USA > Ohio > Darke County > A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 90
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GEORGE WEAVER.
Throughout almost his entire life this gentleman has been actively identified with the upbuilding and development of Darke county, and is numbered among its honored pioneers and representative citizens. He is 110w engaged in general farming on section 29, Neave township, and also follows the carpenter's trade to some extent.
Mr. Weaver was born August 22, 1828, in the township where he now resides, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Eakins) Weaver. His paternal grandfather was Peter Weaver, a native of Germany, who em- igrated to the United States about 1760, when fourteen years of age, and first located in Pennsylvania, where he married. As early as 1802 lie removed to Montgomery county, Ohio, and in 1818 came to Darke county, where he died at the ripe old age of 42
eiglity-seven years. Our subject's ınaternal grandfather, Benjamin Eakins, was born in Ireland, and was also about fourteen years of age when he came to America. He grew to manhood and was married in Pennsyl- vania, and on coming to this state took up his residence in Preble county.
Peter Weaver, father of our subject, was born August 8, 1802, while his parents were removing from Pennsylvania to Montgom- ery county, Ohio, and he was reared on a farm near Liberty, being sixteen years of age when the family came to Darke county and took up their residence on section 29, Neave township. They built one of the first cabins in that township, and upon the farm which he there developed Peter Weaver spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1885, at the age of eighty-three years. His wife, who was born in Preble county, January 12, 1807, was killed in October, 1869, by a passenger train on the Pennsylvania Railroad, at Bish- op's Crossing, Darke county. To this worthy couple were born fourteen children, of whom two died in infancy. The others were Jonas, who died at the age of twelve years ; George, our subject ; Sarah, wife of Justus Smith, of Missouri; Elizabeth, who died at the age of eight years ; Mary, wife of Jacob Burket, of Springfield, Ohio; Nancy, deceased wife of Aaron Comrine: Benjamin, a resident of Bucyrus, Ohio; William C. and Calvin P., both of Parsons, Kansas; Catharine, wife of Newton Hayes, of Kenton, Ohio; David, de- ceased; and Margaret, wife of Hanson White, of Kansas. After the death of his first wife. the father wedded Mary Lambert- son, about the year 1872, and to them were born a son, Harry O. Weaver, who is now living in Washington, D. C. At the time of his death he had eighty-one living descend- ants, and had had altogether ninety-nine-
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fifteen children and fifty-two grandchildren, and thirty-two great-grandchildren.
George Weaver is now the only repre- sentative of this family living in Darke county. He was reared in Neave township and can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer days when this region was. all wild and unimproved. He well remembers when many families had only chairs, tables and bedsteadsof their own manufacture and lived in true pioneer style. In his own home the German language was used altogether and he could not speak a word of English before starting to school at the age of eight years. His mother made all the clothes for her fam- ily, spinning the raw wool, weaving it into cloth, and later converting it into garments.
Mr. Weaver remained at home until he was married, September 20, 1849, to Miss Caroline Wagner, who was born in German township, Darke county, in 1831, and died in August, 1888. Her family were among the pioneers of the county. By this union our subject had eight children : Minerva, wife of Cyrus Mckeon, of Greenville ; Miranda, wife of John Stephens, of the same place ; William E., who died at the age of eighteen months; Peter D., who married Jennie Brown, of Weaver's Station : Elizabetli, wife of M. L. Maxwell, of Kirksville, Missouri; Estella, wife of William Townsend, of Jays- ville, Darke county; Rhoda J., now Mrs. Lawrence, of Kirksville, Missouri; and Frank E., who married Ella Baird and lives in Greenville. On the 27th of July, .1889. Mr. Weaver married Mrs. Jennie S. ( Herr) Springer, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Christian and Saralı J. (Chadwick) Herr, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Mont- gomery county, Ohio. By her first marriage Mrs. Weaver had one son, Victor L.
Springer, now a member of Company C, Thirteenth United States Infantry, stationed at Manasug on the Philippine Islands, Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have a little daughter, Marie, born in Darke county, July 27, 1892.
