History of Greene County, Ohio: its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 64

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 64

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located on a farm on the Xenia pike in the neighborhood of Yellow Springs, in Miami township, where he is now living. Mr. and Mrs. Dean are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church at Clifton and Mr. Dean is a Republican.

ALLEN E. WELLER.

Allen E. Weller, who is the owner of four farms comprising nearly six hundred acres of land in Sugarcreek township, where he makes his home, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. He was born on a farm a mile and a quarter southwest of Bellbrook on February 8, 1864, son and only child of Perry and Sarah (Wilson) Weller, both of whom were born in the neighboring county of Montgomery, but who came over into Greene county in 1861 and here spent the remainder of their lives.

Perry Weller was born on January 28, 1838, and remained in Montgomery county until 1861, when he bought a farm of one hundred and seventy- two acres something more than a mile southwest of Bellbrook in this county and there established his home. His wife died there on February 8, 1900, and in 1913 he bought the old White farm a mile and a half west of Bell- brook, moved onto the same and there spent his last days, his death occur- ring in August, 1914.

Reared on the home farm in Sugarcreek township, Allen E. Weller received his early schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and supple- mented the same by a course in the schools at Centerville, over in Mont- gomery county. After his marriage in the spring of 1887 he began farm- ing on his own account and has ever since been thus engaged, though of late years he has been living practically retired from the active labors of the farm, his sons and responsible tenants taking charge of his farms. Mr. Weller is now the owner of four farms in Sugarcreek township, his hold- ings comprising five hundred and ninety-two acres. He is a Republican, but has not been a seeker after public office.

Mr. Weller has been twice married. On March 23, 1887, at Center- ville, he was united in marriage to Jessie F. Bradford, who was born in that village, daughter of Ebenezer and Cynthia (Browning) Bradford, the former of whom is still living at Centerville, and to that union were born five children, namely: Henry Bradford, born in 1890, who is living on the home farm, taking charge of the same for his father; Edna, born in 1892, who married George Carey, of West Milton, and has one child. a son, Vin- cent ; Perry, born in August, 1893, who is at home with his father; Sarah, born in 1895, who married Walter Dinwiddie and is now living at Dayton,

ALLEN E. WELLER

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and Raymond, born in 1896, now living on one of his father's farms south- west of Bellbrook and who married Ruth Mills and has one child, a son, Byron. The mother of these children died in 1903 and was buried at Center- ville. In 1906 Mr. Weller married Nellie Printz, of Waynesville. Mr. and Mrs. Weller are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. For the past six or seven years Mr. Weller has been a member of the local school board.

FRED C. BARR.

Fred C. Barr, chief electrician in charge of the electrical equipment of the three power houses of the Dayton Power and Light Company in Dayton, also the power houses owned by that company in several other towns, including the electric power plant at Xenia, is a native son of Greene county and one of the products of the scholastic and industrial training given at tlie Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home who points with pride and pleasure to the early instruction he received in that institution. In passing, it is but fitting to say that Mr. Barr's wife also received her early schooling in that institution and both remain firm friends and supporters of the nobic work that is there being carried on. Mr. Barr was born at Cedarville and was but a small child when his mother died. His father died when he was but five years of age and he later was placed in charge of the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home at Xenia, his father having been a veteran of the Civil War. In that institution he remained until he was sixteen years of age, acquiring there the rudiments of the mechanical and engineering training which he later put to advantage in perfecting himself as an electrician, and it is noteworthy that he later was called back to his old school and was there installed as assistant chief engineer, a position he occupied some time, or until he was called to wider fields of endeavor.

