History of Greene County, Ohio: its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 33

Author: Broadstone, Michael A., 1852- comp
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Indianapolis, B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1440

USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, Ohio: its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 33

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Rosa E., who lives in Santa Ana, California. Mr. and Mrs. Keiter have three children, namely: James Franklin Keiter, who for seventeen years taught vocal music in the schools of Greene county, and who is now oper- ating the home farm, giving particular attention to the live-stock business; Mary Elizabeth, wife of Dr. J. G. Fudge, of Spring Valley, and Flora J., who is living with her sister at Spring Valley. Doctor and Mrs. Fudge have four children, Lawrence Keiter, Edith Jennette, Ruth Alice and Mil- dred Catherine. The Keiters are members of White Chapel Methodist Epis- copal church. On February 2, 1915, Mr. and Mrs. Keiter celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a dinner and reception at their home, the same being attended by forty relatives and near friends.

JACOB HARNER.

Jacob Harner, a farmer of Beavercreek township, now living practi- cally retired from the active labors of the farm, the operation of the place being carried on by his son, Jacob S. Harner, was born on that place and has lived there all his life, a member of one of Greene county's pioneer families. He was born on September 21, 1841, son of Samuel and Nancy (Watts) Harner, both of whom were born in that some township, members of pioneer families in that part of the county, and who spent all their lives there.

Samuel Harner was a son of Jacob and Mary (Heffley) Harner, the latter of whom was a daughter of one of the earliest settlers in Greene county. Jacob Harner was a native of Germany, who upon coming to this country, made his way out to Ohio and settled in Greene county, where he married Mary Heffley and settled on a farm in Beavercreek township, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of eight children, those besides Samuel having been Charles, Abraham, George, Jacob, Mary, Catherine and Sarah J. Samuel Harner grew up on that farm and after his marriage in 1822 to Nancy Watts located on the farm on which his son Jacob is now living and there he spent his last days, his death occurring in 1871. His widow survived him for many years, her death occurring in 1906. They were members of the Reformed church and were the parents of seven children, those besides the subject of this sketch having been Samuel, George, Mary Ann, Nathan, William and Nelson.

Jacob Harner was reared on the home farm and received his schooling in the Ludlow district school and after his marriage in the fall of 1868 continued farming on the home place, one hundred and two acres of which he inherited after the death of his father. While his house is situated in Beavercreek township and he thus is accounted a resident of that township,

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the greater part of his farm lies over the line in Xenia township. For some time Mr. Harner has been living practically retired from the active labors of the farm, the management of the place having been given over to his elder son, Jacob S. Harner, who with his family is living in the old home and operating the place. Mr. Harner is a Democrat, while he and his family are members of the Reform church at Byron.

On September 22, 1868, Jacob Harner was united in marriage to Mary Zedicker, who was born in the neighboring county of Montgomery, daughter of Jacob and Mary Zedicker, who had come to this state from Pennsylvania, and to this union five children have been born, namely: Luella, wife of William Davis, a farmer of Clinton county, this state; Martha, wife of Clinton Flatter, a farmer of Bath township, this county ; Jacob S., who is now operating the home place; Minnie, wife of Jacob Harris, a farmer of Beavercreek township, and Oliver, who married Jennie Truby and is also farming in Beavercreek township. Jacob S. Harner mar- ried Anna Darner, of Fairfield, daughter of Thomas and Frances Darner, who had come to this county from Maryland, and has twelve children, Jacob Lawrence, Mabel C., George W., Thomas Herbert, Horace A. and Harold A. (twins), Mary E., John W., Florence A., Woodrow W., Treva Lucile and Martha Lucella, now representing the fourth generation of Harners who have occupied the farm on which they are living.

HARRY DWIGHT SMITH.

Harry Dwight Smith, prosecuting attorney for Greene county, former president of the council of the city of Xenia and former city solicitor, was born at Xenia, on April 20, 1879, son of Judge Horace L. and Mary A. (Jones) Smith, the former of whom is still living at Xenia, where for many years he has been engaged in the practice of the law and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, together with further details relat- ing to the Smith family in Xenia. Judge Smith has two sons, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Commander Charles E. Smith, of the United States navy, further mention of whom also is made in this volume.

