USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, Ohio: its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 104
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leaving a daughter, Nancy Cleo. The Joneses are members of Mt. Tabor Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views Mr. Jones is inclined to be independent.
ROBERT E. HOLMES.
Robert E. Holmes, one of the colored business men of Xenia, was born . at Fincastle, Virginia, December 6, 1863, a son of Alexander and Rebecca (Dillard) Holmes, both of whom were born and held in bondage in that state prior to the Emancipation. Alexander Holmes died in 1876 and his widow survived until 1914, her death occurring at Fincastle, Virginia, she then being past eighty years of age. They were the parents of eight children, one of whom, a daughter, Maria, was given with part of the estate of Robert Harris, upon its division, and was never again seen by her family. The other mem- bers of this family, besides the subject of this sketch, follow : James Wendall Holmes, who lives in Boston, Massachusetts; Gertrude, who is the widow of Andrew Scruggs and who now lives with her brother Robert at Xenia; Phyllis, now living at Charleston, West Virginia, widow of John Dehaven: Fannie, unmarried, who lives at Harriman, New Jersey ; Eva, deceased, and Virginia, who married Louis Gurdy and is still living at Fincastle, Virginia.
Reared at Fincastle, Robert E. Holmes received his early schooling there and later entered the Central Tennessee College at Nashville, from which he was graduated in 1889. Following his graduation he began teaching school in Tennessee and was presently made the principal of the colored schools at Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, a position he occupied for fifteen years, at the end of which time, in 1902, lie came to Ohio and located at Xenia, where he be- came engaged in the undertaking business in partnership with J. D. Thomas, under the firm nanie of Holmes & Thomas, which firm also conducted a grocery store at 640 East Main street. In July, 1915, the firm bought another grocery store at 803 East Church street and operated both stores until the death of Mr. Thomas in December, 1916, after which Mr. Holmes merged the two stores and has since been carrying on the business at 803 Church street, where he also has his undertaking establishment. Mr. Holmes is a Republican and when the charter committee was chosen in the spring of 1917 to draft a charter for the city of Xenia with a view to adopting a commis- sion form of government he was made a member of that committee and when that charter was adopted at a subsequent election he announced his candidacy for a place on the prospective city commission.
On March 25. 1897, at Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, Robert E. Holmes was united in marriage to Carrie M. Marshall, who was born and reared at that place, and to this union five children have been born, namely: Robert, who died in infancy : Gertrude, born in 1904, who is now a student in the Xenia
(59)
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high school; Robert, born in 1908; Thomas, 1911, and Willa, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes are members of Zion Baptist church, of which the former has for years been one of the office bearers, being now treasurer of the church, a member of the diaconate and chairman of the joint board. He is identified with the colored lodges of the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
WILLIAM M. SMITH.
William M. Smith, one of Cedarville township's substantial farmers, was born on the farm on which he now lives, on March 22, 1875, son of Samuel and Esther J. (Cook) Smith, the former of whom was born in that same vicinity, just over the line in Madison township, in the neighboring county of Clark, and the latter near the village of Waynesville, in the county of Warren, neighboring Greene county to the southwest.
Samuel Smith was born on December 31, 1827, a son of Seth and Deborah (Wildman) Smith, pioneers of the Selma neighborhood up in Clark county. Seth Smith was a Virginian, born in Loudoun county, in the Old Dominion, July 1I, 1798, and was but two years of age when his parents, Seth Smith and wife, also Virginians, the former of whom was born on May 19, 1761, came to the then Territory of Ohio and settled on a tract of land about a mile from where later came to be established the village of Selma. The elder Seth Smith and his wife were earnest Quakers and were among the original members of the Friends meeting at Selma, and their descendants even to the present generation have ever preserved their birthright in that meet- ing. The elder Seth Smith created a good piece of farm property there in pioneer days and spent his last days on that farm, his death occurring there on April 1, 1837. On that place his son Seth grew to manhood. After his marriage to Deborah Wildman, who was a member of one of the pioneer Quaker families of that neighborhood, he established his home on a farm in that same vicinity, bordering on the Greene county line, about a mile from Selma, and there developed a fine piece of property. He and his wife were the parents of four children, of whom Samuel Smith, father of the subject of this sketch, was the first-born, the others being Ruth, who became the wife of Samuel Hadley, of Wilmington, county seat of the neighboring county of Clinton : Oliver, who moved from his farm on the line between Clark and Greene counties to Emporia, Kansas, in 1885, and thence, after a while, to Whittier, California, where he spent his last days; and Seth, who came into possession of his grandfather's old home place, but years ago moved to Whit- tier, California, where he is now living retired.
