A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 64

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

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The mother of these children was a daughter of Henry Royer, who was of Ger- man birth and came to America in colonial days, taking up his abode in the Keystone state. He married Susan Swenk and about 1807 joined a colony of Dunkards, who started for Ohio for the purpose of estab- lishing a location near Cincinnati. About the time the journey was begun, however. Mr. Royer was taken ill and prevented from joining the party. Later he hoped to make the trip, but about the time of the start was again taken ill and died. He had three chil- dren: Henry; George, who was born in 1776, married Miss Swenk and died in 1876: and Elizabeth, who married Phillip Young in 1810.

Daniel Young, the father of him whose name introduces this record, was born Sep- tember 7. 1824. in Clay township, Mont- gomery county, Ohio. His school privileges were very limited, but he became a noted marksman and had ample opportunity for practice, for the forests of Ohio were filled with an abundance of wild game. When a young man he went to Indiana, where he spent four years in traveling and hunting in company with three companions. He then returned to his native state and on the 31st of December, 1848, married Miss Martha Ann Mote, who was born March 21), 1834. She was of English lineage, trac- ing her ancestry back to Daniel Mote. her great-grandfather, who emigrated from England to Pennsylvania about 175! and later went to Georgia, where he married a Miss Cobb. They had three children : Rachel, who became the wife of Dr. Mote.

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a celebrated physician; Joseph, who mar- ried Mary North; and Rebecca, the wife of Thomas Mattock. The son, Joseph Mote, was married about 1800, and in 1805 emi- grated to Ohio, coming with a Quaker col- ony, who had become disgusted with the practices of slavery in Georgia and conse- quently sought a home where they might be free from the influence of that institution. A settlement was made in Miami county, Ohio, but subsequently Joseph Mote removed to Monroe township, Darke county, where ho remained until his death in 1824. He was the father of ten children : Enoch, who mar- ried Catherine Burcate; Jolin; Silas, who married Sallie Hall; Ezekiel, who married Grace Vernon ; Epsy, the wife of John Mark- ham; Rachel, the wife of John Walker; Noah, who married Catherine Sharp; Alex, who married Rhoda Miles; William, who married Polly Hunt; and Joseph, who died in childhood.

The maternal grandfather of these chil- dren was John North. He was born in England and there married Rachel Nickel. Subsequently he emigrated with his family to Georgia, taking up his abode in the new world when the colonies along the Atlantic coast still belonged to Great Britain. He sympathized, however, with the American army during the Revolutionary war, and as many Tories lived in that section of the country he had many narrow escapes. At one time he was hidden under a puncheon floor until he could finally make his way from that region. Joining the colonial army he loyally bore his part in the struggle that brought independence to the nation. Both he and his wife lived to be more than one hundred years of age and died in Darke county, Ohio, the former on the 20th of March, 1846, and the latter on the 26th of

October, 1842. Their children were : Will- iam ; John, who married Tamer Mendenhall ; James, who married Tamer Vernon ; Mary. wife of Joseph Mote ; Ezekiel ; Thomas, who married Elizabeth Eler: Richard ; Joseph, who married Elizabeth Berry; Sarah the wife of Martin Howe; Samuel, who married Elizabeth Brooks; and Nancy, the wife of Jacob Loge.

Ezekiel Mote, the grandfather of our subject and the son of Joseph and Mary (North) Mote, was born February 22, 1808 in Miami county, Ohio. He acquired a fair education and in 1828 married Grace Ver- non, who was descended from a prominent English family. Thomas Vernon was prob- ably a son of Admiral Vernon, who was an admiral of the English navy and was in charge of several voyages of exploration. Nathaniel Gideon and Thomas Vernon came to America in 1772. locating in Georgia. and when the war of the Revolution was in- augurated Gideon and Thomas started for England, but the former. died on the way. Nathaniel Vernon, however, remained in Georgia and upheld the cause of the mother country during the struggle. About 1780 he married Grace Mendenhall and for thirty- five years he was a resident of Georgia, but in 1805 came to Ohio. The mother of Grace Mendenhall was massacred by the Creek Indians about 1781, not far from where Atlanta now stands. It is supposed that Mount Vernon was named in honor of the Admiral and the family name figures conspicuously in connection with English and American history. After the marriage of Ezekiel Mote and Grace Vernon the fa- ther commenced farming and also engaged in merchandising, and became a very prom- inent and influential citizen of the commun- ity in which he resided. He was one of the

