USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 73
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age. He was a highly esteemed pioneer farmer of the community and enjoyed the regard of all with whom he came in con- tact.
Upon the old homestead farm John Pontius was reared. In 1840 he married Miss Nancy Marsh, who was born four ·miles southeast of Germantown, in Mont- gomery county, on the 29th of January, 1814. Her father was a substantial farmer of the community, owning a valuable tract of land of four hundred acres. Soon after his marriage Mr. Pontius purchased and. located upon eighty acres of land in Clay township, Montgomery county, where he made his home until 1850, when he sold that farm and purchased the place in Preble county upon which his son, Levi, now re- sides. There he passed his remaining days, being called to the home beyond August 5, 1875. He served as a trustee of his town- ship, was a school director for many years. and was a public-spirited citizen, who gave his co-operation to every movement calculat- ed to prove of public good. Socially he was. connected with the Masonic order and in politics in early life he was a Democrat. After the inauguration of the civil war he joined the ranks of the Republican party. In all business transactions he was straight- forward and in every relation of life was honorable and upright. He commanded the confidence of his fellow men, and at his. death the community lost one of its valued citizens.
Levi M. Pontius was reared to manhood under the parental, roof and attended the. common schools near his home, but his edu- cational privileges were somewhat limited and his knowledge has been acquired large- ly through reading, observation and experi- ence. On the 4th of July, 1869, he was
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united in marriage to Mary L. V. Wester- field, a native of Pyrmont, Montgomery county, Ohio, and a daughter of Isaac and Sarah E. (Pierson) Westerfield. Her fa- ther was a member of Company I, Seventy- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the civil war, and died from the effects of ex- posure at the battle of Pittsburg Landing. His wife, a native of New Jersey, was a daughter of Isaac and Hannah (Ayres) Pierson, who came to Ohio when Mrs. Westerfield was only two years of age, mak- ing the journey by team and wagon. They located in Twin township, Preble county, becoming valued pioneer settlers of the com- munity.
For three years prior to his marriage Mr. Pontius had engaged in operating the home farm upon shares, and after his mar- riage, as he was the only child, the farm was deeded to him, his father making his home with the son until his death. In 1876 Mr. Pontius erected on his land a handsome brick residence, which is to-day one of the most substantial and desirable country homes in Preble county. In 1881 he built a large barn and has made many other im- provements which add to the value and at- tractive appearance of the place. In recent years he has devoted much of his attention to the raising of cattle and in that branch of his business is very successful. Every- thing about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance, the fields are well tilled, buildings kept in good repair and everything shows the careful supervision of a progressive owner.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Pontius has been blessed with five children: Clyde W., who married Miss Edna Ridenour, of Greene county, Ohio, and lives in Harrison township, Preble county ; Clara M., now de- ceased ; Lucy N. and John L., both at home ;
and Sarah E., who has also passed away. The parents and their living children are active members of the Lutheran church, and the family is one of the most highly esteemed in the county. For eleven years Mr. Pon- tius has served as a church officer, being either deacon or elder, and he does all in his power to promote the work of the church along its various lines. For many years he has served as school director and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend. In politics he is a stanch Republican and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, yet has never sought or desired office, preferring to devote his energies to his busi- ness interests, in which he has met with creditable and richly merited success, being to-day regarded as one of the progressive, practical and well-to-do agriculturists of his community.
JOHN QUILL.
John Quill is a representative of one of the old and highly respected families in Preble county. He is numbered among the native sons of Ohio, his birth having oc- curred in Jefferson township, this county, on the 25th of June, 1859. Thomas Quill, his grandfather, was born on the Emerald Isle, and the father, John Quill, was born in county Kerry, Ireland, on the Ist of De- cember, 1827. He spent his childhood and youth in the land of his nativity, but, think- ing better opportunities were afforded young men in the new world, he made plans to take up his abode in America.
