USA > Ohio > Putnam County > A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio, pt 2 > Part 4
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mention. Mr. Clevenger is the son of Jacob and Eliza (Rimer) Clevenger, who were among the early settlers of Sugar Creek township, where our subject was born December 1, 1830. For further notes of Jacob Clevenger and wife see sketch of Daniel Clevenger.
Joseph Clevenger was reared upon the farm, was early taught industry, and from childhood took an active part in the cutting away of the forest and assisting his father in clearing up the farm. His education was re- ceived in one of the pioneer log school-houses, which was furnished with puncheon seats as well as floor, and the roof was made of clap- boards, held down by weight-poles, and for window glass greased paper was used. The house was warmed by the old-fashioned fire- place, and many a time the larger and older boys were asked to assist in placing the back logs in same. Mr. Clevenger remained under the parental roof until arriving at his majority. at which time he began farming on his own re- sponsibilities, and which vocation he has fol- lowed all his life. Mr. Clevenger was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Krouse March 27, 1850 and this happy union was blessed by the birth of eight children, namely: Lucy, wife of Peter Roose, a farmer of Jennings township; Emeline, deceased, aged three years; George W., deceased infant; Malissa, wife of Albert Shindler, a farmer of Jackson township; Isaiah, farmer of Paulding county, Ohio; Martha J., wife of Samuel Harris, a farmer of Van Wert county; Joseph Henry, who operates the home- stead farm; Hulda, the widow of Edison Rower, at home.
Mr. Clevenger, soon after marriage, located upon a farm in Union township, on the line between Union and Sugar Creek townships, where he resided fourteen years, at which time he sold out and purchased his present place, where he has ever since lived. The farm had few if any improvements upon it when Mr
Clevenger purchased it, but since, by his own handiwork, energy and perseverance, he has caused it to rank second to none in Union township.
Mr. Clevenger and wife take great interest in educational inatters, as they realize the ad- vantages that the children of to-day have over those of sixty years ago and have made an effort to have each of their children receive the benefit of the free school system. Mr. Clevenger in early life was identified with the old whig party, but of late years has affiliated with the democratic party, and by said party has been elected to many of the minor offices of his township; he is liberal in contributing to all public and benevolent enterprises, and is highly esteemed wherever known. He has been a worthy member of the Baptist church for more than twenty years and his wife is a leading member of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Clevenger is the daughter of Henry and Eliza- beth (Roller) Krouse, whose family history will be found in the sketch of samuel Clev- enger. Mrs. Clevenger came to America with her parents when but four years old, and imme- diately afterward her people settled in Putnam county, where she was educated and reared to womanhood and has resided within its confines ever since.
ANIEL CLEVENGER, the subject of this sketch, and one of the most prominent farmers of Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born De- cember 30, 1836, in Sugar Creek township. His father, Jacob Clevenger, was born in Virginia, in the famous Shenendoah valley, on June 9, 1803 (see sketch of Samtiel Clevenger). While quite young Jacob's mother died, and he was bound out to learn the blacksmith's trade for three years. When grown to man-
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hood, he, on January 23, 1829, married Eliza Rimer, the daughter of Daniel and Mrs. Cath- erine (Vandemark) (Carey) Rimer, and to them were born fourteen children: Elizabeth, born September 3, 1829-died August 21, 1830; Joseph, a farmer residing in Union township; Mrs. Catherine Krouse, now living in Sugar Creek township (see sketch); Susanne, the wife of William Donnel, also of this township; Benjamin, born March 5, 1835-died in the fall of 1891; Daniel, the subject of this sketch; William, a carpenter residing in Elida, Allen county; Mrs. Perinelia Siford, who died in April, 1891; Mary Jane, the wife of Joseph Deffenbaugh, who lives in Union township; Martha, married to Saul Guffey, a carpenter residing in Kansas; Henry, of Cavette, Van Wert county, Ohio; Hannah E .; wife of M. W. Good, a farmer and carpenter of Union township, Putnam county; Lydia, E., wife of J. F. Ruhlen, a farmer and teacher of Kansas; Jacob, born July 8, 1853 -- died on September 19, 1883.