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first supporters of the Abolition party in Ohio and was almost ostracised from so- ciety on account of his position on the slavery question. He was, however, an ef- fective speaker and was firm in the support of his honest convictions. His first wife died in April, 1845, and she was the mother of seven children: Sirena. who became the wife of Hiram Jones and lived near Laura, Miami county ; Irving, a resident of Green- ville: Martha, the wife of Daniel Young : Alpha, deceased : Olive, the wife of Charles O'Neil; Calvin, who married Rebecca Ele- man ; and Penuel, who died in infancy. In April, 1847, Mr. Mote married Rachel Rich- ardson and they had four children, of whom two are living,-Grace and Alvin, the for- mer now the wife of an ex-soldier liv- ing in Indiana, having had four children by a former husband, whose name was George Swab. Alvin is married and lives in the west. The second wife of Mr. Mote died March 16, 1855. and subsequently he mar - ried Mary Burns, by whom he had three children : Anson a grocer of Pickaway. Ohio: Mary and Emma. Ezekiel Mote died in 1885.

For fifteen years after the marriage of Daniel Young and Martha Ann Mote they lived in Darke county, but in the fall of 1863 removed to Whitley county, Indiana, where they remained until 1870. They now re- side near Pleasant Hill, Miami county, Ohio, where they have a very comfortable home and are enjoying a hale and hearty old age, Daniel Young having passed the seventy- sixth milestone on life's journey. The mar- riage of this worthy couple has been blessed with five children : Calvin, Sylvester, Amandes, Nuel and Ida May, and with the exception of the third named all are yet living.

Calvin M. Young, whose name intro- duces this record, was born May 6, 1851. in the county which is still his home, the family then being residents of Franklin township. He acquired his education in the district schools of the neighborhood and at the age of fourteen years began working as a farm hand, giving his father the benefit of his wages. He went to Indiana with his parents and there remained for seven years, but as he did not enjoy good health in the Hoosier state he returned to Ohio on the 24th of April, 1870. He .. as then employed on the brick yard in Montgomery county until the following winter. when he entered school. In the spring he came to Washı- ington township, Darke county, securing employment in the service of Esquire Jef- fries, of German township, with whom he remained for two years. On the expiration of that period a very important event in his life occurred-his marriage to Miss Sarah Ann Houpt. the wedding being celebrated on the 9th of January, 1873. The lady is a daughter of Frederick and Sarah Houpt. For five years following their marriage Mr. Young rented land in German township be- longing to his father-in-law. On the 10th of November, 1885, he removed to his pres- ent home, which at that time was a tract of eighty-two acres, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation and im- proved with all modern accessories and con- veniences. He is a very enterprising and energetic agriculturist. following the most progressive methods, and his home property is one of the most desirable farms in his section of the county.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Young were born six children : Wellington, who resides in Randolph county, Indiana, operates a hack line and is engaged in carrying the mail;

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Rosa Lee, who became the wife of Jesse Dove Marshall and died leaving a daughter, Opal Marie, who resides with her grand- father. Mr. Young: Garfieldl. Ollie, Leona and Martha Anna, who are still at home. The mother of these children died Novem- ber 5. 1890, and on the 16th of December, 1895, Mr. Young wedded Mrs. Laura Alice Baker, by whom he has two children, Nellie Edith and Bessie Edna. Her people now reside in Harrison township, Darke county, her parents being John F. and Mary (.An- kerman ) Spencer.

On attaining his majority Mr. Young became a supporter of the Republican party. continuing as one of its followers until 1884, when, believing the cause of temper- ance the most important issue before the people. he joined the ranks of the Prohibi- tion party. In May, 1888, he was a delegate to the Ohio Prohibition state convention and was a visitor to the national convention of the party held in Indianapolis, Indiana, the same year. He was also a delegate to the state convention held at Cleveland in 1893 and alternate to the Columbus convention in 1894. Again in 1896 he was a state dele- gate and in the work of the party he takes a deep and active interest. He is a stanchi advocate of American principles, believing that the voice of the people should be the voice of the government. The cause of ed- tication has found in him a warm friend, who does all in his power to promote the interests of the schools. He belongs to the Farmers' Alliance of Elm Hill, and Pales- tine Lodge, No. 652, K. of P., of which he is a charter member. He visited the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893 and the Atlanta Exposition, and has seen many of the prominent battle fields of the south. Ile has always been an hon-

orable and patriotic citizen and in 1896 he delivered the Memorial Day address at Pales- tine.

