A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 82

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

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Judge Meeker's tastes were essentially domestic, and he found at home the pleasure some men seek at the club. The time not necessarily devoted to business was spent in the society of his family and among the in- spiring, renewing influences of home. One of the leading lawyers of the district has fur- nished a characterization of him substantially in the following terms :

"Judge Meeker filled a place in the his- tory of this judicial district that is creditable to himself and honorable to the profession. A judge for a period of almost twenty years. he retired from the bench with the highest respect of the profession and admiration of the public. Ile was always a close student, and when in practice was known as a hard- working lawver, and likewise a successful one. His greatest reputation, however, will rest on his work as a judge. His judgeship was almost unerring. He possessed what is termed a legal mind ; understood thoroughly the principles of the law; was painstaking in liis investigations, and accurate in his de- cisions. He was always fearless and impar- tial in the discharge of every duty. There has never been on the bench in the history of this judicial district a judge who held the confi-

dence of the profession to a greater degree. His personal popularity was unbounded. Nature made him a gentleman, and he made himself a lawyer. One of the sources of his popularity was undoubtedly his unassuming manners, unfeigned cordiality, his fine sensi- bilities, and readiness to help his fellowmen. Both in the relations of private citizenship and in public office, Judge Meeker's life was irreproachable. Not only was he an able jurist, but also a successful business man. He possessed one of the finest homes in the county, accumulated a competence and left a valuable estate."

Judge Meeker died suddenly, September 5, 1896, at his home in Greenville. While at the supper table he was stricken with partial paralysis, which became complete a few min- utes later. causing a painless death within three hours. The tributes to his character and worthiness, expressed in a memorial meeting of the bar and in the funeral service, were hearty and sincere. They testified that he was not only an incorruptible judge but also scrupulously, delicately and conscienti- ously free from all willful wrong, in thought, word or deed. His uniform kindness and patience to the younger members of the bar were marked. In later years he was accus- tomed to recount for the edification of the young lawyers his own early struggles to se- cure success, the discouragements he encoun- tered and the difficulties he had overcome. He was not a dreamer in any idle sense, but as a boy looked forward hopefully. spurred to his best endeavors by high aspirations. In a pa- per read at his funeral by D. W. Bowman, a former law partner, it is said that throughout a career of nearly half a century at the bar and on the bench, the day dream of his boy- hood, the cherished desire of his heart in I youth, was never lost sight of, but kept in full

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view. With this noble longing for profes- sional success he wore the judicial ermine for twenty years, and laid it aside as spotless as when it first touched his shoulders. He achieved a fame that posterity will not will- ingly let die.

CHARLES W. CHENOWETH.

Darke county shows within its bounda- ries many fine farms, indicating that pro- gressive and careful methods have been brought to bear in bringing the section up to its high standard as one of the most at- tractive agricultural sections of the Buckeye state, and among those who have signally contributed to the prestige of the county in this ever-important field of endeavor may be mentioned Charles Wesley Chenoweth, one of the representative agriculturists of Harrison township. He is a native son of the state of Maryland, where the family was established at an early day, the lineage being of stanch old Scotch extraction, the first American ancestors of the name having left the land of brown heather and shaggy wood to establish a home for himself in Maryland, in the new world. Mr. Chenoweth was born in Maryland, on the 3d of September, 1830, being one of the thirteen children born to William and Katurah ( Murray) Cheno- weth, the former of whom was born on the same farm as was his son, our subject, the place being about twenty-two miles distant from the city of Baltimore. William Cheno- weth was born in the year 1802, and he died at the age of seventy-four years and one month. His wife was born in Maryland in 1804, the daughter of John Murray, and their marriage was celebrated in Maryland, i11 1822. Of their thirteen children all but one grew to maturity, a son having died at

the age of eighteen months. Of the others there were ten sons and two daughters.