On both his mother's side and that of his fatlier. Mr. Barr is of old Greene county stock, the Barrs and the McHattons and the Mitchells-his mother having been a Mitchell-having been here since pioneer days. He was born at Cedarville on December 17, 1877, son of Samuel and Lizzie L. (Mitchell) Barr, both of whom also were born at Cedarville, the latter a daughter of John Mitchell and wife. Samuel Barr was born on March 14, 1843, son of James A. Barr and wife, the latter of whom was a McHat- ton. a daughter of Col. John McHatton, who was a son of Gen. Alexander McHatton, both of which officers held commissions under General Wash- ington during the Revolutionary War and who were the recipients of con- siderable grants of land in Ohio by reason of their service in behalf of the patriot cause. James A. Barr was born in this state and became a

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resident of Cedarville. Of the children born to him and his wife three are still living, Albert Barr, of Cedarville; James Barr, of Dayton, and Mrs. Sallie E. Mitchell, wife of the brother of Lizzie L. Mitchell.

Samuel Barr grew up at Cedarville and was living there when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted for service and went to the front as a member of the Tenth Ohio Light Artillery. While serving with that command he was severely wounded and was given an honorable discharge, but upon recov- ering from his disability he re-enlisted and again went to the front as a member of the Army of the Potomac. Upon the completion of his military service he returned to Cedarville and there became engaged in the contracting business. He also served for some time as town marshal. His death occurred at that place on September 16, 1882, the subject of this sketch at that time being under five years of age. On November 12. 1868, Samuel Barr was united in marriage to Lizzie L. Mitchell, of Cedarville, who pre- deceased him two or three years. She was a member of a considerable fam- ily and of the children born to her parents, John Mitchell and wife, two are still living, Mrs. Nellie Bishop, of Dayton, and Frank Mitchell, of South Charleston. Samuel Barr was a member of the local lodge of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Cedarville and of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic at that place. He and his wife are buried at Cedarville. They were the parents of three children, one of whom, a son, died in infancy. A sister of the subject of this sketch, Maude M., married Henry Denny and died on August 9, 1890.

As noted above, the mother of Fred C. Barr died when he was but a small child and his father died when he was under five. For a year thereafter he was cared for by his grandmother and then was placed in charge of the Ohio State Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home at Xenia, where he remained until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Dayton, where he became employed as a stationary engineer and where, a year or two later, he took up the study of electrical engineering. When twenty years of age he returned to his childhood home at Cedarville and was there charged with the construction of the old electric-light plant, which he operated for a year after its installation. He then was appointed assistant chief engineer at the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home and while thus engaged was married, remaining there until in November, 1900, when he was made the electrician for the Xenia Light and Power Company, continuing thus engaged for a year, at the end of which time he was employed to install the equip- ment for the Hollenkamp ice plant at Xenia. He then went to Somerset, Kentucky, where he installed an electric-light plant and upon his return to Xenia installed there the first large gas-engine-driven electric plant set up in the state of Ohio, and was thereafter, until 1905, employed in that city

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as the superintendent of the plant for the Peoples Gas and Electric Com- pany. Mr. Barr then accepted employment with the Westinghouse Electric Company of Pittsburgh and for some time traveled for that company out of New York and Boston, engaged in erection and "trouble" work. He then returned to Ohio, having been given the position of superintendent of the electric plant at Salem and was there thus engaged until his return to Xenia in 1907 as superintendent of the two electric light and power plants in that city, and has ever since been connected with that service, for the past three years or more serving as station electrician in charge of equipment of all plants of the Dayton Power and Light Company.

In October, 1889, Fred C. Barr was united in marriage to Ruth Alberta Given, who was born at Birmingham, Alabama, daughter of William A. and Martha S. (Sparks) Given, the latter of whom died when her daughter was but a small child. William A. Given, who was a native of Ohio and a veteran of the Civil War, returned to Ohio after the death of his wife and later placed his daughter in the care of the Ohio State Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home, where she completed her schooling and where she was in residence at the time of her marriage to Mr. Barr. To that union eight chil- dren have been born, namely: Margaret, born on November 10, 1900, who died on May 26, 1916; Mildred, July 18, 1902; Frederick, July 7, 1905; Helen, March 21, 1907; Frances, March 31, 1909: Russell, November 18, 1910; Ruth, February 12, 1915, and Richard, December 16, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Barr are members of the Second United Presbyterian church. Mr. Barr is a member of the local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons and both he and his wife are members of the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. He also is a member of the local lodge of the Woodmen of the World. He is independent in his political views.

