USA > Ohio > Darke County > A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 40
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HENRY M. COLE.
While the disposition to do honor to those who have served well their race or their nation is prevalent among all enlight- ened people and is of great value everywhere and under all forms of government, it is particularly appropriate to and to be fostered in this country, where no man is born to public office or to public honor, or comes to either by inheritance, but where all men are equal before the law, where the race for distinction is over the road of public usefulness and is open to every one who chooses to enter, however humble and ob- scure he may be, and where the advantageous circumstances of family or wealth count, in the vast majority of cases, for but little or nothing. One who is now occupying an im- portant position in the system of government in Darke county, having attained thereto as the result of individual merit is Henry M. Cole, who is now serving as common pleas judge.
He was born upon a farm in this county on the 17th of March, 1845, a son of Samuel Cole, who was born in Washington town-
Nubile
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ship. Darke county, on the old family home- stead, in 1821. He represented one of the pioneer families of the locality. The Coles originally lived in Amsterdam, Holland, but in what year the family was founded in America is not definitely known. Samuel Cole, Sr., the grandfather of the Judge, was a native of New Jersey and emigrated west- ward to Darke county, Ohio, at a pioneer period in its development. He was a man of broad general information, was popular with his neighbors and was generous and kind. being always ready and willing to assist in securing a location for a new comer, while his generous hospitality was known far and wide. He wedded Mary Elston. a native of Orange county, New York, and upon their farm in Washington township their son, Samuel Cole, was reared, Having attained man's estate he married Miss Nancy C. Cox. who was born in Washington township in 1822, a daughter of Martin Cox, a native of Pennsylvania.
Henry M. Cole was also reared upon a farm, his time being largely occupied with the duties of field and meadow through the summer months. Throughout the remainder of the year he pursued his education in the district schools of the neighborhood, and under the parental roof he remained until twenty-one years of age, teaching, however, in the district schools near his home during the winter. Not content to follow the plow, his preference being for professional life, he read law under the direction of the law firm of Knox & Sater, of Greenville, and later attended the law school in Cincinnati, Ohio, in which he was gradnated in the class of 1869. The same year he was admitted to the bar and at once entered upon the prac- tice of his profession. During the first eleven years of his connection with the legal fra- 19
ternity he practiced in partnership with Judge A. R. Calderwood, of Greenville, now deceased. He rose steadily, step by step, as he demonstrated his ability to success- fully cope with the intricate problems of jurisprudence and soon won a large and dis- tinctively representative clientage.
In 1879 Judge Cole married Miss Eliza- beth Porter, of Greenville, a daughter of John W. Porter, a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, and they have always main- tained their residence in this city, where they have a large circle of friends. So- cially the Judge is connected with Greenville Lodge, No. 195. I. O. O. F. During the war of the Rebellion he manifested his loyalty to his country by enlisting in an Ohio regiment. in which he served his coun- try faithfully and well until the close of hos- tilities, when he was honorably discharged. He is now a member of Jobes Post, G. A. R., of Greenville. Politically he cast in his lot with the Republican party and has labored effectively in its interests. In 1897 he was nominated on that ticket as the candidate for judge of the common pleas court and was elected by a handsome majority for a term of five years, over J. C. Elliott, the Democratic candidate, the district being composed of the counties of Preble, Darke, Miami, Clark and Champaign. He possesses good legal talent. is a close student and is devoted to his pro- fession. While practicing at the bar he ap- plied himself diligently to the preparation and trial of cases and to the handling of the legal matters entrusted to his care. His industry and integrity brought him the con- ficence of the community and a large prac- tice made his professional career a success. Endowed with these qualifications, which are combined with an agreeable address and methodical and regular habits, promotion to
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his present position of honor and confidence became a matter of course. Judge Cole at- tends to his judicial duties with careful at- tention to detail and a total disregard of self, seeming to be animated only by a de- sire to discharge his duty with fairness and impartiality. He is also well versed in gen- eral literature and is a polished, conscientious gentleman.
CHARLES BEERS, M. D.
