A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 47

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

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In 1884 Mr. Garber resigned his posi- tion with the Panhandle Company and was appointed manager of the Western Union telegraph office at Greenville, giving to his important duties the same discriminating care and supervision which insured his ad- vancement to the important trust. In 1896 Mr. Garber was appointed the manager of the Central Union Telephone Company for Dayton, Ohio, and surrounding towns ; re- signing his position with the Telephone Company and was promoted as assistant su- perintendent of Ohio for the same company, with headquarters at Columbus, in 1897: was advanced again in 1898 to the position of assistant general solicitor for the same company, with headquarters at Chicago, which position he still holds.

Mr. Garber has been an enthusiastic worker in the cause of the Democratic party and September 16, 1889, he was nominated in the county convention of his party for rep-

resentative in the general assembly of the state, being successful at the polls in the en- suing November election. His election to this important and honorable office was a tribute to the ability and sterling character of the young man and amply attested his popularity in the county. He was renom- inated in 1891 and elected in November. As a member of the legislature he was as- signed to membership on several important committees and his record as a legislator shows that he has ably represented his con- stituency and has used every means to pro- mote the best interests of the public. Mr. Garber had the distinction of being the youngest member of the sixty-ninth general assembly of the state. He is at the present time ( 1900) a member of both the state Democratic central and the state executive committees, being selected as vice-chairman of the former committee by acclamation. He has won his way to a position of prominence and honor and is a type of that self-reliant manhood and broad mentality which have made the American nation the most progres- sive in the world. Mr. Garber has probably the most extensive personal acquaintance, compared with that of any man, young or old, in Ohio, being gifted with a remarkable memory for calling his acquaintances by name almost invariably.

RUSSELL SEARL.

The name of Searl is of Scotch origin and the ancestry of the family can be traced back to the year 1640. In the early period of the colonial settlement of Massachusetts one or more representatives of the name left bon- nie Scotland for the new world. It is certainly known that the time when John Alden, Miles Standish and other good Puritans were

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founding the colony of Massachusetts John Searl lived in what was later to become the old Bay state. Among his descendants are found the strong and sterling characteristics of the Scotch race, people renowned for their morality, fidelity to principle, their industry and their thrift. In August, 1881, there as- sembled about two hundred and fifty repre- sentatives of the Searl family at a reunion, and the following account of the same was given in the Hampshire Gazette,-published at Northampton, Massachusetts.

"The gathering of the descendants of John Searl at the Mount Tom picnic grounds last Wednesday was attended by about two hundred and fifty, and it proved a very pleas- ant and interesting occasion. Dr. C. S. Hul- burt, of Springfield, presided. The his- torical address was given by Rev. H. L. Ed- wards, of Northampton. The materials for Mr. Edwards' address were obtained largely from the town and church records of Northampton and Southampton and must have required much time and research. The address it was voted to have published. John Searl was one of the early settlers of Spring- field, and in 1640 moved to Northampton and from him it is supposed all the Searls in Northampton. Southampton and Easthamp- ton sprung, as well as the Huntington Searls. Indeed, nearly all of that name in all this region are, doubtless, descendants from him. About half a mile from where the picnic was hield a little settlement was begun some- where about 1700, known in history as Pas- commuck. On Sunday morning, May 24. 1704. this hamlet was destroyed by the In- dians, who killed nineteen or twenty of the inhabitants, nine of them by the name of Jaes. The wife of John Searl, a descend- ant of John, the progenitor, was taken cap- tive and carried to the top of Pomeroy's

mountain, where she was knocked on the head and scalped, when the Indians found they were pursued and left her for dead. But when the cavalry that came from North- hampton in pursuit reached her they found her alive and carried her on a stretcher to Northampton, and she lived many years. One of her descendants had a silver hair- pin which was in her head at the time she was scalped. One of the family character- istics is that they are rather short in stature. They are generally industrious and frugal and consequently have homes as well as fam- ilies. Very few are found in prisons or poor houses, but few are drunkards and as a family they are not given to using tobacco. Speeches were made by quite a number, and after a good time generally they made ar- rangements for the next reunion and ad- journed."

