A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 41

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

USA > Ohio > Darke County > A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 41

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

326

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

dred bushels in a season. His corn he feeds to his stock, and one year his drove of eighty head of hogs brought him sixteen hundred dollars. His farm has long been in the possession of the McGriff family, it having been the property of John McGriff, the father of the famous twins, John and Richard McGriff. It was in 1813 that he built his log cabin here, and the present home was erected by Richard McGriff, one of the twins, nearly fifty years ago. Our subject has accumulated the property for thirty-four years, and has made it a very valuable tract of land. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never been an aspirant for office, al- though he has served the township as su- pervisor and trustee. Ile. is now well ad- vanced in years, and is living retired, enjoy- ing a rest which he has truly earned and greatly deserves. Straightforward in all his dealings and upright in every relation of life, he certainly deserves mention among the representative citizens of Darke county.

SAMUEL ROSS KEMBLE.

The journalistic interests of Darke county number among other representatives the gentleman whose name introduces this review. Ile is well known as the editor and proprietor of the Daily and Weekly Trib- une. The daily was founded by him in 1890, and in 1892 the weekly was begun by him. He is well fitted for his present work by practical knowledge of the "art preserva- tive," as well as by editorial ability.

Mr. Kemble was born in Salem, New Jersey, September 19, 1847, and spent his childhood in that city. In 1854 he came to Greenville, where he attended the public schools until he put aside text-books in order to learn the printing business. His knowl-

edge of the newspaper business is therefore supplemented by a thorough course in the printing office. After the civil war broke out. and before completing his apprentice- ship, he enlisted and served as a soldier un- til the rebellion closed. He was employed at divers times as a compositor on a number of leading newspapers in different cities of the United States.

Mr. Kemble is a writer of force and ability, clear and concise in his expressions, and presents his ideas with precision. He has an extensive acquaintance with many public mer, and possesses those qualities which render him popular with all circles.

The Tribune was first founded in Ar- canum, Darke county, in 1880, and pub- lished there weekly for nearly ten years. The office was then moved to Greenville, and in 1890 the Daily Tribune, the first daily news- paper established in Greenville, was first is- sued. The publication of the Weekly Trib- une was resumed in 1892, and both editions have been continued ever since, growing in popularity and steadily increasing in circula- tion and patronage.

In 1871 Mr. Kemble was united in mar- riage to Miss Theodosia B. Calderwood, the youngest daughter of the late Judge A. R. Calderwood, a prominent attorney of Green- ville. Four children were born to them- Charles Ross, Georgiana, Bessie and Alice- the last named dying in infancy.

JOHN W. MCKAY.

Numbered among the honored veterans of the war of the Rebellion and as a repre- sentative of that noble rank and file which is so rapidly being decimated by the ravages of time, stands Mr. McKay, who is now living a comparatively retired life at Hol-

327

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lansburg, Darke county, where he is well known and highly honored, being particu- larly deserving of representation in this vol- time.

Mr. McKay is a native of Indiana, hav- ing been born in Wayne county, on the 12th of July, 1841, the son of James W. Mckay, who was born in Waterford, Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1817, and who died there i11 1893, having lived to attain a venerable age and having passed away in the fullness of years and honors. His father was a na- tive of Scotland, whence he emigrated to the United States, where he reared his family of children. The maiden name of our sub- ject's mother was Rachel Reed, and she is likewise a native of the old Keystone state. having been born in Elizabethtown, Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of February, 1818. She is still living, being in her eighty-third year at the time of this writing, and is well preserved, having been a woman of marked mental and physical vigor, and now resting secure in the love and veneration of all who have come within the sphere of her influence and gentle char- acter. The family has been notable for longevity, her father, John Reed, having at- tained the age of ninety-four years and his death occurred more than half a century ago. He was one of the pioneers of this section of Ohio, whither he came from Penn- sylvania. Her grandfather, John Reed, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and was a cousin of the famous General Wayne, whose deeds of intrepid valor gained to him the title of "Mad Anthony."

