USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, Ohio: its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 47
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Eng but ithans & Bro.
Fred Shellalarger
Pearl V Shillabarger
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Ephraim Shellabarger, who died at his home in Clark county in 1914, was a son of Reuben and Elizabeth ( Baker) Shellabarger, both of whom also were born in Mad River township, Clark county, the latter a daughter of Melyn Baker and wife, who were among the early settlers in that part of the county, also were the parents of Reuben Shellabarger, the two fami- lies, the Shellabargers and the Bakers, having been identified with the work of development in the Enon neighborhood almost from the time of the begin- ning of a social order there. Reuben Shellabarger was reared on a pio- neer farm and upon beginning operations on his own behalf took hold of a tract of one hundred and twelve acres in section 6 of his home township and after his marriage began housekeeping there in a log house. He developed that place and later adding to his holdings by the purchase of two hundred acres of the old Galloway farm in that icinity. He was a Democrat, served as township trustee for years and also for some time as. land appraiser, and he and his wife were members of the Christian church, he serving as an elder in the church for many years. His wife died on September 5, 1873, and he survived her for more than eighteen years, his death occurring on October 27, 1889, he then being past seventy-five years of age. Reuben Shellabarger and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom seven grew to maturity and raised families of their own, those besides Ephraim Shellabarger having been Melyn, Mrs. Minerva Dolbeer, Mrs. Sarah Smith, Mrs. Rebecca Dunkel, Mrs. Elizabeth Athy and Mrs. Irene Miller, all of whom established their homes in and about Enon.
Ephraim Shellabarger was born on the old home place near Enon on September 28, 1837, and there grew to manhood. On December 22, 1863, at the bride's home in Mad River township, he married Jane E. Dolbeer, who was born in New Jersey, a daughter of Isaac N. Dolbeer and wife, and who was but a child when she came with her parents to this state, the family set- tling in the Enon neighborhood in Clark county, where for years Isaac N. Dolbeer later served as justice of the peace, later becoming a resident of Springfield, where his last days were spent. After his marriage Ephraim Shellabarger established his home on that portion of the home farm known as the Galloway place and later became owner of the same. In 1887 he added to his holdings by the purchase of the Francis Johnson farm of one hundred and ninety-eight acres. He was a Democrat and frequently served as a delegate to his party conventions. He and his wife were members of the Christian church. They were the parents of five sons, Charles R., Fred- erick and Ernest (twins). William and Raymond, all of whom are living save Ernest, who died at the age of one year, and Raymond, who died on April 14, 1918. aged thirty-five.
Frederick Shellabarger was reared on the home farm in the vicinity of Enon, receiving his schooling in what was known as the Shellabarger
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school. After his marriage in the spring of 1898 he continued to make his home there until in 1906, when he bought the farm on which he is now living, about four miles east of Fairfield, in Bath township, this county, and has since made his home there. Mr. Shellabarger is a Democrat and during the time of his residence in Clark county served for ten years as treasurer of the county board of agriculture. In 1910 he was elected land appraiser for Bath township and is now serving as road superintendent in his home district.
On March 2, 1898, at Enon, Frederick Shellabarger was united in mar- riage to Pearl Viola Miller, of that place, who was born in Darke county, this state, but who has spent most of her life in Greene county, having been but four years of age when her parents moved here. Mr. Shellabarger had two brothers, Roy and Guy, both now deceased, and has a sister, Myrtle. Mr. and Mrs. Shellabarger are members of the Christian church. Mr. Shella- barger is a member of the Masonic lodge at Yellow Springs.
HORACE ROBERT HAWKINS, M. D.
