USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 8
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On the 17th of January, 1884, Aaron C. Brandon was mar- ried to Ida M. Coppes, who was born on January 13, 1864, in Richland township, Darke county, Ohio, the daughter of Jacob P. and Clarissa (Plessinger) Coppes. Her parents were natives of Ohio, and had five children who lived to mature years : Willard, Ida M., Ella, J. C. W. and Floy, and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Brandon's paternal grandfather, John Coppes, was a native of North Carolina, where he married and he and his wife became early settlers of Richland township,
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Darke county, Ohio. They reared a large family, all of whom were sons. Mrs. Brandon's maternal grandfather was David Plessinger, whose wife's family name was John. They were both born in Pennsylvania, and they too became early settlers of Darke county, where they died. Among their children were the following: William, Clarissa, Emaline, Serena, Samson, Jacob and Warren.
To Mr. and Mrs. Brandon have been born the following children: Ray, who is an electrician at Greenville, married Edith Hoover, of Union City, and they have three children, Keith, Richard and Helen; Algie, who is a horseman, lives at home with his parents; Bonnie who also lives at home, is a member of the senior class in Defiance College; Zeno, who lives in Greenville, married Elsie Collins. They have one child, Hester.
Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Brandon are earnest members of the Christian church, of which Mr. Brandon is the clerk. Fraternally, he is a member of Champion Lodge No. 742, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and is also a Forester. Po- litically, Mr. Brandon is an independent Democrat and casts his vote and influence in favor of the Democratic party. In the civic life of the community he has for many years been an important factor in the conservation of all that goes to the betterment of those about him and the elevation of the stand- ard of life. He is genial and unassuming and is deservedly popular in the circles in which he moves.
ANDREW WILSON RUSH, M. D.
The physician who would succeed in his profession must possess many qualities of head and heart not included in the curriculum of the schools and colleges he may have attended. In analyzing the career of the successful practitioner of the healing art it will invariably be found to be true that a broad- minded sympathy with the sick and suffering and an honest, earnest desire to aid his afflicted fellow men have gone hand in hand with skill and able judgment. The gentleman to whom this brief tribute is given fortunately embodies these necessary qualifications in a marked degree and by energy and applica- tion to his professional duties has built up an enviable reputa-
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tion and drawn to himself a large and remunerative patron- age.
Andrew Wilson Rush was born on a farm near New Madi- son, Darke county, Ohio, on May 12, 1860, and is a son of Harvey and Lillie Porter (Wilson) Rush, who also were natives of this State. They were the parents of six children, namely: Ella, deceased, was the wife of Thomas J. Lein- bach; Olive is a school teacher at Wyoming, a suburb of Cin- cinnati; Alice S. is a public school teacher at Rock Island, Ill .; the subject of this sketch is next in order of birth; Carrie is a teacher in the schools of Greenville; William Harvey is deceased. Harvey Rush, the father of these children, was born and reared in Darke county, and upon attaining manhood he bought a farm in Harrison township, west of New Madi- son, where he owned two hundred and forty acres, which he improved and to the cultivation of which he devoted himself for many years. He then sold that place and bought a farm close by, known as the Wilson place, remaining there until the spring of 1887, when he retired from active pursuits and moved to Greenville, where his death occurred on November 25, 1896, in the seventieth year of his age. His widow, who is still living, is eighty-four years of age. Harvey Rush was reared in the Universalist faith, and his widow is a Presby- terian. He was prominent in the public affairs of the localities where he lived, holding the offices of township treasurer and school director. He took an especial interest in educational matters and in those days in his district Latin and the higher mathematics were taught in the schools. Asa Rush, the sub- ject's paternal grandfather, was a native of Ohio, and he mar- ried Margaret Hill, who was born in Carolina, before the division of that State. He successfully operated a farm in Harrison township, Darke county, Ohio, and died there, in 1875, aged seventy-seven years, and she at the age of sixty years. Their children were as follows: Elizabeth, who be- came the wife of George D. Miller; Harvey, father of the sub- ject; Nancy, who was the wife of William Smelker; Emily, who married ex-Sheriff N. M. Wilson, and two sons, Anderson and William, who died in young manhood, unmarried. The father of Asa Rush was Peter Rush, who, in 1808, came to Darke county from Marietta, Ohio. He was a native of Penn- sylvania and was of German descent. His wife's maiden name was Slaughter. He was a member of the first grand jury in Darke county. He was a farmer, having taken up a tract of
