USA > Ohio > Darke County > A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 75
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577
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
William J. Irwin received the ordinary country school educational privileges and as- sisted his father in the work of the home farm until 1879, when he began taking con- tracts for putting in drainage ditches upon farms. He did considerable 'work of this character in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa and was frequently awarded such contracts by county commissioners. In 1881 he went to Muscatine county, Iowa, where he en- gaged in county work. In this work he was very successful and continued there until 1883, when he returned to Ohio and in part- nership with A. Gallagher continued to take public contracts for drainage in Ohio, In- diana and Illinois. In 1888, however, he dissolved partnership with Mr. Gallagher and continued in business alone. He also began taking contracts for sewer, street and municipal work, carrying on the business tin- til 1889, when he went into partnership with M. A. Maher, of Greenville, Ohio, a con- nection that was maintained until 1892. That partnership was then dissolved and Mr. Irwin was once more alone in business un- til 1893, when on account of the extent of the contracts which he managed he was un- able to continue alone and admitted his brother, Stephen Edward, to a partnership in the business. In 1894 the Greenville Con- struction Company was formed as an incor- porated stock company, of which Mr. Ir- win was general manager. He does general contracting, making a specialty, however, of street and sewer work. In 1897 he built a system of sewers in Chihuahua, Mexico, being the first system completed in Mexico. In 1898 he entered into partnership with his two brothers, Stephen Edward and Felix, under the name of Irwin Brothers. In 1899 lie began the manufacture of building brick, establishing a yard at Greenville, where he
manufactured all grades of brick. In con- nection with his other interests he carries on farming, owning a valuable tract of land, which is pleasantly and conveniently located a mile south of Greenville. In the manu- facture of brick he is meeting with excellent success, finding a good market for his prod- ticts. His various business interests amount to over two hundred thousand dollars an- nually, for the different firms with which he is connected employ from five hundred to eight hundred men.
In 1885 Mr. Irwin was united in mar- riage to Miss Catherine Dwyre, a daughter . of Martin and Mary Dwyre. She was born and reared in Darke county and her parents were natives of Ireland, but became early settlers of this locality. The mother died March 21, 1896, and the father passed away a year later. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin now have five children : William E., Mary Beatrice, Helen, Catherine and Irene. Their home is a very substantial brick residence at No. 451 East Fourth street, and as the result of his success in business Mr. Irwin is en- abled to surround his family with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He is a well informed man, possessing broad general information, and in his nature there is nothing narrow or contracted. He has a spirit that, while devoted to his residence community, is liberal, recognizing and ap- preciating advancement and progress in any other part of the world. His actions have during his life been such as to distinctively entitle him to a place in this publication, and although his career has not been filled with thrilling incidents, probably no biography published in this book can serve as a better illustration to young men of the power of honesty, integrity and enterprise in securing success.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
JONATHAN TEAFORD.
Prominent among the citizens of Darke county who have witnessed the marvelous development of this section of the state in the past seventy-five years and who have, by honest toil and industry, succeeded in ac- cumulating a handsome competence, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He was born on his present farm on section 21, German township. February 3. 1824, a son of George and Molly (Ketring) Teaford. The father was born in Virginia · and when a young man came to Darke coun- ty, locating in German township, where they were married, and the mother was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was a repre- sentative of one of the oldest families of this county. In German township the father of our subject took up a tract of government land and he cleared and improved many acres. He died upon his farm in German township, at the age of seventy-six years. His was an honorable and useful life, in which he se- cured the confidence and respect of all with whom he came in contact. Of the thirteen children born to him, ten reached manhood or womanhood, but only Jonathan and his twin brother, Barney, of German township, are now living.
During his boyhood and youth Jonathan Teaford remained at home and on the 8th of March, 1848, he married Miss Sophia Smel- ker, who was born in Germantown, Mont- gomery county, Ohio, April 4, 1826, and is the third child and oldest daughter in a family of thirteen children. Her parents, Jacob and Christina Smelker, who were early settlers of German township, this county, were born in Germany and were married in Montgomery county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Teaford are the parents of ten children, but
only five are now living, namely: Leander, who married Clara Jeffries and follows farm- ing in Washington township; Mary Jane, the wife of Andy Biddle, of Randolph county, Indiana ; Eli, who married Mina Jeffries and lives in Neave township, Darke county ; Ephraim, who married Dora, a daughter of Henry Mills, and resides in German town- ship, this county ; and Elizabeth, the wife of Marshall A. Brown, of New Madison.
