USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all other authentic sources > Part 53
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JOSEPH S. HARRIS.
Joseph S. Harris, Washington, was born in Clinton County, March 11, 1849. His father, James Harris, is a native of Ohio, and is now living with his second wife, in Clarke County. He had eight children by his first wife, two of whom died in infancy: Aman J., married, and lives in Yellow Springs, Greene County ; Anna, mar- ried, and lives in Clinton County ; George H., single, and lives on a farm in Missouri; Arthur W., single, living near Yellow Springs.
The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Lucinda Wright, daughter of Merritt Wright, of Xenia, September 28, 1871, and soon after their marriage commenced house-keeping in Xenia. They have three children, two sons and one daughter: Edgar W., John McCling, and Clara A. At the age of sixteen Mr. Harris commenced to learn the marble and monument business with Mr. Dodds, of Yellow Springs, in the year 1863. In 1864 Mr. Dodds moved to Xenia, where he opened up a more extensive business. Mr. Harris remained in his employ until 1866, when he enlisted in the regular army for three years, served out his time, and was hon- orably discharged. He at once returned home, and resumed his place with Mr. Dodds in the monument business, continuing with him until 1876, when he set up in business for himself at Xenia, and continued until March, 1880, when he returned to Washington, and open ed a marble and granite establishment, which has steadily increased until the present time.
D. M. HAYS.
D. M. Hays, agriculturist, Washington, was born in Ross County, August 1, 1824, and is a son of James, jr., and Margaret Hays, and grandson of James Hays, sen., who was grandfather to President
42
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Hayes. Grandfather James jr's father was a native of Kentucky, and his mother of Ohio. They had a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, all living.
The subject of our sketch is the eldest of the family, and was married, in 1848, to Miss Rebecca Mann, daughter of David and Harriet Mann, of this state. They have a family of six children living: Harriet E., Joseph A., Addison N., Margaret M., John B., and Alice D .; and six dead : James D., John W., George W., and two who died in infancy.
Mr. Hays is a member of Bloomingburg Lodge No. 449, F. & A. M., and also a member of the Grange, No. 599; he is also a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife was called from him by death last August, after living together for thirty-three years. He now owns a farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres in this township, well cultivated, and is one of the thorough-going and enterprising farmers of the county. He received his education in Pike County, where his youth was principally spent. He is now extensively engaged in the agricultural implement business, and is doing his full share of the business in Washington.
BOMEN HESS.
Bomen Hess, undertaker, Washington, was born in Clinton County, August 20, 1838, and is a son of Fuller and Mary Hess, natives of Pennsylvania, who immigrated to Ohio in the year 1833, with a family of one child, Bomen, our subject, who was married in January, 1860, to Miss Sarah C. Cochran, daughter of Robert and Sarah Cochran, of Adams County. They are blessed with three children : Mary, Robert, and Elvira.
Mr. Hess is a member of Temple Lodge No. 227, I. O. O. F., and of Fayette Lodge No. 107, F. & A. M. He received his education in Washington, where the principal portion of his youth was spent. He has for the past six years been engaged in the business of un- dertaker at Washington, and is doing the principal portion of the business. He is a man generally known and well beloved by all who know him, hence his extensive business.
EPHRAIM HENKLE.
Ephraim Henkle, farmer and stock-raiser, Washington. His
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parents were natives of Virginia. They came to Ohio in an early day, and located on the waters of main Paint Creek, one mile and a half above Washington. Here the subject of this sketch was born, April 23, 1818. At the age of ten his mother died, and from that time up to the present, Mr. Henkle has had to care for himself (the father abandoning the family).
He married Miss Mary S. Carr, daughter of Joshua Carr, March 12, 1840. In 1848 he bought seventy-eight acres of land in this township, some three miles west from the town of Washington, paying eight dollars per acre for the same. He at once removed to this farm, and has remained there until the present time.
