USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 44
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MARTHA J. HAMILTON.
Martha J. Hamilton is a representative of an honored pioneer family of Preble coun- ty and is living upon the old homestead. Of Scotch lineage, the Hamiltons intermar- ried with people of Irish birth and thus the ancestry of the family is Scotch-Irish, and among the representatives of the name in the present generation are displayed many of the sterling characteristics of those two strong races of Celtic origin. The first of whom we have record is Alexander Ham- ilton. His son, Samuel Hamilton, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born about 1772, and the latter had a son, Sam- uel, who became the grandfather of Miss Hamilton, of this review. Samuel Hamil- ton, Jr., married Miss Jane Smith, of Is- rael township, and ten children, six sons and four daughters, were born of their union and reached mature years. One daughter died at the age of eighteen, but the others were married and had families. The grandpar-
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ents removed from South Carolina to Ken- tucky, where they resided from 1806 until 1815. The journey to the Blue Grass state was made by team and thence they came to Ohio in the same manner, crossing the river at Cincinnati on a ferry.
On reaching Preble county they took up their abode on section 24, Israel township. Not a furrow had been turned nor an im- provement of any kind made upon the place, but Samuel Hamilton erected there a log cabin and with characteristic energy began the development of the farm. He cleared his land, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, and where once stood the forest trees were soon seen rich fields of waving grain. When his eldest son was married, he re- moved to another farm, where the village of Morning Sun now stands, leaving the son in charge of the old home place. There he and his wife lived for many years. He died in 1822, and his wife, long surviving him, passed away in Indiana in 1856, at the age of eighty-one.
George F. Hamilton, the father of Miss Hamilton, of this review, was born in South Carolina, in June, 1799, and accompanied his parents in their various removals until they became residents of Preble county. He assisted in the arduous task of develop- ing the new land and improving the old homestead. Having arrived at years of maturity, he completed his plans for a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Hanna Ramsey, who was born in Kentucky in 1804, a daughter of Dr. John Ramsey. Their marriage was celebrated at the old Ramsey homestead on Christmas day, 1826, and their union was blessed with twelve children, three daughters and nine sons. Two of the sons died in infancy, but the other ten children reached years of maturity and all have mar-
ried, with the exception of Martha J. Ham- ilton, who was born in 1827 and is still liv- ing at the old family home. Among the other members of the family in this locality is James. Robert Calvin received a college education and won the degrees of M. D. and D. D. He is a physician of the regular school and a minister of the United Pres- byterian church. He resides in Randolph county, Illinois, with his family, which in- cludes one son and one daughter. The mother of these children died on the old home farm in 1873, and the father, surviv- ing her thirteen years, passed away in 1886. He was very successful in his business af- fairs, acquiring six hundred acres of land and assisted his children in getting a good start in life. . A man of the highest re- spectability, he was always true to every duty that devolved upon him and enjoyed the warm regard of all with whom he asso- ciated.
James Hamilton, a brother of Martha J. Hamilton, is actively connected with the ag- ricultural pursuits of Preble county, own- ing and operating a tract of land on section 23, Israel township. He was born in this neighborhood in 1842, was reared to farm labor, and, during the winter season, pur- sued his education in the district schools. On the 15th of December, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Newton, whose birth occurred in Somers township, March 13, 1843, her parents being Asa and Lydia (Cook) Newton. They were farming people of Preble county and had ten chil- dren, of whom five sons and four daughters reached mature years, while two sons and three daughters are yet living. The father died in 1880, at the age of sixty-nine years, but the mother is still living, at the age of eighty-eight. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have
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lost one daughter, Ella, who was married and died in her twenty-first year, her only child passing away at the same time. The surviving members of the family are Clara, now the wife of James Kirk, by whom she has three sons and two daughters, namely : Mary, William, Ruth, John and George; Mary, the wife of George H. Keaning, by whom she has one son, Ernest E., now two years old; and Robert C., who is learning the tailor's trade in Richmond, Indiana.