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government land, and died before he moved upon it. The sub- ject's maternal grandparents were Andrew Porter Wilson and Sarah (Allen) Wilson, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. Andrew P. Wilson was born near Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, but later the family moved to Darke county and bought a farm in Harrison township, which Doctor Rush's mother still owns, and there they spent the rest of their days, he dying at the age of fifty years and she at sev- enty-seven years. They reared a large family, as follows: Lilly P., Nathaniel McClure, Augustus E., Elihu C., Jane (who became the wife of Amen Plowman), Alice (who married Milton Brown), Andrew Porter, and Julia, who married Nethicus Early. The subject's maternal great-grandfather, Andrew Wilson, was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a native of Ireland, being brought to this country when but four years of age by his parents, who settled in Rockbridge county, Virginia, where he grew to manhood, and where he married Lillie Porter. He and his wife came to Butler county, Ohio, settling four miles from Hamilton, where they both died. Andrew Wilson was a son of John Wilson, who was a member of the historic Committee of Safety prior to the war of the Revolution. The Wilsons were of Scotch-Irish stock and were Presbyterians in their religious faith.
Andrew Wilson Rush has spent his entire life in Darke county, excepting a brief period in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was reared on his father's farm, and in his boyhood at- tended the district schools. He later attended the Central Normal School at Danville, Ind., prior to which he had taught several terms of school. After leaving the normal school he took up the study of medicine and then matriculated in the Miami Medical College, at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in 1884, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He went at once to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where for two years he was engaged in the practice of his profession, but at the end of that period he returned to Greenville and has practiced here con- tinuously since. He has been remarkably successful as a practitioner of the healing art, having successfully handled many difficult cases both in the realm of materia medica and surgery, in both of which fields he is competent and trust- worthy. Wisely conservative, and yet keeping in close and constant touch with latest advances in his science, he has for many years enjoyed to a notable degree the absolute con- fidence of his patrons and the respect and esteem of his pro-
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fessional colleagues. He is a member of the Darke County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
On the 28th day of June, 1892, Doctor Rush was united in marriage with Ora Porter, the daughter of John and Lizzie (Spayd) Porter. She died on May 18, 1893, less than a year after marriage, and on the 16th of October, 1901, the Doctor married Laura Belle Ditman, who was born in Centerville, Ind., on December 1, 1867, the daughter of John A. and Sarah A. (Slaughenhaupt) Ditman. To this union have been born three children, Harvey Ditman, John Andrew and William Willard. Mrs. Rush is a member of St. Paul's Reformed church. Politically, Doctor Rush is a Democrat, but his pro- fessional duties have precluded his taking a very active part in public affairs, his only official service being as coroner of the county, in which he served a term a number of years ago.
John A. and Sarah A. Ditman, parents of Mrs. Rush, were natives, respectively of Germany and Carroll county, Maryland and were early settlers of Richmond, Ind. Later they moved to Bradford, Darke county, and in 1877 became residents of Greenville, where the father died in May, 1889, aged fifty- two years. The mother, who was born in 1840, is still living here. They were the parents of seven children, namely : Mary, wife of H. T. Miller, of Kenton, Ohio; Gertrude, un- married, of Greenville; Inez, unmarried, of Greenville; Laura Belle, Mrs. Rush; John Willard, of Kenton, Ohio, and Maude, the wife of Guy Baker, of Greenville. The father of Mrs. Rush was a tailor by trade and came to America with his parents when but two years old. Mrs. Rush's paternal grand- parents were natives of Germany, who were farmers in Mary- land, where their deaths occurred. They were the parents of sixteen children. Mrs. Rush's maternal grandfather Slaughen- haupt, who married Louise DeHoff, was a native of Maryland, as was his wife, and there they died, after rearing eleven chil- dren. It is related of Doctor Rush's maternal great-grand- mother Allen's maiden name was Smith, her father marrying a Miss Sclaughter. Smith's name was originally Bridge, but he ran away from home in young manhood and joined the American forces in the Revolutionary war. There were ten brothers of these Smiths, all of whom were over six feet tall, and they were familiarly known as the "sixty feet of Smith." Miss Alice Rush, the doctor's sister, is a member of that exclusive society, the Daughters of the American Revolution,
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to which her sisters are eligible, and the doctor is eligible to the Sons of the Revolution.