After marriage the father of the subject of this sketch moved to Ohio and settled on a farm in Franklin county, where he lived two years and then moved with four other brothers to the land which their father had bought from the government; here he cleared ont of the woods a farm and made a home for his family. He remained on this farm until death came to him on January 21, 1880 In politics he was known as a whig, until the republican party was organized, when he entered its ranks. In early childhood he had been baptized into the Baptist church, but was never a member. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born July 29, 1811, in Pennsylvania, her an- cestry being Pennsylvania- Dutch on her father's side and Holland-Dutch on her mother's side, both having been old settlers of Fairfield county. She was a member of the Christian church, and after living a good life she died on
May 29, 1892, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Joseph Deffenbaugh.
Daniel Clevenger lived on a farm until grown to manhood and received his education in Putnam county. At his country's call for soldiers to save it from dismemberment he en- listed in August, 1862, in company D), One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio volunteer in- fantry, and served faithfully three years, and participated in many battles, among them being Moss Creek, Tenn., Buzzard's Roost, Ga., Resaca, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Moun- tain, Atlanta, Ga., Duck River, Franklin and Nashville Tenn., and Fort Anderson. N. C. He was fortunate in never being wounded, although always in the thickest of the fight. He was nevertheless sun-struck and was in the field hospital for a short thne. In June of 1865 he was honorably discharged, under Capt. Doty, at Salisbury, N. C. H. 'mine- diately returned home and engaged in farming, and on September 6, 1866, he married Encinda, the daughter of Abraham and Malinda (Askens) Good. She was born March 1, 1848, in Fair- field county, Ohio, where her father had also been born. In 1854 they moved to Putnam county, where her father still resides at the age of seventy-five years. He is a republican in politics and a member of the Cinistian church. Her mother died in February, 1866. Three children were born to Daniel and Lucinda Clevenger-Eliza Catherine, wife of Albert Smeltzer, a farmer living in Union township; she is a member of the Christian church; Andrew Qumcy, a farmer li.mg at home-also a member of the same church; Villa Pearl, who is still at home attending school.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cleven- ger located on the land where they now live, which was then a forest ; he cleared the land. and built the house in which they now live. He has prospered, and is a substantial etizen,
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and is an active worker in the interest of the republican party, is a member of the Christian - church and a member of Gribben post, No. 192, G. A. R.
EORGE W. CLEVENGER, deceased farmer of Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, was the son of Joseph and Sarah (Sarber) Clevenger, and was born April 16, 1838, in the county of Put- nam. His father, Joseph Clevenger, a native of Franklin county, Ohio, was born in 1806, and was one of four brothers who came to Putnam county in the early 'thirties and settled on land in the woods which was entered by grandfather Benjamin Clevenger (the father of Joseph). The first and earliest settlement of the Clevengers in Putnam county was made in Sugar Creek township, even before there were any roads save those traced by the blazes on trees as their only guide, and at the time of their settlement this section of the state was thickly populated by the noble red men. Game of all kinds was in abundance, yet none that gave any trouble save the squirrel and the raccoon. Many were the hardships of those pioneer days, yet 'tis true that the county of Putnam never had a class of people residing therein that enjoyed life better than those early pioneers. It was as only one large family, with perfect harmony pervading the whole settlement, and many of the most pleasurable treats were attending the log-rolling, the house- building, and occasionally a husking-bee.
Upon locating in this wild country Mr. Clevenger soon erected his round log cabin, and began cutting away the forest, and in course of time redeemed a valuable farm. It was necessary in those days that they assist each other in log-rolling and house-raising, thus Mr Clevenger would be gone thirty and forty days at a time, assisting others, even at
eight or twelve miles distance. Mr. Cleven- ger was one of the strong, hardy and robust pioneers, and as much was due to the vigor of himself and his brothers in redeeming Putnam county as any other of the pioneers ever locating therein. He was reared upon the farm from childhood, thus early in life inured to hard labor, and when but a boy in his teens was bound out to learn the carpenter's trade, which served to a good purpose as one of the carlier settlers of Putnam county. He was educated in the pioneer schools of his native county, where he resided until after his marriage, which event dates back to 1830. His bfe companion was Miss Sarah Sarber, the daughter of Adam and Catherine (Enslen) Sarber , see sketch of Hiram Sarber for family history). To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Clevenger were born five children, viz: Harriet, wife of George Gambler, of Sugar Creek township, whose sketch appears on another page of this work; Robert, deceased March 3, 1875; George W., deceased March 11, 1879; Sarah, wife of Will- iam Rambangh, of Union township, Putnam county; and George W., our subject. Sarah Sarber, the wife and mother, was born in Luzerne county, Pa., January 19, 1805, was there educated, and in early womanhood re- moved with her parents to Fairfield county, Ohio, where she was married, as before stated, and soon after this event occurred she and her husband started on an overland route to the new home in northwestern Ohio, where they lived among the pioneers and reared their family; in 1847 they retired from the farm and located in Delphos, Ohio, where Mr. Cleven- ger died in the year 1847, and mother Cleven- ger in March, 1879, a worthy member of the Baptist church. Mr. Clevenger was a demo- erat in politics, and one of the benevolent and leading men in Ins community, and highly re- spected wherever known.
