USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 50
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was held in the highest regard. Never a politician in the sense of office-seeking, he however, was elected to a number of minor township positions. He voted with the De- mocracy and in his religious belief was con- nected with the Lutheran church. His wife was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, born in 1812. Her parents were Peter and Anna Marie (Bricker) Shafer, who emigrated to Montgomery county, Ohio, when Mrs. Wolf was a maiden of ten sum- mers. There they resided on a farm until after their daughter's marriage, when they came to Preble county, making their home with their children throughout their remain- ing days. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf became the parents of thirteen children, of whom the following are living: Mary A., the widow of Mahlon Ludwick, of Preble county, Ohio; Catherine, the widow of John Kirk- patrick, of this county; Sarah, the widow of Samuel Kuntz, of West Baltimore, Ohio; David; Christina, the wife of Samuel Davis, a farmer of this county; Samuel, the subject of this sketch; John, a resident farmer of Preble county ; Susanna, the wife of Robert Mitchell, an engineer on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad living in Day- ton, Ohio, and William, a resident of West Alexandria, Ohio.
Samuel Wolf, the subject of this review, was reared on the old homestead farm and in the common schools pursued his studies. At the age of seventeen years he began farming on his own account by renting land of his uncle Samuel. He was ambitious, energetic and reliable, and in his undertakings he pros- pered. After three years he purchased a threshing machine, which he operated in connection with farming for seven years. When he was about twenty-two years of age he and his brother-in-law, Mahlon Ludwick,
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purchased one hundred acres of land, upon which Mr. Wolf now resides. The brother- in-law at first operated the farm while our subject engaged in threshing. In this way he obtained a good start, and as the years have passed he has added continually to his income. After his marriage he located on his uncle's farm of two hundred and twenty acres on section 9, and cultivated that land for five years. He then purchased his part- ner's interest in his present farm and re- moved with his family to his new home. Later he exchanged forty acres of his place for city property in West Alexandria. In 1892 he purchased sixty acres of land from his uncle's estate, the tract being located few miles south of his present farm, so that his landed possessions compries one hundred and twenty acres of the richest farming land in Preble county.
On the 18th of August, 1872, Mr. Wolf united in marriage to Miss Margaret C. Stover, a native of Lamier township, Preble county. Their only child is now deceased. Mrs. Wolf is a daughter of William Harri- son and Chloe A. (Siler) Stover. Her father was a native of Virginia and came to Ohio with his parents when a boy of five years, and the family locating in Lanier township. For forty years he was a con- sistent and prominent member of the Bethle- hem Baptist church and was one of the highly esteemed men of the county.
In 1890 Mr. Wolf was elected a trustee of Lanier township and discharged his duties so capably and faithfully that he was re- elected at each succeeding election, a fact which well indicates his personal popularity and the confidence reposedl in him by his fel- low townsmen. Socially he is connected with Eaton Lodge, No. 30, I. O. O. F. He is regarded as one of the leading and influ-
ential men of his community, is strictly up- right in all his dealings and his word is as good as any bond ever solemnized by signa- ture or seal. He is a supporter of all worthy charities and is a public-spirited and progres- sive citizen who withholds his aid from no movement or measure which he believes will contribute to the public good.
GEORGE W. REHFUSS.
The business interests of Eaton are well represented by Mr. Rehfuss, who is an en- terprising grocer. He was born in the town which is still his home, June 3, 1857, and is a son of John M. and Susan (Goldsmith) Rehfuss. His father was born in Germany and came to the United States in 1849, tak- ing up his abode in Eaton. He was a tanner by trade and followed that pursuit for some time in Eaton, after which he removed to Indiana. In 1858, however, he returned to Ohio, locating in West Alexandria, where he died in 1861. In his business affairs he prospered, becoming the possessor of a com- fortable competence. He held membership in the German Reformed church and socially was a member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife was the daughter of William Gold- smith, who came originally from Delaware, and belonged to one of the old families of that state. His father was John Goldsmith, who secured land from the government in 1804, and this land is still in the possession of his descendants. John Goldsmith was a teamster, hauling most of the goods from Cincinnati to Eaton, in the early days. He (lied at the age of ninety-one years, and his wife passed away at the advanced age of ninety-six years. William Goldsmith was also a hard-working man and prospered in his undertakings, accumulating a comfort-
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able competence. His daughter, the mother of our subject, died March 27, 1899. By her marriage she had five children, of whom three are living, namely: William, who re- sides in Eaton; George W., and Albert E., who is engaged in farming.
