A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 98

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

USA > Ohio > Darke County > A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 98

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

747

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

other children, three of whom are living, namely: John P., a resident of Baltimore, Maryland; Jacob, also of Baltimore; and Anne E., the wife of James McGonigal, now of Youngstown, Ohio.

William E. George spent his boyhood days in the state of his nativity, where he re- ceived his preliminary education in the dis- trict schools. He afterward entered the pre- paratory department of Pennsylvania Col- lege at Gettysburg, where he pursued the academic course. At the age of twenty years he began teaching in the vicinity of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and followed that profession for three years in the Key- stone state. In September, 1857, he re- moved to Darke county, Ohio, locating in Washington township, where he was em- ployed as a teacher in the district schools, following that pursuit for a period of about seven years. During that time he spent nine and a half months in each year in the schoolroom. His labors were very satisfac- tory and he became known as one of the most capable instructors in this part of the state.

On the 13th of January, 1861, Mr. George was united in marriage to Miss Deb- orah Harriet Fouts, who was a native of In- diana, born in South Bend, St. Joseph coun- ty, on the 16th of October, 1840, and a daughter of David Fouts. Her parents were both natives of Maryland, and at an early date in the history of the Hoosier state they took up their abode in Indiana. On the 4th of June, 1863, the death messenger en- tered the household of Mr. George and called from earth to heaven his beloved wife. After her death he sold all of his real and personal property and followed his profession of teaching in different localities. He also pur- sued a course of study in Bryant & Strat- ton's Commercial College in Indianapolis,

where he was graduated in the fall of 1865. He then came to Gettysburg, Darke county, Ohio, and resumed his profession of teach- ing at various places in Adams and Frank- lin townships, again being connected with educational interests for eight years. On the 28th of December, 1865, he celebrated his second marriage, Miss Sarah Margaret McDowell becoming his wife. She was born in Adams township, Darke county, January 4, 1844. Her parents came to this county from Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and were of Scotch lineage. They located here at an early date and took an active inter- est in the development and upbuilding of this portion of the state. Mrs. George was also a competent teacher and both continued teaching until 1872, when in July of that year the subject of this review was appointed to the position of freight and ticket agent of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Company and of the Adams Express Company at Gettysburg. At the same time he began dealing in grain and livestock and is still actively connected with that branch of trade. He is one of the old- est employes of the railroad and his long term of service is ample evidence of his worth and of his fidelity to the interests of the company. From time to time he has bought and sold land, making some valuable investments, and at the time of this writing, in the fall of 1900, lie is the owner of two good farms, one comprising fifty-four acres, the other eighty acres of land.

By his first marriage he had but one child, Charles Ambrose, who was born De- cember 3. 1862, in Hill Grove, Ohio, who is now engaged in the coal, flour and feed business in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he also conducts a boarding stable. His mother died when he was only six months old. By 1

748

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his second marriage Mr. George had one daughter. Myrtle Agglea, who was born October 10. 1871, and died February 15, 1 1893.

In matters of public moment Mr. George has taken a deep interest and he has labored earnestly for the welfare of the community in which he resides. His fellow-townsmen, appreciating his worth and ability, have fre- quently called him to public office. He was appointed deputy United States marshal in 1870, having in charge a district compris- ing Adams, Franklin, Van Buren and Mon- roe townships. In politics he has always been a stanch Republican, unswerving in his support of the party. For twelve years he was township clerk and for a similar period he was a member of the school board. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend and in his official capacity he has largely promoted the interests of the schools, which are now creditable institutions. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran denomination and joined that church in Pennsylvania, but after coming to Ohio he became identified with the Presbyterian church, in which he has filled many offices, serving as deacon, trustee, clerk and treas- urer. His business affairs have been at- tended with creditable success and he has ac- cumulated considerable property that has come to him as a reward of his earnest and honorable labor, coupled with the assistance of his noble wife. He started upon an in- dependent business career without any of this world's goods, and when he came to Ohio he borrowed fifty dollars of his brother to bring him to his new home. So low were the wages paid to teachers at that time that he was not enabled to discharge his en- tire indebtedness for two years. Many ob- stacles and difficulties have barred his prog-

