|
Henry W. Dorwin
Gettysburg, O., son of Philo Dorwin and Urania Dorwin, was born at Moncton, . Vt., Dec 28th,
1822. He received his collegiate education at Onondaga acad., N. Y., and his general education at the Western Reserve
general education at the Western Reserve med. coll., Cleveland, O., and graduated in February, 1852. He settled
in Gettysburg, Darke Co., in general practice. He is a member of the Darke and Miami Co. Med. Socs., and one of
the censors of the former; also member of the Ohio State Med. Soc. He was surgeon on the staff of Gen. Cranor,
of Ohio. In December, 1844, he married Nancy Morrison. Taken from: The Physicians and Surgeons of the United States.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Owen Yost
Somerset. Ohio. Lawyer and banker; b. near Somerset, Ohio, Nov. 22, 1855: s. of Isaac and Elizabeth
(Person) Yost: German-Irish descent; B. A. Heidelberg Univ.. Elffin. Ohio. 1879; m. Darke Co.. Ohio. July 14. 1881,
Alice Hursh; children; three sons, four daughters. Read law under Louis Schaefer. Canton. Ohio. 1879-80, and Hon.
W. E. Finck, ex-member Congress. Somerset, Ohio, 1880-81; admitted to Ohio Bar Oct., 1881, practiced law In Somerset
since: Instrumental In organizing and became v.-pres. Somerset Bank, 1891: pres, and dir. Somerset Storeroom Co.
Recreations: Fishing, hunting, books, bees, athletic sports. Republican.
[Taken from Who's who in Finance and Banking - John William Leonard]
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Following bios taken from: The History of Darke County, Ohio by W. H. McIntosh, Beers, W.H. Beers & Co -
Darke County (Ohio) - 1880
William Allen
lawyer, jurist and statesman; was born in Butler Co., Ohio. Aug. 13, 1827. His father, John Allen, was born
in Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1812; after residing six years in the State of New York, he moved to Butler
Co., Ohio, in 1818; he moved his family into the woods of Darke Co. in 1838, his dwelling being a log cabin with
puncheon floors and a mud and stick chimney; in the latter part of his life, he was a preacher in the United Brethren
Church. Our subject was favored with no educational advantages, except those afforded by the common schools of
the day, yet by making most of these, he was able to teach at the age of 15, and for several years followed that
vocation ; at the age of 19, he commenced the study of law. under the late Felix Marsh, of Eaton, Ohio ; was admitted
to the bar in 1849, and in the following year commenced practice in Greenville ; in 1850, he was elected Prosecuting
Attorney of Darke Co., and re- elected in 1852 ; in the fall of 1858, he was elected to Congress from the Fourth
District, comprising the counties of Darke, Shelby, Mercer, Auglaize and Allen, and re-elected in 1860, thus serving
in the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Congress ; in the winter of 1865, he was appointed by Gov. Cox as Judge
of the Court of Common Pleas of the first subdivision of the Second Judicial District of Ohio, composed of the
counties of Butler, Darke and Preble, to fill a vacancy made by the resignation of Judge D. L. Meeker ; in 1878,
Judge Allen was nominated for Congress by the Republicans of the Fifth District, but he declined. In 1851, he married
Miss Priscilla Wallace, whose father settled in Darke Co. in 1834 ; the issue of this marriage was four sons and
four daughters, of whom only one son survives ; four of his children died of diphtheria under the most afflictive
circumstances, in the space of as many weeks ; this was in the winter of 1861, when he was summoned from Washington
City to his despoiled home ; Mr. Allen, although he has risen from poverty to affluence by his own unaided exertions,
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 concede to him great ability
and unflinching honesty of purpose ; he is at present, Vice President of the Greenville Bank, and President of
the Greenville Gas Company.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
ALLEN, MATTHEW T. - lawyer, Greenville ; was born in Butler Township, Darke
Co., Ohio, Sept. 17, 1848 ; he lived on his father's farm, and enjoyed the usual educational privileges of farmers'
sons of that period (his father and mother are noticed in the sketch of his brother, Hon. William Allen) ; in the
fall of 1864, he entered Otterbein University, at Westerville, Ohio ; after a partial course at that institution,
he removed to Winchester, Ind., where he was employed as clerk in a shoe store one year ; he next taught school
one year ; in 1867, he commenced the stud}7 of law with D. M. Bradbury, of Winchester : after admission to practice,
he was appointed Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Indiana, comprising the counties
of Wayne, Randolph, Jay and Blackford ; in the summer of 1872, he came to Greenville, and continued practice as
junior member of the firm of Allen, Devor & Allen. In 1878, the firm dissolved, and, subsequently, young Allen
formed a partnership with Hon. John Devor, under the style of Allen & Devor. In 1878, Allen was the Republican
candidate for Prosecuting Attorney, and, such was his popularit3r, that he was fairly elected in a county giving
1,200 majority against his party, but was counted out by reason of mistakes in writing his initials on scratched
tickets. Mr. Allen has already won an enviable distinction as a counselor and advocate, and his genial social qualities
render him immensely popular with all classes. His marriage with Mary V. Whiteside, was celebrated upon the 23d
of April, 1879. She was born in Camden. Preble Co., March 17, 1860.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
ALTER, HENRY farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 12; P. 0. Greenville ; was born in Washington
Co., Md., March 18, 1833 ; he was a son of Jacob Alter, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1799 ; emigrated to Maryland,
and in 1866 came to Darke County ; and after residing in Greenville one year, made his home with his son until
his decease, which occurred in May, 1875. He was married, in 1819, in Maryland, to Eliza Tice ; she was born in
Washington Co. in 1806, and is now in her 73d year, and makes her home with her son. Henry Alter went to Clark
Co., Ohio, in 1858, and followed farming there until 1866, when he came to Darke Co. and located upon his present
place. His marriage with Elizabeth Ilges was celebrated in 1864 ; she died in 1870 ; one child was born to them
— Mary L., born Aug., 18, 1866 ; his marriage with Mary Clew was celebrated Dec. 17, 1874 ; she was born and raised
in Darke Co., and is a daughter of D. B. Clew, one of the early pioneers of Darke Co.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Joseph Amann Jr.
deceased. The subject of this memoir was born in Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1840, and was a son
of Joseph and Francis Amann ; in early life he learned the blacksmith trade ; in 1853, he came to Darke Co. and
followed farming and blacksmithing until the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he enlisted and served four years
in the Union army ; after being mustered out of service he returned to Greenville, and in 1867 was married to Barbara
Caron ; six children were the fruits of this union, viz., Nora, Louisa, Joseph, Katie, William and Barbara. He
engaged in business in Greenville soon after his return from the army, and in October, 1873, he purchased his brick
buildings on Third Street, and followed the restaurant and saloon business until his decease, which occurred in
October, 1879. The business has since been conducted by his widow.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
John Aten
farmer; P. 0. Jaysville. The subject of this memoir was born in Twin Township, Preble Co., Ohio, April
1, 1823, and is a son of Adrian Aten, who was a native of Kentucky but came to Preble Co. in 1822. John Aten was
raised to agricultural pursuits upon the home farm, and, upon the 6th of April, 1854, was united in marriage with
Lavina Russell, who died Sept. 19, 1875; nine children were the fruits of this union, viz.: Abraham R., born June
30. 1855 ; Adrian, April 29, 1856 ; John H., Oct. 3, 1857 ; James P., Jan. 25, 1859 : Theodore C., Oct. 20, 1860
(died Aug. 8, 1863) ; Emma, July 11, 1862 (died June 29. 1863) ; William, Jan. 6, 1864; Charles, Oct. 23, 1865",
and George W., June 1. 1867 ; upon the marriage of Mr. Aten, he continued farming upon the old homestead three
years, when he purchased a farm in Preble Co., and, in the fall of 1860, purchased property at Arcanum, Darke Co.,
residing here five years ; he then purchased the saw-mill at Jaysville, selling the following year, and, in 1866,
purchased his present property where he has since lived ; he has 110 acres upon his home farm, a large part of
which he has reclaimed from a swamp by means of a ditch and tiling until it is now as productive as any land in
the county. He is one of the self-made men of Darke Co., and has by his hard labor and correct business habits
placed himself among the large landholders and successful farmers of Darke Co. He was raised to the Sublime Degree
of Master Mason in the King Hiram Lodge, at Alexandria, Sept. 25, 1850, and is now a member of the order of A.,
F. & A. M. at Greenville.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
J. B. Avery
farmer, Sec. 3 ; P. O. Woodington ; an old settler of Darke Co.; born in New London Co., Conn., Aug. 27,
1826 ; at 17 years of age, he commenced farming and school teaching until 1847. when he came to Darke Co., and.
in the following year, purchased his present place of 80 acres, where he has since lived for a period of thirty-one
years ; upon locating here, there were some 7 acres only partially cleared ; no building, no fences ; he first
put up a small frame house in which he lived several years, and to which he has since attached a much larger residence
; he has cleared some 55 acres of his place and brought the same to a good state of cultivation by his own hard
labor. His marriage with Marcella Earhart occurred Nov. 14, 1848. She was born in Darke Co. Jan. 10, 1827, and
has always lived within one mile of the place where she was born; she was a daughter of Samuel Earhart, one of
the early pioneers, who was born in Warren Co., Ohio, in 1802, and came to Darke Co. in 1820, and located on Sec.
10. Greenville Township ; he died January, 1854 ; he married Elizabeth Scribner ; she was a daughter of Azor Scribner,
who was the first permanent settler of this county ; he established a trading post in Mina Town in 1806 ; Mrs.
Earhart died March, 1873, at the age of 67 years. The children of J. B. and Marcella (Earhart) Avery were five
in number — Prudence M., born Sept. 20, 1849 ; Franklin P., born Jan. 21. 1852 (died May, 1869); Emily M., born
Oct. 8, 1858; Lizzie M., born July 28. 1862, and Ira J., born Feb. 28, 1869. Mr. Avery has been a member of the
Presbyterian Church for upward of thirty years ; his wife, for a period of thirty- eight years, and all the children,
save the youngest, also being members of the same church.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Andrew Baird
farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Greenville ; the subject of this memoir was born in Warren Co., Ohio,
Oct. 26, 1844, and is a son of Tunis Baird, also a native of Warren Co., Ohio, his father coming from New Jersey,
and are of Scotch descent. Andrew was raised in the above county, his early occupation being that of a farmer's
son ; he obtained the advantages of a common-school education ; he remained with his father upon the farm till
the spring of 1864, when he enlisted in the 146th O. N. G., and went forward to battle for the Union. He was forwarded
to West Virginia, where he served the full term of his enlistment, and received his discharge at Camp Dennison,
Ohio, in September, 1864. He then returned to Darke Co., and farmed one year upon the old home farm, and in the
latter part of the year 1865, he went to Illinois, where, upon the 22d day of June, 1866, he was united in marriage
with Miranda Collett. She was born and raised in Darke Co. In September, 1866, he returned to Darke Co., since
which time he has followed farming with the exception of some eighteen months, during which time he was engaged
in the coal and wood business in Greenville. The children of Andrew and Miranda (Collett) Baird are five in number,
four daughters and one son, viz.: Lula, Ella M., Franklin T., Cora D. and Kittie.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Jacob Baker
attorney at law. Greenville ; born in Butler Township in 1840 ; practiced law in Greenville since 1864,
where he has been connected with some of the most important legal proceedings had in the county ; was defeated
for the Legislature in 1865, and elected in 1867. He introduced and carried through several important pieces of
legislation. He was a delegate from this Congressional District to the St. Louis Convention at which Mr. Tilden
was nominated for President.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Charles Bachman
tailor and clothier, No.- 88 Broadway, Greenville, Ohio. There are probably but few of the successful
business men of Greenville, who have shown the energy, enterprise, and quick conception of the wants and demands
of the public, as the subject of our sketch, who is among the popular clothiers of Greenville. He was born in Prussia
June 1, 1836. and emigrated to to America when 18 years of age ; in 1861, he located in Eaton, and followed the
occupation of merchant tailor, until 1867, at which date he came to Greenville, where he has since followed the
above business, with the exception of two years. As one of the patrons of the above gentleman, we can cheerfully
recommend him as educated in his business, and to his honorable dealings, together with his large and carefully
selected stock of seasonable goods and to his personal attention to the details of every branch of his business,
may be attributed the secret of his success. A card of his business is to be found in the business directory of
Green- ville, in another part of this work. His marriage with Julia Marenthall was celebrated in 1861. She was
also a native of Prussia. They are the parents of three children, viz.. Jennie, Samuel and Maley.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
David Beanblossom
(deceased); one of the early pioneers of Darke Co., was born in North Carolina. May 25, 1801;
when 16 years of age, he came to Ohio and located in Darke Co., consequently he was one of its very early settlers.
He was twice married; his first wife was Susannah Rarick ; she died about the year 1834 ; eleven children were
the fruit of this union, of whom one is now living — Joseph, now living in Greenville Township. His marriage with
Mary Delk was celebrated Nov. 6, 1836; she was born in Darke Co., a few miles south of Greenville, Sept. 30, 1816
; she was a daughter of Etheland Delk, who was born in North Carolina, and came to Darke Co. in a very early day.
The children by the last marriage were fourteen in number, of whom two are deceased. The living" are Ludena,
born May 20, 1840; Enos, Jan. 6, 1842; Ann Eliza, born Oct. 25, 1843; Julia A., torn Nov. 24, 1845; William, Jan.
6. 1848 ; Elizabeth -S., born Oct. 22, 1849 ; Margaret M., born Feb. 9, 1852 ; David D., Jan. 14, 1854 ; John C.,
April 18, 1856 : Rachel and Isabell (twins), and Henrv A,, born Jan. 13. 1859. Of the deceased, Nancy, born Aug.
28, 1838 died Feb. 26, 1854; the other died in infancy. Mr. Beanblossom died Dec. 8, 1861, upon the same place
he located, in 1817, and where he lived forty -four years; his old residence, which he built in 1820, is now occupied
by his son Enos. Mr. Beanblossom suffered all the privations and hardships of frontier life. He commenced without
capital, and split rails at 25 cents per hundred to obtain his wedding ding outfit. He, with the assistance of
his wife, fought the battles of life nobly, and at the time of his death, had accumulated upward of 400 acres of
land ; built his present residence in 1856. He took a deep interest in the cause of religion, and was a Deacon
in the Christian Church and was a member of the same for forty years. He died respected and beloved by all who
knew him.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Enos Beanblossom
Sec. 1; P. 0. Pikesville. Another of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born upon Sec. 1, Greenville
Township, Jan. 6, 1842, where he has always lived, with the exception of three years that he served in the army
; he is a son of David Beanblossom who was born in North Carolina, and emigrated to Ohio, and located in Darke
Co. in 1817 ; he entered Government land, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred Dec. 8. 1861, aged
63 years. The mother of Enos Beanblossom was Mary Delk, who was born in Ohio, and is now living in this county.
Our subject was raised to agricultural pursuits, which he followed until July 10, 1862, when he enlisted in the
45th 0. V. L; he served in the army of Gen. Sherman until the fall of 1864, when he was made prisoner in Tennessee
and taken to Belle Island ; after remaining there three months, he was taken to Andersonville, where the cruel
treatment received here was in keeping with its well-known acts of barbarism ; during his imprisonment his weight
was reduced from 155 to 94 pounds ; he remained in prison some five months, and was released in the spring of 1865,
and received his discharge during the summer, at Columbus ; thence returned home and engaged in farming, which
business he has since followed. He now owns 100 acres of well-improved land. His marriage with Ann E. Sipple was
celebrated March 31. 1872; she was born in Darke Co. Feb. 3. 1845; they have four children — Irene M., born May
17, 1873; Daisy V. born July 31, 1875; Ora E., born July 26, 1877, and an infant, born September 14, 1879. The
residence in winch Mr. Beanblossom now lives was erected by his father in 1820, and is now a good comfortable home.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Joseph Beanblossom
farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Greenville; another of the old settlers; born in Darke Co.. Ohio,
Feb. 7, 1 826, he was the oldest son of David Beanblossom, one of the early pioneers, whose biography appears among
the sketches of Greenville Township in this work. The subject of our sketch was raised to agricultural pursuits
upon the farm of his father, until he attained his majority, when, upon the 22d of February, 1847, he was married
to Rhoda Brandon ; she was born March 12, 1823, and died Sept 3, 1853, leaving three children— Thomas A., born
Nov. 7, 1847 ; Mary A., born Oct. 19. 1849; David W., born Nov. 24, 1851. His marriage with Elizabeth Potter was
celebrated Nov. 6. 1855 ; she was born in Greenville Township, Darke Co., Sept. 26, 1829, and was a daughter of
David Potter, one of the early pioneers, who came to Darke Co. in 1812 or 1813, and died in 1869 ; his widow who
survives him is now living upon the old place, where she has lived for upward of fifty years ; her maiden name
was Maria Ullery ; the children by the union of Joseph Beanblossom and Elizabeth Potter are four in number, viz.:
John R., born June 29, 1857 ; George N., born Aug. 24, 1858 ; Charles F., born May 26, 1860 ; Maria, July 27, 1864.
Mr. Beanblossom located upon his present place in 1857, where he has since lived for a period of upward of twenty-two
years. Upon locating here it was all woods; he has since cleared some 70 acres, and brought the same to a good
state of improvement. His home farm contains 140 acres, with good buildings, located two miles northwest from Greenville.
Mr. and Mrs. Beanblossom are entitled to a place in the front ranks of the old settlers of Darke Co., having been
continuous residents of the county for upward of half a century.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Jacob L. Beatty
farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Greenville. Among the settlers of Darke Co. in 1850, we mention
the name of the above gentleman; he was born in Fayette Co., Penn., April 16, 1816, and was the only son of Thos.
Beatty, who was born in New Jersey in 1787, and came to Pennsylvania with his parents in 1797, and to Guernsey
Co., Ohio, in 1832, and, in the fall of 1848, came to Darke Co., and located in Neave Township, where he died Jan.
