USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
Digitized by Google
1
----
i
i !
---
1
!
į
i
1
I 1
201
DARKE COUNTY
rounded out their old age in Harrison township. Their chil- dren were as follows: Anna M., Rachel, Jacob, Izora and one who died in childhood.
Nathan Smith and his wife were both born in Preble county, Ohio, the former being reared in the neighborhood of Lewis- burg, that county, where he developed into a public school teacher. His professional duties led him to various points in Preble, Darke and Montgomery counties, he teaching in all twenty terms. At one time he was one of the educators con- nected with the Greenville schools, and was very popular with his pupils, as well as with their parents, who recognized his ability to train their children. At present he is residing at West Baltimore, Ohio, his wife also surviving. In religious faith he is a Lutheran, but she believes according to the teachings of the United Brethren church. In his life work, Nathan Smith has displayed some very admirable qualities. Losing his father when a lad of twelve years, at that tender age he took upon his shoulders the responsibilities of the fam- ily, and worked diligently while studying at night to perfect himself for what afterwards became his life work. In thus training his faculties, he developed a fine character, and his worth has always been recognized by his associates who testi- fied to their appreciation by making him justice of peace for several terms, and by coming to him for advice and instruc- tion when in need of direction. Needless to say no one ever ap- plied to him in vain for counsel, and many problems of his neighborhood were wisely and quietly solved by him. He and his wife had eight children: Alton, who resides at Dayton, Ohio; Clarence, who is deceased; Orton O., whose name heads this review; Homer B., who resides at Greenville, Ohio; Ray- mond E., who resides at West Baltimore, Ohio; Blake S., who resides at West Baltimore, Ohio, and Dale, who is a resident of the same place as Blake S.
Growing up at West Baltimore, Orton Osborne Smith not only attended the grammar schools of Harrison township, but the high school of West Baltimore, from which he was gradu- ated in 1898. Desiring to supplement his schooling with a business training, he took a course at Miami Commercial College at Dayton, Ohio, in 1899, and for a period following the completion of it, was bookkeeper for a Dayton concern. In 1903, he came to Arcanum, Ohio, to become assistant cashier of the bank with which he still continues. This bank was or- ganized as a State bank May 22, 1902, with a capital stock of
Digitized by Google
202
DARKE COUNTY
$30,000, paid in. In 1908, Mr. Smith was made its cashier, and with characteristic energy he began to inaugurate changes, making the bank a national one, and increasing the capital stock to $50,000, which action increased the number of stock- holders from forty-three to sixty-seven. These stockholders are nearly all either prominent farmers or representative busi- ness men, and the stability of the institution is unquestioned. The work Mr. Smith has accomplished with regard to this bank has made him a well-known man all over Darke and surrounding counties, and his knowledge of financial matters is recognized and his judgment commended.
On March 29, 1904, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Inez Overholser of Brookville, Ohio, a daughter of Jesse and Catherine (Bausman) Overholser, who was born near Brookville, her parents being natives of Ohio, who still re- side in the place of her birth. They have had eight children, namely : Daisy, Frank, Charles, Otto, Inez (Mrs. Smith), Ray, Ross and Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had three chil- dren as follows : Reva L., Freda L. and Melvin Woodrow. The United Brethren church holds the membership of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and receives their earnest support. He belongs to Arcanum Lodge No. 341, I. O. O. F., and Ochlawaha Tribe No. 78, I. O. R. M. In political faith he is a democrat and served very acceptably as township clerk for a period ex- tending over two terms.
Mrs. Smith is a member of the Sunset club.
PETER W. BYERS, M. D.
In these days of eager and learned scientific investigation that daily brings forth wonderful discoveries or improvements upon ordinary methods, the members of the medical profes- sion cannot be said to have ceased their educational work until their retirement from practice. Men like Dr. Peter Wesley Byers of Arcanum, Ohio, who take a pride in keeping abreast of the work done in their profession, are constantly adding to their knowledge and broadening their fund of experience so that every year increases their skill and adds to their useful- ness as a physician and citizen. Dr. Byers is a product of Ohio, for he was born in Butler township, Darke county, Jan- uary 30, 1864, a son of George H. and Keziah (Fowble) Byers,
Digitized by Google
!
i I
203
DARKE COUNTY
and grandson of George and Susan (Hetzler) Byers, and Peter Fowble.
