A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 38

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

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farming communities in the favored state, noted for its agricultural pre-eminence.

John George Frank was born in Wur- temberg. Germany, the 26th of May, 1834. and when a young man of twenty, in 1854, emigrated to America for the purpose of trying his fortunes in the new world, where he felt better opportunities were offered to the energetic and industrious young men. He made the eventful voyage on a sailing vessel, and after leaving Bremen fifty-three days elapsed ere the boat dropped anchor in the port of New York. A stranger in a strange land. Mr. Frank at once set about making his way, being determined to suc- ceed, if success could be gained by honest and earnest endeavor. He stopped for a time on the Delaware river, fifteen miles north of Philadelphia, where he secured work as a farm hand at eight dollars per month. He had but a small amount of cash when he left home and fatherland, and when he reached America his financial reinforce- ment amounted to only ten dollars. After remaining in Pennsylvania for four and one-half months he came on to the west, being employed for about the same length of time in a wagon shop at Richmond, In- diana. after which he identified himself with the interests of Darke county, coming to Harrison township, hiring out by the month until the winter of 1857. On the 5th of December of that year Mr. Frank showed his confidence in himself and his ability to succeed by assuming a definite responsibil- ity, being then united in marriage to Miss Jemima Brown, who was born in this town- ship on the 17th of December, 1833, the daughter of Edward Brown, who is still liv- ing at the venerable age of ninety-two years, being one of the wealthy and honored farm- ers of the county. He was born in Penn-

sylvania and his marriage to Miss Mary M. Blocher, who was born near York, that state, was solemnized in Harrison township, Darke county. Mrs. Brown died in Madison in 1888, at the age of seventy-eight years, hav- ing become the mother of three sons and six daughters, of whom the three sons are living and only one of the daughters,- Mrs. Frank, the estimable wife of our sub- ject. Her brothers are farmers in this town- ship and in contiguous sections of Indiana, and the venerable father now makes his home with his children, being cared for with the deepest filial solicitude and being now feeble and broken in health by reason of great age.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank have become the parents of four sons and four daughters, of whom we offer the following brief rec- ord: Mary is the wife of Philip Rogers, a successful farmer of Washington town- ship, this county, and they have six children ; Sarah Jane is the wife of Newton Rogers and is the mother of seven children; Fred- erick W. resides on the old homestead, which he operates for his father ; he married Alice Miller and they have four sons and two daughters : Jonas A., who is a successful fruit grower, residing north of Greenville, this county, is married and has seven children ; Rebecca is the wife of Charles Albright and has one child; Charles Edward, a meat dealer in Hollansburg, is married and has one daughter; John G. is a tenant farmer in an adjoining county in Indiana, and of his marriage two children were born, but both are deceased; Emma is the wife of Leonard Moore, who resides in this immediate vi- cinity, and they have one son ; and the other child of our subject and wife was a son who died at the age of seven months.

In the year 1859 Mr. Frank purchased

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fifty-two acres of land, the same being a portion of his present farm, and for this original tract he paid thirty dollars per acre, no permanent improvements having been made on the place, and the young man hav- ing to assume an indebtedness for a por- tion of the purchase price. He erected a small frame house, one story in height and 16x24 feet in dimensions, and also put up a log barn. The original house is now a part of his present attractive and com- modious residence and is occupied by his SO11. Improvements were made as rapidly as circumstances would permit,-he erected a small frame barn eventually, and in 1879 built his large and well equipped barn, 42X 52 feet in dimensions, and in 1885 the new residence of two stories was erected. Mr. Frank has made three additions to the acreage of his farm since his original pur- chase, and he now has one hundred and twenty-six acres under a fine state of culti- vation and devoted to mixed farming. He makes it a point to rotate crops every three years, thus keeping up the vitality of the land. He also raises swine somewhat ex- tensively and keeps a dairy of from sixteen to twenty high-grade Jersey cows, all eligible for registration. He operates his own creamery, the products of which find ready demand in the direct family trade con- trolled in Richmond.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank are members of the German Baptist church, in whose direct and collateral work they have an abiding inter- est, our subject being a deacon in the church. In politics he gives his support to the Dem- ocratic party, but he has invariably declined to accept official preferment. He and his wife continue to be actively concerned in the affairs of the homestead, though the opera- tion of the farm has been consigned to their

son, who is a practical and capable young agriculturist and business man. They en- joy a marked popularity in the community and the high estimation in which they are held stands in unmistakable evidence of their sterling worth of character. The farm is one of the most attractive in this section and everything about the place gives indication of the care and attention bestowed. On the place Mr. Frank has a sorghum mill, which has brought a good revenue and has yielded much valuable fertilizing material.