J. C. BLOTNER.

J. C. Blotner, lumber dealer at Osborn, this county, has been engaged in business there since the fall of 1910. He was born in Darke county, this state, January 18, 1872, son of John and Rhoda (Swisher) Blotner, the latter of whom was born in that same county. John Blotner was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1840 and came to Ohio in the days of his youth, marrying in Darke county. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted his services in behalf of the Union and went to the front as a member of Company E. Fortieth Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served until he lost his right arm at the battle of Chickamauga. Politically, he was a Republican. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He and his wife

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were the parents of nine children, three of whom died in infancy, the others besides the subject of this sketch being William F., Louisa, Sarah, Sidney and Alonzo.

Reared in Darke county, J. C. Blotner received his schooling in the pub- lic schools of that county and upon starting out for himself rented a farm for two years. He then became employed in a lumber yard, his first wage in that capacity being fifty cents a day, and in time became an experienced lumberman, continuing thus engaged, working for others, for eighteen years, or until the fall of 1910, when he moved to Osborn and bought from Mrs. S. C. Godall the lumber yard which he has since been operating at that place. It was on September 14, 1910, that Mr. Blotner took possession of that lum- ber yard and since then he has made additions to the same.

On October 8, 1901, J. C. Blotner was united in marriage to Helen Haack, who also was born in Darke county, this state, daughter of August and Sophia (Stierle) Haack, the latter of whom also was born in that same county and the former in Germany, he having come to this country when a young man and proceeding on out to Ohio and settling in Darke county, where he engaged in farming and where he spent his last days. Mr. and Mrs. Blotner have three children, Rubine, Dorothy Louise and Emma Caroline They are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Blotner is independent in his political views. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias at Osborn.

ELMER NELSON SHIGLEY.

Elmer Nelson Shigley, of Ross township, proprietor of a farm on the Cedarville-Jamestown pike, rural mail route No. 3 out of Cedarville, was born on the farm on which he now lives and has lived there all his life. He was born on February 25, 1861, son of Joseph and Anna ( Prugh) Shigley, the latter of whom was born on a farm six miles south of Dayton, in the neighboring county of Montgomery, in 1826, a daughter of John F. and Rebecca (Nicodemus) Prugh, who had come to Ohio from Maryland and after a sometime residence in Preble county had moved over into Montgomery county, where John F. Prugh operated a mill and became the owner of three or four hundred acres of land. He and his wife were orig- inally Methodists, but later became affiliated with the Reformed church in the neighborhood of their home. They were the parents of three sons and four daughters.

Joseph Shigley was born on a farm in Ross township, this county, a half mile southeast of the place where his son Elmer is now living, Septem-

MR. AND MRS. ELMER N. SHIGLEY.

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ber 19, 1820, son of George and Olivet (Franklin) Shigley, natives of Virginia. George Shigley came to Ohio as a young man and located in Ross county in 1805, presently moving to Greene county and establishing his home in Ross township in 1812, becoming the owner there of a farm of about two hundred acres. During the War of 1812 he gave service as a soldier. He and his wife were Methodists and the first services conducted by the Methodists in that community were held in their house. When a congregation was organized at Jamestown they became affiliated with the same. George Shig- ley died at his home in Ross township on May 14, 1867, he then being seventy-seven years of age, and was buried in the cemetery at Jamestown. His wife died at the age of sixty-five. Of the children born to them five sons and five daughters grew to maturity and as most of these married and reared · families, the Shigley connection in the succeeding generation became a quite numerous one hereabout.