Reared on the place on which he was born, Samuel Smith was early trained in the ways of practical farming and after his marriage established
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his home on that portion of the honte farm which extended over the line into Cedarville township, this county, and where in 1874 he erected the substan- tial brick house in which his son William is now living. After his father's death Samuel Smith inherited that farm and gradually added to the same until he became the owner of a fine place of three hundred and forty-two acres. In addition to his general farming, he was widely known as one of the most successful stockmen in that part of the county. Samuel Smith was a Republican and had rendered public service as, a director of schools in. his home district. He and his wife were earnest adherents of the Friends meet- ing at Selma and he was for years an office bearer in the same. His death occurred at his home on February 24, 1901, he then being in the seventy- fourth year of his age. His wife had preceded him to the grave by fifteen years, her death having occurred on September 28, 1885. She was born, Esther J. Cook, in the vicinity of Waynesville, in Warren county, this state, January 24, 1846, daughter of Marcellus and Harriet (Whittaker) Cook, the former of whom was reared in the vicinity of Selma, a birthright member of the Selma meeting of Friends, and whose last days were spent in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he had made his home upon his retirement from his Warren county farm. Marcellus Cook was thrice mar- ried and his daughter Esther was one of the children of his first marriage. Samuel Smith and Esther Cook were united in marriage on June 1, 1869, and to that union were born four children, namely: Howard, a well-to-do farmer of the Selma neighborhood; Anna Ethel, who died in her third year; William M., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch, and Edith, wife of G. W. Sharpless, a dairyman, living in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
William M. Smith grew up on the farm on which he is now living and supplemented the schooling received in the Selma schools by attendance for two years at Earlham College, in which institution his brother and his sister also completed their schooling, and after leaving school resumed his place on the farm and gave his serious attention to the further development of the same. Following the death of his father in 1901 he inherited one hundred acres of the farm, including the home place in Cedarville township, and after his marriage in 1904 established his home there. Since coming into his in- heritance Mr. Smith has bought seventy-two acres adjoining and has made substantial improvements on his place. In addition to his general farming he feeds about fifty head of cattle and one hundred head of hogs each year.
On September 14, 1904, William M. Smith was united in marriage to Floy McDorman, who also was born in this county, daughter of Allan and Stella ( Paullin) McDorman, residents of Ross township and members of the Selma meeting of Friends, and to this union have been born two children, daughters both, Esther, born on January 22, 1907, and Virginia, February
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12, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are both birthright members of the Selma meeting of Friends and take an interested part in the good works of the same, Mr. Smith having served as overseer of the meeting.
COL. CHARLES YOUNG, U. S. A.
On the back of the honorable discharge received by Gabriel Young, father of Col. Charles Young, U. S. A., of Wilberforce, upon being mus- tered out of service at the close of the Civil War, there appears the follow- ing: "I take pleasure in recommending to the public at large the within named Gabriel Young. He has served faithfully and honestly, is a good soldier ; besides is trustworthy and reliable in every particular and a gentle- man, which is indispensible to a thorough soldier. (Signed) Resp'fly, Lt .- Col. L. S. Long."
"A good soldier and a gentleman." Surely no higher commendation could be given, and with this as his guide and goal and with the memory of his soldier father as an inspiration Col. Charles Young, the only living col- ored graduate of the United States Military Academy and the only colored man ever raised to the rank of colonel in the United States regular army, has gone on his way, faithfully and dutifully performing those tasks that were set for him to do until he has gained his present distinctive position in the army he has so long served, bearing modestly the honors he has won- "a good soldier and a gentleman."