Dr. Horace Robert Hawkins, superintendent of Washington Hospital at Xenia, a former member of the Xenia city council and for years one of the best-known colored physicians in this part of Ohio, was born in Greene county and has lived here the greater part of his life. He was born on a farm in the Trebein neighborhood in Beavercreek township, July 3. 1870, son of Leonard and Theresa ( Allen) Hawkins, natives of Kentucky, who were married there and who about 1868 came up into this part of Ohio and settled in Greene county. Leonard Hawkins was a practical farmer and upon his arrival here he was given charge of a farm in the vicinity of Trebien Station. A few years later he was given charge of a farm in the Jamestown neighborhood and a few years later was given charge of a farm at Goes Station. Some years later he moved to Clifton, where his last days were spent. his death occurring there in the fall of 1889, he then being seventy-four years of age. His widow is still living, now making her home with a son and a daughter at 621 East Market street, Xenia, she now being in the eighty-third year of her age. Leonard Hawkins and his wife were the parents of sixteen children, of whom ten are still living, namely : Andrew C., who owns and operates a drug store in Xenia and who makes his home at 604 East Main street in that city ; Mary E., unmarried, who makes her home in Cleveland. this state; E. E., who is connected with the Pullman railway service, with headquarters at Montreal, Canada: Doctor Hawkins, the sub- ject of this biographical sketch: Amanda, who married James Taylor and lives in Cleveland; Ida, unmarried, who also lives in Cleveland; William N., foreman in the factory of the American Tobacco Company at Xenia; Hattie,
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who is unmarried and who lives with her mother in Xenia; Anna May, wife of Charles Jenkins, of Dayton, and Edward, of Xenia.
Reared on the farm, Horace Robert Hawkins received his early school- ing at Goes and later attended the high school at Clifton, from which he was graduated in 1888. Having determined to devote his life to the practice of medicine, he had been giving such time as he could to the reading of medi- cal works and upon leaving the high school pursued his medical studies for a year under the preceptorship of Dr. William Webster at Dayton, after which he entered the Homeopathic Hospital College at Cleveland, from which he was graduated with the second honors of his class, in a class of forty-eight, in 1892. During his senior year in college Doctor Hawkins was an assistant interne in the hospital operated in connection with the college and after his graduation he immediately took a post-graduate course in the same institution, specializing in surgery and diseases of women. Thus equipped for the practice of his profession Doctor Hawkins opened an office at Dayton and after eighteen months of practice there moved, in 1894, to Xenia, where he ever since has been engaged in practice. In 1906 the Doctor took a post-graduate course in the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital at Philadelphia, specializing in surgery, and in 1916 he helped to organize the Washington Hospital, which is located in his office building at 627 East Main street, and has since served as superintendent and chief of staff of the hospital, which has a capacity of eighteen beds. Doctor Hawkins is a member of Miami Valley Medical Society of Ohio. In 1904 the Doctor rebuilt the building in which his office and Washington Hospital are located, in East Main street, and several years ago he bought and remod- eled the house in which he now lives at 609 East Main street. The Doctor is a Republican and for sixteen years, or during eight consecutive terms of office, served as a member of the Xenia city council, representing the fourth ward. For the past three years or more the Doctor also has been serving as township physician for Xenia township.
On September 28, 1892, Doctor Hawkins was united in marriage to Cora A. Taylor, who was born at Kalida, this state, daughter of Grant and Carrie V. Taylor. Doctor Hawkins and his wife are members of the Zion Baptist church and the Doctor was formerly president of the Young Peoples Society of the same. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the colored lodges of the Masons and of the Knights of Pythias.
JACOB HANES.
Jacob Hanes, widely known as Squire Hanes, of Zimmermans, one of the oldest native-born residents of Greene county, was born in Beavercreek township on April 2, 1832, a son of Jonathan and Mary (Smeltzer ) Hanes,
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the former of whom was born in Maryland in 1802 and was but three years of age when his parents. Jacob and Mary Hanes, came to this state and settled in Greene county, locating on the land now owned by their grandson, Jacob Hanes, at Zimmermans. The elder Jacob Hanes became a soldier of the War of 1812, served as one of the associate judges of Greene county for seven years, was for many years justice of the peace and in other ways active in pioneer affairs. He died at the age of sixty-six. His widow lived to be eighty-two. They had six children, four of whom, Jacob, Jonathan, Mary and Frances, lived to maturity and reared families. Jonathan Hanes in 1831 married Mary Smeltzer and established his home on a farm at Zim- mermans, where he spent the rest of his life. He and his wife were Luth- erans and were the parents of two children, the subject of this sketch having had a sister Mary.
Reared on the home farm, Jacob Hanes remained there until his mar- riage when thirty-five years of age, after which for two years he made his home on the farm of his father-in-law. He then located on the place on which he is now living and there has ever since resided. It was in 1867 that Jacob Hanes was united in marriage to Mary M. Stull, who also was born in this county, March 9, 1847, daughter of William K. and Sarah Stull, and to his union five children were born, Jonathan W., Francis A., Jacob L., Cassius A., and Edward F., all of whom are living save the latter, who died in 1905, at the age of twenty-four years. Mrs. Hanes is a member of the Reformed church. Squire Hanes is a Republican. During recent years he has suffered considerably from failing sight, but is still able to get about with much of his old-time vigor.