Doctor Rush's ability as a physician and surgeon is widely recognized, and a mind well disciplined by severe professional training, together with a natural aptitude for close investi- gation and critical research, have peculiarly fitted him for the calling in which he is engaged. He possesses the tact and happy faculty of inspiring confidence on the part of his patients and in the sick room his genial presence and conscious ability to cope successfully with disease under treatment are factors that have contributed much to the enviable standing which he has attained.
Mrs. Rush is a graduate of the public and high school of Greenville, and was a teacher in the public schools of Green- ville for twelve years.
GEORGE W. PORTER.
It is a well attested maxim that the greatness of a country lies not in the machinery of government nor even in its insti- tutions, but rather in the sterling qualities of the individual citizen, in his capacity for high and unselfish effort and his devotion to the public welfare. In these particulars, those who have borne the above name have conferred honor and dignity upon their county and State, and as an elemental part of history we are pleased to record a sketch of a leading rep- resentative of the family, with the object in view of noting his connection with the advancement of one of the most flourish- ing and progressive parts of the commonwealth and affording an example worthy of emulation by the young men whose life work is largely a matter of the future.
George W. Porter was born in the city which is now hon- ored by his citizenship, his natal day being February 29, 1876, and he is the son of John A. and Anna (Spayd) Porter, both of whom also were natives of Ohio. He is one of three chil- dren born to these parents, others being Ora, deceased, George W., the subject of this sketch, and Miss Catharine, of Green- ville, a graduate of Emerson College of Oratory, Boston. The father of these children was reared in Greenville, secured his elemental education in the public schools, and then entered Wesleyan University at Delaware, this State, where he was
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graduated. He ran a tannery in Greenville about thirty years, then for a number of years was a commercial traveler. He then went to Swift Current, Canada, where for a time he was engaged in farming, but eventually he returned to Greenville, where his death occurred on May 21, 1912, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife was a graduate of Cooper Insti- tute, Dayton, and she and her husband were members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Porter was for ninety days a sol- dier in the Union army during the Civil war.
The paternal grandparents of the subject were John A. and Sarah (Mullendore) Porter, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. They became early settlers in Darke county, Ohio, and in Greenville he too engaged in the business of tanning. He died here at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife many years before him, at the age of about forty years. They had the following children: Mrs. Eliza- beth Cole, Mrs. Catharine Lucas, Mrs. Jane Winner, Mrs. Laura Sullivan, Jacob, Nathaniel, and John A.
On the maternal side the subject of this sketch is descended from Michael Spayd, who was a native of Pennsylvania, as was his wife. At an early day they located in Greenville, Ohio, where he successfully practiced law for many years, his death occurring in 1878, at the age of about sixty years. His wife died some years before. They had two children, Anna, mother of the subject, and a son.
George W. Porter has been a life-long resident of Green- ville, and here received a good practical education in the pub- lic schools, being graduated from high school in 1894. He then commenced the study of law in the office and under the direc- tion of Judge Henry M. Cole, and in 1897 was admitted to the Darke county bar. That same year he entered upon the active practice, in which he has engaged continuously since, and in which he has achieved the most eminent success. Well grounded in the basic principles of jurisprudence and with a natural aptitude for his profession, he has long been con- sidered one of the most talented and forceful members of the local bar, having been prominently connected with much of the legal business transacted in the Darke county court, as well as being called into the courts of other counties. Courteous to court and opposing counsel under all circumstances, still he is an opponent to be feared in a legal contest and he has been eminently successful in the practice.
