A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 51

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

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HENRY H. MCEOWEN.

There is in the life of every individual a period free fromi care-happy childhood ciays; then comes the period of labor and re-

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sponsibility which falls to the lot of every individual. The years pass and man's duties are manifold and often of an onerous nature ; but if his labors are wisely directed and his energies guided by sound judgment, he may again reach a stage in life in which he can enjoy rest from the cares of former years, having acquired a competence which enables him to put aside the heavier burdens that were his in the prime of life. Such has been the career of Henry Hagerman McEowen, who is now living retired in Rossville.

He was born in Turtle Creek township, Warren county, Ohio, on the 21st of July, 1823, and has therefore passed the seventy- seventh milestone on life's journey. The family is of Scotch lineage. The grand- father of our subject was a native of Scot- land, and now lies buried near Trenton, New Jersey. Alexander McEowen, the father of Henry H., was born in New Jersey in 1787, served as a wagon boy in General Wayne's army, and died near Greenville, Ohio, in 1864. He married Miss Ollie Hag- erman, also a native of New Jersey, the mar- riage taking place about 1813. The father had been previously married, and by the first union had two daughters and one son,- Eliza, Mary and Ord. After the death of his first wife the father married Miss Hager- man, and they became the parents of seven children, as follows: Alexander, who was born in 1814, and died in 1884, leaving a widow; Harriet, who became Mrs. Atkin- son and died leaving five children ; Jane, who became the wife of Peter Bercaw and died i:1 1882, while of their family of seven chil- diren one daughter and two sons survive; Batie, who died at the age of twelve years ; Henry H., the next younger ; Charity Ellen, who became Mrs. Reppetowe, and died in Piqua about 1850, leaving one son; and

John, who died at the age of eighteen years. After the death of the mother of these chil- dren, the father was a third time married, and had one son by that union, Jacob R., who is now residing at Dawn, Darke county.

Mr. McEowen, whose name introduces this review, was bereft of a mother's care when only nine years of age. He then went to live with his uncle, Henry Hagerman, a farmer of Warren county, Ohio. At the age of nineteen he began learning the wagon- maker's trade, serving a three-years ap- prenticeship. He followed that pursuit as a journeyman for less than one year, and then began learning the planemaking trade, for which he served a three-years appren- ticeship. In 1850 he came to Darke county and opened a wagon shop in Ithaca. Sub- sequently, however, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits for seven years, re- siding upon a farm of eighty acres in Allen township. He then located in his village home in 1896, where he is now enjoying a well earned rest. His has been an ener- getic and industrious life, and his indefati- gable efforts have brought to him a comfort- able competence.

On the 13th of September, 1851, Mr. McEowen was united in marriage to Miss Melissa Millette, who was born in Ithaca in 1834, a daughter of John and Sybil Millette. Their marriage was blessed with eleven chil- dren, three sons and eight daughters, and they lost one daughter in infancy. Florence Emily, the eldest child, was born September 28, 1852, and is now the widow of Ezra Heistand, by whom she had four children, of whom three are living. John, a farmer in Greenville township, is married and has two sons. William Henry, a resident farmer of Allen township, had eight children, of whom five sons and two daughters are yet

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living. Ollie died at the age of nineteen years. Sarah Ann is the wife of Tobias Heistand, and has ten children. Jennie is the wife of Jacob Replogle. Nellie May, who was a pianist and music teacher, died at the age of twenty-eight years. Charles W. engaged in the operation of the home farm of eiglity acres, where he lives with his wife and two sons. Lillie Pearl is the wife of William Howard, of Greenville township, and has only one son. Mattie is the wife of Richard Kineson, of West Alexandria, and has two children.

During the civil war Mr. McEowen loy- ally responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting on the 5th of August, 1862, at Greenville as a member of Company G, Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served until the close of the war in mounted infantry and cavalry forces, was once taken prisoner and twice his horse was shot from under him, at Martinsburg. He was incar- cerated one month at Richmond, in the Pemberton building, and then released. Al- ways found at his post, he faithfully de- fended the old flag and stood by the Union cause until its supremacy was established. He now holds membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, and finds much pleas- ure in recalling memories of tented fields in the midst of his old army comrades. politics he is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant for office. At the age of nineteen years he joined the Methodist Epis- copal church, and has since been one of its consistent representatives. He has served as a class leader, and he has always endeav- ored to mold his life after the teachings of the denomination with which he is connected. His has been a useful and honorable career, such as commands the respect and confidence of all.

