BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


GREENVILLE TOWNSHIP.


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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 reelected 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.


MATTHEW T. ALLEN. 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 study 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 ;


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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 popularity, 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.


HENRY ALTER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 12 ; P. O. 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.


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.


JOHN ATEN, farmer ; P. O. 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 F., 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

 

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Lodge, at Alexandria, Sept. 25. 1850. and is now a member of the order of A., F. & _1. M. at Greenville.

 

J. B. AVERY, farmer, See. 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, 184S. 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 Towhship ; 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 rive 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.

 

ANDREW BAIRD. farmer and stock-raise:; P. O. 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.: Ltda. Ella M.. Franklin T., Cora D. and Kittie.

 

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.

 

CHARLES BACHMAN, tailor and clothier, No. SS 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 cam to Greenville,

 

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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 tarp and carefully selected. stock of seasonable goods and to his personal attention tc 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 Greenville, 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.

 

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., born 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 Henry 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 linty years. He died respected and beloved by all who knew him.

 

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. I.; 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 which Mr. Beanblossom now lives was erected by his father in 1820, and is now a good comfortable home.

 

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JOSEPH BEANBLOSSOM. farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Greenville ; another of the old settlers ; born in Darke Co.. Ohio, Feb. 7, 1826, 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 10, 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.

 

JACOB L. BEATTY, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. 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; 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 Stiller 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.

 

SAMUEL BECHTOLT, farmer ; P. O. Greenville ; born in Miami Co., Ohio. Jan. 111. 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 & Beehtolt. 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.

 

LEWIS BECKLER, farmer ; P. O. 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. 1860, was united in marriage with Elizabeth

 

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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.

 

CHARLES BILTEMIER, 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 Bohm 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.

 

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

 

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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,

 

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. 0. 0. F. and Masonic Orders for many years. and is held in respect and esteem by all who know him.

 

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 1553, 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.

 

JAMES J. BLEASE, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, No. 9

 

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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, landing 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 per- sonal 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 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 draying 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.

 

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 1844 : 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.

 

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,

 

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grandfather of Dr. Buchwalter, the line of genealogy cannot be traced with certainty. 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 him 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 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 chill—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 Cyclopedia, appears a biographical sketch of the Doctor, to which, through more recent information. we are enabled to add some additional facts and emendations.

 

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

 

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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.

 

JOSEPH BRYSON, farmer and stock-raiser ; resides on Sec. 9, Township 11, Greenville Township ; P. 0. 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 13. 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 farming 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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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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.

 

ANDREW ROBESON 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 O. 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.

 

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 (Broffett) 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

 

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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 1838, 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 Broffett, 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. I., 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.

 

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..

 

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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.

 

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 0. 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 in Quartermaster Sergeant, at Sister's Ferry, Ga., Feb. 1, 1865, and was mustered in on same day as First Lieutenant of Co. II, 69th O. 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, Effie A. Arnold, daughter of Noah Arnold, Esq.. of Jaysville. Darke Co. Has two children—Millie and James.

 

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

 

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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 the early 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 N., John C., Frank. Margaret E., Clatie F.. Angeline M., Jennie, Sherman, Walter and Arthur ; the deceased were Charles and Baxter, dying in infancy.

 

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, Duke 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.

 

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, 1372, 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.

 

WILLIAM COLE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 14 ; P. 0. 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. aid 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.

 

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

 

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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.

 

FRANK T. 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 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.

 

DAVID CRAIG. retired ; P. 0. 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 row 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.

 

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 covered 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

 

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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 " 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. Studahaker. 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.. Harry. 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.

 

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 Stouffer ; 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 O. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was in many severe engagements, among which was the battle of Perryville, 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 Goldsboro, 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.

 

JOSIAH B. DEETER, Sec. 4 ; farmer and manufacturer of all kinds and sizes of drain tile ; P. O. Woodington ; his factory is located one-fourth of a mile south of Woodington Station ; he may be considered one of our old settlers. being

 

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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.

 

AARON S. DENISE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 27 ; P. O. 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 parent: of ten children, of whom seven are now living ; they were among the early settlers of Darke Co., coining 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 O. 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 (lays. 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 O. 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.

 

JOHN G. DEUBNER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 13 ; P. O. 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

 

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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 15 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 Wilhelmina 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 ; Mary, June 11, 1876, and Amelia M., Dec. 3. 1878.

 

JOHN DEVOR, lawyer, Greenville. was born in Darke Co. in 1831. His grandfather, John Devor, was born 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 counts-, 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, 1855. His wife, Patience Dean, was a daughter of Aaron Dean, one of the early settlers of the county ; they were married March 1, 1828, and ten children were born 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 Spayd, 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, a 867, 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.

 

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,

 

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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.

 

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 Pikesville. 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, sonic 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.

 

JOHN DININGER, farmer and stock-raiser Sec. 32 ; P. O. 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

 

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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 8, 1812, and died Aug. 25, 1879.

 

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 liked ; 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.

 

LEWIS DININGER, farmer and stock-raiser, See. 6 ; P. 0. 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 born 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 are 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

WILLIAM EMRICK. farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Greenville ; born in

 

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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.

 

JAMES ESTY, retired farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Greenville : another of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in the provinces 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 Noy. 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 by 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 Greenawalt on Dee. 18, 1873 ; she was born in Greenville Jan. 5. 1847 ; they have one child—Eva May, born March 8, 1875.

 

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 Darker, 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 Henphon. March 14, 1878. Mr. F. is a live, energetic citizen of Greenville.

 

CHARLES FLETCHER, retired stonecutter. Greenville ; one of the old settlers of Darke Co. The subject of this memoir was born in Townsend, Windham Co.. Vt.. July 20, 1811. His grandfather. Samuel Fletcher. was one of the

 

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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 1874 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.

 

JAMES A. FLEMING, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. 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.

 

JESSE FOLRERTH (deceased). The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was one of the early pioneers of Darke Co. He was born in Montgomery

 

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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.

 

ISAAC FUNK, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 3 ; P. O. 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; were the descendants of Martin Funk, one of three brothers, who emigrate. 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 Dayton & 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 Aim 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

 

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now in business in Greenville : Allen. farming and teaching ; William P.. blacksmith, at North Star ; Ailed. Professor of the College at Red Cloud. Neb.

 

CALVIN P. FUNSTON. farmer ; P. 0. Greenville ; born in Clark Co.. Ohio. .Jan. 11, 1826 ; he obtained a common-school education, and assisted his father in farming 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.

 

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 ; Mary, March 11, 1850, and Stephen, Jan. 11, 1854.

 

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.

 

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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.

 

JOHN V. GORDON, manufacture, 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.

 

GREGG BROS.. druggists, Matchett's Block, Greenville. There is no department of business, in the mercantile line, wherein the public safety requires so thorough and practical a knowledge in carrying on the same, as in the selection and dispensing of drugs and medicines. We take pleasure in recommending the above firm as thoroughly familiar with the theoretical and practical requirements of safe dispensation of drugs and filling of prescriptions. Their stock is all new. having been bought during the present year, and selected with the greatest care and skill that long practice and knowledge alone can exercise. A card of their business will be found in the business directory of Greenville in another part of this work.

 

DAVID GRIFFIN. farmer. Sec. 34 ; P. O. Greenville ; another of the old settlers of Darke Co.. born in Butler Co., Ohio. 14, 1808 ; his grandfather was killed by the Indians. in Kentucky. at an early day ; his father, Francis Griffln. 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 Conover ; 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 fanning 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 year of his age. attends to the light duties and labors of his farm.

 

DANIEL GRUBS, grain-dealer. Greenville, flrm of Zimmerman & Grubs, ,rain 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 years 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.

 

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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.

 

JOHN GUNTRUM, farmer and brick manufacturer ; P. 0. 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 Mary E.. 1868 Flora and Laura (twins), 1872, and Hester in 1878.

 

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 18,79, 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.

 

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 six 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

 

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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 Fannie 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.

 

JACOB HALDERMAN, farmer ; P. O. Greenville. The subject of this memoir may be- classed among the self-made men of --Duke Co ; he was born in. Montgomery Co.. Ohio, Oct. 25, 1837 ; he was a son of John Haldeman, 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 1860. 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 ; Elnöra, 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—Rolly. 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 polities, 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.

 

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., Ill., 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.

 

WILLIAM SANFORD HARPER. the subject of this sketch, was born in

 

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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. Roll. 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. (leer 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, (laughter 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 their many friends.

 

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. Ara.. Aprli 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 E., all residing in Greenville.

 

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 fanning 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

 

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Ann. born Nov. 20. 1836 ; Charles Wesley and Edward Spencer (twins), born Sept. 1. 183T 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. Shop- 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.

 

GEORGE HARTZELL. farmer ; P. O. 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 te-perance—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. Fetters : 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. 1812), Henrietta and. Mamie. Mrs. Hartzell was a daughter of John Fetters. 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.

 

PHILIP S. HARTZELL. Sec. 12 P. O. 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 (luring 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.

 

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P. H. HARTZELL, teacher. Greenville ; is a son of Philip Hartzell, Sr,, native of Pennsylvania. who came to this county in the early pioneer (lays, am: 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 011ie, Forest Herbert, Cordie May and Alice Lanessa.

 

C. W. HARTZELL, farmer ; P. 0. Greenville.

 

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 1897, 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 a 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.

 

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 See, 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,

 

CLARK HENKLE, farmer, Sec, 16 ; P. 0. 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 Clarke 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 :

 

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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 Clarke Co,. Ohio,--July 4, 1837 ; they were the parents of three children—Cora M,, Willie Otho and Mary Elsie ; all died in infancy,

 

DANIEL HENNE, dealer in grain and seeds, Greenville. The subject of this sketch was born in Mindersback Oberamt Nagold Kinigreich, 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 ; coining 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 it 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,

 

D, S, HIME, firm of !Time & 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, Ile 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,

 

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, 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 B. 1855, died April 23. 1858 ; Ellen, born April 25. 1857, now Mrs, Wesley Slade. Neave Township ; Margaret. born March

 

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20, 1859, now Mrs. Charles Fletcher. of Miami Co,; Emma F,. 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 Stater ; 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 fanning for himself which business he followed in Hocking and Fairfield Cos, until April. 1864, 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.

 

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 180(1, 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,-

 

WILLIAM HUNTER, farmer and stock-raiser : P, 0, 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.. OM, 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 oung, making the journey on horseback. They were the parents of three sons and four 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 I,. Prudence 0., David D.: the deceased, Ada, died April 22. 1877,

 

DANIEL JAMISON, manufacturer of and dealer in brick ; P, 0. Greenville ; the subject of this memoir was born in Darke Co., Sept, 8: 1849, where he has since resided, and where he obtained a common-school education, and at the age of 21 commenced life for himself, and has since, by his own exertion, accumulated a liberal amount of means for a person of his age,

 

LEWIS E, JONES. Presbyterian minister, Sec, 4, The subject of this sketch was born in Cardiganshire. Great Britain, March 23, 1834 ; he was engaged in the manufacture of iron at Merthyr Tydvyl until 20 years of age, when he emigrated to America. landing in New York May 17, 1855: he received a good

 

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common-school education in Great Britain; his preparatory education being received at the Herron Seminary, at Cincinnati. he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University. at Delaware. Ohio. in 1859, pursuing his studies here until the spring of 1861 and. in the fall of the same year. he entered the Lane Theological Seminary at Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1864 ; he then presided as Pastor over the Presbyterian Church of Greenville, for one year. during which time he united the Old and New School Presbyterian Churches by his efforts, During the fall of 1864 and the early part of the winter of 1865, he was upon the battle-fields of Tennessee, administering to the wants of our Union patriots, having been appointed by the Christian Commission, In the spring of 1865, he was selected, in response to the call of President Johnson. to preach a sermon to a union of churches at Greenville, in commemoration of the death of the lamented Lincoln. From 1865 to 1867. he presided over the Presbyterian Church at Tippecanoe City ; then three years at Rising Sun, Incl,: thence to Reynoldsburg until 1861 ; thence to Edgar Co,. Ill,, where he remained until 1876. when he returned to his present place, and. on account of ill health, retired from the ministry until the spring of 1878, when he accepted a call as Pastor of State supply of the Presbyterian Church at Gettysburg, which position he now holds. Upon locating here in 1865, he possessed very little property. save his valuable library, His residence is located one and one- fourth miles from Greenville, On the fifth of September, 1865. he was united in marriage with Amanda Griffin : she was born in 'Butler Co,, Ohio, Feb, 14, 1836 ; she is the oldest daughter of David Griffin, who located in Darke Co, in 1856.

 

SWAN JUDY. attorney at law. Greenville. The subject of this biography was born in a rude log cabin on the farm of his grandfather Isaac. Wilson, about seven miles west of Springfield, Clark Co,, Ohio, on Dec, 7, 1851 : he is the second son of Samuel H, and Lydia Judy. who were th. parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living ; while on the farm, our subject was sent to school as much as his tender years and delicate health would permit : his parents. though in limited circumstances, decided that the education for the children was of more importance than getting money, and in 1860 moved to the village of Enon, two miles distant, where the schools were convenient and better ; here young Judy availed himself of school privileges as much as possible considering his rather feeble constitution, devoting a goodly portion of his time during vacation to his books ; in 1864, his father felt obliged to return to the farm where young Judy's services were required in the duties incidental to boyhood's farm life : he had, however, acquired a thirst fin- knowledge, and not believing himself designed for husbandry. he, in company with his elder brother, Benj, F, Judy, returned to Enon and arranged with the Board of Education to again attend school, which he did during the school session, also studying nights and mornings, besides doing chores ; during the summer season, he would raise truck, the proceeds from the sale of which he bought books and paid tuition : as he grew older, his health improved, and his desire for knowledge increased, so much so that he would take his book to the field and study during the moments of resting from his labors : in the spring of 1868, his parents moved to Greenville, near which place they now reside, bringing young Judy with them ; here he entered the public schools, and in 1869. was granted a teacher's certificate ; at this time, the desire of his life to become a lawyer impelled him to begin the study of law, which he did under Judge Wm. Allen, of Greenville, though only at such times as he could spare from his other labors, which latter were required in obtaining a livelihood : during the winter of 1869 and spring of 1870, he taught a school about two miles north of Greenville, continuing the study of law during his otherwise leisure hours : at the close of his school, he went on the farm, raised corn and fattened hogs ; in 1870, he engaged with Alexander Wilson, a cousin. of Madison Co, to feed cattle ; in 1871. he was taken into partnership with Mr, Wilson in stock-dealing, which was continued until 1872, thereby making sufficient money to pay for a course in law at the university at Ann Arbor, Mich,, which institution he entered and graduated on the 24th of March, 1875 ; he was

 

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soon after admitted to the bar to practice in Ohio, and shortly thereafter entered into partnership with Michael Spayd, deceased, and continued in practice with him until the fall of 1875, when the partnership was dissolved, and he went South. visiting several of the southern cities. but concluding the South was not the part of the United States in which he desired to locate for the purpose of practicing law. returned to Greenville in the spring of 1876 ; after returning, he managed an important lawsuit for his parents. in which he was successful : his parents then moving to Bradford Junction. he went with them, and. while there. made no effort to procure business in his profession. but as it became known that he was a disciple of Blackstone, a demand was soon made for his services, and he did quite an extensive business during the year or more he remained, though he opened no office ; in 1877, he with his parents returned to the farm near Greenville, and soon after he opened an office in the latter city. where he has since been practicing. On Feb. 27, 1879. he was married at Ansonia by Rev. Colgan, a M. E. minister. to Lilly May Bertch. youngest child and daughter of Dr. Daniel and Almira Bertch, formerly of Auglaize Co. In the month of February, 1880, he and his wife united themselves with the Christian Church of Greenville.

 

J. C. KATZ ENBERGER. retired ; P. O. Greenville ; was born in Baden. Germany, July 23, 1828 ; he received a good education in his native country, and graduated from the College of Baden ; he, with his tather and brothers, was in the revolution of 1848, after which he came to America. landing in New York in 1850 ; in August of the same year, he located in this township. and for two years was engaged in farming ; in 1852. he purchased an interest in the Greenville Brewery ; two years later, he purchased his partner's interest, and successfully followed the above business until 1868. at which date he disposed of his interest and purchased his present place ; he has 113 acres, located one mile from Greenville. under a good state of cultivation ; his brick bank barn was erected by him in 1873, at a cost of upward of $4,000, and is probably the best barn in Darke Co. He is a strong Republican. and is the first German ever nominated for office on the county ticket. On the 3d of September, 1854, he was united in marriage with Kate Ashman ; she was born in this township June 15, 1837 ; they have ten children now living. viz.. Augustus FL born Aug. 18. 1856 ; Ella J.. Dec. 21, 1859 ; Anna C.. Jan. 6. 1862 ; Leopold H., Feb. 15. 1866 ; Albert R.. Feb. 16. 1868 ; Louisa M., March 10, 1870 ; Joseph C., Aug, 10, 1872 ; Ona M.. Jan. 18. 1875 ; Oscar S.. March 8, 1877. and an infant born March 6, 1879. Mrs. Katzenberger is a daughter of Peter Ashman, who was one of the early pioneers of Darke Co.

