USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 57
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JOHN BROWN.
John Brown, whose home is on section 12, Monroe township, was for many years one of the active and enterprising farmers of Preble county, as well as one of its most reliable and honored citizens, and now in his declining years he is enjoying a well earned
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rest, free from the cares and responsibilities of business life. Throughout the county he is widely and favorably known, his entire life having been passed here.
Mr. Brown was born in Monroe town- ship, October 21, 1821, and is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the state. His father, George Brown, was a native of Randolph county, North Carolina, and a son of Michael Brown, who was probably born in the same state, of German ancestry, and came to Ohio about 1808, locating first in Montgomery county, but later removing to Preble county. His last days were spent in Monroe town- ship, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. The father of our subject was only nine years old when he came with his parents to this state, and when a young man the family removed to Preble county. In Monroe township he married Sarah Nethercutt, who was born in West Virginia in 1795, and died at the age of fifty-two years. Her father, William Nether- cutt, was born in Virginia, of English par- entage, and came to Preble county, Ohio, about 1816. He was a soldier of the Revo- lutionary war. . After his marriage the fa- ther of our subject located on section 12, Monroe township, where in the midst of the forest he improved a farm, making it his home until he died, at the age of sixty-two years.
George and Sarah (Nethercutt) Brown were the parents of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, all born in Monroe township, and all reached manhood or womanhood, namely : Mary, now deceased ; John, our subject; Elizabeth, deceased ; Frederick, a resident of Kansas; Sarah, the wife of Eli Lock, of Kokomo, Indiana; Ma- tilda, deceased; George W., a resident of .
Noble county, Indiana; Docia, the wife of Jesse Ott, of Noble county, Indiana ; Alpha, the wife of Thomas Gaff, of Whitley county, Indiana; William, a resident of West Man- chester, this county; Harriet, the widow of Garrett Brumbaugh, of Union City, Indi- ana ; and Daniel, of Pittsburg, Kansas.
During the boyhood of our subject the greater part of this county was still in its primitive condition; wild animals roamed through the forests and useful game of all kinds was plentiful. He attended school in the common log school house with its greased-paper window, slab seats and rude desks made by laying a board across pins driven into the wall. This primitive struc- ture was a mile and a quarter from his home. He aided his father in the arduous task of clearing and cultivating a new farm, be- ginning work at the age of eight years and continuing to assist in the labors of the home farm until twenty-four.
On the 3d of February, 1847, Mr. Brown married Miss Sarah Banta, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, and when a young girl came to this county with her parents, Henry and Mabel (Gustin) Banta, also na- tives of Warren county. By this union were born five children: George, deceased ; Henry, a farmer of Monroe township, killed on his farm by lightning June 29, 1900; Mary Adena, the wife of Charles Barmes, postmaster of West Manchester; William Gustin, a physician of Lewisburg, Preble county ; and Elmer, who died young. The mother of these children died in 1857.
Mr. Brown was again married, August 4, 1859, his second union being with Miss Sarah Byrum, who was born near Trenton, Butler county, Ohio, February 17, 1832, and at the age of seventeen commenced teaching school, a profession which she suc-
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cessfully followed for ten years, or until her marriage. Her father, Silas Byrum, was a native of Darke county, Ohio, and a wagonmaker by occupation. In Butler coun- ty he married Mary Clark, a native of that county, and they became the parents of eight daughters, of whom Mrs. Brown is the eld- est. She was only two years old when her father removed to Darke county, locating nine miles west of Greenville, where she was reared. Her great-grandmother, Phebe Ross, made the first American flag. Sev- eral of her ancestors were soldiers of the Revolution, and her grandfather Clark was taken prisoner by the British during that struggle. One of her great-uncles was a member of Washington's life guard. By his second marriage Mr. Brown had six chil- dren, namely : Lucina, at home; Silas E., a farmer of Monroe township: Harriet E., the wife of A. J. Smith, a farmer of the same township; John A., deceased; Gilbert T., a physician of Philisburg, Montgom- ery county, Ohio; and Alpha R., the wife of Frank Hodge, of Germantown, Mont- gomery county.