Bidding adieu to home and friends, he crossed the Atlantic, landing at New Or- leans, Louisiana, on the 2d of February, 1852. Making his way northward he came to Ohio and entered the employ of Moses
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Conger in Sugar Valley, Dixon township. For some time he continued to work by the month, after which he rented land belong- ing to David Sands. His industry and care- ful management at length enabled him to acquire some capital and in 1860 he invested this in land, purchasing eighty acres in Jack- son township, of Samuel Mitchell. Previ- ous to this time he had resided upon this farm for three years, and after the purchase be made it his home for six years. In 1857 he purchased the farm upon which his son John now resides and made it his home until his death. He was at that time the owner of a valuable property of two hun- dred and sixty-five acres. All the improve- ments upon the place stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise, for his posses- sions were acquired entirely through his un- aided efforts, save for the assistance of his estimable wife, who proved to him a capable helpmeet in life's journey. She managed the household affairs very economically and assisted him in other ways to get a good start in life. His political views were in harmony with the principles of Democracy and he was very active and prominent in the work of his party. In religious faith he was a zealous Catholic and contributed generously to the support of his church. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Gullivan and was a daughter of Jeremiah Gullivan, of the state of Iowa. She was reared about half a mile from the early home of Mr. Quill, but she became acquaint- ed with him in this country while work- ing for a family at West Florence. On the 24th of November, 1854, their marriage was celebrated, at which time the lady was only sixteen years of age. As before stated, she was very efficient and the assistance she ren-
dered him was a very important factor in his prosperity. She superintended the af- fairs of the household, while he gave his energies to the work of the farm and the care or his stock, having on his place a high grade of cattle, horses and hogs.
Mr. and Mrs. Quill were the parents of twelve children, of whom seven are now liv- ing, namely: Ella, the wife of Lafayette Spacht ; Jeremiah M., a contractor and build- er of Cincinnati; John, of this review; Thomas A., who is also a contractor and builder of Cincinnati; Michael F., another member of the firm in Cincinnati; Mary Ann, the wife of George Poos, a hardware merchant of Eaton, Illinois; and James W., who is with his brother Jeremiah in Cincinnati.
John Quill, whose name introduces this review, pursued his studies in the common schools, gaining a fair knowledge of the English branches of learning, whereby he was fitted for life's practical duties. He remained with his father until twenty-three years of age, when he went to Cincinnati and engaged in contracting for three years. On the expiration of that period he entered the service of the street railway company, with which he was connected for two and a half years. He conducted a coal office and feed store for some time and was at one time a dealer in horses, buying and sell- ing fine stock. For three years he was on the police force of Cincinnati, but in 1898 he returned to Preble to take part of the old homestead, which he has since conducted in the interest of his mother and the other heirs. He keeps on hand the highest grades of cattle and is a successful and enter- prising farmer who believes in advancement along all lines. His political support is
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given the Democracy. In the care and man- agement of his property he displays much of the marked business ability which character- ized his father.
CLEM COOPER.
Actively connected with the farming in- terests of Washington township, Mr. Cooper has spent his entire life in Preble county and now operates the old homestead property of eighty-two acres. He was born August 19, 1868, and is of Irish lineage. For many generations the family resided in county Louth, Ireland, and some of the represent- atives of the name became very prominent in public affairs. The great-grandfather of our subject was Michael Cooper, a native of county Louth, where also occurred the birth of the grandfather, Henry Cooper. The father, Michael Cooper, Jr., was born in that county, December 25, 1829, and spent his minority on the Emerald Isle and in early manhood determined to seek a home across the Atlantic, believing that he. might better his financial condition by emigrating to the new world. Accordingly he sailed, landing at Philadelphia on the Ist of April, 1851, after a voyage of twenty-eight days, made in a sailing vessel. He did not tarry long at Philadelphia, but went to Wilmington, Dela- ware, and in the vicinity of that city was employed upon a farm for sixty years. On the Ist of March, 1857, he removed to Ohio and began work for Guy Bloom in Jefferson township.