GUSTAVUS A. KATZENBERGER, of the firm of Katzenberger Brothers, grocers. fishing and hunting tackle a specialty. Greenville. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Germany June 13. 1830, and is a son of Joseph and Margaret Katzenberger. natives of the same place ; his father was born Aug. 27. 1788. and died Dec. 12. 1852 ; his mother was born in 1798, and departed this life in 1872. Our subject emigrated to America in 1850, landing in New York. atter a tedious voyage of forty-seven days ; he arrived in Greenville Aug. 94. 1850. and settled on a farm in Greenville Township. where he remained for three years. when. tiring of rural pursuits. he engaged with John Huffnagle as salesman. which position he held for three months, when he embarked in business for himself' July 27. 1853 ; in 1858. he visited his native place. and, after spending a short time among relatives and friends, and looking over the scenes of his youth. he departed for his adopted home. Charles L.. member of the above firm. was born in Germany March 14.1834 ; he emigrated to America in 1854. and. after a long and wearisome voyage of sixty-three days. reached the docks of New York ; upon landing. he came directly to Greenville. where he was employed by his brother as salesman till 1861 : he then became a partner of his brother .Joseph. and together did business for seven years. when he became a partner with Andy Weinbreicht, in the grocery business. which partnership existed three years : selling out. he

 

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entered into a partnership with his brother Gustavus, which constitutes the present firm, His marriage with Elizabeth Ashman was celebrated in 1862, and to their union two children were given—George and Mary : the latter is deceased ; Mrs, K, departed this life in 1868, Mr, K, has made three trips to his native land—the first in 1857. the second in 1868, and the third in 1877 ; thus he has crossed the ocean seven times,

 

J. F. KAUFFMAN, farmer, Sec, 11 : P, 0, Greenville ; born in Cleveland, Ohio. Oct, 12. 1830, He was a son of .John P, Kauffman, who was born in Germany May 14. 1790, and emigrated to America in 1830, and located in Cleveland ; then to Columbus, and from there to Warren and Greene Cos,, and in 1863 or 1864, came to Darke. Co,. and during the last three years of his life lived with his son, He died March 15. 1878, He was married in Germany to Catherine M. Klineburgh, She was born Feb, 10, 1793; she died March 12, 1859. The subject of this sketch lived with his father until 21 years of age, when he commenced for himself and, in 1862, came to Darke Co, and purchased his present place of 80 acres, where he has since lived. His marriage with Rachel H. Stewart was celebrated Nov, 17, 1853, She died March 8, 1865, They had two children, Isaiah, born Oct, 24. 1857. and died in infancy ; Ida Bell. born Feb. 21, 1862, now living at home,

 

CHARLES F. KEMPER. Catholic priest, Greenville ; was born in Prussia on the Rhine, July 6, 1851, and is a son of .John and Catherine Kemper, natives of the same place, His father died in Germany, in 1856, His mother at present resides in Dayton. Our subject attended school two years. in Bardstown, Ky.; thence to the St, Mary's Seminary in Cincinnati, for some time ; thence to Einsbrook for three years ; thence to Rome for one year, where he finished his collegiate course, and returned to Cincinnati. and was employed as teacher in the St, Mary's Seminary for two years, He came to Greenville in August, 1877, and has charge of the church here—also those in the country, and is a gentleman of ability and refinement,

 

WILLIAM K. KERLIN, retired, Greenville ; born in Wayne Co,, Ind., March 2. 1832, and is a son of Elijah and Malinda (Sands) Kerlin. both natives of Washington Co.. East Tenn,: they emigrated to Indiana and located in Wayne Co, in 1831 ; Mrs, Kerlin died September. 1879, Mr, Kerlin now resides in the same township where he located in 1831, They raised a family of eleven children, eight now living, Our subject, the second son. assisted his father in farming until he attained his majority, Upon the 1st of December, 1853, was united in marriage with Hannah B. Jefferis ; she was born in Wayne Co,. Ind,, Nov. 28, 1830. They were the parents of eleven children. of whom ten now survive, viz., Anna E., Emma, Oscar, Mary B,, John D., William L,, Edwin, Carrie, James and Elijah, Mr, Kerlin continued farming in Wayne Co,. Ind,, until March, 1865, when he came to Harrison Township, Darke Co,. continuing the same occupation until 1870, when he removed to Greenville, where he has since lived ; during his residence in Harrison Township, he held the office of .Justice of the Peace two terms, and one term in Greenville ; was Deputy County Treasurer from 1871 to 1875 ; was elected County Treasurer in 1874 ; reelected in 1876, by a majority of upward of nine hundred, largely leading his ticket ; during his term of office he handled upward of $2,000,000 of the public funds. and so satisfactory was his administration that the press of both parties were unanimous in their approval of the same, Mr. Kerlin is a strong leader of his party, and has probably done as much or more in controlling the political affairs of the past ten years, than any man in Darke Co,

 

SOLOMON KESTER, merchant, Greenville. Among the most enterprising merchants of Greenville, we take pleasure in according the above gentleman a place in the front ranks, He was born in German Township, Darke Co,. Nov, 10,. 1839, and is a son of George Kester, whose sketch also appears in another part of this work, Our subject assisted his father upon the farm until 16 years of age, when he began farming for himself, and successfully followed the same until 1871,

 

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at which date he embarked in the mercantile business in Palestine. continuing the same successfully until February, 1880, when he located in the of Greenville. with one of the largest and best-selected stocks of goods ever brought to this town. With the well-known enterprise of Mr. Kester. his large stock. pleasing. attentive and obliging clerks. we predict fir the above firm the largest annual sales of any firm in the dry-goods trade in Darke Co.; he is now located in the store formerly occupied by Wilson & Hart ; a card of his business appears in the business directory of Greenville. in another part of this work. His marriage with Mary A. Lease was celebrated in 1863 ; they have two children—George V. and Rosy.

 

WILLIAM KIPP, druggist and pharmacist, Greenville. We could hardly do justice to the business interests of Greenville. without. devoting a brief space of this work to the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, April 13. 1832. where he received a liberal education. attending school continuously from 6 to 14 years of age. When 20 years of age, he emigrated to America. landing in New York September. 1851. making the trip from Antwerp in twenty-three days, in a sailing vessel ; he then came to Cincinnati. and was employed on the railroad some four months, and in the spring of 1853 came to Dayton in September of the same year. came to Greenville. where he has since lived ; upon arriving here, his capital consisted of 60 cents ; after following the business of tonsorial artist two years. he associated with Conrad Shively in the drug business, under the firm name of Shively & Kipp. continuing the same until 1872, when the death of Mr. S. occurred, since which time Mr. Kipp has continued the business alone ; he keeps a full and complete line of such goods as are to be found only in first-class drug stores ; a card of his business is to be found in the business directory of Greenville, in another part of this work. His marriage with Barbara C. Rich was celebrated in the spring of 1857 : she was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1834 ; they were the parents of eight children. of whom two are deceased ; the living are Emma. Bertha. Conrad. August. William and Edward.

 

ALBERT KLEE. butcher. Third street, west of Broadway. Greenville ; born in Prussia July 7. 1848, where he received a good education in German, until 14 years of age, after which he assisted his father in agricultural pursuits three years ; at 17 years of age, he commenced the trade of butcher, serving two and a half years. In 1872. he came to America and followed his trade in Indianapolis, Chicago and St. Louis. until 1877, at which date he came to Greenville. and engaged in the butcher's business, and in the fall of 1879 he located on Third street. where he has since continued. In the spring of 1879. he associated with his present partner, under the firm name of Albert Klee & Co.. 1.iis present partner being George Buchy.

 

A. J. KLINGER, miller and dealer in grain and seeds, Greenville. Among the old settlers of Darke Co., we are pleased to give this gentleman more than a passing notice. He was born in Preble Co. in 1830, and, with his mother, came to Darke Co. and located in Monroe Township in 1838 ; at 18 years of age. he, with an older brother, engaged in the merchandise trade, continuing the same some two years ; then, for a short time, at Ithaca, and, upon the completion of the D. & U. R. R.. located at Gordon, and was the first grain merchant as well as among the first merchants of the town ; after being engaged in Gordon some five years. he disposed of his grain and merchandise interest, removed to Ithaca and followed farming two years ; he then purchased the Ithaca Mill, running the same five years ; then one year at Winchester, Irid. ; in the fall of 1867, he removed to Arcanum, where he followed milling until 1871, at which date he came to Greenville, and. in 1876, purchased his present business property. remodeled and enlarged the same, placing in the most improved machinery and now has a mill of a capacity of fifty- barrels per day ; he is also largely engaged in buying and shipping grain to the Eastern markets. His marriage with Caroline Werts was celebrated in 1857 ; she is a daughter of Peter Werts. one of the early pioneers of Darke Co.: they are

 

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the parents of three sons and five daughters, viz., Sarah E.. Delia F., _Laura, Almy S.. Cora, D. O.. Watson J. and Peter W.

 

JAMES K. KNICK, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 19 ; P. O. Greenville ; the subject of this memoir located in Darke Co. in an early day ; he was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Feb. 9,1824 ; he was a son of William Knick, who was born in Virginia, and came to Miami • Co. at an early day and followed farming until his decease. which occurred in 1850 ; he was married, in Virginia, to Rachel Armstrong ; she was also born in Virginia, and died in Miami Co. in 1868 ; the gentleman whose name heads this sketch assisted his father in farming until 28 years of age. when, in 1852. he. with ox teams, taking with him 116 head of cattle, crossed the Rocky Mountains at North Pass ; arrived in Stockton Valley after a long and tedious journey of five months and six days; in California, he spent six years at mining, and met with fair success ; he then returned to Ohio, and, in 1859, came to Darke Co. and purchased 80 acres of his present place, to which he has added by purchase until he now owns upward of 220 acres, under a good state of cultivation, with two good sets of farm buildings. nearly all of which he has secured by his own exertions. His marriage with Magdalena Ashman was celebrated in Miami Co. Feb. 16,1860 : she was born in Darke Co., Sec. 19, Greenville Township. April 24. 1841 : she died March 27, 1873, leaving seven children, viz: Thomas, born Feb. 16. 1861 John, May 6, 1862 ; James, August 28, 1863 ; Charles. Sept. 9.1865 : Magdalena M., July 5.1867 ; Eliza J., May 8,1869, died April 16. 1873 ; Laura Bell. born May 6. 1871. He gives his whole attention to raising stock, corn and wheat. and is now engaged in farming all his land.

 

CHRISTIAN KNODERER, butcher, Greenville ; born in Baden, Germany, Aug. 5,1820 : he received a good education in German, French and Latin, and, at 18 years of age, was apprenticed to learn the butcher's trade, and, after two years, he served four years in different countries at his trade ; he then started the same business for himself in Emendingers. Germany, following the same until 1848, and he served in the revolution of 1848-49 ; he was taken prisoner, and, after two months' imprisonment, emigrated to America, landing at New York July 4,1850 ; he then followed farming two years in Pennsylvania, thence coming to Illinois, where he worked some nine months ; he came to Ohio and settled in Darke Co. in 1856. and farmed in Wayne Township six years, and, in 1862, came to Greenville and engaged in the butchering business, which he has since successfully followed. He was Township Treasurer of Greenville Township for the year 1876. His marriage with Catherine Kern was celebrated in 1854 ; she was also a native of Baden ; born in 1826 ; they have no children.

 

JAMES M. LANSDOWNE ; P. O. Greenville ; cashier of the Exchange Bank of Greenville ; the subject of this memoir is a native of Ohio, and was born in Clermont Co., upon the 14th of December, 1846. and is a son of Dr. Zachariah M. Lansdowne. who was born in Kentucky, but when quite young removed to Clermont Co.. Ohio. where he married Mary Gray Hoover, a native of the above county : by this union there were eight children, our subject being the second child and only son ; about the year 1850, the family removed to Cincinnati, and in 1855 came to Greenville, where the Doctor followed his profession until 1876, at which date he removed to Kansas. where he has since lived ; Mrs. Lansdowne died in 1871 ; of the children, four are also deceased ; James M. was educated at the public schools, and one year at Antioch College ; in 1864, he enlisted in the 152d O. N. G., and participated fully in the short but active engagements of the above regiment ; returning from the war, he followed clerical pursuits in the express and ticket office until 1869, when he accepted his present position as Cashier of the Greenville Exchange Bank, which he now holds ; upon the 26th of September, 1876. he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Knox ; she was born in Greenville Dec. 21, 1851 ; they have one child by this union, John Knox Lansdowne ; Mrs. L. is the only daughter of John Riley Knox, a prominent lawyer of Greenville.

 

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MARTIN W. LAURIMORE, City Marshal. Greenville ; born in the city of Greenville, Darke Co., Aug. 16, 1842, and is a son of William and Malinda (Martin) Laurimore ; William was born in Allegheny Co., Penn.. Nov. 30, 1805 ; Malinda Martin was born April 3, 1811. Mr. L. came to Greenville in 1822. and engaged in the hotel business, keeping the first tavern in the place, located on Main street, just west of the city square, and known as the old Log Cabin House ; he was engaged in this business several years ; he was then engaged in the dry- goods trade several years ; subsequently he was elected Justice of • the Peace, which position he held sixteen years, and until he declined to serve longer on account of failing health ; he died in November. 1863, Mrs. L. having deceased March 31, 1855 ; they were the parents of nine sons and five daughters, of whom seven sons and two daughters now survive ; our subject was educated in the schools of Greenville, and at 15 years of age commenced the trade of printer. serving two and a half years. He responded to the first call of President Lincoln for troops at the commencement of the late rebellion, and upon the 16th of April, 1861. enlisted in the 11th 0. V. I., for three months ; he then re-enlisted in the 34th 0. V. I.. Col. Piatt's Zouaves, for three years, and served through West Virginia and Maryland, participating in the campaigns of the Shenandoah Valley, being in twenty-four different engagements ; was mustered out of service Sept 16, 1864, having served in the Union army three years and four months ; he then returned to Greenville and engaged in various pursuits until April 1, 1878, when he was elected City Marshal. which office he now holds. Upon the 7th of May, 1866, he was united in marriage with Mary E. Vance ; she was born in West Alexandria, Preble Co.. Ohio. Aug. 22. 1839 ; they have three children—Estella B., Frank and Nellie.

 

JACOB E. LEAS, merchant, Greenville ; another of the old settlers of Darke Co., born in Preble Co., Ohio, Nov. 5, 1840 ; he is a son of Jesse Leas, who came to Darke Co., in 1843, and located in Sampson ; he died in Palestine in March, 1861 ; he was married, in Preble Co., to Sarah A. Cresler. who is now living in German Township. The subject of our sketch followed clerking in the mei-. chandise store of his father until the death of the latter. On the 16th of October, 1861, he enlisted as private in the 69th 0. V. I., and soon after was at the front, fighting for the preservation of the Union and the honor of our glorious flag ; he was in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Buzzards' Roost, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, siege and capture of Atlanta. with Sherman on his march through Georgia to the sea, thence north through the Carolinas. and with Sherman when Johnston surrendered, thence through Richmond to Washington, when, after the grand review of the army, he went to Louisville and received his discharge, in August, 1865, having served in the Union army nearly four years. After serving his first term of enlistment, he returned with his regiment. Feb. 27, 1864, and remained In service until the close of the war, passing through various grades of promotion, and was mustered out of service as Captain of Co. A. He then returned to Darke Co. and followed merchandising at Greenville, Jaysville and Palestine (with the exception of a short residence in Indiana) until April, 1871, when he came to Ansonia and followed the merchandise trade for a short time. In 1874, he received the appointment of Postmaster. Upon the locating of the well-known house of Sol. Kester at Greenville, Feb. 1, 1880, Mr. Leas resigned his official position as Postmaster at. Ansonia, and associated with the above firm, where he may always be found, ready and willing to attend to the wants of his many warm friends. His marriage with Rebecca Duke was celebrated Sept. 19, 1867 ; they have three children now living, viz., Russell D., Bertha J. and Blair.

 

LEVI FRANKLIN LIMBERT, lawyer, Greenville ; was bore in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Sept. 4, 1854 ; his father, Lewis Limbert, was born in Mifflin Co., Penn., in 1814, but was reared in Montgomery Co., Ohio, where he married Sarah E. Riney in 1835. Our subject, after the usual common-school course, in the spring of 1870 entered the Miami Commercial College at Dayton ; in 1871. he secured a

 

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position as book-keeper ; afterward, he became a teacher, and, in 1873, he entered the normal school at Lebanon ; he entered upon the study of law with C. M. Anderson, in 1876, and, in 1877, was admitted to practice. and at once commenced practice in Greenville.

 

JOHN LONGENECKER, farmer and carpenter, Sec. 1 ; P. O. Pikeville ; another old settler of Darke County ; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Feb. 12. 1830 ; he is of German descent, his grandfather being one of four brothers who came from Germany and located in Pennsylvania ; the father of John was Samuel Longenecker, who was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., April 5, 1789, and emigrated to Warren Co., about the year 1821, and, six years later, located in Montgomery Co., and, in 1840, came to Darke Co. and settled in Richland Township, and followed cabinet-making and undertaking until his death, which occurred Sept. 14, 1842 : he was married in Dauphin Co., Penn.. to Anna Shank, who was born in the same county Nov. 19, 1790 ; they were the parents of ten children. of whom five are now living ; Mrs. S. died in Richland Township Dee. 5, 1847. The subject of this memoir came to Darke Cc. with his parents. and while his father followed his trade, his sons did the labor on the farm. John remaining with him during his lifetime ; after tilt death of his father, he removed to Beamsville and followed the Jade of cabinet-making three years. end. in 1865, he commenced the carpenter business, and, until 1877, gave this his exclusive attention ; his buildings extended over all of the northern townships, and among his contracts were some additions to the county infirmary ; without serving any apprenticeship at the trade, he has been one of the most successful contractors, and probably no man in the county has elected more farm buildings than Mr. Longenecker ; in 1864, he located on his present place, where he has since lived : he has 65 acres in his home farm, all under a good state of improvement. He has been twice married ; his first wife was Letina Holloway. who died without issue. His marriage with Elizabeth Beem was celebrated Sept. 30, 1855 ; she was born Oct. 4. 1834 ; they have three children—Franklin, born Nov. 28, 1857 ; Harry. March 6, 1863 ; Theodore, June 5. 1867.

 

LOUIS B. LOTT, farmer, Sec. 19 : P. O. Greenville.

 

SAMUEL LUDY, farmer and brick manufacturer, Sec. 24 ; P. O. Greenville ; one of the oldest settlers of Darke Co.. born in Frederick Co., Md., May 30,,1833. He was a son of David Ludy, who was born in the above county and State in 1803. Ele was married in Maryland to Mary Burns. She was born in Ireland in 1834, and emigrated to America with her parents in infancy. David Ludy and familly came to Ohio in 1838,1anding in Dayton June 1. and in Miami Co., the same year. where the decease of Mrs. Ludy occurred in November, 1852. Mr. Ludy came. to Darke Co. in 1875, where his decease occurred in October. 1876. The subject of this sketch resided in Miami Co. and engaged in agricultural pursuits until Oct. 8, 1856, when he was united in marriage with Christina Guntrum. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1833. and was a daughter of John Guntrum. who came to Darke Co. in 1837. The children of Samuel and Christina Guntrum Ludy were four in number—William. David, Rebecca and Samuel. Upon the marriage of Mr. Ludy, he came to Darke Co. and located upon his present place, where he has lived for a period of twenty-three years. He has 37 acres of land, with good farm buildings, his brick residence being the second best farm residence in the township. He is largely engaged in manufacturing brick of superior quality, his yard turning out in a single season upward of ten hundred and fifty thousand. A card of his business will be found in the business directory of Greenville, in another part of this work. Mr. Ludy is now serving his second year as Township Trustee of the township in which he lives.

 

DR. ELIJAH LYNCH, physician and surgeon, Greenville. Among the old settlers of Darke Co., we take pleasure in giving the gentlemen whose name heads this sketch a place in the front ranks of his profession ; he was born in Warren Co., Ohio. Sept. 25, 1809, and was a son of Isaiah and Charity (Hasket) Lynch.

