A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 34

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

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influence has had marked effect on the char- acter of her children, who have every reason to be grateful' for the wise teachings of a tender and loving mother. Six of her chil- dren yet survive, namely : Daniel C., who was a soldier in the civil war, is married and is now following farming in Allen township; R. K., of this review; Paulina, the wife of John Ketrow, a commercial traveler resid- ing in Van Wert, Ohio; Jane, wife of A. J. Lickel, a farmer of Mercer county, Ohio; Leroy S., a farmer who is married and lives in Brown township; and Mollie A., wife of Dr. De Ford, who is a graduate of the Cin- cinnati Medical College, and is now a suc- cessful practitioner in Rossville.

R. K. Beam, whose name forms the cap- tion of this sketch, is a typical Ohioan. He was reared to farm life, and throughout his active business career has carried on general farming and stock raising. The common schools afforded him his educational privi- leges, but he is largely self-educated, for when he was fifteen years of age his father died, leaving him to support his widowed mother and the other children of the family, as he was the eldest. His life has been one of industry and earnest toil, but the difficul- ties which he has met have served to develop in him a strong character. Many obstacles were in his path, and at times his boyish heart almost failed him, but he would re- new his courage and press manfully up- ward. As the years passed he worked

his way steadily upward, and today he is numbered among the substan- tial farmers and stock raisers of his native county. He remained with his mother until twenty-five years of age, and at that time he married Miss Sarah C. Rue, the marriage taking place on the 15th of March, 1877. She was born November 4,

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1856, a daughter of William and Lovina (Birman) Rue. In the family were ten children, of whom nine are yet living, all residents of Darke county.

The father was born in Hanover, Ger- many, September 9, 1831, and died April 16, 1896. He was brought to America by his parents when only three years of age, the family locating in Germantown, Ohio. He became a well-to-do citizen of York town- ship, and lived an honorable life. His widow still survives him and is making her home on the old farmstead in York town- ship, at the age of sixty-four years. She has been a life-long member of the Luth- eran church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beam have been born nine children, eight yet liv- ing, as follows: Augustus, who was edu- cated in the common schools, is associated with his father in farming and stock raising in Brown township: he is married and in his political views is a Democrat ; Myrtle, who is a most estimable young lady of ex- cellent character and a favorite with her many friends, died June 13, 1897; Willie, who assists his father in the operation of the home farm; Daisy, who is attending school and is also studying music; Ivy, Thomas, Byrell, Virgie and Thelma com- plete the family circle. Mrs. Beam is of a genial and affectionate disposition, and thus makes a model wife and mother. She and her husband have traveled life's journey to- gether for a quarter of a century, sharing to- gether its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity.

At the time of their marriage they be- gan housekeeping in a little log cabin upon rented land, and Mr. Beam's possessions con- sisted of two old horses and just money enough to enable him to place his land under cultivation. He continued renting for

about five or six years, and then purchased forty acres of land, constituting a part of his present farm. He was materially as- sisted by James Tynan, who had formed a strong friendship for Mr. Beam, when he was a fatherless boy, endeavoring to sup- port his widowed mother and her children. As the years passed our subject was enabled to add to his property, and is today the owner of a valuable farm of three hundred and thirty-one acres in Brown township, supplied with the best modern improvements, including a beautiful brick residence which was erected in 1890. Near by are found commodious barns and outbuildings and well fenced fields which are highly culti- vated, giving evidence of the thrift, enter- prise and perseverance of the owner. For some time he has made a specialty of stock raising, and for a number of years has raised fine hogs, having a large drove of registered Poland China hogs. He also makes a spe- cialty of registered short horn cattle, and is well known throughout the entire country as a stock raiser who has done much to im- prove the grade of stock which is raised in this section of the state. He is well in- formed in all agricultural and stock raising subjects, and the methods which he follows are progressive. For nine years he was the vice-president and superintendent of the cat- tle and other departments of the Darke County Fair Association and is also official- ly connected with the Darke County Agri- cultural Association, his labors having been very effective in promoting the interests of the farmers of western Ohio.

