USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, Ohio > Part 106
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118
On the 26th of April, 1859. Mr. Quinn was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Andrews, a daughter of James and Eliza- beth ( Scott) Andrews. Her father was born in South Carolina and was later a well known farmer of this county. Of this mar- riage the following children were born:
Leila E., who is now a teacher in public schools of Xenia: Elizabeth J., the wife of John .A. Cooper, of Xenia: Willa M. and Ralph. The family are members of the United Presbyterian church, both Mir. and Mrs. Quinn being connected with that church from the time of the union of the Seceder and Associate Reformed churches. Mrs. Quinn survives her husband and with two daughters is residing in a pleasant home at No. 102 East Market street. Nenia.
In his political views Mr. Quinn was a Republican, and was interested in the growth and success of his party, but he never held or aspired to office. In May, 1864. he enlisted in Company E. One Hun- dred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry and served throughout the term of his enlistment, afterward becoming a mem- ber of Lewis Post. G. . A. R. On the 15th of .April. 1900, he was called to his final rest when seventy-three years of age, and his remains were interred in Woodland cemetery. Mr. Quinn was widely and fa- vorably known, though in character he was of a very mild and unassuming nature, and though shrinking from public life he was at all times actuated by a fidelity to his coun- try and her welfare.
GEORGE DODDS.
Often do we hear it said of those who have attained distinguished success that they were men who rose to eminence through ad- vantageous circumstances, and yet to such carping criticisms and lack of appreciation there needs be made but the one statement. that fortunate environments encompass
GEORGE DODDS.
807
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
nearly every man at some stage in his ca- left Madison and removed to Yellow reer, but the strong man and the successful man is he who realizes the intrinsic value of minor as well as great opportunities, who stands ready to take advantage of circum- stances and who even molds adverse con- ditions until they serve his ends. George Dodds is a man who has known when the opportunity for accomplishment was pre- sented and has improved it. Although he came from Scotland to America when a young man without capital, he to-day stands among the successful and prominent men of central Ohio, being successfully engaged in the marble business in Xenia. He was born in Roxboroughshire, Scotland, on the 19th of February. 1837, his parents being George and Isabel ( Taylor) Dodds, who were al- so natives of the same locality. In that country they spent their entire lives. The father was a farmer by occupation and by following that pursuit provided for his fam- ily. numbering his wife and seven children.
George Dodds, who was the fifth in order of birth, obtained a common school education and remained in his native land until seventeen years of age. In the mean- time, his brother Andrew had come to America and was foreman in a marble shop in Madison, Indiana. He sent for his brother George to join him and learn the trade, so taking passage upon the steamship Glasgow July 11, 1854, and after a rough voyage of sixteen days, George Dodds landed at New York. He made his way direct to Madison, by way of Cincinnati, proceeding by boat from the latter point. In the shop where his brother was foreman, he learned the trade of marble carver and letterer, being employed there for four years. In the meantime, his brother had
Springs, Ohio. Here George Dodds joined him in 1859 and going to Antioch they con- ducted a small marble shop, carrying on business there until 1864. when Andrew Dodds joined the Union army for four months service. The business was growing rapidly and upon his return the brothers concluded to remove to Xenia. so that the firm of A. & G. Dodds became an active factor in the industrial and commercial life of this city. In the spring of 1866, the elder partner went to Scotland, where he pur- chased a large amount of Scotch granite, shipping it to Nenia so that the firm of A. & G. Dodds became the first importers of Scotch granite west of New York city. The partnership was continued until 1867. but in the meantime they had established a house at St. Louis, and Andrew Dodds took charge of the business there, while George Dodds remained as proprietor of the Xenia business. The partnership was thus dis- solved and our subject continued alone until 1871 when he admitted Alexander Caskey. After two years, however, this relation was discontinued. Mr. Caskey becoming owner of the Pittsburg branch of their business which they had established in 1872. From 1873 until 1897 Mr. Dodds was alone, but in the latter year he admitted his son J. C. to a partnership. The firm of George Dodds & Son makes a specialty of granite monu- ments and ornamental stone verandas. They also do a large business in preparing and selling cut stone and they put in the large stone veranda at the Dayton State Hospital. at Dayton, Ohio. They formerly conducted a large wholesale business in granite throughout the western states and they are now doing a very large retail busi-
808
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
ness in this portion of Ohio, their patronage having reached extensive proportions which brings them annually a splendid income.