In 1864, during the civil war, Mr. Ham- ilton enlisted as a member of the One Hun- dred and Fifty-sixth Ohio Infantry and served for four months. He is now granted a pension of eight dollars per month. In politics he is a stanch Republican, unswerv- ing in his advocacy of the principles of the party. He has served for several terms as a supervisor and has been the road commis- sioner for thirty years, a fact which indi- cates in an unmistakable manner that his duties are well performed. Both he and his wife are members of the United Presby- terian church. They have been living for thirty-five years upon this farm, which com- prises thirty-five acres, and there he carries on general farming and stock raising, es- pecially the breeding of hogs.
ALBERT L. BORRADAILE.
Albert L. Borradaile is capably serving in the position of sheriff of Preble county, Ohio, discharging his duties without fear or favor and thus winning the commendation of all concerned. The Borradaile family, of which he is a representative, is probably of French origin and was established in America several generations ago. This is the only family in America spelling the name in this way.
Our subject was born in Dixon town- ship, Preble county, on the 12th of Septem- ber, 1850. His father, Joseph H. Borra- daile, was a native of New Jersey, and dur- ing his childhood came with his parents to Ohio, the family locating near Waynesville, Soon afterward, however, he came to Preble county, where he spent his life as a farmer and mechanic. He operated a machine shop on his farm, preferring work there to the pursuits of the field. He worked his farm by means of hired hands and in the control of his business met with creditable success. He died in Israel township, Preble county, at the age of sixty years, respected by all his neighbors. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Ann Brown and was a daugh- ter of William Brown, one of the pioneers of the county. The marriage was cele- brated in Israel township, where Mrs. Bor- radaile was born and is still living. Their family consisted of three children, who yet survive, and twins, who died in infancy. Albert L. Borradaile, of this review, is the eldest. The second, Sarah Elizabeth, is the wife of Zeno Roberts and resides on the old family homestead. Edwin G. operates the home farm.
In taking up the personal history of our subject we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known. He pursued his education in the public schools near his home and when about eighteen years of age entered the Eaton high school, where he continued his edu- cation for two years. Subsequently he en- gaged in teaching for five years, terminat- ing his professional labors of that character as a teacher in the village schools of Morn- ing Sun, in Israel township. He afterward turned his attention to merchandising, con- ducting a general store in Camden, where he
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did a flourishing business for about twenty years. His earnest desire to please his pa- trons, his well directed efforts and his un- failing courtesy secured to him a large trade, which brought to him a good income. He also served as an express agent at Camden for twelve years of that time. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to public office. He was three times elected justice of the peace, serving for about seven years, and his course was marked by the utmost im- partiality and fairness. He was also the treasurer of the corporation of Camden for nine years and carefully guarded the city exchequer. In 1896 he was chosen on the Republican ticket as a candidate for the office of sheriff, and, although opposed by a very able man on the Democratic ticket, he was elected by a plurality of sixty-five votes. So faithfully and promptly did he discharge the duties of the office that he was re-elected in 1898, and a queer coincidence was that he was opposed by the same Demo- cratic candidate and received the same ma- ority as at the first election. He has made a very popular and efficient officer, counting his friends by the thousands. In the adminis- tration of his official duties he is careful and considerate, yet at all times just, giving due regard to the rights of all concerned.
Mr. Borradaile was married in Preble county, in 1874, to Miss Carrie S. Taylor, a native of Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio. She was visiting in Preble county . at the time Mr. Borradaile formed her ac- quaintance and their friendship terminated in marriage. Their union has been blessed with four children, but the eldest, Ada, died in infancy. Taylor A. is a student in the public schools, born May 8, 1885; Myrtle K. was born December 27, 1886; and Trevia
S. was born March 4, 1889. Mr. Borra- daile was formerly identified with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, but has withdrawn from that society. He is a charter member of Camden Lodge, No. 259, K. of P., of which he is past chancellor com- mander and still retains his membership in that organization. He was reared in the faith of the Friends' church, his mother be- ing a lifelong member of that organization, but neither he nor his wife is identified with any religious denomination, although they give earnest support to gospel work. They are widely and favorably known in Preble county, and Mr. Borradaile is a public offi- cial in whom the community has the utmost confidence.