George W. Rehfuss pursued his educa- tion in the common schools until fourteen years of age, when he put aside his text books and learned the blacksmith's trade. He fol- lowed that pursuit until 1884, and his ex- collent workmanship secured to him a liberal patronage. He then turned his attention to the grocery trade and for eight years con- ducted business, along that line. In 1893 he was appointed postmaster by Prosident Cleveland, which position he held for five years, after which he purchased his present grocery store, which he is now successfully conducting. He enjoys a large trade and his prospeity is assured on account of his honorable dealing and his reasonable prices.
On the 21st of November, 1878, Mr. Rohfuss was married to Miss Anna Flora, a daughter of Chris Flora, and they now have two children-Ernest C. and Pearl S. In his political views Mr. Rehfuss is a stalwart Democrat and does all in his power to pro- mote the growth and secure the success of his party. He has served as school direc- tor and as a constable, and for two terms was the treasurer of his township, his ser- vice continuing over a period of six years. He was also a member of the board of health six years and filled the positions of town treasurer and postmaster of Eaton at the same time. Some of his political opponents objected to this and tried to get him to re- sign as town treasurer, but did not succeed in their endeavors and he continued to fill both positions. He is a valued member of several fraternal organizations, including
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Odd Fellows society, of which he is the financial secrotary; the Knights of Pythias lodge, of which he is trustee; and the Improved Order of Red Men. He holds membership in the Christian church and was one of its trustees. His public and private record aro alike commendable and at all times he has been true to the trust re- posed in him.
CHARLES E. BARMES.
The present well known postmaster of West Manchoster, Ohio, was born in Bar- tholomew county, Indiana, November 16, 1848, and is a son of Michael and Eliza (Wood) Barmes. His father was born in Germany and was eleven years old when brought by his parents to the United States. The family were among the first settlers of Bartholomew county, Indiana, and there Michael Barmes was reared upon a farm. He followed agricultural pursuits through- out life and died at the age of forty years. His wife, who is supposed to have been a na- tive of West Virginia, survived her hus- band only a week. They were the parents of six children-five sons and one daughter, namely : John, Charles E., James, Michael, Willard and Mary.
Being left an orphan at an early age, Charles E. Barmes began the battle of life for himself at the age of thirteen years. For five years he lived with Ebenezer Hitchbourn at Hope, Indiana, and while there learned learned the cooper's trade. He next went to Union county, Indiana, where he made his home with a great aunt for seven years, dur- ing which time he engaged in farming. The following two years were spent in Richmond, that state, and in 1879 he came to West
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Manchester, Ohio. Here he successfully followed farming until 1897, when appointed postmaster under President Mckinley's ad- ministration, and is now most creditably and acceptably filling that office.
Mr. Barmes was first married in 1881, to Mary Braddock, and for his second wife wedded Adena Brown, a daughter of John Brown. They have no children. Socially Mr. Barmes affiliates with the Knights of Pythias at Eldorado, and politically is identi- fied with the Republican party. He has served as township clerk of Monroe town- ship, being elected four times, and has also filled the office of road commissioner and trustee of West Manchester. He is recog- nized as one of the most valuable and useful citizens of his community, always ready to aid any enterprise for the public good.
JESSE EBY.
