USA > Ohio > Darke County > A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 92
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In his political proclivities Mr. Benson is a Republican, and religiously he and his estimable wife are identified with the United Brethren church.
LEWIS C. ANDERSON, M. D.
Darke county has been signally favored in the personnel and character of her profes- sional men, and in that most exacting of all professions, medicine and surgery, a notable representative is he whose name appears above. Dr. Anderson, who holds distinctive prestige as a physician and surgeon of marked ability in his profession and as a man of sterling characteristics in all the re- lations of life, maintains his residence and office in Greenville, from which headquarters
his practice ramifies throughout the county, while he is frequently called into consulta- tion by his professional confreres at points more or less distantly located. He is a na- tive of the Buckeye state, having been born in Montgomery county on the 15th of Jan- uary, 1850, the son of John and Mary (Hulse) Anderson. The father was a na- tive of Pennsylvania and the mother of Ohio. After their marriage they settled in Mont- gomery county, this state, where they re- mained until 1863, when the family removed to Darke county and settled upon a farm, which continued to be the home of the hon- ored parents until death released them from their labors,-the father passing away in No- vember, 1869, in the forty-eighth year of his age, while the mother survived but a short time after their removal to this county, her demise taking place in 1864.
The paternal grandparents of the Doctor were James and Ruth (McCahan) Ander- son, the former born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in April, 1792, the latter in January, 1800. His paternal great-grand- parents were Irish and lived about twenty miles from Dublin, where all of their chil- dren but James were born. They emigrated to the new world in 1791. The maternal great-grandfather of our subject was Patrick McCahan, also a native of the Emerald Isle, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Green, was a near relative of General Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame.
- Dr. Anderson passed the first twelve years of his life in Montgomery county, accompanying his parents upon their removal to Darke county in 1863. Thus he spent part of his youth upon the farm, growing strong in mind and body under this sturdy discipline, supplemented by his attendance at the district schools in the vicinity of his
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home. His father was appreciative of the advantages of broader education and the young man was encouraged in his aspirations to seek a wider field of endeavor in preparing for the battle of life. He matriculated as a student in the Normal University at Leb- anon, Ohio, where he prepared himself for pedagogic work, which has served as the stepping stone for so many of our leading professional men, and after being duly forti- fied in this line he devoted himself to teach- ing for one winter in the district schools and for two winters in the village of An- sonia. In the meanwhile he had formulated specific plans for his future life work, and, having decided to prepare himself for the medical profession, began a course of read- ing under the preceptorage of Dr. Hooven, a well-known physician of Dayton, Ohio, later prosecuting his studies and clinical work in the Miami Medical College, at Cin- cinnati, where he graduated as a member of the class of 1874. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at An- sonia, Darke county, where he remained un- til 1888. when he removed to Greenville, the county seat, having been elected to the of- fice of probate judge, as the nominee of the Democratic party. He assumed the duties of this important and exacting office February 9, 1888, and after serving with signal ability and impartiality for his term of three years was chosen as his own successor and con- tinued his effective administration of the of- fice for a further three years. At the expira- tion of his second term the Doctor prepared to again devote himself to his regular pro- fessional work, which he had but held in temporary abeyance. In order to thoroughly reinforce himself for his duties he went to New York city, where he completed a post- graduate course at the New York Post- 43
Graduate Medical School. Returning to Greenville he entered into a professional alliance with Dr. D. Robeson, under the firm name of Robeson & Anderson, engaging in general practice. His success has been the diametrical result of his ability and personal popularity and he is known as one of the able physicians and surgeons of the state, being a close and indefatigable student and ever keeping abreast of the advances made in his profession. The Doctor is a member of the Darke County Medical Society and also of the State and National Medical As- sociations, in whose work he maintains an active interest. He served two years as a physician to the Darke County Children's Home and is a member of the soldiers' re- lief committee of the county and a member of the Greenville city school board.