The parents of our subject were married about the year 1837, and they became the parents of five children, of whom the only survivors are John W., subject of this re- view, and his brother. William Roland Mc-

Kay. The father was a tailor by trade, and he devoted his attention to this line of work for somewhat more than a decade in his early manhood, after which he was en- gaged in other lines of occupation. For several vears he was with the VanAmburg circus, celebrated in the old days, having been treasurer of the same and having been a man of conspicuous business and executive ability. His death occurred about the year 1802.

John W. McKay apprenticed himself at the painter's trade when thirteen years of age, his training in this line being secured at Richmond, Indiana, where he served for three years under the direction of his uncle, George W. Beard, who was an artist of re- nown, having painted the well-known pic- tures reproduced in the illustration of "Para- dise Lost" and "Pilgrim's Progress." Our subject continued to work as an artist and at the painter's trade until ten years ago, when he practically retired from active busi- ness. When the cloud of civil war spread across the national horizon Mr. McKay was one of the first to take up arms in defense of the Union, enlisting for service at the first call, in April, 1861, for three months. His is the signal distinction of having been the first man to enlist from this section of the state, and his military career is one which will bear to his name a perpetual honor as one of the brave defenders of the nation. He served during practically the entire pe- riod of the war, having been out for four years and seven months, and having been in five different commands-first in Com- pany K. Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry; second. in Company F. Fortieth Ohio In- fantry: third, was transferred to the Vet- eran Reserve Corps, Company H, Second Regiment, from which he was discharged

328

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

on account of physical disability ; fourth, he re-enlisted as a member of Company I, Eighty-fourth Indiana Infantry; and, fifth, was transferred to Company K, of the Fifty-seventh Indiana Infantry, being dis- charged January 15, 1866. He was twice in service as a non-commissioned officer, was always faithful and to be found at the post of duty, and while he escaped the leaden missiles of deatlı and the horrors of the Con- federate prisons, his health was shattered by the exposures and constant duties at the front, and he was confined in the hospitals at various times. He was in numerous en- gagements and was a valiant soldier of the Republic, well meriting the recognition which is accorded him by the government in the way of a pension. He has kept alive his interest in and association with his old com- rades in arms by identification with the Grand Army of the Republic, having per- sonally brought about the organization of Sackman Post, No. 618, at Hollansburg, of which he served as commander. To his re- gret this post was disbanded about 1895, while he was an inmate of the National Sol- diers' Home, at Dayton.

In politics Mr. McKay is a Democrat, and his personal popularity has been at- tested by his having been called upon to serve in offices of public trust and respon- sibility. He has been president of the board of village trustees, and at other times has held membership in the village council, being at all times interested in all that concerns the public welfare and the legitimate im- provement of the village. Mr. and Mrs. Mckay are active and devoted members of the Christian church. In the year 1893 they took up their abode in their present snug and attractive little home, and though his health is much impaired, as the result of

his military service. Mr. McKay maintains. a cheerful attitude, and is appreciative of tlie pleasures which come to him through divers sources, taking particular pleasure in his garden and among his fine poultry, of which he is a genuine fancier, and in which line he has recently engaged in breeding quite extensively, employing a well-equipped incu -. bator in the business.

JOSEPH BRYSON.

Joseph Bryson is a representative of one- of the oldest families of Darke county. His. father, James Bryson, deceased, was one of the pioneers of Darke county, and in the history of this section of the state no name figures more frequently or honorably than does liis. His life record was so closely interwoven with the annals of this section of the state that the Ohio volume would be in- complete without his history, and it is therefore with pleasure that we present it to our readers. Mr. Bryson was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, May 21, 1786, and at the age of four years removed with his parents to Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared to manhood. His ad- vantages in early life were such as were en- joyed by the sons of frontiersmen in 1816. When yet unmarried lie came to Darke county, and in 1816 entered a tract of land from the government, the same upon which luis son Joseph, now his only surviving son, yet resides.

