USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 78
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A LBERT C. MILLER, one of the lead- ing lumbermen of Delaware County. who operates a large saw-mill on West Lincoln Street, Delaware, was born in this city in 1872, and is a son of Nathan and Mary ( Fry) Miller. The father of Mr. Miller was born in 1835, and until he retired from active industrial life, was engaged in farming. He married Mary Fry and they had three sons, namely: Raymond N., residing at home; F. Ernest, who is en- gaged in farming ; and Albert C. Nathan Miller died August 14, 1907. Mrs. Miller resides in Delaware.
Albert C. Miller secured a good common school education and then turned his attention to farming for a few years, after which he , became interested in lumbering. It is his prac- tice to purchase desirable timber tracts and manufacture the timber into lumber, and in 1904 he established his present mill at Dela- ware. He does a large and constantly increas- ing business. In 1897, Mr. Miller was mar- ried to Anna Bryson and they have a pleasant home at Delaware. Mr. Miller is a member of the Odd Fellows.
OSEPH E. IIUGHS, who was for many years an esteemed member of the agricultural community in Con- cord Township, was born in 1822, in Delaware, on the site of the present Court House, and was a son of Rev. Joseph S. Hughs, who came to Delaware County from Pennsylvania in 1810, but was originally from Ireland. The latter was a Presbyterian minister and organized the first Presbyterian Church in Delaware, and also the first churches of that denomination in Liberty and Radnor Townships. During the War of 1812 he had an army appointment and was with General Hull when he surrendered Detroit to the Brit- ish. He was a man of unusual oratorical ability, and was a Free Mason of high stand- ing, being chaplain of the grand Lodge of Masons of the State of Ohio.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Delaware. On com- ing of age he began farming in Concord Town- ship, being the owner of 163 acres. On this farm he spent all the years of his life subse- quent to his marriage, dying in 1890 at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, whose name in maidenhood was Harriett Amelia Day, to whom he was united in 1850, died also on the old homestead, July 11, 1900, aged seventy-four years. They were the par- ents of nine children, of whom the following is a brief record: Girard R. is a resident of Columbus. James H., who was a physician in Delaware, died in California, to which State he had gone in the hope of recovering his health. Dorence E. is a physician of Dela- ware. William L. resides in Jamestown, North Dakota. Sarah E., who is now deceased, was the wife of Frederick Smith of Delaware. Amanda Ann is the wife of Martin Freese of Jamestown. North Dakota. Amy Catherine is the wife of John Kuhns of Scioto Township. Charles died at the age of four years. Harriet J. is the wife of O. P. Bird, of Scioto Town- ship.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Ilughs were mem- bers of the United Brethren Church, as were all the children, and Mr. Hughs was an or- (lained preacher in that denomination. In poli-
REV AARON J LYON, D D
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ties he was a Republican, and he served accept- ably as clerk of the township for a number of years. He was a man the quality of whose citizenship was never in doubt, and who stood for what was highest and best in all that con- cerned either public duty or the private re- lations of life. His wife was a worthy help- meet, and their home life was such that their children are now all prosperous and esteemed members of the community in which they re- spectively reside.
R EV. AARON J. LYON, D. D., who since 1854, has been a member of the North Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is one of the leading citizens of Delaware. where he is identified with large and import- ant interests. Mr. Lyon was born on his father's farm in Knox County, Ohio, June 6. 1828, and is one of a family of five chil- dren born to his parents, who were Daniel and Hannah ( Dalrymple ) Lyon.
Mr. Lyon secured his elementary education in the local schools and was later-in 1854- graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity. Of this institution he is now the oldest trustee, and is the treasurer of the institution. For many years he was in the active ministry of the church. In 1905 he became president of the Delaware Savings Bank Company, the other officers being: C. B. Austin, vice-presi- dent : FF. P. Hills, cashier, and W. H. Bodur. tha, assistant cashier. The board of directors include these well-known capitalists: . A. J. Lyon, C. B. Austin, B. F. Freshwater, Charles Brundige. W. Shawaker, F. P. Hills. Colonel J. M. Crawford, J. E. MeCullough and T. C. Jones. The institution was chartered under the laws of Ohio and does a general banking business, buying and selling foreign exchange and acting as agent for ocean steamship lines. Mr. Lyon is also president of the Elec- tric Light and Power Company of Delaware.