Among the prominent and successful physicians of Darke county, Ohio, is Dr. Charles Beers, of Painter Creek; who has spent his entire life in this county, his birth occurring in Greenville, May II, 1872. There he grew to manhood and acquired his literary education in its public schools, which he attended until eighteen years of age. He then commenced the study of medicine, un- der Dr. J. H. Spitter, of Greenville, with whom he remained eighteen months, and then entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, at which he was graduated with the class of 1896. Immediately after his graduation he opened an office at Painter Creek, and has met with marked success in the prosecution of his chosen profession, it being said that he has as large a practice as any physician in Darke county. He is strictly self-made as to his attainments, as he borrowed the money to pay for his tuition at college, and is deserving of the highest - commendation for the success that he has achieved. He was reared in the Methodist 1
faith and as a Democrat, but is liberal in his political views.
On the 24th of November, 1898, Dr. Beers was united in marriage with Miss Alma, a daughter of Harvey H. and Henri- etta V. Bireley, of Painter Creek.
1
AARON A. IRELAN.
It is now our privilege to enter a brief re- view of the career of one of the venerable and honored pioneer citizens of Darke county, and the province of a compilation of this nature is most perfectly realized in offering a resume of such character. Aaron Abel Irelan, who is a resident of Hollansburg, Harrison township, is a native son of the Buckeye state, having been born in Monroe township, Preble county, on the 12th of September, 1818, the son of Moses Irelan, who removed from Cincinnati to Preble county about 1816. He was born in Pennsyl- vania, September 15, 1790, and his death oc- curred November 22, 1872. His father was Aaron Irelan, of an old and long-lived Pennsylvania family. All of his brothers and sisters except one lived to advanced age, liis death being the result of an accident, as he was killed by a horse, when about fifty years of age. Grandfather Irelan removed from New Jersey to Pennsylvania and thence to Cincinnati, and he died in Coleraine town- ship. His widow subsequently married a man named Robinson, and she died of par- alysis, at the age of eighty years.
Moses Irelan married Hester Abel, who accompanied a family named Beten from New Jersey to Ohio when a child of seven years, in 1808. She was born in 1799 and her marriage to Mr. Irelan was consum- mated when she was sixteen years of age. Of their ten children we make record as fol- lows: Polly, wife of George Painter, died, leaving five children; Aaron A. is the subject of this sketch; Dorcas was three times mar- ried and she died at the age of seventy-two, leaving three children ; Ephraim died young ; Hettie and Jane have both passed away, each leaving children; and the three others of
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the family died in infancy. The mother died in 1837, and the father was again married, one child being the issue of this union. He died November 22, 1872, as before noted.
Aaron A. Irelan was reared in the forests of the pioneer farm and he early became in- ured to hard work, aiding in the reclaiming and cultivation of the old homestead. He re- mained with his parents until he had reached the age of twenty-five years, after which he engaged in huxtering for four years, begin- ning his independent career without cash or credit. In 1845 he engaged in the general merchandise trade in Hollansburg, continu- ing this enterprise until 1852, when he de- termined to resume the pursuits to which he had been reared, and since then he has been very successful in his farming operations, having owned at one time six hundred and seventy-five acres, of which he still retains two hundred and forty acres of the most de- sirable and best cultivated land in the coun- ty. Though he has operated so extensively in the agricultural line he has continued to hold his mercantile interests until quite re- cently, when he disposed of the same.
On the 18th of October, 1841, Mr. Irelan was united in marriage to Miss Phœbe Tillson, and they have had nine children, namely : The first born was a son, who died in infancy ; Josephine died at the age of five years; Norman Tillson is engaged exten- sively in farming and stock-raising, utilizing his father's farm and also his own place, of one hundred and sixty acres ; he is married and has seven children; James died young ; Isaiah died at the age of twelve years and George at the age of five; William A., a stic- cessful teacher, died in April, 1900, at the age of thirty-nine years, leaving a wife and three children; Cora Belle is the wife of Samuel Williams, of Greenville, and has four
sons ; and Leona is the wife of O. S. Down- ing and has five children. The Tillson family is of good old New England stock, the orig- inal representatives having come to America in the Mayflower. Aaron Irelan, grand- father of our subject, was a son of Dayton Irelan, who came to America from England prior to the Revolution, and his brother, who came with him, was taken prisoner and taken back to England, returning to the United States after the close of the war. Dayton Irelan married Dorcas Buck, of New Jersey, and they have five sons and five daughters, all of whom attained adult age and were mar- ried in Ohio. The present generation of the Irelan family is the eighth in line from the original American progenitor.
