GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 275 Walker, William Collins, Henrietta Ritchey, Leamon Wilson, Rolla Duncan, Andrew Collins and an unnamed infant. He died at his home in the Spring Valley neighborhood in 1899 at the age of eighty-four years. John S. Williamson, born on April 1, 1817, was thrice married and by his first wife, Jane Kyle, had three children, Kate, Samuel K. and David S. His second wife, Ellen B. Bryson, was the mother of one child, Flora Jane, who died at the age of three years. His third wife was Mattie Irwin. He died at his home in Cedarville in 1898. David Williamson, Jr., born on November 16, 1822, married Margaret Jane Marshall, who was born in this county, and had three children, Catherine Eleanor, Margaretta Josephine and Susanna Cordelia. He died in 1885 and is buried in the cemetery at Cedarville. Esamiah K. Williamson, born on October 17, 1829, married the Rev. David Donnan, a minister of the United Presbyterian church, and had six children, Luella Catherine, Frederick Elmore, Mary Adalaide, Emezetta and two who died in infancy. The Rev. David Donnan died at Cochranton, Pennsylvania, in 1896, and his widow continued to make her home there until her death. The Rev. Robert Duncan Williamson, last-born of the children of the pioneer David Williamson, was born on February 23, 1833. He early dedicated his talents to the ministry of the United Presbyterian church and following his graduation from the Xenia Theological Seminary in 1857, entered the ministry and after serving at various stations was in 1871 called to the pastorate of the United Presbyterian church at Troy, New York, where he continued in service for more than thirty years and where he died in 1913. He married Phebe Lucretia Cruikshank, of Troy, New York, and had three sons, Isaac Hasbrouck, Esek Bussey and William Thompson. In 1906 the Rev. Robert D. Williamson published a book of more than seventy pages carrying a historical and biographical sketch of this branch of the Williamson family. Jonathan Duncan Williamson, eighth child and sixth son of David and Catherine (Duncan) Williamson, was born in Jefferson county, this state, April 5, 1827, and was thus under ten years of age when the family came to Greene county in 1836. He grew to manhood on the home farm east of Xenia and on January 2, 1849, at the home of the bride in the Cedarville neighborhood, was united in marriage. to Martha Anne McMillan, a daughter of John and Martha (Chestnut) McMillan, the Rev. Hugh McMillan, D. D., uncle of the bride, officiating. Elsewhere in this volume there is set out a comprehensive story of the coming of the McMillan family to this county, together with a pretty complete genealogical record of that branch of the family so far as it relates to Greene county. After his marriage he established his home on a farm five miles east of Xenia on the Jamestown pike and there spent the rest of his active life, living there until his retire- 276 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO ment and removal in 1888 to Cedarville, where he and his wife spell their last days, the former dying on January 25, 1912, and the latter on January 14, 1907. Jonathan D. Williamson was for years one of the leading sheep men in this part of Ohio and developed on his farm in New Jasper township an industry in that line that has been continued with much success by his sons. Though reared in the Seceder church, Jonathan D. Williamson followed his wife into the Covenanter church after his marriage and was ever thereafter an earnest member of the Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter) congregation at Cedarville. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth. The eldest was Anna Catherine, born on December 23, 1852, who married the Rev. William Young, pastor of the First Reformed Presbyterian church in Pittsburgh, and had one child, a son, the Rev. Clarence Andrew Young, now pastor of the Roxbury Presbyterian Church at Boston, Mass. The Rev. William Young died in 1878, when his son was but an infant, and his widow survived him for more than twenty years, her death occurring in 1899. The next child in this family was an infant son that did not live longer than a day. The fourth child, Martha Jeanette, born on December 6, 1859, is still living in New Jasper township, widow of Samuel C. Anderson, a memorial sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume. Robert Duncan Williamson, the fifth child, born on February 13, 1862, has for years been regarded as one of the leading authorities in the United States on sheep breeding and further mention of him is made elsewhere in this volume. Mary Joella Williamson, born on March 3o, 1864, married Robert E. Bryson, of the Oldtown neighborhood, and has four children, Harold, Agnes Louisa, Martha Lucile and James. Leila Ada Williamson, born on September 22, 1866, married William E. Dean, who later became engaged in the mercantile business at Springfield, and has one child, a son, Jonathan Elmer. The last-born of the children of Jonathan D. Williamson and wife was a daughter, Florence Erma, born on February 11, 1871, who died on July 15, 1892, two years after her graduation from the Cedarville high school. John Clarence Williamson, the third child and second son of Jonathan D. and Martha A. (McMillan) Williamson, now living at Xenia, where he has resided since 1913, and who is the proprietor of the celebrated "Clearview Stock Farm," now being operated under the direction of his son, Frederick W. Williamson, rural mail route No. 8 out of Xenia, was born on that farm and there resided until his retirement and removal to Xenia. He was born on April 3, 1857, and his schooling was completed in the Xenia schools. After his marriage in 1882 he built a house on the other end of the farm and there established his home. Upon his father's retire- GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 277 ment the farm was divided between him and his brother, Robert Duncan Williamson, and both brothers continued their operations there, giving particular attention to the sheep industry. In 1887 John C. Williamson started his flock of Oxford Down sheep, one of the first breeders of that strain in Ohio, and has ever since maintained the flock, gradually improving the wool qualities of the strain until his Oxfords have become known not only all over this country, but in Europe, Canada, South America and Australia, the increase of his flock being sold only for breeding purposes, the demands upon the products of "Clearview Stock Farm" having for years been in excess of the supply. In 1887 Mr. Williamson began exhibiting his Oxfords at the large fairs and has since exhibited all over the country, from Madison Square Garden in New York to Memphis in the South and in all the great state fairs and stock shows throughout the West, and the great collection of blue ribbons he has accumulated is proof of the continuous success of his exhibits. Since his retirement and removal to Xenia in 1913 the active direction of the stock farm has been carried on by his son, Frederick W. Williamson, his partner, who is carrying on in the third generation the fame of the Williamson flocks. Two exhibition flocks are sent out from "Clear-view" each year, one to the great state fairs and the other to a circuit of the leading county fairs in Ohio, and the long list of championships credited to "Clearview Stock Farm" has added no little to the fame of Greene county as one of the greatest pure-bred stock producing regions in the world. In addition to their extensive sheep industry the Williamsons have always kept a good herd of Shorthorn cattle on the place and they are now starting a fine bunch of pure-bred spotted Poland China hogs, with a view to creating at "Clearview" a new department of interest to breeders. Since 1913 Mr. Williamson has been serving as a judge at the great international live-stock exhibitions at Chicago and has for years been one of the most influential members of the National Oxford Down Record Association, of which he has been president for the past two years. By political affiliation Mr. Williamson is a Republican and for some years served as a member of the board of directors of the county infirmary. He is a member of the Second United Presbyterian church at Xenia and has been a member of the session of the same for more than twenty years. He and his wife reside at 246 North Detroit street in Xenia. Mr. Williamson has been twice married. On June 20, 1882, he was united in marriage to Maria Anderson, who was born in the immediate vicinity of the Williamson place, daughter of William and Mary (Collins) Anderson, members of pioneer families in this county and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to that union were born three children, twins who lived but a brief span of life, and a son, Fred- 278 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO erick William Williamson, born on March 2, 1887, mentioned above as the partner of his father in the operation of "Clearview Stock Farm" and the present occupant of that farm. F. W. Williamson was graduated from Cedarville College and from the days of his boyhood has been actively identified with his father's activities as a sheep breeder. He married Una Corry, daughter of Frank Corry, a member of the old Corry family in this county, mentioned elsewhere, and has two children, Marie A. and Frances Jean. Mrs. Maria Williamson died on February 2, 1888, and on January 29, 1891, Mr.