A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 50

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

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Mr. Wilson, whose name introduces this record, has spent his entire life in Darke county, and as he was the only son in his father's family that reached mature years the duties and labors of the farm largely de- volved upon him. He began his education in the schools of Wayne township and later pursued his education in the Lyons school

in York township. This was held in a log school house 24x32 feet, of typical style in its furnishings and structure. Great changes have occurred since that time in the edu- cational privileges which are now afforded the children of the present generation, for substantial brick or frame school houses dot the country here and there, well qualified teachers are employed and excellent prepara- tion is made that the children may be well prepared for life's practical and responsible duties. Mr. Wilson continued upon the home farm until 1884, when he bought eighty acres . in York township. Subse- quently he disposed of this property and pur- chased the farm of one hundred and sixty- six acres where he now resides.

As a companion and helpmate on life's journey he chose Miss Lucy Warvel a daughter of Daniel Warvel, a prominent citizen of Richland township. She was born May 9, 1860, her parents being Daniel and Sarahı (Powell) Warvel. Their marriage occurred September 5. 1880, and four sons and three daughters graced the union, but of t .is number only four are now living- Mar Belle. Samuel C., Eliza May and Ernst Ray. The parents are giving to their children good educational privileges so that they may be well fitted to meet life's active ciuties. Mrs. Wilson has been to her hus- band a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey, and her labors and counsel have proved important factors as he has en- deavored to gain a competence. When they Legan their domestic life they had forty acres of land, upon which rested an indebted- ness, but as the years have passed they have become the owner of one of the model farms of York township. The soil is especially adapted for the raising of corn, wheat and tobacco. The last named is a very profit-

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able crop and has added not a little to Mr. Wilson's income. He is also a natural me- chanic and built and equipped a blacksmith shop, in which he does his own work, making all repairs on harness and farm machinery. as well as shoeing his own horses. He lias a four-horse-power engine and his mechan- ical ability is supplemented by his modern tools, enabling him to save much time and money.

Politically Mr. Wilson is a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden. He lias twice been selected as a delegate to congressional conventions and was a delegate to the state convention in Dayton, in 1898. In 1899 he was elected the land appraiser of York township, and though he takes a deep interest in political affairs lie has never been an officeseeker, preferring to devote his time and energies to his busi- ness interests, in which he has met with very creditable success. His marked ener- gy, diligence and capable management have enabled him to advance step by step until he now stands upon the plane of affluence ind throughout his long and active busines : ca- reer he has ever commanded the re. ject, confidence and good will of those with whom he has been associated. -

JOHN J. PETERS.

The German element in this national commonwealth has been an important one in promoting the material progress and pros- perity of the community: the enterprise, economy, thrift and perseverance so charac- teristic of the race are manifest in the sub- ject of this review, who has been a resident of Brown township, Darke county, for al- most half a century. He has been an eye-

witness of the remarkable development of this section of the state, for he came liere when the county was almost an unbroken wilderness and has not only seen the trans- formation that has been wrought, but has also borne his part in the work that has produced this great change.

Mr. Peters was born in the little province of Alsace, Germany, near the bank of the beautiful Rhine, far-famed in story and song. His native place was also near the city of Strasburg, Germany, which contains the most beautiful and splendid cathedral in Europe. His natal day was March 31, 1837, and he is the tenth child and eldest son in a family of fourteen children, the last four children all being sons. His parents were Jolin Jacob and Mary Elizabeth ( Machale) Peters. His father was born in the province of Alsace and died at the advanced age of eighty-three years, eight months and thirteen days. He was reared to the life of an agri- culturist and became an expert pomologist, making a specialty of the cultivation of grapes and the manufacture of a favorite brand of Rhenish wine. He found a good market for his products in the city of Stras- burg and conducted a profitable business. At one time he served his country in the German army as a guard and his brother did military duty under Napoleon in Spain. He with eleven others of his company was poisoned by drinking water in which poison had been placed by the Spaniards. Mr. Peters, the father of our subject, was a man of sterling character, strict in his adherence to principle and an intelligent German citi- zen who met success in his business career. Ever honorable and upright in his dealings he left to his family the priceless heritage of a good name. He was widely known in his community and among his acquaintances

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his word was considered as good as his bond.

