PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM - 575 settling on the place adjoining that on which our subject now lives, but afterward removing to Clifton. where she was married and began her wedded life, Two years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bradfute moved to his farm, where his widow is still living, his death having occurred in 1872. James Anderson, the eldest brother of Mrs. Bradfute, came to this neighborhood, walking from Cleveland to this place, and after securing land returned the same way. He then went back to Dundee, Scotland, and induced the rest of the family to come across the ocean. He lived to be eighty-six years of age and was noted throughout this region for his powers of endurance. When he was coming to the county the boat on which he had taken passage left him at Buffalo and he started off on foot, reaching the next station in advance of the craft. At one time, being in Cincinnati and having lost all his money by the failure of a firm there, he started after breakfast one morning and walked all the way home, a distance of a little more than sixty miles, reaching his destination in time to take supper. There was snow on the ground and his shoes giving out, his feet bled so that he could have been tracked by the blood on the snow. David Bradfute was educated for a farmer and stock-raiser, in which occupations he has gained so wide a, repute. He was married March 19, 1861, to Miss Martha E., daughter of William Collins, who was one of the very -.oldest settlers in this county. The estimable and devoted wife and mother died September 6, 1879, leaving two childred, Oscar E. and Lydia. The son is finely educated, being a graduate of the University at Bloomington, Ind., and brings his knowledge into excellent use as a partner of his father in the stock business. he is a member of the County Board of Agriculture, having been elected when his father refused to serve longer in a capacity in which he had acted for twenty years. Miss Lydia who still remains with her father, is also educated and accomplished being a graduate of Washington Female Seminary. The second wife of Mr. Bradfute was in her girlhood Miss Hannah M. Nesbit. She is an estimable woman having been carefully reared and educated. Her father, Samuel Nesbit was well known as a merchant in Cedarsville for many years. Her union with our subject has been a childless one. She and her husband belong to the United Presbyterian Church attending at Clifton, the father of our subject belonged to the old Seceder Church. Mr. Bradfute has been a Republican for many years. The enterprise, intelligence and upright characters of the members of this household are such as to entitle them to that which they receive, a high degree of respect and admiration. EDMUND H. KEIFER. Even in a county where intelligence is the rule, there are some men who are regarded as superior in intellectual culture to the great mass of citizens and who therefore possess greater prominence and wield greater influence than others. When to this mental development are added pleasing manners, good social qualities and the energetic nature which makes a success of whatever employment the man enters upon, he is almost certain to be looked upon with great respect and to be known far and wide as an honor to the community. Such is the case with the subject of this biographical sketch, who, aside from his personal qualities, is respected on account of his family connections, several of whom are highly honored in the Nation. To those interested in public affairs the name of his cousin, J. Warren Keifer, ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, is familiar; while his father, Gen. John Keifer, is remembered for his high official station in the Ohio Militia and as United States Marshal for this district. In 1805, George and Margaret (Hivner) Keifer, left Maryland for the Buckeye State, settling on Mad River, about six miles west of Springfield. The farm which they occupied until death is now owned by Leander Baker and forms a part of Bethel Township, Clark County. George Keifer fought for his country in the second struggle for the relief from British tyranny. At the death of this most worthy couple the farm became the property of their son John, who was born in Maryland in 1800, but reared in this section, amid the pioneer surroundings of the first quarter of the cen- 576 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. tury. He not only filled the high station of which we have before spoken, but was an influential member of the society in this vicinity, honored as a man of natural ability, upright life and great usefulness. He took the United States census in this county in 1860. Gen. Keifer married Elizabeth, daughter of John Donnel, one of the first pioneers in this section, who helped survey this and the adjoining counties, and owned the instruments with which Cincinnati was surveyed. These are now in the possession of Mrs. Thomas Keyser, of Springfield. Mrs. Keifer was born in Springfield Township, four miles west of the town of the same name, on a farm now owned by A. Holcomb. She bore her' husband six children, two of whom are yet living—John D. and Edmund H. The former married Nancy Crane, who was born and reared on Mad River, this county; their home is in Kansas and their family comprises nine children. Gen. Keifer and his wife died within three weeks of each other, the husband breathing his last June 9, 1865, and his widow June 29. The gentleman with whose name this sketch is introduced was born in Springfield Township, February 19, 1835, on the farm which had been his mother's birthplace and early home. His parents thoroughly appreciated the advantages of a good education and after completing the course of study which could be pursued in the common schools, he was sent to Antioch College, Yellow Springs, where for two terms he was under the instruction of the noted educator, Horace Mann. The most stupid lad could scarcely fail under such circumstances to 14 inspired with grand ideas of the object and use of knowledge, and the manner in which one's surroundings should ever be made helpful toward a .higher development of the mental powers. The bright mind and early training of young Keifer were a fertile soil for the growth of such ideas and they have born much fruit in his life. Mr. Keifer remained with his parents until after his marriage which took place January 11, 1859, when he settled for a year on the old homestead. He then removed to Mad River Township and remained there for two years, and in 1865, took pos session of his present estate which is located on section 6, Green Township. There were no improvements on the place and a part of it was not yet cleared. His original acreage here has been added to, the estate now comprising three hundred and thirty-seven acres and bearing excellent improvements. The two family residences and two tenant houses, together with all the barns and other buildings were erected by the present owner, his own dwelling having been put up in the fall of 1871, at the cost of $2,500. Mr. Keifer still superintends the estate, on which are to be found some excellent grades of horses, cattle and hogs. In addition to the fine estate here, he owns a livery barn in Springfield and considerable real estate in Washington, D. C. The National Capital has been frequently visited by Mr. Keifer and since he began investing there he makes about four trips yearly. On the last occasion he was in the wreck of the Baltimore & Ohio train near Newark, Ohio, on March 14, 1890, but fortunately escaped serious injury. During the Civil War he belonged to the Ohio National Guards and sent a substitute into the Union Army. His judgment concurs in the principles embodied in the Democratic platform, and his ballot is given to that party. He is an ardent temperance man, although not a supporter of the third party. For many years he acted as School Director of the district in which he lives and he also belonged to the Board of Education of the Township. He is not identified with any religious body, although his wife and children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It would be natural to suppose that this gentle. man would choose as a life companion a lady of cultured intellect and manners, and such an one presides over his hospitable home. She was known in her girlhood as Miss Bethenia Miller, was born in this county January 1, 1842, and received a part of her intellectual training in Springfield Seminary. She is a daughter of R. S. and Elizabeth (Shellabarger) Miller. Her mother was a sister of Judge Shellabarger, of Washington, D. C., who was formerly a Congressman from this district and who is now a very prominent lawyer, practicing before the United States Supreme Court exclusively, and hav- PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM - 577 ing as a partner Judge Wilson. Mrs. Miller died in September, 1879, leaving three children, two of whom yet survive. They are—Mrs. George Humphreys, of Urbana, and Mrs. Keifer, the wife of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Miller is still living and is now seventy-seven years of age. Maggie, who married Dr. A. A. Baker, was the eldest child, and departed this life in March, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Keifer are the parents of three children, of whom we note the following: Anna M. married John T. Stewart, son of Perry Stewart, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this book. Their home is in Greencastle, Ind., where Mr. Stewart owns an electric light plant. Lizzie D. is the wife of F. P. Whitehead, to whom she has borne one child; their home is in Springfield, Ohio. Sheila G., a young man now nineteen years old, is a student in Antioch College. WILLIAM J. MILLER. Many of the leading men of this county are its native-born citizens as in the case of Mr. Miller, who was born May 4, 1834, in the northwest part of Beaver Creek Township, Greene County. His parents were James and Sarah (Hamner) Miller, and his father came to this region during its pioneer days. James Miller, a native of Greencastle, Pa., was born September 15, 1807, and his wife, Sarah, was born in Beaver Creek Township, this county, December 17, 1802, the same year that Ohio was admitted into the Union as a State. The father of our subject in his journey to this county was accompanied by the well-known John Harbine, one of its earliest pioneers. Mr. Miller occupied himself as a carpenter and was married to Miss Hamer about 1840. He had secured one hundred and thirteen acres of land—that upon which his son now resides —and where he settled with his young wife, they beginning housekeeping together in true pioneer style. James Miller opened up a good farm from the wilderness where he and his estimable wife spent the remainder of their days. Mr. Miller died about 1870 at the age of sixty-seven years. Up to the beginning of the Civil War he had affiliated with the Democratic party, but not being able to harmonize with the Democracy on the questions of Union and slavery, he wheeled over into the Republican ranks, remaining there until the close of his life. The mother died about 1870. The parental household of our subject consisted