
His ancestry may be traced back to the
province of Alsace or Lorraine, which prov-
inces have been contested territory be-
tween the nations of Germany and France
throughout the greater part of the nine-
teenth century. The name was origin-
ally La Ruh. which indicates that it was
of French origin, but the orthography has
been changed to the present form. The
representative of whom we write is regarded
as one of the practical and progressive agri-
culturists of Brown township, where he is
a well known and respected citizen.
He was born September 4, 1862, his par-
ents being Anton and Barbara (Ring) Ruh.
His father was born in the little village of
Hoppelrochdeck. January 3, 1S19. This
little village is located on the eastern bank
of the beautiful river Rhine, whose vineclad
hills are far famed in story and in song,
while its picturesque scenery, adorned by
many a castle of baronial days, has formed
the setting for numerous events of historical
(.2
99
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
importance. Mr. Rub grew to manhood in
the Fatherland and obtained his education in
his native tongue. He was a man of strong
mentality, an apt student and an excellent
mathematician. He was reared to agricult-
ural pursuits, and after arriving at years of
maturity he decided to come to America,
hoping to better his financial condition in the
new world. Accordingly he crossed the
Atlantic, taking passage on a German
sailing vessel, which after a voyage of six
weeks reached the harbor of New Orleans. ■
Before sailing, however, he had completed
the required term of service in the German
army. He arrived in the Crescent City
in 1854 and the following year made his
way to Cincinnati, Ohio. Two years later
he arrived in Preble county and in 1867
came to Darke county, locating just north
of Greenville, where he entered a tract of
government land. To this he added as his
financial resources increased and at the time
of his death was the owner of a valuable
estate comprising three hundred and ninety
acres, all in Greenville and Brown town-
ships. While in Cincinnati he worked for
a time in a butter factory. His success was
well merited, for earnest labor formed the
keynote of his prosperity. His business
methods were reliable and in all transactions
he was just and honest. In politics he was
a Republican and he was frequently urged
to become a candidate for office, but always
refused, preferring to devote his energies
to his private business interests. He was
charitable and benevolent, contributing liber-
al lv to many good causes, and at the time of
the erection of the beautiful St. John's Ger-
man Lutheran church in Greenville town-
ship, he aided substantially in the work by
liberal contributions. His wife, a native of
Germany, was also a devout Lutheran in her
religious belief. The father died Novem-
ber 28, 1897, leaving four children. In the
family were three sons and two daughters,
our subject being the second in order of
birth. He is now the oldest living repre-
sentative of the family, the others being:
Mary, the w:ife of Max Hoffman, a resident
of Greenville township; Daniel, a farmer,
who superintends the old homestead in
Greenville township ; and Barbara, who is
living with her brother, Daniel.
George Ruh, wdiose name introduces
this review, was reared in Darke county
from his sixth year, at which time he ac-
companied his parents on their removal
hither. He acquired a common-school edu-
cation and has added to his knowledge by
reading, observation and experience, so that
he is now a well informed man. His par-
ents enjoyed the benefit of his labor wages
until he attained his majority^ and in the
practical training of the home farm he be-
came familiar with all the duties that fall
to the lot of the agriculturist. As a com-
panion and helpmate on life's journey he
chose Miss Follie Henning, the wedding be-
ing celebrated on the 19th of December,
1883. The lady is one of Darke county's
native daughters, born July 19, 1864, and
is the third in a family of five children,
whose parents were Jacob and Lovina
(Hines) Henning. The father was born in
Darke county, December 11, 1832, and is
now living in Greenville township. His
entire life has been devoted to the work of
the farm and he has ever been industrious
and enterprising. He is a man of strong,,
clear intellect and of sterling worth, and
the family name has been tarnished by no
act of his. A Democrat in his political
affiliations, he is stanch in the support of
the party, yet has never been an aspirant
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
723
for office. He and his wife are members
o: the United Brethren church of Greenville
township known as Zion church. Mrs.
Henning was born in Darke county, July
iS, 1835, and is still living. Her father,
Samuel Hines, came to Ohio from the Key-
stone state, driving over the mountains to
Ohio when the roads were little better than
Indian trails and when the paths through the
forest were marked by blazed trees. He
arrived in the state when the reel men were
far more numerous than the white settlers
and took up his abode in Darke county when
the now beautiful city of Greenville, with
its population of seventy-five hundred, had
only one house in it. The children of Mr.
and Mrs. Henning who now survive are :
Samuel, a resident of Greenville township;
Mrs. Run; Lulu, the wife of Charles Eb-
eling, an agriculturist of Darke county; and
Henry, who is married and follows farm-
ing in Greenville township. Two sons and a
daughter grace the marriage of our subject
and his wife, the eldest being Harry J., who
was educated in the common schools and is
now a stock dealer. Maudie D. is an apt pupil
in school and has made marked progress in
music. The youngest child is Earlie A.,
also a student in school. Mrs. Ruh has been
■to her husband a faithful counselor and has
been to her children a kind and affectionate
mother.
'When Mr. and Mrs. Ruh began their
domestic life they located upon a rented
farm — a part of the old homestead — and
there they remained until 1893, when Mr.
Ruh embarked in merchandising in Ansonia.
He carried on business there for about two
years, after which he returned to the farm
and again rented land. He is today, how-
ever, the owner of eighty acres of the old
homestead and has a valuable property,
which has been largely acquired through his
own efforts. He has made excellent im-
provements upon the place, and there are
now to be seen good buildings, well kept
fences and excellent machinery. He is a
man of marked thrift, idleness and indo-
lence being utterly foreign to his nature.
His property, too, has been so honorably ac-
quired that the most envious could not
grudge him his success. He has been as-
sisted by his estimable wife, who is an ex-
cellent manager and has made her home
most pleasant and attractive to her family.
Mr. Ruh is a Democrat in his political affil-
iations, having supported the party since
casting his first presidential vote for Grover
Cleveland. He has served as school director
for nine years, and during this long term has
done effective service for the cause of edu-
cation. He is a charter member of the
Darke County Horse Thief and Protective
Association. His wife belongs to the Unit-
ed Brethren church at Rossville, and he has
aided in the erection of four different
churches in the county, the Lutheran, Unit-
ed Brethren, Methodist and Christian.
Both he and Mrs. Ruh enjoy the high regard
of all who know them, for they are recog-
nized as people of sterling worth and in-
tegrity. With pleasure we present the rec-
ord of their lives to our readers, knowing
that it will prove of interest to many, for
they have a wide circle of acquaintances in
Darke county, their circle of friends being
almost co-extensive therewith.
MRS. PHEBE FRY.
This old and honored resident of Darke
county, whose home is on section 14, Xeave
township, was born in Liberty, Montgomery
724
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
county, Ohio, September 26, 18 19, and is a
daughter of David Jeffries, who was born
and reared in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
and was a hatter by trade. He was a soldier
in the war of 181 2. After his marriage he
settled in Montgomery county, in 1812, and
there his wife died when Mrs. Fry was about
nine years old, leaving three daughters, who
were bound out, as their father went away
and left them.
Mrs. Fry passed her girlhood in Preble
county, and there married Thompson Fry,
also a native of Montgomery county. At
length they came to Darke county and set-
tled in Neave township, where Mr. Fry en-
gaged in farming until called to his final rest
August 16, 1882, at the age of sixty-two
years. Eleven children were born to this
worthy couple, namely : Rachel ; Catherine,
deceased ; Cornelius and Sarah, twins ; An-
drew ; John : Allen ; Eliza Ann. who died at
the age of three years; Mary Jane; Frances
Ann ; and Margaret. All were born in Neave
township, where for sixty years Mrs. Fry
has now made her home. Although now
well advanced in life she is still well pre-
served and quite active for one of her age.
She is a most estimable lady, whose circle
of friends and acquaintances is extensive.
JOHN McNUTT.
Darke county has many well-to-do and
successful farmers, who have accumulated
what they have of this world's goods through
individual effort. Among this class the
name of the subject of this notice is entitled
to a place. He now owns a well improved
and highly cultivated farm of one hundred
and eighty-one acres on section 25, Neave
townsbip, where he is industriously engaged
in the prosecution of his noble calling and is
meeting wth good success.
Mr. McNutt was born June 9, 1837, in
Harrison township, Preble county, Ohio, of
which his father, Peter McNutt, was also a
native. The grandfather, Alexander McNutt,
was from Tennessee and located in Harrison
township, Preble county, as early as 1806,
taking up a tract of government land, upon
which he spent the remainder of his life. He
was eighty-four years of age at the time of
his death, while three of his sons, including
the father of our subject, lived to the age of
eighty-six, and the last one of the brothers
died in Indiana, in 1900, at the age of eighty-
five vears. The family was of Irish descent,
the great-grandfather of our subject having
been a native of Ireland and an early settler
of Tennessee. Peter McNutt, who through-
out life followed farming, married Margaret
Vantage, also a native of Preble county,
Ohio, and a representative of one of its pio-
neer families. Her ancestors were from
Maryland and are supposed to have been of
Dutch descent. To Mr. and Mrs. McNutt
were born eleven children, and with one ex-
ception all grew to manhood or woman-
hood, while six are still living.
Of this family our subject is the third
in order of birth, and the only one living in
Darke county. In the county of his nativity
he grew to manhood and was there married,
in October, 1858, to Miss Charlotte J. Aik-
man, who also was born in Harrison town-
ship, Preble county. In 1807 her father
came to Greenville, Ohio, and settled on Mar-
tin Hill with his family, but at the time the
Wilson children were killed by the Indians
they moved south for protecton. This was
during his boyhood. Mrs. McNutt is de-
ceased and the oldest of their three children
died in infancy. Those living are Aphala
N.. the wife of Jacob M. Trick; and Benja-
min F. In 1875 our subject was again mar-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
725
ried, his second union being with Eliza L.
Brundage. a native of Pennsylvania, by
whom he had four children, namely : Joseph
U.j deceased; and Orville A., John E. and
Susan H.. all at home.
Mr. McNutt continued his residence in
Harrison township, Preble county, until
1 86 1, when he came to Darke county, but
after spending two years here he removed to
West Sonora, Preble county, where he was
engaged in threshing for ten years. At the
end of that period he purchased his present
farm on section 25, Neave township, and
has since devoted his energies to agricultural
pursuits, which he had followed previous to
his removal to West Sonora. As a boy he
started out in life for himself with only fifty
cents in his pocket, and his accumulations
are the result of his own industry, enter-'
prise, perseverance and economy. For three
years he worked as a day laborer and also
chopped wood by the cord. Saving his mon-
ey, he was at length able to purchase land and
engage in farming on his own account. Po-
litically he is a stanch Democrat.
JACOB HOLLINGER.
Upon a good farm on section 5, Butler
township, Jacob Hollinger resides. He was
born in Darke county, November 17, 1859.
His father, Moses Hollinger, is a retired
farmer living in Neave township. He was
born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, No-
vember 28, 1828, a son of Daniel Hollinger,
a native of Germany or of Pennsylvania.
In 1835 he removed to Miami county. Ohio.
He wedded Miss Landers, of Pennsylvania,
and they became the parents of twelve chil-
dren : Willie, who died at the age of three
years; Anna, who died at the age of twenty-
one; Samuel, who died at the age of twenty-
three; Daniel, a farmer of Harrison town-
ship; Joseph, a resident farmer of Frank-
lin township; Jacob, of this review; Fanny,
the wife of A. S. Archer; Lizzie, who is
acting as housekeeper for her father ; Moses
W., a resident of North Manchester, Indi-
ana; Emanuel, who makes his home in Man-
ville, Texas ; Rebecca, the wife of Will-
iam Senseman, of Pleasant Hill, Miami coun-
ty; Eli, who is living in Logan county,
Ohio; and Edward, whose residence is in
Montgomery county. The mother of these
children died in 1881, when about forty-six
years of age. The father was afterward
again married arid is now living retired on
his little farm of one hundred and sixty-
nine acres.
Jacob Hollinger, of this review, re-
ceived a limited education in the district
schools, for his services were needed on the
home farm, and from an early day he as-
sisted in the labors of the fields, continuing
with his parents until he had attained his
majority, when he started out in life on
his own account. He was for a time en-
gaged in working as a farm hand and raised
tobacco and potatoes. His labors, ener-
getically prosecuted, have brought to him
success. As a companion and helpmate on
life's journey he chose Miss Frances Brown,
a daughter of Reuben Brown. They were
married February 2$, 1887, and a year later
he purchased ten acres of his present farm.
Two years afterward he bought a forty-
acre tract and later bought an additional
tract of fifteen acres, but has since sold five
acres, so that he now owns sixty acres. He
carries on general farming and his wife
superintends the gardening and housework.
Their united efforts have brought to them
726
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
creditable success and they are now doing
well in life. Their union has been blessed
with two children: John Irvin, who was
born November 24, 1888; and Edna Esther,
born January 24, 1890.
Mr. Hollinger is somewhat independent
in his political views, his preference, how-
ever, being more strongly in favor of Re-
publican principles. Both he and his wife
hold membership in the German Baptist
church. Mrs. Hollinger has been to her
husband indeed a faithful companion and
helpmate, always willingly assisting him in
his work, even going into the fields if nec-
essary. He is a true and honest farmer who
has had many difficulties and obstacles to
overcome, but has steadily persevered and
has worked his way upward to a leading-
position among the representative farmers
of his community.
JACOB REPLOGLE.
Among the old and honored residents of
Mississinawa township, Darke county, Ohio,
none stand higher in public esteem than
Jacob Replogle, who for many years has
successfullv engaged in farming on section
14- He was born in Germantown, Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, June 30, 1821, and is
a son of Philip Replogle. a yeoman farmer
of Pennsylvania, who was born in that state
about 1777 and died in Cincinnati, Ohio,
in 1853. About 179S the father married
Elizabeth Gothard, who was born in the ill-
fated city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in
1780. About 181 5 they came to German-
town, this state, floating down the Ohio
river on a flatboat to Cincinnati. At that
time the father was in humble circumstances.
