USA > Ohio > Darke County > A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 63
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SAMUEL S. THOMAS.
After a useful and well-spent life this gentleman can well afford to lay aside busi- ness cares and spend his declining days in ease and quiet at his pleasant home on section 32, German township, Darke county. He is a native of that township, his birth oc- curring just across the road on section 31, July 29, 1828. His father, Charles W. Thomas, was a native of Maryland and a son of Daniel Thomas, who entered the land on which our subject was born and spent his last days in German township, dying Feb- ruary 14. 1847, at the age of eighty-one years. When a young man the father came to this state and first settled in Greene coun- ty, where he married Mercy Sackett, a native of North Carolina. It was in 1826 that they came to Darke county, and in the midst of the forest the father cleared and developed a farm, making it his home until some time during the '6os, when he removed to Hol- lansburg. He was taken ill while on a visit to Greene county, and died there September
I, 1872, at the age of seventy-four years. Religiously he was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served as a local preacher and class-leader. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and one of the most prominent and highly respected men of his community. In his family were nine children, namely : Mary Ann, deceased; Nancy. the widow of Jared Mutchner and a resident of Arba, Indiana: Samuel S., our subject; Cyrus, of Winchester, Indiana; Phobe, deceased: Sarah Jane, the wife of Samuel Slates, of Iowa; Abner, deceased; Absalom, of Iowa; and David, of Hollans- burg, Darke county, Ohio.
Samuel S. Thomas grew to manhood on the farm where he was born, and being the oldest son he early began to assist in the arduous task of clearing and improving the wild land. His educational privileges were necessarily limited, and he attended school only about two months during the year. The school-houses of that early day were built of logs with greased-paper windows, and slab seats with pins driven into them for legs, and the desks were made by laying a plank upon pins driven into the wall. When not writing the pupils generally sat with their backs to these desks. On leaving the home farm at the age of eighteen years Mr. Thomas went to Newport, now Fountain City, where he learned the cabinetmaker's trade, serving a two-years apprenticeship. Subsequently he worked at his trade in Rich- mond and Winchester, and then engaged in the same line of business for himself at Pal- estine for about two years. At the end of that time he located upon the farm in Ger- man township where he now resides, though he continued to work at his trade in connec- tion with farming for some years. His farm comprises two hundred and four acres,
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which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, but he has now retired from active labor and is enjoying a well, earned rest.
On the 29th of April, 1855, Mr. Thomas married Miss Caroline Berry, who was born in Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, January 15, 1837, and was about two years old when she first came to Darke county, but she sub- sequently spent some time in Indiana. She was educated in the district schools of Ger- man township, this county, and at Camden. Indiana, and the Randolph county (Indiana) Seminary. Her father, Thomas Berry, was born in Virginia, in 1804, and when a young man removed to Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, later coming to Darke county, where he died September 8, 1839, at the age of thirty- five years. In 1830 he married Betsey Ran- dolph, who was born in Butler county, in 1814, and of the four children born to them Mrs. Thomas is the only one who reached years of maturity. For her second husband the mother married Dr. William Freeman, by whom she had two sons: Dr. Benjamin R., of Spokane, Washington ; and David W. She also died at the age of thirty-five years.
Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas six are living, concerning whom we record the following items : Elizabeth M. is the wife of George Horn, of Franklin township, this county, and they have two children-Carl and Clara. Ellen is the wife of George W. Hill, whose sketch will be found on another page of this vohime. Philip B., a practicing physician of De- catur, Indiana, married Estella Hart, and they have one daughter, Carrie. Edward R. devotes his attention to the cultivation of the home farm. Bertha is the wife of Rev. James A. Jenkinson, and they have three sons and one daughter-Lawrence
WV., Thomas Clayton, James A. and Doro- thy Amelia. Mr. Jenkinson is the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church of West- chester, Ohio, and a member of the Cincin- nati conference. Caroline is at home. All of the children were born on the farm where our subject still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have one great-grandchild, Emel Jones, a daughter of Harry T. and Caroline Jones.