ress toward prosperity. He had the mis- fortune of losing his right arm on the 19th of February, 1844, while feeding a threshing machine two miles south of Gettysburg. This would have discouraged most people .meeting with such an accident, but lle pos- sesses an indomitable will and perseverance, and in this way he has been enabled to wrest fortune from the hands of an adverse fate. In all his dealings he is strictly honorable and has the unequaled confidence of those with whom he has been associated. He is a man of strictly temperate habits, using neither tobacco nor intoxicants of any kind and has done earnest and efficient work in the cause of temperance. His has ever been an honorable and useful career, commanding the high respect of his fellow townsmen. In manner he is courteous and genial and he has the happy faculty of not only winning friends but also of drawing them closer to hun as the years pass by. Few men in Gettysburg of this vicinity are better known or more highly esteemed than William E. George.

D. Q. ROBERTS.

D. Q. Roberts, deceased, was for more than forty years one of the respected farm- ers of German township, Darke county, Chio. He was born in Harrison township, Darke county, Ohio, February 2, 1834, the son of German parents. His father and uncle, Samuel and George Roberts, with their wives, emigrated from Germany to this country and made settlement in Darke county. Ohio, where they passed the rest of their lives, engaged in agricultural pursuits. D. Q. remained on his father's farm in Har- rison township until his marriage, Novem- ber 8, 1856, when he located on the farm

749

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of one hundred and seventy acres in Ger- man township where his widow still resides. Here for four decades hie successfully car- ried on general farming and stock-raising, and was well known and highly respected throughout the county. While not a poli- tician or a public man in any sense, he took an intelligent interest in public affairs, and gave his support, so far as his vote was concerned, to the Democratic party. He died March 28, 1897.

Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts, nce Baker, his widow, was born in Jefferson township, Preble county, Ohio, December 25, 1834. Her father, Thomas Baker, was a native of Brooklyn, New York, from which place, about 1812, he came to Ohio and settled in Butler county, where he subsequently mar- ried. He then moved to Preble county and took up his abode on a tract of land in Jef- ferson township, where he cut the logs, built a cabin in the clearing and began life in true pioneer style. As the years passed by he developed a good farm, which is now owned and occupied by his son Thomas. Thomas Baker, the grand father of Mr. Rob- erts, was an Englishman, who, on coming to this country, located on Long Island. Grandinother Baker was a native of Scot- land. Mrs. Roberts' mother was before marriage Miss Elizabeth Wesley, was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, and was related to the Wesleys who founded the society of Methodists. She was the mother of ten children that grew to adult age, Mrs. Rob- erts being the eighth born. Mrs. Roberts passed her girlhood days on her father's pioneer farm in Preble county, and received her education in a log school-house near her home. She is the mother of six children, four daughters and two sons, namely : Adella F., the wife of Daniel Shaw, of In-

diana, by whom she has one daughter, Ha- zel ; by a former marriage she has two chil- dren, Earl and Ethel Mitchell; Dorson, who married Margaret Hamilton and lives in Hollansburg, Darke county; Emma, the wife of Moses Adamson, of Nebraska, has two children, Hugh and Hazel; Martha Ann, the wife of William Smock, of Indiana, has three children; and Ella and Linneus, at home .

JOHN H. FRITZ, M. D.

This well-known physician of New Mad- ison, Darke county, Ohio, was born in Preble county, this state, on the 17th of De- cember, 1851. His father, John Fritz, was born on the same farm and there passed his entire life, which was one of useful activity and which was protracted over the period of eighty-one years, his birth having occurred June 10, 1810, and his death occurring in 1890, on Christmas night, which was the anniversary of his wedding, and at about the same hour in the evening. His father, Michael Fritz, was a native of Bremen, Ger- many, whence he emigrated to the United States, settling in the woods of Preble coun- ty. Ohio, where he reared a large family comprising five sons and five daughters, of whom three are now living, namely : Louise, widow of Mr. Carn, is about eighty-four years of age and resides in West Alexandria ; Catherine, widow of John Gentner, is a resi- dent of Preble county ; and David, of Miami county, who is seventy years of age. All of the children lived to attain full maturity and age except Nancy, who died when a young lady. The grandfather of our sub- ! ject cleared up his farin of one hundred and sixty acres, and this was left to his heirs,

750

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and has been retained in the possession of the family.

