A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 85

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

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people. In their family were ten children, six sons and four daughters, and with one exception all grew up, were married and are still living. namely: Mrs. Mahala Eliza- beth King, who was born October 27, 1860, and has been three times married; John Ilenry, a farmer of Miami county, Ohio, born April 5, 1862; Isaac N., our subject ; Benjamin Franklin, a farmer of Darke coun- ty, born June 13, 1865; Mrs. Sarah Jane Young, of Delaware county, Indiana, born January 31, 1867 ; Jacob Albert, a farmer of Darke county, Ohio, born July 2, 1869; Mrs. Harriet Ann Trissell, born July 22, 1871 ; Samuel Theodore, a resident of Miami coun- ty, born March 9, 1873: Chloe Ellen, de- ceased. born November 21, 1874; and Abra- fam, of Darke county, born September 28, 1876.

During his boyhood Isaac N. Booker received a good common-school education, and remained at home until he attained his majority. On the 22d of January, 1888, he was united in marriage with Miss Lillian Roselle Hartzell, of Greenville township, who belongs to a most worthy and intel- lectual family. Her maternal grandfather, John S. Shepperd, was a native of this state, while his wife, Susan Hartpence, was born in New Jersey and in early life came to Ohio. After their marriage, in 1838, they settled ini Greenville, and Mr. Shepperd became one of its most prominent citizens, serving as postmaster and in other important official positions connected with the court house. His son, W. W. Shepperd, was.recorder and beld nearly every county office. He was born October 12, 1841, and died February 3, 1887. He was a man of unswerving in- tegrity and irreproachable habits, and he had the entire confidence and respect of his fellow citizens. His mother, who was a

most noble woman, died November 10, ISS3. Mrs. Booker's father, Charles W. Hartzell, was born in 1839, and has spent his entire life on a farm in Greenville township, en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He was married, March 7, 1866, to Emma Shepperd, a native of this county, and to them were born four children, namely: Elmer Sanford, who was born April 14, 1867, assists in the operation of the home farm; Lillian Rozell, born December 15, 1870, is the wife of our subject ; John Homer, who was born Septem- ber 22, 1873, is a graduate of Delaware Col- lege, was professor in an educational institut- tion in Pike county, Ohio, and is now a med- ical student in Cleveland; and Olive May, born May 30, 1875, died December 19, 1878, at the age of three years. Mr. and Mrs: Booker have four children : Ethel Leonora, born in 1889; Florence Belle, in 1890; San- ford Charles, in 1892; and Wallace Hartzell, in 1895.

In early life Mr. Booker engaged in farming in Wabash township, but in No- vember, 1898, he sold his farm and removed to North Star, buying the hardware stock and trade of R. Mendenhall. He is now doing a large and profitable business, and is the owner of his store building and home in North Star. As a Democrat lie takes quite an influential part in local politics, and in 1894 he was elected town clerk, which office he has filled for six years in a most creditable and satisfactory manner. Re- ligiously both he and his wife are members of the Christian church.

JOB M. WINTERS.

Darke county, Ohio, one of the historical sections of the Buckeye state, has within her borders many men who have left the

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impress of their individuality upon its his- tory-men to whose efforts may be attributed the substantial growth and prosperity of the community and whose labors have led to advancement along social, intellectual and moral lines. This section of the state, which was once the home of the red men and the abiding place of the noted chieftain well known in connection with Indian warfare which occurred during the time of our sec- ond struggle with England, is now a tract oi well tilled fields, the property of prosper- cus agriculturists, whose sons and daugh- ters stand side by side with the children of capitalists and bankers in the colleges and universities of to-day. Washington has said that "farming is the most honorable as well as the most useful occupation to which man devotes his energies," and the utterance is as true to-day as when spoken more than a century ago. It has been largely due to the agriculturists of the community that marked changes have occurred in Darke county, until it would almost seem as if a magic wand had been waved over this fair region, transforming the wild forests into blossom- ing fields. To this class belongs Mr. Win- ters, the subject of this review.