It was about 1839 when he concluded to bid adieu to the fatherland and seek a home in free America, believing that he could thus afford his children better ad- vantages. Accordingly, in the spring of that year ,at Havre, France, they took passage on a sailing vessel, which, after a voyage ct thirty-seven days, dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. They experienced storms which occasioned great delay and broke the main mast, rendering it unfit for use. So great was the violence of the wind and waves that many times the passengers thought that they would never see land again, but Providence intended otherwise and at length they reached New York harbor in safety. The Peters family at once made their way eastward to Cleveland, Ohio, by way of the Erie canal, Wheeling, West Vir- ginia, to Monroe county on the Ohio river, where the father purchased eighty acres of improved land, making his home there until his death. In religious belief he was a Lutheran and never failed to perform his Christian duty. He had acquired an excel- lent education in his native town, was char- itable and benevolent, aiding in the erection of a number of Lutheran churches. At one time he gave one hundred and fifty dollars toward the erection of one of the houses of worship of that denomination. His life day by day was upright and honorable; the poor and needy found in him a friend and those who sought his assistance were never turned empty away. His wife was born in the province of Alsace and died at the age of .seventy-seven years. She, too, led a faith- ful and consistent Christian life and reared her children in the faith of the Lutheran church. Both parents were laid to rest in

one of the cemeteries of Monroe county, where a beautiful monument marked their place of interment, erected by their children. They have six living children, the eldest be- ing Mrs. Detlinger, and the others are Sarah the widow of Harmon Hirs, who was a butcher; Lena, the wife of Henry Sheets, a retired farmer living in Angola. Steuben county, Indiana; John, of this review ; Michael, a retired farmer, who is living in Monroe county, Ohio ; and Rachel, the wife of Louis Walters, of Brown township.

John Peters, of this review, was only about three or four years of age when he be- came the adopted son of America. He was brought by his parents to the new world and remained in Monroe county until he attain-d his majority. At the age of sixteen years he began to earn his own livelihood, work- ing for seventy-five dollars per year, driving a four horse team for a Methodist exhorter. The following year his employer raised his wages to eighty-five dollars per year. The third year he was given one hundred dollars. the fourth year one hundred and ten dol- lars and for the fifth year's service he was offered one hundred and forty dollars, but by that time he had attained his majority and he concluded to engage in other service. He had given every dollar of his wages to his father and when he was twenty-one years of age his sole capital was a ten-dollar bill which his father gave him when he came to Darke county. He carried with him an ax and on the 15th of February, 1855. arrived in Brown township, having made the jour- ney hither by train and on foot. Ansonia was then known as Dallas and was the first place of his location. He started in life here at the very bottom of the ladder and steadily worked his way upward, at first working for fifty cents per day. He afterward pumped

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water for the Big Four Railroad for two months and sawed wood for the same com- pany. He afterward engaged in cutting wood and making rails for others and scorn- ing no employment which brought to him an honorable living. He was very industrious and worked hard. He cut one hundred cords of wood for thirty-three dollars and he cut and in one day split three hun- dren rails. In Brown township he has swung an old-fashioned four-fingered cra- dle from early morn until dewy eve and has cut four acres of wheat in a single day. He has also cut three acres of grass in a single day with an old-time scythe. He is a man of fine physique, of large frame, strong and vigorous and thus was enabled to perform much work. His perseverance and energy have enabled him to steadily work his way upward and his strict integrity has been one of his sterling characteristics. All these qualities have gained for him the confidence and respect of his fellow men and made him well worthy of the warm regard reposed in him.

On the 2d of April, 1861, Mr. Peters was married to Miss Eliza Jane Baughman, a member of one of the well known families of Brown township. She was born in Brown township, December 5, 1842. a daughter of John and Maria ( Riffle) Baughman. Her father was born in Prussia, Germany, and when a little boy came to America. He was one of the early pioneer settlers of Brown township and his wife also lived here in an early day and has often seen bands of Indians in Darke county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baughman were born nine children, of whom two sons and three daughters are yet living, namely: Mrs. Peters; Mary Ellen, who is the widow of Chris Peterson, of Brown township, and has three children liv-