He is a man of broad scholarly attain- ments, his investigations being carried far and wide into the realms of science. He has a particular love for the studies of archi- eology, geology and paleontology and has some of the finest collections in the state. Although his time and means are limited. his researches and investigations have given him greater knowledge of these subjects and filled his cabinets with many fine specimens of these fields. Indeed his collections are so rare and valuable-and his knowledge of the subject so extensive that he is recognized as an authority on such matters. Particular mention may be made of his archeological specimens showing the implements used by men in matters of warfare and also in times of peace. In 1882 some farm hands digging a township ditch discovered what they sup- · posed to be pieces of petrified wood. Know- ing Mr. Young's reputation, however, he was summoned and immediately recognized the supposed wood as bones of the extinct mastodon giganteus. AAfter working several hours they unearthed the lower jaw bone. which was very much decayed and crumbled very easily, but with great care Mr. Young proceeded in his work and had the bones exhumed, and although broken in several places the skeleton was in a fair state of preservation. This lower jaw of the masto- con was the largest specimen ever found. weighing one hundred and six pounds and measuring thirty inches between the two sides at the rear. The length of the jaw bone is three feet, six and a half inches, and its thickness near the molar teeth is about eight inches. The two molar teeth weighed seven pounds each and the four incisors

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about three pounds each. The bones were later sold to Kendall & Collett, who placed them in the museum, at Terre Haute, Indi- ana where, with over twenty thousand dol- lars' worth of other valuable specimens, it was destroyed by fire. The total weight of the mastodon must have been over two hun- dred thousand pounds !

Mr. Young has also made a deep study of the "Mound-builders," and his relics that came from the mounds of Ohio form an interesting and valuable collection, of which he has every reason to be proud. The col- lection comprises everything used by the "Mound-buiklers" for agricultural, domestic or warlike purposes. He has some very rare pipes of beautiful workmanship.

He has done more to awaken interest in this particular line of research by his con- tributions to the daily and weekly news- papers, and his articles are noteworthy for the interesting manner in which he presents his subject, doing more to popularize and make attractive to the general public these important branches of science. His ambi- tion now is to complete and classify a full collection of the archeological relics and make it the best private collection in the state.

WILLIAM H. MATCHETT, M. D.

Among the citizens who have contrib- uted to the development of the county and left their impress upon its history was Dr. William Ilendrickson Matchett, who for sixty-eight years was a resident and for more than forty years one of the practicing physi- cians and surgeons of Darke county. As the river whose deep and steady current, wind- ing among fair landscape's, past blossoming fields and through busy towns, blessing

millions of people and enhancing the wealth of nations, affords a little of that wild and romantic scenery which startles the traveler or delights the artist, so those lives which contribute most to the improvement of a state and the well-being of a people are seldom the ones which furnish the most brilliant passages for the pen of the his- torian or biographer. There is, in the anxious and laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a solid career of the business or professional man fight- ing the every-day battle of life, but little to attract the idle reader of a sensational chap- ter ; but for a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence, there are noble and immortal lessons in the life of a man, who, without other means than a clear head, a strong arm and a true heart, conquers adversity, and, toiling on through the workaday years of a long ca- reer, finds that he has won not only wealth, but also something far greater and higher- the deserved respect and esteem of those with whom his years of active life have placed him in contact.

