A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 36

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

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Mr. Emrick, of this review, learned the blacksmith's trade under the direction of his elder brother, Daniel, who died about 1874, at the age of sixty-six years. He was sur- vived by his second wife and ten children. Our subject received very limited school privileges, but experience in the practical af- fairs of life has added greatly to his knowl- edge and made him a well informed man. He was married in his twenty-third year to Frances Arnold, of Montgomery county, where her birth occurred and their marriage was celebrated. Fourteen children blessed their union, of whom nine sons and three daughters reached mature years : Josiah, who reared two of his three children; Cy- rus, who had ten children; Levi, who died at the age of seventeen years ; Barbara, who had six children; Uriah, who had eight chil-

dren; Matilda, whose family numbered three children; Benjamin, who was the fa- ther of six children; George, who had a family of four children : Solomon, who had one child, and Lizzie, who had two children. The mother died in 1885, at the age of sixty- four years, and fifteen months later Mr. Emrick was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Coy, who was a widow and by her first marriage had seven children, as follows : William, a farmer of Preble coun- ty; Edward, who is living in Indiana and has one daughter; Amila Bechtol, who has five children; Levi, of Cleveland, Ohio; Frederick and Ira, who are enterprising young men and manage the Emrick farını, making a specialty of tobacco; and Emma Williams, who has one daughter.

The farm which Mr. Emrick owns and occupies comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which he has made his home since 1865. He bought this property for nine thousand dollars, but at that time was enabled only to make a partial payment on it. He has carried on general farming, making a specialty of the raising of wheat and has harvested as high as fourteen hun- dred bushels in a season, for which crop he received one dollar and five cents per bushel. He has sold wheat as high as three dollars per bushel. In all his farming operations he has manifested a practical, progressive and enterprising spirit and has worked his way steadily upward, becoming the posses- sor of a handsome competence, which now enables him to live retired. In all his deal- ings he has been straightforward and hon- orable, enjoying the respect and confidence of his fellow men in an unusual degree. During his long residence in the county he has become widely known and his circle of friends is extensive.

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PHILIP KESTER.

One of the most progressive and success- ful agriculturists of Greenville township, Darke county, is Philip Kester, who owns a valuable farm of one hundred and thir- teen acres pleasantly located a mile and a half west of the city of Greenville. His method of farm management show deep scientific knowledge combined with sound. practical judgment, and the results show that "high-class" farming as an occupation can be made quite profitable.

A native of Darke county, Mr. Kester was born near Hill Grove, in Washington township, September 1, 1844. and is a son of Christian and Catherine ( Burgin) Kester, who were born in Germany, but became ac- quainted after their emigration to America and were married in this county, the cere- mony being performed by Judge Armstrong, in 1838. The father was left an orphan at an early age and had to depend upon his own efforts to secure a livelihood. During his boyhood he came to the United States and first located in Baltimore, Maryland, where he found employment for a time at railroad building. From that city he came to Darke county, Ohio, in October, 1838, and purchased a farm of forty acres in Washington township, only ten acres of which had been cleared, while a small cabin had been partially erected on the place. Here he and his wife began housekeeping, and it continued to be their home for forty- five years, during which time they were reasonably prosperous, accumulating a hand- some competence by years of incessant toil. The father was a man of exceptional char- acter, fully enjoyed life, and was highly re- spected by all who knew him. He took an active interest in educational affairs, and

was officially connected with the schools of his district. In politics he was a Republi- can. Both he and his wife held membership in the Reformed church, though she was reared a Lutheran. He died February 2, 1882, aged seventy-five years, and she passed away December 13, 1886, aged sixty-six years. In their family were eight children, namely : Catherine, who is now the wife of George Wise, of Darke; Philip, our subject, the next in order of birth; Louisa, who is the wife of W. H. H. Martin, of Darke; Susanna, who is the wife of Eli Cook; La- vina, who is the wife of S. S. Staudt; and Millie, the wife of Edward Oliver : all these are residents of Darke county; and Lewis and Henry. Lewis enlisted August II, 1862, in Company K. Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was in active ser- vice until taken prisoner at Lexington, Ken- tticky, September 1, 1862, by General, Kirby Smith's forces. He was soon paroled and sent home, and after being exchanged re- joined his regiment at Christmas, 1862, but in April of the following year he was taken il! with measles and died in a hospital at Mufreesboro, Tennessee, May 10, 1863. at about the age of twenty-one years. Henry died in 1860, at the age of six years.