Reared in Xenia, Harry D. Smith was graduated from the high school there in 1896 and then entered Antioch College, from which he was gradu- ated in 1900 with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. In the meantime, under the preceptorship of his father, he had been giving attention to the preliminary study of law and upon leaving college entered the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and was graduated from that institution in 1903. Following his graduation Mr. Smith was admitted to the bar and straightway opened an office for the practice of his profession

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in Xenia, where he since has been located. He is a Republican and during the year 1906-07 served as president of the city council and in 1908 was elected city solicitor, which latter position he held until his election to the office of prosecuting attorney for this judicial district in the fall of 1916. Mr. Smith entered upon the duties of this latter office on January 1, 1917, and is now serving in that capacity, his term of office to expire on January 1, 1919.

On June 23, 1904, Harry D. Smith was united in marriage to Mae Prugh, of Xenia, daughter of V. H. and Mary (Conner) Prugh, both now deceased, and to this union two children have been born, Horace H., born in October, 1905, and Mary Carolyn, August, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Presbyterian church.

LEVI M. JONES, M. D.

Dr. Levi M. Jones, a veteran of the Civil War and a medical prac- titioner at Jamestown ever since he located there in 1876, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in the Mechanicsburg neighborhood, in Union township, Champaign county, September 20, 1842, son of John and Mary (Lafferty) Jones, both of whom were born in that same county and who spent all their lives there.

John Jones was born in 1804, son of Abram and Phoebe (Clark) Jones, and was the second white child born in what later came to be organized as Union township, Champaign county, his parents having been among the earliest settlers in that part of the county, they having located there in the days when what is now Champaign county was still comprised within the limits of what then was Greene county. Abram Jones died of typhoid fever when thirty-five years of age and his widow continued to make her home in that vicinity. They had two children, John Jones having had a sister, Hannah, who married Stephen Clark and continued to make her home on the farm which her father had started to develop. After his marriage to Mary Lafferty, John Jones located on a farm one mile distant from the place on which he was born and reared and there spent the rest of his life, living to the age of seventy-one years. His widow survived him for some years, she being seventy-six years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Doctor Jones was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Zenas B., who served as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, a member of Company E, Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was severely wounded at the battle of Ft. Republic, was there taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison, his wounds never

LEVI M. JONES, M. D.

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being dressed by a surgeon; when he was exchanged, his health broken, he was discharged and returned home, where he spent the rest of his life; John Wesley, who also served as a soldier during the Civil War, a member of Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and upon the completion of his military service went to Missouri, where he engaged in farming and where he spent the rest of his days; Thomas O., who served as a soldier of the Union from June, 1862, to the close of the war, a member of Co. H, Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and upon the completion of his military service went to Iowa. where he became engaged in farming and in which state he is now living retired; Sarah Catherine, who married John Hendrick and spent her last days in Columbus, this state; Charles, who for years has been engaged in farm- ing in eastern Kansas, and Edward E., who is a farmer in Oklahoma.

Reared on the home farm in Champaign county, Levi M. Jones received his early schooling in the neighborhood schools and supplemented the same by a course in Ohio Wesleyan University, which he attended during the years 1865-68, entering the university upon his return from the army. In the meantime he had been giving his attention to the study of medicine and upon leaving the university entered Miami Medical College, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1871. Upon receiving his diploma Doctor Jones returned home and opened an office at Mechanicsburg, where he was engaged in practice for a year, at the end of which time he came down into Greene county and opened an office at Jamestown, where he ever since has been engaged in practice. Before locating at Jamestown, Doctor Jones had mar- ried and when he came here he established a home, building a combined residence and office building. That building was destroyed by the memorable cyclone of 1884 and he afterward erected his present residence and office building, which he ever since has occupied. Doctor Jones is a member of the Greene County Medical Society, of the Ohio State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association, ever keeping abreast of the advancement being made in his profession. He is a stanch Republican, of which party his father was one of the original members, and for nine years held the position of local medical examiner for the pension board. Fra- ternally, the Doctor is a member of the Masonic order, of the Knights of Pythias and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, as well as of Strong Post No. 118, Grand Army of the Republic, at Jamestown, of which for the past ten years he has been the commander. Doctor Jones's military experience as a soldier of the Union began when he was eighteen years of age, he then, on May 2, 1864, at Urbana, having enlisted his services to help preserve the nation's unity. He was attached to Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was