 

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both natives of South Carolina ; they came to Ohio in 1805, and settled in Warren Co.; Mr. Lynch was of Welsh descent, and was born in South Carolina in 1769, and died in Warren Co., Ohio, in 1814 ; Mrs. Lynch was of English descent, born in South Carolina in 1799, and died March 11, 1848, in Butler Co., Ohio. The subject of our sketch obtained his general education in the Quaker schools, and, in 1834, commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Charters, of Waynesville, Ohio, with whom he remained two years, after which he studied two years with Dr. Thomas, of Sydney, and graduated from the Ohio Medical College in 1848: in 1845, he first located in Darke Co., and commenced the practice of medicine in Palestine, and, in 1849, located in Greenville, where he has since successfully followed his profession for a period of upward of thirty years, and is, consequently, one of the oldest continuous practitioners of the county. His marriage with Mary O'Brien was celebrated in 1832 ; she was born in Vermont May 15, 1811 , they were the parents of eight children, of whom three are deceased ; the living are Rebecca, now Mrs. Dr. Woods, of Van Wert ; William, now practicing medicine in Shanesville, Ohio ; Isaac, in the jewelry trade at Greenville, and Mary and Ida, living at home ; of the deceased, Thomas died at 11 years of age ; Sarah died at 19 years of age ; Charles grew to manhood, and at his death left a widow and three children now living at Lima, Ohio ; he was a resident of Indianapolis until his decease, and occupied the position of general ticket agent of the Indianapolis. Peru & Chicago Railroad.

 

M. McDANIEL, Greenville, firm of McDaniel & Son, manufacturers and dealers in furniture. Greenville, like most cities of its size, has its representative men in nearly every branch of trade, and to the above firm must be accorded the honor of being the leading firm in this line in Darke Co. M. McDaniel was born in Medina Co., Ohio, Aug. 15, 1836 ; the early part of his life was passed in Putnam Co., where he received a fair education in the common schools. In 1854, he located in Troy, Miami Co., where he completed the trade of cabinet-making, with Joel T. Thompson, who was one of the early pioneers of Darke Co.; he continued in Mr. Thompson's employ three years, when he associated with James W. Hickison, and purchased his employer's interest and continued the furniture business. under the firm name of Hickison & McDaniel, until The fall of 1860, when he sold out to his partner, and after a short residence in Lima, Ohio, enlisted, Aug. 12, 1862. in the 94th O. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was in many severe engagements, among which were Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Hoover's Gap, Tullahoma, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, Buzzard Roost, Resaca,Dallas, Peach Tree Creek and all through the siege and capture of Atlanta,during which time he was actively engaged for eighty-four days in succession, and was with Sherman on his march through Georgia to the sea, through the Carolinas, and was with Sherman at the surrender of Johnston ; thence north through Richmond to Washington, where, after the grand review of the army. he was forwarded to Columbus, mustered out of service, and received his discharge on June 14, 1865, having served in the Union army nearly three years. Upon receiving his discharge, he returned to Troy and followed his trade five years, and in 1871 came to Greenville, and for four years was foreman of Turpen & Co.'s furniture factory, and in 1874 purchased the furniture store of Turpen & Auld, since which time he has 'continued the business under the above firm name. His marriage was celebrated with Nancy E. Mickfall Dec. 1, 1859 ; she died Dec. 14, 1879 ; they were the parents of three children, of whom two died in infancy; the living, William A. J., is now junior member of the above firm. Mr. McDaniel has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1865, and became a member of Center Lodge, No. 272, of Troy, in 1860, and in 1874 affiliated with the Greenville Lodge, No. 195, and is also a member of Greenville Encampment, No. 90.

 

ALEXANDER HUGH McEOWEN, retired farmer, Greenville ; among the old settlers of Darke Co., Ohio ; the gentleman whose name heads this sketch is awarded a place in the front ranks ; he was born in Somerset Co., N. J., Oct. 2,

 

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1810: he was a son of Alexander McEowen, who was born in the above State Nov. 29. 1778 ; he married his second wife, Alada Hageman. in November, 1808 ; she was born in New Jersey ; they were the parents of seven children by this union. of whom the subject of this sketch and Henry H. now survive ; Henry was born July 21, 1823. and is now living in Allen Township. Darke Co. ; their father was one of the patriots of the war of 1812, and was also one of the minute-men of the Northwest Territory, and served under Gen. Wayne in this State ; he was married three times, and was the father of eleven children, of whom only three now survive ; Mr. McEowen died Dec. 12, 1863, aged 85 years ; Mrs. McEowen died Aug. 22, 1830. The subject of this memoir came to Ohio with his parents in 1822. and located in Warren Co., where he followed farming until 1844, when he came to Darke Co., and, after a residence of ten years in Twin Township, during which time he cleared a farm of 90 acres, he came to Greenville Township and purchased his present place in 1854, where he has since lived ; he now has in his home farm 225 acres under a good state of cultivation, with good farm buildings, located two and one-half miles east from Greenville, nearly all of which he has secured by his own hard labor and correct business habits, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, to whom he was married March 14, 1839 ; she was born in Warren Co.. Ohio, Dec. 17, 1810 ; they have no children of their own, but have taken and partially raised several until sufficiently old to be self-supporting. Mr. McEowen continued farming until 1878, when he rented his farm and retired from active labor. He was formerly an Old Line Whig, but joined the Republican party upon its organization, and since that time he has ardently labored for the support of the same. Mr. and Mrs. McEowen have been members of the Presbyterian Church many years. They have traveled the path of life together for a period of forty years, and now, in their declining years, find that comfort and consolation in the Bible which only falls to the lot of true Christians.

 

WASHINGTON McGINNIS, contractor and builder, Greenville ; among the early pioneers of Darke Co., the gentleman whose name heads this sketch is entitled to a place in the front ranks; he was born in Washington Co., East Tennessee. in 1812 ; at 14 years of age, he came to Darke Co. with his parents, and has been a continuous resident of this county since 1826, a period of fifty-four years. and is. consequently, among the oldest settlers of the county, as well as the oldest representative of his business in Greenville ; upon locating here, he assisted his father in agricultural pursuits until he attained his majority, and, in 1833, came to Greenville and apprenticee, himself for two years to learn the carpenter's trade : after completing the same, he worked at his trade two years, and, in 1840, he started in business for himself at Greenville, and has for a period of forty years been engaged at the above business. He is a Democrat in politics, but has never been an aspirant for office, but without solicitation was nominated and elected as one of the members of the City Council, which office he has held two years. Upon the 20th of January, 1841, he was united in marriage with Sarah S. Emley ; she was born in Warren Co. in 1819 ; they have three children living by this union. having lost two by death ; the living are Lizzie, Wash and Emma. Mrs. McGinnis was a daughter of David Emley, a native of New Jersey ; he died in Warren Co., Ohio, in 1862, upward of 80 years of age. He married Sarah Chamberlin, also a native of New Jersey ; she is now living in Warren Co., at the advanced age of 85 years.

 

PATRICK H. MAHER. County Recorder, Greenville; the subject of this sketch was born in County Tipperary. Ireland, Jan. 29, 1845; he is a son of James and Catherine (Fanning) Maher, who with their family emigrated to America and landed in New Orleans in 1850; they then came up the river to Cincinnati, and on the way up Patrick H. suffered the loss by death of three of his brothers, grandfather and grandmother by cholera ; he resided in Clarke and Champaign Cos. until 1864, at which date he came to Darke Co. and engaged. in school teaching near Coletown until 1874. when he was elected County Recorder,

 

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which office he now holds. Upon the 25th of December, 1873, he was united in marriage with Ellen Manix ; they have three children by this union—John F., James E. and Catherine. Mrs. Maher is a sister of George Mani; who is also mentioned among the biographies of Greenville Township, in this work.

 

G. W. MANIX, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 13 ; P. O. Greenville ; born in the County Clare, Ireland, March 28, 1843 ; he came to America with his parents when a small boy, and came to Montgomery Co., Ohio, where they lived until 1858, at which date they came to Darke Co. and settled in Mississinawa Township. The subject of this memoir resided with his parents until 21 years of age, when he commenced life for himself, and engaged in contracting and building, and building bridges and pikes ; after erecting some dwellings, he built the fine schoolhouse at - Bradford, which cost $25,000 ; he also built the schoolhouse at Brennan, Ohio, at a cost of $24,000, and many dwellings in Greenville ; he has largely engaged in building pikes in Montgomery, Darke, Shelby and Miami Cos.. Ohio, and Randolph Co., Ind.; he has, probably, built more miles of pike than any man of his age in Darke Co., and has employed as high as 150 teams at a time, and has received as high as $4,000 per mile. In March, 1875, he located upon his present place, which contains 103 acres, and is one of the oldest improved farms of Greenville ; he has the oldest cedar-tree in Darke Co.; he also has in his yard three mineral springs, of an entirely different nature. He is now devoting his attention to farming and stock-raising. He was united in marriage with Emma J. Reagan on the 11th of December, 1867 ; she was born in Darke Co., Ohio, April 19, 1846, and died Nov. 6, 1877, leaving five children living (having lost one by death), viz.: James, born Feb. 26, 1869 : Annie, Sept. 28, 1870 : George W., March 20, 1872 ; Dennis E., in December, 1873 ; John, Nov. 12, 1875 : Walter, the deceased. died in infancy. His marriage with Margaret Lynch was celebrated May 20, 1879 ; she was born in Greenville, Darke Co., in 1858.

 

JOHN MARK (deceased). The subject of this memoir was born in Adams Co., Penn., May 14, 1809 ; he was a son of Peter Mark, a native of Pennsylvania, who lived and died in the place of his nativity. Our subject was raised on a farm, and assisted his father until his marriage which took place in Pennsylvania with Mary Wirtz in 1830 ; he followed farming in the above place until 1834, when he removed to Darke Co. and settled on the place where his widowed wife and children now reside ; his land was in the wild woods, but Mr. Mark had the material to overcome the difficulties of a pioneer life, and cleared his farm and made a good home which offered him much enjoyment and comfort in his declining years ; his wife Mary departed this life July 1, 1842 ; she was born March 2, 1807 ; they were the parents of five children, of whom all are dead ; Mary departed this life the same night and almost at the same hour as her father, which is a remarkable coincidence, and, in fact, it has never fallen the duty of' the writer to chronicle such an occurrence before. He was again united in marriage with Catherine B. Zumbum ; she was born July 28, 1816 ; her father was a native of Maryland, and died when Mrs. Mark was quite small, aged 44 years ; her mother died at the age of 69 years, and is buried in the Martin Cemetery ; by this marriage, Mr. Mark had fourteen children, of whom six are now living ; the death messenger has made terrible and frequent visits to this family ; thirteen children and a father have been taken from earth to heaven. Mr.. Mark departed this life Aug. 16, 1879 ; he was the parent of nineteen children, fifteen grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren ; he died in the triumph of his faith, having been a true member of the church for the greater part of his life ; in early life he was a Presbyterian, and an elder in the church, then he connected with the Campbellites and lived an exemplary life and died trusting in the promise of his Savior. Mrs. Mark has always been a good, consistent woman.

 

JAMES JONES MARKWITH, retired farmer, Sec. 35 ; P. O. Greenville ; among the early settlers of Darke Co., the gentleman whose name heads this sketch takes a place in the front rank ; he was born in Hamilton Co.. Ohio, Oct. 3,

 

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1818: he is a son of John C. Markwith, who was born in Essex Co., N. J. in November, 1774. He was married in New Jersey to Elizabeth Muckridge ; she was born in the same State about the year 1786; they came to Ohio in 1810, and located in Hamilton Co., and came to Darke Co. in 1820, and located in what is now Van Buren Township, where he entered land, and where he lived until his decease, which occurred Nov. 30, 1836. Mrs. Markwith died in 1861. The subject of our sketch came to Darke Co. with his parents in 1820, and is consequently, one of the early pioneers ; his education was obtained in an old log schoolhouse with stick and mud chimney, the fireplace extending across the end of the building, and at the same time, his eldest son attended the same school ; he remained with his father until the decease of the latter, after which he remained with his mother until April 1. 1838, when he was united in marriage with Sarah Ashley ; she was born in Ohio March 1, 1821, and died in Darke Co. Nov. 23, 1846 ; they were the parents of three children, viz.: Morrison M., born Aug. 29, 1839 ; Elizabeth, born Nov. 7, 1841. died April 7, 1843 ; Mary Jane, born Oct. 11, 1844, died April 22, 1847. His marriage with Barbara Brown was celebrated Oct. 24, 1847 ; she was born in Wayne Co., Ind.. Dec. 26, 1821 ; seven sons and three daughters were the fruit of this union, all of whom are now living, viz.: Estha, born Aug. 19, 1848; John A., born Dec. 28, 1849 ; Ira. born Nov. 14, 1851 ; James W., born Feb. 21, 1853 ; Samuel M.. born April 19. 1854; Andrew L., born April 26, 1856 ; Aaron F., born Sept. 23, 1858 ; Martha J.. born April 17, 1861 ; Hannah B., born Nov. 27, 1862 ; George Abraham Lincoln, born March 6, 1866. Upon the marriage of Mr. Markwith, he commenced for himself upon the old homestead, and after farming one year, then purchased 80 acres of timber in Neave Township, for which he was to pay $651 ; at this time his capital consisted of $25, and one horse ; upon this place he lived some nineteen years, during which time he had cleared some 60 acres, and. in 1857. he disposed of the above farm. purchased 176 acres in Van Buren Township, upon which he moved and lived until 1878, when he settled upon his present place of 26 acres ; located within 40 rods of the corporation limits of the city of Greenville. Mr. Markwith commenced life without capital, and has suffered the privations and hardships of frontier life, and has by his own hard labor and correct business habits, secured a good fortune ; he has now 276 acres in Van Buren Township and his home residence ; he is another of the self-made men of Darke Co. He is a Republican in politics. but has never had any aspiration for office ; he has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the Christian Church for a period of upward of forty years ; his wife also being a member of same church, and seven of the children also being members of different churches. Morrison M., being a preacher of the Gospel in the Methodist belief, is located at Zanesville, Logan Co.. Ohio.

 

ROBERT MARTIN, farmer ; P. 0. Greenville. Among the early pioneers of Darke Co., we take pleasure in giving notice of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, July 23, 1804 ; was a son of William Martin. who was born in Pennsylvania, where he was married to Sarah Larimore ; they came to Darke Co. in March, 1816, and entered 60 acres upon Sec. 5, and located upon the same section in Greenville Township ; Mrs. Martin died in July, 1816, and Mr. Martin died about the year 1864. The subject of this sketch located upon his present place in 1816, where he has continued to reside for a period of sixty-four years, and is probably the oldest continual resident upon any one section in Darke Co.; he received a limited education in an old log schoolhouse with stick and mud chimney, the whole end of which was used as a fireplace ; the benches were made of split logs, with plank laid upon pins inserted in holes bored in the logs of the house for writing desks ; he was raised to agricultural pursuits upon the farm of his father until the 24th of April, 1828, when he was married to Dorcas Boyd ; she was born in Warren Co., Ohio, July 21, 1807, and came to Darke Co. with her parents when 6 months old, who were among the very earliest pioneers of this county ; the children of Robert and Dorcas Martin

 

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were twelve in number--Ira, born March 11, 1829, died June 9, 1879 ; Martha A. born Sept. 23. 1830 ; Sarah, born June 27, 1832. died July 30, 1834 ; Minerva born May 6, 1834 ; Emily, born Jan. 14. 1836 ; Nancy J., Jan. 25, 1838 ; and Sarah (twins), Feb. 22, 1841 ; Hettie, born Aug. 17, 1842, died Sept. 24, 1869 Eliza, born May 4. 1845, died March 20, 1870 ; Robert K., born Dec. 1, 1848, and Mary L., born Sept. 19, 1851. Mrs. Martin died Nov. 4, 1877. Upon the marriage of Mr. Martin, he commenced life for himself, and after following tanning upon the old place for ten years. he then engaged in farming, which business he followed until the last twenty years, during which latter time the home farm has been carried on by his son Robert K., who has always lived at home ; he was united in marriage with Florence A. Judy Oct.. 2. 1873. who was born in Greene to.. Ohio, Dec. 7, 1853 ; they have two children-Huldy Jane, born Jan. 3, 1875 : Clarence E., June 21, 1878.

 

JOHN HOLMES MARTIN. retired farmer and stock-raiser : P. O. Greenville ; another of the early pioneers of Darke Co.. born in Trumbull Co.. Ohio. June 19, 1810 ; when 9 years of age, he removed to Darke Co. and located in Washington Township ; he was a son of William Martin, who was born in Ireland, and came to America when an infant, with his parents. who settled in Maryland. and removed to Pennsylvania when he was 15 years of age. and came to Ohio about 1801 ; in 1813, he located in Butler Co.. and in 1819 came to Darke Co.. where he was engaged in farming in Washington Township until his decease. which occurred in the fall of 1821. Our subject lived upon the old homestead. and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1856, when he purchased his present place, where he has since lived ; he now owns 107 acres upon his home farm, within half a mile of Greenville, with good farm buildings, and valued at upward of $100 per acre ; he also owns 126 acres in Washington Township, which is a part of the old homestead upon which he located sixty years ago : he also has 120 acres in Mississinawa Township ; he has his farms rented, and devotes his entire attention to buying and shipping stock to Cincinnati and other markets. Mr. Martin is entitled to a place in the front ranks of the early pioneers. being one of the few old landmarks left who relate their experience with the Indians, the bear, the wolf, -the panther, the deer and other wild game which was to be found in abundance. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the Presbyterian Church for forty years, and was influenced to purchase his present home, in 1856, that he might have better advantages for churches and education for his family. His marriage with Casandra Chenoweth was celebrated March 21, 1833 ; she was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, in October, 1813. and died Feb. 16, 1879 ; seven children were born to them, of whom six are now living-Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary J., William H.. Rachel, John F. and James P.; the deceased was William H., who lost his life at Nashville while fighting for the preservation of the Union during the late war of the rebellion.

 

WILLIAM MARTIN, retired, Greenville ; another of the early pioneers is the above gentleman ; he was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, Dec. 25, 1812, and is a son of William and Sarah (Larimore) Martin. early pioneers of Darke Co., of whom further mention is made in the sketch of Robert Martin ; the subject of our sketch came to Darke Co. with his parents in 1817, and settled in the east part of this township ; his early life was that of a farmer's son, his education being limited, and was obtained in an old log schoolhouse ; in 1832, he came to Greenville and obtained employment as clerk in the merchandising business, and, in 1835, removed to Ft. Recovery ; erected the first house of the place and opened the first merchandise store of the town, and continued in trade here until 1843, at which date he came to Greenville and located on his present place, where he has since lived. His residence, which is large and commodious. was for many years used as a hotel, and conducted as such by Mr. Martin and others. He has been twice married ; his first wife, Barbara Adney, was a native of Gallia Co., Ohio ; she died in 1846, leaving five children. of whom only two now survive. viz., James

 

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W. and Sarah S.; his marriage with Mary M. Slaughter was celebrated in 1848 or 1849 ; they were the parents of eight children by this union, of whom only Dottie. Charles S. and Lodema H. now survive.