21, 1855. He married Mary Roury, in Pennsylvania, in 1815; she was born in Fayette Co., Penn., April 8, 1798, and
is now living with her only son, Jacob, in the 82d year of her age, is in possession of all her faculties, and
can read any common print without the use of glasses; there were two children by this union — Jacob L. and Eliza
; the latter is now Mrs. Dr. Thomas Duncan Stiles, of Neave Township. The subject of this sketch followed farming
in Guernsey Co. until 1850, at which date he came to Darke Co. and located upon his present place, where he has
since lived for a period of thirty years; he has 120 acres of land upon Secs. 8 and 5, 80 acres of which are under
a good state of cultivation. His marriage with Hester Stiner was celebrated in 1840 ; they were the parents of
six children — Mary E., born Sept. 18, 1841 ; William H., April 16, 1843 ; Sarah A., March 7, 1845, died Aug. 30,
1846 ; Eliza J., born Nov. 20, 1847 ; Thomas, May 10, 1851, and Reuben L., Dec. 21, 1860.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Samuel Bechdolt
farmer; P. O. Greenville; born in Miami Co., Ohio. Jan. 10, 1819 ; when an infant, his parents
removed to Warren Co., where the subject of our sketch was raised to farm labor until 20 years of age, and, in
the fall of 1849, he came to Darke Co., and located in Greenville Township, and, in 1852, purchased his present
place, where he has lived for a period of twenty-seven years. He owns 132 acres upon his home farm, with good farm
buildings, and one-half of the woolen-mills owned by the firm of Fox & Bechtolt. His marriage with Eleanor
Vannote was celebrated in 1840 ; she was born in Warren Co., Ohio ; they have four children now living ; lost two
by death ; the living are Catherine E.. Joseph, Mary E. and George; the deceased died in infancy.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Lewis Beckler
farmer; P. 0. Greenville; another of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio,
Aug. 30, 1837; at 10 years of age, he came to Darke Co., and made his home with Henry Beckler until 23 years of
age, and, upon the 20th of December, I860, was united in marriage with Elizabeth Dininger; she was born in Darke
Co. April 14. 1843; they were the parents of two children. Mrs. Beckler is a daughter of Jacob Dininger, one of
the early pioneers of Darke Co. Upon the marriage of Mr. B., he located upon his present place, where he has since
lived; he owns 100 acres, upon which is his home farm, under a good state of improvement. He is a son of Peter
Beckler, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Montgomery Co., Ohio, where he married Hannah Dill. He died in Montgomery
Co. in 1840. His widow was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, and is now living, at the advanced age of 73.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Charles Biltemeier
manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, etc., of the firm of Biltemier & Maitini. Broadway,
Greenville. The above gentleman is the oldest continuous person in the above business in Greenville ; he was born
in Hessian Germany in 1822 ; at the age of 14 years, he commenced the trade of shoemaking, which he followed twelve
years in his native country ; he emigrated to America in 1848, and landed in Baltimore ; coming directly West,
he located permanently in Greenville in 1849, where he has since lived ; upon locating here, he received employment
as journeyman until 1855, at which date he engaged in business for himself, which he has since successfully followed
; in 1864, he associated with his present partner, since which time they have conducted the business under the
above firm name ; they carry a large and complete stock of gents', ladies', youths' and children's goods, and employ
from three to five hands. He was married to Carolina Dohm in 1852; she was born in Hessian Germany: they have four
children now living, viz., Lizzie, Caroline, Henry and Anna. He, with his wife, have been members of the German
Methodist Church since 1853.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
William J. Bireley
retired, Greenville; was born in Frederick Co., Md., in 1812; was the son of John and Barbara
Bireley; John was born in the same county, and Barbara was born in Hagerstown, Md.; her maiden name was Brindle;
the grandfather, John Bireley, was born in Saxony, and emigrated to this country before the Revolutionary war.
The grandmother was from Wurtemburg, Germany, and also came to this country prior to the Revolutionary war. Mr.
Bireley's father came to Lancaster, Ohio, in the spring of 1822, and in the fall following came to Montgomery Co.,
where he lived till his death, which occurred in 1827. Mr. Bireley, the subject of this sketch, came to Darke Co.
Oct. 15, 1830, and located 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 Co., where he remained till
1833, when, on Jan. 24 of the same year, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Martin, daughter of Christopher
and Elizabeth Martin, Sr.; they were both born at Sewickley, Penn., and came to Ohio in 1814; they settled in Butler
Co., and then moved to Darke Co. in 1815, and settled about five miles east of Greenville ; after raising a large
family of children, they moved to Greenville, where they lived and died. Mr. Bireley, in the next May after his
marriage, in 1833, came back to Greenville and entered upon the manufacture of earthenware, which business he followed
for twenty-eight years, doing an extensive business ; he then bought a farm of 150 acres, one mile out of the corporation
of Greenville ; he then took his family and moved on to the farm, which was in 1851 ; in 1858, he sold this farm
and bought another, five miles east of Greenville, upon which were several quarries of limestone, and went into
the manufacture of lime, and continued at this business till January. 1880, when he rented it to Martin Smith and
Emanuel Hershey for five years, receiving $400 yearly, or $2,000 for the five years ; Mr. Bireley moved from the
farm into Greenville in 1870, where he has since resided. Mr. Bireley is the father of ten children, seven of whom
are living, viz., Henry P., Elizabeth E., William W., Barbara C., Harvey H., Wade G. and Mary R., all married and
settled in life except the youngest, who is still single, and remains at home. At the commencement of the rebellion,
his three oldest sons enlisted in the 44th 0. V. I., and. after being out eighteen months, they went into the 8th
0. V. C., and in this they served through the war till honorably discharged, and all returned safely home. Mr.
Bireley was one of the pioneers, coming here when all was a wilderness, and but few houses constituted Greenville;
he has lived to see the wilderness pass away, and now a flourishing town of 4,000 inhabitants occupies the spot
where then all was woods and wild animals; even the citizens who lived here then have all passed away, with but
few exceptions, viz., Henry Arnold and wife. Dr. I. N. Gard and wife, John Wharry, Esq., Allen La Mott and Mrs.
Farrer. Mr. Bireley and wife are active members of the M. E. Church, having united in 1834. Mr. Bireley started
in life upon sound principles, having resolved never to take the wine cup or waste his time and means in attending
shows and theaters, which resolution he has firmly kept ; he is one of the few whose life is filled up with usefulness,
and whose business interests in his various undertakings have met with remarkable success, and we may trust that
from his Christian life he will enter that " life beyond the vale " in due time, with the same assurance
of success and happiness, unalloyed with the cares and conflicts which attend this life, and that the record he
has here left upon the pages of time will be a worthy example for all future generations.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
William F. Bishop
retired; P. 0. Greenville ; another of the old settlers ; born in New Jersey April 27, 1800;
is a son of Frazee Bishop, who was also a native of the same State, born in 1775 and married, in 1797, Elizabeth
Lamb, also a native of the same State. Our subject came to Ohio when 5 years of age, and was raised in Butler Co.;
in 1842, he came to Darke Co. and purchased 217 acres of land upon Section 9, southwest of Greenville, where he
lived until 1865, when he purchased his present residence on Fourth street, where he has since lived, retired from
active business. His marriage with Maria Bogus was celebrated Sept. 6, 1825; she was born in Kentucky Dec. 6, 1805.
They are the parents of ten children, of whom seven are now living, Thompson L. being the oldest, and is prominently
mentioned among the sketches of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have peacefully trod the path of life together
for a period of upward of fifty-four years; the anniversary of their golden wedding was celebrated, at their residence
on Third street, Greenville, upon Sept 6, 1875, to which were gathered some 300 persons, representatives of all
ages, from childhood to old age, to pay their respects to this aged couple. They came loaded with costly gifts,
among which we mention a gold-headed cane and gold spectacles to Mr. Bishop; Mrs. Bishop received her full share.
Mr. Bishop has been a member of both the I. O. O. F. and Masonic Orders for many years, and is held in respect
and esteem by all who know him.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Thompson L. Bishop
farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Greenville ; one of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in Butler
Co., Ohio, Nov. 8, 1829 ; he attended the common and high schools, until 12 years of age, and in 1842 came to Darke
Co. with his parents, and located on Section 9, where he assisted his father in agricultural pursuits, until he
attained his majority. In 1850, he went to Warren Co. and for three years was employed by the month as farm laborer
; the first year he received for his wages $144, and for the next two years he received $15 per month ; in 1853,
he returned to Darke Co. and cropped with his father two years, receiving one-third of the proceeds. The summer
of 1855 he passed in traveling through the Western States, and in the spring of 1856, he purchased an interest
in the saw-mill at Gordon, Twin Township, and followed this business four years, and in the spring of 1860 purchased
ninety acres of his place, and has since added, by purchase, three acres, and has made improvements upon the buildings
to the amount of $5,000, and has brought the same to a fine state of cultivation, located one mile from the city
limits of Greenville. He was united in marriage with Cynthia A. Dunham, in Warren Co., Ohio, Dec. 10, 1856; she
was born in the same county in 1836. They have three children, viz., Sylvan E., Cora, and William G. Mr. and Mrs.
Bishop have been members of the Baptist Church for a period of twenty years.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
James J. Blease
manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, No. 9 Third Street, Greenville. Ohio. Greenville, like all cities
of its size, has its representative business men in nearly every branch of trade, and to the above gentleman must
be accorded the honor of being the representative merchant, in his line, of the place. He is a native of Birmingham,
Warwickshire, England, and was born April 18, 1843. At 7 years of age, he emigrated to America with his parents,
lauding in New Orleans March 17. 1851 ; thence to Cincinnati, where he attended public school continuously until
the spring of 1857, at which date he removed to Richmond, Ind., and learned the shoemaker's trade, and, in 1863,
engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he continued to follow until 1868, at which date he came to Greenville,
and in October, 1869, engaged in the above business, which he has successfully followed. He has given a great deal
of attention to the manufacturing of boots and shoes to order, and also manufacturing for his retail trade; he
gives employment to from five to ten hands, and carries the largest stock of boots and shoes in Greenville, and
by honorable and fair dealing, together with his personal attention given to every detail of his business, has
built up a large trade, which is yearly increasing. His marriage with Martha A. Pannel was celebrated in 1869;
she was a native of Eastern Virginia ; they were the parents of three children, of whom two are deceased ; the
living is James.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
S. B. Blottman
grocery and provisions, queensware, fruits and country produce, Greenville. Among the most enterprising
and energetic business men of Greenville, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch requires more than a passing
notice ; he was born in Baden, Germany, May 6, 1846 ; at 9 years of age he emigrated to America, coming to Greenville
Dec. 31, 1854 ; he was employed at various pursuits for several years, among which were draying, ditching and farming,
and as hostler ; in 1864, he had accumulated $90, with which he purchased a dray and harness, then purchased a
horse on time and commenced dray- ing as his first business adventure, and by close attention, hard labor and correct
business principles, he succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations ; in 1868, he disposed of his draying,
and with the fruits of his previous earnings embarked in the grocery trade, which business he has since successfully
followed, his sales having increased until 1879, and exceeds upward of $30,000 ; Mr. B. is one of the self-made
men of Darke Co., commencing in life without capital, and has, by his energy and correct business principles, placed
himself in the front ranks of the successful merchants of Greenville. His marriage with Mary A. Kelly was celebrated
in Greenville, Sept. 15, 1868; she was a native of Pennsylvania; they have three children now living, having lost
one by death — the living are William B., Mary M. and James F.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
H. Bornstein
Wholesale and retail dealer in wines, liquors, etc., Greenville. Born in Berlin, Prussia, Sept. 18, 1827,
where he received his education in the subscription school, and was engaged as clerk in the dry-goods store of
his father until 17 years of age, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York in 1 844 : he then devoted
several years traveling in the Southern and Western States, and in 1853, located in Dayton, Montgomery Co., and
until 1875 was engaged in business in Dayton and Cincinnati ; in the fall of 1875, he removed to Greenville, where
he has since successfully followed the above business ; a card of his business appears in the business directory
of Greenville in another part of this work. He was married in Cincinnati in 1860, to Sarah Childs, who was born
in that city: they have four children — Rosa, Eddie, Malcolm and Blanche.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Dr. Leo Myers Buchwalter
physician and surgeon, Greenville: the paternal ancestry of Dr. Buchwalter, whose portrait appears
in this work, can be traced, not without many missing links, however, to the year 1527, at which time the Mennonites
or Anabaptists (to which denomination they belonged), on account of their peculiar belief, were compelled through
religious persecution to flee from their native canton, Berne, Switzerland, first to the Netherlands, and subsequently
to the United States, arriving in Lancaster Co., Penn., about the year 1709. From the time of their exodus until
the birth of Gerhardt Buchwalter, grandfather of Dr. Buchwalter, the line of genealogy cannot be traced with cer-
taintj'. He, it appears, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., June 9, 1771. Married Maria Brobsten in 1796, who bore
him thirteen children : Benjamin, the oldest, father of Dr. Buchwalter, was born August 9, 1797 ; married Catharine
Miller, daughter of Joseph Miller, of Middletown, Md., in 1824, the fruits of which were eight children, two of
whom survive ; in 1826, he removed to Dayton, Ohio, and after remaining here ten years, went to Laurel, Franklin
Co., Ind., where he followed his calling of millwright, erecting many of the best mills in the country ; in 1842,
he left Laurel and located in Harrison, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at which place he was appointed Postmaster in 1852,
in which capacity he served until 1861. when he was elected Mayor, the duties of which office he creditably discharged
for a period of ten years ; after this he came to Darke Co., and soon after died at Euphemia, Preble Co., Ohio;
his wife followed him July 11, 1877. Dr. Buchwalter, the subject of this sketch, was born April 11, 1831, in Dayton,
Ohio ; his boyhood days were passed in the usual routine incident to youthful life in general up to a suitable
age to attend school, which in those early days was not over a stone pavement a few blocks distance to a fine schoolhouse,
but, when the boy was determined enough to encounter the difficulties, he took his lonely way through the woods,
along a winding path for many miles to a rude log cabin ; these very hardships, stamped upon that boy an energy
of purpose, which intensified by maturer years, defies all opposition; at the tender age of 12, Dr. Buchwalter's
father placed bin? in his mill, requiring his time eighteen hours out of the twenty- four — six of which, however,
viz., from 6 P. M. until 12 M., being watch duty, he employed in reading and study, thus acquiring a very fair
education in the English branches ; in his 16th year he began teaching, which he followed about four years, then
entered the store of Michael Miller, at Euphemia, as clerk ; having thus by his own industry secured the necessary
funds, he, in the fall of 1855, began reading medicine in the office of Dr. G. S. Goodheart, of Harrison, Ohio
; before completing his course of reading, however, he was compelled to resume the counter, first with Miller &
Moore, and subsequently with Moore & Winner. On the 1st day of November, 1864, he married Miss Matella Wilson,
second daughter of Hon. William Wilson, of Greenville, by whom he had one child — Anna. In the spring of 1866,
Dr. Buchwalter graduated from the Miami College of Medicine, and immediately located in Hollandsburg, in which
he remained nine years, in the mean time building up an extensive practice ; in 1874, he removed to Greenville,
where he has by his indomitable will, untiring perseverance, and thorough acquaintance with his profession, built
up a practice, which, while it is inferior to none in the county, is rapidly and permanently increasing. Dr. Buchwalter
possesses an excellent library, which he is constantly enlarging by the addition of the leading medical and scientific
productions of the day ; he is, in the broadest sense of the term, a self-made man, and has won his way, conquering
step by step, every opposing element that has impeded his pathway to that success and high professional skill to
which he has at length fully attained. In the Biographical Cyclopaedia, appears a biographical sketch of the Doctor,
to which, through more recent information, we are enabled to add some additional facts and recommendations.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Abraham N. Brewer
harness-maker, Greenville. The gentleman whose name heads this article was born in Warren Co.,
Ohio, July 1, 1833, and is a son of Abraham and Ann Brewer ; his father was born in Kentucky Jan. 17. 1800, and
departed this life July 27, 1843 ; his mother was born in Pennsylvania March 18, 1797, and died Aug. 26, 1873.
Our subject's early days were spent on the farm, and, after he had attained a proper age, he learned the carpenter
trade, which he followed for five years, and then followed wagon-making in Arcanum, where he settled in 1858 ;
in 1865. he turned his attention to the manufacture of harness, in which ever since he has been successfully engaged
; none know better how to do their patrons justice, and Abraham will always be found found ready and willing to
give his patrons the best stock in the market, and his jobs are turned out in a workmanlike manner. His first marriage
was consummated with Mary Hough June 8, 1858; to their union, five children were given, viz., Lorenzo, Thomas N.,
Ella H., and two dying in infancy; Mrs. Brewer departed this life Nov. 9, 1863; his second marriage was celebrated
with Miss Emeline Baker, in November, 1874.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Joseph Bryson
farmer and stock-raiser; resides on Sec. 9, Township 11 , Greenville Township ; P. O. Greenville.
Among the old settlers of Darke Co., the gentleman whose name heads this sketch is assigned a place in the front
ranks, being born upon the place where he now resides, on the 30th of November. 1821 ; he was a son of James Bryson,
one of the early pioneers of Darke Co., who came from Bedford Co., Penn., and located upon the above place in 1817
: he was born near Hagerstown, Md., May 21, 1786, and died March 20, 1863, upon the place where he had lived for
nearly half a century-. He married Mrs. Rachael Rush Aug. 12, 1817 ; her maiden name was Rachael Creviston ; she
was born March 3, 1784, and died Feb. 14, 1855 ; she came to Darke Co. in 1810 ; her first husband was Henry Rush,
and Lemuel Rush, now living three and a half miles north of Greenville, is the only child now living by that union,
and is probably the oldest continuous male resident of Darke Co. ; the children of James and Rachel Bryson were
six in number — Morris, whose sketch appears in this work, born May 1 3, 1818 ; Mary Ann, born Jan. 29, 1820, died
Dec. 15, 1854; Joseph, born Nov. 30, 1821 ; Rachel J., born Dec. 25, 1823 ; Eliza, born Jan. 23, 1826, and James
H., born Feb. 26, 1829. Until 25 years of age, Joseph followed farming on the old place ; he then followed carpentering
and fanning during the summer, and school- teaching during the winter, for seventeen years, since which time he
has devoted his whole attention to farming ; he has resided upon his present place for a period of fifty -eight
years, and is the oldest continuous resident upon any one place that the writer of this article has yet found in
Darke Co.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Morris Bryson
farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Woodington ; one of the old settlers of Darke Co., Ohio
; born in Darke Co., what is now Greenville Township, May 13, 1818 ; his father, James Bryson, was born in Washington
Co., Md., May 21, 1786, and came to Darke Co. in 1816. He held various offices in the county, among which was County
Commissioner, and served a term in the Assembly of Ohio ; was County Judge some ten years, and was Justice of the
Peace many years, and held other offices. He died March 20, 1863. He married Mrs. Rachel (Creviston) Rush ; she
was previously the wife of Henry Rush, who died in Ft. Rush, during the campaign of Harrison ; his brother Andrew
was killed in 1812, by the Indians, upon their first depredation : the first white child born in Darke Co. was
Thomas Rush, a half-brother of the subject of our sketch ; the latter was raised to agricultural pursuits, and,
upon the 8th of April, 1846, was united in marriage with Mary Ann Cole ; she was a daughter of Joseph Cole, one
of the early pioneers of Darke Co., who located here in 1818 ; upon his marriage, he farmed rented land two years,
and, in 1848, purchased 80 acres of his present place, where he has lived for a period of thirty-one years ; he
now has 287 acres of land, all of which he has earned by his own hard labor, with the exception of 80 acres. The
children of Morris and Mary Ann (Cole) Bryson were ten in number, of whom seven are now living, viz.: James W.,
Rachel, Joseph C., Isaac N., Anna C., Volney D. and David H.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
John K. Butt
farmer, Sec. 24 ; P. 0. Greenville; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Oct. 22, 1824 ; when 5 years of
age, his father died ; he lived with his mother until 16 years of age, when he commenced to learn the blacksmith
trade, which business he followed with the exception of six years, until 1871 ; he then came to Greenville Township,
and purchased 12 acres of land upon Secs. 12 and 13, where he lived until the spring of 1879, when he rented the
farm upon which he lives. He is now farming 89 acres, and is engaged in raising corn, wheat and tobacco; he first
came to Darke Co. when 13 years of age, and, after a residence of three years in Palestine, went to Preble Co.
and has since lived in Preble, Montgomery and Darke Cos. He has been twice married ; his first wife was Delia Arnett
; they were married Oct. 10, 1844 ; she was born in Montgomery Co. and died Oct. 22, 1858, leaving two children,
viz.: Sarah A., born Sept. 12, 1845, now Mrs. Jacob T. Miller, of Montgomery Co.; Marion A., born Feb. 8, 1852.
now Mrs. Philip Hartzell, of Darke Co. His marriage with Eliza Lantz was celebrated in Montgomery Co. Dec. 6, 1859
; she was born in Berks Co., Penn., June 3, 1837 ; they have three children— Flora F., born July 18, 1861 ; William
P., born Oct. 3. 1864; Franklin E., born July 11, 1867.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Andrew R. Calderwood
attorney at law, Greenville; another of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in Montgomery Co.,
Ohio, Sept. 14. 1818, and was a son of George and Margaret (Robeson) Calderwood, natives of Huntingdon Co., Penn.
