History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II, Part 5

Author: Wilson, Frazer Ells, 1871- [from old catalog]; Hobart publishing company. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Milford, Ohio, The Hobart publishing company
Number of Pages: 611


USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 5


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


On the 10th day of May, 1899, Mr. Krickenberger was united in marriage with Ella Stull, who was born at Lambert- ville, N. J., the daughter of John W. and Hannah (Kooker) Stull, both of whom also were natives of New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Stull came to Darke county in 1878, and here the father died on July 8, 1909, aged seventy-three years; his widow is still living, at the age of sixty-nine years . Mrs. Kricken- berger is their only child now living. Mrs. Krickenberger's grandparents were, on the paternal side, Henry and Sarah (Wert) Stull, natives of New Jersey, and on the maternal side, Samuel and Louisa (Hinkle) Kooker, natives of Penn-


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sylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Krickenberger has been born a daughter, Lydia Virginia, now two years old.


Politically, Mr. Krickenberger is a supporter of the Demo- cratic party, and takes a live interest in public affairs. · Mrs. Krickenberger is an earnest and faithful member of the Presby- terian Church.


As a member of the bar Mr. Krickenberger has faithfully and honestly discharged his every duty. He has always coun- seled and maintained only such actions and defenses as have appeared to him to be just, and in the trial of cases he has never sought to employ means other than were entirely con- sistent with truth and the law, never seeking to mislead court or jury by any artifice or false statement of fact or law, and he has adhered so closely to the professional code of ethics as at all times to command the confidence and respect of bench and bar. Personally, he possesses those qualities which invite friendship and in the large circle of acquaintances which he enjoys he has many warm and loyal friends.


J. EDWARD WILLIAMS.


Of staunch old Welsh lineage is the subject of this sketch, who is a native son of Darke county and now numbered among its successful and influential citizens, being the present efficient clerk of the courts of Darke county. Public spirited and thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community, he is numbered among the most valued citizens of the county. Mr. Williams was born in Greenville, Ohio, on January 24, 1878, and is a son of Joel and Mary (Kelley) Williams, the father a native of Indiana and the mother of Pennsylvania. On the paternal side, Grandfather Williams and his wife, whose maiden anme was Rebecca J. Arthur, and whose parentage was John Arthur and Sallie (Beard) Arthur, all were natives of Darke county, Ohio, but subsequently moved to Salem, near Union City, Ind., where he died. His widow later returned to Greenville, Ohio, with her children, and here her death occurred when nearly eighty years of age. She was the mother of the following children: John, Joel, Jason, James, Emma J. and William H. On the maternal side, the grand- parents were John and Rebecca (Shade) Kelly, natives of


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Pennsylvania, and the parentage of Rebecca (Shade) Kelley being Samuel and Elizabeth (Walter) Shade, English descent. John Kelly, who was of German descent, came to Darke county many years ago and located in Greenville, where he engaged in the tanning business and died when well advanced in years. Joel Williams was reared in Indiana and in young manhood was employed at. farm work, his education being secured in the common schools. After returning to Darke county, he entered the employ of the Henry St. Clair Com- pany, with whom he remained for a number of years. He also served as city marshal and policeman for a long time. He is now humane officer, truant officer and game and fish warden. To him and his wife were born the following children: J. Edward, whose name appears at the head of this review; Harry S., and J. Lendall, of Greenville, and Isis Juanita, who was graduated from the Greenville High School with the class of 1913.


J. Edward Williams was reared in Greenville and attended the public schools, being graduated from high school in 1897. He then went to work for the Western Union Telegraph Company as a lineman, but at the end of a year he returned to Greenville and accepted the management of the Bell Tele- phone Company, being located at Bessemer, Ala., for about ten months. Then, returning to Greenville, Ohio, he accepted the appointment as deputy clerk of the courts. In 1908 Mr. Williams was elected clerk of the courts and so satisfactory were his services that in 1910 he was re-elected to that office, receiving the largest majority of any candidate elected to office in this county up to that time. He is the present in- cumbent of the office and, by strict attention to his official duties and courteous treatment of all who have business in that office, he has won a host of warm personal friends and gained the commendation of all who are at all familiar with his work. Mr. Williams is also a member of the Greenville school board and chairman of the St. Clair memorial and library committee, and has the distinction of being the first manager of the beautiful St. Clair Memorial.


