USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 54
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Samuel Beelman, the second of the fam- ily, was reared in the county of his nativity until eighteen years of age, and pursued his education in the common schools of the neighborhood until sixteen years of age, when he entered upon his business career by learning the miller's trade, which he fol- lowed for two years. On the expiration of that period he came to Ohio; locating in Springfield in 1851 .- He followed milling on Buck creek and Mad river, and in 1856 he came to Preble county, Ohio, where he con- ducted the steam mill at Eldorado for about three years. His next place of residence was in Greene county, where he engaged in the milling business for one year, after which he returned to Eldorado and established a gro- cery, which he conducted until 1862.
Mr. Beelman then responded to the coun- try's call for troops. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he joined Company C, Fif- tieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and was promoted to the rank of first ser-
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geant and remained with the army until the close of the war. He participated in the bat- tle of Perryville, Kentucky, and afterward, on account of failing health, did duty on re- cruiting service. In August, 1865, he re- ceived an honorable discharge and came at once to New Paris, where he has since en- gaged in the grocery business. His connec- tion with this line of commercial activity antedates that of any other merchant in the town. He also deals in feed and does an ex- change business, his patronage being ex- tensive land bringing to him a good in- come.
In Eldorado, Preble county, in January, 1857, Mr. Beelman was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Wilcox, a native of Preble county, where she was reared and was a daughter of Abram Wilcox, an early settler of the community. They now have one child, Margaret, who is the wife of A. K. Cartwright, a resident of New Paris. Mr. Beelman is a member of Caleb Markes Post, G. A. R., and is now the junior vice com- mander. He also belongs to the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a valued representative of Fellowship Lodge, F. & A. M. In religious faith he is a Universalist. His political support is given to the Repub- lican party, of which he has been a stanch advocate since its organization. He has served as the township treasurer, and for many years has been a member of the towni council of New Paris. A public-spirited and progressive citizen, he withholds his aid from no measure or movement which he believes would prove of public benefit along material, educational, social and moral lines. His life has been well spent, and his indus- try, commendable business methods and de- votion to the public good have made his record one well worthy of emulation.
H. M. MARKLEY.
There are no rules for building character; there is no rule for achieving success; the man who can rise from the ranks to a posi- tion of eminence is he who can see and util- ize the opportunities that surround his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same; the surroundings of the indi- vidual differ but slightly; but when one man passes another on the highway to reach the goal of prosperity before others who, per- haps, started out before him, it is because he has the power to use advantages which prob- ably favor the whole human race. To-day among the most prominent business men of Preble county stands Mr. Markley, and his name at once brings to mind one of the most important industries of this locality. The history of such a man can not fail to be of wide interest, for he ranks high in industrial and financial circles and belongs to that class who owe their prominence entirely to their own efforts.
Mr. Markley was born at Smithville, near Canton, Ohio, January 5, 1848. His father, Benjamin Markley, was a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and, after arriv- ing at years of maturity, wedded Miss Eliza, Nicols, also of Harrisburg. In 1840 he em- igrated westward, taking up his abode in Richland county, Ohio, where he died in January, 1875. He was an honest, consci- entious and upright man and a very active member of the United Brethren church. His wife still survives him and at the advanced age of eighty-eight years is able to do her own housework. In the family of this wor- thy couple were twelve children, of whom four are now living, namely : Susan A., the widow of Albert Walker, of Washington, D. C .; H. M., of this review; Emma, the
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wife of Eldridge Burns, of Washington, D. C .; and Charles S., who is living in Mur- physboro, Illinois.