They were married Sept. 14, 1811; in the fall of 1817, they removed to near Dayton, Ohio, and from there, in 1832,
to Darke Co., where George Calderwood died Sept. 7, 1849; his wife survived him until Aug. 12, 1873, when her decease
occurred. George Calderwood was of Scotch parents, and, though uneducated, was a man of sound judgment, great firmness
and very courageous; of large stature and possessed an iron constitution; 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 talent and great kindness. Our subject was employed in early life upon the farm, digging ditches, mauling
rails, etc.; his education was meager; 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 the
same, being admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in 1851. Was elected Probate Judge in 1854 ;
after serving three years, he entered the Union army as Second Lieutenant ; was promoted Captain of Co. I, 40th
0. V. I.; resigned his commission on account of injuries received from being thrown from a horse ; on regaining
his health he was recommissioned as Captain by Gov. Tod, and, by Col. Cranor, assigned to the command of his old
company ; after six months' service, in the above position, by loss of his voice and previous injuries 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 again resumed the practice of the law. On Dec. 3, 1876, he assumed the editorial control
of the Sunday Courier, a leading organ of the Republican party of Darke Co. He has been three times elected Mayor
of Greenville, and, in 1868, the Republicans of Darke Co. presented his name in the Fourth Congressional District
of Ohio, his opponent, Mr. McClung, being nominated by a small majority over Judge Calderwood. He has a liberal
share of the practice in this county, and enjoys somewhat more than a local reputation as a criminal lawyer; at
the forum, his abilities are best shown; he has an original faculty of developing a subject by a single glance
of the mind, detecting as quickly the point upon which every controversy depends. There is a deep self- conviction
and emphatic earnestness in his manner and a close, logical connection in his thoughts; he wears no garlands of
flowers to hang in festoons around a favorite argument, yet for impromptu appeals and eloquence he stands among
the first in his profession, and, by his great knowledge of human nature, he is acknowledged to be one of the best
judges of a jury at the bar.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Henry Calkins
lawyer, Greenville. The subject of this memoir was born in West Burlington, Bradford Co., Penn.,
upon the 5th of December. 1832, and is a son of Moses and Eveline (Broflett) Calkins, who were married in Pennsylvania
about the year 1826; Moses Calkins was born in Bradford Co., Penn., April 6, 1797, his father being one of four
men who first settled in the county in 1790, was the father of five sons and four daughters, and died at the advanced
age of 80; his widow's decease occurred two weeks later, at the age of 78; of their children, three now survive,
viz., Moses, the father of our subject, now 84 years of age, and two daughters, aged 82 and 86 years, all in good
health ; the children of Moses and Eveline (Broffett) Calkins were six in number, of whom five are now living,
viz., Charles, born Feb. 11, 1827, and whose biography also appears in this work, our subject being the next surviving
member ; Edward, born in 1836, a prominent lawyer of Richmond, Ind., since 1862 ; Alfred, born in 1833, a resident
of and Mayor of New Paris, Ohio ; Emma, born in 1841, now Mrs. C. B. Northrup, of New Madison. The maiden name
of the great-grandmother of our subject on his mother's side was Gore ; her husband was killed at the Wyoming massacre
; she, with two children, one of them the grandmother of Mr. Calkins, escaped with other fugitives by boat up the
Susquehanna River, then across the mountains, and located in the Sheshequin Valley, Bradford Co., Penn., where
she died in 1833, being 90 years of age ; her daughter Rebecca, the grandmother of Mr. Calkins, was born in 1774
; was married, in 1794, to James Broflett, and were the parents of five children, all of whom were early settlers
of Darke Co.. viz.. Silas and Alfred Broffett, at Broffettsville, Harrison Township ; Celinda, wife of Judge Jaqua,
of New Madison, and Lucinda, wife of Rial Lawrence ; her second husband was Joseph Bloom, by whom she had four
children — Charles, Guy. Hiram, and Celinda, now the wife of A. L. Northrup, residing in New Madison ; she died
at the age of 84 ; the parents of Mr. Calkins are now living at New Paris, Preble Co.; they came to Darke Co. in
1852, and settled in Harrison Township. The education of our subject was obtained in the common schools up to 16
years of age; he then received an academical course at Troy, Bradford Co., Penn. ; then was a student of the Delaware
(Ohio) College two years ; afterward studied medicine and attended a course of lectures at Cincinnati Medical College
: in the spring of 1856, he went across the Plains, remaining until 1859. Upon Dec. 12, 1862, he was married to
Harriet E. McClure, at Peru, Ind. The following August, he enlisted a company of 101 men, and went out as Captain
of Co. C. 87th Ind. V. L, serving through Kentucky and Tennessee. After returning from the army, he returned to
Illinois and engaged in farming, stock-raising, etc. Was Police Judge of the city of Jerseyville, Ill., in 1868
; was admitted as a member of the bar in 1870, and was afterward elected two terms as City Solicitor ; in 1874,
he came to Greenville, and engaged in the ' law business with his brother Charles. Was elected Prosecuting Attorney
of Darke Co. in 1877, and re-elected in 1879. Has always voted the Democratic ticket. Henry Calkins is the father
of three children now living, having lost three by death. During the residence of Moses Calkins in Pennsylvania,
he was largely identified with the lumber trade, and, upon locating here, has been engaged in loaning money, etc.;
he is a man of sterling worth, and a great champion of the cause of temperance.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Charles Calkins
attorney at law, Greenville. The subject of this sketch was born in Burlington Township, Bradford
Co., Penn., Feb. 11, 1827, and is a son of Moses Calkins, who is prominently mentioned in the biography of Henry
Calkins in this work. The early education of our subject was obtained like other boys of the age, in an old log
schoolhouse; at 16 years of age, he entered the academy at West Troy, where he received his academic education
under the instruction of Ezra Long. Afterward, his father becoming largely indebted to the Bank of North America,
in Philadelphia, for lands then owned by him, required all his efforts, as well as of his son, to liquidate the
same; accordingly he built four saw-mills, and Charles run one of them one-half of the time, day and night, until
his majority, the balance of the time being employed in rafting and running lumber down the Susquehanna River.
At the age of 21, he commenced the study of law at Towanda, Penn., with John C. Adams, who was an able lawyer,
a just man, and distinguished throughout the State for his prominence and ability. He continued his studies with
the above gentleman until April 11, 1849, when through the kindness and generosity of Allen and Eliza McKean, he
was furnished with means to take him to the gold mines of California, and to the above parties he holds the deepest
feelings of gratitude and esteem. After remaining in California some eighteen months, meeting with fine success,
he returned to Bradford Co., Penn., thence to Darke Co., with a cousin, in 1851, with the expectation of remaining
but two weeks, but through the fortuity of Providence, he has made it his home for nearly thirty years. Upon the
1st of June, 1852, he formed a partnership under the firm name of Collins & Calkins, this partnership continuing
until September, 1855, when it was dissolved by the death of Mr. Collins. In 1854, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney
for two years ; re-elected in 1866 for two years, and again in 1868 for the same length of time, and has had an
honorable and lucrative practice since being admitted to the bar in 1852. His marriage with Elizabeth Stamm was
celebrated in the spring of 1853. She was also a native of Pennsylvania. They have four children now living, viz.,
Leulla, Harriet and Henry (twins) and George.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
L. E. Chenoweth
attorney at law, Greenville; was born in Washington Township, on the 3d of December, 1840. His
father, Thomas F. Chenoweth, came to Darke Co., from Franklin Co., Ohio, in 1818, and entered the farm on which
he has since resided. L. E. Chenoweth was brought up a farmer, but with three brothers learned the trade of bricklaying.
He received a good common-school education, and, at the age of 16, taught a district school. He taught school several
terms. On the 13th of May, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Co. K. 11th O. V. I., for three months' service, and
was honorably discharged Aug. 17, 1861; re- enlisted Oct. 25, 1861, in Co. E, 69th O. V. I.; was appointed Commissary
Sergeant of said regiment, Feb. 1, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., and soon after appointed Quartermaster Sergeant
of said regiment. Re-enlisted as veteran volunteer, Feb. 26, 1864, at Chattanooga, Tenn.; was discharged from service
as Quartermaster Sergeant, at Sister's Ferry, Ga., Feb. 1, 1865, and was mustered in on same day as First Lieutenant
of Co. H, 69th 0. V. I., and, on same day, was appointed Quartermaster of said regiment. Was appointed Brigade
Quartermaster on the staff of Gen. George P. Buell, commanding 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 14th Army Corps, at Goldsboro,
N. C.. March 27, 1865. Was commissioned and mustered as Captain of Co. I, O.V.I., June 16, 1865, at Louisville,
Ky., and was discharged on the 17th of July, 1865, at the close of the war. Was present at the following battles:
Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, Snake Creek Gap, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca,
New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro
and Savannah and Goldsboro, N. C. Since the war, has been engaged in the grocery business, miller, engineer, merchant
tailoring, boot and shoe store, foundry and machine shop and a traveling salesman, handling school furniture and
supplies, in Ohio, Indiana. Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Canada. On the 5th day of December,
1876, in the Supreme Court of Ohio, was duly admitted to the practice of the law, since which time he has been
engaged in the business of his profession. He married, on the 3d of July, 1867, Effle A. Arnold, daughter of Noah
Arnold, Esq., of Jaysville. Darke Co. Has two children — Millie and James.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
B. H. Clark
Sec. 4; P. O. Woodington ; an early pioneer of Darke Co.; born in Lebanon Co., Penn., Sept. 16,
1821 ; he was a son of Samuel Clark, who was born in Pennsylvania March 31, 1796 ; he came to Darke Co. in 1831,
and located in Washington Township, where he lived until his decease, which occurred in November, 1872. He married
Margaret Hofnagle in Pennsylvania ; she was born in the same State in 1797, and died in Washington Township in
February, 1863. Our subject came to Darke Co. with his parents in 1831, and is, consequently, one of the early
pioneers, and among the oldest continuous residents of the county, having lived here nearly half a century ; his
education was obtained in a log schoolhouse with stick-and-mud chimney, a large fireplace in which they used logs
as large as two or three of the largest boys could handle, and the desks and seats were made of slabs, as well
as the writing-desks which extended around the house ; he remained with his father until 21 years of age, when
he commenced farming for himself, and. in 1857, moved upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he has
about 80 acres of land, with good farm buildings, which he has secured by his own hard labor, in which he has been
nobly assisted by his amiable wife, to whom he was united in marriage April 25, 1844 ; she was born in Washington
Township, Darke Co., April 18, 1830 ; her maiden name was Mary Ann Martin, a daughter of Hugh and Eve (Cox) Martin
; her father was one of linearly pioneers, emigrating from Pennsylvania in 1818. and locating in Washington Township
; her mother was a daughter of Jacob Cox, who located here in 1816 ; he was born in 1801 and died April 7, 1842,
upon the farm he first settled on after his marriage ; her mother was born in 1796, and died Dec. 13, 1866. The
children of B. H. and Mary Ann (Martin) Clark were thirteen in number, of whom eleven are now living — William
H., Isaac X., John C., Frank, Margaret E., Clatie F.. Angeline M., Jennie, Sherman, Walter and Arthur; the deceased
were Charles and Baxter, dying in infancy.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
John C. Clark
firm of Breaden & Clark, attorneys at law, Wilson & Hart's Block, Greenville. The subject
of this memoir was born in Washington Township, Darke Co., on the 17th of January, 1849, and is the son of B. H.
Clark, another of our old settlers, whose biography also appears in this work. The early occupation of our subject
was that of a farmer's son, his education being obtained in the common schools, until 18 years of age, after which
he attended the graded schools of Greenville for three years ; the following three years he devoted to school-teaching,
and, during vacation, gave his whole attention to study ; in 1873, he commenced the study of 'law with Calderwood
& Cole, was admitted to the bar in 1877, and, shortly after, associated with J. E. Breaden, Jr., under the
firm name, now doing an extensive law business, which is yearly increasing.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Henry M. Cole
lawyer, Greenville; was born in Darke Co., March 17, 1845. His grandfather, Samuel Cole, Sr.,
was a native of Sussex Co., N. J. ; he was one of the earliest settlers, and the first Justice of the Peace of
Washington Township ; his father and mother are natives of the same township ; his father, Samuel Cole, Jr., is
a substantial farmer ; his mother was Elizabeth Cox ; of a family of eleven children, our subject is the eldest
; by arduous study, with only common-school advantages, he obtained a fair English education ; he entered the service
of the United States in the war of the rebellion in 1864, and was fifer-boy in Co. G, of the 152d 0. N. G.; he
read law with Messrs. Knox & Sater, of Greenville ; graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in the spring
of 1869 ; was at once admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Greenville ; in August, 1872, he formed a
law partnership with Judge A. R. Calderwood, of Greenville, and is still so associated. Politically, he is a Republican.
He possesses good legal talent, is a close student, and is devoted to his profession; as a pleader and advocate,
he is effective; in legal and general literature, he is well informed, and has the manners of a polished gentleman.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
HARPER, James Clarence, (1819 - 1890)
HARPER, James Clarence, a Representative from North Carolina;
born in
Cumberland County, Pa., December 6, 1819; moved with his father
to
Darke County, Ohio, in 1831; attended the common schools; moved
to
Lenoir, Caldwell County, N.C., in 1840; land surveyor, civil
engineer,
and draftsman; laid out the town of Lenoir, N.C., in 1841;
engaged in
mercantile pursuits and subsequently became interested in the
manufacture of cotton and woolen goods; held several local
offices;
colonel in the State militia; member of the State house of
commons in
1865 and 1866; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second
Congress
(March 4, 1871-March 3, 1873); was not a candidate for
renomination in
1872; engaged in agricultural pursuits and in road building;
died near
Patterson, Caldwell County, N.C., January 8, 1890; interment in
the
Cemetery at Harpers Chapel, Patterson, N.C.
(Source: Biographical Directory of the United States
1774-present.)
Submitted By
Linda Rodriguez
|
|
William Cole
farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 14; P. O.
Greenville; born
|
|
|
in
Greenville Township, Darke Co., March 3, 1849; he is a son of
Samuel Cole, |
|
|
who
was one of the early settlers of Darke Co., and is one of the
oldest continual |
|
|
residents
of the county, and is now living in Washington Township, and
is a |
|
|
brother
of Joseph Cole, whose biography appears among the sketches of
Washington |
|
|
Township
in another part of this work. Wm. Cole received a
common-school |
|
|
education,
and assisted his father upon the farm until he attained his
majority; |
|
|
in
1872, he located upon his present place where he has since
lived; he has 160 |
|
|
acres
on his home farm, with good buildings. He married Clarissa
Alexander |
|
|
Aug.
3, 1871 ; she was born in Preble Co., Ohio, Sept. 7, 1852 ;
they have five |
|
|
children—
Baxter, born April 11, 1873 ; Samuel G., Aug. 8, 1874 , John,
Sept. 21, |
|
|
1875
; George, March 25, 1877, and an infant, July 10, 1879. Mrs.
Cole was a |
|
|
daughter
of Samuel Alexander, who died in Washington Township Oct 7,
1873; |
|
|
her
mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Roberts, who died in 1874.
Submitted By Nancy Hannah
Jacob W. Cox
|
|
|
|
|
manufacturer
of boots and shoes, Sec. 31; P. 0. Greenville. |
|
|
One
of the old settlers, born in Greenville Township, Darke Co.,
Ohio, Aug. |
|
|
12.
1841. He was a son of Jesse Cox, the first white child born in
Washington Township (date of birth, 1817), whose occupation
was farming; his death occurred |
|
on
Oct. 4, 1873. He married Prudence J. Wintermute, a native of
New Jersey, |
|
|
born
in 1820, who is still living in Greenville Township. Jacob W.,
raised to farm |
|
|
labor
until 14 years of age, when he commenced to learn the
shoemaker's trade, |
|
|
which
business he followed in connection with farming until 1873,
since which |
|
|
time
he has devoted his whole attention to his trade upon Sec. 31,
where he resides. |
|
|
Upon
the 14th of March, 1869, he was married to Mary E. Bechtold,
daughter of |
|
|
Samuel
Bechtold, whose sketch appears among the biography of
Greenville |
|
|
Township
; they have three children — Charles N., Francis M. and
Bellzoria.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Frank Conkling
|
|
|
|
|
book-keeper,
Greenville; born in Hamilton Co., |
|
|
Ohio.
Feb. 27, 1858; his early education was obtained in the common
schools of |
|
|
his
native place, and completed by a study of eight years in
Cincinnati; in 1875. |
|
|
he
came to Greenville, and in July, 1876, accepted a position as
book-keeper of the |
|
|
Greenville
Bank, which situation he has since filled with credit to
himself, and |
|
|
satisfaction
to his employers.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
David Craig
|
|
|
|
|
retired;
P. O. Greenville; another of the early pioneers of |
|
|
Darke
Co. is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch; born in
Montgomery |
|
|
Co.,
Oct. 5, 1804, and was a son of John Craig, a native of
Virginia, who had a |
|
|
hatred
to the institution of slavery, and emigrated to Kentucky, then
a free State, |
|
|
but
upon slavery being admitted as one of its institutions, he
came to Montgomery |
|
|
Co.,
Ohio, where his death occurred in 1812 ; in the spring of
1816, our |
|
|
subject
came to Darke Co., being then 12 years of age, and he and his
twin brother |
|
|
contracted
and cleared several acres of land in Wayne Township, by which
they |
|
|
cleared
upward of $1 per day each ; at 15 years of age, he went to
Butler Co.. |
|
|
and
learned the blacksmith trade ; his skill and reputation in the
making of edge |
|
|
tools
soon became established, and for three years he found
employment at |
|
|
Amanda,
most of the time making stonecutter's tools for the
contractors of the |
|
|
Miami
Canal ; he was a witness to the commencement of the building
of the |
|
|
canal,
and saw the first dirt thrown out by Gov. Merrill, of Ohio,
and Gov. Clinton, |
|
|
of
New York ; in 1828, he and his twin brother purchased two lots
on Main |
|
|
street,
Greenville, erected a wagon and blacksmith shop, and carried
on the above |
|
|
business
in connection with the manufacture of plows and agricultural
implements |
|
|
until
1850, when he located upon his farm, two and a half miles
south of |
|
|
Greenville,
and here he engaged in farming until the spring of 1877, when
he disposed |
|
|
of
his farm, removed to Greenville, where he has since lived. Mr.
Craig |
|
|
has
suffered the privations and hardships of frontier life ; upon
locating here he |
|
|
had
to go to Montgomery Co., purchase corn at $1 per bushel, and
bring it to |
|
|
Greenville
upon horseback ; it may be said of him that he is one of the
self- |
|
|
made
men of Darke Co. ; coming here at 12 years of age, he battled
against |
|
|
adversity
for many years, and now at the advanced age of 75 years is in
possession |
|
|
of
all his faculties, and has accumulated sufficient property by
his hard labor |
|
|
and
correct business habits to carry him and his amiable wife
through their |
|
|
declining
years. Upon the 3d of August, 1834, he was united in marriage
with |
|
|
Ruhanah
Shanon, who was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., Feb. 17, 1816,
and • |
|
|
came
to Darke Co. with her parents in 1832. They were the parents
of three |
|
|
sons
and four daughters, viz., Elizabeth A., born Sept. 15, 1835;
James M., Nov. |
|
|
29,
1836, now in Government employ at Washington; Thomas A., born
March 2, |
|
|
1839—
died Feb. 22, 1845; Marietta. May 5, 1842; Martha J., Jan. 18.