He never accumulated wealth, though he
was a natural mechanic and skilled workman.
very strong and industrious. In 1848 he
purchased eighty acres of the farm in Mis-
sissinawa township, Darke county, where
our subject now resides, paying for the same
in state bonds at one dollar and a half per
acre. 'When he located here his nearest
neighbor was seven miles away and the coun-
try round about was almost an unbroken for-
est. He added to his farm until he had one
hundred and fifteen acres. In his family
were fourteen children, four sons and ten
daughters, all of whom reached manhood or
womanhood, with the exception of one
daughter.
Our subject is the eleventh in order of
birth in this family and is now the only sur-
vivor. He had verv poor educational ad-
vantages during his boyhood, but has made
the most of his opportunities throughout life
and is now a well informed man. He owns
a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres,
which includes the old homestead, and has
successfully engaged in its operation, being
a systematic and thorough farmer. One
year he raised fifteen hundred bushels of
wheat, and has raised sixty bushels of corn
per acre upon a tract of seventy acres.
On the 16th of March. 1843, Mr,
Replogle was united in marriage with Miss
Abbie Jones, who was born October 1, 1826,
in Butler county, Ohio, five miles from Ox-
ford, and is a daughter of Abram and Re-
becca (Pierson) Jones, farming people,
who moved from New Jersey to Ohio in a
covered wagon and settled in Butler county.
In the Jones family were eleven children,
six sons and five daughters, of whom David
died at the age of twelve years, Polly at the
age of eighteen, after which there was not
a death in the family for sixty years ; but
only three of the children are now living,
namely : Edward, aged eighty years, who is
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
727
living in Mercer county, Ohio ; ,Abbie, the
wife of our subject ; and James, aged seven-
ty-three years, who is living in Gibson,
Mercer county. The mother was a widow
for many years and died in 1883, at the ad-
vanced age of ninety-two.
To Mr. and Mrs. Replogle were born
fourteen children, of whom twelve are still
living, namely: Elizabeth, the wife of Mr.
Rohr, of Mississinawa township; Rebecca
Ann, the wife of William Wintrade; Mar-
garet, the wife of John L. Whitney; Mar}-,
the wife of Curtis A. Richardson ; Harriet
A., the wife of Charles State; F. Marion,
a physician of Lightsville ; Martha E., the
wife of E. Richardson; George Washing-
ton, who lives near Rossville ; Abraham
Lincoln, a farmer of Darke county; William
Grant, also a resident of Darke county ;
Jacob S., who married Jennie McOwens, and
lives on the home farm; and Sarah A., the
wife of Ellsworth Kino-. With one excep-
tion all have children of their own.
In early life Mr. Replogle was a fine
marksman and a great hunter, killing as
many as seven deer in one day. His father
was also fond of that sport. In his political
affiliations our subject is a stanch Republi-
can, and he takes an active and commendable
interest in public affairs.
LUTHER MARTIX.
Luther Martin, an enterprising agricult-
urist of Harrison township, residing on sec-
tion 10, was born in Baltimore county,
Maryland, February 2, 1840. His father,
Luther Martin, Sr., was a farmer of that
state and was born there in 1805. Having
arrived at years of maturity, he married
Betsev Armacost, and they became the par-
ents of fifteen children. One son died at
the age of four years, a daughter at the
age of twelve and another child at the age
of fifteen, but the remaining twelve all
reached mature years, while with the ex-
ception of one son and one daughter all
were married. The nine now living are as
follows : Henry, who is a farmer of Mary-
land and lives upon the old home farm
where the father settled over seventy-five
years ago; Jabez, who also follows agri-
cultural pursuits; Joshua, who is living in
Baltimore ; Caleb, who is a resident of Mary-
land; Ephraim, who is living in the same
state, as is also John Thomas ; Luther is
the next of the family, and the younger
brothers are Charles Wesley and Henry.
No event of special importance occurred
to vary the monotony of farm life upon the
home farm where Luther Martin was reared.
He has alwavs devoted his time and at-
tention to agricultural pursuits and the prac-
tical training of his youth well fitted him
for a prosperous career in his later life. As
a companion and helpmate on life's journey
he chose Miss Louisa J. Purvine, but she
survived their marriage only two years,
leaving a son, Lew W. Martin, who died
at the age of twenty-four years, survived by
a wife, one son and one daughter. In
Greene county, Ohio, on the 26th of Octo-
ber, 1871, Mr. Martin was again married,
his second union being with Catherine
Keefer, whose birth occurred in that county,
January 7, 1843, her parents being John and
Mary Ann (Flatter) Keefer, farming people
of Greene county. In their family were
four children : James, now deceased ; John
W., who is living in Prophetstown, Illinois;
Mrs. Martin; and Martha E., the wife of
Stephen Campbell. After the death of the
mother of this family, the father was again
married and had two children by that union.
728
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
He died in 1894, at the age of seventy-eight
years. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Martin
has been blessed with six children, who are
yet living: Oscar E., a farmer of Harrison
township, who is married and has two chil-
dren, a son and daughter; Luella May, the
wife of George Wolfel, by whom she has
two children; Pearl, the wife of James E.
Irelan, a farmer living near Hollansburg;
Virgil, who assists in the operation of the
home farm; Colonel L., who also works on
the home farm ; and Carrie Edith, who com-
pletes the family.
In March, 1863, Mr. Martin removed to
Harrison township and worked by the month
as a farm hand. After his wife's death he
sold this property and broke up housekeep-
ing, his little son being cared for bv his
grandmother Purvine. The first farm which
he owned was a tract of seventy-seven acres
in German township, and in 1883 he pur-
chased his present farm of one hundred and
seventy acres in Harrison township. To this
he has added fifteen acres. He carries on
mixed farming and is very practical and
progressive in his business methods. He
raises corn and wheat — between thirty-five
and forty hundred bushels of corn and about
two thousand bushels of wheat annually.
He has also raised live stock, selling as high
as seventy-five hogs in one year. His hi ime
farm is well improved and developed, and
in addition to this he owns a tract of eighty-
three acres and a second tract of forty-three
acres, which farms are cultivated by his son
and son-in-law. His life has been one of
industry, carefully guided by sound judg-
ment, and his success has been the legitimate
result of his own labors. In politics he is
a Democrat. In religious belief his wife is
a Methodist, holding her membership in a
church of that denomination.
ARTHUR L. CLARK.
Arthur L. Clark, now serving as prose-
cuting attorney of Darke county, is num-
bered among the native sons of the city of
Greenville, his birth having occurred here
on the 1 6th of October, 1873. He is de-
scended from good old Revolutionary stock,
his great-grandfather being a native of
England, who in his youth crossed the At-
lantic to America. When the yoke of British
oppression became intolerable and the col-
onies determined to make a struggle for in-
dependence through the art of war he joined
the troops and aided in the struggle. His
son, Samuel Clark, the grandfather of our
subject, was a native of Pennsylvania; and
Benjamin H. Clark, the father of our sub-
ject, was born in Pennsylvania, in Septem-
ber, 1821. With his parents he removed
from the Keystone state to Darke county,
in 1 83 1, locating upon a farm in Washing-
ton township. He married Miss Mary
Martin, who was born in Ohio, in March,
1830, and with her parents removed to
Washington township.
Arthur L. Clark has spent his entire life
in Greenville. He attended the schools of
his native city and later continued his edu-
cation in Springfield, Ohio, no event of spe-
cial importance occurring to vary the usual
boy life of the period. Determining to make
the practice of law his life work, he pursued
his studies under the direction of the firm
of Elliott & Chenowith, and was admitted
1 1 the bar in 1895. He then began the prac-
tice of law in Greenville, and his earnest
purpose, his careful preparation and his un-
derstanding of judicial principles soon:
gained him a place among the leading at-
torneys of the city. In 1897 he was nom-
inated on the Democratic ticket as a candi-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
729'
date for prosecuting attorney of Darke
county, won the election and entered upon
the discharge of his duties in January, 1898,
and his service has been acceptable, owing to
the fidelity and ability with which he dis-
charges his duties. He is quick to recog-
nize the strong points in the case and pre-
sents them logically to court and jury. So-
cially he is connected with the order of
Knights of Pythias.
CONRAD KIPP.
The name of Kipp has been connected
with the drug business of Greenville for
forty-five years and the subject of this re-
view is now at the head of the wholesale and
retail drug house in which business is car-
ried on under the firm name of William
Kipp's Sons. An enterprising merchant,
sagacious, far-sighted and reliable, he sus-
tains an enviable reputation in trade circles
in Darke county, where he is widely known.
Born in the city which is still his home,
September 2$, i860, be is a son of William
Kipp. a retired merchant of Greenville, who
was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, on the
13th of April, 1832. In the Fatherland he
acquired a liberal education, attending school
continuously between the ages of six and
fourteen years. When twenty years of age
he emigrated to America, arriving in New
York city in September, 1851, after a voy-
age of twenty-three days upon a sailing
vessel which weighed anchor at Antwerp.
Mr. Kipp made his way westward to Cincin-
nati, Ohio, where he was employed on the
railroad for four months, and in the spring
of 1853 he went to Dayton, Ohio, whence
he came to Greenville, in September of that
year. Here he has since made his home,
and from a humble position he arose to a
prominent place in mercantile circles and is
now living retired, the capital he has ac-
quired being sufficient to supply him with all
the necessities and many of the luxuries of
life. When he arrived here he had only
sixty cents. After following the business
of tonsorial artist for two years, he became
associated with Conrad Shively in the drug
trade, under the firm name of Shively &
Kipp, continuing the same until 1872, when
the partnership was dissolved by the death
of Mr. Shively. Mr. Kipp then became the
sole proprietor and carried a large line of
such goods as are usually found in a first-
class drug store. His patronage steadily
increased, bringing to him a good income,
and he continued in the business until 1887,
when he was succeeded by bis sons, under
the firm name of William Kipp's Sons.
The father was united in marriage, in the
spring of 1857, to Miss Barbara C. Rich,
who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany,
in 1834. They became the parents of eight
children, of whom two are now deceased.
The living are Emma, Bertha, Conrad. Au-
gust. William and Edward.
Conrad Kipp. the eldest son and the im-
mediate subject of this review, was reared
in Greenville and educated in the public
schools, receiving his business training in
his father's store which he entered in the ca-
pacity of clerk at an early age. spending the
months of vacation there. He is now a regis-
tered pharmacist and has a thorough under-
standing of the practical management of a
large and complete store. The firm occupies a
fine business block on the public square, at
the corner of Broadway, 22x99 feet and
three stories in height. They sell both to
the wholesale and retail trade and carry a
large stock of drugs and medicines, paints,.
730
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
oils, varnishes, glass, wall paper, etc., and
their patronage is now quite extensive.
Conrad Kipp was united in marriage to
Miss Laura Mearick, a daughter of William
and Eliza Mearick, and a representative of
a prominent old family of Darke county.
They have many warm friends in this lo-
cality and enjoy the hospitality of many
of the best homes of the neighborhood.
S. WILLIAM ALLREAD.
This well-known citizen of Greenville,
Ohio, now holds the responsible position of
manager for the firm of J. P. Wolf & Son,
extensive dealers in leaf tobacco at Dayton.
He was born in the village of Arcanum,
Darke county, in 1863, and is a son of Isaac
and Christina (Honk) Allread, both natives
of this state, the former born near Hamilton,
in Butler county, and the latter in Warren
county. The father was an early settler of
Darke county, as were also our subject's
maternal grandparents, Jacob and Abigail
(Shepperd) Honk.
The boyhood of S. William Allread was
passed in his native village, where he at-
tended the public schools, but after losing
his father, when thirteen years of age, he
went to live with his uncle, Stephen Allread,
111 De Lisle, Darke county, and remained
with him until attaining his twentieth year.
For the following three years he was vari-
ously employed, but at the end of that time
became interested in the tobacco business as
an employe of George W. Whation, a dealer
111 leaf tobacco, with whom he remained for
two years. Subsequently he was similarly
employed by A. L. Jones, now the post-
master of Greenville, and was with him
five years. He has since continued his con-
nection with the leaf tobacco trade, workino-
for William Breno, now a member of con-
gress, for five years, and at the end of that
time accepted his present position in the em-
ploy of J. P. Wolf & Son, of Dayton, hav-
ing charge of their business in Greenville,
where they own a warehouse. His exten-
sive acquaintance throughout the country,
and his large practical experience in handling
leaf tobacco, make him well qualified for the
responsible position he is now filling to the
entire satisfaction of the company. He is
a most competent manager and a good busi-
ness man.
In 1887 Mr. Allread was united in mar-
riage with Miss Mary Graham, of Green-
ville, a daughter of John W. Graham, and
to them have been born three children, name-
ly: Merley C, Roy and William. Socially
Mr. Allread is a member of the Modern
Woodmen of America, and politically is a
stanch Republican, now serving as a com-
mitteeman for the third ward.
FRANCIS MARION REPLOGLE, M. D.
Dr. Replogle, who is now successfully
engaged in the nractice of medicine and sur-
gery in Lightsville, Darke county, Ohio,
was born near that place, September 9, 1854,
a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Jones) Replogle^
also natives of this state, the former born
in Germantown, Montgomery county, June
30, 1821, the latter in Butler county, in 1825.
The Doctor's paternal grandfather was
Philip Replogle, who came to Ohio from
Pennsylvania when a young man and set-
tled in Germantown. The father became a
successful farmer of Mississinawa township,
Darke county. In his family were fourteen
children, of whom twelve— five sons and
seven daughters— are still living, are mar-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
731
ried and with one exception have children
of their own.