In the common schools of the neighbor- hood H. M. Markley pursued his education, but when very. young was obliged to begin work, and aid in supporting the large fam- ily of which ho was a member. When a youth of only fourteen he began work in a brickyard, and thus, although a wealthy man, his career had an humble beginning. The story of his life can be plainly told, a history of close application to business, of resolute purpose and unfaltering industry. He worked as a farm hand and also sold nur- sery stock, and as the years passed he in- creased his capital through industry and economy. In 1872 he entered into partner- ship with a man who was engaged in buying figured walnut in Ohio. Since that time he has dealt in hardwood lumber, and the enter- prise has proved a very profitable one. In December, 1872, he removed to Eaton, whore he has since made his home. The scarcity of walnut lumber has made it more valuable. In 1873 he purchased a walnut tree of a man near Columbus for twenty- five dollars and sold it for fifteen hundred dollars ! He conducts hardwood lumber yards in Eaton, Urbana, Springfield, Osborne, Xenia, and .other Ohio cities, and exports considerable lumber to London. His business has grown constantly in volume and import- ance and his sales are now extensive. He has recently discovered a tract of land on which are six hundred walnut trees and has purchased his choice of four hundred trees. This is a remarkable find at this time, owing to the scarcity of walnut groves. In addi- tion to his large and important lumber busi- ness, Mr. Markley is engaged in farming,
owning and operating two hundred and nine- ty-five acres of valuable land in Preble coun- ty, near Eaton.
On the 26th of November, 1875, oc- curred the marriage of our subject and Miss Mary A. Dunlap. Their union has been blessed with four children, of whom three are living, namely : Dora A., the wife of Fred C. Filbert, of Eaton; Mabel L. and Walter R. His residence, recently completed and finished throughout in hardwood lumber, is one of the finest in the city.
Mr. Markley is a very public-spirited and progressive man, whose aid and co-op- eration are generously given to every meas- ure which he believes will prove of public benefit. He has served as a member of the school board for ten years and school board treasurer for three years. He has also served in the city council. In his character there is something that might be termod solidity of purpose and which is a charac- teristic worthy of emulation. His school privileges were meager, yet in the school of experionce he has learned lessons that have made him a well informed man, broad- minded and liberal in his views and with a charity that reaches out to all humanity. He is truly bonevolent, and the poor and needy count him among their friends. His con- tributions to the church are liberal, and, though not a member of any Christian de- nomination, all churches have his respect and good will and often receive from his open purse substantial aid. He has made good use of his opportunities, has prospered from year to year and has conducted his business affairs carefuly and successfully, displaying in all his acts an aptitude for successful man- agement. He has not permitted the accu- mulation of wealth to affect in any way his
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actions toward those less successful than he, and has always a cheerful word and pleasant smile for all with whom he comes in contact.
MRS. MARYLIS FLORY.
Mrs. Marylis Flory residos on one of the fine farms in Preble county, her home being in Gratis township. She is the widow of Henry Flory, who was born in Bedford county, Virginia, on the 30th of November, 1798, and died on this farm on the 24th of February, 1889, at the very advanced age of ninety-one years. Mrs. Flory was born in Tennessee, near Harper's Ferry, on the 12th of November, 1808, and when only sixteen and a half months old was brought to Pre- ble county, in March, 1809. Hor parents were Joseph and Susanna (Fortier) Pagin, both natives of Virginia, their marriage having been celebrated near Harper's Ferry, in that state, about 1806, the bride being seventeen years of age, the groom twenty-five. They removed to Tennessee and thence came to Ohio, the farmers entering eighty acres of land in Preble county, the purchase price being a dollar and a quarter per acre. After a long, hard struggle they managed to pay for this and purchased an adjoining eighty acres of Jesse Frame, a worthy Dunkard, of which religious faith the early settlers of the local- ity were all representatives. When the Pagins came to Preble county this was a vast, unbroken wilderness, and the red men had their homes in the forests, through which the wild beasts also roamed. The pioneers had to face great dangers, privations and toil, which none but the brave and sturdy could have borne. The only roads were bridle paths and grists wore taken a long distance on horseback to mill. The salt used in cur-
ing the meat was brought from Cincinnati on horseback and other supplies were hauled from long distances. The first wheat which they raised was threshed on the bare ground, smoothed and beaten down, and the grain was winnowed with a shoet, shaken by two persons, one at each end. The first house was built of logs, with a stick-and-clay chim- ney, through which the smoke made its es- cape from a largo fireplace, capable of hold- ing immense logs. In the family were sev- enteen children, nine sons and eight daugh- tors. The first death was that of Jacob, the third child, who passed away at the age of fourteen years. The other sixteen were all married and rearod families of their own. The five surviving representatives of this family are: Mrs. Flory; Mrs. Susanna Bailey, a widow residing in California ; Mrs. Drusilla Pagin, of New York city; David, who is a practicing physician in South Bend, Indiana, and Samuol, a physician of Valpa- raiso, Indiana, who is now a widower with five sons and one daughter.