After his marriage in 1844 to Anna Prugh, Joseph Shigley established his home on the farm on which his son Elmer now lives, buying there a tract of two hundred and fifty acres, and enlarged his holdings until he eventually became the owner of more than six hundred acres, which upon his retirement from the active labors of the farm in 1881 he divided among his children and then moved to Jamestown, where his last days were spent. His wife died there in August, 1884, and he later married Mrs. Mary Atkin- son, who survived him, his death occurring in November, 1890, and hers, in 1893. Joseph Shigley was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Jamestown. Politically, he was a Republican and had served the public as township trustee and as township assessor. To Joseph and Anna ( Prugh) Shigley were born seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being John W., who is now living retired with his children in Silvercreek township; Henry F., who died at his home in Ross township in 1878, three years after his marriage; David C., a retired farmer, now living at Jamestown; Viola C., a widow, now living at James- town, who has been twice married, her first husband having been S. S. Collett and her second, Frank Kelly; Ella, now living at Washington Court House, this state, widow of Jasper L. Chapman, and Mattie, who died at the age of sixteen years.

Elmer N. Shigley grew up on the home farm in Ross township and received his schooling in the Oak Grove school. After his father's retire- ment in 1881 he continued to live on the home farm, making his home with his sister, Mrs. Chapman, and her husband until his marriage three years latr. when his father gave him a part of the farm. To that portion he added by purchase until he now is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, includ- ing the tract on which stands the brick farm house erected by the father

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there in 1854 and in which he was born, and there he makes his home. Mrs. Shigley is also a member of one of Greene county's old families, the Paullins, further mention of which pioneer family is made elsewhere in this volume. She also was born in Ross township, Minnie Paullin, daughter of Enos and Sarah Paullin, both now deceased, and she was married to Mr. Shigley on November 6, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Shigley are members of the Christian church at Jamestown and he has served as a member of the board of trustees of the same. Politically, he is a Republican, as was his father.

JOHN CHARLTON SPAHR.

John Charlton Spahr, proprietor of "Oak Grove Farm," in Ross town- ship, was born on the farm on which he now lives and has resided there all his life. He was born on July 30, 1886, son and only child of John Mor- gan and Ella (Charlton) Spahr, both of whom also were born in this county, the former in New Jasper township and the latter in Cedarville township, and the latter of whom is still living, now a resident of James- town.

John Morgan Spahr, who died at his home in Ross township on June 15, 1898, was a son of John Spahr and a member of one of the pioneer families of this part of the state, the Spahrs having been prominently repre- sented here since the early days of the settlement of Greene county, as is set out elsewhere in this work. Mr. Spahr's widow, who was born Ella Charlton, also is a member of one of the county's old families, a daughter of Samuel Charlton, a pioneer miller of the Cedarville neighborhood.

John Charlton Spahr was reared on the farm on which he was born, the operation of which was maintained by his mother after the death of his father, he having been but twelve years of age at the time of his father's death. He supplemented the schooling received in the home school by a course in the Jamestown high school and was graduated from the latter in 1905. That course he supplemented by a course in the Commercial Col- lege at Dayton, from which he also was graduated, and then he entered the agricultural department of Ohio State University, from which he was gradu- ated in 1910. Thus equipped for farm operations along modern lines, Mr. Spahr took charge of the home farm in behalf of his mother and has since maintained his residence there, having established his home there after his marriage in the spring of 1914. "Oak Grove Farm" is a place of two hun- dred and fifty-five acres and since taking charge of the same Mr. Spahr has made many improvements, including a new farm house and farm build- ings in keeping with the same. Mr. Spahr also is the owner of a farm of

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one hundred and seventy acres south of Jamestown and in addition to his general farming gives considerable attention to the raising of hogs and Aberdeen-Angus cattle. He also is a stockholder in several corporations.

On April 18, 1914, John Charlton Spahr was united in marriage to Ethel McCallister, who was born in the vicinity of the city of Wilmington, in the neighboring county of Clinton, but was reared at Xenia, her parents having died when she was a small child. Mr. and Mrs. Spahr are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Jamestown and Mr. Spahr is a mem- ber of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Xenia. Politically, he is a Republican and has served his party as a delegate to state conventions.

ELMER H. SMITH.

Elmer H. Smith, proprietor of a farm of nearly one hundred acres in Silvercreek township, was born on a farm in Caesarscreek township on Feb- ruary 18, 1880, son of John B. and Sarah (Baynard) Smith, both of whom are still living, now residents of the city of Xenia.