In 1817 James Bryson was married to Rachel ( Creviston) Rush, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Ohio, her parents being Nicholas and Cynthia Crevis- ton, who located near Chillicothe, in 1799. Her father died in Ross county, in 1801. After his marriage Mr. Bryson took up his

329

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

abode upon his farm on section 9, Green- ville township, and in 1820 he entered all- other tract of land from the government. Removing to the new farm, he there lived throughout the remainder of his life, pass- ing away on the 20th of March, 1863. He was a self-made man, and the success which he achieved was due entirely to his own ef- forts. He had only three hundred dollars when he came to Darke county, but at the time of his demise was the possessor of a comfortable competence. In politics he took a very active interest, recognizing and fully meeting the duties and obligations of citi- zenship. He voted with the Whig party in early life, and on the formation of the Re- publican party in 1856 he joined its ranks. He held the office of justice of the peace, was county commissioner, served as associate judge for seven years, and in 1843-4 was a member of the state assembly. A man of strong mentality and keen discernment. he kept well informed on the issues of the day. abreast of the times in every particular, and was a representative citizen. In educa- tional matters he was particularly interested and the public schools found in him a warm friend and an earnest champion. Although not a member of any orthodox church, he lived according to the Golden Rule, observ- ing always the highest principles of life.

Of his six children two survive-Joseph and Eliza-who live together upon the old homestead. The deceased are as follows : Morris, who died in Darke county, in De- cember, 1897: Mary Ann, who became the wife of Henry Teegarden, and died De- cember 16, 1854; Rachel Jane, who became the wife of Jared Poffenbarger and died March 10, 1898; and James Harvey, who resided in Osage county, Kansas, and died December 12. 1890. The mother was !

called to her final rest February 14, 1855, at the age of seventy-one years, her birth having occurred in Bedford county, Penn- sylvania, in 1784. When fifteen years of age she rode horseback from Pennsylvania to Chillicothe, Ohio. This was in the year 1799. She was one of the noble pioneer women, whose influence has been most marked in the development and upbuilding of the state. Of deep religious convictions, she was a member of the New Light church and did all in her power to promote the cause of Christianity among those wth whom she was associated in her daily life. Her first husband was Henry Rush, with whom she came to the county in 1810. He died within less than a decade. By that marriage she had five children, three of whom reached mature years, namely: William, who died in 1868; Lemuel, who died in April, 1880; and Thomas, who died in 1841. James died in 1814, and the daughter, Maria, became the wife of Daniel Snell and died in Darke county, in 1851.

On the Bryson farm was located the In- dian village of Prophetstown, which also included the adjoining farms, and the coun- cil house was situated where Mr. Bryson's orchard is now planted. Of this Josepli Bryson has a boyhood recollection, having during his youth pulled from the ground some of the posts of which the council house was constructed. The burying ground was on the Bishop farm, though there were inter- ments on the Bryson farm. Blue Jacket, a Shawnee chieftain, was buried on a little knoll near where the council house stood, and along the hillside Indian bones were frequently found. On one occasion Mr. Bryson's father observed a hog busy with something and on investigation found it to be a skull filled with nuts which were stored

330

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

therein by a squirrel. It is not certainly known that Tecumseh lived in this locality, but his brother, the prophet, here made his home. In 1815 Mrs. Bryson, the mother of Joseph Bryson, witnessed a shocking cere- monial of the Indians who returned to visit the grave of -Blue Jacket, the noted chief- tain. They held very queer funeral rites according to their tribal custom. They par- ticularly requested that the plow never be run over the grave of Blue Jacket, saying. "he good Indian." It is supposed that Blue Jacket was poisoned, a statement to that effect being made at Fort Rush, where an Indian in reply to a question as to what caused Blue Jacket's death made a move- ment to indicate that Blue Jacket had taken a pill and soon afterward died.

Joseph Bryson is a well-known and hon- ored representative of a pioneer family and was born on the old homestead, November 30. 1821, and there his boyhood days were passed amid the wild scenes of frontier life. His education was limited to such advan- tages as the subscription schools afforded. He pursued his studies for a few months each year, from 1832 until 1838. He was early inured to the arduous labors of the farm, and remained with his parents until they were carried to the home beyond. By his own efforts he prepared himself for teaching, and followed that profession dur- ing the winter months, from 1846 until 1864. Besides acquiring a knowledge of the branches taught in the common schools, he familiarized himself with a number of the sciences, including astronomy, geology and higher mathematics. In the summer of 1864 he enlisted in Company D. One Hun- dred and Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, in which he served for four months. He was at once sent to the front, and was with Gen-

eral Hunter's army before Lynchburg, Vir- ginia. He passed through the renowned Shenandoah valley, witnessing the destruc- tion of Governor Letcher's home and the Washington Military Institute at Lexington, Virginia. He participated in several sharp skirmishes while guarding the supply train of the army. At Greenbrier Gap, Virginia. they were engaged by the enemy. and Mr. Bryson was saved from instant death by his canteen and belt, a ball striking and piercing the canteen ; it sent him reeling a distance of ten feet before he could recover, but the belt stopped the bullet. On the expiration of his term of service he was honorably dis- charged and returned to his home in Septem- ber. 1864, with the rank of orderly.

