USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 10
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On the 25th of June, 1863, Mr. Browne married Sarah A. Hawkins, of St. Louis, Mo., a daughter of Samuel and Ann Hawkins, and to them were born nine children, namely: Wal- ter L., who died at the age of twelve years; William A., Jr., the first, died when about two years old; Annie became the wife of N. J. Kuntz, of Middletown, Ohio, and they have five daughters, Hester, Helen, Anna B., Mary and Thomasene; Agnes is the wife of G. T. Wolf, of Greenville, and they have three children, Virginia, John Thomas and Walter; Hester died in infancy ; William A., Jr., the second, is connected with the Advocate office; he married Elizabeth Murray of Spring- field, Ohio, and they had two children; for his second wife he married Winifred Westbrook and they have one child, Will- liam A., the third; Walter E., who also is employed in the Ad- vocate office, married Daisy East and they have one child, Walter East Browne; Linnius, who is an electrician in Green- ville, married, first, Gertrude Guyer, to which union was born a daughter, Bernice, and for his second wife he chose Augusta Mason, who bore him a daughter, Eleanor; Virginia died at the age of sixteen years.
Politically, Mr. Browne has been a life-long supporter of the Democratic party and has been a prominent figure in its councils, having, in 1912, served as a delegate from the Fourth Ohio congressional district to the national convention at Balti- more. Fraternally, he is a member of Covington Lodge No. 168, Free and Accepted Masons, at Covington, Ohio. Re- ligiously, Mrs. Browne is a member of the Baptist church. Personally, Mr. Browne is a man of forceful personality and has wielded a large influence in the community. As a writer he wields a trenchant pen, and, possessing an unusual instinct for "news," he has succeeded in making his papers indispens-
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able in thousands of Darke county homes. Genial and com- panionable, a splendid conversationalist and well informed on a wide range of subjects, he is a man of representative char- acter in his community and as such is clearly entitled to specific mention in a work of this character.
HENRY PHILIP STOCKER.
Henry P. Stocker, who by the inherent force of his own industry, determination and tact has achieved success in his chosen vocation, and who is rightfully numbered among the enterprising and progressive citizens of Greenville, is justly entitled to recognition in the annals of his county, and in the following brief sketch will be found a resume of the leading facts in his career. Mr. Stocker was born in the quaint and wealthy old city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on December 16, 1864, and is a son of Andrew and Margaret (Rader) Stocker. The subject's father was a native of Germany, where he was reared and educated, and where, upon attaining mature years, he learned the trade of a butcher. Eventually coming to the United States, he located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1865, when he removed to Montgomery county, Ohio, and from there, in 1873, to Darke county, Ohio, settling on a tract of land in Adams township, five miles north- east of Greenville, his original farm there comprising sixty- two acres, to which he later added forty-nine acres more. To the improvement and cultivation of this land he devoted his energies and there he reared his family, and still makes his home. Andrew Stocker's parents, who also were natives of Germany, were people of respectability and prominence in their locality. The father died in his native land, and his widow, whose maiden name was Kipp, afterwards came to America and eventually died in Montgomery county, Ohio. They were the parents of several children.
Margaret (Rader) Stocker was also a native of the father- land, where both of her parents died, and by her marriage with Andrew Stocker she became the mother of the following chil- dren: John, who lives near Wandington, Ohio; Jacob, of Greenville; Andrew, of Miamisburg, Ohio; Elizabeth, de- ceased, who was the wife of Andrew Sneller; Mary, the wife of D. W. Young, of Dayton, Ohio; Catherine, who died at the
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age of two years; Henry, of Greenville, the immediate subject of this sketch ; Albert, deceased; Flora, the wife of James Knick, of Greenville township, this county; William, who lives near Portland, Indiana; Adam, who lives east of Greenville; Elmer, of Vincennes, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Stocker both gave faithful allegiance to the Lutheran church. Mrs. Margaret Stocker died on the home farm in Adams township in 1875, and subse- quently Mr. Stocker married Barbara Fashner, whose death occurred in 1910, and he is now living in Greenville, being practically retired from active business pursuits.