Among the addresses delivered on the occasion of the family reunion was one by Rev. H. E. Edwards, and from a printed copy the following account of the ancestry has been taken. Nothing authentic has been learned concerning the history of the family in the old world. Its origin is left in doubt, but it is known that John Searl was a resident of Massachusetts in 1630. From him is descended the numerous progeny. Many changes have occurred in the spelling of the name, which is found as Serl. Serle, Serlo, Searl, Searle, Searls, Searles, Serrells, Serleson and Serelson, but the most common spelling is Searl. The Christian names borne by the family were mostly of Biblical origin, and through many generations most of the members of the family have been de- voted to agricultural pursuits and have been noted for their industry and thrift.

John Searl, the original ancestor, mar- ried Sarah Baldwin, the wedding taking

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place in Springfield. Massachusetts, March 19, 1639. They were separated by death August 11, 1641, and John Searl was laid to rest in Springfield, his being the first in- terment in the town. They had one child, John Searl, who was born March 30, 1641. In April following her husband's death Mrs. Searl became the wife of Alexander Ed- wards, and soon afterward the family re- moved to Northampton. Her son. John Searl, the second, was married in Northamp- ton, July 31, 1667, to Ruth Jones, and about thirty-three years later, in 1700, when he was fifty-nine years of age, he removed from Northampton Center, then called Nonotuck Plantation, to Pascommuck. He was one of five to receive by vote of the Nonotuck Plantation four acres of land each in Pas- commuck. He died there October 3, 1718, in his eightieth year. He had a son. John, who went with his family to Pascommuck and four years later, with three of his chil- dren, was massacred by the Indians. John Searl ( second ) had another son, Nathaniel, who was born May 3, 1686, and in 1732 re- moved to what is now Southampton. It is recorded that Nathaniel Searl drew a home lot. as did thirty others, and also a ten-acre lot in the south precinct, and two years later he occupied the place, there making a clear- ing. Ruins of his cellar are yet to be seen. He lived to be ninety-two years of age, dy- ing in 1777. He had two wives, Priscilla and Sarah, but their family names are not remembered. His children numbered nine sons and three daughters, and all of the sons, like the father, followed agricultural pur- suits. Nathaniel Searl was the most im- portant character in his community. He prospered in his business and was greatly re- spected and in the church compact his name stands next to that of the pastor, while that

of his wife, Priscilla, heads the names of the women. He served on many committees. was moderator of their meetings and select- man and counselor in religious affairs. For ten or fifteen years his was the only house in the town that contained more than one room, and his had two. From records it is found that the family was loyally repre- sented in the colonial army during the Revo- lution, and two members of the name died. While most of them followed agricultural pursuits, some have attained prominence in professional circles, having been graduates of our universities and colleges, and have won distinction along many lines.

Mr. Searl, whose name introduces this review, was born in the old Bay state, at Southampton, on the 6th of June, 1848, and is the youngest of three children, two sons and a daughter, whose parents were Moses and Tirzah N. (Hannum) Searl. The brother of our subject, Ozro M., is now liv- ing a retired life in Ansonia. He served as a soldier in the Civil war. The father was born in Southampton, amidst the verd- ant hills of Massachusetts, November 22, 1813, and died May 18, 1895. His strong characteristics were those which in every land and in every clime command respect and admiration. His education was ac- quired largely through his own efforts out- side of the school room, for he was early forced to earn his own livelihood. and thus liis school privileges were limited. He possessed considerable natural mechanical ability, and during the greater part of his life followed mechanical pursuits. He worked in a smithy during his younger years and later engaged in business as a contractor and builder of highways through the moun- tainous and hilly districts of his native state. At Southampton he wedded Miss Hannum,

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and two of their children were born there. He was a kind and loving husband and fa- ther, a true-hearted friend who would do anything possible to accommodate a neigh- bor. This trait led him to going security, and through this he lost considerable amounts of money. His honesty was pro- verbial and his business reputation at all times unassailable.

