USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 43
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He was at one time candidate for probate judge but was de- feated.
Eight children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Irelan: James Eugene, born September 14, 1877, married Laura Pearl Martin, lived in Harrison township, died Septem- ber 12, 1812, was buried at Hollansburg, leaving a wife and four children-Aaron Garr, Harry, Foster and Donnie; Rose Ona, born September 22, 1880, married Ira F. Thomas, Decem- ber 22, 1900, and they reside at Tiffany, La Platta county, Colorado, and have one daughter, Ruth; George A., born August 3, 1882, on August 2, 1905, married Amber Wiley, lives in Wayne county, Indiana, and they have two sons, Cornelius and Paul; Nora, born June 10, 1879, married (first) January 19, 1901, E. E. Spencer, who died March 18, 1908, leaving one son, Marcus Claudius, and married (second), July 27, 1911, Mr. J. W. Harris. They now live on part of her father's farm, across the road from him, and have one son, Norman Alfred Harris, aged fourteen months; Charles L., born December 12, 1883, a graduate of high school, died October 26, 1903, and is buried in Hollansburg cemetery; Ora Gilbert, born October 9, 1887, residing in Richmond, Indiana, on April 18, 1908, married Angie J. Alexander, and they have one child, Clara Enid; Izetta G., born February 23, 1891, on September 14, 1912, married Merle Simpson and they live at Palestine, Darke county ; Arno W., born February 19, 1894, and died May 16, 1895.
GEORGE F. FELLERS.
Two and one-half miles northwest of Ithaca, on the Ithaca road, is situated the farm belonging to George F. Fellers. It is not necessary to introduce Mr. Fellers to the citizens of Twin township, for his residence in this community has cov- ered a period of more than sixty years, during all of which time he has been identified closely with the agricultural in- terests of his locality. A veteran of that great strife which occurred when secession reared its gory head to threaten the solidity of our Union, he may point with a pardonable de- gree of pride to his record as a soldier, and his subsequent record as a stalwart citizen, fighting the battles of peace, is marred by no stain or blemish.
Mr. Fellers is a Buckeye. He was born March 15, 1841, in
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Preble county, Ohio, and is a son of John G. and Susanna (Fauber) Fellers. The father, a native of Augusta county Virginia, came to the west as a young man, locating first in Preble county, subsequently moving to Butler county and finally, in 1852, locating in Darke county, where he passed the remaining years of his life. He and his wife were the par- ents of the following children: James, who is deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Ray, also deceased; David, who has passed away; John B., Henry, deceased; George F., of this review; Harvey, and Mrs. Martha Shuler, deceased.
Reared to industrious and thrifty habits, George F. Fellers early learned that the surest road to success is found through the medium of hard and energetic toil. He joined his brothers in helping his parents to develop the home farm, and in the meantime was eager to accept the educational advantages offered him during the short winter terms, attending, success- ively, the Gross school, in Butler county, the Nine Mile school there, and the public school near his home when the family moved to Twin township. He early adopted the vo- cation of farming as his life work, and busily engaged him- self at tilling the soil until his enlistment in Company B, 110th Ohio volunteer infantry, for service during the Civil war, being under the direct command of Gen. J. Warren Keifer, in the Army of the Potomac. He took part in battles as follows: Union Mills, Va., (Winchester), June 13, 1863; Winchester Heights, Va., June 14, 1863; Stevenson Depot, Va., June 15, 1863; Wapping Heights, Va., July 23, 1863; Bradey Station, Va., November 8, 1863; Mine Run, Va., November 27, 1863; Wilderness, Va., May 5-7, 1864; Spottsyl- vania, C. H., Va., May 9-12, 1864; New York River, Va., May 14, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., June 1-12, 1864; Petersburg, Va., June 22-23, 1864; Reams Station, Va., June 29, 1864; Mono- cacy, Md., July 9, 1864; Snicker's Gap (Charleston), Hall Town and Smithfield, Va., Aug. 1864; Opequan, Va., Sep- tember 19, 1864; Fisher's Hill, Va., September 22, 1864; Cedar Creek, Va., October 19, 1864; Cedar Springs, Va., No- vember 12, 1864; Petersburg, Va., March 25, 1865; Peters- burg (assault), Va., April 2, 1865; Jettsville, Va., April 5, 1865; Sailor's Creek, Va., April 6, 1865; Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865. When he received his honorable discharge, after a faithful and valiant service, he returned to his home and resumed agricultural operations. So well-directed have been his efforts and so intelligent his activities that at this time he
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is the owner of 116 acres of some of the finest land in Twin township. No adventitious circumstance has aided Mr. Fell- ers in his onward march to prosperity ; he has been the archi- tect of his own fortune, and he has builded well and sub- stantially. He has been a student of matters pertaining to his vocation, and he has applied his learning to the further- ance of his labors. Republican by political belief, he has never sought the doubtful honors to be gained in the po- litical arena, but has not withheld his support from those movements which he has believed would benefit the public weal. With his family, he attends the United Brethren church.
