History of Greene County, Ohio: its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 91

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 91

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Mr. Fralick was a farmer and stockman in the neighboring county of Madison until he retired from the farm in 1895 and moved to the village of Sedalia, in that county, in order that his children might have the advantage of the village schools, and there he became engaged in the hotel and livery business, proprietor of the Midway House, continuing thus engaged until the spring of 1908, when he moved to Yellow Springs, as noted above, so that his daughters might have a home there while completing their studies in Antioch College, and there he has continued to make his home. The Fralicks are members of the United Presbyterian church.

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GEORGE W. MCCULLOUGH.

George W. Mccullough, a veteran of the Civil War who has for years been engaged in the retail meat business at Yellow Springs, has been a resi- dent of Ohio since he was four years of age. He was born at Rumley, in Hampshire county, Virginia, April 13, 1842. son and only surviving child of John and Mary (Smarr) Mccullough, both of whom also were born in Vir- ginia, of Scottish descent, and whose last days were spent in Ohio, they having come out here more than seventy years ago, locating in Clark county.

John McCullough was born at Runley, Virginia, and there received his schooling and grew to manhood. He married there and began farming in his native county of Hampshire, continuing thus engaged there until 1846, when he disposed of his interests in that county and with his family came to Ohio and settled on a farm in Clark county, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1883. John McCullough was twice married. By his marriage to Mary Smarr he was the father of three children, Frank, who was born in Virginia and who died when seven or eight years of age; George W., the subject of this biographical sketch, and Anna, who died when ten years of age. The mother of these children died in 1848, two years after coming to Ohio, and John McCullough later married Margaret Ann Kitchen, of Clark county, and to that union were born three sons, Charles, who is now living in Nebraska; Isaac, of Detroit, Michigan, and Erasmus Jackson Mccullough, a farmer in the vicinity of Clifton, this county.

Reared on the home farm in Clark county, George W. Mccullough received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and after his marriage in the summer of 1862 began farming on his own account. A year later, in June, 1863, he enlisted his services in behalf of the Union cause and went to the front. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. McCullough returned to the farm and there remained until 1873, in which year he moved down to Yellow Springs and there became engaged in the butcher business, in which line he has been engaged practically all the time ever since. For three years also, years ago, Mr. Mccullough was engaged at Yellow Springs in the livery and undertaking business, a member of the firm of Littleton & Mccullough. Years ago he took a trip West, thinking to better his condition, but after a few years of experience there returned to Yellow Springs and resumed his butcher business, in which he ever since has been engaged. Mr. Mccullough is a Republican, has for years been a member of the local post.of the Grand Army of the Republic, present commander of the same, and is a Mason and an Odd Fellow and has filled all the chairs in the local lodges of both of those orders. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church.

Mr. Mccullough has been twice married. On June 15, 1862, he was

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united in marriage to Louisa Rhoades, of Clifton, this county, who died in 1867, leaving one child, a daughter, Mrs. Hattie M. Green, who is now liv- ing at Sedalia, Missouri, a widow. On December 31, 1870, Mr. Mccullough married Mary A. Polling, who was born in Clark county, where her parents also were born, and to this union seven children have been born, namely : Effie, who married Fred Sharp, now living at Gage, Oklahoma, and has three children ; Blanche, who married Walter Stansberry, of Yellow Springs, and has three children; Mrs. Grace Straus, who died in 1916; Frank, now living at Springfield, who married Nellie Marshall and has one child; Edward, who married Stella Runyan and now lives at Wichita, Kansas; Charles, who is married and has two children, and George, who died at Springfield when twenty-three years of age.

WILLIAM CLIFFORD SUTTON.

William Clifford Sutton, a former member of the common council of the city of Xenia and for years engaged in business in that city, proprietor, in association with his brother, of a music store, and who also is now engaged in the sale of automobiles, was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of the village of New Jasper, in the township of that name, in this county, October 23, 1877, son of John R. and Emma N. (Cooper) Sutton, both of whom were also born in that same township, and who are now living retired at Xenia, having moved from the farm to that city in 1907. John R. Sutton and Emma N. Cooper were married in 1875 and to that union were born two sons, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Charles Leroy Sutton, born in 1879, who is associated with his brother in the operation of the Sutton music store at Xenia and who married Florence Kiser, of Bellefontaine, this state.