John B. Smith is a Virginian, but has been a resident of this county since he was seventeen years of age. His mother died when he was a small child and his father afterward married and a few years later died. The stepmother, accompanied by the son John B. and his two sisters, then came to Ohio, locating south of Xenia, in this county, where John B. Smith remained until his marriage to Sarah Baynard, after which he rented a farm in New Jasper township and later moved to Caesarscreek township and began farming on his father-in-law's farm. He later bought a farm in Caesars- creek township and there resided until failing health compelled his retire- ment and removal to Xenia, where he and his wife are now living on North Detroit street. John B. Smith is a Republican. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have six children, of whom the sub- ject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being Mary J., wife of William Fudge, a farmer of New Jasper township; Walter B., a carpenter ; George, who is the manager of the Walker coal yard at Xenia ; Hazel, wife of O. C. Colvin, a farmer of Caesarscreek township, and Alber- tus D., who is now (1918) with the American Expeditionary Force in France, a member of the Sixteenth Company, Second Motor Mechanics Regiment, national army of the United States, in the war against Germany.

Elmer H. Smith was reared on the home farm and received his school- ing in the local schools. After his marriage in 1908 he took charge of the place he now owns and has since been operating the same, since taking pos- session having made numerous improvements, including . a new barn. In

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addition to his general farming Mr. Smith gives considerable attention to the raising of registered big-type Poland China hogs, Shorthorn cattle and horses of a good strain. In his political affiliation he is a Republican.

On December 26, 1908, Elmer H. Smith was united in marriage to Alice Haughey, who was born in Jefferson township, this county, daughter of David P. and Rose (Early) Haughey, the Haugheys being one of the old families in Greene county, and to this union two children have been born, daughters both, Zora Lucile and Mary Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are member of the Methodist Protestant church at Bowersville and Mr. Smith is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Xenia.

CLYDE C. BEAM.

Clyde C. Beam, proprietor of a stone quarry at Yellow Springs, was born on a farm in Liberty township, in the neighboring county of Clinton, November 15, 1883. He is a son of William O. and Sarah Elizabeth ( Place- maker ) Beam, the former of whom was born in Greene county on November 29, 1856, and the latter in 1863, who are now living in the village of Port William.

William O. Beam was reared on a farm in this county and here received his schooling. After his marriage in 1882 he established his home on a farm in Liberty township, Clinton county, and there remained until about 1893, when he disposed of his interests on the farm and moved with his family to Port William and was there engaged in the retail meat business for about five years, at the end of which time he bought the old landmark mill at Port William, tore down the old mill that had been standing for more than a hundred years, replaced it with a new and modern mill and is still engaged there in the milling business. He and his wife have five children, those besides the subject of this sketch, who is the eldest, being Jennie, who is now attending business college at Springfield; Cleo, Joseph Daniel and Geneva.

Having been but about ten years of age when his parents moved from the farm to Port William, Clyde C. Beami completed his early schooling in the schools of that village and afterward took the high-school course at Wilmington College, later taking a year at Jacob's University at Dayton. In the meantime he had become experienced in the milling business, but not caring to continue in that line presently became engaged in the stone-crush- ing business, giving particular attention to county work, mostly road work, doing considerable work for the state on the construction of the inter-county highways, and in 1914 moved to Yellow Springs and has since carried on his operations from that point, owning a quarry just outside the city limits,

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on the Pennsylvania railroad south of town, which he has equipped with . stone crushers and all necessary machinery.

On August 10, 1904, Clyde C. Beam was united in marriage to Hettie M. Powers, who was born in this county February 15, 1886, daughter of Stephen and Ella (Mason) Powers, who are now living in Clinton county and who are the parents of five children, those besides Mrs. Beam being Robert, who is married and lives in Clinton county; Jessie, wife of Lee Woolery, also of Clinton county ; Foy, who is at home with his parents, and Emma, who is making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Beam at Yellow Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Beam are members of the Methodist church. They have one child, a daughter, Virginia L., born on August 1, 1905. Mr. Beam is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Vel- low Springs. Politically, he is "independent."

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History of Greene County, Ohio: its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 64

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