On April 1, 1869, Mr. Fellers was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Cromwell, daughter of Phil and Rebecca (Hemp) Cromwell, and to this union there have been born three chil- dren : Mrs. Martha McCowen, G. Frank and Effie P.
CHAS. M. DAVENPORT.
Charles M. Davenport is a very well known citizen of Green- ville and belongs to a family that has done much for Darke county, having been identified with its interests for many years. He is a member of an old and honored family and his first ancestor to come to America was Abraham Davenport. He was born in England in 1714, married Mary Sims, and had the following eight children : Anthony Sims, Andrew, Samuel, Marmaduke, Elizabeth, Stephen, Abraham and John. Anthony Sims, the eldest, born in 1757, married Mary Bozzle and they became parents of eight children, viz: Abraham, Ira, John, Wesley, Mary, Nancy, Sarah and Willa Minor. Of these, Abraham, born about 1785, is in direct line to the subject of this sketch. He married Penelope Griffith and they had eight children : Anthony Sims (2), Dr. Smith, John, Benjamin, Ira, Robert, Celina and Elizabeth. The second Anthony Sims Davenport was grandfather of Charles M. Davenport.
Anthony Sims Davenport, born May 16, 1813, died January 19, 1880, lived in Shelby county, Ohio, married Nancy Coon January 8, 1835, and they had six children, as follows: Eliza- beth, born February 25, 1836, married James Malcolm; Martha M., born December 4, 1837, married Hiram Lenox; John Wes- ley, born October 27, 1839; David, born July 23, 1841 ; Frances, born July 5, 1843, wife of James Wood; Finley, born Septem-
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ber 2, 1845, died while serving in the Union army. Mrs. Nancy Davenport died January 3, 1846, and Anthony Sims Daven- port married Betsy M. Clintock, February 23, 1847, by whom he had three children. Sarah and Edward died when they were about two years old, and Charles P., born March 20, 1851, now a resident of Shelby county, Ohio, near the old home farm, who married Margaret Cecil and have four children, Floyd, a resident of Bisbee, Arizona; Owen, employed by a mining company in Central America; Eva, wife of Dr. Fred Clark, of Sidney, Ohio, and Bonnie, a school teacher, who lives at home.
James and Elizabeth Malcolm have five children, Lucy, wife of Prof. A. W. Gamble, of Logansport, Ind .; Clara, wife of Daniel Price, of Piqua, Ohio; Cora, wife of Grant Patten, liv- ing near Piqua; Harper, of Medarysville, Ind., and Nannie, wife of William Bowen, of near Sidney, Ohio. James and Frances Wood have two sons, Edward and Arthur, and live in Cleveland, Ohio. David married Sadie McVay and has two sons and an adopted daughter. Rev. Charles Russell, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has served the church at Swanton, Ohio, for the past nine years; Benjamin lives in Cleveland, and Lillie lives with her mother in Piqua, Ohio. David served in the Union army and was shot through the right arm.
John Wesley Davenport was born in Shelby county, Ohio, October 27, 1839, and died January 27, 1909, in Darke county, being buried at Shook's Chapel cemetery in Wabash township. He was a farmer practically his entire life and was a Republi- can in politics, holding such township offices as supervisor and trustee. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he was trustee of the church known as Shook's Chapel. On March 18, 1862, he married Melvina Heffleman, who was born in Clay township, Montgomery county, Ohio, on August 20, 1840, and now resides on the home farm in Wabash township. Melvina (Heffleman) Davenport is a daughter of John and Susan (Oldum) Heffleman. John Heffleman was born January 11, 1810, in Milford township, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, died in Shelby county. Ohio, in 1894; he was the third son of Frederic Augustus and Barbara (Hartman) Heffleman. Frederic H. was born October 3, 1778 in Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, and died Jan- uary 26, 1862. After marriage, John Wesley Davenport moved on a farm near Jonesborough, Grant county, In-
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diana, and in March, 1881, returned to Darke county, Ohio, located on a farm in Wabash township, and there spent his remaining years, carrying on the work of his farm until he was ready to retire from active life. He was a much respected citizen, standing well in the community and having many friends. He and his wife had five children, all born while they were residing in Grant county, Indiana: William Heffleman, born December 10, 1863, living on a farm in Wabash township, adjoining his mother; Franklin S., born March 15, 1867, died November 19, 1895, and is buried at Shook's Chapel; Charles M., born October 11, 1869, in Grant county, Indiana; Lillie, born September 12, 1875, died in infancy ; Grace, born January 8, 1878, died October 6, 1895, shortly before her brother, Franklin, who is buried by her side.