He first opened his eyes to the light of day amid the picturesque scenery of the Blue Ridge mountains, his birth having oc- curred in Fulton county, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of November, 1835. He is the youngest in a family of five children, three sons and two daughters. His parents are George and Anna (Mann) Winters. Four of the children are yet living, namely : John, who formerly followed carpentering and building, but is now engaged in agricult- ural pursuits in Pennsylvania; Margaret, who is living in this state; Dorothy, wife of Jonathan Yonker, a farmer of Darke county,

Ohio; and Job M. The father of this fam- ily was also a native of Pennsylvania and was of German lineage. He obtained a good education and became a mechanic. He died July 12, 1836, at the age of forty- two years, when our subject was a little child. His wife, also a native of Pennsyl- vania, died July 30, 1855, at the age of fifty- five years.

J. M. Winters, of this review, was reared on the home farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He remained in his native state during his minority and ac- quired a good practical education in' the common schools. He applied himself dili- gently to the mastery of his studies and thus became able to teach, following that pro- fession for a time. As the result of his industry and economy he had acquired a capital of two hundred dollars by the time he attained his majority, and like many other enterprising young men of the east hie de- termined to try his fortunes in some of the newer districts of the west. Accordingly he came to Darke county, Ohio, and during his identification with the business interests of this locality he has steadily worked his way upward until he has attained a position among the substantial residents of the com- munity. He chose for a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Rhoda Brewer, a native of Darke county, their mar- riage being celebrated on the Ist of March, 1860. Eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, have been born of their union, and nine of the number are yet living. Ella, the eldest, is the wife of Thomas Mitchell. a farmer, by whom she has six children. Clara is the wife of William Warvell, a resident farmer of Richland township. Marion, a carpenter and joiner by trade, is

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inarried and resides in Muncie, Indiana. Rufus, who is also married, is a successful commercial traveler residing in Delaware, Ohio. Orpha is the wife of George S. York, a son of one of the prominent pio- neers of Darke county. George, who was a student in the schools of Greenville, Ohio, and a graduate of the Terre Haute Poly- technic Institute, is now a civil engineer, following his profession in Mexico. Clar- ence is engaged in the dairy business in con- nection with his father and brother, Oscar, who is the next of the family. Homer, the youngest, is an expert mechanic. Mr. and Mrs. Winters have given their children good educational privileges, thus fitting them for life's practical and responsible duties.

After their marriage our subject and his wife located on a farm a short distance east of their present beautiful homestead, where Mr. Winters rented land for four years. He then made his first purchase of real es- tate, becoming the owner of eiglity acres on section 28, Richland township. He had little capital and had to go in debt for the greater part of the land, but by diligence and economy was soon enabled to meet the pay- ments, and as his financial resources in- creased he added to his farm until it now comprises three hundred and forty acres of rich and arable land. The excellent im- provements upon it stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. These include a nice brick residence and commodious barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. Mr. Winters engages in the culti- vation of corn, oats, wheat and tobacco and is extensively engaged in the dairy busi- ness in connection with his sons, Clarence and Oscar. They began the manufacture of butter in 1895, and to-day have a very modern and complete outfit, their plant con-

taining a six-horse-power engine, a complex Baby de Lavel separator and other requisite machinery. They have a herd of twenty- six Jersey, Guernsey and Durham cows and manufacture a grade of butter which is un- excelled by any on the market. Their annual output is nine thousand pounds, and their business is carried on on scientific and practical principles, so, that they are enabled to tell the cost of each cow and the revenue derived from the herd. In February, 1900, their butter was tested at Columbus, at the Ohio Dairymen's Association, where it scored ninety-nine points out of a possible hundred, a fact which is certainly creditable, not only to Mr. Winters and his sons, but to Darke county as well.

Oscar Winters is an enterprising young business man, well qualified to carry on the enterprise of which he acts as foreman. Having acquired a good preliminary edu- cation in the common schools, he took a course in the Dairy School in the State Col- lege of Pennsylvania, and is therefore very competent in the line of his chosen work. The firm finds a ready sale for all the but- ter they can manufacture and expect to en- large their facilities at an early date.