The father of these children removed to La Porte county, Indiana, where his wife died of paralysis when about seventy-six years of age, he surviving her and passing away at the age of eighty-one years. Their son, Lewis, died at the age of eighty-one; Nancy at the age of seventy-five; and Henry, who practiced medicine both in Illinois and Indiana, was born in 1843, and died in Janu- ary, 1899.
Mrs. Flory had just passed the seven- teenth anniversary of her birth when she was married, on the 16th of December, 1825, to Henry Flory. They became the parents of the following named : Nancy, born February 24, 1827, is the first wife of Joseph Brubaker and had thirteen children; Joseph was born December 7, 1828; Elizabeth, December
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7, 1829; Abram, November 27, 1831; and David, January 13, 1835; Jacob, who was born in 1838, and died at the age of twenty-eight years; and Daniel, born March 15, 1844, died at the age of nine months. The two sons and three daughters who reached mature years were married and had families, their aggregate number of chil- dren being sixty-three. Mrs. Flory's de- scendants now number two hundred and twenty-four, including eleven great-great- grandchildren.
Her husband died February 24, 1889, at the very advanced age of ninety years, two months and twenty-four days. He was a deacon in the Dunkard church for over thirty years. He took an active part in the early development of Preble county and did all in his power for its promotion and upbuild- ing. He built a part of the present home in 1839 and the large log barn, which is forty by eighty-five foet, in 1829. He cleared away the trees from two hundred and twen- ty-five-acres of land and developed a splen- did and valuable farm, of which he willed one hundred and twenty-five acres to his widow. This worthy couple traveled life's journey together for sixty-three years, shar- ing with each other its joys and sorrows, ad- versity and prosperity, their mutual love and confidence increasing as the days passed by. The husband died on the day previous to the sixty-second anniversary of the birth of their first child. Mrs. Flory is now well advanced in years, being the oldest person in the township, if not in the county. Her's has been a long life of domestic industry and happiness; and now, in her ninety-sec- ond year, she may be found daily with her sewing in hand, piecing fancy bod-quilts. She still has a closet full of bedding, incluid- ing counterpanes and spreads, which she has
herself made. One of those was made by her when ten or twelve years old, and she spun, colored and wove the cloth. Nature endowed her not only with a strong consti- tution, but also with great energy and cour- age and a strong mind. Although she had but limited school privileges, she acquired much practical knowledge and was thus able to capably manage and control the affairs of her own household. Hers has been an earnest Christian life, crowned with the blessings which are ever accorded the faith- ful. Her sight and hearing are still unim- paired, and the years have brought much consolation and happiness, while her Chris- tian experience has secured to her the peace that passeth all understanding.
SAMUEL M. GRIFFIS.
Samuel M. Griffis has for many years been identified with the agricultural interests of Proble county, but is now practically living retired. A well merited success has crowned his efforts and his career has been one of marked industry. He is now enabled to en- joy the rest which should come to all after long-continued labor in any of the channels of legitimate business activity. Honorable and trustworthy in all transactions, he en- joys the unqualified regard of his fellow men.
