A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 33

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 806

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Our subject lived on the homestead farm in! Richland township until eight years of age, and then removed to the farm in Green- ville township, which he now owns and oc- cupies. During his youth he assisted his fa- ther in the laborious task of clearing and improving the farm, and attended the dis- trict schools when his services were not needed at home. He remained with his fa- ther until attaining his majority, and then began life upon his own responsibility. For a year after his marriage he lived near Beamsville, and then located upon his pres- ent farm, where he owns fifty acres of well improved and highly cultivated land.

On the 23d of December, 1860, Mr. WVarvel led to the marriage altar Miss Nancy J. Royer, a daughter of David and Sarah (Grafford) Royer, of Logan county, Ohio. By this union five children were born, but two died in infancy unnamed, and Mary E., who became the wife of William H. Huber, is also now deceased. The living are: Martha L., now the widow of Riley Yonker; and Eva, the wife of G. H. Mills, of Beamsville.

Mr. Warvel joined the "boys in blue" during the civil war, by enlisting on the 2d of May, 1864, in Company G. One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and was mustered into the service as sergeant of his company. They were with Hunter on his raid through the Shenandoah valley, and for more than a month were kept constantly on the march. At Cumberland, Maryland, the company was detached from the regiment and stationed at what was called Fort Cumberland, where they performed garrison duty until their term of enlistment had expired. One en- gagement occurred between this force and a part of Colonel Mosby's regiment. Com- pany G supported the batteries while under fire, repelling the enemy. Twenty days af- ter his term of enlistment had expired Mr. Warvel was mustered out at Camp Denni- son, September 22, 1864. He had left the plow standing in the furrow when he en- tered the service, and upon his return home resumed farming. He is now a member of the Grand Army Post at Greenville, and politically is identified with the Democratic party, while he and his wife are active and consistent members of the Christian church at Beamsville.

AMOS P. MILLER.

The farming interests of Butler township are well represented by Amos P. Miller, who resides on section 33, where he has a fine farm under a high state of cultivation. He was born near Dayton, Ohio, September 9, 1849. His father, David T. Miller, was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia, born February 15, 1812, and in 1822, at the age of ten years, he removed to Montgomery county, Ohio, with his parents, David and

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Hannah ( Foutz) Miller, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The grandparents of our subject had five sons and one daugh- ter, all of whom reached mature years, were married and reared families of their own, namely : Michael, Joel, Solomon,David T., John and Barbara. All are now deceased. The mother of these children survived her husband about twenty years and died in 1863, in her ninety-first year. Her remains were laid by his side in the Hull cemetery in Perry township, Montgomery county.

David T. Miller spent the greater part of his youth in Ohio, being reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier. After he had attained to man's estate he chose as a com- panion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Eliza Souders, by whom two children were born, one of whom died in infancy, and one, Ephraim, lived until about thirty-five years of age, leaving three children. After the death of his first wife David T. Miller married Miss Anna Shock, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1819. They were married about 1838 and ten chil- dren graced their union, of whom nine reached mature years, as follows: John, who died in 1866; Susannah, who became the wife of Noah Comer and died about 1878, leaving five children; Hannah, who became the wife of David Grove and died in the fall of 1898, at the age of fifty-one years, leaving four sons ; David I., who died in 1874, leaving two sons; Amos P .; Rachel, who first married Noah Ulrey, by whom she had three children, and is now the wife of Cyrus Devilbiss, by whom she has four children ; Samuel, who is living on the home- stead farm west of Dayton and has seven daughters and one son; Aaron, who re- moved from Kansas to southern California in 1895 and is there living with his family

of seven children; and Kate Ann, wife of Charles Millard, who resides near the home farm in Montgomery county with his wife and four children, three daughters and a son. Mrs. Miller was called to her final rest in December, 1872, and the father was afterward married again. His death oc- curred in August, 1886. He was a tanner by trade and carried on business along that line on his own account for about twenty years. He owned three hundred acres of land in Montgomery county, also land in Kansas, and liberaly aided all of his chil- dren. Both he and his wife were members of the German Baptist church, and their re- mains were interred in the Hull cemetery.

