A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 46

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

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subsequently an additional appropriation was made and still later this was again increased. After the appropriations were made the com- missioners made a levy of seven-tenths of a mill, which continued until the debt was paid, or until 1894, when there was a balance of twelve hundred dollars to the credit of the school. Since that time there have been erect- ed a school building, ice house and other im- provements. During the winter of 1899-1900 an annex was built. The building is heated by steam, and gas is used as fuel. At the opening of the institution there were thirty- five children, and the number has since in- creased to fifty-six. On the 2d of February, 1889, at a meeting of the board of trustees of the Orphan Childrens' Home, Thomas E. Teal was chosen superintendent and Mrs. Teal, his wife. was made matron. serving until March 1, 1892. On the 10th of Feb- ruary, of that year, the successor, Thomas H. Monger, was chosen superintendent and Mrs. Monger became managing matron. For nine years only one death has occurred in the Home, a record probably without a parallel in similar institutions of the state. The in- stitution is creditable to the county and its superintendent should ever have the patron- age and support of the worthy people of this locality.

ANDREW WILSON RUSH, M. D.

Dr. Rush was born in Harrison town- ship, Darke county, upon his father's farm, May 12, 1860, and on both the paternal and maternal sides is descended from honored pioneer families of this locality. Harvey Rush, his father, was born in Harrison town- ship, January 30, 1827, and was a son of Asa Rush, whose birth occurred in Pennsy !-

vania, April 25, 1799. In 1808, however, the latter removed with his parents. Peter and Mary Rush, to Darke county, taking up his abode in Greenville township while the In- diians were still very numerous in this section of the state and the forests stood in their primeval strength. He cleared and developed a farm, reared his family and was known as a citizen of great energy and force of char- acter, whose influence was very marked in public affairs, and did much to promote the substantial development and improvement of the county. Peter Rush died on what is now known as the Albright farm in Neave town- ship in 1817. His political support was giv- en the Democracy and he was one of the first members of the Universalist church in Darke county. In 1817 Asa Rush with his mother, brothers and sisters, moved to the farm in Harrison township that had been entered from the government by his father just prior to his death. Asa Rush married Margaret Hill, a native of South Carolina, and they were the parents of six children that reached adult age, three boys and three girls. Mar- garet Rush died in 1856, while Asa Rush passed away in 1874.

Their son, Harvey Rush, was reared to farm life and throughout his active business career carried on agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Lillie Porter Wilson, a daugh- ter of Andrew Porter Wilson, a native of Kentucky, born July 2, 1801. He married Sarah Allen, whose birth occurred in Wayne county, Indiana, near the Ohio line, August 10, 1808. From Butler county, Ohio, he re- moved to Darke county in 1834 and set- tied upon a farm which is still known as the Wilson farm and is owned by the Doctor's . mother, who is still residing in Greenville. Her great-grandfather, Andrew Wilson, a native of Ireland, who was brought to Vir-

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ginia when young, was a soldier in the Rev- olutionary war and valiantly aided the colo- nies in their struggle for independence. The children of Harvey and Lillie Rush are as follows: Olive is a teacher in Wyoming, Ohio; Alice S. is a teacher in the high school of Rock Island, Illinois; Carrie is a teacher in the Greenville schools; William Harvey, who is a graduate of the State University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was graduated in Harvard College in 1894, has for the past five years been a member of the faculty of the Washington University at St. Louis, Missouri ; one son died in infancy ; and Ella, the eldest of the family, married Thomas J. Leinbach, of Rossville, Georgia, and died February 13. 1891. Prior to her marriage she engaged in teaching for several ternis.

Doctor Rush, whose name introduces this record, spent his youth upon the home farm and attended the district schools of Harrison township during the winter months until nineteen years of age, when he began teach- ing school. In the summer season, while a student and teacher, he devoted his energies to the cultivation of the fields, but he did not find agricultural pursuits to his taste and re- solved to prepare for professional life. To this end he read medicine under the direction of Dr. C. W. Otwell, of New Madison, Ohio. He pursued his first course of lectures in the Columbus Medical College and graduated in the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati in the class of 1884. Immediately afterward he began practicing in Chattanooga, Tennes- see, where he remained until October, 1886, when he located at Greenville, where he has secured a large and constantly increasing patronage. His marked devotion to his pro- fession, his thorough preparation and his ability in successfully solving the intricate problems which come to the physician, have

gained him marked prestige and he has long since left the ranks of the many to stand among the successful few.