George Byers and his wife were born in Ohio and developed into farming people, becoming pioneers of Butler township where they lived to be old people. They had three children : Catherine, who married William Fowble; George H., and Joseph. Peter Fowble married a Miss Banta and settled with her upon a farm. Their children were: Nancy, who married Joseph Gruver; John, who resides in Preble county, Ohio; Keziah, who became the mother of Dr. Byers; Rachel, who married Henry Steffy, died at Dayton, Ohio, where her hus- band also passed away.
George H. Byers, the father of Doctor Byers, was born in Darke county, Ohio, while his wife was a native of Preble county, this same State. He was a farmer and learned that calling in his native country, where he was reared and edu- cated. Becoming the owner of one hundred acres in Butler township, he partially cleared it and put it under a high state of cultivation. His death occurred in 1906, when he was sixty- six years old. His widow survives him and is now sixty-nine years old. Both belonged to the United Brethren church, of which they were consistent members and efficient workers. Their children, six in number, were as follows: Dr. Peter W., whose name heads this review; Emma, who is the wife of W. H. Burke of Twin township, this county; John H., who also resides in Twin township; Theodore, who died at the age of thirty-three years; Bert W., who resides in Butler township; Clara, who is deceased, was the wife of Clement Crawford.
Dr. Peter W. Byers was brought up on his father's farm and while attending the schools of his district learned the homely virtues which he has carried with him through life. Being an ambitious lad, he decided upon a professional career and proceeded to fit himself for it by first entering the North- western Normal at Ada, Ohio, and later by teaching school for twelve years at the expiration of which period he entered upon the study of medicine, and was graduated from the Medi- cal College of Ohio in 1900. During that year he established himself in a general practice at Arcanum, where he has since continued, having firmly substantiated his claims. A man of learning, steadfast and earnest, he inspires confidence and wins friends as the man as well as the physician.
Doctor Byers was married in May, 1891, to Miss Laura Gil- fillan, a daughter of Robert and Margaret (Miller), Gilfillan,
Digitized by Google
204
DARKE COUNTY
.
and three children have been born of this union, namely : Guy E., Fay and one who died in infancy. Of these Guy is attend- ing the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio, and Fay is attending the public schools of Arcanum. Doctor and Mrs. Byers are consistent members of the United Brethren church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias. In his po- litical views he is a Democrat, and for some years served as a member of the school board, his former experiences as an educator making him a valued addition to the deliberations of his colleagues. At present he is serving as township treas- urer. Professionally, Doctor Byers belongs to the Darke County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association, and benefits from the meet- ings of these organizations just as others profit from his con- tributions.
Mrs. Byers was born in Darke county, Ohio. Her father was born in Ireland, while her mother was born in Ohio, the latter surviving, although the former died at Castine, Ohio. They had five children who grew to maturity, namely: John, Laura, Lottie, Cora and Clarence.
THOMAS G. BRAWLEY.
Substantial rewards come to those who labor for the ulti- mate good of a community. Some go about this in one way, others adopt an entirely different course, but they are all mov- ing in the same direction. Perhaps there is no better way to assist in the upbuilding of a community and prove good citi- zenship, than that adopted by a sound business man when he establishes a reliable house and conducts it upon broad-gauged lines, for not only does he give the people the worth of their money, but he attracts outside capital to the town, and also offers opportunity to those seeking honest labor. Such a man is Thomas G. Brawley, junior member of the well-known hardware house of Lampe & Brawley of Arcanum, Ohio. He was born at Warren, Huntington county, Indiana, April 13, 1864, a son of Milton and Almira (Thurston) Brawley, na- tives of Ohio, although the father came of Virginia stock.
Thomas C. Brawley, the paternal grandfather of Thomas G. Brawley, was a native of Virginia, and he married in Ohio, Nancy Elizabeth Mitchell, who was born in Ohio. How.
Digitized by Google
----
--.
