A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 91

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

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Isaac Reichard, the father of our sub- ject, was reared to manhood in Darke coun- ty, and having attained to his majority, married Sarah Garland, who was born in Tennessee, June 1, 1824. They were wedded at Gordontown, Ohio, in 1846, and took up their residence at Pyrmont, where William J. and his sister, Mary Amanda, were born. The latter is now the widow of Louis Horine, residing at Fort Recovery with her two sons and a daughter. George W., the third of the family, died November 12, 1899, in his forty-ninth year, but five of his six children are yet living. John is a well known farmer of this township. Eli F. resides in Union City, Indiana, and has three children-a son and two daughters. Alonzo P., who is living on the old home- stead, has two sons and two daughters. The father of these children died October 2, 1879, and the community mourned the loss

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of one of its esteemed citizens. He started out in life with little capital, but by de- termined purpose worked his way upward and became the owner of a good property. His wife is a member of the Methodist church and a most estimable lady.

Mr. Reichard, of this review, received limited school privileges in the district in which he resided and since early life has had few opportunities to pursue his studies, his assistance being needed on the home farm or in other labor that would yield to him a living. He has carried on agricult- ural pursuits throughout his entire life and is to-day the owner of one hundred acres of valuable land, sixty of which is contained within the borders of the home farm. He carries on general farming and each season has from five to seven acres planted with tobacco. He also makes a specialty of corn and raises hogs, sheep and cattle. He works four horses in the operation of his farm and conducts his business along pro- gressive and energetic lines.

On the 25th of February, 1869, Mr. Reichard was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Sumner, who was born in Fred- erick county, Maryland, November 1, 1846, a daughter of George and Susanna ( Mong- man) Sumner. Her father was born De- cember 11. 1822, and died in 1893, at the age of seventy-one years, leaving a widow and fourteen children, of whom thirteen, nine sons and four daughters, are yet living. "The youngest is now thirty-six years of age.

HENRY C. BRISTLY.

Among the enterprising farmers and highly esteemed citizens of Twin township. Darke county, Ohio, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. The family

name was formerly spelled Brustle. His grandfather, Christian Bristly, was a tailor by trade and spent his entire life in Wurtem- berg, Germany, where he died at the age of forty-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sabina Wert, also died in that country, about 1818. Their oldest son, Christian, Jr., who possessed a fine ed- ucation, came to the United States about ISIO and settled in Montgomery county, Ohio, where he taught a German school. He made two trips to Germany, and died in the house where he was born, in 1838. at about the age of seventy-six years. Henry Charles, the father of our subject, was the next of the family. Sabina married Fred- erick Moore and died in Logan county, Ohio. Elizabeth married Christian Shaffer and died in Germany; and Katy, who mar- ried a Mr. Schrenk, also died in her native land.

Henry Charles Bristly was born in oberamt Maulbron, kingdom of Wurtem- berg. Germany, November 22. 1780, re- ceived a good education and became the proprietor of a vineyard in his native land. On the 28th of April, 1819, he sailed from Havre, France, and landed in Philadelphia on the 25th of the following August. He proceeded at once to Allentown, Pennsyl- vania, and found employment on a farm. Later he worked as a farm hand in Berks county, that state, for some time. He was married, August 31, 1823, by Rev. Daniel Ulrith, to Elizabethi Ohlwein, who was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, in July, 1795, a daughter of Werner and Katy (Long) Ohlwein and granddaughter of Killion Long, a native either of Berks or Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. Her fa- ther was a native of Hesse. Germany, and came to this country during the Revolution-

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ary war with the Hessian troops hired bv the British to fight against the colonies. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Trenton, and from that time on fought in the con- tinental army, becoming intimately acquaint- ed with General Washington. He died at his home in Jackson township, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, his wife in 1838. Of their children Jacob was drafted in the war of 1812, was stationed at Balti- more, and died in Jackson township, Leb- anon county, at the age of forty-seven years ; Samuel, who died in the same township; and Elizabeth was the mother of our sub- ject.