Such a man, and for many years one of the leading citizens of Darke county, was Dr. Matchett. Born in Butler county, Ohio, he was of French Huguenot extrac- tion, a descendant of one Jean Machet, of Normandy, and later of John Matchett (called "The Pine" on account of his re- markable height ) who distinguished himself in the battle of Trenton, and whose memory was honored by a memorial tablet, which still hangs in a church in Monmouth county. New Jersey. The sword which he carried, hav- ing wrested it from a British officer, is still in possession of the family of C. G. Matchett, and did service in both the war of 1812 and the civil war, having been carried by

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the Doctor's grandfather in the former and by his brother. Captain C. G. Matchett, in the latter. The Doctor's parents, Eric, of New York, and Joanna Matchett, of Mon- mottth county, New Jersey, removed to Olio about 1820, and in the early '3os came with their family to Darke county, settling at the cross-roads, where later there was a small neighborhood known as Matchett's Corner. The Doctor was here reared and be- came thoroughly acquainted with the most primitive features of the country and the varied experiences of pioneer life. So fa- miliar was he with the log-cabin period that he remarked to the man in charge of a fac- simile pioneer's dwelling at the World's Columbian Exposition, "Why. you have your coonskins hung wrong-side out," -- meaning that the pelt should be turned to- ward the wall, as he had always seen them when cabins were usually decorated with coonskin currency.

For two years Dr. Matchett carried the mail from Greenville to Hamilton, riding through a wilderness of swamp and prairie land. He was then only fourteen years old. He was a boy of very studious habits, hav- ing great thirst for knowledge, and his earn- ings were invested in school books, which he studied before an old-fashioned fireplace by the light of the blazing logs. His school ad- vantages were meager, but he mastered the common branches and did some work in the higher, thus advancing along educational lines until he was enabled to teach, being connected with the schools of Darke and Preble counties in that way for several terms. However, the practice of medicine was the profession which he desired to make his life work, and he early began preparation for that calling under the tutelage of Drs. Jaqua & Lineweaver, of West Alexandria,

Preble county. He also attended two courses of lectures in Cleveland and Cincin- nati and graduated at the Ohio Medical College.

Dr. Matchett was united in marriage to Miss Eleanora. the accomplished daughter of Dr. William Lindsay, of Richmond, In- diana, and granddaughter of Dr. Peter Smith, of the "Miami country," a graduate of Princeton and the author of the first work on Materia Medica ever published west of the Alleghany mountains, and who, said Rafinesque, was among the first to formu- late the microbe theory. (V'ide "Dr. Smith and his Medical Dispensatory," by John Uri Lloyd, Pharmaceutical Journal, Philadel- phia, 1897). Six children were born of this union, but only two are living. Dr. Matchett officiated at the entrance of life of over three thousand of the population in this section of the state. He was the loved family physi- cian in many a household, and no man in the entire community deserved in higher de- gree the confidence and respect given him.

During the war of the Rebellion. the Doctor served for four years as surgeon of the One Hundred and Eighty-sixth Ohio Regiment and first assistant surgeon of the Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He he- lieved firmly in the policy of arbitrating all national disputes. In consequence, he was dubbed a "copperhead." in 1860, by those who mistook his principles for southern sym- pathy; but when the country needed loyal men, he was ready to give his aid and, if need be, his life in defense of the Union. He was a man ahead of his times, regarding ar- bitration and many other questions; and while he often assisted in breaking the ground for the propagation of some new principle, unpopular at its beginning, he lived to behold many a blossom and fruitage in the

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growth of public opinion. He hid his timidity behind a cloak of reserve and oft- times seemed austere, but his intimate friends recognized his true worth and kindly nature, and, though he led a life apparently self- centered, he was in reality sympathizing with and encompassing in interest men of every station. But principle rather than popu- larity was the keynote of his character.

Dr. Matchett's death occurred on the During President Cleveland's adminis- tration Dr. Matchett was the president of the board of pension examiners. He was an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army Post. and ofttimes addressed public gather- ings on war topics and experiences. His loyalty was one of his marked characteris- tics, but he brought to bear on all public questions careful and mature judgment. In politics he was a Jeffersonian Democrat of the strictest school until 1873. when he espoused the cause of political temperance, and with the birth of the Prohibition party allied himself to that body, laboring for the 28th of August, 1898, as the result of a cerebral hemorrhage, his illness lasting only two weeks. In religious belief he was a Methodist, believing in the Wesleyan doc- trine, as evidenced by one of his sayings : "I want always.to attend church so garbed that the poorest man there may not suffer by contrast." His life was an uneventful one, the greatest enlogy upon which was pronounced by his pastor, Rev. C. L. Conger, of the Methodist Episcopal church of Green- ville, who said : "There have been but few men in my experience of whom it can be said, 'He has kept the faith;' but Dr. Matchett the promulgation of its principles with voice : is one of them. He was not the best edu- and pen, and as host and helper of any of cated man I have known, but he was the best informed man." He thought of the "beyond" as one eternal progress and he regarded death as only a stepping out of the old house into the new. He was ready for promotion into the higher school "where Christ himself doth rule" and when death came he welcomed his commencement day of immortality, feeling that he had en- deavored to do his best in the lower grades. its votaries until the day of his death. His business life was one of honorable, upright dealing with all men. A common saying of Dr. Matchett's was: "I want to be on good terms with myself. I want my own self respect." Of him it was often said, "Dr. Matchett's word is as good as his bond." In his life he might be said to ex- emplify the Shakesperean precept.