George W. Clevenger, our subject, was
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reared upon the farm and educated in the common schools of Putnam county, remaining under the parental roof until after arriving at his majority. October 10, 1867, occurred his marriage with Miss Sarah A. Stauffer, the daughter of Matthias and Maria (Beam) Stauf- fer, and the reader is respectfully invited to see sketch of Amos Beam, which contains fur- ther particulars regarding Mrs. Clevenger. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Clevenger was blessed by the birth of two children, namely: Charles J., born February 25, 1870, and Clin- ton M., born October 2, 1873. Mr. Cleven- ger, soon after marriage, located upon the farm, upon which he made many valuable im- provements, and was recognized as one of the. representative farmers of his township. In 1871 he built the present commodious dwell- ing, which sheltered him until his death, March 11, 1879, and where his widow now resides. He was a democrat in politics, and in religion held to the Baptist faith, but never identified himself with any church. Mrs. Clevenger. the mother and widow, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., March 15, 1848, where she re- sided until 1853, when she came westward to Hancock county, and later, in 1860, to Put- nam county, where she grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools of Union township, and here she has lived from that time on, and is surrounded by a large circle of stanch friends.
Matthias Stauffer, the father of Mrs. Clev- enger, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., Jamary 10, 1820, he being the son of George Stauffer, who was also a native of Pennsyl- vania, and grandfather Stauffer a native of Germany. Mr. Stauffer wedded Miss Maria Beam, December 24, 1846, which union was blessed with the birth of seven children, as follows: Sarah, of this mention; Susannah, wife of Stephen Clevenger; John, merchant of Lancaster, Ohio; Jacob B., farmer of Union
township, Putnam county; Isaac F., a carpen- ter of Kalida; George W., a farmer of Jackson township, and Elizabeth, wife of William Budd, of Union township. Matthias Stauffer was a tailor by trade, which he followed for fourteen years, and remained in his native state and county until 1853, when he moved westward, locating in Hancock county, Ohio, until 1860, when he removed to Putnam county, locating in Union township upon a farm, where he followed agriculture until 1893, when he removed to the town of Kalida, where he is living a retired life and enjoying the fruits of his earlier toil. He is a democrat in politics, and has served as assessor two ter !!.. He and wife are both members of the Presby- terian church.
ENJAMIN F. CLEVENGER, a prominent and prosperous farme: of Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born on the section of land on which he still lives June 11, 1839, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Clevenger, men- bers of a pioneer family whose biographies will be found in various parts of this volume and can be readily traced by reference to the index.
Benjamin F. Clevenger was reared among the pioneers of the county and early inured to the hardships of the frontier farmer's life. H. was educated in the common schools of the county, and February 6, 1862, married Catho- rine A. Dutenhaver, daughter of John and Magdalen (Sipes) Dutenhaver, of whom men- tion will be made further on. To the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Clevenger six children have been born: Mary A., March 24, 1863 died February 18, 1865; Samuel B., Febru- ary 10, 1865- died December 29, 1876; Ad. L., October 9, 1867; John F., April 7, 1870: Sarah 1., November 6, 18;3, and William 1 . April 7, 1878. Mrs. Catherine A. Clevenger,
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B. F. CLEVENGER.
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mother of the above family, was born in Car- roll county, Ohio, February 20, 1841, and in 1860 came to Putnam county and made her home with Samuel Clevenger, the father of our subject, until her marriage. Her parents were natives of Germany, who, in their youth, while still single, came to America and for a short time resided in Pennsylvania and then came to Ohio. They settled in Carroll county and there were married, the union re- sulting in the birth of nine children, viz: Mrs. Elizabeth Best, deceased; Mary, wife of Jere- miah Booth, a farmer of Carroll county; Catherine, the wife of the subject; John, farmer of Carroll county, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war; Maggie, of Carroll county : Martha, married to Robert Weimers, a farmer of Columbiana county; William, farmer of Carroll county; Joseph, farmer of Huntington county, Ind,, and George, who died in child- hood. John Dutenhaver, the father, was a farmer, a democrat in politics, and died in 1878, a member of the Lutheran church, of which his wife was also a member.