REUBEN BROWN.

Among the reliable and progressive citi- zens who have given their attention to the basic art of husbandry and have aided ma- terially in advancing the interests and sub- stantial development of Darke county is Reuben Brown, whose finely improved and well cultivated farm is located on section 20, Harrison township, his postoffice address be- ing Whitewater, Indiana. Mr. Brown was born on a farm one mile northeast of his present place, on the 20th day of May, 1840, his father being Edward Brown, who was born in the vicinity of Baltimore, Maryland, on the 28th of March, 1809. The latter's father, John Brown, was likewise a native of Maryland, whence he emigrated to Ohio as early as 1817. He was twice married, his first union being with Mina Stochsiel, whom he wedded in the year 1802, and who bore him seven sons and one daughter. Her death occurred in February, 1834. Of the second marriage no children were born. Grandfather John Brown died at about the age of sixty years. He was an extensive land-owner in this section of Ohio, having entered a half-section here, and his first abiding place in the frontier wilds was a

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sort of a tent, made by setting up a series of poles in conical shape and covering them with blankets. He finally erected a more substantial dwelling, of hewed logs, and also put up a large barn of the same character. He was a sturdy and energetic pioneer and cleared up his farm, making the large tract one of the most valuable in this section.

Edward Brown, father of our subject, chose for his companion on life's journey Miss Mary Magdalene Blocher, who was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Joseph Blocher, who was one of the early pioncers of Darke county. Edward and Mary M. Brown became the parents of nine children, of whom six lived to attain maturity, name- ly: Jemima, who is the wife of John G. Frank, to whom specific attention is di- rected on another page of this work; Mary, who became the wife of Andrew Wind- miller, was born in 1838 and died in 1884. leaving four sons and four daughters; Reuben is the immediate subject of this sketch; Jonas is an extensive farmer in. Huntington county, Indiana; Frederick is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Wayne county, Indiana ; and Malinda, the wife of Uriah Dowler, died in 1892, at the age of forty years, leaving three children. The mother of our subject entered into eternal rest October 10, 1878, but the father is still living, having attained the patriarchal age of ninety-two years, and having made his home with his children since 1892.

Reuben Brown became inured to the duties of the farm at a very early age, and his educational advantages were of limited scope, but the fundamental training which lie received in the primitive schools has been most effectively supplemented by that valuable learning which is the result of per- sonal application and participation in the

practical activities of life. He remained on the old homestead until he had attained his majority, when he assumed connubial re- sponsibilities, being united in marriage on the 25th of April, 1861, to Miss Esther Bausman, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, the daughter of John and Esther (Weneich) Bausman, who became the par- ents of four sons and five daughters, all of whom are living except one daughter, a brief record concerning them being here in- corporated : David, a resident of Harper county, Kansas, has eight children; Thom- as, of Wabash county, Indiana, has twelve children ; Eli, a resident of Henry county, Missouri, has five children ; Daniel, a pros-

perous farmer of Neave township, Darke county, has two children; Harriet, widow of Solomon Bollinger, is a resident of Wa- bash county, Indiana, and has two children : Esther, who is the wife of Mr. Brown, of this review; Fannie, wife of Jacob Root, died in Kansas, leaving no issue; Susanna, the wife of William Fry, has one son ; and Elizabeth, wife of Elias Rogers, has four children.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown lost one son and one daughter in infancy, and of the chil- dren who attained maturity we make more detailed mention, as follows: Frances I., wife of Jacob Hollinger, has two children; Harriet Rebecca is the wife of John Hol- linger, and has five children; Lydia is the wife of Thomas Jordan; Amanda Victoria is at the parental home ; Elva L. is at home ; John Edward, who is now a student at Dayton, Ohio, is a successful teacher ; Eli Roscoe died September 27, 1889, at the age of fifteen years; Jennie Leola, Cyrus Oscar, Alpheus,, Effie Melinda and Esther Magdalene are at home.