The mother of Dr. Fritz bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Seiler. She was born in 1824, and her death occurred in 1862, her children having been as follows: Ben- jamin, a resident of Eaton, Ohio; Sarah, wife of Simon Wysong: Michael, who was born in July, 1849, died in 1876; the fourth in order of birth was the Doctor, the subject of this sketch; William is engaged in farm- ing, as is also George, who owns the old homestead, residing in Lexington; and Let- tie Maria is the wife of O. T. Smith, of Ohio. The father remained a widower for twenty-eight years, and reared his children to maturity. The Doctor, who weighs about one hundred and eighty pounds, weighs the least of all his brothers and sisters, one of his brothers tipping the beam at two hundred and ten pounds. The Doctor was reared upon the farm, and its duties and free outdoor life proved effective in the de- veloping of a sturdy constitution for the young man, who secured his preliminary educational training in the district schools, applying himself to his studies with such success that he was enabled to teach his first term of school when he was seventeen years of age. He engaged in teaching and at- tended school for a period of ten years, meeting all his expenses through his own efforts. In the beginning he taught school for two winters and thereby saved six hun- dred dollars, which his father appropriated, after which the young man started out upon his own responsibility, and by teaching, selling books, etc., saved fifteen hundred dol- lars, all of which, with an additional five hundred, he utilized in defraying the ex- penses of his medical education. When the Doctor came to New Madison, in the

spring of 1882, to open the practice of his professon, he was indebted to his youngest brother for five hundred dollars, which he: had been compelled to borrow in order to. complete his course at the Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, where he graduated in the spring of 1880. For two years he was associated in practice with his old pre- ceptor, Dr. Tillson, of West Alexandria, and in 1882, as noted, he began the individual practice of his profession in New Madison, . where he has built up an excellent business, being recognized as an able practitioner and as a man worthy of all confidence.

On the Ist of June, 1884, in Richmond, Indiana, Dr. Fritz was united in marriage to Miss Thomas, of New Madison, daugh- ter of Walter and Elizabeth (Kittle) Thom- as. Of this union three children have been born: Ralph, the first born, died at the age of eight months; Hattie was born Octo- ber 3. 1886; and Orpha December 13, 1893. The Doctor is a Master Mason, holding membership in Fort Black Lodge, No. 413, at New Madison; is a member of the Knights of Pythias and also of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in West Alexandria. Politically he is a Republican. The Doctor is a member of the Ohio State Eclectic Medical Society and also of the Darke County Association. Since his mar- riage he has lived in his own convenient and attractive home in New Madison, the same having been the homestead of his wife's parents. Walter Thomas, the father of Mrs. Fritz, was a veteran of the civil war, in which he served for three years, and he died of consumption, from the result of ex- posure, his demise taking place about 1869. His widow survived until 1897, passing away at the age of about sixty years. They were the parents of five children, of whom

751

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mrs. Fritz and her brother David are the only survivors.

The practice of the Doctor extends through a radius of from six to eight miles in each direction, and he keeps two horses in requisition, conducting a general prac- tice in medicine and surgery. His efforts have been very successful, and his clientage is one of representative order.

WILLIAM Y. STUBBS.

The inevitable law of destiny accords to tireless energy and industry a successful car- eer. and in no field of endeavor is there great- er opportunity for advancement than in that of the law-a profession whose votaries must, if successful, be endowed with native talent, sterling rectitude of character and sin- gleness of purpose, while equally important concomitants are close study. careful appli- cation and broad general knowledge, in addi- tion to that of a more purely technical order. Well qualified in all these particulars, Mr. Stubbs takes leading rank at the Greenville bar and is one of the eminent men of the pro- fession and it is with pleasure that we pre- sent his record to our readers. He was born upon a farm in Greenville township, Darke county, March 2, 1865, and is the eldlest son of S. W. Stubbs, who was born in Eaton, Ohio. His mother bore the maiden name of Minerva Dixon.