Henry P. Stocker was about seven years old when the fam- ily came to Darke county, and he was reared on the paternal homestead in Adams township, receiving his education in the district schools. He remained at home until eighteen years of age, then for a time he worked out by the month at farm labor. Then for two years Mr. Stocker was employed as a clerk in a grocery store at Miamisburg, after which he was a street car conductor in Cincinnati for five years. He then returned to Miamisburg and worked for his brother, Andrew R., in the furniture and undertaking business for seven years. He gave careful and thoughtful attention to the work in hand, and on April 1, 1896, came to Greenville and started in the undertak- ing business on his own account, buying out Curtis & Sarff, and he has conducted this business continuously since. He has, by industry and close application, attained to an eminent success and has for a number of years been numbered among the leading undertakers and funeral directors of Darke county, and has commanded his full share of public patronage during the years in which he. has been identified with local business circles.
On December 27, 1893, Mr. Stocker was married to Mary Stocker, who was born in Miamisburg, Ohio, the daughter of John and Louise (Mackenheimer) Stocker. Her parents, who were natives of Germany, were for many years honored resi- dents of Miamisburg, Ohio, where their deaths occurred. They were the parents of four children, Lena Aelhardt, Mary, Theo- dore and John. To Mr. and Mrs. Stocker have been born five children, Harry, Louise, Dewey, Carl and.Mary.
Politically, Mr. Stocker is an earnest supporter of the Dem- ocratic party, but his business affairs have made such heavy demands upon his time as to preclude his taking an active part in public affairs. He has taken a deep and intelligent interest in fraternal societies, and he holds membership in the follow-
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ing bodies: Greenville Lodge No. 243, Free and Accepted Masons; Greenville Chapter No. 77, Royal Arch Masons; Matchett Council, Royal and Select Masters; Dayton Con- sistory of Scottish Rite Masons, thirty-second degree; Cham- pion Lodge No. 742, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Miamisburg Lodge No. 44, Knights of Pythias; the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Modern Woodmen of America. Genial and unassuming in his relations with his fellow citi- zens, Mr. Stocker has, because of his personal worth, strict integrity and uniform courtesy, won a host of warm personal friends in his adopted city and is deserving of the popularity which he enjoys. He takes a deep interest in the general welfare, giving his support to all movements which promise to benefit the community in any way.
GEORGE GROSHANS.
Darke county has been fortunate in the number and char- acter of its newspapers, those advance agents of modern pro- gress and indispensable aids to social and industrial develop- ment, and none in this section of the state has to a greater extent influenced its readers in the direction of those things which tend to their upbuilding and improvement than the Greenville Tribune, published at the county seat by Groshans Brothers, the senior member of which firm is he whose name appears at the head of this paragraph. The Tribune has per- sistently endeavored to keep the torch of enterprise lighted in this thriving community and it has long enjoyed a marked popularity throughout the county.
George Groshans was born at New Harrison, Darke county, Ohio, on the 27th day of December, 1875, and is the son of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Keck) Groshans. These parents were both natives of Germany, in which country they were reared, and there the father became a fine cloth weaver by trade. Some time prior to his marriage he came to the United States and, coming direct to Greenville, was here married. He obtained employment in the grain elevator owned by Dan. iel Henne, remaining continuously connected with that con- cern up to the time of his death, which occurred on May 2, 1901, at the age of fifty-five years. He is survived by his widow, who is a faithful member of the Lutheran church, as
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was her husband. Mr. Groshans was a veteran of the Franco- Prussian war of 1871, and was a man of most excellent parts, enjoying to a marked degree the esteem of all who knew him. Mr. and Mrs. Groshans were the parents of the following chil- dren : Anna, the wife of Jacob D. Hinderer, of Darke county ; George, the immediate subject of this sketch; Frederick, who is a partner of his brother George in the Groshans Brothers' Publishing Company, at Greenville; Wilhelmina, the wife of Harvey Winn, of Lockland, Ohio; Catherine, of Greenville; Lucy, who died in young womanhood; Christina, the wife of John E. Hoelser, of Indianapolis, Ind.