JOSEPH W. CORWIN.

Widely and favorably known in Darke county, Joseph W. Corwin needs no intro- duction to the readers of this volume, among whom he has lived as a respected and hon- orable citizen for many years. He has now reached the Psalmist's span of three-score years and ten, and to him is accorded that veneration and esteem which should ever be given those who have advanced thus far on life's journey. From the genealogical records of the Corwin family it appears that the original American ancestors emigrated from the country of Hungary, Matthews Corwin, of that country, crossing the At- lantic, and later several branches of the fam- ily settled in Kentucky, where, on the 29th ci July, 1794, in the county of Bourbon. Thomas Corwin, one of the ancestors of our subject, was born. He was celebrated for marked oratorical ability, and was an own cousin of Matthias Corwin, the father of our subject.

Matthias Corwin was a native of the Blue Grass state, his birth having occurred in Bourbon county on the Ioth of Septem- ber, 1794. He was brought to Ohio by his parents when a child of three or four years, and located in Warren county ere tlie Buck- eye state had been admitted to the Union. He was reared to manhood in that county, and with the family shared in all of the pri- vations and hardships of pioneer life. He acquired his education in the old-time sub- scription schools where advantages were meager. Having arrived at years of matu- rity, he married Miss Margaret Shnorf, a lady of German descent, and six of their nine children were born in Warren county, which was then known as the Miami Valley county. The father was a man of resolute

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will, strong character, straightforward and honorable in all his dealings. In 1828 he removed with his family to Preble county, where he passed the remainder of his life, being called to his final rest December 2, ISSI, at the age of eighty-seven years. Suc- cess had crowned his efforts in business and at his death he left to each of his children a quarter-section of land.

His first purchase of land comprised a tract of eighty acres of "beech openings," and his first home was a hewed-log cabin, 18x22 feet. The kitchen was built of round logs and clapboards, and was heated by an old-fashioned fireplace four and a half feet broad, the smoke finding an outlet through a nittd-and-stick chimney. In those pioneer days Matthias Corwin was a firm disciple of Nimrod, and many a time has his table been replenished through the agency of his trusty rifle, with which he secured venison, turkey and other wild game. On more than one occasion Joseph Corwin, the subject of this review, has grown weary through carrying a heavily laden game bag filled by his father ; and when Joseph was a lad of ten or twelve years the father was one day sitting at breakfast when he heard the crack of a rifle, and going to the cabin door saw that wild turkeys were near. He then took from its accustomed place his old flint-lock rifle, known as the Wabash, and, calling his son to accompany him, they started to capture some of the birds. Inside of an hour, in six shots, Joseph Corwin, although but a boy, liad brought down five good-sized turkeys. with which he returned triumphant to the cabin home.

The family endured many privations in those early days in the attempt to transform the tract of wild land into a richly culti- vated farm, but their united efforts brought

the transformation desired. The father was a stanch Whig in his political sentiments in early life, and was a great admirer of William Henry Harrison. Later he sup- ported abolition principles, and when the Republican party was formed to prevent the extension of slavery he joined its ranks and was selected to serve as a township trustee of Preble county, and proved a competent and faithful officer. He took a great in- terest in the public school system, and he and his wife were most earnest and consist- ent members of the Christian church, and aided in the erection of the various houses of worship in their locality. The world was better for their having lived, for they trained their children to lives of uprightness and exerted an influence for good throughout the entire community. Mrs. Corwin was born July 22, 1791, eight years before the death of George Washington, and on the 3d of May, 1850, at the age of fifty-eight vears, she passed away. She was the mother of six sons and three daughters, of whom five are yet living, namely: Susan, the wife of Richard Bunnell, who is living retired in Arcanum, Ohio; George S., a suc- cessful agriculturist of Twin township, Darke county; William, who is also carry- ing on farming in Van Buren township, Darke county; Joseph W., of this review ; and Margaret, wife of Severe Brown, a farmer of Brown township.