For thirty-six years Mr. and Mrs. Win- ters have resided in Darke county and are numbered among its most highly estee.ned citizens. In politics he has been a stanch Democrat since casting his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas, the "little giant of the west." He has always stanch- ly upheld the. banner of Democracy and advocated those principles and measures which tend to promote the best inter- ests of the masses. His felow towns- men, recognizing his worth and ability, have elected him for nine consecutive terms to the office of township treasurer, wherein he has

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discharged his duties in a most creditable manner. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend. and for six or eight years he has served as a member of the school board. He has frequently been a delegate to county and congressional conventions and is a recognized leader in the ranks of his party in this locality. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Christian church at Beamsville, and contributed generously of their means toward the erection of the house of worship there. He has also aided in the upbuilding of the churches at Brock and Ansonia, and has not withheld his sup- port from other measures and movements which tend to the betterment of mankind. His son, Oscar, is organist in the Sunday school of the Christian church at Beams- ville. The family is one of prominence in the community, enjoying the high regard of all with whom they have come in contact.

WILLIAM ALLEN.

William Allen, the prominent lawyer, judge and legislator of Greenville, Ohio, was born in Butler county, this state, August 13, 1827, and died July 6, 1881, in Green- ville. His father, John Allen, was a native of Ireland, born January 26, 1800, and came to America in 1812. After residing six years in New York, he located in Butler county, Ohio, in 1818, and in February, 1838, moved his family into the sparsely settled forests of Darke county, where he erected a log-cabin, having a split-log floor and mud and stick chimney. He died on the 2d of October, 1858, a very much respected citizen. He possessed fine conversational powers, and in the latter part of his life was a preacher of the United Brethren church.

Our subject was favored with the ad-

vantages of the common schools only, yet by earnest personal application he qualified himself to teach the English branches at the age of fifteen, and in this way for sev- eral years employed his winters. At the age of nineteen he began reading law under the late Felix Marsh, of Eaton, Ohio, was admitted to the bar in June, 1849, and the following October began practice at Green- ville. He met with success in his chosen calling and became one of the most promi- nent and successful lawyers of Darke county.

On the 30th of September, 1851, Mr. Allen married Miss Priscilla, daughter of John Wallace, a native of Pennsylvania, and an early pioneer of Butler county, Ohio, who settled in Darke county in 1834, and died in the summer of 1863, at the age of about eighty years. He was always recog- nized as an upright man and an excellent citizen. The children born of this marriage were five sons and three daughters, of whom only one son is now living. ( His sketch is given next). Four of the children died of diphtheria under the most afflicting cir- cumstances, and within the brief space of two months. This was in the winter of 1861, when Mr. Allen was summoned home from Washington city to the scene of be- reavement.

Early in life Mr. Allen became promi- nently identified with public affairs, and has been called upon to fill several important official positions. In the fall of 1850 lie was elected prosecuting attorney of Darke county. and re-elected in 1852. In the fall of 1858 he was elected representative to congress from the fourth district of Ohio, comprising the counties of Miami, Darke, Shelby, Mercer, Allen and Auglaize, and re- elected in 1860, thus serving in the thirty- sixth and thirty-seventh congresses. In the

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winter of 1865 he was appointed by Gov- ernor Cox as judge of the court of com- mon pleas of the first sub-division of the second judicial district of Ohio, com- posed of the counties of Butler, Darke and Preble, to fill an unexpired term in the place of Judge David L. Meeker, re- signed. In 1872 he was a member of the Grant electoral college, and also an elector for Garfield in 1880. The electors of Ohio, after casting their vote for the latter, paid him a visit of congratulation at his home' in Mentor, Ohio. Mr. Allen was again nominated for congress on the Republican ticket from the fifth congressional district of Ohio in the summer of 1878, but de- clined the lionor on account of ill health. Of local positions, it may be mentioned that he was president of the Greenville Bank, then a private enterprise, conducted under the firm name of Hufnagle, Allen & Com- pany.