For six years after his marriage Mr. Teaford lived upon a rented farm in German township, but at the end of that time he was. able to purchase a tract of eighty acres on section 21. just west of where he now lives. His first home was a log house, 18x15 feet, which in 1869 he replaced by his present comfortable and substantial residence, erected at a cost of four thousand dollars. As this was soon after the close of the civil war prices were very high, and his barn, built about the same time, cost twenty-five hun- dred dollars. In business affairs he has steadily prospered, being a man of keen dis- crimination and sound judgment, and he has given to each of his sons eighty acres and to his daughters forty acres. His success in life may be attributed to his own industry, perseverance and good management, for on starting out in life for himself he had only one hundred and thirty dollars in money. He is one of the most prominent old settlers and highly respected citizens of Darke coun- ty, and is certainly deserving of honorable mention in its history. Politically he is identified with the Democratic party.
DAVID O. CHRISTOPHER.
No history of the business interests of Darke county would be complete without containing mention of the important enter- prises with which David O. Christopher is
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
connected. He is a member of the firm of Eikenberry & Christopher, proprietors of the Mozart department store, one of the largest in Darke county. A casual visit at this em- porium of trade indicates the enterprise and progressive spirit which there prevails in the arrangement of his goods. The stock has been carefully selected and the patrons re- ceive uniform courtesy and attention, while the well-known business policy of the firm .commends them to the confidence of all who give to them their support.
Mr. Christopher is a native of the neigh- boring state of Indiana, his birth having oc- curred in Randolph county in March, 1854. His parents were A.G. and Sarah A. (Lamb) Christopher, the former a native of Tennes- see and the later of Virginia. During her early girlhood, however, he mother accom- panied her parents to Tennessee, where she was reared and married, and with her huis- band she removed to Indiana, a settlement being made in Randolph county, where they spent the remainder of their days.
David O. Christopher was reared in the usnalmanner of farmer lads and with a vigor, strength and resolution so often found in those who are reared on a farm, he left home to recruit the ranks of commerce. His edu- cation was obtained in the district school near his home and in the high school of Winchester, Indiana, also taking a course in a normal school where he fitted himself for teaching, following that profession for fifteen years. In 1889 he came to Ohio and entered into partnership with A. L. Eikenberry, under the firm name of Eikenberry & Chris- topher. They established a general store in West Alexander, Preble county, and con- tinued there for five years, doing a success- ful business. Wishing to have a broader field of labor, however, he came to Greeil-
ville and founded the Mozart department store, which has secured a liberal patron- age that has constantly increased. He is a thorough-going business man and merchant wlio studies closely the needs and wishes of the public, and makes every effort to meet them. The business block which they own and occupy is a three-story brick structure, with basement, and their goods are found upon every floor They are constantly en- larging thir facilities to meet their growing trade, and from the establishment of their enterprise they have been recognized among the leading merchants of Greenville.
In 1878 Mr. Christopher was united in marriage to Miss Ida Eikenberry, daughter of Dr. R. L. Eikenberry, of Trenton, In- diana. She was born in West Manchester, Preble, Ohio, and her parents removed to Randolph county, Indiana, where her edu- cation was acquired. By her marriage she has become the mother of one son, Thomas B. In Greenville Mr. Christopher is widely and favorably known. He is a man of broad capability, as his extensive business in- terests indicate. He is at all times approach- able and patiently listens to whatever his callers have to say, is always courteous and a gentleman of his word. He cares nothing for notoriety, nor is there the least shadow of mock modesty about him, and he and his wife occupy a leading position in social cir- éles-such a place as he fills in commercial circles.
GEORGE SCHLECHTY.
