A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 45

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

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brother-in-law, Joseph Ritener, was then governor of the state. William Alter held a number of official positions of prominence and for one or more terms was a member of the state senate. In his family were the fol- lowing children : William, John, David. Ben- jamin, Simon, Jacob, Eliza, Mary and Susan. The parents died in the Keystone state, the grandfather passing away in May, 1840.

Jacob Alter, the father of our subject. was reared to manhood in the county of his nativity, became a farmer and later conduct- ed the Shakespeare House, then the most prominent hotel in Harrisburg. He had the lionor of entertaining Charles Dickens at the time of his visit to the United States. He also entertained General W. H. Harrison at a banquet given him during the presidential campaign of 1840. The late Thaddeus Ste- vens also made his home at the Shakespeare House. Jacob Alter was married in Wash- ington county, Maryland, to Miss Eliza Tice, a native of that state. They began their do- inestic life in Pennsylvania, where they re- mained for ten or more years, and then re- moved to Preston county, West Virginia, where Jacob Alter purchased a farm, making his home there for some time. He afterward spent several years in western Maryland and then returned to Washington county, that state, where he remained for a number of years. With his family he emigrated to Ohio, taking up his abode in Clark county, upon a farm which he made his place of res- idence for twelve years, after which he came to Darke county, Ohio. here remaining until his death which occurred May 24, 1875. His wife also passed away in Darke county, surviving him for some time, and both were well advanced in age when called to the home beyond. They had a family of five children, two of whom are living. Frank,

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who resides in Cincinnati, where he is recog- nized as a prominent citizen, and Henry, of this review. The daughters who have passed away are Mary, Laura and Lucy. The first two died in childhood and the last named is the deceased wife of William McCaughey.

Henry Alter, whose name forms the cap- tion of this article, spent his early boyhood days on the home farm in Cumberland coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and attended the "pay schools." His educational advantages how- ever, were somewhat limited. He walked from three to five miles each night and morn- ing in order to acquire an education. but as his services were needed on the home farm, he found little opportunity to remain in the school room. He assisted in the cultivation of his father's fields until twenty-one years of age, when he began life on his own account and followed farming in the Keystone state until 1854, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Clark county, Ohio. In 1866 he came to Darke county, taking up his abode in Greenville township upon the place where he now resides. He was married in Clark county to Elizabeth Ilges, a daughter of Martin Ilges, of that locality. Their wed- ding was celebrated in April, 1864, and from 1866 until 1887 they resided upon the old homestead in Darke county. In the latter year, however, Mr. Alter and his wife went to Tennessee, in order that he might obtain relief from asthmatic troubles, and there he remained until December, 1889, when he re- turned to the farm, which has since been his place of abode. By his first wife he had two children : Mary, now the wife of Harmon Hartzell, of Greenville, and Florence, who died at the age of two years. The mother passed away in 1870, and Mr. Alter was again married. His second marriage was consummated December 18, 1874. the lady of

his choice being Miss Mary M. Clew. a daughter of D. B. and Rachel (Thompson) Clew, then residents of Darke county. Her father, however, was a native of Pennsylva- nia, and her mother was born in Ohio. Her maternal grandparents were Moses and Christine (Ireland) Thompson, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Ohio. She was probably born in Clermont county, where her people settled at a very early epoch in the development of the state. Moses Thompson and his wife had ten children, namely : Rachel, Isaac, Annie, Daniel, Rhoda, Lydia, Samuel, Ephraim, Malinda, and Azenia. The grandfather of Mrs. Al- ter came to Darke county at an early date, entered land from the government near New Madison, and there made his home until his death, which occurred about 1856. His wife survived him until 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Clew, the parents of Mrs. Alter, were mar- ried in Cincinnati, December 4. 1842, and located in Darke county in 1848, here spend- ing their remaining days. Her father, who was born in Philadelphia, April 6, 1813, died April 21. 1867. His wife who was born in Clermont county, Ohio, May 22, 1814, was called to her final rest December 8, 1844. They had four children, of whom three are living, namely : Christine Elizabeth, who was born in Cincinnati, February 18, 1844, and died August 29, 1849 ; Henry D., born in the same city, May 1, 1846; Mary M., born September 4, 1849; and William M., born December 24, 1851. The father was auditor of Darke county for four years, and previous to that service had been deputy auditor for four years. He took an active interest in pol- itics, and was a stanch advocate of the Dem- ocracy, yet enjoyed the respect and confi- dence of people of both parties. He dis- charged his public duties with marked fidel-

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ity and his books were the best kept of any in the county.