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sent to Cumberland, Maryland, to join General Butler's army, in that com- mand seeing considerable active service before he received his final dis- charge at Columbus upon the completion of his term of service.

In 1873, at Mechanicsburg, Dr. Levi M. Jones was united in marriage to Mary W. Williams, daughter of William Williams and wife, the former of whom was a merchant at that place, and to this union was born one child, a son, Clement L., who is now a practicing physician at Springfield, this state. Dr. Clement L. Jones"was born at Winchester, Indiana, but was reared at Jamestown. Upon completing the course in the high school in his home town he entered Washington and Jefferson College at Washington, Pennsylvania, and following his graduation from that institution entered the medical department of Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, from which he was graduated in 1903. For two years thereafter he served as pharmacist in Mt. Carmel Hospital at Columbus, this state, and then for a year was located at Vicksburg, Mississippi. He then returned home and became engaged in the regular practice in association with his father and was thus engaged for four years, at the end of which time he went to Springfield, where he has since been located. The younger Doctor Jones is serving as the pathologist of the medical staff of the health department of the city of Springfield and is the present president of the Clark County Medical Society. He is a member of the Ohio State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association. Fraternally, he is a Scottish Rite Mason, affiliated with the consistory at Cincinnati, and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Dr. Clement L. Jones married Hazel Labourn. of Springfield, and has a pleasant home in that city.

CAPT. MOSES WALTON.

Capt. Moses Walton, a retired officer of the United States army, formerly an officer of the quartermaster's department, former member of the Ohio state dairy and food commission, a former deputy state oil in- spector, a former member of the common council of the village of Spring Valley, in which village he has had his established home all his life, is a native son of Greene county, born on the farm on which the village of Spring Valley came into being, December 27, 1846, son of Moses and Rachel (Ragan) Walton, the former of whom owned there a considerable tract of land. Upon completing the course in the local schools the younger Moses Walton was sent to Spiceland Academy, an educational institution con- ducted under Quaker auspices over in Henry county, Indiana, and not long after his return from that school became engaged in association with his father in the manufacture of tow, the elder Walton having established a

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flax-mill at Spring Valley in 1866. He and his brother Samuel a year later opened a store in the village. In 1869 the sons extended their field of labors to include the manufacture of bagging, having also, in 1868, become en- gaged, in association with Mr. Barrett, in the pork-packing business, this latter industry being continued until in the early 'gos. The younger Moses Walton had, however, in 1883, withdrawn from the pork-packing business and had become engaged in the grain business at Trebeins, continuing thus engaged at that station until 1887, in which year he purchased the oil-mill at Spring Valley and continued to operate the same until 1897, when he was appointed to a clerkship in the office of the postoffice inspector at Cincinnati and was thus engaged in that city when the Spanish-American War broke out. On May 25, 1898, he was appointed to service in the quartermaster's department of the First Brigade, Second Division, First Army Corps, with rank of captain, and thus rendered service in getting the camps at Chicka- mauga and at Camp Poland, Knoxville, Tennessee, organized. When the army was reorganized Captain Walton was made quartermaster of the First Brigade, First Division, First Army Corps, and in October, 1898, went with that command to Cuba, for quartermaster service in Sancti Spiritus, in the province of Santa Clara, where he remained for three months. The brigade then was broken up and Captain Walton was ordered to Cienfuegos as assistant of the quartermaster general of the provinces of Santa Clara and Matanzas, under Gen. John C. Bates. Five months later the Captain was ordered to New York to take charge of a transport as captain, quarter- master and commissary, and for two years thereafter was engaged in the transport service, first in charge of the "Dixie" and then of the "Burnside," which latter vessel, originally the "Rita," was a prize taken from the Span- iards. In July, . 1900, Captain Walton was transferred to the "Sedgwick" and on October 21 of that same year was placed in charge of the "Buford," remaining in charge of that transport until May 1, 1901, meanwhile making a trip with that vessel, via the Suez canal, to Manila, with troops, and bring- ing back with him, to San Francisco, the Twenty-seventh Regiment. Upon his arrival at the port of San Francisco, Captain Walton relinquished his command and after reporting to Washington returned to his home at Spring Valley. In 1903 Captain Walton was appointed a member of the Ohio state dairy and food commission and for four years, or until 1907, rendered serv- ice to the state in that connection. In 1909 he was appointed a deputy state oil inspector and for four years rendered further public service in that capac- ity. Captain Walton is a Republican and has served as a member of the common council of his home village.