Reared on the home farm in New Jasper township, William C. Sutton supplemented his early schooling in the schools of that neighborhood by a course in the Xenia city schools. In 1901 he became associated with L. E. Drake in business at Xenia, the firm there conducting a music store for two years, at the end of which time, in 1903, Mr. Sutton bought his partner's interest in the store and continued the management of the same, later taking into partnership with him his brother, Charles Leroy Sutton, and has ever since been thus engaged, the Sutton music store being located at 50-52 East Main street. The Sutton brothers own the building in which they are carry- ing on their business, having bought the same on October 15, 1917. In 1910 William C. Sutton opened what has ever since been known as the "Bijou" moving-picture theater in Xenia, rebuilt the same in 1914 and continued to operate the theater until September 1, 1917, when he sold the place and became engaged in the sale of automobiles, in addition to his music-store

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business, having the local agency for five makes of cars and trucks. Mr. Sutton was for eight years a member of the city common council from his ward, occupying that position at the time the city government was changed to a commission form of government on January 1, 1918.

On December 24, 1902, William C. Sutton was united in marriage to Fay Cherry, daughter of Thomas and Evaline (Tedrick) Cherry, of Newark, this state, the latter of whom is still living, and to this union has been born one child, John Thomas Sutton, born on November 4, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Sutton is affiliated with the local lodges of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of the Loyal Order of Moose, of the Woodmen of the World and of the Modern Woodmen of America.

CHARLES T. STEVENSON.

Charles T. Stevenson, proprietor of a Miami township farm, was born on a farm in Cedarville township on December 2, 1870, son of Capt. John and Jane (Bradfute) Stevenson, who are now living retired in the village of Yellow Springs.

Capt. John Stevenson earned his title by service in the Union army during the Civil War. He was born on a farm in Xenia township on July 5, 1829, and has lived in this county all his life, being now one of the oldest living native-born residents of Greene county. During his younger days he was engaged in carpentering and building, but not long after his marriage in the summer of 1858 established his home on a farm in Cedarville town- ship and there continued engaged in farming and stock raising until his retire- ment from the farm and removal to Yellow Springs, where he and his wife are now living. They have three children, the subject of this sketch having a brother, William B. Stevenson, who married Lizzie Andrews, a Greene county girl, and after years of farming retired from the farm and moved to Cedarville, where he and his wife are now living, and a sister, Miss Lizzie May Stevenson, who is living with her aged parents at Yellow Springs.

Charles T. Stevenson was reared on the home farm in Cedarville town- ship and completed his schooling at Antioch College, which institution he entered in 1885. After leaving college he resumed farming and was thus engaged on the old home place until 1898, in which year he went to Illinois, where he was for two years engaged as manager of a stock farm. He then was for four years engaged in a similar capacity in the neighborhood of Wabash, Indiana, and afterward for some time in a like capacity in Virginia. In the meantime, in 1901, Mr. Stevenson had married one of Greene county's daughters and upon his return from Virginia bought the place on which his

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wife was reared, the McMillan farm in Miami township, and. has continued there to reside.

It was in 1901 that Charles T. Stevenson was united in marriage to Hattie May McMillan, daughter of James Harvey and Mary (Akin) McMil- lan, of Miami township, and to this union one child has been born, a daugh- ter, Nina Elizabeth, born in 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Stevenson is a Republican.

OSCAR S. HARGRAVE.

Oscar S. Hargrave, proprietor of a farm on rural mail route No. 8 out of Xenia, in New Jasper township, was born east of Bowersville in Jefferson township and has been a resident of this county all his life. He was born on February 19, 1874, son of William Herbert and Minerva (Thompson) Hargrave, the latter of whom was born in. Fayette county, and who are still living here.