After his first marriage our subject re- mained upon the old homestead for four years, and then removed to the farm where lie now resides. About 1855 he went to Cass county, Indiana, and built a steam saw-mill on the Indian Reserve, which he operated for three years, and then returned to Darke county. He purchased a farm in Harrison township, but after operating it for three years, sold out and bought his present farm of one hundred and eight acres on section 29, Neave township. In 1869 he removed to Greenville, where for seven years he engaged in business as a carpenter and contractor, but at the end of that time returned to his farm. He has erected many houses, barns and busi- ness blocks throughout the county, but now devotes his time and energies principally to general farming, and is meeting with well de- served success in his labors. He is a con- sistent and faithful member of the United Brethren church, in which he is serving as class leader and trustee, and is a man highly respected and esteemed by all who know him on account of his sterling worth, strict in- tegrity and honorable dealings.
JOHN WINGER.
This well-knownagriculturist residing on section 12, Patterson township, Darke coun- ty, is a native of Ohio, his birth having oc- curred in Greene county, February 27, 1844, His father, Peter Winger, was born in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1806, of German descent, and was married in 1827, to Anna Barr, a native of the same
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county. In 1846 they came to Darke county, Ohio, and settled in Wayne township on a tract of wild timber land, on which not a stick had been cut or an improvement made. The father built a rude little cabin of rough logs, without nails, fastening the shacks on by poles and pegs. Here he owned sixty acres of land, which he cleared and cultivated until huis removal to Versailles. In 1860 he went to Marshall county, Iowa, where he had eighty acres of land, but at the end of two years he sold out and returned to this coun- ty, buying twenty acres of land in Wayne township, where he made his home for twelve years. His next purchase consisted of forty acres on section 1, Patterson township, and upon that place he died. His wife sur- vived him only a few days. Both were past the age of eiglity-five years, and now sleep in the Mendenhall cemetery. Of their nine children the following are still living, name- ly : Abraham, a farmer of Mercer county, Ohio ; Mrs. Elizabeth Lyme, a widow who is now engaged in merchandising in Paulding county; John, our subject; Eliza, wife of Charles Barnhardt ; and Joseph, a resident of Saline, Mercer county; Mrs. Catherine Geaubaux and Mrs. Mary Ann Marker are both deceased and are buried at Peacock.
Although Mr. Winger's literary educa- tion was limited, he early became familiar with all kinds of hard work, and is to-day a thorough and systematic farmer. His farm consists of one hundred acres of rich and fertile land on section 12, Patterson town- ship, which is devoted principally to wheat and corn.
In August, 1882, Mr. Winger was united in marriage with Miss Annie Coble, a sister of Hamilton Coble, and to them have been born four children: Charles, Susie, Alvah and Maud, the oldest now eighteen years of
age, the youngest eleven. All are attending the home school and Charles is now ready to enter the high school.
During the civil war Mr. Winger en- listed at Versailles, May 1, 1864, in Com- pany E, One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after serving six months was honorably discharged on the expiration of his term of enlistment. He has never recovered from the effects of his army life and now receives a pension of eight dollars per month. He is an honored member of the Grand Army Post, in which he is serving as senior vice-commander, and is a Republican in politics. He filled the of- fice of road supervisor six years, and at the end of that time refused to accept the posi- tion any longer. Both he and his wife are earnest members of the Christian church and merit and receive the respect and esteem of all who know them.
A. L. DUNN.
Among the enterprising and energetic farmers of Greenville township is the sub- ject of this review, who on coming to Darke county in 1866 purchased his present farm east of the city of Greenville. A native of Maryland, he was born in Washington coun- ty, that state, in1 1839, and in 1851 came to Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, with his par- ents, S. R. and Letta ( Horner) Dunn, also natives of Maryland. Later they came to Darke county, where the mother died in 1880. The father is still living and contin- ues to make his home in this county. In their family were six children, namely: A. L., Mrs. Joan Seburn, Mrs. Alletta Wright; John, deceased : Samuel H. and Mrs. Katie Wise.
For eighteen years A. L. Dunn has now
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resided upon his present farm of eighty acres in Greenville township, and he has made many improvements upon the place. He devotes his time and attention to general farming and stock raising, and is meeting with well deserved success in his labors. He married Miss Sarah Tingley, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and to them were born twelve children, but only seven are now living, namely ; Charles, Mrs. Etta Hinkle, Mrs. Katie Puterbaugh, Mrs. Lodena Bowman, Gertie, Della and Harry. Those deceased were: Luther, Thomas, Ella, Bertie and Walter. Mrs. Dunn is a church member, and is a most estimable lady. By his ballot our subject supports the men and measures of the Democratic party, and he has been called upon to fill some of the township offices.
JEREMIAH THOMPSON.