Mr. Irelan is a Master Mason, having been identified with this time-honored fra- ternity for many years, and in politics he renders allegiance to the Democratic party, having served as township trustee for the long term of fifteen years and having also held the office of justice of the peace for a similar period. Mrs. Irelan is a member of the Christian church.
Rev. Hosea Tillson, an uncle of Mrs. Irelan, was born November 24, 1810, and is still living, being a resident of Bethel, Indi- ana. He was the tenth child of Luther and Mehitable Tillson, who removed from Woodstock, Connecticut, to Cincinnati, in 1802, and later to Butler county, Ohio, near the present site of Somerville, and there Hosea was born. In 1817 the family re- moved to Darke county, near the Indiana line, and here, amid the perils and vicissi- tudes of pioneer life, he grew to manhood. At the age of twenty-one years he married Jane A. Anderson, of Bethel, with whom he lived twenty-three years. They reared one son, Reuben, who was a merchant, and at
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present postmaster of Hollansburg. After the death of his first wife Mr. Tillson mar- ried Margaret Harlan, of Bethel, and their married life has extended over a period of forty years. They are the parents of three daughters. The Rev. Mr. Tillson is a sound Bible student and an unswerving advocate of truth and virtue. In his patriarchal age he lias the veneration of all who know him. His father was for six years a sailor on the ocean and related many interesting tales of adven- ture and peril. Rev. Mr. Tillson has been a licensed preacher in the Christian church for sixty-two years. He settled in Bethel in 1866 and was an elder in the church for thirty-six years. He lived close to the Indi- ana line and became very popular as "the marrying parson."
Though for many years Mr. Irelan has been in somewhat impaired health, he has nevertheless been a most active and energetic business man, having shown a mature judg- ment and due conservatism in the conduct of his large interests. He is animated by the most absolute integrity of purpose and de- spises intrigue and dishonesty in every form. His vigorous intellect would have insured him success in any field of endeavor, and though now an octogenarian he has more the appearance of a man of sixty. He is recog- nized as the leading citizen of Hollansburg, and his friends are in number as his ac- quaintances.
JACOB L. HERCULES.
Upon a farm on sections 25 and 26, Al- len township, Jacob Le Fevre Hercules is now successfully carrying on agricultural pursuits, and the well tilled fields indicate his progressive methods and capable man- agement. He was born in Warren county,
Ohio, February 8, 1818, a son of William Hercules, whose birth occurred in New Jer- sey, July 24, 1786, and who in 1796 became a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. The grand- father, William Hercules, was born in Scot- land, about 1730, and after emigrating to New Jersey, was there married to Amy Groves. He reared two sons and five daughters, the former being William James, who was born in 1786, and lived in Darke county for many years, dying in Kokomo, Indiana, at an advanced age; and Samuel. The grandfather died about 1828, at the age of ninety-six years. He was by trade a weaver of fine fabrics, including silks and linens. During the Revolutionary war he loyally served in the colonial army, and at the close of hostilities took his musket home with him, and the barrel and a portion of the stock are now in the possession of our subject. The grandfather never became a wealthy man, but was a farmer in comfort- able circumstances. His remains were in- terred in Muddy Creek graveyard, in War- ren county, Ohio, and his wife, who died when about ninety years of age, was laid to rest in Ithaca cemetery, in Darke county.
The father of our subject died January 21. 1868, at the age of eighty-one years. He wedded Elizabeth French, who was born March 7, 1793, and was a twin sister of Da- vid French. Their marriage took place about 1812, soon after the close of the father's service in the war of 1812. Their first child, David Hercules, was born October 4, 1814, was married and had four daughters and two sons, and died in York township, Darke county, in his fortieth year. Amy. the sec- ond child, born in 1816, was married in 1835 to William Bolvy, and they had four sons. Her death occurred July 1. 1898. James Hercules, born in 1817, died in 1893.