Colonel Young is a native of Kentucky, born at Helena, in Mason county, that state, March 12, 1864, son and only child of Gabriel and Arminta (Bruen) Young, both of whom were born in slavery in that same state and the latter of whom is still living. Her mother, Julia Quinn Bruen, was a cousin of Bishop Allen, the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal church in the United States, and was the first colored teacher in Kentucky. On February 13, 1865, Gabriel Young enlisted his services and went to the front as a member of Company F, Fifth Kentucky Heavy Artillery, serving with that command until honorably discharged at Vicksburg on February 12, 1866. Upon the completion of his military service Gabriel Young moved with his little family from Kentucky to Ohio and located at Ripley, in Brown county, where he engaged in the livery business; remaining there until 1884, when he moved to Zanesville, where he was further engaged in the livery business and where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring there in 1894 at the age of forty-eight years. His widow, who still survives him, is making her home with her son, the Colonel. She is a Baptist, as was her husband. The latter was a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Zanesville. Politically, he was a Republican.
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Charles Young was but eighteen months of age when his parents came to this state from Kentucky and he was reared at Ripley, receiving his early schooling in the schools of that place, and was graduated from the high school there in 1881. For three years thereafter he taught school at Ripley, - the last year of his service in that connection being as principal of the colored high school, and in 1884 he received his appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which institution he was graduated in 1889, and was shortly afterward attached, as second lieutenant, to the Ninth United States Cavalry, then stationed at Ft. Robinson, Nebraska, remaining with that regiment until 1894, in which year he was appointed to take charge of the course in military tactics at Wilberforce University. This was Colonel Young's first introduction to Wilberforce, the place which later was to become his home. In 1897 he was commissioned first lieutenant and when the Spanish-American War broke out he was recalled to active field service and was put in charge of the Ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, continuing thus attached until 1899, when he was ordered to rejoin his old regiment, the Ninth United States Cavalry, in Utah. In 1901 he received his captaincy and his troop saw service in the Philippines during two diffi- cult campaigns, remaining there for eighteen months, at the end of which time, in the latter part of 1902 he was returned to the United States and was located with his regiment at the Presidio, San Francisco. It was while he was stationed at the Presidio that Colonel Young, in 1903, was appointed military attaché to the United States legation in Santo Domingo and Haiti, married and took his departure for his new station in the island republics, where he remained for four years. During his service at Santo Domingo Colonel Young made a map of the island and wrote a monograph on the same for the United States government which are regarded as valuable documents. Upon the completion of his service there he was returned to his old regi- ment, the Ninth United States Cavalry, and in 1908. was returned to the Philippines as captain commanding a squadron, two troops, of that com- mand, and upon his return with his command in 1909 continued with the regiment and was thus stationed until 1912, in which year he received his second appointment as military attaché in a foreign post, this appointment sending him to the republic of Liberia, on the west coast of Africa, where he remained for four years. During this period he acted as military adviser to the government of Liberia and in that capacity rendered an important service by securing the construction of a lengthy military road from the capital, selecting three American assistants of his own choosing to attend to the details of construction; for this work receiving, in 1917, the Spingarn Medal, the second award of that honor ever conferred. Upon his return to the United States in 1916 he was assigned to the Tenth Cavalry in command
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of a squadron of that regiment, with title of major, later raised to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and with that command served with the punitive expe- dition sent into Mexico under General Pershing's command, remaining with - his regiment until July, 1917, when he returned to his established home at Wilberforce, where he is now ( 1918) awaiting further orders.
Since his return from Santo Domingo in 1907 Colonel Young has had a residence in the immediate vicinity of Wilberforce, on the Columbus pike out of Xenia. The Colonel has many souvenirs of his travels in his home and can tell some entertaining tales connected with some of them. Besides the official monograph above referred to he has written considerable and his book, "Military Morale of Nations and Races." was regarded as of sufficient technical value as to warrant its publication. Colonel Young also has writ- ten some plays, which are still in manuscript, and some music, and is a per- former on the pipe organ and piano. In 1903, just prior to his departure for Santo Domingo, Colonel Young was united in marriage to Ada Barr and to this union two children have been born, C. Noel, born in 1907, and Marie A., 1909. By religious persuasion the Colonel is a Universalist. His wife is a Catholic.
CAMPBELL L. MAXWELL.