Charles W., with whom this sketch has more particularly to do, was reared to farm life and remained at the parental home until he had attained the age of twenty-two years. His educational advantages were necessarily of meager extent, as in the early days in Chio the primitive log school-house, with : puncheon floors, slab benches, open fireplace and window provided with oiled paper in place of glass, did not enlist the services of teachers notable for great learning, and even had their erudition been greater, the young boys of the locality were in requisi- tion during the greater portion of the year as assistants in the work of clearing off the timber from the pioneer farms and in the va- rious other duties which went to make up the routine of labor.

In February, 1853, Mr. Chenoweth was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Har- rison, who was born in Darke county, July 17, 1837, the daughter of James and Hanner C. (Bowen) Ilarrison, the latter of whom is still living, having attained the venerable age of eighty-eight years, and being still weil preserved in both her mental and physical faculties. James Harrison died in 1864, leaving his widow and eight children, of whom only three are now living. Our sub- ject was called upon to mourn the death of his devoted and cherished wife in Septem- ber, 1878, she having become the mother of seven children, as follows: William Al- . bert, who is a merchant in Glenkarn, this county, having married and being the father of seven children : James Augustus, who is a successful farmer in German. township, has six children; Marietta Katurah, who was born October 19, 1860, became the wife of George Slarp, and she died May 30, 1825.

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leaving eight children; Washington Ells- worth is a farmer in German township and has six children; Morton Monroe, likewise a farmer of German township, has three children; Elnora Belle is the wife of Col- ville Woods; and Elmer E., born in 1872, resides in Hollansburg, and is operating the old homestead for his father, he being the father of one son and one daughter. 1879 our subject consummated a second mar- riage, being then united to Miss Mary Ann Felton, who was born in Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 27, 1846, the daughter of Charles D. and Hannah ( Priestly) Felton, who resided near Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Of this union two children have been born-a son, who died in infancy; and Ethel Olga, who was born March 11, 1886, and who is a studious young lady, showing no little talent in her musical work.

Mr. Chenoweth enlisted for service in the Union army during the war of the Re- bellion, having become a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, on the 2d of May, 1864, and having been discharged September 3 following. Though in active service he participated in no regu- lar battle. He as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post which was or- ganized in Hollansburg, but which was dis- banded several years ago. He casts his ballot in support of the Republican party and its principles, and he and his wife are zealous members of the Christian church, with which Mr. Chenoweth has been identified for nearly a half-century, having served as a deacon in the same and maintaining a lively interest in all branches of the church work.

Our subject settled on his present farm of eighty-four acres in 1875, having pur- chased previously, in 1864, a tract of one hundred and eighty acres, which is now oc-

cupied by his two sons, each having a com- fortable and attractive home and good out- buildings. When Mr. Chenoweth started out in life upon his own responsibility he re- ceived five hundred dollars from his father, choosing this amount in preference to eighty acres of timber land. The father's estate was worth about thirty thousand dollars, and this was eventually divided among the nine children. Mr. Chenoweth has devoted his attention to diversified farming, begin- ning operations on the farm of his father- in-law, and later settling on his own eighty- four-acre farm, and he now owns the two farms, comprising two hundred and sixty- four acres. He has been a very successful farmer and business man, and having done his full quota of hard work he is now en- joying that rest which is the just reward of his many years of toil and endeavor, having relegated the active duties to his sons. He is one of our county's prosperous and lion- ored citizens, and it is incumbent that this slight recognition be accorded him in a com- pilation having to do with Darke county and its interests.

JOHN HUFNAGLE.

John Hufnagle, now deceased, was for . many years a highly esteemed and prominent resident of Greenville. He was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1805, and died in this city on the 10th of March, 1889, at the age of eighty-three years, six months and twelve days. He was the youngest son of Valentine and Eve (Berger) Hufnagle, both natives of the Keystone state. His father died in 1830, when seventy years of age.

At the age of seventeen, John Hufnagle, whose name introduces this record, was ap-

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prenticed to learn the hatter's trade, but in 1847 he changed his base of operations bv embarking in general merchandising, which pursuit he followed for thirty-five years, be- coming one of the best-known and most re- liable representatives of the commercial in- terests of this city. In February, 1876, he opened the Greenville Bank, and filled the position of president, making the institution one of the most substantial and trustworthy financial concerns in the county. In busi- ness circles he enjoyed an unassailable repu- tation and a liberal patronage was therefore accorded him. In September, 1826, Mr. Hufnagle was married to Miss Barbara Boardner, of Dauphin county, Pennsylva- nia. Unto them were born three sons and five daughters, but only two are now liv- ing-H. E., of Greenville, and Mrs. J. E. Breaden.