In politics the Doctor is a stanch Demo- crat and has been an active worker in the cause. Fraternally his allegiance is given to the time-honored order of Freemasons, in which he holds membership in Ansonia Lodge, No. 488, A. F. & A. M., and Green- ville Chapter, R. A. M., while he is also identified with Ansonia Lodge, No. 605, I. O. O. F., and the Knights of Pythias, be- ing distinctly popular in each of these or- ganizations, to which he gives as much of his time as is possible in the midst of the exac- tions of his professional work.
On the 29th of September, 1875, Dr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Ollie Tullis, daughter of Milton and Sarah Tullis, of Ansonia, and of this umion one son has been born. John M., a young man of much intellectuality and strength of char- acter, who is now a student in the celebrated Rush Medical College, in Chicago, where he is preparing to follow the profession to so marked success.
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SOLOMON D. HART.
As education reaches a higher plane and the intellectual side of our character de- velops, we find more in our lives than a mere money-making existence and awaken to the full realization of our responsibilities. It is natural that our thoughts and hearts should go back to the past, and we are com- pelled to express our deep admiration and tender sympathy for those brave pioneers, who, by a life of noble self-sacrifice and un- daunted courage, teach us the beauties of an unselfish life. Inspired by religious zeal and having faith in the Divine Father, an- imated by a deep love for their families and a desire for their improvement, they left their eastern homes and with their worldly possessions journeyed to the great west, pen- etrating the heart of the wilderness, build- ing their cabins where the foot of the white man had never trod, where only the Indian contested for supremacy with the wild beasts of the forest. Having thus selected their homes, these sturdy pioneers endured with- out complaining the privations, misery and hardships attendant upon such a life. They displayed a heroism equalled only by those devoted wives and mothers who accompanied them. When our country's history shall have been rewritten, when we hand down to coming generations the names of her truest heroes. it will not be the names of men who, surrounded by numerous com- rades, inspired by the intoxicating strains of martial music, by the rolling of drums, the rattle of musketry, the roar of artillery and the din of clashing steel, fought until they died. It is not the intention of the biog- rapher to dispute their bravery or belittle their deeds ; but it required a greater courage a deeper religious sentiment and more lofty
ideals on the part of the pioneers to abandon civilization and bury themselves in the for- ests, where after a life of labor and unre- mitting toil they lie down to sleep at last without knowing luxury, but happy in the knowledge that their beloved wives and chil- dren were placed above the fear of want. These devoted men and women are our greatest heroes and their names will go down the ages when war and its horrors shall have ceased. To such a family be- longs S. D. Hart, the subject of this sketch, now a prominent farmer residing on sec- tion 36, Jackson township, Darke county, Ohio.
His father, Joseph Hart, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania in 1812, of English parentage, and like most boys of that day received only such an education as he could pick up at odd intervals. Being left fatherless during his boyhood it was very necessary that he should help support the family, and he and his two brothers were bound apprentices, but when he was old enough to care for himself he came to Ohio and settled near Dayton, where he worked for some time. About 1837 he married Magdalene, a daughter of John Shidler, and they reared eight children, namely: B. Franklin, Peter, Cyrus, Levi, Jonathan, Sol- omon D., Mrs. Catherine Sullenberger and Mrs. Esther Geiger. The father rented two farms near Bradford, where he remained until he entered land on section 36, Jackson township, Darke county, where our subject now resides. There were very few settlers in this locality at that time; there was only a small store where Woodington now stands and money was exceedingly scarce. Upon this place Mr. Hart built a barn and double log house, which was the home of the fam- ily for some years, and was a very good
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building for those days. It was afterward replaced by a fine brick residence,-one of the first in the township. It was destroyed by fire in 1880, but was soon rebuilt. The original farm of eighty acres was enlarged to one hundred and sixty acres by the pur- chase of a tract of land from Peter Shidler. Mr. Hart was a man of great public spirit and took an activeinterest in thedevelopment of the free school system. He was a Dem- ocrat in politics, but never sought office, and was a German Baptist in religious belief, an active worker in church affairs and untiring in his efforts to advance the general welfare of his community. He died in 1881 in his sixty-seventh year, and his wife survived him exactly four years.