Mrs. Henkle died March 4, 1871. They were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters: Ellen, died when a young woman, in the twenty-second year of her age; Mary Jane, married James A. Bush, and lives on her father's farm; William L., mar- ried, and lives on his farm in the neighborhood; Jason F., is thirty- four years of age, married to his second wife, and living in the town of Jasper. He is an ordained minister of the gospel in the Methodist Protestant Church, has been in the regular pastoral work for nearly six years, and is now serving his church in that relation at home, where he was born and raised. Noah S. is single, remain- ing at home with his father, and cultivating a portion of the home farm. Joel E. is married, and lives on his own farm in the neigh- borhood. Jesse C. is married, and lives in Madison County. Cath- arine J. is married, and lives in Jasper Township. Amanda S. is married, and lives in Bainbridge, Ross County. Almeda Lorena is single, and keeps house for her father.
Probably no man in the county has been more successful in the raising of a good family of children than Mr. Henkle. He has seen them all grown up to manhood and womanhood, kind, honest, industrious, religious (all being members of the Methodist Protest- ant Church). He has always been a public-spirited man, a man of enterprise and activity. For many years he served the county as infirmary director, giving the most perfect satisfaction, and for four years acted as assessor of the township. Although over age, yet at the earnest request of his many friends, he served as captain in the hundred days' service, and was taken prisoner at Cynthiana, Ken- tucky. He owns a most excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he resides, paying as high as one hundred dollars per acre, without any buildings, for a portion of it. This is one of the best farms of its size in the county.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
MICHAEL HERBERT.
Michael Herbert, banker, Washington, was born near the city of Limerick, Ireland, September 25, 1829. As regards his genealogy, he has learned sufficient to know that it is considerably mixed, composed of various fonts, consisting of German-English and Spanish-French blood. On his father's side the former prevails; on his mother's, the latter. He received his school education in the "Emerald Isle." With his father's family he emigrated to Canada in 1840. He was early " thrown upon his own resources." He commenced the study of the printing business at London, Can- ada West, in 1842. In May, 1850, he left Canada, and migrated to Cincinnati, where he remained, pursuing his studies of "the art preservative," until November, 1855. He then came to Washing- ton, this county, and accepted the foremanship of the office of the Washington Register. He had previously, during his sojourn in Cincinnati, become intimately acquainted with the editor of that paper, Mr. Elgar B. Pearce, they having "set 'em up" on various journals during their stay in the Queen City, and at case they did labor together.
In April, 1861, he dropped "the stick and rule," and " fought, bled, and died for his country" during the three months' "sojer" campaign, as many great heroes have done in cases of similar " un- pleasantness," and long afterward partook of regular rations! At the close of that ever-to-be-remembered, though brief campaign, owing to physical disability under which he then labored, he aban- doned "the profession of arms," and again resumed the duties of his position on the Register. During his connection with that jour- nal in the capacity mentioned, he performed considerable duty in the chair editorial,-wrote for and contributed largely to its columns.
In January, 1866, he commenced to act as clerk (book-keeper) in the First National Bank of Washington (which corporation became a private banking institution, styled and known as the Peoples and Drovers Bank, in April, 1878). In 1868 he was appointed teller of the bank, and at present writing (September, 1881,) still officiates in that position. He states that though he has handled millions of cash, he yet finds dollars of 1804 very scarce !
January 20, 1870, a very important episode transpired in the life of Mr. Herbert. He married! took unto himself as wife a most
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estimable lady, Mrs. Virginia B. Pearce, widow of his langsyne friend, Mr. E. B. Pearce.
As a voyager on life's stormy sea, Mr. Herbert "pursues the even tenor of his way" in the endeavor to discharge, as best he can, and as seems to him right and proper, the various duties devolving upon him, feeling that "Time will make all things right," e'en though-
"There's many a change on Folly's bells Quite equals mud and oyster shells."
THOMAS HILDENBRAND.
Thomas Hildenbrand, farmer, Washington, was born in Jackson County, Ohio, March 13, 1847. He is a son of George and Rachel Hildenbrand, both natives of this state. They had a family of ten children, all living but three.
Thomas, the subject of our sketch, enlisted in' September, 1864, in Company E, 179th O. V. I., and was mustered out June 17, 1865, at Columbus. He came here from Jackson County, in the year 1879, and is now living on his farm some three miles north of Washington.
JOSEPH HIDY.
Joseph Hidy, attorney-at-law, Washington, was born in this county, August 23, 1854. He is a son of Urban and Mary A. Hidy, natives of Ohio, who reared a family of five children, two dead and three living.