Joseph W. Corwin was born in Preble county, Ohio, November 28, 1830, and is the seventh in his parents' family of nine children. He began his education in the little log school-house, 14xIS feet, built of round logs and covered by a clapboard roof. There was a six-foot chimney and across the whole end of the building was a small win- dow, in which panes of glass 8x10 inches

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were inserted. The seats were made of slabs cut from saw-logs, supported upon wooden pins, and were of different heights to accommodate the different-sized pupils. The wrting-desk was formed of a broad board resting upon wooden pins driven into the wall, and only a few moments each day were devoted to mastering the art of writ- ing. The teaching was very primitive in character, and corporal punishment was of- ten thought to be a very important part of the school work.

During the summer months, from the time of early planting until the crops were harvested, Mr. Corwin assisted in the work of the fields, giving his parents the benefit of his services until he had attained his ma- jority. The first wages he ever received were earned by cutting cord-wood for fifty cents per day. He has long followed the occupation to which he was reared and has steadily worked his way upward. He lost much of his earnings in early life, owing to the fact that the "wild-cat currency" was in circulation and became worthless. He has met with many difficulties and obstacles in his path to success, but he has steadily con- tinued upon the upward way until he has now reached a position of affluence. He has had to work hard, performing the ardu- ous task of clearing and developing the new land. When he began farming on his own account he lived upon rented land, and for over half a century he lived upon the old family homestead ; but on the 10th of March, 1883, he came to Brown township, where he now owns one hundred and fifty-five and a half acres of valuable land. Nearly all of the improvements upon his place have been made by him, the farm is in excellent condition, and is a monument to the thrift and enterprise of the owner.

Mr. Corwin has been twice married. On the 28th of December, 1854, he married Miss Jane P. Martin, and one son was born to them, Oscar .M., who is now a successful farmer of Brown township. He was edu- cated in the common schools and now de- votes his attention largely to stock raising. He married Miss Leota Riegel and has a pretty and comfortable home. Mrs. Cor- win, the wife and mother, died January II, 1856, and Mr. Corwin was again married, Miss Barbara Pease becoming his wife. They had eight children, two sons and six daughters, of whom five yet survive. Mrs. Corwin was born July 25, 1836, her parents being John and Mary (Stickler) Pease. Her father was born in New Jersey. October 5, 1796, and died at the advanced age of eighty- seven years. He followed farming as a means of livelihood, and was a Whig in his political belief until the organization of the Republican party, the ranks of which he then joined, and in his religious connections was a Methodist. Ilis wife was a native of l'ennsylvania and of German descent, and her death occurred when she was about eighty-five years of age. In the family of this worthy couple were thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters, ten of whom are yet living, six being residents of Ohio, while four are living in Indiana. The living children of Mr. and Mrs. Corwin are: Ci- villa, at home: Lizzie, wife of Frank Ziler, a farmer of Darke county ; Matthias Marion, who married Miss Effie Flinn and is a suc- cessful physician and surgeon of Savannah, Ohio, who graduated from the Starling Medical College, of Columbus : Ina, who was graduated in the Ansonia high school in the class of 1895. and is now one of the success- ful teachers in the public schools of that place : and Clinton, who has passed the Box-

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well examination, entitling him to admis- sion to any high school in Darke county.

During the civil war Mr. Corwin mani- fested his loyalty to the government by en- listing on the Ist of May, 1864, as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Fifty- sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He reported for duty at Camp Dennison, in the vicinity of Cincinnati, and was thence sent with his command to Kentucky to intercept General E. Kirby Smith. The regiment afterward went to Cumberland, Maryland, joining the Army of the Potomac, and in an action near ti:at place eight members of the company to which Mr. Corwin belonged were slightly wounded. On the Ist of September, 1864. lie received an honorable discharge, his term of service having expired. He then re- turned to his home and family. He has al- ways been numbered among the loyal cit- zens of his community.