of two children only, William J. and Sarah J., the latter being the wife of John Davis and living in Beaver Creek Township. James Miller had three brothers: William, Matthew, and Robert. Robert located first in Greene County, Ohio, and from there went to Logansport where he remained until his death. TheMiller family is of German and Scotch ancestry, from which countries respectively the paternal grandparents of William J. emigrated at an early day. Mr. Miller has spent his entire life upon the farm where he now lives. He attended the district school during his boyhood and youth and obtained a practical knowledge of agriculture, which with his habits of industry have made him a successful and independent farmer. He Is largely interested in Poland-China swine and has carried off the blue, and red ribbons at the County Fairs. The head of. Mr. Miller's herd of swine has taken the red ribbon at the Ohio, Indiana and Illinois State Fairs. He has made of this industry a specialty for the past seven years. His farm buildings are ample and convenient and he avails himself of modern methods and improved machinery in all his operations. Mr. Miller was first married in 1864 to Miss Anna Prugh. She was born in Montgomery, Ohio, and was the daughter of Peter and Charlotte (Mitchell) Prugh who were among the earliest pioneers of that section. They came hither from Maryland where Mr. Prugh had learned the trade of a shoemaker and which he followed- in connection with farming -after coming to this State. His family included three sons and four daughters, of whom Miss Anna was the youngest born. Of her union with our subject there was born one child, a son, John G., and the mother passed away seventeen months after her marriage; this son is now in Beaver Creek Township. The second marriage of Mr. Miller occurred in 1868 with Miss Sarah E., daughter of Jacob and 578 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. Elizabeth (Getter) Steele of this county. Six children were born of this union, viz.: Jessie F., William L., Clarence Orphus, James L., Sarah Elizabeth, and Annettie G-., the latter deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are both connected with the Reformed Church. The parents of Mrs. Miller were natives respectively of Greene and Warren Counties, this State, and Mr. Steele politically was a Republican. Their family consisted of one son and five daughters, Mrs. Miller being the eldest born. The paternal grandfather was Ebenezer Steele, further mention of whom is made in the biography of J. D. Steele on another page in this volume. ROBERT L. HOLMAN. A traveler in Clark County would not fail to have his eyes attracted by Cedar Lawn farm, which occupies a portion of section 34, Moorefield Township, and is one of the finest estates in the entire county. It consists of one hundred and seventy-three and a half acres of well-improved land, every part of the estate indicating that its proprietor is a man of taste as well as a thrifty agriculturist. This beautiful home is owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch, who is a native of Worcester County, Mass., where his eyes opened to the light April 7, 1828. He is a son of Parley and Nancy (Young) Holman, both of whom were born in the old Bay State, and belonged to old families there. The Holman family is of Scotch-Irish descent, and the Youngs of English lineage. Parley Holman was a soldier in the War of 1812, and one of his sons, living in Massachusetts, still has a musket carried by him in that war. Robert L. Holman was reared to manhood in his native county, remaining on the parental farm until he was about seven or eight years of age, when he began to work in a woolen factory. After working there about three years he was employed at various kinds of farm work until about seventeen, when he began the trade of a carpenter and joiner, at which he served an apprenticeship of three years. For a time he worked as a journey man, subsequently becoming a contractor and builder in Worcester, in which city he was employed for several years. In 1854 he came to Ohio and spent about a twelvemonth in the employ of Dodge & Co., at Springfield, in manufacturing Dodge's Spring Bed. He afterward became a partner in the firm, which continued under the old style some two years. Mr. Holman then became interested in the sale of Andrew Welsh's Hominy Mill, which was manufactured in Xenia. While engaged in the sale of this article he saw the necessity of changes in the construction, the mill being too complicated, and with Warren Wright, of Xenia, he studied and experimented about a year, when they produced what is now well known as the celebrated Buckeye Hominy Mill. Messrs. Holman & Wright, as soon as they were assured of the success of their invention, began its manufacture. In 1861 they sent samples of the hominy made by their mill to Washington, and by the last act passed by Congress that year hominy was added to the army rations. They immediately secured contracts for supplying the middle and western divisions of the army, and the business soon assumed such immense proportions that they could not supply the demand. After furnishing the armies with their supply for nearly a year, Mr. Holman sold his interest to his partner and engaged in model and pattern making and the work of a millwright. For a number of years he was thus employed, his labors being especially in the hominy mill interests. In 1875 he located on the farm where he has since resided, and which is one of the landmarks throughout the county. In Miss Martha M. Hildreth, a native of Massachusetts and a daughter of Sylvester and Mary Hildreth, Mr. Holman found the qualities of mind and character which won his deep esteem, and after a successful wooing she became his wife, May 3, 1853. To this union four children have been born—Arthur D., who now lives in Union County, was born September 1, 1855; Walter H., August 27, 1857; Herbert W., February 8, 1860; Edward P., March 6, 1866. Mr. Holman first became identified with the Grange in 1884, and for three years was Master of Tremont Lodge, No. 90, at Tremont City. He is PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM - 579 now officiating as Master of the Pomona Grange, which comprises all the lodges in Clark County, and he is also serving as a member of the Execu- tive Committee of the Ohio State Grange. He was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but is not now identified with that fraternity. In politics he is independent, generally giving his vote to the,. best man irrespective of party prejudice. He and his wife are members of the Church of God at Springfield. A public-spirited and reliable citizen, an industrious and successful business man, and an individual of intelligent mind, cordial manners and good principles, Mr. Holman stands well in the community and wherever he is known. DANIEL M. ST. JOHN is the owner and occupant of a fine farm in Greene County, and numbered among the most prominent farmers and stock-breeders of Csar Creek Township. He now owns three hundred and thirty-five acres of valuable and carefully managed land, upon which a complete set of farm buildings has been erected, all being substantial and well adapted for their respective purposes. For the past ten years Mr. St. John has been bleeding Short-horn cattle, and has had marked success in his enterprise. The gentleman with whose name we introduce this sketch is a grandson of John and Rhoda (Wood) St. John, who came from New York to Warren County, Ohio, early in the present century. They reared a large family, among their children being Isaac, David, Daniel, Aaron, William, Joseph, Betsey and Phhe. Grandfather St. John was a strong Whig, a substantial farmer, and was connected with the New Light Church. Daniel W. St. John, the father of our subject, was born near Lebanon, Warren County, and reared on a farm. About 1828 he came to Greene County, settling on one hundred and thirteen acres in Csar Creek Township, to which he added until the estate comprised over three hundred acres, which he improved. In 1865 he purchased one hundred acres near Xenia, which he made his home during the remainder of his life. He breathed his -last in February, 1873, his wife, formerly Miss Eliza Bone, also a native of Warren County, surviving him about a year. He was a breeder of fine Shorthorn cattle, and his financial success was due to his own efforts, as he began life without capital. He was a Whig and a Republican, and took a strong stand against secession. He was a life member of the Methodist Episcopal Missionary Association, and both he and his wife were active members of that church. Their, family comprised the following children : Cyrus B., of Jay County, Ind.; Joseph M., who died in Coffeyville, Kan.; John W.; William H., who was drowned in Csar Creek, leaving a widow and three Children; Daniel M.; Sarah A., the widow of James McNair, of Dunkirk, Ind.; Charles W.; Jeniah F.; Eliza Jane, wife of Frank Peterson, whose home is near Coffeyville, Kan.; Isaac W., now of Dunkirk, Ind., who served in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth and Seventy-fourth Ohio Infantry during the Civil War; and Lorenzo R. The subject of this biographical notice was born June 13, 1835, on a farm adjoining that which he now Owns and occupies. He was reared upon the parental acres, obtaining a common-school education and a practical knowledge of the arts of agriculture. At the age of twenty-one years he began life for himself, locating on one hundred and fifty acres of his present estate, which he improved, and to which he has largely added. He has manifested a high degree of enterprise in the pursuit of his chosen calling, and throughout his life exhibited such sterling traits of character and fine principles as to give him a high standing throughout the community. He served his country during the late war, enlisting May 1, 1864, as a private in Company H, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and being discharged with the rank of Corporal. The only battle of importance in which he took part was at New Creek, W. Va., although he performed the usual amount of arduous and dangerous campaign duties. In politics he is a Republican. In 1889 he was elected Township Treasurer, He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The estimable woman who, since January 23, 580 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 1858, has been Mr. St. John's most highly prized counselor and true helpmate, bore the maiden name of Eliza Beam. She was born January 19, 1840, on the farm where she now resides, and is the only survivor but one in a family of seven children. Her brothers and sisters, William, Silas N., John C., Mary C. and Julia A., died within six weeks of each other, in 1846, of typhoid fever. The other living child is Daniel H. Beam. Mrs. St. John is a daughter of Daniel and Anna (Haines) Beam, both of whom were of German extraction. They were born February 16, 1794, and March 11,1801, respectively, and married April 20,1820. Their home was in Augusta County, Va., whence they came to Ohio about 1828, settling where their daughter now lives, on fifty acres of land. Before his death, which occurred November 11, 1846, Mr. Beam