USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 32
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In February, 1864, Mr. Ammon enlisted in the Eighth Ohio Cavalry, and participated in engagements at Lynchburg, Va., Liberty, Va., Salem, Va., and two at Beverly, Va., serving cred- itably to the close of the war. His brother George served in the 44th Ohio Infantry, was taken sick, and afterwards en- listed for one hundred days in the same regiment.
In November, 1874, Mr. Ammon was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Falkner, born near Milton, Miami county, Ohio, daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Niswonger) Falknor. The Falknor family lived east of Phillipsburg, and were farmers by occupation. The parents are buried at West Milton and they were well known as useful members of the community and the father held local offices in the township. They were parents of three children, of whom two grew to maturity: Granville, of West Milton, and Amanda, Mrs. Ammon. Two sons have
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blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ammon, Earl and Roy. Earl was born in Miami county in 1875, is unmarried and lives at home. He is associated with his father in business and fra- ternally belongs to the Order of Eagles. Roy Ammon was born in Darke county in 1880 and is a member of the firm of Ammon & Sons. He is a thirty-second degree Mason. The sons are young men of business ability and promise and have shown character and behavior of which their parents may well be proud. Mrs. Ammon is a devout member of the United Brethren Church. She is a woman of good taste and refine- ment and presides over a most pleasant home and family circle.
JOSHUA DELAPLANE.
For thirty-three years the late Joshua Delaplane was a resi- dent of Neave township, and in a history of the prominent and influential citizens of Darke county he is certainly deserving of mention, for his well spent life, his ability, his loyalty to pub- lic duty and his fidelity in private life all gained him a place among the leading residents of the community. From his ar- rival here in 1872 until his death in 1905, he was identified with the agricultural interests of this township, and so well directed were his efforts that he accumulated a property of four hundred and fifty acres, in the meantime winning also the respect and esteem of his fellowmen. Mr. Delplane was born near Ham- ilton, in Butler county, Ohio, October 18, 1831, and was a son of James and Jane (Harper) Delaplane.
James Delaplane was born in Frederick county, Maryland, from whence he removed to Butler county, Ohio, as a pioneer about the year 1799. Locating in the woods, he cut the tim- ber and made a home for his growing family, and eventually became one of the substantial men of his day and locality. He and his wife were the parents of six children, namely : John, William, Joshua, James, Margaret, who married a Mr. Long- fellow, and Catherine, who married Mr. Scott.
Joshua Delaplane secured his educational training in the public schools of Butler county, Ohio, which he attended dur- ing the winter months, while in the summer he helped his father and brothers to cultivate the home property. As a young man he chose agricultural work as his life occupation, and while still living in Ohio carried on general farming and
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stockraising operations for about six years. He also had a business experience in Missouri, but this was of short duration owing to the fact that the country did not impress him favor- ably at that time, and in 1872 he disposed of all other interests and came to Darke county, settling on land in Neave township. This property has not left the family, for it is now owned and operated by Mr. Delaplane's son, Ulysses Grant. He started his operations in a modest manner, but as the years passed and his finances permitted he added to his land from time to time, made numerous improvements, bought new equipment and livestock, and eventually became one of the leading agri- culturists of Neave township, and was especially known as a stock man. When he died, in April, 1905, the farming interests of Darke county lost a man who had been ever among the most progressive and energetic; his community an upright citizen, who had never failed in his public spirit, his family a kind and indulgent husband and father and his wide circle of friends one who had demonstrated his loyalty on numerous occasions. Mr. Delaplane's views on the temperance question made him a Prohibitionist in politics. He was a faithful mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and always endeav- ored to live according to its teachings.
Mr. Delaplane was married to Miss Harriet DeCamp, daugh- ter of William and Isabelle ( Thorn) DeCamp, farming people who came to Darke. county from Butler county, Ohio, at an early day, and entered land in Neave township. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom. Mrs. Delaplane is the only survivor. Both Mr. and Mrs. DeCamp were kindly Chris- tian people and were buried in Darke county. Mr. and Mrs. Delaplane had four children: Ulysses. Grant, a substantial farmer of Neave township; Laura, who married a Mr. Fol- kerth; Minnie, and Theresa, who married a Doctor Rodgers.