On September 25, 1867, at Spring Valley, Capt. Moses Walton was united in marriage to Ellen B. Hepford, who was born at Dayton, Ohio,

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daughter of J. W. and Elizabeth (Hess) Hepford, and to this union have been born seven children, namely: John Edward, who is farming in Spring Valley; Bessie R., wife of E. C. Van Winkle; J. T., former justice of the peace in and for his home township; Rosella, wife of A. E. Wright, of Dayton; Samuel M., Joseph H. and Mary L. The family is affiliated with the Society of Friends, of which the Captain is a birthright member.

The Waltons are one of the old families in Greene county, the first of the name to settle here having been Edward Walton, grandfather of the Cap- tain, who opened up the land where the village of Spring Valley stands. Edward Walton was born in Frederick county, Virginia, January 3. 1776, and was there married, remaining there until 1806, in which year he came to Ohio and after a bit of prospecting for a favorable location bought the tract of land in this county above referred to. In 1808 he brought his family here and established his home on that tract, later laying out there the village of Spring Valley, and continued to make that place his home the rest of his life, his death occurring there on April 10, 1867, being then past ninety years of age. Two children, Samuel and Elizabeth, were born to Edward Walton and wife before they left Virginia and Moses Walton, father of Captain Walton, was the first child born to them after their arrival in this county. He was born on June 27, 1809, and died on January 8, 1887. Their other children were Eunice, John, Hannah, Edward and Mary, all of whom reached years of maturity and established homes of their own save the two last named, the, Waltons therefore being quite a numerous con- nection hereabout in the present generation.

HON. SAMUEL COLLINS ANDERSON.

The late Hon. Samuel Collins Anderson, who was representing this dis- trict in the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly at the time of his death in the summer of 1914, was born in the house in which he died on his farm in New Jasper township, and where his widow is still living, and there spent all his life wiht the exception of a period of ten years during which he was engaged in business at Springfield. He was born on May 6. 1859, a son of William and Mary (Collins) Anderson, both members of pioneer families in this county and both born in the state of Pennsylvania, they having come with their respective parents to Greene county, the Ander- sons and the Collinses becoming influential pioneers, as is noted elsewhere in this volume. Mary Collins was born in York county, Pennsylvania, and was but a child when she came to this county with her parents, Archibald and Ellen Collins, the family settling on a farm on the Jamestown pike,

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two miles east of Xenia, where she was living at the time of her marriage to William Anderson, who also had grown up in that neighborhood.