Solomon D. Hart was born in Miami county, Ohio, January 16, 1847, and was a mere infant when the family came to Darke county. His education, like that of most boys of those days, was necessarily limited, pursuing his studies inanold log school house until his tenth year, and often wading in water knee deep in going to and from school. Later a frame school house was built and here he was a student for about three monthis each year, while he assisted his father with the farm work the rest of the time until twenty. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a short time.
In 1873 Mr. Hart was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary E. Loy, a native of Preble county and a daughter of Michael Loy. She came with her family to this county when four years of age. ~ Mr. and Mrs. Hart have three children, namely : Della, wife of a Mr. Huffard, a merchant of Elroy; Alva L., who is attending school and assisting his father on the farm; and Eliza. also in school.
After his marriage Mr. Hart rented a
farm near his father's place for eighteen months and then purchased forty acres ad- joining, on which he lived for seven years. He then removed to the old homestead, where he still resides, having purchased the interests of the other heirs in the place. Here he has one hundred and twenty acres of land under a high state of cultivation, on which is a fine brick residence and several large barns, and he also owns forty-five acres of bottom land in Brown township, which he has drained and converted into a very productive tract. He is engaged in general farming, stock and tobacco raising, and, being an energetic man, of good busi- ness ability, he is meeting with marked suc- cess in his labors. His genial temperament makes him a great favorite with his asso- ciates, and he has a host of warm friends throughout the county. He takes a very active part in promoting the interests of the Reformed church, of which he is a member, and gives his support to the men and meas- ures of the Republican party. He has never aspired to political honors, but has efficiently served as school director for ten years, dur- ing which time he has succeeded in making many improvements in the school system.
GEORGE H. MCCLURE.
Among the enterprising and progressive business men of Greenville who are meeting with well deserved success in their under- takings is the subject of this sketch-the junior member of the well-known firm of Whiteley & McClure, dealers in farming implements and machinery, at No. 131 East Third street. He is a native of Darke coun- ty, his birth occurring upon a farm in Washı- ington township October 20, 1866. His fa- ther, John S. McClure, a successful and
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prosperous farmer, was also born in this county April 12, 1841, and died here April 10, 1895. The paternal grandfather, George McClure, was a native of Montgomery coun- ty, Ohio, and an early settler of Darke coun- ty. He married Maria Myrkle, and they reared four children. Our subject's mother was in her maidenhood Miss Mary Cole, a native of Washington township, this coun- tv, and a daugliter of Samuel Cole, one of its pioneers. She died in December, 1867.
George H. McClure was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys and ob- tained his early education in the country schools. Later he entered the National Nor- mal University at Lebanon, Ohio, where he pursued liis studies for some time. After his return home he assisted his father in the operation of the farm for five years. He is now the owner of a good farm of one hundred acres in Washington township, which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved. While engaged in agri- cultural pursuits he devoted considerable at- tention to stock raising, keeping a high grade of cattle and hogs. His specialty was the noted Duroc hogs, which he sold for breed- ing purposes throughout the state.
In 1897 Mr. McClure removed to Green- ville and accepted a position in the service of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Darke county. Later he entered the em- ploy of Warder, Bushnell & Glessner, of Springfield, Ohio, manufacturers of farming implements and machinery, and remained with them as a traveling salesman for two years. At the end of that time he formed a partnership with Joseph Whiteley, and under the firm name of Whiteley & Mc- Clure they have since engaged in their pres- ent business at Greenville. They carry a large and varied stock of farm machinery,
and as they have an extensive acquaintance throughout Darke county and the surround- ing country they have already built up a large and profitable trade.
Mr. McClure was married, in 1892, to Miss Emma Jeffries, of Darke county, the fourth daughter of Milton and Louisa (Chenoweth) Jeffries, and to them have been born three children, namely : Lucile, Harold and Louise.
URIAH MEDFORD.