William Heffleman Davenport married Miss Anna Supinger June 16, 1887, and they have five children: Walter, living on a farm in Wabash township adjoining his father, married Miss Clara Mckibben and they have one child, Helen. Susie, at home, teaches music in the neighborhood; Homer, Treva and Paul at home. Charles M. Davenport received a common- school education in the rural schools, supplemented by the course in Versailles high school, then attended the Centennial Commercial College at Greenville, Ohio, where he fitted him- self for Commercial life. He began business life as stenogra- pher in the office of The Henry St. Clair Company, wholesale grocers, at Greenville, and subsequently took charge of their books. He has developed into an expert book-keeper and has held this position with the above named company since 1894. He is progressive and enterprising in his ideas and is a valu- able employe of the concern, his efficiency and worth being recognized and appreciated by his employers. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and served as Chancellor Com- mander in 1908. He is very fond of his home and is rather quiet and retiring in his tastes. He is closely devoted to his business but finds considerable time to devote to church work and is interested in everything which he thinks will work out to the benefit of the city, county or state. He is a model citi- zen and ready to do his duty in all ways. His friends will be gratified to learn that he wrote a greater part of the chapter on the Methodist Church found in Volume 1 of this work, which will be read by all with much interest. Mr. Davenport is fond of reading and study and keeps up with the events and issues of the day. He is wide-awake and practical and has a
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comprehensive idea of business and commercial affairs. In 1899 he built the present comfortable family home on East Fifth street and has made many changes and improvements since.
On June 25, 1896, Mr. Davenport was united in marriage with Miss Dora B. Ditmer, born January 9, 1869, near George- town, Miami county, Ohio, daughter of Henry Warner and Brittania (Searle) Ditmer and spent her girlhood in Monroe township, Darke county, Ohio.
Mr. Ditmer was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1831, and died November 3, 1898, being buried at Georgetown, Miami county. His wife was born in Champaign county, Ohio, February 18, 1848, and died March 23, 1905. Henry Warner Ditmer was a son of John Ditmer, born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1789, who married Susanna Warner, born November 9, 1796, in the same county. John and Susanna Ditmer had thirteen children: Jacob, born in Pennsylvania, November 23, 1814; Elizabeth, born August 28, 1816, wife of John Falkner, now deceased, who formerly lived near Philips- Imirg. Montgomery county, Ohio; John, deceased, born Janu- ary 11, 1819; Rosanna, deceased, was born December 15, 1820, and married Joseph Carroll; Mary, born November 21, 1822, married Matthias Spiler; Abraham, born August 15, 1824; David, born April 15, 1827; Elias, born April 19, 1829; Henry, father of Mrs. Davenport; Catherine, born December 23, 1833, wife of George Fry, of Darke county, Ohio; George, born April 15, 1836; Benjamin, born January 24, 1839; Levi, born March 30, 1841. John Ditmer, father of these children, died April 3, 1854.
Henry Warner Ditmer was a farmer by occupation and spent most of his life in Darke county. He enlisted in the Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry for three years during the Civil War and served in many important battles. He was a Democrat in political principle but took no active part in political affairs. He and his wife had ten children, two born in Miami county and eight in Monroe township, Darke county : Dora B., born January 9, 1869; Luella, born January 27, 1871, married Calvin Litten and they live on a farm near Philips- burg, Montgomery county; Charles R., born April 22, 1873, lives south of Greenville; Lawrence S., born September 30, 1875, lives near Potsdam; Noah W., born December 29, 1877, lives near West Milton, Ohio; Amanda, born October 15, 1880, married Samuel A. Bridenbaugh and they live on a farm
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near West Milton; Edward H., born August 11, 1882, lives on a farm near Potsdam; Cora, wife of Henry Timmons, liv- ing at Potsdam, Ohio, was born September 24, 1885; one child died in infancy; Mina Ethel, born April 19, 1890, mar- ried Charles Macy and they live near Philipsburg, Ohio. The parents were members of the Mennonite church.