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He was twice married and had six children. Jacob L. is the next of the family. Mary, born in 1820, became the wife of Abner Colby, and had two sons and four daugli- ters. Her death occurred March 23, 1887. Catherine, born in 1822, married Arthur J. Wheeler, and died October 26, 1846. Philip, born September 17, 1823, died near Rose Hill. William Hercules, born July 3. 1825. is living in Livingston county, and has two sons and two daughters that yet survive. Christopher, born April 3, 1827, lost an arm in the war of the Rebellion, and is now serving as a deputy sheriff at Pontiac, Illi- nois. Elizabethi Jane, born in 1829, died at the age of nine years. Margaret, born in 1831, died in 1836. Sarah Ann, born in 1833, is now acting as the housekeeper for a minister's family in Minnesota. Samuel died in infancy. The mothier of these chil- dren passed away about 1838, and the father afterward married Mrs. Hamilton, a widow.
Jacob L. Hercules, whose name intro- duces this review, was reared to farm life and received no educational privileges. He was married August 15, 1843, to Mary Ann Heathorn, who was born in Hamilton coun- ty, Ohio, February 11, 1832, a daughter of George and Margaret ( Bonham) Heatliori. Mr. and Mrs. Hercules settled at once on their farm in a little log cabin in the midst of the forest. He secured the lease of one hundred and sixty acres, agreeing to clear forty acres and to divide the crops for five years. During that time he purchased a quarter-section, paying for it over six hun- dred dollars. The nearest houses were a mile or two distant. Mr. Hercules has cleared the heavy timber from one hundred acres of land, and is today the owner of four farms, comprising three hundred and thirty-five acres. He resided in his cabin
home from 1843 until 1868, when he erected and moved into liis present residence. He has made excellent improvements on his land, and is an enterprising farmer.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hercules have been born six children: Mrs. Sarah Jane Wil- liamson, a widow living in Allen township who has six children ; Mrs. Mary Ann Ber- ry, who has one son and one daughter, and whose husband is a farmer in Allen town- ship: Margaret Eliza, the wife of Mr. Mi- chiael, of Allen township, by whom she has two daughters and one son; Mrs. Frances C. Michael, whose husband is a farmer in Wa- bash township, and who has two daughters and three sons; Emma L., now the wife of Mr. Beam, of Brown township, by whom she lias five sons and three daughters; and William, who died in infancy. Mr. Hercules is a Republican in his political affiliations. His has been a busy and industrious life, and all that he has achieved is the result of his own labors.
DANIEL H. RYAN.
Daniel H. Ryan, one of the lionored vet- erans of the civil war, and a well-known farmer of Greenville township, is a native of Darke county, born in 1843, and a son of Rudolph and Ellen ( Hamilton) Ryan, natives of Virginia, who came to this coun- ty at an early day and settled in Greenville township. Further mention is made of this worthy couple in the sketch of Frank L. Ryan on another page of this volume.
Our subject was reared on a farm and received a common school education. On the 24th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland under the command of
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General Grant. The regiment was drilled and equipped at Piqua, Ohio, and partici- pated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Resaca, Chickamauga, Louisville, Missionary Ridge and Lookout mountain; in fact, taking part in all the engagements of that memorable campaign, numbering thirty-two. They were with Sherman on the march to the sea; were in the battles of Jonesboro and Savannah and the Carolina campaign, including the battles of Benton- ville and Averysboro; and took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C. Mr. Ryan was twice slightly wounded. being hit in the left hand by a spent ball at Chicka- mauga, and was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, in 1865.
Returning to his home in Darke county, Mr. Ryan has since engaged in farming. In 1868 he married Catherine Butt, a daugh- ter of Otto Butt, and to them have been born six children: Leonora, Ella, Omer, Lilly, Raymond and Maude. Mr. Ryan is a stanch Republican in politics, and is a mem- ber of Jobes Post, No. 152, G. A. R.
PRICE McGRIFF.
A wide-awake and progressive farmer actively connected with the agricultural in- terests of Darke county for many years, Mr. McGriff is now living retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. £ He has reached the eightieth trile-stone of life's journey, and his record is an honorable one, well deserving mention in this volume. He was born August 18, 1820, just over the line in Preble county. His father. Patrick McGriff, was born in Vir- ginia in 1786, and died in Preble county in 1854. The grandfather, Thomas McGriff,
was a native of Ireland, and was of Scotch- Irish lineage. He and his brother, together with two comrades, were held prisoners by the Indians for some time in the colonial epoch of our country's history, but one night while the guards were asleep all suc- ceeded in escaping with the exception of one. They suffered many trials and dan- gers trying to return to their homes, but at length reached safety in Virginia.