1844; |
|
|
Phoebe
S., Dec. 17, 1845, and David Edgar, June 1, 1852.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
T. W. Culbertson
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
and stock-raiser; P. 0. Greenville; was born Oct. 25, 1828. |
|
|
within
sight of the place where he now resides ; he is the son of |
|
|
Samuel
Culbertson, a native of Pennsylvania, who was born in June,
1801, and emigrated |
|
with
his family to this county at quite an early day, settling on a
piece of |
|
|
land
in Van Buren Township. At that time, this county was almost
entirely cov- |
|
|
ered
over with dense forests and immense swamps; the labors of the
pioneer had |
|
|
not
yet made extensive inroads on the vast wilderness. He was
united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Westfall in 1823; six
children were born of this union, |
|
to
wit : Orin, Mary J., T. W. Elizabeth and James ; Orin and
Elizabeth are |
|
|
deceased
; the others are settled in this county. The privations and
hardships of |
|
|
pioneer
life soon told upon the health of the elder Culbertson, and in
1837, he was |
|
|
called
to bid farewell to his family and take his departure to that u
undiscovered |
|
|
country
from whose bourne no traveler returns," leaving a loving
wife and six small |
|
|
children
to contend with the trials and difficulties incident to
frontier life; his wife |
|
|
remained
upon the homestead and survived him about sixteen years, dying
in |
|
|
1853.
Our subject was quite small at the death of his father, after
which he |
|
|
remained
with his mother till her death, assisting in sustaining her
and giving her the |
|
|
comforts
of a home; he early learned the brickmason's trade. His
educational |
|
|
advantages
were necessarily limited, as a pioneer's life is one of
constant exertion |
|
|
for
sustenance, but what opportunities did offer in this direction
were well improved. |
|
|
At
the death of his mother, the home was broken up and he went to
live with his |
|
|
sister,
Mrs. Studabaker. Nov. 26, 1857, he celebrated his marriage
with Elizabeth |
|
|
Harper;
she is the daughter of William S. Harper, a native of
Pennsylvania, who |
|
|
also
emigrated to this county at quite an early day. Immediately
after the marriage |
|
|
of
our subject, he moved upon a piece of land in Sec. 7, which he
had previously |
|
|
purchased
; this was all in the woods, and he was obliged to clear off a |
|
|
spot
large enough to erect a cabin on ; this constituted the first
home of his own ; |
|
|
here,
in the dense forest, he set out with his helpmeet, on the
course of life, and |
|
|
by
their own exertions they have caused the golden grain to wave
where once |
|
|
stood
the mighty forest ; in his rich fertile farm, we again behold
industry and |
|
|
frugality
bountifully rewarded. They are the parents of seven children,
to |
|
|
wit:
Frank, Edward, Charlie, William H., Hany, Cora B. and Purley,
all of |
|
|
whom
are yet living and residing under the parental roof. Mr.
Culbertson, realizing |
|
|
the
advantages of an education in this advanced day, is offering
his children |
|
|
all
the opportunities now afforded by this county in this
direction, and they, we |
|
|
are
glad to chronicle, are making good use of them.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
John W. Deardourff
|
|
|
|
|
manufacturer
and dealer in boots and shoes. No. |
|
|
13,
Third Street, Greenville. The subject of this memoir is a
native of Preble Co., |
|
|
born
June 3, 1845; he is a son of Daniel Deardourff, who was born
in Adams Co., |
|
|
Penn.,
and came to Preble Co. about the year 1849. He married
Elizabeth Stouf- |
|
|
fer
; she was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., and is now living in
Greenville, at the |
|
|
advanced
age of 79 years. John W. was raised in Preble Co. until 20
years of |
|
|
age,
during which time he attended the common schools, and learned
and worked |
|
|
at
the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until August, 1862,
at which date he |
|
|
enlisted
in the 50th 0. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union
; he was in |
|
|
many
severe engagements, among which was the battle of Penyville,
and in the |
|
|
three
months' campaign against Atlanta, during which time he was
engaged some |
|
|
eighty-four
days ; after the capture of Atlanta, he returned to Franklin,
and after |
|
|
the
battle of the latter place, the army fell back to Nashville,
where he was engaged |
|
|
in
the three days' fight ; in the spring of 1865, he joined
Sherman at Golds- |
|
|
boro,
and was with his army at the surrender of Johnson ; he then
lay in Salisbury |
|
|
some
thirty days, then returned to City Point and Baltimore ;
thence to |
|
|
Cleveland,
where he received his discharge, in the latter part of July,
1865, having |
|
|
served
in the Union army three years. Upon receiving his discharge,
he came |
|
|
to
Darke Co. and was employed at his trade until the spring of
1877, when he |
|
|
engaged
in business for himself, which he has since successfully
followed ; a card |
|
|
of
his business is to be found in the business directory of
Greenville, in another |
|
|
part
of this work. His marriage with Phebe S. Craig was celebrated
in March, 1869; |
|
|
she
is a daughter of David Craig, whose sketch appears among the
biographies of |
|
|
this
work; they have two children — Harry A. and Charles.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Josiah B. Deeter
|
|
|
| |
|
Sec.
4; farmer and manufacturer of all kinds and |
|
|
sizes
of drain tile; P. 0. Woodington ; his factory is located
one-fourth of a mile |
|
|
south
of Woodington Station ; he may be considered one of our old
settlers, being |
|
|
born
in Greenville Township, Darke Co., June 3, 1844 ; his father,
Daniel M. |
|
|
Deeter,
was born in Pennsylvania in January, 1801, and came to Darke
Co. somewhere |
|
|
about
the year 1825, where he has since lived. He married Anna
Bolinger |
|
|
in
Pennsylvania ; she died in the spring of 1879 ; the subject of
this sketch followed |
|
|
agricultural
pursuits during the early part of his life, and subsequently |
|
|
purchased
an interest in the tile factory of Hime, Martin & Co.,
which, after two |
|
|
years
he became the sole owner of; since that time he has conducted
the business |
|
|
in
his own name ; his yearly sales in tile have exceeded $3,000 ;
he also owns 94 |
|
|
acres
of land, which extends to the station, his residence being
located one-fourth |
|
|
of
a mile from the same. His marriage with Hattie A. Crosson was
celebrated |
|
|
July
17, 1873 ; she was born in Cincinnati July 18, 1855 ; she died
in April, 1875; |
|
|
one
child was born to them — Claud M., born Aug. 29, 1875; died
Feb. 19, 1876.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Aaron S. Demise
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
and stock-raiser, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Greenville ; |
|
|
one
of the early pioneers of Darke Co., born in Butler Co., Ohio,
Jan. 16, 1825 ; |
|
|
he
was the oldest son of John S. Denise, who was born in the
State of New Jersey |
|
|
March
25, 1803, and came to Ohio when quite young. He was united in
marriage |
|
|
in
Warren Co., Ohio, with Margaret M. Clark March 18, 1824 ; she
was born |
|
|
in
Warren Co. Aug. 15, 1804; they were the parents of ten
children, of whom |
|
|
seven
are now living ; they were among the early settlers of Darke
Co., coming |
|
|
here
in 1829, and locating upon Sec. 27, Greenville Township, which
at that time |
|
|
was
a howling wilderness, and upon this spot Mr. Denise passed the
remainder of |
|
|
his
days ; his decease occurred April 25, 1852 ; his widow now
lives upon the |
|
|
same
place, and although upward of 75 years of age, is in
possession of all her |
|
|
faculties
; our subject came to Darke Co. with his parents in 1829, and
is consequently |
|
|
one
of the old settlers of the county ; he remained upon the old
homestead |
|
|
until
1855, after which he went to Illinois and remained four years,
thence |
|
|
to
Missouri, staying there two years, and, in 1861, returned to
Darke Co., and. in |
|
|
September
of the same year, enlisted in the 40th 0. V. I., and went
forward to |
|
|
battle
for the Union ; he was first forwarded to Kentucky, where he
was in several |
|
|
battles,
after which he was transferred to the Army of the Cumberland ;
participated |
|
|
in
the battle of Chickamauga, then the siege and capture of
Atlanta, continuing |
|
|
upward
of four months fighting ; in the fall of 1864 and the early
part of |
|
|
the
winter of 1865, he was in the Fourth Army Corps, under Maj.
Gen. Thomas, |
|
|
operating
in Tennessee in protecting the cities of Nashville,
Chattanooga and |
|
|
other
points, during which time he was engaged in the battle of
Nashville for two |
|
|
days,
at the expiration of which time the rebel army under Gen. Hood
were |
|
|
badly
defeated ; he was also in many other engagements ; in the
spring of 1865, |
|
|
he
was forwarded to Texas, and stationed at Galveston and San
Antonio for several |
|
|
months,
and in the fall of 1865, returned to Columbus, where he was
mustered |
|
|
out
of service and received his discharge in October of the same
year, having |
|
|
served
in the Union army upward of four years ; after two years'
service, he |
|
|
veteranized,
and at the expiration of three years, was transferred to the
51st 0. V. I., |
|
|
and
remained with the same until the close of the war ; he was
never taken |
|
|
prisoner,
but had many narrow escapes ; he was twice wounded, but only
kept |
|
|
from
duty a short time ; he returned home Oct. 25, and located upon
his present |
|
|
place,
where he has since resided; he has 100 acres in his home farm,
of which |
|
|
80
are under a good state of cultivation, one mile west of the
city of Greenville ; |
|
|
also
40 acres in Daviess Co., Mo.; Mr. Denise is no politician, but
is a strong |
|
|
Republican,
and labors for the success of his party, and to make use of
his own |
|
|
words,
he always votes as he fought.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
John G. Deubner
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
and stock-raiser, Sec. 13; P. 0. Greenville ; |
|
|
one
of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in Saxony, Germany,
July 2, 1825, |
|
|
where
he received a good German education and followed farming and
working in |
|
|
woolen
mills until 23 years of age, when he emigrated to America,
landing in New |
|
|
York
in May, 1848; he immediately came to Darke Co., and was
employed working |
|
|
in
the Broadway Hotel, Greenville, some five years, and, in 1853,
he located |
|
|
upon
Sec. 13, where he has since lived for a period of twenty-six
years ; he now |
|
|
has
82 acres under a good state of improvement, with good farm
buildings ; when |
|
|
locating
here, there were only 1 5 acres cleared ; he has since cleared
35 acres and |
|
|
brought
the same to a good state of cultivation ; when Mr. Deubner
purchased his |
|
|
first
land, he had a capital of about $50 ; he has since accumulated
all the above |
|
|
property
by his own hard labor, and it can be truly said of him that he
is one of |
|
|
the
self-made men of Darke Co. He is a Democrat in politics, and
always labors |
|
|
for
the success of the party; he has held the office of Township
Trustee of Greenville |
|
|
Township
for three years during his residence here. His marriage with
Wil- |
|
|
helmina
Bildemeyer was celebrated March 8. 1853; she was born in
Hessen, Germany. |
|
|
Sept.
11, 1835; they were the parents of thirteen children — John
C., born |
|
|
Nov.
21, 1853; Frederick H., born Sept. 17, 1855; Charlotte. Feb.
25. 1858 (died |
|
|
Aug.
10, 1871); Lewis H., July 19, 1859; John W., Sept. 10. 1861 :
Wilhelmina |
|
|
P.,
Nov. 29, 1863 ; Charles A., July 14, 1866 ; Caroline S. and
Louisa (twins), born |
|
|
Sept.
25, 1868 ; Sophia, March 6, 1871 (died July 20, 1874) ; Powell
G. born Feb. |
|
|
14.
1874; May, June 11, 1876, and Amelia M. Dec. 3, 1878.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
John Devor
|
|
|
| |
|
lawyer,
Greenville, was born in Darke Co. in 1831. His |
|
|
|
grandfather,
John Devor, was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Darke Co. in |
|
|
1808
; he entered the first half-section of land in the present
limits of the county, |
|
|
and
laid out the town of Greenville in 1810 ; in 1816, he moved
his family to the |
|
|
county,
they having, for eight years previously, lived in Montgomery
Co., Ohio. |
|
|
Upon
the organization of the county, in 1817, he was appointed
Treasurer, and |
|
|
served
as such three years. He followed the business of surveying for
some |
|
|
|
years.
His son, James Devor, was born near Maysville, Ky., while the
family were |
|
|
on
their way from Pennsylvania, in 1795 ; he learned surveying
from his father, |
|
|
and,
for a number of years, was County Surveyor. He was the first
Auditor of |
|
|
|
Darke
Co.; from May, 1844, to October, 1847, he was County
Treasurer, and, for a |
|
|
number
of years, he was a Justice of the Peace ; he died October, 1
855. 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
to them, of |
|
|
whom
the second son is our subject. He received a common-school
education, and |
|
|
acquired
a knowledge of surveying under his father's instruction ; at
the age of |
|
|
19.
he commenced the study of law with the late Hiram Bell, Esq.,
of Greenville, |
|
|
and
was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1852, and at once
opened an office in |
|
|
Greenville.
In 1855. he was elected County Surveyor, and was re-elected in
1858, |
|
|
serving
six years ; from 1854 to 1867, he was a law partner of the
late Michael |
|
|
Spaytl.
of Greenville ; in the fall of that year, he formed a law
partnership with |
|
|
Hon.
William Allen, which continued eleven years. For four years,
he was Assistant |
|
|
Assessor
of Internal Revenue for the Fourth District of Ohio ; he was
also |
|
|
|
Registrar
in Bankruptcy for the same district during the existence of
the bankrupt |
|
|
law,
which went into effect March. 1867. and terminated September,
1878. |
|
|
|
July
29, 1856, he married Miss Elizabeth Travis, daughter of John
Travis, of Butler |
|
|
Co.,
Ohio ; Mrs. Devor died Oct. 22, 1878. Formerly a Whig, Mr.
Devor naturally |
|
|
became
a Republican, and, for many years has been Chairman of the |
|
|
|
Republican
Central Committee of Darke Co. Mr. Devor is eminently social,
and |
|
|
is
an industrious and energetic business man. He is at present a
law partner of M. T. |
|
|
Allen,
and the firm is one of the strongest of the Darke Co. bar.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Elijah Devor
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
attorney
at law, Greenville. The subject of this memoir |
|
|
|
was
born in Darke Co., Ohio, Oct. 16, 1849, and is a brother of
John Devor, |
|
|
|
whose
sketch and portrait both appear in this work. Our subject was
the son of |
|
|
James
Devor, one of our early pioneers, and who, as well as the
grandfather, are |
|
|
prominently
mentioned in the sketch of John Devor, as well as in the
historical |
|
|
part
of this work. Elijah Devor obtained a common-school education,
and, at 19 |
|
|
years
of age commenced the study of law with Allen & Devor ; he
attended the |
|
|
Cincinnati
Law School, at Cincinnati, Ohio, one term, graduated from the
same, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1871 ; commenced
the practice of law with M. T. |
|
|
Allen,
as a partner, in 1872, and continued the same two years ; in
1875, he |
|
|
|
associated
with his present partner, and they have since conducted their
business |
|
|
under
the firm name of Devor & Bodle. He is, also, Treasurer of
the Greenville |
|
|
Gas
Co. On the 8th day of October, 1875, he was united in marriage
with Emily |
|
|
A.
Webb, daughter of H. A. Webb, of Greenville; they have two
sons by this |
|
|
|
union,
viz., Henry Webb Devor and John Devor.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
William H. Dill
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
merchant,
Justice of the Peace and Postmaster, Pikeville; |
|
|
|
another
of the old settlers of Darke Co., born in Beamsville, Richland
Township, |
|
|
June
8, 1839 ; he was the oldest son of John H. C. Dill, who was
born in |
|
|
|
Germany
March 16, 1805 ; he emigrated to America and located in Butler
Co., |
|
|
and,
about the year 1837, came to Darke Co. and settled in
Beamsville, where he |
|
|
lived
until 1855 ; he then removed to Dallas and engaged in the
grain trade one |
|
|
year,
after which he followed farming three or four years ; he then
returned to |
|
|
|
Dallas
and engaged in the dry -goods trade for one year, when he came
to Pikes- |
|
|
ville,
in the spring of 1862, and engaged in the general merchandise
trade and the |
|
|
purchase
of grain up to the time of his death, which occurred April 2,
1865. He |
|
|
married
Martha C. Seigment, in Ohio, Nov. 17, 1834 ; she was a native
of Germany, |
|
|
born
Oct. 23, 1815, and died in Darke Co. March 7, 1858 ; they were
the |
|
|
|
parents
of eleven children, of whom eight are now living, six in Ohio,
one in Indiana |
|
|
and
one in Missouri. Our subject resided in Beamsville until 16
years of age, |
|
|
|
where
he received some experience in the mercantile store of his
father ; he then |
|
|
assisted
his father in farming, in Brown Township, some four years,
when he commenced |
|
|
clerking
in Dallas, and, the following year, his father located in
Dallas, in |
|
|
|
the
merchandise business, and he then assisted his father in his
store one year ; in |
|
|
the
spring of 1862, he came to Pikeville with his father, and
remained with him |
|
|
until
the latter's death ; he continued the business two years, and,
in 1867, the |
|
|
store
and stock were destroyed by fire ; he was then engaged in
various pursuits |
|
|
until
the spring of 1879, when he engaged in the merchandise trade,
which business |
|
|
he
now follows. He received the appointment of Postmaster under
the |
|
|
|
administration
of Lincoln, in 1862, and was the first Postmaster of the town;
he |
|
|
has
also held the office of Justice of the Peace for twelve years
in succession. |
|
|
His
marriage with Julia A. Reed was celebrated in Darke Co., Ohio,
Sept. 8, 1861; |
|
|
she
was born in Darke Co. March 28. 1843; they have two children
— Ida E., born |
|
|
Sept.
3, 1862, and Frank E., April 26, 1874.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
John Dininger
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
and stock-raiser, Sec. 32; P. 0. Greenville. The |
|
|
|
subject
of this memoir is justly entitled to the credit of being one
of the early settlers |
|
|
of
Darke Co.; he was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Nov. 7, 1823,
and was |
|
|
|
the
oldest son of Jacob Dininger, who was born in Germany Sept.
26, 1798 ; he |
|
|
emigrated
to America when 18 years of age, and located in Montgomery
Co., Ohio, |
|
|
and,
in 1834, came to Darke Co. with his family, and followed
farming in this |
|
|
|
township
until his decease, which occurred June 11, 1875. He married
Margaret |
|
|
Swank;
she was born in Montgomery Co. in 1806, and is now living upon
the |
|
|
|
home
farm, where she has resided for forty-five years. John
Dininger made his |
|
|
home
with his parents until 30 years of age; at the age of 24 he
commenced to |
|
|
clear
his present place, and has since cleared some sixty-five acres
of his home farm, |
|
|
which
contains 100 acres, besides upward of one hundred acres in
Washington |
|
|
Township,
with good farm buildings upon each place. He has taken a deep
interest |
|
|
in
the cause of religion, having been a member of the Lutheran
Church for |
|
|
|
upward
of twenty years, his wife and son also being members of the
same church. |
|
|
His
marriage with Catherine R. McClure was celebrated Oct. 1,
1857; she was |
|
|
born
in Montgomery Co., Aug. 25, 1834; they were the parents of
three children — |
|
|
Ira,
born Aug. 31, 1858, died Oct. 8, 1879; John L. and Hattie
(twins), born |
|
|
|
March
31, 1864; Hattie died April 2, 1864, and Ira died from quick
consumption |
|
|
at
the home of his parents, after an illness of one year. Mrs.