Since that time Mr. Bryson has remained on the old farmstead, where his entire life has been passed, and to its cultivation and im- provement he devotes his energies, having there a valuable and desirable property. His life has been a busy and useful one. In po- litical affiliations he is a stanch Republican since the organization of the party, previous to which time he was a Whig, his first presi- dential vote being cast for Henry Clay, in 1844. In educational matters he is, and has always been much interested. He is one of the best farmers and business men of the township, having a retentive memory which enables him to relate with ease and accuracy accounts of events and their dates, which occurred many years ago. He is a well-preserved man, bearing his four-score years with erectness of figure and clearness of thought and expression equal to that of many of the business men many years his junior. He is a member of Greenville Lodge, No. 143, F. & A. M., and in his life exemplifies the benevolent principles of the fraternity. Through long years he has

331

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

watched the progress of events in Darke county, has seen its growth and improve- ment, and at all times has borne his part in the work of advancement as a public-spirited citizen.

JOSEPH COLE.

No history of Darke county would be complete without the record of the Cole fam- ily. for, since the earliest development of this portion of the state representatives of the. name have been prominently connected with its business interests and have aided in pro- moting its material welfare. It is therefore with pleasure that we present this record to the readers of this volume. The family is of Holland Dutch lineage, belonging to a race which has done much in the develop- ment of this great country. The original American ancestors settled at New Amster- dam, now the city of New York, and were soon recognized as leading factors in that location. David Cole, the great-grandfa- ther of our subject, was born in New Am- sterdam and there married and reared a fam- ily of children, one of whom was Samuel Cole, the grandfather of our subject. He was born November 5, 1751, in New York, and was a farmer by occupation. He took an active part in the events which contribut- ed to the upbuilding of this section of the state and remained in the east until 1819, when he retired from the active du- ties of business life and came to Darke county, Ohio, making his home in Wash- ington township with his son, Sam- uel, until 1824, when the family re- moved to Greenville township. The grand- father there spent his last days, dying Jan- uary 8, 1828. He was twice married : first to Janey Davis, who was born the 7th of

July, 1755, a native of the Empire state. They had three chilidren : Sophia, who was born July 5, 1773, and became the wife of Cornelius Van Fleet, of New York; Mar- garet, who was born November 20. 1775, and married David Christy, of New York; and Janey, who was born October II. 1778, and married Abraham Doty, of New York. After the mother died Samuel Cole mar- ried Miss Anna Rider, who was born Oc- tober 25, 1760. They had eight children : Lorana. born July 22, 1783. died Novem- ber 13, 1803; Samuel was the father of our subject ; Phœbe, who was born July 20, 1789. became the wife of Charles Wood ; David, who was born September 10, 1791, wedded Mary Brady and died in Darke coun - ty, February 14, 1854: Martha who was born August 6, 1793, and died July 23, 1860, wedded Nathaniel Skidmore, of New Jersey, and in 1819 they came to Darke county, one of their descendants, Peter Skidmore, being now a resident of Wash- ington township; Joseph, who was born February 15, 1796, and died January 17, 1882, married Anna Sweet, who was a resi- dent of Hamilton county, Ohio, and died in Washington township. Darke county, Ohio, in 1875; James, who was born May 6, 1798. wedded Sarah Rupel. of Darke county, and died in St. Joseph county, Indiana, July 6. 1856; and Sarah, who was born March 6, 1802, became the wife of Henry D. Will- iams and died in Darke county, April 24, 1876. Samuel Cole, the father of this fam- ily was a Baptist in his religious belief and took a prominent part in the affairs of the church. His political support was given to the Whig party. He possessed a retiring disposition and devoted his time and ener- gies to the work of securing a comfortable and pleasant home for his family. His

332

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

sterling worth was recognized by his friends and neighbors, who gave him their warm regard.