Mr. Griffis was born on Paris road, Washington township, Preble county, three miles northwest of Eaton, on the 29th of December, 1837. His parents were John and Catherine (Null) Griffis, and in their family were twelve children, of whom three are yet living. The father was born in 1789, in Wales, and when a child of six years came with his parents to America. After travel- ing over the country in search of a location
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they finally settled near Springboro, War- ren county, Ohio, where the grandparents spent their remaining days. There the fa- ther of our subject was reared to manhood and was married. With his bride he came to Preble county, locating on the farm where the birth of our subject occurred. He en- tered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government and to its cultivation and development he devoted his energies un- til his death, which occurred in 1861. He was a very successful farmer, energetic and enterprising, and in the practical affairs of life he acquired a handsome competence. He was a very ardent supporter of the Demo- cratic party and its principles, and while he always refused to accept office for himself he labored earnestly to promote the growth and insure the success of his party, believing it to contain the best elements of good gov- ernment. He was frequently chosen as a delegate to county and state conventions, and his opinions carried weight in Democratic channels. His wife was born in Rocking- ham county, Virginia, and was a daughter of George Null, who came to Ohio in pioneer days, locating in Warren county, where he became a well-known and prominent farmer. Mrs. Griffis enjoyed the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances, and her death was mourned by all of her many friends.
Samuel M. Griffis, whose name intro- duces this record, was reared upon the home farm, obtaining his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. He pursued his studies in the winter months and in the summer aided in the labors of the field and meadow. After attaining his majority he worked for his father as a farm hand for two years, and on the expiration of that period was given the charge of the farm which he operated on the shares. In 1861 his father
died, and he continued farming on the old homestead until 1864. In that year he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Blinn, a native of Warren county born in Clear Creek township. Her parents, George and Susan Blinn, were also natives of Warren county, and there spent their entire lives. Both rep- resented old Virginia families who sent their representatives into Ohio at an early period in the development of the Buckeye state. Af- ter his marriage Mr. Griffis took up his abode upon his father-in-law's farm, which he op- erated for two years, after which he came to Preble county. He purchased one hun- dred and twenty acres on section 2, Jackson township, and located upon the place, making it his home until 1887, when he removed to his present residence on section II, Jackson township. He had purchased that property two or three years previously, becoming the owner of two hundred acres of rich land, which is now in a high state of cultivation and improved with all modern improvements and accessories. It is now one of the very best farms in the county, and the substantial buildings on the place stand as monuments of the thrift and enterprise of the owner, the well-tilled fields indicating his careful su- pervision and golden harvests crowning his labors. His work has been favored with a high degree of success, and he now owns two good farms in Preble county, besides good residence property in Eaton; but during the past seven years he has practically lived re- tired, although he devotes some time to the supervision of his investments.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Griffis have been born seven children: Anna F., the wife of Thomas Bowers, a farmer of Jackson town- ship; George Franklin, who resides in Eaton and is a representative of the De Laval Cream Separator Company ; Albert Roscoe,
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a practicing attorney at the Eaton bar; Ida May, the wife of Ora Oler, a farmer of Wayne county, Indiana ; Emma J., at home ; Mary E., the wife of Edward Jackson, who is operating the home farm in connection with John W. Griffis, our subject's youngest child. The mother of these children died January 16, 1899. For thirty-six years they had traveled life's journey together, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, adversity and prosperity, and as the years passed their mutual love and confidence in- creased. The loss of the wife and mother was a sad blow to the family, and through- out the community her death was mourned, for she was a lady whose many excellencies of character won her the esteem and confi- dence of all. who knew her.
In his political views Mr. Griffis has al- ways been an ardent Democrat, unwavering in his support of the principles of the party. He, too, has ever refused to become a can- didate for office, having no political aspira- tions, but has many times served as a dele- gate to the Democratic conventions. He and his wife were for many years members of the United Brethren church, in which Mr. Griffis served as steward; but when there was a division in the church they allowed their membership to lapse. The life record of our subject stands in exemplification of what may be accomplished by determined purpose when guided by sound judgment and practical common sense, and today he is classified among the most substantial resi- dents of Preble county, and through his active business career his reputation has re- mained unassailable, for at all times he has been true to duty and to every manly principle.