Mr. Miller, of this review, received an ordinary common-school education and remained at home until his twenty-third year, when he was married, on the 26th of March, 1872, to Barbara E. Garber, whose birth occurred in Montgomery coun- ty, in 1851, her parents being Jonathan and . Catharine (Rife) Garber. Nine children have been born of this union: Elsie M., wife of Abram Wholsinger, of Preble coun- ty; Clement L., a farmer of Butler town- ship, who is married and has one son and one daughter; Catherine V., wife of Will- iam Petry, of Preble county, by whom she has one daughter; Olive I., wife of John Hapner, of Preble county, by whom she has one daughter; Rachel E., wife of Charles Slutsher, of Preble county; David I., who aids his father in the operation of the home farm; Jonathan O., who died at the age of eight years; and George E. and John D., who are yet under the parental roof.

Mr. Miller located upon his present farm in the spring of 1882 and has here eighty acres of land. In addition to the raising of cereals he makes a specialty of the grow-

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ing of tobacco, and for several years has operated a threshing machine. His place is improved with fine buildings, and every- thing about the farm is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating the careful supervis- ion of the owner. Mr. Miller is independent in politics and has not voted since casting his ballot for General Hancock, twenty years ago. His time and attention are largely given to his business affairs and in these he has met with creditable success. Activity in the affairs of life, guided by sound judgment, has brought to him a com- fortable competence and he is therefore clas- sified among the substantial farmers of his community.

MRS. ELIZABETH SHERRY.

Mrs. Elizabeth Sherry belongs to one of the pioneer families of Darke county, and within the borders of the Buckeye state she has spent her entire life. She was born in Versailles, August 26, 1840, and is the eld- est of a family of nine children, three sons and six daughters, whose parents were Da- vid and Mary (Conner) Grissom. Her fa- ther came to Darke county during his early boyhood, acquiring his education in the pub- lic schools and throughout his active busi- ness career carried on agricultural pursuits here. The greater part of his life was passed in York township and he has met with a fair degree of success in his undertakings. He died when about sixty-two years of age, in the faith of the United Brethren church, of which he had long been a consistent member. Of his children seven are yet liv- ing, namely : Mrs. Sherry; Alfred, a soldier in the civil war, who is now married and follows farming in Jay county, Indiana ; Hiram, who also was one of the "boys in

blue," and is now living with his family on the farm in Jay county ; Lucinda, the wife of Samuel Lehman, a farmer of York township; Louisa, who is a twin sister of Lucinda, and is the wife of Cornelius Bertram, of York township ; Martha Ellen, the wife of Webster Ward, an agriculturist of Wayne township; and Squire Francis, who is an enterprising merchant of Miami county.

Mrs. Sherry was a little girl of three summers when she removed with her parents to the farm, the home of the family being a log cabin situated in the midst of the wild country where the work of progress and improvement had as yet made little trans- formation. She has seen deer upon her fa- ther's premises and remembers the day when wild game furnished many a meal for the settles. The first schoolhouse in which she pursued her studies was built of round logs and the seats were made of split sapplings, without backs. Upon a broad board resting on wooden pins driven into the wall the larg- er boys and girls wrote their exercises, and the curriculum was hardly more than the three "R's." After she had reached wom- anhood she promised her hand in marriage to Lewis Sherry, and the marriage was cele- barted on the 4th of November, 1859. He was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, February 13, 1838, and was a lad of five summers when he came to Darke county, which was the place of his abode until he was called to his final rest. Diligence and enterprise were numbered among his chief characteristics and in his various business pursuits he manifested untiring activity, supplemented by sound judgment. He car- ried on farming for a number of years and for some time conducted an agricultural im- plement store in Versailles and in Greenville. He carried forward to successful comple-

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tion whatever he undertook and his business methods were at all times above question. His advice and counsel were often sought by his friends and neighbors and his opinions were fair and impartial and based upon prac- tical sense. With his family he occupied a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in York township, and his father's old home- stead there is still owned by his brother. Such was his upright character that naught was said against his motives or his acts and thus he left to his family an untarnished name.