Mr. Allen began the world in poverty, was reared in a rough log cabin, and enjoyed none of the golden opportunities for social and educational improvement which are lavishly bestowed on the youth of to-day, but he always made the most of his ad- vantages, and without the aid of influence or wealth rose to a position among the most prominent men of his county, his native genius and acquired ability being the step- ping stones on which he mounted. As a lawyer his career was successful, while his record as a statesman was creditable to him- self and satisfactory to his constituents.

BENJAMIN M. ALLEN.

This gentleman, the only son of William Allen, was born in the village of Greenville, Ohio, July 3, 1868, and his boyhood was

spent there. He obtained his education in its public schools, was an apt student and was graduated in the high school in the year 1888, passing through a five-years course of study with credit to himself. He then took a commercial course at Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York. Re- turning to Greenville lie turned his atten- tion to farming and stock raising until 1899 and had one of the finest herds of blooded cattle in the state of Ohio. He afterward discontintted his farming operations and is now successfully engaged in the real estate and fire insurance business in Greenville.

On the 14th of August, 1889, Benjamin M. Allen was united in marriage with Miss Jennie E. Gaskill, a daughter of Abram and Sarah A. (Youart) Gaskill. Her mother was an own cousin of Lord Gladstone, of England. Mrs. Allen died February 12, 1899, leaving one daughter, Alcie, born February 12, 1891.

On the 5th day of June, 1900, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Laura Telma Shearer, daughter of Samuel and Sarah A. Shearer, of Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, the former now deceased.

CYRUS ZELLER.

Among the native sons of the Buckeye state is numbered Cyrus Zeller, and Darke county has reason to be proud of such a citi- zen. His home has always been within the borders of Ohio, and he is a loyal citizen of the commonwealth, whose life has been hon- orable, characterized by fidelity to duty in every relation of life in which he has been placed. He was born near the beautiful city of Dayton, and traces his lineage back to German ancestry. The family has ever been celebrated for the high character of its

CYRUS ZELLER.

MRS. CYRUS ZELLER.

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representatives, including a number of min- isters, physicians and other men of note. One of the number, a brother of Mr. Zeller's grandfather, was a bishop of the United Brethren church of Ohio, and wherever the name of Zeller has been known there have been found men of sterling worth and probity.

He whose name introduces this record was born on the 4th of September, 1835, and is the second in the family of eight children. He had four brothers and three sisters and the parents were George and Susan ( Rie- gel) Zeller. The father was born in Mont- gomery county in 1810, and died about the year 1861. He was educated in both the German and English languages, and al- though he started out in life upon his busi- ness career a poor man, he steadily worked his way upward, overcoming all difficulties and obstacles in his path. He was careful and methodical in his business methods and untiring in his labors, and his word was con- sidered as good as any bond that was ever solemnized by signature or seal. He be- came the owner of one hundred and fifty- three acres of land in Montgomery county, and had in addition considerable money. The industry and perseverance so character- istic of his German ancestry were manifest in his daily life, and it is also shown forth in the business careers of his children. The precept, "Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you," he made the rule of his life, and this was manifested in his many benevolent actions. He aided liber- ally in the erection of churches in his neigh- borhood and the poor and needy always found in him a friend who never turned thenr from his door empty-handed. His good deeds are a monument to his memory more enduring than any slab of granite or

of stone, and have caused him to be grate- fully remembered by many who had a prac- tical demonstration of his kindness. He left to his family not only a comfortable property, but also that good name which is l'ather to be chosen than great riches. His was not an exalted or pretentious life, but his character was noble and upright and his example well worthy of emulation. His wife, who was his faithful companion and helpmeet in all of his good work, was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, born about the year 1810, and she lived to reach the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey. She brought up her children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, being a devout member of the United Brethren church. She, too, belonged to an old Pennsylvania German family.

The first home of the Zeller family in this locality was a log cabin that still stands, one of the few landmarks that indicate the contrast of the past with the present prog- ress. The children of George and Susan ( Riegel) Zeller once formed a band of eight around their fireside, but only three are left to relate the story concerning their pioneer home in the early days in the development of Ohio. Cyrus is the eldest survivor. Abia, the second, served as a soldier during the civil war, and at its close received an lionorable discharge. He is now a tobacco raiser and cigar manufacturer, residing in Cerman township, Montgomery county, Ohio. Mary E., the only living daughter. is also a resident of Montgomery county.