CHARLES D. FOLKERTH.
A native son of Darke county, Charles D. Folkerth was born on a farm in Greenville township, November 20, 1870, and is a son of L. D. and Rachael (Cox) Folkerth. His father, the present treasurer of .Greenville townebip and a: retired farmer, is living on Switzer street, in the city of Greenville. L. D. Folkerth was born April 2, 1842, in Greenville townships.
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and is a son of Jesse and Anna (Curtis) Folkerth, the former of whom came from Montgomery county in 1808 and located in Greenville township, where he entered land from the gov- ernment. Jesse Folkerth was one of the early stockmen of Darke county, carried on extensive operations and became widely and favorably known in business and agricultural cir- cles. He and his wife were the parents of five children, as follows: William, Maria, who married Mr. Swank; L. D .; George, who is deceased, and Christ. L. D. Folkerth was given ordinary educational advantages in the district schools, prin- cipally in Van Buren township, and at the age of fifteen years entered upon a career of his own by working by the month. For forty years before his retirement he resided on the Stude- baker farm, and then located in Greenville, where he pur- chased the property on Switzer street, where he now resides. He was married in 1862 to Miss Rachael Cox, and they became the parents of four sons: William, who is married and has three children: Jesse, who is the father of six children; Thomas, who has one child; and Charles D. Mr. Folkerth's second marriage was to Miss Fannie Purdy, and they became the parents of three children : George, who has one child; Ora, who has two children, and Harry, who is deceased. Mr. Folkerth is a veteran of the Civil war, having fought gallantly in the Union army as a member of Company G, Forty-fourth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and has proved himself just as faithful and courageous in fighting the battles of peace. A Democrat in his political views, he has been prominent in the ranks of his party, whose candidate he became for the of- fice of township treasurer, being elected thereto at the ensuing election by a satisfactory majority. In this office he has rend- ered his fellow citizens signal service and is proving con- scientious and faithful in the discharge of his duty. With his family, Mr. Folkerth attends the Christian church.
At the age of seven years, Charles D. Folkerth began to re- ceive his educational instruction in the Studebaker school, which was located south of Greenville in Greenville township. This was subsequently supplemented by attendance at an in- situation at Daleville, Va., where he took a business course, and upon his return to Ohio worked on a farm up to the time of his marriage. He then rented a property from Joshua Delaplane for some time, subsequently entering the stock business, and then went to Castine, Ohio, where he embarked in dealing in " agricultural implements. He continued thus in connection
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with buying and selling stock, and by good judgment, fore- sight and well-directed management was able to make an un- qualified success of each venture. Later, however, he answered the call of the soil, purchasing his present farm of one hundred acres, located on the Fort Jefferson road, one-half mile south of Fort Jefferson, where he has continued to follow agricul- tural pursuits to the present time. Mr. Folkerth has worthily won the proud American title of "self-made man," for all that he possesses he owes to his own efforts and energy. In addi- tion, he has not only won a comfortable competence, but also shares in the high regard of his fellow-citizens, and justly merits the esteem which is so generously accorded him. In political matters he is a Democrat, and his religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife and children are also members.
Mr. Folkerth was married (first) to Miss Laura Delaplane, who is deceased, and to this union there were born four chil- dren : Thomas D., Robert J., James O. and Ralph R., the last- named being deceased; Mrs. Folkerth died May 10, 1902, and was buried in Fort Jefferson cemetery. On November 28, 1907, Mr. Folkerth was married (second) to Mrs. Luella (Royer) McCabe, the widow of Mack McCabe, who had three children by her first union : Fay, Sylvia and an infant deceased. Mr. Folkerth has a pleasant home, surrounded by handsome and substantial buildings. Until destroyed by a windstorm five years ago, there was located on this property one of the largest coffee-nut trees in this country, to see which people came from all over the United States. A picture of this tree is now hung in the Smithsonian Institute, New York.