Mr. and Mrs. Sherry became the par- ents of four children, but one daughter died in early life. Those still living are Samuel, a merchant of Versailles, who married Min- erva J. Wilson ; William, who is represented elsewhere in this volume; Alwilda E., the wife of Frank Oliver, who was born in Darke county, March 11, 1860, and by whom she has one son and one daughter, Ernest and Bertha B.

Mr. Sherry exercised his right of fran- chise in support of the men and meas- tres of the Democratic party from the time he cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. He was repeatedly elected justice of the peace of York town- ship, a fact which indicates the confidence reposed in him, as well as his fidelity and impartiality in the discharge of his duty. He was also a member of the executive com- mittee of the Versailles Farmers' Institute and took great interest in its meetings. Of the Masonc fraternity he was a valued and exemplary member and was likewise a lead- ing representative of the Evangelical Lutheran church, with which he united May 26, 1855. He died January 20, 1898, when almost sixty years of age, death coming very unexpectedly. In the early morning of

that day he awakened and held some conver- sation with his wife. A little later it ap- peared that he had again fallen asleep, and, thinking it time to arise, Mrs. Sherry address- ed him. No answer came and noting his ir- regular breathing, she hastily summoned by telephone her son-in-law and his family. Before medical aid came, however, he had passed away and in his death the community mourned the loss of one of its valued and worthy citizens.

Mrs. Sherry makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Oliver, in one of the pretty frame residences of York township. She has been to her family a kind and faith- ful mother and has long been a consistent member of the Lutheran church, and in hier life has exemplified its teachings. For al- most sixty years she has resided in Darke county and she has witnessed the greater part of its growth and improvement. She belongs to one of the representative pioneer families of the community, for both the Sherrys and Grissoms were long identified with the substantial growth and upbuilding of this section of the state. Her many ex- cellent qualities have gained her friends whose regard is tried and true and those who have known her longest hold her in highest esteem.

MRS. SAMUEL WILSON.

Mrs. Samuel Wilson has been a witness of almost the entire growth and develop- ment of Darke county. She was born in Ohio, August, 21, 1836, and is the second of a family of three daughters, whose parents were Jacob and Anın Rebecca (Staup) Eyler. Her father was born in Frederick county, Maryland, August 30, 1814, and died Sep- tember 26, 1886. He was reared upon the

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farm and acquired a good education in the schools near his home, but at an early age he was left to care for his widowed mother, and his educational advantages were meager. He came with his family to Ohio in 1836, locating in Montgomery county, where he resided for seven years. He afterward spent three years in Greene county and in 1846 came to Darke county, locating in Van Buren township, and in this county he re- mained until his death. His political sup- port was given to the Democracy, and in religious belief he was a Lutheran. His wife, who belonged to the same church, was born in Maryland, April 27, 1812. and died on the 20th of November, 1897. She was an affectionate wife and mother and her teach- ings have had marked influence over her chil- dren. for she was an earnest Christian woman and reared her children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

Mrs. Wilson, of this review, was a little maiden of ten summers when her parents became residents of Darke county. She re- mained in Van Buren township until her seventeenth year and pursued her education in the common schools. She was then mar- ried, on the 20th of September, 1853, to Samuel Wilson. They had little capital with which to start out in life, but they possessed resolute spirits and determined purpose ; and the labors of the wife supplemented the work of the husband, who devoted his energies to the tilling of the soil. The first piece of land which they owned was eighty acres in Van Buren township. Subsequently they sold it and purchased sixty-five acres in Wayne township. Their first home was a little log cabin and for six years they resided in Wayne township, Mr. Wilson being actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. He also possessed considerable natural mechanical 16

ability and was a practical carpenter and bridge-builder. Perhaps no better account of his life can be given than to copy the obit- uary which was published in the Versailles Policy, in June, 1897, five days after his deathı. It says:

"Samuel Wilson was the son of Samuel and Mary Frances Wilson, and was born in Greenville township, February 21, 1829. His grandfather and two aunts were killed by the Indians near Greenville. The two aunts, Patsy and Anna Wilson, were mur- dered in July, 1812. They had left the stock- ade to gather berries in the afternoon when they were attacked by the Indians and killed by blows on the head with tomahawks.