The Eby family have been long and ac- tively connected with Preble county and its history and the name has figured conspicu- ously in connection with its substantial de- velopments and with the agricultural inter- ests of the community. He whose name in- troduces this review resides in Gratis town- ship and was born within its borders on the 4th of January, 1866. He represents one of the old families of the south. His grandfather, Christian Eby, was born in Gunpowder Falls, Baltimore county, Mary- land, August 13, 1808, and came to Ohio in 1831. Seven years later, his father, Christian Eby, Sr., arrived in Ohio. He was born in York, Pennsylvania, in 1777, and was a son of Christian Eby, whose birth occurred in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1743. The first ancestors of the family in America came from Zurich, Switzerland,
crossing the Atlantic in 1724, and his father was born in Zurich in 1660. Thus through many generations the ancestry can be traced back to the land of the Alps. In the sub- ject of this review are manifested some of the sterling qualities of his Swiss ancestors. The mother bore the maiden name of Eliza Eikenbery, and was born in Lanier town- ship, Preble county, January 6, 1842. She was a daughter of Peter and Eliza (Morn- ingstar) Eikenbery, who removed from Pennsylvania to Lanier township, where they became enterprising and progressive farm- ing people. The former was born in 1802 and died in 1871, and the latter was born in 1806 and passed away in 1885. This worthy couple became the parents of five sons and two daughters, of whom five are now living, namely: George, a resident of Peru, Indi- ana; Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Jones, of Mexico, Indiana, and David, Eliza and Peter M., residents of Eaton. The parents of our subject were married on March 12, 1865, and their union was blessed with six children, but their son Christian died at the age of three years. Those still living are Jesse, of this review, Henry E., Vernon W., Edith and Elizabeth. The father is one of the most extensive and prosperous farmers and stockraisers of Preble county. He makes a specialty of the breeding of Duroc Jersey hogs and sells more of this breed than any other man in the county. He inherited a good property, to which he has added from time to time, becoming one of the most successful agriculturists and real estate own- ers in this section of the state. He has a number of fine farms, which continually augment his income, and throughout the community he is recognized as one of the most progressive business men.
In taking up the personal history of
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Jesse Eby we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favor- ably known in this section of the state, for he has long lived in this neighborhood. He attended the district schools until eighteen years of age and was reared to farm life and labor, through the summer assisting in the work of the fields and meadows, and continuing with his parents until twenty- six years of age. He was married on the 14th of February, 1892, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah B. Reese, a native of Warrensburg, Missouri, born on the 10th of December, 1870. Her parents were A. WV. and Susan E. (Baile) Reese, now resi- dents of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Four children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Eby: Effie E., born January 4, 1893; Edith L., born August 28, 1894; Warren McDonald, born February 10, 1896, and Joseph Allen, born June 5, 1899.
Mr. and Mrs. Eby began their domestic life upon his present farm, where he owns two hundred and fifty acres of rich and arable land. The place is improved with a fine frame residence, which was built by Hon. D. C. Stubbs. There are also good barns and outbuildings and all modern improve- ments and accessories. He successfully car- ries on general farming and is also a success- ful stock raiser. He raises Duroc Jersey hogs and sells about a hundred head annual- ly. He feeds his stock all of the crops which he raises with the exception of wheat. He produces each yoar about twelve hundred bushels of wheat and twenty-four hundred bushels of corn. He has a flock of South Down sheep and has about eight horses which are used in the work of the farm. Although he is a young man he has already taken rank among the enterprising and suc- cessful agriculturists of his county and
possesses qualities which insure further suc- cess. He is very energotic and determined and carries forward to completion whatever he undertakes. His business methods are honorable and commond him to the confi- dence of those with whom he is associated. Politically he is a Democrat and is now serv- ing as treasurer of the village school district. The cause of education finds in him a warm friond and he withholds his support from no measure or movement which he thinks would prove of public benefit.
ANDREW COPP.
Andrew Copp, a retired farmer living in West Alexandria, has attained to a po- sition of affluence through his own untiring and honorable efforts, and the competence which he acquired now enables him to rest from the more arduous dutios of life. He is descended from one of the old Pennsylvania families. His great-grandfather, Andrew Copp, was a native of the Keystone state, whence he emigrated to Virginia in early life. There he was married and reared his family. He became well-to-do, owning ex- tensive land interests, but by trade he was a blacksmith. During the war for independence he loyally responded to the call for troops and aided the colonists in their struggle to secure liberty. George Copp, the grand- father of our subject, became an influential planter and slaveholder in Virginia.
