USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, Ohio: its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 95
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In 1892 Charles McPherson was united in marriage to Eva Taylor, who was born at Xenia, daughter of Wesley Taylor and wife, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Donald, who, as mentioned above, is now assisting his father in the management of the home farm. Donald McPher- son completed his schooling in the Xenia high school and from boyhood has taken an interest in the affairs of the home farm. He married Mary Clevell Weaver, daughter of Alpha Weaver, of this county, and makes his home on the home place. The McPhersons are members of the Reformed church at Xenia. Mr. McPherson is a Republican, but has not been an aspirant for public office.
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HORACE STEPHEN WEEKS.
Horace Stephen Weeks, proprietor of a farm of seventy-five acres in the Mt. Zion neighborhood in Beavercreek township, was born in the neigh- boring county of Warren and has lived in Ohio all his life with the exception of several years during the days of his boyhood when his family lived in Missouri. He was born on March 6, 1859, son of Stephen and Margaret (Campbell) Weeks, the latter of whom was born in New Jersey on Novem- ber 26, 1824. Stephen Weeks was born in Warren county, this state, December 21, 1826, and after his marriage in that county continued to make his home there until about 1866, when he moved up into Greene county and settled in the Bowersville neighborhood. Four years later he moved with his family to Missouri, but about five years later returned to Ohio. He and his wife were the parents of twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the ninth in order of birth. Arthur, the first- born is deceased. The next two in order of birth died in infancy. Alfred is now living at Dayton. Alice, now deceased, was the wife of David O. Sheeley. Mrs. Catherine Pedicord is now living at Decatur, Illinois. Emma married Jesse Turner and is living at Alpha. Isaac is deceased. Helen married David Coy and is living in Montgomery county. James is deceased and William married Keturah Wiedman and is now living at Tadmore, Ohio.
Horace S. Weeks was seven years of age when his parents came to this county and was about eleven when they moved to Missouri. His early schooling was thus received in the Bowersville schools and in Missouri. He was sixteen when the family returned to this county from Missouri and located in Beavercreek township. When twenty-one he went over into the neighboring county of Montgomery and in Mad River township began farming on his own account and was thus engaged there for five years, at the end of which time, he meanwhile having married, he returned to Greene county and began farming on the Harshman farm in Bath township. Four years later he rented the farm on which the Fairfield aviation field is now located and for eleven years made his home there. farming that place until 1901, when he bought the farm on which he is now living in Beavercreek township and has ever since resided there. Mr. Weeks is a Republican and has rendered public service as supervisor of highways in his home district. He formerly gave some attention to lodge work, but is not now active in . that connection. He and his family are members of Mt. Zion Reformed church.
On October 30, 1884, Horace S. Weeks was united in marriage to Emma Charlotte Tinnerman, of Dayton, who was born in that city, daugh-
MR. AND MRS. HORACE S. WEEKS
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ter of Henry J. and Mary (Knapp) Tinnerman, the latter of whom was born in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 3, 1847, and both of whom are still living at Dayton. Henry J. Tinnerman is a native of Ger- many and was but two years of age when he came with his parents to this country. He became a brickmaker and established himself in business in Dayton, where he is still living, residing at 1105 Hupman avenue. To him and his wife were born eight children, those besides Mrs. Weeks being William, deceased; Harry L., of Dayton; Mary, wife of Edwin Anderson, of Newport, Kentucky; Charles, deceased; George C., of Dayton ; Elmer F., of Dayton, and Ione, wife of William M. Hunter, of Dayton. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks have four children, namely: Pearl W., born on July 26, 1885, who married Leigh Stephens, a Beavercreek township farmer, and has had four children, Paul, Lucille (deceased), Donald and Marjorie; Henry, June 28. 1890, now living at Dayton, who married Ethel Sunderland and has two children, Evaline and Myron; and Warner and Harold, twins, Febru- ary 4, 1895, the former of whom is still at home, and the latter now em- ployed at Dayton. Harold was drafted into the United States army and discharged on account of disability.
HERMAN H. VOLKENAND.