 

L. R. MARTIN, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 5 ; P. O. Woodington ; one of the old settlers of Darke Co., Ohio ; born in Miami Co., Ohio, Sept. 14, 1836 ; at 9 years of age. he removed to Indiana, near Ft. Wayne. where he resided some eight years. and. in 1853, came to Darke Co., where he has since lived ; he remained with his father and followed carpentering and agricultural pursuits until he attained his majority. after which he pursued his trade two years on his own account : he then engaged in clerking in the merchandise store of W. B. Mendenhall at Woodington. and, after clerking three years. was admitted as partner. and continued the merchandise trade at this place under different firm names until 1877. when he disposed of his interest in the merchandising business, and has since given his whole attention to farming ; he has 170 acres of land under a good state of cultivation, with good farm buildings ; his brick residence, located at Woodington, was erected by him in 1874. at a cost of $2,800. His marriage with Nancy A. Mendenhall was celebrated in 1861 ; she was a daughter of W. B. Mendenhall. whose sketch appears among the biographies of Brown Township in another part of this work ; she died in 1867, leaving one child—Ida M.. born July 31. 1862 ; his second wife was Eliza A. Hine ; they were married in .June, 1870 ; she was born in Darke Co. in 1841 ; two children were born to them— Maud A.. July 5. 1872, and Harry C., born Dec. 24, 1874.

 

SAMUEL MARTIN, Sec. 1 ; farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Pikeville ; one of the old settlers of Richland Township, born in Darke Co. Jan. 11, 1844; he was a son of Sebastian Martin. who emigrated from Pennsylvania to Darke Co. at an early day, and located in Richland Township ; Samuel Martin was raised upon the home farm until he attained his majority, when he was united in marriage with .Julia Ann Beanblossom May 29, 1864 ; she was born in Darke Co. They have three children now living, having lost one in infancy ; the living are Franklin M., born May 3. 1865 ; Mary C.. Oct. 7. 1867 ; Viola G., Nov. 8, 1873. Upon the marriage of Mr. Martin he commenced farming, and the same year went to Nebraska, where he followed butchering one year, and returned in the fall of 1865 to Darke Co.. and engaged in farming in Jackson Township, where he remained until 1872, when he located upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he has 50 acres in his home farm with good farm buildings and under a good state of cultivation he also followed thrashing for six years, and operated the first steam thrasher ever run in Darke Co. Mrs. Martin is a daughter of David Bean- blossom. one of the pioneers of Darke Co., whose biography appears among the sketches of this township.

 

JOHN HERSHEY MARTIN. County Clerk, Greenville; born in Adams Township. Darke Co.. Nov. 29, 1844 ; he was a son of Jacob W. and Maria (Hershey) Martin. who located here in 1832 ; Adams Township and Gettysburg received their names through the father of Mrs. Martin, who was formerly from Adams Co.. Penn.; Jacob Martin was in the merchandise trade at Gettysburg, Adams Township, until his decease. which occurred in April, 1876 ; his widow survives him. and lives in Gettysburg. John H. Martin entered the merchandise store of his father when 13 years of age, where he was employed seven years ; he then attended the Iron City Commercial College at Pittsburgh, and graduated from the same in 1865 ; he was then employed three years as book-keeper at Dayton, after which he was associated with his father in trade several years, and in 1874, came to Greenville, where he was employed in the Auditor's and Treasurer's offices until October, 1879, at which date he was elected to his present office. In September, 1871, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy O. Robinson, in Kenton, Hardin Co.; they have two children—Lola R. and Maud E.

 

JAMES W. MARTIN, harness-maker, Greenville. The subject of this memoir was born in Greenville Township. Sept. 24. 1845. and is a son of William

 

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Martin, another of our early pioneers, and whose sketch appears among the biographies in this work. James W. obtained his education in the public school of Greenville, and at 18 years of age was apprenticed to learn the harness-maker's trade, serving three years ; he then went to Richmond, where he worked two years. from there to Illinois ; he then returned to Greenville in 1869. and engaged in the above business for himself and continued the same till 1880, when he sold out on account of ill health. His marriage with Fannie Jones was celebrated in Greenville, May, 1875 ; she was born in Darke Co., in 1848 ; they have one child. Jessie W.

 

JOHN FOSTER MARTIN ; P. 0. Greenville. John Foster Martin was born in Washington Township, Darke Co., in the year 1852 . his parents. John Holmes and Casandra Chenoweth Martin, were among the oldest pioneers of this township, having settled here in 1819. The subject of this sketch. during the earlier years of his life, followed the vocation of a farmer, but having a natural predilection for literary attainments, he entered the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, where, after pursuing the regular course of studies, he graduated in 1873. Having determined upon the law as his profession, he pursued the study of the same one year, then attended the Cincinnati Law School, where, in 1875. he graduated, and in April of the same year was admitted to practice. In the following summer, he located in Logansport, Ind.. in the practice of his profession ; but after an experience of six months, the confinement of a law office not agreeing with his inclinations, he abandoned the practice, and engaged in running a flouring-mill. Following this for two years, he next turned his attention to saw-milling ; and after continuing in this for about a year and a half, he resumed the honorable and independent occupation of a farmer, at which he is at present engaged.

 

JOHN G. MARTINI, merchant, Greenville of the firm of Biltemeier & Martini, manufacturers and dealers in boots, shoes and rubber goods. etc.. etc.; he was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1827, where he was apprenticed to and worked at the shoemaker's trade until 24 sears of age ; he then emigrated to America, landing in New York in the spring of 1852, and, upon the 26th of September following, came to Greenville, where he followed his trade until April 11, 1864, at which date he associated with his present partner in the above business. His marriage with Maria M. Werner was celebrated Feb. 16, 1854 ; she was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1831: they have three children now living, viz., Jacob F., Katrina B. and Henry P.

 

JACOB TEUCHNAN MARTZ, lawyer and educator, Greenville ; born in Darke Co. Sept. 14, 1833 ; he is the son of John Martz, who was born in Somerset Co.. Penn., in 1798, and settled in Darke Co. in 1829. and now, at the age of 81, is living with his son in Greenville ; his wife, Barbara Hardinger, a native of Bedford Co., Penn., died in 1841. Our subject was early trained to self-reliance, and. when but a lad, started out to make his own living as best he could : he obtained the rudiments of an English education in the common schools of his neighborhood, chopping and hauling wood to pay for his tuition ; at the age of 18, he began teaching in the country schools, and, by this means and by manual labor, he had accumulated $250 at the time he became of age ; he then entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, for the scientific course, and graduated in the summer of 1856, and of his educational fund had left $3.50 ; during the five succeeding years, he was engaged in teaching in his native county, within which time he studied law, under the preceptorship of Judge D. L. Meeker, of Greenville, and was admitted to the bar in 1861. In the spring of 1862, he was elected Superintendent of the public schools of Greenville ; in August, 1865, he was appointed Receiver of the Cincinnati & Mackinaw Railroad. which occupied his time for nearly five years ; in 1871, he was elected to his present position of Superintendent of the Greenville public schools. In September. 1860, he married Miss Esther M., daughter of James M. Jamison. of Delaware. Ohio : four sons are the issue of this union. Prof. Martz has been for some years the President of the Darke Co.

 

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Teachers Association. in the organization of which he was prominently active. For twenty years, he has been on the Board of County Examiners, and was for several years Secretary of the county agricultural society. Prof Martz is one of those who learn the value of a dollar by earning it ; by untiring industry, he has acquired a good education and a comfortable competency, and during his career has won and kept the good will of his neighbors ; no one questions his integrity. or ability ; he is somewhat reserved in his manner, but is socially very agreeable

 

WILLIAM HENDRICKSON MATCHETT, physician and surgeon, Greenville ; was born in Butler Co., Ohio. March 9, 1825. His parents were Eric Matchett and Johanna Hendrickson, natives of Monmouth Co.. N. J.; in 1820. the family came to Butler Co., Ohio, and in the spring of 1831, settled in Darke Co.; Mr. Matchett followed the occupation of farmer and miller ; energy, industry and honesty were the prominent traits in his character ; he died in Greenville, in June, 1867, and his wife on July 20, 1839. For two years, young William, then 14 years of age, carried the mails between Hamilton and Greenville on horseback ; by working, teaching and attending school, as circumstances would permit, he acquired a good education for his day ; at the age of 22, he commenced the study of medicine while engaged in teaching, and was, at different times, under the instruction of Dr. Jaqua, of Darke, and Drs. Cox and Lineweaver, of Preble Co.; he attended lectures at the Cleveland Medical College, and graduated from the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati, in 1851 ; in September, 1851, he commenced practice in Ithaca, Darke Co.; on Feb. 8, 1863, he entered the army as Assistant Surgeon of the 40th O. V. I., and served as such till December, 1864 ; on March 1, 1365, he was promoted to Surgeon of the 186th O. V. I., and was mustered out in the following September ; his first post of duty in the army was at Franklin Hospital, Tennessee, and he was subsequently placed on duty in the hospital of the First Division of the Fourth Corps of the Army of the Cumberland; in September, 1862, he located in Greenville ; for many years, he has been a member of both the County and State Medical Societies ; he has made his profession a specialty, and occupies an eminent rank among the physicians and surgeons of the State ; he is also the author of a number of valuable contributions to the medical literature of Ohio. Dr. Matchett was married Dec. 2, 1852, to Miss Eleanora. daughter of William Lindsay, of Richmond, Ind., a lady of rare culture and refinement ; there have been six children born to them, only three of whom are living ; his eldest son died Aug. 5, 1877 ; he was a young man of great ability, and was foremost in his class at Cornell University, where he was soon to graduate, when death claimed him. Dr. Matchett is a Mason of long standing, being a member of Ithaca Lodge. R. A. Chapter of Greenville, and of Coleman Commandery, K. T., of Troy.

 

DAVID L. MEEKER. lawyer and Judge, was born in Darke Co. in 1827 ; he experienced a farmer's boyhood and received a meager common-school education. supplemented by a brief course of academic instruction ; he taught school several winters ; he read law with the late Judge Ebenezer Parsons, of Miami Co., and was admitted to the bar in 1851 ; in May, 1853, he opened a law office in Greenville ; in 1856, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Darke County, and re-elected in 1858. In 1861, he was elected Common Pleas Judge of the first subdivision of the Second Judicial District, but resigned in 1866 ; in 1872, he was appointed by Gov. Noyes to fill a vacancy on the same bench, occasioned by the resignation of Judge J. C. McKenny, and, in 1873, he was elected to the same position without opposition ; again, in 1878, upon the recommendation of all parties, he was unanimously elected. Judge Meeker has been twice married. In 1857, he married Miss Mary N. Deardorf, from which union were born eight children ; she died in 1876. In 1878, he married Miss Jennie D. Crisler, of Eaton, Ohio. Politically, Judge Meeker is a Democrat ; personally, he is a gentleman of correct views and strict integrity.

 

A. T. MILLER, architect, Greenville ; was born in German Township Dec.

 

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14, 1841 ; his father, UMW, was born in Pennsylvania in 1818. and settled in Darke Co. in 1832 ; his mother. Mary (Ross) Miller, was born in German Township in 1820: Our subject was reared on the farm, and. when a lad. learned the mason's trade. At the age of 18. he entered the army. a volunteer in Co. C, 11th 0. V. I., 100-days men ; they were stationed at Camp Dennison. and their time of service was filled in doing camp duty ; atter his discharge Sept. 10. 1861. he enlisted in Co. K, of the 34th 0. V. I., First Zouaves, and was immediately transferred to the front, and his regiment was a portion of Rosecrans. corps : his regiment participated in the battles of Chapmansville, Red House Shoals. Princeton. Newbern, Fayetteville and Wythesville, where his Colonel. Toland, was killed ; after this, they were transferred to Hunter's army and took an active part in the mans; battles that followed in the Shenandoah Valley ; at Fayetteville. our subject received a wound in the left wrist ; Gen. Crook was then in command. and the 34th and 36th Ohio Regiments, having been thinned by repeated battles, were consolidated ; he was again wounded at Opequan in the head. and afterward lay in the hospital at Philadelphia for three months ; in February. 1865, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant for meritorious conduct. and was honorably discharged from the service in August. 1865. He came home and resumed his trade till the great fire in Chicago in 1871, when he went there and was employed as assistant superintendent in the construction of the Chamber of Commerce. Matteson House. Clifton House, Tremont Hotel and the Palmer House, on which he was employed for two years ; while in Chicago. he took lessons in architecture for two years. and returned to Darke Co. in October, 1874, and opened an office in Greenville in June, 1879 ; he has superintended the construction of some of the best buildings in Greenville, and we can heartily recommend him to the people of Darke and adjoining counties as a gentleman and one that stands high in his profession. He was united in marriage with Mary Stines Aug. 15. 1861.

 

HARROD MILLS, farmer, stock-raiser and dealer in agricultural implements ; P. 0. Greenville ; another of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in Butler Co.. Ohio Aug. 8, 1821, where he was raised to agricultural pursuits ; in 1833. he came to Darke Co. with his parents, and located in Twin Township. residing here until 1846, thence removed to German Township. where he followed farming and milling until 1868, at which date he came to Greenville Township, and located upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he owns 153 acres in his home farm, located one and a half miles from Greenville, all under a good state of improvement with the best of farm buildings ; alao upward of 100 acres in other parts of the county : aside from his farming and stock-raising. he has for the past five years been engaged in the agricultural trade and, also, sale of farm machinery in Greenville ; a card of his business appears in the business directory of Greenville, in another part of this work. Upon the 26th of May. 1842, he was united in marriage with Louisa Stingley ; she was born in Darke Co. Dec. 25, 1821 ; they were the parents of eleven children—Mary E.. born July 10. 1843 ; William H., Sept. 30, 1844; George V., March 18, 1846 ; Joseph W., April 1, 1848 ; Sarah J., Oct. 8, 1850 ; Martha A., Feb. 18, 1852 ;Emma L., Dec. 26. 1859 ; Idell, Nov. 17, 1861, and three deceased. Mrs. Mills is a daughter of George Stingley, one of our early pioneers, who located in Darke Co. in German Township in 1817.

 

GEORGE WASHINGTON MOORE, merchant, Greenville, was born in Warren Co., Ohio, Jan. 20, 1825 ; his father, Findley Moore, was a well-known teacher, whose field of service was principally in the counties of Warren. Montgomery, Butler and Preble ; from him, many prominent men in those counties received their rudimentary drill ; his wife was Elizabeth Dunlap, born in Mifflin Co., Penn. Our subject's youth was spent at the cabinet-maker's trade ; he had no school privileges after he was 11 years of age ; the first three years of his majority were employed as a huckster ; in the fall of 1849. he went to California. and for eight years was engaged in mining and in transporting merchandise to

 

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the mines : in the summer of 1857. he crossed the Plains from Los Angeles to St. .Joseph with a drove of wild horses and traded them off for cattle, which he fed through the winter of 1857-58, and, in the spring of 1858. he sold these to the Government for the Utah expedition against the Mormons ; on his way from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, he encamped for several days on the site of the Mountain Meadow massacre, and. east of the Rocky Mountains, met and conversed with the ill-fated party respecting their hazardous journey ; in September. 1858. he located in Greenville. and, in company with his brother-in-law. Michael Miller. embarked in the dry-goods trade : this arrangement lasted five years ; in August. 1863. he entered into his present copartnership with the Hon. John L. Winner. and for some years the dry-!roods house of Moore & Winner has been the leading one in Greenville. In December. 1861. he married Miss Mary Porter, daughter of John W. Porter, Esq.. of Greenville. Mr. Moore has given his exclusive attention to business. and, with the exception of local positions on the Board of Education and Town Council. has never filled any public office. Though often solicited to become a candidate for the General Assembly. he has always declined, and, in the fall of .1878, he was earnestly pressed by prominent men of all parties to allow himself to be made an independent candidate for Congress, under circumstances that gave the most flattering prospect of success. but he declined. In 1879. the Democratic Senatorial Convention for the counties of Darke. Miami and Butler. unanimously nominated him for the State Senate, and he was triumphantly elected. He is a refined and courteous. gentleman of the old school, with sound sense. a clear head and unimpeachable integrity ; he is an easy, agreeable and fluent speaker, and is, in everything he is connected with, a resolute worker.

 

WM. H. MORNINGSTAR ; P. O. Greenville. We could hardly do justice to the business interests nor to the history of Darke Co. without devoting a brief space of this work to the above gentleman ; he was born in Greene Co., Ohio. Sept. 15.1819. and is a son of George Morningstar, one of the early pioneers who located in the southwest part of Greenville Township in 1832, where his decease occurred in 1850. Our subject followed agricultural pursuits until 1844, when he came to Greenville and followed clerking some three years ; in 1847, he embarked in the merchandise trade, and followed different mercantile pursuits, with the exception of four years, until 1878, since which time he has devoted his attention to milling. He has taken a deep interest in the political questions of the day ; was in early days a Whig. but has been a strong Republican since the organization of the same. During the late rebellion, he was one of the leading outspoken Union men, and was the chief target for the enemies of the Government ; his sympathies for the Union was not only outspoken but active, as his service in the 152d O. N. G., will show ; his oldest son also serving in the Union army four and a half years, when he received an honorable discharge. Mr. Morningstar has been twice married ; his first wife was Elizabeth Wagoner, their nuptials being celebrated in 1848 or 1849 : she died in 1869 ; in 1874, he was married to Frances Zell, a native of Clinton Co.. Ohio. Mr. M. has resided upon his present place for upward of thirty years ; his family consists of his wife and three children, of whom Benjamin F. has occupied the position of Government mail agent for ten years, and resides , near the old homestead ; John H., one of the founders and proprietors of the Greenville Commercial College. residing in Greenville. and Alice, living at home. The beautiful spot upon which is located the large and commodious house of Mr. M. is truly historical ; it lies just across the Greenville Creek, on what is known as Tecumseh's Point. and which, in early days, was the home of both Tecumseh the chief, and his brother, the Prophet, and for this reason was held sacred by the red men ; to such an extent did this feeling extend among the Indians, that when orders were issued in 1832 to remove them from their settlement at Wapauketna to their reservations beyond the Mississippi River, the officer in charge designed taking them through Miami Co. to Cincinnati. but they insisted upon being brought through Greenville. that they might once more visit the old home of their chief

 

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and Prophet, and their request being granted, they remained several days ; further mention is made of the interest of this point in the historical part of this work.

 

DAVID NOGGLE, retired farmer ; residence, Section 34 ; P. 0. Greenville. Among the old settlers of Darke Co., the gentleman whose name heads this sketch is prominently and favorably known. and is held in the highest esteem by his fellow-townsmen ; he was born in Neave Township. Darke Co., Aug. 8, 1824. His father, Geo. Noggle, was born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., March 15, 1774 ; he married Catherine Henlein, who was born in the same State on, May 26, 1777 ; they were among the early pioneers of Darke Co., locating here in 1812 ; Mr. Noggle died in Harrison Township June 28. 1852 ; Mrs. Noggle died March 17, 1865 ; they were the parents of ten children, all of whom lived to grow up. David Noggle obtained his education in a log schoolhouse, and assisted his father in-farming until 20 years of age, when, upon Nov. 7. 1844, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Gibbs, a native of Darke Co., born Sept. 20, 1827 ; they were the parents of four children, viz. : Martha A., born Jan. 18, 1846 ; Rufus G., born July 1, 1847; Mary C., Dec. 18, 1854, and Julia A., July 8, 1856. Upon the marriage of Mr. Noggle, he located upon 80 acres of land in Neave Township, and lived in a log cabin some twelve years ; he then resided in Harrison Township some twelve years, when he sold out and returned to Neave Township, where he purchased 320 acres, disposing of the same in 1874, at which date he located upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he now owns 80 acres, located one mile from Greenville, with the best of farm buildings. Mrs. Noggle was a daughter of David and Mary (Beal) Gibbs ; her father was born in North Carolina, and came to Darke Co. about the year 1817 ; his death occurred in August, 1869 ; Mrs. Gibbs was born in Greene Co., Ohio ; she died in July. 1872.