Among the brave men who devoted the opening years of their manhood to the de- fense of our country from the internal foes who sought her dismemberment, was Jere- miah Thompson, now a prominent farmer of Franklin township, Darke county, Ohio. The first of the family to come to this state was his grandfather, Sylvester Thompson, a native of North Carolina, who settled on a farm just south of Covington, in New- berry township, Miami county, at an early day, and there entered land from the govern- mment. He died upon that farm, and his wife is also deceased. The place is now owned by one of his descendants, Josephnis Thompson.
James Thompson, our subject's father, was born on the old homestead near Coving- ton. He also entered land in Newberry township, and became a prosperous farmer.
He married Elizabeth Bierly, and they are Loth now deceased; he died upon his farm on Greenville creek, a devout member of the Christian church and highly respected by all who knew him. Of his children, Maria married Joseph Young and moved to Iowa, dying in Belle Plaine, that state ;. Sarah married David Elmon and died in West Milton, Ohio; Elizabeth married John Young and died on the homestead farm; Nancy died at the age of eigliteen years; David married Hannah Rench and died in Newton township, Miami county; Rebecca married David M. Fine and died in Newber- ry township, the same county; James is a resident of Benton county, Iowa; and the next three were triplets ; Jeremiah, our sub- ject ; Josialı, who married Lavina Hickman and now resides in Missouri ; and Hezekiahı, who died young.
The subject of this sketch was born June 6, 1840, on his father's old homestead, and passed his childhood, youth and early man- hood in the log house where he first saw the light of day. He was educated in the coun- try schools, which were principally con- ducted on the subscription plan, and among his early teachers was a Mr. Wood, who taught on his father's farm. He lost his father when a boy and Samuel Hoover was appointed guardian for the children. When the estate was settled our subject re- ceived his portion in money.
When the civil war broke out Mr. Thompson was eager to go to the front, con- sidering it his duty to respond to his coun- try's call for men to aid in suppressing the rebellion, and in September, 1861, at Cov- ington, he enlisted for three years as a pri- vate in Company B, Forty-fourth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry. In 1864 he re-enlisted at Strawberry Plains, and while home ou a
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sixty-day furlough was married, April 24, 1864, to Miss Minerva Brandon, a daughter of Richard and Hannah (Dayman) Bran- don. On the expiration of his furlough he bade good-by to his bride and went to Camp Dennison, where his company was as- signed to the Eighth Cavalry, which was with Sheridan's command from that time on. Mr. Thompson veteranized as hospital nurse and commissary sergeant, and at the close of the war was discharged at Clarks- burg, West Virginia. He participated in the battles of Charleston and Louisburg, and in the latter engagement he was wounded. A cannon ball struck near him and he re- ceived a ghastly cut under the chin from a piece of flying rock. He was sent to the regimental hospital, but remained with his command. He was in the battle of Dutton Hill, the siege of Knoxville, and the battles of Lynchburg and Cedar Creek. While at Cedar Creek a part of the regiment was or- dered to Beverly, West Virginia, where Mr. Thompson was taken prisoner, but after be- ing held for forty-eight hours was released by his own men.
In 1865, while at the front, Mr. Thomp- son invested his money in his present farm of forty-one acres on section 4, Franklin township, Darke county, which at that time was covered with heavy timber. On his return home at the close of the war he rented the Sally Williams farm for two years be- fore locating upon his own place, and sub- sequently was employed in his father-in- law's stone quarry at Covington for a year and a half. Then again he spent two years on the Williams farm and at the end of that time returned to his own place, which he has cleared and placed under a high state of cultivation. He lias made many in- provements upon the farm, including the
erection of good outbuildings and a com- fortable home. He raises principally to- bacco.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, namely : Ora, who died in infancy ; Ollie, who married Charles Ibaugh and died in Bradford, March 4, 1897; Will- iam H., who married Blanche Riddle and lives in Piqua, Ohio; Catherine, the wife of Charles Bazzle, of Bradford; Dome C., the wife of B. Westfall, of Adams town- ship, Darke county; Pearl, who died at the age of six years ; and William Sylvester, at home.
Genial, kind, hospitable and fond of a good story and joke, Mr. Thompson makes hosts of friends, by whom he is greatly es- teemed, and he is numbered as one of the inost reputable citizens of his community. Religiously he is a member of the Chris- tian church, socially is connected with Arnold Post, G. A. R., of Bradford, and po- litically is identified with the Republican party.