Herman H. Volkenand, a farmer of Beavercreek township, was born on the farm on which he is now living, near the banks of the Little Miami river; in that township, son of Herman and Martha (Brod) Volkenand, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. Reared on that farm, he received his schooling in the McClellan district school and re- mained on the home farm until he was twenty-three years of age. In 1889 he went to Dayton and was there for three year's employed by the Davis Sewing-Machine Works. He then was for three years engaged on the Day- ton police force and was thereafter variously engaged in that city, including three years as an assembler in the plant of the Tiger Bicycle Company, fol- lowing his trade. In the meantime, in 1896, he married and in 1899 he re- turned to the home farm in this county and began to operate the same for his father, who had retired and was then making his home in Dayton. After his father's death he bought the home place of seventy-five acres and he and his family are still living there. He has two valuable properties in Dayton, and also holds an interest in oil stock. Mr. Volkenand is independent in his political views. He and his family are members of Mt. Zion Reformed church.
On March 27, 1896, Herman H. Volkenand was united in marriage to Ida May Glander, who was born on a farm in Preble county, this state,
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daughter of John and Mary (Cole) Glander, both of whom are now de- ceased, and to this union six children have been born, namely ; Lorine Helen, born on March 27, 1898, who married Joseph Orville Mills and is now liv- ing on a farm in Sugarcreek township, this county; Leona Virginia, May 23, 1900; Edna Marie, October 13, 1906; Mary Ellen, November 26, 1908; Herman John, March 24, 1912, and Ruth Irma, June 21, 1917.
WILLIAM G. PRINTZ.
William G. Printz, a retired farmer, now living in the village of Clif- ton, is a native of the neighboring county of Clark and all his life has been spent in this part of the state. He was born on a farm in Springfield town- ship, four miles south of the city of Springfield, July 14, 1850, son of Peter and Ethelinda (Kelly) Printz, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of whom was a member of the well-known Springfield Kellys, for- merly and for years prominent in manufacturing circles in that city. Peter Printz was born at Reading, Pennsylvania, and was but a child when he came with his parents to Ohio in 1815, the family settling on the farm south of Springfield above mentioned. After his marriage he established his home on that place and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1869. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Isaac, deceased; Mrs. Margaret Ryan, who lives in Cleveland; Silas W., a farmer, living in the vicinity of Enon, in Clark county; Sarah, deceased; Oliver, deceased; Mrs. Ruth Ann Bollman, whose husband is a Clark county farmer; Franklin P., deceased; Daniel, deceased; Emma Jane, deceased, and Eugene, a painter, who is living at Springfield.
Reared on the home farm south of Springfield, William G. Printz received his schooling in the "ol' Possum" school house in that neighbor- hood. When a young man he began farming on his own account and after his marriage in 1881 worked on the farm of John Allen in Greene township, in the lower part of his home county, and moved to the same, remaining there until his retirement two years later and removal to the neighboring village of Clifton, where he is still living. Politically, Mr. Printz is a Demo- crat and, fraternally, is affiliated with the local lodge of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He and his wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
On September 7, 1881, in Clark county, William G. Printz was united in marriage to Thursey Jane Cultice, who was born at Jamestown, in this county, but who was but a child when she moved with her parents, George and Sarah R. (Rice) Cultice, up into Clark county. Both George Cultice
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and his wife were natives of Virginia and they were the parents of nine children, of whom Mrs. Printz was the eighth in order of birth, the others being 'Walter, deceased; John, deceased; Hannah, who died in infancy; Margaret and Martha, twins, the former of whom is deceased and the latter of whom married a Kelly and is living at Springfield; William, a farmer, who also is engaged in the retail meat business at Cedarville; Hester, de- ceased, and George Henry, who is living in Darke county, this state.
To William G. and Thursey J. (Cultice) Printz have been born five children, namely: Daisy Maud, born on July 9, 1883, who died on August 22, 1903; Stella, November 20, 1884, who died on December 19 of that same year; Warren D., March 1, 1886, now postmaster of the village of Clifton; Lottie Jane, November 4, 1891, who married Arthur Reed, of Clifton, and has two children, sons both, Leo William and Lamar; and An- drew William, November 2, 1895, now living at Springfield, where he is engaged as a molder, and who married Anna Strowbridge and has one child, a son, Andrew William, Jr.