Samuel Cole, Jr., the father of our sub- ject, was born in New Jersey, July 3, 1787. His early life was spent on his father's farm and he received such educational ad- vantages as were afforded by the common schools of those days. Possessing a studi- ous nature, he quickly embraced every op- portunity for mental improvement and be- came an exceptionally well educated man. He assisted his father in the operation of the home farm until 1812, when he was married to Miss Mary Elston, of New Jer- sey. Through the following three years lie remained in his native state, but on learning of the advantages to be secured in the west, he started on horseback in 1815, reaching Montgomery county, Ohio, after a long and wearisome journey. He was, however, greatly pleased with the prospects offered in that section and returned to the east with the intention of taking up his abode in Ohio. During this time he kept a diary which is now in possession of the subject, and gives an account of his journey and of the early pioneer experiences in the west. Mr. Cole of this review also has a Spanish coin, bear- ing the date of 1774, which was found in the old pocketbook owned by his father.

In 1816 Samuel Cole, Jr., again started for the Buckeye state, being accompanied this time by his family and James Brady, a brother-in-law. The journey must have seemed a long one, as it was made before the days of railroads and all travel was by private conveyance. Day after day they continued on their way, often over roads that were in poor condition. At length, however, their travels were ended and they took up their abode on the Mad river, in

Montgomery county. However, they were not satisfied with that location and in March, 1817, they came to Darke county, Mr. Cole securing a claim comprising the southeast quarter of section 27, Washington township. Since that time Mr. Cole has been identified with the growth and progress of that section of Darke county. Mr. Cole and his sons cleared a small tract and erected a log cabin, which was the third home in the township, the other two being the property of Jacob and Martin Cox, who were brothers. In this primitive abode Mr. Cole and his fam- ily resided for some time, but later an ad- dition was built and in this, during the winter of 1821, Mr. Cole conducted the first school ever held in Washington township. Here he resided until 1824, when he removed to Greenville township and purchased of David Williamson the southeast quarter of section 19, passing his remaining days upon that farm. His wife, Miss Mary Elston, was born in New Jersey, November 7, 1792. and died August 10, 1831. She was a daughter of William Elston, of Monmouth county, New Jersey, and a granddaughter of John Elston, who emigrated from Lon- don, England, about 1730. He was a ship carpenter by trade. Her father, William Elston, married Elizabeth Walling, who was born in New Jersey, August 26, 1766. They had twelve children, of whom Mrs. Cole was the fifth. Unto the parents of our subject were born five children : William, whose birth occurred July 25, 1813, mar- ried Mary Chenoweth, of Washington town- ship, in December, 1835, and died April 3, 1836; Asa, born July 26, 1815, was married September 13, 1840, to Rachel Fisher and died May 29, 1857; Jane, born April 20, 1817, the first white child born in Washing- ton township, is now living in Boston,

333

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Wayne county, Indiana, with her daughter, Mrs. Mary C. Druly, she having been mar- ried, in December, 1834, to Leonard Win- termute, who died in Missouri, in 1839; Betsy, who was born March 23, 1819, and died February 6, 1872, was married Octo- ber 16, 1836, to George Elston, who died January 29, 1872; Samuel, who was born April 5, 1821, and now resides in Waslı- ington township, was married in March, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Cox, their son, H. M. Cole, being the present judge of the court of appeals; Joseph, of this review, is the next of the family; Polly died in infancy; Henry, who was born June 20, 1829, 110W resides in Reno county, Kansas. He has been twice married, his first union being with Margaret Hoffman, his second with Matilda Tegarden. For the past fifty years he has been a well known minister of the gospel in the Christian church and the influence of his life and teachings have been most marked All of the children were residents of Darke county at the time of their marriage. The father of this family passed away Febru- ary 1, 1866. He never sought public posi- tion nor office, but was a man who was hon- ored and respected, for his life was upright and honorable and he enjoyed the confidence and regard of all who knew him. In his death Darke county lost one of its valued citizens.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 41

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