The Doctor grew to manhood upon the
home farm and received a good practical
education in the common schools, which
well fitted him for teaching, a profession
which he successfully followed at intervals
from 1878 to 1 89 1. In the meantime he
attended the Miami Medical College at Cin-
cinnati, where he was graduated in 1895,
with the degree of M. D., and was first en-
gaged in practice at Salem, Indiana, but in
1896 he located in Lightsville, Ohio, where
he is the only physician engaged in regular
practice. His skill and ability soon won
him a liberal patronage, and he is now meet-
ing with most excellent success. Dr.
Replogle was married, November 1, 1883,
to Miss Anna Belle Weaver, a native of
Darke county and a daughter of Elijah and
Sarah (Elmore) Weaver, both deceased.
She is one of a family of six children, four
sons and two daughters.
CHARLES BAKER, M. D.
Among the enterprising and well in-
formed representatives of the medical pro-
fession, whose services have been of great
benefit to mankind, is Dr. Charles Baker.
He is a young man, but his ability and suc-
cess are by no means limited by his years,
for he has already gained a reputation which
many an older practitioner might well envy.
He was born December 3, 1872, and is the
third in a family of seven children — three
sons and four daughters — whose parents
were Harry and Lucinda ( Weyright) Baker.
The father was born'in either Darke or Mont-
gomery county, on the 3d of July, 1837,
and attained the age of forty-seven years,
passing away on the 24th of August, 1884.
The common school afforded him his edu-
cational privileges and he was trained to the
duties and labors of the farm, becoming
an enterprising and successful agriculturist.
He gave his political support to the men and
measures of the Democracy, and he and his
wife were members of the German Baptist
church. The latter is a native of Miami
county, Ohio, born about 1845, and is still
living, her home being now in Flora, Indi-
ana. One of their daughters, Kate, is the
wife of Rev. L. H. Eby, a resident of Mound
City, Missouri, and two sisters, Maggie and
Ada, have successfully engaged in teaching
ia Darke county.
Dr. Baker, whose name introduces this
review, spent the greater part of his minority
in his parents' home, which was one of
culture, and he was carefully reared to hab-
its of industry and honesty. Not wishing
to make farming his life work, he determined
to enter professional life and his choice fell
upon the practice of medicine. For many
years he had that end in view and bent every
energy toward preparing himself for his
chosen calling. His preliminary literary
training was received in the district schools,
where he manifested special aptitude in his
studies, securing a teacher's certificate at a
very early age. He was also for a time a
student of the high school at West Milton,
Ohio, where he took a short scientific course.
He afterward engaged in teaching in his
home district at Baker's store, in Neave
township, Darke county. He taught for
about four years, during which time he
carefully saved his money. He read medi-
cine under the direction of Dr. Martz, a
physician of high rank in Darke county,
and a year later entered upon a college
course, matriculating in the class of 1894 as
a student in the Medical College of the state
732
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of Ohio, at Cincinnati. This institution has
borne high rank since its establishment in
1 819, and within its walls Dr. Baker pursued
a thorough course of study, being gradu-
ated in the class of 1899, which numbered
thirty-eight students. His course included
both materia medica and surgery. After his
graduation he located in Stelvidio, Ohio, in
May, and has since become well established
in his chosen profession, winning a liberal
patronage as the result of his uniform
courtesy, combined with a high degree of
medical skill. He keeps abreast with the
times in his profession by a careful study of
the best medical journals bearing upon dis-
eases and their treatment. He has a well
equipped surgical case, but prefers the prac-
tice of medicine to that of surgery. His
practice extends widely over the townships
of Greenville, Richland and Adams, and we
have every reason to predict for him a very
successful future in his profession.
On the 25th of May, 1899, the Doctor
was united in marriage to Miss Flora M.
Jefferis, a native of German township. She
was educated in the common schools, was
also a student in the Greenville high school
and received a teacher's certificate. Her
.parents were prominent citizens of Darke
county. Both the Doctor and his wife oc-
cupy an enviable position in social circles
and enjoy the hospitality of the best homes
in his locality. In politics he is a Demo-
crat, who keeps well informed upon the is-
sues of the day and is frequently chosen as
a delegate to the county and congressional
conventions. He cast his first presidential
vote for William J. Bryan, the brilliant
orator and free silver champion. The cause
of education receives his loyal and unfalter-
ing support, for he realizes its importance
in the affairs of life and does all in his
power to secure good schools. He is a
charter member of the Darke County Med-
ical Association, which was organized in
January, 1900, and embraces the best talent
of the profession in the county. His public
and private careers are alike commendable,
and his marked ability insures his continued
advancement along professional lines.
JOHN SWINGER.
John Swinger is one of Painter Creek's
highly respected citizens whose useful and
well-spent life has not only gained for him
the confidence of his fellow men but has also
secured for him a comfortable competence
which enables him to lay aside all business
cares and spend his declining days in ease
and retirement.
Our subject's paternal grandfather was
George Schwinger, as he spelled the name,
who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany.
There he owned a little land and engaged in
farming to some extent, but principally
worked as a day laborer. He married Eliz-
abeth Stout, and to them were born four
children, namely: Jacob, the father of our
subject; Rosanna, who first married a Mr.
Hughey and located in Indiana, and sec-
ondly, Franz Metz ; Conrad, who married
Mary Ann Emerch and died near Kokomo,
Indiana; and an infant, who died at sea.
About 1812 the grandfather, with his fam-
ily sailed for the United States and met
with terrible suffering and distress on the
voyage. Terrific storms drove the vessel
out of its course along the coast of Green-
land. The masts and sails were swept over-
board, and while the passengers were all be-
low and the hatches closed the masts were
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
r33
broken off ai.d became entangled with the
main ropes. This turned the vessel on her
side and she gradually sank under the water
and was held there. The air in the vessel
became so foul that life could not be main-
tained an hour longer, the poor unfortunates
being nearly suffocated, when the captain,
who knew where to come in contact with
the ropes, bored holes with an auger and
made an opening large enough to insert his
arm. He then severed the ropes with a
halcart and freed the vessel from its fasten-
ings. As it then righted itself those on
board were saved from suffocation. After
being tossed and buffeted about by the wind
and waves they were finally driven ashore
along the Greenland coast, where they re-
maied through the winter and until the fol-
lowing spring, when the United States gov-
ernment sent a vessel to their relief and
brought them to Philadelphia, Pennsylva-
nia. George Swinger had several hundred
dollars when he left the old country, but
this he spent for the relief of his fellow pas-
sengers during the winter and arrived in
Philadelphia penniless, with a wife and three
children, one having died on the voyage. He
sold the father of our subject to a Mr.
Grumm in Philadelphia to pay his debts. He
settled near Lebanon, in Lebanon county,
Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder
of his life. After his d;ath his widow came
west and died at the home of her daughter,
eighteen miles west of Peru, Indiana.
Jacob Swinger, our subject's father, was
born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March i,
1805, and when a boy came to America with
his parents. He received a good education
in the schools of Pennsylvania, and, as was
previously stated, was bound out until
twenty-one years of age to a Mr. Grumm. a
farmer of Lebanon county. Being a good,
industrious boy, Mr. Grumm took a great
liking to him, sent him to school and re-
leased him at the age of twenty, at the same
time giving him a little money with which
to begin life for himself. Mr. Swinger
worked as a farm hand, and although he
learned no trade he was handy with tools
and was employed in laying plank on the
canal one year. He married Anna Maria
Stager, a native of Lebanon county, Penn-
sylvania, and a daughter of Frederick and
Elizabeth ( Vingst) Stager. The latter was
born in Germany, December 17, 1768. Her
mother's maiden name was Remgontz. In
the family of Frederick and Elizabeth Sta-
ger were the following children : Henry,
born December 27, 1785, died in infancy;
Henry, born October 2, 1787, married Eliza-
beth Six and died in Lebanon county, Penn-
sylvania; Adam, born August 6, 1789. mar-
ried Anna Maria Six and died in the same
county; Elizabeth, born December 10, 1791,
married John Daub; Catherine, born Janu-
ary 7, 1794, married John Fourman and
moved to Van Buren county, Ohio, in 1833 ;
Frederick, born January 29, 1796, married
Rebecca Fousceler; Regina, born March 28,
1798, married George Fourman and died in
Pennsylvania, after which her husband came
to Ohio; John, born. February 4, 1800, mar-
ried Sarah Fousceler; Samuel, born May 20,
1802, married Catherine Jacob:; Hannah,
born October 11, 1804, married Jacob Eier-
ly; Margaret, born December 15, 1806, mar-
ried John Mock; Anna Maria, born Novem-
ber 11, 1808, married Jacob Swinger; Chris-
tina, born January 8, 1812, married John
Jacobi; and William, born May 2S, 1S14,
married first Catherine Hansel, of Kensel,
and secondly Caroline YYalten. Our subject
is the eldest of the nine children born to
Jacob and Anna Maria (Stager) Swinger;
734
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Sarah, the second, married David Staffer
and died in Franklin township, Darke coun-
ty, Ohio; Susannah died unmarried; Jacob
married Martha Hyer and is now a retired
farmer of Crawford county, Illinois; Cather-
ine and Rebecca both died young; Elizabeth,
wife of Abraham Minnich, of Franklin town-
ship, this county; David is represented on an
other page of this volume; and Samuel, twin
brother of David, married Mary Miller and
lives in Crawford county. Illinois. In 1836
the father, with his family, emigrated to
Ohio, making the journey, which lasted six
weeks, with a two-horse wagon. He stopped
first at the home of his cousin, John Fourman,
in Van Buren township, and remained there
a short time. Having brought with him a
little money he purchased forty acres of land
on Painter creek, in Franklin township, only
an acre and a half of which had been cleared
and a log cabin of one room erected thereon.
The following year he added to his original
purchase another forty-acre tract, and made
that place his home for five years. His next
purchase consisted of eighty acres, on which
was a log cabin that was taken apart and re-
built on his home farm. Subsequently he
bought of Samuel Hall one hundred and
sixty acres, which is now owned by his son
David. He also owned the eighty-acre
tract which is now in possession of Hiram
Kin ides, one hundred and sixty acres owned
by John Flory, Sr., and eighty acres now
owned by Moses Roymer. Besides the pr< »p-
erty already mentioned Mr. Swinger owned
what is known as the Burkett mills on Still-
water, below Ludlow Falls. He continued
to engage actively in farming until a few
years before his death, which occurred in
1866. He was a deacon and a prominent
member of the German Baptist church, and
a stanch Democrat in politics. His estima-
ble wife survived him' many years, dying
December 31, 1893.
John Swinger, whose name introduces
this review, was born September 29. 1828,
in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where he
attended German schools until eight years
of age, when the family removed to Ohio.
At that time much of Darke county was an
unbroken wilderness and deer and other wild
game was found in abundance. Mr. Swin-
ger says that he was practically reared with
a gun and ax in his hands. Here he at-
tended an English school, but every night
after supper his mother made him study,
German. This did not prove satisfactory,
however, as he often confused the two lan-
guages, and finally he dropped the German.
As his services were needed at home his
educational privileges were somewhat lim-
ited, during one winter only being able to
attend school for eight and a half days, an-
other for twelve days ; but he was fond of
study and applied himself at home.
Mr. Swinger assisted his father in clear-
ing one hundred acres of land, and remained
at home until twenty-two years of age, re-
ceiving five dollars per month and his board
and clothes during the last year. He then
began life for himself on a farm of one hun-
dred and sixty acres belonging to his fa-
ther. In the fall of 1853 he rented a farm
near Troy, on which he lived for eight years,
and then moved to White county, Indiana,
where be rented three hundred and twenty
acres of land. Returning to Darke county,
Ohio, in February, 1864, he bought the
Squire Hess farm of seventy acres in Frank-
lin township, and in the fall of 1875 moved
to a thirty-seven-acre tract entered by Bev-
erly Richardson, and now owned by John
Swinger. In 1862 he established a tile fac-
tory, which he moved to his present farm in
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
735
1878. Being blessed with a strong consti-
tution he was able to withstand any amount
of work. For many years he conducted a
saw-mill on Painter creek, leaving home
on Monday morning and running the mill
every day until twelve o'clock at night. He
would then sleep on a bench with a jack-
plane for a pillow. He also ran a thresh-
ing machine for some years, and during the
busy season he would run his tile factory day
and night without any sleep whatever, doing
all his own burning for ten years. In 1877
he rented his plant to his son Amos and his
son-in-law, John Deeter, and when the lat-
ter went west in 1886 he and his son formed
a partnership and engaged in the manufac-
ture of tile until 1886, since which time the
son has carried on the business, while our
subject lives retired, enjoying a well-earned
rest. He and Jacob and David Swinger
and Elizabeth Minnich owned the old home-
stead of his father for many years, but sold
it in December, 1899. Enterprising, ener-
getic and industrious, he met with success
in his undertakings, and can now well afford
to lay aside all business cares.
Since 1855 Mr. Swinger has been an
active worker and consistent member of the
Painter Creek German Baptist churcb, in
which he has served as a deacon for many
years, and gives his support to every enter-
prise calculated to advance the moral welfare
of his community. He has ever been found
upright and honorable in all his dealings, is
charitable, benevolent and hospitable and is
a well-informed man, and an interesting con-
versationalist. In politics he is a Democrat,
and he has most capably filled several town-
ship offices.
On the 1st of August, 1850, Mr. Swin-
ger married Miss Margaret Ann Stauffer,
who was born near Salem, Montgomery
county, Ohio, May 15, 1831, a daughter of
Jacob and Elizabeth (Kinsey) Stauffer.
She has been to her husband a faithful help-
meet, counselor and adviser, and to her chil-
dren a kind and loving mother. Five chil-
dren were born to them, namely : Amos
H., born May 10, 1851, attended the local
schools until twenty years of age and be-
gan work in his father's tile factory in boy-
hood. In 1886 he purchased the plant and
is still engaged in the manufacture of tile.
