A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 76

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

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Mrs. Beachler is still living on the farm which has now been her home for fifty-four years, but she rents the land. To her other business interests she gives her personal at- tention, and has met with success in the management of her affairs. She is a lady of many sterling qualities, and she and her family have a large circle of friends in the community where they reside.

HENRY L. YOUNT.

The name of this gentleman appears on the roster of county officials in Darke coun- tv. where he is now filling the position of deputy county clerk, discharging his duties in a most efficient, prompt and reliable man- ner. He is numbered among Ohio's na-

tive sons, for his birth occurred on the banks. of Stillwater creek, in Miami county, on the 6th of April, 1865. His father, Daniel Yount, died when the son was but six years of age. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Brumbaugh, was born in Miami county, Ohio, where she was reared and married. Mr. and Mrs. Yount began their domestic life on a farm in Miami coun- ty. and the latter died when her son Henry was fifteen years of age. Her parents were Daniel and Susan ( Warner) Brumbaugh, early settlers of Miami county.

Henry L. Yount has made his own way in the world since the age of fifteen years, at which time he was left an orphan. He ac- quired a good common school education and afterward worked as a farm hand for seven years, being employed by the month by dif- ferent farmers of the neighborhood. He worked early and late in the fields from the time of early planting until crops were har- vested in the autumn, and attended the dis- trict schools during the winter. By close application to his studies hie prepared for teaching, and at the age of twenty years en- tered upon that profession in the district schools of Adams township, Darke county, where he was employed at intervals for seven years. During that period he pursued a special course of study in the Ohio Normal University at Ada, Ohio, from which he re- ceived the degree of bachelor of science, in 1895, and during his summer vacations con- (lucted a teachers' institute. He was for four years a member of the Darke county teachers' executive committee, and for two terms president of the Teachers' Associa- tion, and at this writing, in the summer of 1900, he is president of the board of teachers' examiners. He has filled the office of school examiner for the past six years, has labored

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most earnestly and effectually for the best interests of the schools, and the cause of edu- cation has ever found in him a warm friend, who has done much to promote its welfare. In 1891 he was elected superintendent of the Bradford schools, in which capacity he served for five years. He then resigned this position to accept the office of mayor of Bradford. After serving one term he re- fused a renomination and accepted a position in the county clerk's office at Greenville. He read law with the Hon. A. C. Robeson, of Greenville, and he is now preparing for prac- tice in the courts of this district. In Au- gust, 1898, he was appointed deputy county clerk under F. G. Wiley, and is now accept- ably filling that office.

In 1886 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Yount and Miss Anna Etter, a daugh- ter of Levi and Amanda ( Krunkleman) Et- ter. They now have three children, two sons and a daughter, Daniel E., Minnie E. and Howard L. In his political views Mr. Yount is a Democrat, and is a leading mem- ber of the party in Greenville. He keeps well informed on the issues of the day, both politically and otherwise, and as a citizen is active in support of every measure which he believes will prove of public benefit. He holds membership in Gettysburg Lodge. No. 247, F. & A. M., the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias fra- ternity. He was for some time a member of the Regiment, Ohio National Guards, and was commissioned second lieutenant of Company G. He has traveled quite exten- sively throughout the central and western states, and has gained that knowledge and culture which only travel can bring. He is particularly observing, and this, combined with a retentive memory, has enabled him to store his mind with many interesting ac-

counts of his travels. He is much esteemed by his numerous friends in Darke county,. and is recognized as a popular citizen.

WILLIAM W. TEEGARDEN.

William W. Teegarden, the subject of this sketch, is a member of the Darke county bar. He was born July 17, 1862, and is a representative of one of the oldest pioneer families of Darke county. The family is of Dutch origin and its history in this county antedates the period of the American Rev- olution, the place of original settlement be- ing in southwestern Pennsylvania, where, in an early day, certain of its members took a prominent part in the disputes which arose between Pennsylvania and Virginia con- cerning the boundary line between these two- provinces. His great-grandfather, Moses. Teegarden, was born in Pennsylvania in 1762. He married Mary Huston and in about the year 1795 removed with his fam- ily to Ohio, settling near Cincinnati. Subse- quently he removed to Butler county, Ohio, settling at Darrtown, where he resided un- til his death, following the occupation of farming. He reared a family of ten chil- dren and his death occurred April 20, 1844. His wife was born in 1765 and died June 21, 1830.