After his marriage Henry C. Bristly purchased five acres of land in Tulpehocken township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, but in 1839 he sold that place and purchased another in Jackson township, Lebanon coun- ty, where he made his home until April, 1853, when he disposed of his interests in that state and came to Ohio. He purchased ten acres of land in Clay township, Mont- gomery county, upon which he spent the remainder of his life, dying there April 25, 1857. He was a Democrat in politics and a Lutheran in religious belief, but his wife held membership in the Reformed church. She died at the home of our sub- ject, January 19, 1873. They had only two children, Henry C. being the older. Jonathan, born in Tulpehocken township, Berks coun- ty, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1829, died in Clay township, Montgomery county, Ohio, July 2, 1898. He married Anna Mary Buechler, a daughter of John and Barbara (Stein) Buechler. Her father came to this state with his family in 1836 and settled in Ran- dolph, Montgomery county, where his death occurred.

The subject of this sketch was born in

Tulpehocken township, Berks county, Penn- sylvania, September 7, 1826, and had very poor educational advantages, attending an English school for only one month. The German language was spoken in his own home. At the age of twenty-one years he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed ever since In September, 1852, he came to Ohio and worked at his trade in Salem until the new year, when he returned home ; but in the spring he again went to Montgomery county, Ohio.

In Clay township, that county, he was married, October 18, 1855, to Miss Leliah Baker, who was born there November 25, 1834, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Michael) Baker. Her grandparents were natives of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and were the first to settle near Salem, Mont- gomery county, Ohio, where they entered land and spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Bristly's father also was born in Som- erset county, Pennsylvania, and was ten years old when brought by his parents to this state, where he grew to manhood. When the family located here Dayton contained but one log cabin, and often Indians camped upon their farm. Mr. Baker received a very poor education, as schools were scarce in this state at that time. He married Sarah Michael, also a native of Pennsylvania, whose family settled near Salem, Ohio, later than 1812. They located on a farm given him by his father, and there he died, in 1882. He was a Dunkard in religious belief and independent in politics. His chil- dren were : Katy, who married Jacob Hinkey and died in Monroe township, Darke coun- ty; Susan, who married Henry Foreman and died in Arcanum; Mary, who wedded Elias Baker and died in Monroe town- ship; Sarah, who married John Foreman

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al.d died in Van Buren township; Samuel M., a resident of Monroe township: Delilah, the wife of our subject : Jacob, who married Sarah Shonck and lives in Brookville, Mont- gomery county ; David, who married Sarah Grant and also lives in Brookville: Tensa, the wife of George Overholser, of North Manchester, Indiana; Lydia, the wife of Lewis Koehler, of Dayton, Ohio; and four who died in infancy.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bristly were born the following children: Levi, born April 22, 1868, married Cora Fritz and resides in Twin township, this county; Sarah is the wife of Lewis Fryman, of Monroe town- ship; Samuel married a Miss Robinson and lives at home ; and five children died in in- fancy.

For a year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bristly lived on her father's farm near Arlington, and then moved to their present farm, which was given her by her father. This place, consisting of eighty-two acres, was then an unbroken forest, on which had been built a log cabin. and into it the family moved March 3, 1857. Mr. Bristly also owns another farm of fifty-five acres in Twin township, and in connection with the cultivation and improvement of his land he has always engaged in contracting and build- ing and has erected many of the houses and barns in his section. His present home of red brick was built in 1872, and good and substantial outbuildings have also been erect- edi, so that the farm is one of the best im- proved in that locality. By his ballot Mr. Bristly supports the men and measures of the Democratic party, and has filled the offices of school director twenty years and town- ship trustee three years. In 1850 he united with the Lutheran church and has since been one of its consistent and earnest men-

bers, as well as one of the most highly re- spected and esteemed citizens of Twin town- ship.

JOSEPH JOHN BULCHER.

Darke county has a no more enterpris- ing, energetic and progressive business man than Joseph J. Bulcher, who now makes his home on section 25, Patterson township. He was born in Shelby county, this state, two miles east of Versailles. November 26, 1854, and is a son of Francis Peter and Celestia ( Foisinet ) Bulcher, who are now living a retired life on one of their three farms. The father was born in Alsace. France. July 1. 1822, and in the fall of 1846 came to the new world, bringing with him his wife and one child. It was a long and tedious voyage from Havre to New York, and by canal they proceeded to Buf- falo, by lake to Toledo, and by canal to Berlin. Ohio, where they arrived in the woods. By ox team they came to Wayne township, Darke county, and the father pur- chased forty acres of land just over the line in Shelby county, for which he paid three dollars per acre. He prospered in his new home and is to-day one of the most sub- stantial citizens of his community. Of his twelve children, eleven-three sons and eight daughters-grew to manhood or woman- hood, namely: Rosa, the widow of Julius Moyoto ; Lucy, who married August Henry and died in middle life: Cecil, who married Frank Smith and died at the age of forty- eight years; Celina, the wife of a Mr. Har- rison ; Joseph J., our subject ; P. Elizabeth, the wife of Joseph Alexander, of Wabaslı township; Mary, who married Henry Couchot and died young ; Frank P., a farmer of Patterson township; John, who died un-