had accumulated one hundred and eighty-five acres of land. His widow survived him many years, dying April 26, 1882, at an advanced age. To our subject and his estimable wife ten children have been born, of whom we note the following: Anna B. became the wife of David G. Ford, and died in Kansas, leaving a son and three daughters; the second member of the family is Aba H.; Alletha L. is the wife of David Painter; William died at the age of two years; Ada J. is the wife of A. J. Thomas; Ella D. is the wife of Franklin Walker; the other members of the family are Arthur E., Dora B., Oscar E. and Bertha E. WILLIAM M. KIRKHAM. The Kirkhams of Harmony Township, Clark County, are numbered among its most highly respected citizens and have contributed largely to its farming and stock-raising interests. They have been uniformly successful, both as agriculturists and business men, and form a portion of the reliable element which has brought the township to its present status among the surrounding communities. Their fine farms invariably attract the attention of the passing traveler, and they have made for themseIves a record which will be handed down in honor to posterity. The subject of this notice, who is one of the most worthy representatives of his family name, was born at his father's homestead, in the southeast corner of Green Township, Clark County, November 2, 1845. He is consequently in the prime of life and in the midst of his usefulness. His father was the well-known John Kirkham and his mother bore the maiden name of Ann Slee. Both were natives of the county of Westmoreland, England, the father born in 1815 and the mother two years later. They were reared and married in their native county and emigrated to America in 1837, settling in Madison Township, Clark County, this State, whence later they removed to the vicinity of Harmony Township. The father prosecuted his life occupation of farming and rested from his earthly labors in 1846. '1 he parental family consisted of six children, viz: John, Ann, Anthony; Ellen, the wife of Clark Whiteley; Stephen and William M. Mr. Kirkham has been a resident of Harmony Township since a child of four years. He was only given the education attainable in the country school, but he made good use of his time therein, and when approaching manhood occupied himself as a teacher three winters. He commenced doing for himself at the early age of ten years, and being thus obliged to "paddle his own canoe," acquired that independence of character and self-reliance which has served him so well in his later years. By a course of industry and prudence he was in due time enabled to establish a home of his own, and with this end in view, was married, September 18, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth Oates. This lady was born in Springfield Township, Clark County, September 18, 1852, and is a daughter of William and Mary (Simpson) Oates, natives of Yorkshire, England. They emigrated to America in 1850 and settled in Springfield Township, Clark County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkham began the journey of life together in a manner corresponding to their means and by a course of industry and prudence have gathered around themselves and their family all the comforts of life. They are the parents of six children, viz: Harlan R.. Mabel Ann, Norah Ellen, William Roscoe, Oliver H. and Russell. The farm PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM - 583 of our subject comprises one hundred and sixty-one acres of well-tilled land, which he inherited from his mother's aunt, Mrs. Mattinson, which, with its comfortable buildings, constitutes one of the most desirable homes of Harmony Township. It lies five miles east of Springfield and forms a pleasant resort for the many friends whom Mr. Kirkham and his estimable wife have drawn around them since their sojourn in that vicinity. ROSS MITCHELL. Probably in the career of no man in the city of Springfield has there been more forcibly illustrated the results of perseverance, industry and resolution than in that of Mr. Mitchell, whose portrait appears on the opposite page. He now occupies the position of a retired manufacturer, a capitalist and an extensive owner of real estate. His battle with the world commenced when he was a lad of twelve years as, by the death of his father he became the main dependence of his widowed mother and her four children. The first $78 which he earned was lost through the breaking of a bank, but this instead of discouraging him, only incited him to more determined effort, and be still pursued the habits of industry and frugality which enabled him in due time to place another sum at interest, until, in company with his brother James, he had the snug amount of $1,500. From that modest nest-egg he accumulated the fortune which he now enjoys. He bears the reputation of a benevolent and public-spirited citizen—one who never turns a deaf ear to the call of distress and who is always willing to assist those less fortunate than himself. The native place of Mr. Mitchell was Landisburg, Perry County, Pa., and the date of his birth November 14, 1824. His father, James Blaine Mitchell, was a native of Carlisle, Cumberland County. Pa., and at an early age he learned the trade of a carpenter and builder. He followed this in his native State, for a few years, then in May, 1836, removed to Dayton. this State, where he so journed two years, then removed to Woodbury Mills, on Mad River, renting the mills which he operated until 1840. That year he removed to Midway, but in 1849, he changed his residence to the vicinity of Hertzler's Mills and died that same year. The wife and mother survived her husband only about twelve months. Their family consisted of eight children, only three of whom lived to mature years and of whom Ross is the eldest and the only survivor. James W. died in the fifty-sixth year of his age and a sister, Margaret, died in the thirty-fourth year of her age. The paternal grandfather of our subject was one of the substantial farmers of Cumberland County, Pa., where he passed his entire life. He was a man of strong character and prided himself upon his Scotch-Irish ancestry. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Cynthia Gowdy. She was born in Perry County, Pa., and departed this life at Hertzler's Mills. Mr. Mitchell was a lad eleven years old when he came to Ohio with his parents and on account of the death of his father was only able to attend school probably not to exceed one hundred and fifty days in all his life. He was determined, however, to gain all the knowledge he could and studied his book by the uncertain light of the fire-place, using cooper shavings and hickory bark to assist him in deciphering the lines, and in this way read all the books in the New Carlisle Library. His days were employed, while his father lived, in assisting the latter in the sawmills, in the operation of which he became quite an expert. After his father's death he secured the position of clerk in a country store and in the absence of a customer made himself useful at the sawmill near by. Mr. Mitchell continued with his employer until the latter sold his stock of goods and mills and accompanied him when he removed to Springfield. He then took charge of the books and the distillery business, being thus occupied probably eight months. In the fall of 1854, he accepted a position as assistant book-keeper with the firm of Warder, Brokaw & Childs, manufacturer of reapers, mowers and farm implements at Lagonda. The following year he became head book-keeper of the concern, a position which he occupied until 1865. Then, still on the advance, he was admitted to a 584 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. partnership in the business, Mr. Childs having retired, and the firm became Warder, Mitchell & Co. The following year the above mentioned company admitted Gen. A. S. Bushnell to a partnership in the business, but the style of the firm remained unchanged, continuing as before until 1881, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Mitchell disposing of his interests to the firm which then became Warder, Bushnell & Glessner, whose main office is now in the city of Chicago, where they occupy a handsome building in the business portion of the city. Mr. Mitchell at that time was suffer-eying considerable from ill health. After a season of rest and recreation Mr. Mitchell began dealing in real estate and later commenced the manufacture of linseed oil in company with Messrs. Welsh & Dodson, and they subsequently sold their interest in the business to the National Linseed Oil Company. Prior to this time he had become interested in the Springfield Metallic casket Company, of which he is Director and one of the principal stockholders. He is similarly connected with the Mast Manufacturing Company, and is a Director and stockholder of the Philip Wiseman Hardware Company, and he is also a stockholder and Director of the Gas Light and Coke Company, likewise a stockholder in the Kanopolis Land Company, of Ellsworth County, Kan. He is a stockholder and Director in the Royal Salt Company of Kanopolis, a stockholder and Director in the First National Bank at Springfield, a stockholder and President of the Citizens' Street Railway Company and a stockholder and Director of the Firemans' Insurance Company of Dayton. In politics Mr. Mitchell is conservative, leaning toward the Republican party. He was for two years a member of the City Council, representing the Eighth Ward. In religion he is a Lutheran and one of the Elders of the Second Lutheran Church of Springfield. He put up in 1882-83 the Mitchell Block at the corner of High and Limestone Streets, which is one of the handsomest structures in the city, five stories in height, the lower part being used for stores and the floors above for offices. He is also the owner of six good farms in Clark County, besides a farm near Urbana of three hundred and ninety-seven acres, with a total of twenty- five hundred and ninety-four acres, besides fifteen sections of land in Central Kansas. The family residence stands in the midst of handsome grounds partially surrounded by native trees and evergreens and is located on a rise of ground commanding a fine view of the surrounding country. Mr. Mitchell was first married October 7, 1852, to Miss Catherine Ann, daughter of Casper and Susan (Wirt) Miller. Mrs. Mitchell was born February 20, 1827, in Dauphin County, Pa., and died September 12, 1878, at her home in Springfield. There was born of this union five daughters, of whom the eldest and youngest died at the ages of fourteen years and eight months respectively. Mrs. Mitchell was a lady greatly beloved by her family and friends and occupied a high position in the social circles. She was possessed of great good sense and modesty, an amiable disposition and more than ordinary intelligence. Effie J., the eldest daughter living, is the wife of Prof. E. L. Shelley, of Dayton; Fanny married the Rev. G. P. Raup, a prominent business man of Moorefield Township, and now managing the farms of Mr. Mitchell; Anna Mary is the wife of the Rev. S. E. Greenawalt, who has charge of a congregation at Osborn, this State. The present wife of Mr. Mitchell, to