Mr. Alter is also an advocate of Demo- cratic principles and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, yet has never sought or desired .office. He and his wife are most highly respected and their circle of friends is very extensive, embracing many of the best people of the community.

OSCAR F. DAVISON.

One of the well known citizens of Green- ville, Oscar F. Davison, is numbered among the native sons of Darke county, for his birth occurred on a farm in Richland township, on the 16th of October, 1837. His grandfa- ther, Edward R. Davison, was one of the pioneer settlers of Ohio, locating in Pick- away county, in 1810, and taking up his abode in Darke county in 1822. The name of Davison has since been inseparably con- nected with the substantial growth and de- velopment of the county. The father of our subject, Robert Davison, was born in Bour- bon county, Kentucky. April 8, 1798, and having attained man's estate he wedded Miss Mary Stratton, the wedding taking place March 26, 1829. She was born May 23, 1807. Soon after their marriage they came to Darke county, locating in Richland town- ship where Mr. Davison hewed out a farm in the midst of the forest. There he engaged in raising rain and stock and was the owner of a valuable property, comprising two hundred and fifty acres in Brown township, and was an enterprising agriculturist whose well di- rected labors brought to him merited success. His wife died March 22, 1847, and he was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary Brown, nec White. She died on the old homestead in 1867.

Oscar F. Davison was the second son of the first marriage. The other children of the family were : Edward A., who died in 1877 : Louise Olover, who is a widow and resides in Salem, Indiana ; Sarah Ann, wife of Adam Coppess, of Darke county; and Amanda, wife of Isaac Deardoff, of Brown township. Under the parental roof Oscar F. Davison was reared, remaining with his parents until he had attained his twenty-third year, when lie was married. It was in 1861 that this im- portant event in his life occurred, Miss Se- rena Plessinger, of Richland township, be- coming his wife. She is a daughter of David and Louise (Johnson) Plessinger. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Davison took up their abode in Richland township. upon a farm, where they made their home for two years, on the expiration of which period our subject entered into partnership with C. L. Pecken, under the firm name of Pecken & Davison. They opened a general store. which they conducted for a year, when they sold out. During that time Mr. Davison lost his first wife and was again married, the lady of his choice being Sarah J. Plessinger, a second cousin of his former wife. Her parents were George and Mary ( Harmon ) Plessinger. They took up their abode upon a farm, which Mr. Davison operated from 1877 until 1894. and during that time he also dealt quite extensively in live stock.

In the fall of the latter year he was elected treasurer of Darke county, taking charge of the finances in September. 1895. for a term of two years. On the expiration of that period he was re-elected, serving in all four years. His duties were discharged in a a most prompt and commndable manner and every cent was faithfully accounted for, so that he retired from office as he entered it- with the good will and confidence of the peo-

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ple. Since his retirement he has devoted his attention to the supervision of his farming interests, being owner of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land in Allen town- ship, which he rents.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Davison has been blessed with four children, namely : Tessa II., wife of Elijah York, of York township: Mary G., wife of Charlie Baman, of York township; Claude E., who married Anna Medford and is now telegraph opera- tor at Ansonia ; and Cora May. wife of John Armstrong, a resident of Allen township. Mr. Davison is a member of Ansonia Lodge. No. 4, F. & A. M., and enjoys the regard of liis brethren of the fraternity. In his politi- cal views he is a Democrat, is recognized as one of the leading members of the party in his locality and keeps well informed on the issues of the day. His home is a fine resi- dence located at No. 216 Harrison avenue, and there he is enabled to surround his family with all the necessities and many of the lux- tries of life, as the result of his well directed and enterprising efforts.

JAMES YOUNG McCOOL.

The subject of this personal narrative is one of the most successful and progressive farmers within the borders of Franklin town- ship. Darke county, Ohio. He has made his special field of industry an eminent success, and is highly esteemed and respected by all who know him.