George Groshans was reared at Greenville and during his youth was given the advantage of attendance at the public schools. Upon the completion of his school life, he began to learn the printing trade, with which he has been identified continuously since. His first employment was in the office of the Greenville Tribune, where he continued about five years, then went to Marion Ohio about a year then to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he was foreman in the offices of the Mt. Vernon Banner and the Mt. Vernon Republican about four years then went to Newark, Ohio, where he was made foreman of the American Tribune, then to Canton, Ohio, for two years, then to Greenville in 1911, where he and his brother Frederic pur- chased the Greenville Tribune, newspaper, plant and good will, of which they are still the owners. The paper, which was es- tablished in 1890, is Republican in political affiliations, is numbered, and justly so, among the clean, newsy and popular papers of this section of the State. The mechanical equipment is up to date in every important particular and special atten- tion is given to all kinds of general job printing, in which success has attended their efforts because of the high quality of work turned out and the courteous and prompt attention given to their customers.
On October 14, 1902, George Groshans was married to Ethelyn May Mckay, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where her birth occurred January 11, 1880. She is the daughter of William W. and Sarah (Pipes) Mckay. Her father was born at Man- chester, England, November 26, 1845, and was a son of Robert S. and Emma (Hurst) Mckay, the former of whom was born at Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, October 31, 1813. The latter was born March 6, 1827, in Manchester, England. William W. Mckay served in the Civil war. Mrs. Groshans' mother, Sarah (Pipes) Mckay, was the daughter of Harvey
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Pipes of Knox county, Ohio. Her father was the son of Daniel Pipes, who was a son of Joseph Pipes of New Jersey and later of Pennsylvania, whose forefathers came to America in the Sixteenth century. Joseph Pipes and his brother were out gathering nuts when a band of Indians came upon them. The brother ran around the swamp and hid, but Joseph ran into the swamp and was captured and carried away, was kept by them seven years until he was grown. Several times he tried to get away, but was guarded too closely. Once, when he ran away and was overtaken, he pre- tended he was lost and was glad to see the Indians. Later he es- caped. Her mother is still living at her home in Mt. Vernon, O. They were the parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Gros- hans is the oldest ; the others are: Dwight, Blanche, Charles, Elnora and Clyde. By a former marriage Mr. Mckay had two children : Robert S. and Clifford. To Mr. and Mrs. Groshans have been born two children : Robert Kirkwood, born in East Church street, Newark, Ohio, on March 26, 1905, and Mildred Eleanor, born in Newark, Ohio, in Ninth street, on April 29, 1908.
- MARTIN L. WEISENBARGER.
As a man's means increase, so do his responsibilities, not only those which pertain to the individual, but those which are founded upon humanity in the aggregate. A man of the importance and wealth of Martin L. Weisenbarger, second vice-president of the Farmers' National Bank of Arcanum, and one of the city's most progressive merchants, has calls made upon his time and attention that one less influential could es- cape. He is called upon to discharge without remuneration duties which carry with them perplexities and annoyances far in excess of the empty honor the office in question bestows; he is expected to give advice and settle disputes; to uphold the dignity of the city upon state occasion ; to entertain important guests; to lend his name and a substantial amount of his money to the furtherance of public improvements, and to con- fer stability upon those organizations with which he is con- nected. These are but a few of the duties devolving upon a leading man of any community. That Mr. Weisenbarger meas- ures up well to the highest standards of citizenship and those pertaining to men who have really earned the right to be
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called prominent and influential, demonstrates beyond question that he has not failed to respond to the calls of his fellow townsmen. He was born in Twin township, Darke county, September 8, 1851, so is a product of the Buckeye State, and is proud of his Americanism, although he is equally proud of the fact that his immediate forebears were of German birth, for he rightly considers that many of the characteristics which have enabled him to win out in his life work, come from his excellent parents, John and Catherine (Trager) Weisenbarger, natives of Wurtenburg, Germany.
Philip Weisenbarger, the paternal grandfather, was also of German birth, and he and his wife had the following family : Frederick, John, Jacob and two daughters. John Weisen- . barger, the father, grew up in his native land, but realizing how little chance there was in that day for a man of moderate means to succeed, he came to America, and first located at Lebanon, Ohio, where he was married, and immediately there- after, he engaged in farming in the vicinity of that city. Sub- sequently he came to Darke county, Ohio, and in 1840 located in Twin township, where he bought eighty acres of land, to which he added more from time to time until he owned three hundred acres prior to his death. A large portion of this was cleared by him, and he put it under a fine state of cultivation. His death occurred when he was eighty-two years old. His wife was also eighty-two years old at the time of her demise. Both were earnest and consistent members of the Lutheran church.