He was formerly a Republican in politics,
but now supports the Democratic party, and
is a member of the Ludlow and Painter
Creek Baptist church. He was married, ■
December 21, 1873, to Susan Frock,, and
they had five children : Oliver, who1 was
born September 27, 1874, and married Hat-
tie Reiber; Edward R., who was born Au-
gust 28, 1878, and married Lola Brown,'
Cora and Myrtle, who died in infancy; and
Katy Elizabeth, the second child of our sub-
ject, was born October 13, 1852, and is now
the wife of David Dell, of Landis, Darke
county, by whom she has two children — ■
Susan and Maggie. Rachel, born October
15, 1853, was married February 8, 1874. to
John M. Deeter, and to them were born six
children: Charles, who died in infancy;
Simon; Amos; Libbie, the wife of Clyde
Stratton; John; and Lola, who died in in-
fancy. They moved west in 1886, and in
1899 located in Eddy county, North Da-
kota. Margaret, born July 11, 1867, was
married May 8, 1887, to John Haber, and
they have four children : Verna, Roy, Oma
and Charles. John L., born June 22, 1869,
attended the public schools until twenty-one
years of age and was married January 31,
1 89 1, to Martha L. Hyer, by whom he has
four children: Lova Ethel, born October
27, 1891; Sarah Margaret, born May 2^..
45
i36
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1894; John Jesse, born February II, 1898;
and Elizabeth N., born August 30, 1900.
John L. Swinger is an active Democrat,
and has held several township offices.
RALPH D. BEE.M.
The subject of this sketch is the leading
photographer of Greenville and is an artist
of far more than ordinary ability He was
born in Licking county, Ohio, June 29, i860,
and is a son of Isaiah K. and Eliza (Pitzer)
Eeem, who were born, reared and married
in that county, continuing to make their
home there until 1877, when they removed
to Morrow county, this state, where they
located permanentlv and spent the remainder
of their days. Our subject's maternal
grandfather was John Pitzer, a native of
Maryland. On the paternal side his an-
cestry can be traced back to Jacob Beem, a
noted German philosopher who flourished in
the seventeenth century. The name was
originally spelled Boehme. The American
progenitor of the family was Richard Beem,
a native of Saxony, German}-, who settled in
Allegany county. Maryland, in 1768. His
son, Michael Beem, Sr., came to America
with his parents. He moved to Licking
county, Ohio, in 1812. In 1775 he married
Elizabeth Green, and their son, Michael
Beem, Jr., the grandfather of our subject,
came to Ohio with his parents. He mar-
ried Rachel Rhodes.
In the county of his nativity Ralph D.
Beem passed his boyhood and youth. He
had the advantages of the common schools
and later attended the Mount Gilead high
school, at which he was graduated in 1882.
"When his education was completed he went
to Cleveland, where he learned the art of
photography of J. H. Copeland & Ryder,
with whom he remained two years. He
then returned to Mount Gilead, where the
following eighteen months were passed, and
at the end of that time removed to Wilming-
ton, the county seat of Clinton county. In
1887 he came to Greenville and opened a
photograph gallery on East. Third street,
which he has fitted up in a most approved
style. It is supplied with all the latest appa-
ratus necessary for doing first-class work.
That Mr. Beem is a skilled artist is shown
by his work, his pictures, both large and
small, having a superior finish which only
a true artist can produce. The portraits
which embellish the second (or local) part
of this work are from photographs made by
his masterly hands. He is pr< igressive in his
methods, gives close attention to his busi-
ness and has secured a very liberal patronage.
He takes great interest in everything per-
taining to his art, and is quite prominent pro-
fessionally, having been elected vice-presi-
dent of the Ohio State Photographers' As-
sociation in 1899, while for four consecu-
tive years he was tendered medals by the
National and State Photographers' Associa-
tions, ranking second place in America. So-
cially he is also very popular and is a past
chancellor of the Knights of Pythias lodge.
In 1890 Mr. Beem was united in mar-
riage with Miss Lohru Kintner, of Wooster,
Ohio, a daughter of David Kintner, and to
them have been born two sons, to whom they
have given the names of Kintner and Rob-
ert, born respectively June 17, 1892, and
October 15, 1900.
EZEKIEL S. CONOVER.
For a quarter of a century this gentle-
man has resided upon his present farm in
Greenville township, and to its improvement
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
737
and cultivation he has devoted his energies
with most gratifying success. He is a na-
tive of Ohio, born in Miamisburg, Mont-
gomery county, in 1845, antl is a son of
Crinonce Schenck and Eleanor (Denise)
Conover, also natives of this state and rep-
resentatives of an old colonial family of
New Jersey. The first twelve years of his
life our subject spent in his native town,
where his father was engaged in blacksmith-
ing and then removed with the family to a
farm near by, which the father had pur-
chased. He received a good practical En-
glish education, and throughout his active
business life has engaged in agricultural pur-
suits. In 1875 ne came to Darke county
and purchased a tract of eighty acres of land
in Greenville township, five acres of which
he has since disposed of.
On the 30th of November, 1871, Mr.
Conover was united in marriage with Miss
Hannah Green, a native of Warren county,
Ohio, and a daughter of Edward and Lydia
(Feerer) Green. Her paternal grandfather
was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary
war. Her father was born in Fishkill, New
York, and was only six years of age when
brought by his parents to this state. With
Revolutionary blood flowing in his veins, he
could not remain cjuietly at home when his
country was in danger, and during the civil
war he enlisted in the Seventy-fifth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the
first battle of Bull Run. The latter part of
his service was devoted to hospital work.
His son, Peter Green, was also one of the
"boys in blue," enlisting at the age of eight-
een years in the Seventy-ninth Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry. He was in thirteen engage-
ments and on the twenty-first anniversary of
his birth he participated in the battle of
Peach Tree Creek. Mrs. Conover's mother
was a native of Pennsylvania and a daugh-
ter of Peter and Catherine (Wagner) Feer-
er, who were of German descent and well-to-
do people of Lebanon, Lebanon county, Penn-
sylvania. Mr. Feerer brought his family to
Ohio when Mrs. Green was only four years
old, and he became one of the wealthiest
farmers of Montgomery county. To Mr.
and Mrs. Conover were born four children,
namely : Schenck, the eldest, is deceased.
Victor A. was graduated at the Greenville
high school in the class of 1895, and has since
attended the Lebanon Normal School one
year, and the teacher's school at Ada, Ohio,
one term. For seven years he has been a
successful teacher in the public schools, and
is now teaching in Montgomery county.
Edward S. is at home ; and Eleanor, the
only daughter, is a young lady of exceptional
musical talent and is fitting herself for teach-
ing that art.
Mr. Conover, his wife and two children
are prominent members of the Christian
church of Coaltown, of which he is now a
trustee. He is also one of the active mem-
bers of the Knights of Pythias, of Green-
ville, and in politics is a Republican, taking
a warm interest in the welfare of his party
and in all local affairs. During the Civil
war he aided in the state's defense against
General Morgan and his forces, and as a
public-spirited and progressive citizen he
gives his support to every enterprise which
he believes calculated to advance the moral,
intellectual or material welfare of his county
01 state.
Mrs. Conover is a lady of culture and
refinement, and is highly educated. After
attending the public schools for many years
she entered the Delaware Normal School,
where she pursued her studies for two years.
In 1864 she commenced teaching in the pub-
73S
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
lie schools of Warren and Montgomery
counties and followed that profession unin-
terruptedly until after her marriage, meet-
ing with most excellent success. Since re-
siding in Darke county she has in no sense
relaxed her interest in educational affairs,
and has conducted classes at her home, re-
ceiving no remuneration, hut doing it solely
to gratify her mind by dispensing knowledge
to others. She is a member of the Greenville
Woman's Relief Corps, and is a most esti-
mable lady, sharing with her husband the
high regard of a large circle of friends and
accjuaintances.
GEORGE W. SIGERFOOS.
At the time of his death the subject of
this sketch was one of the leading dry-goods
merchants of Arcanum. Darke county, Ohio,
and was a man highly respected and es-
teemed by all who knew him. He was born
in the state of Maryland, December 13,
1825, and emigrated to Montgomery coun-
ty, Ohio, when nine years of age, his early
life being devoted to farming and school-
teaching. After his marriage he followed
brickmaking and school-teaching some five
years in Phillipsburg, and in 1S55 turned his
attention to the dry-goods trade. In 1872
he opened a store in Arcanum where he was
successfully engaged in business when called
from this life October 16, 1875. In his
business dealings he was ever prompt, relia-
ble and entirely trustworthy, and he justly
merited the high regard in which he was
uniformly held.
On the 28th of July, 1850. Mr. Sigerfoos
married Miss Nancy Shanck, who was born
in Montgomery county. October 2, 1830,
and they became the parents of the follow-
ing children : Lorin, born August 25, 1851,
died November 28, 1870; Orrin, born March
22, 1853, died August 12. 1870; Arabella,
born October 22, 1856. attended the public
schools until nineteen years of age and then
taught for five years at Laura, Ohio. In
1888 she entered the Michigan State Nor-
mal School, where she was graduated in
1892, and the following two years she
taught in the Arcanum high school. In the
summer of 1895 she went to "Los Angeles,
California, where she taught for three years,
and since that time has resided with her
mother in Arcanum. Ella B., born Jan-
uary 26, 1863, was married November 10,
1 88 1, to Solomon Minnich, of Arcanum,
and they have four children, namely : Daisy,
Mamie, Nancy and Catherine. Charles P.,
born May 4, 1865, attended the public
schools until seventeen years of age, and
then entered the Ohio State College, where
he was graduated in 1889. He spent one
year at the University of Virginia, four
years at John Hopkins University, and is
now professor of biology at Minneapolis,
Minnesota. Edward, born December 14,
1868, attended the public schools until six-
teen years of age, and the following year
entered Columbus University, at Colum-
bus, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1891.
Passing the examination at Washington, D.
C, he was appointed second lieutenant in
the regular army, and spent two years in a
military school at Fort Leavenworth, Kan-
sas. In 1898 he was commissioned first
lieutenant and served one year at Santiago,
Cuba, under General Wood, but is now sta-
tioned at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. He was
married, in December 1895, t0 ^'ss Opal,
a daughter of Dr. Donavan Robeson, of
Greenville, Ohio, and they have one child,
Grace.
Peter Shanck. father of Mrs. Sigerfoos,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
739
was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania,
May 28, 1803, and was a son of Christo-
pher and Catherine Shanck, who spent their
entire lives in that county, where the former
died in 1825, aged forty-five years; the lat-
ter died aged ninety-one. Their remains
were interred in the place of their nativity.
Of their children Peter was the eldest; Eliz-
abeth married John Ryder and died near
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania ; Catherine
married Adam Ryder and died in the same
state; Margaret married Henry Hoffman
and died in Whitley county, Indiana ; Fanny
is the wife of John Miller, of that county;
John married a Miss Bishop and lives in
Pennsylvania ; and Henry married Susan
Baker and resides in Whitley county, Indi-
ana.
During his minority Peter Shanck assist-
ed his father in the tailoring business, and
at the age of twenty-one began life for him-
self by following that trade. After his fa-
ther's death he resided with his mother for
four years, and was then married, January
12, 1830, to Miss Barbara, a daughter of
John and Mary (Huffer) Keener, who lived
and died in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.
She was the tenth in order of birth in their
family of thirteen children, the others being
as follows : John wedded Mary Heeter
and died in Montgomery county, Ohio ;
David married Catherine
and
died near Palestine, Darke county; Jacob,
twin of David, married Elizabeth Arnett
,and died in Michigan; George died near
Palestine, Darke county ; Christina married
a Mr. Bryan, who died in Pennsylvania, af-
ter which she came to Ohio and died near
Lewisburg ; Molly married John Loxley and
died near West Alexandria, Ohio ; Elizabeth
married George Gable and died in Whitley
county, Indiana; Nancy married Christo-
pher Weekley and died near Germantown,
Ohio ; Mary, twin of Nancy, married John
Bowman and died near Celina, Ohio; Cath-
erine is Mrs. David Ryder, living near Lew-
isburg, Ohio; Lydia is Mrs. Michael Koch,
of Elkhart county, Indiana ; and Susan is
Mrs. Jacob Heeter, living near Lewisburg,
Ohio.
Peter Shanck and his young wife moved
tc Montgomery county, Ohio, the same year
of their marriage, and settled seven miles
north of Dayton, where he worked at his
trade for four years. In 1834 they came
to Darke county and located on a farm in
Twin township, where he purchased one
hundred and sixty acres of land, consisting
of woods and almost impenetrable swamps.
After erecting a small log cabin he began the
arduous task of making a farm in the heart
of a mighty wilderness with no improved
implements of industry, such as we now
possess, to assist and lighten the heavy work
of clearing the land. At that time an ax
and muscle were the essentials, and he who
had not plenty of the latter was certainly to
be pitied, for strength and the power to
endure privations were the keys that opened
the great wilderness and sustained the pio-
neer in those trying days. Mr. Shanck and
his good wife passed through the different
phases of pioneer life, and for more than
half a century labored together, sharing each
other's joys and partaking of each other's
sorrows, each being a helpmeet to the other.
Although they grew bent with the weight
of years and incessant toil, they enjoyed good
health and strength with faculties unim-
paired to the last. Mr. Shanck was the first
justice of the peace in Monroe township,
this county, and filled most of the township
offices. He was a man of good executive
ability and sound judgment, and commanded
740
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the respect and confidence of all with whom
he came in contact. He was a member of
the Brethren in Christ church, while his
wife held membership in the German Bap-
tist church, and both were earnest Christians
and universally beloved and respected. He
died in October, 1888, and she also is de-
ceased. In their family were nine children,
namely: Nancy, born October 2, 1830, is
now Mrs. Sigerfoos; Catherine, born Oc-
tober 10, 1831, died in infancy: Lydia, born
September 26, 1833; Elizabeth, August 14,
1835; Catherine, December 24, 1837;
Henry, May 10, 1840; Susanna, November
13, 1844; Margaret, April 5, 1847; and
John, September 3. 1850.