In 1854 he emigrated westward, locat- ing at Sidney, Ohio, wliere, under contract, he was engaged on the construction of rail- rcad bridges for the Big Four Road. In March, 1855, he came to Darke county and purchased fifty-five acres of swamp and for- est land in Brown townshij . The prosperous village of Ansonia now stands upon a part of his original farm. He first lived in a gel's residence, later he built a frame house on his farm and with characteristic energy began transforming the virgin soil into richly cultivated fields. While residing in this primitive home the daughter of the fam- ily, Hattie N. Searl, died, at the age of fif- teen years, eleven months and eight days. her deatlı being a great blow to her parents and brothers. Later Mr. Searl sold liis farm and purchased one hundred and twenty

acres of land southwest of Greenville. There hie lived until the fall of 1869, when lie disposed of that property and in the spring of 1870 he and his wife made a visit to their old home in Massachusetts, return- ing in the autumn of that year. The fa- ther then purchased the farm now belonging to his son, Russell. He died in Brown town- ship, respected by all who knew him, for his life was ever honorable and upright. In politics he was an old line Whig, and took an active part in the hard-cider campaign, often joining in the rallying cry of "Tippe- canoe and Tyler too," when log cabins with

coon skins about the doors formed an im- portant feature in the campaign. On the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks, for he had been a stanch advocate of abolition principles and was anxious to support any movement calculated to curb slavery. Fearless in the support of his honest convictions, he never failed to uphold the principles in which he believed. He lived in Brown township during the pio- neer epoch in its history, when the vil- lage of Ansonia was known as the hamlet of Dallas and contained only about eight lionses, part of which were built of logs. There was also a little log hotel and a com- bination store conducted by Allen Reed and George Turpen, occupying the present site of the Ansonia Bank building. Mr. Searl took an active interest in everything pertain- ing to the upbuilding and development of the community and bore his part in the work of progress and advancement. He was one of the graders and constructors of the old Mackinaw Railroad, now known as the Cin- cinnati & Northern Road, was elected one of the directors and afterward lost consider- able money in that venture. However, stic- cess crowned his efforts in business during the greater part of his career and he ac- cumulated a valuable estate of two hundred and ninety-three acres, which he left to his two sons, who also received from him the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. His wife was born in Southampton, Massa- chusetts, April 12, 1818, was reared in that state and died December 3, 1872. Her many womanly qualities and Christian character won her the love and esteem of all, and her admonitions have had a marked effect upon hier sons, who tenderly cherish her memory.

Mr. Searl, of this review, was a lad of seven summers when he came with his par-

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ents to Ohio. He acquired a good practical education and by close application mastered the elementary branches of learning, which formed the foundation for all our knowledge and fitted him for life's practical duties. He has carried on farming as a life work. and remained upon the old homestead until his parents were called to their final rest. On the 14th of September. 1871. he wedded Miss Jennie Freel, whose birth occurred in Darke county, July 31. 1850. She is tl.e eldest of thirteen children, five sons and eight daughters, whose parents were Jesse and Elizabeth ( Mills) Freel. Her father was born near Warren county, May 12. 1825. and the mother in Butler county, on the 25th of August, 1830 .. She is still living, spend- ing her declining years with her children. Her husband died June 9. 1879. after hav- ing devoted his time and energies to farm work through an active business career. He loyally served his country during the Civil war, enlisting in the Twenty-ninth Ohio In- fantry, participating in many important en- gagements and the celebrated march to the sea under Sherman. In politics he was a stanch Republican. Twelve of the children of this worthy couple are yet living, namely : Mrs. Searl; Sylvania, wife of Dennis Mc- Vicker, of Apland, who was formerly a teacher, but is now a farmer; Martha E .. the wife of Dr. Aaron Bates, a successful medical practitioner at Kokomo, Indiana: Hannah, the wife of Preston Shields, a farmer living at Roseburg, Indiana: John L .. who married Miss Nellie Hunt and is a successful druggist of Marion, Indiana: Ella, the wife of Orvis Wilsey, a machinist and inventor of Marion, Indiana ; Alma. the widow of Jacob Druky Miller and a resident of Marion, Indiana: William, who married Miss Bessie Smitson, and as a surveyor of