In 1864, during the civil war, Mr. Thomas enlisted as a private in the Eighth Ohio Independent Battery, and was in the service eighteen months, taking part in the battles of Black River and Yazoo, Missis- sippi, and receiving his discharge at Camp Dennison, Ohio, August 7, 1865. He is now a member of Reed Post, No. 572, G. A. R., of Palestine, and is a prominent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church in Hollansburg, of which he is a trustee. In his political views he is a stanch Republi- can and gives his support to every enterprise which he believes will advance the moral, social or material welfare of his township and county.
DAVID J. VANNOY.
David J. Vannoy, manufacturer of oak and hickory spokes and dealer in lumber at Webster, Darke county, Ohio, is one of the enterprising and successful business men of his locality.
Mr. Vannoy was born in Knox county. Kentucky, August 22. 1856 His father, Jonas Vannoy, also a native of Kentucky, removed from that state to Ohio in 1860 and located first in Warren county, whence he removed to Darke county in 1870, where he passed the closing years of his life and where he died in 1878. at the age of forty-
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five years. He was a son of Alexander Vannoy, a Scotchman, who had emigrated when a young man to this country and settled in Kentucky, where he subsequently mar- ried a Miss Cline. He died near Coving- ton, Kentucky, and was buried in the cem- etery at that place. The mother of David J. Vannoy was before her marriage Miss Mary Barnes. She was born and reared in Mississippi. Her father, Joseph Barnes, was a contractor and was one of the sur- veyors and promoters of the Erie Canal. The Barnes family is of German origin, but many generations bearing that name have lived in America. Jonas and Mary ( Barnes ) Vannoy were the parents of three children- two sons and one daughter. The daugh- ter, Alice, died at the age of twenty-eight years. The two sons, David J. and Samuel, are both residents of the same place, the former being the eldest of the family.
David J. Vannoy was five years old at the time he was brought by his parents to Ohio, and in Warren, Ross and Darke coun- ties he was reared. He remained a member of his father's household until he was twenty years of age, when he started out in life on his own account. He was variously em- ployed, in different places, until June 21, 1891, when he engaged in his present busi- ness. July 28, 1896, his mill was destroyed by fire. He immediately rebuilt, opening his mill for business on the 15th of Au- gust, less than a month after the fire. From the start he has done a constantly increasing business, for some time past has employed an average of thirty-five men, and now does an annual business of seventy-five thousand dollars. From time to time he has invested in land, and at this writing has four farms, comprising three hundred and fifty acres, which he rents. As showing the prosperity
which has attended his efforts, we state that in 1890 his property was valued at six thou- sand dollars. To-day he has a rating in Dun's report of sixty to eighty thousand dollars.
Mr. Vannoy married Miss M. E. Menser, a daughter of Robert Menser, who previous to her marriage was a teacher. They have no children.
Politically Mr. Vannoy is a Democrat. When the town of Webster was incorporated lie was elected its first mayor, a position which he lias since filled, having been re- elected from time to time, now being on the eleventh year and sixth term of his service. He is a member of the K. G. E.
ELMER E. CALDERWOOD.
Elmer E. Calderwood is practicing law at the bar of Darke county and has added new laurels to a name distinguished in this connection. He was born in the city of Greenville December 19. 1860, and is the only living son of the second marriage of Andrew Robeson Calderwood, who was a distinguished representative of the legal fra- ternity in Greenville for many years and an early settler in Darke county. The fa- ther was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, September 14, 1818, and was a son of George and Margaret ( Robeson) Calder- wood, both of whom were natives of Hunt- ingdon county, Pennsylvania. They were married on the 14th of September, 1811, and in the fall of 1817 removed to Ohio, locating near Dayton, whence they came to Darke county in 1832. Here George Calder- wood died July 9. 1849, but his wife long survived him, passing away on the 12th of August, 1873. He was of Scotch parentage and though he did not enjoy very good ed-
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ucational privileges in youth he was a man of sound judgment. practical common sense, of great firmness of character and was very courageous. He was of large stature and possessed an iron constitution, and with this a kind nature generous almost to a fault. His wife was descended from Scotch, Welsh and Irish ancestry and was a woman of remarkable good sense, fine natural talent and great kindliness.