Mr. Lyon was first married to Olive Weatherby, who died in 1876, and who was a daughter of Edmond Weatherby. The four
children of this marriage were: Lena, now (leceased, who married William P. Sturges; Clotilda, who married Rev. W. F. McDowell. now a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; Edmund D., who was graduated in 1882 from the Ohio Wesleyan University, and who is now principal of the Woodward High School at Cincinnati; and Orrel. deceased. who married Frank B. Gibson, residing at Denver, Colorado. All of Mr. Lyon's chil- dren were graduates of the Ohio Wesleyan University. Mr. Lyon was married, secondly. in 1878, to Rachel Hoy. Politically he is identified with the Republican party. Fra- ternally he is a Knight Templar Mason, Mr. Lyon is hale and hearty at the age of 80 years. and looks after his business interests with the same caution and ability that he did when 25 years younger.
HARLES R. WATKINS, a promi- nent agriculturist of Radnor Town- ship, Delaware County, Ohio, was born in this township in 1863. son of Edward and Sarah ( Evans) Watkins. Ilis paternal grandparents, Evan and Margaret ( Davis) Watkins, were natives of Wales, in which country the grandfather (lied, his widow subsequently coming to America with her children and settling in Radnor. Delaware County, Ohio. One of her sons. William, had come to America pre- viously and was already settled here. He married Mary Jones, and among their chil- dren was Sarah Jane, who is now the widow of John Powell and resides in Radnor Village. On her arrival, Mrs. Margaret Davis Wat- kins built a small house in which she and her family took up their residence, and her sons soon acquired and set to work to clear a tract of land.
Edward Watkins, father of Charles R., was but seven years of age when he accom- panied his widowed mother to America. Ile resided in Radnor Township for the rest of his life, and at the time of his death, after eighteen years of retirement, he owned 195 acres of
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land. He passed the years of his retirement on a tract of ten acres in Radnor Village. As already noted, he married Sarah Evans.
Charles R. Watkins was reared in Radnor Township, of which he is now one of the lead- ing men. He served on the School Board frequently, has been assessor for eight years, and supervisor for fifteen years. He is the owner of the ten-acre tract in Radnor Vil- lage already mentioned, on which his father spent his last years. lle married Grace Maugans of Ostrander, and they have three children-Edward J., Wallace, and Elizabeth. Mr. Watkins is a member of the Congrega- tional Church.
R. BENTON, proprietor of the Benton Brothers Tile factory and owner of a saw-mill, is one of the leading busi- ness men of Scioto Township, and he is a representative of two of the oldest and most substantial pioneer families of this section. Mr. Benton was born in Scioto Town- ship, Delaware County. Ohio, November 5. 1855. and is a son of Benjamin Thomas and Mary K. ( Newhouse ) Benton.
Benjamin, Thomas Benton was born at Phillipsburg. Pennsylvania. November 22, 1824. and was nine years old when he accom- panied his parents to Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio. There his father. Edward Wil- liam Benton, remained until 1829. when he came to Scioto Township, Delaware County. purchasing the farm on which the subject of this sketch was born.
The Benton family originated in England. and was transplanted to America by four brothers, of whom Thomas Il., the youngest, became a distinguished American statesman and the father of the brilliant woman who be- came the wife of Gen. John C. Fre- mont. One of these brothers. Edward, was the great-grandfather of J. R. Ben- ton. He had three sons, one of whom went to California and was lost sight of: another is called to memory by the city of Benton Har- bor. Michigan, which he founded; and the
third was Edward William, the grandfather of J. R. Benton.
Edward William Benton was born April 4. 1782, in Maryland, where he subsequently owned a plantation. This he abandoned on ac- count of the slave laws, of which he did not ap- prove. He moved to Pennsylvania and from that State to Knox County, and subsequently to Delaware County, Ohio. In 1806 he was married, first, to H. Duvall, and secondly, in 1820, to Matilda Phillips. His children were : Benjamin Thomas, Eli, Katherine, Anna, Erasmus and Nancy.
