20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 78

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 78

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

of Springfield, was born 1855 in this city. He is a son of Charles Rabbitts, now de- ceased, a pioneer of Springfield, who es- tablished the first woolen mills to operate in this locality.

William S. Rabbitts was reared in Springfield and his early educational training, received in the public schools, was supplemented by a course of study at Wittenberg College. In 1873, after com- pleting his literary education, he entered the Lagonda National Bank as messenger boy. Here he continued until 1880 work- ing his way upward when he went to Boulder, Colorado, and accepted a posi- tion as teller in the National State Bank. After ocenpying that position for two years, he returned to Springfield and shortly after was tendered the position of assistant cashier of the Springfield Na- tional Bank, in which capacity he served until 1899. He then became cashier of that institution, which position he still oc- enpies.

Mr. Rabbitts is one of the foremost men of Springfield, enterprising and pub- lic spirited, and is held in highest esteem by his fellow men. He is part owner of the Commercial building, is treasurer of the Associated Charities, treasurer and stockholder of the Lagonda Club, a mem- ber of the Country Club, and also of the Commercial Club, of which he was for two years treasurer. Politically he is a Republican and is treasurer of the Re- publican Central Committee. Fraternally he is a prominent member of the Mystic Cirele, of which he has been treasurer since its organization. He is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, of

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EBEN SKILLINGS, whose comfort- able home and fine farm of ninety-five acres are situated in Section 1, Spring field Township, the latter lying on the line dividing Springfield from Green Town- ship, was born on this farm June 14, 1833. His parents were Lewis and Anna (Craig) Skillings.

The ancestral history of Mr. Skillings is very interesting. His grandfather, Lewis Skillings, was born in Prussia and became a soldier. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War England hired some 20,000 soldiers from the ruler of Hesse- Cassel and other German princes, to which troops the general name of Hes- sians was applied, and Lewis Skillings happened to be one of the soldiers dis- patched to the American coast. The task of fighting for an alien land did not in- spire him with much enthusiasm, and when the English vessel was off the shore of the state of Maine, Mr. Skillings, with a companion, managed to desert the vessel during the night and swim to the land, a distance of about a mile. They were as- sisted by a brave young woman, who hid them until pursuit was over. The name of this courageons and loyal maiden is not remembered. but she subsequently be- came the wife of Lewis Skillings, whom she had saved from certain death. They became parents of a numerous family and lived a happy and contented life until Mr. Skillings was accidentally killed while clearing up his farm in Maine.

Lewis Skillings (2d), father of Eben, was born during the Revolutionary War and was the eldest of the large family, of which he took charge after his father's death, providing for its members until he was twenty-two years of age. In 1811, in

company with a Mr. Haywood, he set ont from Maine to prospect in Ohio, desiring to find a more genial climate and better agricultural conditions. When they reached what is now Green Township. Clark County, Mr. Skillings decided to stop, but Mr. Haywood continued his journey and settled near Troy, in Miami County. Mr. Skillings entered a quarter section of land in what is now Springfield Township, but money was so hard to get in those days, on any terms, that he was obliged to release a part of this land in order to retain the rest, but at a later date he regained it.

Prior to settling permanently in Springfield Township he had visited other sections of the country, going as 'far south as Natchez, Mississippi, where he could easily have obtained a remunerative posi- tion as slave driver had he not scorned the offer. He returned north, lived for some time in Cincinnati, and worked in the salt works at Kanawha, on the Ohio River. After settling on a place of per- manent abode he was married to Anna Craig, who was a danghter of John Craig The latter had served with his father. An- drew Craig, in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Skillings was born at Roxbury. Ver- mont, and her parents came to Clark Connty, Ohio, among the very early set- tlers. A family of seven children was born to Lewis and Anna Skillings, name- ly: Mary, who married James Leybourn: Hannah, who married William MeKin- ney: Sarah. who married Abel Leybourn: John. who died in 1852; Lewis, who is a prominent farmer in Green Township: Eben, subject of this notice; and Wesley. who died in 1861. The only survivors of the family are Lewis and Eben, the par-

MR. AND MRS. EBEN SKILLINGS

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ents having also passed away, the father when aged eighty years and the mother at the age of seventy-three.

