A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 83

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

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public good, and this commendable quality has been inherited by his children and grand- children. In politics he was a Democrat and a great admirer of Andrew Jackson, and throughout his life he gave a loyal support to the party. He held membership in the German Reformed church. His wife died during the early boyhood of our subject, who therefore knows little of her ancestry, and has never experienced a mother's kind- ness and loving care.

David Hartle, of this review, one of the most honored pioneers of Darke county, has spent almost three-quarters of a century in Richland township. He has witnessed a wonderful transformation in the condition of Darke county, has seen it crossed by a great network of railroads, while the forest tracts have been replaced by beautiful, well- tilled farms, improved with fine brick resi- dences; churches and school-houses have been built and all the accessories of civiliza- tion added. The beautiful city of Green- ville, with a population of eight thousand, has taken the place of Fort Greenville, then hardly a hamlet. All of these improve- ments have been made since Mr. Hartle has been a resident of Darke county, and he has been instrumental in its development to a large degree. He has also witnessed the building of one thousand miles of splendid stone pike roads within the borders of the county, and has seen a transformation wrought that almost equals scenes from the Arabian Nights, so quickly have the changes been made.

Mr. Hartle acquired a fair education in the schools of his day and by personal appli- cation mastered the studies taught at the time. He began his education in the win- ter of 1831, in a hewed-log building, 18x18 feet, into which light was admitted through

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three little windows, the panes being 8x10 inches. The benchies were crude in con- struction, being made of split blue ash slabs, from fourteen to sixteen fect in lengthi, placed upon four wooden legs or pins. The writing desks for the older scholars were formed of a black-walnut board, sixteen inches wide and resting on thole pins driven into the wall. The floor was of puncheon and the ceiling was constructed in a similar manner. This primitive school building was heated by a large, old-fashioned fire- place, constructed of boulders up to the dis- tance where the jamb began. The chimney was made of mud and sticks, as there were no brick manufactured in that early day in Darke county. The roof was made of clap- boards, held in place by a heavy log, and the birch rod and the dunce-block formed an important part in the discipline of the school. The school was conducted on the subscrip- tion plan, for the splendid system of public schools was not then inaugurated. The text-books used were Webster's spelling book-the one previous to "Webster's blue- back speller"-Pike's arithmetic, the Uni- versal History of the United States and the old English reader. Mr. Hartle has in his library a copy of the Tutor's Guide, pub- lished in 1804, the key of which was pub- lished in 1806. Such is the description of the temple of Minerva in which Mr. Hartle gathered his learning in pioneer days. He was reared to manhood amid the wild scenes of the Buckeye state, and throughout his life has carried on farming. His parents were sturdy people, of great endurance, and lic resembled his maternal ancestry, being a man of large size, strong and robust. In his youth he was particularly fond of ath- letics, in which he greatly excelled. Tlie amtisements enjoyed by young people in

those days consisted of apple-parings, log- rollings and corn-huskings, which were fol- lowed by games and amusements in the eve- ning. Out of the dense forest Mr. Hartle hewed a farm for himself and has always carried on agricultural pursuits.

He was married, June 3, 1852, to Miss Rebecca Shults, who was born in York county, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1822, and died January 22, 1899. She was a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Gregor) Shults, and came with her parents to War- ren county, Ohio, in 1840. In 1845 they removed' to Greenville township, Darke county, where the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hartle was celebrated. For almost a half a century she was to her husband a faithful companion and helpmate on the journey of life, sharing with him its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. At length the wife was taken, leaving a vacant chair in the household, her death being a great blow to her husband. Her remains were interred in the Beamsville cemetery, where a beauti- ful monument marks her last resting place. Unto this worthy couple were born four sons and a daughter. Frank P. is a pros- perons farmer of Richland township, and is married and has five children. He is a Republican in his political views. Orrin C., an agriculturist of the same township, is married and has four children. Dayton Fre- mont, named in honor of the celebrated John C. Fremont, resides in Richland township, and is married and has two children. David O. is a resident farmer of German township, and he, too, is married. Calla Belle is the wife of Hollis Hartzell, an enterprising ag- riculturist of Brown township, by whom she lias three children. Mr. Hartzell is a Demo- crat in his political views, but all of the sons of the family are stanch Republicans.