AAndrew Robeson Calderwood. the fa- ther of our subject, spent a youth of activity upon his father's farm in digging ditches. mauling rails and performing other such labors as fell to the lot of a boy in limited circumstances in pioneer days. llis edit- cation was rather meager. but he was en . dowed by nature with strong mentality and was ambitious and energetic. Being called upon to serve as a juror he was so inspired by the eloquence of some of the attorneys in the case that he resolved to become a lawyer, and with characteristic energy at once began to study the text books through which one becomes familiar with the prin- ciples of jurisprudence and with the opin- ions that make precedents in the court. He was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in 1851, and from the be- ginning met with success in his calling. In 1854 he was elected probate judge, but after serving for three years he entered the Union army as second lieutenant and was after- ward promoted to the rank of captain of Company I. Fortieth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. He resigned his commission on ac- count of injuries received from being thrown from a horse, but on regaining his health he was recommended for a captaincy by Governor Tod and by Colonel Cranor. He was then assigned to the command of his old company, but after six months' service
in that position he was again compelled to leave the field on account of the loss of his voice, which he had previously sustained. He afterward acted in the capacity of re- cruiting officer until the close of the war, " when he resumed the private practice of law.
On the 3d of December, 1876, Judge Calderwood assumed the editorial control of the Sunday Courier, a leading organ of the Republican party in Darke county. 1 !.. was for many years a recognized leader in the Republican ranks and was three times elected to the office of mayor of Greenville, in which position he served in a most com- mendable manner, his administration being businesslike practical, progressive and bene- ficial. In 1868 the Republicans of Darke county presented his name to the fourth congressional district of Ohio as a candidate for the nomination of congressman, but he was defeated by a small majority by Mr. McClung. For many years he enjoyed a liberal share of the law practice in his county and had more than a local reputation as a criminal lawyer. being an earnest pleader, his eloquence and logie always carrying weight and seldom failing to convince. He had the ability to recognize the points in a case almost by a single glance and readily recognized the important one upon which the decision of every case finally turns. There was a deep self-conviction, an em- phatic earnestness in his manner and a close logical connection in his thoughts. He did not adorn his speech with flowers of rhetoric which often obscure the thought. but his words rang with the eloquence which arose from the occasion and prompted by a belief in the righteousness of his position. His ability to correctly judge human nature made his labors with the jury very effective.
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and he is regarded as one of the most dis- tinguished members that have ever practiced at the Darke county bar. He died June 9. 1891, but is survived by his wife who was ·born in Montgomery county, Ohio, near New Carlisle, and is still living in Green- ville.
Elmer E. Calderwood was educated in the Greenville schools. He learned thie printer's trade in the office of the Greenville Courier and continued in that line of busi- ness for ten years. He read law under the direction of the firm of Calderwood & Breaden and on the 8th of October, 1893. was admitted to the bar. He then opened an office and has since engaged in the prac- tice of law in connection with the real estate and loan business, making loans for eastern parties. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and has served two terms in the city council, acting as its president for one year. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He is regarded as one of the enterprising and representative citizens of Greenville, alive to the best interests of the community and of the county. He possesses the true western spirit of progress, and throughout an active business career he has won confidence and regard by his honorable methods.
JOHN H. SMALL.
John Henry Small, who is engaged in blacksmithing and carriage-painting in Pitts- burg, was born in Perry township, Mont- gomery county, Ohio, July 24, 1864. His grandfather, Henry Small, was a native of New Jersey, and the father. Robert Carlisle Small, was also born in that state, where he remained until eight years of age, when he
accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio, the family locating in Perry township, Montgomery county. There the grandfather soon died. The father was reared to man- hood in that county and enjoyed such educa - tional privileges as the common schools of that day afforded. He made farming his principal occupation throughout his business career and led a busy and useful life. He married Susan Tissel and they resided in Perry township. Montgomery county, until 1883. when they removed to Painter's Creek, where the father died in 1894, and where the mother is still living. He was a member of the German Baptist church and was a Dem- ocrat in his political affiliations. In his fam- ily were the following children: Sarah E .. wife of Perry Mills; Mary; John H .: Ste- phen D., who married Margaret Wagerman ; David who wedded Annie Oswalt : Harvey, who married Annie Swigert; William, who married Lillie Foreman : Benjamin ; Rachel, who died at the age of fourteen years; and Martha, who completes the family.