Marion, Indiana, who formerly served as county surveyor of Grant county; Rachel, the wife of Frank Dilling, a wholesale manu- facturer of confectionery. employing sev- enty-five or one hundred hands at Marion, Indiana ; Alvin N., who wedded Miss Mita Mann and is the manager of a hotel in St. Louis, Missouri: Asa, a printer of Marion, Indiana, who wedded Miss Josephine Ma- Lott : and Lucy, the wife of Edward Cullers, of Marion, Indiana.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Searl has been graced by six children, and the family circle yet remains unbroken. Hattie N., the eldest, is the wife of George A. Lephart : both were graduated in the Ansonia high school in the class of 1894. Both have been successful teachers of Darke county and Nirs. Lephart is also proficient in music, and has been a teacher in instrumental music. She belongs to the Christian church. Orpha A. is the wife of Rev. C. B. Kershner, of New Carlisle. Ohio, a graduate of the An- sonia high school, and is now a well known minister of the Christian church, having charge of two pastorates. His wife is a graduate of the Ansonia schools of the class of 1897, and possesses considerable musical ability. Wilbur, the third child of the fam- liy, was educated in the public schools, pos- sesses considerable mechanical talent and now resides in Ansonia. He married Miss Ollie A. Lyons, and a little son. Ralph, graces their union. Ozro F., who was edu- cated in the public schools of Ansonia, is a practical farmer and stock raiser living with his parents. Nellie E. is now a student in the Ansonia high school, a member of the class of 1902, and is specially proficient in mathematics and Latin. Chester MI. is also a student in the public schools. The par- ents are warm friends of the cause of edu-

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cation and have given their children ex- cellent opportunities in that direction.

In 1871 Mr. and Mrs. Searl began their domestic life upon the old family homestead. He has always followed the plow and is an enterprising agriculturist, successful in his methods, yet practical at all times. His business dealings have ever been character- ized by the strictest integrity and his work has brought to him a good financial return. In politics he has always been a stanch Re- publican since casting his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant, and since that time he has supported each man whose name has headed the national Republican ticket. At local elections, however, where no issue is involved, he frequently votes without re- gard to party lines. He withholds his co- operation from no measure which he be- lieves will prove of public good. believes in maintaining good schools and does all in his power to assist public advancement. Socially he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Ansonia, has filled all of the chairs in Lodge No. 605 and is a member of the encampment No. 285, while his daughters Orpha and Hattie are members of the Rebekah lodge at Ansonia. He and his wife belong to the Christian church at that place and have aided financially in the erection of seven different churches in their neighborhood. They are benevolent and Christian people, whose belief is exemplified in their lives. Mr. Searl attended the first church in Ansonia, a log structure that stood on the site of his brother Ozro's home. He has been an eye witness to the wonderful growth and development of the country, has seen the great transformation that has been wrought, the forests being replaced by rich and fertile fields, in the midst of which stand fine country homes with all of the im-

provements of a model farm. Here and there are found thriving towns and villages, containing all the comforts and civilization known to the older east. Mr. Searl has at all times been a public-spirited citizen. true to the bests interests of the community and his life, guided by high Christian principles, has gained for him the respect and confidence of his fellow men.

JOHN REILY KNOX.

Jolin Reily Knox was born in Butler county, Ohio, May 20. 1820, and' died at his home in Greenville February 7, 1898. His father, John Knox, was born April 20, 1786. He married Jane Martin Wilson De- cember 5. 1815, at the Indian Hill farm, in Butler county, Ohio. She was born in Mif- flin county, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1788. James Knox, father of Jolin Knox, was born in county Down, Ireland, April 17, 1753. and came to America with the British army. He married Sarah Stewart, who was born March 26, 1768.

John Reily Knox, the immediate sub- ject of this sketch, was graduated with hon- ors in Miami University in the class of 1839, and has been a member of the board of trus- tees of this university since 1869. After leaving college he studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1843. While studying law he had a great reputation as a speaker and was greatly in demand during the excit- ing Harrison campaign of 1840.