Dininger was a |
|
|
|
daughter
of George and Maria (Merkles) McClure, who came to Darke Co.
in 1843; her father was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., April
23. 1803, and died in |
|
|
Darke
Co. in 1870; her mother was born in Berks Co., Penn., March S,
1812, |
|
|
and
died Aug. 25, 1879.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Michael W. Dininger
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer.
Sec. 32 ; P. 0. Greenville. The subject |
|
|
|
of
this sketch is a brother of John and Lewis Dininger, who are
also mentioned in |
|
|
this
work, and a son of Jacob Dininger, who is prominently
mentioned in the |
|
|
|
sketch
of John Dininger. Michael W. was born in Montgomery Co.. Ohio.
Jan. |
|
|
29,
1833, and came to Darke Co. with his parents in 1834 ; his
education was |
|
|
obtained
in a rude log schoolhouse, and, by hard study, he obtained a
fair common- |
|
|
school
learning; he assisted his father in agricultural pursuits
until 21 years |
|
|
|
of
age, when, on the 21st of September, 1854, he was united in
marriage with Mary |
|
|
A.
Kerst ; she was born in Pennsylvania in 1835 ; they are the
parents of five |
|
|
|
children,
of whom four are now living — -Sarah E., Isaac, Mary C. and
Margaret |
|
|
R.;
the deceased died in infancy. Upon the marriage of Mr. D., he
located |
|
|
|
upon
his present place, where he has since lived: his home farm
contains 100 |
|
|
acres,
with good farm buildings, which he has brought from a
wilderness to its |
|
|
present
high state of cultivation by his own hard labor. He has been a
member |
|
|
of
the Lutheran Church for many years, his wife and three of his
children |
|
|
|
being
members of different churches.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Lewis Dininger
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
and stock-raiser, Sec. 6 ; P. O. Greenville. This |
|
|
|
gentleman
is a brother of John and Michael W. Dininger and a son of
Jacob |
|
|
|
Dininger,
all of whom are mentioned in this work ; Lewis Dininger was
torn in |
|
|
|
Greenville
Township, Darke Co., Ohio, March 30, 1840, and has always
followed |
|
|
agricultural
pursuits. At 26 years of age, he was united in marriage with
Miss A. E. |
|
|
Kerst,
their marriage nuptials being celebrated on the 8th of
February, |
|
|
|
1866;
she was born in German Township, Darke Co., in 1844 ; six
children were |
|
|
the
fruits of this union, viz., Flora S., Anna M., Charles, Achie
E., Harley and |
|
|
Otto
S.; Charlie died at the age of 1 year and 10 months. Mr.
Dininger erected |
|
|
his
present residence in 1870, where he has since lived, and upon
this place |
|
|
|
he
has lived since his birth; he now has 100 acres of land, with
good farm buildings. |
|
|
He
has been a member of the Lutheran Church since early boyhood,
his |
|
|
|
wife
also being a member of the same church.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
J. N. Ditman
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
merchant
tailor, Greenville; the subject of this sketch was |
|
|
|
born
in Germany Sept. 25, 1837, and is a son of Henry and Louisa
Ditman : our |
|
|
subject
emigrated with his parents to this country in 1840 and landed
at Baltimore ; |
|
|
he
was reared in Carroll Co., Md., and removed to Richmond. Ind.,
in |
|
|
|
1863,
where he remained for a short time; thence to Connersville in
1864 : thence |
|
|
back
to Richmond in 1873 and remained about two years, when he
moved to |
|
|
Bradford,
Ohio, and resided upward of two years, and then came to
Greenville |
|
|
and
engaged in his business, which he is prosecuting with
considerable energy, |
|
|
giving
employment to several workmen. He was united in marriage with
Sarah |
|
|
Ann
Slaugenhaupt Feb. 17, 1861; they are the parents of six
children, viz : Mary |
|
|
L.,
born Nov. 10, 1861 ; Gertrude E., Dec. 2, 1864 ; Inez E., Nov.
30, 1866 ; Laura |
|
|
B..
Dec. 1, 1867; J. Willard, Sept 5, 1872; Maud, March 13, 1877.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
F. M. Eidson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
tanner
and currier, Greenville ; born in Preble Co. Ohio, |
|
|
|
Dec.
14, 1835. where he passed his boyhood days receiving a common- |
|
|
|
school
education, and also learning his present trade ; he came to
Darke Co. in |
|
|
1860,
where he has since resided, with the exception of five months
which he |
|
|
served
in the late rebellion. In 1862, he was united in marriage with
Miss |
|
|
|
Lucetta
Kester, and by this union they have four children, viz., Clara
D., Boyce G., |
|
|
Virginia
K. and George M. Mr. E. has, since a resident of Greenville,
been a |
|
|
|
member
of the Board of City Councilmen six years, and is at present
President of |
|
|
the
Union Public School Board, and is also Vice President of the
Home Relief |
|
|
Association.
A card of his business will be found in the business directory
in |
|
|
|
another
part of this work.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
William Emrick
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Greenville; born in |
|
|
|
Preble
Co., Ohio, Nov. 6. 1836; he was a son of Jacob Emrick, who was
born in |
|
|
Berks
Co., Penn., in the year 1795; he came to Montgomery Co. at an
early day, |
|
|
then
to Preble Co. in 1830, where his decease occurred May 18,
1872; he was |
|
|
married
three times, his second wife being the mother of the subject
of our sketch; |
|
|
her
maiden name was Elizabeth Detmore, who was born in Virginia in
1810, and |
|
|
died
in October, 1838. William Emrick, after obtaining a good
common-school |
|
|
education,
remained with his father and assisted him in agricultural
pursuits until |
|
|
Dec.
29, 1857, when he was united in marriage with Mary J. Collins,
who died |
|
|
May
18. 1868, leaving four children, viz., Franklin, Valorous,
Elmer E. and Cora : |
|
|
Oct.
15, 1868, he was married to Susanah Emrick ; they have two
sons by |
|
|
|
this
union — Orpheus and Elihu. In the spring of 1858, he
commenced farming |
|
|
in
Preble Co., and continued the same until January, 1866, at
which date he came |
|
|
to
Darke Co., and purchased a farm of 40 acres in Twin Township,
which he afterward |
|
|
disposed
of, then purchased 80 acres, which he also sold, and, Jan. 26,
1876 |
|
|
purchased
the place where he has since lived ; he now owns upward of 100
acres, |
|
|
with
good farm buildings, under good improvement, located three
miles from |
|
|
|
Greenville.
During his residence in Preble Co., he held the office of
Township |
|
|
|
Clerk
of Twin Township in the latter county for four years.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
James Esty
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
retired
farmer and stock-raiser; Sec. 31 ; P. O. Greenville ; |
|
|
|
another
of the old settlers of Darke Co. ; born in the province of New
Brunswick Sept. |
|
|
17,
1814 ; his father, David Esty, was born in the above province
July 31, 1792 ; he |
|
|
came
to Ohio in 1822, and located in August of the same year,
having been two |
|
|
months
on the way ; he engaged in farming and milling until his
death, which |
|
|
|
occurred
Nov. 20, 1874 ; he was married, in New Brunswick, to Ann Knoop, |
|
|
|
Sept.
30, 1813 ; she was born March 19, 1792, in New Brunswick ;
they were the |
|
|
parents
of eleven children, all of whom lived to grow up ; ten are now
living, of |
|
|
|
whom
James Esty is the oldest; Mrs. Esty died Aug. 21, 1873. The
Bible from |
|
|
which
the above record was copied was purchased by David Esty in
1829, and is |
|
|
now
valued very highly as an heirloom to our subject, who
came to Miami Co. |
|
|
with
his parents in 1822, being then 8 years of age ; he was raised
to farming |
|
|
and
running a saw-mill until Jan. 1, 1842, when he was united in
marriage with |
|
|
Jane
McDowell ; she was born in Franklin Co. Feb. 20, 1817 ; they
have one son |
|
|
by
this union — John C., born Dec. 4, 1842. Upon the marriage
of Mr. Esty, he |
|
|
commenced
farming for himself in Miami Co., and continued there until
March 4, |
|
|
1856,
when he located upon Sec. 31 in Greenville Township, where he
has since |
|
|
lived;
he now has 165 acres of land, with good farm buildings,
located two miles |
|
|
from
Greenville. John C. Esty, the only son of James and Jane
(McDowell) |
|
|
|
Esty,
has always lived upon the home farm, and for the past two
years has been a |
|
|
partner
with his father in the products of his farm. He married Ellen
Green- |
|
|
|
awalt
on Dec. 18, 1873; she was born in Greenville Jan. 5, 1847;
they have one |
|
|
child—
Eva May, born March 8, 1875.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
B. F. Fertick
|
|
|
| |
|
dealer
in and manufacturer of lumber, Greenville ; was born |
|
|
|
in
Wayne Co., Ind., June 28, 1849, where he remained until 1859,
when he with |
|
|
his
mother moved to Delaware Co., Ind., after which, in 1863, he
engaged in school |
|
|
teaching
for five successive years, and in 1868 opened a drug store in
Parker, Ind., |
|
|
which
he continued until 1871, then commenced the retail dry-goods
trade which |
|
|
he
followed until 1873, when he commenced in his present
business, and in 1879 |
|
|
came
to this county and located in Greenville, where he has one of
the first-class |
|
|
mills
located on the side track of the D. & U. R. R., thereby
making conveniences |
|
|
of
transportation better than any mill in the county; it is
valued at about $5,500. |
|
|
Our
subject was united in marriage with Miss Hannah C. Morris, of
Randolph Co., |
|
|
Ind.,
and by this union has two sons — Theodore B., born Nov. 29,
1875, and Hen- |
|
|
phon.
March 14, 1878. Mr. F. is a live, energetic citizen of
Greenville.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Charles Fletcher
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
retired
stonecutter, Greenville; one of the old |
|
|
|
settlers
of Darke Co. The subject of this memoir was born in Townsend,
Wind- |
|
|
ham
Co.. Vt. July 20, 1811. His grandfather, Samuel Fletcher, was
one of the |
|
|
|
generals
in the American army during the Revolutionary struggle, and
served |
|
|
|
under
the command of Gen. Washington ; after the close of the war,
he located in |
|
|
the
above county, and laid out the village of West Townsend, where
he died. The |
|
|
father
of Charles Fletcher— Squire Fletcher — was born in West
Townsend. and |
|
|
was
engaged in merchandise trade where he passed his days, his
death occurring |
|
|
about
the year 1814. The subject of our sketch was left fatherless
when 4 years |
|
|
of
age, and made his home with his mother until 9 years old ; he
then started in |
|
|
life
for himself, and lived in various places, and when old enough
he learned the |
|
|
stonecutter's
trade, and at 19 years of age, he removed to New York, living
there |
|
|
one
year, then seven years in Erie Co., Penn., and came to Ohio in
1841 and |
|
|
located
in Greenville Township, Darke Co. where he engaged in the
nursery business |
|
|
and
cutting stone, and was the first stonecutter of the place ; he
continued |
|
|
|
the
above business in Greenville some fifteen years, when he
removed to Piqua and |
|
|
resided
in Miami Co., Ohio and Clay Co., Ind., being engaged in
stonecutting. farming |
|
|
and
nursery business, and in 1 874 purchased his present place
where he has since |
|
|
lived
; he has 94 acres under a good state of cultivation which he
has made by his |
|
|
hard
labor. He was married to Amanda Burns in 1841 ; she was born
in Greenville |
|
|
Township,
Darke Co., and was a daughter of Barney Burns, one of the
early |
|
|
|
pioneers
who is mentioned in the historical part of this work ; the
children of |
|
|
|
Charles
and Amanda Fletcher were ten in number, of whom two are
deceased, the |
|
|
living
are Chester B., Elizabeth, Mary, Charles, John W., Edward F..
Emma B., |
|
|
and
William; the deceased are Nancy and Newton. Mr. Fletcher also
owns 240 |
|
|
acres
of land in Adair Co., Ohio, and 290 acres in Nebraska and some
town |
|
|
|
property.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
James A. Fleming
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
and stock-raiser; P. 0. Jaysville. Another |
|
|
|
of
the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in Greenville, Jan. 17,
1832. He is the |
|
|
|
oldest
son of Aaron Fleming, who was born in Butler Co., Ohio, in
1803 and |
|
|
|
came
to Darke Co., with his parents in the year 1816, and was
consequently one of |
|
|
the
earliest pioneers of Darke Co. He married Rachel Arnold. 31,
1831; |
|
|
|
she
was born in Warren Co., Ohio, 1810, and came to Darke Co.,
with her parents |
|
|
in
1819. They were the parents of three children, who lived to
grow up — James |
|
|
A.,
Henry D. and William. Upon the date of the above marriage, Mr.
and Mrs. |
|
|
Fleming
located upon Sec. 7, Greenville Township, where he had
previously purchased |
|
|
80
acres of land, which was then a howling wilderness, there
being no |
|
|
|
clearing.
He then commenced clearing and by his own hard labor succeeded
in |
|
|
placing
it under a good state of cultivation ; there was a log cabin
on the land, |
|
|
and'
they lived in it some twenty years ; and at the time of his
death he had |
|
|
|
secured
160 acres in Greenville and Van Buren Townships. He was a
Democrat |
|
|
in
politics, but never aspired for office. He died Feb. 2, 1877.
Mrs. Fleming now |
|
|
lives
upon the old homestead, where she has continued to live for a
period of nearly |
|
|
one-half
a century, and is one of the oldest continued residents in
this part of |
|
|
Darke
Co., having lived here for a period of sixty years. She has a
vivid recollection |
|
|
of
the Indians, the wolf, the deer, and the wild game, which at
that time |
|
|
|
was
to be had in abundance. Our subject obtained his education in
an old log |
|
|
schoolhouse,
which, at that time had the improvements of a stove. The seats |
|
|
were
split logs with no backs; the writing seats extending around
the room, made |
|
|
with
planks placed upon wooden pegs inserted in the logs. He now
has a residence |
|
|
of
forty -eight years upon the place where he lives, having
assisted his father in the |
|
|
management
of the farm, until the decease of the latter, since which time
he has |
|
|
farmed
for himself. He now owns 120 acres, 80 acres of which is a
part of the |
|
|
original
farm purchased by his father about the year 1829, for which he
gave two |
|
|
horses
valued at $50 each, and which is now valued at $60 to $70 per
acre. Mr. |
|
|
Fleming,
with his wife, is accorded a place in the front ranks of the
early pioneers |
|
|
of
Darke Co.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Jesse Folkerth
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
(deceased).
The gentleman whose name heads this |
|
|
|
sketch
was one of the early pioneers of Darke Co. He was born in
Montgomery |
|
|
Co.,
Ohio, April 6, 1808, and was a son of William Folkerth, who
was born |
|
|
|
in
Maryland, and came to Montgomery Co. about the beginning of
the present |
|
|
century.
In 1815, he came to Darke Co., where his death occurred Aug.
15, 1848. |
|
|
His
wife, Maria Bryant, was born in Maryland and died in Darke Co.
in 1845. |
|
|
|
Jesse
Folkerth came to Darke Co. with his parents. He assisted his
father in |
|
|
|
agricultural
pursuits until Nov. 23, 1837, at which date he was united in
marriage |
|
|
with
Anna Curtis. She was born in 1818, and died Feb. 21, 1846:
five children |
|
|
were
the fruits of this union, of whom William. Lorenzo D. and
Maria A. now |
|
|
|
survive.
His marriage with Elizabeth Smith was celebrated May 22, 1847.
She |
|
|
was
born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Feb. 8, 1828. They were the
parents of six |
|
|
children
by this union — Henry C., born April 8, 1849 ; Jennie C.,
June 17, 1850 ; |
|
|
Jesse
A., March 19, 1854, died April 5, 1879 ; John E., Feb. 10,
1857 ; Eben Lee, |
|
|
Jan.
19, 1860, and one who died in infancy. Of the deceased, Jesse
A. had been |
|
|
telegraph
operator and station agent of the Pan Handle Railroad at
Greenville, for |
|
|
about
three years, and, although in the last stages of consumption,
he remained at |
|
|
his
post of duty until one month previous to his death. He was a
young man of |
|
|
great
promise, and died in the belief of the promises of his Savior,
esteemed |
|
|
|
and
beloved by all who knew him. In the spring of 1838, Jesse
Folkerth commenced |
|
|
farming
for himself upon the place where he spent the remainder of his |
|
|
|
days
and where his widow with the two unmarried children now
reside. He was a |
|
|
man
of sterling worth; was, politically, a Whig, until the
organization of the |
|
|
|
Republican
party, after which he was a hard worker for the success of the
latter. |
|
|
He
was a strong champion of the cause of temperance, and did not
make use of |
|
|
tobacco
in any form. He was a member of the Methodist Church for a
period of |
|
|
forty
years previous to his death, and lived and died a consistent
Christian; his |
|
|
death
occurred Sept. 20, 1871. Mrs. Folkerth has been a member of
the Methodist |
|
|
Church
for upward of thirty-five years. She was a daughter of Timothy
T. |
|
|
|
Smith,
a native of New Jersey. He married Anna B. Baum, a native of
Kentucky. |
|
|
They
came to Darke Co. in 1836. Mr. Smith died in Darke Co. in
1865. Mrs. |
|
|
|
Smith
died Dec. 3, 1873, aged 81 years and 5 months.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Isaac Funk
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
and stock-raiser, Sec. 3; P. 0. Greenville ; one of the |
|
|
|
early
pioneers of Darke Co.; born in Adams Co., Penn., Dec. 28,
1810, he was the |
|
|
oldest
son of Jacob Funk, who was also born in the same county, in
January, |
|
|
1779,
during the Revolutionary struggle ; his father was Daniel
Funk, born in |
|
|
|
Lancaster
or York Co., about the middle of the seventeenth century ;
they were |
|
|
the
descendants of Martin Funk, one of three brothers, who
emigrated from Holland |
|
|
or
Germany, in the beginning of the seventeenth century. Our
subject was |
|
|
|
raised
upon the farm of his father until about 21 years of age, when
he commenced |
|
|
life
for himself, and for two years was employed as farm laborer in
Adams |
|
|
|
Co.;
he then emigrated to Ohio and located in Warren Co., where he
farmed and |
|
|
cleared
land, and in 1835, came to Darke Co. and settled on the place
where he |
|
|
now
lives, and where he has lived, with the exception of four
years, for nearly half |
|
|
a
century ; he still owns the land which he entered in 1835 ; he
has 110 acres in. |
|
|
his
home farm, which he has secured by his own hard labor and
correct business |
|
|
habits.