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After his marriage Mr. Hartle estab- lished his home in the midst of a forest so dense that he could hardly see the sun through the branches of the trees. He had eighty acres of land and a little frame house. He would walk to his work six miles away, and there fell trees, clearing his land pre- paratory to placing it under cultivation. Prosperity has attended his well directed and continuous efforts, and as his financial re- sources have increased he has added to liis possessions until he now owns three hun- dred and seventy acres of land. His chil- dren are also well situated in life. Much of his leisure time has been given to the study of the best literature, and he is now a well informed man. He retains his mental vigor to a remarkable degree, although he is now upon the downward slope of life. He has in his possession a piece of the con- tinental currency issued in 1777. His grandfather was a teamster in the Revolu- tionary war and was paid in that money, and after purchasing a little farm in Mary- land he had a few pieces of the script left, one of which was inherited by our subject. Its value was about nine pence, and it is now treasured as a priceless heirloom, although at that time in purchasable value it was almost worthless. On the reverse side of the bill is the inscription, "To counterfeit this money is death." It is probably the only piece of continental currency in Darke county. In his political views Mr. Hartle has always been independent, voting for the man whom he considered best qualified for office. He cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren. He supported our two martyred presidents, Lincoln and Garfield, and also voted for General Grant. He is a warm friend of the cause of temperance and of the little red school house, and believes

in securing competent teachers and giving them remunerative salaries. At one time lic taught school for seven years and long served as a school director in his neighbor- hood. His wife was a member of the Ger- man Reformed church, while he advances the doctrines of the Universalist church. He is benevolent and has contributed toward the erection of four different churches, two in Greenville, one in Pikesville and one in Beamsville. He is a man well known for his sterling honor and integrity, and over the record of his life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. His memory will remain as a blessed benediction to those who knew him long after he shall have com- pleted the journey of life.

DAVID WELLER BOWMAN.

Among the leading and prominent attor- neys of Greenville, Ohio, none are meeting with better success than the subject of this review. He is a native of Darke county, born on a farm two miles east of New Madi- son, January 20, 1860, and is the second son of George W. and Phebe ( Noggle) Bow- man. The father was a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and came to Darke county, Ohio, with his parents in 1838. On the maternal side our subject's grandfather, Michael Noggle, was also of Pennsylvania stock, his ancestors being residents of Frank- lin county, that state, but early in the nine- teenth century the family came to Ohio. Our subject's maternal grandmother was of Eng- lish descent and her people made their home in Georgia and the Carolinas before coming to this state.

The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the common schools of the neighborhood

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and in the high school at Greenville. At the age of eighteen he commenced teaching school and taught eighteen months before attaining his majority. On the 4th of April, 18SI, he entered the office of Allen, Riffle & Otwell, attorneys of Greenville, and began the study of law. In October following he entered the office of Hon. J. W. Sater, with whom he pursued his legal studies until May I, 1883, on which date he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court at Columbus. He at once began the practice of law at Greenville and on the 4th of February, 1884, formed a partnership with Hon. D. L. Meek- er, a connection which continued until May 14, 1888, when the firm dissolved partner- ship on account of the election of Mr. Meeker to the office of common pleas judge. On the Ist of July, 1888, Mr. Bowman entered into partnership with Hon. C. M. Anderson, with whom he is still associated, and they enjoy a large and lucrative practice. They rank among the ablest attorneys of Darke county, and, as prominence at the bar comes through merit alone, their skill and ability are attested by the liberal patronage they receive.

ABDEL PETERS.