On the 26th day of September, 1900, Mr. Williams mar- ried Stella Shollenberger, the daughter of Jacob and Caroline (Clauer) Shollenberger, and to their union were born two children, Ceres Caroline and J. E. Mrs. Williams was born at Springfield, Ohio, and is of German parentage, her father having come to America from Boden, Germany, when young,


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and her mother, Caroline (Clauer) Shollenberger, was born in Sandusky, Ohio. They died at Springfield, Ohio, when well advanced in years. Their children were as follows: George, Jacob, Edgar, Harry, Stella and Amelia.


Politically Mr. Williams is an ardent supporter of the Demo- cratic party, and takes an active part in campaign work, and is being mentioned by his friends as a prospective candidate for congressional honors of the Fourth district. Fraternally, he is a member of Greenville Lodge No. 145, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Greenville Lodge No. 161, Knights of Pythias, and Greenville Castle No. 40, Knights of the Golden Eagle. Religiously, he is a member of the Episcopal Church, Mrs. Williams having been reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church. A man of highest integrity and of unvarying cour- tesy and kindliness, Mr. Williams is honored by all who know him and is regarded as one of the representative citizens of his county.


JOHN L. MORGAN.


Specific mention is made of many of the worthy citizens of Darke county within the pages of this work, citizens who have figured in the growth and development of this favored locality and whose interests have been identified with its every phase of progress, each contributing in his sphere of action to the well-being of the community in which he resides and to the advancement of its normal and legitimate growth. Among this number is he whose name appears above, peculiar interest at- taching to his career from the fact that his entire life has been spent within the borders of this county.


John L. Morgan first saw the light of day on March 13, 1867, in Wayne township, Darke county, Ohio, and he is the son of William H. and Sarah A. (Moneypenny) Morgan. William H. Morgan, who was born in Ohio, was the son of Mathias and Mary Elizabeth (Bauersock) Morgan, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Mathias Morgan served his country in the Civil war, being a member of the Forty- fourth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry for four years. He and his wife became early settlers of Darke county, Ohio, locating in Harrison township, near New Madison, where they spent the remainder of their lives, he dying at the age of about ninety years and his wife when eighty-three years


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old. They were German Baptists in their religious belief and were highy respected in their community. They reared a good sized family, namely: Mary, Hettie, Amanda, Wiliam Harrison, Taylor, Freeman and Sherman. William H. Mor- gan was reared in Darke county, and has always followed the vocation of a farmer, residing in this county until 1896, when he moved to Richland county. He was a soldier in the Civil war for two years, serving as a private in Company B, Eighth Ohio cavalry. After his return from the army he married and then began farming in Wayne township, this county, where he reared his family and where his wife passed away in 1894, in the forty-eighth year of her age. They both were members of the German Baptist church. Mr. Morgan again married, his second wife being a Mrs. Snyder, of Richland county, this state, where they now reside. Sarah A. Moneypenny, the first wife of William H. Morgan and the mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in West Virginia, the daughter of for- eign-born parents, her father having been born in Ireland and her mother in Scotland. After coming to this country, they settled near Weston, W. Va., where they engaged in farming and where their deaths occurred. To William H. and Sarah Morgan were born four children, namely: John L., the sub- ject of this sketch; Elizabeth, who died in chilhood; Mary, wife of J. B. Coppes, of near Versailles, and Cora, the wife of Harry Clifton, of Shelby, Ohio.


John L. Morgan was reared in Webster, this county, and attended the public schools and the normal school at Gettys- burg. He then engaged in teaching school, following that vo- cation through sixteen terms, among the schools which he taught being the first school which he ever attended, old No. 9 in Adams township, teaching also in the last school which he attended as a pupil. Later he quit teaching and for a while followed the trade of stone mason, but eventually turned his attention to farming in York township, where he owned a small farm. In 1907 Mr. Morgan went to Greenville and be- came deputy county auditor under Auditor Frank Snyder. In 1910 he was elected auditor, assuming the duties of the of- fice in October, 1911, and is the present incumbent of the of- fice, and discharging his official duties in a manner that has won for him the commendation of all who are at all familiar with his work.