- Williamson married Alida McClellan, who was born near Xenia, daughter' of William E.. and Susan (Torrence) McClellan, both members of pioneer families in Ohio, whose last days were spent in this county. William E. McClellan was born in Wayne county, this state, August 11, 1825, and was but a child when he came with his parents, John and Nancy (Elder) McClellan, to Greene county, the family settling on what is now known as the "Belmont Stock Farm" in Xenia township, and on which place the house now standing there was erected by John McClellan in 1840. The McClellans were of the Associate Reformed faith and after the "union" of 1858 became affiliated with the Second United Presbyterian church at Xenia. Reared on the home farm, William E. McClellan in due time became proprietor of the same and there lived until his retirement in 1893 and removal to Xenia, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on February 9, 1900. He was twice married. His first wife, Susan Torrence, was born in the Xenia neighborhood on April 11, 1829, and died on May 1, 1867. His second wife, Margaret Dodds; died in 1894. She was the mother of one child, a son, Lee Dodds McClellan, born in 1872, who died in 1887. To William E. and Susanna (Torrence) McClellan were born seven children, namely : Edward Torrence McClellan, proprietor of a farm on the Cincinnati pike in Xenia township; Marietta, who married C. Will LaFavor and died in 1898; Laura Belle, wife of Harvey McClellan, a farmer living three miles west of Xenia; Amanda Rebecca, who married Nathan Ramsay and died in 1890; Anna Lida, more commonly known among her friends as. Alida, who married Mr. Williamson; Antoinette Jane, wife of Thomas Bruce, now living at Catherine, Alabama, and James Clark, a traveling salesman, who married Nellie Reynolds and is now living at Troy, this state. To John C. and Alida (McClellan) Williamson one child has been born, a son, John Kenneth, born on June 15, 1892. John K. Williamson, former city solicitor of Xenia, received his early schooling in the Oldtown Run district school in Xenia township. and later entered Cedarville College, where in 1910 he was graduated. During his college days he was one of GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 279 the leading athletes in the college, half-back on the football team and center on the basketball team, and during the season 1910-11 was employed to teach chemistry and physics and to coach the football team in the high school at Luverne, Minnesota. During the next term he held a similar position at Moorhead, Minnesota, and then returned to Ohio and entered the law office of W. A. Gilbert at Troy, with the purpose of preparing for entrance at law school, and a year later entered the law department of Ohio State University, from which he was graduated in 1915. In September of that same year he was admitted to the bar at Xenia and in that city formed a partnership with J. P. Kyle, under the firm name of Kyle & Williamson, for the practice of his profession. During his college days he was an active member of the Delta Chi fraternity and still maintains his interest in that association. He is a Republican, now serving as secretary of the county Republican executive committee, and on January 1, 1917, was appointed city solicitor. He is a member of the Second United Presbyterian church at Xenia and is a member of the board of trustees of the same. On January I, 1917, John K. Williamson was united in marriage to Mary Moore Geiger, who was born at Springfield, this state,. daughter of Charles A. and Frances (Moore) Geiger, the former of whom is now president of the Troy Wagon Works and makes his home in New York City much of the time. CLEVELAND L. BARKMAN. Cleveland L. Barkman, postmaster of Osborn, was born in Greene county on May 31, 1885, son of J. H. and Mary Barkman, both of whom were born in Montgomery county, and who were married there. Some years after his marriage J. H. Barkman moved to the village of Osborn, where he has since resided, for years one of the business men of that town. He, was for some time engaged in the grocery aid agricultural-implement business, was also for some years manager for the Ohio Whip Company at Osborn and for some time served as president of the Osborn Bank. To him and his wife were born four children, the subject of this sketch, the third in order of birth, having two brothers, D. Claude and John, and a sister, Stella, wife of C. C. Huntington. Reared at Osborn, Cleveland L. Barkman was graduated from the high school there and for a year thereafter was located at Columbus. He then became engaged in farming in this county, but not long afterward returned to Osborn and became there engaged in business, continuing thus engaged until his appointment on October 21, 1913, as postmaster of Osborn, but he . did not take charge until January 1, 1914. Mr. Barkman is a Democrat 280 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO and for some time previous to his appointment as postmaster served as town clerk. On April 28, 1909, Mr. Barkman was united in marriage to Fern Young, daughter of Charles Young, of Clark county, Ohio, and to this union two children have been born, Marcella and Dotty Gene. Mr. and Mrs. Bark-man are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Barkman is a member of the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Woodmen of the World. ROBERT FINLEY KERR. The late Robert Finley Kerr, who for years was head of the firm of Kerr & Hastings Brothers, merchants at Cedarville, and whose widow is still living at Cedarville, was a native son of Ohio, born in the vicinity of Ripley, in Brown county, December 10, 1852, son of Paul and Eliza (Pierce) Kerr, the latter of whom was born in Madisbn county, this state, who became residents of Greene county in the spring of 1869 and later moved to Rushville, Indiana, where their last days were spent. Upon coming to this county with his family, Paul Kerr located on a farm in Cedarville township, but presently disposed of that holding and moved to Cedarville, where he became engaged in the grocery business. Some years later he sold his store there and moved to Rushville, Indiana, where he became engaged in the furniture business and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Paul Kerr was a Republican and during his residence at Cedarville served for some time as justice of the peace. He and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian church and their children were reared in that faith. There were five of these children, the subject of this memorial sketch having had one brother and three sisters, namely Quimby, who went to Texas in the days of his young manhood and died there on April 15, 1886 ; Mary, who died unmarried at the age of fifty-two, and Harriet and Isabel, both unmarried, who for years have been teachers in the college at Knoxville, Tennessee. Reared on a farm, Robert F. Kerr completed the Cedarville high school course, supplementing the same by a two-years course in Monmouth College at Monmouth, Illinois, and then began to teach school, a profession he followed for twelve years, teaching in the district schools and in the Cedarville village schools. After his marriage he lived on the farm for six years. Then deciding to engage in the mercantile business he conducted a grocery for two years and then formed a partnership with the Andrews brothers, the firm being known as Andrews Brothers & Company, and thus became engaged in the general hardware and farm-implement business at Cedarville, 281 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO the firm also owning and operating a grain elevator there. In 1900 the interest of the Andrews brothers in this business was sold to the Hastings brothers and the firm thereafter was known as Kerr & Hastings Brothers, which name it still retains. Mrs. Kerr now holding the interest that so long was held by her late husband. This concern is engaged not only in the general hardware and implement business, but in the sale of building supplies and owns and operates two grain elevators and coal yards and