Androw Copp, the father of our subject, was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, about 1795, and on the old home plantation was reared. After his marriage he located on a farm of eighty acres given him by his father, the place being situated about two miles from the old homestead, on the Shen- andoah Valley road. There he conducted a
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tavern for more than fifteen years, when he sold it and purchased a farm at what is known as Gooley's manor, in the same county. He made his home there for nearly two years, and in 1832 he emigrated to Ohio, "having previously visited the state in 1829. Well pleased with the country he determined to make a location in the Buckeye state, and with a four-horse wagon he made the journey westward, locating two and a half miles east of West Alexandria, in Twin township, Preble county, the eastern boun- dary of his farm forming a part of the county line. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, and with characteristic energy began the development of a farm.
In 1836 he went on a prospecting tour to Iowa, to look at land in what was known as the Black Hawk purchase. While there he heard of the contemplated opening of the Platte purchase in northwestern Missouri and started for that country in order to be among the first on the ground. He was one of four men who reached that section prior to all other white settlers, and when the land was thrown open to settlement he took a squatter's claim, upon which he built a cabin and made the necessary im- provements to hold the tract. He then re- turned home to sell his farm and move his family to this wild western district. While making arrangements he sent his son An- drew and a son-in-law to Missouri to hold the land, but on their arrival they found that the man who had been left in charge had sold the claim for two hundred dollars in gold! They gave up the attempt to recover it, and after remaining for about a year they returned to Ohio.
During this time the father had sold his farm and shortly afterward purchased eighty acres of land in Lanier township, a
short distance from his old home, where he carried on agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life. By the purchase of an additional eighty acres he extended the boundaries of his farm, making it his home until called to his final rest in 1849. He married Elizabeth Huddle, who was also born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, and was a representative of an old family there. Mr. Copp left his native state because he was adverse to slavery and wished to rear his family apart from its influences. His brothers and his father were all slave holders. Mr. and Mrs. Copp became the parents of six children, three of whom are yet living : Lucy, the widow of Jacob Stover and a resident of Twin township; Andrew, of this review, and Joseph, who is living a retired life in West Alexandria. The parents were consistent and faithful members of the Lu- theran church, and Mr. Copp was an old-line Whig in his political affiliations.
Reared upon the home farm amid the wild scenes of frontier life, Andrew Copp, of this review, early became familiar with all the duties, labors, hardships and trials which fall to the lot of the agriculturist who casts in his lot among the pioneer settlers in a new locality. He received only such edu- cational privileges as were afforded by the primitive schools of those days, but through extensive reading and observation he has be- come a well informed man, his knowledge being broad and practical.
On the 7th of April, 1844, Mr. Copp was united in marriage to Miss Matilda E. Klinger, a native of Twin township, Preble' county, and a daughter of William and Catherine (Bean) Klinger, the former a na- tive of Pennsylvania and the latter of Vir- ginia. They came to Ohio with their re- spective parents, and were among the pio-
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neer settlers of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Copp became the parents of one child, but lost it in infancy. After their marriage Mr. Copp operatod his father-in-law's farm for two years and then purchased the old home place, on which he had been mainly reared. Removing there, ho made it his home for fifty-four years, and throughout that period was regarded as one of the most progressive and practical agriculturists of the communi- ty. In October, 1899, desiring to rost from the more arduous duties of life, he removed to West Alexandria, where in the summer previous he had purchased a handsome resi- dence. His labors have brought to him a very desirable competence, and he is num- bered among the substantial citizens of the community. In politics he is a Democrat, and is liberal in his views and sympathies. Both he and his wife are very active mem- bers of the Lutheran church, in which he has held the offices of deacon and elder for many years. His life has been an active and useful one, characterized by fidelity to duty in all relations. No trust reposed in him has over been betrayed, and he stands as one whose sterling characteristics commend him to the regard and confidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
JACOB S. BENNER.