whom he was married in 1881, was formerly Miss Sarah„ daughter of the Rev. Ezra Keller, the founder of Wittenberg College and its first President. No children have been born of this union. Mrs. Sarah Mitchell was born September 16, 1645, in Maryland. Her mother bore the maiden name of Caroline Routzahn, and her parents are now both deceased. Mr. Mitchell, a few years since, became totally blind from a cataract, but had a successful operation performed which restored his sight. SAMUEL S. MILLER. This gentleman is one of those who, born in Clark County in an early day, have grown to maturity amid pioneer surroundings, and in boyhood and youth taken such a part as their advancing strength would allow in the work of development PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM - 585 which was going on around them. In looking back upon the labors and privations by which the wilderness was made to blossom as the rose, we should not forget that to the class represented by our su bject scarcely less gratitude is due than to their progenitors, the pioneers of the country. Mr. Miller is a man of intelligence, well posted regarding events which are transpiring in various parts of the world, and the improvements which are being made in various departments of labor. In 1887 he published a pamphlet entitled "Early Settlers and Early Times on Donnel's Creek," an interesting volume which shows much care in its compilation. Mr. Miller is of German lineage, his grandfather, Frederick Miller, having either been born in Germany or was the son of German parents. While a resident of Botetourt County, Va., in which he lived prior to 1818, he was a farmer. In that year he removed to Ohio, accompanied by his wife and seven children, the entire journey being made overland with teams. He located in Clark County, buying a tract of timber land in what is now Bethel Township, in which but little improvement had been made at that date, the county seat being but a small village. A cabin of round logs had been built on the land and a clearing of forty acres made, this being one of the largest clearings in the vicinity. His purchase was a quarter-section, for which he paid $1,000. For some time after the' removal of Frederick Miller to this county, wild game of various kinds abounded here, deer, wild turkeys and bears being especially numerous. In 1822 Mr. Miller breathed his last, and there being no cemeteries here, his remains were deposited on his own farm. The place has since been set apart as a burial ground, and is called Bethel Cemetery. The maiden name of Mrs. Miller was Elizabeth Peery. She was born either in Germany or Pennsylvania, and spent her last years on the home farm, dying in 1841. In the family of the couple above mentioned was a son, John. who was born in Augusta County, Va., in November, 1 7 9 8. He was twenty years old when he accompanied his parents to the Buckeye State, and here be resided with his father until the latter's death. He then bought the interest of the other heirs in the homestead and enlarged the farm by purchase, on which he continued to reside until called hence, in April, 1863, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. He married Miss Joanna Smith in 1824, who was born on her father's farm in the same township, December 27, 1806. She is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. She has reared eight children, named respectively: Harrison, Elizabeth, Samuel S., Milton J., Catherine, Charity, John Peery and Clinton. In the maternal line the subject of this sketch derives his descent from the Rev. Peter Smith, who was born in Wales in 1753, and in early life came to America, settling in New Jersey, where he married Catherine Stout, whence he afterward removed to Georgia. In one of these States his son Samuel, grandfather of our subject, was born. Peter Smith practiced medicine and preached the Gospel, leaving his Southern home on account of his dislike to the institution of slavery. Turning his footsteps northward he located in Kentucky, the removal being made with pack-horses. Mrs. Smith had three small children, the youngest of whom she carried in her arms, the others (twins) traveling in baskets tied together and placed before her. After spending a short time in Kentucky they came into the Northwest Territory, in 1794-95, locating in Hamilton County. The records of the old Baptist Church at Duck Creek, Columbia Station, near Cincinnati, show that the Rev. Peter Smith and his wife Catherine united with that church by letter in 1795, and that the husband was ordained minister in 1801. In an account of the Centennial Celebration held June 21, 1890, of this the first Baptist Church in the Northwest Territory, the Cincinnati' Commercial-Gazette says, "In 1801, under Elder Peter Smith's preaching, a great revival came, and in a few months over one hundred and fifty members were added to the church." In 1805 they came to Clark County, and near the present site of Donnelsville bought nine hundred and sixty acres of land, which Mr. Smith afterward divided among his children. He was one of the early ministers of the county, and at his own home, where religious 586 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. meetings were frequently held, he organized a society of Christian believers. There he died in 1816, his remains being buried on his own farm, the place afterward becoming Donnelsville Cemetery. Samuel Smith married Elizabeth McCleave, a lady of Scotch-Irish descent and a native of the United States. He settled on the tract of land given him by his father, and followed farming there during his entire life. He died in 1856. The natal day of Samuel S. Miller was July 20, 1829, and his birthplace his father's farm in Bethel Township. In the early schools, which did not include instruction in the varied branches taught today, with a couple of terms at Wittenberg College, he received his education, and as soon as his strength would permit he began to assist his father on the farm. When seventeen years old he began teaching, his first term being in the home district, and the labor of a pedagogue was pursued by him several terms. He afterward turned his attention exclusively to farming, locating on a part of the homestead, which he subsequently sold, buying and building on the tract which he now occupies, near Springfield. On May 13, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Palmer, who has proved an efficient and loving helpmate, a devoted mother and a true Christian, for " lo, these many years." Mr. and Mrs. Miller have four children—Orion P.; Cyrus I., who married Mamie Judson: Bertha A. and Milton. Both parents belong to the Christian Church. Mr. Miller was formerly a Whig, but has been a Republican since the formation of the party. Mrs. Miller was born in Miami County, being a daughter of John and Margaret (Hance) Palmer. Her father was born in Bristol, England, September 19, 1791, and her grandfather, Robert Palmer, was also an Englishman. The latter came to America in 1807, accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth, and two children, and locating near Fishkill, N. Y., remained there two or three years. He then made an overland journey to Ohio, locating near Dayton, but after a short sojourn removing to Miami County, and settling in Lost Creek Township. He bought a tract of land, which was partially cleared, and upon which a log cabin stood, residing there until his death. The father of Mrs. Miller was sixteen years old when his parents brought him to America, and he resided with them until his marriage, in 1819. His wife was born in Kentucky March 11, 1800, and was a daughter of William and Margaret (Northcutt) Hance, who located on a farm in Lost Creek Township, Miami County, at which home William died in 1833, aged eighty-three, and Margaret in 1845, aged eighty-four years. John and Margaret Palmer inherited the farm of Robert Palmer, remaining there until 1857. They then sold, and until August, 1881, made their home at Troy. They then came to Springfield, residing with Mr. and Mrs. Miller curing the remainder of their lives. Mr. Palmer breathed his last December 11, 1882, aged ninety-one, his wife surviving until June, 1884, aged eighty-four. JAMES MOWATT. The only of Springfield has been built up like all other town of note by a class of energetic and progressive men and among them may be properly mentioned Mr. Mowatt, who owns and occupies a fine home pleasantly located on North Limestone Street. His financial and social standing are second to none in the community and he may be properly termed a self-made man—one who thrown at an early age upon his own resources, has made for himself a good record both as a business man and a citizen. By birth, parentage and ancestry, he is -a genuine Scotchman and first opened his eyes to the light June 17, 1820, in the town of Crossmichael, Kirkcudbrightshire, of which his father, George Mowatt, was also a native. His paternal grandfather, Alexander Mowatt, was born and reared in the same shire where he spent his entire life in agricultural pursuits. The maiden name of Grandmother Mowatt was Agnes Black, and both she and her husband were devout members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Their remains were laid side by side in the old churchyard at Crossmichael. George Mowatt, the father of our subject, was reared to farming pursuits and remained a resident PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM - 587 of his native Scotland until 1850. Then emigrating to America with his family he located in Springfield, this State, where he resided some years. Thence he removed to Xenia where he spent the closing years of his life. He was buried in Ferncliff Cemetery, at Springfield. His wife, the mother of our subject, bore the maiden name of Janet Miller. She was a native of the same shire as her husband and was a daughter of James and Mary (Clark) Miller; she died in 1856, in Springfield, Ohio. Her father and mother were buried in the churchyard at Lochrulton, near Dumfries, in their native county. She reared five sons, viz: James, our subject; Alexander, who died in Springfield in 1887; Matthew, who was one of the passengers lost with the steamer "Cambria" off the coast of Ireland ; George, who continues a resident of his native Scotland, and William, of Springfield. Mr. Mowatt, of whom we write, spent his early years in his native village acquiring a practical education in the common schools. When a youth of nineteen he left home, going to London, England, where he was employed as a clerk in the warehouse of Bowman & Mays two years. He then went to Ipswich where he had charge of a warehouse four years. Afterward he for sometime traveled quite extensively over England and finally accepted a situation as a fireman on the Cunard line of steamers, plying along the European coast. In 1855, he came to America and located in. Springfield, this State, occupying himself as a stonecutter with his brothers, Alexander and William, for six months. He then embarked in business as a contractor and lime-burner and soon bought a stone quarry on North Street which he operated and where he burned lime a number of years. He still operates quite extensively as a