Abdel Peters, who has served his fellow townsmen in official positions and is known as a practical and progressive agriculturist of Darke county, was born in Richland town- ship on the 14th of October, 1855, a son of Christian and Marie (Sloniker) Peters, who had a family of two sons and one daughter. The father was born January 13, 1815, in Oldendorf, Prussia, and died on the Iothi of March, 1893, at the age of seventy-eight years. He remained in the country of liis birth until 1847, when he determined to seek

a home in America, believing that he might better his financial condition in the land of the free. He had no money to pay his pas- sage, but he borrowed the necessary amount and in a sailing vessel crossed the briny deep. from the city of Havre, France. Eleven weeks had elapsed before the passengers sighted land. Mr. Peters not only came to this country a poor man, but was totally tin- acquainted with the English language. He possessed strong and resolute purpose, how- ever, and these qualities stood him in stead of capital. After arriving he at once made his way to Dayton, Montgomery county, Ohio, where he began life in the new world as a wage-earner. His first purchase of land was a tract of eighty acres in Richland town- ship, Darke county. It was covered with natural forest trees, which he had to cut away in order to make room to erect his first log cabin. The first barn which he built was also a log structure. He resided in Darke county when there was not a single railroad within its borders and later he worked on the construction of the Panhandle Railroad. He could also remember Green- ville when it was a hamlet containing not a dozen houses. He took an active interest in everything pertaining to the growth and improvement of his county, and he and his wife were liberal contributors toward the erection of the beautiful St. John's church in Greenville township. They also took an active part in the church work, doing all in their power to promote the cause of Chris- tianity. When called to their final rest their remains were interred in the St. John's Lui- theran cemetery, where now stands a beauti- ful monument sacred to their memory. In his political views Mr. Peters was a Demo- crat. His wife, who was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, in 1827, passed away

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in 1899. Her children rise up and call her blessed, for to them she was a faithful and loving mother. Maggie, the only daughter, was educated in the common schools and now makes her home with her brother, Abdel, who was the second of the family. Like her parents, she is a member of the St. John's Lutheran church at Greenville. James, a younger son, resides on the old homestead in Richland township, his atten- tion being given to farming. He married Miss Flora Lang and they have one son.

Mr. Peters, of this review, remained with his parents until he had attained his ma- jority, assisting his father in the operation of the home farm. He began to earn his own living by working as a farm hand, re- ceiving twelve dollars per month in com- pensation for his services. He was indus- trious and energetic, and with the capital which he had acquired through his un- flagging effort and his economy, he was at length enabled to purchase land. He re- mained with his father until he was twenty- nine years of age and then spent one year in raising tobacco for his brother-in-law, John Clark. After his marriage he rented land in Greenville township for two years, dur- ing which time he saved five hundred dol- lars. This he invested in fifty-six acres of land, their present home, and though he took up his abode upon the place burdened by an indebtedness of thirty-one hundred and forty dollars, his resolute energy en- abled him to courageously face the future. He was assisted and encouraged by his es- timable wife, who has ever been to him a true helpmeet. When he located on the farm only three fields had been fenced and no fence had been built around the home, which was a poor little structure. Since then, how- ever, Mr. Peters has erected a very pleasant 29

residence and has built a large barn, 90x32 feet, which furnishes shelter for stock, grain and farm implements. In 1899 he also erected a tobacco warehouse at a cost of six hundred dollars.

It was on the Ist of May, 1884, that Mr. Peters was united in marriage to Miss Min- nie Shafer, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, March 10, 1862, a daughter of Christian and Louisa ( Edmire) Shafer, whose family numbered eight children, two sons and six daughters. All are yet living and are residents of Darke county. The only sister of Mrs. Peters is Mollie, wife of Louis Dohmna, a business man of Greenville. The father is now a resident of Greenville township, is a successful farmer and honored citizen. The mother, however, has passed away. Mrs. Peters was only two years of age when brought by her parents to Darke coun- ty. She received a good education in the German tongue and when about fifteen years of age was confirmed as a member of the Lutheran church. By her marriage she has become the mother of one son and two daughters. Susie, the eldest, was confirmed at the age of fourteen years in the Lutheran church by Rev. C. H. Mayer. She possesses considerable musical ability. Louisa, the sec- ond daughter, is attending school, and Clar- ence completes the family. The parents have a thorough appreciation of the value of ed- ucation and intend that their children shall have good advantages in that direction, re- ceiving intellectual training in both the Ger- man and English languages. Both Mr. and Mrs. Peters enjoy the high regard of many warm friends in the community. He ex- ercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party and cast his first vote for Hon. Samuel J. Tilden in 1876, since which time he has