Philip Kester's educational advantages were such as the common schools of Wash- ington township afforded during his boy- hood. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-three years of age, and then be- gan life for himself as a farmer, purchas- ing forty-eight acres of land north of Green- ville in Greenville township, which he op- erated four years. On selling that place he bought eighty acres of land in Washing- ton township, where he carried on farming for seven years, and when he disposed of that property he moved to Greenville, where he

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lived four years. In 1887 he located upon his present farm in Greenville township, to the cultivation and further improvement of which he has since devoted his energies with most gratifying results.

In 1871 Mr. Kester married Miss Fannie E. Keefawver, daughter of George and Keziah (Ralın) Keefawver, and by this union were born three children : Lewis Ulys- ses, Elmer E. and Rolla G. The second son, Elmer E., married Effie Finard and has one child, Esther, and they reside in Jackson township, this county.

Politically, Mr. Kester is a Republican, and he gives his support to every enterprise which he believes will prove of public bene- fit, being one of the most progressive and public-spirited citizens of his community. In the summer of 1900 he made a trip to Europe, visiting all the principal cities and points of interest, including the Paris Ex- position.

HARRISON COBLENTZ.

One of the native sons of Butler town- ship, Mr. Coblentz is still residing within its borders, his home being on section 21, where he is actively engaged in agricult- ural pursuits. He was born June 2, 1840. and is a representative of an old Maryland family. His grandfather, George Coblentz. was a farmer of that state and became one of the early settlers of Montgomery county, Ohio, where he took up his abode in 1829. He married Catherine Hemp, and they have fourteen children, of whom five sons and seven daughters reached mature years, while three are yet living. The grandfather died about a year previous to the death of his wife. They had both reached the prime of life when called to the home beyond and

their remains were interred in the German- town cemetery. George Coblentz, the father of our subject, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in November, 1812, and married Eve Foutz, whose birth occurred in Mont- gomery county, Ohio, in December, 1813. She was a daughter of Frederick Foutz. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Coblentz oc- curred in March, 1834, and for two years they resided near Germantown, Ohio, but in 1836 came to Butler township, Darke county, locating on eighty acres of timber land. After a year, however, they removed to another farm of fifty-five acres, on which some improvements had been made, and at other times the father added to his posses- sions until he was at one time the possessor of six hundred acres of choice land. His sticcess was very creditable, as it came to him in return for his earnest toil, guided by sound judgment. In his family were ten chil- dren, of whom three sons and six daughters reached mature years, and one son and five daughters still living. The mother died in February, 1882, at the age of sixty-eight years. and the father passed away in May, 1896, in his eighty-second year.

Harrison Coblentz, of this review, was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the labors of field and meadow. He was thus engaged through the summer months and in the winter season pursued his studies in the district schools. The fa- ther gave to each of his children a farm and Mr. Coblentz thus secured eighty acres of land, valued at two thousand dollars. He was married, September 18, 1860, to Caro- line Hlittle, of Butler township, who was born in 1843, a daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Frishman) Hittle. The mother was twice married, her first husband having been a Mr. Smith. Four children have

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been born to Mr. Coblentz, as follows : John C., who resides in New Madison and has two sons and a daughter; Elizabeth, who is the wife of A. H. Judy, and has three chil- dren: Kate, the wife of C. C. Brawley, of New Madison, by whom she has three chil- dren ; and Frank, a farmer, residing on land adjoining our subject's home. He married Della Crawford.