Jonathan Hanes, eldest son of Squire Hanes and wife, married Hattie Flatter, of Hartford City, Indiana, and has five children, Katie V., who married O. S. Mendenhall and has one child, a daughter, Bernice Evelyn, and Nettie M., Ada M., Andrew and Nancy. Francis A. Hanes married Minnie Harner, of Oldtown, and has had five children, Raymond J., Her- man F. (who died at the age of two years), Thelma, Louise and Edna P. Jacob L. Hanes married Minnie B. Mendenhall and has six children, Arthur L., Florence Jeannette, Albert Louis, Orville K., Herbert and Thomas . E. Cassius A. Hanes married Anna Kott and has nine children, Harold, Violet, Edwin, Adenia, Henry, Gladena, Lillian, and Kindle and Kenneth, twins.
JOHN THOMPSON HAWKER.
The Hawkers have been represented in this part of Ohio since Terri- torial days, the first of the name to settle here having come over here from the Hagerstown neighborhood in Maryland a year or two before Ohio was admitted to statehood and effected a settlement in what later came to be
JOHN T. HAWKER.
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organized as Beavercreek township, Greene county, the family thus becom- ing one of the real pioneer families of Greene county. The ancestors of John Thompson Hawker came from England and from the beginning were active in the work of Mt. Zion Reformed church and of the circuit connected therewith, the Hawker church gaining its name by reason of the family influence exerted in its organization.
The late John Thompson Hawker, who died at his home on the Shaker- town pike in Beavercreek township in the fall of 1913 and whose daughter, Miss Charlotte Hawker, is still living there, was born on that farm and had lived there practically all his life. He was born on November 16, 1828, son of David and Sarah E. (Odaffer) Hawker, both of whom were born in the vicinity of Hagerstown, Maryland, and who had come to Ohio almost immediately following their marriage. David Hawker, who was a son of George Hawker, came to Ohio in 1826, he and his wife being accompanied by the latter's brother. John Odaffer, who later settled in the neighborhood of Troy, over in Miami county. Previous to his definite settlement here David Hawker had been prospecting out here, certain of his kinsman having settled here years before, and had bought a tract of a fraction more than one hundred and seventeen acres on the Shakertown road in Beavercreek township, paying for the same one thousand and two dollars. There he established his home when he and his wife arrived here in November, 1826, and there they spent the remainder of their lives. David Hawker added to his holdings until he became the owner of about three hundred acres of land. The barn he built on that place in 1838 is still standing and serviceable. The large farm house which ever since has served as a place of family residence on the farm and where Miss Charlotte Hawker is now living with her niece and the latter's husband. Russell T. Shultz, the latter of whom is now the owner of the farm. was erected by David Hawker in 1852. David Hawker was one of the charter members of Mt. Zion Reformed church. Politically, he was a Democrat. He died in November, 1864, being then sixty-five years of age, and his widow sur- vived him for more than twenty years, her death occurring in 1885, she then being eighty-three years of age. They were the parents of nine children, namely : Catherine, who married Abraham Darst : John T., the subject of this memorial sketch: Mary Ann, who married Jonas Lesher and lives at Green- ville, this state, now eighty-seven years of age; Elizabeth, who married Abra- ham Darst, husband of her deceased sister, Catherine; Sarah Jane, who mar- ried Edom Burrows, who moved to Indiana and established his home in the Crawfordsville neighborhood; David, Jr., a building contractor and land- owner, now living at Dayton: Martha Ellen, who married H. C. Kiler, and Adaline, who married J. T. Leevy and died at Dayton.
John T. Hawker grew up on the home farm in Beavercreek township and lived there practically all his life. After his father's death he bought
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one hundred and forty-seven acres of the old home place, including the house. and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on November 20. 1913. In addition to his general farming he gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock, his herd of Shorthorn cattle having something more than a local reputation. John T. Hawker was for many years an elder in the Mt. Zion Reformed church. He also took an active interest in local political affairs, a Republican, and for fourteen years served as trustee of Beavercreek township.
