USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 37
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The second Cornelius O'Brien, was very well known in Darke county, being a contractor of public work. He was an upright and public-spirited citizen and did much for the good of the community. He was born in the winter of 1829 and died July 26, 1907, being buried at Greenville. He came to Wayne county, New York, from county Tipperary, Ireland, in 1848. He came to Darke county in 1854 and settled near Baker store in Neave township. Here he lived until 1870, -
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when he purchased and moved on the Elijah House farm ad- joining the city of Greenville. He sold the east part to the Darke County Agricultural Company and this with a portion of the Jacob Martz farm comprise the Darke county fair grounds. He improved the remaining portion and opened the Bunker Hill gravel pit, which is still operated by his son, R. Emmett O'Brien. He was a candidate of the early Whig party but was defeated. He married Louisa Bryant at Newark, New York, May 8, 1853. She was born at Sommersetshire, England, March 6, 1833, and died January 17, 1889, and she and her husband were buried at Greenville. Her father, Joseph Bryant, was an Episcopal minister and died when she was about six years old. Her mother, Harriet Adams Bryant, married William Westlake as her second husband, and they came to this country in 1849, settling in Newark, New York. Mr. Westlake enlisted from New York in the Union Army, died and was buried at Cumberland Gap. Mrs. Louisa Bryant O'Brien had a brother, Joseph Bryant, and a half sister, Jennie Westlake, who married James Coons and resided in Newark, New York, but both are deceased. Mrs. Westlake died at an advanced age near Greenville, February 8, 1871, and was buried in Greenville.
Cornelius and Louisa O'Brien had eleven children and nine now survive: Jeremiah J., born March 25, 1855, died at the age of eight months; Ellen J., born June 18, 1856, widow of Stephen A. Tullis, of Dayton, had three children, Cornelius, died 1906; Louisa, and Joseph Bryant; Louisa, born March 8, 1858, died at the age of two years; William Smith, born September 15, 1861, a resident of Greenville, married Lydia S. North, August 13, 1844, and they have two children, Margaret Lee and Albert Earl; Cornelius, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work; Harriet Margaret, born Febru- ary 7, 1866, married James F. Keefauver, of Indianapolis, and they have two children, Ruby May and Sylvia June; Albert Adams, born October 18, 1868, married Anna Zeicht and they live at Union City, Indiana; Robert Emmett, born January 24, 1872, married Estella Kerst and they live on the old home- stead, near Greenville, and have one son, Kobert Morgan; Jeremiah J., subject of this sketch, who bears the same name as the firstborn son, who died; Edward Washington, born July 18, 1876, of Greenville, married Cora E. Lehman and they have three children, Ruby, Henry C. and Francis; James Lin- coln, born April 18, 1879, of Dayton, Ohio, married Laura
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Schoemaker and they have five children, Alva, Ora, Rheba, Glenna and Roma.
Cornelius O'Brien, father of the above-mentioned children, had more than an ordinary education, being educated in a private school in a neighboring county, and being naturally enterprising and progressive and fond of reading. He was reared in a refined home, amid surroundings which gave him an ambition to make most of his opportunities. He enlisted in Company I, One Hundred Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was a much-respected citizen and identified himself with the best interests of his community. His death was widely mourned and his children have very tender memor- ies of their parents. They reared a large family to useful man hood and womanhood.
Jeremiah J. O'Brien began his education in the Studebaker and Greenville schools and took a two-year course in Wayne Technical school, after which he helped his father in the con- tracting work. Later he worked for the surveyor at Green- ville and May 1, 1900, began to carry rural mail. He was soon transferred to city service, however, and is now carrier No. 1. He is a Republican in politics and for several years served on the County Central Committee. His first presiden- tial vote was cast for William Mckinley in 1896. He is well informed on all subjects relating to the postal service of the government and takes an active interest in them. He per- forms his duties with ability and efficiency and enjoys the confidence and respect of his associates. He is well known in fraternal circles, being a thirty-second degree Mason and having held all offices in the Blue Lodge at Greenville, No. 143, Free and Accepted Masons. He was worshipful master in 1909-10, and also belongs to Greenville Chapter No. 77, Royal Arch Masons, as well as Machette Council No. 91 Roval and Select Masons. He was thrice illustrious master during 1913 and 1914 and is much interested in work of this order. He has for years taken an active interest in the Greenville Histeri- cal Society and was one of the early members. For some years past he has served as president of this society. He is president of the local organization of city letter carriers, which is a branch of the National Association. He is fond of good literature and has studied along various lines in which he took especial interest, as his parents were ambitious for him to acquire a good education. He has had to work out his own success materially and financially and did not disappoint
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their ambitions in his behalf. He is well known in the city, where most of his life has been spent, and is much liked for his pleasant courteous manner, which is the true index of his character and feeling. He has lately remodeled his pleasant home at 242 East Main street and there he and his good wife dispense a fine hospitality.