buys wool. Mr. Kerr continued actively engaged in business up to the time of his death on June 24, 1911. He had years ago bought and remodeled a good house on South Main street and there his widow continues to make her home. Mr. Kerr was a member of the United Presbyterian church, as is his widow, for years was a ruling elder of the congregation with which he was affiliated and was also for some time superintendent of the Sabbath school. Politically, he was a Republican, as was his father before him. On March 29, 1882, Robert Finley Kerr was united in marriage to Frances Ladora (better known among her friends as "Dora") Jackson, who was born in Cedarville township, this county, March 12, 1856, daughter of George and Minerva (Townsley) Jackson, both of whom also were born in this county, members, respectively, of two of the oldest and most influential families in the county, both the Jacksons and the Townsleys having been .represented in the Cedarville neighborhood ever since the very "beginning of things" hereabout. George Jackson, who was a brother of the Rev. Hugh Parks Jackson, a biographical sketch of whom, appearing elsewhere in this volume, sets out in detail the history of the Jackson family in this county, was born on March 19, 1823, and was for many years one of the most conspicuous figures in the citizenship of Greene county, a man six feet and three inches in height and of weight proportionate to his stature. He was the owner of a quarter-section farm on the Yellow Springs road two miles out of Cedarville, for years had been a ruling elder in the United Presbyterian church at Cedarville, as well as chorister for the congregation, and at the time of his death on March 26, 188o, there were many and sincere expressions of regret thereabout. George Jackson was twice married. On October 26, 1848, the Rev. J. H. Buchanan officiating, he was united in marriage to Minerva Townsley, who also was born in this county, daughter of Alexander and Margaret ( Ewing) Townsley, and to this union two daughters were horn, Mrs. Kerr having a sister, Martha Joanna, wife of Judge James P. Rogers, of Wheeling, West Virginia. The mother of these daughters died on March 18, 1876, and is buried in the Massiescreek cemetery. On June 18, 1879, Mr. Jackson married Mrs. Sarah Margaret (Hammond) McCall, who survives as Mrs H. H. McMillan. Mr. Jackson also is buried in the Massiescreek cemetery. 282 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO ELAM L. TRUMAN. Elam L. Truman, proprietor of "Fair View Heights" at Spring Valley, where he is now living practically retired, is a native son of Greene county and is quite content to spend the rest of his days here, though his activities have taken him away from the county much of the time. He was born on a farm in Spring Valley township on December 19, 1849, son of Jeffrey and Jane (Elam) Truman, the latter of whom also was born in. this county, daughter of Capt. Josiah and Jane (Porter) Elam, the latter of whom was born in Kentucky. Capt. Josiah Elam was a soldier of the American Revolution and was afterward attached to the expedition of "Mad Anthony" Wayne into the Northwest Territory, culminating in the victory over the Indians on the Maumee and the treaty of Greenville in 1795. While on this trip to Ohio in 1798 Captain Elam came over into this section and located a claim to a full section of land on the west hank of Caesars creek in what afterward came to be organized as Spring Valley township, Greene county, six miles south of where the county seat, Xenia, later came to be located. He employed men to clear a patch of this land and erect a cabin in the clearing and in 1802 he returned here with his family and established his home. His wife died on that place and he went down into Clinton county on business and died there in 1821. Captain Elam was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, in 1753, and was thus in the sixty-ninth year of his age at the time of his death. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom eight grew to maturity, namely : John, who served as a soldier of the War of 1812 and afterward went over into Indiana to build mills; Isaac, who established his home in Greene county ; James, who died in Missouri; Joel, who went to Cass county, Indiana, and there spent his last days; Ambrose, who remained on the home farm in Spring Valley township ; Mrs. Emaline Cole, who also remained in Spring Valley township; Mrs. Cynthia Roberts, whose last days were spent in Logan county, this state, and Jane, who married Jeffrey Truman and became the mother of the subject of this sketch. Jeffrey Truman was born in the city of Philadelphia in 1793, a son of Joseph Truman and wife, the latter of whom was a Llewellyn, both of Welsh stock and Quakers. Joseph Truman was a coppersmith and his son Jeffrey was early trained in the same art and in that of silversmith and also was given a mercantile training. In 1819 Jeffrey Truman came to this part of Ohio and located at Waynesville, where he became engaged in the mercantile business and also for a time taught school, also serving as the village doctor and dentist. He presently came up into Greene county and opened a store at Bellbrook, where he remained until 1827, when he laid out the townsite of Transylvania, a long since vanished hamlet, across the GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 283 river from Spring Valley, and erected the first house there, this house serving as a store, tavern and postoffice. Some time later he returned to Warren county and for four years was engaged as a silversmith at Franklin, but then returned to Transylvania and resumed his business there, conducting his tavern, working as a silversmith and teaching school. During the progress of the Mexican War Jeffrey Truman, who was then operating a store at Bellbrook, enlisted, leaving his store in charge of Jeremiah Gest, and was sent to Mexico as bookkeeper for the army paymaster, rising to the position of assistant paymaster before the war was ended. In the fall of 1850 he left Transylvania and returned to Waynesville with the expectation of opening a store there, but death interfered with his plans, his death occuring there on New-year's Day, 1851. Jeffrey Truman was thrice married. By his first wife, who was a Lake, he had one son, .Thomas H., who went to Indiana and whose last days were spent at Covington, that state. By his second wife, Dorothy Ann Isham, he also had one .son, Joseph. M., who went to California, where his last days were spent. Jeffrey Truman then married Jane Elam, who is mentioned Above, and to that union were born twelve children, four of whom died in infancy and of whom but two are now living, the subject of this sketch and his brother Arthur, the others having been Angeline, who married Job. Lashley, of Warren county; George, a soldier of the Union during the Civil. War, for years one of the best-known business men of Spring Valley, who served for some time as mayor of that village and who was twice married, his first wife having been Charlotte Simison and his second, Elvira Fisk; Elvira, who married and moved to Montana; Corilla, who was the wife of Milton Scarf, of Spring Valley township; Arthur, who moved to Montana, where he engaged in farming and who is now living retired at Bozeman, that state; Jane, who died at the age of sixteen years, and Henrietta, who married William Adams, of Spring Valley. township. The mother of these children lived to the age of eighty-four. She was a Baptist. Elam L. Truman was reared in this county, receiving his schooling in the local schools, and remained at home until his marriage in 1875, he then being twenty-five years of age, after which he made his home at Bellbrook, where for four years lie was engaged in the work of making carriages, tc which trade he had been early trained. He then moved to Logansport, Indiana, where he became engaged working at his trade and where he remained for seven years, at the end of which time he returned to Spring Valley and there engaged with his brother George in the hardware business. Several years later he sold his interest in the store and moved to Waynesville, opening a. hardware store there, but a year later sold that store and returned to Spring Valley, where he resumed his mercantile vocation. Three years later 284 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO he became engaged as a traveling salesman for the firm of Boyer & McMaster at Dayton and moved to that city, traveling out of there, his territory covering the states of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Not satisfied with the life of a traveler, Mr. Truman gave up that position and engaged in the carriage and garage business at Dayton, from which place, in 1908, he went to Limestone county, Alabama, and