In early life Mr. Brown learned the cabinetmaker's trade and for three months after his first marriage he followed that oc- cupation in Castino, Darke county, but at the end of that time he removed to Mon- roe township, Preble county, and located on the Henry Banta farm on section 13. For about two years he taught school during the winter months, while through the sum- mer season he worked at his trade. His first purchase of land consisted of forty acres in the northwest corner of section 12, Monroe township, on which was a little cabin, where the family lived for a time, while he devoted liis energies to the further improvement and cultivation of his little
farm. After residing there for five years he removed to his present farm on the same section, where he has one hundred and fifty- eight acres of land, upon which he has made all of the improvements. He has cleared over one hundred acres of land in Monroe township, and in other ways has materially aided in the advancement of the county. He now resides on his farm, and is living retired from active business cares, enjoying a well earned rest.
Mr. Brown cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren, and has always been a stalwart supporter of the Democratic party. For the long period of twenty-five years he efficiently served as a township trustee; was township treasurer one term; and was several times the candidate of his party for county commissioner, but as Preble county has a large Republican majority he failed of election. He is held in high re- gard by all who know him, and is deserving of honorable mention among the pioneers and representative citizens of his native county.
WILLIAM A. FOOS.
Among those agriculturists of Preble county whose places manifest to the most casual observer the energy and ability of their owner in his chosen calling, is the sub- ject of this personal history. He owns and operates the old homestead farm on section 22, Monroe township, where he was born December 10, 1857, a son of John and Susan (Crisler) Foos. The father was one of the earliest settlers of the county, being the first to locate on the Greenville pike. Later he removed to the farm now owned and occupied by our subject. When he located thereon it was a wild tract but he immediate-
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ly turned his attention to its improvement, clearing away the timber and placing acre after acre under the plow. He was a Dem- ocrat in politics and held some local offices. He died at the age of fifty-six years, and his wife, who was a native of Preble county, de- parted this life at the age of sixty-two. To this worthy couple were born the following children: Elizabeth J., wife of Daniel G. Petrie, of Madison, Darke county, Ohio; Martin and Sarah Bell, both deceased; Mary, wife of Joseph Campbell, of Eaton, Ohio; William A., our subject, and Anna Cora, wife of A. L. Mendenhall, a lawyer of Dayton, Ohio.
During his boyhood William A. Foos pursued his studies in the local schools, and remained with his parents, aiding in the operation of the home farm, until they were called to their final rest. He now owns the old homestead, comprising one hundred and thirty acres of well improved and produc- tive land, and is successfully engaged in general farming. He is also a stockholder in the creamery at West Manchester.
On the Ist of March, 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Foos and Miss Rilda Banta, a native of this county, and a daugh- ter of Benjamin and Cass ( Yowell) Banta. The mother is a native of Virginia, but the father was born in Monroe township, Preble county, where he still continues to reside. In their family were seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: Manta, wife of C. D. Parks, of Monroe township; Alice, wife of Nelson Brown, of the same township; Marcus L., a resident of Darke county; Eva, wife of John Brown, of Har- rison township, this county; Rilda, wife of our subject; and William H. and Mabel, who reside at home with their parents on sec- tion 12, Monroe township. In that town-
ship Mrs. Foos was reared, her education being obtained in its public schools. Our subject and his wife have two sons: Leroy B. and Edgar L., who are attending the local schools.
The Democratic party finds in Mr. Foos a stanch supporter of its principles, and al- though his township is Republican he has threo times been elected trustee, a fact which plainly indicates his personal popularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He served altogether nine years. He is a member of the Evan- gelical Association, of which he is a trustee and also assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. He served as superinten- dent four years and has also been a teacher in the school for some time. In educational affairs he takes an active interest and is now efficiently serving as school director. Socially he belongs to West Manchester Lodge, No. 520, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs.
WILLIAM C. RANDALL.