contractor. Mr. Mowatt was married in Springfield, October 23, 1855, to Miss Janet Gibson. There were born to them two daughters, one of whom, Janet, died in the twenty-third year of her age; Martha E. is the wife of John H. Wilson, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. Mrs. Mowatt, like her husband, is a native of Scotland and was born near Cumnock, Ayrshire. Her father, Alexander Gibson, was born at Burnside, in the same shire of which her paternal grandfather, James Gibson, was also a native and a life-long resident. Alexander Gibson, during his earlier years occupied himself as a shepherd. He spent his entire life in his native county and was buried in Sanquhar Church-yard in Dumfriesshire. His wife whose maiden name was Janet Thompson, who was born in Sanquhar and was the daughter of Robert and Janet (Johnson) Thompson, who were born and spent their entire life in Dumfries-shire. Mrs. Mowatt had two brothers, James and George. James died in youth when about sixteen or seventeen years old. George joined the English Army in London in 1857, and shortly afterward was ordered to India where he did service as an officer during the Indian mutiny, and was thus employed for twenty years, at that time he was retired on a pension and returned home; but the climate not being suitable to him after so many years in India he went to Australia and there died in 1887. He was man of very fine appearance and through bravery and other meritorious deeds had been presented with numerous costly medals. Mrs. Mowatt was but a child at the time of her father's death and went with her mother to the home of her maternal grandparents in Dumfriesshire, where her mother spent her last years. Mr. and Mrs. Mowatt are members of the First Presbyterian Church at Springfield and Mr. Mowatt, politically, supports the Republican party. SAMUEL A. ORT, President of Wittenberg College and Professor of Systematic Divinity and Mental Philosophy, is recognized as one of the leading educators of this country, a man admirably adapted to the duties of his responsible position. He comes of reliable Pennsylvania stock and was born in Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pa., November 11, 1843, being the younger of two brothers, the offspring of Samuel and Christina (Aurand) Ort. The parents of President Ort were likewise natives of the Keystone State, the father of Danish descent and the mother tracing her ancestry to France. The pater- 588 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. nal grandparents emigrated from Germany to America in the year 1770, and settled near Lewistown, Pa., where, in 1804, their son Samuel, was born. The latter upon reaching man's estate married a lady who like himself was very pious and who died when her son, Samuel Jr., was a lad of ten years. She had, however, already by her Christian example and training imbued her son with the spirit of her own piety and though he did not openly identify himself with the Church until approaching manhood, those early impressions became the underlying principles and motives of his after life. Almost from his infancy Samuel Ort had been consecrated to the service of the church,and shortly after the death of his mother he was sent by his father about ten miles from Lewistown to the seminary in the beautiful Kishacoquillas Valley, where he spent three years, chiefly in the study of the Latin and Greek languages. At the expiration of this time, coming to Ohio, he entered Wittenberg College, where he distinguished himself as a close student of literature and from which he was graduated in 1863 with the honors of his class. Subsequently he spent two years in the study of theology at the same institution and in the meantime had been employed as a tutor, in the preparatory department. In the year 1865, Prof. Ort received a call from the Lutheran Church at Findlay, this State, of which he was pastor from that time until 1868. The following year he was the teacher of Latin and Literature in Hagerstown, (Md.,) Female Seminary. In 1869, he returned to Wittenberg and the following year was elected Assistant Professor of Mathematics and taught rhetoric, English Literature and logic. The Chair of Belles Lettres and English Literature was proffered him but he did not accept. Subsequently he .was elected Professor of Mathematics. In the fall of 1874, he accepted a call from Louisville Mission, at Louisville, Ky., and once more, very much in opposition to the wishes of friends, left the college, entering upon his work there November 1. The erection of a church building was at once begun and from a small beginning the congregation increased in numbers until at the expiration of four years the membership, originally twenty-five, now aggregated three hun dred and fifty and the Sunday School had grown from forty pupils to the neighborhood of six hundred, becoming the largest in the city and continuing such. In Louisville, in 1875, Dr. Ort was joined in wedlock with Miss Anna Senteny. She is the daughter of Dr. W. W. Senteny, a noted physician of Louisville, Ky: There have been born to them seven children of whom two sons and four daughters are living. Dr. Ort was called to St. James Church,New York City,in 1879,and there as at other places where he had been the church received a new impetus. In the summer of 1880, he was elected to the Chair of Sacred Philology in Wittenberg College. Although he had entered upon a promising work in the great metropolis he was scarcely able to resist the call of his Alma Mater once more and accordingly accepted and entered upon the discharge of his duties as Professor of Theology in October following. In the spring of 1882 he was elected to the President's Chair. About this time the erection of a new college building was being agitated and in the canvassing of the city of Springfield which followed for the purpose of collecting funds, Dr. Ort in addition to his other duties took an active part. Notwithstanding the financial depression of that time, the work was successfully carried on until the necessary amount—$67,000—was raised. The building was completed and dedicated June 16, 1886, and stands as a monument to the perseverance and labors of President Ort,besides being the finest college building in the State. Dr. Ort, in 1884, was elected Professor of Systematic Theology and this entailed upon him still further duties and labors. Wittenberg College, however, is the child of his fostering care and he regards no efforts too great and no labors too irksome so long as he has strength mentally and physically to perform them. Each term in the history of the college gives ample indication that it is steadily advancing in everything pertaining to the best good of its pupils, numbers of which are graduated each year and go to take honorable positions in the world. For a period of six years, beginning with 1873, Dr. Ort officiated as Secretary of the General Assembly of the church. He preached a sermon at its PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM - 589 opening in Baltimore in 1875, also at Wooster, Ohio, in 1879, and was elected President of that body at Omaha, Neb., June 2, 1887: He was editor-in-chief of the Lutheran Evangelist published at Springfield from 1881 to 1885. In 1887, he delivered the first lecture in the Holman course before the theological students at Gettysburg, Pa. Dr. Ort possesses literary talents of a fine order and has been a deep thinker and a close Bible student. Noticeable among his productions are "The Doctrine of theResurrection ;" "Criticism ofTheistic Argument;" three articles on the "Ministerium ;" an address on the "True Idea of Brotherhood,"in pamphlet form ; "Jesus and the Scientist;" "Christ the Climax of Humanity," and others of equal importance and interest. As an instructor, Dr. Ort possesses in a marked degree the faculty of interesting his pupils and elucidating the great questions with which they have to deal in a manner which fastens it upon their memory. As an orator, he stands second to none in his particular field of labor and he possesses a bright originality of thought which exercises a charm over his hearers. Personally he is genial and companionable and has gathered around him hosts of friends, not only in educational circles, but in the entire community. He occupies with his family one of the pleasantest homes in the city of Springfield, this being located near the college and in all its surroundings indicating cultured tastes and the refinements of modern life. AUGUSTUS G. PRATT. There are few men in Clark County who have made a greater success of their agricultural labors than the subject of this sketch, who occupies one of the finest farms in Madison Township and owns a large amount of real estate. He was born in Milford Center, Union County, January 3, 1833, his father being a merchant of that town. Since the age of six years he has lived on a farm, with the exception of a few years spent in Springfield, to which place he went in 1850, to work in his uncle's store. During the college year of 1852-53 he went to Wittenberg College for a finishing course of education. In 1854 he took to himself a wife and began housekeeping on the farm upon which his father had died. There he remained about two years when he removed to his present location. The home estate comprises three hundred and forty acres of fine land which is devoted to general farming and in every part gives proof of the intelligent manner in which it has been conducted. It bears ex-. cellent improvements of the most complete kind and in every respect is a home of comfort and prosperity. During the late war Mr. Pratt was a member of the celebrated "squirrel hunters" and also of the National Guards of the State. He saw something of campaign life in repelling the raid of the rebel Gen. John Morgan. His political adherence has been given to the Republican party since the organization of that body. He has been useful in his day and generation, not only in setting an example of persistent industry and good citizenship, but in serving his fellow-men in local affairs. For eleven years he Las been Township Trustee and for twenty-one years he has held the office of School Director. His continuation in these positions year after year is a sufficient proof of . his able efforts to advance the cause of education and build up the material prosperity of the township, and of the appreciation of his merits which is felt by those about him. Mrs. Pratt is a respected member of the Presbyterian Church, as the family was before her. The lady who for a number of years has held a place at the head of Mr. Pratt's household, was known in her girlhood as Mary C. Clark. She became the wife of our subject April 27, 1854, and since that time has been his most cherished companion, highly valued for her fine character which endears her to many beyond the family circle. She is the daughter of John D. and Susannah (Foley) Clark, who became man and wife December 24, 1823. John Clark was a native of Hampshire County, Va., but of English descent and came to the vicinity of Springfield when but a bog, accompanying his parents, James and Martha (Davis) Clark. His wife was a daughter of James and Mary (Marsh) Foley and in the maternal line was