Mr. Coblentz was formerly the owner of three hundred and fifty acres of valuable land, and now has one hundred and two acres, which yields to him a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestows upon them. He has carried on general farming on an extensive scale and has also engaged very largely in the purchase and shipment of live stock for many years. He has made the most money through dealing in corn and hogs. In 1860 he moved on the farm he now occupies. He enlarged his home in 1875. making it a very attractive country residence. His business affairs have been carefully directed and his efforts have been crowned with a greatly merited ciegree of success. In politics he is a Demo- crat and for twenty years served as the township treasurer-a fact which well in- dictates his fidelity toduty and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He was also a justice of the peace for six years and has been a member of the board of education for fifteen years. He, his wife and some of their children are members of the United Brethren church, and the family is one of prominence and influence in the community.

Mr. Coblentz inherited a strong consti- tution, and his strength and endurance have been very great, but during the past three years his health has failed him and he leaves the active care of his farm to others, simply

giving it his supervision. His wife is a highly cultivated lady, hospitable and kind- ly and generous, and few, if any, residents of Butler township are more generally or more highly esteemed than the subject of this review and his wife. They are broad- minded people, generous and benevolent, and their many estimable characteristics have gained for them the warm friendship of many.

DANIEL BURNS.

Daniel Burns is a member of the manu- facturing firm of Daniel Burns & Company, of Rossville, and is a progressive, wide- awake business man, whose efforts have con- tributed in a large measure to the upbuilding and progress of the community with which he is connected. Mr. Burns was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1846, and is of Scotch lineage on his fa- ther's side, his grandparents having come from Scotland to America. He was a farmer by occupation and reared a family of two sons, one of whom, C. Burns, died soon after the death of our subject's father. The latter, Thomas Burns, was also a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and was living there when called to his final rest, in 1850. Ilis wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Fry, and was born in Pennsylvania, in 1817. She came of old "Pennsylvania- Dutch" stock. She is still living, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-three years, and makes her home with her children. She was mar- ried in 1835 and for a half century has been a widow. Her family numbered five sons and two daughters, but she lost her young- est son, James, who died at the age of two years. The other children reached adult age. Lewis, the eldest, was a farmer, born

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in 1840, and died in Crawford county, Penn- sylvania, in 1869, leaving a son and a daughter. Catherine became the wife of Alvah Long, in Erie county, Pennsyl- vania, and died leaving one son. Abi- gail is a resident of Jamestown, Pennsyl- vania. Daniel is the next of the family. Curtis was born in 1848 and is now a farmer in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and has five children, three sons and two daughters. Thomas died at the age of twenty-two years.

In taking up the personal history of Daniel Burns we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favor- ably known in Darke county. He was reared to farm life amidst the forest. His father was celebrated as a woodsman and cleared several farms, one of which he owned at the time of his death. His widow, however, was left with seven children the eldest being but twelve years of age and the youngest a babe. She carefully reared them, instil- ling into their minds lessons of industry, honesty and perseverance. She gave them the best educational advantages she could afford and her daughter, Catherine, became a school teacher. Daniel Burns pursued his education through the winter months, be- tween the ages of twelve and eighteen years, but in the summer time his services were needed on the farm and he worked in the fields from early morning until late at night. He remained with his mother until he was twenty-six vears of age, and during that time followed the carpenter's trade to a consider- able extent.

When a young man of nineteen he began making staves, which he split by hand. He purchased timber on the stump and prepared it entirely alone. Possessed of considerable mechanical ingenuity he did his work well and his patronage steadily increased. The

first mill which he owned was located in Warren county Pennsylvania. He became interested in the enterprise in 1882, as a member of the firm of Clark, Allen & Com- pany. In April, 1885, the business was established in Rossville under the firm name of Daniel Burns & Company, the firm own- ing the mill at this place and one at Cold- water until 1893, when the latter was sold out. The business has been a success and is constantly growing, its sales amounting annually to from twenty-five to forty thou- sand dollars. Employment is furnished to about fifteen workmen in the mill at Ross- ville, and the carefully conducted enterprise has secured to its owners a good financial re- tt:rn. They manufacture tight barrels, wagon spokes and other cooperage manu- factures. He is also engaged in the grain business, embarking in this line in 1894. He owns an elevator, of which his son-in- law has charge, and his business in this di- rection is extensive and constantly increas- ing. Some days he takes in as high as two thousand bushels of grain, embracing corn, wheat and oats.

