USA > Ohio > Darke County > A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 57
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In the spring of 1863 Mr. Welbourn left the old family homestead in Marion county. and with his saddle-bags mounted his horse, taking with him all his earthly possessions, valued at about two hundred dollars. It was his intention to go to Illinois, but a journey of two days brought him to the home of his future bride, and he concluded to abide in Darke county. This section of Ohio was then an almost unbroken wilderness, and his father-in-law here owned one hundred and sixty acres of land, which Mr. Welbourn af- terward inherited. After his marriage our subject began his domestic life upon an eighty-acre tract of land which now forms the northern portion of his farm. £ He cleared that property, but after his father-
in-law's death came to his present home and developed this tract. He owns three hun- dred and thirty-eight acres. His real es- tate possessions also include twenty-four town lots, in Union City, Ohio, and many of these are improved with substantial build- ings. When he started out in life for him- self he had only his horse and assets to the amount of two hundred dollars. Later he inherited about seven hundred dollars from his father's estate. His first home was a log cabin, 15x30 feet. 'His second residence was a frame, 19x30 feet, which he built in forty days, beginning on the 15th of Octo- ber, 1883. He built his barn the following winter, and in 1899 he erected his present fine home, which is a model of beauty and comfort, supplied with all the modern im- provements and conveniences of a city home. It is built in a most substantial manner and finished in beautiful quarter-sawed oak, which he took from the trees upon his own place. The farm is one of the most highly improved in this section of the country. He has his own gas well, which has been drilled to a depth of twelve hundred and four feet, and furnishes light and heat for his own home and that of his son and of his son-in- law. There are also excellent water works upon the place, operated by the Hawley & Dunn automatic system. There are three flowing wells of water, and he has several hydrants at different places about the farm, so that he can force a strong stream into the house and outbuildings in case of fire. The fields are under a very high state of cul- tivation and yield to the owner a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestows upon then1.
In his political views Mr. Welbourn is a Republican, but has never sought public office. However, he served as a road super-
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visor for several years and has been a men- ber of the school board. He belongs to the Rose Hill Property Protection Company, and has served as one of the pursuers, whose duty it is to capture all robbers. At the age of fifteen years he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for the past twenty years has been a member of the United Brethren church. His life has in- deed been an honorable and upright one, and all who know him esteem him for his ster- ling worth, his fidelity to principle, his manly courage and fearless support of his honest convictions.
HENRY C. JACOBI.
This well-known and highly respected citizen of Greenville, Ohio, has throughout life been prominently identified with the business interests and public affairs of Darke county. He was born three miles east of the city, in Greenville township, March 21, 1854, and is a son of Henry and Margaret (Knott) Jacobi, natives of Hamburg, Ger- many, the former born April 25, 1814, the latter in 1824. It was in 1853 that the par- ents emigrated to America and took up their residence in Darke county, Ohio, on the farm where our subject was born. Both died in Versailles, the father in 1894, the mother in 1882. In their family were nine children, but only two are now living: William and Henry C. William was born in 1859, and now lives in Versailles. He wedded Mary Klase, and they have three children.
Our- subject spent his boyhood mostly upon a farm of one hundred and twenty acres near Versailles, and his educational ad- vantages were only such as the country schools afforded. At the age of eighteen
he removed with the family to Versailles, where he became interested in the saw-mill business, and later carried on the butcher business at that place for ten years.
On the 12th of June, 1877, M :. Jacobi was united in marriage with Miss Auna Jetter, a native of Huron county, Ohio, who died January 2, 1895. By this union were born five children, namely : William, Henry, Albert, Charles and Clara. William was married in September, 1899, to Florence Gutermuth, but the others are all at home. They have been provided with good educa- tional advantages, and Henry and Albert are both graduates of the Greenville high school. The former is now a trusted employe of the Farmers' National Bank of that place.