Mr. Hufnagle was for over half a century a resident of Greenville, and left the impress of his strong individuality upon the public life and commercial improvements of the city. He was a man of strong mind upheld by a good constitution, was energetic in busi- ness, frugal and economical. At all times he lived a moral and upright life, and al- though not associated with any religious de- nomination he was nevertheless a firm be- liever in Chrstianity. In politics he was a Republican, ardent and liberal, often donat- ing considerable sums for campaign pur- poses. To those who did not know him, Mr. Hufnagle seemed to be close in his deal- ings with men, but he was always found to be honest and fair. He stood firmly by his contracts, and required that those dealing with him should perform their portion of the contract as agreed upon. With his family he was very liberal, giving generously to supply their wants and devoted to their com-

fort and desires. As a neighbor he was kind and obliging, and with him friendship was inviolable. A few years before his death he gave to his children by deed land to the value of seventy-five or one hundred thousand dollars, and by will he left the res- idue of his large estate in lands, money and notes to be equally divided among them. His success was acquired entirely by his own efforts, and by his well-directed labors he rose to a prominent position among the business men of Greenville, his being the controlling influence in many public affairs. He passed away March 10, 1889, and his re- mains were laid to rest by the side of his wife in the Greenville cemetery.

PHILIP HARTZELL.

Mr. Hartzell is a native of historic old Darke county, which is known to be one of the most important in the state, and one whose annals have been interesting from the pioneer days up to the end of the century, marked by the highest development and sub- stantial improvements. The date of our subject's birth was May 23, 1843, and he is the second in a family of six children, all of whom were sons. The parents were John J. and Nancy ( Westfall) Hartzell, pioneers of the county and people well known for their integrity and genuine worth. Of the six sons only two are living-Philip, of this sketch, and David, who is engaged in the drug business at Rossville, Kansas. The fatlier was a native of the old Keystone state, where he was born December 1, 1815, and his death occurred in 1852. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and to this line of occupation he gave his attention throughout his long and active life. He emigrated to Ohio when he was a young

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man, coming directly to Darke county, where he purchased a tract of wild land in Rich- land township, the same tract which fig- ures today as the beautiful and finely-culti- vated farmstead of our subject. In his po- litical proclivities John J. Hartzell was a Democrat of the true Jacksonian school, and he was a zealous advocate of the party cause throughout the course of his life. The mother of our subject was born in the Buckeye state, February 22, 1823, and here was solemnized her marriage to Mr. Hart- zell. Her death occurred about the year 1863. . Both she and her husband were de- voted members of the German Reformed church.

Philip Hartzell was reared on the old homestead, growing up under the invigorat- ing discipline attendant upon the operation of a farm, and his educational training was secured in the common schools. Ile has al- ways devoted his attention to agriculture, with the exception of eight years, during which time he was a resident of Ansonia, and for two years of the interval was en- gaged in business as a dealer in agricultural implements. Even at this time he did not resign his farming interests, though he did not give them his close personal attention as he had formerly done. Ile lias been very successful in his endeavors and is known as one of the substantial and representative farmers of the county. Mr. Hartzell has also been a practical thresher for many years, operating with the best of equipment and having threshed many hundred thousands of bushels of wheat and other grain in Rich- land and Brown townships and throughout the contiguous territory. He has gained a wide acquaintanceship in the county and en- joys a marked popularity wherever he is known.