On leaving the Old Dominion the fa- ther removed to Tennessee, and afterward to Ohio, coming to this state when the town site of Cincinnati was entirely unimproved save by a little blacksmith shop. Mr. Mc- Griff located on rented land between the big and Little Miami rivers, and in 1811 be- gan the development of a farm in the midst of the forest in Preble county. He was mar- ried in Virginia to a Miss Atkins, and they had a large family of eleven children, five sons and six daughters, all of whom were married and all of whom had children with one exception. Richard is probably the only surviving member of this family. The grandfather died about 1828, leaving a claim consisting of a quarter-section of land. He was a survivor of his wife for several years, her death having occurred about 1831. She was a woman of resolute and noble nature, well-fitted to brave the hardships of pioneer life.
Patrick McGriff, the father of our sub- ject, paid for his grandfather's claim, and there made his home through a long period. He married Elizabeth Price, who was born in Virginia, about 1782, and in 1809, in Preble county, Ohio, became the wife of Mr. McGriff. The father of our subject served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and accu- mulated a good property, owning nearly an I entire section of land in Ohio and Indiana,
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besides considerable valuable personal prop- erty. He died in 1854, and his wife passed away ten years later, their remains being interred in the churchyard near Manches- ter. Ohio. This worthy couple became the parents of six sons and three daughters, wito reached mature years and with one exception were married, John having died at the age of sixteen years. Wear died at the age of thirty-three, leaving a wife and six chil- dren. Rachel became the wife of Joseph Clark and died about 1886. Price is the next of the family. Alfred, of Twin town- ship, has three living children. Patrick chied of typhoid fever in 1855, leaving four children. Phobe Guard, born about 1827, (lied about 1892, survived by four of her six children. Andrew Jackson resides near New Madison, and has four children. Eliz- abeth died in July, 1899, at the age of sixty- eight years. Parker C. is a farmer near Ar- canum, and has three living children.
The educational privileges which Price McGriff received were very limited. He pursued his studies in a little log cabin, fit- ted up with puncheon seats, but though he did not spend much time over text-books, he has gained a practical knowledge that well fitted him for his business affairs. As a companion and helpmeet on life's journey he chose Miss Jane Mullenix, the wedding taking place on the roth of April, 1845. She was born in Twin township. Darke county, in . 1827, and is a daughter of Philbert and Mary (McDonald ) Mullenix. Her parents were farming people and came from Penn- sylvania to Ohio with their respective fam- ilies at an early date. In their family were six daughters and a son, of whom four are now living: Jesse, a retired farmer of But -. ler township; Mrs. McGriff ; Margaret, now Mrs. Harriman, a widow of Dayton; and
Mary, the wife of William Price, of Darke county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. McGriff have been born seven children: John B. W., who had seven children and died in 1881, at the age of forty years; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Wesley Mellin, of Preble county, by whom she has six children, including twin sons whose likeness to each other is very strong ; Jesse A., a farmer of Butler township, who has been twice married: William P., a farmer of Butler township, who has three sons and a daughter ; Phcebe Jane, the wife of Jacob Wolverton, and the mother of Dr.' Wolverton, of Castine; Samantha A. Mc- Lear, of Indiana, who has a son and daugh- ter ; and Cordelia, the wife of Calvin Brad- dock, of West Manchester, by whom she has one daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. McGriff began their do- mestic life empty-handed. He operated his father's farm and other lands until he was enabled to purchase property of his own. becoming the owner of eighty acres on which a few improvements had been made, includ- ing the erection of a small log house. The purchase price was one thousand and fifty dollars, and of this he paid twelve hundred dollars down. From his fa- ther's estate he received twelve hundred dol- lars, but later in life he lost through one debt twelve hundred and thirty dollars, so that all he has has been acquired by himself. lle at one time was the owner of three farms, comprising altogether five hundred acres. He had three hundred and twenty acres in the old home place, and still owns two hun- dred acres of this. He has found greater profit in the raising of corn and hogs than in any other department of farm work, though he has also raised wheat extensively. frequently having from ten to twelve hun-
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