As previously stated, Mr. Jacobi has al- ways taken quite an active and prominent part in public affairs. His fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have elected him to positions of honor and trust, and it is needless to say that he proved a most competent and praiseworthy official. He served as a justice of the peace of Ver- sailles six years, and the mayor of that place two years, at the end of which time, in 1894, he was elected sheriff, on the Democratic ticket, and held that office for four years. In the meantime he moved to Greenville, where he still makes his home, at 420 Mar- tin street. When he retired to private life he became the manager and secretary of the Greenville Lumber Company, in which he is an extensive stockholder, and now devotes his time and energies to that business. Be- sides his property interests in Greenville, Mr. Jacobi still owns a good farm of sixty acres near Versailles. Industrious, enterprising and progressive, he has met with a well- deserved success in life, and is numbered among the best citizens of Greenville.
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JACOB R. STOCKER.
Jacob R. Stocker, ex-county clerk of Darke county, Ohio, and one of the repre- sentative farmers of the county, is a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred near the city of Lancaster February 3. 1857.
Mr. Stocker is of German descent. His father, AAndrew Stocker, was born and reared in Germany, came to this country when a young man, married Miss Margaret Rader, and settled. in 1865. near Miamisburg, in Montgomery county, Ohio, which was the family home until 1872. That year lie re- imoved to Darke county and took up his abode in Adams township, purchasing at the time fifty-two acres of land, to which he added by subsequent purchase fifty acres more. On this farm he still lives. His wife (lied in 1868, at the age of forty-two years. Their union was blessed in the birth of twelve children, ten of whom reached mature age, namely: John R., of Webster, Ohio; Jacob R., the immediate subject of this sketch: Andrew R., of Miamisburg, Ohio; Lizzie, deceased: Mary, of Miamisburg; Henry P., of Darke county: Albert Frank- lin, Flora and Adam, all of Darke county ; and Elmer, of Lawrenceville, Illinois. The father has long been a consistent member of the Lutheran church.
summed the duties of that position in Feb- ruary, 1892. In 1894 he was renominated and elected and served a second term, at the expiration of which he moved to his present farm, located one mile south of Greenville, which he had purchased three years previously. This farm comprises one hundred and seventy acres of fine, well im- proved land and is devoted to general farm- ing and stock purposes.
Mr. Stocker was married, September 20, 1877, to Miss Rhoda A. Coppess, a daughter of Daniel Coppess, of Richland township; Darke county, and the children of this union are seven, namely : Evan E., Orion D., Ed- ward A., Roy. Bessie, Orville and Clifford.
The political affiliations of Mr. Stocker have always been with the Democratic party. He has frequently served as a delegate to county and congressional conventions, ever working for the best interests of his party, and his election to county office was a fit recognition of worth.
Reared by Lutheran parents, he is identi- fied with the Lutheran church and is one of its leading supporters. Fraternally he main- tains a membership in the Improved Order of Red Men and in the Uniform Rank.
WILLIAM ROBESON.
After a long and useful career William Robeson is now living a retired life on his farm in Van Buren township, enjoying a well-earned rest. He comes of good Rev- olutionary stock, his paternal grandfather, Andrew Robeson, having fought for Amer- ican independence. He spent his entire life in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. The father. David Robeson, was born and reared in that county, and there married Mary Ann
Jacob R. Stocker grew up on his father's farm. receiving his education in the com- mon schools and early became familiar with every detail of farm work. Farming has claimed the whole of his time and atten- tion since he reached man's estate excepting the term of years he served in official posi- tion. In August, 1891, he was nominated for the office of county clerk, was duly elected at the November election and as- Beard, a native of Germany, who came to
JACOB R. STOCKER.
MRS. JACOB R. STOCKER.
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the United States at the age of fourteen years, with two sisters and a brother, and worked two and a half years in New York city to pay her passage.
In November, 1817, David Robeson, with his family, started for Ohio in a one- horse wagon, but was taken ill on the road and was unable to continue his journey until the following spring. He first located eight miles below Dayton, in Butler county, where he made his home sixteen years, and then sold two horses and purchased eighty acres of land in Butler township, Darke county, at one dollar and a quarter per acre. Being an old man at this time, his sons cleared the farm and built a hewed-log house, eighteen by twenty feet, which was heated by an old- fashioned fire-place. He died in 1836, aged seventy-cight years, and his wife died in 1845, age about seventy years. She was an earnest member of the Presbyterian church, while he was a Baptist in religious belief. In their family were six children, namely : David, who died in Van Buren township; Daniel, who died in Brown township, this county ; Elizabeth, who married Jacob Brown, and died in Darke county ; Margaret, who married John Robeson, and died in this county: William, our sub- ject ; and Rosamond, who married James Dungan and died in Indiana.