Mr. Hartzell has been twice married, his first union having been with Miss Caroline Dill, a native of this county. They became the parents of two children-Rosetta, wife of J. P. Slyder, a prominent dealer in gen- eral merchandise at Ansonia, this county; and Charles Dill Hartzell, who still remains at the paternal homestead. The latter re- ceived excellent educational advantages in the graded schools of Ansonia and Beams- ville, Ohio, and is a young man of much in- tellectual force. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, having cast his first presidential vote for William Jennings Bryan, and frater- nally he is identified with Lodge No. 356, Knights of Pvthias, at Ansonia, in which he holds the office of master-of-arms. Mrs. Hartzell was summoned into eternal rest in September, 1888, and on the 15th of Decem- ber, 1898, Mr. Hartzell wedded Miss Laura Sharp, who was born in Darke county, the daughter of Perry and Maacha ( Schwartz) Sharp, who were the parents of ten chil- dren. The father was a native of New Jer- sey, and the mother of Pennsylvania, and both are residents of Brown township, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hartzell three children have been born, one being deceased, while those living are Maachia and an infant boy. Mrs. Hartzell ably fills her place as a wife and mother, being truly a helpmeet to her husband.

In politics Mr. Hartzell gives his sup- port to the principles and policies advanced by the Democratic party, his first presiden- tial ballot having been for the support of General George B. McClellan, and he has ever since been a stanch advocate of the party cause. Officially he has served as trustee of Richland township, and, being a firm friend of the cause of education, lie has been called upon to act as school trustee

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both in Ansonia and in Richland township, holding such preferment for more than six years. He holds advanced ideas in regard to the schools, and believes that only com- petent teachers should be employed and that the highest possible standard should be main- tained in every branch of educational work. In the fall of 1899 Mr. Hartzell was elected land appraiser of Richland township, an ap- pointment whose tenure extends over a full decade. This preferment clearly indicates

the confidence and high regard bestowed upon our subject in the community. Mr.

Hartzell purchased part of the old home- stead of one hundred and fifteen acres, all located in Richland township. The soil is a rich black loam, admirably adapted for the cultivation of cereals, and various other crops, including tobacco and potatoes. Mr. Hartzell is classed as a practical, progress- ive agriculturist, and as a scion of one of the old and prominent families of Darke county we are pleased to offer this tribute in connection with this important genealog- ical record of the county.

Fraternally our subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 356, at Ansonia, of which he was a charter member, and he is also a member of Lodge No. 488. of the Free and Accepted Masons, at An- sonia.

VALENTINE GRUSENMEYER.

Among the native sons of Ohio who in the business world have attained success. winning prosperity through earnest purpose, careful management and honorable dealing, Valentine Grusenmeyer is numbered. He is a son of George Michael Grusenmeyer, who was born on the 21st of June, 1820, in Alsace, France, a section of the country

now in possession of the Germans. Hav- ing arrived at years of maturity he wedded Elizabeth Schammer, who was born in Ba- den, Germany, February 18, 1826. In 1846 George Michael Grusenmeyer emigrated to the new world, locating near Troy, Ohio, where he was employed for six years. On the expiration of that period he returned to the fatherland, and when he again came to America brought with him his mother, his brothers and sisters, the family, eight in number, locating near Dayton, Ohio. His father had died during his sojourn in Amer- ica. Of the family four are still living, namely : Mrs. Lena Lepbart and Mrs. Mary Roth, both of Dayton; and Anthony and Joseph, who are residents of Logans- port, Indiana.

Mr. and Mrs. George Michael Grusen- meyer became the parents of eight children, four of whom are still living, as follows: Anthony, Mrs. Mary Ruh; Mrs. Lizzie Heck, of Dayton, Ohio, and Valentine, whose name introduces this review.

Valentine Grusenmeyer was born near Dayton, on the 8th of October, 1854. and entered upon his business career as a gar- (lener. His father followed that pursuit, and for him our subject worked until he was twenty-four years of age, when he went to Logansport, Indiana, where he was em- ployed for a year. On the expiration of that period he returned and cultivated his father's garden for a period of two years. In 1881 he came to Darke county and com- menced gardening on his own place. called the "East Side Garden," but in October, 1891, he abandoned that pursuit and ent- barked in the grocery business in connection with Jacob Goetz. They conducted a store in Versailles, Ohio, for a year, after which they removed their stock into the Anderson

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building in Greenville, where they carried on business through the succeeding year. Mr. Grusenmeyer then began business as a wholesale dealer in fruit and vegetables. In 1893 he purchased the Ruth grocery and carried on the dual enterprise for a period of five years. When that time had elapsed he established a branch store in the St. Clair building, and in the spring of 1898 he sold the store in the Ruth building to the firm of Lampa & Maher, continuing business, how- ever, in the St. Clair building through the succeeding sixteen months. He then sold his large stock of groceries to Ray M. G:1- bert and removed his fruit and vegetable store into the Waring building He is a man of marked enterprise and indefatigable energy who gives close attention to the con- duct of his mercantile affairs and follows mnost systematic and honorable methods.