Mr. Beam cast his first presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden and has since been a stanch Democrat, who has frequently been selected to serve as a delegate to the county, state and congressional conventions. His

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opinions always carry weight in the coun- cils of his party. He was elected as as- sessor of Brown township when twenty-two years of age, and has been a trustee of the township for two terms, discharging his duties in a most creditable manner. He is a stanch friend of the little red schoolhouse and his labors have greatly promoted the cause of education through twenty years' service as a member of the school board, of which organization he is now the president. In 1885 he was elected one of the commis- sioners of Darke county and filled the office with such marked ability that he was re- elected in 1888. Although but a young man, his fellow townsmen recognize the fact that the community was never better repre- sented on the board, for he gave his support to all progressive measures calculated to prove of public benefit and at the same time was practical in his advocacy of such. He has never failed of election when a candi- date for office, and in 1888 received thirty- scven votes in the county more than were given Grover Cleveland. He has always been fearless and faithful in the discharge of his duty, standing by those principles and measures which he believed to be right. Prior to his election the Democrats of Darke county were divided into factions and even county commissioners were displaying marked dissimilarity of opinion concerning the erection of beautiful modern buildings which constituted the "Children's Home." but Mr. Beam's proposition to the commis- sioners and the public met the demands that were made by those officers and their con- stituents. A part of the Manix estate was sold and about fifty-two acres were retained upon which was erected the beautiful home which certainly is highly creditable to Darke county, as well as to the men who were

influential in its erection, prominent among whom was Mr. Beam. Although his duties were arduous and difficult to perform he discharged them fully and to the best of lris ability-and that ability is of a high grade. He is now serving as one of the present pike board of commissioners. He lent his aid and influence toward the work of repairing and modernizing the county court house and has always been found in favor of prog- ress and advancement. The building was thoroughly overhauled, a complete plumbing system was put in and due regard was given its sanitary arrangements.

Socially Mr. Beam is connected with the Masonic lodge of Ansonia and his life exemplifies its noble and benevolent teach- ings. He is also a member of the Darke County Horse Thief Association, one of the worthy organizations of the county, and acted as its president at one time. This is a chartered institution of the state of Ohio and has done creditable work in apprehend- ing criminals. He has contributed to the support of the churches and schools and has been active in promoting all measures for the general good. He and his wife are num- bered among the most respected citizens of Brown township and Darke county, and his close connection with its progress and ad- vancement would render any history of the county incomplete that did not contain the record of their lives. He is truly a self- made mian. one who has worked his own way upward, and his example is indeed in many respects well worthy of emulation.

FRANCIS MARION EIDSON.

This gentleman, who is now successfully engaged in farming in Greenville township, has led a life of honest toil. Throughout

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his career of continued and far-reaching use- fulness his duties have been performed with the greatest care, and business interests have been so managed as to win him the confi- dence of the public and the prosperity which should always attend honorable effort.

A native of Ohio, Mr. Eidson was born in Preble county December 14, 1835, and is a son of Boyce and Rebecca (Griffin) Eid- son, natives of Virginia and Delaware, re- spectively, and a grandson of Henry and Nancy ( Bunch) Eidson, the former also a native of Virginia, the latter of Scotland. On the paternal side our subject is descended from an old colonial family of English origin, the first to cross the Atlantic being his great-grandfather. The grandfather, Henry Eidson, was a soldier of the con- tinental army during the Revolutionary war, and was a farmer by occupation. On leav- ing his native state in 1806 he removed to Preble county, Ohio. accompanied by his wife and three children-Boyce, Shelton and Nancy. In this state the family circle was increased by the birth of two other children,-Margaret and William. The grandfather took up land i.i the woods three miles southeast of West Alexandria, where he made his permanent home, devoting his time to the development and improvement of his farm. He and his wife were devout Chris- tians and active members of the Methodist church. Upon his farm he built a log church, which took his name, and his home was al- ways the stopping place for the early itin- erant preachers. In politics he was a Whig. He died in 1846, aged seventy-five years, and his wife passed away in 1850 at the age of eighty-two. All of their children are now deceased and their descendants are widely scattered.