On October 20, 1855, John T. Hawker was united in marriage to Sarah Elizabeth Watkins, who also was born in this county, daughter of Benjamin F. Watkins and wife, the latter of whom was a Haverstick, who were residents of what is now the Wilberforce neighborhood and who were the parents of twelve children. Benjamin F. Watkins came to this county about 1830 from the Hagerstown neighborhood in Maryland. He was a son of a wealthy planter and slaveowner and was reared with the expecta- tion of never having to work, but after his settlement in this county became a cabinet-maker and established a good home. To John T. and Elizabeth (Watkins) Hawker were born three children, Edward S., now living at Dayton ; Charlotte, mentioned above as still living on the old home place in Beavercreek township, and Clara, who died at the age of ten years. Mrs. Elizabeth Hawker died in 1890 and in 1892 John T. Hawker married Mrs. A. D. Freeman, who died in 1911 without issue.
Edward S. Hawker has been twice married, his first wife, who was Mary E. Huston, having died years ago, after which he married Minnie Lutz. Upon the death of Mr. Hawker's first wife Miss Charlotte Hawker, his sister, took charge of and reared his daughter, Gertrude, and his son, J. T., Jr., at the same time buying her brother's interest in the old home place, and has ever since continued to reside there. Gertrude Hawker mar- ried Russell T. Schultz, who later bought the old Hawker farm and is now the owner of the same, operating it. J. T. Hawker, Jr., lives at Dayton, a carpenter by trade. Two other children of Edward S. Hawker by his first marriage were Myrtle, now Mrs. A. F. Gabler, of Dayton, and Clayton, also a resident of Dayton. By his second marriage Edward S. Hawker has two sons, Everett and Frederick.
HENRY F. BAKER, M. D.
Dr. Henry F. Baker, of Yellow Springs, the oldest practicing physician in Greene county, has been a continuous resident of the village in which he is now living for nearly forty years, with the exception of about three years during the early '8os, when, on account of the declining state of his wife's
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health, it was necessary to seek a temporary change of scene. In August, 1879, Doctor Baker located at Yellow Springs. In 1881 he left, but in 1884 returned to the village and has since made that his place of residence, en- gaged in the practice of his profession.
COL. JOSEPH E. WILSON.
The late Col. Joseph E. Wilson, of Yellow Springs, was a native of Maryland, born in Montgomery county, on October 19, 1823, and was but three years of age when his father, who was a Virginian, moved with his family from Maryland back to the Old Dominion and located in Loudoun county, his birth place, where he remained for about six years. At the end of that time he came to Ohio with his family and located in the Quaker settlement in Clark county, he having been a member of the Society of Friends. Young Joseph was nine years of age when he came with his pa- rents to Ohio and he grew up in Clark county, supplementing the schooling he received there by attendance at the Quaker school that then was being con- ducted at Zanesville. He married in 1845 and in 1848 moved down to Yel- low Springs, there erected a lime kiln and was for six years or more tliere engaged in burning lime. He then became interested in Illinois lands and in various other investments and presently went to Jackson and Cass coun- ties, Missouri, in the neighborhood of which place he was for two or three years engaged in farming, but he afterward returned to Yellow Springs and there erected the house in which his last days were spent, one of the most pre- . tentious of the numerous fine houses in that village. He did not long remain in Yellow Springs after that return, however, for he presently returned to Missouri and at Butler, in Bates county, that state, became engaged in the banking business. Upon his retirement from the banking business the Col- onel returned to his old home in Yellow Springs and there spent his last days, his death occurring there on May 12, 1898. Though reared a Quaker, Colonel Wilson was not of the non-combative sort and during the Civil War responded to the hundred-days call, helped raise a regiment and was mus- tered out as colonel of the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment, Ohio National Guard.
On December 2, 1845. at Selma, Ohio, Joseph E. Wilson was united in marriage to Delilah Marshall, who was born at Selma in 1823, daughter of William and Catherine (Huffman) Marshall, and to that union were born four children, Emma, Frank E., William and Hannah, all of whom are still living, the latter continuing to make her home in Yellow Springs in the fine old house erected by her father many years ago. Emma Wilson married Charles K. Wilson. a farmer in the neighboring county of Clark and since his death has been making her home at Springfield. Frank E. Wilson mar- ried Elina Wright and has for years made his home in the West, at present
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residing at Potales, New Mexico. He formerly was a resident of Comanche county, Texas, and during his residence there served as treasurer of the county and for some years as sheriff. William Wilson married first Mary Woodard and second Etta Drake and is now a resident of Alberta, Canada. Hannah Wilson married Edward Winslow, who is engaged in business in Yellow Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Winslow have a son, Hugh Winslow, who is engaged with his father in business. Colonel Wilson's widow continued to make her home at Yellow Springs after his death and survived him for more than seventeen years, her death occurring there on August 19, 1915. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
GRANVILLE O. PETERSON.