William Herbert Hargrave was born on a farm two and a half miles east of Bowersville and has been a farmer all his life. He remained at home until his marriage and then located on the farm on which he is still living and where he owns one hundred and seventy-one acres. Mr. Hargrave is a Republican, has served as central committeeman for that party from his town- ship and has also held county and township offices. He. and his wife are members of the Church of Christ and their children were reared in that faith. There are four of these children, sons all, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Marion L., a farmer, who moved from this county to Paulding county, this state, and thence to Claire, Michigan, where he is now living, and who married Hester Fannon and has five children, Bessie, Homer, Edith, Veda and Pauline; Claude E., who is farming a part of his father's farm and who married Lillian Brakefield and has two children, Harold and Helen; and Jacob, who also in farming a part of the old home place and who married Belle Ford and has two children, Robert and Paul.

Oscar S. Hargrave was reared on the home farm and received his school- ing in the schools of that neighborhood. After his marriage when twenty- seven years of age, he continued to make his home on the home farm for three years, at the end of which time he bought the farm on which he is now living in New Jasper township and has since resided there. He has a farm of seventy-four acres and has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock. Mr. Hargrave is a Republican and, fraternally, is affiliated with the local.lodge of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics at New Jasper.

Mr. Hargrave has been twice married. On January 29, 1902, he was

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united in marriage to Herma D. Stephens, daughter of William S. and Cleota (Pilcher) Stephens, of Port William, and to that union was born one child, a daughter, Isa Marie. Mrs. Herma Hargrave died in September, 1910, and on December 30, 1912, Mr. Hargrave married Mary Leona Hite, who was born in New Jasper township, this county, daughter of William Raper and Meldah R. (Spahr) Hite, both of whom also were born in this county and who are still living, now residents of the village of New Jasper. William Raper Hite was for years a farmer and also was engaged on county road and bridge contract work. He is a Republican, a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have four children, of whom Mrs. Hargrave is the third in order of birth, the others being Allen Delmer, a stock salesman, now living at Cleveland, this state, and who married Eva Babb; Clarence G., a painter, living at home at New Jasper, and Eva Elizabeth, who married Loren A. Rogers, who teaches in the Ross' township centralized school and has one child, a son, Roger Russell. Mrs. Hargrave is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

OTIS T. WOLFORD.

Otis T. Wolford, of "Forest Mill Farm," is one of Greene county's landowners and stockmen who for years has taken a special interest in the raising of pure-bred live stock, an exhibitor at fairs and stock shows throughout this part of the state. He and his wife are the owners of a farm of three hundred and sixty-eight acres a half mile off the Jamestown and Xenia pike. a part of the old Brown estate of two thousand acres settled by Mrs. Wolford's grandfather, Jacob Brown, in the middle of the '30s of the past century. In March, 1918, they also bought a half interest in two hundred and twenty-four acres on the Federal pike, known as the Sarah Jane Wilson or Mary McLaughlin farm, this latter tract also being a part of the two thousand acres of the Jacob Brown estate in the Military Sur- vey.

Jacob Brown was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, of old English stock, as was his wife, Judith Walter, also of Virginia, both the Brown and the Walters families having been established in Virginia in Colonial days. He was reared in Virginia, a farmer, and there married. By religious per- suasion they were Hicksite Friends and so bitterly opposed to the institu- tion of human slavery that in 1835 they disposed of their interests in the Old Dominion and came to Ohio, settling in Greene county. The decision on the part of the Browns to come to this county was based on the good report taken back by George Walters Brown, Jacob Brown's eldest son, who in 1829 had made a comprehensive trip on horseback through this re-