On October 23, 1890, Mr. Morgan married Melinda Nutter, the daughter of Jacob and Hester (Garrett) Nutter. To their


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union was born a daughter, Charlotte Alna, who became the wife of E. D. Martin, of Greenville. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, while, fraternally, Mr. Morgan belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically, he is a Democrat and at one time served five years as clerk of York township. Throughout his career Mr. Morgan has been emphatically a man of enterprise, positive character, indomitable energy and liberal views, and is deeply interested in the growth and prosperity of the county which has been his home.


WILLIAM M. HARPER.


In the daily laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a solid career on the part of a business or professional man there is little to attract the casual reader in search of a sensational chapter; but to a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence there are noble and imperishable lessons in the career of an individual who, with- out other means than a clear head, strong arm and true heart, directed and controlled by correct principles and unerring judgment, conquers obstacles and finally wins, not only pe- cuniary success, but, what is far greater and higher, the de- served respect and confidence of those with whom his active years have been spent. To this class belongs the subject of this brief sketch, who for many years has been numbered among the most substantial citizens of Greenville-indeed, to him belongs the noteworthy distinction of having been longer în business here than any other merchant now actively engaged in business. He has thus been an eye witness and participant in the splendid growth and development which has character- ized this beautiful city and surrounding country.


William Marion Harper was born about three and a half miles southeast of Greenville, Ohio, on the 30th day of Octo- ber, 1835, and he is a son of William Sanford Harper and Delilah (Arnold) Harper, natives, respectively, of Pennsyl- vania and South Carolina. The father was reared to manhood in his native state, and then came to Darke county, Ohio, part of the way being by means of a flat boat down the Ohio river. He settled on a farm in Greenville township that was entered


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from the government by his father-in-law, William Arnold, and there he engaged in farming, which he carried on con- tinuously and with success until 1875, when he came to Green- ville to live, and here spent the remainder of his days, his wife having died on the farm in 1875, aged sixty years. In young manhood he had been a school teacher during the winter months, tilling the soil during the summer vacation periods. He had also studied civil engineering and after moving to Greenville he became the official civil engineer for most of the pikes in this neighborhood which were built during the period from 1870 to 1885. He lived to an advanced age, his death oc- curring in Greenville at the age of ninety-two years. He and his wife were members of the Christian (or Disciples) church and he was one of the pioneers in the Restoration movement. He was active in civil affairs and before he left the farm he was elected county surveyor, in which office he served a num- ber of years. To him and his wife were born the following children : Elizabeth, the widow of Thomas Culbertson, and now living on the old homestead in Greenville township; Will- iam M., our subject ; John, deceased, and Sarah Catharine, who died at the age of twelve years.


William M. Harper spent his boyhood days on the home farm in Greenville township and attended the common schools. He was apt in his studies and secured a certificate entitling him to teach, but he never applied for a school. He decided to learn a trade, and upon attaining his majority, in 1857, he came to Greenville and apprenticed himself for three years with N. Webb, then the leading jeweler here. After serving his time, Mr. Harper embarked in the jewelry business on his own account and has been engaged in this line of business con- tinuously since that time, a period of fifty-three years, a re- markable record from both a physical and commercial stand- point. During all these years Mr. Harper has enjoyed not only his full share of the public patronage in his line, but also the unreserved confidence and good will of the people. He is probably as widely known in this section of the country as any merchant in the county, and everywhere he commands respect. Mr. Harper has retained to a remarkable degree his physical vigor, his hand being almost as steady and his eye as keen as most men many years his junior. He still gives his personal attention to his business and is often found at his repair bench, attending to some fine bit of watch repairing or jewelry mending.


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On the 13th of November, 1861, Mr. Harper was married to Helen Angel, of Bluffton, Ind., the daughter of David and Adeline (Porter) Angel, and to this union were born two chil- dren, William A. and Harlie B. William A., who married Cora Brown and lives in Toledo, Ohio, is an expert jeweler and engraver. Harlie B., who is dead, married Bessie Mitchell and they had two children, Florence Belle and Helen Mar. Mrs. Helen Harper died on November 11, 1877, aged thirty-seven years, and in 1891 Mr. Harper chose for his second wife Mrs. Victoria Barnhizer, who died without issue. Subsequently Mr. Harper married Miss Anna Manor, February 15, 1893, who enjoys with him the love and esteem of their large circle of warm and loyal friends.


Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Harper are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for a number of years Mr. Harper was a member of the board of trustees. Politic- ally, he has always been a Democrat, but in local elections he has always voted for the men rather than the party. Mr. Harper retains vivid recollections of the early days in Green- ville, before the present prosperity was even promised, but in the steady and healthy growth of this community he has had a hand and has outlived practically all who were prominent here when he started upon his business career. Because of his splendid record, his genuine worth and high personal character, he is clearly entitled to representation in a work of the character of the one at hand.


HON. DR. SAMUEL AUGUSTUS HOSTETTER.


The life of the subject of this review has been such as to bear aloft the high standard which had been maintained by his father, who was one of the early settlers of Darke county and whose life was signally noble, upright and useful-one over which falls no shadow of wrong in thought, word or deed. Such was the type of men who laid the foundations and aided in the development of this favored section of the Buckeye State, and to their memories will ever be paid a tribute of reverence and gratitude by those who have profited by their well directed endeavors and appreciated the lessons of their lives.


Samuel A. Hostetter, who for a number of years has been


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well and favorably known as the cashier of the Second Na- tional Bank of Greenville, was born near Versailles, Darke county, Ohio, on April 9, 1847. He is a son of Dr. Isaac and Hannah (Hager) Hostetter, the father having been a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter born near Hagerstown, Md. Jacob Hostetter and wife, the subject's grandparents, were natives of Switzerland, who emigrated to the United States, settling in Lancaster county, Pa., where they spent their re- maining days, both dying at advanced ages. They were the parents of the following children: Jacob, Jr., John, Hezekiah, Isaac, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah and two sons who lost their lives in a massacre by the Indians. Of these children, Isaac was reared in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and, after completing his common school education, he studied medicine. In the early thirties, he located in Dayton, Ohio, where he entered upon the active practice of his profession, but soon afterwards removed to Darke county, locating two miles south of Versailles, where he bought a farm, which he had cleared and improved, and there his children were reared in part. He also continued the active practice of his profession, in which his interest and enthusiasm never abated up to the time of his death. He removed to Beamsville, this county, where his death occurred in 1861; aged fifty years. He was survived by his widow, who died in 1867, at the age of fifty- six years. Her parents were natives of Maryland, where they spent their lives and died. They were respectd farming folk and reared the following children: James, Hezekiah, Hannah, Caroline, who came to Darke county, Ohio, and married a Mr. Bear; and others. To Isaac and Hannah Hos- tetter the following children were born: Hiram, who was a soldier in the Union army, during the Civil war, gave up his life in the service; Salinda, now deceased, who was the wife of William H. Stahl; Caroline, wife of E. Alton; Samuel A., whose name heads this review; Thomas J., of Ansonia, Ohio; Franklin P., of Osceola, Mo .; Ellen, who died in in- fancy.


Samuel A. Hostetter spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in this county, receiving his elementary education in the district schools at Beamsville. Later he attended the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and then followed out his long- cherished purpose of preparing himself for the practice of medicine. He first studied under the directions of his uncle, Samuel Hager, at Ansonia, and then matriculated in the Ohio


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Medical College, where he was graduated in 1869. He imme- diately entered upon the practice of medicine at Ansonia, to which he devoted himself, with gratifying success, until 1876. In the latter year the Doctor was elected to the Ohio Legis- lature, and was elected to succeed himself, thus serving two terms, with credit to himself and honor to his constituency. In 1881 Doctor Hostetter was appointed treasurer of Darke county, serving three years, at the end of which period he en- gaged in the drug business at Ansonia, in partnership with his brother, Thomas J., with whom he was associated for twenty- five years, their relations being not only mutually agreeable, but profitable as well. The subject of this sketch retired from the drug store in order to accept the position of cashier of the Second National Bank of Greenville, which he has held since. The Second National Bank was organized in 1883, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, and is one of the strong and reliable financial institutions of western Ohio, much of the success of the institution being due to the unremitting efforts and splendid ability of Mr. Hostetter.