ing; Alice, the wife of Jake Stentzel, ex- trustee of Brown township and a well known resident of the community; William, who is married and living in Union City, Indiana; and John, who is married and living in Van Wert, Ohio. Eight children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Peters, two sons and six daughters, of whom four are yet living. Mary Elizabeth, the eldest, received a good education in the Ansonia high school and married Frederick Prachter, a farmer of Brown township, by whom she has three children; Florence B. is the wife of Henry Detling, a telegraph operator, and both are intelligent and well informed people. Rachel Lucinda, who completed her education in the high school of Ansonia, is the wife of Frederick Singer, who operates a part of her father's farm in Brown township. They have two children, Carl J. and Forrest F. Charles J., the youngest child living, is a young man of more than ordinary ability and in his studies is particularly proficient in mathematics, drawing and history. The children have all been provided with excellent educational advantages, well fitting them for life's practical and responsible duties.

Mr. and Mrs. Peters began their domestic life upon a rented farm, where they remained for two years. The first land which he owned was a tract of eighty acres covered with dense forests. He had no money to make payment upon his property, but it was not long before he had met the indebted- ness. Their first home was a log cabin, which is still standing. The logs were cut from trees which were felled upon his own land and the house therefore stands as a monument of his own handiwork. The forest was so dense that he had to clear a space before he could erect his primitive home. Wild game, including deer and tur-

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keys, were to be had in abundance and Mr. Peters has killed many wild turkeys, thus supplying his larder. He, however, never indulged in hunting as a sport, for his time was fully occupied by the work of the farm and through his well directed and untiring labors he has developed one of the most beautiful and highly productive farms in this section of the county. The forest has disappeared and in its place are beautiful, fertile fields, fenced and tiled. The cabin home lias long since been replaced by a con- modious brick residence and there are large barns and other outbuildings. The bounda- ries of the farm have also been extended tin- til now it comprises one hundred and sixty acres, divided into two portions and con- veniently situated within three-quarters of a mile from Ansonia. All of the splendid pike roads of the county have been built since Mr. Peters' arrival here, and he and his neighbors blazed saplings in order to indi- cate his ownership in his eighty acres of land. He has paid out toward the construc -. tion of the pike system one thousand dol- lars, and gave one hundred and fifty dollars toward the construction of the Mackinaw Railroad, now known as the Cincinnati & Northern Railroad. Today he has not a dollar of mortgage upon his property, and cnjoys an unlimited credit at the banks of the city. He is widely known for his hon- esty and reliability in business affairs, and his word is as good as any bond that was ever solemnized by signature or seal. His example is indeed well worthy of emulation in many respects, showing what can be ac- · complished by determined purpose and tin- flagging energy. All his father ever gave him was this parting admonition: "Good- bye, Jake; you are married now. Be up- right and honest before God and man and

you will get along." Not a dollar in money did he receive, yet today he stands among the substantial citizens of the community.

In politics Mr. Peters has been a stanch Democrat since casting his first presiden- tial vote, for the "Little Giant of the West," Stephen A. Douglas. He has always been firm in support of the principles of the party, and has frequently been sent as a delegate to county conventions. He has served as township trustee for eight years, a fact which indicates his popularity among his fellow townsmen, and the confidence they repose in him. He is a strong advocate of education and has done much to advance the cause of the schools in his community, believing in securing good teachers and paying them sufficient wages to secure valuable instruc- tion for the children.

Socially he belongs to the Masonic order, Lodge No. 488, of Ansonia, in which he is serving as treasurer, a position he has filled for eight consecutive years. He has also passed all of the chairs of the Ansonia Lodge, No. 605, I. O. O. F., is its treasurer, and is a member and treasurer of Encampment No. 285, of Ansonia. He is also a charter mem- ber of the Patriarchs Militant of Greenville, and is a charter member of the Darke County Horse Thief Detective Association, which organization was formed for the pur- pose of apprehending horse thieves or other robbers, and the connection of this associa- tion with similar organizations throughout Ohio and Indiana has enabled them to ac- complish much good in this community. There are fifty-seven members of the Darke county society, and Mr. Peters is also its treastirer. The fact that he is treasurer of four different organizations shows how faithful he is to the trust. He also belongs to the Eastern Star Lodge, of Ansonia, of

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which his wife is the treasurer, and she, too, is a member of Rebekah Lodge, in which she holds the office of right supporter of the vice grand. He and his wife and family are members of the Christian church, and Mr. and Mrs. Peters have aided financially in the crection of the Christian, Methodist and Lutheran churches of Ansonia : Teegarden Chapel, the German Reformed church near Woodington ; Grandview Chapel, the Pike- ville Reformed church, the Christian church at Beamsville and the Berry church in Rich- land township. He is very benevolent and contributes liberally to many charitable in- terests. The poor and needy found in him a friend, and Mrs. Peters shares with him in all of his good work. They have the warm friendship of all with whom they have been brought in contact, and no history of Darke county would be complete without the rec- ord of their lives.