He is a Republican, and while he has not aspired to office,
has filled the |
|
|
office
of Supervisor and Director of the Dalton & Union Railroad
for two years; |
|
|
he
has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and
education, having been a |
|
|
member
of M. E. Church some forty years, and held the office of
Steward and Class |
|
|
Leader,
one or both, for thirty-six years. His marriage with Eliza Ann
Deardorff |
|
|
was
celebrated May 15, 1834 ; she was born in Warren Co., Ohio,
Sept. 29, 1818 ; |
|
|
she
died Feb. 1, 1879, leaving eight children now living, having
lost three in |
|
|
|
infancy,
the living are Elizabeth, born Sept. 20, 1836 ; Daniel D.,
born Nov. 9, |
|
|
|
1840
;" Allen Wesley, born Oct. 20, 1843 ; William P., born
March 4, 1841 ; Ancil |
|
|
L.,
born Dec. 25, 1849 ; Mary C., born Aug. 1, 1852 ; Charles E.,
born March 13, |
|
|
1855
; Laura D., born April 21, 1858. The above children are all
members of the M. E. |
|
|
Church;
the two youngest make their home with their father. Daniel is |
|
|
|
now
in business in Greenville ; Allen, farming and teaching ;
William P., blacksmith, |
|
|
at
North Star ; Ancil, Professor of the College at Red Cloud,
Neb.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Calvin P. Funston
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
; P. O. Greenville ; born in Clark Co.. Ohio. |
|
|
|
Jan.
11, 1826; he obtained a common-school education, and assisted
his father |
|
|
in
fanning until 20 years of age, at which date his father died,
after which, Calvin |
|
|
P.,
being the oldest son, remained at home and managed the old
place for the support |
|
|
of
the family until 1863, when he came to Darke Co. and purchased
his |
|
|
|
present
place, where he has since lived ; he has about fifty acres in
his home farm, |
|
|
under
a good state of cultivation, with good farm buildings located
one mile from |
|
|
Greenville,
and valued at upward of $5,000. Upon April 10, 1861, he was
united |
|
|
in
marriage with Rachel T. Little; she was born in Clark Co.
April 28, 1837; they |
|
|
have
no children of their own, but have raised from a youth of 5
years, a promising |
|
|
young
man by the name of Charles Bell, who was born Jan. 1, 1861.
Mr. |
|
|
|
and
Mrs. Funston have treated him as their own child, and have
extended to him |
|
|
the
benefits and privileges of a liberal education. Mr. and Mrs.
Funston are members |
|
|
of
the Presbyterian Church, and take a deep interest in the cause
of religion.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Dr. Isaac Newton Gard
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
physician
and surgeon, Greenville ; is the oldest |
|
|
|
continuous
resident physician and surgeon of Darke Co. ; he was a native
of Butler |
|
|
Co.,
Ohio ; born March 20, 1811, and was a son of Stephen and
Rachel (Pearce) |
|
|
Gard,
both natives of New Jersey, who emigrated to Ohio about the
beginning of |
|
|
the
present century ; Stephen Gard was a Baptist minister, and
organized nearly |
|
|
all
of the early churches in the Miami Valley, among which was the
First Baptist |
|
|
Church
at Dayton, and the First Baptist Church of Trenton, Butler
Co., over |
|
|
|
which
he presided for a period of upward of half a century ; he was
twice married : |
|
|
his
first wife was the mother of the subject of our sketch, she
died in Butler Co., |
|
|
April
1, 1816, aged 36 years ; the Rev. Stephen Gard died Aug. 14,
1839 ; Isaac |
|
|
N.
Gard obtained his general education in the common schools, and
received his |
|
|
preparatory
education at the Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and graduated
from |
|
|
the
Ohio Medical College, in Cincinnati, 1831 ; he then commenced
the practice of |
|
|
medicine
in Butler Co., and in 1834, located in Greenville, where he
has since |
|
|
successfully
followed his profession for nearly fifty years ; in the early
days of |
|
|
the
Doctor's locating here the practice of medicine was a work of
labor and hardship, |
|
|
the
country being sparsely settled, and his practice extending
over half a |
|
|
|
degree
of latitude and longitude, the roads being nearly impassable,
save by |
|
|
|
horseback
; and in this manner the Doctor made his visits, dispensing
his medicine |
|
|
from
his saddle-bags ; he organized the first medical society of
Darke Co.. |
|
|
|
and
for many years was President of the same ; he also organized
the first agricultural |
|
|
society
of Darke Co., and was also President of this for several years
; he |
|
|
|
has
had many offices of honor and trust thrust upon him, among
which we mention |
|
|
the
presidency of the Greenville & Miami, now Dayton &
Union Railroad, during |
|
|
its
construction ; in 1841, was elected and represented the
counties of Miami, |
|
|
Darke,
Mercer and Shelby in the State Legislature ; in 1858-59, he
represented |
|
|
the
counties of Miami, Darke and Shelby in the State Senate ; in
1861 or 1862, he |
|
|
was
appointed by the Governor of Ohio as one of the Trustees of
the State |
|
|
|
Lunatic
Asylum at Dayton, which office he filled some sixteen years ;
he has |
|
|
almost
continually held some office or position of trust, and has in
every instance |
|
|
performed
his duty with credit to himself and satisfaction to the
public. Upon |
|
|
|
the
6th of January, 1835, he was united in marriage with Lucy Tod,
who was |
|
|
|
born
in Kentucky March 20, 1816. They were the parents of five
children, viz.: |
|
|
Henrietta
T., born April 6, 1837. died Aug. 16, 1839 ; Charles T., born
Sept 30, |
|
|
1840,
died Jan. 4, 1864 ; Catherine E., Feb. 16, 1843 ; Mar}', March
11, 1850, and |
|
|
Stephen,
Jan. 11, 1854.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
D. Glander
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
retired
brewer; Greenville. The gentleman whose name heads |
|
|
|
this
sketch was born in Germany May 3, 1818, and in 1836 came to
America, and |
|
|
to
Preble Co., Ohio, where he followed distilling, and in 1877
came to Greenville. |
|
|
where
he engaged in his former business until June, 1879. Mr. G. was
united in |
|
|
marriage
to Lena Hagar and by this union they have nine children
living.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
John V. Gordon
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
manufacturer,
Greenville; was born in Hunterdon Co., N. J.. |
|
|
|
Jan.
21, 1844; was the son of William and Henrietta Gordon, who
were |
|
|
|
born
and raised in New Jersey ; William was the son of Elias and
Frances Gordon ; |
|
|
Henrietta
was the daughter of John and Rebecca Volk ; John, the
grandfather, |
|
|
was
born in New York, and Rebecca was born in New Jersey. Mr.
Gordon, |
|
|
|
the
subject of this sketch, served with his father in the chair
and furniture |
|
|
|
manufacturing
business till 21 years of age, and then he entered upon the
spoke and hub manufacturing business, and has followed that
occupation to the present |
|
|
time.
He came to Greenville in September, 1877, and entered upon
spoke and hub |
|
|
manufacturing,
under the firm name of Finney, Closson & Co., which
business has |
|
|
been
conducted with great success up to this time.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
David Griffin
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer,
Sec. 34; P. O. Greenville; another of the old |
|
|
|
settlers
of Darke Co., born in Butler Co., Ohio, Dec. 14, 1808; his
grandfather was |
|
|
killed
by the Indians, in Kentucky, at an early day; his father,
Francis Griffin, |
|
|
|
was
born in Pennsylvania, 1788, and came to Butler Co. about the
beginning of the |
|
|
present
century, and served in the war of 1812. He married Sarah
Holmes; she |
|
|
was
in Kentucky in 1790; Mr. Griffin died, in Butler Co., about
the year 1844; |
|
|
|
Mrs.
Griffin died, in Indiana, in 1877. Our subject was raised to
agricultural pursuits, |
|
|
in
Butler Co., until Nov. 4, 1835, when he was married to Mary
Ann Con- |
|
|
|
over;
she was born in New Jersey Oct. 2, 1811; they were the parents
of six |
|
|
|
children,
of whom two are now living, viz.: Amanda, born Feb. 14, 1836,
now the |
|
|
wife
of Rev. Lewis E. Jones; Ella J., living at home, March 17,
1852. The |
|
|
|
deceased
were Francis, born Nov. 3, 1837, died Nov. 7, 1837; Emeline,
born Dec. |
|
|
13.
1838, died Jan. 11, 1879; Francis E., born Nov. 21, 1844. died
Feb. 9, 1845: |
|
|
Charles
E., born May 31, 1849, died Sept. 21, 1850, After the marriage
of Mr. |
|
|
Griffin,
he followed farming in Butler and Montgomery Cos., until 1857,
when he |
|
|
came
to Darke Co. and purchased his present place, where he has
since lived; he |
|
|
has
160 acres upon his home farm with good farm buildings, located
one-half mile |
|
|
from
the city of Greenville. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin, with both of
their daughters, |
|
|
|
are
members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. G., though in the 72d
3-ear of his |
|
|
age
attends to the light duties and labors of his farm.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Daniel Grubs
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
grain-dealer,
Greenville, firm of Zimmerman & Grubs, |
|
|
|
grain
merchants. The subject of this memoir is a native of
Montgomery Co., |
|
|
|
Ohio
; he was born Feb. 25, 1833 ; his early occupation was that of
a farmer's |
|
|
son
; his father died when our subject was but 16 y ears of age ;
he then lived with |
|
|
his
mother until 27 years of age, when, in 1860, he was united in
marriage with |
|
|
Katie
Denise, a native of the same county ; they have one child,
Edgar A., now in |
|
|
his
21st year, and a graduate of the Cincinnati Commercial
College, and is a |
|
|
|
bookkeeper
for the above firm, his ability to fill the above position
being beyond |
|
|
the
average. Upon the marriage of Mr. Grubs, he continued to live
in Montgomery |
|
|
Co.
for three years, when he removed to Preble Co. and continued
farming |
|
|
|
until
1874 when he located in Greenville, and, in 1876 associated
with the above, |
|
|
gentleman,
since which time they have done business under the above firm
name. |
|
|
They
are largely engaged in buying and shipping grain to the
Eastern markets. A |
|
|
card
of their business appears in the business directory of
Greenville.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
John Guntrum
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
and brick manufacturer; P. O. Greenville. The |
|
|
|
subject
of this memoir is a native of this county, born in 1839,
within half a mile |
|
|
of
where he now resides ; he is youngest son and child of John
Guntrum, Sr., |
|
|
who
was a native of Pennsylvania and emigrated to this county in
1837, and |
|
|
|
located
on the farm where our subject was born and where he remained
till his |
|
|
death.
Mr. Guntrum, Sr., celebrated his marriage in his native State
with Martha |
|
|
Ginridge
; they were the parents of ten children, two sons and eight
daughters, |
|
|
three
of whom are deceased. He departed this life in 1868 ; his wife
survived him |
|
|
until
Feb. 13, 1873, when she, too, passed away. Thus we record the
death of two |
|
|
more
esteemed citizens of Darke Co.; their life work done, they
passed peacefully |
|
|
away,
leaving a large circle of acquaintances and a loving family of
children to |
|
|
mourn
their departure and revere their memory. The subject of our
sketch was |
|
|
raised
a tiller of soil, assisting in the duties of the farm till he
was 22 years of |
|
|
age,
at which time he began life for himself, cultivating his
father's farm on the |
|
|
shares
; the duty of taking care of his parents fell to his lot ;
this filial duty he |
|
|
discharged
faithfully till their death. He was united in marriage to
Rebecca |
|
|
|
Jeamison
Feb. 19, 1863 ; she is also a- native of this township and
comes of an |
|
|
early
pioneer family. Our subject moved to the place where he now
resides about |
|
|
seven
years ago ; he is now, in addition to his farming, engaged in
the manufacturing |
|
|
of
brick ; in this business his motto is excellence in quality,
integrity in |
|
|
|
transactions
and low prices. Mr. and Mrs. Guntrum are the parents of six
children, |
|
|
all
living— Willie, born in 1863; Barbara, 1865; Man- E. 1868;
Flora and |
|
|
|
Laura
(twins), 1872, and Hester in 1878.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
August Gutheil
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
restaurant,
and dealer in wines, liquors, cigars, etc., |
|
|
|
Greenville
; born in Bavaria, Germany, on the 22d of April, 1834 ; he
received a |
|
|
good
education in German, and, from 14 to 18 years of age, assisted
his father in |
|
|
the
tanning business, as well as hotel-keeping and farming ; at
the latter age, he |
|
|
emigrated
to America, landing in New York March 30, 1852, coming
directly to |
|
|
Cincinnati,
thence to Dayton, Ohio, where he followed the butchering
business one |
|
|
year;
thence to Miamisburg, and engaged in the tanning business
until 1856, at |
|
|
which
date he came to Greenville, and, after working one year as
tanner, he |
|
|
|
engaged
in the saloon and restaurant business, which he has since
successfully |
|
|
followed,
and is the oldest continuous gentleman in his business in the
city of |
|
|
Greenville.
In 1865, he made a tour over his native country, visiting the
scenes |
|
|
of
his childhood, this trip consuming some six months, during
which time his |
|
|
business
was conducted by his brother-in-law, John King. Mr. Gutheil is
a gentleman |
|
|
of
genial disposition and of very pleasing address. In 1876, he
was |
|
|
|
elected
as one of the Trustees of Greenville Township, which office he
held for |
|
|
three
years; during the years 1878 and 1879, he was one of the
Democratic Central |
|
|
Committee
of Darke County. Upon arriving in New York, he came across |
|
|
|
the
Alleghany Mountains by mule teams, thence down the canal to
Pittsburgh, |
|
|
and
thence down the river to Cincinnati. His marriage with
Fredericka Limkulh |
|
|
was
celebrated Feb. 28, 1856 ; she was born in Bavaria, Germany,
and came to |
|
|
America
in 1830 ; her maiden name was Rolhhaas ; they have two sons
and one |
|
|
daughter
— Ona J., Otto and Julius D. Mrs. Gutheil has one child by
her former |
|
|
husband,
viz., Amelia Limkulh.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Amos Hahn
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Treasurer
of Darke County, Greenville. The gentleman |
|
|
|
whose
name heads this sketch is the present efficient Treasurer of
Darke Co. ; he |
|
|
was
born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Feb. 1, 1818 ; his parents,
Samuel and Hannah |
|
|
Hahn,
are natives of Frederick Co., Md.; his father was born March
9, 1791, his |
|
|
mother
in 1795, and departed this life in 1861 ; Mr. Hahn, Sr. is
still living, and |
|
|
resides
with his son Amos ; they were the parents of ten children, of
whom sis |
|
|
are
now living. Our subject was reared on the farm, but followed
carpentering |
|
|
|
for
a number of years, when he turned his attention to mercantile
pursuits, and for sixteen years did business in Gettysburg;
his long and active business career has |
|
|
eminently
fitted him for the responsible position of honor and trust he
holds, as a |
|
|
gift
from the people of the county. His marriage with Catherine
Finfrock was |
|
|
|
consummated
Oct. 3. 1843; she was the daughter of Peter and Mary Finfrock.
who |
|
|
were
natives of Pennsylvania, now deceased ; Mr. and Mrs. Hahn are
the parents |
|
|
of
three children, viz., Clement C., born Nov. 16, 1845 ; Albert
J.. April 23, 1847 : |
|
|
Luella
M., in September, 1857 ; Clement was united in marriage with
Nannie |
|
|
|
Compton
Oct. 7, 1868 ; Albert J. consummated his marriage with
Virginia Johnson |
|
|
Dec.
22, 1874; Luella celebrated her marriage with W. D. Johns
March 28, |
|
|
|
1877
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Jacob Halderman
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer;
P. 0. Greenville. The subject of this |
|
|
|
memoir
may be classed among the self-made men of Darke Co; he was
born in |
|
|
Montgomery
Co., Ohio, Oct. 25, 1837: he was a son of John Halderman, who
was |
|
|
born
in Lancaster Co., Penn., and came to Montgomery Co., Ohio, in
1836, where |
|
|
his
death occurred in 1840. He married Hannah Cook, a native of
Pennsylvania; |
|
|
she
died in Illinois, in December. 1875. Jacob Halderman was
thrown ' upon his |
|
|
resources
when 6 years of age, and made his home among friends and
strangers, |
|
|
until
old enough to work and receive wages; at 18 years of age. he
learned the |
|
|
trade
of carpenter, which he followed seven years ; in I860, he
located upon his |
|
|
present
place, where he has since lived ; he has 220 acres, with good
farm buildings, |
|
|
which
he has secured by his own hard labor and correct business
habits, and |
|
|
has
by the above means placed himself among the large landholders
and successful |
|
|
farmers
of Darke Co. ; the perseverance and energy displayed by Mr. H.
to |
|
|
|
accomplish
what he has attained are well worthy of example by the young
men of |
|
|
the
present day. He has been twice married; his first wife was
Mary Baker, to |
|
|
whom
he was married Dec. 22, 1859 ; she was born in Darke Co. in
1841 and |
|
|
died
December, 1875, leaving six children, having lost one by
death; the living |
|
|
are
Leoti, born Aug. 22, 1861 ; Alice. Feb. 10, 1863; Herschel V.
Feb. 2, 1865 ; |
|
|
Idabird,
Jan. 6, 1868 ; Elnora, July 2, 1870 ; Pearl, Dec. 30, 1872.
Upon the 11th |
|
|
of
October, 1877, he was united in marriage with Francis Helm,
who was born in |
|
|
Darke
Co., Sept. 13, 1845 ; they have one child— Roily, born Sept.
4. 1878. Mrs. |
|
|
Halderman
was a daughter of Eli Helm, one of our early pioneers of 1834
or |
|
|
|
1835;
he was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Darke Co., in
October, 1874. He |
|
|
married
Catherine Zimmerman, who is now living in Greenville. Mr.
Halderman |
|
|
is
Democratic in politics, and labors for the success of his
party; has been Township |
|
|
Trustee
two years, which office he filled with credit to himself and
satisfaction |
|
|
to
the people.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
John W. Hall
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
firm
of Hime & Hall, livery, feed and sale stable, northeast |
|
|
|
of
public square, also, of firm of Hall & Co., importers and
breeders of French, |
|
|
Norman
and Clydesdale horses. The above gentlemen is another of the
old settlers, |
|
|
being
born in Greenville Township May 4, 1834, and is a son of James
Hall, who |
|
|
at
a very early day came from South Carolina to Miami Co.; thence
to Darke Co., |
|
|
among
the early settlers ; he was engaged in contracting and
building to a certain |
|
|
extent
; he built the first letter boxes for the post office of
Greenville, selecting at |
|
|
that
time box Number 96, which box has always been retained in the
family, and |
|
|
is
now the box of John W. Our subject continued farming in Darke
Co. until |
|
|
|
1855,
when he went to Logan Co., 111., and followed farming and
stock-raising until |
|
|
1861,
at which date he returned to Darke Co. and continued the same
business |
|
|
until
1875, when he was elected Sheriff of Darke Co., re-elected in
1877, serving |
|
|
until
January, 1880, when, upon the expiration of his office, he
associated with |
|
|
Mr.
Hime in the above business ; in 1874, he associated with
Harrod Mills and |
|
|
James
Esty in the stock business, under the firm name of Hall &
Co., which |
|
|
|
firm
still exists. His marriage with Frances D. Carnahan was
celebrated Aug. 29, |
|
|
1854;
she is a native of Darke Co.; they have eight children —
James M. Isaac |
|
|
W.,
Sarah C.. Elias M., Idela May, Charles C., Julia E., Rollie S.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
William S. Harper
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
the
subject of this sketch, was born in |
|
|
|
Trumbull
Co.. Ohio. July 11. 1810 ; moved with his mother to Butler
Co.. Ohio, in |
|
|
the
spring of 1815. and from there to Darke Co., Ohio, in 1823,
with his step-father, |
|
|
B.