In 1900 Mr. Griffis visited portions of Pennsylvania and then Washington, D. C .;
and after spending about ten days in New York city he set sail for Paris, France, on June 6, and landed at Southampton the fol- lowing Wednesday. He visited the Paris Exposition. His son, A. R. Griffis, made the trip with him from New York. They visited London, Liverpool and Chester, and traveled through Wales, and returning to America and landing at New York, passed up the Hudson, visited Newberry, and then Philadelphia, Washington, Gettysburg and other places.
ROBERT E. LOWRY.
Robert Eaton Lowry was born in Dela- ware county, Ohio, November 2, 1845, his parents being Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Cunningham) Lowry, the latter a native of Delaware county and the former of Ireland, whence he was brought to America by his parents during his infancy. The family lo- cated on the James river, seventy-five miles below Richmond, and there remained for seven years, after which they came to Ohio in 1828, locating in Delaware county. The father of our subject was a farmer by occu- pation and followed that pursuit throughout his active business career. He died in Jan- uary, 1893, but his wife is still living in Dela- ware county. They have a family of five children who yet survive, namely: Robert E .; Mrs. Julia Grennan, of Oxford, Butler county, Ohio, whose husband has been a teacher in the Oxford high school since April, 1866; Phobe L., wife of William O. Dixon, of Liberty, Delaware county ; Mrs. Mary E. Randall, of Claiborne, Union coun- ty, Ohio; and Philo John, who is a railroad conductor, making liis home in Wellington, Kansas.
Mr. Lowry, of this review, having ac-
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quired his preliminary education in the com- mon schools, continued his studies in the Central College of Franklin county, Ohio, and in the Miami University, being gradu- ated in the latter, on the completion of the Latin and scientific course, in 1871. He then devoted his attention to educational labors, successfully teaching in Butler, Preble and Montgomery counties until May, 1885. He became a resident of Preble county in August, 1873, and in 1884 he was elected county surveyor, serving for six years as surveyor and engineer. In 1891 he began the study of law under Judge J. W. King, and was admitted to the bar in 1893, after which he opened an office in Eaton, prac- ticing alone in this city until January I, 1900, when he formed a partnership with his old preceptor, Judge King. This firm enjoys a liberal patronage. While alone in practice Mr. Lowry followed civil engineer- ing and surveying to some extent and still owns his instruments.
On the 29th of December, 1872, occurred the marriage of Mr. Lowry and Miss Emily Hamilton, a native of Butler county, Ohio, a daughter of Robert and Mary C. (Fuller) Hamilton. The father was a Scotchman and the mother was a native of Connecticut. Mrs. Lowry was educated in the public schools of Kokomo, Indiana, and for several years before her marriage and for five years after her marriage she successfully engaged in teaching. Mr. Lowry is a representative of the Masonic fraternity in which he has attained the Royal Arch degree, and in the chapter has served as principal sojourner. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. During the civil. war he enlisted four times, but was taken out by his father each time on account of his youth. The fourth time, however, he was
mustered into the service before his father arrived on the scene and this necessitated a discharge from the service. He is very proud of the old parchment which indicated that he was a member of the army. His fa- ther enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty- sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving for one hundred days. By reason of his enlist- ment Mr. Lowry is entitled to membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, and be- longs to the post of Eaton. He has always been a stanch friend of the soldier, having a just appreciation of the great work which the boys in blue did for their country. He is one of the city school examiners of Eaton and has always taken an active interest in educational matters. He served for two terms, from April, 1896, until April, 1898, as mayor of Eaton. His wife is a member of the Disciples church, and he was reared in the Presbyterian faith, but is not now identified with any denomination.
JACOB MILLER.
This representative agriculturist, who owns and cultivates a well-improved and val- uable farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres on section II, Monroe township, Preble county, Ohio, is a native of this state, born near Salem, in Montgomery county, Novem- ber 24, 1833, and is a son of John and Tena (Hensel) Miller, who were born, reared and married in Maryland, in which state our sub- ject's grandfather, Michael Miller, spent his entire life. At an early day the parents came to Ohio and first settled in Montgomery county, but later removed to Gratis township, Preble county, where they spent the re- mainder of their lives, the father dying at the age of seventy-seven years, the mother at the age of sixty-four. By occupation he
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