On the 10th of June, 1913, Mr. Porter was married to Jane
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Lecklider, the daughter of Frank and Catherine (Dubois) Lecklider. Mr. and Mrs. Porter are earnest and faithful mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. Politically, Mr. Porter is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, but is not an aspi- rant for public office of any nature. He maintains an abiding interest in everything that affects the welfare of the commu- nity in which he lives and to a notable degree enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens.
CHARLES F. RYAN, M. D.
The world has little use for the misanthrope. The uni- versal brotherhood is widely recognized, as is also the truth that he serves God best who serves his fellow men. There is no profession or line of business which calls for greater self- sacrifice or more devoted attention than the medical profession and the most successful physician is he who, through love of his fellow men gives his time and earnest attention to the relief of human suffering. The successful physician is bound to make friends wherever he is known and will retain the respect and esteem of all classes of people. Among the schol- arly and successful doctors in Darke county none has attained to a higher standing in his profession than he whose name initi- ates this paragraph and, because of his earnest life and high attainments, he is clearly entitled to representation in a work of the character of the one in hand.
Dr. Charles F. Ryan, of Versailles, was born in Adams town- ship, this county, on the 2d day of March, 1855, and is the son of Joseph J. and Susan (Kinney) Ryan. His father was born in London, England, and his mother was born at Yellow Springs, Greene county, Ohio. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only sur- vivor, the others being Edmund, John and Mary, last named dying in infancy. Joseph J. Ryan was reared in the English metropolis, securing his education in the public schools. His first employment was as a clerk in the largest woollen goods establishment of that city. In 1849 he emigrated to the United States, and for two years stopped at Yellow Springs, Ohio. He then came to Adams township, Darke county, where for several years he engaged in teaching school. Having accumu- lated some means, he invested in a small farm, which he later
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sold and bought another one of fifty-three acres, to which he first added ninety-three acres, and still later another tract of seventy-seven acres. To the improvement and cultivation of these farms he gave his attention, but eventually he moved to Webster and engaged in literary work, living there until with- in six months of his death, when he came to Versailles and made his home with his son, the subject of this sketch, his death occurring on May 16, 1907, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife died the same day, about five hours later, aged eighty-four years. Both were Methodists in their relig- ious belief and were earnest in their observance of the spiritual verities. Joseph J. Ryan was a man of marked intellectual attainments, whose capabilities were generally recognized. He rendered efficient and appreciated service as justice of the peace, assessor, and as a member of the state board of equaliza- tion. He was a constant student, having profound and accu- rate knowledge on a wide range of subjects, and was especially interested in educational matters.
Doctor Ryan's paternal grandfather Ryan spent his entire life and died in England. His wife's maiden name was Mary Wilson. He was a gardener by vocation and was a man of good character and commanded general respect. To him and his wife were born five children, Edmund, Charles, Ralph, Joseph J. and a daughter who died young.
On the maternal side, the subject's grandparents were Peter and Jane Kinney, who were farming folk and early settlers in Greene county, Ohio, where both died when well advanced in years. Their children, six in number, were named David, Mathias, Robert, Frank, Susan and Margaret.
Charles F. Ryan spent his early years on his father's farm in Adams township, securing his elementary education in the district school. That particular school was one of the best in the county, being graded, and it is believed to have turned out more teachers than any of the city schools of the county. After completing his public school course, Mr. Ryan taught school for several terms, but, having determined to take up the practice of medicine, he began the study of that science at Gettysburg, under the direction of Dr. J. A. Cample. Later he matriculated in the Medical College of Ohio, where he was graduated on March 2, 1885, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He immediately established himself in the practice at Gettysburg, and attained splendid success. In 1895 he came to Versailles, where he has practiced continuously since.