I
205
DARKE COUNTY
ever, he was brought to Darke county, Ohio, when seven years old and became a farmer in Harrison township, where he died in his fifty-ninth year. His widow survived him many years, passing away in old age. They had seven children, as follows: Lewis J., Eli, Leander, Milton, Hiram, George and Nancy. The maternal grandparents of Thomas G. Brawley, Caleb and Hannah Thurston, were natives of Ohio, he being one of the prosperous farmers of Harrison township. There he rounded out a long and useful life, but she died in her prime. They had the following children: Edward, Newton, Lyman, Joshua, Perry, William, George, Almira, Armina and Frances.
Milton Brawley was born in Darke county, Ohio, where his boyhood days were pleasantly spent, alternating between at- tendance upon the schools of his district and chores on his father's farm. After he attained to his majority he began farming in Harrison township, but following his marriage, he moved to Indiana and, locating in Huntington county, car- ried on agricultural operations quite extensively upon his two hundred acre farm. Subsequently selling, he returned to Darke county, Ohio, and lived near New Madison, and in the town itself until within three years of his death, at which time he moved to Greenville, and there died in 1906, aged sixty-nine years. His widow survived him and is still living, being now seventy-three years old. She belongs to the Christian church, and is a most excellent lady. The children of Milton Brawley and wife were as follows: Charles C., who resides at Green- ville, Ohio; Thomas G., whose name heads this review, and Anna M., who is deceased, passed away in her nineteenth year.
Thomas G. Brawley was thirteen years old when the family migration back to Darke county occurred, and he continued to reside within its confines, upon his father's farm until his maturity. Attending the district schools, he fitted himself for teaching and followed that calling for two years before he took a business course in the Eastman Commercial College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Having prepared himself for a business life, he embarked in the hardware trade, and for ten years carried on his house at New Madison. Too close application to business resulted in the loss of health, and for a period he was forced to abandon a commercial life. Subsequently he was appointed postmaster at New Madison and held that office for three years. He then moved to Rossville, now Rossburg,
Digitized by Google
.206
DARKE COUNTY
Ohio, and thence to Greenville, spending a year at the latter point as a member of the Greenville Grain Company. In 1907 he became a resident of Arcanum, forming his present partner- ship with Mr. Lampe, in the same line of business that had engrossed him for a decade at New Madison. This profitable and pleasant association continues, and the firm carries a large and varied stock of general hardware and controls a big trade.
On February 17, 1889, Mr. Brawley married Miss May Bowen, a daughter of James C. and Angeline (Flemming) Bowen, and they have two children: Grace L. and Thomas G., Jr. Mr. Brawley belongs to the Knights of Pythias and is one of the most valued members of that order. His political views find expression in the principles and platform of the Re- publican party, and he served as clerk of Harrison town- ship for one term, and corporation treasurer while living at New Madison.
Mrs. Brawley was born at New Madison, Ohio. The parents of Mrs. Brawley are both deceased. The subject's great- grandfather, Levi Brawley, came from Virginia to Darke county, Ohio, in 1811, being among the pioneers of this county, arriving here at a time when the Indians were still in large numbers. He cleared and improved a farm which is still in the family.
FRED CLINE.
Whenever a new firm is organized, the people of a com- munity in which it proposes to do business, are interested, but this is intensified when the members of the new association are well known men in that locality. Fred Cline and his partner, O. S. Simpson, members of the drug and jewelry firm of Simpson & Cline of Arcanum, Ohio, are native sons of Arcanum, where the major portions of their lives have been spent, and their success is a matter of gratulation to those who have watched these young men develop from boyhood into responsible business activities. Fred Cline was born at Arcanum, Ohio, January 22, 1884, a son of Charles and Isola (Harris) Cline, natives of Ohio. Michael Cline, the paternal grandfather of Fred Cline, married a Miss Miller, and both were natives of Virginia. They became early settlers of Salem, Ohio, where he became a trader of cattle, although a cooper by trade. They died at Arcanum, he after passing into the
Digitized by Google
207
DARKE COUNTY
seventies, and she when sixty-eight years old. They had six children, namely: Granville, who died when a child; Mary, Henry, Charles, Edward and William. The maternal grand- father married Martha Conner, both of them being natives of Tennessee, who moved to Hamilton, Ohio, at an early day. By profession the grandfather was a lawyer who practiced at Cincinnati, and was killed in a railroad accident when thirty- four years old. His widow survives and has been married twice. The only child by her first marriage was Isola. The second husband of Mrs. Harris was a Mr. Brown and they had one child, G. L. Brown. By her third husband, a Mr. Ludlum, she had a daughter, Myrtle.