William Anderson was one of Greene county's substantial farmers, and for years a ruling elder in the old Caesarscreek Seceder church. In 1849 he bought from David Williamson the farm of three hundred acres on which the latter had settled on coming to this county in 1836 and there spent the remainder of his life. His widow survived him for many years, her death occurring on the old home place on May 7, 1907, she then being eighty-six years of age. Her son, Samuel C., then became owner of two hundred acres of the original tract and the same is now owned by his widow, a granddaughter of David Williamson, the previous owner. And on that place there still flows, as strong and pure as ever, the clear, cool spring from which the Williamsons drank upon taking up their residence there more than eighty years ago. The Rev. Robert Duncan Williamson, uncle of Mrs. Anderson and the biographer of the Williamson family, some years ago wrote regarding the transfer of the old Williamson homestead place in the following thoughtful vein: "While it was a matter of regret to part with a home which was endeared with so many pleasant associations, yet it is a matter for gratitude that it passed into the hands of one who was most exemplary in character and a help to the church, morally and finan- cially. Though he did not live long to enjoy it, yet it is still in the possession of the widow and her two sons, Samuel and William, Mrs. Anderson occu- pying the old homestead and surroundings, and the two sons owning equal parts of the remainder. It is also a happy thought in this connection that while the farm has passed out of the Williamson name, one who is a descen- dant of the family and of the same name still lives on it and is a joint possessor of part of it. The wife of Samuel Anderson, one of the sons, is Nettie Williamson, the second daughter of Jonathan D. and Martha Will- iamson." William Anderson and his wife had twelve children, three sons and nine daughters, eleven of whom grew to maturity and in the old home there were eleven weddings and receptions, or "infares," marking the progress of this fine family of young people into homes of their own. Of those twelve, but three are now living, William P. Anderson, now living retired at Cedar- ville and a biographical sketch of whom, together with a comprehensive narrative relating to the Anderson family in this county, appears elsewhere in this volume; Mrs. James A. Curry, of Springfield, and Mrs. William Smart, of Santa Ana, California.

Samuel Collins Anderson was reared on the farm on which he was born and his early schooling was received in what was known as the Ander- son district school, the school house being situated on his father's farm, this schooling being supplemented by a course in the old Xenia College (19)

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which then was being conducted on East Church street in the city of Xenia. He was not ten years of age when his father died and, as one of the younger sons, he remained on the farm with his mother after he was grown and after his marriage in the fall of 1885 established his home there. Seven years later he gave up farming and moved to Springfield, where he became engaged in the grocery business, but after ten years of confinement in the store found his health failing. Selling his store to his brother-in-law, William Dean, he returned to the home farm, where his mother was still living, and resumed the manegement of the same. After her death in 1907 he bought the interests of the other heirs in the place and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring there on August 26, 1914. After taking possession of the old home place Mr. Anderson remodeled the house, put on a slate roof, installed an electric-light plant and made one of the most comfortable country homes in the county. In addition to his general farming he paid considerable attention to the rais- ing of live stock. He also was a member of the board of directors of the Greene County Mutual Insurance Association. Politically, Mr. Anderson was a Republican. In 1912 he was elected to represent this district in the state Legislature and in 1914 was nominated to succeed himself in the House, but his death occurred before the day of election. During his term of service in the House of Representatives Mr. Anderson took an especially active part in the promotion of temperance legislation and was recognized as one of the forceful members of that body. He was a member of the Second United Presbyterian church at Xenia, as is his widow, and for years served as a member of the session of that congregation.

Since the death of her husband Mrs. Anderson has continued to make her home on the old home place, the operations of the farm now being under the direction of her only son, William Wallace Anderson, who com- pleted his studies in Cedarville College in the spring of 1918 and has chosen to continue the work on the farm inaugurated by his father. Besides the son, William Wallace, who was born on August 4, 1897, Mrs. Anderson has two daughters, Martha Maria, born on August 18, 1890, who com- pleted her schooling in Cedarville College and is now serving as supervisor of music in the schools of New Jasper township, and Mary Lucile, who completed her schooling in Muskingum College and is now teaching domes- tic science in the schools of Seaman, in Adams county, this state. Mrs. Anderson was born, Martha Jeanette Williamson, in this county, December 6, 1859, fourth in order of birth of the eight children born to Jonathan Duncan and -Martha Ann (McMillan) Williamson, further reference to whom, together with a comprehensive narrative relating to the Williamson

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History of Greene County, Ohio: its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 33

Author: Broadstone, Michael A., 1852- comp Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Indianapolis, B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1440

Author: Broadstone, Michael A., 1852- comp
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Indianapolis, B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1440