In November, 1872, Samuel A. Hostetter married Cordelia Tullis, daughter of Milton and Sarah Tullis. She passed away in 1883 and in 1888 the Doctor married Mrs. Jeremiah Harmon, widow of Charles Harmon and daughter of John and Annie Yohe. Mrs. Hostetter was born at Sidney, Ohio, and her father was a native of Pennsylvania. He and his wife were early settlers of Greenville, where he followed mill- ing and where their deaths occurred. They had six children, of whom four are living, namely: Mollie, Dora, Tina and Benjamin ,who has held a position in the treasury department at Washington, D. C.


Politically, Doctor Hostetter is an earnest Democrat and has taken a commendable interest in public affairs. He served several years as trustee of Brown township and was also clerk of the township. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, while, fraternally, the Doctor is a member of Ansonia Lodge No. 488, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, of which he was a charter member. He takes a deep interest in the welfare of the community, in many ways con- tributing to the general welfare. He has shown his faith in the business enterprises of the locality by investing his money and is a stockholder and director in the Western Ohio Cream- ery, a stockholder and director in the Home Telephone Com-


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pany, and a stockholder in the Greenville Electric Light Plant. Generous to a fault and sociable to a high degree, Doctor Hostetter wins friends easily, and he has the happy faculty of drawing them closer to him as the years pass by. Viewed in a personal light, he is a strong man, of excellent judgment, fair in his views and honorable in his relations with his fel- low men.


HON. FRANK T. CONKLING (Deceased).


The late Frank T. Conkling was an important figure in financial circles in Darke county, and in point of years in business was the oldest banker in the county. He had a large circle of friends and held their affectionate esteem by reason of his sterling qualities and true worth. He was mourned as a distinguished citizen of the city and county whose interests and progress had been very near to his heart, and his colleagues valued highly his business acumen, fore- sight and excellent judgment. As cashier of the Greenville National Bank he displayed a keen knowledge of affairs and of men in the business world. He was one who faithfully discharged all duties and accomplished whatever he under- took in an able manner. He was a true gentleman, whose mod- esty and kindness of heart endeared him to all. He was much interested in the welfare of his fellow citizens and could al- ways be depended upon for a ready sympathy. He was a kind husband and a loving father, being greatly attached to his home circle. He started in the business world in a modest capacity and steadily progressed by virtue of his enterprise and ability.


Mr. Conkling was a son of Pierson Conkling and was born on a farm near Cincinnati, in Hamilton county, Ohio, Feb- ruary 27, 1858. Pierson Conkling was three times married. By the first union he had one son, James D. Conkling, now a resident of Kentland, Indiana; by the second marriage, one child was born, Frank T., of this sketch; there were no chil- dren born of the third union. After his second marriage Pierson Conkling lived for a time in Cincinnati, then moved to North Vernon, Indiana, where he became proprietor of a general store. In 1905 he located in Kentland, Indiana, and there his death occurred, in 1908, his interment taking place in Spring Grove cemetery, Cincinnati. He was a lifelong


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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY


ARTOR. LFNOX TILDEN FOUNDY - ANS


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member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics was a republican.


Frank T. Conkling was about two years of age when his parents moved to Cincinnati, from their farm, and in that city he attended the public schools until he was about seven- teen years old. In 1875 he came to Greenville in search of employment, being then an entrprising and intelligent young man about seventeen years of age. In July, 1876, he entered the bank of Huffnagle, Allen & Company, as messenger and general office boy, and there his worth was soon recognized, for he applied himself faithfully to his duties. He was suc- cessively promoted to the posts of bookkeeper, assistant teller and assistant cashier, and on February 10, 1895, became cash- ier, which post he held up to the time of his death, although the name of the institution had then become changed. Huff- nagle, Allen & Company were succeeded by the Greenville Bank Company, and the institution was not considered very stable. Mr. Conkling had begun to buy stock in the enter- prise and eventually became the largest stockholder. It was principally through his wise and far-seeing handling of the policies and resources of the concern that the confidence of the public was regained, and in 1904 this concern transferred its assets to and became merged with the Greenville National Bank. From that time on its progress was marked with suc- cess and it gradually grew to be one of the strongest banks in the county.




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