Charles Cline was a tobacco merchant, who operated at Arcanum when the tobacco business was in its infancy. He first started as a commission man, handling tobacco for a New York house, and remained in this line for twenty years. His death occurred at Arcanum in August, 1900, when he was forty-six years old. His widow survives him. In fraternal mat- ters, he was an Odd Fellow. Charles Cline and wife had two children, namely : Fred and Charles, the latter being a resi- dent of Dayton, Ohio.
Fred Cline grew to manhood's estate at Arcanum, where he attended both the grammar and high schools. When his father died he was forced to earn his own living, and his first employment was with a tobacco house. Later he was on the road as a commercial salesman for two years, but returning to Arcanum, he began his connection with the jewelry busi- ness in the store of L. T. Grubbs, and within two years, or in 1907, purchased the business from his employer, and has con- tinued it ever since. Mr. Cline learned the watchmaking and jewelry trade partly under the tuition of Mr. Grubbs, but took a practical course in it at Detroit, Michigan, so that he is an expert in his line. When he associated himself with Mr. Simp- son in 1912, he felt that he was broadening his field of opera- tion, and gaining from the experience of Mr. Simpson, as the latter would profit from his own knowledge.
Fraternally, Mr. Cline belongs to Ithaca Lodge No. 295, F. & A. M., and he is a thirty-second degree Mason, according to the Scottish Rite. He also belongs to International Archaeo- logical Association, and the American Indian Association. These connections have been formed as the outcome of a taste he formed in boyhood for collecting Indian relics to which he has added until he now has one of the finest collections in
Digitized by Google
208
DARKE COUNTY
the State, if not in this country. Keeping in close touch with the authorities at Washington, he receives the lit- erature along the lines in which he is interested, that is issued by the government, and is much thought of by those who ap- preciate the value of his research work. As is only natural, Mr. Cline is a great reader, finding his enjoyment among his books, of which he has an excellent library. He and his mother live on East George street, Arcanum, where they have a pleas- ant home.
SAMUEL HARNISH.
In early life, accustomed to the hard work which develops the mind and hardens the body, Samuel Harnish grew up in an agricultural neighborhood, and when he came to the time to make a decision regarding his choice of an occupation, finally selected that of farming. In the years that followed he not only proved his worth as a man, but his ability as an agriculturalist, and his valuable one hundred acre farm just outside of Greenville testifies to his success, and he has been able to retire from its conduct, now living in comfort and ease at No. 107 North Main street, Greenville. He was born in Greenville township, this county, October 30, 1840, a son of Michael and Lydia (Wise) Harnish.
Michael Harnish was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, which he left in young manhood for the more unde- veloped regions of Montgomery county, Ohio, where he be- came acquainted with the lady he later married. She had come to that county from her native State of Pennsylvania, with her parents. The young couple were married during the holidays of 1837, and the following spring started forth to make a new home in Darke county. There Michael Harnish bought two hundred and fifty acres of wild land, and bent all his energies to clear and develop it. This property is in the southern part of Greenville township, and one hundred and fifty-five acres of it are still in the family. On it he and his excellent wife rounded out their days, devoting themselves to its improve- ment and the proper rearing of their children, of whom there were eight. Seven of these grew to maturity, and five survive. Of them all, Samuel Harnish was the eldest. In early life, Michael Harnish was a Whig, but with the organization of the Republican party, he espoused its principles, but was never
Digitized by Google
!
1
Samuel Harnisch.
5 SỐ nett i've.
Digitized by Google
THE NEW PUBLIC LIBRA.
ASTOR. LFNOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
Digitized by Google
209
DARKE COUNTY
willing to accept office. In 1865, he joined the German Re- formed church, and died firm in its faith the next year. His widow survived him many years, dying October 7, 1897.