On the 28th of June, 1892, Dr. Rush married Miss Ora Porter, of Greenville, a daughter of John and Anna ( Spade) Porter. ʻ She died May 18, 1893, and her remains were interred in the Greenville cemetery. The Doctor is a member of Darke County Med- ical Society and is its honored and esteemed president. He also belongs to the Miami Valley Medical Society, the American Med- ical Association, the Ohio State Medical So- ciety and is physician to the Darke county infirmary and surgeon for the Dayton & Union Railroad. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He is a social, genial gentleman, interested in everything that pertains to the welfare of Greenville and Darke county and has a large circle of warm friends, his friendship being best prized by those who know him best.

MRS. MARY J. PLOWMAN.

Mrs. Plowman, whose home is on section 21, Neave township, is a worthy representa- tive of one of the honored pioneer families of Darke county, and none of its citizens are better entitled to a place in its annals. She was born in Harrison township, April 5, 1840, and is a daughter of Andrew Porter and Sarah (Allen) Wilson, supposed to have been natives of Kentucky and Indiana, re- spectively, the latter born in 1808. Her ma- ternal grandfather, Jacob Allen, however. was born in Ohio, while her paternal grand- father, Andrew Wilson, was a native of Ire- land, but was only a year old when brought to America by his parents. He was reared in Virginia. Mrs. Plowman's father was born July 2, 1801, and during his boyhood

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removed with his family to Butler county, Ohio, being reared on a farm near Hamilton. Throughout his business life he followed ag- ricultural pursuits, and died in Darke county. in 1852, honored and respected by all who knew him. He held local offices in his town - ship, and was an active worker and influen- tial member of the Presbyterian church, in which he served as elder. His estimable wife lived until November 19, 1885, passing away at the age of seventy-seven years. To them were born ten children, five sons and five daughters, eight of whom reached years of maturity. They were as follows: Lily, now the widow of Harvey Rush, of Green- ville, Darke county ; Eleanor, who died at the age of fourteen months ; Nathaniel MI., a res- ident of California ; Augustus, who died in Kansas; Elihu C., who died in California ; Mary J., our subject ; Sarah Alice, wife of Milton Brown, of Spiceland, Indiana; An- drew P., who died in California; one who died in infancy ; and Julia W., wife of Ma- thias Early, of Indiana.

The early life of Mrs. Plowman was passed upon her father's farm in this county, and having acquired a good, practical educa- tion in its common schools, shie successfully engaged in teaching for one term. On the 14th of January, 1860, she gave her hand in marriage to Amon Plowman, who was born and reared in Carroll county, Maryland, and came to Darke county, Ohio, in 1858. He, too, was a farmer by occupation, and in pol- itics was first a Whig and later a Democrat. During his residence here he served as school director, and was one of the highly esteemed men of his township. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. and died in that faith September 26, 1881, his remains being interred in the Fort Jef- ferson cemetery.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Plow- man were as follows : Helen A., a successful teacher, is a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, this state, and is now attending the Normal School. at Val- paraiso, Indiana. Arra M. is a graduate of the Greenville high school and has also en- gaged in teaching, but is now giving her at- tention to the poultry business on the home farm. Alvar D. E., a teacher and farmer, now deceased, married Flora Kerst, and their only child died at the age of six months. Eddie P. died at the age of two months. George Wilson, who died at the age of twenty years, was also a teacher and was a student at the university in Delaware, Ohio, for three years. Amon Benton is a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Dela- ware, and is now instructor in physics in that institution.

Mrs. Plowman rents her farm of one hundred acres. She has displayed excellent business and executive ability in the manage- ment of her affairs since her husband's death, and has carefully reared her children, pro- viding them with good educational advan- tages. With the exception of one year spent in Missouri and six years in Indiana, her entire life has been passed in Darke coun- ty, and she is highly respected and esteémed by all who know her.