Joseph, the subject of our sketch, is a member of the Jefferson- ville lodge of Freemasons. He received his education at the com- mon school, and then took a philosophical course, receiving the de- gree of bachelor of philosophy at Buchtel College, Akron, this state. He then went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and took a collegiate course, graduating in the spring of 1878. He was admitted to the bar in April, 1878, and commenced practice the following May, un- der the firm name of Savage and Hidy.
W. J. HORNEY.
W. J. Horney, county commissioner and farmer, was born in Jefferson Township, this county, on the 20th of February, 1831,
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
and is a son of Jeffrey and Catherine Horner! He was a native of North Carolina, and immigrated to this county, in 1805, she of Virginia, and came here in 1815. The family consisted of nine children.
W. J. Horney, our subject, was married, in 1853, to Sallie A. McMillen, daughter of John and Martha McMillen, of this county. The marriage has been blessed with four children: Edwin E., Ida F., Eugene W., and Mary C., all living, two others dying in infancy.
He, during the " late unpleasantness," assisted in driving Morgan back to Kentucky. He was first lieutenant of Company G, 168th O. V. I., and is a member of Pleasant View Baptist Church. He received his education in this county, where his youth was spent, and is now serving his second term as county commissioner, and owns three hundred and twenty-five acres of land near Jeffer- sonville. (See Jefferson Township.)
R. C. HUNT.
R. C. Hunt, civil engineer, was born, December 1, 1851, in War- ren County, Kentucky, and is a son of Weldon and Nancy Hunt. His father is a native of North Carolina, his mother of Kentucky. They had a family of nine children.
R. C. Hunt was married, the 16th of February, 1881, to Miss Lida Saxton, a daughter of George Saxton, of Washington. He has been a civil engineer for ten years, and still holds that position. He received his education at Cave Springs Academy, in Logan County, Kentucky; studying civil engineering at the same place. His office is located on Court Street, Washington.
GEORGE C. JENKINS.
George C. Jenkins, grocer, was born in Franklin, Ross County, Ohio, November 13, 1842, and is a son of James M. and Sarah Jenkins. His father is a native of Ohio, and his mother of Penn- sylvania ; they had a family of four children.
Our subject, the only son, was married December 14, 1869, to Miss Mary E. McLean, daughter of Joseph McLean, of this county ; they have four children : Mertie M., Dio L., Lucy D., and Harvey G., all living.
Our subject enlisted the 19th of May, 1861, in Company B, in
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the 21st Illinois Infantry, and served with this regiment some two months, and then was attached to the 2d Illinois Light Artillery, where he served two and a half years; when he was promoted to second lieutenant in 1st Alabama cavalry, U. S. V., and was again promoted to captain ; when on the 10th of March, 1865, he was wounded, in the battle of Monroe's cross roads, in the left arm and right instep, which kept him off duty some three months; when he returned to his command on the 3d of July, 1865. This was the last regular engagement he was in, and after serving four years, five months and one day, he was, on the 20th of October, 1865, honorably discharged. He was in twenty-seven regular en- gagements, besides hundreds of minor battles. He is a member of the Methodist Church, also of the Grand Army of the Republic. He received his education at Washington, where his youth was spent. He is now engaged in the grocery business, of which he has his full share of patronage.
SOLOMON F. JOHNSON.
Solomon F. Johnson, coal dealer and farmer, is the son of Thomas T. and Mary Johnson, who were natives of Virginia ; but came with their parents to this state, in an' early day, when they were quite young. His father first settled in Greene County, and his mother in Warren County. After their marriage they removed to Springfield Illinois, where they remained some three years ; when they removed to the State of Indiana and remained a short time, then they returned to Ohio and settled in Fayette County, where the mother died, at the age of seventy-two, and the father at the advanced age of eighty. They were the parents of seven children, four daughters and three sons. Anna, married to Simeon Creamer, now deceased .- She remains a widow and lives near the line of Clinton and Fayette counties. Rachel died at the age of twelve. Amos Thornburg, married and lives in Jacksonville, Oregon. Martha was unmarried, and died in Springfield, Illinois, at the age of eighteen. Lydia married for her first husband Wesley Creamer, and after his decease, she married Mathias Sheeley for her second husband. She is a resident of this county. William Todd married and moved to the State of Iowa some years ago.