ENOCH BEERY SEITZ.
Enoch Beery Seitz, professor of math-
ematics, was born in Fairfield county. Ohio,
August 24, 1846. His father. Daniel Seitz,
was burn in Rockingham county, Virginia,
December 17, t 79 1 , and was twice mar-
ried. His first wife was Elizabeth Hite,
of Fairfield county. Ohio, by whom he had
eleven children. His second wife was Cath-
erine Beery, born in the same county, April
11, 1808, whom be married April 15, 1S32,
and from which marriage four sons and as
many daughters were the issue. Mr. Seitz
followed the occupation of a farmer and was
an industrious and substantial citizen. He
died near Lancaster, Ohio, October 14, 1864,
in his seventy-third year.
In the fall of 1866 Mrs. Seitz. with her
family, moved to Greenville, Ohio, where
she resided for a number of years. Profes-
sor Seitz, the third son by his father's second
marriage, passed his boyhood on the farm
and had the advantages of only the common-
school course. Possessing, however, a great
thirst for learning, he applied himself very
diligently to his books in private, and became
a fine scholar in the English branches, espec-
ially excelling in that of arithmetic. For
quite a number of years he employed him-
self in teaching, and with gratifying results.
He took a mathematical course in the Ohio
Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio,
at which institution he graduated in 1870.
In the fall of 1872 he was elected to the
chair of mathematics in the Greenville high
school, which position he occupied until the
fall of 1879.
On the 24th of June, 1875, he was mar-
ried to Miss Anna Kerlin. a daughter of W.
K. Kerlin, Esq.. who was for four years
the treasurer of Darke county, Ohio, and
fi >r many years president of the Second Na-
tional Bank of Greenville, Ohio, which insti-
tution he assisted in organizing. Professor
Seitz possessed very superior mathematical
talent and a special fondness for this branch
of study, and in a short time took rank as
one of the finest mathematicians in the state.
He was, moreover, a contributor to the lead-
ing mathematical journals of the country,
among them the Analyst, the Mathematical
Visitor and the Educational Times, of
London, England. Professor Seitz died at
Kirksville, Missouri, October 8, 1883.
While teaching in Greenville, Ohio, be
was officially connected with the Darke Coun-
ty Teachers' Association, and at the No-
vember meeting" of the same following his
death, in eulogy of several of its deceased
members the following words were spoken
and action taken :
"Among this number we also wish to
mention one, Enoch B. Seitz, who, though
not among us, was still one of us, and is
claimed as Ohio's gifted son. We can claim
him as our own. Here the intellectual germ
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
741
grew and strengthened by its growth, and
•we witnessed the gradual unfolding of a
mind, the development of an intellect equal
in power, and as original in thought as any
the world ever knew.
"He obtained his education by attending
a normal school at Greenville, Ohio, and
afterward enrolled his name as a student at
the Ohio Wesleyan University, and after two
years of close application he left that insti-
tution with a mind well trained for future
usefulness. In the summer of 1872 he
was employed as an assistant teacher in
the Greenville Normal School, then held in
connection with the public school. It was
in this school that his mind seemed to drift
to the mathematical channel, and while he
was perfectly at home in the sciences mathe-
matics seemed to be his delight. The more
difficult the question, the more determined
was he to master it, and from the time men-
tioned until my association with him ceased,
I never knew him to fail in the solution of
any problem he undertook. He was a reg-
ular contributor to several mathematical
journals, using the calculus to assist in his
solutions, and was an honored member of
the London Mathematical Society. Many
of his solutions have been examined by the
best mathematicians of Europe and America,
and we believe he had no superior in either
country. For a number of years he filled
the position of principal in the Greenville
high school with ability and entire satisfac-
tion. As a member of the board of county
school examiners, the teachers will remember
him as being consistent, kind and obliging;
ever willing to encourage the despondent,
assist the needy, and by influence and ex-
ample lead them to a higher sphere of use-
fulness. As chairman of the executive com-
mittee of our Institute, he was honest, con-
scientious, and, whether in the discharge of
financial duty, or in a demonstration before
the Institute, he seemed to possess the same
earnest determination to do his whole duty
faithfully.
"When • he left Greenville for his field
of labor in Missouri, nearly a hundred teach-
ers accompanied him to the train, and he
was cheered and encouraged by their kind
wishes and congratulations. Little thought
we then that death would so soon find him
in his western home, and that all we could
claim of him in the near future was the
casket containing the manly form now
moldering to dust.
"If the teachers of Missouri have lost
a bright and shining light, a teacher and
friend who in the intellectual field made their
pathway plain, one who unfolded to them
the way to future usefulness, the teachers of
Darke county will feel the loss as severely as
they.
"But Enoch B. Seitz, although dead to us,
still lives, we trust, in the happy home of a
blest immortality; he still lives in the affec-
tions of his many friends here; and, though
we will sadly miss him in the intellectual
field, and in the social circle, yet the eye of
faith can see him in that eternal home where
intellectual development will continue until
perfection is reached; and we can but hope
that when our time shall come, and when, like
him, we shall have passed the river of death,
we may enter into that eternal rest now en-
joyed by him.
"Our friend's work is done; his mission
is accomplished; his directions in wisdom
and morality are with us; though stricken
down in the full vigor of manhood, he had
fulfilled his destiny; he had accomplished
742
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the work which was given him to do, and
the world was better because of his having
lived in it.
"His death admonishes us of the uncer-
tainty of life and teaches us a lesson we
should all remember. We can imitate the
virtue of our departed friend, profit by his ex-
ample, persevere in the trials and difficulties
of life, secure a victory over all, and finally
receive the reward of the virtuous and the
good."
The following preamble and resolutions
were adopted at this meeting:
"Whereas, since it has pleased the Great
Disposer of events to transfer the labors of
our friend and brother. Prof. E. B. Seitz,
whose work and worth have been recognized
by the educational and mathematical world
and whose social qualities made every one
whom he met a fast friend ;
"Resolved, That we, the teachers of
Darke county, in association assembled, do
in his death feel that humanity has lost one
of its best friends; society, one of its bright-
est ornaments ; and education one of its
most enthusiastic workers and strongest ad-
vocates.
"Resolved, That we hereby express our
deep sympathy for his wife and family in this
their sad bereavement.
"Resolved, That a copy of this action of
our association be signed by our president
and secretary and presented to Mrs. E. B.
Seitz."
In 1879, Professor Seitz was elected to
the chair of mathematics in the North Mis-
souri Normal School, at Kirksville, which
position he held at the time of his death. J.
P. Blanton, the president of that institution
of learning, brought the remains and the
bereaved family to Greenville, where the
burial took place.
By request of friends, President Blan-
ton hastily sketched the following tribute,
which he offered as a part of the funeral ser-
vices and which is here given to show the
high esteem in which Professor Seitz was
held at Kirksville, where his instructions
were eagerly sought by the students and
where he accomplished a great work as in-
structor.
"Four years ago, on an August day,
there was great commotion in your usually
quiet village. The man whose dust lies be-
fore us to-day, with his young wife, was
bidding farewell to the home of their child-
hood, he to resume the responsibilitites of an
honorable position in a distant western state;
she. with Naomi-like spirit, to be his help-
meet to kindle the fires upon a new hearth-
stone. Then, as to-day, crowds assembled,
teachers, pupils and friends of all callings
came around him to bid him good-speed, to
shake his hands, to predict for him a brilliant
career in his new sphere of labor, and to con-
gratulate him that his great abilities had
been recognized in a fitting manner. If
tears were shed then, they were tears min-
gled with glad smiles, they were the tears of
those who wept with a hope that that manly
form would again be a familiar figure on the
streets, and that possibly after years of suc-
cessful labor at his profession he would
spend the evening of life here among his
earliest friends. Alas! alas! all that Mis-
souri can send back of Ohio's gifted son is
his poor dust to rest in her bosom until the
resurrection morn.
"Did I say all ? Nay, it is not all. She
sends back to you the record of his life, as
pure and unsullied as an angel's wing. She
bids me say to you that his work and life
have left a lasting impression upon thou-
sands of her noblest youth, that his memory
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
743
is enshrined in the hearts of her people, and
that the tears of devoted students, fellow-
teachers and citizens of all classes have
stained his coffin lid. From the beginning
of his sickness, which was of unusual sever-
ity from the very first, every possible atten-
tion has been shown him, physicians gave up
their practice and spent their days and nights
by his bedside ; medical skill exhausted every
resource.
"The students, all of whom loved him
like a brother, vied with each other in their
ministrations. They were the first to be
with him and some of them were bending
over him when the last feeble breath left his
body. Even the little children on the streets
would stop me and say, "How is Professor
Seitz to-day?" And when I would some-
times cheer them with hopes that I hardly
dared to entertain, their brightening faces
Avere eloquent of love and esteem in which
he was held by his fellow-townsmen.
"Enoch Beery Seitz was an extraordi-
nary man. He commanded, without effort,
the respect of everybody. He was a man
of the most singularly blameless life I ever
knew. His disposition was amiable, his
manner quiet and unobtrusive, and his deci-
sion, when circumstances demanded it, was
prompt and firm and immovable as rocks.
Hvi did nothing from impulse; he carefully
considered his course, and with almost in-
fallible judgment came to conclusions that
his conscience approved, and then nothing
could move him. While he never made an
open profession of religion, he was a pro-
foundly religious man. He rested his hopes
of salvation in the sacrifice of the tender and
loving Savior, and I am thoroughly con-
vinced he has entered into that rest which
remains for the people of God. What a
comfort this must be to the tender, brave,
faithful young wife he has left behind him,
to his bereaved old mother, and to all his
mourning friends assembled around his
ashes to-day. No need, dear partner of my
dear friend, no need, bereaved mother, no
need, dear mourning friends, for you to ask
human sympathy or skill to pluck from your
memories a rooted sorrow, to raise out the
withering troubles of the brain with some
sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the stifled
bosom of that perilous grief that now weighs
so heavily on your hearts. No need, I say,
to sorrow. Why do we weep? That
" ' There is no flock, however watched and tended,
But one dead lamb is there;
There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended,
But has one vacant chair;
The air is full of farewells to the dying
And mournings to the dead;
The heart of Rachel, for her children crying,
Will not be comforted.
" ' Let us be patient! These severe afflictions
Not from the ground arise,
But ofttimes celestial benedictions
Assume this dark disguise.
We see but dimly through the mist and vapors;
Amid these earthly damps,
What seem to us but sad, funereal tapers
May be heaven's distant lamps.
" ' There is no death! What seems so is transition;
This life of mortal breath
Is but a suburb of the life elysian,
Whose portal we call Death.
And though, at times, impetuous with emotion
And anguish long suppressed,
The swelling heart heaves moaning like the ocean
That cannot be at rest.
" ' Will we be patient and assuage the feeling
We may not wholly stay,
By silence sanctifying, not concealing
The grief that must have way?'
"I have now performed my duty. I have
brought the remains of our dear friend, with
his family, to their early home. They were
ours, but now they are yours. All I can say
is, Farewell."
744
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Professor Seitz' external lite was that
of a modest, deep-hearted, perfect gentle-
man. His great ambition was to be good and
true, true to himself, true to his family, true
to his friends, and true to his country's wel-
fare. He had a thoroughly healthy, well
balanced, harmonious nature, accepting life
as it came, with its joys and sorrows, and
living it beautifully and hopefully, without
a murmur. Though the grim monster,
Death, removed him from his sphere of
action before he fully reached the meridian
of his greatness, yet the work he performed
during his short but faithful life, will be a
lasting monument to his memory, amply
sufficient to immortalize his name.
He left a wife and four sons. Mrs.
Seitz. the mother of Professor Seitz, is still
living and is now in her ninety-second year.
She was horn in 1808, is a woman of deci-
sion of character, kind and intelligent, a
pleasant neighbor and every way worthy of
her gifted son.
.MRS. ANNA E. SEITZ. D. O.
Mrs. Anna E. Seitz, formerly of Green-
ville, Ohio, and the widow of the late Pro-
fessor E. B. Seitz, early in life studiously
prepared for the profession of teaching and
taught in the Greenville school from 1872
until her marriage in June, 1875. After the
death of her husband in 1883 she again en-
tered the profession and taught in the Green-
ville school nine years longer, resigning her
position there to accept the principalship of
the training department of the State Normal
School at Kirksville. Missouri. By her in-
dustry, energy and ability she raised that de-
partment to a high state of usefulness and
importance. After four years' work in this
position she resigned and entered the Colum-
bian School of Osteopathy. Medicine and
Surgery, in which she was graduated in
June. 1899, and is now actively engaged in
practicing her profession, having until re-
cently been located in Greenville. Ohio. Her
present location, however, is at Cape Girar-
deau, Missouri.
Mrs. Dr. Seitz has three sons: Ray E.,
a student in the law department of the Uni-
versity of Cincinnati, in Cincinnati, Ohio;
Willie Kerlin, a teacher in the science depart-
ment of the high school of Lancaster, Mis-
souri, and who is especially proficient in
science and mathematics; and Enoch Beery,
who is a student in the Missouri State Nor-
mal School, in Kirksville. Missouri, and leads
in all his classes in science and mathematics.
Clarence D.. the third son. died June 29,
1886, in his fifth year.
MRS. SARAH EURY.
In a history of any town, county or state
there is usually slight mention made of the
ladies residing in those localities, yet their
influence is most marked in the work of
public progress and improvement. Though
the_\' do not take an active part in official life
or in a more pronounced department of
manual labor, their influence is no less
powerful, and their work in molding the
characters of the people and shaping the
destiny of the community is indeed import-
ant. Mrs. Sarah Eury certainly deserves
representation in this volume, for she is
one of the oldest living residents in York
township, having attained the advanced age
of eighty-four years. With a mind still
bright and active she can relate many inter-
esting incidents of life in this locality when
Darke county was a pioneer settlement.