After his marriage, Mr. Clevenger continued to live on his father's farin for two years, and in 1863 built a rude house on his present farm, into which he moved in the spring of 1864, and diligently set to work to develop his land for all it was worth, in which effort he made a splendid success. In 1873 he was elected by the democratic party township trustee, and in 1880 elected land appraiser, and later still re- elected township trustee, serving three years. He and wife are both prominent members of the Baptist church, and their daily conduct proves that they are sincere believers in its doctrines and teachings. In 1876, Mr. Clev- enger erected his present handsome brick resi- dence, which is one of the most beautiful homes in the county. He is a thoroughly progressive agricultorist, and has one of the best improved and best equipped farms in the
township, of which he is one of the most public-spirited citizens, as well as one of the most liberal.
RS. CATHERINE CLEVENGER, of Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, is the highly re- spected widow of Isaac Clevenger, a son of Benjamin Clevenger, one of the early pioneers of Putnam county, who settled in Sugar Creek township about 1830, on Sugar creek, near where Vaughnsville now stands, and built the first mill in the county. Here the late Isaac Clevenger was reared to man- hood and passed his entire life. He was reared as all the children of pioneers were reared-to clearing away the forests in subdu- ing the stubborn soil to the demands of the plow, and in wresting from the gloomy woods the smiling fields that now adorn the land. On reaching maturity he first married Miss Alvira Vandemark, to which union were born three daugliters, viz: Sarah, who was married to Albert Rimer a farmer; Lucinda, married to Cyrus Evan, also a farmer, and Nancy A., the wife of T. R. Mayberry. The mother of these children was called to her eternal home about the year 1853, and about two years later Mr. Clevenger married the subject of this sketch, who bore the maiden name of Cather- ine Askins.
Miss Catherine Askins was born in Guern- sey county, Ohio, June 17, 1830, of highly re- spectable parentage-Jacob and Charlotte (Smith) Askins, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvama. Mr. Askins was a stone-cutter by trade, and after settling in Allen county conducted the tomb-stone business at Elida until his death, which oc- curred about the year 18$3. He was a deacon in the Lutheran church for over forty years and in politics was a democrat, but
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never aspired to public office. He reared a family of eight children, as follows: Cather- ine; the subject of this sketch; John, who was a soldier in the late war and died after his return home from the effects of exposure in the serv- ice; Mary, who married the Rev. James Bar- tholomew; Peter, who served in the late war and also died from exposure; Sarah A., married to N. Strayer, Jacob, who served through the 100-day service of the Civil war; William, a mer- chant of Middlepoint, Van Wert county, Ohio, and Joseph, who resides in Lima, Allen county. The mother of this family died in 1888, deeply and sincerely mourned by the surviving mem- bers of the family and a large circle of friends.
To Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Clevenger were born a family of nine children: Mary, married to Albert Rimer; William, who died at the age of eighteen years; Charlotte, wife of William Cartwright: Christiana, at home; John Quincy, who died at the age of four years; James W., Thomas J., Joseph E., and Samuel A., all fonr live at home with their mother. Mr. Clevenger was a member of the Christian church and politically was a republican. He cut the first stick of timber ever ent on the present homestead and brought the place to its now fertile condition, and here ended his days May 16, 1893, an honored and respected member of an honored and respected family, sketches of many of whom are contained on other pages of this volume, with their names and the numbers of the pages on which they are to be found properly arranged in the index, to which the attention of the reader is respect- fully invited
ATTHEW A. CHAMBERS, a dis- tingnished citizen of Blanchard township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born March 24, 1827. in Mus- kmgum com ty, Ohio, and was reared in Gil-
boa, Putnam county. His grandfather, John C. Chambers, was of Scotch-Irish descent, was a native of Ireland and a weaver by trade. He came to America prior to the Revolutionary war and located in Maryland on the banks of the Potomac river, but later came to Ohio, and about 1800 purchased land in Muskingum county, and engaged in farming and weaving until his death. He had married, in Mary- land, Nancy Markmandluff, who bore th- fol- lowing children: Matthew, Mandluff, Absa- lom, Violet (Mrs. Stephen Lee), Margaret (Mrs. John Holmes), and John, of Iowa, all now deceased.