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upheld the principles of Democracy. He has served as township trustee, having been elected to that office in 1895 for a three-years term. He discharged his duties so capably that he was re-elected in 1898 and is there- fore the present incumbent, being recognized as an official who has the public good at heart and is prompt and reliable in perform- ing the duties which devolve upon him. As a business man he is energetic and trust- worthy. His time is given to the cultivation of corn, wheat, oats and tobacco, and he is a practical and progressive farmer. His home is pleasantly situated about a mile and a half from Dawn, two and a half miles from Ansonia and nine miles from Green- ville, the county seat. Everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance and the owner is regarded as one of the leading agriculturists of his community. His en- tire life has been spent in this locality and Darke county may well be proud to number him among her native sons. His wife is a most estimable lady, who has been to him a capable assistant, and, like her husband, she enjoys the regard of many friends.

WILLIAM M. HARPER.

William Marion Harper is the proprietor of one of the oldest established jewelry houses of Greenville and belongs to that class of enterprising merchants who, in the legiti- mate channels of trade and by the careful management of their business interests, an- nually augment their capital, and are known as substantial residents of the communities which they represent.

Mr. Harper was born in Greenville town- ship, Darke county, upon his father's farm October 30, 1835. He is a son of William Sanford Harper, who was born in Trumbull

county, Ohio, July 11, 1810, and became one of the early settlers of this section of the state. He married Miss Delilah Arnold, a native of Ohio and a daughter of William Arnold. On leaving Trumbull county Will- iam Sanford Harper took up his abode in Butler county, Ohio, and thence came to Darke county, in 1823, locating on a farm in Greenville township, where he remained un- til 1874. In that year he took up his abode in the city of Greenville, where he is still living, in his ninetieth year,-a venerable old man, receiving uniform respect from. young and old, rich and poor. His first wife, whom he wedded September 5, 1832, died on the farm in 1875. She was the mother of four children: Elizabethi, the wife of Thomas Culbertson; William M .; John; and Catherine, who died in her eleventh year. In 1875 Mr. Harper was again mar- ried, his second union being with Mrs. Sarah J. Culbertson, the widow of John Culbert- son and a daughter of Peter Elston. Mrs. Harper was born in Washington township, Darke county, December 29, 1823.

In the usual manner of farmer lads Will- iam M. Harper, of this review, spent his boyhood days and in the district schools of the neighborhood he acquired his education, to which he has added by reading, observa- tion and experience until he has become a well informed man. At the age of twenty- one he entered upon his business career, learning the jeweler's trade of Mr. Webb in Greenville, to whom he served a regular ap- prenticeship. On its completion he started in business for himself in Greenville and for a time was associated with Mr. Webb. He now has a large store and carries a good stock of clocks, watchies and silverware. As he is a practical and skilled workman he also does much repairing and cleaning and

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adjusting of high-grade watches in his line. During his long residence in this city he has become widely and favorably known and has also many acquaintances throughout Darke county. Many of these are numbered among his patrons and he is enjoying a good trade, which shows that his business meth- ods are reliable and that he has the con- ficence of the community.