Mr. Stubbs, whose name introduces this review, spent the first eight years of his life upon the home farm and then attended the public schools of Greenville, acquiring a good English education to fit him for the practical duties of life. Subsequently he engaged in clerking in a general store in Greenville, and in his eighteenth year he began teaching, but all this served but as a stepping stone to 46

something higher. He determined to become a member of the legal fraternity, and to this end he read law with Hon. H. M. Cole, now judge of the common pleas court. He began his reading in June, 1881, and was admit- ted to the bar by the supreme court at Co- lumbus, Ohio, at the January term of 1886. He then began practice in this city and is now well established in the profession. He was associated for some time with his former pre- ceptor, Judge H. M. Cole. Mr. Stubbs is engaged in general practice and is well versed in the various departments of law. His dili- gence, energy, careful preparation of cases, as well as the earnestness, tenacity and cour- age with which he defends the right, as he understands it, challenges the highest ad- miration of his associates.

Mr. Stubbs was married October 19, 1887, to Miss Isabella Bookwalter. They have a fine home in West Fourth street, not- ed for its hospitality, and their circle of friends is almost coextensive with their circle of acquaintances. Mr. Stubbs is recognized as a leader in political circles and exerts a po- tent influence on public thought and opinion.

THOMAS B. MILLER.

Thomas B. Miller, superintendent of the Darke County Infirmary, is a man well known in this county, where he was born and where he has passed his life. The Millers were among the pioneers of Darke county. George Miller, the grandfather of Thomas B., was a native of Pennsylvania, in which state he wedded Margaret Kaskey, a native of the Emerald Isle. In 1816 they removed with their family from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, and took up their abode in Harrison township, Darke county, where they passed the rest of their

752

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lives. He died at the age of seventy-four years. Their son John, the father of Thomas B., was born in Lancaster county, in 1815. the year before their removal to this state. Here he was reared and married, his wife, whose maiden name was Mary A. McGee, being a native of Ohio. She died in 1854. Of their children, eight in number, one died at the age of twelve years, and those who reached adult age are as follows: George W., Thomas B., Martha E., Henry B., Mary I. and Margaret P. All are living excepting Francis R. Mary I. is the wife of C. W. Moore, and Margaret P. is now Mrs. Luther Black.

Thomas B. Miller was born on his fa- ther's farm May 22, 1847, was reared to farm life, and received his education in the district school. He was yet a school boy when the civil war broke out, but be- fore it closed he offered his services to the Union and proved himself a true soldier. It was in 1864 that he enlisted, and as a member of the One Hundred and Eighty- seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, com- manded by Colonel Dawson, he entered the service. His teri of enlistment was spent chiefly in garrison duty.

Receiving an honorable discharge from the army in 1866, Mr. Miller returned to Darke county and engaged in farming and stock-raising, which he continued for some time. Then for a number of years he car- ried on a mercantile business in Greenville. In 1890 he was appointed superintendent of the Darke County Infirmary, which po- sition he has since filled, having been reap- pointed from time to time. The infirmary buildings were burned in 1897, but were im- mediately rebuilt on a much larger scale, and are now ranked with the best county infirm- ary buildings in the state of Ohio. Under

Mr. Miller's management the institution is one in which the county has reason to take pride; everything is neat and orderly and the inmates are well cared for.

Mr. Miller was married in 1877 to Miss Elizabeth McGrew, a native of Preble coun- ty, and a daughter of Patrick McGrew. They are the parents of three children : Ar- thur V., Edna B. and Harry C.

Politically Mr. Miller is a stanch Demo- crat, has a voice in the councils of his party, and has frequently served as delegate to county and state conventions. He is a member of Jobes Post, No. 147, Grand Army of the Republic.

ISAAC MARKER.

Among the citizens of Darke county whose lives have been devoted to agricultural pursuits is Isaac Marker, a well-known farm- er of Van Buren township. He was born in Mercer county, Ohio, September 5, 1855. and when thirteen years of age came to Darke county with his parents, George and Lydia (Epperell) Marker, locating in Van Buren township, where he grew to manhood, early becoming familiar with every depart- ment of farm work.

On the Ist of November, 1877, Mr. Marker was united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane Shields, who was born on her fa- ther's farm in Van Buren township, Janu- ary 4, 1855, and was educated in the coun- try schools of the neighborhood. They be- gan their domestic life upon a farm of eighty acres which she owned, and there they have since made their home, Mr. Marker being en- gaged in its operation. In his political views he is a stanch Democrat, and he has been called upon to fill several local offices.