Even Skillings was reared on the home farm and has devoted the larger part of his life to its improvement. He was mar- ried, first, to Susan Runyan, who died in the spring of 1860, leaving one child, Laura, who is the wife of Rev. James H. Hollingsworth, a Baptist minister, located at Clyde, Ohio. Mr. Skillings married for his second wife Phebe Paullin, who died September 2, 1881. There were six chil- dren born of that marriage, namely: Otis G., who is a farmer in Miami County ; Wesley, who is a farmer in Kansas; Luella, now deceased, who was the wife of James Rodgers; Elizabeth, who married Anson A. Garlough, of Green Township; Frank, who resides at home; and Byron E., who lives on a part of the home farm. Mr. Skillings was married (thirdly) to Lucinda V. Miller.

In addition to his farm in Springfield Township, Mr. Skillings owns one of six- ty acres situated in Harmony Township, and another that he owned in Green Township he has turned over to his sons. He is a leading member and a trustee of the Free Baptist Church at Pleasant Grove, in Green Township. In politics Mr. Skillings has always been a Repub- lican, but is now a Prohibitionist.

THOMAS COLLINS, one of Pleasant Township's representative citizens, enjoys the distinction of being the oldest Irish resident of Clark County and was the sec- ond of his nationality to settle here. He was born in Ireland in 1837 and is a son of Henry and Nellie Collins,

The grandparents and also the parents of Mr. Collins died in Ireland. The six children born to Henry and Nellie Col- lins bore, respectively, the following names: James, Francis, Patrick, John, Thomas and Margaret. James lived and died on the old sod. Francis left home in early manhood and after working in Seot- land he went to America. He never for- got those he left behind and a part of his earnings were sent back each year to the little Irish home. Finally he sent money to pay the passage of his next brother, Patrick, to America, but the latter was not yet ready to leave Ireland, so the money was given to Thomas. Francis married Rose Brady, in New Jersey, and their children who survived infancy were, Margaret, Ella, Anna, Frank, Thomas and Mary. Patrick came to America in 1854 and joined his brother Francis in New Jersey, where he worked in a saw-mill, after which he came to Ohio, later went to Illinois and still later to Nebraska, where he died. John, the next brother, died in Ireland, unmarried. Margaret, the only daughter, followed her brothers to Amer- ica, where she subsequently married Hugh Brady and died in 1905. She left five children.

Thomas Collins spent the first few years after coming to America, in New York and Brooklyn, working mainly as a lather, having learned that trade. He also made a number of voyages as a sailor to Liverpool and other points. He resided at Philadelphia for a short time, but in 1855 he turned his face to the West and came to Clark County. His first work was done in a tannery, and from there he began to clear land for Thomas Honston, by whom he was employed for two years,

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after which he rented a piece of land, ried in the West and now lives in Ne- which he operated as a farm for three braska, has one child, Thomas. Margaret. who was born in 1867, now resides at home and looks after the household af- fairs. She is the widow of Cornelius Lecy, who died in 1888. They had three children, Mary, Annie and Sarah. Mary, born in 1884, died in the same year. and Annie, born in 1885, died in 1886. Sarah Luey. born in 1887, married Jeremiah Sullivan and they reside in Madison County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have two children, Francis, born in 1906. and Mabel, born in 1907. James, who was born in 1868, is part owner of the home farm. Patrick (2d), who was born in 1869, died in 1896. Sarah, the youngest of Mr. Collins' children, married Angust- us Seidler and they reside at Hannibal. Missouri. They have the following chil- dren : Warren, Viola and Vincent. Mr. Collins and all his family belong to the Catholic Church at London, Ohio. years. From there he moved to South Charleston and was engaged up to 1868 working for different farmers, in the meanwhile saving his money. When he had acenmulated enough capital he bought a farm of fifty acres from Newton Con- way. It was wild land, but Mr. Collins cleared off the timber, of which he made railroad ties, and for seven winters he hauled wood to Springfield. By his con- stant industry and wise frugality Mr. Col- lins made money, but he was heavily taxed for various improvements, having to pay assessments for all the turnpike roads in this section. He continued by purchase to increase the acreage of his farm as fast as he was able. He now owns the home farm in partnership with his son James. It contains 170 acres, sixty-five of which Mr. Collins has re- served for himself. He still assists his son in the management of the place. They . carry on general farming and make a specialty of raising cattle and hogs.