Mr. and Mrs. Davenport have two children: Gladys G., born March 14, 1897. In May, 1914, she graduated from Green- ville high school and will enter the Ohio Wesleyan University in September, 1914, to prepare herself for a teacher of English ; Harold Ditmer, born June 17, 1900, will be a sophomore in the Greenville high school during the year commencing Septem- ber, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Davenport are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Greenville. He has served as superintendent of the Sunday school since 1900, having previ- ously been assistant superintendent and secretary. He has been financial secretary of the church for some time and is also a trus- tee. Mrs. Davenport has been president and secretary of the La- dies' Aid Society and both have done very valuable work :: the interest of the same. They are both anxious that their children shall have every educational advantage possible and have been economical and self-sacrificing in past years to build up their present prosperity and standing.
WARREN E. WEHRLEY.
With the agricultural interests of Darke county, Ohio, W. E. Wehrley has been identified since reaching man's estate, and today he is a member of the firm of Vietor & Wehrley, proprietors of the Maple Valley Stock Farm, located in But- ler township. A man of inherent ability and broad experience, he has displayed a spirit of business enterprise and perse- verance which enables him to overcome difficulties and ob- stacles, and in discharging the duties of citizenship has always so directed his actions as to win and retain the respect and esteem of the people of his community. Mr. Wehrley is still a young man, having been born February 4, 1885, and is a native of Preble county, Ohio, and a son of F. M. and Ella (McConnell) Wehrley.
Frank M. Wehrley was born in Preble county, Ohio, and as a young man adopted the carpenter trade and his life work,
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serving his apprenticeship in the vicinity of Eldorado. He became a skilled workman, built up an excellent business, and gradually drifted into contracting, subsequently handling large contracts both in building and ditching. At this time he is located at Richmond, Wayne county, and is known as one of the substantial business men of that place, where his inter- ests are large and varied. Seven children were born to Frank M. and Ella (McConnell) Wehrley, named as follows: Otilla, who became the wife of E. P. Kyle, and lives in Butler township; Andrew J., residing 'at Greenville, Ohio; W. E., of this review; Bertha, who became the wife of a Mr. Hoff- man and resides at Richmond; William, of Greenville; and John and Rufus, residents of Richmond.
W. E. Wehrley was given ordinary educational advantages, first attending the public schools of Hamburg, Fairfield county, and later being a student in the schools of Eldorado, Preble county. From earliest youth he showed himself possessed of a high degree of industry and ambition, and so faithfully and earnestly did he work that when he was only eight years old he was earning a salary of eight dollars a month as a farm hand. He was thus engaged until the time he was thirteen years old, when he followed in his father's footsteps by taking up the trade of carpenter, but later accepted employment in an elevator at Eldorado. In 1910 Mr. Wehrley formed a part- nership with William Vietor, a well-known business man of New Madison, Ohio, and under the firm style of Vietor & Wehrley these gentlemen became proprietors of the Maple Valley Stock Farm, one of the first tracts of its kind in Darke county. The operations of this concern have been extended yearly, improvements have been constantly added to the prop- erty, and the elder man's experience and the younger's en- thusiasm and energy are rapidly bringing the new enterprise to the forefront.
On October 16, 1910, Mr. Wehrley was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Vietor, daughter of William and Katie (Ben- son) Vietor. A complete review of her father's life will be found in the sketch of Sebastian Vietor. Mrs. Vietor is a daughter of James and Sarah (Richards) Benson, who moved to Darke county, Ohio, many years ago from Baltimore, Md. Mr. and Mrs. Wehrley have been the parents of two children : Dessie B. and Beryl E. Although he is not connected with any particular religious body, Mr. Wehrley has been liberal in his support of all good movements whether of church or
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charitable nature. He has not hesitated to join other public- spirited men in advancing the public welfare, although his business interests have kept him too busy for him to actively enter political affairs.
PHILEMON C. FELLERS.