JOHN F. HEETER.

John F. Heeter, now a prominent merchant of Arcanum, Darke county, Ohio, is a worthy representative of an old colonial family, being of the fifth generation in de- scent from Isaac Heeter, a farmer, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to America about 1750, with his wife and two children, landing at Boston. He undoubtedly died in Pennsylvania, as he took up his residence in that state soon after his arrival in this country.

Sebastian Heeter, a son of Isaac, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1760, and enlisted from that state under General Compton at the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, although only fifteen years of age. He was captured by Indian allies of the British, compelled to run the

gauntlet and received a severe wound in the shoulder from a tomahawk thrown by one of the Indians, but made his escape and rejoined his command, fighting valiantly un- til hostilities ceased. After the war hie set- tled down to the peaceful life of a farmer in Huntingdon county. When a boy he and his brother, George, would set a fish basket in the Juniata river, and one evening when George went to the river to look after the catch for the day he was waylaid by the Indians while returning home and killed. . He was sixteen years old at the time. Se- bastian Heeter married Elizabeth Compton, a relative of General Compton. She died in Huntingdon county leaving four chil- dren : John, who married Ruth Bryan and died in Jackson township. Montgomery county, Ohio; George, who married Eliza- Leth Heck and died at his home on Wolf creek, Perry township, Montgomery coun- ty, Ohio ; Barbara, who married Jolin Rarick and lived for a time in Perry township. Montgomery county, Ohio, but spent hier last days in Elkhart county, Indiana ; and Eliz- abeth, who died in Pennsylvania unmarried. For his second wife Sebastian Heeter mar- ried Elizabeth Rarick, by whom he had the following children: Henry, who mar- ried Hannah Bernamon and died in North Manchester, Indiana; Frederick, the grand- father of our subject; Abraham, who mar- ried Catherine Kreitzer and died in Mont- gomery county, Ohio; Mary, who married John Keener and died in the same county; David, who married Elizabeth Hay and died in North Manchester, Indiana; Catherine, who married John Shank; Daniel, who married Mary Earnest and died in Clay township, Montgomery county, Ohio; Sarah. who married James Thompson and lives in Huntingdon county, Indiana ; Jacob, who

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married Susan Keener and lives near Louis- burg, Montgomery county, Ohio; Samuel, who married Ruhami Nation and died on his father's old homestead in Montgomery county ; and Sebastian, who married Catlı- erine Earnest and died on his farm adjoin- ing the old homestead. The father of these children came to Montgomery county, Ohio. in 1814, traveling by wagons to Wheeling, West Virginia, and from there drifted down the Ohio river to Cincinnati on flatboats. He located eight miles west of Dayton on a one-hundred-and-sixty-acre tract of land on what is now the Dayton and Eaton pike. and in the midst of the forest built a rude log cabin, which was the home of the family until a hewed-log house could be erected. He died on that farm June 7, 1840.

Frederick Heeter, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Huntingdon county Pennsylvania. in 1798, and was sixteen years of age when the family removed to Ohio. where he passed through all the hardships incident to pioneer life. In 1821 he mar- ried Elizabeth Kreitzer, who was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, a daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Geb- hart) Kreitzer and granddaughter of Daniel Gebhart. Her family came to this state in 18II, and her father entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Montgomery county, upon which he spent the remainder of his life. After his marriage Frederick Heeter lived on a rented farm north of Trot- wood, Montgomery county, for a time, and then bought sixty acres of land on Bear Creek, Perry township, upon which farm he died in 1861. His wife survived him many years, dying in 1891. Their children were Diana, the wife of Daniel Imler, of Perry town- ship, Montgomery county; Elizabeth, the wife of David Earnest, of Johnsville, the

same county ; David, who married Elizabeth Clayton and lives in Dayton, Ohio; Cath- erine, wife of George Earnst, of Brook- ville, Montgomery county; Absalom, who married, first, Elizabeth Cotterman and, sec- ondly, Fanny Brant and lives in Johnsville ; Daniel, the father of our subject : Hannah, who married David Rough, and died in Montgomery county; Mary, the wife of Daniel Smith, of Preble county, Ohio; Sarah, the wife of Levi McNally,, of Louisburg, Ohio: John, who married Elizabeth Shock and lives in Johnsville ; Lucinda, the wife of David Clemmer, of Johnsville ; and Eli, who married Lavina Stauffer and lives in Darke county.