Warren D. Printz, postmaster of Clifton, was about seven years of age when his parents moved from the farm to Clifton and his schooling was received in the schools of that village. Upon completing the first-year work in the high school he turned his attention to a mercantile career and in March, 1912, became employed in the store of J. A. Fudge at Clifton. On February 25, 1915, he was appointed postmaster of the village and is now serving in that important public capacity. He is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and he and his wife are members of the Presby- terian church. On February 25, 1908, Warren D. Printz was united in marriage to Elvie D. Post, of Washington Court House, county seat of the neighboring county of Fayette, and to this union three children have been born, Anita Helen, Thelma Doris and Warren Granville.
REV. GEORGE HIRAM GEYER.
Though never a resident of Xenia, save incidentally and casually, for his wife was a Xenia girl, the late Rev. George Hiram Geyer was well known and highly regarded in that city, where his widow and children have long made their home, and it is regarded as but fitting to include in this com- pilation, comprising a review of the lives and characters of many who have definitely impressed the mark of their personalities upon the community, a brief biographical sketch of this good man. Among the most intimate friends of the late Mr. Geyer was Joseph Clark, of Albany, New York, who after the death of his friend in 1900 compiled a volume of biographia and memoria relating to his loved and departed friend, under the title of "In Memoriam," from which the following biographical sketch is taken:
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"George Hiram Geyer was born in Pomeroy, Ohio, May 26, 1868, and was the eldest in a family of four sons and three daughters. John Geyer and Katharine Ohlinger, his parents, were of German descent, though both were born in this country. His grandfather, Rev. William Geyer, was one of the pioneer ministers in the German Methodist Episcopal church in Ohio.
"As a little boy he was most trustworthy, industrious and obedient. growing to young manhood loved and respected by all who knew him. He attended the public schools, and when sixteen years old was graduated from the Pomeroy high school at the head of his class, the theme of his commence- ment oration being 'A Man's a Man for a' That.' . .* * In September. 1885, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. And here. this first year away from home, on the 'Day of Prayer for Colleges,' he heard a call of God-a call so clear and unmistakable, that the voice never left him in the years that followed. * After one year at college he returned to Pomeroy and taught a year in the high school, which only two years before he had left as a pupil.
"On April 28, 1887, he was licensed to preach by the quarterly con- ference of the Pomeroy church. In September, 1887, he returned to Dela- ware and during the fall term preached his first sermon at Lewis Center from the text: 'The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.' In the fall of 1888 he was elected principal of the Pomeroy high school, and again left college, this time to teach two years. As a teacher he was successful beyond the hopes of his friends. He entered college for the third time in 1890, and was graduated with honor in the class of '92, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. During his college course' there was no honor the university coulld bestow which he did not receive. In the Young Men's Christian Association, in the Chrestomathean Literary Society, in the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, as well as in the class room, his ability, his industry and his fidelity were recognized and rewarded. In the spring of his senior year he brought honor to the university and his friends by winning first place in the state oratorical contest, and second honors in the interstate contest, with his oration on 'The Optimism of History.' Notwithstanding the success that always crowned his efforts he never lost the modesty and simplicity of his nature, but was reserved and in no way self-assertive. Often during his college course he preached on Sabbath, and for three months in the summer of 1891 he supplied the pulpit of Walnut Street Methodist Episcopal church, Chillicothe, Ohio.
"On August 30, 1892, Mr. Geyer was married to Miss Carrie Brown Dodds, of Xenia, Ohio; Dr. James W. Bashford, his college president and friend, officiating. In setting up a home of his own he never lost sight of his one ideal-'the glory of God.' And it was here in his home life that the transparency of his character was most apparent. Nothing ever marred the
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happiness of that home where father, mother and three beautiful children were all in all to each other. Curtis Bayley was born in Boston, March 31, 1895; Mary Katharine, March 15, 1897, and George Dodds, in Ironton, May 5, 1898.
"In September, 1892, Mr. Geyer entered the Boston University, School of Theology, graduating in 1895, being awarded the highest honors of the institution by the vote both of the faculty and of his class. During his stay in Boston he was pastor of Hope chapel, a mission supported and conducted by the Old South church. In October, 1895, he was admitted into the Ohio conference of the Methodist Episcopal church and was ordained by Bishop John H. Vincent, who sent him to Spencer church, Ironton, Ohio. Here he spent the three best working years of his life. Not only did his own pulpit and parish receive his untiring service, but there was nothing of pub- lic interest in the city for which he did not labor. While here he wrote four lectures : 'Joseph; or Religion and Greatness,' 'Paul the Apostle,' 'Daniel Manin' and 'The Cost of Our Country.' These he occasionally gave in other churches.