 

RUFUS G. NOGGLE, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Greenville. The subject of this memoir was born in Harrison Township. July 1. 1847, and is a son of David Noggle, whose sketch appears among the biographies of this work ; our subject was raised on a farm and assisted his father till he was 21 years of age, when he commenced farming for himself ; he now owns 150 acres of land, all under a good state of cultivation, with good farm improvements ; he obtained a common school education in his youth. He was married to Angie Kerst Dec. 26, 1867 ; she was born Aug. 31, 1848. and is a daughter of Samuel Kerst, a native of Pennsylvania. He died in Darke County upward of 60 years of age ; her mother is now living, and resides in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Noggle are the parents of one child—Charley C.. born Feb. 26, 1875.

 

CURTIS OTWELL, physician and surgeon ; Greenville ; was born in Guilford Co., N. C., March 19. 1806 ; his father, James Otwell, was a native of Sussex Co., Del., and his mother, Eleanor Reynolds, of Guilford County ; she was of Scotch-Irish parentage, and the descendant of a Quaker, who came to this country with William Penn. James Otwell was a slaveholder, but emancipated his slaves near the beginning of the present century ; he died in 1830, aged 52, and his wife soon followed him. The family comprised tive children, of whom our subject was the only son ; at an early age, he evinced a great thirst for learning, and made a practice of carrying a book in his pocket to study in intervals of leisure ; when a youth of 18, he was appointed Constable of his native county, and while executing the duties of his office, he read thousands of pages of history while going over the county on horseback ; by thus. improving his spare moments, he put in years of study. and supplemented a com mon-school course with higher attainments, including some knowledge of the Latir, language ; he says that " he was quite proud of his position as Constable, from the fact that Gen. Jackson was once Constable of the same county.' In 1824, he mar ried Eunice S. Wilson, of his native county ; her father, Michael Wilson, was orr on the ocean, of Irish parents, and reared in North Carolina ; after his marriage he read medicine, and, in the spring of 1832. moved to Wayne County, Ind., when he practiced his profession eight years ; in the fall of 1840, he settled in Darla

 

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County, and purchased a flouring-mill in Neave Township, and superintended the same for thirty years, continuing his professional practice ; in the year 1844, in connection with a prominent farmer of the neighborhood, he erected a schoolhouse near his mill, and engaged teachers competent to teach higher mathematics and languages. It was known for years as “Otwell's Seminary," and numbers of the prominent men of the county came here for their higher education ; among the instructors in this school were Calvin Parker and Samuel McClure, who were well known as teachers a quarter of a century ago. In 1846, Dr. Otwell graduated from the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati, and in 1848 located in Greenville, where he has since followed his profession ; he is the father of four sons and four daughters ; two of the latter deceased. Three of the sons are practicing medicine in Darke County ; the eldest son is editor and proprietor of the Greenville Journal. Dr. Otwell has had a very extensive and successful practice, and has been the preceptor of perhaps one-half of the physicians in Greenville and the surrounding country.

 

JOHN O'CONNOR, carriage manufacturer, Greenville ; was born in Windsor, Canada, Oct. 12, 1843. His father and mother came from Ireland ; when our subject was about 9 months old, they came to Springfield, Ohio ; they lived in Clark. Greene and Champaign Cos. until the winter of 1852. when they moved to Jackson Township, Darke Co. In 1853, they moved to Randolph Co., Ind., where they lived until 1856, when they moved to Franklin Township, Darke Co., on the farm now owned by Henry Koon ; afterward on the farm now owned by John Wright. where they lived until 1857, when they moved on land now owned by Christian Grauf, in Franklin Township, where they cleared a farm of 78 acres. In September, 1862. John enlisted in Co. G, 110th O. V. I., under Capt. J. C. Ullery : served with the regiment through West Virginia, in Gen. Milroy's command ; was taken prisoner at the battle of Winchester, and taken successively to Staunton. Libby and Belle Isle ; after much hardship, he was exchanged and rejoined his regiment at Culpeper, Oct. 7,1863 ; was with his regiment in all its retreats and advances in the old Third Corps, Third Division; after the re-organization of the army, was put in the Sixth Corps under Gen. Ricketts, where he participated in Grant's campaign before Petersburg ; went to Maryland, under Lew Wallace. at Monocacy; afterward with Sheridan in his campaign, and on Dec. 3, 1864. returned to south of Petersburg, and participated in the anal assault on the 2d of April, 1865 ; was at the battle of Sailor's Creek April 6, 1865 ; was present at the surrender of Lee's army at Appomattox, and was mustered out of service July 1, 1865. He worked on the farm one year, and in the fall of 1866.he engaged in the carriage and wagon business with J. R. Hyer, at Painter's Creek. He was married to Delilah Marker April 4, 1869 ; in March, 1873, moved to Bradford, where he engaged more extensively in the above business, until June, 1876, when he removed to Greenville, where he now carries on an extensive business in the manufacturing of carriages. There have been born to him five children, viz.: John T., Edward A., Mary, Charles J. and Jacob Ira ; the last named lived but two months. Mr. O'Connor is a man of strict integrity, and his fine social qualities have made him hosts of friends.

 

LOUIS OLLMETZER, Greenville.

 

OLIVER CLINTON PERRY, ex-Auditor ; Greenvuie. The subject of this memoir was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Feb. 28, 1830, and is a eon of Nathan W. and Isabella (Buchanan) Perry, who moved their family to Darke Co., and located in Washington Township, in September, 1838, where they settled in the midst of comparatively early settlers, who were struggling with poverty and heavy timber. Oliver, with other children of that portion of the county, had poor advantages of an early education, but, by close application to his studies when an opportunity offered, acquired a good common-school education that enabled him to engage in school teaching when quite young, and for several years he was employed as salesman in the dry-goods business ; he served as Deputy Clerk of the

 

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Court in 1867, and was elected Auditor and served in said office for nearly five years. During his term of office the system of building free turnpikes was inaugurated, and over thirty miles built in the county. The county jail was also built. and the contracting, and the greater part of the present court house was constructed, in all of which improvements he took a deep interest and active part. being friendly to and indorsing the great improvements of the county. In politics he is a strong Democrat, from both education and honest conviction ; during the rebellion he denounced secession and advocated a vigorous prosecution of the war for the restoration of the Union.

 

WALLACE PLESSINGER, farmer and butcher ; P. 0. Greenville. Among the old settlers of Darke Co., this gentleman is entitled to more than a passing notice ; he was born in Richland Township, this county, Aug. 6, 1847 ; his grandfather, Philip Plessinger, was among the very early pioneers of Darke Co.; emigrating from Pennsylvania, and locating in Richland Township, about the year 1815, and his was the second or third white family that settled in the township here he lived until his death, which occurred July 4, 1860, at about 90 years of age, and upon the place where he located nearly half a century previous ; Solomon Plessinger (our subject's father) was the youngest of the above family ; he was born either in Lancaster Co., Penn., or in Richland Township. Soon after the arrival of the family here, he married Rebecca Jackson, a native of Maryland. near Baltimore ; she is now living in Richland Township ; they were the parents of six children, three of whom now survive ; Mr. Plessinger died Dec. 27. 1861 ; our subject then being only 14 years of age, and being the only surviving son. the responsibility, management and improvement of the farm fell upon him, and nobly did he perform this duty until 1869 when. upon the 27th of October. he was united in marriage with Carrie Jackson ; she was born in Shelby Co in 1846 ; they are the parents of four sons and four daughters, all of whom are now living, the family circle having never been broken by death. Their children are Estella, Ida May. Frank N., Flora, Fred, Melvin, Edith and Charles W. Upon the marriage of Plessinger, he continued farming in Richland Township until the spring of 1874. when he purchased 80 aeres of land in Adams Township, where he located ; in December. 1879, he purchased his present place of business in Greenville, and engaged in the butcher trade, designing to move his family to town in February, 1880, that he might have better facilities for churches and the education of his children. A card of his business is to be found in the business directory in another part of this work. It may be truly said of the above gentleman. that he is one of the self-made men of Darke Co ; left fatherless at 14 years of age. he has battled against the hardships of the cold world, and by his own hard labor secured a good property.

 

WILLIAM REED, farmer and proprietor of Reed's saw-mill ; P. 0. Greenville ; another of our self-made men, born in the county of Antrim. Ireland, Dec. 14. 1831, where he obtained his education in the subscription schools. and followed farming and weaving until 18 years of age. when he emigrated to America. landing in New York in 1849 ; coming directly. West, he followed various per- suits for a time in Michigan, and after a few years' residence in Missouri and Indiana, came to Ohio, and until 1861, was employed in farming and working in saw mills in Hamilton Co.; in 1861. he came to Darke Co. and located in Neave Township ; in 1872, he located upon his present place, and purchased 160 acres to which he has since added until he now owns 230 acres, and has brought a large part of the same, which was at the time a howling wilderness. to a good state of cultivation, by his own hard labor ; he erected his steam saw-mill in 1872. and has since successfully run the saw-mill in connection with farming ; Mr. Reed arrived in New York with very little money, and was robbed of all save one penny ; he then borrowed the means to take him to Michigan, and paid the same back from his wages at $15 per month ; the writer of this article has been informed by friends of the above gentleman of the misfortunes of Mr. Reed in losing a large part of his hard earnings by the "sharp” (?) practice of a certain professional gentleman :

 

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in 1876, he visited the land of his birth ; during the voyage, in the steamer Scotland, they ran into and sank another vessel near Sandy Hook ; returning in the city of Antwerp, he also experienced another accident of the same nature. Wm. Reed and Sarah Lowery, were married March 18, 1867 ; she died June 5, 1874 ; four sons were the fruit of this union, viz. : John R., born March 11, 1868 ; William H., Nov. 1. 1869 ; David L., Jan. 7, 1872 ; Clifford, May 25, 1874 ; his marriage with Christiana Howard was celebrated Sep. 22, 1876 ; she was born in Preble Co., Ohio, Aug. 1, 1846 ; they had two children by this union—Walter H., born March 19. 1878, and an infant born Oct. 22, 1879. Mr. Reed was raised a Presbyterian, his first wife being of the same belief, his present wife being a member of the Christian Church ; the mother of Mrs. Reed was a daughter of John Porter, who was born in Pennsylvania and removed to Kentucky in 1830, thence to Darke Co. at a very early day, living here several years, and died in Kentucky in 1846.

 

F. REHLING, dealer in stoves, tinware, house-furnishing goods, etc., etc., Greenville ; is another of the self-made men of Darke Co.; born in Hesse, Germany, May 27, 1837, where he received a good German education ; at 16 years of age, he emigrated to America, landing in New York June 5, 1853 ; coming directly West, he arrived in Greenville without means, he then obtained employment in the Fairview Hotel, at $6 per month, and for three years was employed in the hotel business ; he then served three years' apprenticeship to learn the trade of tinner, and after completing his trade; he worked eleven years as journeyman ; in 1868. he engaged in the above business, and in 1870 was unfortunate in business, losing all his capital ; he then worked at the bench three years when he started his present business, which he has since successfully followed ; he feels perfectly safe in saying that he carries the largest stock of goods and does a more extensive trade in his line than any one in Greenville, and is one of our most enterprising and respected citizens. His marriage with Josephine Craig was celebrated in 1862 ; they have six children now living, viz : Wesley, William, Henry T., James F., Archie and Sophia E.

 

WILLIAM REQUARTH, farmer and stock-raiser ; residence Sec. 29, Township 10. Range 3 east ; P. 0. Greenville ; born in Hesse, Germany, Sept. 22, 1833, where he attended the schools continually from 6 to 14 years of age ; he is the son of John H. Requarth, who was a native of the same place, born Jan. 9, 1796. and emigrated to America, landing in New York, Jan. 8, 1848, and is now living (at this date, 1879) at the advanced age of 84 years ; Wm. Requarth came to America and to Ohio with his parents in 1848 ; he assisted his father until 23 years of age, after which he was employed at farming and blacksmithing a few years, and upon the 5th of May. 1859. He was married to Wilheniia Ostermeier ; she was born Feb, 22. 1834, in Hesse, Germany ; they are, the parents of six sons and four daughters. viz.. William, Henry, John, Frank, Charlie, Louisa, Mena, Caroline. Mollie and August ; the latter died in infancy. Mr. Requarth is one of the self-made men of Darke Co.; he has been a resident of the county since 1865,-owns 123 acres of good land with good, farm-buildings valued at about $10,000, all of which he has made by his own hard labor ; he has held the office of Supervisor two terms. School Director two terms, and is now one of the Trustees of Greenville Township.

 

FRED C. REQUARTH, brick-manufacturer ; P. 0. Greenville. This gentleman is a native of Germany ; born in Hesse July 1. 1841. He is a son of Henry Requarth. who emigrated to America with his family when our subject was only 6 years old. He landed in New York City, and from there came directly to Montgomery Co. and located in Clay Township ; he is the father of sixteen children. Our subject remained at home, assisting his father on the farm in summer. and devoting the winter to acquisition of knowledge in common schools till he was 14 years of age ; at this time he was apprenticed to learn the shoemaker's trade, and served a term of three years; he pursued his profession continually

 

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for the succeeding fourteen years. He then began the manufacturing of brick in the summer, and continued his trade through the winter months. He served his apprenticeship in Dayton, Ohio, and remained there the most of the time, till he came here in 1872 and settled on the place where he now resides ; he has an extensive brick-factory. He celebrated his marriage with Miss Louisa Steinbrigge July 12, 1862 ; she is also a native of Germany ; seven children have been born to the family, all living, viz. : Rosa, born May 10, 1863 ; Emma, Sept. 11, 1865 ; Henry, Feb. 19, 1868 • Augusta. 18. 1870 ; Mary. Nov. 12. 1873 : Ida. Sept. 1, 1876, and Freddie, born Nov. 2. 1878.

 

ABRAHAM RHOADES, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Greenville ; one of the settlers of 1854 ; he was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Feb. 8, 1832 : he was a son of Jacob Rhoades, who was born in Bedford Co, Penn., and came to Montgomery Co., Ohio, when 5 years of age. and is now living, at about 76 years of age. He married Barbara Soudurs ; she died about the year 1849. The subject of this sketch was raised to agricultural pursuits, and in 1854 came to Darke Co. and purchased 80 acres of the present place. to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns, his home farm, with the best of farm buildings ; he also owns 106 acres of land in Mercer Co.. besides one lot and one-half interest in two business houses in Greenville, and an interest in the National Bank of Greenville. all of which. save $200. he has secured by his own exertions and correct business habits. It can be truly said of him that he is one of the self-made men of Darke Co. Upon the 27th of April. 1856, he was united in marriage with Mary Pitsenberger ; she was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Jan. 23, 1832 ; they were the parents of seven children, viz. : Susannah, born Feb. 24, 1857, died Dec. 17, 1866 ; Jacob, March 9. 1859 ; Matilda A., May 12, 1861 ; Elizabeth, April 29, 1863 : Stephen. Nov 29. 1865 : Minnie, Dec. 6, 1869, and Curtis, born March 17, 1873. Mrs. Rhoades was a daughter of Jacob Pitsenberger ; he was born in Pennsylvania Aug. 18, 1802 ; came to Ohio in 1811, and to Darke Co. about the year 1848 : the last years of his life he lived in Greenville retired from business ; he died Sept. 24, 1878. The mother of Mrs. Rhoades was Susanna Miller, born April 24. 1804. and died upon the anniversary, April 24, 1859.

 

CHARLES ROLAND, journalist : Greenville ; was born in Washington Co., Ohio, Aug. 6, 1831 ; he was left an orphan when an infant, and was reared in the family of a friend in Fairfield Co.. Ohio ; his boyhood was passed on a farm, receiving only a meager common-school education, which terminated at the age of 14, when he entered the office of the Ohio Eagle, at. Lancaster. where he learned the printing business and remained several years ; in 1856, he became a partner in the ownership of the paper with John M. Connell, subsequently Colonel of the 17th O. V. I.; in the latter part of 1861, Mr. Roland became sole proprietor and conducted that journal till the spring of 1866, when he disposed of the Eagle and purchased the Greenville Democrat, of which he has since been editor and proprietor ; when he took charge of the Democrat it was a small, poorly printed sheet, with a patronage too limited for support ; it is now the largest folio in the State, is conducted with ability, circulates widely, and has yielded its owner a handsome income: Mr. Roland has always been a stanch Democrat, and during his management of the Eagle it was a bold, outspoken sheet ; upon the opening of the late war, its editor, for taking exceptions to the manner in which the war was being conducted, in the fall of 1862, was summoned by Gov. Tod to an interview in his office at Columbus ; he at once presented himself before the Governor, hay. ing with him three prominent citizens of Lancaster, as witnesses of what might transpire. The Governor complained that the tone of his paper was disloyal and tended to discourage enlistments, and stated that his first impulse had been to suppress the paper and send its editor to Fort Warren. Mr. Roland replied, that he had taken for his guide the Constitution and laws of the country. and that of two meetings in the same week, at Lancaster. by Republicans and Democrats.

 

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respectively, at the former five men enlisted, and at the latter thirteen. The interview closed by a threat somewhat excitedly expressed by the Governor, in these words : " Constitution and laws or not, unless the tone of your paper is changed it will be suppressed, and you will be sent to Fort Warren ; I have the backbone to do it." Mr. Roland returned to Lancaster and published an attested account of the interview in the next issue of his paper, and continued to publish his views of the eventful struggle, and was not molested. In 1851, he married Amelia, daughter of Lewis Clark, of Lancaster, and four sons and five daughters are the issue of the union ; the eldest son, Arthur A. Roland, is editor and publisher of the Lebanon Patriot.

 

JERY RUNKEL, Sheriff ; Greenville. Among the self-made men of Darke County we are pleased to make mention-of the above gentleman ; he was born in Fairfield Co.. Ohio. Aug. 15, 1835 ; came to Darke County with his parents when quite young ; he was left an orphan when 9 years of age ; thrown upon his own resources and commenced the struggle of life alone ; he lived in Butler Township from 1844 to 1855, at which time he purchased a farm of forty acres in Harrison Township, upon which he then located and resided until Jan. 1, 1880, when he removed to Greenville ; in the spring of 1879 he received the nomination for Sheriff upon the Democratic ticket, elected October following by a majority of 675 votes. His marriage with Isabella Hindsley was celebrated in Harrison Township, Darke County, in 1857 ; they have four children now living, having lost two by death ; the living are William H., Joseph E., Frances G. and Edith R.