For the long period of thirty years Mr. Schlechty, who resides on section 33, has served as justice of the peace in Neave town- ship, and is still an incumbent of the office. He is thoroughly impartial in meting out
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
justice, and his fidelity to the trust reposed in him is above question. He is regarded as one of the leading and most highly respected citizens of his community, and it is. there- fore, consistent that he be represented in a work whose province is the portrayal of the lives of the prominent men of Darke county.
Mr. Schlechty first opened his eyes to the light of day upon his present farm, Feb- ruary 27, 1824, a son of Christian and Su- sannah (Noggle) Schlechty, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born in Berks county, in February, 1796, and was a son of Christian Schlechty, also a native of Pennsylvania. The latter's father was born in Switzerland and came to this country at an early day, locating in the Keystone state. At the age of twenty-one years Christian Schlechty came to Darke county, Ohio, and received the patent signed by J. O. Adams, then president, on November 1, 1826, for one hundred and fifty-nine and eighty-six one hundredths acres, the northeast quarter of section 33, Neave township. He spent the remainder of his life upon this farm, now belonging to our subject, where he died Au- gust 2, 1860, at the age of sixty-four years. In January, 1821, he was married to Susan- nah Noggle, who came to this county when young with her parents, and died in 1875, at the age of seventy-five years. Her fa- ther, George Noggle, was one of the pio- ncers of Darke county. She had two chil- dren, but Levi, the older, is deceased, leav- ing our subject the only survivor of the family.
sued his studies in the old-time subscrip- tion schools conducted in a primitive log school-house. He attended school both near Weaver's Station and at Fort Jefferson1. His entire life has been passed on the old home- stead, comprising two hundred and fifty- four acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and has improved by the erection of good and substantial build- ings. For many years he was actively en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, but for some time has rented his farm.
On the Ioth of March, 1859, Mr. Schlechty was united in marriage with Miss Arebecca Winders, who was born April 13, 1840, and reared in New Castle, Indiana- the fifth in order of birth in a family of six children. Her parents, Alexander and Nancy ( Miracle) Winders, were natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively, and both were of German descent. The father died when Mrs. Schlechty was quite young, and the mother passed away October 12, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Schlechty have six sons, namely: Willis M., born September 1, 1860, a resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee, married Sarah .\ult, and they had seven children, Orvil, Rosa, Earl, Charlie, Becca, and two who died in infancy ; Edson V., born December 3, 1862, a resident of Fort Jeffer- son, Ohio, married Barbara Hebb, and their children are Alpha and Garnett G .; Levi D., who was born October 12, 1865, and died June 29, 1889, married Mary Noggle and had one son, Virgil; Charles A., born June 18, 1870, a grocer of Savona, Darke county, married Minnie Hinsinger ; J. New- ton, born July 2, 1872, a resident of Fort Jefferson, married Vinnie Dull, and has two children, Hershell and Loy; and John,
During the boyhood of George Schlech- ty, Darke county was all wild and unim- proved, and many kinds of wild animals still roamed through the forests. He was reared in much the usual manner of farmer | born September 15, 1875, is attending nor- boys living in a frontier settlement, and pur- ' mal college, at Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mr. Schlechty once spent six months in Tennessee, but with that exception has passed his entire life in his native county. He has always affiliated with the Demo- cratic party, and is a member of the Ma- sonic lodge, of New Madison, and Green- ville Chapter, R. A. M., at Greenville. His course in life has ever been such as to com- mend him to the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been brought in con- tact, and his circle of friends and acquaint- ances in this section is extensive.
BERNHARD MENKE.
Among the worthy citizens that the fatherland has furnished to the new world is Bernhard Menke, the popular tailor of Greenville. He was born in Cloppenburg, Germany, January 16, 1845, his parents being Joseph and Frances (Hill) Menke. The father was a farmer by occuption, and both parents died in their native land. Their son Bernhard was the second in a family of six children. At the age of six years he entered school, where he pursued his studies until fourteen years of age in accordance with the laws of his native land. He then learned the tailor's trade, serving for three years. On the completion of his appren- ticeship he was employed as a journeyman in the fatherland until 1868, when he bade adieu to home and friends and sailed for the United States, landing at Baltimore, Mary- land. He made his way thence direct to Dayton, Ohio, where he worked at his trade for one year, and in 1869 he came to Green- ville, Ohio, where he was employed by the firm of Chenoweth & Haberling, merchant tailors. Subsequently he entered the service of Moses Hughn, by whom he has been em-
ployed for the past thirty years. He is par- ticularly expert as a coat-maker and is now the oldest tailor engaged in active business in Greenville. As the years have passed his financal resources have been increased, and he is now the possessor of good and val- uable city property. Indolence and idle- ness are utterly foreign to his nature, but in consequence he does not wish to put aside business care and continues in the active prosecution of his trade.