In the fall of 1862, however, he re- turned to Philadelphia in order to enlist in the ranks at President Lincoln's call for loyal men to aid in crushing out the rebellion. He had some friends in Philadelphia who were intending to join the army, and in order
to be with them at the front he joined Com- pany C, of the One Hundred and Ninteeenthi Pennsylvania Infantry, with which com- mand he saw much hard service. He par- ticipated in the second battle of Bull Run, in the engagements at Antietam and South Mountain and in many smaller battles. At length, becoming ill, he was sent to the hos- pital, but accommodations were there so poor that he had both feet frozen. In Feb- ruary, 1864, on account of his disability, he received an honorable discharge and re- turned to Ohio.
Here he began work by the day, but in 1866 rented a farm near the place on which our subject resides. In 1882 he purchased the property on which his son, Clem, is now living, and since that time he has added to his landed possessions. The comfortable competence which he has acquired now en- ables him to live retired. His has been a well spent, active and useful life, and by untiring energy he has worked his way steadily upward to a position of affluence. On the 8th of March, 1868, he was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Pine, a daughter of Peter Pine, of Preble county.
Clem Cooper, their only child, was reared under the parental roof, pursued his education in the local schools and began work on the farm as soon as he was old enough to handle the plow. Through the summer months he assisted in the cultivation of the fields, and when the golden grain was ready for the harvest he aided in gathering it into the barns. Upon his father's retire- ment to private life, in 1892, he took charge of the farm in Washington township, of eighty-two acres, and, in addition to the cultivation of grain best adapted to this cli- mate, he successfully engaged in raising fine hogs, cattle and poultry. He owns some
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very fine short horn cattle with excellent pedigrees, and sells his cattle and poultry over a wide territory, farmers coming from long distances to make purchases. He has a very enviable reputation as a leading stock- raiser and has done much to improve the grade of farm animals raised in this part of Ohio. His farming operations are car- ried on along progressive lines and the latest improved machinery and substantial build- ings indicate that he is an active and enter- prising agriculturist.
On the 30th of August, 1890, occurred the marriage of Mr. Cooper and Miss Min- nie Schwartzel. Their union has been blessed with two children, Claud and Fern. Mr. Cooper is a member of the Preble coun- ty vigilance committee, a progressive citi- zen who gives his aid and co-operation to every movement and measure which he be- lieves will prove of public good. He is widely known as a farmer and stock raiser, and certainly deserves great credit for what he has done in behalf of the improvement of farm animals. He has studied quite closely their needs, understands the best methods of feeding and caring for his stock and at no time are his horses and cattle al- lowed to suffer any neglect. This intelli- gent supervision has given him a very de- sirable reputation and he is now accounted one of the leading business men of this township.
JESSE KENWORTHY.
Jesse Kenworthy is one of the oldest farmers of Gratis township, Preble county His life has been a long, useful and active one, and his later years are crowned with the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded to one well advanced in age
whose career has been honorable and trust- worthy. He was born February 14, 1817, on the farm where he yet resides, in his forty-eighth year. His father, Jesse Ken- worthy, Sr., was a native of North Caro- lina, and in 1805 removed from that state to the Buckeye state with his wife and two children. His home was on the seashore, two hundred miles from Charleston, South Carolina, and there he lived for some time prior to his removal to the Buckeye state. He married Rachel Cook, of that state, whose father was a planter. The two fam- ilies came to Preble county and the grand- father Cook settled near the Kenworthy homestead, upon an adjoining farm. Each family secured a quarter-section of land from the government, for which was paid two dollars per acre. They were not in very good circumstances financially, but had money enough to pay for their land and thus gained a good start. Mr. Kenworthy is one of five children and with one exception all are married and had families, namely : Will- iam; John; Mary; Sallie, who died at the age of six years; and Jesse, who is the only survivor of the family. The mother died in 1829 at the age of fifty-eight years, her birth having occurred in 1771. The father passed away in 1858, at the advanced age of ninety years. They were members of the . Society of Friends and became prosperous people.