L. D. FOLKERTH.
Among those leading and representative farmers of Darke county, whose labors have contributed to the material advance- ment and general welfare of the community is L. D. Folkerth, now living a retired life at Greenville, where his pleasant home is located on Switzer street. His life has been a busy and use- ful one and furnishes an example of honorable dealing, stead- fast purpose, fidelity to principle and invincible moral courage that is well worthy of emulation. He has rendered his fellow- citizens signal service in offices of responsibility and trust, and
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at this time is acting efficiently in the capacity of treasurer of Greenville township. Mr. Folkerth was born April 2, 1842, in this township and is a son of Jesse and Anna (Curtis) Folkerth.
Jesse Folkerth was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, whence he came to Darke county in 1808 and located in Greenville township, entering land from the United States government. His first operations were in the line of general farming, but gradually he became interested in stock raising, and in this connection became widely known in this section of the county. He and his wife were the parents of five children : William, Maria, who married Mr. Swank. L. D .; George, who is deceased, and Christ.
L. D. Folkerth attended the country schools and secured the greater part of his education in VanBuren township, although his school days ceased when he was fifteen years of age, when he commenced working by the month. He gradually obtained property of his own, and for forty years resided on the Stude- baker farm in Greenville township. At the time of his retire- ment from agricultural pursuits, Mr. Folkerth came to Green- ville and now resides on Switzer street, where he has a com- modious and comfortable home, fitted with the most modern conveniences. At the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Folkerth, with other youths of his locality, offered his services to the Union cause, and being accepted was made a member of Company G, Forty-fourth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. His was a commendable service, his bravery and cheerfulness under all conditions winning him the respect of his comrades, and his faithfulness to duty gaining him the esteem of his of- ficers. Mr. Folkerth is still interested in the stock business, and makes a hobby of handling horses, of which he is an ex- cellent judge. In politics a Democrat, he has been an active worker in the ranks of his party, and is now serving his third term as trustee of Greenville township. His administration of the affairs of this position has always been safe, yet progres- sive, and while connected with the township government has been able to do much to advance his community's interests. Mr. Folkerth is a member of the Christian church, to the movements of which he has been a liberal contributor.
In 1862 Mr. Folkerth was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Cox, of Greenville township, and to this union there has been born four children: William, who is married and has two children ; Jesse, who is the father of six children ; Thomas.
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who has one child; and Charles D., a farmer and stockraiser of Greenville township, who is married and has three children. Mr. Folkerth's second marriage was to Miss Fannie Purdy, and they have had three children : George, who has one child; Ora, who has two children ; and Harry, who is deceased.
JOHN MILLER.
The public in general takes great interest in following the history of a young man who has started out in his life's career handicapped in innumerable ways, without capital or influ- ential friends, and who, notwithstanding all these obstacles, pushes manfully toward the goal of success which he has set before him. Such a man is the one whose name heads this article, and who is now well and favorably known as a general merchant at Weaver's Station. In almost every respect he is self-made and self-educated, and too much credit cannot be given him for the brave and manly way in which he has over- come difficulties that would have made the spirit of most men despondent. Mr. Miller is a native son of Darke county, Ohio, having been born on a farm about one mile east of Nevada, in Richland township, and is a son of Isaac and Mary (Kershner) Miller.
Isaac Miller was born in Fulton county, Pennsylvania, and was there educated in the country schools. When a young man he migrated to Darke county and took up land in Richland township, on which he continued to be engaged in operations for many years. He was an earnest, industrious and skillful farmer, made the most of his opportunities, and achieved a satisfactory measure of success. At this time he is living re- tired from the activities of farm work, but continues to take a keen and intelligent interest in all that pertains to the progress of agriculture. Mrs. Miller is a native of Darke county, and also survives, making her home with her husband and son in their comfortable dwelling at Weaver's Station. They have been the parents of three children: John, George, who is en- gaged in farming on a property in Neave township, and one child who died in infancy.