It has frequently been demonstrated that the best and strong- est in an individual are brought out and developed only under the stimulus of opposition and the pressure of adversity, and the truth of this assertion finds another verification in the life record of Philemon Fellers, who is engaged extensively in deal- ing in agricultural implements at Castine, Ohio. His ready recognition of opportunity has played a large part in his suc- cess, and another prominent characteristic in his make-up is his perseverance, which has enabled him to carry to a satisfactory and successful conclusion those matters to which he has ap- plied himself. Mr. Fellers is a native son of Darke county, Ohio, having been born November 5, 1867, on a farm in Twin township, a son of James F. and Mary (Cromwell) Fellers.
John G. Fellers, the grandfather of Philemon Fellers, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, from where he came to Ohio in young manhood and settled in Preble county, subse- quently moving to Butler county, and, in 1852, to Darke coun- ty, where he spent the remainder of his life in agricultural pur- suits. He married Susanna Fauber, and they became the par- ents of eight children : James F., the father of Philemon, now deceased ; Mrs. Elizabeth Ray, deceased; David, who has also passed away; John B., Henry, deceased; George F., a farmer on the Ithaca road, in Darke county ; Harvey and Mrs. Martha Shuler, deceased.
Philemon Fellers received his education in the Sochim dis- trict school, and was reared to agricultural work, remaining on the old homstead and assisting his father until he attained his majority, when he commenced farming by the month. He was thus engaged for a period of fourteen years and in the meantime carefully saved his earnings with the end ever in view of some day becoming the owner of a property or the proprietor of a business of his own. This ambition was real- ized October 5, 1904, when he bought the stock and good will of Mr. Folkerth, who had conducted an agricultural business
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at Castine. Although this enterprise had been established for some years, a lack of progressive ideas and methods had al- lowed it to deteriorate to some extent. With Mr. Fellers' ar- rival as the directing head, the business soon evidenced a grati- fying growth, and it is now one of the leaders in its line in this section. Mr. Fellers handles all kinds of agricultural im- plements, harness and kindred articles, keeping a complete stock of the most highly-improved makes, and attracts his trade from all over the surrounding country. His success has been well merited, in that it has come as a direct result of his own labors and not through any adventitious chance or cir- cumstance. He has shown his faith in the future of Castine by investing in city realty, and at this time is the owner of three valuable properties.
In political matters Mr. Fellers has always given his sup- port to the Republican party, until 1907, when he has since given his support to the Prohibition party. His religious be- lief is that of the United Brethren church, in the work of which he is active.
JOHN B. GILFILAN.
On the Otterbein road, about two and one-half miles north- west of Castine, is found the handsome seventy-acre farm which is the property of John Gilfilan. Almost the only means by which one can establish the highest credit for integrity and good character generally is to maintain a long residence in one locality, where all his neighbors know him under a great va- riety of circumstances, test his reliability and still sustain him as a valuable citizen. By this test Mr. Gilfilan has been placed high in the esteem of an intelligent and moral community. He therefore, is deserving of more than passing mention in a work of this nature. Mr. Gilfilan has passed his entire life in Darke county, having been born on the old home place near Castine, November 17, 1866, and is a son of Robert and Margaret (Miller) Gilfilan.
Robert Gilfilan was born in County Derry, Ireland, and was a lad of nine years when he emigrated to the United States, with his oldest brother, Jonathan Gilfilan. They settled first at Coatesville, Pa., where the brother embarked in the tannery business, and while residing there Robert Gilfilan received his educational training. Upon reaching young manhood he went
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to West Milton, Miami county, Ohio, and subsequently came to Darke county, being for some time engaged in the tannery business at Ithaca. Later, however, he turned his attention to farming pursuits, and became one of the substantial agricul- turists and land holders of his part of the State. He and his wife became the parents of eight children : Eliza J., Ethie and Ella, all deceased; John, of this review; Mrs. Laura Byers, Lottie, who married George Beard, and has one daughter, Hazel; Cora, who married Herbert Davis of Xenia, Ohio, and Clarence, of whom more later.
John Gilfilan received his education in the Castine public schools, and in the meantime spent the summer months in working on the farm. He early decided to follow in his father's footsteps as a tiller of the soil, and applied himself assiduously to gaining a thorough knowledge of that vocation. He entered upon a career of his own when twenty-six years of age, and has since developed a handsome property of seventy acres. He has confined his activities to general farming and has achieved excellent results through the intelligent application of modern methods. A Democrat in his political views, the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens has been evidenced by his election as township treasurer, of which office he has fully vindicated the confidence placed in him. The number of his friends is restricted only by the number of his acquaint- ances.
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