Matthew Chambers, the eldest of the above- named children, was born in Maryland in 1787, was brought to Ohio by his father and reared to farming, and in early manhood purchased a farm in the neighborhood of his father's place. In 1837, however, he came to Putnam county and purchased a section of land in Blan chard township, on a part of which his son, Matthew A., now resides. In the same year . en- gaged in mercantile business in Gilboa, and in 1840 erected a brick hotel; this he conds ted, in connection with his store, until 1851, when he retired from the hotel business and was succeeded by his sons, Matthew A. and Bar- tholomew. Mr. Chambers was an extensive land-owner in his township, and divided more than a section of land among his children. He had served in the war of 1812. Matthew Chambers married, in 1868, Miss Mary Rada- baugh, daughter of Martin Radabaugh. This lady was born in Virginia, was of Pennsylva- nian descent, and became. the mother of the following children: Elizabeth, wife of Milton Ewing; Barbara, wife of Newton Thrapp; Nancy A .. first married to Lilburn Thrapp and next to Henry Crofus: Bartholomew, who died in Gilboa m 1852, leaving a wife and two chil- dren, the widow afterward marrying Stephen Miles and dying in Licking county, Ohio;
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Mary, deceased wife of Dr. C. M. Godfrey, Ottawa; Violet, who first married Adolphus Wilson, and secondly, A. J. Powell, of Iowa. In politics Mr. Chambers was a democrat until the late Civil war came on, when he became a republican, and although he took a deep inter- est in public affairs, would never accept of public office. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Protestant church, aided liberally toward the erection of that denomination's church edifice at Gilboa, was one of the original members, helped form the first class, and was an adherent of that belief until his death, as was also his wife.
Matthew A. Chambers began his business career as a clerk for his father, attending the store through the summer and buying furs from the Indians in the winter. In 1850-51-52 he was in the hotel business with his brother at Gilboa. In 1854, he purchased from his father a farm in section No. 8, Blanchard township, which he cleared and improved, and on which he lived until 1870, when he purchased the old home place of 160 acres, on which he still resides. In 1861 he enlisted in company D, Twenty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, served four months, and took part in the battle of Cherry Creek, Va., and several lesser engagements.
The marriage of Mr. Chambers took place March 6, 1855, to Miss Margaret Krutch, of Perry county, Ohio, and to this union were born the following children: Mary; John, who married Clara Conley; Banner, who mar- ned Lula Dukes. The mother was called away March 3, 1891, leaving a void in the household never to be filled. In his politics Mr. Chambers was a democrat until 1891, when he became an independent. He has also filled the office of township trustee two terms, and several minor offices; he has served on the school board for years, and takes a deep and lively interest in all educational enterprises.
Fraternally he is a member of Roxsin lodge, F. & A. M., of Hancock county, of Lindsay post, No. 75, G. A. R., and Putnam grange, No. 141, P. of H. Mr. Chambers is an intel- ligent and progressive farmer and is a gentle- inan of energy, enterprise and progress, and one whose candor and veracity have given him a standing of respect among his fellow-citi- zens that few men enjoy.
ILLIAM HENRY CHANDLER, an old soklier of the Civil war, and a prosperous farmer of Jennings town- ship, Putnam county, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, December 17, 1840, and is a son of Trman A. and Ruth W. (Gil- let) Chandler. His paternal garndfather, Ab- salom Chandler, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was in the battle of Buffalo, N. Y. He was a farmer of Pennsylvania and married a Miss Wood, who bore him seven children, of whom the names of six are remembered as fol- lows: Truman, Nathan, William, James, Lo- visa and Amanda. Absalom Chandler was a lumberman and raftsman and passed a great deal of his time in Canada, but spent his latter days in Buffalo, N. Y., where he died at the age of seventy-six years.
Truman Chandler, father of William Henry, was born in Erie county, N. Y., May 18, 1808, where he was reared to manhood and where he married Ruth M. Gillett, daughter of Philemon Gillett. From Erie county, N. Y., Truman Chandler removed to Delaware county, Ohio, where he farmed until 1857, when he came to Putnam county, and bought eighty acres of land in the woods two miles north of the farm on which his son, William HI , now lives. He here wrought out a good farm from the wilder- ness and lived upon it until his retirement to the home of his son, James F., m Allen county, where he passed from earth at the advanced
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