MRS. MARY E. DETLING.

This esteemed resident of Darke county is one of the oldest citizens of Brown town- ship, having attained the advanced age of eighty-one years. She receives the venera- tion and respect which should ever be ac- corded those who are upon the declivity of life, and her influence has ever wrought for good.

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She was born within sight of the grand and beautiful cathedral in Strasburg, Ger- many, February 5. 1820, and was the oldest in a family of fourteen children, four sons and ten daughters, whose parents were Jacob and Mary E. ( Michella) Peters. Six of these children are yet living, the eldest being Mrs. Detling of this review. The others are : Sarah, the widow of Mr. Hess, and a resident of St. Louis, Missouri; Lena, the wife of Henry Sheets, of Indiana ; Jacob, a successful agriculturist living in Brow !! township, Darke county; Michael, who is living in Monroe county, Ohio; and Rachel, the wife of Louis Walters, a resident farmer of Brown township.

The father of these children was born in the province of Alsace, near Strasburg, and was reared as a farmer. He not only fol- lowed agricultural pursuits but also engaged extensively in the cultivation of grapes and the manufacture of Rhenish wine, for which he found a good market in Strasburg. He was prosperous in his business career and ac- quired a comfortable competence. W'ell ed- ucated, he added to the knowledge acquired in school by extensive reading, experience and observation, and was known throughout the community as a man of scholarly tastes and acquirements. He was especially anx- ious to provide his children with good edu- cational privileges, and thus they were well fitted for life's responsible duties.

When his daughter Mary E. was a young lady of nineteen years, she joined two of her friends who were coming to America. She had mastered the English language and they desired that she should act as interpreter for them. Obtaining her father's consent to the trip, he sold a little piece of land and gave her three hundred guilders, telling her that if she did not like the country he would send

for her to come back. The little party sailed from Havre, France, and after a voyage of thirty-two days, during which heavy storms prevailed and drove them from their course, they finaliy reached the harbor of New York, and fom the eastern metropolis Mary E. Peters made her way to Monroe county, Ohio, where she arrived in the year 1839. In 1840, in Monroe county, she gave her hand in marriage to Jacob Detling. Her in- terests therefore centered in her adopted country, and though she still loves the land of her birth she has never wished to make it again her home.

Mr. and Mrs. Detling began their domes- tic life in Monroe county, upon rented land, and when they had acquired sufficient capi- tal purchased sixty acres of timber land. Their first home was a cabin built of round logs. Mr. Detling cut the timber from the forests, shaped the logs and erected his prim- itive residence. The floor was made of pun- cheons and the furnishings were also crude, but happiness and contentment took up their abode in that little home and the owners thereof strove to improve their financial con- dition. They had gone in debt for a part of their land, but they possessed great energy and unfaltering determination which qual- ities enabled them to overcome all difficulties and to work their way steadily upward. Sell- ing their first farm, they removed to Brown , township, Darke county, in the spring of 18.47 and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of virgin soil in this locality. The town of Ansonia was then known as Dallas. Not a tree had been cut nor a furrow turned upon their place, but soon they erected another cabin home, and by the light of the old- fashioned fire-place they passed many a pleasant hour. It is such pioneer settlers as Mr. and Mrs. Detling that have laid the foun-

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dation for the present prosperity of the coun- ty. They made the "wilderness blossom as the rose," and in the midst of the wild forest they developed a valuable property, which yieldled to the owners a golden tribute in re- turn for the care and labor bestowed upon it.