In taking up the personal history of our subject we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this locality. He attended the dis- trict schools until sixteen years of age and spent the intervening months in work upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with the labors of field and meadow. At the age of twenty he came with his parents to Darke county and then began business on his own account, working by the month as a farm land for fifteen dollars per monthi. The following summer he engaged in farm- ing for G. W. Cramer, of Gettysburg. op- erating his land on the shares. At the close of the summer of his twentieth year he went to the west, spending some time in different · parts of Missouri. He worked at carpenter-
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ing, in the winter was employed in a butcher shop in Leavenworth. Kansas, and in the spring secured employment on a farm in Brown county, Kansas. He then returned home and again entered the employ of Mr. Cramer. The following summer he pur- chased stock and diligently prosecuted his business interests, meeting with creditable success.
After his marriage, in 1888, Mr. Small located in Landis and was there engaged in farming for two years. He then took up his abode on the Besecker farm in Van Buren township and in the fall engaged in thresh- ing. Ile next went to Franklin township and through the fall engaged in threshing. while in the winter months he engaged in the manufacture of tobacco boxes and in carpenter work. He was employed in that way for four years, after which he conducted a blacksmith shop in Landis for three years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and on the 28th of February, 1899. opened his blacksmith shop and carriage painting establishment in Pittsburg, where he has since carried on business. He has se- cured a liberal patronage by reason of his excellent workmanship and his earnest de- sire to please, and his success is well merited.
On the 23d of December, 1888, Mr. Small was married, in Franklin township, to Miss Annie Lantz, a daughter of Henry R. Lantz. Unto them have been born five children : Orville S., April 5, 1890; Carroll M., June 2, 1893: Hazel. April 2, 1894: Roy Albert, June 13, 1898; and Robert Henry, July 15, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Small have many warm friends in the community and enjoy the high regard of all. In politics he is quite active, stanchly advocating Dem- ocratic principles. He has served as a con- stable, was the supervisor of Franklin town-
ship, and is now serving as the mayor of Pittsburg. He exercises his official prerog- atives for the advancement of all measures which he believes will prove of public good and his administration is progressive, prac- tical and commendable. Socially he is con- nected with the Knights of Pythias fra- ternity of Gettysburg and is a member of the Christian church. Through the careful prosecution of his business interests he has won success and through honorable methods has gained the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in con- tact.
REV. E. ORTLEPP.
For eleven years Rev. E. Ortlepp has been the beloved pastor of St. Paul's Lu- theran church of Greenville, Ohio, and has ministered faithfully to the spiritual needs of his people and has given power and ef- fective aid to all influences which work for the advancement of the community.
He was born April 23, 1867, in the city of Naumburg, Germany, in which country his parents spent their entire lives. He was reared and educated in his native land. After leaving the select school where his primary training was received he entered the university at Halle and later in Berlin. Sub- sequently he was a student at the theological seminary at Breklum, Schleswig-Holstein.
In 1888 Mr. Ortlepp came to the United States, landing in New York city. He ac- cepted his first charge as the pastor of a Lutheran church at Paterson, New Jersey, where he remained one year and on the 15th of September, 1889, came to Greenville as the pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran church. He also has charge of the church at Wake- field, Darke county, the two churches having
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a membership of three hundred. The church edifice at Greenville was erected in 1891 at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. On the 10th of November, 1889. Mr. Ortlepp was ordained in the old Methodist Episcopal church at Greenville by Dr. Severinghans, of Chicago, by the authority of the New York and New Jersey Lutheran synods, and he is now the manager and treasurer of the literary board of the Lutheran Wartburg and Nebraska synods of the Lutheran book department, and is its manager of religious periodicals and author of Lutheran cate- chisms, almanacs and .other literary works. He devotes his entire time and attention to the work of the church, and under his pastorate the congregations of which he now has charge have largely increased and have been greatly strengthened spiritually.