The Republican party has always had his stanch support since he cast his first presi- dent'al vote. for General John C. Fremont, its first presidential candidate. He has been selected as a delegate to the county and dis- trict conventions of his party, and also the state conventions, and does all in his power to promote and secure the adoption of the Republican principles. Socially he is con- nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed all of the chairs in the lodge, at West Manchester, Ohio. He is also a member of the order of Knights of Pythias of that place, and of Fifer Post, G. A. R., of which he has been the chaplain. He withholds his co-operation and aid from no measure or movement which he believes would prove of public benefit, and has as- sisted financially in the erection of six dif- ferent churches in Preble and Darke coun- ties. He is well known throughout his sec-

tion of the state for his sterling worth, his fidelity to principle and his upright life. His record is in many ways well worthy of emu- lation, and he justly deserves representa- tion in the history of his county.

ALEX NYSWANGER.

Alex Nyswanger is one of the veterans of the civil war, and is now living a retired life in Butler township, Darke county. He was born in this county on the '28th of October, 1829. his parents being Daniel and Marv (Taylor) Nyswanger. He was reared to farm life in Butler township, early becom- ing familiar with the labors of field and imeadow. He assisted in the cultivation of the land until August, 1862, when, believ- ing that his country needed his services, he responded to the call for troops, enlisting in the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Infantry, as a private in Company H. With his com- mand he went to the front and was wounded in the head at Occoquan, Virginia, on the 19th of September, 1864. He was then sent to the field hospital and while recover- ing from his injuries was engaged in cook- ing for two and a half months. He then returned to his company, and after three years of faithful service was mustered out near Washington and discharged from the state service at Columbus. He was a loyal soldier, always found at his post of duty, faithfully defending the old flag and the cause it represented. He has since been a member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, thereby maintaining his acquaintance with his old army comrades, living again through reminiscence the scenes of camp and battlefield.

In his political views he is a Republican, unswerving in his advocacy of the principles

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of his party. He has never married, and since 1896 has made his home with his sis- ter, Mrs. D. F. Harter.

DAVID F. HARTER.

The farming interests of Butler town- ship are well represented by David F. Har- ter, who resides on section 5, where he owns and operates a good tract of land. He was born in this neighborhood July 30, 1829, and at the age of four years came to the farm upon which he now lives. His father, David Harter, was born in Maryland, July 30, 1791, and when a lad of four summers was taken to Bedford county, Virginia, by his father, Francis Harter, who had seven sons and one daughter. He came to Ohio in 1817, and here David Harter entered a half-section of land from the government a half mile south of our subject's present home. There he and his sons cleared a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and the prop- erty is still in the possession of the family. He married Sarah Boon, who was born on Black Water river, Virginia, about 1793. Their marriage occurred in that state, about ISII, and they became the parents of four sons and six daughters: Naomi, who be- came the wife of Isaac Teeter and both died in Kansas ; John B., who married Catherine Cooper, of Preble county, but both are now deceased; Francis, who married Nancy Dixon and died in Bond county, Missouri ; Mary, who became the wife of John A. Reader and died in 1898, in Douglas county. Illinois, where her husband's death also oc- curred; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Joel Williamson and had two daughters and a son; Sarah, who married Christian

Schlechty, but both are now deceased; Silas.

who died in 1861, leaving a widow who mar- ried a Mr. Clark and is again a widow, living in Butler township: Elias, who died on the old homestead farm in the fall of 1898, since which time his wife has also passed away, leaving five sons and four daughters: Re- becca, who married George Reigle, and af- ter his death became the wife and subse- quently the widow of John Eubank, and has four children ; and Pamelia, who is now liv- ing on the liomestead farm. The mother of these children died during the civil war, at the age of seventy-two years, and the father died in 1880, in his eighty-ninth year. He was a member of the Dunkard church, served as one of the first jurors of Darke county, and was a leading and influential citizen. He located many of the roads of the locali- ty, and took an active interest in everything pertaining to the public welfare and prog- ress. In his business affairs he prospered. and at the time of his death was the owner of three hundred acres of valuable land.