She was born near Hancock, Pennsylva-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
745-
nia, November 28, 181 5, and is the sixth in
a family of twelve children, nine sons and
three daughters, whose parents were Jacob
and Magdalen (Natchel) Kershner. Only
two of this family are now living, Mrs. Eury
and her brother, George Kershner, who is
a farmer of Brown township. Her father
was born in Washington county, Maryland,
about 1729, and died in 185 1. He was
reared to the blacksmith's trade and obtained
a common-school education. He had a
brother who served as a soldier in the war
of 18 1 2. Jacob Kershner emigrated to
Darke county in 1840, when Greenville was
a mere hamlet and the townships of Rich-
land and York were dense forest tracts. He
purchased eight acres of timber land in
Richland township and built a log cabin.
Plenty of wild game was to be had and
everything was in a primitive condition, few
roads having been laid out and few farms
cleared. He was among the early settlers
of the locality and took an active interest in
the development and improvement of his
section of the count}'. In politics he was an
old-line Whig until the organization of the
Republican party, when he joined its ranks
and became one of its stalwart advocates. In
his religious belief he was an earnest Pres-
byterian and his life exemplified his Christ-
ian faith. His wife also belonged to the
same church. She was born in Maryland
about 1784, and died in 1852.
Mrs. Eury spent her girlhood days in
Pennsylvania, and was a young lady of
twenty-five when she came with her parents
to Darke county. Her education was ob-
tained in the old-time subscription schools,
and she early became familiar with the work
of the household in its various branches.
She wedded David Eury on the 20th of
May, 1 84 1, and the young couple began their
domestic life in York township, on a tract
of fifteen hundred acres of land which he
had entered from the government, the deed
being signed by the president. Mrs. Eury
still has the old parchment in her posses-
sion, bearing the signature of Andrew Jack-
son, who was then the chief executive of
the nation. Their home was a little losr
cabin, which is still standing today, a mute
reminder of pioneer life. It is in good re-
pair and forms a part of the homestead.
The dense forest was all around them and
their neighbors were long distances away.
Wild deer were frequently killed near their
home and turkeys and other lesser game were
to be had in abundance. The old-time
sickle and cradle were used in harvesting the
grain, and the grass and hay were cut with
a scythe. In her home Mrs. Eury was
busy with her part of the work, preparing
dinner for many harvest hands and perform-
ing other labors of the household. The
nearest markets were at Greenville and Ver-
sailles, and there was no church or schi»>l-
house in their immediate vicinity. Mr. and
Mrs. Eury endured many of the hardships
of pioneer life, but eventually these passed
away and they became the possessor of a
pleasant home supplied with many comforts.
Mr. Eury was a native of Frederick
county, Maryland, born March 15, 1803,
and his death occurred in 1884, when he had
arrived at the age of eighty-one years, one
month and eleven davs, He was well re-
spected in the community for his kind and
accommodating disposition and his upright
life. He was careful and methodical in
business and Was actively connected with
the management of his property until his
death. His sound judgment made his ad-
vice often sought by his friends and neigh-
bors. A benevolent spirit prompted him to
746
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
aid the poor and needy and to contribute to
the support of various churches in his lo-
cality. He and his loving wife were mem-
bers of the Christian church and gave freely
of their means to advance its work. In his
early life he voted with the Whig party, but
subsequently became a stanch Republican.
He never held office, however, preferring to
devote his attention to his business interests.
At his death Richland township lost a valued
citizen and his friends one whom they had
long known and trusted. Mis. Eury still
survives her husband and yet resides on the
old home farm. In the evening of life she
can look back over the past without regret
and forward to the future without fear, fi >r
she has ever endeavored to follow Christian
principles and teachings and her character is
indeed worthy of emulation. She was to
her husband a faithful companion and help-
mate and to her was due in no small meas-
ure his success in business affairs. She is
now enjoying the comfortable competence
which he acquired and which is well merited
by her on account of the assistance which
she rendered him in many material ways.
WILLIAM E. GEORGE.
William Ellsworth George is a dealer in
all kinds of grain and field seeds, and is also
freight and ticket agent for the Pittsburg,
Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway
Company and agent for the Adams Express
Company at Gettysburg. He is well known
in Darke county, where he has spent the
greater part of his life. A review of his career
shows him to be a self-made man. He is a
man who has conquered many difficulties
and has worked his way up to a leading posi-
tion among the representative citizens of his
locality, being justly entitled to the high re-
spect and esteem in which he is uniformly
held by all who know him.
William E. George was born in Gettys-
burg, Adams county, Pennsylvania, June 6,
1835, and is of German descent. His fa-
ther, George George, was a native of Hesse-
Darmstadt, Germany, born in 1812, and in
early manhood left that country and came
to America, locating in Gettysburg, Penn-
sylvania, where he worked at the black-
smithing trade which he had learned prior
to his emigration to the new world. Not
long after locating in the Keystone state he
married Miss Mary Bishop, a native of
Adams county, Pennsylvania, of Dutch de-
scent. She was born in 181 5, and their
marriage occurred in Gettysburg, Pennsyl-
vania, where they spent their remaining
days. Mrs. George departed this life on
the 24th of December, 1843, while the fa-
ther of our subject passed away in 1879.
They became the parents of three sons and
two daughters. The daughters died in in-
fancy. The sons reached manhood, but at
this writing the subject of our sketch is the
only one living. The two deceased broth-
ers were Samuel S. and Henry F., and both
were Union soldiers in the civil war. Sam-
uel S. responded to the first call for troops
from Pennsylvania, went out in the three-
months' service and at the end of that time
re-enlisted, for a term of three years. At
the close of the three years he again re-en-
listed, this time for three years or during the
war, and continued in the army until the war
ended. He died at McKeesport, Pennsyl-
vania. Henry F. enlisted from Darke coun-
ty, Ohio, and was in the army three years.
He died at Newport, Ohio, from the effect of
exposure and hardship incurred while he
was confined in Libby prison. By a subse-
quent marriage the father of our subject had
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
747
other children, three of whom are living,
namely: John P., a resident of Baltimore,
Maryland ; Jacob, also of Baltimore ; and
Anne E., the wife of James McGonigal,
now of Youngstown, Ohio.
William E. George spent his boyhood
days in the state of his nativity, where he re-
ceived his preliminary education in the dis-
trict schools. He afterward entered the pre-
paratory department of Pennsylvania Col-
lege at Gettysburg, where he pursued the
academic course. At the age of twenty
years he began teaching in the vicinity of
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and followed
that profession for three years in the Key-
stone state. In September, 1857, he re-
moved to Darke county, Ohio, locating in
Washington township, where he was em-
ployed as a teacher in the district schools,
following that pursuit for a period of about
seven years. During that time he spent
nine and a half months in each year in the
schoolroom. His labors were very satisfac-
tory and he became known as one of the mi >st
capable instructors in this part of the state.
On the 13th of January, 1861, Mr.
George was united in marriage to Miss Deb-
orah Harriet Fouts, who was a native of In-
diana, born in South Bend, St. Joseph coun-
ty, on the 1 6th of October, 1840, and a
daughter of David Fouts. Her parents were
both natives of Maryland, and at an early
date in the history of the Hoosier state they
took up their abode in Indiana. On the
4th of June, 1863, the death messenger en-
tered the household of Mr. George and called
from earth to heaven his beloved wife. After
her death he sold all of his real and personal
property and followed his profession of
teaching in different localities. He also pur-
sued a course of study in Bryant & Strat-
ton's Commercial College in Indianapolis,
where he was graduated in the fall of 1865.
He then came to Gettysburg, Darke county,
Ohio, and resumed his profession of teach-
ing at various places in Adams and Frank-
lin townships, again being connected with
educational interests for eight years^ On
the 28th of December, 1865, he celebrated
his second marriage, Miss Sarah Margaret
McDowell becoming his wife. She was
born in Adams township, Darke county,
January 4, 1844. Her parents came to this
county from Franklin county, Pennsylvania,
and were of Scotch lineage. They located
here at an early date and took an active inter-
est in the development and upbuilding of
this portion of the state. Mrs. George was
also a competent teacher and both continued
teaching until 1872, when in July of that
year the subject of this review was appointed
to the position of freight and ticket agent
of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St.
Louis Railway Company and of the Adams
Express Company at Gettysburg. At the
same time he began dealing in grain and
livestock and is still actively connected with
that branch of trade. He is one of the old-
est employes of the railroad and his long
term of service is ample evidence of his
worth and of his fidelity to the interests of
the company. From time to time he has
bought and sold land, making some valuable
investments, and at the time of this writing,
in the fall of 1900, he is the owner of two
good farms, one comprising fifty-four acres,
the other eighty acres of land.
By his first marriage he had but one
child, Charles Ambrose, who was born De-
cember 3. 1862, in Hill Grove, Ohio, who
is now engaged in the coal, flour and feed
business in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he
also conducts a boarding stable. His mother
died when he was only six months old. By
74S
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his second marriage Mr. George had one
daughter. Myrtle Agglea. who was born
October 10, 1871. and died February 15,
1893.
In matters of public moment Mr. George
has taken a deep interest and he has labored
earnestly for the welfare of the community
in which he resides. His fellow-townsmen,
appreciating his worth and ability, have fre-
quently called him to public office. He was
appointed deputy United States marshal in
1870, having in charge a district compris-
ing Adams, Franklin, Van Buren and Mon-
roe townships. In politics he has always
been a stanch Republican, unswerving in his
support of the party. For twelve years he
was township clerk and for a similar period
he was a member of the school board. The
cause of education has ever found in him a
warm friend and in his official capacity he
has largely pron* >ted the interests of the
schools, which are now creditable institutions.
He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran
denomination and joined that church in
Pennsylvania, but after coming to Ohio he
became identified with the Presbyterian
church, in which he has filled many offices,
serving as deacon, trustee, clerk and treas-
urer. His business affairs have been at-
tended with creditable success and he has ac-
cumulated considerable property that has
come to him as a reward of his earnest and
honorable labor, coupled with the assistance
of his noble wife. He started, upon an in-
dependent business career without any of
this world's goods, and when he came to
Ohio he borrowed fifty dollars of his brother
to bring him to his new home. So low
were the wages paid to teachers at that time
that he was not enabled to discharge his en-
tire indebtedness for two years. Many ob-
stacles and difficulties have barred his prog-
ress toward prosperity. He had the mis-
fortune of losing his right arm on the 19th
of February, 1844, while feeding a threshing
machine two miles south of Gettysburg.
This would have discouraged most people
.meeting with such an accident, but he pos-
sesses an indomitable will and perseverance,
and in this way he has been enabled to wrest
fortune from the hands of an adverse fate.
In all his dealings he is strictly honorable
and has the unequaled confidence of those
with whom he has been associated. He is a
man of strictly temperate habits, using
neither tobacco nor intoxicants of any kind
and has done earnest and efficient work in
the cause of temperance. His has ever been
an honorable and useful career, commanding
the high respect of his fell* >w townsmen. In
manner he is courteous and genial and he has
the happy faculty of not only winning
friends but also of drawing them closer to
him as the years pass by. Few men in
Gettysburg of this vicinity are better known
or more highly esteemed than William E.
Gei 'i-ge.
D. Q. ROBERTS.
D. O. Roberts, deceased, was for more
than forty years one of the respected farm-
t German township, Darke county,
Ohio. He was burn in Harrison township,
Darke county, Ohio, February 2, 1834, the
son of German parents. His father and
uncle, Samuel and George Roberts, with
their wives, emigrated from Germany to
this country and made settlement in Darke
county, Ohio, where they passed the rest of
their lives, engaged in agricultural pursuits.
1 ). Q. remained on his father's farm in Har-
rison township until his marriage, Novem-
ber 8, 1856, when he located on the farm
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
749
of one hundred and seventy acres in Ger-
man township where his widow still resides.
Here for four decades he successfully car-
ried on general farming and stock-raising,
and was well known and highly respected
throughout the county. While not a poli-
tician or a public man in any sense, he took
an intelligent interest in public affairs, and
gave his support, so far as his vote was
concerned, to the Democratic party. He
died March 28, i8q7.
Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts, nee Baker, his
widow, was born in Jefferson township,
Preble county, Ohio, December -"5, 1834.
Her father, Thomas Baker, was a native of
Brooklyn, New York, from which place,
about 1 81 2, he came to Ohio and settled in
Butler county, where he subsequently mar-
ried. He then moved to Preble county and
took up his abode on a tract of land in Jef-
ferson township, where he cut the logs,
built a cabin in the clearing and began life
in true pioneer style. As the years passed
by he developed a good farm, which is 111 iw
owned and occupied by his son Thomas.
Thomas Baker, the grandfather of Mr. Rob-
erts, was an Englishman, who, on coming to
this country, located on Long Island.
Grandmother Baker was a native of Scot-
land. Mrs. Roberts' mother was before
marriage Miss Elizabeth Wesley, was a na-
tive of Pennsylvania, and was related to
the Wesleys who founded the society of
Methodists. She was the mother of ten
children that grew to adult age, Mrs. Rob-
erts being the eighth born. Mrs. Roberts
passed her girlhood days on her father's
pioneer farm in Preble county, and received
her education in a log school-house near her
home. She is the mother of six children,
four daughters and two sons, namely :
Adella F., the wife of Daniel Shaw, of In-
diana, by whom she has one daughter, Ha-
zel ; by a former marriage she has two chil-
dren, Earl and Ethel Mitchell; Dorson, who
married Margaret Hamilton and lives in
Hollansburg, Darke county; Emma, the
wife of Moses Adamson, of Nebraska, has
two children, Hugh and Hazel; Martha Ann,
the wife of William Smock, of Indiana, has
three children ; and Ella and Linneus, at
home .