After a boyhood spent in heavy labor, felling trees, grubbing stumps and cultivating the acres thus cleared, during which he found but little time or opportunity to attend school, in May, 1864, Samuel Harnish enlisted in defense of his country for service during the Civil war, for a period of one hundred days, although he was in the service one hundred and twenty days, in Company H, One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio volunteer infantry. He saw duty in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee, and was under fire for the first time in the campaign against Lynchburg. His command meeting defeat, retreated and on Greenbriar creek Mr. Harnish was wounded in the right hand, but not enough to necessitate his leaving for the hospital, and he remained on duty. At the ex- piration of the one hundred and twenty days he was mustered out at Camp Dennison.
Coming home, he married and for the following couple of years rented one of his father's farms and then bought thirty- eight and one-half acres in" Neave township from his father's estate. Within a few years he sold this first purchase at a profit, and then bought one hundred acres of land on Section 27, Greenville township, which from 1875 until 1898, continued to be his home. In the latter year he moved to Greenville, taking possession of the new residence he had erected in this city. When he moved on his farm, he had but little develop- ing to do, for the property was improved, but the buildings were so poor that he had to replace them all with new ones. This farm is now one of the finest in the township, and he takes pride in it.
In addition to his farm holdings, Mr. Harnish has interests at Greenville. The first year of the life of the Electric Light Company of Greenville, Mr. Harnish expressed his confidence in its growth by buying stock, and later increased his invest- ment, being placed upon the board of directors, and he is now a member of its executive committee, and has held that office for some years, and is a trustee of a fund of this association. The growth of this company can be seen by the remarkable increase in its capital stock, which has advanced from the ini- tial figures of $30,000, to $125,000, the amount of stock now outstanding. For the past eighteen years, Mr. Harnish has been treasurer of Darke county Mutual Fire Insurance Com-
(14)
Digitized by Google
210
DARKE COUNTY
pany, and at one time he was on the board of directors of the Cyclone Insurance Company and was adjustor for twelve years of this company.
On April 4, 1865, Samuel Harnish was united in marriage with Miss Frances M. Bishop, who was born and reared in Greenville township, a daughter of William F. and Maria (Bogus) Bishop. She was given the advantages offered by the common schools of her native place. Mr. Bishop was a native of New Jersey, while his wife was born in Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Harnish became the parents of one child, Martha. She married Charles F. Beanblossom and died February 20, 1903, having borne her husband five children, as follows: Ira, who died in infancy ; Lawrence Dale, who died at the age of seven- teen years; Linda Belle, who attended common and high schools, spending two years in the latter; Cena, who was grad- uated from the Greenville high school in the class of 1913; and Ina Maude, who is now in the eighth grade at school. All these children make their home with their grandfather, who took them when the mother died. They are intelligent, promising young people, and the pride of their grandfather's heart.
Having cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln during his second campaign in 1864, Mr. Harnish naturally is a Republican, but he does not permit himself to be bound by . party ties too strongly in local matters, as he believes it is bet- ter to put in desirable. men, rather than those on the straight ticket simply because of their politics. He has never been willing to accept office, although eminently fitted for a number. A charter member of the Church of Christ, he has its welfare at heart, and his wife, when living was also a charter member. She passed away November 30, 1911, mourned by a large cir- cle of admiring friends. She is laid to rest in Greenville ceme- tery. His grandchildren belong to the same religious organiza- tion. For many years he has performed the duties of an elder, although he never accepted the title, nor was ever or- dained, humbly declaring that he did not believe himself qualified according to the scriptures. However, he has taught a class in the Sunday school for many years. His connections with Jobes Post No. 157, G. A. R., are very pleasant, and he enjoys meeting his old comrades. He has served his post in various positions. A man of quiet, unassuming character, in- clined to hold his own ability lower than his associates because of his humility, he wins and retains friends because of his Christian life and high moral tone. His interest in promoting
Digitized by Google
211
DARKE COUNTY
those measures he believes will work for a betterment of his community is always deep and sincere. The influence of the life of such a man must be a strong factor for good in any com- munity, and Greenville profits by his location in it.
Mr. Harnish's younger brother, William H., was born in 1844 and died in 1870. Was in the Civil war and in the same company and service with his brother Samuel, and was mus- tered out the same time on September 2, 1864.
Almost since the time of the death of Mr. Harnish's father; in fact, since he began his business career to the present time, he has had charge of settling estates and guardianships, show- ing the high esteem in which he is held by the judges and those who have known him all his life.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.