In national affairs Mr. Brown gives his

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support to the Democratic party, but in local elections he supports the man whom lie considers most eligible for office, being liberal in his views. He served one term as road supervisor, but has no desire for offi- cial preferment. He farms upon an ex- tensive scale, and brings to bear a practical knowledge and a wise discrimination which liave conserved his success in this import- ant field of endeavor. He owns two farms, having an aggregate area of two hundred and five acres, and by the careful rotation of crops he keeps his land in excellent pro- ductive condition, giving also considerable attention to the raising of a high grade of live stock. He has an annual product of from two to three thousand busliels of corn and ten to twelve hundred of wheat. From a fine herd of twelve Jersey cows he obtains the best of butter, for which a ready demand is always found. He purchased his fine farms in 1871, and is known as one of the representative agriculturists and able busi- ness men of the county. Mrs. Brown is a zcalous member of the Dunkard church, and is a woman of many graces of character, and she is highly esteemed in the social circles of the community.

JOHN PARENT.

· The career of him whose name heads this review illustrates most forcibly the pos- sibilities that are open to a young man who possesses sterling business qualifications. It proves that ambition, perseverance, steadfast purpose and indefatigable industry, com- bined with sound business principles, will be rewarded, and that true success follows in- dividual effort only.

Mr. Parent was born near New Madison, Ohio, February 17, 1830, a son of William

and Hannah (Ellston) Parent, both natives of New Jersey. The father was born near Monmouth, in 1804, and at an early day came to Darke county, Ohio. In 1835 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington township, only three acres of which had been cleared, the other being covered with a heavy growth of tim- ber. Wild animals, such as bears and wolves, were plentiful, and Indians still roamed through the forests. While Mr. Parent and his wife were clearing their land and encoun- tering dangers incident to such a life, their family of children were increased to eight five of whom are still living, namely : George, a resident of Union City, Indiana ; Mrs. Eliz- abeth Barr, of Washington township, Darke county ; Mrs. Amy J. Roe, of Jackson town- ship; William Henry Harrison, of Ander- son, Indiana ; and John, our subject. As was the case with all early settlers, their educa- tional advantages were very limited. The old log schoolhouse was reached after tramping through miles of almost impene- trable undergrowth and the rod was strongly in evidence. The father died Monday, No- vember 28, 1887, on the farm where he first settled, but the place had been enlarged until it contained one hundred and ninety acres.

Jolın Parent grew to manhood on the home farm, and was married, October 6, 1852, to Miss Ann Arnold, the ceremony being performed by Aaron Hiiler, at his home near Sharpeye. The young couple be- gan their domestic life on his father's farm, but two years later Mr. Parent purchased eighty acres of wooded land five miles dis- tant, which was school property, and for which he paid four hundred and eighty dol- lars, buying it on twelve years' time. He used to walk five miles twice each day while clear- ing a space and erecting a cabin thereon. In

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that primitive abode the family lived for ten years. At the end of six years Mr. Parent had succeeded in paying off the debt on his place, which was chiefly done by fattening calves for market. He would buy them in the spring at a nominal price, and allow them to run in the wild pasture until fall, when they were sold at a good profit. For seven years he operated a sawmill in connection with his farming, and at the opening of the civil war he sold his eighty-acre farm for two thousand dollars, his sawmill for the same amount, which, together with his two thousand dollars he had saved from the profis of both made six thousand dol- lars, that had been accumulated in ten years. On starting out in life for himself his father had given him a colt which he sold for seventy-five dollars, which was the capital that he had to embark in business with. Prosperity has attended his well-directed efforts, and he has been able to give his children ten thousand dollars, at different times. He still owns two hundred and fifteen acres of fine farming land, and is at the head of an extensive grain business in Union City, where he owns two elevators.