William Teegarden, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania Feb- ruary 22, 1793, and accompanied his parents. on their removal to Ohio. His early life was spent at the old home at Darrtown, where he grew to manhood, and when the war of 1812 broke out he joined the American army and served loyally in the defense of his coun- try until the end of the conflict. He then returned to his home, where he was married to Catharine Watts. While in the service.

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of the United States his company marched through Darke county and he discovered a fine spring flowing from the side of a hill on the old St. Clair trail from Greenville to Ft. Recovery and about eight and one-half miles north of Greenville. He marked the place and after the close of the war he gathered together what property he thien had and with his family returned to the location of the spring, entering from the government the quarter-section of land on which it was located. Here, in 1817. he established his home, and here he resided until his death, which occurred on February 16, 1855. His wife, who was born November 6, 1792, passed away September 24, 1856. They were the parents of ten children,-five sons and five daughters.

William Teegarden, the grandfather, was a farmer and engaged largely in stock rais- ing. He was very successful in his business enterprises and at the time of his death was possessed of more than fourteen hundred acres of land. At the time of his settlement in Brown township his was the only house, save one, between Greenville and Ft. Re- covery. a distance of twenty-two miles. For miles in all directions the country was al- miost an unbroken wilderness, inhabited by wild beasts common to that region. There `were still many Indians, but they were al- ways friendly, and with them a profitable trade was carried on until they became ex- tinct. As one of the earliest pioneers of the locality in which he spent his life, he bore an active part in subduing the wilderness and of reclaiming it from the wild state of nature in which he found it, and no man was more actively identified with the work of development than he.

Moses Teegarden, the father of the sub- ject of this review, was born on the 9th day

of December, 1827, on the home farm in Brown township. With the exception of the last two years prior to his death he passed the whole of his life in the near vicinity of his birth. He was the fifth child and the third son of the family. His educational priv- ileges were limited to the advantages af- forded by the common schools of the day, imperfect as they then were. On October 7, 1849 he was united in marriage to Han- nah D. Mendenhall, a native of Preble coun- ty, Ohio. She came to Darke county with her parents, Marmaduke and Nancy Men- denhall. in the year 1844. Her father was born in the state of Georgia October 4. 1797, and removed to Preble county in the year 1818. He died April 11, 1864. Her mother was Nancy Griffin. She was born April 20, 1803, and was called to her final rest Octo- ber 18. 1849. The Mendenhalls are of Eng- lish descent and came to this country and settled in Pennsylvania about the time that province was founded by William Penn. Moses Teegarden, the father of our subject, was chiefly engaged in farming as an occu- pation, but also spent considerable time in the construction of turnpikes under contract with the county, and in buying and shipping timber. He was a regularly ordained min- ister of the Christian church and labored earnestly, both through his ministry and by example, for the cause of Christianity in the community in which he lived. He was chiefly instrumental in organizing the Tee- garden Christian church, his father having donated a plot of ground as a site for a church building, and also the five acres of land comprising the Teegarden cemetery. He was a stanch advocate of the right as he conceived it, generous and hospitable in disposition and ever ready to extend the hand of sympathy to the needy and dis-

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tressed. As the result of his first marriage · eight children were born, all of whom, ex- cept three, died in early childhood. Of the three survivors Mary F., the oldest, is now the wife of Samuel Bailey, residing in Brown township; Evangeline married Henry J. Courtner, of Winchester, Indiana, and died on March 18, 1881, at the age of twenty-six ; the third and youngest is the immediate sub- ject of this sketch. On November 5, 1863. he lost his wife by death, and later he again married, his second union being with Mrs. Elizabeth Beardslee. Two children were born of this union,-Wilson L., who died July 2, 1890, and Bertlia M., now the wife of Charles D. Stephens, of Oklahoma terri- tory. The mother of these children died in 1871 and for his third wife Mr. Teegarden chose Mrs. Elizabeth Travis, by whom he liad one child, Mary E., born in 1875, and now residing in Illinois. She is a popular teacher in the public schools of that state. The father died May 19, 1875, near Bryant, Jay county, Indiana, to which place he had removed with his family about two years previous. By his death the community lost one of its most valued members, whose life is well worthy of emulation.