Koll, and settled on a small farm on the Greenville & West
Milton road, four |
|
|
miles
southeast of Greenville, there being no house southeast on
said road for nine |
|
|
miles
; wolves, deer and smaller animals were numerous in the
unoccupied forests |
|
|
at
that time ; schools were few and far between. The subject of
this sketch |
|
|
|
acquired,
in addition to a common school education, practical surveying.
He was |
|
|
married,
in 1832, to Delila daughter of William Arnold, and in 1833
moved into |
|
|
the
green forest to open up a farm; for about twenty years, taught
school in the |
|
|
winter
and cleared ground and farmed in the warm season. In 1852, he
was |
|
|
|
elected
County Surveyor, and filled that office as principal and
deputy for about ten |
|
|
years,
and unofficially for about the same length of time, and yet at
his advanced |
|
|
age
works at civil engineering, when called on. From a youth, he
was of a sober, |
|
|
pious
turn of mind, and made a profession of Christianity in 1833.
and became a |
|
|
member
of the Christian Church ; his zeal for the cause of Christ has
steadily |
|
|
increased
as he has become better acquainted with the sacred Scriptures
; he |
|
|
sometimes
amuses himself by writing articles for our secular journals,
signing them W. S. H.; |
|
|
he
is also an ardent advocate of temperance, of the prohibition
class. |
|
|
|
His
sons, William Marion and John Harper, are prominent business
men in Greenville ; |
|
|
in
the year 1860 they erected a business house on Broadway, where
they |
|
|
|
are
still engaged in business ; the former in the jewelry trade,
and the latter in the |
|
|
photographic
art. Their uniform courteous, honorable, obliging habits have
made |
|
|
for
them many friends.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Manning F. Hart
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
retired,
contractor and merchant. Greenville. Among |
|
|
|
the
early pioneers of Darke Co., the gentleman whose name heads
this sketch is |
|
|
accorded
a place in the front ranks; he was born in Hampshire Co., W.
Va. April |
|
|
7,
1821, and is a son of Dr. William Hart, a native of Berks Co.,
Penn. He was |
|
|
married,
in Pennsylvania, to Elizabeth Pettit, also a native of the
same State; they |
|
|
were
also among the early settlers of Darke Co., locating in Adams
Township in |
|
|
1839,
with three sons and three daughters; about the year 1846, he,
with his family, |
|
|
located
in Greenville; he was a physician, and followed his profession
until his |
|
|
decease,
which occurred after, a short residence in Greenville. Our
subject came |
|
|
to
this county with the family in 1839, and the following ten
years his residence |
|
|
was
divided between Darke and Montgomery Cos.; in 1849, he located
permanently |
|
|
here,
and followed the occupation of contractor and builder for
several |
|
|
|
years;
he then engaged in the grocery and provision trade until 1879,
since which |
|
|
time
he has been retired from active business. He has been twice
married; his |
|
|
first
wife was Mary Hoover; their marriage was celebrated in 1844;
one son and |
|
|
two
daughters were the fruits of this union, all deceased; she
died in 1849; his |
|
|
marriage
nuptials with Rebecca A. Knoop were celebrated in 1850 ; she
was born |
|
|
in
Miami Co.; they were the parents of five children, of whom two
are deceased : |
|
|
the
living are Ralph B.. Abraham Lincoln and Carrie K., all
residing in Greenville.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Jonas Hartzell
|
|
|
|
| |
|
retired
farmer; P. 0. Greenville ; another of the old |
|
|
|
settlers
of Darke Co., born in Adams Co., Penn., May 10, 1803 ; he was
one of six |
|
|
brothers,
who came to Darke Co. between the periods of 1833 and 1836 ;
Jonas |
|
|
located
upon Sec. 8. Greenville Township, where he has since lived —
a period of |
|
|
nearly
half a century; he purchased 120 acres, and afterward added
until he had |
|
|
accumulated
400 acres; he devoted his attention to farming until about the
year |
|
|
1865
when he retired from active labor; during the past three
years, he has been |
|
|
confined
to the house by sickness, and has been kindly cared for by his
sons |
|
|
Charles
and Jonas, who are managing the home farm. Jonas Hartzell,
Sr.. and |
|
|
Elizabeth
Welty were united in marriage, in Pennsylvania. Feb. 12, 1829;
she |
|
|
was
born in Pennsylvania Aug. 9. 1807; they had twelve children,
of whom ten |
|
|
are
now living, viz.: Louisa J. born March 11. 1830; William, born
March 3. |
|
|
|
1832,
died in infancy; Elizabeth and Catherine (twins), born Feb. 9.
1834; Sarah Ann, born Nov. 20, 1836 ; Charles Wesley and
Edward Spencer (twins), born |
|
|
Sept.
1, 1831 ; Jonas W., born May 2, 1841 ; Hannah M., born March
18, 1843; |
|
|
Lauretta
D. born Feb. 23, 1845 ; James, born April 28, 1847, and one
who died |
|
|
in
infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Hartzell have been members of the
Methodist Church |
|
|
for
a period of thirty years. Of the above children, Charles
Wesley may be considered |
|
|
one
of the old settlers, having always lived upon the home farm,
upon |
|
|
|
which
he was born in 1839; he was married, March 7, 1867, to Sarah
E. Shep- |
|
|
hard
; she was born in Twin Township, Darke Co., March 20, 1846;
they had |
|
|
|
four
children by this union — Jonas Elmer. Lillian R., John H.
and Olive M; the |
|
|
latter
is deceased.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
George Hartzell
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer;
P. 0. Greenville ; the subject of this sketch |
|
|
|
is
another of our old settlers ; he was born in Adams Co., Penn.,
Oct. 3, 1835 and |
|
|
was
the oldest son of Philip Hartzell, who was born in the year
1811, in the above |
|
|
county
and State ; in 1836. he came to Darke Co. and in 1838,
purchased several lots |
|
|
in
Beamsville, and erected the second house of the place ; here
he followed carpentering, |
|
|
wagon-making,
cabinet-making and school-teaching for ten years : he |
|
|
|
was
the first Postmaster of the town, which office he held for ten
years, as well as |
|
|
Justice
of the Peace two terms ; he was a great champion of the cause
of temperance — |
|
|
is
probably entitled to the honor of putting up the first
building ever |
|
|
|
erected
in Darke Co. without the use of intoxicating liquor ; he died
upon his farm |
|
|
two
miles north of Greenville, in April, 1873. He married Julia
Harman, who |
|
|
|
was
born in 1810 or 1811, who is now residing in Greenville.
George Hartzell |
|
|
|
assisted
his father, until May 12, 1859, when he was united in marriage
with Lucy |
|
|
A.
Fettery ; she was born in Darke Co. June 8, 1838 ; they were
the parents of ten |
|
|
children
— Hollis, Clarinda M., Luella M., P. Harman, Viola E.,
George F., Julia |
|
|
and
John C., twins (John C. died Oct. 12, 1872), Henrietta and
Mamie. Mrs. |
|
|
|
Hartzell
was a daughter of John Fettery, who came from Lebanon Co.,
Penn., to |
|
|
Darke
Co. in 1836; he died February, 1874. He married Catherine
Bowman, also |
|
|
a
native of Pennsylvania; she died in Darke Co., in July. 1862.
Since the marriage |
|
|
of
Mr. Hartzell, he has been engaged in carpentering, milling and
farming, and |
|
|
has
a small farm, one mile from Greenville. His father was one of
six brothers, |
|
|
who
came to Darke Co. — Henry. George and Jeremiah came in 1833;
Philip and |
|
|
Jonas
in 1836, and Daniel probably in 1837 or 1838; of the above,
Jonas and |
|
|
|
Daniel
now survive.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Philip S. Hartzell
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sec.
12; P. 0. Pikeville ; one of the old settlers |
|
|
|
of
this county ; born in Greenville Township June 6, 1847 ; he
was a son of George |
|
|
Hartzell,
who was born in Adams Co., Penn., July 4, 1813: he was one of
the |
|
|
early
settlers of Darke Co., locating upon Sec. 12, Greenville
Township in 1833 ; |
|
|
he
entered eighty acres of Government land, and purchased the
same amount, and |
|
|
afterward
added by purchase, until he owned 240 acres in his home farm,
and |
|
|
here
he lived until his death, which occurred Oct. 22. 1857. He
married Rachel |
|
|
Schriver
in 1840; she was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 31. 1813; they
were the |
|
|
parents
of six children, of whom five lived to grow up ; Mrs. Hartzell
is now living |
|
|
with
Philip S., and at 67 years of age is in possession of all her
faculties, with |
|
|
the
exception of failing eyesight. After the death of Mr. Hartzell,
Philip S. |
|
|
|
lived
with his mother on the old homestead, until 26 years of age
when he associated |
|
|
with
his brother, William Hartzell, in 1870, and followed farming
together |
|
|
|
until
1875, upon the old farm, and in 1877 Philip S. purchased the
shares of his |
|
|
brother
upon the homestead, where he has continued farming, having 105
acres. |
|
|
He
has given his attention to the raising of corn and wheat; he
is one of the |
|
|
|
industrious,
persevering and hard-working citizens, and during the past two
years |
|
|
has
paid off indebtedness on his place to the amount of $2,400;
had previously |
|
|
paid
upward of $5,500. His marriage with Susan R. Baumbaugh was
celebrated |
|
|
June,
1870; she was born April 29, 1847, in Maryland, and emigrated
to Ohio |
|
|
with
her parents, in 1862. They were the parents of four children,
all of whom |
|
|
|
died
in infancy.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
P. H. Hartzell
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
teacher,
Greenville; is a son of Philip Hartzell, , a |
|
|
|
native
of Pennsylvania, who came to this county in the early pioneer
days, and |
|
|
lived
in the county until his decease, which occurred in April, 1878
; the subject |
|
|
of
this sketch was born in this county Nov. 6, 1846, and lived
with his parents |
|
|
until
several years after his majority ; he then taught school
during the winter |
|
|
|
seasons
and worked at carpentering during the summer for ten years. He
married |
|
|
Miss
Alice M. Butt, a daughter of John K. Butt, whose biography
appears in |
|
|
|
this
work; she was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in February, 1852;
they were |
|
|
married
Dec. 22, 1872, and have four children, two boys and two girls,
viz., John |
|
|
Ollie,
Forest Herbert, Cordie May and Alice Lanessa.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Samuel Heffner
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
and stock-raiser, Sec. 32 ; P. 0. Greenville ; |
|
|
|
another
of the old settlers of Darke Co. ; born in Berks Co., Penn.,
Oct. 30, 1818 ; he |
|
|
was
a son of Jacob Heffner, who was born in the above county, and
came to Darke |
|
|
Co.
in 1857, and located in Neave Township ; he died in Greenville
Township. Darke |
|
|
Co.,
about the year 1867 ; our subject was brought up to
agricultural pursuits in |
|
|
Pennsylvania
until 18 years of age, when he learned and worked at the
carpenter |
|
|
trade
in Pennsylvania until 1848 ; he then emigrated to Ohio and
located in Butler |
|
|
Co.,
and, in 1849, came to Darke Co., and. after n residence of two
years in |
|
|
|
German
Township, removed upon his present place/where he has lived
for a |
|
|
|
period
of thirty years ; upon locating here, there were but 40 acres
cleared ; he |
|
|
has
since cleared 80 acres and brought it to a good state of
cultivation by his |
|
|
own
hard labor, and now owns 122 acres of good land, with good
farm buildings ; |
|
|
he
has also three acres in Hill Grove, the whole being valued at
upward of |
|
|
|
$10,000.
Mr. Heffner commenced here with no capital save a strong arm
and |
|
|
|
willing
hand, and has accumulated all the above property by his energy
and |
|
|
|
industry,
and has, by the above means, placed himself among the large
land-holders |
|
|
and
successful farmers of Darke Co. In October, 1850, he was
united in marriage |
|
|
with
Dorotha Dininger: she was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Jan.
25., |
|
|
|
1838
; they were the parents of six children, viz.: Sarah E., born
Nov. 6. 1851; |
|
|
Lewis
C.. Jan. 11. 1854, died Jan. 22. 1854; Mary S., born July 19,
1855; |
|
|
|
Amanda
L., Dec. 28, 1859 ; Samuel, Oct. 15, 1862" and Jacob,
born Dec. 20, |
|
|
1866
; Mrs. Heffner is a daughter of .Jacob Dininger, one of the
early pioneers of |
|
|
Darke
Co., who located here in the spring of 1834. Mr. and Mrs. H.,
with four of |
|
|
their
children, are members of the Lutheran Church.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
William Heffner
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer;
P. 0. Greenville; the subject of this |
|
|
|
memoir
was born in Berks Co., Penn., in the year 1824, and is a son
of |
|
|
|
Jacob
and Eliza Heffner, who came to Darke Co. in 1853. and settled
in Greenville |
|
|
Township
; William Heffner's early life was that of a farmer's son,
being |
|
|
|
raised
to agricultural pursuits, his education being mostly confined
to the common |
|
|
schools.
In the year 1840, his marriage with Eliza M. Hinkle was
celebrated in |
|
|
Cumberland
Co., Penn.; they have three children by this union, viz.,
Jacob, William |
|
|
and
Nason. Mr. Heffner resides upon Sec. 9. this township, where
he is |
|
|
|
engaged
in agricultural pursuits ; he came to this county in 1853 and
has been a |
|
|
resident
for upward of a quarter of a century.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Clark Henkle
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer,
Sec. 16 ; P" O. Greenville ; born in Springfield, |
|
|
|
Clarke
Co.. Ohio, Nov. 6. 1837; his father, Silas Henkle, was born in
Virginia and |
|
|
came
to Clarke Co. at an early day ; he died in August, 1840. He
married Margaret |
|
|
Milholland,
who was born in Ohio, and died in Clark Co. June 13. 1860; |
|
|
|
after
the death of his father, he lived with his mother until 10
years of age, and |
|
|
the
following seven years lived with an uncle, after which he
removed upon the |
|
|
home
farm with his mother, and remained there some two years after
her death. |
|
|
Aug.
14, 1862, he enlisted as private in the 94th O. V. I.; he was
in many severe |
|
|
battles,
among which we mention Perryville, Stone River, Hoover's Gap,
Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge. Buzzard's
Roost, Resaca. Pumpkin |
|
|
Vine
Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, siege and capture
of Atlanta; the following winter was on detailed duty at
Chattanooga, buying up supply |
|
|
trains,
and, in the spring of 1865, joined the main army of Sherman in
North |
|
|
|
Carolina,
and was with the above army at the surrender of Johnson ; he
then |
|
|
|
marched
through Richmond to Washington, and after the grand review of
the |
|
|
|
army
he was mustered out of service and received his discharge at
Camp Chase |
|
|
June
14, 1865, having served in the Union army nearly three years ;
he took part |
|
|
in
every battle in which the regiment was engaged excepting two,
when he was |
|
|
on
detailed duty ; after receiving his discharge, he returned to
Clarke Co., and, in |
|
|
the
spring of 1869, came to Darke Co., and located upon his
present place, where |
|
|
he
has since lived ; he has a nice farm of 100 acres, with good
farm buildings. |
|
|
His
marriage with Mary S. Forgy was celebrated March 31, 1869 ;
she was born |
|
|
in
Clark Co., Ohio, July 4, 1837 ; they were the parents of three
children — Cora |
|
|
M.,
Willie Otho and Mary Elsie ; all died in infancy.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Daniel Henne
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
dealer
in grain and seeds, Greenville. The subject of this |
|
|
|
sketch
was born in Mindersback Oberamt Nagold Kmigreich,Wurtemberg,
Germany, |
|
|
in
1839, where he attended school until 14 years of age,
obtaining a good education |
|
|
in
German ; he then learned the milling trade, which he followed
four years, when |
|
|
he
emigrated to America, landing in New York in 1857 ; coming
directly West, he |
|
|
located
in Hamilton, Ohio, and remained until 1863, at which date he
made a two- |
|
|
years
visit to his native country ; returning in 1865. he again
located in Hamilton, |
|
|
and
was employed as farm laborer by the month, for one year; and
in the latter |
|
|
part
of 1866, came to Greenville, and associated in the milling and
grain business |
|
|
under
the firm name of Poak & Henne, and has since successfully
followed the |
|
|
above
business, the past ten years doing business alone; he makes a
specialty of |
|
|
buying
and shipping grain to the Eastern market; his shipments
reaching 200,000 |
|
|
bushels
in a singe season. His marriage with Anna M. Weithbrecht was
celebrated |
|
|
in
Greenville Feb. 17, 1867 ; she was born in Germany, and
emigrated with |
|
|
|
her
parents to America, when but 1 year of age ; they have three
children by this |
|
|
union
— Rosenia Gertrude, Jacob Frederick and Daniel. In 1878, he
was elected |
|
|
Township
Treasurer, which office he now holds, being re-elected in
1879; he is |
|
|
also
Secretary of the Board of Education, of Greenville. A business
card will be |
|
|
found
in the business directory of Greenville in this work.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
D. S. Hime
|
|
|
| |
|
firm
of Hime & Snyder, livery, feed and sale stable; another |
|
|
|
old
settler of Darke Co., Ohio; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in
1835; he is a |
|
|
son
of Daniel Hime, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to
Montgomery |
|
|
Co.,
Ohio, in 1838, and located in the northwest part of Greenville
Township; he |
|
|
died
in Washington Township in 1875. The subject of this sketch was
raised to |
|
|
agricultural
pursuits until 11 years of age, when he was apprenticed to
learn the |
|
|
shoemaker's
trade for seven years, after which, he remained upon the home
farm, |
|
|
and
in 1858, was united in marriage with Amelia D. Martin, of
Greenville; she |
|
|
|
was
born in Miami Co.; they have two children — Adelia Bell and
Sarah Catherine. |
|
|
He
purchased his home farm in 1864, and disposed of the same
about the year |
|
|
1870;
he then came to Greenville, where he has since lived.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Absalom Hoffert
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
and stock-raiser, Sec. 36; P. O. Greenville. |
|
|
|
The
subject of this memoir was born in Rush Creek Township,
Fairfield Co., Ohio, |
|
|
Jan.
25, 1827; he was a son of Solomon Hoffert, who was probably
born in Pennsylvania |
|
|
in
1795, and came to Ohio when quite young and located in
Fairfield Co., |
|
|
|
where
his death occurred April 4, 1876, at the advanced age of 91
years. He |
|
|
|
married
Margaret Hendricks, who was born in 1790, and died in 1861,
aged 71 |
|
|
years;
they were the parents of ten children, of whom eight are now
living. Our |
|
|
subject
obtained a common-school education in his youth, and was
raised to agricultural |
|
|
pursuits
until June 5, 1851, when he was united in marriage with Nancy |
|
|
|
Fantz;
she was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Nov. 20, 1832; they were
the parents |
|
|
of
five children, viz.: Elizabeth, now Mrs. James Westfall, of
Brown Township, |
|
|
born
June 4, 1852; Matilda, born May 8. 1855, died April 23, 1858;
Ellen, born |
|
|
April
25, 1857, now Mrs. Wesley Slade, Neave Township; Margaret,
born March 20, 1859, now Mrs. Charles Fletcher, of Miami Co.;
Emma P., born Feb. 8. 1862, |
|
|
now
Mrs. George Hathway, living upon the home farm. Mrs. Hoffert
was a |
|
|
|
daughter
of Michael Fantz, who was born in Baden, Germany, in 1792, and
came |
|
|
to
America in 1819; he died in Hocking Co., Ohio, May 23. 1863,
aged 71 years 8 |
|
|
months
and 19 days. He married Elizabeth Stacer ; she was also born
in Baden, |
|
|
Germany,
in 1791.' and died in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Sept. 10, 1860,
aged 69 years 4 |
|
|
months
and 28 days. Upon the marriage of Mr. Hoffert, he commenced
farming |
|
|
for
himself, which business he followed in Hocking and Fairfield
Cos. until April, |
|
|
1
864, when he disposed of his property in Fairfield Co., and
purchased 40 acres in |
|
|
Darke
Co., and located upon his present place where he has since
lived; he now |
|
|
owns
47 acres upon his home place, located less than a mile and a
half from |
|
|
Greenville.