Mr. McCool's paternal grandparents were James and Charity ( Chapman) Mc- Cool, who were born, reared and married in South Carolina, whence they removed to North Carolina and later to Virginia. In 1814 they came to Ohio and located west of Milton in Miami county, where the grandfa-

ther died shortly after. in 1816. His wife survived him several years, dying in Freder- ick, Miami county, about 1839. Their chil- dren were William C., father of our subject ; Young Gabriel, who married Margaret Cloyd and died in Frederick : Elizabeth, who married Alexander Hoover, and died in Lockport, Indiana; and Sally, who married Michael Roderick and died near Jonesboro. Indiana.

William C. McCool, our subject's father, was born in South Carolina, December 3, 1803, and accompanied his parents on their various removals, coming to this state in 1814. the journey being made by wagon. After his father's death he learned the shoe- maker's trade and became the main support of his widowed mother, with whom he re- mained until his marriage. Walter D. Jay, a friend and relative, took a great interest in the boy and gave him work until his mar- riage. It was in 1825 that Mr. McCool wedded Miss Mary. daughter of William and Jane Cloyd, natives of Tennessee. They made their home for a time on the James Jay farm near Tippecanoe and on leaving there Mr. MeCool bought eighty acres of land in Union township Miami county, for which he went in debt, the cost of the place being four hundred and fifty dollars. Only fifteen acres of the land had been cleared and an old log house and barn con- stituted the only improvements. Being indus- trious and persevering. he soon paid off the debt and bought another farm of eighty acres near Frederick for one thousand dollars. .After paying for the latter he purchased eighty acres of W. D. Jay, for which he paid thirty-three dollars per acre. In 1850 he bought two hundred and eighty acres of land south of Milton, for which he paid five thousand dollars, and made his home thereon

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until 1864, when he rented the farm and with our subject as a partner engaged in general merchandising and in the grain business at De Lisle, Darke county. At the end of four years he purchased our subject's interest in the business and continued alone until 1872, when he sold to his son John and bought a seventy-eight-acre farm in Neave township. paying for it thirty-six hundred dollars. There he lived retired for some time, but finally removed to Jaysville, where he died in 1888, honored and respected by all who knew him. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and religiously was a member of the Society of Friends. His esti- mable wife, who was born in Tennessee, in 1808, died April 20, 1853. In their family were ten children, namely : Albert married Susan Smith and died in Union township, March 16, 1856; James Y., our subject, is next in order of birth; Charity married Ahiga Shearer, of West Milton; Isaac mar- ried Elizabeth Siler, and died in Union town- ship, Miami county, March 16, 1862; John married Elizabeth Daniels and died in Arca- num; Harriet is the wife of D. Yount, of Union township, Miami county; Esther married William Cress and they moved to Morris county, Kansas, in 1884; William Henry Harrison married Ellen Arnold, and lives in Jaysville, Ohio: Elizabeth married first. Harrison Voer, and secondly, Titus Shearer and lives near Spring Valley, Ten- nessee : and Mary E. died in infancy.

James Y. McCool was born October 24, 1828. and being reared on his father's farm he carly became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. As a boy he was not over-fond of study, but was hard working and industrious. He attended country schools until eighteen years of age and was quick to learn, easily keeping up

with the other scholars in his studies. For fourteen months he attended Eli Jay's select school and then passed the teachers' examina_ tion at Troy. He taught school for about fourteen months in Miami and Darke coun- ties, but his early life was mostly devoted to farming until 1864. when he and his father embarked in business at De Lisle. During the war they paid as high as three dollars and five cents per bushel for wheat. After withdrawing from the business Mr. McCool located on his farm in Union township, Miami county, which he operated until 1871, and then moved to another farm which he owned in Franklin township, Darke county, consisting of two hundred and forty acres of well improved land. In 1874 he bought the farm of sixty-three acres on which he now resides, and took up his residence there- on the following year though he still retains the two-hundred-and-forty-acre tract which was entered by Samuel Horn. His commo- dious and pleasant residence was built in 1880, and all of the other improvements upon the place in the way of buildings have been made by him.

On the Ist of April, 1858, Mr. McCool was united in marriage to Miss Mary Long, who was born in Miami county Ohio, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Long. By this union were born six children, name- ly : Amanda C., who died in infancy : Emma Jane, who married Frank Reed and both died in Franklin township; Sarah A., wife of T. W. Stoltz, of Gettysburg; Rosie B., wife of Charles Stoltz, of Franklin township; Minor. a school teacher residing at home : and Mary E .. who wedded George Myers, of Franklin township and has one child. Mary .1.