"This above all. To thine own self be true, And it must follow as the night the day ; Thou canst not then be false to any man.'

An early love of truth, a high sense of honor and a disposition to defend the right and condemn the wrong, instilled in him by a good, wise mother, in early boyhood, in a

quiet country home, laid the foundation of that in his character which was noble and pronounced. He was greatly interested in Masonry, to the study of which he devoted much time, serving for many years as high priest in the Greenville Chapter, and con- tributing from time to time to the Masonic literature of the state.

HUGH ARMSTRONG.

The stock and farming industries of Darke county, Ohio, have for many years had a representative in Hugh Armstrong. of German township, who is well-known as a breeder of shorthorn cattle.

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Mr. Armstrong was born in Jackson township, Darke county, Ohio, three miles east of Union City, July 19. 1837. His father, John Armstrong, a native of Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, born Decem- ber 18, 1793, came when a young man to Darke county, Ohio, and so well pleased was lie with the locality that he decided to make it his permanent home. Returning to his native state he married the girl of his choice and came back, about 1812, and settled on a tract of government land in Greenville township, to which in due time he secured a title and on which' they made their home for some time. Afterward. he sold out and removed to Greenville. where he engaged in the hotel business. He was an all-around man, figuring prominently in various ca- pacities. By trade he was a brick mason and he built one of the first brick houses in the town, the one formerly known as the Reily Knox property His hotel, or "tav- ern" as it was then called, was one of the first in Greenville. Farm life, however, was his choice, and he again sought a rural home. He entered eighty acres of land in Jackson township, to which he subsequently added eighty acres more, and on this farm he spent the rest of his days and died July 16, 1864. being about seventy-one years of age at the time of his death. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He gave some time to the practice of law and was for a number of years, up to the time of his death, a justice of the peace. . Also he was at one time the judge of the circuit court of Greenville. He was only reasonably suc- cessful in a financial way. Of a generous nature, ever willing to help others, he not infrequently neglected his own business to give a helping hand to others. But he left to his family what was of far more value

than money or land,-the heritage of a good name. Judge Armstrong's father was James Armstrong. He was born, reared and mar- ried in Scotland, and with his wife emi- grated to this country, locating in Pennsyl- vania, where he passed the rest of his life on a farm and where he died.

Judge John Armstrong was married three times. Ilis first wife, whom he mar- ried in Pennsylvania as above stated, died shortly after their settlement in Darke county. His second wife was a daughter of Isaac Vale, and by her he had two chil- dren viz. : Martin M., born January 19, 1822, and is now deceased, and Frances A .. born November 23, 1823. is the widow of William Douglas and resides with her son, Greer Douglas, in Jackson township, this county. His third wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was Jane Elston, a native of New Jersey, born March 24, 1805, who came to Darke county, Ohio, with her parents when she was a small child. The children of this marriage were nine in num- ber, as follows: Thomas, born July 31. 1826 now deceased: Margaret, born Jan- uary 15, 1829, also now deceased ; Peter E., born November 21, 1831, is a resident of Washington township. Darke county ; Sarah, born January 31, 1835, is deceased ; Hugh, the direct subject of this review; John H., born January 12, 1840, who died while in the service of his country during the civil war: Elizabeth, born February 14, 1843, is the wife of Cyrus Hart, of Darke county ; Mary J., born February 6, 1846, is the widow of Daniel Dowlar, of Washington town- ship, Darke county ; and Hannah C., born April 8, 1849, is the wife of Augustus Stoner, on the old home farm in Jackson township.

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 64

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