On June 28, 1906, Mr. O'Brien was united in marriage with Miss Mary Edith Howe, born in Greenville township, near the city of Greenville, June 29, 1891, daughter of John E. and Mary (Hicks) Howe. Her great-great-grandfather, William Ashley, was a patriot in the Revolution and was present at Burgoyne's surrender, entitling his descendants to admission to the Revo- lutionary societies and the daughters of the family to Daugh- ters of American Revolution. The first of the Howe family to come to America was John Howe, who helped lay out the town of Marlboro, Massachusetts, of which he was one of the founders, in 1838. Laomi Ashley Howe, great-grandson of William Ashley, grandson of Laomi Ashley and son of Rhewindle Ashley Howe, and served in the Civil War, enter- ing the service in 1862 as a member of Company K, Ninety- third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged in July, 1865. Laomi A. Tlowe married Susan Witters, October 10, 1847, at Bachman, Montgomery county, Ohio. Twelve children were born of this union, of whom eleven survive and ten were present at the sixty first wedding anniversary of the parents, October 10, 1908. He died in 1909 and Mrs. Howe in 1911. Their son, John E. Howe, was born in Montgomery county, February 8, 1847, and is a carpenter by trade. He now re- sides in Dayton. Mrs. Howe was born in Greenville town- ship, Darke county, October 16, 1853, daughter of James M. Hicks and Hester A. (Duckson) Hicks. They had six chil- dren, and four now survive: Benjamin Franklin, of Cincin- nati; Florence, wife of Charles Cobo, of Columbus; Mattie, wife of James Cochran, of Greenville; Mary Edith, Mrs. O'Brien; Harrison Wayne, died in 1911; an infant, Vinal, de- ceased. The eldest, Benjamin F., served in the civil engineer- ing corps in the Spanish-American War.
Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien have three children, born in Darke county : Joseph Ashley, April 2, 1907, attends school; Cor- nelius Howe, April 30, 1912; John, March 26, 1914. The par- ents of these children are members of the First United Breth- ren church of Greenville, and he is a trustee and president of ti:e Otterbein Brotherhood.
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DAVID H. BAKER.
David H. Baker, who for many years has figured prominently in connection with the agricultural interests of German town- ship, belongs to that class of representative American men who, in promoting individual success, also contribute to the general prosperity. With the exception of one year spent in the west, he has been a resident of Darke county since 1881. His home is on the Neave turnpike, one-half mile south of Palestine. He has gained the confidence and regard of his community as a progressive and public-spirited citizen. Mr. Baker was born May 4, 1860, in Muskingum county, Ohio, near the city of Zanesville, and is a son of George and Sarah J. (Ryan) Baker. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, moved in young manhood to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for some years, but eventually went to Richland county, Illinois, and there, on a valuable property, continued to cultivate the soil throughout the active period of his life. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, as follows: Luther, who is deceased; Julia and Al- bertine, twins; Albertine deceased; Louise, who has also passed away; David H., Alma, who married Mr. Elston of Jasper county, Illinois; Charles, Albert, Ida, living in the west, and Elhert.
David H. Baker was but a lad when his parents moved to Richland county, Illinois, and there he secured his literary training in the public schools. He remained a resident of that locality throughout the period of his minority, during two years of which he worked by the month as a farm hand. Upon reaching the age of twenty-one years he came to Darke county, Ohio, where he secured employment with J. Wood- man, but in 1886 decided to try his fortunes in the west, and accordingly moved to Kansas, where he spent one year. Upon his return to Darke county, he began farming in German township, and since that time he has concentrated his energies upon general agricultural pursuits. Through the exercise of industry, judgment and good management, he has succeeded in developing a handsome and valuable farm, upon which the numerous improvements give every evidence of careful supervision and an intimate and correct knowledge of the best methods of conducting farm work. Mr. Baker's political allegiance is given to the Democratic party and in all life's re- lations he stands for those things which work for upright man-
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hood, for loyalty in citizenship and for fidelity in friendship. He is a valued and popular member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and his religious connection is with the Christian church.