The subject of this sketch was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1817, and was only three weeks old when his parents started for Ohio, consequently he remembers nothing of the journey. He attended school but three months throughout his life, there being no free schools in his lo- cality during his boyhood ; but he has ac- quired a good, practical education through his own unaided efforts. He was the youngest son of the family, and after the others left 27
home he remained with his parents, assisting in the arduous task of clearing the land and transforming it into highly cultivated fields. On the death of his father he inherited forty acres of land, and remained at home caring for his mother, until she, too, was called to hier final rest. In 1843 he sold the place and bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres, to which he has since added twenty acres. When he located thereon only thirty acres had been cleared, and to its further improvement and cultivation he de- voted his energies for many years, but since 1893 has lived retired. He erected all the buildings on the farm, and met with success in its operation.
In 1849 Mr. Robeson married Miss Es- ther Dungan, who died in 1874. To them the following children were born: David, who died at the age of fifteen years; Isaac, a farmer of Van Buren township; Ann, who died in infancy; Joseph, who died young; Margaret, who also died young; Deborah, now Mrs. Curtner, who lives with our sub- ject ; Mary Ann, the wife of Cyrus F. Young, of Jaysville ; Ida, the deceased wife of Craw- ford Brown ; Alfred, Oada and William, who all died young ; and one who died in infancy.
FRANKLIN P. HARTLE.
He whose name initiates this sketch is a representative of one of the old and honored pioneer families of Richland township. Darke county, Ohio, and as he himself is a native son of the county and has worthily tipborne the honors of a worthy name, there is eminent propriety in giving a brief resume of his personal and genealogical history in this compilation. \ native of this county, Mr. Hartle was born May 30, 1852, being the eldest of the children of David and Eliza
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beth (Shults) Hartle, concerning whom complete and detailed information is given on other pages of this work.
Franklin P. Hartle received his educa- tional discipline in the district schools in the vicinity of his home, and it is needless to say that the advantages in this line were meagre, for his youth was passed under the pioneer influences, when the march of development had but just begun, but he has broadened his education through personal application and association with the active affairs of life, thus learning lessons which have made him a man of distinct intellectual strength and comprehensive knowledge. As a youth his time was in constant demand, and his'ser- vices required in the arduous work of clear- ing away the forests on the home farm and making the same ready for cultivation. Mr. Hartle began life upon his own responsi- bility at the age of twenty years, when he commenced working for wages, and on at- taining his majority he had but meager capi- tal upon which to base his future career and lay the foundations of his success. Youth, confidence and energy consider no obstacle insuperable, however, and the young man was confident of his own ability to face the world and win his way, and his confidence was amply justified, as the results of his well directed effort clearly show in these latter days of the century.
On the 30th of October, 1873, Mr. Hartle was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Ann Martin, and of this union one son and four daughters have been born, namely : Bethey. who is the wife of Frank Smith, a prosper- ous agriculturist of Richland township, was educated in the common schools and is a lady of distinct popularity ; Mollie L., who is still attending school, is well advanced in her studies, having already passed the Box-
well examination, which entitles her to ad- mission to any high school in the county; Charlie Earl is in school, as is also Maudie ; while the youngest. Clo Hilda, lends life and brightness to the family circle.
Mrs. Hartle is a native of Fountain county, Indiana, having been born near At- tica, September 15, 1858, the daughter of Silas and Maria ( Shields ) Martin. There was one other daughter in the family, but Mrs. Hartle alone survives. Her father was born in Darke county, Ohio, and de- voted his life to agricultural pursuits. He is now deceased, but his venerable widow is still living, being a resident of Versailles, Ohio.