ISAAC RUSH, retired farmer ; P. O. Greenville. Among the early pioneers of Darke County the gentleman whose name heads this sketch is entitled to a place in the front ranks ; he was born in Trenton, Butler Co., Ohio, Dec. 8, 1815 ; he was a son of Jacob Rush. who was born in Pennsylvania, and was among the early pioneers of Darke County ; locating here in 1829 upon the place where Isaac Rush now lives ; in 1830 he entered this land, where he passed the remainder of his days ; his death occurring in 1842. He married Jemima House in Butler County ; she was born in Warren County, and died in Darke County in 1854 ; they were the parents of seven children, of whom three are deceased. Isaac Rush came to Darke County in 1829, Greenville, at that time, containing very few buildings, a large part of the land upon which the city now stands being covered by a dense thicket ; he assisted his father until 1836. when he devoted four years to carpentering, and in 1840 took charge of the home farm, upon which he has lived, with the exception of the above four years, for a period of half a century ; he now has 85 acres reaching to the corporation limits, a part of which he has refused $300 per acre for, during his residence here he has witnessed the marvelous growth of a town of some two hundred inhabitants, spread out to be a city of some four thousand, and which has already extended to, and obtained a foothold upon his farm. He married Nancy Swisher in August, 1843 ; she was born in Montgomery County, and in 1830 came to Darke County ; they are the parents of five children, viz., Mary, Abram. John, Ie and Alaska.

 

ANDREW T. RUSH. manufacturer, Greenville ; firm of Rush & Eby, proprietors of the Greenville Agricultural Works ; Mr. R. is one of the oldest citizens of Darke County, being born in this township April 11, 1831, and is a son of W. H. Rush, a native of Pennsylvania, who located here in 1812 ; he died about the year 1873 ; the subject of our sketch was raised to farming, which occupation he has always followed in connection with milling, during which time he was also agent for the D. & U. R. R. at Rush Station, which was named in honor of his father. Upon the 18th of March, 1866, he was married to Anna Byrom, born in Washington Township April 18, 1839 ; she was a daughter of Silas Byrom, also an old settler ; they have three children by this union, viz., Sarah O.,Wm. A. and an infant. In the year 1879, the firm of Rush & Eby was organized for the purpose of supplying a long-felt want of Darke County. Their business will be chiefly confined

 

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to the manufacture of plows and all kinds of agricultural implements ; they also give special attention to repairing of the same. Mr. Wm. Eby, the junior member of the above firm is a gentleman thoroughly educated in every detail of his business, and we find his reputation and skill as a superior workman is already established in Greenville. A card of their business will be found in another part of work and is the first agricultural works of Greenville.

 

HENRY ST. CLAIR, merchant ; Greenville ; dealer in groceries, provisions, produce, glass and queensware, etc., etc. Greenville. like most cities of its size. has its representative business men in nearly all branches of trade, and while it has several good stores in the above line, it is conceded by all, that the leading grocery house of Greenville is that of Henry St. Clair, who is one of the most enterprising, energetic and active business men of the place, and has by the above traits of character, combined with honorable and fair dealing, during the past eight years, built up the largest grocery trade done by any one house in Darke County : he carries a large stock, selected with care. which would do credit to any large city. He has had a steady yearly increase of trade his sales for the year 1878 being upward of $200,000. Mr. St. Clair was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., upon the 7th of May, 1852 ; when 3 years of age, he emigrated to Darke County with his parents. and, after a residence of seven years, removed to Cincinnati. and was educated in the public schools, and completed his education by a course of instruction in the Commercial College ; at 16 years of age, he accepted a position as book-keeper in a large wholesale house in Cincinnati with which he remained four years in 1872. he camp to Greenville and engaged in his present business. A card of his business will be found in the business directory of Greenville. in another part of this work. His marriage with Ella S. Van Dyke was celebrated Feb, 4, 1875 ; she was born in Glendale, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1853.

 

WILLIAM SCHAFER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Greenville ; was born in Prussia, Germany, Sept. 2, 1833, where he followed farming until 20 years of age. when he emigrated to America. landing in New Orleans in 1853 ; he then came to Montgomery County and to Dayton and followed various pursuits in the above county until March, 1865, when he came to Darke County and purchased his present place ; he now has 84 acres with the best of farm buildings ; he landed in Dayton with a capital of $3.00, and has by his own hard labor and correct business habits, secured all of the above property : in 1877, he was elected one of the Directors of the county infirmary, which office he now holds ; has been a member of the Lutheran Church thirty-two years ; has suffered great affliction in his family, having lost five of his eight children by death. Upon the 1st of December, 1859, he was united in marriage with Mary Schermer ; she was born in Auglaize Co., Ohio, in 1835 ; they were the parents of eight children, viz.. Mary, born Feb. 3, 1861 ; William, born June 17,1863, died Aug. 16, 1864 ; Katie. born Aug. 3, 1865, died May 8, 1876 ; Menie, born Aug. 29, 1867, died March 14, 1870 ; Louisa, born Dec. 10, 1869, died in 1871 ; John, born Feb. 17, 1872 ; Susie, born July 7, 1874 ; Harvey, born Oct. 4. 1876, died Feb. 1, 1879.

 

JACOB O. SCHELL, biographical historian, Greenville, is a son of Joshua Schell, and a grandson of Jacob and Elizabeth (Caylor) Schell ; he was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 14, 1779 ; and she, Dec. 19, 1784 ; they were the parents of twelve children ; six died in infancy, and six grew to maturity ; these were Elizabeth, born March 27, 1807 ; George, March 15, 1809 ; Joshua, July 29. 1811 ; Sophia, Jan. 2, 1815 ; Nancy, July 30, 1819 ; and Jacob, Jan. 19, 1827. They left Pennsylvania Oct. 14, 1830, and came to Ohio in a one-horse wagon, this was so crowded With their household goods that there was room for but one passenger ; the mother and the youngest son occupied, by turns, the vacant space in the wagon ; Jacob was not 4 years old, yet he walked a good portion of the way, and no doubt made a grotesque appearance, in his red linsey dress andcap of rabbit skins. Elizabeth was married to Joseph Fourman and came to this State at the same time in a wagon

 

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of their own ; they traveled from twelve to twenty-two miles per day ; in twenty-eight days they reached Montgomery County and stopped for a few days with .Jacob Ryder near Liberty. and then went six miles below Hamilton to John Redsecker. who furnished them with an old log house to live in. When they landed, their stock consisted of the one-horse load of household goods, horse and wagon. and some less than $1 in money. They bought some 30 acres acres of timber land, and the next fall built a house and settled on their new home. It was mainly by the energy and economy of the two oldest boys that they were enabled to pay for this and improve it ; George stayed at home till 25 years of age, and Joshua till 23 years old they and their father were carpenters, and worked for 75 cents a day. In 1850, they sold their little home for $1,500, and afterward bought 92 acres in Clay Township, Montgomery Co., near West Baltimore ; here he died Aug. 4, 1861. His widow then went to live with her son Joshua (who since the fall of 1851 had lived in Darke Co.), where she died Aug. 31. 1868. In 1839. Jan. 10, Joshua Schell was united in marriage with Mary White. born in Pennsylvania. Feb. 29.1820 ; she is a daughter of Jacob White, who died a few years ago in Indiana, at the advanced age of 93 years. Joshua and Mary Schell were the parents of ten children—Amanda, born in Butler Co., Ohio, Aug. 30. 1839 ; Ann Elizabeth, Aug. 5. 1841 ; Mary F., Aug. 5. 1844 ; Sophy. Sept. 2, 184fi Jacob O., Sept 25, 1849 ; Adin H.. born in Darke Co., Ohio, March 22, 1352 : Nancy E.. July 15. 1854 ; Joseph W., Sept. 24, 1356 ; Aurelia C., Nov. 28, 1860. and Milo M., Feb. 18. 1863. Five of these are married and have had in all nineteen children, of which seventeen are living. The subject of this sketch was brought up on the farm. and received a good common-school education ; in the fall of 1869. he commenced teaching, and continued to teach in the winter season for several years. and attended school during the summer, or worked at the carpenter's trade. On the I 7th of June. 1875. just 100 years after the battle of Bunker Hill. he completed the English normal course at the Ohio Central Normal School at Worthington. On the 19th of June of the same year, he married Elizabeth B. Mundlienk. a daughter of Philip Mundhenk, whose biography appears in this volume : she was born Feb. 16, 1853 : for several years she also was engaged in teaching. in the fall of 1875. they moved to Gettysburg, Darke Co., Ohio, and taught the schools of that place ; the following year, they moved to Arcanum and remained three years ; here their daughter. .Judith Opal, was born Aug. 9, 1877. They are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in which he was brought up. On Oct. 22. 1879, they "moved to Greenville, and he is now one of the solicitors for this work.

 

WILLIAM H. SCHULTZ. farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Greenville ; born in the State of Maryland Sept. 7. 1843 ; here he was engaged in various pursuits until 1863, at which date he emigrated to Darke Co., Ohio, and for two years was employed as a farm laborer. Upon the 8th of April, 1865, he was united in marriage with Martha A. Noggle ; she was born in Darke Co.. Jan. 18, 1846 ; they have three children—Mary E.. born March 1.1869 ; Margaret F., born Aug. 21, 1872. and .Julia P.. born Jan. 13. 1875. Mr. Schultz purchased his present place of 120 acres in 1.867 ; it is valued at about $10,000. nearly all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor and correct business habits ; he was a son of Frederick Schultz. who was born in Pennsylvania and died in Maryland in February. 1876 ; he Married Mary P. Poblitz, also a native of Pennsylvania ; she died in 1877. The wife of the subject of this sketch is a daughter of David Noggle, one of the old settlers or Darke Co., and who is prominently mentioned in this work.

 

JOHN H. SCHWABLE, proprietor of Turpen House billiard hall and sample room. Greenville. Ohio : born in Seneca Co., Ohio, March 10, 1850 ; he was left an orphan when quite young, and has since made his way through the world alone ; when 10 years of age, he went to Piqua, Miami Co., and after attending the public schools two years. learned. and worked at the baker's trade five years,

 

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and in 1872 came to Greenville, and for five years was employed as clerk of the Wagner House ; in November, 1877, he purchased his present place of business. which he has since successfully followed. Mr. Schwable is very genial, gentlemanly and courteous to his large and increasing trade, and gives his personal attention to his business in all its details. Upon the 24th of April, 1877, he was united in marriage with Mary Haas ; she was born in Germany ; they have two children,

Henry L. and Frank J.

 

JOHN SEBRING, farmer, Sec. 1, P. 0. Greenville. This gentleman is another of the early pioneers of this county ; he was born near Cincinnati. Ohio, Aug. 20. 1816, and is the son of Jacob Sebring, who was born in New Jersey December. 1776. In the latter part of the eighteenth century, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Smalley, who was also a native of New Jersey ; they were the parents of eight children, five of whom are still living he emigrated West in 1816, locating temporarily near Cincinnati, Ohio ; after remaining here a few years, he removed with his family in 1821 to this county, settling upon a piece of land located in the same section on which our subject now resides ; at this time, this county was covered with a vast stretch of wilderness, with only here and there a spot cleared off large enough to erect a log cabin ; to assist his father to clear away the dense forests and cultivate the soil gave our subject ample employment till he was 21 years of age ; educational facilities were then very meager, but he availed himself of all the advantages then offered in this direction, acquiring for himself a common-school education. He has been twice married, first to Matilda Clark, Nov. 23. 1837 ; they were the parents of five children, three of whom are still living ; the father and children were soon called upon to mourn the loss of an affectionate wife and loving mother. About five years later. Mr. Sebring celebrated his second marriage. with Malinda Gower, Nov. 15, 1858 ; they are the parents of three children. all of whom the swift messenger of death has visited and consigned to the silent tomb ; he now owns a beautiful farm. the result of his own industry and frugality. assisted by his kind companions. and is surrounded with everything, that tends to lighten the burdens of declining life.

 

IRA SEBRING, farmer and stock-raiser. See. 1 : P. 0. Greenville. To the subject of this memoir we are pleased to accord a place to one of Darke Co.'s permanent settlers ; he was born in this township Dec. 8, 1846, and is a son of John and Matilda Sebring, who were among the early pioneers of this county. and who gave civilization, improvement and refinement a foothold in the vast wilderness of Ohio ; they settled here in this township in 1823. and he has been a resident here ever since, having lived here continuously for fifty-seven years, and is now in declining health, as strength and vigor are gradually fading away ; Mrs. Sebring departed this life twenty-five years ago ; they were the parents of five children. of whom three are now living, viz., Angeline, Malinda and our subject, who was raised a farmer boy, and assisted his father in agricultural pursuits till his 18th year. when he began life for himself and engaged in farming ; through his own exertions. he stored his mind with useful information, and was prepared to enter the field of labor in imparting knowledge ; he has successfully labored in the schoolroom at irregular intervals for nine years, and is among the successful educators of the county ; he has 65 acres of fine land where he resides, all under a good state of cultivation, and his improvements are number one and comfortable in every way ; he entered the race of life with a very small capital, and by energy, perseverance and good management, he has made a good home, and is surrounded by all the comforts of life. He was united in marriage with Joanna, daughter of Samuel and Ella Dunn, Aug. 1, 1867 ; they were natives of Maryland ; afterward residents of Clark and Greene Cos., Ohio, and settled in Darke Co. in 1866, where they now reside ; Mr. and Mrs. Sebring were the parents of five children, viz.: Samuel J., born Nov. 7, 1868. died Feb. 12. 1871 ; Elldatta, born Sept. 27, 1870 ; Oraetta May, born May 26, 1873, died Jan. 2. 1880 ; Vinnie V.. born Oct. 30, 1875; Kati V. born Feb. 10, 1878 ; they have been very unfortunate in raising their children.

 

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as that dreadful scourge, the scarlet fever, has carried two of their little ones from their embrace. Mr. S. has been a member of the Reformed Church for six years. and his amiable wife for a period of eight years ; they are exemplary Christian people, and through their faith they see the gateway of entrance whereby they can be re-united with the little ones that have gone before them.

 

C. J. SHADE, farmer ; P. 0. Greenville ; although a young man, the above gentleman may be classed among the old settlers, this being his native county, and his birth occurred in 1844 ; he is a son of A. R. and Sarah Shade, who were among the early settlers, locating in this county in the year 1820, when there were but few improvements, no pikes, and but few roads were passable save on horseback ; the dense forest where they located has since been cleared, and in its place is found fine cultivated farms ; at that early day, there was also plenty of game ; deer, wild turkeys, wolves, etc., were to be seen in large numbers ; the early life of our subject was that of a farmer's son, his education being confined mostly to the privileges offered by the common schools. His marriage with Mary Anderson was celebrated in Randolph Co., Ind.. in 1865 ; they have three children by this union— Sarah Catharine, Charles A. B., and Mary Eveline.

 

HENRY SHOVER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Greenville ; another of the old settlers of Darke Co. ; born in York Township April 4, 1836 ; he was the youngest son of Sebastian Shover, who was probably born in Pennsylvania. and came to Montgomery Co. when quite young, and to Darke Co. about the year 1832: he died in York Township in 1840 ; he married in Montgomery Co. to Margaret Weaver ; she was born in Pennsylvania and died in Darke Co. in 1869. The subject of this memoir was left fatherless when 4 years of age, after which he lived with his mother until 10 years of age ; he then made his home with his Grandfather Weaver, until 15 years of age, when he started out in the world for himself and served three years at the blacksmith's trade, after which he came to Greenville and was employed four years at his trade ; he then started in business for himself, and was engaged at his trade some thirteen years. when, in the spring of 1863, he gave up his business and purchased his present place, where he has since lived ; he has 40 acres of land, with good farm buildings, located two miles from Greenville, under a good state of cultivation ; his marriage with Angeline Sebring was celebrated Sept. 16, 1858 ; she was born in Greenville Township, Darke Co., Sept. 27, 1838 ; they have no children of their own. but have taken to raise a girl now 8 years old, whom they treat and educate as their own. Mrs. S. is a daughter of John Sebring, whose sketch appears amour the biographies of Greenville Township in this work.

 

GE0. W. SNYDER. farmer and stock-raiser. Section 19, Greenville Township; P. 0. Mt. Heron. Among the early settlers of Darke Co. we mention the gentleman whose name heads this sketch ; he was born in .Hamilton Co., Ohio, June 5. 1830: he was a son of Geo. Snyder, who was born in Pennsylvania July 4. 1804. He married Elizabeth Dively ; she was born Oct. 9, 1799, in Pennsylvania ; he located in Hamilton Co. when there was but three or four log houses where Cincinnati now stands ; in 1836, came to Darke Co., and in 1873 he started West. since which time all trace of him has been lost. Mrs. Snyder died Sept. 13, 1839. They were the parents of six children, viz. : George W., Elizabeth A. and Martha J. (triplets), born June 5, 1830 ; Mary A., born Jan. 30, 1834, deceased ; Abraham, born Jan. 27, 1836, and Frederick, born Aug. 21, 1838. At 9 years of age, Geo. W. was taken and raised by Emanuel Flory until 20 years of age. and by dint of hard study obtained a fair education ; at the latter age, he went to Greenville and devoted three years to carriage-making ; he then started in the above business for himself, in connection with undertaking, at Hill Grove, following the same three years, during which time he did all of the undertaking for Union City ; in 1857, he purchased the farm now owned by Samuel Puterbaugh, and after clearing some 70 or 80 acres, sold out in 1865 and purchased his present place ; he now owns 150 acres four miles west from Greenville, with good farm

 

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buildings ; he has secured all of the above property, valued at from $10.000 to $12,000, by his own hard labor. He married Catherine Puterbaugh July 4, 1852 ; four children by this union-Amy E., born April 22, 1854 ; Lauretta J., Oct. 22, 1855 ; Frederick B., Aug. 18, 1856, and Fernando, July 16, 1860. March 23, 1865, he was united in marriage with Julia Ann Sink ; she was born in Darke Co. June 4, 1845; children was the fruits of this union-Lewis E., born June 23, 1866, died May 15, 1867 ; Jacob E., born May 8, 1868 ; Mary L.. Jan. 10, 1871 ; Nora Rosa Ellen, Sept. 27, 1873, and Murtle L., June 1, 1876.

 

ANDREW J. SMITH, barber and hair-dresser, Greenville ; was born in Fredericksburg, Va., Oct. 5, 1828, and is a son of Robert and Sarah Smith. who are still living and reside in Piqua, and are upward of 80 years of age. Our subject came to Greenville, May 6, 1859, and has followed his profession ever since ; he has been very successful in business, having accumulated a good property, all the fruit of his own hard labor. He is one of the leading tonsorial artists, and we can advise any who want a good. clean and easy shave to give Andy a trial.