Benjamin Thomas Benton resided until his death, which occurred August 26, 1906, on the farm in Scioto Township, purchased by his father. He assisted in clearing this prop- erty, which, in the memory of his son, was still partly covered with native timber, and resided in the log house his father had constructed. In his early political life he was a Whig and later embraced the Republican party principles, becoming a man of influence in his community in public affairs. He was a Free Mason, be- longing to the fraternity at Delaware. He was married August 13, 1846, to Mary K. Newhouse, who was born January 2, 1825. and who died January 9, 1901. She was a daughter of William , and Annie ( Richey) Newhouse, both members of the leading pio- neer families. William Newhouse was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, March 11, 1800, and came with his parents, Anthony and Nancy (Coons) Newhouse, to Delaware County, in May. 1814. On January 6, 1823. he married Annie Richey, who was a daughter of William Richey. After their marriage they settled near Bellpoint but later removed to Union County, whence they returned still later to Delaware County, settling on the farm in Scioto Township which is now owned by John R. Newhouse. They had eleven children. namely: Mary K., David Emery, Willian Lafayette, Isaiah, Belinda, John R., Catherine, Nancy Jane, Adam, Joseph, and James HI. William Newhouse died December 6. 1842.
Benjamin Thomas Benton and wife had six children. five of whom grew to maturity. namely : William Edward, who was born
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April 19. 1847, who is engaged in the prac- tice of medicine in Wyandot County, Ohio; Thomas Byron, born November 29, 1851, who died in November, 1895; J. R., whose name begins this sketch; and Narcissa M. G., born May 14, 1858, married Ilon. Brodrick, judge of the Court of Common Pleas at Marysville, Ohio, and Charles B., who resides on the home farm. Mr. Benton was a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, serving as a trustee, steward and class leader. He was a liberal contributor toward the building of the W. C. T. U. ball. When the sturdy manhood of the country was called on to rally to the defense of Washington, in 1864, Mr. Benton became a member of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served as long as his services were needed. He subsequently united with Tanner Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was past commander. After reaching the age of sixteen years, with the exception of two years spent in Iowa and the time covering his army experience, Mr. Benton always lived in Scioto Township. In 1856 he purchased his farm from his father and contentedly passed his life raising grain and livestock.
J. R. Benton, the direct subject of this article, was reared in Scioto Township and was educated at the Delaware Union schools. After leaving school he learned the carpenter's trade. In the fall of 1884 he entered into the tile business on the home farm, and since 1895. has been also in the sawmill business. In the year above mentioned he moved to his present place, where he has facilities for shipping his entire product over the Big Four Railroad. Since 1906 he has done a large amount of building. His factory turns out 25,000 rods of tile a year and his tile business is a prosperous industry. For twenty years Mr. Benton has been also a large producer of honey.
Mr. Benton married Eva L. Brodrick, who is a daughter of Isaac and Sarah P. (Hoff ) Brodrick, who reside near Lewisburg. Union County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Benton have had four children, the three survivors being: Wy- ville E., who married Florence James of New Dover, O., residing at Columbus; Dwight
Omar, who is a builder and contractor; and Mary K., who married Lorenzo Dow Poling, of Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Benton and family are members of the Presbyterian Church.
Fraternally, Mr. Benton is past grand of Edinburg Lodge of Odd Fellows and has served as deputy to the Grand Lodge. Both he and wife are members of Prosperity Lodge of Rebeccas, of which Mrs. Benton is a past noble grand, having been also a representative to the superior bodies. She belongs also to the Pythian Sisters, No. 261, of Ostrander. In politics, Mr. Benton is a Republican.
J OHN HIEL MILLER, M. D., a lead- ing physician of Delaware, was born October 6, 1858, in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Hiel and Mary ( Warrick ) Miller.
The paternal grandfather was Jacob Miller, who went to Greene County, Pennsylvania, from Fayette County, settling there at an early date and acquiring more than one thiou- sand acres of land. Jacob Miller married Sarah McConnell, who belonged to a promi- nent and unmerous family for whom Connells- ville, Pennsylvania, was named. On the ma- ternal side, Dr. Miller is connected with Pat- rick Henry, the orator and statesman, whose services in Revolutionary times will never be forgotten by patriotic Americans. Hiel Mil- ler, father of Dr. Miller, was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and died there at the age of twenty-seven years, in 1863. Of his four children two died in infancy. John Hiel and Esther survive, the latter being the wife of James Clouston, residing at Cameron, West Virginia. Mrs. Miller was married, secondly. to John Hinerman, and had one son. Ellsworth Hinerman, who resides at Beaver, Pennsyl- vania. After the death of Mr. Hinerman his widow was married to Jesse Wells and one son was born of the third marriage, James B. Wells, who is a dentist engaged in practice at McMechen, West Virginia. Mrs. Wells still survives and is now aged seventy years.