He with his wife and two children are members of the Reformed |
|
|
|
Church,
and one daughter a member of the Church of the United
Brethren; Mr. |
|
|
and
Mrs. Hoffert having been members for the past ten years.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Moses Huhn
|
|
|
|
| |
|
clothier
and merchant tailor, was born in Grand Duchy |
|
|
|
Saxony,
Germany, May 13, 1835, and is a son of L. and Hannah Huhn,
natives of |
|
|
the
same place ; his father was born in 1784, and departed this
life in 1853, aged |
|
|
67
years ; his mother was born in 1800, and is still living in
Germany, aged 80 |
|
|
years.
Our subject emigrated to America in 1851, and landed in New
York, his |
|
|
voyage
occupying sixty -three days ; he repaired to St. Joseph, Mo.,
immediately, |
|
|
and
remained there for seven years, engaged as salesman, and then
came to Greenville, |
|
|
where
he was employed as salesman for Warring Bros., which position
he |
|
|
|
held
for four years ; he then embarked in business for himself, and
is one of ' |
|
|
|
Greenville's
successful business men ; he carries a full and complete stock
in his |
|
|
line,
consisting of men's, boys' and children's clothing, and does a
general merchant |
|
|
tailoring
business. He is an honorable member of the Masonic and Odd |
|
|
|
Fellows'
organizations, and his motto is "onward and upward."
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
William Hunter
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
and stock-raiser ; P. O. Ansonia ; another of |
|
|
|
the
old residents of Darke Co. ; born in Greenville Township April
26, 1831 : he |
|
|
was
the oldest son of William F. Hunter, who was born in Warren
Co., Ohio, Jan. |
|
|
2,
1801 ; he was one of the early settlers of Darke Co., locating
here about the |
|
|
year
1825 ; he was married in Darke Co. to Elizabeth Earheart ; she
was born in |
|
|
Virginia
April 14, 1804, and came to Darke Co. with her parents when
quite |
|
|
|
young,
making the journey on horseback. They were the parents of
three |
|
|
|
sons
and tour daughters, of whom all are living but one son. Mr.
Hunter |
|
|
|
died
Sept. 26, 1840. Mrs. Hunter died May 11, 1853, upon the old |
|
|
|
homestead;
William Hunter has lived upon the homestead and upon |
|
|
|
the
place where he was born for nearly half a century, his mother
making |
|
|
|
her
home with him until her decease; the log house in which all
the family |
|
|
|
was
born is now standing upon the place where it has stood for a
period of |
|
|
|
fifty
years. The nuptials of William Hunter and Mary Shultz were
celebrated |
|
|
|
June
15. 1854; she was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., July 1, 1834;
she was a |
|
|
daughter
of George Shultz, who emigrated from Pennsylvania to Warren
Co., and |
|
|
then
to Darke Co., about the year 1846 ; the children of William
and Mary (Shultz) |
|
|
Hunter
were nine in number, of whom eight are now living, viz.,
Thomas H., |
|
|
|
William
S., Charles E., Edmond A., Mary E., John L, Prudence O., David
D. ; the |
|
|
deceased,
Ada, died April 22, 1877.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
John Brewer
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer,
Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Stelvideo. Peter, his father, was |
|
|
|
born
in Pennsylvania in 1777 ; he married Holy Babe Larern, a
native of Pennsylvania, |
|
|
born
about 1779 ; they emigrated to Ohio in 1804, locating in
Hamilton |
|
|
|
Co.,
and in 1819 he moved to Darke Co., where he resided till his
death, which |
|
|
occurred
in 1855 ; his wife died in 1843. John, the subject of this
sketch, is one |
|
|
of
Darke Co.'s old settlers; born in Pennsylvania on the 7th of
October, 1802 ; |
|
|
came
with his parents to Darke Co. in 1819 ; his education, which
is very meager, |
|
|
he
obtained by his own exertions ; he lived with his parents till
he was about 24 |
|
|
years
of age, when, on the 8th of June, 1826,. he celebrated his
marriage with |
|
|
Elizabeth
Coppess, who is a native of Greene Co., Ohio, born on the 2d
of November. |
|
|
1807
; after his marriage, he rented a farm on Stillwater, where he
remained for |
|
|
two
years ; he purchased 80 acres in Adams Township, for which he
paid $50. |
|
|
erected
a log cabin and moved, and began the task of opening up his
farm ; has |
|
|
added
93 acres more, making in all 173 acres, with 125 acres in a
good state of |
|
|
cultivation,
the whole valued at $11,000 ; he also owns a house and lot in
Stelvideo. |
|
|
Mr.
and Mrs. Brewer are among the oldest settlers of Adams
Township, |
|
|
|
and
have lived to see the mighty forest disappear before the
woodman's ax ; and |
|
|
where
the old log cabin stood, a large two-story frame house is in
its place ; they |
|
|
have
passed through the many struggles, dangers and incidents so
common |
|
|
|
to
the pioneer of the West, but with an indomitable will,
associated with frugality, |
|
|
industry
and correct business habits, they have accumulated
considerable amount |
|
|
of
property ; ten children have been born to them, of whom nine
are living, viz. : |
|
|
Alfred,
born March 10, 1827 ; Mahala, born Dec. 25, 1828 ; Peter, born
Aug. S, |
|
|
1831
; Adam, born Nov. 25, 1833 ; Daniel, born Oct. 4, 1835 ;
Jesner, born Aug. |
|
|
29,
1840 ; Phoebe, born Oct. 9, 1843 ; John, born July 2, 1847 ;
David, born May |
|
|
30,
1850. Mr. Brewer is not a church member, but a true
religionist, and is |
|
|
|
known
as a man of good principle and full of humanity ; he has
raised six grandchildren, |
|
|
besides
his own family — one for Mahala, two for Alfred, and three
for |
|
|
|
Phoebe.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Henry Brown
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
carpenter
and farmer ; P. 0. Gettysburg, Ohio. Samuel, |
|
|
|
his
father, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Lebanon Co. in
June, 1803 ; he |
|
|
married
Frances Kopp, who is a native of the same place, born in June,
1803 ; |
|
|
they
emigrated to Ohio in May, 1834, locating in Wayne Co., eight
miles north of |
|
|
Wooster,
where they remained till the fall of 1847, when they removed
to Montgomery |
|
|
Co.,
remaining there till spring, after which they removed to Miami
Co., |
|
|
|
locating
near where Bradford now stands, remaining till 1850, when he
moved |
|
|
across
the line into Darke Co., where he resided about four years,
during which |
|
|
time
he purchased a tract of land in Section 24, consisting of 124
acres, Adams |
|
|
Township,
all of which was under heavy timber ; during the time between |
|
|
|
1850
and 1854, he, with the help of his boys, erected a hewn-log
house and |
|
|
|
cleared
several acres, and in 1854 he moved his family, where he
resided |
|
|
|
till
his death, which occurred on the 3d of March, 1866, leaving a
family |
|
|
|
of
eight children, of whom seven are living at present, viz.,
Jacob, Henry, |
|
|
|
Daniel,
Reuben, William, Fanny (now Mrs. Brandle), Elizabeth ; his
widow still |
|
|
lives
on the old home farm, being 76 years old ; Henry, the subject
of this |
|
|
|
sketch,
is a native of Ohio, born in Wayne County on the 27th of
August, 1834 ; |
|
|
spent
his boyhood days on the farm, assisting his father in the
clearing and the |
|
|
cultivation
of the soil, receiving his education in the district schools ;
he remained |
|
|
at
home till he was 22 years old, when he quit his parental roof
and went in search |
|
|
of
his fortune ; he commenced to work at the carpenter's trade
when he was about |
|
|
25
years old, in Gettysburg, Ohio, which trade he has followed
ever since, making |
|
|
his
home with his mother on the old home farm, assisting in the
farming, etc. Mr. |
|
|
Brown
is a live, energetic, thorough business man, strictly
temperate in all his habits, |
|
|
and
is highly esteemed by his many friends and acquaintances. He
is a member |
|
|
of
the Lutheran Church.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Abraham Byrd Sr.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
farmer
; P. 0. Webster, Darke Co., Ohio ; was born |
|
|
|
Feb.
18, 1804, in Shenandoah County, and raised in Rockingham Co.,
Va.; in 1840, |
|
|
he
came to Ohio and stopped for a part of the first summer in
Montgomery |
|
|
|
County,
and then settled in Darke County ; worked at his trade,
bricklaying, for |
|
|
two
years. He then married Emma Radefelt, who was born Nov. 17,
1820, in |
|
|
|
Adams
County, Penn. ; about the time of his marriage, he bought 80
acres of land |
|
|
in
Sec. 36, Adams Township, on which he is still living ; he has
65 acres cleared, |
|
|
all
of which he accomplished but about 15 acres ; they are the
parents of ten children— |
|
|
George
S., born June 2, 1843 ; Hannah C., Nov. 27, 1844 ; Jacob F.,
March |
|
|
|
31,
1847 ; Sarah I., Nov. 11, 1849 ; Mary M., Jan. 17, 1852 ;
Abraham and Emma, |
|
|
July
27, 1854; Henrietta, April 16, 1858; Lucy A., Feb. 27, 1860,
and Silvester, |
|
|
Aug.
4, 1862.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Solomon B. Christian
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer,
Sec. 9 ; P. O. Bradford ; Solomon, his |
|
|
|
father,
was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Huntingdon County on the
25th of |
|
|
December,
1789. He married Mary Bauslaugh, who was a native of the same |
|
|
State
and county, and was born March 4, 1794 ; in 1814, Mr.
Christian made a visit to |
|
|
Darke
County, Ohio, and while here entered the east half of Sec. 9,
and in 182'J |
|
|
he
settled on his tract of land, which at that time was a dense
forest ; his wife did |
|
|
not
come till 1834, as she was afraid of the Indians ; she came
with a firm determination |
|
|
to
share the trials, dangers and hardships with her devoted
husband, in |
|
|
|
the
then almost unbroken wilderness, with here and there a family,
at the mercy |
|
|
of
the bloodthirsty red man, and for twenty-five years she nobly
acted her part of |
|
|
the
great drama of life ; on the 26th of September, 1859, the
messenger of death |
|
|
entered
the household, removing her from earth to heaven ; Solomon,
her husband, |
|
|
survived
the storm of life till Feb. 10, 1862. when he, too, sank
peacefully to rest |
|
|
in
the blessed knowledge of the immortality of the soul ; they
were the parents of |
|
|
seven
children, of whom four are living, viz.: Susan, now Mrs.
Brakebill ; Anna, |
|
|
now
Mrs. Katherman ; Sarah, now Mrs. Wise, and Solomon B., the
subject of this |
|
|
sketch,
who is a native of Darke County, Ohio, born Jan. 9, 1836 ; he
received his |
|
|
education
in the district schools by the time he was 19 years old,
during which |
|
|
time
he assisted his father in the clearing and the cultivation of
the soil. On the |
|
|
19th
of January, 1854, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Mary
Brumbaugh, |
|
|
who
is a daughter of Jacob and Susan Brumbaugh, natives of
Montgomery County, |
|
|
Ohio
; Mary was born in Miami County on the 27th of December, 1830.
being the |
|
|
fourth
child in a family of eight children, viz.: Catharine. John,
Carrad. Mary, |
|
|
|
Emanuel.
Esther, Elizabeth and Susan ; after his marriage, he farmed
the old homestead, |
|
|
where
he has resided ever since ; he came in possession of the home
farm |
|
|
|
at
the death of his father ; Mr. Christian has accumulated a
considerable amount |
|
|
of
property by his hard labor, in which he has been nobly
assisted by his good |
|
|
and
amiable wife ; he is strictly temperate in all his habits,
being a member of the |
|
|
Masonic
Order, also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of
the Patrons |
|
|
of
Husbandry. He is a firm Democrat ; Mr. Christian is not a
political aspirant, |
|
|
although
he has been identified with the township offices, served as
Township Trustee |
|
|
two
terms, one year as Pike Superintendent and as School Director
ten years. |
|
|
Mr.
and Mrs. Christian are highly esteemed by their many friends
and acquaintances |
|
|
for
their good qualities ; Mrs. Christian is a member of the
German Baptist |
|
|
|
Church
; they are the parents of eight children, of whom seven are
living, viz.: |
|
|
Susan,
born May 18. 1855 ; Philip, Jan 1, 1858 ; George W., July 4,
1860 ; Mary, |
|
|
July
14, 1863; Martha, Jan. 13, 1866 ; Solomon, Sept. 7, 1868 ;
John S. R.. Oct. |
|
|
31,
1871. Jacob Brumbaugh was born March 14, 1803, died Jan. 27,
1843 ; Susan, |
|
|
his
wife, was born Nov. 11, 1807, died March 29, 1852.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Gideon J. Coblentz
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer,
Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Bradford, Ohio. Daniel, |
|
|
|
the
father of Gideon J., is a native of Maryland ; born in
Frederick County in |
|
|
|
April.
1814. He married Margaret Worman, who was born in Ohio in 1815
; she |
|
|
departed
this life in 1855. Mr. Coblentz celebrated his second marriage
with Sarah |
|
|
Shepherd
; they now reside three miles east of Dayton, Ohio. Gideon,
the subject |
|
|
of
this sketch, is a native of Ohio, born in Montgomery County,
on the 17th of October |
|
|
1838
; he spent his boy-hood days in Montgomery County, assisting
his father |
|
|
on
the farm till he became of age, obtaining his education in the
district schools. |
|
|
On
the 7th of January, 1 863, he celebrated his marriage with
Mary E.. daughter |
|
|
of
John and Sarah Hinsey, who was born in Mad River Township,
Montgomery |
|
|
County
(now in the Corporation of Dayton), on the 29th of April,
1838. After his |
|
|
marriage,
he moved on his father's farm, where he remained about two
years : after |
|
|
which
he rented the Barlow farm, remaining for a period of about
three years ; |
|
|
when
he moved near Fort Wood, on a small farm for which he paid
money rent, |
|
|
remaining
three years ; he followed farming for four years on three
different farms, |
|
|
and
in March, 1876, he purchased 40 acres in Adams Township, Sec.
28. where he |
|
|
moved
and resides at present ; has since added 8 acres more, making
in all 48 |
|
|
acres
in a good state of cultivation. Mr. Coblentz has accumulated
some property |
|
|
by
his hard labor, in which he has been nobly assisted by his
good and amiable |
|
|
wife
; is strictly temperate in all his habits ; two children have
been born to |
|
|
|
them,
viz.: John D. W., born July 20, 1865 ; Sarah E. M. A.,born
March 27, 1872. |
|
|
Mrs.
Mary E. Coblentz is a clairvoyant and has remarkable powers in
the faculty |
|
|
of
clairvoyancy ; to diagnose disease and prescribe for the same,
and has a large |
|
|
practice
in the counties of Darke, Miami and Montgomery. After an
illness of ten |
|
|
years,
receiving treatment from the most able physicians of the
county, but all |
|
|
to
no avail until the 4th day of July, 1874, when the faculty of
clairvoyancy was |
|
|
brought
into action, and the beautiful " Beyond " was opened
up to her vision ; in |
|
|
which
a tall, venerable old gentleman, with gray hair and beard,
spoke to her, saying : " |
|
|
I
come to cure you." She was then ordered by her control to
read the |
|
|
|
thirty-fourth
chapter of of Ezekiel ; after which she was ordered to go
where there |
|
|
was
a pool of dead water and remove from her person all but three
garments and |
|
|
dip
herself seven times, after which burn the three garments,
which she did and in |
|
|
six
weeks she had recovered from her illness so as to be able to
do her housework. |
|
|
We
now leave the reader to draw his or her own conclusions,
however, the writer |
|
|
can
truthfully say that she possesses remarkable magnetic powers,
and has great |
|
|
power
over disease.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
Solomon Creager
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
farmer
; P. 0. Gettysburg ; was born in Maryland in |
|
|
|
1809
; was the son of Henry and Susannah Creager ; they had seven
children, viz., |
|
|
Polly,
Thomas, Charlotte, Rebecca, Valentine and Solomon ; the
grandparents, |
|
|
Conrad
and Susannah, were born in Germany ; Susannah's maiden name
was Wolf. |
|
|
Henry
and Susannah Creager came to Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1810,
when Solomon |
|
|
was
about 9 months old, and located six miles south of Dayton,
where they |
|
|
|
lived
and died. Mr. Creager, the subject of our sketch, was married
in 1833 to |
|
|
Maria,
daughter of George and Susannah Martin ; George was born in
England, |
|
|
and
Susannah in Maryland ; Maria had two brothers and four
sisters, viz., Elizabeth, |
|
|
Maria,
Ann, Mary, George and John Thomas ; the eldest and youngest
being |
|
|
dead,
and the rest are living ; they have had as the issue of their
marriage six |
|
|
children,
three of whom are living, viz., Henry, George M. and Cora
Francis, all |
|
|
married
and settled in life. Mr. Creager after his marriage, lived
with his father |
|
|
about
six years, till the year 1840, when they came to this county ;
having entered |
|
|
eighty-three
acres of land about five years previous and settled upon it
while it |
|
|
was
a wilderness, and cut the first stick of timber ; made an
opening and put up a |
|
|
small
cabin, into which they moved ; then commenced clearing up,
working and |
|
|
toiling
from day to day and year to year ; making such improvements as
time and |
|
|
means
would admit, till at present they have about 65 acres cleared
and in |
|
|
|
cultivation,
and a good comfortable house, a large bam and other buildings
for |
|
|
comfort
and convenience. When Mr. Creager started in life he began
without any |
|
|
capital,
and has made all his property by his own industry and diligent
labor, except |
|
|
a
very small amount received from their parents. Mr. Creager has
always been |
|
|
an
active Democrat ; has been School Director and Trustee of his
township some six |
|
|
years
; and also filled other township offices. He is a member of
the Reformed Church, |
|
|
having
belonged to the same for nearly half a century ; he and his
wife were two |
|
|
of
the six constituent members who organized the Zion's Church,
the first Reformed |
|
|
Church
established in this county ; he has been Elder in the church
for eighteen |
|
|
years.
Thus, while we have here a sketch of one of the old settlers
of the county, |
|
|
we
have also a sample of pioneers in the church work rarely
excelled in length of |
|
|
time
of service ; here we have a noble example of the coupling
together of pioneer |
|
|
work
in opening out the forests, and that of building up the
church, which shall |
|
|
ever
stand upon the pages of history as a bright and shining light
to guide the |
|
|
children's
children and future generations to industry in life, and a
sure way to |
|
|
a
happy immortality beyond.
Submitted by Nancy Hannah
|
|
|
|