there bought a tract of land. Six years later he disposed of that tract to advantage and returned to Spring Valley, and located at "Fair View Heights," and has since lived there. Mrs. Truman also owns a farm at Roxanna. Mr. Truman also bought the A. J. Craig farm two miles east of Spring Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Truman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Truman is a member of the local lodge of the Independent .Order of Odd Fellows. He was made an Odd Fellow. at Lexington, Kentucky in 1871. Mr. Truman has been twice married. In September, 1875, he was united in marriage to Clara M. Warren, of Bellbrook, daughter of John and Cynthia Warren, and to that union four children were born, namely : John, deceased ; Willard, deceased ; Lyman W., who is now living at Athens, Alabama, where he is connected with the Watkins Remedy Company, and who married Leila Zaner and has two children, Leon and Clara ; and Springer W., who is now living at Detroit, Michigan, where he is in the barber business. The mother of these children died in February, 1910, and Mr. Truman later married Mrs. Martha H. Talbert, widow of George B. Talbert, of Bellbrook, landowner and lumberman, who had died on August 16, 1908. Mrs. Truman was born in this county, daughter of Jonas and Prudence (Smalley) Stump, both of whom spent their last days in this county, the latter living to the great age of ninety-two years, her death occurring in January, 1902. She was born in Warren county, a daughter of William Smalley, a Warren county pioneer, an old Indian fighter and one of the first settlers of Clinton county, Ohio, an interesting story of whose adventures with the Indians is set out at considerable length in this volume. Jonas Stump was born in Winchester, Virginia, and was ten years of age when his parents, Daniel and Mary Stump, came to Ohio with their family in 1817 and settled at Harveysburg, in Warren county. Daniel Stump secured two hundred acres of land in the Harveysburg neighborhood and that farm is. still held in the family, now owned by J. F. Stump. Daniel Stump and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom Jonas was the ninth in order of birth, the others having been Sarah, who married John Oglesbee; Hannah, who married Jessie Romine; Henrietta, who married Jonathan Clark ; Matilda, who married Isaac Stump; Lydia, who died unmarried ; Mary, who married Elias Oglesbee; Daniel, who remained on the home place, and William, who married a Hiatt. GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 285 Jonas Stump lived on a farm near New Burlington, Ohio, and at his brother Daniel's death was willed the old home place near Harveysburg. He moved there and owned the place until he died. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Truman was the sixth in order of birth, the others being the following : Mary M., who died on January 15, 1917, widow of Allen H. Miars, a memorial sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume; Catherine, also deceased, who was the wife of Isaac Evans, of Xenia, a biographical sketch of whom also is presented in this volume ; Rachel, who died in infancy ; Daniel S., a retired farmer, who is now making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Truman William J., deceased, who married Ellen McWhorton, and Fremont J., who is living on the place that was settler by his grandfather, Daniel Stump, more than one hundred years ago. JESSE SANDERS. Ever since the days of the early settlement of Greene county the Sanders family has been a numerous connection hereabout, this family having been one of the families that became established here about the time of the organization of the county. One of the original members of this family in this county was Jesse Sanders, who was a soldier of the War of 1812 and who developed in Spring Valley township a fine piece of farm property, the place now owned by his oldest daughter and only surviving child, Miss Rebecca Ann Sanders, who has lived there all her life. Jesse Sanders was a native of the state of North Carolina, born in the vicinity of Salisbury, in Stokes county, that state, in 1792, and was thirteen years of age when he came with his parents, Forest Sanders and wife, a Redick, and the other members of the family to Ohio in 1805, the family settling on a farm on the Cincinnati road, five miles out of the then humble village of Xenia and a mile and S half north of Spring Valley, Forest Sanders being the first settler in that neighborhood. He and his wife were earnest Quakers and their children were reared in that simple faith. Forest Sanders lived to be seventy years of age. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom Jesse was the second in order of birth, the others being Forest, who moved to Indiana and spent his last days in Laporte, that state ; John, who remained in Spring Valley township and there spent his last days; Susan, who died at the age of thirty years ; Mrs. Mary Graham, whose last days were spent in Indiana; Jeremiah, Mrs. Salsbury and Mrs. Beason. As noted above, Jesse Sanders was but thirteen years of age when he 286 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO came to this county and he walked all the way over from North Carolina, it having been his job and that of his sister to drive the family cow along behind the wagon in which the household goods were stored. The family had started during the fall, but it was well along toward spring before they reached their destination in this county. He was twenty years of age when the War of 1812 broke out and he went to the front as a member of the company raised by Capt. John Davis and served as a soldier until the close of the campaign, being mustered out with the rank of captain, after which he returned home and resumed his place on the farm, which he continued to operate until growing infirmities of age compelled his retirement, after which he rented the fields and spent the rest of his life in retirement, his death occurring on May 21, 1880, he then being in the eighty-eighth year of his age. His wife had preceded him to the grave something more than six years, her death having occurred in November, 1873, and both were buried in Woodland cemetery at Xenia. Jesse Sanders had ever retained his birthright in the Friends church and his wife was a Presbyterian. She was born, Elizabeth Simison, in Spring Valley township, a member of one of the pioneer families of that township, and was married on November 5, 1840, to Jesse Sanders. To that union were born four children, two sorts, both of whom died in youth, and two daughters, Susan Margaret, who died in 1885, at the age of thirty-eight years, and Rebecca Ann, who is still making her home on the old home place. William H. Babb, who for many years has made his home with the Sanders family and is still living on the Sanders place, operating the farm, was born in the neighboring county' of Clinton in March, 1843, son of Abner and Ann (DeHaven) Babb, who had come to Ohio from Virginia in 1833 and had settled in Greene county, later moving down into Clinton county. In 1855 Abner Babb moved to Indiana with his family and for ten years made his home at Kokomo, returning in 1866 to Ohio, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1871. His widow survived him for more than twenty years, her death occurring in 1893. Abner Babb and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom William H. is now the only survivor, the others having been J. R., Harriet, John A. and Mary Ellen. William H. Babb grew to manhood in Indiana and was twenty-three years of age when he came hack to Ohio with his parents in 1866. Three years later he took up his residence on the Sanders place, taking charge of the farm for Mr. Sanders, and has lived there ever since, having established his home there after his marriage in 1887. His wife, who was Clarissa A. Peterson, a member of one of the old families of Caesarscreek township, died in January, 1914. GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 287 CLEMENT J. LOGSDON. Clement J. Logsdon, the only druggist in Osborn, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Knox county, son of C. C. and Amelia (Hays) Logsdon, both of whom were born in that same county and who there spent all their lives. Reared on the farm, Clement J. Logsdon received his early schooling in the common schools and then for three winters taught school in his home county. He then entered the pharmacy department of Ohio State University at Columbus and after a three-year course in that institution graduated in 1898. Upon receiving his diploma Mr. Logsdon became employed as a registered pharmacist at Columbus and from that city went to Newark, where he was engaged in a similar capacity until 1900. In that year he