. Viven . Brun

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gion and as far west as Illinois and south into Kentucky. On all this long trip he saw no land with as fair a prospect as that in Greene county and he so reported, particularly emphasizing the desirability of a tract of two thousand acres held by Colonel Elzy, of Virginia, as a grant for military services during the Revolutionary War. The matter was investigated, the family was favorable to the emigration and Jacob Brown traded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Loudoun county, giving some cash for "boot," for the Elzy tract in this county and in 1835 moved here with his family, driving through with such household and other belongings as could conveniently be brought. George W. Brown, the family's "pathfinder," spent the rest of his life in this county, living to be eighty years of age, his death occurring on May 17, 1883. What attracted him to the Elzy tract was the obvious excellence of the soil, the presence of ample timber and water facilities for the operation of a mill on the place, and when the family became established on that place a water-wheel saw-mill was erected and was for years operated there by Nixon G. Brown, continuing indeed until in the '70s. There was also a grist-mill attached and many neighbors brought their logs and their grist to the Brown mill. Upon their arrival here the Browns rented a stone house on the Columbus pike five miles northeast of Xenia and there resided until they could erect a log house on their own place. This house was lathed and plastered on the inside and weather- boarded on the outside and was thus doubly substantial. There Jacob Brown and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. They helped organize the Oakland meeting of Friends and for many years, or until the Oakland meeting house and school house was erected, meetings were held in their house. The Oakland meeting was discontinud about 1885, most of the members having died or moved away, and the old meeting house later was destroyed by fire. As Jacob Brown's children married, their father gave them their respective portions of the land and the family became well estab- lished. Following are the names of the children of Jacob and Judith (Walters) Brown: George W., noted above as the family's "pathfinder;" Helen, who died in Virginia; Diana, who also died in Virginia; Mrs. Lydia Ellen Greenlease, who died in Virginia; William, who established his home in this county; Thomas, who also made his home here; Sarah Jane, who married Aaron Wilson and lived in the Springboro neighborhood, in War- ren county; Ruth Hannah, who married James Harrison, of Xenia; Lu- cinda, who married William Blaine; Nixon G., father of Mrs. Wolford, and Nancy.

Nixon G. Brown, youngest of the four sons of Jacob Brown, was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, February 2, 1827, and was thus but a lad when he came to this county with his parents in 1835. He grew to man-

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hood on the big farm his father opened up and received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood. On May 12, 1853, he was united in mar- riage to Hannah P. Wilson, who also was born in Loudoun county, Vir- ginia, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Nichols) Wilson, and after his marriage established his home on a part of the parental tract, and there he and his wife spent their last days. He died on March 11, 1904, in his seventy-eighth year, and his widow survived hin but five days more than a month, her death occurring on April 16 of that same year. They main- tained their interest in the Oakland meeting of Friends, of which Nixon Brown was an officer, until the discontinuance of the same in the 'Sos. They were very sociable and were widely known as "Uncle Nixon" and "Aunt Hannah" Brown. They were the parents of two daughters, Mary Eliza- beth, who with her husband now owns the home place, and Harriet Ann, the latter of whom on May 6, 1885, was united in marriage to Dr. W. P. Madden. of Xenia, who died on May 30, 1908, his widow surviving him less than three years, her death occurring on December 2, 1910.

Mary Elizabeth Brown was reared on the home farm and received ex- cellent advantages in the way of schooling. On March 17, 1885, she was united in marriage to Otis T. Wolford, who had come to this county from Maryland in 1875. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wolford made their home on the old Brown place, which they now own, and there Mr. Wolford gave particular attention to the raising of pure-bred Aberdeen-Angus cattle and was for years an exhibitor at stock shows and state fairs, though of late years he has not given so much attention to this line. He is still living on the farm and giving the same his active attention. He and his wife also maintain a home at Xenia, where the latter spends some of her time, having apartments in the Manhattan Hotel building.

Otis T. Wolford was born in Washington county, Maryland, sixth in order of birth of the eleven children born to his parents, John and Mahala (Brewer) Wolford, natives of that same county, and Lutherans, who spent all their lives there, the latter dying on January 24, 1872, and the former, December 29, 1884. The other children of this family follow: John H., former mayor of Cedarville, who died on October II, 1916, and whose widow, who was America Mills and by whom he had five children, is still living at Cedarville; Alvin Victor, deceased, whose widow, who was Estella Lott and by whom he had two sons, is now living at Dayton; Mary Elizabeth, who died when a child; Emily Virginia, deceased; Ida Mahala, who married William G. Haines, of this county, and has two sons, Dr. Roy Haines, of Paintersville, and Frederick, of Xenia; Peter Elsworth, now liv- ing at Washington Court House, who married Margaret Wendell and has one child, a daughter; Sarah Ellen, unmarried, who is living at Cedarville;

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William Grant, now living in Dixon, Illinois, who is married and has three children; Thomas Cowton, who married Anna Shinn and is living on a farm east of Xenia, and Anna Savilla, who died in the days of her girl- hood.