The late Granville O. Peterson, who died at his home in Caesarscreek township, this county, November 18, 1913, and whose widow is still living there, was born in that same township and lived there all his life. He was born on August 8, 1854, son of Paris H. and Amanda J. (Tressler) Peter- son, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families.
Paris H. Peterson was born in Spring Valley township, son of Jonas and Susan Peterson, who had settled in the woods in that township upon coming to Greene county from Virginia. Jonas Peterson and his wife began their home-making in a log cabin in the woods, reared their family there and there spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of ten children, John, Jonas, Martin, Christopher, David, Sarah, Elizabeth, Hannah, Paris and Jane. Paris Peterson grew up on that pioneer farm, married Amanda . Tressler, established his home in Caesarscreek township and there reared his family, he and his wife having been the parents of three children, Granville O., David Fudge, who married Clara Boots, and Minnie Ann, who married Levitt McDonald.
Reared on the old home farm in Caesarscreek township, Granville O. Peterson received his schooling in the Maple Corners school. He married in the spring of 1877 and established his home on the farm on which his widow is now living, the old Alexander Ireland place of fifty acres in Caesarscreek township, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring there, as noted above, in the fall of 1913. In addition to his general farming, Gran- ville O. Peterson for years operated a threshing-machine throughout that part of the county during seasons. He was a genial man, made friends wherever he went and at one time and another had held township offices.
On March 22, 1877, Granville O. Peterson was united in marriage to Mina Boots, who was born in Caesarscreek township, a daughter of David and Martha E. (Peterson) Boots, both of whom also were born in this
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GRANVILLE O. PETERSON.
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county, members of pioneer families. David Boots was a carpenter and farmer. He died at his home in Caesarscreek township in 1859, and his widow survived him until January 18, 1917, she then being eighty-two years of age. In early life David Boots and his wife were members of the Maple Corners Reformed church, but later became affiliated with the Baptist church at Jamestown. They were the parents of three children, Mrs. Peterson hav- ing two sisters, Mary C., wife of Charles McDonald, now living at. Cottage Hill, Florida, and Clara Alma, who died on March 10, 1916, and who was twice married, her first husband having been Fudge Peterson and her second, John H. Thomas, who died on July 4, 1917.
To Granville O. and Mina (Boots) Peterson were born four sons, Alpheus P., Jesse F., Arthur M. and Russell Wayne, all of whom are still living in this county. Alpheus P. Peterson married Minnie Frances Jones and is living on the old home place, managing the same since his father's death. He also operates a threshing-machine during seasons, as did his father for so many years before him. Jesse F. Peterson married Emma Thomas and is farming in Caesarscreek township. Arthur M. Peterson mar- ried Grace Fawcett and is farming in the Cedarville neighborhood. Russell W. Peterson continues to make his home on the home place, assisting his brother Alpheus in the management of the same. Mrs. Peterson has con- tinued her residence there since the death of her husband. She is a mem- ber of the Maple Corners Reformed church.
JOHN E. JOHNSON.
John E. Johnson, a retired farmer, a veteran of the Civil War and former school trustee, now living at Yellow Springs, was born in the village of Clifton on April 1, 1845, and has lived in this county all his life. He is a son of Joseph R. and Lydia Elizabeth (Estle) Johnson, the former of whom was born at Lydaville, Kentucky, March 8, 1819, and was but seven years of age when his parents left Kentucky and came up into this part of Ohio in 1826 and located in Greene county, establishing their home on a farm half way between Yellow Springs and Clifton. Two years later the Johnsons moved up into the neighboring county of Clark, locating on a farm on the Yellow Springs and Springfield pike, where Joseph R. Johnson lived until his father's death in 1830. He then was eleven years of age and stayed on the home place and later made his home with an elder brother, W. D. Johnson, who was engaged in the milling business at Clifton, and there learned the milling business, in which he continued engaged for many years.
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