became engaged as the registered pharmacist in the drug store of Doctor Campbell at Osborn. Eight years later he bought the Campbell store and has since conducted the same, now the only druggist in the village. Mr. Logsdon is a Democrat. As a member of the Commercial Club of Osborn he has done his part in promoting all movements designed to advance the interests of that village. Since taking up his residence in Osborn Mr. Logsdon has taken an active part in the work of the local chautauqua movement. He is a member of the Ohio State Pharmacists Association. CLARENCE W. HOFFMAN. Clarence W. Hoffman, one of the younger farmers of Beavercreek township and the proprietor of fifty acres on rural mail route No. 2 out of Spring Valley, was born on that farm and has lived there all his life. He was born on October 2, 1885, son of George and Martha Hoffman, the latter of whom is still living at the home of George Brandt in Beavercreek township. George Hoffman was a native of Germany and was married in his native land. Not long after his marriage he came to this country in 1868 with his wife and proceeded on out to Ohio, locating in this county, where for several years thereafter he was engaged working on the farm of Captain Darst. He then bought the farm of fifty acres on which his son Clarence is now living, established his home there and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on July 6, 1887. He was a member of Mt. Zion Reformed church, as is his widow. They were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born, the others being the following : Conrad, who married Louise Martin and is farming in the vicinity 'of Fairfield, this county ; Lizzie, wife of Charles Phaul, of Dayton; Eva, 288 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO wife of Clinton Putnam, of Los Angeles, California; Flora, deceased, who was the wife of Robert Rutherford, and George, who is now farming in the West. Clarence W. Hoffman was reared on the home farm and received his schooling in the neighborhood schools. He was not yet two years of age when his father died. As the youngest son he continued to make his home there with his mother and after his marriage in 1913 established his home on the place and has since continued to make it his place of residence. On January 29, 1913, Mr. Hoffman was united in marriage to Flora McGrew, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, daughter of John and Susan McGrew, the former of whom is still living, now a resident of Montgomery county, and to this union three children have been born, Verna, Kenneth and Glenna. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman are members of the Mt. Zion Reform church. GEORGE BAKER. The late George Baker, a veteran of the Civil War and for years one of the best-known farmers in Miami township, this county, was born in that township and most of his life was spent there, two of his sons and a daughter now occupying the old home place three miles west of Yellow Springs which their father bought in 1881 and on which he spent his last days. He was born on a pioneer farm one mile south of Yellow Springs on November 14, 1831, son of Isaac and Eliza (Graham) Baker, the latter of whom also was born in this county, September 27, 1809, a member of one of the pioneer families of Greene county. Isaac Baker was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1807, and became one of the early settlers of Greene county, establishing his home here after his marriage to Eliza Graham. He and his wife reared their family here and here spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this memorial sketch was the first-born, the others being Mrs. Louise Hawkins, deceased; John, who was killed in the battle of Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864, while serving as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War ; William P., who died on July I, 1907; Brinton, who is still living, making his home now at Dayton; Joseph, who is now living at Pratt, Kansas; Mrs. Hester Hutchinson, who is living at Yellow Springs, in this county; Sarah, who died in 1868, and Charles West, who died on April 14, 1914. Five of these brothers served in the Union army during the Civil War. Reared on the home farm in Miami township, George Baker received his schooling in the neighborhood schools at Yellow Springs and early learned GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 289 the trade of blacksmith at which he worked, at Yellow Springs and at Salem, until he was twenty-five years of age, when, in 1856, he joined that considerable band of Greene county young men, including Senator Plum and Captain Frazer, who went to Kansas in 856 and started things going in the vicinity of where the flourishing city of Emporia now stands. George Baker set up the first blacksmith shop in Emporia and remained there for three years, or until 1859, being thus an active participant in the desperate struggle that then was being waged in "bleeding Kansas" between the free-soilers who wanted to preserve the Territory of Kansas against the intrusion of the institution of slavery and the "border ruffians" who, coming in from souri, across the river and from other points south, were determined to fasten slavery on the prospective state. The struggle finally became so acute that Mr. Baker, in 1859, became disgusted with the unsettled condition of things and came back home and resumed his labors as a blacksmith at Yellow Springs and was living there when the Civil War broke out. Early in the progress of that struggle between the states he enlisted his services in behalf of the Union and went to the front as a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served until the termination of his term of enlistment, when he returned home and started farming ; but a short time later he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served until' the close of the war, then returned to his farm and there remained until January 3, 1881, when he bought a farm of one hundred acres three miles west of Yellow Springs, moved onto the same and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on February 6, 1890. His widow survived him for more than twenty years, her death occurring on January 18, 1911. George Baker was reared in the Methodist church and his wife was reared in the Catholic church, and their children were reared in the faith of the latter communion. On September 14, 1864, at Springfield, George Baker was united in marriage to Elizabeth Higginson, of Yellow Springs, who was born in Ireland, but whose girlhood was spent at Albany, New York, where she was living when her family came from that place to Greene county during the '50s. To that union five children were born, namely : John Wentworth, who died in 1866; Mamie C., who is still living on the old home place, keeping house for her brothers, William and George, who are farming the place ; William J. and Elizabeth (twins), the latter of whom is now a nun, a member of the Visitation Order, in the convent at Georgetown, Kentucky, and the former of whom is noted above as remaining on the home farm, and George, who is also living on the home place, he and his brother operating the same, while their sister Mamie keeps house for them. The Baker broth- (18) 290 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO ers are good farmers and have a well-kept and profitably cultivated farm. They are Republicans, as was their soldier father, and take a proper interest in local civic affairs, but have not been seekers after public office. LESTER S. BARNES. Lester S. Barnes, proprietor of a decorating, paint and book store at .Xenia, was born in Xenia and has lived there all his life with the exception of a brief period during his young manhood, when he was employed in a book store at Cincinnati. He was born on April 24, 1877, son of the late Major George A. Barnes and wife, the latter of whom is still living at Xenia, where Major Barnes died on September 19, 1907, and where he was born on July 14, 1837, son of Henry and Ruth Barnes. Reared at Xenia, the city of his birth, Lester S. Barnes received his schooling in the schools of that city and upon leaving school became engaged as clerk in a local book store-. He later went to Cincinnati and in that city was employed in the wall-paper department of the Fair store for some time, returning then to Xenia, where on November 20, 1899, he became engaged as a clerk in the White wall-paper store which then was doing business on Greene street, continuing thus engaged for six years, at the end of which time he became engaged in business on his own account, opening the store which he is now operating on April 1, 1906. Mr. Barnes carries a general line of wall paper, paints, stationery, books, magazines and such other articles_ as are included in the stock of stores of this character. On December 20, 1899, Lester S. Barnes was united in marriage to J. Olive McDonald, who also was born in Xenia, daughter of Charles W. and Mary (Boots) McDonald, who are now living in Florida and who are the parents of four children, Mrs. Barnes having two brothers, Elmer and John McDonald, and a sister, Myrtle. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes are members of the First Reformed church. They have two children, a son and a daughter, Ruth, born on December 28, 1900, now a member of the class of 1918, Xenia high school, and Nelson, born on December 22, 1903. Mr. Barnes is a member of the local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons and of the local camp of the Sons of Veterans. FRANK WESLEY SIMISON. Frank Wesley Simison, a farmer of Spring Valley township and operating his mother's farm on which he lives, was born on that farm, as was his father, and has lived there all his life. He was born on October 25, 855, son of Milo D. and Mary (Kelly) Simison, the latter of whom is still living, GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 291 now a resident of the village of Spring Valley. She was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1835, and was thirteen years of age when she came to America. She came to the United States with her aunt, Mrs. Mary Gibbons, and thus became a resident of Greene county, where she grew to womanhood and married Mr. Simison. The late Milo D. Simison, who died at his home in Spring Valley on January 20, 1907, was born on the farm in Spring Valley township now operated by his son, Frank, November 19, 1830, son of John and Nancy (Knight) Simison, the former of whom was born on March 9, 1798, and the latter, May 8, 1807. John Simison was born in Pennsylvania, a son of Robert Simison, a native of Ireland, who had located in the Keystone state upon his arrival in this country, and was a well grown lad when he came with his father and the other members of the family to Greene county, Robert Simison here buying the farm upon which his great-grandson, Frank W. Simison, is now living, paying five dollars an acre for the same. Later Robert Simison bought the farm which long afterward came to be known as the Scarff farm and after the marriage of his son John turned over to the latter his original purchase and moved to the second farm, where he spent the rest of his life. On January I, 1828, John Simison married Nancy Knight, who was born in this county, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Caine) Knight, North Carolinians and pioneers of this county. After their marriage John Simison and his wife established their home on the place on which the former's father had settled on coming to this county and there they spent the remainder of their lives, the latter dying on March 29, 1847, and the former, February 2, 1853, and their son, Milo D. Simison, succeeded to the property by buying out the other heirs. On January 28, 1855, about two years after the death of his father, Milo D. Simison was united in marriage to Mary Kelly, of Spring Valley township, who, as noted above, was born in Ireland, a daughter of Michael and Ann (Hennegan) Kelly, and after his marriage continued to make his home on the place on which he was born, remaining there until his retirement from the farm in 1888 and removal to Spring Valley, where he spent the rest of his life and where his widow is still living. He was a Democrat and served one term as a member of the village council. To him and his wife were born three children, the subject of this sketch having had two sisters, Nancy Caroline, born on May 13, 1858, who is now living at Spring Valley, widow of Joshua Barnett, and Mary Catherine, who died in infancy. Frank W. Simison grew to manhood on the farm on which he was born, and on which his father had been born, and received his schooling in the local schools. After his marriage his parents retired from the farm and its management was turned over to him. He established his home there and 292 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO has since made that his place of residence. He has a farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres where he and his sons are carrying on their farming operations. Mr. Simison is a Democrat and has served as director of schools in his home district. On December 27, 1887, Frank W. Simison was united in marriage to Emma Babb, a member of one of the old families in Spring Valley township, daughter of Smith and Amanda Babb, and to this union three children have been born, Earl M., Imogene and Ormond K., all of whom attended high school and all still at home. Mrs. Simison is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Spring Valley. JOHN H. BRICKLE. The late John H. Brickle, who died at his home in Caesarscreek township on October 26, 1904, and whose widow is still living there, was a native son of Greene county and had spent all his life here. He was born on a farm in the vicinity of the village of Jamestown on September 14, 1845, son of Jacob and Mary (Phillips) Brickle, who upon their retirement from the farm moved to Jamestown, where they spent their last days. Jacob Brickle and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine of these children, four of whom are still living, namely : Daniel Brickle, of Jamestown; Catherine, wife of Thomas Moon, of Jamestown ; Frank Brickle, who is living on a farm east of that village, and Emma, who is now a resident of the city of Dayton. The others of the children of Jacob Brickle and wife, besides John H., were Amanda, Margaret, Louis and Harvey. John H. Brickle was reared on the home farm, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools, and early became a practical farmer, a vocation he followed all his life. After his marriage in the summer of 1870 he for three years made his home on a farm on the eastern edge of the county and then moved to Cedarville, but a year later bought a farm in New Jasper township and on that place made his home for seven years, or until 1881, in which year he sold the place and bought the farm on which his widow is now living, in Caesarscreek township, and there established his home and spent the rest of his life. Mr. Brickle first bought there a tract of one hundred and fifty-nine acres, but as he prospered in his undertakings he enlarged his holdings and at the time of his death was the owner of two hundred and thirty-five acres. In addition to his general farming Mr. Brickle had given considerable attention to the raising of live stock. By political affiliation he was a Democrat and by religious persuasion was a member of the Methodist Protestant church at Paintersville, with which he had GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 293 become connected when sixteen years of age. Mr. Brickle was in the sixtieth year of his age at the time of his death in the fall of 1904. In August, 1870, John H. Brickle was united in marriage to Catherine F. Clemens, who was born in New Jasper township, this county, daughter of George and Susanna (Fichthorn) Clemens, both of whom also were born in this county, the parents of the former having come here from Pennsylvania and. those of the latter, from Virginia, both the Clemenses and the Fichthorns being old-established families in Greene county. George Clemens became a substantial farmer and his last days were spent at Jamestown, where he died at the age of eighty years and six months. He was twice married, his first wife having died at the age of forty-seven years, after which he married Harriet Sterritt, of Cedarville. By his first union he was the father of eight children, of whom Mrs. Brickle was the second in order of birth, the others being the following: Jesse Cyrus, who at the age of nineteen years enlisted his services in behalf of the Union during the Civil War, went to the front and died of typhoid fever in an army hospital in Maryland; Mary Elizabeth, wife of Jeremiah Tolman, of New Jasper township; Melvina Ann, widow of John J. Brown, of Jamestown; Amanda, who died at the age of twenty-four years, unmarried; Emma Jane, now also deceased, who was the wife of William Gordon; John Orville Clemens, of Dayton, this state, and William Merritt, deceased. To John H. and Catherine F. (Clemens) Brickle were born four children, namely : Minnie, who is at home with her mother; Mary S., wife of Frank Street, of New Jasper township; Orville, who is farming in Caesarscreek township and who married Effie Hiles and has one son, Howard; and Cyrus Clemens Brickle, farming the old home place, who married Elsie Hiles and has one child,. a daughter, Wanda. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Brickle has continued to make her home on the home farm, rural mail route No. 9 out of Xenia, where she is very comfortably situated. CHARLES F. ALEXANDER. The late Charles F. Alexander, who died at his farm home, the old Alexander homestead place in Spring Valley township, early in 1912 and whose widow is still living there, the operations of the farm being carried on by their son Lawrence Alexander, was born in Spring Valley township on a farm now owned by Reverend Collins, January 30, 1859, son of William J.. and Elizabeth (Weller) Alexander, the former of whom was a son of Washington Alexander, who was a son of the Hon. John Alexander, the first lawyer to locate at Xenia and who many years ago represented this district in the Congress. 294 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO It was in the year 1803, the year in which Greene county was erected into a civic unit of the new state of Ohio and the county-seat town of Xenia was laid out, that John Alexander and his wife Isabella and their little family came up here from Butler county, in which county they had been located for a short time after coming into Ohio from their native South Carolina. John Alexander was a school teacher who had given considerable attention to the study of the law and upon locating at Xenia "put out his shingle" for the practice of law, the first lawyer to invite the attention of the people of the new county. He was elected prosecuting .attorney in succession to Arthur St. Clair, Jr., the second prosecutor for the new county, and with the exception of four years served in that office by successive re-elections until 1832; the longest tenure ever held by any prosecutor in this county. He represented this legislative district in the Ohio General Assembly and for two terms represented the district in the Congress. He died at Xenia in 1848. Washington Alexander, son of Judge Alexander, was born in South Carolina in 1801 and was thus but two years of age when his parents settled at the new county-seat town. of Xenia. In his youth he studied law under the preceptorship of his father, but never practiced, instead turning his attention to farming in Spring Valley. After his marriage to Rachel Clark, of Spring Valley, he established his home on the farm and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1867. His wife had preceded him to the grave about eighteen years, her death having occurred in 1849. They were the parents of seven children, of whom William J., the father of the subject of this memorial sketch, was the second in order of birth, the others having been Jesse, Augustus, Isabella, who married William S. Frazier, Frank, Aurelius and John. William J. Alexander was born in Spring Valley township on June TO, 1827, and was educated in the Xenia schools. For some time after leaving school he spent his winters teaching school, farming on the home place during the summers, and in the meantime gave attention to the study of law and in due time was admitted to the bar and opened an office for the practice of his profession at Spring Valley, later moving to Wilmington and thence, after a time, back to Xenia, where he opened an office. In the meantime he had been keeping up his farming interests and became the owner of several hundred acres of land in Spring Valley township, where he preferred to make his home. For twelve years he served as justice of the peace, for twenty-two years was township trustee and was for a time the superintendent of the Orphans Home. He was a Baptist and was affiliated with The Masons and with the Odd Fellows. On February 28, 1850, William J. Alexander was united in marriage to Elizabeth Weller and to that GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 295 union were born three children, two sons and a daughter, the latter of whom died in infancy. Both the sons, Perry A. and the subject of this memorial sketch, became well-to-do farmers in Spring Valley township. William J. Alexander died on April 18, 1897, and his widow, who was born in Washington township, in the neighboring county of Montgomery, April 18, 825, survived him until 1904. Charles F. Alexander, second son of William J. and Elizabeth (Weller) Alexander, was reared on the home farm in Spring Valley township and received his schooling in the local schools. After his marriage in the spring of 1882 he made his home on a farm south of Spring Valley and there continued to reside for seven years, at the end of which time he returned to the old Alexander homestead place, one hundred and sixty-nine and one-half acres of which he owned, and there spent the remainder of his life engaged in general farming, his death occurring there on February 8, 1912. Mr. Alexander was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Spring Valley, as are the members of his family, and served as treasurer of the building committee at the time the new church was being erected. He was a Democrat, as was his father, and was affiliated with the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. On February 2, 1882, in Spring Valley township, Charles F. Alexander was united in marriage to Sadie Compton, who also was born in that same township, daughter of Eber and Mary Jane (Babb) Compton, both members of old families in this county. Eber Compton was a son of Henry and Catherine (Mock) Compton, the former of whom was born in North Carolina and was but seven years of age when he came to this county with his parents, Stephen and Dinah (Millhouse) Compton, who were Quakers, the family settling on a farm in the vicinity of the village of New Burlington. Henry Compton grew up there and all his life followed farming, becoming in time the owner of about four hundred and seventy-five acres of land in this county and six hundred acres in the neighboring county of Fayette. Eber Compton also grew up to the life of the farm and after his marriage to Mary Jane Babb, who was a daughter of Peter and Jane (Scarf) Babb, substantial residents of Spring Valley township, located on a farm on the Cincinnati pike, five miles south of Xenia, where he spent the rest of his life. After his death his widow moved to the village of Spring Valley and there her last days were spent, she being seventy-five years of age at the time of her death. Eber Compton was a Republican and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which faith their children were reared. There were six of these children, of whom Mrs. Alexander was the fourth in order of birth, the others being the following: Ambrose, 296 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO now living at Xenia; Wilson, also a resident of Xenia; Alice, who married Frank Hupman and died in Xenia; Della, wife of Melvin Beal, of Xenia township, and Clifford, who is farming in Spring Valley township. To Charles F. and Sadie (Compton) Alexander were born five children, all of whom were educated in the Spring Valley schools and all of whom are still living, namely : Dena, who married W. W. Trout, of Springfield, Ohio, and has two children, Jean and Bettie; Nellie, who married John Peterson, of this county, and has three children, Wayne, Donald and Dean; Louise, wife of Joshua Inwood, of Rockford, Illinois; Lawrence, who is farming the home place and who married Eva DeHaven and has two children, Dorothy and Lucile; and Mary E., who is now (1918) a student in the Xenia high school. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Alexander has continued to make her home on the old home farm. GEORGE ABRAM KEITER. The late George Abram Keiter, who died at his farm home in Xenia township, rural route No. 9 out of Xenia, April 4, 1918, was a native son of Greene county and had lived here all his life. He was born on a farm on the Wilmington pike in Caesarscreek township, seven miles south of Xenia, March 17, 1838, son of Frederick and Mary (Weaver) Keiter, who were born in Hampshire county, Virginia, where they grew up and were married and who then, in 1833, drove through to this part of Ohio and located in the woods of Caesarscreek township, where they established their home and where the subject of this sketch was born. Previous to that date Mrs. Mary Keiter's parents, Abram and Cynthia Weaver, had come out here from Virginia and had settled on a tract of Congress land that Abram Weaver had bought in Caesarscreek township and it was a part of that land that Frederick Keiter settled on, buying it from his father-in-law, the Weavers and the Keiters becoming substantial pioneers of that community. Those of Abram Weaver's children who came to this state, besides Mrs. Keiter, were Benjamin, John (who lived in Licking county), Frank, Abram, Samuel, Sallie and Nancy. Frederick Keiter was a son of George Keiter, a Pennsylvanian, who was married in Virginia, where he spent his last days. George Keiter and wife had ten children, those besides Frederick having been 