SILAS DOOLEY.
Silas Dooley is a farmer of Preble county whose birth occurred on the 2d of May, 1825, on the farm which is now his home. His father, Silas Dooley, was born in Har- rod's Station, Kentucky, in 1786, and was a son of Moses Dooley, who removed from Bedford, Virginia, to Kentucky in 1781. The family is of Welsh lineage, the original ancestors having emigrated from Wales to the new world during the colonial epoch in our country's history. In 1805 the parents of our subject removed from Kentucky to Preble county, Ohio, locating on what is known as the Brower place, near Friend- ship Church house and graveyard, in Gasper township. At that time the Indians were numerous here, having not as yet left for their reservations in the west. Mr. Dooley secured a tract of government land, receiv- ing a deed to the same in 18II. The origi- nal parchment document is now in possession of our subject and is signed by James Madi-
A.H.MARKI.E. Y.
SILAS DOOLEY, SR.
SILAS DOOLEY.
MRS. SILAS DOOLEY.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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son and James Monroe, who were then serv- ing as president and secretary of state respectively. The father of our subject was a hardworking man, noted as a successful woodchopper. He not only cleared his own farm but aided in clearing the land upon which the cities of Eaton and Camden now stand. For many years he operated a saw mill and was thus actively identified with the industrial interests of his adopted county. He served as justice of the peace for a long period, was trustee of Gasper township for many years and in many re- spects was regarded as one of the most prominent and influential residents of his community. It was in Ohio that he married Miss Johannah Westerfield, theirs being the first marriage certificate issued in this county. Mrs. Dooley was a daughter of Samuel Westerfield, a minister of the Pres- byterian church in Kentucky, who during the Revolutionary war had loyally aided the colonies in their struggle for independence. His daughter, Mrs. Dooley, often related to her son Silas stories of her father's Revolu- tionary experiences and of their pioneer life in Kentucky. The Indians in that state were very treacherous and warlike and the settlers had to live in block-houses for pro- tection. In a fight with the Red men Mr. Dooley's great-grandfather was killed. His wife and two of her daughters escaped from the house but were soon captured. Later, however, they again made their escape. Silas Dooley, the father of our subject, died in 1877, at the age of ninety-one years and four months, and his wife passed away in 1858, at the age of seventy-two years.
Of their seven children, our subject is now the only one living. He attended the
common schools, such as were common in those early days, and the labors of the field occupied much of his attention during his youth. On the 7th of May, 1864, he re- sponded to the country's call for aid, enlist- ing in the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio Infantry, at Eaton. He participated in several battles in Maryland and was pro- moted to the rank of first lieutenant in recognition of meritorious service on the field of battle.
Returning to his home Mr. Dooley re- sumed farming and is to-day the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, the richly cultivated fields yielding to him a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestowed upon them. Throughout his entire life he has carried on agricultural pursuits and his diligence and close applica- tion have brought to him that financial re- ward which ever crowns well directed and honorable effort.
Mr. Dooley was married on the 27th of September, 1846, to Miss Isabel McCracken, of Washington township, and their union was blessed with two children, one of whom is now living, Emma I., widow of William Morgan, and a resident of Preble county. Mr. Dooley casts his vote with the Republi- can party but has always refrained from ac- cepting public office, desiring that his time and energies shall be given to his business affairs. He has been junior vice commander of the Grand Army post to which he be- longs, and is a supporter of the church and of all measures calculated to prove of public benefit. In business affairs his word is as good as any bond that was ever solemnized by signature or seal, and such a man cer- tainly deserves recognition in the history of his native county.
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CHARLES E. GAY.
The expression "the dignity of labor" is exemplified in the life records of this gen- tleman-a well-known lumber, tobacco and coal dealer of Lewisburg-whose success in life is attributable to his untiring industry. He is a man of strong force of character, purposeful and energetic, and his keen dis- crimination and sound judgment are shown in: the capable management of his business affairs.