Solomon F., the subject of this sketch, was born near Painters- ville, Greene County, Ohio, December 31, 1824. He married Miss
-
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Mary Creamer, July 19, 1846, daughter of Simeon and Elizabeth Creamer of this county. The mother died in 1842, and the father in 1865. Mrs. Johnson descends from a most excellent family. Mr. Johnson was engaged in the mercantile business in Jamestown, Greene County, Ohio, from 1846 to 1849, when he sold out his mer- cantile business and moved to this county, where he has contin- uously resided until the present time.
Mr. Johnson spent several years, after his removal to this county, in farming, and selling goods and groceries in Jeffersonville and West Lancaster.
In 1857, he moved to Washington, and was engaged in the grain and grocery business until April, 1858, when he became deputy sheriff' of the county, which office consumed his time up to August, 1860, when on the third day of that month, he was appointed station agent for the the town of Washington, by the Cincinnati, Wilmington and Zanesville. Railroad Company, now known as the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad. In a very short time after his appointment as railroad agent, he was appointed agent of the Adams Express Company, which position he held for some fourteen years. Mr. Johnson held the position of railroad agent, at Washington, for seventeen years ; resigning August 3, 1877.
In 1862, he commenced the selling of coal in Washington, and has continued in the business up to the present time. For many years he was the only dealer in coal in the town, and few men here handled so large an amount of coal as has Mr. Johnson. The year previous to Mr Johnson's commencing the coal business, only forty five car loads of coal were required to supply the trade of the town. Mr. Johnson has seen such an increase in the coal demand, that more than one thousand car loads have been disposed of in a single year. Mr. Johnson has always been considered a safe, honest and reliable business man ; giving strict attention to business, and as a result, has accumulated quite an amount of valuable property. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres adjoining the town, west, on the C. & M. V. Railroad. Also, a very fine new brick residence, where he resides, on North Street, between Court. and East streets ; also, quite a number of valuable pieces of property in the town ; as well as some fifty-nine hundred dollars of bank stock, in the Peoples and Drovers Bank of the town.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of nine children, five of
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whom are deceased: Theresa and Willie died in infancy, Clara Bell at the age of twelve, Laura at the age of fifteen, and Nellie at the age of twelve.
Theodore Frank is a young man of much promise. He remains single and takes good care not to leave his mother's bed and board. He has been connected with the Peoples and Drovers Bank of Washington for a number of years, and is regarded as a safe, up- right business young man. He received his education in the schools of the town.
Lucy May and Emma Cary, are young ladies, both single and at home with their parents; both being graduates of the high school of the town, and much respected by all.
' Charley Card is a lad of eighteen, attending school, and during vacation assisting his father in the coal business.
In politics Mr. Johnson is a Republican. In religion, a Quaker. He is a Freemason, being a member of Lodge No. 107, of this town.
Mrs. Johnson is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.
FELIX H. KNOTT.
Felix H. Knott, physician and surgeon, Washington, was born in Fayette County, February 21, 1851. He is a son of Ananias and Mary Knott, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio about the year 1845, with a family of five children, two sons and three daugh- ters.
Felix, our subject, was married in 1871, to Miss Samantha De- Witt, daughter of Anderson and Elizabeth De Witt, of this county. They have a family of two children, Lulu and Wallace.
Mr. Knott received his education in Cincinnati, at the Eclectic Medical College, where he graduated in 1871. He commenced practicing in 1869, and practiced at Monticello, Illinois, for some three years and a half. After this he settled in Washington, where he has since resided. He commenced reading medicine at the age of twelve, with his father, who was also a physician, at Monticello, Illinois. He had accumulated quite a nice property, and had money upon which to live comfortably, but upon account of his wife's health was compelled to leave there at considerable of a sacrifice. At one time he lost $7,000, going security. By faith- fulness to business he has gained a practice and reputation second to none.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
SHEP. LOGAN.
Shep. Logan, deputy clerk, Washington, was born in Washing- ton, October 21, 1853. He is a son of Wilson B. and Mary V. Logan, both natives of this state. They had a family of four children, three sons and one daughter: James W., Sina V., Clay- ton C., and Shep.