The commercial activity of New Weston is largely promoted through the enterpris- ing efforts of Mr. Medford, who is engaged in the undertaking and farm implement busi- ness. He is also identified with agricult- ural interests, being the owner of one of the finest farms of Darke county. He was born in Wabash township, this county, on the 2Ist day of May, 1857, and is of English lineage, his great-grandfather, William Medford, having been a native of England. His grandfather, Charles Medford, was a farmer of Darke county and died in this locality when about seventy years of age. He was twice married and reared a large number of children, but all of his children are now deceased. George D. Medford, the father of our subject, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, December 6, 1827, and died in Kansas in 1893, at the age of sixty-six years. He wedded Mary Ann Gates, who was born in Chittenden county, Vermont, February 20, 1828, their wedding taking place October 26, 1847, in Ohio. There they began their domestic life upon a farm and their union was blessed with six children, namely: Myron C., of Dayton, Ohio, who has one son; Matilda B., who became the wife of J. M. Rose and the mother of four
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children, and died in middle life; Charles, a farmer of Wabash township, who has nine children, three sons and six daughters; J. C., who is living in Darke county and has four children; Uriah, of this review; and Irene, the wife of J. H. Spencer, of Hollans- burg, by whom she has two children. After the death of the mother of these children George D. Medford wedded Augenette Or- put, and they had two children, George Guy and Stanley, both of whom are residents of Kansas.
Mr. Medford, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, was reared to farm life on the old family homestead and enjoyed the educational privileges afforded by the com- mon schools of the neighborhood. At the age of sixteen lie started out in life on his own account and went to Buchanan county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming in con- nection with his eldest brother for four years. They then sold their property there and Uriah Medford went to the far west, spending two years in Washington and Cali- fornia. On the expiration of that period he returned to Ohio, and, wishing to better prepare himself for life's responsible duties, he pursued a course of study in the business college in Greenville. He then visited his father in Virginia and in the spring of 1882 hie purchased a farın in Wabash township, which he cultivated through a tenant, with whom he made his home for some years.
On the 7th of October, 1886, Mr. Med- ford was united in marriage to Linnie Cottrell, of Wabash township, a daughter of A. S. Cottrell, who resides with Mr. Med- ford, his own wife having died, as well as nearly all of their children. Mr. and Mrs. Medford have lost their only child, an in- fant daughter. In his business affairs our subject has prospered and is to-day the
owner of two hundred and twenty-one acres of rich and valuable land comprised within two farms in Wabash township and which are improved with good buildings and are under a high state of cultivation. He is also engaged in the farm implement busi- ness in New Weston, and in connection with E. C. Richardson is engaged in the under- taking business. His well directed efforts have been crowned with a high degree of success and all who are familiar with his straightforward business methods agree that his prosperity is well deserved. During the World's Fair in Chicago lie was a member of the Columbian Guards. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist church, taking an active part in its work and he is serving as a steward and trustee. Socially he is a Master Mason, belonging to the lodge at Ansonia, and politically lie is a Democrat. He has twice served as town- ship assessor and for three terms was a jus- tice of the peace. In both offices he dis- charged his duties with marked promptness and fidelity, and at all times he has been found true to every trust and obligation re- posed in him. During the greater part of his life he has been a resident of Darke county, is familiar with its history, its prog- ress and its upbuilding, and has given a hearty support to all measures calculated to promote the general welfare. In manner he is free from ostentation, is genial and courteous and the circle of his friends is extensive.
FREDERICK MEIER.
Frederick Meier, deceased, was one of the early German settlers of Greenville township, Darke county, Ohio, a man of
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sterling worth and highly esteemed for his many excellent qualities of mind and heart.