of Welsh extraction. James Foley was Captain of a 590 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. light horse company and served in the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are the happy parents of eight children whose record we subjoin. Charles E. is a resident of Chicago, working in the stock yards; he has a wife and four children—Mabel. Edna, John A. and Harry C. A. Irene, is the wife of Ed. Gilroy, of Darlington, I. T., where he is Indian agent. John Clark is farming on the old homestead where our subject owns five hundred and fifty- three acres of land; he is married and has one son—Wyatt C. Ida F. married Frank M. Murray of South Charleston, a son of Cyrus Murray, and a farmer. Josie is the wife of Edward Flynn, editor of the South Charleston Sentinel. Norma E., a miss at home, is devoting herself to the study of shorthand. Anna Blanche and Mabel E. complete the family circle. The first of the Pratt family to take up their abode in this vicinity was Elijah Pratt, the first physician in the township, who came hither from the Empire State in 1816. It was under his tuition that the aged Dr. Houston studied his profession. He owned the land just west of the village of South. Charleston and a large tract of other land in the neighborhood. The mortal remains of himself and wife were deposited on a lot back of where John Murray now lives. His wife was a Miss Martha Woodruff, who bore him five children, all being born in the Empire 'State. They were: Hannibal, Fletcher W., Elwell, Anna and Martha. The second son married a Miss Lightfoot and reared a family of eleven children; Martha spent her life in single blessedness; Anna died in childhood. Hannibal Pratt was the hero of a runaway match, his companion in the elopement being Miss Charlotte Murray. There being some opposition to their union, they went on horseback to the residence of Squire Whitely, which was about half way between South Charleston and Springfield and routing the official from his bed persuaded him to tie the knot which made them one. At that time Mr. Pratt was keeping store at Fairfield. Some time after their union Mr.. and Mrs. Hannibal Pratt removed to Milford Center, where they remained until after the birth of their three children. They then took up their abode on a farm in Darby Plains, Madison County, where the husband and father died of typhus fever in 1836, having been ill but eleven days. The widow with her children removed to Charleston, but in 1843, moved onto her farm which is a part of the place upon which our subject now lives. Here she lived until 1863, when she was stricken with typhoid fever and died at the age of sixty-four years. She was the daughter of Mongo and Catherine Murray, and a native of Scotland, where her father was a blacksmith to the Duke of Arthel. When she was but an infant her parents came to America, and she learned to walk on shipboard, their voyage occupying many weeks. Her children are Amanda J., who is unmarried; Marilla A., who was married but has no children; and he who is the subject of this sketch. DAVID S. HARNER, of Xenia Township, presents another instance of a native-born citizen of this county who has considered its soil sufficiently good for him to remain upon, and who has reflected credit upon himself for what he has accomplished in life. He was born June 27, 1840, in Beaver Creek Township, where he spent his early life upon his father's farm learning the arts of agriculture and acquiring a practical education in the common schools. After his marriage he settled in Xenia Township of which he has since been a resident. His property includes one hundred and seventy-five acres of well-tilled land with good improvements and where have been expended much time and labor to excellent purpose. In addition to being a thorough master of his calling as an agriculturist Mr. 'Hamer possesses inventive genius of no mean order. Among the contrivances which he has perfected, is a machine for marking corn ground. He has in process of construction a. machine for cutting and shocking corn by horse power and he has.invented various attachments for the reaper and mower which are gradually coming into practical use. He thus employs considerable of his spare time and from the PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM - 593 nature of his inventions it would be natural to suppose that he will in the near future be able to realize something substantial therefrom. Mr. Hamer was married in Beaver Creek Township, this county, October 23,1865, to Mrs. Lavina (Wall) Koogler. This lady was the widow of Jacob Koogler who died of disease contracted in the army during the late Civil War. Her daughter, Anna, by her first marriage, is now living in Xenia. Mrs. Hamer, like her husband, is a native. of Beaver Creek Township and was born. December 5, 1842. Of her union with our subject there are four children, Casper B., Mary L., Emma and Frank E. Mr. Earner votes the straight Republican ticket while he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Reformed Church. The parents of our subject were Daniel and Anna (Snyder) Hamer, the former of whom is still living and a resident of Beaver Creek. The mother died about 1878. Their family consisted of four children. JOHN LUTZ. The industrial interests of Xenia are worthily represented by this reliable and substantial citizen, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, and who for more than thirty years has successfully carried on blacksmithing and wagonmaking, and is now financially well-to-do. His shops are located on West Main Street, upon the ground where he began business in the spring of 1859. In 1872 he added a commodious brick building, and has always given employment to a goodly number of men. He is thus one of the old landmarks, and his industry and perseverance have reared for him a monument which will endure long after he has been gathered to his fathers. A native of Washington County, Md., the subject of this notice was born January 5, 1829, near Clear Spring, and lived with his parents until he was twenty-three years old, acquiring a limited education in the common school, and being trained to those habits of industry and frugality which have served him so well in later life. At an early age he commenced learning the trade of a blacksmith, and remained a resident of his native State until a young man of twenty-three years. Then, in November, 1853, coming to Ohio, he located in Xenia, and for fourteen months was in the employ of James White. He had, however, left behind him, in Maryland, a maiden to'whom he was betrothed and to whom he now returned and was married. The following spring he came back to Xenia accompanied by his father and they estab. tablished themselves in business on Church Street, where he conducted his trade as a blacksmith four years. In the spring of 1859 our subject purchased the wagon works of one of the early settlers and, with the exception of the first year, he has conducted the business alone. After the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Lutz matched the conflict closely until the early part of 1864, hoping that there might be a settlement of difficulties between the North and South without his interference. In May of that year, however, he resolved to not wait any longer and accordingly arranged his business affairs as well as he could, and proffered his services as a Union soldier to Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, going with his regiment to New Creek, Va. He fought at the battle of. New Creek, which was his only experience of a hand to hand conflict with the enemy, as the war was nearing its close, but he had ample taste of the hardships and privations incident to a soldier's life. After the surrender of Lee he received his honorable discharge at Camp Denison, Ohio, and in due time returned to the peaceful pursuits of civil life. The marriage of John Lutz and Miss Sevilla Wolford was celebrated at the bride's home. in Maryland, in March, 1855, and the young people began the journey of life together in the city which has since been their home. There have been born to them six children, of whom the following are living: John E., Laura B. now the wife of "John F. Sanders; Cora E. and Ida S., Mrs. George. Sinz. Mr. Lutz belongs to the Reformed Church, and is a member- in good standing of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The Lutz family is supposed to be of German ancestry. Henry Lutz, the father of our subject. 594 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. was a native of Lancaster County, Pa., born neat Millersburg, in 1802. His wife, Frances Moudy, was a native of Williamsport, Md. Their family consisted of two sons and three daughters. but only two of the children grew to mature years: John, our subject, and his sister, Mary C., who is the wife of B. Y. Berry, a resident of Xenia, Ohio. In 1859 Henry Lutz removed to Indiana and settled on a farm near Ft. Wayne. He lived there ten years, then returned to Xenia, where his death took place in 1877. The mother died the following year. The paternal grandfather, Nicholas Lutz, spent his last years in Pennsylvania; his father came directly from the Fatherland.L LAFAYETE RUNYAN. Harmony Township, Clark County,has been settled by a class of men more than ordinarily enterprising and intelligent, and among these the subject of this notice holds no secondary position. He has for many years been operating successfully as a farmer and stock-raiser, and while pursuing a career which reflects great credit upon himself, has contributed largely to the growth and development of the country around him. The enterprise and industry of one man operates as a stimulus to those around him, who insensibly emulate his example, and like the pebble dropped into the pool, the circle of his influence is thus largely felt and seen. Mr. Runyan was born near the town of Center, Pleasant Township, Clark County, April 21, 1848, and is the son of one of its representative men, Peter L. Runyan, who with his wife, Jane Wright, was also a native of Pleasant Township. The father of our subject died March 24, 1876, at the age of sixty-two years. He had been four times married. By his first wife, also a Miss Wright, he became the father of one child, Lemuel, who is now a resident of Champaign County, this State:- His second wife, Jane, became the mother of two children, Lafayette, our subject, and a daughter, Susannah. His third wife was Sarah Page, and she died without children. By his fourth wife, Elizabeth Renshaw, Mr. Runyan became the father of four sons—William, U. S. Grant, George and Charles. The fourth wife is still living, making her home in Catawba, this county. Mr. Runyan and all his wives were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father of our subject was a self-made man in the strictest sense of the word. Setting out with no capital but his own resources, he accumulated a good property, leaving two hundred acres of fine farming land which, with its improvements, constituted a valuable estate. His parents were George and Susannah Runyan, who were natives of Virginia. In 1812, after their marriage, they settled on a farm in Pleasant Township, where the grandfather