Shep., our subject, has been deputy county clerk some four years, and now fills that position. He received his education in Wash- ington, where the principal portion of his life has been spent. His father was captain of Company D, 175th O. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, on the 30th of November,' 1864, after passing through all the hard-fought and bloody battles up to that time.
MARTHA E. LONG.
Mrs. Martha E. Long, daughter of George and Mary Bohrer (whose biographies appear in the history of Marion Township), was born May 1, 1821. Her father, when she was three years of age, removed to Washington, where the family resided until 1828. They then removed to New Holland, Pickaway County, where Mr. Bohrer died.
August 5, 1846, she was married to Alexander Long, of Chilli- cothe, (born January 26, 1818,) and soon after began house-keep- ing at New Holland, where her husband followed his trade of harness-making for twenty years. They afterward kept hotel at that place for several years. They were blessed with four children: Alice, born January 18, 1848; George A., born July 25, 1850; Sal- lie L., born December 8, 1854; and Lucy J., born October 11, 1860. Alice died April 24, 1849, at the age of fifteen months. Sallie L. died January 1, 1878.
In 1863 Mrs. Long had the misfortune of losing her husband, who died of consumption August 12th of that year.
After her husband's death, Mrs. Long remained in New Holland five years, when she removed to Warsaw, Indiana, where she en- gaged in the hotel business. She remained in that state till 1870, and then returned to Ohio, and again opened a private boarding- house, which she still continues on West Court Street.
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Mrs. Long is widely known throughout the county as an ex- emplary lady, and her generosity has become proverbial. No weary, destitute traveler goes from her door unfed; and, although having a family of her own to provide for, yet thirteen homeless children have found an asylum beneath her hospitable roof, several of whom have grown to maturity and married.
Mrs. Long's latter days have been saddened by the death of her son George, who departed this life February 7, 1881. He was ed- ucated at New Holland and Bloomingburg, and afterwards followed the trade of blacksmithing, and later that of sign painting. He belonged to Company B, 6th regiment Ohio National Guards, and was a member of the I. O. O. F., by which order he was buried.
We append the resolutions of respect to his memory from both of these orders, with an obituary notice from the Fayette County Republican, which show the esteem in which he was held by those who knew him best :
" DEATH OF GEORGE LONG."
"On Monday morning George Long breathed his last, after suf- fering long with consumption. George was a good-hearted young man, who possessed many excellent qualities, and while his health permitted was industrious to a great degree. And could he have lived in the enjoyment of good health, his genius would have se- cured for him a reputation as an artist to which but few attain. ยท George was in the thirty-first year of his age, and until the last three or four years his prospects for a long life were as flattering as those of any young man in our city. George had many warm friends, and was universally respected by our citizens. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd-fellows, and by which order he was buried, in the family cemetery at New Holland, Pickaway County, Thursday afternoon."
RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT.
At the meeting of the committee appointed from Company B, 6th regiment O. N. G., to prepare resolutions relative to the death of Corporal George Long, the following were offered by Orderly Sergeant Maynard, and adopted :
WHEREAS, Death has taken another name from our company roster, and another comrade in early manhood from our ranks; therefore,
Resolved, That this command has learned with deep regret the
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
death of Corporal George Long, in the prime of manhood and usefulness.
Resolved, That in Corporal Long this command loses an earnest and devoted fellow soldier-prompt, willing, and disciplined.
Resolved, That an escort of a non-commissioned officer and twelve privates-as prescribed by regulations-be sent with the remains of the deceased.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be given to the Wash- ington C. H. papers for publication, and a copy of the same trans- mitted to the family of the deceased.
First Lieutenant J. L. Millikan, orderly sergeant H. B. Maynard, privates M. Barclay, Willis M. Pine, Frank Edwards.
I. O. O. F. RESOLUTIONS ON THE DEATH OF GEORGE A. LONG.
WHEREAS, It has pleased Almighty God in his providence to re- move from earth our friend and Brother, George A. Long, at Washington C. H., February 7, 1881, aged thirty years; therefore, be it
Resolved, That while we humbly bow to the will of our eternal Father, we deeply deplore the loss of our beloved brother.
Resolved, By his death society has lost a good citizen, this lodge a worthy member, and his mother and sister a kind son and brother.
Resolved, That we tender to the mother and sister of the de- ceased our heartfelt sympathy in their hour of deep affliction.
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