Cyrus Zeller is the only one of the name now living within the borders of Darke county. Ile has followed closely the path of right and duty, and his history is a credit to the family. In the common schools he acquired his education, becoming familiar

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with the elementary branches of the English language. The sports of youth and the labors of the farm also claimed his attention, and his practical training in the fields well fitted him for his work in later years. He lias devoted much of his leisure time to read- ing, becoming familiar with many standard works which tend to elevate thought and im- prove character, his greatest study being of the Bible. In business he has ever been known as an enterprising agriculturist, and was identified with the farming interests of Montgomery county until 1864, when he came- to Mississinawa township, Darke county, and purchased one hundred and forty-three acres of forest land. The trees stood in their primeval strength and the place was destitute of improvements. Mr. Zeller, however, built a log cabin home and in true pioneer style began life here, being ham- pered by an indebtedness which, however, he was soon enabled to pay off, for his earn- est, untiring labor added yearly to his capital. He worked in the fields from early morn un- til late at night, clearing away the trees and preparing the land for the plow. Ultimately rich harvests were garnered where once stood the wild forests. Good buildings were erected, including a substantial resi- dence and barn, and the Zeller homestead is now one of the most desirable and attractive in the township. The land has been tiled and has thus been transformed into a richly cultivated tract which yields to the owner a golden tribute in return for the care and labor bestowed upon it. Mr. Zeller still re- tains the ownership of the homestead, which property he acquired by his own hard labor, his frugality and economy. In recent years he has inherited some property from his par- ents, and that he is a kind and indulgent fa- ther is shown by fact that he has purchased

for each of his children a good farm, thus enabling them to start out in life in com- fortable circumstances. He has recently purchased what is known as the Samuel Pat- terson farm in Brown township, comprising one hundred and twenty acres, and has added this to his other valuable acqu.sitions.

On the 2d of November, 1862, Mr. Zel- ler was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Jenkinson, whose birth occurred in Darke county, on the Ist of March, 1843. Their marriage was blessed with nine chil- dren-four sons and five daughters-and with one exception all are yet living, namely : Emma F., the wife of Gilbert R. Hand, an agriculturist living in Brown township; George W., who wedded Mary Hart and makes his home in Monroe township; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of John Van Scoyk, a farmer of Twin township; John Wesley, who married Miss Ola Martin and is a farmer of Allen township; Susan C,. the wife of Fred D. F. Amspaugh, an agriculturist of Brown township; William Henry, who died February 22, 1880, aged seven years, seven months and twelve days; Addie B., the wife of Delinont T. Bolinger; Delia, the wife of Frank Rhoades, of Mississinawa township; and David M., born March 6, 1881, who is living in the same township. In 1896 a great bereavement came to the family in the death of the wife and mother, who passed away on the 5th of May. She was kind and affectionate, ever careful of the interests of her family and her presence in the household was like a ray of sunshine. Her memory will ever remain as an unalloyed benediction to those who knew her; for hers was a beau- tiful Christian character whose influence was like the pervading fragrance of the violet.

After attaining his majority Mr. Zeller, of this record, cast his first presidential vote

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in support of James Buchanan, and has stood stanch and firm in support of the Jacksonian principles. His generosity has been most marked, and has led to his liberal contribu- tion toward the erection of six different churches in his immediate vicinity. In man- per he is kindly and benevolent, quickly touched by the cry of need, his sympathy being easily aroused; nor is it in words only, for his substantial aid has been received in many a household. His life has indeed been a useful, upright and honorable one, and the world is better for his having lived. For many years he traveled life's journey by the side of a loving and loved wife, and her dcatlı was the heaviest blow that has ever come to him; but he has borne it with Christ- ian fortitude, believing in a happy reunion beyond the grave. When Mrs. Zeller was called to her final rest, there appeared in the Ansonia Climax the following obituary no- tice :

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 85

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