In 1855 Mr. Collins was married to Mary Lagion and they have had nine chil- dren, namely: John H., Patrick, Thomas, Mary J., Christopher, Margaret, James, Patrick (2d), and Sarah. John H. Col- lins was born in 1856. He has led a life of adventure, leaving home in 1877. He was a soldier in the Spanish-American War. Patrick, who was born in 1858, died in 1862. Thomas, who was born in 1861, married Lillie Curney and they have four children: Anna, James F., Herbert and Edith. Mars J., who was born in 1862, is housekeeper for Father Hickey, of the Catholic Church at Urbana. Chris- topher, who was born in 1863, was mar-

CLARK E. JONES, justice of the peace and prominent citizen of Harmony Township, residing at Vienna, was born in Clark County, Ohio, May 13. 1869, and is a son of William Wallace and Amanda M. (Clark) Jones.

The branch of the Jones family to which Clark E. belongs is an old one in Clark County, his grandfather, J. Henry Jones, having been born here January 30, 1821. He died February 24. 1870. On March 19, 1840, he was married to Jemima C. Botkin, who was born March 14, 1820. and died February 5, 1875. They had five children: William Wallace, George Hamilton, Harriet Ann, and Virginia and Isabel, twins. George Hamilton, the see-

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ond son, was born March 6, 1843, and was killed while serving as a soldier in the Union Army. Harriet Ann, born in 1845, married Jacob Yeazel. Virginia and Isabel were born September 28, 1858. They both survive, the latter being the wife of C. O. Neer.

William Wallace Jones was born July 29, 1841, and died December 20. 1904. He was married at Vienna, by Reverend Forshea, February 4, 1866, to Amanda M. Clark, and they had six children: Frank, Clark, Belle, Jennie, Burr G. and Scott H. Frank, born November 13, 1866, married Lizzie Baird, in 1891. and they have four children. Harriet E., Ilo, Eva and Mabel. Belle, born February 15, 1872, married Howard Logue and they have two chil- dren, Leah and Lydia R. Jennie, born August 11, 1874, married Wade H. Smith, and they have two children, Richard and Mary. Burr, born April 23, 1876, mar- ried Ethel Smith and they have three chil- dren. Robert, Shurrell and Wade. Scott, born August 1, 1883, resides at home and is employed by the Ohio Electric Rail- road.

Clark E. Jones was about ten years old when he came to Vienna, where he com- pleted his education and where his life has been mainly spent. He has been more or less continuously interested in farming, owning twenty-two and one-half acres in Pleasant Township, together with two valuable properties in the town. His mother still survives. She was born at Vienna, October 21, 1844, and is a dangh- ter of William B. and Rebecca Clark. Her brothers and sisters bore the follow- ing names: Martha A., Nancy T., Mary J., Thomas M .. Albert H., Eli T., Anna

N., Lavinia, William B., Harriet D., Mor- ton and Sherman.

On March 12, 1891, Mr. Jones was mar- ried at New Moorefield, Ohio, by Rev. O. M. Sellers, to Nellie A. Baird. She was born in Clark County, Ohio, November 2, 1872. and is a daughter of William and Nancy J. ( Kimble) Baird. Her great- grandparents. William and Dorothy (Cameron) Baird, lived in Pennsylvania until 1794, when they journeyed to Ken- theky and in 1808 came from there to Ohio on horseback, settling in Harmony Township. William Baird had been a soldier in the Revolution and served as a guard over certain Hessian prisoners. Family annals tell that after he had heard some of his prisoners declare that they would never return to Germany, but if they could escape would become citizens of the great Republic, he exercised dis- crimination and permitted some to evade his vigilence, knowing that the colonies needed strong, sturdy men of that type. The Bairds originated in Scotland, were probably driven to Ireland by religious persecution and subsequently came to America. In Kentucky the Bairds and Breckenridges were connected by social and business ties.

The father of Mrs. Jones was born in Clark County, Ohio, March 27. 1826. and died February 20, 1907. He married Nancy J. Kimble, who was born Angust 5, 1840. They had five children, namely : Clara E., born in 1869, married Frank C. Jones in 1891 ; Milton, born in 1870, mar- ried Flora Neer; Nellie A., Mrs. Jones; Eva, born November 2. 1875; and Laura E .. horn November 14, 1877, married Minor Slagle.

Mr. Jones belongs to the Methodist

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Episcopal Church at Vienna, while his time of his death, he owned 550 acres. wife is a member of the Christian Church. He married Martha Miller, who was born in Greene County, Ohio, and died in 1892. aged sixty-five years. Their family con- sisted of six children, namely: Albert, who resides at Yellow Springs, Ohio; Emma. who died young; William M .: Margaret; Ida, who married Charles Weaver; and John W. Cyrus Drake died in 1901, aged seventy-eight years. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at this place, and has held all of the of- fices in its gift, being at present keeper of the records and seals. In 1907 he rep- resented the lodge at the Grande Lodge at Zanesville. He belongs to the higher branch, the Uniform Rank, at Springfield and also to the auxiliary, the Pythian Sis- ters.