Mr. Kenworthy, whose name introduces this review, was reared under the parental roof and was married April 26, 1838, to Mary Longston, who was born in Butler county, October 21, 1819, three miles from his home. Five children graced their mar- riage. John K. the eldest, is a real-estate dealer of Wichita, Kansas, and has a daugh- ter and one son, and the daughter has a
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child which is the only great-grandchild of our subject now living. Mrs. Susan Stubbs, the second member of the Kenworthy fam- ily, is living in this neighborhood and has one daughter. Rachel C. is the wife of John F. Stubbs, and they have a daughter and a son, Zinai. He is one of the extensive land- owners of Preble county, having seven hun- ·dred acres in this locality, together with two farms in Illinois, other property in Kansas and a section of land in Texas. He has "thus become very wealthy.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenworthy have spent their entire married life upon the farm which is still their home. A portion of the house was built in 1849, an addition was made in 1852 and a second in 1859. The old barn on the place was erected in 1814, and is still standing, in a good state of pres- ervation. It was built of hewed logs. In 1851, however, another barn was built. Mr. Kenworthy has carried on general farming, but has given the greater part of his time and attention to the raising of hogs, selling more than two hundred head annually, at an average weight of three hundred pounds. One year he sold two hundred and fifty-seven hogs in one drove. He makes a specialty of the breeding of black or Poland China, some of which attain . to the weight of three hundred and seventy pounds. He has probably sold more hogs than any other man in the county, and his business has been a very profitable and ex- tensive one, bringing to him a handsome income, which now supplies him with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Kenworthy are active and consistent members of the Society of Friends. In the Preble county history there is an account relating how Jesse Ken- worthy, Sr., came to Ohio, in 1805, and set-
tled on section 32, Gratis township. He traveled with a colony which came by land, driving their own teams, and after a long, tedious journey arrived here in the woods. Like many of the early settlers, they made the best arrangements possible until they could erect their first temporary home, a log or pole cabin. Mr. and Mrs. Kenworthy, of this review, began their domestic life on the old home farm, which his father willed to him, and this has been their residence for many years and here he has awaited that last summons to join the innumerable multitude in that mysterious realm, where each occu- pies his chamber in the silent halls of the dead; and, having suffered greatly, he will welcome the message, approaching his grave with an unfaltering trust,
Wrapping the drapery of his couch around him As one who lies down to pleasant dreams.
FELIX M. MARSH, JR ..
In a profession where advancement is dependent on knowledge and subsequent success is achieved only through in- dividual merit, it is a wise provision of nature that learning cannot be in- herited, that all enter the world on an equal intellectual footing, except as to ca- pacity, and thus are dependent upon their own labor and application for the knowledge which fits them for life's practical duties. Each individual must master the same ru- diments of learning, and when this is done he has thus formed the ability to carry his in- vestigations still farther along professional lines which fit them for a particular work. It is true that with only an elementary ed- ucation some may enter certain lines of busi- ness and attain success, or by inheritance or influence they may secure control of an al-
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ready established business ; but in profession- al life prosperity and success depend solely upon the efforts of the individual and his close application, his mastery of scientific principles and his ability to apply these to the affairs of life. Greater credit is there- fore due one who owes his prosperity and - enviable business standing to his own labors, as does Mr. Marsh. He now enjoys an en- viable reputation at the Preble county bar, being recognized as a leading lawyer of Eaton. Born in this city on the 15th of May, 1843, he was educated in the common schools and in the Miami University, at Ox- ford. Throat trouble prevented him from enlisting in the war, although he was an ardent advocate of the Union cause.
In 1865 he went to Washington, where he was employed in the postoffice depart- ment until 1872. He studied law with his father as his preceptor and was admitted to practice at the capital city in 1871. The following year he returned to Eaton and opened an office here. In 1873 his father died and he and his brother became his suc- cessors. He has engaged in general law practice and has been very successful in criminal law, his reputation in that line ex- tending throughout the state. He has tried cases in the United States courts in Cin- cinnati and is widely known for his ability in this direction. His arguments are logical and convincing and his deductions follow in natural sequence. He has won for himself very favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he has followed. He has remarkable powers of concentration and application and his retentive mind has often excited the surprise of his professional colleagues. As an orator he stands high, especially in the discussion of legal matters before the court, where his comprehensive
knowledge of the law is manifest and his application of legal principles demonstrates the wide range of his professional acquire- ments. The utmost care and precision char- acterizes his preparation of a case and have made him one of the most successful attor- neys in Eaton.