JOHN H. FRITZ, M. D.
This well-known physician of New Mad-
ison, Darke county, Ohio, was born in
Preble county, this state, on the 17th of De-
cember, 1 85 1. His father, John Fritz, was
born on the same farm and there passed his
entire life, which was one of useful activity
and which was protracted over the period of
eighty-one years, his birth having occurred
June IO, 1810, and his death occurring in
1890, on Christmas night, which was the
anniversary of his wedding, and at about
the same hour in the evening. His father,
Michael Fritz, was a native of Bremen, Ger-
many, whence he emigrated to the United
States, settling in the woods of Preble coun-
ty, Ohio, where he reared a large family
comprising five sons and five daughters, of
whom three are now living, namely: Louise,'
widow of Mr. Cam, is about eighty-four
vears of age and resides in West Alexandria;
Catherine, widow of John Centner, is a resi-
dent of Preble county; and David, of Miami
county, who is seventy years of age. All
of the children lived to attain full maturity
and age except Nancy, who died when a
young lady. The grandfather of our sub-
ject cleared up his farm of one hundred and
sixty acres, and this was left to his heirs,
750
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and has been retained in the possession of
the family.
The mother of Dr. Fritz bore the maiden
name of Elizabeth Seiler. She was born
in 1824. and her death occurred in 1862,
her children having been as follows : Ben-
jamin, a resident of Eaton, Ohio; Sarah,
wife of Simon Wysong; Michael, who was
born in July, 1849, died in 1876; the fourth
in order of birth was the Doctor, the subject
of this sketch ; William is engaged in farm-
ing, as is also George, who owns the old
homestead, residing in Lexington ; and Let-
tie Maria is the wife of O. T. Smith, of
Ohio. The father remained a widower for
twenty-eight years, and reared his children
to maturity. The Doctor, who weighs
about one hundred and eighty pounds, weighs
the least of all his brothers and sisters, one
of his brothers tipping the beam at two
hundred and ten pounds. The Doctor was
reared upon the farm, and its duties and
free outdoor life proved effective in the de-
veloping of a sturdy constitution for the
young man, who secured his preliminary
educational training in the district schools,
applying himself to his studies with such
success that he was enabled to teach his first
term of school when he was seventeen years
of age. He engaged in teaching and at-
tended school for a period of ten years,
meeting all his expenses through his own
efforts. In the beginning he taught school
for two winters and thereby saved six hun-
dred dollars, which his father appropriated,
after which the young man started out upon
his own responsibility, and by teaching,
selling books, etc., saved fifteen hundred dol-
lars, all of which, with an additional five
hundred, he utilized in defraying the ex-
penses of his medical education. When
the Doctor came to New Madison, in the
spring of 1882, to open the practice of his
professon, he was indebted to his youngest
brother for five hundred dollars, which he
had been compelled to borrow in order to
complete his course at the Eclectic Medical
College, Cincinnati, where he graduated in
the spring of 1880. For two years he was
associated in practice with his old pre-
ceptor, Dr. Tillson, of West Alexandria, and
in 1882, as noted, he began the individual
practice of his profession in New Madison, .
where he has built up an excellent business, .
being recognized as an able practitioner
and as a man worthy of all confidence.
On the 1st of June, 1884, in Richmond,
Indiana, Dr. Fritz was united in marriage
to Miss Thomas, of New Madison, daugh-
ter of Walter and Elizabeth (Kittle) Thom-
as. Of this union three children have been
born : Ralph, the first born, died at the
age of eight months ; Hattie was born Octo-
ber 3, 1886; and Orpha December 13, 1893.
The Doctor is a Master Mason, holding
membership in Fort Black Lodge, No. 413,
at New Madison ; is a member of the
Knights of Pythias and also of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in West
Alexandria. Politically he is a Republican.
The Doctor is a member of the Ohio State
Eclectic Medical Society and also of the
Darke County Association. Since his mar-
riage he has lived in his own convenient and
attractive home in New Madison, the same
having been the homestead of his wife's
parents. Walter Thomas, the father of
Mrs. Fritz, was a veteran of the civil war,
in which he served for three years, and he
died of consumption, from the result of ex-
posure, his demise taking place about 1869.
His widow survived until 1897, passing
away at the age of about sixty years. They
were the parents of five children, of whom
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
751
Mrs. Fritz and her brother David are the
only survivors.
The practice of the Doctor extends
through a radius of from six to eight miles
in each direction, and he keeps two horses
in requisition, conducting a general prac-
tice in medicine and surgery. His efforts
have been very successful, and his clientage
is one of representative order.
WILLIAM Y. STUBBS.
The inevitable law of destiny accords to
tireless energy and industry a successful car-
eer, and in no field of endeavor is there great-
er opportunity for advancement than in that
of the law — a profession whose votaries
must, if successful, be endowed w.th native
talent, sterling rectitude of character and sin-
gleness of purpose, while equally inij.
concomitants are close study, careful appli-
cation and broad general knowledge, in addi-
tion to that of a more purely technical order.
Well qualified in all these particulars, Mr.
StuMis takes leading rank at the Greenville
bar and is one of the eminent men of the pro-
fession and it is with pleasure that we pre-
sent his record to our readers. He was born
upon a farm in Greenville township, Darke
count}", March 2, 1865, and is the eldest son
of S. W. Stubbs, who was born in Eaton,
Ohio. His mother bore the maiden name of
Minerva Dixon.
Mr. Stubbs, whose name introduces this
review, spent the first eight yaars of his life
upon the home farm and then attended the
public schools of Greenville, acquiring a good
English education to fit him for the practical
duties of life. Subsequently he engaged in
clerking in a general store in Greenville, and
in his eighteenth year he began teaching, but
all this served but as a stepping stone to
48
something higher. He determined to become
a member of the legal fraternity, and to this
end he read law with Hon. H. M. Cole, now
judge of the common pleas court. He began
his reading in June, 1881, and was admit-
ted to the liar by the supreme court at Co-
Iumbus, Ohio, at the January term of 1886.
He then began practice in this city and is now
well established in the profession. He was
associated for some time with his former pre-
ceptor. Judge H. M. Cole. Mr. Stubbs is
engaged in general practice and is well versed
in the various departments of law. His dili-
gence, energy, careful preparation of cases,
as well as the earnestness, tenacity and cour-
age with which he defends the right, as he
understands it, challenges the highest ad-
miration of his associates.
Mr. Stubbs was married October 19,
1887, to Miss Isabella Bookwalter. They
have a fine home in West Fourth street, not-
ed for its hospitality, and their circle of
friends is almost coextensive with their circle
of acquaintances. Mr. Stubbs is recognized
as a leader in political circles and exerts a po-
tent influence on public thought and opinion.
THOMAS B. MILLER.
Thomas B. Miller, superintendent of the
Darke County Infirmary, is a man well
known in this county, where he was born
and where he has passed his life. The
Millers were among the pioneers of Darke
county. George Miller, the grandfather of
Thomas B., was a native of Pennsylvania,
in which state he wedded Margaret Kaskey,
a native of the Emerald Isle. In 1816 they
removed with their family from Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, and took up
their abode in Harrison township, Darke
county, where they passed the rest of their
< -yi
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
lives. He died at the age of seventy-four
years. Their son John, the father of Thomas
B., was born in Lancaster county, in 1815,
the year before their removal to this state.
Here he was reared and married, his wife,
whose maiden name was Mary A. McGee,
being a native of Ohio. She died in 1854.
Of their children, eight in number, one died
at the age of twelve years, and those who
reached adult age are as follows: George
W., Thomas B., Martha E., Henry B.,
Mary I. and Margaret P. All are living
excepting Francis R. Mary I. is the wife of
C. W. Moore, and Margaret P. is now Mrs.
Luther Black.
Thomas B. Miller was born on his la-
ther's farm May 22, 1847, was reared to
farm life, and received his education in
the district school. He was yet a school
boy when the civil war broke out, but be-
fore it closed he offered his services to the
Union and proved himself a true soldier.
It was in 1864 that he enlisted, and as a
member of the One Hundred and Eighty-
seventh Ohio Volunteer infantry, com-
manded by Colonel Dawson, he entered the
service. His term of enlistment was spent
chiefly in garrison duty.
Receiving an honorable discharge from
the army in 1866, Mr. Miller returned to
Darke county and engaged in farming and
raising, which he continued for some
time. Then for a number of years he car-
ried on a mercantile business in Greenville,
in 1890 he was appointed superintendent
of the Darke County Infirmary, which po-
sition he has since filled, having been reap-
ted from time to time. The infirmary
buildings were burned in 1897, but were im-
mediately rebuilt on a much larger scale, and
arc in iw ranked with the best county infirm-
arv buildings in the state of Ohio. Under
Mr. Miller's management the institution is
niie in which the county has reason to take
pride;' everything is neat and orderly and
the inmates are well cared for.
Mr. Miller was married in 1877 to Miss
Elizabeth McGrew, a native of Preble coun-
ty, and a daughter of Patrick McGrew.
The}' are the parents of three children : Ar-
thur V., Edna B. and Harry C.
Politically Mr. Miller is a stanch Demo-
crat, has a voice in the councils of his party,
and has frequently served as delegate to
county and state conventions. He is a
member of Jobes Post, No. 147, Grand Army
of the Republic.
ISAAC MARKER.
Among the citizens of Darke county
whose lives have been devoted to agricultural
pursuits is Isaac Marker, a well-known farm-
er of Van Buren township. He was born
in Mercer county, Ohio, September 5, 1855,
and when thirteen years of age came to
Darke county with his parents, George and
Lydia (Epperell) Marker, locating in Van
Buren township, where he grew to manhood,
early becoming familiar with every depart-
ment of farm work.
On the 1st of November, 1877, Mr.
Marker was united in marriage with Miss
Mary Jane Shields, who was born on her fa-
ther's farm in Van Buren township, Janu-
ary 4, 1855, and was educated in the coun-
try schools of the neighborhood. They be-
gan their domestic life upon a farm of eighty
acres which she owned, and there they have
since made their home, Mr. Marker being en-
gaged in its operation. In his political views
he is a stanch Democrat, and he has been
called upon to fill several local offices.
Mr. and Mrs. Marker have eight children
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
753
whose names and dates of birth are as fol-
lows: Lucy, born September 19, 1878;
George A., October 17, 1880; Lydia Maud,
October 1, 1884; Dolly Frances, December
28, 1886; Therman Russell, December 10,
1889; Mary, May 12, 1893; Harley Earle,
July 7, 1895; and Homer Jennings, Decem-
ber 26, 1898. Mary died in infancy, but the
others are living and are still at home with
the exception of Lucy, who was married
August 12, 1899, to Roy S. French, and they
have one child, Rhoda Helen.
EMANUEL HERSHEY.
Prominent among the old settlers and
highly respected citizens of Darke county,
Ohio, is Emanuel Hershey, who resides on
his farm on section 28, Adams township.
The salient facts in regard to his life and
family history are as follows :
Emanuel Hershey was born on his fa-
ther's farm, one-half mile west of Petersburg,
in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, February
4, 1 82 1. His father, Jacob Hershey, a na-
tive of the same county, was a farmer, dis-
tiller and miller and was a prominent man
in his day. He was born in November,
1796, and died in August, 1872, at the age
of seventy-six years. Benjamin Hershey,
the grandfather of Emanuel, was also a na-
tive of the Keystone state, and in it passed
his life and died, the dates of his birth and
death being October, 1766, and October,
181 5, respectively. The mother of our sub-
ject was, before her marriage, Miss Eliza
Miller. She was born in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, May 19, 1804, and died
March 17, 1880. Her father. Jacob Miller,
was also a native of that county. Jacob and
Eliza Hershey were the parents of seventeen
children, their family record being as fol-
lows: Emanuel, whose name introduces
this sketch; Jacob, born March [3, [822,
died April 17, 1874: Benjamin, born June
22, 1823, died March 22, 1856; Sarah, born
September 25, 1824; Jeremiah, born March
17, 1826, died December jr. 1833; Eliza-
beth, born May 4. 1827, died October 4,
1829; John S., born March 29. [824; Anna,
born August 3. 1830: Amos, born February
4, 1832, died February 20, [898; Elizabeth
(2d), born October 25. 1833: Mary, born
June 30, 1835; Susan, born May 7, [836;
Amelia, born December 2, 1837; Henry,
born April 28. 1830; Harriet, born in 1841;
Fanny, born March 2~, 1843, and Reuben,
born June 19, 1845.
Emanuel Hershey assisted in the work
on his father's farm until he was seventeen
years of age. In the winter of 1837-8 he at-
tended boarding school at Lititz, Pennsvl-
vania, and the following summer went to
work in his father's mill, where he was
steadily employed for about two years, in
that time thoroughly learning the business.
In- August, 1840, he went to visit an uncle
who lived near Buffalo, New York, with the
intention of securing, if possible, a job in a
mill in that locality. In this he was success-
ful. He obtained employment in a large
flouring mill at Black Rock. X. V.. where he
remained for some time and had a valuable
experience in the business.
He was married on the 14th day of
November, 1844, at John Michael's hotel in
the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, by
Rev. Bates, of the Lutheran church. In the
spring of the following year they commenced
housekeeping at Metz's Mill, n rting
Mill, Rapho township, Lancaster count)-,
Pennsylvania, and remained in that county
until the spring of 1840. In April of that
vear they left their native state for Ohio,
754
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
coming by way of Pittsburg and Cincinnati
to Darke county. Mr. Hershey has a vivid
memory of the incidents connected with his
early experience, both before and after he
came to Ohio, and relates them in a most
pleasing manner. The story of his trip to
his uncle's in New York and his life in that
state would of itself make an article of some
length and much interest. Of his settlement
in Darke county, he says: "We landed in
this county at Bear's, on the 9th of May,
1849. The new mill house was erected in
the summer of 1848, by Moses and Manning
Hart, and in the winter of 1848-9 they s M
it with an unfinished house to Gabriel Bear.