In 1889, Mr. Baker was married to Miss Elnora Martin, the estimable daughter of Ira and Mary (Ward) Martin, and to this union there have been born five children: Bessie, who became the wife of Harry Manning and has one child, Paul F .; Mary J., who married Mr. D. Spencer, and Elsie, George and Orville, who reside at home with their parents.
IRA BICKEL.
In all communities there are found men of enterprise, initia- tive and business discrimination, who are the leaders in com- mercial and agricultural circles and whose labors form an im- portant element in the substantial upbuilding and development of their various sections. In this class stands Ira Bickel ac- counted one of the substantial men of Washington township, the owner of 133 acres of well-developed land and a man of un- doubted influence in political circles. He belongs to one of Darke county's old and honored families, and was born Feb- ruary 28, 1866, in Washington township, a son of Daniel W. and Rebecca (Chenoweth) Bickel.
Tobias and Elizabeth (Maccadam) Bickel, the grandparents of Ira Bickel, came to Darke county from Clermont county, Ohio, and here became prominent in agricultural circles, both living long and useful lives and dying when nearly ninety years of age. Their son, Daniel W. Bickel, was born in Clermont county and was a lad when brought to Darke county. Here he received a public school education, and, following in his father's footsteps, early adopted the vocation of farmer, which he followed for many years with marked success. At this time he is living retired, being one of the highly esteemed residents of Union City, Ind., and seventy-five years of age. He and his wife had two sons: John H., who is a successful farmer of Wayne township, Randolph county, Indiana, and . Ira.
Ira Bickel was reared upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agrisulturist. He worked in the fields throughout the sum-
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mer months and in the winter seasons attended the district schools. When he had finished his studies, he for three years taught in the country schools, although he continued his activ- ities as an agriculturist in season, and at the end of that period concentrated his entire energies upon farming, begin- ning his operations for himself upon a tract of 80 acres in Washington township. Subsequently he disposed of his inter- ests here and moved to Randolph county, Indiana, but after five years returned to the old homestead and here has con- tinued his activities to the present time. He has been suc- cessful because of his industry and sustained effort, and his present farm is one of the most valuable in this locality. In partnership with H. M. Oswald he carries on threshing with modern, highly-improved machinery, and this venture has also proved a prosperous one, the business constantly increasing in volume and importance. Mr. Bickel's business standing is high and his personal popularity widespread.
Mr. Bickel was married to Miss Frances Huffman, who was born in Darke county, daughter of George W. and Maria (Stapleton) Huffman, and to this union there have been born four children : Maude married Mr. Hiram Hedrick, Daniel W., Mary and Bertha. All the children were students in the Spring Hill school, while Daniel W., is a graduate of the Union City High School and is now attending the academy at Ada. Since attaining his majority Mr. Bickel has been interested in state and county politics, and has served as central commit- teeman for fifteen years. He has served as delegate to several senatorial and state conventions. His family attends the Christian church at Carnahan.
ORLANDO FOGLE.
No richer or more productive land can be found in Ohio than is embraced in Darke county, and a fine farm of 150 acres, situated on the Jefferson turnpike, about five and one- half miles southwest of Greenville, gives illustration of the thrift and energy which have characterized the career of Or- lando Fogle, of German township. Although one of the younger generation of agriculturists here, he has made a reputation and place for himself among the men who are upholding the county's supremacy as a farming center, and is particularly
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well known as a raiser of fine Poland-China hogs. Mr. Fogle was born on the farm which he now occupies, June 18, 1875, and is a son of John and Diana (Harter) Fogle. She was a daughter of John Harter, of New Madison, Ohio. His father, a native of Greene county, this State, grew up in the vicinity of Xenia and was there educated, and as a young unmarried man came to Darke county, Ohio, securing a tract of land in German township. His subsequent operations made him one of the substantial men of his community, and at the time of his retirement he had a comfortable competency. He and his wife were the parents of five children, namely: Junetta, who mar- ried Mr. John Mosier, of Palestine, Darke county, Ohio; Ro- sella, who married Mr. Wm. Confer, who lives at Yellow Springs, Greene county, Ohio. She is now deceased; Minnie, who married J. F. Reichard, of Van Buren township, Darke county, Ohio; Orlando, and Lurenzo, who is a resident of Rock Island, Il1.