Daniel Heeter, our subject's father, was born on the Higgins farm, Madison town- ship Montgomery county, June 19, 1830, and grew to manhood on the old homestead. When his services were not needed on that farm, and that was seldom, he attended the subscription and public schools until nine- teen years of age, but the greater part of his education was gained by subsequent read- ing and observation. He remained at home until his marriage, at the age of twenty- four years, and then lived on one of his father's farms for a time, after which he lived on the Daniel Schneck farm, owned by his mother-in-law. At the end of five years he returned to the farm he had pre- viously occupied and remained there until 1861. the following two years being passed on his uncle Abraham Heeter's farm near Liberty, Montgomery county. He then pur- chased thirty acres of land of William Dik- ler, and after residing there for seven years exchanged it for a forty-acre tract in Frank- lin township. Darke county, to which he sub- sequently added twenty acres, but in 1878 he sold it and moved to Arcanum, being

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employed for a time as foreman of bridges on the Big Four Railroad. Afterward he followed contracting, house building, etc., until 1892, when he retired from active life. He is a highly esteemed citizen of Arcanum, a consistent member of the Lutheran church, with which he united at the age of seven- teen years, and a stanch Democrat in politics.

On the 6th of April, 1854, he married Catherine Schneck, who was born near Pine Grove, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 2, 1835, and is a daughter of Daniel and Magdalena (Stine) Schneck. Her fa- ther also was a native of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and a son of Peter and Cath- erine Schneck. In 1839 his family came te Montgomery county, Ohio, and settled on the farm in Perry township purchased for him by his father. Owing to illness he remained with his father in Pennsylvania until 1848, when he joined his family in this state. He died upon his farm in 1853, his wife in 1869. Our subject is the eldest in a family of seven children, the others being as follows: Mary, born November 25, 1856, died young : Amanda Magdalene, born Feb- ruary 18, 1859, is the wife of George Steck, living near Brookville, Montgomery county ; Laura Alice, born July 12, 1862, died at the age of twenty-two years; William Allen, born April 24, 1867, died young ; Ida Eliza- beth, born March 10, 1870, died in infancy ; and David Orville, born April 28, 1876, is a school teacher of Arcanum.

John F. Heeter, our subject, was born near Pyrmont, in Perry township, Mont- gomery county, Ohio, February 19, 1855. and was eight years old when his parents lo- cated near Liberty, but two years later they removed to Perry township. He was reared in about the usual manner of farmer boys and attended the country schools until sev- 24

enteen years of age, the last year being spent in Franklin township, Darke county. He remained with his father until twenty-two years of age, and then returned to Perry township, Montgomery county, for a short time. Later he worked by the day in Ar- canum, and then had a rented farm in Frank- lin township, this county, for a time. He next rented the Tillman farm in Van Buren township for two years, and at the end of that time returned to Arcanum, where he was en- gaged in teaming for five years. Subse- quently he followed farming on the old Swinger homestead near Painter, and while engaged in agricultural pursuits devoted considerable attention to stock-raising. In April, 1899,he opened his present store in Ar- canum, and although in business at that place but a short time he has reason to be proud of his success, for he has already built up a large and constantly increasing trade, and by fair and honorable dealing has gained the confi- dence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact. He is a faithful member of the Dunkard church and a stanch Demo- crat in politics. In the fall of 1876 lie was united in marriage with Miss Anna Maria Stauffer, who was born on the Samuel Bean farm in Franklin township, this county. in 1857, a daughter of David and Sarah (Swinger) Stauffer. By this union have been born three children, namely : Viola Catherine, now the wife of George Wine. of Adams township, Darke county ; Della Alice, wife of Jesse Rhodes. of Franklin township; and Charles Albert, at home.

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 50

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