David F. Harter spent his boyhood days on the home farm, and cared for his parents until they were called to their final rest. At the time of the civil war he was a patriotic and loyal advocate of the Union, but feeling that his first duty was to his parents he hired a substitute to go in his place, and also paid out several hundred dollars to fill the town quota, thus giving time and money for the advancement of the Union cause. On tlie 24th of September, 1868, he wedded Miss Isabelle Nyswanger, and they had three chil- dren : Alonzo, who was a bright and prom- ising youth, died in 1887, in his fifteenth year; Edwin Stanton, who married Carrie MI. Jordan, by whom he has a little daughter, Mary, now three years old, is secretary and treasurer of the Gem City Boiler Company,

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in Dayton, Ohio; and Francis Taylor, who remains upon the home farm, was married April 11, 1900, to Bessie M. Grubbs, of But- ler township.

For many years Mr. Harter was actively identified with the agricultural interests of his community, and, although he has sold a portion of his property, he still owns one hundred and twenty-nine acres of rich and productive land. All of the improvements upon the farm were placed there through his own efforts, and the property is a monument to his thrift and enterprise. He erected the large barn there seen, and in ISSo he built a commodious, two-story frame residence, which stands upon a solid stone foundation and has three cellars underneath it. He has carried on general farming, making a spe- cialty of the cultivation of wheat. His crops have been usually very good, and have brought to him an excellent income. He also raises tobacco, having about twelve acres planted to that crop, and has warehouses with a capacity of about fourteen thousand pounds. He has raised two thousand bush- els of corn and fourteen hundred bushels of wheat in a single season, and in all his farm methods he is progressive and enterprising. He believes in the rotation of crops, in se- curing the best seed and in using the best im- proved farm machinery. His enterprise and capable management are numbered among his chief characteristics, and have in a large measure led to his creditable success.

In politics he is a stanch Republican, and has served as a member of the election board and as township trustee. He is also a trus- tee in the United Brethren church, in which he and his wife are faithful members. His life illustrates what may be accomplished through earnest toil and well-directed ef- forts, and should serve to encourage others

who are dependent upon their own labor for advancement in life. His career has ever been straightforward and at all times he is regarded as a trustworthy man and citizen.

HANSON T. FOWLER.

Among the honored and highly respected citizens of Washington township, Darke county, Ohio. none are more deserving of mention in a work of this kind than Hanson T. Fowler, who was born in that township. December 14, 1823, on what is now known as the George Mills farm. His father, Hez- ekiah Fowler, was born in Frederick coun- ty, Mayland, in 1785, and was married in Darke county, Ohio, in 1820, to Miss Isabel Duvall, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in ISO1. To this worthy couple were born ten children, and the birth of all occurred in Darke county, but only three are now living, namely : Mrs. Elsie Brubaker, a resident of Jay county, Indiana ; Benjamin. who is living at the Soldiers' Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; and Han- son T., our subject.

Mr. Fowler was reared and educated in his native county. He removed with his parents to Jackson township in 1831, where he still resides. On the 22nd of December, 1850, he was united in marriage with Miss Saralı Livingood, by whom he had four chil- dren, namely : W. W., a prominent attorney of Union City, who married, May 31, 1879, Miss Ella Brumbaugh, of Union City, Indi- ana, and they have one son named Hanson T. Fowler, Jr., who is a graduate of the schools of that city ; Hezekiah married, in September, 1883 .. Jennie Wilson, of Greene county, Ohio, a school-teacher by whom hy has three bright daughters, Gertrude, Mildred and Ethel, and they reside on a farm in Indiana ;

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Jacob married, in 1896, Miss Anna Barkley. of Greene county, Ohio, and is a collector for the Deering Binder .Company and a resident of Piqua, Ohio; and the fourth child died at the age of six months. The mother of these children died December 24, 1859, and Mr. Fowler was again married, October 18, 1863, his second union being with Harriet Kemp. who was born in Baltimore county, Mary- land, June 3, 1832. Of the four children born of this marriage the two daughters died in infancy. The sons are Benjamin F., who was born December 7, 1865, and is now a practicing attorney of Fillmore county, Minnesota : and Edward F., who was born September 13, 1864, and lives on the home farm with his parents. The children were all given the advantages of the public schools and then allowed to complete their education by their own efforts.

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 51

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