 

O. H. SMITH, Greenville, Ohio ; dealer in stoves and tinware. The subject of this memoir was born in Winchester, Randolph Co., Ind., in 1855, and is a son of Jeremiah and Cynthia Smith, residents of Randolph Co. ; both are dead ; his father died in 1872 at the age of 68 years ; his mother died in 1873. aged 54 years. Our subject resided at home till he was 17 years of age. when he began life tip himself and followed various pursuits ; he removed to Greenville in 1877 and opened a hardware store, which business he is still engaged in. He was united in marriage in 1878, Dec. 24, to Miss Voria Southern ; her parents are residents of this place.

 

JACOB STEINLE, Greenville, Ohio; manufacturer and dealer in cigars and tobacco. The subject of this memoir was born in Shelby Co., Ohio, -Feb. 25, 1854 ; in 1867, he commenced the cigar trade, and followed the same for two years in La Crosse, Wis. ; thence to Vandalia, Ill., for a short time ; thence to Indianapolis, Ind., where he followed his trade seven years, and in June, 1877, came to Greenville and engaged in his present business, which he has since successfully followed. He is a practical cigar-maker, and gives his personal attention to every detail of his business, and has in his employ the year round from two to six men. His marriage with Emma S. Reeder was celebrated in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1875 ; they have two children, John H. and Anna.

 

JOHN STEPHENS, blacksmith, Sec. 5 ; P. O. Greenville ; another of the old settlers ; born in Darke Co., German Township, Nov. 11, 1825 ; he was a son of David Stephens, one of the early pioneers of Darke Co. ; he was born in Washington Co., Penn., Nov. 1, 1791 ; he came to Jefferson Co., Ohio, with his parents in 1798, four years before Ohio was admitted into the Union as a State ; he came to Preble Co. in 1805 and to Darke Co., 1818 ; he was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving a part of the time as scout between Fort Nesbit and Fort Recovery, and was in the memorable forced march from Fort Greenville to Muncie, hid., in the winter of 1814, to relieve Isaac Shelly and Gen. Winchester, Kentuckian& who were out of rations, and was compelled to stand guard half the night in snow knee-deep, without anything to eat he was, so far as known, the last surviving one living in this county who served at Fort Greenville ; he suffered all the hardships and privations of frontier life, and by industry and economy secured a handsome competence ; he was a man of sterling will and integrity, and won the esteem of all who knew him ; in early life, he joined the Church of the United Brethren, and in 1861 or 1862 connected himself with the Reformed Church, and lived a consistent Christian life until his death, which occurred Jan. 8, 1879, aged 87 years, 2 months and 8 days. He was married in Darke Co. to Lydia Wagner ; she was born in the year 1803 ; she is now living in German Township, at the advanced age of 77 years they were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are now living. The subject of this sketch commenced to learn

 

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the blacksmithing trade at Palestine when 19 years of age, and worked at his trade in German Township, with the exception of six months' residence in Indiana, until about the year 1847, when he removed to Neave Township ; and about the year 1853 located upon his present place, where he has lived and followed his trade for a period of two and a half decades ; he also owns 140 acres of land, which he rents, devoting his entire attention to his trade. He has been twice married, first, in 1851, to Maria D. Dininger, a daughter of Jacob Dininger, one of the early pioneers of Darke Co. ; she was born in Montgomery Co., May 6, 1830 ; she died in Darke Co, Aug. 15, 1865, leaving five children, of whom four are now living—William, Margaret, Lewis, and Lydia. His marriage with Mrs. Matilda Risser was celebrated Oct. 4, 186$ ; her maiden name was Finfrock ; she was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Dec. 17, 1832 ; they have three children by this union, viz., Alva A.. Clara E., and John C,

 

HENRY TILLMAN, retired farmer ; P. 0. Greenville ; one of the old settlers of Darke Co. ; born in Preble Co., Ohio, Jan. 20, 1818 ; he was a son of John Tillman, Sr., who was born in Virginia April 17, 1780, and when 10 years of age removed to Tennessee, and came to the Territory of Ohio about the year 1800, two years previous to its admission into the Union as a State ; he he was married in Tennessee to Nancy Harlers ; she was also a native of Virginia, born Sept. 10. 1790 ; they were the parents of seventeen children, of whom thirteen lived to grow up ; Mr. Tillman died in Preble Co., Feb. 24, 1850 ; his wife died Sept. 1, 1863. The subject of this memoir was raised to farming in Preble Co. until 22 years of age, when, in 1840, he came to Darke Co. and located in Van Buren Township. upon 160 acres of timber land which had been entered by his father ; and upon this place he resided until 1871, a period of thirty years, during which time he cleared upward of 500 acres, and brought the same from a howling wilderness to a good state of improvement, and in 1862 he was in possession of 1.000 acres of land ; he has since disposed of a part of the same, and now has about 600 acres divided into improved farms. Mr. Tillman has been one of the hard-working and industrious men of Darke Co., and by his energy, industry and correct business habits, has placed himself among the large landholders of this county ; in 1872, he purchased his present residence in Greenville, with 15 acres of land within the corporation of Greenville, upon which he then located. and where he has since lived, retired from active labor, having his farm rented. .June 16, 1840, he was married to Rachel Townsend ; she was born April 3. 1820, and died March 18, 1848 ; two children are now living by this union— Noah H. and Lydia. His marriage with Martha Thorn was celebrated Aug. 12, 1849: she was born in Indiana in 1824, and with her parents came to Darke Co. hi 1831 ; she was a daughter of Thomas A. Thorn, one of the early pioneers of Darke Co. ; he died in this county in 1852 ; they have three children by this union. viz. : Belie, now Mrs. Henry Hetzler ; John A., farming in Brown Township ; and Susie, now Mrs. Cliff Boyde. Mr. T. has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the Christian Church for a period of thirty years ; his wife and four of the children also belong to the church.

 

WALTER J. TODD. livery and feed stable ; the subject of this memoir was born in Campbell Co.. Ky., Feb. 3. 1840, and is a son of Charles W. and Catherine Todd, also natives of Kentucky. Our subject removed to Greenville in 1861. and soon after embarked in the livery stable business, in which he is still engaged ; he carries a fine stock of turn-outs, the finest in the city, and is prepared at all times to give his customers, or any who may favor him with a call, a fine rig at moderate prices. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Coblantz. a native of Ohio, Jan. 14, 1871 ; they were the parents of two children, viz., George B.. born in 1872, Chasseldown, born in 1875.

 

J. W. TROXELL, saw-miller and lumber dealer ; P. 0. Greenville ; born in Virginia. Sept. 5. 1838, where he remained with his parents till 1845. when they

 

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moved to Knightstown. Ind., where he remained until 1839 or 1860 ; at this date, he purchased a saw-mill, and moved it to Illinois. where he remained some two years ;, he then disposed of his mill and went to Indianapolis. where he worked at the carpenter's trade, and in 1373 came to this county. where he has since continued to reside. On the 22c1 of December. 1873, he was united in marriage with Nancy M. Anderson ; they are the parents of four children. of whom three are living, viz., Fannie B., Belle and Mamie ; the deceased (lied in infancy.

 

THOMAS P. TURPEN, retired ; P. O. Greenville ; the paternal ancestry of our subject cannot be traced with any degree of certainty all that is definitely known is that his Grandfather Turpen was born in England. and emigrated to this country in about the year 1700 ; on the maternal side, we only know that a George- - Hubbard, whom we will call the first George Hubbard. was born in England in 1590 ; settled first in Hartford. Conn., married Elizabeth Watts ; came to Middletown in 1650 ; had eight children, six being sons : died March 18, 1684 : his children's names were Mary, born Feb. 16, 1641 ; Joseph. born Dec. 10. 16-13; Daniel, born December, 1645 ; Samuel. born May 9, 1648 George. born December, 1650 ; Nathaniel, born Dec. 10, 1652 ; Richard, born Jan. 15, 1655 ; Elizabeth. born 1659. II. Joseph Hubbard, son of George First, was born Dec. 10, 1643 ; died 1686 ; his children were Robert. born Oct. 30, 1673 , George. born 1675: died Dec. 15, 1765. III. George Hubbard. son of Joseph, was born 1675, died Dec. 15, 1765; married Elizabeth Miller Dec. 22, 1703 their children were George, born March 9. 1705 ; Mahitable, born June 21. 1708 ; Richard. born Jan. 8, 1712 ; Abner. born April 10, 1715 ; Caleb, born Ang.28,1716 ; Hezekialm. born March 6, 1718 : Abner, born July 26, 1721. IV. George Hubbard. son of George Third. born March 9, 1705; married Mercy Roberts ; their children were George, born Feb. 6. 1731; Abner, born 1733. was lost at sea. V. George Hubbard, son of George Fourth, was born Feb. 6, 1731, old style, died Jan. 7, 1809. new style : married Mary Stocking ; their children were George, born Aug. 17, 1758 ; Mahitable. born Feb. 18. 1762 ; Jesse. born June 7. 1764 ; Elias, born Aug. 26. 1766 : Asa. born Jan. 13, 1769 ; Zadoe, born Jan. 8, 1771 ; Ansel, born June 15, 1774 ; Mary, born April 16, 1780. Henry Turpen, father of our sketch, was born in Middletown, Comm., 1775 ; was married to Mary Hubbard in the year 1798, by whom he had twelve children, of whom six are still living ; Thomas P. Turpen was born near Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio, Oct. 1, 1820 ; his early days were passed in the endless variety of ways incident to boy life on the farm, and his educational advantages were commensurate with those early times ; he remained on the farm until the age of .32, when he came to Greenville and engaged in the dry-goods business ; after two years' experience, he was employed as Government agent ; continuing in this for three years, he rent to Peru, South America ; remaining about a year. he returned to Greenville and engaged in the furniture business ; remaining in this until 1862, he was elected County Treasurer and served four years ; in 1869. he built the " Turpen House," and presided over it till 1878. when he was succeeded by his son. His marriage with Mary J. Hunter was celebrated March 14, 1843 ; she was born June 17, 1824 ; they were the parents of four sons and one daughter, viz.: Lucy H.. died at 3 years of age ; John C., County Auditor, whose sketch also appears in this work ; William V., now conducting the hotel, whose sketch also appears in this work ; Daniel B., and Frank ; Lucy IL, born Feb. 21, 1844 ; John C., Oct. 31, 1845 ; William V.. July 7, 1847 ; Daniel B., July 20, 1851 ; Frank E., March 12, 1854.

 

JOHN C. TURPEN. County Auditor ; Greenville, Ohio ; born in Darke Co.. Ohio, Oct. 31, 1845, and is a son of Thomas P. Turpen, whose sketch also appears in this work John C. attended the public schools of Greenville, and completed his education by attending the Adrian College, of Adrian. Mich., one year. and the Albion College. Albion. Mich., three terms ; he then attended the Commer 'cial College of Dayton. from which he graduated in 186S he was then employed in the Auditor's office at Greenville several years. and in 1878 was elected to the

 

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above office. which he now holds. Upon the 21st of January. 1869. he was united in marriage with Mattie Wharry : they have tim• children by this union. Fred H.. Mary. Clara. and Maggie : Mrs. Turpen is a daughter of Judge John Wharry. one of the early pioneers of Darke Co.

 

WILLIAM V. TURPEN. proprietor of the Turpen House. Greenville ; born in Greenville Township. Darke Co.. Ohio. July 7. 1847. and is a son of Thomas P. Turpen. whose sketch also appears in this work. A small part of the early life of our subject was passed on the farm, during which time he attended the common school. but completed his education in the graded schools of Greenville : at 18 years of age. he entered the store of his father, continuing with him in his different branches of trade until the completion of the above hotel, which was erected, opened and conducted by his father until the spring of 1S79,•when he was succeeded by William V.. who has already established a reputation as being one of the best hotel proprietors of the State, and we can say from our own experience that we have found no hotel in Ohio. where we have been so well satisfied as at the Turpen House, and predict that the genial landlord will soon find himself laboring under one difficulty, viz.. want of room for the accommodation of his many patrons. The marriage nuptials of William V. Turpen and Mary .Jones were celebrated June 7. 1870; she was born in Darke Co. in 1850 ; her father, John Jones. was editor of the first paper printed in this county. Two children are the fruits of this union. viz., Benjamin and Nellie.

 

JOSEPH H. TURNER. firm of Turner Bros., wholesale and retail liquor dealers, Broadway. Greenville. Ohio. Greenville. like most cities of its size, has its representative business men in nearly every branch of trade, and we must accord to the above firm the honor of being the leading firm of the place in their line, carrying, as they do, a large and extensive stock of foreign and domestic goods, which they sell at the smallest margin. Joseph R. Turner is the senior member of the firm, and was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, June 23. 1842 ; received the ;Idvantare of the common schools. and completed his education by a course of twd years' study at the Wittenberg College at Springfield. In the summer of 1861 he enlisted in the 13th Mo. V. I.; was then transferred to the 22d 0. V. I., serving sixteen months : he then returned home on a sick furlough ; received a commission as Second Lieutenant of Co. K. 93d 0. V. I., and served with this regiment through Kentucky and Tennessee. participating in the battles of Fort Donelson. Shiloh. and some battles of less importance. The hardships of army life being too severe for his constitution. after being disabled from duty some four months. he resigned. returned home. and upon the 1st of July, 1865, he made the trip overland from Omaha to Virginia City with mule teams, the trip consuming some four months. He remained in Montana some five and a half years, during which time his thermometer of success suffered many changes. he having made and lost several fortunes. He returned to Ohio in 1871, and in 1874 located in Greenville with his brother under the above firm name. where they have since done a successful business. His marriage with Hattie A. Macy was celebrated in Montgomery Co. in 1872 ; they have three children by this union, viz., Mabel, Ida and Maud.

 

HENRY VANTILBURGH. farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Greenville. We are pleased to make mention of the above gentleman among the old settlers of Darke Co. He was born in Montgomery Co.. Ohio, March 6. 1813. His father, .John Vantilburgh, was born in New Jersey. and emigrated to Warren Co., Ohio, thence to Montgomery Co., and about the year 1835 came to Darke Co., where he died in 1837 ; his wife's maiden name was Sarah Francis ; the last fourteen years of her life were spent with her son Henry. and died at his residence about the year 1864. The subject of our sketch lived in Montgomery and Warren Cos. until 25 years of age. when he came to Darke Co.. and after a residence of two years. removed to Preble Co.. and in 1844 returned to Darke Co. and located upon his present place. where he has lived for a period of thirty-five years. and has since

 

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cleared about 60 acres by his own labor. Upon locating here, his worldly possessions consisted of one small team of horses, and he was in debt $65 : he. with the assistance of his amiable wife, battled against poverty, until they have secured a pleasant home and have secured sufficient of this world's goods to carry them through life. In June, 1843, he was united in marriage with Mabel F. Holly ; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio, in 1821 ; they have one son and six daughters, viz., Nancy, Albinia, Eliza, Louisa. Sanford, Mabel and Maria.

 

E. H. VOELKLE, retired carriage and wagon maker, Greenville. Our subject was born in Cleveland. Ohio, Aug. 20, 1848 ; in 1853, he with his parents moved and located in Covington. Miami Co., where they remained until 1858. at which time they came to Gettysburg, Darke Co.. and have since been residents of said county, he having been a resident of Greenville for several years. In April, 1879, he was elected to the office of Constable, which position he now holds.

 

JACOB WAGNER, proprietor Wagner House, Greenville, Ohio. We eat to live, and live to eat ; therefore. to point out a good hotel is an act of kindness which is sure to be appreciated by the hungry traveler. The genial proprietor of the above house is the oldest hotel keeper of Greenville, and has a reputation as a first-class man in his line. his house having a good reputatation, extending over a large part of Ohio. Indiana and other States. He was born in Reinpfaltz. Bavaria. Germany. Jan. 24. 1833 : he received a good education in German in his own country. and emigrated to America when 24 years of age, landing in New York Dec. 1. 1857 ; coining directly West. he remained three years in Cincinnati, then one year in Louisville. Ky., thence to Miamisburg. Montgomery co., where he was employed as clerk in a hotel from 1862 to 1864 : thence to Dayton, where he engaged in the hotel business for himself until 1868. and in the fall of 1868 he came to Greenville and purchased King's Hotel. which he gave the name of Wagner, and which he has successfully run for a period of eleven years ; he also has a feed and sale stable connected with the house. He was married in Dayton, to Barbara Haas, in 1854 ; she was born in Hesse-Darmstadt. Germany, Jan. 2, 1838 ; they are the parents of two children. one of whom died in infancy ; the living, George Lewis, was born June 14, 1865. Mrs. Wagner is a daughter of Conrad Haas, who emigrated from Germany to America in the year 1868, and is now a resident of Miami Co. Mrs. Wagner emigrated to America in 1858, and located in Dayton, at which place her marriage nuptials were celebrated with our subject.

 

JOHN H. WARVEL ; P. O. Pikeville ; resides in Greenville Township, Sec. 1. One of the early pioneers of Darke Co. ; born in Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio, May 16, 1818. He was the oldest son of Christopher Warvel, who was born in Rockingham Co., Va., and came to Warren Co. in the year 1817. where he lived a few years, then to Montgomery Co. ; and, in 1838, came to Darke Co., and located in the woods, near Beamsville, where he lived until his decease ; he was one of the patriots of the war of 1812, under Col. Massie. A full and complete genealogy of the family will be found in the sketch of Daniel Warvel, in another part of this work ; John H. received a limited education in the subscription schools in Warren and Montgomery Cos., and assisted his father in farming until 18 years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade ; after working at the same for two years he was obliged to give it up on account of his eyesight failing him ; in Aug. 14, 18:38, he came to Darke Co., and purchased 80 acres of land near where Beamsville now stands ; after residing there three years he lost his wife, and to pay the doctors' bills, he was obliged to sell half of his farm ; upon locating here, he settled in the woods, his milling was done at Piqua, and there was only two houses between his residence and Greenville ; commencing life in penury, he has suffered all the privations and hardships of frontier life ; he has cleared 200 acres of land, and has now 275 acres of land upon the old homestead, a part of which was entered by him in the year 1850 ; he has been very kind to his children. and has settled upon each one money and land

 

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to the amount of 81.200. A part of the old homestead was entered by him in the year 1850 ; May 16, 1878, he was tendered a surprise by his friends and old acquaintances. to the number of 100, coming from different townships ; the company represented all ages from childhood to old age. bringing bountiful supplies of provisions and refreshments ; Bev. Mr. Colvin offered prayer and made some appropriate remarks. after which James Johnston made an address ; the Dallas baud furnished music for the occasion. His marriage with Mary Souders was celebrated May 31. 1838: she was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, April 15, 1819 ; she died May 15. 1841, leaving two children, of whom one is now living, viz., Nathan S.. born April 18. 1839—the other died in infancy. His second wife was Barbara Holloway ; they were married Dec. 19, 1841 ; she was born Jan. 30, 1820, and died Aug. 5. 1844, leaving two sons. one now living, Allen, born Sept. 21,1842 ; --- Irving, born June 12. 1844, died July 8, 1873. He married for his third wife, Phebe Harney. March 9. 1845 ; she was born Aug. 29, 1820 ; she died Jan. 25, 1846. leaving one child, who died in infancy. His marriage nuptials with Mrs. Elizabeth (Beanblossom) Baker were celebrated Feb. 16, 1847 ; she was born Dec. 6. 1813. in Montgomery Co. ; they have four daughters, and have lost a son by death : the living are Charlotte, born Dec. 13. 1847, now Mrs. L. C. Garver, of Dallas ; Sarah A.. born Oct. 13. 1849. now Mrs. Adam Johnston, of Brown Township : Elizabeth, born Sept. 25, 1853, now Mrs. Orlando J. Hager, of Dallas ; Emeline. born Feb. 10. 1857, now Mrs. George Garbick, living in Richland Township. Mrs. Warvel is one of the oldest residents of Darke Co. ; she is a daughter of Christian Beanblossom, who was born in North Carolina, and came to Darke Co. about the year 1817, and located in the woods among the wolves and Indians ; Mrs. Warvel has a vivid recollection of the familiar faces of the same. Her first husband was Andrew Baker, to whom she was married June 27, 1841 ; he died March 14. 1844 they had two clalren, who died in infancy. Mrs. Warvel located here when there was nothing but an Indian trail from here to Greenville ; she is now living upon the same place where she has lived for sixty years. Mr. Warvel has been administrator of many estates, has been guardian for many children ; has been Infirmary Director six years, and has held other offices.