Among the honored pioneers and repre- sentative citizens of Preble county none are more highly respected than William C. Ran- dall, who is now living a retired life in El- dorado. He is a native of this county, born in Gratis township, August 1, 1816, and be- longs to one of its oldest and best families, being a son of Jehu and Elizabeth (Conar- roe) Randall. His father was born in South Carolina, July 27, 1790, and was only fifteen years of age when, in 1805, he came with his parents to Preble county, Ohio, where his father, Jonas Randall, secured one thousand acres of government land. The latter located in Gratis township, where he
W & Randall 1
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Quaker in religious belief and came north on account of the institution of slavery. Our subject's mother was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1795, but her childhood was mainly passed in New Jersey, and in 1807 came to Ohio with her parents, who located in Butler county, near the Preble county line. She lived to the advanced age of ninety-five years, and spent seventy-seven years upon one farm in Preble county. Her father, John Conarroe, was a native of New Jersey, and one of the pioneers of this state. Our subject is the second in order of birth in a family of eight children, the others being Thomas, Eliza Ann and Levi, all deceased ; Mary Ann, a resident of Richmond, Indi- ana; Verlinda, deceased; Andrew C., a res- ident of Illinois; and Maggie, of western Kansas.
During his boyhood, William C. Randall pursued his studies in the old-time subscrip- tion schools, the schoolhouse being built of logs with a stick chimney and clapboard roof. He began his education at the age of four years and still remembers his first teacher, William Gladen, who boarded in the Randall family. He has continued his edu- cation through life, keeping posted in relig- ious as well as secular affairs, by constant reading of books and daily papers. He re- mained at home until he was married, at the age of eighteen and a half years, to Mary Green, a daughter of Henry Green, one of the first store-keepers in Butler county. After his marriage Mr. Randall located upon a farm in Gratis township, where he resided until 1836, when he removed to Jefferson township, where he resided for seven years, and then became a resident of Monroe town- ship. In 1836, when he removed to Jef- ferson township, he located in the midst of
the wilderness and at once began clearing and improving a farm. His years of business activity were spent in farming and stock- raising. . He has owned a vast amount of land in his time, and has cleared and had cleared several hundred acres, and is there- fore familiar with the arduous labor re- quired to transform a heavily timbered tract of land into a highly cultivated and produc- tive farm. He still owns valuable farm lands. As a farmer he was most successful, and in connection with agricultural pursuits he extensively engaged in the live stock busi- ness for twenty-five years or more, raising, buying, selling and feeding stock. He al- ways took great delight in horse and cattle, and his were among the best stock of the county.
Mr. Randall's first wife died in August, 1842, leaving but one child, an infant daughter that soon followed her mother in death.
For his second wife he married Ann Mills, a widow, who died seventeen years later, leaving a daughter, Rebecca Ann, now a resident of Cincinnati. His third wife was Sarah Jacqua, also a widow, who died three years after their marriage, leaving one daugh- ter, Luella, a resident of Richmond, Indiana. On the Ioth of December, 1867, he married Malinda Bonebrake, by whom he has one daughter, Flora, now the wife of Dr. David- son, of Dayton, Ohio. He has also six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
In 1880 Mr. Randall removed to Eldo- rado and has since lived a retired life. When Mr. Randall became a resident of Eldorado no street or sidewalk improvements had been made. He served either as councilman or mayor of Eldorado for several years, dur- ing which time he was instrumental in secur-
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ing many improvements in the streets and sidewalks of the village. He cast his first lived to the age of eighty years. He was a presidential vote for Martin Van Buren in 1836, and since the organization of the Re- publican party has been one of its stanch sup- porters. He has served as a delegate to many county and state conventions of his party, and also as a member of the Republican cen- tral committee of the county.
For sixteen years Mr. Randall served as a member of tho agricultural board of Preble county, and in early life was a member of the state militia, Governor Joseph Vance com- missioning him ensign of the Ninth Com- pany, Second Regiment, Third Brigade, Nineteenth Division of Ohio State Militia, on the 25th of September, 1837; after- ward he was made second lieutenant, and September 14, 1840, was transferred to the First Company of Artillery, Second Brigade, Nineteenth Division, Ohio State Militia, and was made the second lieutenant of the company to which he was transferred.