In April, 1872, occurred the marriage of Mr. Burns and Miss Mary C.Covey, who was born in Allegany county, New York, in 1855, a daughter of Wilson and Lydia (Sissem) Covey, both of whom were natives of the Empire state and are now deceased. They were the parents of five children, of whom three are now living, namely: Mrs. Burns; William, a resident of Michigan ; and Mrs. Elizabeth Tappan, also of the Wolverine state. Their mother died at the age of thirty-two years, and by the second mar- riage the father had two children: Arletta, the wife of Dayton Johnson, and Frank, who is living in Michigan. Mrs. Burns and the other children of the first marriage were

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born in New York, and she became the mother of three daughters and one son. Sarah Lottie, the eldest, was formerly a school teacher and is now the wife of Charles Haber, of Rossville, by whom she has one son. Nellie Abigail possesses con- siderable musical talent. The remaining are Olive May and Lewis Edmund.

Mr. Burns is a Master Mason and for the past twenty-seven years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political support is unswery- ingly given to the Democracy and through the past six years he has served as township treasurer and as a member of the city coun- cil, discharging his duties in a most ac- ceptable manner. His wife holds member- ship in the United Brethren church and he has contributed to the building fund for the erection of two churches and two parsonages in Rossville. As a citizen he is public spirited, and his co-operation is withheld from no movement or measure that he be- lieves calculated to prove of bublic benefit. In business he is most energetic, carefully forms his plans and is determined in their execution, and his capable management and sound judgment have brought to him a creditable and desirable property.

WILLIAM REQUARTII.

Prominent among the leading farmers of Darke county, Ohio, is found the subject of this sketch, William Requarth, who re- sides on his farm on section 29, Greenville township.

Mr. Requarth was born in Hesse, Ger- many, in the village of Exten, September 22, 1833, a son of John Henry and Catherine (Rochmeier) Requarth, natives of north- ern Germany. There is a legend that the

Requarths are of French origin, but so far back as the family history can be traced, which is for many generations, they were residents of Germany. Both the father and grandfather of William Requarth were named John Henry. The younger John Henry Requarth was born January 9, 1796; grew to manhood on his father's farm in Germany and was married in his native land, living there until 1847. In 1847, with his eight children, he emigrated to America, his wife having died in 1842. Their voyage across the Atlantic was made in a small sailing vessel, the Anne, and occupied nine weeks, during which time there was much suffering on account of the heat, as the ves- sel drifted into the tropics.

Landing in safety in New York, January 8, 1848, Mr. Requarth and his family in- mediately set out for Dayton, Ohio, their objective point, traveling across the moun- tains of Pennsylvania by stage, via Phila- delphia and Pittsburg, and arriving at their destination that same month. The follow- ing March he bought one hundred and sixty- nine acres of land in Clay township, Mont- gomery county, and into the cabin already erected thereon he moved his family. On that farm he was engaged in agricultural pursuits the rest of his life and there he died, January 27, 1880, at the age of eighty- four years and eighteen days. He married his second wife in Dayton a few days after their arrival at that place. The second Mrs. Requarth was a Miss Fredericka Stock, a native of Hesse, who accompanied the Re- quarths and other families from Germany to this country. She died in 1899. Mr. Kequarth's children by his first wife were named as follows: Gustena, Charlotte, Henry, Mena, William, August, Mollie and Frederick. By his second wife he had seven

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children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being. Charles, Caroline, Henry, Sophia, John and Harmon.

The senior Mr. Requarth was a man who possessed the sterling characteristics of the successful pioneer. He brought with him to this country about eighteen hundred dol- lars in cash, and with this for a foundation he accumulated considerable property and at the same time provided for a large family. A member of the Lutheran church, he was an earnest Christian man and made it the aim of his life to follow the Golden Rule. When a young man in the old country he served for a time in the army, but was re- leased from further service on account of his being the only son of his parents. In this country hie affiliated with the Democratic party.