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On March 24, 1878, Doctor Ryan was united in marriage with Emma Peck, daughter of Lucius and Elizabeth (Vore) Peck, and to this union was born a son, Earl Hurst Ryan. The latter is a graduate in pharmacy at the university at Ada, Ohio, and also took the scientific course in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. He then clerked in drug stores for several years, but, having decided to follow in his father's footsteps, he is now attending the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio. He married Jennie Murphy and they have a daughter, Rebecca Marthel. Mrs. Ryan was born in Miami county, Ohio, on June 23, 1857. Her father, Lucius Peck, was a native of Massachusetts, while her mother was a native of Mi- ami county, this state, where they made their permanent home, and where both died. They were the parents of the following children, eight of whom lived to years of maturity: Susan, Rebecca, Parolee, Sarah, Martha, Nancy, Emma, Eliza, Dora and Lucy. Mrs. Ryan's father was a music and school teacher, . in addition to which he was also an expert carpenter and blacksmith. Mrs. Ryan's paternal grandparents were both natives of Massachusetts, while in the maternal line, her grand- parents, Peter and Rebecca (Fouts) Vore, were natives of Pennsylvania. He was a farmer by vocation and they were early settlers in Union township, Miami county, Ohio, where they lived the remainder of their lives and died when well advanced in years. They had the following children : Susan, Elizabeth, George, Henry, Eliza, John, Bar- bara, Elam, Harrison and Ann.
Religiously, Doctor and Mrs. Ryan are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which the doctor is a trustee and steward. Fraternally, he is a member of Versailles Lodge No. 290, Free and Accepted Masons, while, professionally, he is a member of the county and state medical associations, in the proceedings of which he takes a deep interest. The doc- tor's political affiliations are with the Democratic party, in the success of which he is interested though his professional duties preclude his giving much attention to public affairs. He was village health officer for thirteen years. He owns the old home farm that was originally settled by his father and where he himself was reared. Doctor Ryan's public spirited interest in the general good has been manifest in many ways, especially in the hearty co-operation which he gives to every movement or measure calculated to advance the general welfare. Through reading and investigation he keeps in close touch with the most
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advanced thought of his profession. Anything is of interest to him which tends to bring to man the key to that mystery which we call life. He has the closest regard for the higher pro- fessional ethics and enjoys in an unusual degree the respect of the members of the medical fraternity as well as that of the public.
AUGUSTUS N. WILSON AND SARAH C. WILSON.
Augustus N. Wilson is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Leas) Wilson and was born near West Sonora, Preble county, Ohio, May 10, 1842. His grandfather was a carpenter and a resident of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, whose ancestors seem to have been among the early Quaker settlers of the Delaware valley-probably settling there shortly prior to 1700. As near as is now known his forebears were mostly carpenters and farmers who intermarried with some of the best families of the Friends and lived the humble, frugal and industrious life char- acteristic of these stalwart people.
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Mr. Wilson's grandfather fell from a building on which he was working in Philadelphia, Pa., and died as a result of the fall. His son Thomas was reared in the home of his brother- in-law, Abner Hibbs, and appears to have learned the hatter's trade in Philadelphia when a young man. Later, probably be- tween 1820 and 1825, Thomas came to Ohio, walking from Philadelphia to the home of his brother Eli in Zanesville, Ohio. Shortly afterward he piloted a flat boat of merchandise from Cincinnati to New Orleans and returned afoot. He finally set- tled near West Sonora, Preble county, Ohio, where he taught school and became a justice of the peace. He married Eliza- beth, daughter of William Leas of near Lewisburg, Preble county, and became the father of eight children, viz .: Lydia, who married William Werts; William M .; John L .; Eli; Theo- dore; F. J .; Augustus N., and Jane, who married Silas Laird. Of these five sons and one daughter still survive at an average age of about seventy-five years.
From their mother these children, apparently, inherited that business acumen characteristic of the Leas family, which has made the men successful in financial and business enterprises. From the father, who was a voracious reader and student of current affairs, probably came the desire to acquire an educa-
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