He was born in Dayton, Ohio, August 22, 1852, and is of the ninth generation of the Gay family in America, being able to trace his ancestry back to John Gay, who come to this country from England with Governor Winthrop, in 1630, and first set- tled in Watertown, Connecticut, but later established one of the plantations at Ded- ham, Massachusetts. Our subject's great- grandfather, Luther Gay, was born in Kil- lingly, Connecticut, in 1740, and his grand- father, Coburn Gay, was born in New Hamp- shire; in 1770. His father, Hiram Gay, was also a native of the latter state, born May 1, 1818, and was a shoemaker by trade, carrying on that business in Johnsville and Lewisburg, Ohio, for some years. He came to Lewisburg in 1867, and died here at the age of sixty-nine years. He took quite an active and prominent part in public affairs, serving as a township trustee, a member of the village council and a member of the school board. He was a great reader, al- ways kept well informed on the leading questions and issues of the day, and was especially interested in educational matters. He married Maria Reed, a native of Scot- land, who came to this country with her parents when a child of five years, landing in Baltimore, Maryland. She was left an
orphan at the age of sixteen and later was brought to Dayton, Ohio, by a family with whom she lived for a short time. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children-four sons and four daughters- ali of whom reached mature years, namely : Anna E., the wife of F. L. Wood, of Lewis- burg; George B., a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana ; Charles E., our subject ; Frank P., Mary E. and John W., all residents of Lew- isburg; and Lucy J. and Bithia, both de- ceased.
Charles E. Gay spent the first eleven years of his life in Dayton, and then re- moved with the family to Johnsville, Montgomery county, where he remained about ten years, working by the month as a farm hand for different parties. In 1871 he came to Lewisburg, and commenced raising tobacco, which pursuit he followed until 1884, when he turned his attention to buy- ing and selling tobacco on commission, in which trade he is still successfully engaged. He also became interested in the lumber busi- ness in 1886 and the coal business about the same time, and still carries on operations along those lines. He is a wide-awake, en- ergetic and progressive business man, and the prosperity that has come to him is cer- tainly well merited.
On the 6th of July, 1877, Mr. Gay was united in marriage with Miss Izora Hapner, who was born in Lewisburg, November I, 1858, a daughter of Michael Hapner, one of the early settlers of Preble county. By this union has been born four children: Russell M., who married Nina Smith and resides in Lewisburg ; Harry and Hazel, both at home ; and one child died in infancy.
Socially Mr. Gay affiliates with the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 695, of Lew- isburg, and politically is identified with the
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Democratic party. Like his father, he takes a deep and commendable interest in educational affairs, and has been an efficient member of the school board for twelve years. He is also a member of the village council, and is eminently public-spirited and progress- ive, giving his support to every enterprise calculated to prove of public benefit.
LEWIS F. PARMERLEE.
Success is determined by one's ability to recognize opportunity and to pursue this with a resolute and unflagging energy. It results from continued labor, and the man who thus accomplishes his purpose usually becomes an important factor in the business circles of the community with which he is connected. Mr. Parmerlee, through such means, has attained a leading place among the representative men of Lewisburg, and his well-spent and honorable life commands the respect of all who know him.
He was born in Boonsboro, Washing- ton county, Maryland, November 15, 1837, and on the paternal side is of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, William C. Parmerlee, was a native of New York city, where he grew to manhood, and learned the hatter's and furrier's trade, which he later followed in Boonsboro, Maryland, whither he re- moved about 1834. He continued in busi- ness thore until his death, which occurred in 1848, when he was thirty-eight years of age. In Meadville, Pennsylvania, he married Catherine J. Bierly, a native of that city; and to them were born four children: John H., who died at Shiloh, in 1863, while a soldier of the civil war; Lewis F., our subject ; William, a resident of North Manchester, Indiana, and Mary C., who wedded Adam A. Rice and died in 1898. The mothor was
again married, her second husband being George Marker, by whom she has a daugh- ter, Georgiana, now the wife of Charles E. Singer, of Lewisburg, Ohio. The mother died in Lewisburg, at the age of seventy- two years.