CHARLES ROLAND.
Charles Roland, a journalist of Green- ville, was born in Washington county, Ohio, August 6, 1831. He was left an orphan when an infant, and was reared in the Hill family, in Fairfield county, Ohio. His fa- ther was an Englishman of the Isle of Wight, England, and has two brothers and three sisters who came with him and his mother to this country. Mr. Roland has two brothers living-Edward, at Roland, Indiana, and Perry, at Hutchinson, Kansas. His boy- hood was passed on a farm. He received only a meager common school education, using the tallow candle and fireplace for light during his evening study, which termi-
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nated at the age of fourteen when he entered the office of the Ohio Eagle, at Lancaster, where he learned the printing business, re- maining there several years. In 1856 he became a partner in the ownership of the paper with John M. Connell, subsequently a colonel in the Seventeenth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry. In the latter part of the year 1861 Mr. Roland became sole proprietor and conducted that journal, which was then Democratic in politics and was the official paper of the county, until the spring of 1866, when he disposed of the Eagle and pur- chased the Greenville Democrat, of which he was editor and proprietor until June 14, 1899, when he retired in good health and well-to-do financially, turning his office and business over to his two sons, Charles W. and Edward H. Roland, who had been regu- lar assistants from the 'zos up to the pres- ent time. Charles W. acting as city editor since 1876. When Mr. Roland took charge of the Democrat it was a small, poorly- printed sheet with patronage too limited for support, but through his earnest work and superior generalship, close application, marked ability and economy his business im- proved, the county gradually advancing from a small and doubtful majority for the Democratic candidates for office to that of a solid and reliable majority, the patronage therefrom falling wholly to the Democrat for many successive years, and by this means Mr. Roland became very prosperous. The paper has always been a folio, conducted with ability, widely circulated, and one of the largest and best weekly newspapers in the state. Mr. Roland has always been a stanch Democrat, outspoken, and in favor of none but honest and incorrutible officials, having boldly exposed some of his own party through his paper.
After forty-three years of actual edito- rial work, and making a full hand at the case and job-stone, Mr. Roland's remark- able services have earned him a high rank among the truest and most faithful journal- ists of Ohio, and he severed his old-time brotherhood ties in newspaper business with the best wishes from numerous warm friends and admiring associates through the balance of his days.
Referring back to the fall of 1862, Mr. Roland, as editor of the Eagle, took ex- ceptions to the manner in which the civil war was being conducted and was summoned by Governor Tod to an interview in his office at Columbus. He at once presented himself before the governor, having with him three prominent citizens of Lancaster, as witnesses of what might transpire. The governor complained that the tone of his paper was disloyal and tended to discourage enlistments, and stated that his first impulse had been to suppress the paper and send it .: editor to Fort Weaver. Mr. Roland re- plied that he had taken for his guide the constitution and laws of the country, and that of two meetings in the same week at Lancaster, by Republicans and Democrats, respectively, at the former five men enlisted and at the latter thirteen. The interview closed by a threat somewhat excitedly ex- pressed by the governor in these words : "Constitution and laws or not, unless the tone of your paper is changed it will be suppressed and you will be sent to . Fort Warren. I have the backbone to do it." Mr. Roland returned to Lancaster and pub- lished an attested account of the interview in the next issue of his paper, and contin- ued to publish his views of the eventful struggle and was not molested.
Mr. Roland was married, in 1851, to
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Amelia, daughter of Lewis Clark, of Lan- caster, and four sons, Arthur A., Charles W., Edward H. and Horace G., and five daughters, Mary E., Clara J., Emma S., Ida A. and Grace V., were born to them. The eldest, Arthur A. Roland, was at one time editor and publisher of the Lebanon Patriot, now a graduate of the Still Osteopathic Col- lege, at Kirksville, Missouri, and practicing at Washington, D. C. He was married to Jennie Trimble, of Lancaster, to whom two sons were born. Mary E. has been the wife of J. H. McAlfine since October 14. 1880, and to them two daughters were born- Maud and Vera. They reside at Columbus, Ohio, where Mr. McAlfine is chief train dispatcher of the Panhandle Railroad ; Emma S. is the wife of Judge J. I. Allread, of this city, to whom two children were born, Marie and Herald; Clara J. is the widow of J. H. Rhotelamel and has one son, named Roland. She is a Still College graduate and is now practicing at Lancaster, Ohio. Ida A., wife of Sherman A. Dorman, of Greenville, did June 8, 1898, aged about thirty-one years. Grace, the youngest daugh- ter, is not married, neither is Edward H., and they reside with their mother and fa- ther. Horace G., the youngest son, died in 1872, aged eighteen months. Charles W., who is associated with his brother. Ed- ward H., in the publication of the Demo- crat, was married to Lizzie Davis, at Aber- deen, Ohio, September 6, 1882, and has two sons and two daughters-Gertrude V., C. Ernest, Virgil D. and Gladys A., all living. aged seventeen, thirteen, six and four years. respectively.