Mr. Randall has been a man of great phys- ical endurance. His health, strength and activity at the present time is remarkable. His eyesight is somewhat impaired, but with that exception he is still well preserved. He is widely and favorably known throughout the county, and as one of its prominent and highly esteemed citizens is certainly deserv- ing of honorable mention in the biographical history of his native county, where his long, useful and exemplary life has been spent. Since 1844 he has been an active and faith- ful member of the United Brethren church, and has filled almost every church office, in- cluding those of trustee, class-leader, steward and delegate to the conferences. He also served as superintendent of the Sabbath school twenty-six years.
WILLIAM F. ALBRIGHT.
William F. Albright, prominent among the native life-long citizens of Preble county, was born at Eaton, March 20, 1823. He was the eldest son of Jonas and Margaret Albright. His ancestry was of pure Teu- tonic blood, migrating to this country from the fatherland, in the early history of the United States. The father of the subject of this sketch was born in North Carolina, June 9, 1802, migrating with the family to Ohio previous to the war of 1812, and set- tling in Harrison township, where he resided until manhood, when he was married to Miss Margaret Meyers, in 1821, and soon there- after removed to Eaton, where their son William was born and lived all his life.
He went to the common schools of the county during the winter months, receiving a fair elementary education for those times and working at home with his father during the rest of the year. When hehad attained the age of sixteen years he entered the office of the Register, in his native town, to learn the printing trade with Mr. Tizzard, the pro- prietor of the paper at that time. He was honest, faithful and industrious as an ap- prentice, and when ho had finished learning the trade he continued in the office as a journeyman compositor, then became a part- ner, later sole proprietor and editor, alto- gether being connected with the journal from "devil" to "boss," a period of about sixty years. In early manhood Mr. Albright, be- ing of Methodist-timber born, attached him- self to that church and continued an earnest worker and devoted Christian to the end of his life. He was a bright example of prac- tical Christianity, leading a life squared by the golden rule and showing his faith in his works. There was no ostentatious or noisy
,
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devotion in his walk; his deeds, not his words, bore testimony to his faith.
In 1844 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Riner, with whom he lived happily for ten years, whon his companion passed away, leaving him with four children, one son and three daughters. He remained a widower for about three yoars, when he married as a second wife, Mrs. Virginia Stroud, daughter of Rev. Asa B. and Mary. Stroud. To this union were given three children, two sons and a daughter. In 1862 his second wife fell asleep and he was again left a widower and remained so until the end of his earthly lifo. In the closing years of his life, Mr. Albright had several attacks of la grippe which undermined and perma- nently impaired his health so that his last days were days of much sufforing and help- lessness. The end came June 18, 1898, at the age of seventy-five years, two months and twenty-eight days. He fell peacefully asleep, surrounded by his family and friends, missed and mourned by many.
During his latter years the business of the deceased was carried on in the firm name of W. F. Albright & Sons, and since that event has been continued without any change by his two sons, Edmond J. and Charles E. Albright. The woll earned reputation of the Register, which the father loved and honored more than half a century, is being fully sustained by his estimable sons. They have proved themselves well deserving of the name and fame transmittod to them. By their industry, integrity and fair dealing with the patrons and friends of their sainted father they richly merit the friendship and patronage of the public, whom their pre- decessor served faithfully and well for so many years. The manner in which the younger Albrights conduct the paper should
assure them succoss in business and gain them many friends.