Thirteen children-seven sons and six daughters-came to bless the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Detling, and seven of the num- ber are yet living : Jacob, a successful farmer who is married and lives in Brown township ; Katie, the wife of James Earhart, of Brown township; Mary, the widow of Enos Baugh- man and a resident of Brown township; Her- man, who is married and is a prosperous ag- riculturist of the same township; John, who is living in Brown township: Jefferson, who resides upon the okl family homestead and superintends the farm for his mother; and Charles, who also lives in the same locality. The children have all become honored and upright citizens owing to the tender care and wise teachings of the mother, whose instruc- tions will never be forgotten. Mrs. Detling is one of the grand old ladies who have care- fully moulded the characters of their chil- dren. At the time of the husband's death Mr. and Mrs. Detling had accumulated four hundred acres of valuable land, which was a merited reward of their labor. They were kind and benevolent people, had aided in the crection of different churches in this locality, have supported the different schools and have done much to promote various meas- ures calculated to prove of public good. Mr. Detling died March 14, 1896, and his re- mains were interred in the Ansonia cem- ctery, where a beautiful monument has been erected sacred to his memory by his wife. He was a kind and affectionate husband and father, a faithful friend and a considerate neighbor and enjoyed the warm regard of all 22

who knew him. Like his wife, he held mem- bership in the Christian church at Ansonia. Mrs. Detling's beautiful Christian character has endeared her to many friends and she is loved and esteemed by young and old, rich and poor. Her interest in life is yet active, and, although she has advanced far on earth's pilgrimage, she keeps in touch with the progress of the times. The love and veneration in which she is held was shown on lier eightieth birthday, when her children and many friends gathered on her beautiful lawn to celebrate the day and wish her many happy returns thereof. She has always been a friend to the poor and needy, assisting those to whom fate had been unkind and sympa- thizes with those in distress. She is now passing the evening of life in a beautiful home which was gained through the united efforts of her husband and herself. Her children rise up and call her blessed, and when she shall have passed from this life her memory will remain as a grateful benedic- tion to all who knew her.

JOHN J. STENTZEL.

The gentleman whose name introduces this record is so well known that he needs no special introduction to the citizens of Brown township. He is not only regarded as one of the prosperous agriculturists of his com- munity, but is well known as a reliable and trustworthy official of his township-a citi- zen both loyal and patriotic, who in the faithful discharge of his duties has largely promoted the public welfare.

Mr. Stentzel is of French and German lineage. He was born in Monroe county, Ohio, August 30, 1853, and is the sixth in order of birth in a family of ten children, four sons and six daughters, whose parents

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were George F. and Barbara ( Peters) Stentzel. The father was born near the boundary line between France and Germany on the 28th day of July, 1812, and died on the 4th of March, 1878, when in his sixty- sixth year. He possessed much natural me- chanical ability and was a cooper by trade. He acquired a liberal education, being fa- miliar with the German, French and English languages. After attaining his majority he determined to seek a home and fortune in America, and, in 1839, bidding adieu to the land of his birth, he sailed for the new world, landing in the United States with little capital, but possessed of strong de- termination to make the most of his oppor- tunities. Not long after his arrival he took up his abode in Monroe county, Ohio, where he was married. He followed his chosen vocation of coopering and was also a success- ful brewer and landlord. As his financial interests increased he extended his business to other lines and was quite successful in his various dealings. He was a man of strong determination, of decided character and resolute purpose, and these qualities largely insured him success. For a fourth of a century he owned property in Miltonsburg and its rental added largely to his income. He was a stanch advocate of Democratic principles, firm in his advocacy of the meas- ures of the party. He and his wife were both members of the German Lutheran church and he was very charitable, always aiding in the various benevolent organiza- tions. His wife was born August 26, 1821. in the same neighborhood as her husband, and died July 19. 1888. Hers was an earnest Christian life and in the belief of Christian- ity she reared her family. Of the children six are yet living, namely: Elizabeth, the wife of Philip Wengert, a merchant resid-

ing in Miltonsburg, Monroe county, Ohio: Callie, the wife of Henry Miller, a dairy- man and capitalist of Wheeling. West Vir- ginia : John J., of this review: Emma, the wife of Charles Gramlich, a dairyman of Wheeling: Lusetta, the wife of John Bau- mann, a capitalist and real estate dealer of Wheeling: and Jennie, the wife of Lewis Baumann, of Canton, Ohio.

John J. Stentzel remained with his par- ents until seventeen years of age, during which time he pursued his education in the public schools. He then entered upon his business career, working for ten dollars a month, and came to Darke county, where he remained for three years. He had been reared as an agriculturist, but while residing in Virginia learned the butcher's trade. However, he has given his attention largely to his farm throughout his entire life and is now accounted one of the leading agricult - urists of his community.