LEONIDAS CROMWELL WALKER, M. D.

Dr. Leonidas Cromwell Walker, who for more than thirty years has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Jamestown, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Eagle township, Vinton county, January 21, 1855, a son of Benjamin Morris and Margaret ( Ratcliff) Walker, the latter of whom was born in that part of Ross county now included in Vinton county, June 5, 1821, daughter of Ezekiel and Dorothy (Hammer) Ratcliff, the former of whom was born in Chatham county, North Carolina, in 1795, and was eight years of age when his parents, John and Ruth Ratcliff, Quakers, moved from that place to the new state of Ohio in 1803 and settled in Ross county.

Benjamin Morris Walker was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, May 22, 1816, a son of John and Letitia (Humphrey ) Walker, the latter of whom died in Virginia, where the former married again and later came over into Ohio with his family and settled in what is now Vinton county, where he spent his last days. John Walker was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, March 28, 1787, a son of Benjamin and Sophia ( VanHorn) Walker, Quakers, both of whom were born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and the former of whom served as a soldier of the patriot army during the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Walker was born on a farm in Springfield township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1757, a son of Ebenezer and Hannah Walker, Quakers. He grew up in that township and some time prior to September I, 1776, enlisted for service during the Revolution as a member of Capt. Evan Edwards' company of the Third Pennsylvania Line, and with that command served until February 20, 1781. In February, 1780, in his home township, Benjamin Walker married Sophia VanHorn, who was born in that same town- ship, April 21, 1757, a daughter of Garret and Mary VanHorn, and in 1785 or 1786 he moved with his family from Pennsylvania to Loudoun county, Virginia, and there became engaged in the tanning business, erecting a tan- nery nearby his home. That old stone tannery is still standing and some years ago while making a visit to the old home of his great-grandparents in Vir- ginia Doctor Walker secured a photograph of the same. Benjamin Walker and his family were members of the Friends church. He died at his home in Loudoun county on September 1, 1821, and his widow survived him for more than twenty years, her death occurring in February, 1845. On account

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of her husband's Revolutionary War service she was a pensioner of the gov- ernment. Benjamin Walker and wife were the parents of nine children, namely : Garret, born on August 20, 1780; Joseph, April 12, 1782; William, February 13, 1785; John, Doctor Walker's grandfather, March 28, 1787: Mary, September 27, 1789; Benjamin, January 3, 1793 : Sarah, June 25, 1795 : a daughter who died the day after her birth, February 16, 1797. and Ebenezer, March 7, 1798, who died of typhoid fever while serving as a boy soldier during the War of 1812.

John Walker grew up in Loudoun county and there became a farmer and shoemaker, following the latter vocation during the winter periods. During the War of 1812 he rendered service as a member of Taylor's Militia of Loudoun county. He was twice married, his first wife having been Letitia Humphrey, Doctor Walker's grandmother. She was a daughter of Jesse and Winnie ( Morris) Humphrey, the former of whom was a son of Col. Thomas Humphrey, an officer of the Revolutionary army. To that union were born several children. After the death of the mother of these children John Walker married Abigail Brooks and a few years later, in 1824, moved over into Ohio and on October 20 of that year settled on a farm in what is now Vinton county, but which then was comprised within the bounds of Jackson county, and there established his home. He died on August 1, 1854, and is buried in the cemetery one mile north of Londonderry, in Ross county.

Benjamin M. Walker, son of John and Letitia (Humphrey) Walker, was eight years of age when his father moved with his family from Vir- ginia to Ohio. After his marriage he established his home on a farm and began farming on his own account, in time becoming the proprietor of twelve hundred acres of land in that county and a successful oil operator. Reared as a Quaker, he remained faithful to the tenets of that faith and he and his family were members of the Friends church. Reared a Whig, he became a Republican upon the organization of the latter party. Benjamin M. Walker lived to be three days past eighty-three years of age, his death occurring at Londonderry on May 25, 1899. His wife, Margaret Ratcliff, had long pre- deceased hin, her death having occurred on September 19, 1875.

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History of Greene County, Ohio: its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 91

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