During all his life, Mr. Albright was faithful to all his duties as a citizen and church member, and was alive to all public improvements calculated to advance the in- terests of the people, and did what he could to promote the welfare of the community. As a man he had a large heart with an open door and a free hand, ever ready to sympa- thize with and help, when he could, those in need. In every relation in life he was one of nature's nobility, without ostentation, not displaying his benevolonce on a cheap bargain counter or in dress parade, but quiet- ly going about doing good, hardly allowing his left hand to know what his right hand did. By his life he leavened those around him and created in his sphere of influence an atmosphere of kindness, making the world better by force of his example. The many testimonials to his worth, with which the neighboring pross teemed at the time he passed away were but a reflex of what was felt throughout thecircleof his acquaintances and is a monument of which any one might well foel proud. His vacant place is hard to fill, but his memory remains as a bene- diction to his surviving family and friends. The good that men do lives on when their withered clay mouldors in the narrow house and the spirit has flown to its eternal home. Take him as an all-around man, William F. Albright had fow peers and no superiors- his goodness made his greatness.
SYLVANUS A. BROWER.
Sylvanus A. Brower, who is devoting his attention to a dual pursuit, being both a farmer and a commercial, man, was born
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in Jackson township, Preble county, Ohio, on the Ioth of March, 1850, and is a son of Jacob L. and Susan (Surface) Brower. The father was born January 2, 1821, his parents being Abraham and Sarah (Long) Brower, who belonged to an old Pennsyl- vania-Dutch family and came to Preble county at a very early period in its develop- ment, locating in Jackson township. The grandfather died March 20, 1875, in the eightieth year of his age. He had inherited a farm from his father, James Long-the property now owned by Isaac Tyler. There he lived and died, and at his death the farm became the property of Jacob Brower, and from him passed to our subject, who sold it to Mr. Tyler.
Jacob Brower, the father of our subject, has spent the last four years in New Paris. He lived upon the old homestead between the years 1868 and 1878, but at the latter date sold the property to his son and pur- chased a farm of one hundred and ten acres directly west of the old place. In his early life he learned the blacksmith's trade and for twenty years he followed that pursuit in Upshur and Orangeburg, Ohio, also in Connersville, Indiana. It was in that place that he learned his trade from Henry Wetherel. While thus engaged his em- ployer allowed him to have a spirited horse in order to ride home to see his people. When they reached the bridge across White river the horse became unruly and backed off into the water. The animal was killed and Mr. Brower was crippled for life. He was, however, a man of great energy and strong determination, prosecuting his busi- ness interests so carefully and diligently that his efforts were attended with success. In this way he accumulated a handsome com- petence that now enables him to live retired
at his home in New Paris. His life has been very honorable and upright. He has long been strongly opposed to the use of tobacco and liquor and for twenty years never passed inside the doors of a saloon. While not a church member, he has ever been a supporter of church and charitable work, and his word has ever been as good as any bond solem- nized by signature or seal. He was a strong anti-slavery man prior to the war, and after the inauguration of hostilities between the north and the south he offered his services to the government, but being a cripple he was not allowed to enlist. In early life he was an enthusiastic supporter of the Whig party, but upon the organization of the Re- publican party he joined its ranks and has. since been one of its earnest advocates.
Mr. Brower married Miss Susan Sur- face, who was born in Jackson township, about the year 1824, and died September 13, 1877. She was a daughter of Henry Surface, a native of Pennsylvania, who married Miss Long, a native of Germany. On coming to Preble county he located in Jackson township on the farm now owned by Samuel Griffis. There he reared a large. family. He was killed by damp in a well on the Benner farm, after which the grand- mother reared the family. Henry, the old- est son, assumed the management of the place and affairs were carefully conducted. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Brower six children have been born, of whom four are living, namely : Sylvanus A., the subject of this review ; Emma C .; Amanda E .; and Horace G., a farmer of Jackson township. The two daughters are at home, keeping house for their father.
Mr. Brower, whose name introduces this review, was reared upon the home farm, and in the common schools acquired his pre-
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liminary education which was supplemented by a course in the high school of New Paris. At the age of twenty he began teaching in the Cedar Springs school and after following that profession for some time he entered the State University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. He worked at various times in order to meet the expense of his college course, but spent three years in the university and afterward entered Oxford University. He was also a student for one year at the United Brethren College at Westerville. During his college days he became a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. His liberal education well fitted him for life's practical duties.
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