The children of John and Catherine Weisenbarger are as follows: Jacob, Darke county; Elizabeth, deceased, wife of Henry Odell; Hannah, wife of Noah Odell; John, deceased; Frederick, deceased; Adam, deceased; Mary, deceased; Caro- line, widow of Jesse Burke, Preble county ; Martin L., subject of this sketch; Joseph, deceased; George, resides in Miami county ; Daniel, deceased.
The boyhood of Martin L. Weisenbarger differed very lit- tle from that of any ordinary country boy of his period and locality. Growing up in Twin township, he was sent to the schools of his district, but at the same time was expected to render himself useful on the farm, and did so willingly and effectively. Later he attended the normal school at Lebanon, and then taught school one term, but discovering that his in- clinations pointed toward the marts of trade rather than the (8)
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schoolroom, he began clerking. A year later, he left that em- ployment for the calling in which he had been trained from childhood, and for twenty-three years was one of the most successful agriculturalists of Darke county, operating his eighty acres of land until he sold it and moved to Arcanum in 1900. A man of his active spirit could not remain idle and the following year he purchased the general store of Charles Minch, and has since conducted it upon broad lines, carrying a full and complete stock of all goods to be found in any mod- ern department store of the best class. Some idea of the volume of business may be gained from the fact that twelve clerks are required to handle the customers, and attend to their wants. During these active years of Mr. Weisenbarger's life, he has sought safe investment for his money, and is now serving as second vice-president of the Farmers' National Bank, one of the soundest financial institutions of Darke county. Much of the credit for the phenomenal success of the annual fairs of this county are due to his interest, efforts and progressive ideas, and he has served as president of the Darke County Agricultural Society for many years. A man of ma- ture judgment and wide experience, he is called upon to lead the trend of public events in his community, and he does not fail to respond no matter what personal sacrifice is involved.
On May 17, 1878, Mr. Weisenbarger was united in marriage with Miss Martha Schaar, a daughter of John and Nancy (Niely) Schaar, and they had the following children : Cleatus, who married Clara Hunt, has one child, DeWitt; Earl, Hol, who married Estelle Cress, and they have two children, Gladys and Donald, and Roy, who died in infancy. While Mr. Weis- enbarger is a Lutheran, his wife belongs to the United Breth- ren church. In fraternal matters he affiliates with the Odd Fellows. While he is enthusiastic in his support of Demo- cratic principles and candidates, he has not cared for office, although he did consent to act as precinct assessor for one term.
Mrs. Wiesenbarger was born in Darke county, her father, a native of Germany, being a farmer of Twin township. Her mother was born in Pennsylvania, and both she and her hus- band are deceased.
Cleatus, Earl and Hol are associated with their father in the mercantile business and Mr. Weisenbarger is now enabled to place the greater responsibilities upon their shoulders, thus leaving him as their adviser.
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CHARLES C. HALL.
The subject to whose life history attention is now directed has been a life-long resident of Darke county, and has, by a life of earnest endeavor, won a place among the enterprising and progressive business men of Greenville. He has not been, in any sense, an idler, but has persistently labored for the ad- vancement of his interests along honorable and legitimate lines, so that he has honestly merited the high place which he holds in the esteem of the community. Mr. Hall was born about two and a half miles southeast of Greenville on December 7, 1866, and is the son of John W. and Frances D. (Carnahan) Hall, both of whom were also born in the old Buckeye state. John W. Hall was born in Darke county and became a successful farmer near Greenville, where he owned one hundred and twenty acres of good land. In 1875 Mr. Hall was elected sheriff of Darke county, assuming the duties of that office on January 1, 1876, and holding the position four years, retiring from the office with the commendation of all concerned. He then engaged in the livery business and was interested in the breeding of horses. His death occurred on December 30, 1901, aged sixty-seven years and seven months. His widow is still living, being nearly eighty years of age. Both were earnest members of the Christian church. They were the parents of the following children : James Monroe, deceased; Isaac Will- iam, of Camargo, Illinois; Catharine, the wife of Charles O. Lucas, of Dayton, Ohio; Elias M., of Monroe, La .; Idella May, deceased, who was the wife of John K. Foster; Charles C., the immediate subject of this sketch; Junie E., wife of H. H. Davis, of Greenville; Roll S., of Versailles, this county. The father of these children was a man of deserved prominence in his community for many years, having served as township treasurer for several years, as a member of the city council a number of terms, and he was also a member of the county agricultural board, serving as president of that body several terms. He was interested in military affairs and had served as a colonel in the Ohio National Guard.