'Polly, Hester, Maria, Peggy, Betsy, Benjamin, Jacob, George and John. In addition to the general farming that he carried on on his pioneer farm in Caesarscreek township, Frederick Keiter also had a blacksmith shop. He was a Democrat and he and his wife were members of the Baptist church. They had twelve children, of whom the subject of this memorial sketch was the seventh in -order of birth, the. others being the GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 297 following: Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of James Nolan; Harrison, deceased, who was a farmer in Caesarscreek township ; John, who also was a farmer in that township and who died there; Margaret, who is now living in the Paintersville neighborhood, widow of Elisha Bales; Nancy, deceased, who was the wife of Thomas Middleton; Susan, who is living in Spring Valley township, widow of Daniel Bean; Jane, wife of Joseph Buckwalter, of Caesarscreek township ; James and Edward, twins, both of whom are farmers, living in the Lumberton neighborhood, and Sarah, wife of Aseph Haines, of Caesarscreek township. George A. Keiter was reared on the -place on which he was born, in Caesarscreek township, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools, and remained at home until his marriage when twenty-seven years of age, after which he established his home on his grandfather Weaver's place on the Wilmington pike and was there located for twenty-five years, at the end of which tithe, in 1892, he bought the place on which he lived,. until his death, the William Beal farm of eighty-four acres in Xenia township. Upon taking possession of that place Mr. Keiter made numerous improvements on the same and in 1911 remodeled the house in up-to-date fashion. In addition to his general farming Mr. Keiter gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock and of late years particularly he and his son have kept a good many Jersey cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Keiter was a Democrat. On February 2, 1865, George A. Keiter was united in marriage to Mary Catherine Bootes, who was born in Spring Valley township, this county, daughter of Edmund and Elizabeth C. (Hanes) Bootes, natives of Virginia, who had come to this county with their respective parents in the days of their youth and were here married. Edward Bootes was born in 1817 and was but a lad when his parents moved here from Virginia, and here he grew up and married. His wife, Elizabeth C. Hanes, was born in 1823 and was but six years of age when her parents came to this county from Virginia. After his marriage Edward Bootes got a hundrea acres of his father's place in the neighborhood of Anderson's Forks and later moved to Spring Valley, where he worked at the carpenter trade until 1859, when he moved to a farm in Caesarscreek township, where he was killed by a falling tree in 1863. His widow survived him for many years, her death occurring in 1908, she then being eighty years and six months of age. Of the nine children born to Edward Bootes and wife five grew to maturity, those besides •Mrs. Keiter being Lewis H., who went to the front as a soldier .of the Union during the Civil War and died at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1863; Samantha Jane, who died in 1908; Joseph H., who is engaged in the electric-light business at Jackson, Michigan, and 298 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO Rosa E., who lives in Santa Ana, California. Mr. and Mrs. Keiter have three children, namely : James Franklin Keiter, who for seventeen years taught vocal music in the schools of Greene county, and who is now operating the home farm, giving particular attention to the live-stock business ; Mary Elizabeth, wife of Dr. J. G. Fudge, of Spring Valley, and Flora J., who is living with her sister at Spring Valley. Doctor and Mrs. Fudge have four children, Lawrence Keiter, Edith Jennette, Ruth Alice and Mildred Catherine. The Keiters are members of White Chapel Methodist Episcopal church. On February 2, 1915, Mr. and Mrs. Keiter celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a dinner and reception at their home, the same being attended by forty relatives and near friends. JACOB HARNER. Jacob Hamer, a farmer of Beavercreek township, now living practically retired from the active labors of the farm, the operation of the place being carried on by his son, Jacob S. Harner, was born on that place and has lived there all his life, a member of one of Greene county's pioneer families. He was born on September 21, 1841, son of Samuel and Nancy (Watts) Hamer, both. of whom were. born in that some township, members of pioneer families in that part of the county, and who spent all their lives there. Samuel Hamer was a son of Jacob and Mary (Heffley) Harner, the latter of whom was a daughter of one of the earliest settlers in Greene county. Jacob Harner was a native of Germany, who upon coming to this country, made his way out to Ohio and settled in Greene county, where he married Mary Heffley and settled on a farm in Beavercreek township, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of eight children, those besides Samuel having been Charles, Abraham, George, Jacob, Mary, Catherine and Sarah J. Samuel Harner grew up on that farm and after his marriage in 1822 to Nancy Watts located on the farm on which his son Jacob is now living and there he spent his last days, his death occurring in 1871. His widow survived him for many years, her death occurring in 1906. They were members of the Reformed church and were the parents of seven children, those besides the subject of this sketch having been Samuel, George, Mary Ann, Nathan, William and Nelson. Jacob Harner was reared on the home farm and received his schooling in the Ludlow district school and after his marriage in the fall of 1868 continued farming on the home place, one hundred and two acres of which he inherited after the death of his father. While his house is situated in Beavercreek township and he thus is accounted a resident of that township, GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 299 the greater part of his farm lies over the line in Xenia township. For some time Mr. Harner has been living practically retired from the active labors of the farm, the management of the place having been given over to his elder son, Jacob S. Harner, who with his family is living in the old home and operating the place. Mr. Harner is a Democrat, while he and his family are members of the Reform church at Byron. On September 22, 1868, Jacob Harner was united in marriage to Mary Zedicker, who was born in the neighboring county of Montgomery, daughter of Jacob. and Mary Zedicker, who had come to this state from Pennsylvania, and to this union five children have been born, namely : Luella, wife of William Davis, a farmer of Clinton county, this state; Martha, wife of Clinton Flatter, a farmer of Bath township, this county ; Jacob S., who is now operating the home place ; Minnie, wife of Jacob Harris, a farmer of Beavercreek township, and Oliver, who married Jennie Truby and is also farming in Beavercreek township. Jacob S. Harner married Anna Darner, of Fairfield, daughter 0f Thomas and Frances Darner, who had come to this county from Maryland, and has twelve children, Jacob Lawrence, Mabel C., George W., Thomas Herbert, Horace A. and Harold A. (twins), Mary E., John W., Florence A., Woodrow W., Treva Lucile and Martha Lucella, now representing the fourth generation of Harners who have occupied the farm on which they are living. HARRY DWIGHT SMITH. Harry Dwight Smith, prosecuting attorney for Greene county, former president of the council of the city of Xenia and former city solicitor, was born at Xenia, on April 20, 1879, son of Judge Horace L. and Mary A. (Jones) Smith, the former of whom is still living at Xenia, where for many years he has been engaged in the practice of the law and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, together with further details relating to the Smith family in Xenia. Judge Smith has two sons, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Commander Charles E. Smith, of the United States navy, further mention of whom also is made in this volume. Reared in Xenia, Harry D. Smith was graduated from the high school there in 1896 and then entered Antioch College, from which he was graduated in 1900 with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. In the meantime, under the preceptorship of his father, he had been giving attention to the preliminary study of law and upon leaving college entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and was graduated from that institution in 1903. Following his graduation Mr. Smith was admitted to the bar and straightway opened an office for the practice of his profession