effected many improvements, and became prominent in his community. Both he and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They made the journey from Virginia on horseback, bringing with them their first-born. That same year Grandfather Runyan was drafted and furnished a substitute for the War of 1812. He became the father of the following children, viz: John, Peter L. and Susan, who married Nathan Martin. All were married and had familes, but all are now deceased. Grandfather Runyan and his wife died at their homestead in Pleasant Township. The subject of this notice spent his boyhood and youth in a manner common to the sons of pioneer farmers, growing up healthy in mind and body, and when twenty years old began farming on his own account at the old homestead. On the 14th January, 1875, he was united in wedlock with Miss Louisa, daughter of Jerry and Jane (Hodge) Teazel. Not long afterward he removed to a farm of one hundred and eight acres, which he had purchased in Champaign County. Remaining there until 1882, he then removed to his present farm in Harmony Township, this comprising two hundred and thirty-eight acres in the northwest corner. Mr. and Mrs. Runyan are now the parents of four children—Nora Myrtle, Lester, Carrie Anna and Ralph M. Mrs. Jane (Wright) Runyan, the mother of our subject, was a daughter of John and Ruhama (Matthews) Wright who were natives respectively of Jefferson County, Va., and Gettysburg, Pa. PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM - 595 John Wright was twice married. His first wife was •Elizabeth Snyder, who bore him seven children, two of whom died in Virginia; the survivors were named respectively : Samuel, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Jane and Ellen. These all lived to mature years. Mr. Wright and his children removed to Clark County, this State, in 1835, and located in Pleasant Township, where he improved one hundred and fifty acres of land. He' was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died November 28, 1866. •He was the son of John Wright, whose family consisted of four children—John, Samuel, Elizabeth and William. His wife, Ruhama, died October 16, 1866, a few weeks prior to the decease of her husband. She was born in Pennsylvania., and by her union with Mr. Wright became the mother of three children—William E John W. and Silas J. LORENZO R. ST. JOHN. Among the pros Sperous farmers of Greene County may be properly mentioned Mr. St. John, who has a finely located body of land, one-half mile south of the city. He is a native of' this county, and was born in Cesar Creek Township, August 8, 1851. To this region at an early day came his parents, Daniel W. and Eliza (Bone) St. John, who were likewise natives of this State, and both born near New Lebanon. There also they were reared and married, and soon after settled upon a one hundred-acre farm in Caesar Creek Township. About 1863 the parents of Mr. St. John changed their residence to the place where he now resides, and which lies on the Wilmington Prke. There they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in January, 1873, and the mother in April, 1874. Both were leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Daniel St. John had officiated as a Class-Leader for many years. They were the parents of the following children, the eldest of whom, Cyrus B., resides near .Albany, Jay County, Ind.; Joseph M. died after attaining to manhood; John Washington is a resident of this county; William Harrison, deceased; Daniel Morgan resides in this county; Sarah is the widow of James McNair, of Dunkirk, Ind; Jeniah F. is in this county; Eva J. is the wife of Frank Peterson, of Kansas; Isaac W. is a resident of Dunkirk, Ind.; and Lorenzo R., our subject. The father, in early manhood, was a Whig and later identified himself with the Republican party. Mr. St. John has resided upon his present farm since he was a lad of thirteen years. 'The associa¬tions connected with it naturally make it far more valuable to him than any amount of money he could name. It is one hundred and thirty-seven acres in extent, embellished with substantial buildings and is the source of a comfortable income. He brought a bride to the old roof-tree in 1873, being married May 28, that year, to Miss Alice M. Smith. This lady was born May 6, 1855, in Greene County, and is the daughter of Daniel and Lucinda (Sparr) Smith, the father being now deceased. Of this union there was born one child only, Myrtie L. Mr. St. John, politically, is a Republican, and both he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ex-Governor St. John, of Kansas, was one of the offshoots of this branch of the St. John family. HENRY H. CONKLIN. This name is familiarly known to the citizens of New Jasper Township, Greene County, as representing one of its most liberal and public-spirited men. He is prominent in all the enterprises tendiug to the moral advancement of the people around him, and who have shown him their confidence and esteem in many ways. For a time he was a member of the County Board of Commissioners, and has held various other positions of trust and responsibility. At the present time he gives his attention chiefly to farming pursuits, having two hundred and one acres of well-developed land, which, with its buildings and other appurtenances, contitutes one of the most desirable homes in this county. Mr. Conklin deals considerably in live stock, and has been uniformly successful. 596 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. Mr. Conklin was born in the town of Lumberton, Clinton County, this State, on the 16th of December, 1844, and is thus in the prime of life. He is the offspring of an excellent family, being the son of Harvey F. and Hannah (Noland) Conklin, who were natives respectively of New York and Virginia. They were married in Ohio, and were among the early residents of Clinton County, whence they removed to this county, where the father followed farming and blacksmithing combined. He died at Lumberton about 1882, but the mother died in this county in 1888. The pa rental household consisted of nine children, eight of whom are living. Henry H. is the fourth in order of birth. He was quite young when the family came to this county, of which he has been nearly a life long resident. He acquired his education in the common schools, and remained under the home roof until reaching his majority. Soon afterward, August 23, 1866, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary J. Hook, at the bride's home in Xenia Township. This lady was born December 6, 1848, in Xenia Township, and is a daughter of Charles and Clarinda (Johnson) Hook, who were natives of this county, and whose family consisted of three children, Miss Mary being the second born. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin, after their marriage, settled on a farm in the vicinity of Xenia, where they sojourned until removing to that which they now own and occupy. There have been born to them six children, the eldest being Cora E., who is the wife of James Albert Bales, and lives in New Jasper; Clyde, Laura (2., Hattie P. and Hannah M. are at home with their parents. One child died in infancy. Mr. Conklin was elected County Commissioner in the fall of 1883, and served six consecutive years. He has held some of the school offices, and takes quite an active part in politics, giving his support to the Republican party. He has always been interested in educational matters, and with' his estimable wife is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which they contribute a liberal support. During the progress of the Civil War Mr. Conklin enlisted in the Union Army, in March, 1863, and was occupied as a teamster a month, then on account of illness was obliged to accept his discharge. The following year, in April, he re-enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, with the one hundred days' men. He participated in the engagement at New Creek, W. Va., but aside from this saw no active service. ANIEL RODGERS. This sturdy veteran who is approaching the seventy. sixth year of his age, is known throughout the length and breadth of Greene County where he has spent his entire life. Here he was born and reared, first opening his eyes to the light July 18, 1814, at the old homestead of his parents near Bellbrook, Sugar Creek Township. His father, William Rodgers, a native of Rockbridge County, Va., was born in 1784 and when a youth of eighteen years came alone to this county and in due time built a mill near Bellbrook on the Little Miami River. This was the first structure of the kind in that vicinity and he operated it successfully for many years. He married Miss Rebecca Lewis in 1809. She was a native of North Carolina and came to this region with her parents, about 1806. After operating the mill above spoken of eleven years, William Rodgers resumed the trade of a gunsmith which he had learned in his native county. There were born to him and his estimable wife three children, a daughter and two sons. The daughter, Margaret, was born February 7, 1810, and died February 27, 1847, aged thirty-seven years. (The strange feature in the birth, death, and age of this lady is that all the dates and ages end with the digit 7). Lewis died in Xenia in 1856; Aniel, our subject, was the youngest born. The parents were members of the Associate Church in which the paternal grandfather of our subject officiated as a minister many years, in Rockbridge County, Va., at Timber Ridge Meeting House. Aniel Rodgers came to Xenia in 1830 to serve an apprenticeship at bricklaying with his uncle, Daniel Lewis. He served out his time and in 1835 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM - 597 commenced as a journeyman, working two years and then began operating as a builder and contractor. Many of the fine buildings standing in the city of Xenia to-day give evidence of his skill and handiwork. He was thus: occupied for over half a century, only retiring a few years ago. Mr. Rodgers was first married in Montgomery County to Miss Cynthia Popenoe and there were born to them five children, all of whom are deceased with the exception of one daughter, Jane, unmarried. His second wife was Miss Sarah C. Stilson and they were married in Oriskany Falls, N. Y., March 16, 1858. This lady was born in Woodbury, Conn., February 13, 1822, and is the daughter of Asahel Stilson who emigrated to Oneida County, N. Y., where Sarah L. lived under the parental roof until her marriage. Mr. Rodgers has occupied many positions of trust and. responsibility since attaining to manhood's years. He was for twenty-one years a Director in the County Infirmary and is at present a Director on the Board of the County Work House. His career has been signalized by great energy and industry and he has uniformly lent his moral aid to the cause of temperance and all the enterprises which tend to elevate the people. He has ever been distinguished as a man of-sound sense and good judgment—one whose opinions are ever held in respect. He identified himself with the Masonic fraternity early in life and enjoys the honor of being the oldest Mason in Greene County, having joined the fraternity here in 1846. He has held all the offices of his lodge