The father of our subject was born in

1802 and was only four years old when the family removed to Preble county. Ohio, where he grew to manhood. Although the educational privileges of this state were meager at that day, he and two brothers pre- pared themselves for teaching and success- fully taught in the schools of Preble county. One brother, William, became a physician ; the other, Harry, became somewhat noted as a local politician and also served his fel- low townsmen as a justice of the peace for over twelve years. About 1839 Boyce Eid- son married Rebecca Griffin, a daughter of Jacob and Hannah Griffin, who removed from Smyrna, Delaware, to Preble county, Ohio, at a comparatively early day. The Griffin family was founded in America by three brothers, natives of Wales. To Mr. and Mrs. Eidson were born ten children, namely: Griffin, Henry and Charles, all cleceased ; Nancy, the widow of Chester Rensman; Frank M .: Priscilla, the widow of James Gable ; Willard ; Lucy, the wife of H. H. Payne: Olevia, the wife of William Shuman; and Anna, the deceased wife of Benjamin Smith. After his marriage the father of our subject engaged in farming in Preble county for a few years and then removed to West Alexandria, where he con- (lucted a hotel until 1884, when he returned to the farm for two years. He next moved to Johnsville, Montgomery county, Ohio, where he died in 1847. He was a man of good business ability and was highly re- spected by all who knew him. He served as assessor in Preble county, and fraternally was a Mason. His estimable wife died at her home in Preble county in 1898, at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years.

In the county of his nativity Francis M. Eids n grew to manhood and obtained a good practical education in the public

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schools which he supplemented by a course of study in a commercial college in Eaton. He remained with his mother until eighteen years of age, and then began life upon his own re- sponsibility. For three years he was en- gaged in the tanning business with his eldest brother at Eaton, and in 1860 came to Pal- estine, Darke county, buying the tannery from George Kester at that place and form- ing a partnership with Jonathan Hardin. The following spring, however, when Presi- dent Lincoln issued his call for seventy- five thousand men to assist in putting down the rebellion, he enlisted for three months in Company K. Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and left his business in the hands of his partner. His term of service was principally spent at Camp Dennison, Ohio, doing picket duty.

Upon receiving his discharge in July. 1861, Mr. Eidson returned home and re- sumed the tanning business. Shortly after- ward he was appointed by the military authorities to take the poll of German town- ship, preparatory to a draft that was being contemplated and was afterward made. On the 24th of June. 1862, he married Miss Lousetta A .. a daughter of George and Eve (Frank) Kester, of Darke county. By this union have been born seven children, name- ly: Boyce : Clara, the wife of Jacob Schafer. who has a position in the Merchants' Na- tional Bank, of Indianapolis: Virginia, the wife of Orla Harrison, an attorney of Green- ville: Harry and Frankie, both deceased; George McIntyre and Frank Murray.

In1 1864 Mr. Eidson purchased his part- ner's interest in the tanning business, and putting all his energy into the same he was scon doing an extensive business. Employ- ing extra help. he accumulated a large stock of finished and unfinished stock, but on the

night of February 14, 1865, his plant and the entire contents of the building were de- stroyed by fire, at a total loss of five thou- sand dollars, as there was no insurance upon the property. With characteristic energy, however, he rebuilt on the old site and about the same time entered into negotiations with Elisha Dawes, of Greenville, which resulted i11 selling Mr. Dawes a half interest in the Palestine tannery, and he himself buying a half interest in Mr. Dawes' tanning business in Greenville. Mr. Eidson then moved to Greenville to assume charge of the manu- facturing part of the business. They car- ried on business together to their mutual profit and satisfaction for three years, when our subject purchased his partner's interest. His next partner was D. M. Stephenson, who had a shoe finding and leather store, to which he gave his personal attention, while Mr. Eidson conducted the tannery. This connection was dissolved in 1876, when the business was divided, Mr. Eidson taking the tannery as his portion, and Mr. Stephen- son the store and stock. Our subject was then alone in business until 1881, when, be- coming somewhat weary of that line of trade and the business outlook not being particularly good, he sold out to T. B. War- ring, and subsequently purchased Mr. War- ring's Fruit Hill farm of two hundred and twenty acres on section 10, Greenville town- ship, upon which he has resided for the most part ever since, carrying on farming and stock raising, and for fourteen years pre- vious to 1899 he conducted the Fruit Hill dairy with good success.