"The parents of the deceased died when he was young. his father being drowned in Greenville creek and his mother died soon after the sad death of the father. After the death of his parents he was compelled to live among strangers until eighteen years of age when he apprenticed himself to Orrin Cul- bertson as a carpenter. He remaned with him until he was twenty-one, when he be- came a contractor for himself. He proved himself to be a good business man. By fru- gality he had become a well-to-do and pros- perous farmer.

"In the year 1853 he was joined in holy wedlock with Mary C. Eyler, with whom he lived happily until death separated them. To them eleven children were born, eight of whom are now living, seven girls and one son. He was always kind and true to his wife and children. During his life the de- ceased proved himself a public-spirited man, serving as the treasurer of Yorktown town- ship for four years, a trustee for one year and commissioner of Darke county for six years. Thus his life of usefulness in the home, in the community and the county is

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ended and he has gone the way of all the earth. In the last solemn obsequies we could but manifest our tender regard for him and tenderly lay the lifeless form to sleep in mother earth, committing his spirit into the hands of the Great Giver of life. May his rest be sweet! To his companion is due an expression of our deepest sorrow, for she, most of all, feels this sad separation. She will be most lonely. May the infinite Father comfort and abundantly bless her! May the children profit by the counsels of their father and emulate his virtues! Remember there is one above who has promised to be a friend to the orphan and the widow. May heaven smile upon you and bless you. To the dozen grandchildren we say, mourn not that a loved one is taken away. These experiences you will meet often along life's pathway.

" We shall miss thee a thousand times along life's weary track;

Not a sorrow or a joy but we shall long to call thee back,-

Yearn for thy true and tender heart, long thy bright smile to see, For many dear and true are left, but none quite like thee.

Not upon us or ours the solemn angel has wrought;

The funeral anthem is a glad evangel: the good die not;

God calls our loved ones, but we lose not wholly what he has given:

They live in thought and deed as truly as in heaven."

Such is the account of the life and char- acter of Samuel Wilson by one who knew him long and well.

He was for many years identified with agricultural pursuits in Darke county. After residing on two different farms in Wayne township, he sold his poperty there and purchased eighty acres of land in Rich- land township. Two years later he disposed

of that tract and bought one hundred and thirty acres in Wayne township, but lived there for only two years, after which he sold cut and bought a quarter-section of land in York township. This was partially covered by timber and brush and the improvements on the place were a little log cabin and log stable. In his business affairs, however, Mr. Wilson prospered and year by year added to his possessions. At one time he was the owner of six hundred acres in Darke county and in Indiana. In 1876 he erected on his home farm in this county a beautiful brick residence and the following year built a large and commodious barn. He also made other substantial improvements which added to the value and attractive appearance of this place. About 1890 lie erected on section 15 a tasteful and pleasant house in which their daughter, Mrs. Gilbert, now resides. Mr. Wilson was a very successful farmer and stock-raiser, and his careful management of his business interests brought to. him a well deserved success. He was known far and wide as a benevolent gentleman, always just and fair in his dealings. To his family lie not only left a handsome estate but also that priceless heritage which is rather to be chosen than great riches.

In politics he was a Democrat and filled the office of township treasurer for four years. He was also a township trustee for two years and county commissioner for six years. In all these positions he discharged his duty with marked promptness and fidel- ity and won the high commendation of all concerned. The poor and needy ever found in Mr. and Mrs. Wilson warm friends who were willing to aid them, and to many pub- lic movements and measures which have contributed to the general good they were liberal supporters.