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married at the age of twenty-three years; Louisa, the wife of Constant Liette; and Lizzie, the wife of Joseph Poly.

Joseph J. Bulcher attended the common schools until thirteen years of age, and by improving his talents in later life has become a well informed man. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age, when he was married, October 8, 1878, to Miss Adaline M. Poly, who was born in Wayne township. this county, October 10, 1860. and is a daughter of Frank and Theresa ( Dafoire) Poly, natives of France. Mrs. Poly died at the age of forty-eight years, leaving six children, who are still liv- ing. Thirteen children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bulcher, but one son died in infancy, and Mary A., born in 1880, died of a cancerous tumor at about the age of fourteen years. The names and dates of birth of the other children are as follows: Peter F., March 29, 1881: Edward J., in 1882; Emma D., May 5, 1884; Anna Mary, March 27. 1886; Raymond L., May 17, 1888; Theressa E., February 25, 1890 ; Stella Isabel, July 12, 1891 ; Laurence J., Septem- ber 8, 1893; Clarence Henry, February 7. 1895; Agnes M., January 21, 1897; and Josephine, November 3. 1898. They con- stitute a very bright and interesting family of which any parents might well be proud. From their German ancestry they have in- herited a talent for music and several play of musical instruments of various kinds.

Mr. Bulcher owns and cultivates a good farm of ninety-one acres, on which he is engaged in general farming, but makes a specialty of tobacco growing, having from seven to ten acres devoted to that crop. He also buys and sells tobacco, and deals in to- bacco boxes, buggies, wagons and surreys. For several years he engaged in merchan-

dising and in the manufacture of lumber, and is still interested in a saw-mill which brings him some revenue. He is a wide- awake, energetic business man, and the suc- cess that he has achieved in life is well mer- ited. As a Democrat, Mr. Bulcher takes an active interest in local politics and has served as a delegate to many conventions. He and his family are members of the Catholic church, of which he is now the treasurer.

ALONZO L. JONES.

An enterprising and representative busi- ness man of Greenville, Mr. Jones, is dealing in leaf tobacco, and is not only connected with the commercial interests of the city, but also represents its official corps, for he is the postmaster of the city, prompt, ener- getic and notably reliable. He was born in Monroe county, Ohio, in the vicinity of West Milton, on the 21st of April, 1845, his parents being John L. and Catherine D. (Campbell) Jones. The Jones family is of Welsh lineage and was founded in the Buckeye state at an early period in its pio- neer development by John Jones, the grand- father of our subject. On the maternal side our subject is descended from good old Revolutionary stock. The grandfather, William D. Campbell, served under General Wayne in the struggle for independence, and in 1792 he emigrated westward to Cin- cinnati, making the trip on a flatboat. He married a Miss Thomas, and for some years they remained residents of Cincinnati, when the city was a pioneer western village.

John L. Jones, the father of our subject. was born in South Carolina, and in 1816 accompanied his parents to Ohio, the family locating about sixteen miles north of Day-

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ton. He was therefore reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier and after arriving at years of maturity he married one of Ohio's native daughters-Miss Catherine Campbell. In 1848 they removed with their family to Darke county, locating in Neave township, where the father resided until 1860, when he formed a partnership and embarked in merchandising in Arcanum, where he re- mained until a short time prior to his death, which occurred in 1884. His wife, who still survives him, yet makes her home in Ar- can11111.