On the 13th of February, 1876, Mr. Stentzel was united in marriage to Miss Alice Baughman, who was born in Darke county June 23, 1857, a daughter of John and Maria ( Riffle) Banghman. Her par- ents had five sons and four daughters and of this number five yet survive, all being resi- dents of Darke county with the exception of John, who makes his home in Van Wert. Ohio. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Stent- zel has been blessed with four children, all sons, and three are yet living. John F., the eldest, acquired a good education, complet- ing his course in the Ansonia high school. Preferring commercial to agricultural life. he entered that department of the workl's work, and for six years has been connected with commercial affairs. He was for six months employed as a salesman in Wheel- ing, West Virginia, and in 1889 he entered

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into partnership with H. Mendenhall in the boot and shoe business at Ansonia. He then bought his partner's interest and con- ducted the enterprise alone. He carries a stock valued at two thousand dollars, which includes goods of both eastern and western manufacture, and in this enterprise he is meeting with creditable and gratifying suc- cess. John Stentzel is an enterprising young man of marked ability, and his future will no doubt be a prosperous one. In pol- itics he is a Democrat. He successfully passed the teacher's examination in Darke county and is a well informed young man. Herman, the second son, is now in the eighth grade in the public school, and Frank, the youngest, is also a student. Mr. and Mrs. Stentzel have given their children good edu- cational privileges, believing that there can be no better preparation for life's practical work.

labors being very efficient in promoting the standard of the schools in this community. Socially he is connected with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellow's at Ansonia and is a charter member of the encampment of which he is serving as senior warden, while in the lodge he is one of the trustees. He is also a member of the Ansonia Horse Thief Detective Association and is serving as the president of the organization, which was formed for the apprehension of crim- inals, especially those given to stealing horses. He is a member of the Lutheran church, while his wife belongs to the Chris- tian church, and both are people of sterling worth, whose many excellent qualities com- mend them to the confidence and regard of all with whom they are associated.

HON. HARVEY C. GARBER.

At the time of their marriage Mr. Stent- Success is never a matter of easy achieve- ment, and he who attains a success worthy the name must have devoted his best energies and given clear definition to the course hie would pursue. Success so earned by honest endeavor and marked discrimination is that which has attended the career of him whose name forms the caption of this article, and in reviewing the lives of the representative citi- zens of Darke county it is well that we grant due recognition to one who has wrought well in the affairs of life and gained a posi- tion of distinguished honor, our subject be- ing a resident of the thriving little city . Greenville. zel was the owner of one horse and had a capital of about one hundred dollars. To- day he is the owner of a valuable farm of eighty acres, and all the improvements upon the place stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. He is a practical and pro- gressive farmer who follows advanced meth- ods, and his well tilled fields indicate to the passerby his careful supervision. His labors have been ably supplemented by the capable management and economical methods of his wife, who is a lady of kindly disposition, having many warm friends in the commun- ity. In politics Mr. Stentzel has been a stanch Democrat since casting his first presi- In Hill Grove, Darke county, Ohio, on the 6th of July, 1865, occurred the birth of Harvey C. Garber, and two years later his parents removed to Greenville, which has been the scene of his well directed efforts dential vote for Samuel J. Tilden, and has frequently been chosen as a delegate to sen- atorial and county conventions. In 1894 he was elected township trustee and for nine years he has served as school director, his 'and his worthy success. He received his

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preliminary educational discipline in the pub- lic schools, which he attended regularly until 1878, when he began to assume the respon- sibilities of life. securing a position as mes- senger boy for the Western Union Tele- graph Company. Here the lad manifested much interest in the art of telegraphy, to which he gave his attention when his time was not otherwise required in the duties of his position, and when he was but fourteen years of age he was a first-class operator and was practically eligible for taking charge of an office, though he was not permitted to do this until he had attained the age of six- teen, when he secured a position with the Panhandle Railroad, working at some of their most important stations and proving equal to the duties and responsibilities as- signed to him, though he was still a mere boy.

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 46

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