The subject of this review was born in Brown township. His mother died when he was little more than a year old and the death of his father occurred when he had not yet reached the age of thirteen. After the death of hins father he made his home withi liis sis- ter, Mrs, Samuel Bailey, in Brown township, until he was eighteen years of age and as- sisted in the work of the farm. He at- tended school in the winter season, where, though in attendance not more than half of each season's term, he managed, by close ap- · plication to his studies, to keep up with his classes composed of pupils in attendance the

whole of the term. At the age of eighteen he had acquired sufficient education to ob- tain a county teacher's certificate and three years later he began teaching, his first ex- perience as a teacher being in his home dis- trict at Woodington. He continued to teach in the district schools for three years and then obtained a position in the graded schools of Ansonia, which position he held for six years. During this time he worked himself rapidly to the front in the profession, spend- ing a part of two years as a student in the Northwestern Ohio Normal University, at Ada, Ohio. He held a five-years teacher's certificate, this being the highest class of certificate then granted by the county board. He was prominently connected with the County Teachers' Association and his in- fluence was always exerted for the advance- ment of the interests of the profession and the adoption of a higher standard of quali- fications among teachers. Not finding the work of teaching congenial to his ambitions, he determined to leave the profession and im- inediately began the study of law under the direction of the firm of Knox, Martz & Rupe, of Greenville, Ohio. He continued to teachi, however, pursuing his legal studies of eve- nings and in the summer vacations until 1893, when in June of that year he passed a successful examination before the state board at Columbus and was admitted to the bar. He removed to Greenville in the autumn of that year and began the practice of his chosen profession in partnership with D. W. Younl- ker. This business connection continued un- til February, 1896, when it was dissolved and Mr. Teegarden associated himself witlı Judge J. I. Allread. The firm of Allread & Teegarden enjoys an enviable reputation and is one of the leading firms of the Darke county bar.

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

On the 24th day of December, 1885, Mr. Teegarden was united in marriage with Catharine C. Hershey, who was born No- vember 20, 1865, in Darke county. Her par- ents, John S. and Anna ( Young) Hershey, are natives of Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania. The former was born March 29, 1829, and the latter February 23, 1836. They now reside in Greenville township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Teegarden are the parents of four children,-Chester H., born January 20, 1887; Rolland E., born No- vember 22, 1888; Harold B., born May 17, 1894; and Anna L., born January 29, 1896.

Mr. Teegarden is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and was at one time, since liis removal to Green- ville, a member of the city board of school examiners. He is a Republican in politics and is always actively identified with the in- terests of his party in the conduct of its af- fairs, though never an aspirant for office. He is deeply interested in his profession and strives to elevate the ethical standard of the practice. He despises the trickery and other questionable methods too often resorted to by members of the profession and prefers to gain whatever advantages the profession may offer by a straightforward course of deal- ing. He is regarded as one of the rising members of the bar, well versed in the science of jurisprudence, careful and accur- ate in his application of law principles to points in litigation and conscientious in the discharge of his duty to his clients.

JESSE R. HYER.

Jesse R. Hyer is a grain dealer and undertaker at Painter Creck, and the sterl- ing qualities of an honorable and successful business man are found in the history of