Having thus briefly referred to the life history of his worthy father, we turn now to a personal mention of the son. William Re- quarth.

At the time the Requarth family emi- grated to America, as above stated. William Requarth was fourteen years old, their de- parture from Germany being made on his birthday. He had attended school from the time he was six years until he was four- teen, according to the custom in Germany. and had acquired a practical education in his native language. His confirmation took place at St. John's Lutheran church, Dayton, Ohio, under Pastor A. Hordorf, soon after their arrival in this state. He attended school in Montgomery county, where he quickly acquired the English language, and he was soon able to adapt himself to the conditions in this country.

He remained on the farm with his father until reaching the age of twenty-three years. Then he went to Dayton and entered the em-

ploy of Henry Kimes, a plow manufacturer, with whom he remained eleven months. At the end of this time he bought an ax and started out on his own account as a wood- chopper, in Greene county, Ohio. Subse- quently he engaged with Daniel Beckel. of Dayton, as a hostler, and was with him eight months in that capacity, after which he farmed on one of Mr. Beckel's farms. While thus occupied he was married, in Dayton, May 5, 1859, to Miss Wilhemena Ostermier, of Greenville, but who was a native of the same place where he was born, she being a daughter of August and Carolina Ostermier, who came to Darke county in 1854. Mr. Requarth remained on the Beckel farm four years, until Mr. Beckel's dleatlı, after which he rented an adjoining farm, known as the Abraham Nichols place. He had saved up a little money meantime, which he invested in stock and farming im- plements, and on this latter farm he lived three years.

In 1864 he bought one hundred and six- ty-three acres of the farm on which he now lives, which was then uncleared and mostly under water, and was known as the "wet quarter." For this land he paid twenty-six dollars an acre. His purchase was made in the fall. The following spring he settled on his land, in a small cabin built of logs and containing only one room. Also on the place was a log stable. The work of drain- ing and improving this farm was no small undertaking, and few would have under- taken it. Mr. Requarth, however. set to work with a will. Through rain or shine. heat or cold, he could be found at his task, and he seemed never to tire. People often remarked that " Requarth was working himself to death." He cut down the forest and hauled his cord-wood to market, receiv-

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ing three dollars per cord for soft wood and four dollars for hard wood, this for some time being his only source of income. Soon he got a piece of land cleared and a crop planted, which he increased each year. He spent much time and means in ditching and draining his land, and was the first man in this locality to plan and carry out a sys- tem of drainage. For a time his neighbors were not in sympathy with his plans. Fin- ally, however, he secured the co-operation of the township trustees and the matter of drainage was made a public enterprise. In 1866 Mr. Requarth sold forty acres of his land, receiving thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents an acre. He made his home in the original log cabin already referred to until 1879. when he built his present brick resi- dence, a handsome two-story house, with an L, attractive and home-like and giving every evidence of comfort and refinement. He also from time to time erected other buildings, his baru in 1870, tobacco sheds in 1872.

In 1881 Mr. Requarth was bereaved by the death of his devoted wife, her death oc- curing on the 9th of January. For more than twenty years she had shared the joys and toils of life with him, doing nobly her part toward the making of their new home. She bore him ten children, eight of whom reached adult age, and of that number seven are now living, namely: Henry William, who died August 21, 1897: Henry F. A .; John H. F. ; Henry F. ; Louisa W .; Wilhemena J. C ;. Caroline W. C .; Mollie A .; Carl H. W., who died December 17, 1880, at the age of six years, and Frederick W. A., who died Janu- ary 22, 1878 ,at the age of ten months. The members of the family now living are all well to do financially. Three are in Springfield, Illinois,-John H. F., Henry F. and Louisa W., wife of Henry Miller. Wilhemnena is

now Mrs. Mohr and resides in Lima, Ohio. Mollie A. makes her home with her sister in Lima. Henry F. A. and Caroline reside in Greenville, the former engaged in the gro- cery business ; the latter is the wife of James Moore.

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 36

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