Jacob S. Benner, ex-county commis- sioner of Preble county and a leading agri- culturist of Jackson township, living on sec- tion 14, was born in this township, on the 28th of October, 1855, his parents being Samuel and Mary (Halderman) Benner, who had but two children, the younger being William D., who resides on the old family homestead. The father was born in Miam- isburg, Montgomery county, Ohio, May 9,
1827, and was a son of Samuel and Susanna (Dunkerly) Benner. The former was born near Miamisburg, Montgomery county. His father, Jacob Benner, married a Miss Boeher, a native of France, and a relative of Madame Booher of Baltimore, celebrated in history in connection with the war of the Revolution. Her family owned some eight hundred acres of land on which the city of Baltimore now stands, and it was leased by her parents for ninety-nine years. The children are now trying to obtain possession of the same. Hav- ing arrived at years of maturity Samuel Ben- ner married Susanna Dunkerly, who was born in Devonshire, England, and came to America with her parents, who located at Baltimore. Later they removed to Indiana, settling near Attica, where her father en- gaged in merchandising until his death, which occurred in 1858, when he was fifty- four years of age. Samuel Benner, the grandfather of our subject, died in 1854, at the age of fifty-six. Throughout his life he devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, and was very successful in his undertakings. When a child of six years Samuel Bennett, the father of our subject, was taken by his parents in their emigration to Jackson township, Preble county, where his grandfather had entered three quarter-sec- tions of land in 1808. Here Samuel Ben- ner was reared to manhood, and on the 20th of March, 1854, at the age of twenty-five years, he wedded Mary Halderman. He then purchased eighty acres of land near New Hope and took up his abode on that farm in 1856. His parents both died in 1858, and in 1860 Samuel Benner disposed of his first farm and purchased the interest of the other heirs to the old homestead, to which he removed, there spending his re- . maining days, his death occurring on the
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22d of March, 1887. He was a successful agriculturist, and as the years passed added to his farm until within its boundaries were comprised two hundred and thirty-eight acres. He was not a politician, yet his fel- low townsmen frequently called him to serve in minor offices. He was a man of influence in his community and was a stanch supporter of the Republican party. His wife was born on the old Halderman farm in Washington township, Preble county, February 18, 1828, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Swi- hart) Halderman. She died October 22, 1875. Her father was born in Bottetourt county, Virginia, and his parents were slave- holders and influential people of the Old Do- minion. They came to Ohio in an early day, locating on Twin creek, in Lanier town- ship, Preble county, on the farm now owned by the Abraham Halderman estate. At the time of his marriage Jacob Halderman took up his abode in Gasper township, three miles south of Eaton, where he resided for a num- ber of years, and then removed to Jackson township, settling near New Hope Station. There he became general agent for Whet- stone & Company, of Cincinnati, which firm distributed flax-seed sent to farmers and pur- chased their products raised therefrom. He represented that firm for thirty-five years, during which time he established for them many agencies in Indiana. While thus en- gaged he also turned his attention to the lum- ber business, establishing a lumber yard at Columbia City, Indiana, in the '40S. That enterprise proved a very profitable one, and he established branch yards in various other Indiana towns, becoming well-to-do as the result of his success in that enterprise. His wife, Catherine Halderman, was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, and was a daughter of Jonathan Swihart, who came to 24
Ohio in an early day, taking up his abode near Middletown. They were all members of the Dunkard church.
Jacob S. Benner was reared to manhood on the old home farm, acquiring his educa- tion in the district schools and later attend- ing the A. D. Wilt Commercial College, in Dayton, Ohio. At the age of sixteen he be- ban working for his grandfather Halder- man in the lumber business at Columbia City, Indiana, and was thus engaged during the winter months, while in the summer seasons he aided in the operation of the fields on the old home place. His time was thus spent un- til his marriage, which occurred on the 26th of December, 1878, Miss Eliza Deem becom- ing his wife. She was a native of Washing- ton township, Preble county, and a daugh- ter of William and Sarah (Harshman) Deem, who removed from Warren county to Preble county. Her paternal grandparents were Joseph and Mary (Tarr) Deem, and her maternal grandparents were Daniel and Isabel (Erhart) Harshman, who removed from Virginia to the Buckeye state.
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