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

This worthy couple became the parents of eleven children, two sons and nine daugh- ters, of whom eight are yet living, as fol- lows: Cynthia H., who resides with her mother on the old homestead; William J., who is represented elsewhere in this volume ; Minerva J., the wife of Samuel Sherry, a inerchiant of Versailles, by whom she had a son and daughter; Iola Belle, the wife of Charles Ewry, who was formerly a teacher but is now engaged in the hardware business in Portland, Indiana, as a member of the firm of Yount & Ewry; Ida May, the wife of Harry A. Gilbert, formerly a teacher but now a prosperous farmer of York township, Ly whom she has one son and two daugh- ters; Mary Frances, the wife of William D. Yount, who is a partner of Mr. Ewry in the hardware business, and by whom she has two sons; Edith G., wife of S. A. Over- holzer, who was formerly a successful teach- 'er and is now a prominent farmer in Rich- land township, by whom she has one son; and Minnie, the wife of William C. Hile, an agriculturist of Wayne township. They too have one son. The children were all provided with good educational privileges to fit them for life's practical and responsible duties, and their life records are a credit to the family name.

Mrs. Wilson is now residing in her beautiful home, surrounded by her children and a host of warm friends, among whom she has long resided. Her beautiful Chris- tian character and her upright life have gained to her the love and esteem of many. In the Versailles cemetery stands a beautiful Scotch granite monument sacred to the memory of her husband, who so long trav- eled life's journey, sharing with his family its joys and sorrows, its adversity and pros- perity. She bravely met the hardships and

trials of pioneer life in the early days and now well deserves the enjoyment which comes to her through the comforts with which she is surrounded.

R. K. BEAM.

The name Beam figures conspicuously on the pages of Darke county history. The ancestry can be traced back to the father- land, and many of his sterling qualities found their origin in the Teutonic race. He was born in Darke county, December 28, 1851, and in a family of ten children, tliree sons and seven daughters, was the fourth in or- der of birth. His parents were Solomon and Elizabethi ( Warvel) Beam, and the father was born in Richland township, Darke county, on the 26th of February, 1823. He was one of the oldest native sons in this locality. In his early life he was a sawyer in Brown township, following that pursuit at a time when the county was large- ly covered with a heavy growth of timber. In later years he carried on agricultural pur- suits.

At the time of the civil war, prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he responded to the call for aid and joined the "boys in blue" of Company G, One Hundred and Fifty- second Ohio Infantry. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and he participated in a number of import- ant engagements and all of the trying ordeals which make up a soldier's life. He went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, and on one occasion he had his leg broken, which necessitated his discharge. He entered the service as second lieutenant of the company, and was always known as a loyal soldier.

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A man firm in support of his honest con- victions and earnest in all things, he com- manded genuine regard from all those with whom he came in contact. As his guide through life he followed the precept of the Golden Rule, and it was exemplified in his daily conduct with men. In politics he was an old-line Whig, and in ante bellum days advocated abolition princi- ples and became a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln, becoming one of the early support- ers of the Republican party, upholding bv his ballot its men and measures. He was regarded as one of the substantial farmers of the community, and on coming to Brown township he entered eighty acres of forest land on section II, where he built a log cabin and made his home until his death, which occurred on the IIth of January, 1866. He was progressive and public-spirited, and gave his support to many interests which he believed would prove of benefit to the com- munity. He was interested in the construc- tion of the old Mackinac Railroad, now known as the Cincinnati & Northern Rail- road. and his material assistance was given to many other measures. His father, George Beam, came to Ohio from the state of Pennsylvania, and was one of the pio- neers of Richland township. He staked out the first lot in Beamsville and the town was named in his honor.

The mother of our subject was a daugli- ter of Christopher and Charlotte (Lilly) Warvel, who were early settlers of that coun- ty. She was born May 16, 1827, and is still living in the village of Ansonia. For many years she was a member of the United Brethren church, but now holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and is an earnest Christian lady, whose belief finds exemplification in her upright life. Her

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 33

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 806

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 806