Mr. Fogle was reared to agricultural life, assisting his father in the operation of the home place during the summer months, while during the winter terms he attended the Sassafras dis- trict school, and proved himself a zealous and attentive scholar, applying himself assiduously to his studies and making the most of his opportunities. When he embarked upon a career of his own he chose farming as the medium through which to win success, and after a short stay in German township went to the vicinity of Peru, Illinois, where he continued two years as a farm hand. In 1898, however, he returned to German township on account of his father's sickness and after his fath- er's death was given the management of the home farm, which his father left to Mrs. Fogle and the heirs. He has con- tinued to cultivate this valuable land and recently purchased an additional twenty acres just west of the homestead, which he has also placed under a high state of cultivation. His earn- est and indefatigable efforts, his capable management and his keen discernment have combined to win him well-merited suc- cess, and his intelligent use of modern methods and inventions marks him as one of the progressive men of his calling. In ad- dition to general farming he has devoted much of his atten- tion to the breeding of swine, and his hogs of the Poland-China breed bring top-notch prices in the big markets.
In his political views Mr. Fogle is a Democrat, but his ex- tensive interests have left him no time to seek public prefer- ment, although he is ever ready to lend his support to men and
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measures whom he believes will advance the interests of his community. Although not a professed member of any par- ticular church he contributes to all worthy movements. His acquaintance is large and few men have a wider circle of friends.
BOYCE G. EIDSON.
The agricultural interests of Washington township find a worthy representative in the person of Boyce G. Eidson, who has spent his entire life in Darke county, and who has made farming his occupation since earliest manhood. His career has been one of tireless industry, and through the force of his own merit and well-applied effort he has placed himself among the substantial men of his part of the country, being at this time the owner of a valuable tract comprising 240 acres of some of the best land to be found in Washington township. Mr. Eidson was born in Palestine, Ohio, November 5, 1864, and is a son of Frank and Lucetta (Kester) Eidson, and a grandson of Boyce and Rebecca (Griffin) Eidson.
Frank Eidson was born at Farmersville, Preble county, Ohio, at which place his parents had located at an early day. As a young man he mastered the trade of tanner, and to this oc- cupation gave the years of his active life, attaining a satis- factory measure of success and at all times holding the re- spect and esteem of those with whom he was brought in con- tact. Some short time after his marriage he located in Pales- tine, and there he and his wife passed the remaining years of their lives. They were the parents of five children : Clara, who married Mr. Schafer; Boyce G .; Virginia, who married Mr. Harrison; Mack and Murray.
Boyce G. Eidson was granted the educational advantages to be obtained in the public schools of Greenville and at the Studebaker school where he completed his studies. He ac- quired a knowledge of the tanner's trade from his father, but early showed a preference for farm work, and during the greater part of his school period spent his summer months in working industriously among the agriculturists of his locality. He remained under the parental roof until attaining the age of twenty-two years, at which time he came to Washington township. His life has been characterized by unfaltering dili- gence and perseverance, by laudable ambition and firm de-
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termination, and now, in the prime of life, he finds himself the owner of a property with which many men would be satis- fied if acquired only after a lifetime of earnest endeavor. Mr. Eidson is public spirited in a high degree, and local progress and national advancement are causes both close to his heart. Although his private enterprises are large, demanding the greater part of his attention, he has not been indifferent to the duties of citizenship, and in numerous ways has been influential in advancing the public welfare. A sincere friend of education, he has long been a member of the school board, and at this time is president of that body, a capacity in which he has rendered signal service. He has long been a supporter of Republican principles.
On February 26, 1889, Mr. Eidson was married to Miss Retta Elston, daughter of William and Rebecca (Griffith) Elston, and four children have been born to this union : Marie, who married Mr. Davis; Willard, a resident of Greenville, Ohio; Griffith, and George, who is attending school.
ELDER JESSE STUTSMAN.