his career. He is of German lineage, but his father, Absalom Hyer, is numbered among the native sons of Ohio, his birth hay- ing occurred near Dayton, Montgomery county, in August, 1814. During his early life he followed carpentering and later be- came a miller. He was married in Mont- gomery county, in 1835, to Miss Elizabeth Hess and moved to the Solomon Wilds farm in Franklin township, Darke county, where he devoted his energies to farming for two years. In 1856 he took up his abode at Burkett's Mill, near Ludlow Falls, and was engaged in the operation of the mill until 1865, when he removed to Crawford county, Illinois, and purchased sixty-five acres of land, continuing its cultivation until his death, in 1878. His first wife died in 1859 and he afterward married Rebecca Shearer, who died in Crawford county, about 1886. Absalom Hyer was a minister of the Ger- man Baptist church and both by precept and example led many to seek a higher life. His children were as follows: Martha Ellen, wife of Jacob Swinger, of Crawford county, Illinois, where she died in 1894, at the age of fifty-eight years; Rachel Anu, who became the wife of Daniel Langston and died in Franklin township, in January, 1860; Jesse, of this review ; Serena, wife of Eli Duncan, who lives near Ludlow Falls; Noah, who was twice married and died in Johnson coun- ty, Illinois; Margaret, who became the wife of Oliver Shearer and died in Illinois ; Joshua, who married Ellen Rudy and died at Gettysburg, Ohio, in 1896; Abner, who died in Crawford county, Illinois, after hav- ing been twice married, his second union being with Miss Horning; Mary, who was accidentally drowned at Burkett's Mills, in 1857; and Susannah, wife of Mortimer Sey- mour, of Crawford county, Illinois.

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Jesse R. Hyer was born April 1, 1840, in Madison township, Montgomery county, and in his youth enjoyed the advantages afforded by the common schools. At the age of fourteen he was brought to Darke county by his father, under whose direction he learned the miller's trade. In the spring of 1861 he went to Painter Creek to learn the wagonmaker's trade, and was continu- ously employed at his chosen vocation until the 13th of August, 1862, wlien with a spirit of patriotism he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting on the 13th of Au- gust, 1862, as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Infantry, under Captain Jason Young and Colonel J. War- ren Keifer. At the battle of Winchester hic received a severe wound, a musket ball piercing his left thigh. and for sixteen months he was in the hospital at that place, at Harper's Ferry, Baltimore, Columbus and Cleveland. On regaining his health he was sent on detached duty to Todd's bar- racks, in Columbus, where he remained for three months, when he rejoined his regiment which was then stationed in the vicinity of Petersburg. He took part in the battle in that locality and the engagement at Sailor's Creek, and in Washington was honorably discharged June 25, 1865, for the war was ended and the country no longer needed his services.

Returning to his home at Painter Creek, Mr. Hyer completed his apprenticeship to the wagonmaker's trade, and a year later opened a shop in the town, carrying on busi- ness there until 1884. He enjoyed a good trade and met with creditable success in his undertakings. He was suffering fearfully from the wound received at Winchester and therefore could not attend longer to his busi- ness. In consequence hie rented a part of 1

his shop, and the parties who took possession put in an engine, which set fire to the shop and destroyed it. In 1878 Mr. Hyer en- gaged in the undertaking business, continu- ing in that line up to the present time. In December. 1894, lie also established a feed store, and has conducted business along both lines. He is very energetic and enterprising. and these qualities have contributed in a large measure to his success.

On the 14th of March, 1869, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Hyer and Miss Sarah A. Shuff, daughter of Samuel and Delilah Shuff. She died July 11, 1881, and in 1886 he was again married, his second union being with Vina Battson, of Franklin township, daughter of James Battson. He has two children born of the first marriage: Martha L., wife of Jolm L. Swinger, of Franklin township; and Walter S., who married Pearl Wilds ; and by his second mar- riage one son, Earl A., at home.

Mr. Hyer was reared in the faith of the German Baptist church He is a member of Daniel W. Williams Post, G. A. R., of Pleasant Hill, and through that association keeps up his acquaintance with his old army comrades, delighting in the reminiscences of field and camp fires. He is a man of many sterling qualities, reliable and ener- getic in business and trustworthy in all life's relations. As a citizen he is as true today as when he followed the stars and stripes upon the battle-fields of the south.

OSCAR C. KERLIN, D. D. S.

One of the popular citizens and success- ful dentists of Greenville, Ohio, is Dr. Ker- lin, who was born in Wayne county, Indi- ana, in 1861, and is a son of William K. and Hannah B. (Jefferis) Kerlin, also natives

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of that county, the former born March 2, 1832, and latter November 28, 1830. They were married on the Ist of December, 1853. More extended mention is made of this worthy couple on another page of this vol- tiine.