Among the alumni of Wilberforce University there are many persons who in one and another walk of life have attained honor and fame or who have reflected a more than usual degree of credit upon their alma mater, as well as upon the race in whose behalf that institution has for many years exercised so beneficent an influence, but in the whole long roster of this alumni there are few names more widely known than that of Campbell L. Maxwell, of Xenia, a life trustee of Wilberforce University and dean of the law department of that institution, former consul-general to the Republic of Santo Domingo, former city clerk of Xenia and for many years engaged in the practice of law in that city.
Campbell L. Maxwell is a native son of Ohio, born on his father's farm in Fayette county, not far from Edgefield, fifth in order of birth of the eleven children born to Campbell and Henrietta (Hill) Maxwell, both of whom were born in Virginia, but who, soon after their marriage, about 1830, came over into Ohio and settled in Fayette county, where Campbell Maxwell be- came the owner of a farm near the town of Edgefield, where his wife spent the remainder of her life. he moving to Xenia after his second marriage. where he remained until death. Campbell Maxwell was a son of James Max- well and wife, both of whom also were born in Virginia and who, not long after their son Campbell came to Ohio joined him and his family and pres-
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ently bought a little farm in the vicinity of Plymouth, where their last days were spent. Campbell and Henrietta Maxwell were the parents of eleven children. The mother of these children died in the early '70s and Campbell Maxwell married again, his second wife having been a Mrs. Armstrong, but this second marriage was without issue. He was a member of the African Methodist Episcopal church and both he and the mother of his children were devoted to the proper education and training of those children, the benefits of this training being noted in the after courses of the lives of these children, several of whom besides the subject of this sketch have achieved success in the gospel ministry, in educational circles and in the marts of trade. Joshua C. Maxwell, the eldest son, was for years a grocer in the city of Xenia, where his last days were spent. The Rev. J. P. Maxwell, another son, long a resi- dent of Wilberforce and formerly and for years secretary of Wilberforce University, is now the pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal church at Lancaster, Ohio. Another son, the Rev. George W. Maxwell, also entered the ministry and is now the presiding elder of the Cincinnati district of the African Methodist Episcopal church. He has for years made his honie at Xenia. Charles F. Maxwell early became qualified as a teacher and is now connected with the public schools at Spencer, Indiana. John M. Maxwell, another of these sons who turned his attention to teaching was for many years principal of the colored high school at Louisville, Kentucky, where his death occurred several years ago. Daniel S. Maxwell, now deceased, also became a teacher and was connected with the schools of New Albany, Indi- ana, at the time of his death. There were four sisters in this family. Of these Mary J., widow of Samuel Finley, is now living at Detroit, Michigan. Martha, widow of Thomas Jones, a veteran of the Civil War, is living on her farm in Paulding county, this state. Celia, now deceased, married Charles Upthegrove and lived in Fayette county. Her death occurred in Xenia. Nancy, the only one of these children who did not grow to maturity, died at the age of fourteen years.
Reared on the home farm in the vicinity of Edgefield, Campbell L. Maxwell received his early schooling in the district schools of that neighbor- hood and when eighteen years of age entered the public schools of Xenia and after a course there entered Wilberforce University, in which institu- tion he completed a special course preparatory to entering the law school of the university, from which latter department he was in due time graduated. Upon receiving his diploma Mr. Maxwell was admitted to the bar of Greene county and also was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the state. Not long after his graduation from the law school Mr. Maxwell married and was about that time appointed principal of the colored schools in the neighboring county seat of Springfield, which position he held for several years, at the end of which time he left the school room and returned to Xenia,
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where he opened an office for the practice of his profession. Not long after- ward he was elected clerk of the city of Xenia and for six years held that office. During the administration of President Harrison he was appointed American consul to Santo Domingo and with his family moved to that island, where he lived for three years, or until his retirement under the ad- ministration of President Cleveland. During the Mckinley administration Mr. Maxwell was returned to the island republic of Santo Domingo as United States consul-general and for four years served his government in that ini- portant capacity. Upon his retirement from public life he returned to his home in Xenia and has since resided there, continuing the practice of his pro- fession. Mr. Maxwell is a life member of the board of trustees of Wilber- force University and for several years has been dean of the law school of that admirable institution.