John Miller secured his educational training in the public schools of Brown and York townships, and proved himself a zealous and industrious scholar. During the summer periods
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he assisted his father in the work of the home farm, but at the age of nineteen met with a serious accident, the nature of which precluded any idea of his doing hard work. Doing such light tasks as his strength would permit, taking advantage of every opportunity to advance himself and thriftily and wisely saving his earnings, he accumulated enough capital to come to his present location, buying a grocery store which had a small established trade. From this modest beginning he has built up a fine and healthy business, which attracts trade from all over the surrounding country. Mr. Miller has ever been honorable in his business methods, and through his straight- forward dealings has won the respect and esteem of the com- munity and the utmost confidence of those with whom he has done business. For some years he worked at the carpenter trade in various parts of Darke county, and examples of his skill and good workmanship are still to be found.
Mr. Miller is a Democrat in his political views. For three years he served in the capacity of assessor, and at this time he is acting as postmaster. His genial and courteous manner make him one of the most popular officials this village has had, and few men here have a wider circle of friends.
SAMUEL B. McCABE.
In the death of Samuel B. McCabe, which occurred Jan- uary 4, 1908, Darke county lost a citizen whose memory is still held in the deepest respect and veneration. His path was ever that of integrity and virtue, of trustworthiness and fide !- ity, and his mind bore the impress of the historic annals of the State of Ohio from an early period in its history. For many years he retained his residence about one-half mile south of Weaver's Station, where he was the owner of one hundred acres of fine land, and was one of the revered patriarchs of the community. Such a life contains many lessons well worthy of emulation, and it is with pleasure, therefore, that his record is presented in these pages.
Mr. McCabe was born in Middlesex county, New Jersey, September 30, 1832, and was a son of Isaac and Rachael (Brown) McCabe. His father brought the family from the East to Ohio when Samuel B. was still a child, and settled at Franklin, Warren county, where he spent the remainder of his
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career in agricultural pursuits. Both he and his wife died at Franklin and were laid to rest in the cemetery there. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Mary, who is making her home in Missouri in advanced years, and James, John, Samuel and Wesley, all of whom are deceased.
Samuel B. McCabe received his preliminary instruction in the public schools of his native State, and after coming to Ohio completed his education in the district schools of Warren county. On leaving the Franklin schools, he worked on the home farm until he was of age, in the meantime carefully sav- ing his earnings, with the result that when he was still a young man he was able to purchase the nucleus of what was to be- come one of the handsome properties of Darke county. He was long known to the people of Neave township as a man of sterling integrity of character, generous in all things, and with a degree of public spirit that kept his community's interests all foremost in his heart. As a farmer and stockraiser he was skilled in his methods, using the most modern machinery with excellent results. At the time of his death he was living some- what retired, being in the enjoyment of the fruits of his many years of industrious labor.
Mr. McCabe was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Knee, daughter of Henry and Christina (Harp) Knee, who came from Pennsylvania and located at Germantown, Ohio, and subsequently located on a farm in German township, Darke county, where Mrs. McCabe was born, educated and reared. Mr. Knee was a member of the United Brethren church, a well-known Democrat of his day and locality, and a successful agriculturist. He and his wife had five children: John, Silas and Jacob, who are all deceased; Elizabeth, who married Mr. Finnarn, and Sarah, who married Mr. McCabe. Mr. and Mrs. McCabe became the parents of the following children : Ula, who married Frank Crumine, and had one daughter, Zelma, who married William Brown, and has one child; Dora, who married Alfred Niswonger, and had six children; Reo Wealthy, wife of Howard Ketty, with two children, Robert and James; Lester, who is deceased; Arden, who married Ward Williams and has one child, Samuel; Mary and Leo, who married Dave Gray and has one child, Stephen A .; Elizabeth, who married Lemuel Payne, and had two children, Earl, who married Ethel Thorn, and has four children: Leroy. Mary. Mildred, and Andrew, who married D. Curtner, and had two children, Ma- rion and Helen; Oscar, who married Anna Lautenschlager,
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and had six children, Clo, Icey, who married Earl, and had two children, and Frank, Ethel, Carl and Ruth; Ora, who mar- ried Charles Townsend, and had one child, Vernie; Bert, who married Sadie Jenkerson, and had four children, an infant, Raymond, Harry and D. Wilbur; Max, deceased, who married Luella Royer, and had two children, Fay and Sylvia; and Sam- uel B., living on the old homestead, who married Julia Zonia and has five children, Gladys, Sylvester, Shirley, Alpha and Warren.