Alonzo L. Jones spent the first five years of his life near Dayton, and then came with the family to Darke county, where he pur- sted his preliminary education in the dis- trict schools, later attending the high school of Greenville, where he prosecuted his studies under the superintendence of Professor J. T. Martz, a very thorough and noted edu- cator of that day. After leaving school Mr. Jones returned to Dayton and accepted a clerkship in the store of Smith Brothers, manufacturers of school supplies and fur- niture. In 1872 he became interested in the tobacco business, in company with J. P. Wolf, of Dayton, handling leaf tobacco. The partnership continued for several years, after which Mr. Jones continued in the same line of business alone, in Greenville. He built a fine brick warehouse for handling and storing tobacco, and his business has steadily increased in volume and importance, Darke county being one of the leading to- bacco-producing counties in the state, as the quality of this product is so superior that tobacco shipped from this locality always commands the highest market prices. The warehouse owned by Mr. Jones is con- structed of stone and brick and was built especially for the purpose for which it is

used. It is a two-story structure, con- veniently arranged, and is situated in close proximity to the two railroad depots in Greenville, thus having excellent shipping facilities.

During the civil war Mr. Jones was a stanch advocate of the Union cause, and in 1864 he responded to the call for one-hitn- dred-day men, enlisting in the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio Infantry, under the command of Colonel Dean Putnam. The regiment was sent to Lynchburg, Virginia, and did garrison duty, guarding the rail- road and captured places. In the early part of the year 1865 Mr. Jones, with his regi- ment, was honorably discharged, at Camp Dennison, Ohio.

In 1866 was celebrated his marriage to Miss Martha Baker, a daughter of C. S. Baker, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, and is a representative of one of the old families of the state. Mrs. Jones was born in this county, and by lier marriage has become the mother of three children : Iona, the wife of A. J. Slackhouse, of Fos- toria, Ohio; Charles R., who is serving as private secretary for Hon. Robert B. Gor- don, the member of congress from the fourth congressional district of Ohio; and Carl D., at home. He married Miss Mabel Turner, of Greenville, a daughter of Joseph Turner ..

In his political views Mr. Jones is an earnest Republican, well informed on the issues of the day, and is a recognized leader in the local ranks of his party. He has held a number of minor offices and in 1898 was appointed by President Mckinley to the position of postmaster of Greenville, in which position he has discharged his duties with marked promptness and fidelity. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fra- ternity and is a man whose sterling qualities,

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whose faithfulness to every trust and whose straightforward dealing in business have won for him the public confidence and good will of all with whom he has come in con- tact.

SAMUEL GIBSON.

The Gibson family, of which Samuel Gibson, the subject of this sketch, is a rep- resentative, is of Irish origin. Isaac Gib- son, his grandfather, was a native of the Emerald Isle, emigrated to this country when a young man and here married and reared a large family. He was twice mar- ried and by his second wife had eleven chil- dren-four sons and seven daughters-all of whom have passed away except John, the father of Samuel. John Gibson was born August 12, 1814, and is now in his seventy- sixth year. In 1837 he married Margaret Rose, who bore him eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, all of whom reached adult age and are now living, ex- cept one, Mary, who died at the age of sev- enteen months.

His father a farmer, Samuel was born on a farm and brought up to farm life, the date and place of his birth being Decem- ber 3, 1837, in Wabash township, Darke county, Ohio. His educational advantages were limited to the schools taught in the log cabin school house of that day and place. He remained a member of the home circle until he attained his majority, when he started out in life on his own account, and the success he has achieved has been through his own efforts and with the assistance of his good wife. He owns a nice farm of sixty-five acres on section 2, Allen town- ship, Darke county, his postoffice address being New Weston, and here he has lived

since 1876, for a period of twenty-four years.

March 20, 1860, Samuel Gibson was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Joseph, who was born in Illinois, in 1838, a daugh- ter of William and Melena ( Bucher) Jo- seph. Mrs. Gibson had the misfortune to lose her parents by death at an early age. She has one sister. The fruits of this union are four children, namely: Mary, the wife of John Silvas, who died at the age of thirty years, leaving a son and a daughter; Hop- kins, who married and is settled in life; Malina, the wife of Colonel Thomas, of New Weston, has had six children, four of whom are living ; and Emma, the wife of Reuben Sneary, a farmer of Allen township.

Mr. Gibson affiliates with the Demo- cratic party, while his father is a Republi- can. He has from time to time been hon- ored with local office and in the same has served efficiently. Thirteen years he has served in the capacity of trustee. Mrs. Gib- son is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, which the family regularly attend and to the support of which Mr. Gibson contributes.