Dr. Miller was a child of five years when
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his father died. He attended the common schools, and in order to fit himself for the pedagogic profession, spent two terms in a private school, receiving a teacher's certificate when but fifteen years of age. He was sub- sequently engaged in teaching during eight winter terms. By a course of home study he prepared for entrance into the college of Phy- sicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, in 1885. and after studying there, entered the Western Pennsylvania Medical College, where he was graduated in the class of 1886-7, of which he had the distinction of being president. He obtained second honors in his class, and was always a very popular member both with his associates and the faculty. Dr. Miller immed- iately entered upon the practice of his profes- sion, locating first at Bristoria. Greene County. Pennsylvania. He later practiced for one year at Washington. Pennsylvania, and then came to Delaware, where he has since been estab- lished. During President Cleveland's first ad- ministration, he was appointed a member of the Board of Pension Examiners of Greene County. Pennsylvania. In December. 1903. he took the examination required by the Ohio State Medical Examining Board, and became a member of the Delaware County Medical Society. He enjoys a large and lucrative practice and occupies a prominent place among the medical men of the county.
On November 21, 1878. Dr. Miller was mar- ried to Charlotte A. Nuss, who is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Geary) Nuss, of Greene County, Pennsylvania. Their surviv- ing children are: Floyd V., who is a student at Starling Medical College, a member of the class of 1909: Ethel, who is a student in the Delaware High School: Ray, who is a clerk in a dry goods store: and John and Earl, both of whom are pupils in the public schools. Three of their children died in infancy. The eldest son, Leon, died of dyptheria, in 1896. aged almost seventeen years. Furman, a bright youth of thirteen years, was accident- ally killed in the fall of 1895, at Jacksonville. Pennsylvania. Dr. Miller has long been an active member of the Democratic party. Since locating at Delaware he has been urged to ac-
cept party favors, and in 1907 was elected councilman-at-large of the city of Delaware.
EVI BISHOP, justice of the peace and G representative citizen of Troy Town- ship, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, October 22, 1830, and is a son of James and Sarah (Cole) Bishop. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Bishop, Joseph and Mary Cole, came to Troy Town- ship from Virginia, among the early settlers, in 1808. locating in the dense woods that then covered all this section, the mother of Mr. Bishop being then eight years of age. The father of Mr. Bishop came also from Smyth County, Virginia, and settled in Troy Town- ship in 1827. He was engaged all his life in agricultural pursuits and was a cabinet-maker. Upon the organization of the Republican party he became identified with it and continued a supporter of its policies until his death, in 1884. He at one time served as clerk of Troy Township.
Levi Bishop grew to manhood on the home farm, assisting in its development, and in the meanwhile securing a district school education. He devoted himself to farming and stock- raising. On December 25, 1851, he was mar- ried to Lydia Main, who was a daughter of Lyman and Hannah Main. She died March 5. 1893. leaving one son, Wesley.
Wesley Bishop was born September 22. 1852, and has always resided with his father on the home place of 164 acres, which is known as Pleasant Hill Farm. Since 1880 he has been engaged in the Merino sheep in- (lustry, and is now serving as secretary and treasurer of the Ohio Merino Sheep Breeders' Association, having served in this capacity since 1897. This body was organized in 1882 and Mr. Bishop was one of the charter men- bers of the association. He owns the largest flock of pure-bred Merino sheep in Delaware County and has done a great deal toward raising the quality of the stock in this section. He married Addie Rosella Jacoby, who was born in Marion County. Ohio, and who is a
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daughter of the late Jacob Jacoby, of Dela- ware County. Wesley Bishop and wife have had four children, namely: O. Hartley, now deceased: Josie L., AArchie J. and Violet R. Mr. Bishop is a Republican. He belongs to the order of Woodmen of the World.
For a number of years Levi Bishop has served in the office of justice of the peace and in this capacity is known and esteemed all through Troy Township. Politically he is a Republican. During the Civil war he served with the 100-day men, called out in 1864, as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, being stationed at Arlington Heights, Washington, D. C. Mr. Bishop is one of the older residents of Troy Township and he and his son have been identified with a large part of its material development, both being men of excellent judgement and foresight and of the best type of citizenship.