"In October, 1898, he became the pastor of King Avenue Methodist Episcopal church of Columbus, Ohio, but at the end of three months he was taken sick with la grippe which so weakened his lungs that he was sent to Asheville, North Carolina, for special treatment, and his going was made possible by the unequaled generosity of his church. After six months in the South he returned to Columbus and continued his work without inter- ruption until March 1, 1900, when he was taken with his second attack of la grippe from which he never recovered, and his death occurred on June 25, 1900." The body was brought to Xenia for interment in Woodland cemetery.
Since the death of her husband Mrs. Geyer has been making her place of residence at Xenia, the home of her girlhood. She is a daughter of the late George Dodds and Mary E. (Brown) Dodds, for many years among the best known citizens of Xenia and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.
Carrie Brown Dodds was graduated from the Xenia high school in 1884 with the second honors of her class. She then taught one term of dis- trict school and in 1885 entered Ohio Wesleyan University. She spent the period of her junior year as a teacher in the public schools of Elyria and then re-entered the university, from which she was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1889. While in the university she served as president of the Athenaeum Literary Society and also earned the additional high honor 'of election to Phi Beta Kappa. Upon leaving the university she entered upon a course of instruction in nursing in the Woman's Hos- pital at Chicago and was graduated from the hospital school in 1890, after-
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ward spending a year in the medical school at St. Louis. During the school term of 1891-92 she was engaged as a teacher in the public schools at Xenia and in the summer of 1892 was married to the Rev. George H. Geyer. Upon her return to Xenia after the death of her husband Mrs. Geyer re- sumed the part she liad taken in the cultural life of the city during the time of her former residence there and has since maintained these activities in a very helpful way, particularly in the service of the church and kindred movements. Since leaving the university Mrs. Geyer has not neglected her scholastic interests and her alma mater has conferred upon her the Master's degree. She is the teacher of the Busy People's Bible class of the First Methodist Episcopal church and her endeavors in that direction have made of this class one of the most notable units in the rapidly expanding Bible- class movement in this part of the state. As a field worker in behalf of the adult Bible-class movement Mrs. Geyer's activities have taken her all over the states of New York, West Virginia and Ohio, and she was a delegate to the last general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, which was held at Saratoga, New York, in May, 1916. Mrs. Geyer was the first presi- dent of the Greene County Young Woman's Christian Association and has ever maintained her friendly and helpful interest in that useful organiza- tion. When the United States entered the World War in 1917 she was made Greene county chairman of the Woman's Committee of the Council of National Defense and has organized the entire county along four lines- Red Cross, Food Conservation, Child Welfare and Liberty Loan-among the women. She also is secretary of the County Food Administration Com- mittee and gives almost her entire time to war work.
Mrs. Geyer's elder son, Curtis Bayley Geyer, who was born at Boston on March 31. 1895, is now ( 1918) connected with the great National Army of the United States in the World War. He was graduated from the Xenia high school in 1913 at the head of his class and in 1914 entered Ohio Wes- leyan University and was a junior there when this government declared war against Germany in the spring of 1917. He at once left his studies and volunteered for service May 15, 1917, shortly thereafter being attached to the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Field Hospital Corps, One Hundred and Twelfth Sanitary Train, Thirty-seventh Division, United States Army, and was stationed at Camp Sheridan, Montgomery, Alabama, for training for foreign service, and is leaving "An eastern port" for service in France as this goes to press .. He was a "track" man in university athletics, win- ning two medals for long distance running. He is a student volunteer for the mission field of the Methodist church.
Mrs. Geyer's only daughter, Mary Katharine Geyer, who was born at Ironton, Ohio, March 15, 1897, was graduated from the Xenia high school
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at the head of her class in 1915, entered Ohio Wesleyan University in that same year and is now in her junior year preparing for field work in the foreign missionary service. She has recently received three prizes for high scholarship in the university.