Probably no other church in Ohio has ever had a pastor who served it so many years and who was so universally liked by all denominations, as the Church of the Brethren, where Elder Jesse Stutsman has preached so many years. He is pe- culiarly fitted, by nature and endowments, for the ministry, and has given his best efforts in the cause and in the betterment of conditions in the community. He has done much for the church and has also kept his heart open to the needs of people outside his own congregation and church, and sympathized with the joys and sorrows of any who came within his sphere of knowledge. He is well remembered wherever he has en- tered a home for the purpose of bringing comfort to the af- flicted or performing a marriage ceremony, preaching a fu- neral sermon, or like occasions which have called him there, as a man of sympathetic manner, dignified and kindly of speech, whose soft voice and strong personality have com- manded respect and attention. He was born October 29, 1833, on a farm in Montgomery county, Ohio, son of David and Frances (Eller) Stutsman. His father was born at Johns- town, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1793, and died in 1864 near Boli-
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ver, Missouri, where he is buried. The mother was born in Maryland, January 18, 1796, and died in Kansas, when she was probably over eighty years of age. David Stutsman was living in Missouri at the time of the Civil war, and on ac- count of his age did not enlist, but two of his sons and his son-in-law had to leave home to escape being forced into the rebel army, and from the hard work and worry thus engen- dered, the father developed a fever, which caused his death. His sons and his son-in-law lost their homes and all they owned, for the rebels stripped their houses of furniture and took their stock and belongings, with the exception of two horses and wagons, which they left for the three women to reach the railroad station. They had probably less than five dollars in money among them and were unable to sell their horses. The son-in-law, Abraham Herr, went in search of his wife and was killed by a bushwhacker in sight of his old neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Stutsman had ten children, of whom three died in childhood and the others reached maturity, Jesse being the youngest of all. Those who grew up were: Lydia, the wife of George Brumbaugh, who lived near Greenville, Ohio, and both are deceased; Elizabeth, wife of John Landis, lived south of Greenville, and both are deceased; Abraham died some forty years ago, north of Union City, in Darke county; Henry died in California; Mary, deceased, was the widow of Abraham Herr, mentioned above, who went to get his wife, with her sister and mother, and who was killed in sight of home; Sarah is the widow of Jacob Spitler and re- sides in Kansas; Reverend Jesse. The parents and all the children except Abraham were members of the Church of the Brethren.
Elder Stutsman began his education in the schools of Ran- dolph township, Montgomery county, Ohio, and also attended a select school in Dayton, Ohio, and before he was twenty years of age began to teach school. He taught many years in Montgomery county, beginning in 1853, and until 1879 in Monroe township, Darke county, since which time he has been engaged in farming as a means of livelihood, devoting much of his time and efforts to ministerial work. He was ordained in the church in Montgomery county in 1865, and has re- sided on his farm in Darke county since 1869, most of this time being pastor of the church at Pitsburg. This is now known as the Pitsburg and Painter Creek District. In po- (26)
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litical principle he has been in favor of the Republican party, but since taking up the ministry has not cared to take an active part in political affairs, and has not voted except when some question of local option or prohibition has seemed to him to call for his support.
In the year 1857 Elder Stutsman was united in marriage with Miss Martha E. Heisey, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, February 11, 1832, and died in 1898, being buried in Monroe township cemetery at Pitsburg. She was a daughter of Martin E. and Elizabeth (Engle) Heisey, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in 1850, in a pri- vate conveyance. They spent the remainder of their lives in Ohio and died in Montgomery county. They had eight chil- dren, of whom two now survive: Barbara, widow of David Engle, of Randolph township, Montgomery county; David E., of Farmersville, Montgomery county. Nine children were born of the marriage of Reverend and Mrs. Stutsman: one died when forty-eight hours old, in southwestern Missouri; David Marquis died at the age of six months, in Montgomery county, Ohio; Frances, born July 1, 1861, in Montgomery county, is the wife of Arodine Isenberger, of Pleasant Hill, Miami county ; Willis H., born in Montgomery county, Jan- uary 11, 1864, lives in Saskatchewan, Canada, and has four children : Huber who married Myrta Simmons, has one child, Jesse, and lives in Saskatchewan, Claude E., Winnifred and Mabel; Charles A., born September 27, 1866, in Montgomery county, married Miss Clara White, resides at Roanoke, Vir- ginia, and they have one son, Albert Chesterfield, aged eight years; Franklin M., born December 8, 1868, lives in Detroit, Michigan, married Miss Rose Budelier, and they have one son, Marvin ; Anna M., born in Darke County, keeps house for her father; Susella, wife of A. T. Lutz, of Monroe township, has seven children : Dale J., Lowell W., Anna, Leonard, James and Robert (twins), and Wilfred; Ira M., born in Darke county, Ohio, June 1, 1875, residing in Warren county, Ohio, married Miss Maude Keiser, and they have five children- Byron, Glen, Harold, Robert and Galen. Miss Anna is a graduate nurse, having taken a full correspondence course, and is of much help to her father in his church work, minis- tering to his needs in daughterly fashion and always ready to give her sympathy and attention to anything that concerns his work or welfare. All the children are active members of the church. The mother was a charming woman, well fitted
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