On the 13th of November, 1861, Mr. Harper was united in marriage to Miss Helen M. Angel, of Bluffton, Indiana, a daughter of David Angel and Adaline Por- ter Angel. They had two sons, William Angel, who was born August 5, 1862, and is now living in Columbus, Ohio ; and Harlie Bliss, who was born February 17, 1869 and died November 24, 1899, at the age of thirty years. The sons learned the jeweler's art in their father's store and became expert en- gravers and jewelers. The mother passed away November 11, 1877. Mr. Harper mar- ried Mrs. Vicie C. Barnhiser, of Eaton, Ohio, August 4, 1886. She died in Green- ville January 22, 1891. He was again mar- ried, February 15. 1893, Miss Anna E. Manor, of Greenville, Ohio, becoming his . wife. She was the daughter of William Manor, who was a Union soldier in the civil war and died in the service. Mrs. Eliza- beth Manor, her mother, is still living, is eighty-three years of age and retains her mental faculties. She is loved and honored by all who know her. Mrs. Harper was a teacher in the public schools of Greenville for several years. She and Mr. Harper are leading and valued members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and are highly re- spected by all who know them, and the circle of their friends is only limited by the circle of their acquaintances. Mr. Ilarper is a man of even temperament, of refined char-

acter and appearance. Nature deals kindly with the man who abuses not her laws, and though he has long been in business age rests lightly upon him.

JACOB K. TURNER.

Prominent among the business men of Greenville, Ohio, is numbered Jacob K. Tur- ner, who is now successfully engaged in the real estate and loan business. He is a na- tive of this state, his birth occurring in the village of Liberty, Montgomery county, De- cember 5, 1838, and he is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Burtch) Turner, both na- tives of Pennsylvania. The father was born in Lancaster county and in early life learned the cabinetmaker's trade. After his mar- riage he located in Liberty, Ohio, where he followed his chosen occupation for sev- eral years and enjoyed a large trade, as all of the furniture at that day was made by hand. He also manufactured coffins and in that branch of his business was kept ex- tremely busy, especially during the cholera epidemics in 1848 and 1850.

The subject of this sketch began his ed- ucation in the public schools of Liberty, but having lost his mother when he was quite small he removed to a farm and completed his education in the country schools, which he attended until eighteen years of age. Subsequently he was variously employed un- til 1862, when he came to Greenville and obtained a position as a clerk in the store of Adams & Snyder, dry-goods merchants, with whom he remained for three years. During the following seven years he was in the employ of Moore & Wenner, also merchants of Greenville, and at the end of that time embarked in the grocery business on his own account at that place. On dis-

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posing of his stock of groceries he turned his attention to the real estate and loan busi- ness, to which he has since devoted his en- ergies, handling farm and city property for both local and eastern parties. In this en- terprise he lias met with well deserved suc- cess.

In 1864 Mr. Turner was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah Doty, who died the following year. For his second wife he mar- ried Miss Lanasa Meisse, of Greenville, a daughter of the late Dr. Meisse, an early settler and one of the prominent physicians of that place. By this union were born four children, namely: William A., who is in the railroad service at Washington, D. C .; Frank A., who is interested in the same business at Decatur, Alabama; August M., a civil engineer in the Indian territory ; and Rome E. Turner, at home.

GEORGE S. BYRD.

Long a resident of Darke county, Mr. Byrd belongs to that class of enterprising American citizens who while promoting their individual success also contribute to the public good through the support of many measures which they believe will prove of general benefit. He is numbered among the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred within its borders June 2. 1843. He is the eldest of a family of ten chil- dren, four sons and six daughters, who were born unto Abraham and Emma (Radfeld) Byrd. The father was born in Rocking- ham county, Virginia, February 18, 1804. and his parents were natives of Germany, whence they emigrated to the new world, becoming the founders of the family in America. He remained with his parents during his minority and gave to thein the

benefit of his services. At an early age he learned the brick and stone mason's trade and later in life became an agriculturist. His educational privileges were limited, but he was reared to be an honest lad and to make the most of his opportunities, and steadily he advanced in life, commanding the respect of all with whom he came in contact. In 1838 he started westward and made a trip through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky on horseback, after which he returned to his home. He visited the site of the present city of Springfield, Illinois, when there were but few houses there and almost the entire state was in a barren, un- cultivated condition. In 1840 he took up his abode in Darke county, purchasing eighty acres of land almost entirely unim- proved, the greater part of it being covered with a dense growth of timber, but a small clearing had been made.

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 83

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