George Dodds Geyer, second son and last-born child of the Rev. George H. and Carrie B. (Dodds) Geyer, was born at Ironton, Ohio, May 5, 1898, and was graduated from the Xenia high school in 1916, president of his class. He entered Ohio Wesleyan University in 1916 for his freshman year, and was president of his class. In 1917 he entered the Boston Uni- versity School of Business Administration and is now pursuing his studies there in the sophomore class.
CHARLES S. HUPMAN.
Charles S. Hupman, a Spring Valley township farmer, was born in that township on February 10, 1858, son of John and Jane ( Peterson) Hupman, the latter of whom also was born in this county. John Hupman was born in Virginia in 1821 and was but a child when his parents came to Ohio and settled in Clark county, later coming down into Greene county. Here he grew to manhood, became engaged in farming and spent the rest of his life. John Hupman was twice married. By his first wife, Jane Peterson, he was the father of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being Cecelia, deceased; Sarah Emily, wife of J. A. Webb; Susan, deceased; Frank, who is living at Xenia ; Jonas, who died in infancy; Jonas S. C., now living in California, and Harry C., of Xenia. The mother of these children died in 1859 and in 1875 John Hupman married Amanda Brewer. To that union one child was born, a son, John, now deceased.
Charles S. Hupman was in high school when his father died and his presence was thus required on the home farm. After his marriage he con- tinued farming in Spring Valley township and has ever since been thus en- gaged. Mr. Hupman is a Republican and he and his family are members of the Second United Presbyterian church at Xenia.
Mr. Hupman has been twice married. On March 1, 1887, he was united in marriage to Georgiana McPherson, of Spring Valley township, who died.in 1901. To that union were born three children, William Paul Hupman, who is now in the service of the National Army; Anna Vesper. who married Fred Brewer, of Yellow Springs, and has two sons, Warren and William R., and Emily Johanna, who died in infancy. In 1904 Mr. Hupman married Clara J. Bickett, of Xenia.
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WALTER BUELL HARDY.
Walter Buell Hardy, who died at his home in the village of Yellow Springs in 1888, was a native son of Ohio and his whole life was spent in this state, devoted to the cause of education to which he had early dedicated it. Three of his daughters also early devoted their energies to the cause of education and have rendered conspicuous service in that behalf, one of these daughters, Miss Pauline Adelaide Hardy, being still engaged in educational work at Yellow Springs, while Miss Irene Hardy's labors at Leland Stan- ford, Jr., University and in other Western institutions of learning have gained for her a high place in the estimation of educators. W. B. Hardy was born in Preble county, this state, May 5, 1818, last-born of the seven children born to his parents, the Rev. John and Rachel (Downing) Hardy, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter in Missouri, who were married in Kentucky and whose other children were Benjamin, Thomas, Curtis, Liu- rinda, Eliza Jane and Frances. The Rev. John Hardy was a ministser of the Christian church and died when his last-born child, the subject of this memorial sketch, was eighteen months of age.
Reared in Preble county, Walter Buell Hardy received his schooling there and early became engaged in teaching school. He married in his home county in the fall of 1840 and afterward established his home at Eaton. thic county seat of that county, and was for years thereafter connected with the schools of that city, and with Eaton Institute. His wife died in 1868 and in 1875 he moved to Yellow Springs, where he entered the normal department of Antioch College. Mr. Hardy spent the rest of his life in Yellow Springs, his death occurring there on March 14, 1888, and he was buried in the ceme- tery at Yellow Springs.
On October 16. 1841, in Preble county, Walter Buell Hardy was united in marriage to Mary Ryan, who was born in Virginia and who had accom- panied her parents to this state in 1829, the family settling in Preble county, and to that union were born five children, Irene, Laurinda Elizabeth, Pauline Adelaide, Caroline and Louis W., the latter of whom is a newspaper man, connected with the Springfield Sun, who continues to make his home in Yellow Springs. Miss Irene Hardy, whose labor in the field of education has been noted above, is now living at Palo Alto, California, and though now blind, an affliction which came upon her some years ago, continues actively engaged in educational service, a service to which she has devoted her life' since she was sixteen years of age, her first work as a teacher having been performed at that age at Richmond, Indiana. She later became a teacher in Antioch College at Yellow Springs, from which institution she had received her degree of Bachelor of Arts, and later went West, having connection with the high
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