Mr. McCool is strictly a self-made man, as he began life without a dollar, and every thing he owns is the fruit of his own labor,

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enterprise and good management. He is to- day one of the largest land-owners of Frank- lin township, and is one of its most successful business men. He is intelligent and well in- formed. is kind, hospitable and generous, and a good friend and neighbor. He is a devout Christian and prominent member of Union Chapel Christian church, in which he has served as deacon for several years. In his political affiliations he is a Republican, and on his party ticket was elected justice of the peace, in 1895, for a term of three years.

GEORGE W. HARLEY, M. D.

There is no profession that demands of its votaries a more careful preliminary training than does that of the physician, and as the destinies of life and death, the alpha and omega of our human existence. rest often in his hands, it is but natural that he should feel the grave responsibilities placed upon him and should gird himself well for the stern duties of his noble calling. Among those who lend dignity to the profession of med- icine in Darke county is he whose name in- itiates this paragraph, and we are pleased to incorporate in this work the following brief review of his personal and ancestral history.

Dr. Harley is a native son of the Buck- eye state, having been born in Clark county, Ohio, on the LIth of January, 1860. His father, a man of sterling worth of character, is a retired blacksmith at North Hampton, Clark county. This honored citizen, John A. Harley. is of German nativity, having been born in the province of Hesse-Darm- stadt. Germany, about the year 1832. At the age of seventeen years, in 1849. the young man determined to seek his fortune in the new world and fortified only by his ster- ling integrity and his capacity for productive

effort. he was confident of making his way, though far from home and friends. He made the voyage by sailing vessel, forty-nine days elapsing ere he disembarked in New York city, where the boat finally dropped anchor. He had at the time no knowledge of the English language and was not even familiar with a trade but he was equal to the exigencies of the hour, and by indus- try and honest enterprise soon gained a foot- hold in his adopted country. Within a short time he came to Clark county, Ohio, and here he apprenticed himself to learn the black- smith trade, in which he eventually became an adept workman. continuing to devote his attention to the same for many years and gaining the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. In Clark county he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Meranda, a daughter of George Meranda, this union being consummated about the year 1859, and to the same seven children being born, of which number five are now living. namely: George Washington, the immediate subject of this review; Hettie Harley, who is a successful teacher; Emma Harley, a maiden lady; Eliza, who is the widow of John Brandenburg and resides in Clark coun- ty ; and Charles Irvin, a prominent farmer of Clark county, who is married and has one daughter. The parents of the Doctor are both in excellent health and in temporal affairs are very comfortably situated, this being the reward of the well directed efforts. of the father, to whom his cherished wife has ever proved a true helpmeet.

Doctor Harley secured his preliminary educational discipline in the district schools and in the normal school at Lebanon, War- 1 en county, Ohio, after which he secured his. more purely technical training or profes- sional training by matriculating in the well

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known Eclectic Medical Institute, at Cicin- nati, where he was graduated with the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine on the 7th of June, 1892, having proved a most careful and discriminating student and having shown a peculiar fitness for the work to which he had determined to devote his life. Immediately after his graduation he located in Hollans- burg, entering upon the active practice of his profession here on the 26th of July, 1892. He has firmly established himself in the con- fidence and esteem of the people and his patronage is of a representative order. The Doctor is an enthusiast in his profession, is a close student and keeps fully abreast of the discoveries and developments in the science of medicine, while his personality is that which infuses confidence and begets cheerful- ness in the sick room-attributes essential to the successful physician.

On the 12th of August. 1885, Doctor Harley was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Rust, daughter of Simon and Rebecca (Myers) Rust, of Clark county. Of this union four children were born, Mabel E. Harley, who was born May 10, 1886, and died April 5. 1898, of meningitis ; Russell, who was born August 12, 1887, and died at the age of twenty-eight days ; Howard, who was born April 25. 1889; and Norene, a lit- tle daughter, born May II, 1891. The fan- ily occupy an attractive residence, which was erected by the Doctor in the fall of 1898, and here he finds his solace from the cares and perplexities of his active professional career : here he may usually be found when not in his office or attending his patients, and here a generous hospitality is dispensed to a large circle of loyal friends.