Dr. Kerlin spent the first four years of his life in the county of his nativity and in March, 1865, was brought by his parents to Harrison township, Darke county, Ohio, where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits for a few years. In 1870 the fam- ily removed to Greenville, where the Doctor attended the public schools conducted by Professor J. T. Martz, and later graduated at the Greenville Commercial College. He began his business career as a bookkeeper for Rody Rvan, a railroad contractor, with whom he remained six years, and on the ex- piration of that time commenced the study of dentistry under the instruction of Dr. Little, of Greenville. Subsequently he en- tered the dental department of the Univer- sity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated with the class of 1889. Im- mediately after his graduation he opened an office in Versailles, Darke county, where he remained twelve months, and then returned to Greenville and formed a partnership with his former preceptor, Dr. Little, with whom he was engaged in practice for three years. Since then he has been alone. He has a well equipped office, supplied with all the latest appliances known to the profession, for he is progressive and enterprising and keeps well informed on the latest discoveries and theories made in the science of dentistry. He has built up a large practice, which is constantly increasing, and his patronage comes from the best class of people.

November 26, 1896, Dr. Kerlin married Miss Avarilla K. Fahnestock, who traces her

ancestry back to Germany. Her parents were Rev. James and Rachel A. (Worley) Fahnestock, and her maternal grandparents were Rev. Caleb and Elizabeth (Adams) Worley. The Doctor and his wife have two sons : Oscar F., born November 4, 1897, and William Worley, born November 2, 1899. Fraternally Dr. Kerlin is a member of Champion Lodge, No. 742, and Green- ville Encampment, No. 90, I. O. O. F.

DAVID C. FOUREMAN.

Among the well-to-do farmers and hon- ored citizens of Van Buren township, Darke county, Ohio, is the subject of this sketch. His father, Henry J. Foureman, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, October 28, 1818, a son of John and Elizabeth (Stager) Foureman. The former was born in 1797 and his wife was born in 1794. He passed away August 17, 1872, aged seventy-five years, nine months and twenty-three days, his wife having died June 10, 1870, aged seventy-six years, five months and six days. The son was educated in the common schools of his native state. At the age of sixteen he came with his parents to Darke county, Ohio, the journey being made by team and wagon, and the grandfather of our subject entered the northeast section of Van Buren township, where Henry J. Foureman grew to manhood in the midst of the wilderness. He married Susannah Baker, who was born in Brookville, Montgomery county, Ohio, January 2, 1823, a daughter of Jacob and Saralı Michael Baker. After his marriage he located on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres given him by his father, having erected thereon a two-room house 28x20 feet, built of round logs and a story and a half in height. At the time his land was all wild and

David 1 Houreman

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

unimproved, but he placed it under a highi ; also of Van Buren township; Harlus. state of cultivation, and added to his landed Charles, Pharon and Worley, all at home. possessions from time to time until he had four hundred and forty acres. After a long and useful life he retired to Arcanum, where he died in 1892, and his wife passed away a year later. For over a third of a cen- tury they were active and consistent members of the `German Baptist church, and prior to his death Mr. Foureman affiliated with the Republican party. They had a family of four children, namely : Elizabeth, born De- cember 22, 1841, married Henry Baker, who died in Monroe township, this county, and she died there in 1886; Jacob B., born Feb- ruary 15, 1844, married Mary Besecker and lives in Van Buren township; David C., our subject, is next in order of birth; and An- nias, born August 1, 1852, died at the age of two years.

David C. Foureman was born March 12, 1848, on the old homestead in Van Buren township, where he passed his boyhood and youth in much the usual manner of farmer boys of his day, acquiring his education in district school No. 6, which was near his home. It was a log building, supplied with slab seats and other primitive furniture. Mr. Foureman's first teacher was Lewis Albright, under whose instruction he learned to speak English. On the 14th of October, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Unger, a native of Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, and a daughter of George and Saralı ( Merkley) Unger. By this union nine children were born as follows: Sarah, wife of Albert Foureman, of Van Buren township; Susannah, who married Frank Michael and died in 1898; Lydia, wife of John Judy, of Van Buren township; Delilah, wife of James Allread, of the same township; Annie, wife of Willis Davis, 36

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 76

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