In ISSI was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Grusenmeyer and Miss Mary Seybold, of Logansport, Indiana. They took up their residence in Greenville, and unto them were born nine children: Ersula, born Au- gust 30, 1882; George B., born July 13, 1884; Frances C., born January 30, 1886; Savier, born November 25, 1888; Anastasia, born February 5, 1890; Clara, born March 1,1892, and died September 1 of the same year; John, who was born September II, 1894; Oscar, born September 24, 1896; and Engene, born October 6, 1898. After re- siding for three years in Greenville Mr. and Mrs. Grusenmeyer removed to their farm, which is just outside the city limits, and there make their home. They were reared in the Catholic faith, have always adhered to that religious belief and are now instructing their children therein. In Darke county they have a wide acquaintance and are high- ly esteemed for their many excellencies of

character, while in business circles Mr. Gru- senmeyer enjoys an unassailable reputation that has come to him as the result of incor- ruptible integrity in all his dealings.

DAVID HARTLE.

The pioneers of a county or state play a most conspicuous part in its history, laying the foundation not only for its present ad- vancement, but for its future prosperity and progress. The pioneers of Ohio, by their sturdy industry, perseverance and sterling characters, have made the wilderness to "blossom as the rose." Among those who in early frontier days resided in Darke coun- ty, bearing his part in the work of advance- ment and development, is David Hartle. Some of his ancestors were very early set- tlers of Darke county, and here entered land from the government.

The subject of this review is one of its native sons. He was born January 30, 1824, and is the ninth in a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, whose parents were Jacob and Catherine (Spade) Hartle. He is now the only sur- vivor of this pioneer family, and is the old- est native resident of Richland township, and possibly of Darke county, as he has passed the seventy-sixth milestone on the journey of life. His father was born near Hagerstown, Washington county, Maryland, October 5, 1779, and died April 6, 1850. His birth occurred twenty years previous to the death of General George Washing- ton. He traced huis ancestry directly back to Germany. He was reared as a tiller of the soil, and was early inured to the hard- ships and privations of pioneer life. £ He received a rudimentary education in the subscription schools of the early times, and

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during much of his youth remained in his native state. When a boy, however, he re- moved to Pennsylvania, and was there mar- ried. About 1805 he emigrated to Ohio, rcaching the Buckeye state only three years after its admission to the Union. He lo- cated in Pickaway county, where he pur- chased land and made his home for ten years, after which he came to Darke county and entered three hundred and twenty acres of land from the government, in what is now Richland township. The county was not then organized, this entire portion of the state being known as the Miami district. The Indians were far more numerous than the white settlers, and the work of civiliza- tion and progress seemed scarcely begun. The first habitation of the Hartles in Darke county was a primitive log cabin, and during its erection the family took refuge in old Fort Briar, which was erected on the banks of Stillwater creek, in the vicinity of the farm now owned by Job Shafer. In that fort the family remained from March until May, and then took up their abode in their new home. The county was largely in its primitive condition, and many a wild deer and turkey did the father kill in the vicinity of the Hartle home. Such primitive agri- cultural implements as the sickle, the flail and the old-fashioned four-fingered cradle were in use, and many are the days in which David Hartle has swung a cradle and scythe from early morning until eventide. The father was possessed of an energetic and sturdy Teutonic spirit, was thrifty and in- dustrious and was successful to a large de- gree, accumulating land to the extent of five hundred and sixty acres in Darke county. He was imbued with a progressive spirit, withholding his support from no measure or movement which he believed would prove of

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 82

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