JAMES M. BENSON.

It is certainly incumbent that in this compilation due recognition be accorded Mr. Benson, for the family name is one that has been prominently identified with the annals of the county for more than half a century -in fact for nearly sixty-five years-while throughout all these years this identification has been maintained through that line of industry which figures as the basis of all others, that of agriculture.

Mr. Benson's fine farm is located on sec- tion 30, Harrison township, Darke county,

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and his postoffice address is Whitewater, In- diana. He is a native of the township, hav- ing been born on a place about two iniles distant from his present home, on the 16th of December, 1841. His father, James Benson, was born in the state of Maryland, where he was united in marriage to Miss Susan Murray, about the year 1832. They continued to reside there until about 1836, when they set out on the long and tedious journey to the Ohio frontier, finally arriving at their destination in Darke county and taking up their abode in Harrison township, their occupation of the place now owned Ly their son, the subject of this review, hay- ing begun about six months after their ar- rival. James M. has often heard the tale of the eventful journey made by his par- ents in the pioneer days, for the trip was made with horses and wagon and by this medium all their little stock of household goods was. transported. They .purchased one hundred acres of timbered land for six hundred dollars, and in this wilderness be- gan to clear up a farm, the little hone be- ing isolated and of the most primitive pio- neer order, with few conveniences and no luxuries. Stout hearts and willing hands will accomplish much, as all our pioneer history has shown, and Mr. and Mrs. Ben- son did their full share in reclaiming the wilds and laying the foundations for the magnificent prosperity which the present generations enjoy. When the young couple settled on their woodland farm their nearest market was Cincinnati, and some seasons Mr. Benson transported as many as one hundred head of hogs to this distant point. Both he and his devoted wife are birthright members of the Society of Friends, and in their lives they exemplify the kindly virtues and unwavering integrity so characteristic of

this religious sect. As the days passed the farm began to show the results of the ar- duous labor and care bestowed, and in die time the fields yielded their harvests in sea- son. Around the family hearthstone the children came to lend joy and brightness, our subject being one of the eleven born to his parents, and of this number eight were reared to maturity and six are living at the present time, namely : Conrad Robert, a resident of California : Harriet, wife of John E. Harrison, of Xenia, Ohio; John was ac- cidentally shot while on a hunting expedi- tion in the northwest, his death resulting from the injury inflicted ; Elijah is a farmer in Nebraska : the next in order of birth was James M., subject of this sketch; Ephraim is a resident of Preble county, this state; and Catherine is the widow of a Mr. Teaford and resides in Hollansburg, this county.

The father of this large family of chiil- dren died about 1871, leaving to his heirs his farm of one hundred and sixty acres and some town property, with some incui- branches. His wife died at the age of seven- ty-six years. James M. Benson. the subject of this sketch, remained upon the home place, and October 1, 1866, he was united in mar- riage to Delilah Barton, of Wayne county, Indiana, a daughter of Andrew and Celia ( Boswell) Barton, and of the children of this union we make record briefly, as fol- lows : James Andrew, who is married and has three children, resides on the home place and is associated with his father in the cultiva- tion of the same; Mabel is the wife of Col- onel Willians and has one son.

Mr. Benson has a fine farm of one hit- dred and sixty-three acres, devoted to gen- eral farming and stock raising. On the place are two excellent houses and two barns with other modern improvements of an at-

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tractive order. On the place have been raised as much as eight hundred bushels of wheat and two thousand bushels of corn in a year. The corn is utilized for the feeding of the cattle on the place, special attention be- ing given to stock raising .Mr. Benson places on the market an average of fifty hogs annually, and in the year 1899 dis- posed of one hundred head. He keeps a fine herd of hogs and an average of twelve head of cattle, in which latter line he is gradually displacing his Jersey stock with the shorthorn and polled Durham. Much of the farm consists of bottom lands that were once heavily timbered, and the soil is not only exceptionally fertile, but is very durable, as is shown in the fact that one field produced good crops of corn for twenty- seven consecutive years, without any alterna- tion or special fertilizing. The modern resi- dence on the homestead is a model country home, and by its side still stands the old homestead, so endeared by long associa- tions.

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 91

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