While Mr. Parent and his wife were laboring and prospering six children came to biess their union, four of whom are now living : Mrs. Alice Cramer, who is the wife of a lumber dealer of New Orleans, Louis- iana, and they have two daughters; Dora, who is the wife of George A. Lambert, the latter being at the head of the extensive Buckeye Factory of Anderson, Indiana, whose products are chiefly gas engines, and they have one son and two daughters; Addie, who is the wife of Thomas G. Warren, a machinist of Cleveland , Ohio, and they also have one son and two daughters ; and W. G., who has charge of his father's grain busi-

ness in Union City. One son, John, died August 16, 1895, aged twenty-six years, and a daughter, Mrs. Luella Edgar, died September 22, 1891, at Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she had been taken with the hopes of prolonging her life. Miss Acha Roe, a daughter of Mr. Parent's sister, has made her home with our subject and his wife since she was only four days old.

In looking into the clear eye and strong countenance of Mr. Parent one would be led to suppose that every educational advan- tage had been his portion instead of early struggles and privations and a continuous life of hard labor. His estimable wife has been to him a true helpmeet and the prosper- ity that has come to them is certainly well- merited. They are both well-preserved and in good health and are now enjoying the fruits of their labors in a beautiful home rear Union City, where they are surrounded by every comfort and many luxuries.

CHARLES W. RARICK, A. M., M. D.

Dr. Charles Wesley Rarick is numbered among the native sons of Darke county, his birth having occurred in Washington town- ship, on the 9th of December, 1843. His great-great-grandfather was born at Erbach, Wittenberg, Germany, in 1722, and in 1749 crossed the Atlantic to America arriving in Philadelphia on the 2d of September. There he spent his remaining days, passing away in 1799. He was the father of seven children, including Henry Rarick, the great-grand- father of our subject. He was born in the city which his father had chosen for his liome on arriving in the new world. His birth occurred in 1755, and he died at his home west of Dayton in 1819. He had a family of seven children, one of whom was

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Philip Rarick, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, in 1774, and died near Sharpeye, Darke county, Ohio, on the William Ellston farm, in 1844. Philip Rarick, Jr., the Doc- tor's father, was born in 1808, and was four times married, becoming the father of fif- teen children. He first wedded Miss Sarah Chenoweth, who was born October 2, 18II, and by their union they became the parents of ten children. By his third wife the father had five children. Those of the first mar- riage were: Abraham C., who was born April 12, 1833, and served in the Civil war for two years with the rank of second lieutenant, is now a farmer and cattle-raiser in Clark county, Iowa; Isaac N., born April 19, 1835, is a practicing physician of Red- key, Indiana; Jacob J., born May 2, 1837, was for four years a soldier in the Civil war, rose to the rank of major, and is now a teacher and farmer in Lawrence, Kansas; David H., born February 28, 1839, died six months later; Adam C., born Juiy 5, 1841, is a stock-raiser in Clark county, Iowa, where he owns one thousand acres of land, all of which except forty-seven acres, he has ac- cumulated since the close of the Civil war, in which he served for four years in the Iowa Volunteer Infantry ; Charles W. is the next of the family; Ira O., born December 23. 1845, is a farmer and dairyman in Har- risonville, Missouri ; Susanna B., born June 30, 1848, .is the wife of Charles A. More- house, a farmer of Jay county, Indiana, living near Hector ; Caroline, born July 20, 1850, is the wife of Samuel L. Roberts, and in the spring of 1900 they traded a horse ranch in western Nebraska for a farm near Dunnville, Indiana, upon which they now reside ; and Catherine, born March 25, 1853, died at the age of sixteen years. The chil- dren of the third marriage were Mrs. Elsie

Green. Mrs. Rosie Tharp, Mrs. Clara Wall, Mrs. Cora Carbaugh and John, and all are living near Deerfield, Indiana. The father of these children died September 1, 1886, and the Doctor's mother passed away on the 6th of March, 1863.

Dr. Rarick began his education in the country schools, which he attended about thirteen weeks during the winter season. Throughout the remainder of the year he as- sisted his father in the operation of the farm, aiding in clearing and developing two hun- dired and eighty acres of land. He was thus engaged at the time of the Civil war, when, prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he put aside all personal considerations and on the 28th of August, 1862, joined the volunteer service of the country, in Company H, One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, re- maining at the front until peace was de- clared. He participated in thirty battles and escaped uninjured. His was a very honorable record, one of which he may well be proud.