Mr. Parmerlee spent the first eighteen years of his life in his birthplace, and there acquired a rather limited education, leaving school at the age of nine years. At the age of ten he began the battle of life for him- self, empty-handed, and in 1855 came to Preble county, Ohio, where he worked at anything which he could find to do. Learn- ing the carpenter's trade, he was employed at the same for twelve years. For his first year at the trade he received sixty dollars, and for eleven years he and a partner suc- cessfully engaged in contracting and build- ing in Lewisburg. He also engaged in the nursery business until 1880, and has since been interested in the real estate and loan business. In 1884 he became connected with the leaf-tobacco trade, and a member of the firm of Smith & Parmerlee is still inter- ested in that industry. Besides his city property he owns a fine farm of one hun- dred and four acres in this county. In 1891 he was one of the organizers of the People's Bank, of which he was elected president ; Samuel Oldfather, cashier, and W. C. Moore, assistant cashier. The stockkhold- ers are Lewis F. Parmerlee, H. P. Smith, Lewis Fonney, E. C. Crider, A. T. Horne and Grant Sheller. The bank is now on a good paying basis, and is one of the solid financial institutions of the county.
In 1862 Mr. Parmerloe married Miss Hargaret Hanna, but she and their only child are both deceased. He was again mar- ried, in 1867, his second union being with Miss Joan F. Emens, a native of Lewisburg,
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and a daughter of Peter Emens, who was born in New Jersey and came to this county in 1840. Our subject has no children.
Socially Mr. Parmerlee is a member of Libanus Lodge, No. 80, F. & A. M., and politically an ardent. Republican, having served as presidential elector in 1896. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man of known reliability and carries forward to suc- cessful completion whatever he undertakes. He belongs to that class of men whom the world terms self-made, for, coming to this county without capital, he has conquered all obstacles in the path to success, and has not only secured a handsome competence but by his efforts has materially advanced the interest of the community with which he associated. He is a prominent figure in busi- ness circles and ranks among the leading men of Lewisburg.
ALFRED DENNY.
There is particular satisfaction in revert- ing to the life history of the honored and venerable gentleman whose name ini- tiates this review since his mind bears the impress of the historic annals of the state of Ohio from the early pioneer days, and from the fact that he has been a loyal son of the republic and has attained to a position of prominence in the thriving little city of Eaton. He was born in this locality and is now one of the revered patriarchs of the community. He has traveled throughout
the state when it was a sparsely settled re- gion, the Indians being far more numerous than the white settlers in many sections. His mind is stored with many interesting in- cidents of the frontier, and his long, active and honorable identification with the county makes it imperative that the record of his
life be given in this work, olse the history of the county would be incomplete.
Mr. Denny was born near Banker's Mill, in what is now Butler county, on the 2d of October, 1819. His father, James Denny, was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, and during his boyhood removed with his par- ents to Pennsylvania. The family is of Irish lineage and was founded in America by James Denny, Sr., the grandfather of our subject, who on leaving the Emerald Isle took up his abode in Baltimore, in 1770. His father, John Denny, came to America. about the same time. The latter was a high- ly educated man and an Irish flax-spinner. His home government did not wish the Irish to export flax, and accordingly John Denny sought a home in the new world, where the spirit of liberty and independence was grad- ually growing stronger and stronger until it resulted in the overthrow of British rule. After the inauguration of the Revolutionary war John Denny joined the American army and served with the colonial forces until American independence was achieved. On the maternal side our subject is also of good old Revolutionary stock, for his grandfather, Jonas Hunt, was also a loyal member of the American army. A surveyor by profession, he took an active part in surveying the wild land of Washington county, Pennsylvania,. and was at one time the owner of large tracts in the wealthy coal region of that state. A leader in public thought and opinion, he was recognized as one of the most prominent. residents of his community. He had twenty- five hundred dollars in continental money at one time, which was never redeemed by the government; but in recognition of his services he received thirty dollars per month pension money.
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