In his twenty-seventh year Mr. Menke was married to Miss Susannah Bashore, the eldest daughter of Jacob G. Bashore, of Webster, Ohio. Their union has been blessed with seven children: Ann, now the wife of Henry E. Mohler; Jacob, a tailor ; Joseph, who occupies the position of teller in the Farmers National Bank, of Green- ville; Ida, at home; Orville, Chester and Barnard. They also lost two children in infancy. The mother of Mrs. Menke was Sarah ( Miller) Bashore, and her death oc- curred in 1892, in her seventy-second year. The father. Jacob G. Bashore, was one of the early settlers of Darke county, and died within its borders in his sixty-ninth year.
Mr. and Mrs. Menke are widely known in Greenville and have a large circle of friends. They occupy a pleasant residence here, and also own two or three dwellings in the city, besides some good business houses, which he rents and a forty-acre farm in Wayne township, which is under a high state of cultivation. He has never had oc- casion to regret his determination to seek a home in America, for here, where opportu- nity is unhampered, he has worked his wav steadily upward and his advancement along well defined lines of labor has secured to him merited financial reward.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
NORMAN TEAFORD.
Norman Teaford, one of the most prom- inent and prosperous farmers of German township, whose home is on section 21, has spent his entire life upon the farm where he was born March 24, 1861. His father, Bar- ney Teaford, was born in German township, February 3, 1825, and is a twin brother of Jonathan, the two being the only survivors of a family of twelve children. H na- was reared and educated in his tive township, and was there married, March 20., 1859, to Miss Margaret E. Stapleton, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, November 13. 1838, and when six years of age came to Darke county, Ohio, with her parents, Thomas and Eliza- beth Stapleton. They began their domestic life in a log house on the farm in German township, where the father still lives. Ile has ever leen devoted to his home and family. and has never been outside of Darke county a week during his life, and has been in only two states -- Indiana and Ohio. In his fam- ily were seven children, six sons and one daughter, but Norman, the second child an 1 second son, is the only one now living. Jona- than died October 29, 1862, at the age of two years ; a son died in infancy, April 15. 1862; Oscar, born June 30, 1864, died September 25, 1866: Samuel, born July 20, 1867, died February 28, 1889 : Charles B., born Novem- ber 18, 1870, died June 25, 1871 ; and Flora A., born May 10, 1874, died December 19. 1892. The mother passed away March 14. 1889.
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Our subject passed his boyhood and youth upon the home farm, where he is still living, early becoming familiar with every department of farm work, and he acquired his literary education in district school No.
7, German township. He has a valuable and well improved farm of four hundred and seventy-five acres, which is devoted to gen- eral farming, and has an interest in sixteen hundred acres of timber land in Mississippi. Ilè is also interested in the Greenville Lum- ber Company of Greenville, and a hardware store and livery stable at Palestine, this coun- ty. He is an enterprising, progressive busi- ness man, upright and reliable, and has been uniformly successful in his investments.
On the 6th of August, 1882, Mr. Teaford was united in marriage with Miss Lillie I. Brown, who was born in German township, August 18, 1865, and died May 30, 1897, leaving one daughter. Grace, born Decem- ber 24, 1884. Mrs. Teaford's parents, Jesse and Martha ( Mansfield) Brown, were na- tives of Maryland and early settlers of Darke county.
By his ballot Mr. Teaford supports the men and measures of the Democratic party, and he has efficiently served as a member of the school board in his district. He is also a member of German Grange and has hell office in the same. He is one of the most popular and influential citizens of his community and is held in high regard by all with whom he comes in contact, either in business or social life.