On the Ist of December, 1865, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Marsh and Miss Emma Yost, a daughter of Samuel Yost, of Pennsylvania, and a representative of one of the early families of Preble coun- ty. They have had five children, namely : Fanny, William, May, Maud and Ed- gar. In fraternal circles Mr. Marsh is prominent. For two years he was at the head of the Knights of Honor of this state. He is also a valued member of the Masonic fraternity. Having spent almost his entire life in Eaton, he is well known here, and many of his best friends are those with whom he has been acquainted since boyhood, showing that in all ways his career has been worthy of regard.
MRS. CATHERINE MYERS.
Mrs. Catherine Meyers is one of the venerable ladies of Preble county, being now in her eighty-seventh year. She has long re- sided in this section of the state and her many estimable qualities have gained her the warm regard of many friends. She is of Holland lineage and her parents were Philip and Anna (Bennett) Peters, farming people of Pennsylvania, who removed from the Keystone state to Ohio. They had eleven children, ten of whom reached adult age, but only three are now living, namely : Mrs. Myers, Cyrus, who is a farmer and makes his home in the village of Mazon; and Will- iam, an agriculturist, who also has other ex-
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tensive business interests in Illinois. He has one son.
Mrs. Myers was born in 1814, and under the parental roof was reared, assisting in the household duties and other labors that well fitted her for the care of a home of her own. She was trained to habits of in- dustry, economy and good management. On the 30th of June, 1837, she gave her hand in marriage to Jacob B. Myers, a na- tive of Rising Sun, Ohio. When a young man he went to Cincinnati, and thirty-three years ago settled upon the farm in Somers township, upon which Mrs. Myers now re- sides. The tract comprises one hundred and twenty acres and to its cultivation and development Mr. Myers devoted his ener- gies until his death, which occurred in 1886, when he had reached the age of seventy-six years. He was a man of marked industry, possessing resolute purpose and keen dis- crimination in business affairs. His deal- ings were characterized by unqualified integ- rity, and he therefore enjoyed the high re- gard and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. In his work he was ably assisted by his estimable wife, whose labors proved an excellent supplement to his own. Thus they acquired a handsome property, and thereby Mrs. Myers is now surrounded by many of the comforts of life.
This worthy couple had three children who yet survive, namely : Winfield, who lives with his mother; Amanda, the wife of Jo- seph Walters, by whom she has seven chil- dren; and William, a farmer of Somers township, who has three sons. Three mem- bers of the family are deceased : Lavina, who died at the age of forty-four years; Theo- dore, who died at the age of fifty-four years, leaving two sons ; and Henry, who died at the age of thirty, leaving a son and daughter.
At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Myers had no capital, but the united efforts of husband and wife enabled them to yearly add to their possessions and they ulti- mately became the owner of what is known. as the Robert Patterson farm. The old home upon the place is nearly a century old. The farm is operated by Winfield, who raises wheat, corn and oats, feeding the two latter crops to his stock. He also operates another tract of land, making altogether about two. hundred acres. Mrs. Myers has lived a long and useful life, has brought up a family who. are a credit to her name and has so lived as to win the esteem of all with whom she has. been brought in contact.
WILLIAM H. SNYDER.
This honored and highly esteemed citi -- zen of Lewisburg, Ohio, was born in Balti- more, Maryland, September 18, 1825, and on both the paternal and maternal sides is of German descent. His father, Richard Sny- der, was born, reared and educated in Balti- more and there followed the baker's trade- throughout his active business life. In that city he married Melki Beck, who was. born near Cumberland, Maryland, and was a daughter of Richard Beck, also a native of Maryland. The latter's father was born in Germany, as was also the paternal great- grandfather of our subject. The grand- father, Peter Snyder, was a life-long resi- dent of Baltimore. To Richard and Melki (Beck) Snyder were born three children, one of whom was William H., our subject. His- sister, Mary E., is now the widow of William A. Reading and a resident of Baltimore. His. brother, John, died in that city. The mother was again married, her second husband being:
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