Professionally Doctor Harley is identi- fied with both the state and county organiza- tions of the Eclectic Medical Society ; polit-

ically he renders allegiance to the Democratic: party, and fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias. The Doctor is widely known and distinctly popular in the community, both as a physician and as a man among men.

THOMAS H. MONGER.

This gentleman is well known as the su- perintendent of the Darke County Orphans" Home, and is well qualified for the important position which he is filling. He is not only a man of excellent business ability, capable of directing the business affairs of the insti- tution, but is also a gentleman of broad hut- manitarian principles, of deep human sym- pathy, and his interest in children and their welfare is earnest and sincere. He does all in his power to make the institution not only a home in name but in reality, and labors to prepare the little ones for life's practical and responsible duties.

Mr. Monger was born in Fayette county, Indiana, November 18. 1854. His parents were George H. and Catherine ( Holland) Monger, both natives of Fayette county, In- diana, and representatives of pioneer fam- lies of that state, but both are now deceased. T. H. Monger's boyhood days were spent in that locality, upon a farm. During the winter months he pursued his education in the common schools and to his parents he gave the benefit of hils services until after he attained his majority, living with them until his removal to Darke county, on the 7th of November, 1888. At that time he took up his abode in Greenville and entered the em- ploy of L. D. Hally, a dealer in impleinents, with whom he remained from Marcli, 1889,. until February, 1892, at which time he was appointed superintendent of the Home. He

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has since remained in charge of this splendid institution of Darke county, and under his supervision its object has been carried for- ward in spirit, winning the approval of prac- tical business men as well as of those of a more emotional nature.

Mr. Monger is a member of Champion Lodge. No. 742, I. O. O. F., and Greenville Camp. No. 90. of the encampment, and also of the Patriarchs Militant, the highest order of Odd Fellowship. This order inculcates among its members the spirit of helpfulness, charity and benevolence, and Mr. Monger exemplifies in his conduct of the Orphans' Home the fraternal spirit of the order. He affiliates with the Democracy in politics, and is a prominent and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was married December 21, 1876, to Estella M. Woods, and having no children of their own, they have reared his brother's son, John E. Mon- ger. This nephew came to them when six years of age and is now a student in the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. Mr. Monger is a well informed man, courteous to strangers, kindly in his dealings with those with whom he is daily thrown in con- tact and is possessed of excellent executive ability. The term of superintendent lasts but one year and that he has been re-elected each February for the past eight years is a high testimonial to his ability and fidelity.

THE DARKE COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME.

The Darke County Children's Home is situated three miles north of Greenville, Ohio. The erection of the building was be- gun in 1888 and it was occupied on the 13th of August. 1889. The building is of brick and is fitted throughout in modern style, the

approximate cost of the improvement being about forty thousand dollars. The grounds comprise fifty-two and a half acres of land and are well improved. Children are re- ceived into the home between infancy and sixteen years. The girls are taught house- work of all kinds, while the boys are in- structed in various outdoor duties of the farm. School is held nine months in the year in a model building erected especially for the purpose. There are now fifty-three inmates of the home, thirty-six boys and twenty-seven girls. As it is deemed advis- able and requests are made, the children are put into families for thirty days' trial and the institution demands that the adopting parties should give the children good school and church privileges and kind treatment, and, if a boy, at the age of twenty-one he should re- ceive one hundred dollars. The boys are also to receive one hundred dollars in five payments of twenty dollars each, the first payment to be made at the age of sixteen, the Home remaining the custodian of the money until his majority is reached. The girls are to receive fifty dollars at the age of eighteen years, payment to be made in three equal installments. The school is conducted in the usual manner of public schools. The home is under the control of a board of trus- tees appointed by the county commissioners. There is a visiting board appointed by the common pleas judge and the superintendent and matron appointed by the board of trus- tees. The first board meeting was held July 7. 1885, the members being Samuel Wilson, H. Corwin and William Andrews, all county commissioners. These men appointed the board of trustees as follows : S. A. Hostetter, J. H. Martin and Thomas McCowan. At the first meeting an appropriation of fifteen thousand dollars was made. Some time

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 45

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