Mr. McCabe was a lifelong member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and earnestly endeavored to live up to its teach- ings. He was a Democrat in politics, but did not care for the struggles of the public arena. Aside from the pleasures of his home, he most greatly enjoyed to set forth with his rod or gun, and it was seldom that he returned from these excursions without some trophy of the furry or finny tribes. His life was one of industry, sobriety and probity, and his success came only as the result of constant and well-applied effort.
WILLIAM DAYTON ALBRIGHT.
To some individuals success appears as an elusive thing, but it will be found that failure generally results from the lack of one of the elements which may be acquired by all-persever- ance, energy, industry and resolute purpose. An analysis of the life records of successful men show that these qualities have been the causation of their prosperity, and such is the case with William Dayton Albright, a leading and successful farmer of Darke county, who owns and occupies a good farm of eighty acres pleasantly situated on the old Palestine turn- pike in Greenville township, about three and one-half miles southwest of Greenville.
Mr. Albright is a native of Darke county, having been born April 11, 1857, one-half mile south of Arcanum in Twin town- ship, a son of Henderson and Catherine (Leedy) Albright.
Henderson Albright was born in the State of North Caro- lina and shortly after moved with his parents to Tennessee, and on growing to manhood came to Darke county, where he was married. He located on a farm in Twin township, which he carried on a few years and then sold out and moved to Gordontown, where he bought and successfully conducted a
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sawmill which he leased in 1864 and enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-second regiment, Ohio volunteer in- fantry. Three of his brothers became soldiers at the same time, and in same regiment. Three other brothers had gone into the army earlier in the service. Of these seven brothers all lived to come home. Three of them received wounds. Adam C., the youngest of the seven, was in from 1861 to the close of the war, having re-enlisted after his first term had expired. He was one of the three wounded, having received a ball in the foot. He now lives at Hastings, Neb. At the battle of Mine Run a ball struck the canteen worn by William K. and after passing through it struck the plate containing the letters "U. S." with such force that the shock made a severe contusion on the abdomen that caused him to think he was severely wounded, but he soon recovered sufficiently to know that what he had mistaken for blood was only the warm water from the canteen. He is now a retired minister in the United Brethren church and lives in Greenville.
Phillip was one of the three wounded ones. After the war he became a farmer in Darke county, where he passed away on March 20, 1908. All of these men proved faithful and gal- lant soldiers and their military record was an excellent one of which their descendants may well be proud.
Henderson Albright's children were all born in Twin town- ship. May 17, 1865, he moved his family to a farm in Green- ville township, which he had bought a short time before. Here he passed the remainder of his life in tilling the soil. He was a good and public-spirited citizen and showed himself as con- stant and persevering in discharging the duties of citizenship, as he had been when he fought in the ranks of the blue.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Albright were born five children. The first died in infancy, John C. Fremont was married, December 20, 1888, to Sarah Harnish. He passed away June 12, 1906. His widow lives at 320 West Broadway, Greenville, Ohio. William D., the subject of this sketch, and Charles Simpson, an undertaker in Greenville, Ohio.
William D. Albright attended the district schools in Green- ville township in the winter months and assisted on the farm in the summer. After finishing the work in the country schools he attended a more advanced school in city of Greenville two terms. He thus mastered the elementary branches of English education. In the summer months his labors were needed upon the home farm, and from the time of early planting in the
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spring until crops were gathered in the late fall he assisted in the work of the fields and the other departments of farm labor. Mr. Albright was also inclined to mechanical work, and for some time was engaged at the carpenter trade, but soon re- turned to tilling the soil, and is now known as one of the sub- stantial agriculturists of Greenville township. He has a pleas- ant home, large stock and feed barns and other substantial buildings, uses modern machinery, and makes his land pay him well for all labor expended upon it. In addition to general farming operations, he has been interested in the breeding of various kinds of livestock, and has made a decided success of raising pure bred Duroc hogs. In politics Mr. Albright is a Republican, but his. interest in public matters has been limited to casting his influence with those things which he believes will benefit the community in the greatest degree. Like all the members of his family, he belongs to the United Brethren church.
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