Mr. Hartle is a Republican in his political adherency, having cast his first presidential vote for General Grant, and he is at all times a zealous advocate of the principles advanced by his party. On various occa- sions he has served as delegate to the county conventions, in which he has taken active part. Socially Mr. Hartle is identified con- spicuously with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, into which he was initiated at Versailles, Ohio, on the 23d of September, 1873, while he became a charter member of the Ansonia Lodge, No. 605, on the 18th of June, 1875. He has passed all the chairs in the lodge and is a member of Encamp- ment, No. 90, while his wife and daughters, Bethey and Mollie, are members of the ad- junct organization, the Daughters of Re- bekalı, retaining their membership in Lodge No. 396, at Ansonia, this county. The elder daughter. Mrs. Smith, has passed all the chairs in the lodge. The family are well known and highly esteemed in Rich- land township, and their circle of friends is one of representative character. No history touching the annals of this county could be
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complete without reference to the subject of this review, and this brief sketch is sure to be read with interest.
GOTLEAP RIESLEY.
Among the leading young farmers of Monroe township, Darke county, Ohio, is in- cluded the subject of this sketch, G. Riesley, who, as his name indicates, is of German origin.
Mr. Riesley's father, Frederick Riesley, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in the year 1828; was reared on a farm, received a common-school education, and served in the German army during the revolution. In 1854 he came to the United States, landing at New York, and from there coming direct to Darke county, Ohio, where he was employed by the month to do farm work for Frederick Stauf- fer. In this county he was married to Miss Jacobin Kuhn, also a native of Wurtem- berg, Germany, the date of her birth being 1826. She came with relatives to this coun- try about 1845. After their marriage they set- tled on a rented farm in Franklin township, Darke county, where they lived a few years and by industry and economy accumulated sufficient means with which to buy a little farm of their own. He first purchased forty acres, to which he added subsequently another forty, and still later sixty acres more. He exchanged his eighty acres for one li1111- dred and sixty-five in Monroe township to which he moved in 1882, and where he spent the close of his life, dying October 29. 1884. Ilis wife survived him several years, her death occurring July 7. 1891. They were members of the Lutheran church and polit- ically he was a Democrat. The children of this worthy couple are three in number, the
subject of this sketch and his two sisters- Anna Mary and Lydia.
Gotleap Riesley was born February 15. 1857. in Franklin township, Darke county, Ohio, and grew up on his father's farm, working on the farm in summer and attend- ing the district school during the winter months. He was married September 27, 1883. to Miss Fannie Ingloff. Mrs. Riesley was born near Trotwood, Montgomery county, Ohio, June 7. 1861 and when four years old was brought by her parents to Monroe township, Darke county. where she ' was reared. Her parents, John and Chris- tianna ( Myers) Ingloff, were natives of Wurtemberg. Germany, who came to this country in 1845 in the same vessel that brought Mrs. Riesley, the mother of our sub- ject. Mr. Ingloff was a tailor by trade, working as such for a time after coming to this country, then carried on farming for a number of years. and now lives retired in Dayton, Ohio. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran church. Their children are Christianna, the wife of George Alleman ; Lizzie, the wife of Alexander Mack; John, Mary, the wife of Charles Bless ; and Mrs. Riesley.
Mr. Riesley continued to reside at the homestead after his marriage until his fa- ther's death. The portion of the home farm which he inherited he sold and shortly after- ward purchase his present farm, one hundred and forty-seven and one-half acres, in Mon- roe township, on which he has made mimer- ous improvements, thus materially increasing the value of his farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Riesley have seven chil- dren, namely : Fred. Lawrence, John N., Ed- ward Freeman, Willis O., Carl William. Rus- sell R. and Ira Estry.
Reared in the Lutheran faith Mr. and
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Mrs. Riesley attend the services of the Lui- theran church. His political support he gives to the Democratic party.
In the summer of 1895 Mr. Riesley paid a visit to the home of his forefathers in the old country. He sailed from New York city in July, on board the steamship Wester- land, landed at Antwerp, and spent three months in Germany. The chief place of in- terest to him was the old house in which his father was born, in the town of Redrick, now occupied by his uncle, Jacob Riesley. This house was erected in 1717, and is of stone.
CASVILLE MOTE.