He was elected in 1860 one of the presi- dential electors in Ohio, and as such cast his official ballot to make Abraham Lincoln president of the United States. During the war of the Rebellion he supported the gov- ernment openly by his public addresses and his personal influence in carrying out every

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effort made to obtain volunteers or to secure range to be present. A letter expressing his regret was received after the telegrani an- nouncing his sudden death. This letter will be framed and preserved by the chapter.

aid and supplies to relieve the sufferings of the soldiers or the wants of their families at home. He was president of the Greenville Law Library Association from its founda- tion until January, 1889, when he became president of the Darke County Bar Associa- tion. which position he held until his deatlı. L. O. Landis, for the Miami Chapter, the Alpha of Beta Theta Pi, writes :

"Never were the members of Alpha Chapter more surprised than when a tele- gram was received by J. K. Lansdowne, a grandson of 'Pater Knox,' telling of the death of his grandfather, our beloved founder and brother. Death came suddenly, entered his home unseen, touched the fine machinery of his brain and stopped it for- ever, liberating the soul into the leisure of heavenly rest. As is well known to every Beta, he was one of the founders of Beta Theta Pi and, in fact, the idea of the fra- ternity was first suggested by him. His death comes as a great blow to the thousands of Betas all over the United States, and particularly is it felt by the members of Alpha Chapter, at whose initiations he was often present and where he was always a very wel- come guest. He seemed to have never grownl old in respect to fraternity matters, but al- ways was a pleasant and entertaining speaker at the banquets and seemed to be never more at home than when surrounded by the boys of the fraternity. He lived long enough to see his two grandsons, J. K. Lansdowne and H. M. Lansdowne, be- come members of Alpha Chapter. The lat- ter was initiated on the Saturday night just preceding his grandfather's death. We had hoped that he would be present at the initia- tion, but the letter inviting him was mis- carried and he did not get it in time to ar-

"His funeral occurred on Thursday, February 10, at the Methodist church in Greenville. At liis funeral resolutions adopted by the vestry of the Episcopal church and the resolutions adopted by the Darke County Bar Association were read. Both sets of resolutions spoke very highly of his inany virtues, as did also the paper read by J. T. Martz, his partner for a number of years in law. No one could feel, as he heard these different resolutions and this paper read, but that he was better for having known John Reily Knox, and that he had lived in a way worthy of imitation by all Betas.

"He has gone from us, but he has left an example of a noble and upright life. He seemed, in an eminent degree, to have lived up to the principles of the fraternity which he helped to establish, and especially liad hie 'developed those talents with which God had so beneficently endowed him,' un- til lie became a-man of great power and in- fluence among men. He lived to enjoy the gratitude, respect and confidence of all. He died at peace with men and, doubtless, in favor with God."

In a published article appeared the fol- lowing under the heading,

GLOWING TRIBUTE FROM THE DARKE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION.

"The following resolutions were pre- pared by Hon. C. M. Anderson on behalf of the committee appointed by the Darke County Bar Association and read by him at the meeting, and unanimously adopted by a rising vote :

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"To the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and the Members of the Darke County Bar: Your committee appointed by the court to prepare resolutions on the occasion of the death of the Hon. John Reily Knox beg leave to submit the following :

"It has been the long established custom of the bar, upon the death of one of its mem- bers, to take suitable and proper action to express its appreciation of the history and merits of the departed. In our sorrow for the death of Brother Knox and as a feeble tribute to his memory we may note some facts and deeds out of the many connected with the life and professional career of him who was so unexpectedly and suddenly called from the activities of his profession by the hand of death.

"John Reily Knox was born May 20, 1820, and died February 7, 1898. He grad- uated with honors at the Miami University in the class of 1839. He was connected with the management of that institution of learn- ing as one of its officers for twenty-nine years and was holding the position of trus- tee thereof, by appointment of the governor of Ohio, at the time of his death. In the spring of 1839 he founded that great college fraternity known all over the United States as the Beta Theta Pi. He organized the fraternity, wrote its constitution and was the last survivor of its charter members. He was married, November 27, 1845, to Isabel S. Briggs. Four children were born of this union,-a son, Harry, an officer in the United States navy and at present hold- ing the rank of commander; a daughter, Elizabeth, the esteemed wife of our fellow townsman, James Lansdowne, cashier of the Farmers' National Bank, survive him to comfort and console his widow in her bitter bereavement and irreparable loss.

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 47

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