ROBERT B. JAMISON.
Robert B. Jamison, a native of the county of Delaware. Ohio, was born September 22, 1858, his parents being James M. and Eliza- beth (High) Jamison. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother of Penn- sylvania, and they were among the early set- tlers of Delaware county. Ohio. Robert Jamison, the grandfather, was also a native of the Keystone state, but removed to Dela-
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ware county, Ohio, at an early day, spending his remaining days within its borders. He married a Miss Baird, who with her hus- band came to the Buckeye state in 1812, when its lands were wild, its forests uncut and when there was little to indicate that civilization was soon to work a marvelous change in this section of the country.
Robert B. Jamison spent his youth upon the farm, attending the district schools and he made rapid progress in his studies. mani- festing special aptitude in mastering the branches therein taught. A love of knowl- edge incited him to secure a college educa- tion and he entered the Wesleyan Univer- sity, at Delaware, Ohio, in which institution he was graduated with the class of 1879. He afterward engaged in teaching. follow- ing that profession in the county of his na- tivity until 1882. In that year he came to Greenville, Ohio, and entered into partner- ship with John H. Martz. under the firm name of Jamison & Martz. They purchased the hardware stock belonging to R. A. Shuffleton and continued in that business un- til 1887, when they sold this store to the firm of Foster & Son. They then turned their attention to the real estate and insur- ance business. They buy and sell real estate on commission, loan money and are agents for the Union Central Life Insurance Com- pany, of Cincinnati. Mr. Jamison also car- ries on five farms in connection with his real estate and insurance business, the places comprising several hundred acres of land, much of which is under a high state of cul- · tivation and well stocked with horses, sheep, cattle and hogs. He is thus a representative of the agricultural as well as the commercial interests of the county.
On the 18th of May, 1882, Mr. Jamison was united in marriage to Miss Mary L.
Huddle, of Darke county, in which place she was born and reared. She is a daughter of the late Levi Huddle and Lucinda ( Hetzler) Huddle. Mr. and Mrs. Jamison have two sons, Roy H. and Walter I., who are with their parents. Their home is a large and substantial brick residence on Washington avenue and the household is noted for its hospitality. Socially Mr. Jamison is a mem- ber of Greenville Lodge, No. 143, F. & A. M., and is a valued representative of that beneficent fraternity.
HENRY BEACHLER.
For many years this gentleman was one of the prominent farmers and highly re- spected citizens of Neave township, Darke county, Ohio, his home being on section 18. He was a native of this state, born Decem- ber 20, 1819, in Montgomery county, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Mary Weaver, who was born in the same county, about two miles from Miamisburg, June 10, 1823. The birth of her father, Henry Weaver, occurred four miles from that city, his parents being among the first settlers of Montgomery county from Pennsylvania. All were farmers. Mrs. Beachler is the young- est in a family of seven children. Her oldest brother, Henry Weaver, is living with her at the age of eighty-six years, they being now the only survivors of the family.
To our subject and his wife were born six children, of whom the oldest, Louisa, and the fifth, Ambrose, are deceased. Me- lina, the second in order of birth, is now the wife of George Barnhart, and they have two children, Ambrose and Ella. Sarah Jane is the wife of Samuel Kerst, and they have six children, Henry N., Herman, Flora, Ma- mie, Grace and Vanda. Mary Ann is the
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
wife of Hartman Plock, but they have no children. Henry is married, and has two children, Ward and May. He lives in Mis- souri.
On the 26th of February, 1846, Mr. and Mrs. Beachler came to Darke county, and located on the farm on section 18. Neave township, where she still resides. To its further improvement and cultivation hie de- voted his energies throughout life, and died there in November, 1891, at the age of seventy-two years, leaving behind him an honorable record well worthy of perpetua- tion. He was a man of the highest respect- ability, was faithful to his church, to his country and to his friends, and in his home was a most exemplary husband and father. His deathi occasioned the deepest regret throughout the community. He was an active and prominent member of the Re- formed church, in which he served both as deacon and elder, and his remains were in- terred in the Reformed church cemetery.
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