As a Republican Mr. Eidson has been prominently identified with local politics for many years. His popularity is attested by his being elected township trustee in a town- ship that has an overwhelming Democratic

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majority, and he filled that office one term. He was a member of the city council of Greenville six years, the school board of that place four years and is now serving his sixth year as a member of the County Ag- ricultural Society, having been re-elected for a two-years term in 1899. In 1890 he took the census in the west precinct of Green- ville township, and all of his official duties have been most faithfully and satisfactorily performed. For twenty-eight years he has been a member of Greenville Lodge, No. 195. I. O. O. F., and he also belongs to Jobes Post, No. 157, G. A. R. Mrs. Eid- son is a member of Rebekah's Bee Hive Lodge, No. 266, of Greenville. She was the first noble grand of the lodge and de- livered the noble grand's charge the first five years of the lodge's existence, since which time she has delivered the past grand's charge. She served as a special deputy of the grand master of Ohio for five years, lias been sent as delegate to the state as- sembly nine years and served as state chap- lain one year. In all the public entertain- ments of the lodge she has always been ap- pointed to deliver the addresses of the Re- bekah branch of the order. Mrs. Eidson is a member of Jobes Post Corps, No. 223, W. R. C., and is the assistant patriotic in- structor. In religion she is one of the active and prominent members of the Universalist church of Greenville, and Mr. Eidson leans toward the doctrines enunciated by that de- nomination. He is one of Darke county's representative business men and is widely and favorably known.

WILLIAM ALLEN LIVINGSTON.

Tliis well-known farmer and stock raiser of Wabash township, Darke county, Ohio, was born in Preble county, Ohio, March

16, 1856, and is a son of John Livingston, a retired farmer living near Greenville, who was born in West Virginia. The paternal grandfather, Jolm Livingston, Sr., was a native of Virginia and a butcher by trade. He married and later emigrated to Preble county, Ohio, where both he and his wife died and were buried, though the grand- mother survived her husband several years. They had eight children, five sons and three daughters, all of whom are still living, and with the exception of one son all have fam- ilies.

Throughout his active business life the father of our subject followed farming but now, at the age of seventy years, he is living retired near Greenville. About 1850 he married Ann Rebecca Vance, a native of Preble county and a daughter of Michael and Ann Rebecca (King) Vance, both de- ceased. Mrs. Livingston died on Christmas day, 1898. By this union were born the following children: John W., who died in infancy ; Elly. the wife of David Heckman ; William A., our subject : Isabelle, who died at the age of fifteen years; Martha Jane, the wife of Dase Stults and a resident of Piqua : Lucy Ann, at home with her fa- ther; Mary Margaret, the wife of Irvin Earsman; and Charles Elmer, who lives near Greenville.

Our subject was reared to farm life and acquired his education in the district schools. On the 23d of October, 1881, he led to the marriage altar Miss Rebecca Gipe, of Darke county, and to them were born seven chil- dren : Mary Jane, who died at the age of one year : Gracie, John, Rosa, Murley, Clara and Emma A., the last named aged two years, all at home.

In 1898 Mr. Livingston rented Uriah Medford's farm in Wabash township, a place

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of one hundred and fifty-nine acres, which he is now successfully operating. He is en- gaged in mixed farming, raising mostly corn and wheat, and keeps all kinds of stock, horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. He is a thorough, up-to-date farmer and hard worker, and has made sometimes as much as fifteen hundred dollars per year. Po- litically he is identified with the Republican party, and religiously is an earnest member of All Saint's church.

THOMAS BAKER.

This well-known and prosperous farmer of Harrison township has an excellent and finely improved farm in the southwest corner of Darke county, the same being only one- half mile from his birthplace, which was in Preble county, where he was ushered into the world on the 30th of November, 1832. His father, Thomas Baker, Sr., was a na- tive of the state of New Jersey, where he was born November 19. 1795. and died in Preble county, Ohio, in 1879, on the place where the subject of this sketch was born. The great-grandfather of our subject also bore the name of Thomas and he was born in the Passaic river valley of New Jersey in 1762, his death occurring near Win- chester, Indiana, about 1841. The latter's father, Thomas Baker, of Long Island, New York, was a man of prominence in his day. The original ancestor, who bore the same Christian name, was an officer in the English army and at one time owned all of Long Island. His sword was owned by the grand- father of our subject and he had it manu- factured into butcher knives while he was living in Butler county, Ohio, where he set- tled in 1801. He married Lydia Hand, of New Jersey, where they were married, and