Mr. and Mrs. Marker have eight children

758

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

whose names and dates of birth are as fol- lows: Lucy, born September 19, 1878; George A., October 17, 1880; Lydia Maud, October 1, 1884; Dolly Frances, December 28, 1886; Therman Russell, December 10. 1889; Mary, May 12, 1893; Harley Earle, July 7, 1895; and Homer Jennings, Decem- ber 26, 1898. Mary died in infancy, but the others are living and are still at home with the exception of Lucy, who was marrie.1 August 12, 1899, to Roy S. French, and they have one child, Rhoda Helen.

EMANUEL HERSHEY.

Prominent among the old settlers and highly respected citizens of Darke county, Ohio, is Emanuel Hershey, who resides on lis farm on section 28, Adams township. The salient facts in regard to his life and family history are as follows:

Emanuel Hershey was born on his fa- ther's farm, one-half mile west of Petersburg. in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1821. His father, Jacob Hershey, a na- tive of the same county, was a farmer, dis- tiller and miller and was a prominent man in his day. He was born in November, 1796, and died in August, 1872, at the age of seventy-six years. Benjamin Hershey, the grandfather of Emanuel, was also a na- tive of the Keystone state, and in it passed his life and died, the dates of his birth and deathı being October, 1766, and October, 1815, respectively. The mother of our sub- ject was, before her marriage, Miss Eliza Miller. She was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1804, and died March 17, 1880. Her father, Jacob Miller, was also a native of that county. Jacob and Eliza Hershey were the parents of seventeen children, their family record being as fol-

lows : Emanuel, whose name introduces this sketch; Jacob, born March 13, 1822, died April 17, 1874; Benjamin, born June 22, 1823, died March 22, 1856; Sarah, born September 25, 1824; Jeremiah, born March 17, 1826, died December 21, 1833: Eliza- beth, born May 4, 1827, died October 4, 1829; John S., born March 29, 1824; Anna, born August 3, 1830; Amos, bern February 4, 1832, died February 20, 1898; Elizabeth (2d), born October 25. 1833: Mary, born June 30, 1835; Susan, born May 7, 1836; Amelia, born December 2, 1837: Henry, born April 28, 1839; Harriet, born in 1841 ; Fanny, born March 27, 1843, and Reuben, born June 19, 1845.

Emanuel Ilershey assisted in the work on his father's farm until he was seventeen years of age. In the winter of 1837-8 he at- tended boarding school at Lititz, Pennsyl- vania, and the following summer went to work in his father's mill, where he was steadily employed for about two years, in that time thoroughly learning the business. In. August, 1840, he went to visit an uncle who lived near Buffalo, New York, with the intention of securing, if possible, a job in a mill in that locality. In this he was success- ful. He obtained employment in a large flouring mill at Black Rock, N. Y., where he remained for some time and had a valuable experience in the business.

He was married on the 14th day of November, 1844, at John Michael's hotel in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, by Rev. Bates, of the Lutheran church. In the spring of the following year they commenced housekeeping at Metz's Mill, near Sporting [Till, Rapho township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and remained in that county until the spring of 1849. In April of that year they left their native state for Ohio,

754

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

coming by way of Pittsburg and Cincinnati to Darke county. Mr. Hershey has a vivid memory of the incidents connected with his early experience, both before and after he came to Ohio, and relates them in a most pleasing manner. The story of his trip to his uncle's in New York and his life in that state would of itself make an article of some length and much interest. Of his settlement in Darke county, he says : "We landed in this county at Bear's, on the 9th of May, 1849. The new mill house was erected in the summer of 1848, by Moses and Manning Hart, and in the winter of 1848-9 they sold it with an unfinished house to Gabriel Bear. Uncle John Bear came to Ohio in 1847, two years before our arrival, and made his home with Isaac Rudy, a brother-in-law of Gabriel Bear. The mill, however, had not been finished-only roofed and weatherboarded. In the summer of 1849 we floored it and put in the machinery; the race was dug at the same time, by Thomas Westfall, contrac- tor. The new mill was started on the first day of January, 1850, and for seven years was operated under the firm name of Bear & Hershey. In 1856 we moved to the place where we have since lived. Gabriel Bear ran the mill for some years, after which he sold it to Jesse Tillman, for eight thousand dollars. It is now owned by a Mr. Cromer, but still goes by the name of 'Bear's mill.' "

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 98

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