A resident of Pittsburg, Mr. Mote is now living retired after many years of active con- nection with agricultural interests in Darke county. He is of English descent, his ances- tors having come from the "merrie isle" in colonial days. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Mote, was born in Georgia, and hav- ing arrived at years of maturity married Miss Mary Polly North, whose father was one of the heroes of the Revolution. Jo- seph Mote also joined the American army and aided in the overthrow of British rule in the colonies. At an early period in the development of Ohio he emigrated to the Buckeye state, settling in Union township, Miami county, where he made his home for a number of years. While there he entered eighty acres of land in Monroe township, Darke county, to which he afterward re- moved, taking up his abode in a log cabin in the midst of the wilderness. He died a year later, and his widow subsequently became the wife of Isaiah Penny, with whom she re- moved to Indiana, where her last days were passed. Unto Joseph and Mary Mote were
born the following named : Enoch, who married Catherine Barkett, and died in Union township, Miami county; Ezekiel, who married Miss Vernon and afterward Rachel Jones, and died at Laura, Ohio; Si- las, who wedded Sarah Hall, and departed this life in Indiana; Epsie, who became the wife of John Markham, and died in Monroe township; Noah; Alexander, who married Rhoda Miles, and after her death wedded Mrs. Annie Peppinger, and died in Iowa; Rachel, who became the wife of John Wal- ker, and died in Indiana; and William, who died in Missouri. He, too, was twice mar- ried, his first union being with Miss Hunt, while Margaret Emery became his second wife.
Noah Mote, the father of our subject, was born in Union township, Miami county, in 1812, and when ten years of age accom- panied his parents on their removal to Darke county, where he was reared to manhood. He obtained such educational advantages as were afforded in the old-time log school- houses, and was reared in the usual man- ner of farmer lads of the period. He mar- ried Catherine Sharp, whose father served his country in the war of 1812. She was born in Twin township, Darke county, and after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mote took up their abode upon his farm of eighty acres, west of the old homestead. There Mr. Mote passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring on the 29th of September, 1892. His wife passed away in 1888. They were members of the Society of Friends and were people of the highest respectability. In their family were eight children : Levi, who died in infancy; Nelson, of Monroe town- ship, who married Sarah Hansbarger, and after her death wedded Mary Studebaker; Casville. of this review; Mary, the wife of
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Simon Limbert, of Monroe township; Bar- bara, the deceased wife of Henry Baer ; George, who married Catherine Weeks, and resides in Laura ; Allen, who wedded Ella Bowers, and is living in Twin township; and Daniel, deceased.
As a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the county and as a man of sterling worth, Casville Mote well de- serves mention in this volume. He was born on his father's farm in Monroe town- ship, June 18, 1844, and was there reared to manhood. He pursued liis studies in the log school-house of the neighborhood, his first teacher being Henry Richardson. In the labors of the home farm he bore his part, remaining with his parents until eighteen years of age, when, prompted by a spirit of patriotismn, he responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting, at Arcanum, as a pri- vate of Company B, One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Infantry, under Captain Jason Young. The date of his enlistment was Au- gust 7, 1862, and he took part in the battles of Winchester, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, Richmond and Sailor's Creek. At the last named he was wounded by a grape shot in the right elbow and was sent to the field hos- pital and thence to City Point Hospital. at Annapolis, Maryland. Later he was in the Baltimore Hospital, where he was honorably discharged, on the 21st of June, 1865.
After his return home Mr. Mote resumed work upon his father's farm, and was thus engaged until his marriage, which occurred April 3, 1869, Miss Sarah Jane Limbert be- coming his wife. The lady was born in Clay township, Montgomery county, Ohio, January 29, 1843, and when six months old was taken by her parents to Monroe town- ship, Darke county, where her girlhood days were passed. Her first teacher was Weaver
Richardson. She was a daughter of Henry Limbert, who was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1816, and was a son of Henry Limbert, Sr., also a native of Perry county. The latter married Katie Wagner, and in the spring of 1822 re- moved to Ohio, locating in Clay township, Montgomery county, where he entered land and developed a farm. There he lived until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-three years of age. His wife also passed away at the same age. Their chil- dren were: John, who died in Montgomery county, Ohio; Lewis, who died in Greenville ; Henry, the father of Mrs. Mote; Barbara, who became the wife of Joseph Spitler and died in Clay township, Montgomery county ; Polly, who married Peter Raisor ; George, a resident of Indiana ; Levi, of Clay township, Montgomery county; Adam, of Dayton, Ohio; Susan, who became the wife of Henry Whistler, and died in Clay township ; Betsey, wife of Solomon Spitler; and Sarah, wife of John Baker.
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