and has attained to the Royal Arch degree. Mr. Rodgers cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. William Henry Harrison and voted for John C. Fremont in 1856. He was promptly on hand at the polls to cast his ballot for the grandson of Old Tippecanoe in 1888. James W. H. Rodgers, the eldest son of our subject, was like his father born and reared in the city of Xenia, and married Miss Imogene Hyde, whose birthplace was near Sandusky, Ohio. To them there were born four children, three of whom died young. The survivor is a daughter, Sally B., a resident of Toledo. This son was the business partner of his father until 1877, when he was stricken down by death at the early age of thirty- two years. Miss Elizabeth Rodgers became the wife of David Voorhes of Centerville, Montgomery County, and died in 1883, leaving a family of nine children, seven of whom are living, viz.: Lucy, Charles, Joseph, Luther, Hazard, Edgar and Arthur. They are all residents of this county. The deceased are Nellie, who died young and an infant who died unnamed. The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Rodgers, a native of Scotland and born in 1745. He came to the United States as a missionary for the Associate Church in 1770 and settled in Pennsylvania. He was married in his native land to Miss Irene Russell. He spent his entire life after coming to this country in the Master's service, being pastor of the Timber Ridge Church in Rock-bridge County, where he spent his last days. He was the father of seven sons whose united height aggregated over forty-two feet and their weight fourteen hundred pounds. Three of them came West and one settled in Monmouth, Ill., one near Niles, Mich., and another in Gallipolis, this State. Asahel Stilson was born in Connecticut and was there married to Miss Hannah Hull, of Oxford. He followed farming and dealt quite extensively in live stock. He emigrated to New York State about 1830. His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church while Grandfather Stilson was an Episcopalian in religious belief. ROBERT R. KNOWLES. As one of the prominent business men of Xenia and a citizen held in high esteem, Mr. Knowles is worthy of special mention. He was educated in the profession of law, but is now proprietor of the Pioneer drugstore, which is located at No. 33 East Main Street. He has been a resident of this county since 1880, and has made for himself a good record in the line of trade, and as a member of the community. Mr. Knowles is a native of the Buckeye State, having been born at Williamsport Station, Deer Creek Township, Pickaway County, March 14, 1855. His father, Robert Knowles, a native of 598 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. Sussex County, Del., came on horseback to Ohio when a youth of nineteen years, and for a time was engaged in buying horses for the East. 11e finally decided to turn his attention to farming, and purchased, at $7 per acre, a tract of timber land in Deer Creek Township. The following year, at the age of twenty, he was married to Miss Emeline Rector, of Pickaway County. The bride was a maiden of fifteen years, and they became acquainted while attending a country school, and she pursued her studies thereat after her marriage. The young couple in due time settled in a log cabin on their land, but subsequently removed to another farm, upon which they made their home for a period of twenty-three years. They finally removed to Ft. Scott, Kan., but in 1875 returned to Picka way County, Ohio, whence later they went hack to Kansas and settled in Eldorado, where the father engaged in stock-raising and where they still live. The elder Knowles from the time of his majority until 1860, affiliated with the Democratic patty, then wheeled into the Republican ranks, where he remained until 1872. At that time his warm interest in the temperance movement led him to identify himself with the Prohibitionists, and he now gives his support to this party. He and his estimable wife are members in good standing Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Knowles formerly officiated as Class-Leader, and was a chief pillar. . The nine children born to them are all living, presenting an interesting family group unbroken as yet by the destroying hand of death. The subject of this notice remained a member of the parental household until 1875, acquiring his education in Ft. Scott, Kan., and Xenia, Ohio. For two years he taught school in his native county, and later attended the Normal School at Xenia. After the removal of the family to Kansas he studied law at Eldorado, and was admitted to the bar at Wichita in June, 1880. In Xenia he afterward read law with Messrs. Nesbitt & Martin, and after passing a thorough examination in the Supreme Court at Columbus, was admitted to practice in the courts of Ohio, which he followed in Xenia for two years. Later he was awarded the contract of compiling the index of land records of Greene County, at which he was occupied four years, completing, in 1887, a fine set of Indices. After this he engaged in the drug business, and this being really more congenial to his tastes, he purchased, in July following, his present business, in which he has built up an extensive and lucrative trade. He is a sound Republican, politically, and for two years was Chairman of the Republican Central Committee and a member of the Executive Committee. Otherwise he has held aloof from the responsibilities of office. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of the Chapter, and he is also identified with the Red Men. In his religious views he coincides with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he is connected in Xenia. The subject of this notice was united in wedlock with Miss Mary J. Stevenson, May 13, 1880. This lady was born in Xenia Township June 20, 1858, and is the daughter of James S. and Jane (Knox) Stevenson, who are numbered among the pioneer settlers of Greene County. The mother is now deceased and the father resides in Greene County. The three children born to guy subject and his wife were named respectively: James Robert, lichen and Lester. They form a bright and interesting trio, and are being trained and educated in a manner suitable to their position in life. The family residence is pleasantly located at No. 332, East Market Street, of the city, and Mr. and Mrs. Knowles occupy a good position among the best social elements of Xenia and vicinity.J JAMES HARBISON. A beautiful and well-improved farm comprising one hundred and fifty-six acres in Cedarville and Miami Townships, Greene County, is the home of the gentleman above named, who has since his thirteenth year been a resident of this State. He was born in Chester District; S. C. near the Catawba River, and with his parents left his native State October 9, 1826, for a home north of the Ohio River. Their journey was made in a covered wagon and six weeks were consumed on the road, PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM - 599 their arrival at their destination being on November 26. Settlement was made on Clark's Run in Miami Township, where Robert B. Harbison now lives, and where the parents of our subject spent the remainder of their lives. The paternal grandparents of our subject were James and Elizabeth (McElroy) Harbison, the latter of whom was a native of Virginia and the former of Ireland, and of Scotch descent. After their marriage they made their home in South Carolina, where both died. There their son John was born during the Revolution,February 27, 1782, his death taking place just after the opening. of the Civil War, in April, 1861. His wife was Jane, daughter of James Bigham, who emigrated from Ireland to the United States and died in North Carolina. Mrs. John Harbison survived her husband's death two years. The subject of this sketch now has a Bible. in which the family record is kept, the volume being one hundred and thirty-two years old, printed in Old English and having been brought from Ireland by his grandfather. The youth and early manhood of James Harbi son were passed at the parental home in Miami Township. He was married to Mss Sarah Miller, who died leaving one child, who died a few days later. He Subsequently, in 1852, became the husband of Miss Margaret, daughter of John and Helen (Aird) King, her father being a son of Mark King of Jedbury, Scotland. When our subject and his wife began housekeeping they occupied his brother's house, and they then built a log cabin in the woods a short distance north of where they now live. In 1876, Mr. Harbison bought the piece of land ad joining his place of residence and erected a fine large frame house, facing the Clifton ,and Xenia Pike. Here he has since made his home, thoroughly cultivating the fine land which he owns, securing a comfortable maintenance for his family, and living an upright and .useful life in the midst of his fellowmen. The farm is now carried on by his only child, John A. Harbison, and the parents are enjoying the rest which should follow industrious and well-spent lives. Mr. and Mrs. Harbison having but one child, have reared an orphan whom they took to their home when she was five years of age. Miss Maud Harbison, whose surname by birthright was Imboden, is now a young lady and is greatly loved by the family and respected by all who know her. The son of our subject married Miss Ella Reid, who died December 8, 1887, and after her death he returned to his father's home. His wife was a daughter of John and Hannah Reid and a cousin of Whitelaw Reid, whose name is so well known throughout our country, and whose fame as a journalist has extended to other lands. Her father lost his life during the Civil War. _Mr. and Mrs. Harbison are members of Dr. Morton's church, the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Although he was brought up to believe in the principles of Democracy, Mr. Harbison has been a Republican for the past thirty years. WILLIAM. L. HOUSTON occupies a prominent position among the farmers and stock-raisers of Pleasant Township,Clark County, his abundant means, large landed estate and personal character alike entitling him to the rank which he holds. The farm which he occupies com- prises seven hundred and fifty broad acres upon which all adequate improvements have been made, and many of the conveniences not always to be found in rural homes, are to be seen. Mr. Houston raises cattle, sheep and hogs. His present herd of cattle includes two hundred head, of hogs over four hundred head, and he usually keeps a flock of about fifteen hundred sheep. Before proceeding to give the main facts in the life history of Mr. Houston, it will not be amiss to devote a brief space to the family from which he is descended. His grandfather, Joseph Houston, who married a Miss Fisher, was one of the earliest settlers near Springfield. He improved about two hundred acres of land where he lived on Buck Creek. He and his wife died at South Charleston at an advanced age. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their children were Mary, William, Eliza, Vilaton, Nancy, Priscilla, Louisa J., Robert, Asbury, Maddox, James T. and Thomas F. Robert and James T. are physicians, the latter now living in Iowa; Maddox is a farmer.