E. KENDRICK, general manager of the Scioto Lime and Stone Company. at Delaware, which owns and oper- ates the extensive plant on North Sandusky Street, and the only hy- drating lime machine in this part of Ohio, has been identified with the interests of this city since August, 1902. He was born in Michi- gan, where he was also reared and educated. and immediately prior to coming to Delaware. he resided at Kalamazoo. In 1897 Mr. Kend- rick was married to Edith Belle McCartney. who is also a native of Michigan. Mr. Kend- rick is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
The Scioto Lime and Stone Company of Delaware, owned by James Reamy, Jr., of Baltimore, Md., is one of the city's large and flourishing industries. Employment is af- forded to from forty to fifty men in the busy season, and the plant has a capacity of 1,000 barrels of lime per day. It is thoroughly equipped with all manner of modern machin- ery required in the business and stands alone in this section in possessing the hydrating machine mentioned above. The local trade
is large and the company also do an extensive business shipping to the eastern and southern States.
ONATHAN KELLEY JAMES, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Delaware County, who has been a resident of Delaware since 1888, was born in Brown County, Ohio, June 25, 1868, and is a son of Rev. Evan Phillip and Lucy T. Kelley James.
Rev. Evan P. James, who was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Wales. February 28, 1828, and came to America when nineteen years of age. For forty years he was a member of the Cincinnati M. E. Conference. He is now living retired in Delaware.
Dr. J. K. James was educated in the best schools available in the places where his father's ministerial duties respectively located the fam- ily, and in 1887 he was graduated from the Bethel High School in Clermont County. He then came to Delaware and spent four years in the Ohio Wesleyan University. April 7. 1897. he was graduated from the Ohio Medi- cal University, now the Starling Medical Uni- versity of Columbus, Oho, and immediately settled down to the practice of his profession in Delaware. He has been received with public favor, and is in the enjoyment of a large and lucrative practice both in the city and county. He is a member of the Delaware County, the Ohio State and the American Medical Asso- ciations. At Delaware he has served as city health officer and is at present a member of the Board of Health. He enjoys the friend- ship of all his fellow practitioners.
On April 20, 1897. Dr. James was married to Maude Stanton, of Delaware. They have one son. Dorrance Stanton, who was born February 24. 1900. Dr. and Mrs. James are members of the William Street Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally, he is a Mason. He is physician and surgeon for a number of the leading insurance organizations, including. the Bankers' Life, the Hartford Life, the Co-
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lumbia Life, the Aetna Life and Accident and the Connecticut Mutual, and is health ex- aminer also for the Knights of Columbus. He is a Republican in politics.
OSEPH H. RITTENHOUSE, of the firm of J. C. Mangans & Company, proprietors of the elevator at Os- trander, and dealers in all kinds of building material, also grain, flour, hay, feed and coal, was born in Ross County, Ohio, May 31, 1844, and is a son of Henry G. and Margaret ( Latta) Rittenhouse.
Samuel Rittenhouse, the paternal grand- father, was born in Albemarle County, Vir- ginia, and came to Ross County, Ohio, at an early day. He settled within seven miles of Chillicothe when a forest covered the whole distance. He died in October, 1872, when within a few months of being 100 years old.
Henry G. Rittenhouse, father of Joseph R., was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, in 1812, and died in 1882. He was two years old when his parents moved to Ross County. He had but meager school advantages, his whole term of school attendance not exceed- ing three months, but he was gifted with a good intellect and became a well-informed man. He followed the trade of tanner until 1850, and engaged in farming until 1854, when he moved to Dover Township, Union County, where he followed farming until 1872. His last removal was to Henry County, lowa, where he continued agricultural pursuits until his death. During the Mexican War he took part in militia drill, but his regi- ment was never called into action. He mar- ried a daughter of Moses Latta, of Ohio, and they had nine children, seven of whom reached maturity, namely: Thomas C., residing at Winfield, Iowa; Joseph H. ; David, residing at Muscatine, lowa; Clara, now deceased, was the wife of Frederick Swick, who is also de- ceased: Sarah, who is deceased: Emma, who married Samuel Connors, residing in Colo- rado; and John, residing at Muscatine, lowa. The mother of the above mentioned family
died in 1897, aged seventy-two years. Both parents were members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.
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