After the close of the war the Doctor en- tered Liber College, near Portland, Indiana, and there pursued his studies for fourteen months. After teaching and attending school until March 11, 1869, he matriculated in Ma- rietta College and was graduated in 1874, with the degree of bachelor of arts. Three years later his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of master of arts. Subse- quently the Doctor studied medicine and was engaged in teaching school for several years. He was the superintendent of the Ridgeville school for one year and was known as a suc- cessful educator, having the ability to im- part clearly and concisely to others the knowledge he had acquired. In 1883 he re- ceived his diploma as a medical practitioner and has since been successfully engaged in practice, having for more than seventeen

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years occupied a suite of rooms over the Farmers' National Bank in Greenville. He has been a close student of his profession, has kept abreast of the times in his work, and his knowledge of the medical science is com- prehensive and accurate. .

On the foth of March, 1880, was cele- brated the marriage of Dr. Rarick and Miss Ella J. Griffin, who was born in Montgomery county Ohio, March 17, 1852. One son, Harry G., was born to them December 12, 1880, and was graduated in the public schools of Greenville, in May, 1899. The family occupy an enviable position in social circles and enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes in the city. The Doctor has gained enviable prestige in his chosen .call- ing and to-day ranks among the leading rep- resentatives of one of the most noble and humane professions to which man can devote his energies.

SAMUEL PAULIN.

Samuel Paulin, deceased, was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, May 15. 1822, a son of Peter Paulin, a native of Pennsylva- nia and of German origin. In Peter Paul- lin's family were eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, of whom Samuel was the fourth son. He was reared on his fa- ther's farm and was more or less interested in farming the greater part of his life. When a young man he served an apprentice- ship to the trade of carpenter. After his marriage, which event occurred in 1844, he settled in his native county, where he con- tinued to reside for five years, coming thence in 1849 to Darke county and settling at the "Beach," which was his home six years, his time during this period being devoted to contracting and building. He did as

much work perhaps as any other contractor in the county, if not more. Country life then becoming rather monotonous for him, he moved to Greenville, where, how- ever, he resided but a year. Then purchasing a farm in Adams township, he removed with his family to it, in the year 1861, and here he passed the rest of his life in agricultural pursuits. He died October 7. 1895.

Mr. Paulin was a man of many excellent traits of character. Honorable and upright in all his dealings, his word was always re- garded as good as his bond. He was inter- ested in everything he believed was for the good of the community in which he lived and he could be counted upon to support any worthy enterprise. He was a strong tem- perance advocate. Formerly a Republican, he left that party in order to cast his vote with the Prohibition party, with which he affiliated up to the time of his death. He was for fifty-one years a member of the Evangelical church, in which he was an act- ive and efficient worker, and for a period of forty-one years was a reader of the Evangeli- cal Messenger. Mrs. Paulin is also a devor- ed member of this church and continues to take and read the Messenger.

Before her marriage Mrs. Paulin was Miss Lucinda Martin. She was born in Ma- honing county, Ohio, May 3, 1826, a daugh- ter of George and Susan ( Smich ) Martin, both natives of Maryland, her father by oc- cupation a farmer. She was the third born in a family of six children, the other mem- bers of the family being as follows : Aptill, who resides on the old homestead in Mahon- ing county : Neazer, deceased ; Harriet, wife of Solomon Martin, of New Middleton, Ma- honing county ; Lena, deceased ; and Lucy, deceased. Mrs. Paulin is the only one of the family in Darke county, and she still re

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sides on the farm above referred to in Adams township, a tract of ninety-two acres, which is operated by her son. She is the mother of seven children and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren now constitute a large number. Of her children six are still living, namely : Sarah, who is the wife of Benjamin Gower, a hotel man of Arcanum, Ohio, and has three children-James, Edward and Nannie ; Lucy, who is the wife of Clay Fork- ertz, of Indianapolis, and has five children- Bert, John, Harry, Samuel and Walter; Amos, who married Mary Sentman and lives in Gettysburg, Ohio, and has one son, Lew- is, who is married and has one child, Amos HI .; Nancy, deceased, was twice married, first, to John Dunn, and after his death to Phillip Albright, the children by both mar- riages being deceased ; Calvin, who married Martha Shuette and is the father of six children, two of whom-Lula and Nettie- are living ; and Tobias, who married Molly Willis and has had five children, four of whom are living-Dora, Elsworth, James and William.

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 38

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