In 1873 Campbell L. Maxwell was united in marriage to Mary E. Cousins, who was born in Xenia, daughter of Edward and Catherine Cousins, the latter of whom is still living, and to this union two children have been born, a son and a daughter, Earl F. and Minnie Pearl, the former of whom is associated with his father in the practice of law at Xenia, and the latter, a teacher in the Xenia public schools, at home with her parents. Earl F. Maxwell was graduated from the Xenia high school and early turned his attention to the study of law, later entering Ohio State University and after being graduated from that institution was admitted to the bar and became associated with his father in the practice of his profession at Xenia, under the firm name of Maxwell & Maxwell. He is married, his wife having been Helen Garnes before her marriage. Minnie Pearl Maxwell attended and was graduated in French and Spanish from the Instituto de Senoritas de Santo Domingo during the time of her father's service as consul-general to Santo Domingo and there became proficient in the use of both French and Spanish. She later attended and graduated from Wilberforce University and has for some years been connected with the Xenia schools. The Max- wells are members of St. John's African Methodist Episcopal church at Xenia, in which Mr. Maxwell has for years been an office bearer and is at present a member of the board of trustees of the same. Mr. Maxwell has for years taken an active interest in the affairs of the colored Masonic or- ganization and was for many years secretary of the grand lodge of that order in Ohio. He was at one time affiliated with the blue lodge, the council, the chapter and the commandery at Xenia and has done much to promote the proper development of Masonic principles among the men of his race in this state. Mrs. Maxwell was before and after her marriage a teacher in the public schools and it is to her wise counsel and steadfast devotion that Mr. Maxwell attributes much of his success in life.
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GILBERT H. JONES, M. A., PH. D.
Dr. Gilbert H. Jones, dean of the liberal arts department of Wilber- force University and one of the best-known young colored educators in the country, was born at Ft. Mott, in Calhoun county, South Carolina, August 23, 1883, and is a son of Bishop Joshua H. Jones, former president of Wil- berforce University and a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal church since 1912, who is still making his home at Wilberforce, and regarding whom "Who's Who in Anierica" says: "Jones, Joshua H., bishop; b. Pine Plains, Lexington Co., S. C., June 15, 1856; s. Joseph and Sylvia J .; B.A., Claflin U., S. C., 1885; student Howard U., Washington, D. C .; B.D., Wilberforce (Ohio) U., 1887 (D.D., 1893) : 1. Elizabeth Martin, 1875; 1. 2d. Augusta E. Clark, of Wilberforce, Nov., 1888. Local preacher A. M. E. Ch. at 18; pastor in S. C., Wheeling. W. Va., Wilberforce, O., Lynn, Mass., Provi- dence, R. I., and Columbus, O .; presiding elder Columbus dist., 1894-9; pastor Zanesville, O., 1899; pres. Wilberforce U., 1900-8; bishop A. M. E. Ch. since 1912. Home : Wilberforce, O."
Gilbert H. Jones was but a boy when his parents moved from South Carolina to Providence, Rhode Island, and in that city he received his first public-school training. The family later moved to Columbus, Ohio, and there in 1898, he then being but fifteen years of age, he was graduated from the Central high school. The next year he entered Ohio State University and after three years of study there transferred his attendance to Wilberforce University and was given his Bachelor of Arts degree by that institution in 1902, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from the same institution in 1903. For three years after his graduation Doctor Jones was employed as principal of the Lincoln high school at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in the mean- time pursuing his studies in Dickinson College at that place, and in 1905 re- ceived from that institution the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy, the same institution two years later conferring upon him the degree of Master of Arts. While at Carlisle he was invited to accept the chair of classic lan- guages in Langston University at Langston, Oklahoma, and after a year of service in that connection decided to finish his studies abroad, and in July, 1907, went to Europe and for two years thereafter was engaged in study in the University of Goetingen, in Berlin. in the University of Leipsic and in the University of Jena, receiving his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the latter institution in 1909. Upon his return to the United States, Doctor Jones was invited to accept the chair of philosophy in St. Augustine Collegi- ate Institute at Raleigh, South Carolina, and after a year of service there was asked to return to Langston University and resume his former place there as teacher of classic languages. He accepted the invitation and was thuis
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