In politics Mr. Jones is a stanch Re- publican and on that tieket he was elected justice of the peace to serve a term of four years, assuming the duties of the office in 1907.

WILLIAM M. DRAKE, whose valu- able farm of 272 acres is situated in Mad River Township, belongs to a pioneer family of this section and was born on his present farm, in Clark County, Ohio, April 29, 1856. His parents were Cyrus and Martha (Miller) Drake.

The grandparents of Mr. Drake, Will- iam and Ruth (Welch) Drake, came from Pennsylvania to Ohio on horseback. Their log cabin was one of the first that was built in Mad River Township and the land that William M. Drake now owns was then but a great extent of swamp and uncleared forest. They reared a fam- ily of seven children, namely: Jacob, John, Thompson, Cyrus, William, Jane and Elizabeth. The youngest daughter married D. Shellabarger. All have passed out of life. Cyrus Drake, father of Will- iam M., was born near Enon, Clark FRANK M. KRAPP, attorney. a lead- ing member of the Springfield bar, was horn at Springfield, Ohio, in 1877. and is County, and he was five years old when his parents settled on the present farm to which he subsequently added until, at the a son of Martin Krapp, who came from

William M. Drake attended the district schools and later spent one year at col- lege at Ada, Ohio, that being the only period which he has passed away from the farm on which he was born. The original tract of 164 acres his grandfather purchased for $500. Both his father and Mr. Drake have made many improvements here, the former building the commodious brick residence in 1850. William M. Drake carries on general farming and stock-raising and is one of the township's most substantial men.

On December 15, 1898, William M. Drake was married to Sarah A. Keifer. who is a daughter of Benjamin and Amelia F. (Hinkle) Keifer. They have had four children, namely: Marie Ione. William Russell. Warren and an infant. who, with William Russell, are de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Drake are members of the Presbyterian Church at Yellow Springs. He belongs to the organization known as the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. In politics he is a Republican.

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Germany to Springfield in 1850. For was born April 21, 1848, at Millerstown, many years Martin Krapp was a promi- nent business man here, where he now lives retired.

Frank M. Krapp was reared at Spring- field, and after graduating from the Springfield High School, in 1895, he taught school for one year and then en- tered the law department of the Univers- ity of Cincinnati, where he was graduated with the class of 1899. He immediately entered into practice at Springfield, be- ing the junior member of the law firm of Tatum & Krapp, until Mr. Tatum was elected city solicitor, since which time Mr. Krapp has practiced alone. Professional men in these modern days must be pre- pared to meet with strong competition, and in spite of this Mr. Krapp has won a recognized place on the Springfield bar and has been elected treasurer of the Clark County Bar Association. For the past five years he has also held the office of referee in bankruptcy for the Spring- field District. He is an active Republican and is chairman of the Republican Cen- tral and Executive Committees. He is in- terested in the Yieldable Gear Company, of Springfield, being its vice president.

In 1900 Mr. Krapp was married to Bessie Wade, a resident of Springfield. They attend the First Lutheran Church. He is connected fraternally with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Owls, and he is one of the directors of the Young Men's Christian Association.

DR. E. CALVIN MILLER, postmas- tor at New Carlisle, Ohio, is also a well known druggist of this village, of which he has been a resident since 1883. He

Pennsylvania, and is a son of Joseph and Mary Jane (Boyd) Miller. His grand- father, Ezekial Miller, was prominent among the early settlers of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, being the founder of the village of Millerstown, where le owned a large tract of land, and where he died at the advanced age of ninety-six years.

Joseph Miller, father of the doctor, was born in Pennsylvania, his parents' family numbering four children, namely : Mary, McCounel, Joseph and Thomas. Joseph was reared on his father's farm and later engaged in mercantile business at Millers- town, where he was married to Mary Jane Boyd. also a native of Pennsylvania. They subsequently moved to North Da- kota, where they remained but one year, then coming to New Carlisle, Clark Coun- ty, Ohio. After residing here one year they sold their property and moved to C'allery, Pennsylvania, where they passed the remainder of their lives, Mr. Miller dying at the age of seventy-eight years and his wife at that of seventy-two. They were the parents of the following chil- dren: Ellen, who died young; Robert, who lives in the state of Washington; E. Calvin, subject of this article; Melissa Jane, residing at Brady's Bend, Pennsy :- vania: James, who died at the age of thirty-eight, and was prominent in the oil business; Thomas, who was killed on his first day's run as conductor on the Penn- sylvania Railroad; Mary, a resident of Brady's Bend, Pennsylvania; and Benja- min. who is superintendent for the Standard Oil Company in Washington State.