Frederick Meier was born in Haseling, Province of Hesse, Germany, December 25, 1802, one of a family of nine children. Ac- cording to the German custom he attended the public schools from the time he was six until he was fourteen and then learned a trade. His trade, that of cabinetmaker, he learned in his father's shop, under his fa- ther's instructions, and he followed it throughout his life. His first wife, whose maiden name was Gustena Wissel, bore him three children, Charles and Caroline, and one that died in early life in Germany. His second wife. Gustena Klemme, he also mar- ried in Germany, April 15. 1850. With his wife and three children. he embarked from Bremen for Baltimore, which port they reached in safety after a voyage of four weeks and four days. From Baltimore they started west via the canal, their destination being Darke county, Ohio, and after about a month's travel by water and team they landed in Greenville township. Mr. Meier's capital at this time consisted of about six hundred dollars. With this he purchased forty acres of land, which had on it a little "clearing" and a small cabin, and here he established his home. His money all in- vested it was necessary for him to go to work at once to supply the immediate wants of his family. Work at his trade brought him sixty cents a day and this, with what his son, Charles, could earn, was sufficient to keep the family in food. His land was nearly all under water and it required much labor and time to clear and drain it so that satisfactory crops could be raised. This however, was finally accomplished and the land yielded a support for the family. Mean- time Mr. Meier continued work at his trade,
traveling about from place to place until he was too old to work. He died January 20, 1885, and his wife March 29, 1888; both are buried in St. John's cemetery. For many years they were identified with the Lu- theran church. Mr. Meier was prominent in the organization of St. John's church, giv- ing freely of both his labor and money to assist the enterprise and for many years he was one of its official members. The chil- dren of his second wife were six in number, but all are now deceased, and his son, Charles, above referred to, is the only living representative of the family.
Charles Meier was born in Germany Jan- uary 19, 1836; was educated in the con- mon schools and confirmed in the Lutheran church, and at the time he came with his father and family to this country was four- teen years old. He assisted his father in the improvement of the farm above referred to and also worked out on other farms and
. thus at an early age aided in the support of the family. He married Miss Augusta Krickeberg, a daughter of Frederick and Charlotte ( Sigsmend) Krickeberg, German people, who settled in Brown township, Darke county, Ohio, in 1852. The date of their marriage was February 9, 1863, and since then they have lived on the old home- stead farm, which now comprises one hun- dred and forty acres, and in addition to this farm he owns other land. The home farm is well improved and nearly all under cul- tivation. the beautiful residence having been erected in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Meier have had six children, four of whom are living,- Charles, Mena, Caroline and John,-and all except the youngest are married and settled in life. The deceased children were Sophia and Frederick.
In his political views Mr. Meier is what
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is termed an independent. In 1863 he was drafted into the Union army and served four weeks, at the end of which time he hired a substitute, for whom he paid nine hundred and eighty-five dollars, and received his dis- charge.
MONROE PHILLIPS.
Monroe Phillips, who is now successfully engaged in the liquor business in Greenville, was born on a farm near Castine, Darke county, October 7, 1852, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Reiswonger ) Phillips, also natives of this county, the former born in 1820, the latter in February. 1826. His ancestors were from Pennsylvania and on the paternal side were among the very earliest settlers of Darke county, living in the neighborhood of Fort Jefferson, when Indians still inhabited this region and wild animals were numerous.
Our subject grew to manhood upon the home farm. He was quite young when his father wed and during his boyhood and youth he assisted his mother in the manage- ment of the place. She is still living, at the age of seventy-four years, and now makes her home in Savona. On the 21st of March. 1877. Mr. Phillips was united in marriage with Miss Harriet McGriff, a na- tive of Castine, and to them were born two children. namely : Minnie, who died in child- hood ; and Burnet, who was born in Arca- num December 9. 1879. and is still living.
After his marriage Mr. Phillips lived in Arcanum for a short time and then removed to Greenville, where he is now carrying on a profitable business as a liquor dealer, and also deals in fast horses. He and his family occupy a beautiful home on West Fifth street.
JOHN A. WALLACE.
The present well-known and popular mayor of Union City, Ohio, was born in that place June 24. 1871, and is a son of James and Ellen Wallace, natives of county Kerry, Ireland, the former born November 10, 1834, the latter August 20, 1836. Both emigrated to America in 1857, with the hope of finding a home in the new world adapted to their mutual tastes. The father located in Sidney, Ohio, the mother in Toledo, and in 1863 the former came to Union City, where they were married April 9, 1864. Here Mr. Wal- lace worked as a section hand for four years and then embarked in another business, which he successfully carried on until five years ago, having secured a comfortable competence, which enabled him to lay aside business, cares. Ile is now the owner of considerable farm and city property. His estimable wife died November 26, 1881. Of the eight children born to them one son, Patrick, died in February. 1897, and the others are still living, namely : James ; Mary; John A., our subject : Margaret, a music teacher ; Bridget, a seamstress: Thomas, a machinist : and Johanna.
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