John W. Hall was the son of James and Sarah (Culberson) Hall, both of whom were early settlers in Darke county. James Hall was a farmer and cabinetmaker, and his death occurred in Greenville township, this county, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, who was a native of Pennsylvania, went from that State to Cincinnati, in 1812, when but seven years old, the
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trip down the Ohio river being made on a flat boat. She lived to be nearly ninety-four years old. By her union with James Hall she became the mother of four children, Samuel, Frances, John W. and Mary. James Hall was also the father of a son by a former marriage.
The subject's maternal grandparents, Elias and Catherine (Martin) Carnahan, were early settlers in Darke county, Ohio, but eventually moved to the State of Illinois, settling near Emden, Logan county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, dying when well advanced in years. Among their children were Elias, Elizabeth, William, Lottie, Francis D. Martin C., and Sarah.
Charles C. Hall was about nine years of age when his father moved the family to Greenville, and here he secured a good education in the grade and high schools. He then became a clerk in the hardware store of A. F. Koop & Co., entering their employ at the age of fourteen years, and remaining with them ten and a half years. He was then employed in a like capacity by J. P. Duffey for six years. During the following three years he was on the road as a commercial traveler for Smith Brothers Hardware Company, of Columbus, Ohio, following which he engaged in the retail hardware business on his own account at Arcanum, Ohio, to which his attention was de- voted for about seven and a half years. Then, for a few months, he was again on the road, but on the 15th of August, 1908, he opened a news stand and cigar - store at No. 505 South Broadway. He has been very successful in this venture and, because of his uniform courtesy and efforts to please his patrons, he commands his full share of public patronage.
On December 29, 1909, Charles C. Hall was united in mar- riage with Vinora Thompson, who was born in Greenville township, Darke county, the daughter of William and Amanda Thompson, both of whom also were natives of this county. Her father, who was a successful farmer in this locality, died February 12, 1912, aged seventy-five years, and is survived by his widow. They were the parents of two children, Mrs. C. C. Hall and Alice, the wife of L. U. Jobes.
Fraternally, Mr. Hall has long taken a deep interest in the Masonic order, holding membership in the following branches: Ithaca Lodge No. 295, Free and Accepted Masons, at Arcanum, of which he was worshipful master two years; Greenville Chapter No. 77, Royal Arch Masons; Matchett Council, Royal and Select Masters; Coleman Commandery No. 17,. Knights
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Templar, at Troy, Ohio; Dayton Consistory, Thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, both subordinate lodge and Uniform Rank. Politic- ally, Mr. Hall is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, and has taken a deep interest in public affairs of a local na- ture. As a public-spirited and progressive citizen, he has given his influence to the furtherance of good government and all that conserves the general welfare, while to him is accorded in his native county the fullest measure of confidence and esteem.
CHARLES S. SLADE.
It is proper to judge of the success of a man's life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens, who see him in every phase of life's activities in which he engages, and are therefore competent to judge of his merits and his demerits. In this connection it is not too much to say that the subject of this sketch has passed a life of unusual activity, that he has been industrious and has the confidence of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
Charles S. Slade was born in the same street in which he now lives, on November 30, 1871, and practically his entire life has been passed in Greenville. His parents were Hamil- ton and Mary Jane (Hall) Slade, natives, respectively, of Preble and Darke counties, Ohio. They had two children, the subject and a sister, Margaret, who became the wife of Karl H. Schmermund. Hamilton Slade was reared in Darke county and during his early manhood years he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. During the war of the Rebellion Mr. Slade enlisted in the Ninety-fourth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, being later transferred to Company B of the One Hundred and Tenth regiment. He proved a valiant and faith- ful soldier, serving about two and a half years, and at the battle of Spottsylvania, May 12, 1863, he was seriously wound- ed, losing his left arm. Prior to that he had endured the hor- rors of Libby prison for six months. After the war Mr. Slade was postmaster of Greenville for a short time, resigning in order to accept the office of county clerk, which position he held through two terms, a period of six years. Then for a number of years Mr. Slade engaged in general contracting but eventually retired from active business pursuits. His
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