Dr. E. Calvin Miller was reared in Mil-

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lerstown, Pennsylvania, and received his education in the common schools of that village, later attending Mount Union Col- lege, where he was a student at the time of President Lincoln's assassination. He worked as clerk in his father's store in- til he was twenty years of age, at the age of seventeen beginning the study of medi. cine nnder Dr. C. H. Lee, of Tarentum, a village five miles from Millerstown. After remaining in Dr. Lee's office for three years, he attended a course of lec- tures at Philadelphia, where he received his diploma. He shortly after embarked in the practice of medicine at Moravia, Pennsylvania, going thence in a short time, however, to West Middlesex, Mer- cer County, that state, where he was en- gaged in the drug business for one year. Then, owing to ill health, he removed to Springdale, Pennsylvania, and for nine years operated a drug store in connection with his medical practice. He was also postmaster of that village, the office being one of the fourth class. Dr. Miller then went to Fargo, North Dakota, but not lik- ing that locality returned immediately to Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. where he left his family while he made a tour through many states in search of a desir- able location. He finally came to New Carlisle and purchased an interest in the Neff & Son Drug Company, of this vil- lage, and operated the business from 1883 mitil 1895 under the firm name of Neff & Miller. Dr. Miller subsequently carried on the business alone for one year, and then sold out to W. A. Higgins, who has since conducted it.

Dr. Miller was appointed postmaster of New Carlisle June 19, 1900, during Pres- ident MeKinley's administration, and is

still serving in that capacity. He is in- terested in various business enterprises of this locality, is president of the New Carlisle Telephone Company, a stock- holder in the First National Bank, presi- dent of the cemetery board, was for sev. eral years secretary of the New Carlisle Building and Loan Association and was also engaged in life insurance for a time. Fraternally Dr. Miller is a Mason, being a member of New Carlisle Lodge No. 100. F. & A. M., the Chapter at New Carlisle, and Palestine Commandery at Spring- field. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., of which he was financial secretary for seventeen years. Politically he is a Re- publiean.

Dr. Miller was married in 1869 to Nancy Jane Humes, a daughter of James and Mary Humes, of Pennsylvania, and he and his wife have been the parents of three children : Ella, who married W. X Scarff, and has three children-Max. Howard and Lucille; C. Bertram, a drug- gist, of Dayton, Ohio; and Thomas, who is assistant postmaster at New Carlisle.

SIMON MICHAEL, a well known and highly respected retired farmer of the vil- lage of North Hampton, and owner of a fine farm of 105 acres in German Town- ship, also owns property in the village of North Hampton, and has residence prop- erty which is located just at the edge of the village. He has been a resident of Clark County for practically all his life and was born on his father's farm in Ger- man Township. Jannary 11. 1839, a son of Adam and Mary (Wones) Michael.

Adam Michael, who was born in Vir- ginia, was of German extraction, and

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when a boy came to Ohio with his par- ents, who settled in the wilds of Pike Township, Clark County. Here he was reared and became a farmer by occupa- acres before his marriage from George tion. He was united in marriage with Getz, and having added to this from time to time, now has 105 acres all in one tract. Mr. Michael followed farming in German Township until 1896, when he retired from agricultural pursuits and has since been a resident of North Hampton. Po- litically he is a Prohibitionist. He is a member and elder of the Reformed Church. Mary Wones, a native of England, who came to this country with her parents when a girl. Eight children were born of this union, namely : Catherine, Elizabeth, William, Lucinda, Frederick, Ellen, Simon, our subject, and George, who lives in Indiana. The two last mentioned are the only ones now living, Ellen dying in infancy. Mrs. Michael died in 1845 at the age of thirty-five years, and in 1847 Adam Michael married Catherine Welchans, widow of Griffith Welehans, and a daugh- ter of Mr. Overs. She was an aunt of ex- Judge Overs. Two children were born of the second union-David and Emma. Adam Michael died in 1851 and was sur- vived by his widow until 1902, passing away at the age of seventy-five years.

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20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 78

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993