they reared five sons and four daughters. One daughter, Sarah, the first born, joined the organization of the Shakers before she was of legal age, so her parents brought her home, but she eventually returned to the Shakers, with whom she passed her life, attaining the great age of ninety-one years. The youngest child. Abner, lived to be eighty-eight.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Wesley and she was born in Pennsylvania in 1806, John Wesley, the father of Methodism, having been her granduncle. Our subject is one of twelve children, and of this number four sons and six daughters were reared to ma- turity and all except one were married. Those living at the present time are: Ann, wife of Henry Hutton, of New Paris, Preble county; Martha, wife of Michael Reid, of the same locality; Thomas, the immediate subject of this review; Elizabeth, widow of David Roberts, resides near Hollansburg, this county; Mary Ann, widow of John Benson, resides near New Paris, Preble county. The mother of this large family of children died at the age of about sixty- four years, and the father subsequently con- summated a second marriage, his death oc- curring in the spring of 1879, at the age of eighty-four years. He was an extensive and opulent farmer, owning about six hun- dred acres of land in this section of the state and in Indiana.

The subject of this sketch is the owner of two hundred and seventy acres in three farms, all of which he received from his fa- ther's estate, and other tracts are still owned by members of the family. Thomas never left the parental home, but on the 13th of December, 1855, he was united in marriage to Margaret Todd, of Preble county, who

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bore him four children, three of whom grew to maturity : Elma E., widow of Wesley Clark, of Spartansburg, Indiana, has three sons. Thomas O. Baker is principal of the high school at Yonkers, New York; he is a college graduate, having taken the de- gree of Doctor of Pedagogy, and stands high in his profession ; he is married. Lennis W. Baker, a resident of Dayton, Ohio, has one son and one daughter. Mr. Baker, of this sketch, consummated a second marriage October 23, 1870, being then united to Miss Sarah C. McClure, of Harrison township, the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca ( Rob- erts) McClure. Of this union seven chil- dren were born, and of the number only two are deceased. We offer the following brief record of the children : Lucy L. is the wife of Alvah Hunt of Preble county, and they have one son and one daughter. Fanny May died at the age of six years. Will- iam Wesley Baker, who is engaged in the meat business at Hollansburg, has one son. George H. Baker is a farmer in Wayne coun- ty, Indiana. and has one daughter. Cora E. still remains at the parental home, as do also Lester E. and Naydean, who are interesting young folk, lending joy and brightness to the family circle.

Mr. Baker gives his support to the Re- publican party and fraternally he is identi- fied with the Masonic order. He has served several terms as road supervisor and also as school director. He comes of a large and vigorous race, being about five feet and eleven inches in height personally and weight- ino two hundred ten pounds. He has given careful attention to general farming upon the most approved methods and has been successful in raising stock in which line he has carried on quite extensive operationis. He has bred many good horses, having

owned twenty at one time and having foaled one hundred and ten colts. Mr. Baker's home is in the extreme southwest corner of Darke county, but he is known all over this section of the state and in the adjacent por- tions of Indiana, being recognized as one of our representatives and influential farmers and as a man of sterling character.

SAMUEL B. MINNICH.

For forty years Mr. Minnich has been the postmaster of Castine and is one of the well-known citizens of his locality, whose sterling worth and upright character have won him the respect and confidence of his fellow men. A native of Pennsylvania, his birth occurred in Dauphin county on the roth of December, 1824. His father, John Minnich, was born in the same locality Feb- ruary 18, 1790, and his wife, Susannah Minnich, was born February 6, 1793. The parents have both long since passed away, the former having died October 22 1865, at the age of seventy-five years, while the latter was called to the home beyond in 1856, when sixty-three years of age. Our subject, the fourth son, when a little lad of seven summers came with his parents to Ohio, where he enjoyed the usual common- school advantages, pursuing his studies un- til seventeen years of age. Through the summer months he worked in the fields and assisted in the cultivation of the home farm until twenty-two years of age, when he left the parental roof and worked at the mill- wright's trade for three years. In 1858, more than half a century ago, he came to Castine and has since been a worthy and honored citizen of this place.

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 34

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