Uncle John Bear came to Ohio in 1847, two
years before our arrival, and made his home
with Isaac Rudy, a brother-in-law of Gabriel
Bear. The mill, however, had not been
finished — only roofed and weatherboarded.
In the summer of 1849 Nve floored it and
put in the machinery; the race was dug at
the same time, by Thomas Westfall, contrac-
tor. The new mill was started on th<
day of January, 1850, and for seven years
was operated under the firm name of Bear &
Hershey. In 1856 we moved to the place
where we have since lived. Gabriel Bear ran
the mill for some years, after which he
it to Jesse Tillman, for eight thousand
dollars. It is now owned by a Mr. Cromer,
but still goes by the name of 'Bear's mill.' '
Mr. and Mrs. Hershey are the parents of
ten children and five grandchildren. Their
children in order of birth are as follows:
Adam B., born June 9, 1846; Samuel, born
September 28, 1847; Jac°b, born September
12, 1849; Barbara, born May 15, 1842;
Sarah E., born January 28, 1854; Isaac X.,
born November 19, 1855, died April 12,
1856; Emma, born February 19, 1857; J ihn,
born February 12, 1859; Eliza, born March
19, 1 86 1, and Mary, born January 20, 1868.
For nearly half a century Mr. and Mrs.
Hershey have been worthy and consistent
members of the German Baptist or Brethren
church. They were baptized June 22, 1S56.
February 20, 1867. Mr. Hershey was made
a deacon and since August 17, 1892, he has
been an assistant elder.
More might be said of the active life
and usefulness of this well-known citizen
and only want of space prevents more ex-
tended mention.
ELAM WHITE.
Elain White, a venerable citizen and re-
tired farmer residing at Glen Karn in Ger-
man township, Darke county. Ohio, was
horn in Franklin township, Wayne county.
Indiana, January 1, 1S1S. His forefathers
were Kentuckians, both his father and grand-
father having been horn in that state. Both
bore the name of James White, and both
were by occupation farmers. When a young
man James came to Ohio, settling in Butler
county and subsequently went to Indiana,
and there he married, and there he
passed the remainder of his life, engaged
in agricultural pursuits. His was a long and
useful life and at the time of his death his
age was ninety-six years and eight months.
Politically be was known as a Jackson Dem-
ocrat. He took a prominent and active inter-
est in local affairs, served fifteen years as a
justice of the peace, and was respected and
honored by all who knew him. His wife,
whose maiden name was Jane Bos well, was
a native of North Carolina and was
reared partly in that state and partly in
Wayne county, Indiana. Her father, Bar-
ney Boswell, also was a native of North Car-
olina. James and Jane White were the par-
ents of twelve children, six of whom are
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
755
living", Elam, the subject of this sketch, be-
ing the eldest son and third member of the
family.
Elam White was reared on his father's
farm in Indiana, spending his boyhood days
ill assisting in the work of clearing and im-
provng the farm, and remaining at home un-
til he reached his majority. At the age of
twenty-one he came to Harrison township,
Darke county, Ohio, and here he was mar-
ried, May 21, 1840, to Susan Carlinger. She
was a native of Baltimore county, Maryland,
where her early girlhood days were spent,
but after her mother's death, which occurred
when she was eleven years old, she came
to Darke county, Ohio, to live with an uncle,
Samuel Carlington, with whom she re-
mained until her marriage. They resided on
their farm in Harrison township until 1898,
when they removed to Glen Karn, German
township, where Mr. White still lives. Mrs.
White passed away April 29, 1900. Of
the children of this worthy couple, we give
the following reo ird : Theodora is deceased ;
Lorando Jane is the wife of Robert Down-
ing, of Harrison township, and has five chil-
dren, Clifton, Lellin, Bland. Samuel and
Orda ; Maretta is the wife of Henry Bick-
nell, of Harrison township, and has seven
children. Mrs. Eliza Florence Rodford, of
Franklin township, Wayne county, Indiana,
has seven children, Ida, Oda, Charlie, Ona,
Thurman, Early and Winnie. The grand-
children now number nineteen, and the
great-grandchildren, two.
Mr. White began life a por boy, by honest
industry accumulated a competency, and
now in his old age is surrounded with the
comforts of life — a fitting reward for his
years of toil. Politically he has supported
the Democratic party ever since its organiza-
tion.
CHARLES C. ROGERS.
Charles C. Rogers, one of the represent-
ative farmers of Wabash township, Darke
county, Ohio, was born in Missouri, Febru-
ary 13, 1842, but was reared in Clermont
county, Ohio. His father, Jacob Rogers,
whose birth occurred in Xew Jersey, Decem-
ber 19, 1808, and who represented one of the
old American families, in early life followed
the shoe-making trade and afterward en-
gaged in farming, with good success. He
removed from Missouri to Ohio, and for
some time resided in Montgomery and
Clermont counties, but his last days were
spent in Indiana, where he died in October,
1893. He was an upright and honorable
man, who never had a lawsuit of any kind.
He married Miss Mary Ann Turton, of
Maryland, and to them were born nine chil-
dren, five of whom are still living and have
families numbering from three to six chil-
dren. Mrs. Rogers was a life-long member
of the Methodist church and when past the
age of forty years her husband also became
a devout member of that denomination. She
very carefully reared her children, instilling
into their minds lessons of industry and
morality, which aided in shaping their
careers, making them noble men and women.
She diedabout eleven yearsprior to the death
of her husband, being called to her final rest
in October, 1882, when seventy-two years of
age. The remains of both were interred in
the Salem cemetery in Montgomery county.
Ohio. Not being fond of study in his child-
hood Charles C. Rogers obtained a rather
meager common school education, but his
training at farm labor, however, was not
limited, for he assisted in the cultivation of
the fields of the old homestead until his mar-
riage, which occurred November 21, 1863,
756
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
when Miss Mary Catherine Farther became
his wife. She was an adopted daughter of
John Armstrong, with whom she lived till her
marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers became the
parents of three children: Elmer Clinton, a
merchant of New AYeston, whose sketch ap-
pears below; Georgianna, wife of Lewis A.
Davis, a furniture dealer at New Weston,
Ohio; and I Roy, who is in his broth-
er's store in New Weston. He is married
and has a daughter. Mr. Rogers has given
his children good educational advantages,
and the older son, win has made splendid use
of his opportunities, has been of great as-
sistance to his parents, manifesting most
filial devotion and doing all in his power to
promote the happiness and enhance the wel-
fare of his parents.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rogers
began their domestic life in rather limited
circumstances on a farm in Clermont county,
Ohio, but subsecpiently spent one year near
Mattoon, Illinois, after which they returned
to Ohio, settling in Montgomery county. In
1883 they removed to Mercer county, where
seven years were passed; the following two
years were spent in North Star, Darke
county, Ohio ; five years in Jefferson county,
Indiana, and two years in New Weston,
Darke county, Ohio, where the father en-
gaged in merchandising, having followed the
bame pursuit in North Star. In 1899 he
located on his present farm of eighty acres
in Allen township, Darke county, and is now
devoting his energies to agricultural pur-
suits. There is a pleasant brick residence
upon the place, a g< >od barn and tobacco
sheds; in fact it is a well improved and most
desirable farm. Mr. Rogers rents most of
his land, tilling only a small portion, for his
own pleasure and health. In politics he is
independent, supporting the men whom he
believes best qualified to fill the offices, re-
gardless of party lines. He commands the
confidence and respect of all with whom he
comes in contact and is held in high regard
wherever known.
ELMER CLINTON ROGERS.
Among the enterprising and progressive
business men of Darke county is the subject
of this review, who is now successfully en-
gaged in general merchandising at New
Weston. He was born in Clermont county,
Ohio, August 14, 1864, and is a son of
Charles C. Rogers, a well-known farmer of
Allen township, Darke county.
During his boyhood our subject attended
the country schools of Montgomery county,
and in the winter of 1883-4 he commenced
teaching, which profession he successfully
followed for seven years. On the 5th of
September, 1886, he led to the marriage
altar Miss Iora P. Gower, a daughter of J.
S. and Louisa (Hartsell) Gower, all natives
of Darke count}-. Her parents were well-
known farmers of Wabash township. Of
their six children only two are now living :
Mrs. Rogers, and Hattie, the wife of G. W.
Arnold. The children born to Mr. and Mrs.
Rogers were : Orlando, who died in in-
fancy ; Ethel Cleora, who died at the age of
two years and a half; Nolah Fern, born July
4, 1892; Ernest R., born November 12, 1894,
and Homer Lee, born August 29, 1898.
Mr. Rogers began merchandising with
his father at North Star, in February, 1891,
under the firm name of Rogers & Son, but
two years later he bought his father's farm
in Mercer county, and for three years turned
his attention to agricultural pursuits. Our
subject then embarked in general merchan-
dising, at Eldorado, Preble county, Ohio,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
757
where he carried on business for two years,
and in May, 1897, came to New Weston,
where he has built up a large and constantly
increasing trade. In 1899 he erected the
substantial brick building he now occupies,
and he carries a large and well selected stock
of general merchandise to meet the demands
of his customers. He sold out the hardware
branch of his business in September, 1899.
Mr. Rogers possesses the necessary qualifica-
tions of successful business men, being in-
dustrious, enterprising and energetic, as well
as a most pleasing and genial gentleman,
upright and honorable in all his dealings.
Politically he is a Democrat and has served
as township treasurer in Wabash and Allen
townships. Religiously both he and his
wife are members of the New Light church
and socially he is a member of the Knights
of Pythias.
JOHN MOHLER.
John Mohler is a popular young farmer
of Franklin township, Darke county, and
is a representative of one of the pioneer fam-
ilies of Ohio. His grandfather, Rudolph
Mohler, was born in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, February 6, 1801, and mar-
ried Susanna Souman, who was born in that
county on the 12th of December, 1801. At
an early period in the development of the
Buckeye state they came to Miami county,
locating on a farm near the Sugar Grove
church in Newberry township. There the
wife died, after which Mr. Mohler made his
home with his children, dying at the resi-
dence of his son, Samuel Mohler, in Miami
county. He had three children by his first
marriage, namely: William, who was born
October 3, 1823, and died September 29,
1851; Mary, who was born May 3, 1825,
and is the wife of George Croft, of Darke
county; and Ephraim, who was born No-
vember 10, 1856, and married Mary Annie
Neal. After the death of his first wife the
grandfather married Elizabeth Miller, who
was born July 31, 1801, and their children
were: Henry, who was born May 14, 1829,
married Harriet Deeter; Jacob, the father of
our subject; Sarah, who was born January
2, 1833, became the wife of Henry Deeter
and died August 20, 1863; Susanna, who
was born July 21, 1834, is the wife of Will-
iam Shellabarger, of Covington; John, who
was born December 8, 1835, is now living
in Missouri with his wife, who bore the
maiden name of Mary Ann Miller; Samuel,
of Miami county, was horn March zy, 1837,
and married Sally Miller; Rudolph, who was
born March 18, 1839, and married Fannie
Etter; Daniel, of Missouri, was born Octo-
ber 2, 1842, and wedded Maria Mowry
and both died in Miami county; and Han-
nah, who was born January 29, 1845, ke-
came the wife of Justice Deeter.
Jacob Mohler, the father of our sub-
ject, was born in Lancaster county, Penn-
sylvania, March 15, 1830, and when fifteen
years of age accompanied his parents on their
removal to Miami county. The journey
was made by wagon, Jacob walking the
greater part of the distance. His father
had previously made a trip to Ohio on horse-
back and purchased the farm in Xewberry
township upon which Jacob was reared to
manhood. Having attained his majority,
he was married, on the 15th of January,
1852, to Miss Eidelia, a daughter of John
S. and Sarah (Reed) Deeter and grand-
daughter of David and Elizabeth (Stutz-
man) Deeter. The Deeter family removed
from Pennsylvania to Preble county, Ohio,
and later settled in Miami county. After
758
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
their marriage Mr. Jacob Mohler operated
the Sugar Grove mill for seven years and
then purchased the farm now known as the
Teague place in Newberry township. That
property he sold to Joseph Teague for the
latter's farm in Franklin township, Darke
county, and on that place he died May 28,
1898, after a long and useful life. He was
much respected and was a faithful member
of the German Baptist church, with which
he united in 1852. In politics he was a
Republican. His wife still survives him,
and by her marriage she became the mother
of the following children : Allen, who was
born January 27, 1856, and died in infancy;
Sarah E., who was born July 18, 1857, and
also died in infancy; Elizabeth, who was
burn December 10, 1858, and became the
wife of Aaron Shellabarger, of Franklin
township; Mary A., who was born April 6,
1861, and died in infancy; Martha, who was
born January 15, i8<>3, and is the wife of
Jonathan Cool, of Franklin township;
Rudolph, born November 22, 1865; Mina,
born January 10, 1868, and now the wife
of William Penny, of Franklin township;
ard John.
John Mohler was born January 30, 1870,
on his father's farm in Newberry township,
and in the public schools of the neighbor-
hood he acquired a good education, fitting
him for life's practical duties. He engaged
in the cultivation of the home farm, both
before and after his marriage, which im-
portant event occurred in 1890, Miss Lizzie
Knutt, a daughter of George Franklin
Knutt, becoming his wife. After his mar-
riage Mr. Mohler purchased and located
upon his present farm, which comprises
twelve and a quarter acres. He is very
enterprising and progressive in his farming
methods and carefully cultivates his land so
that it yields to him a good tribute in return
for the labor he bestows upon it. In politics
he is an independent Republican and keeps
well informed on the issues of the clay.
Socially he is connected with several or-
ganizations, including the Knights of
Pythias fraternity and the Improved Order
of Red Men at Bradford. His genial man-
ner and social disposition and sterling worth
have made him popular, and he is known
as one of the leading young agriculturists
of the county.
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