On the 22d of April, 1900, Mr. Roland left Greenville on a tour of Europe, return- ing home on the 3Ist day of July of the some year. The trip was the greatest treat
of his life and he enjoyed it immensely without a moment's illness. During his absence he furnished twenty-seven excellent letters of his observations for the Demo- crat, which were afterward reprinted in book form and distributed among his friends.
JOHN R. SUTER.
In the village of Scon, Switzerland, on the 20th of July, 1861, John R. Suter was born, a son of Samuel and Farenia Suter, both of whom were natives of that land, where they spent their entire lives. At the age of six years their son, John, entered school, pursuing his studies until he was fourteen years of age. He then began an apprenticeship at the butcher's trade, serv- ing for a period of four years, and on com- pleting his term he traveled as a journeyman through Switzerland, Germany and France. Believing, however, that he might better his financial condition in the new world he came to the United States in 1881, landing at New York city. whence he made his way direct to Miami county, Ohio. IIe there spent two years and four months, and in June, 1883. came to Greenville, Ohio, where he entered the services of George Buchy, by whom he was employed for seven years. Subsequently he worked for Mr. Klee, a butcher, for three years, and then purchased the meat market of Curtis & Rodakaffer, succeeding to their business. He has a good shop, well furnished with every appli- ance known to the modern butcher, and as he buys and kills his own stock he therefore furnishes to his patrons an excellent grade of meat. His place of business is centrally located and he now has a large and con- stantly growing trade.
In 1883 occurred the marriage of Mr.
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Suter and Miss Ellen Smalenberger, of Greenville, Ohio. This lady was born in Germany and came to America in early child- hood with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Suter now have three children-Rosa, Albert and Bertha-all yet under the parental roof. In his social relations Mr. Suter is connected with Greenville Lodge, No. 195, I. O. O. F., and with the Knights of Pythias fra- ternity of this place. He has a good resi- dence. well furnished, and is an honest and reliable citizen, whose success in life is at- tributable entirely to his own efforts. Com- ing to this country without capital and with- out influential friends to aid him, he has worked his way steadily upward, overcom- ing all difficulties and obstacles in his path by determined purpose. He is well known as a successful business man of Greenville, having no occasion to regret the fact that he sought a home in the land of the free.
WILLIAM J. REICHARD.
Among Ohio's native sons who are de- voting their energies to the honorable oc- cupation of farming is William J. Reichard, who is residing on section 7. Mississinawa township. He was born in Preble county, Ohio, April 17, 1847, and his father, Isaac Reichard, was a native of the same neigh- borhood, born December 12, 1822. The grandfather, John Reichard, was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, August 18, 1793. and at an early day came to Ohio, locating at Pyrmont, Preble county. The land was wild and unimproved and the fam- ily bore the hardships incident to the life on the frontier. John Reichard married Eliza Winicks and they had eight children, seven sons and one daughter, all of whom reached mature years, married and had families.
The only surviving member of the family, however, is Samuel Reichard, who is living in Indiana, at an advanced age. The grand- mother, who was born October 9, 1792, died August 6, 1843, and the grandfather of our subject, surviving her for about three years, passed away on the 29th of July 1846. They were laid to rest in the cemetery at Pyrmont, Preble county. Their marriage was celebrated February 4, 1812, and was blessed with several sons and daughters, concerning whom we make the following ob- servations : John, who was born November 10, 1812. died in the seventieth year of his age; Michael, who was born December I. 1814. died at the age of seventy-seven years ; Daniel, born March 4, 1817: Samuel, No- vember 27, 1819; Isaac, December 12, 1822; Philip, June 18, 1825 ; Henry, June 10, 1828; and Mary Ann, who was born December 8, 1834. died in the autumn of 1898.
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