On the 18th of October, 1892, Mr. Ort- lepp married Miss Gertrude Henne, the only daughter of the late Daniel Henne, a prom- inent citizen and for many years a leading merchant of Greenville. Mrs. Ortlepp was born and reared in that place and was edu- cated in its high school. She is an accom- plished lady and has been of great help to her husband in his work.
CALVIN M. YOUNG.
During the early pioneer period in the development of Ohio the Young family were found within the borders of the Buck- eye state. The year 1805 witnessed the ar- rival of representatives of the name and since that time the Youngs have been prom- inent in promoting the business interests which have contributed largely to the de- velopment and progress of this section of the country. Phillip Young, the great-
grandfather of our subject, was a son of William Young and was born in Germany. He emigrated to this country in 1767, lo- cating in Maryland, but remained in that , state for only a short period, removing to Greenbrier county, Virginia. He was both a tailor and farmer and, when the colonies attempted to throw off the yoke of British oppression and establish an independent na- tion in the new world, he joined the Amer- ican army and loyally served as a soldier in the Revolution, doing all in his power toward making them free from the old country. He married Elizabeth Fox, but little is known concerning her family history. It is known, however, that. her people were noted for their physicial strength and that one of them could lift a barrel and drink from it.
The marriage of Phillip Young and Elizabeth Fox occurred about 1790. They remained in Virginia until 1805, when they emigrated westward to Ohio, taking up their abode in Clay township, Montgomery coun- ty, where Mr. Young entered a tract of land three and a half miles west of Harrisburg and two miles north of Salem. He died about 1836 and his remains were interred on the old homestead farm. the grave being now surrounded by a paling fence. His wife survived him for a few years and died on the old homestead at a ripe age. The only relic of that early pioneer day yet re- maining on the farm is a pear tree which stands a mute witness of the wonderful changes that have come and the events that have occurred in the passing years. The children of this worthy couple were Philip, who married Miss Elizabeth Royer ; Adam, who married Peggy Fox; Christian; Eliza- beth, wife of Henry Harshbarger ; Polly, wife of Jacob Wisner : Daniel, who wedded Abbie Rinard: David, who married Eliza-
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beth Knee: and Joseph, who married Re- becca Stoner.
Phillip Young, the grandfather of Cal- vin Young, was born in Virginia in 1791, and when a young man came with his parents to Ohio. He assisted his father in the de- velopment of the home farm until about 1810, when he married Elizabeth Royer, and began farming on his own account. Dur- ing the early part of the year 1812 he joined the American army and served under Gen- eral Brown in the second war with England. He participated in the battles of Chippewa. Lundy's Lane and the siege of Forts Meigs and Erie. He would often tell of the hor- rible scenes at the first two battles, where one could walk over acres of ground with- out touching the soil, so thick were the bodies of the British scattered there. Phillip Young was not wounded and at the close of hostilities he received an honorable dis- charge. He was a large man, five feet, eight inches in height, weighing over two hundred pounds. . In disposition, however, he was mild. genial and courteous and won the warm regard of all who knew him. In his later years he became a member of the Dunkard church and died in that faith. In 1845 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife and later he removed to Fulton county, Indiana, to live with his son-in- law, with whom he remained until his death in 1866. He had then attained the ripe old age of seventy-five years and his remains were interred on the bank of the Tippecanoe river.
Unto Phillip and Elizabeth ( Royer ) Young had been born nine children : Susan, the wife of John Sherow ; Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Baret; Polly: Catherine, the wife of John Jenkins; Sarah, wife of Wiley North ; Phillip, who married Martha Mow; 30
Christian, who married Mary Ann Arnott; Daniel, who was a twin brother of Chris- tian and became the father of our subject; and Joseph, who married Mary Arnott.
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