 

NATHAN S. WARVEL. Sec. 1, Greenville Township ; one of the old settlers of Darke Co. ; born in Richland Township April 18, 1839 ; he is the oldest son of John H. Warvel, whose biography also appears in this work. The subject of this sketch was raised upon a farm of his father's until upward of 20 years of age, and in 1859 he commenced business for himself by engaging in thrashing, which he has followed for eighteen years during the fall, being engaged for the balance of the year in farming.. In 1861, he commenced farming in Richland Township, and in the fall of 1863 he exchanged farms with his uncle and located upon his present place, where he has since lived. Upon the 23d of December, 1860, he was united in marriage with Nancy J. Royer, who was born in Logan Co., Ohio, Dec. 8. 1839 ; she was a daughter of David Royer, who was born in Rockingham Co.,Va.. Feb. 11. 1807, and came to Ohio at an early day, and died Feb. 15, 1860, age 53 years. The children of Nathan S. and Nancy (Royer) Warvel were four in number, of whom one is deceased ; the living are Martha S., born Oct. 22, 1863 ; Eva C., born June 21, 1865 ; Mary E., born June 9, 1868 ; the deceased died in infancy, Oct. 10, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Warvel are both members of the Christian Church.

 

HENRY A. WEBB, the present Mayor of Greenville. The career, briefly outlined, of individuals chosen by the people to direct in government, whether of city, State or nation, may well be considered of most interesting character. Too frequently honors are heaped upon men whose fame is based upon success in sanguinary conflicts, and the pages which record their achievements seem dark and repelling from their crimsoned hue. As often, the men whose quiet lives display manly action, strict integrity and true Christian principles, are quietly ignored as though the creations of peace were not comparable to the

 

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demolition and ravages of war. It is a well-approved saying, that the best of men seldom find their way to the front. When, however, exceptions occur, the lesson is fraught with encouragement and example to posterity. Ancestry is a subject of which men have long been proud. There is pleasure in tracing a long line of honorable ancestors back toward the obscure shadow of the past. This pleasure is enjoyed by the subject of this sketch, Henry A. Webb, whose line of eight generations is on record, from Christopher Webb, of Wales, who came from that country about the year 1650, on down to the present. The following genealogy presents the chain of descent : Christopher Webb the second, the father of Benjamin Webb, the father of Timothy Webb the father of Stephen Webb. born at Windham, Conn., Oct. 4, 1742, who was the father of Nathaniel -Webb.--born Jan. 15, 1770, and died at Guyandotte, Va., Aug. 22. 1823 ; he was the father of Nathan Webb, born July 27, 1798, who married Margaret Albright, of Hanover. Penn., Oct. 31, 1819, and Nathan was the father of Henry A. Webb. The family removed to Vincennes, Ind., when Henry was an infant, from Hanover where he was born (Sept. 22, 1822), and the father dying, his widow, with a family of four children, returned to Pennsylvania. The journey is remembered as a long and tedious one, to which present travel is but as a pleasure-trip. At the age of 13, Henry was bound as an apprentice to George Young to learn the trade of tobacconist ; having served six years, the desire to see other places, and to find a congenial and promising opening for exertions, induced him to travel to various places, engaging in such work as could be had. On the 15th of June, 1845. he married Elizabeth Warner at Hampton, Penn., and three years later removed to Baltimore, Md., where he continuously engaged in his business as a dealer in tobaccos until 1870, when he migrated to his present place of residence, Greenville, Ohio ; here he resumed business, which has prospered and been increased, until the present stock affords an ample choice to the public of all articles kept in a variety store. From childhood. Mayor Webb has shown a fondness for painting. and studiously labored during leisure hours to master the difficulties of this ideal and realistic work : he succeeded, and many portraits extant are the work of his hand ; despite the discovery and perfection of sun pictures, his services are yet in demand, and the ancient and noble art yet exists. He was originally a Democrat, and cast his first vote for James K. Polk ; upon the nomination of President Lincoln to the office of chief magistrate of the nation the second term, Mayor Webb became a Republican, and has since continued to act with that party ; in March, 1878, his name was placed upon the Republican ticket for the city of Greenville, as Mayor, and his election resulted by a majority of about one hundred over his opponent, A. P. Gorsuch, Mayor for two terms. a strong, popular man, well calculated for the position. Believing in the refining and elevating tendencies of religion, he joined the English Lutheran Church, in 1848, at Baltimore, and remained with it till the time of his removal to Greenville ; there being no church of this denomination, he stood temporarily connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church four years, and acted as Superintendent of their Sabbath school ; he then began to attend the Episcopal Church, which considers him practically a member, and is the Superintendent of the Sabbath school therewith connected. He joined the Washingtonians in 1840. and stands by the brief pledge of the organization—abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage. In 1844, he became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Mechanics' Lodge, and is also of the Encampment of Greenville. Taking little part in politics, he acts from principle ; he is earnest in example and influence for Christianity, delights in painting, and is beloved by his family, and generally respected. Mayor Webb is of fine personal bearing, is well preserved, social, easy of approach, and a pleasant conversationalist. Following a quiet business and official routine, life is made useful, and the years pass swiftly and pleasantly.

 

NATHAN B. WEBSTER. merchant, Allen's Block. Fourth street. Green-

 

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ville ; dealer in groceries, provisions, glass and queensware, etc., etc. The subject of this memoir was born in Mt. Sterling. Madison Co., Ohio, Nov. 3, 1846. and is a son of J. S. Webster, now a prominent merchant of Ansonia, whose biography appears among the sketches of Brown Township, in another part of this work ; our subject came to Darke Co. with his parents in 1865 ; after one year's residence he removed to Illinois. where he resided until 1871, at which time he returned to Greenville and followed clerking and various pursuits until January. 1880, when he purchased his present business, and from his extended acquaintance and popularity we predict, that he will command a large increasing yearly trade. His marriage with Dottie Martin was celebrated in Greenville in April, 1872 ; she was born in Greenville Sept. 2, 1850 ; they have four children by this union, viz.. William. Charles T., Clyde and Gertrude. Mrs. Webster is a daughter of William Martin. one of the prominent early pioneers of Darke Co. whose biography appears among the sketches of this township.

 

HERMAN WEILLS, carriage manufactory, Greenville. The subject of this sketch was born in Washington Co., Penn., May 23, 1851 ; he is a son of Solomon and Lydia (Shaffer) Weills ; he left his place of nativity in 1856, and went to Liberty, Union Co.. Ind., where he remained until 1861 ; he then went to Tippecanoe, Miami Co., Ohio, where he learned his trade, remaining there four years. He came to Darke Co ., and settled in Greenville in the fall of 1878. He was united in marriage with Catherine Porter Feb. 23, 1874 ; she was born Sept. 23. 1851, and is a (laughter of James Porter, a resident of Hancock Co., and is now living in Darke Co., at the age of 62 years ; his wife was born in 1828, and died in 1865. Mr. Weills' business is located at the corner of Walnut and Third streets, where he gives employment to several men, and manufactures some of the finest work in Greenville.

 

JOHN E. WESTFALL. retired farmer ; P. O. 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 near where the city of Cincinnati now stands Sept. 19. 1810 : when 5 years of age, he came to Darke Co., with his parents and located in Adams Township ; when 12 years of age, the death of his father occurred. and at 15 years of age, he commenced the management of the home farm, continuing the same until 22 years of age. In 1832, he was united in marriage with Priscella Williams, who was born in Ohio Sept. 21, 1805 ; they were the parents of seven children, of whom George and Isaac Newton only survive, and are both mentioned in the biographical part of this work. In 1832, he removed to Greenville Township and purchased 30 acres upon the same section where he has since lived for a period of forty-seven years ; he has been a continuous resident of the county for sixty-five years ; he now has 145 acres in his home farm. located three miles from Greenville ; about the year 1869, he rented his farm to his sons. since which time he has retired from active labor. He has a vivid recollection of the Indians, the wolf and deer, and other game which in the early day of his coming here was to be found in abundance. He is one of the very oldest of our earlier settlers, nearly all of the pioneers of 1815 having either died or removed away.

 

MARTIN C. WESTFALL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 32 ; P. O. Greenville ; one of the early pioneers of Darke Co. ; born in Montgomery Co. in 1824 ; he was a son of Jacob Westfall, who was born in Virginia and came to Montgomery Co.. Ohio, at an early day, and to Darke Co., about 1827, and was consequently one of the early settlers of Darke Co. ; he died in the same county, about the year 1839 or 1840. He was married in Montgomery Co. to Barbara Crawn ; she was also born in Virginia, and died at the residence of Martin C. in 1878, at the advanced age of 88 years. Martin C. came to Darke Co. in the year 1827, being then three years of age, and has always lived on the same place for a period of upward of half a century ; he is one of the oldest continuous residents of Greenville Township ; he has now upward of 106 acres under a good

 

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state of cultivation, which he has brought from a howling wilderness to its present state of cultivation by his own labor. His marriage with Mary Pannel was celebrated in 1858 ; she was born in Virginia ; they were the parents of three children, of whom one is deceased ; the living are William L., born August, 1859, now living upon the home farm ; Ida E., born in 1868 ; the deceased, Charles M., died in infancy,

 

GEORGE WESTFALL, farmer ; P. 0. Greenville ; one of the old settlers of Darke County, was born in Greenville Township Jan. 19, 1841 ; he is the oldest son of John E. Westfall, one of our early pioneers. whose biography appears among the sketches of Greenville Township. The subject of our sketch received a liberal education, and assisted his father in agricultural pursuits until upward of 24 years of age, when upon March 30, 1865, he was united in marriage with Martha Phillips ; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Dec. 17,1843 ; they have five children by this union, viz., Leora B., John W., Maggie M., Bertha 0. and Arthur R. Upon the marriage of Mr. Westfall. he located upon his present place, where he has since devoted his attention to farming. In 1870, he was elected as Township Trustee of Greenville Township, which office he filled with credit to himself, and satisfaction to his townsmen, for a period of eight years.

 

ISAAC NEWTON WESTFALL. farmer ; P. 0. Greenville ; the subject of this memoir was born in Greenville Township, Darke Co., Ohio, upon the 21st of February, 1843 ; he is a son of one of the early pioneers. John E. Westfall, and a brother of George Westfall, both of whom are mentioned in the biographical part of this work in this township ; in early life he applied himself closely to his studies, and by so doing succeeded in obtaining a good common-school education ; he has always followed the occupation of farming. and about the year 1869, rented a part of the farm of his father, which he has since operated. Upon the 4th of August 1864, he was united in marriage with Mary E. Bell, who was born in Gettysburg, Adams Township, Nov. 29, 1846 ; they are the parents of five sons. viz., Oscar W., William E., Charles E., Alonzo R.. and an infant unnamed. Mrs. Westfall was a daughter of Jacob Bell ; her mother's maiden name was Mary Zimmerman. both natives of Pennsylvania, and early pioneers of Darke County. Mrs. Bell coming here in 1838, her husband locating here a few years previous. Mr. Bell died in 1850; Mrs. B. now makes her home with her daughter, and, at the age of 61 years, is in possession of all her faculties, and able to perform some household duties.

 

WASHINGTON ALLEN WESTON. deceased, Greenville ; was born in Alexandria, Va., March 3, 1814, and died in Greenville. Ohio. April 24, 1876 ; his father, William Weston, was a sea captain and perished at sea ; his mother. Rebecca Conyes, was an English lady, and died soon after the death of her husband ; when an orphan boy of 15, he came to Ohio. and was six years a salesman in a mercantile house in Dayton, where he made a record of fine business talent, industry and honesty ; about 1835, with a small capital, he began business in Piqua, Ohio, but the financial crisis of 1836-37 swept away every dollar he possessed ; nothing daunted, however, he soon began again in Covington, Miami County, where he prospered and became leader in the public affairs of the community ; in 1847, he was elected on the Whig ticket to the General Assembly of Ohio, and acquitted himself with credit ; in the fall of 1848, he located in Greenville, and opened the first hardware store of the place ; in 1856, he purchased the Dayton paper mills, and for seven years conducted a thriving business in that city, and in 1863, returned to Greenville, resumed the hardware trade, and in January. 1866. became one of the organizers of the Farmers' National Bank of Greenville, and President of the same, remaining such until his decease. He was prominently active in the local enterprise of the community, and his generosity was as universal as mankind, with a heart ever open, and a hand ever extended to relieve the necessities of the poor and unfortunate. He possessed a fine literary and scientific taste, and had a very fair education, and was a good conversationalist ; he excelled as a writer, and contributed a number of timely

 

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articles to the public prints of the day. The guiding principle of his life was the Golden Rule.

 

A. WINKLEBLECK, contractor in supplies for P., C. & St. L. R. R. and dealer in timber. wood, bituminous and anthracite coal ; office, Martin street, Greenville. The subject of this sketch was born in Montgomery Co., on the 2d of January, 1846. He has been a resident of Darke Co. for several years, and. on Dec. 25, 1865, he was united in marriage with Susan Gorsuch. They are the parents of six children, of whom three are deceased. The living are Homer C., Maud and Carrie C.

 

JOHN LEOPOLD WINNER, merchant, banker, and legislator, Greenville ; was born in Franklin, Warren Co., Ohio, November 19, 1816. His parents were Isaac Winner and Mary Powell, natives of New Jersey. They were married in Philadelphia and came to Ohio in 1816, where they passed their lives. Mrs. Winner died in April, 1832, and her husband in the October following. For about four years subsequent to his father's death, our subject worked at the cooper's trade. In April. 1836, he came to Darke Co. and located in Greenville, where he has since been extensively identified with the business of the community, and has also held a prominent place in the political councils of the county and State. In November, 1837. he married Miss Charlotte Clark, daughter of John Clark, Esq., of Warren Co., Ohio. For some five years Mr. Winner was in th ry business. Eight years he kept a hotel. Four years he kept a drug store. In 1853, he engaged in banking in company with the late Col. J. W. Frizzell, and thus continued till May, 1865, when he became a stockholder in the Farmers' National Bank of Greenville. and, in January, 1866, he was made cashier of that institution, which position he held till January, 1872. In April, 1873, he opened the Exchange Bank of Greenville. and still conducts the business of that flourishing institution. His wife died Aug. 12, 1863. She possessed. in a high degree, those noble qualities of mind and heart so essential to a true wife, and was revered in the community for her sweetness of disposition and sympathizing charity for the poor and unfortunate. She left an only daughter. Hattie, who inherited the sterling qualities of her mother. but the loss of her mother so affected her that she survived her but a few weeks. dying at the age of 15 years. On April 1, 1867, Mr. Winner married Mrs. Jane Crider, widow of Frederick Crider, of Greenville, and daughter of John W. Porter of the same place. Since 1863, Ar. Winner has been a member of the firm of Moore & Winner, the leading dry-goods firm of the county. In 1846, he was appointed Auditor of Darke Co., to fill an unexpired term of four years, from 1857 to 1861 he represented Darke Co. in the Legislature, and from 1867 to 1871 he served in the State Senate. In 1874, he was elected Mayor of Greenville and served two years. In politics, he is a Democrat. Although his school advantages were very meager. his active mind has grasped a knowledge of men and things that fully compensates the loss.

 

WILLIAM H. YOUART, late of this township, deceased. The subject of this memoir was born in Ireland in 1796, and came to America about the year 1818, settled in Miami Co.. Ohio. where he followed farming and working at his trade, that of wheelwright, with the exception of five years' residence in Indiana, until 1850, when he removed to Darke Co.. and located in Franklin Township, where his decease occurred in 1862. He married in Miami Co., Ohio, to Nancy Jay ; she was born in Pennsylvania in 1809 ; they were the parents of nine children, of whom five are now living, viz., Anna, William H., Samuel, Jennie and Emma ; Mrs. You art is now living with her sons at their home, and at 70 years of age is in possession of all her faculties and able to attend to some light household duties ; their home is located one and a half miles east of Greenville ; Wm. H. and Samuel are the only sons now living ; they came to Sec. 36, Greenville Township, in 1871, and purchased their present place of 60 acres, where they have since lived ; in 1873, they engaged in the ice business, and have since largely supplied the citizens of Greenville with ice ; they have ice-houses the capacity of 12,000 tons, which

 

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amount they laid in the past year ; a card of their business will be found in the directory of Greenville, in another part of this work.

 

DANIEL ZIMMERMAN, grain-dealer ; firm of Zimmerman & Grubbs. grain merchants, Lower Depot, Greenville, Ohio ; another of the old settlers of Darke Co., born in Lebanon Co., Penn., Jan. 25, 1827 ; he is a son of Henry Zimmerman, who emigrated from Pennsylvania to this county in the fall of 1835, and is now residing in Greenville at the advanced age of 83 years ; our subject came to Greenville with his parents, and when 16 years of age he was apprenticed to learn the harness-maker's trade, which occupation he followed some seven years ; he then associated with Eli Helm in the butcher business, continuing the same for twelve years. In the spring of 1863, he enlisted in the 94th O. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he received his commission as second Lieutenant, and after two months' service, received his discharge on account of disability. In 1865, he engaged in the grain business at his present place, which business he has successfully followed ; in 1876 he associated with Mr. Grubbs, since which time he has done business under the above firm name ; they are extensively engaged in buying and shipping grain to the Eastern markets ; their shipments having in a single season amounted to upward of 150,000 bushels. Mr. Zimmerman has held his full share of town offices, having been Marshal of the city two years, Councilman three years, Street Commissioner two years, and 7fs now Corporation Treasurer. His marriage with Catherine Hartzell, was celebrated in Greenville in 1849 ; she was a native of Pickaway Co.. Ohio ; she died in Greenville July 13, 1876 ; they were the parents of two children Mary, deceased, and Lillie C. , living.