On the 11th of October, 1861, Mr. Dodds was married to Elizabeth I. Fer- guson, of Madison, Indiana, who died Au- gust 20, 1865. leaving two children. George Fremont, the elder, is carrying on the marble business in London, Ohio. and married Stella Corns, by whom he has a daughter. Dorothy Day. The other child died in in- fancy. On the 16th of October, 1866, Mr. Dodds wedded Mary E. Brown, of Xenia, a (laughter of Hiram and Rebecca Brown. Her father was an architect and builder who had come to Xenia to erect the old court- house of Greene county. His son. William R. Brown, is widely known as a designer of fine churches and has gained considerable renown as an architect, having headquarters in Chicago and Cincinnati. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dodds were born eight children : Car- rie B. is the widow of Rev. George Il. Geyer. who, during his college course. was min- ister of Hope chapel. Boston, for three years. He was a pastor for three years at Ironton. Ohio, and died while in charge of the King Avenue Methodist Episcopal church of Co- lumbus, June 25. 1900, and his widow, who has three children, is now making her home with her father and mother. Frank W .. who for eleven years was connected with B. F. Jacobs, the well known real-estate man of Chicago, is now located at Columbus, hav- ing graduated from the law department of the Ohio State University in 1902 as class orator. He married Clara C. Elliott and has one child. Leslie J., who is connected with the firm of Wilson Brothers, of Chi- cago, makes two trips each year to Europe in order to buy goods for that house. He
married Miss Lulu Frame and has one child. J. Charles is associated with his father in business. Earl C., who wedded Mary Hutchison, is now connected with the whole- sale house of the Columbus Shirt Company. in Chicago. Ralph is a resident of Chicago, with Charles A. Stevens & Brothers. Mary Alice died at the age of one year. Jessie K., the youngest, is at home with her par- ents.
For a number of years Mr. Dodds was a member of the Good Templars Society, has always been a recognized leader in temper- ance work in this section of Ohio, and is a stanch Prohibitionist in politics. He is now president of the board of visitors ap- pointed to visit the various reformatories and correction institutions of the county. Like him, his wife is an active temperance worker and is now president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Xenia. They hold membership in the First Meth- odist Episcopal church here and for twenty years Mr. Dodds has been its recording steward. As a business man he has ever been conspicuous among his associates, not only for his success, but for his probity, firm- ness and honorable methods. His life has been one of continuous activity in which has been accorded due recognition of labor, and to-day he is numbered among the sub- stantial citizens of his county.
-
GEORGE TALBERT.
George Talbert, a well known farmer of Spring Valley township, was born August 8. 1837, in Sugarcreek township, of the marriage of Addison and Elizabeth { Schnel-
809
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
bleg) Talbert, the father a native of Fau- quier county, Virginia, born in August, 1811. He was about eighteen years of age when he came to Greene county. A few years previously his parents, John and Lucy (Bowen) Talbert, had emigrated to this state and the former had become owner of about six hundred acres of land on the Little Miami river, just east of Bellbrook. There he remained until his death, which occurred in 1873, when he was eighty-eight years of age. The father of our subject attended school in Xenia after coming to Ohio and became a well educated man. For a number of years he engaged in teaching school and was thus connected with educational inter- ests in Bellbrook at the time of his death. which occurred in 1848. He had been mar- ried in 1836, and of this union four sons and a daughter had been born, the latter dying in 1859. After her husband's death Mrs. Talbert kept the family together 1111- til her own demise in 1858, when the home was broken up.
To the common schools of the neighbor- hood George Talbert is indebted for the ed- ucational privileges he enjoyed. When eighteen years of age he began to learn the carriagemaker's trade, serving an appren- ticeship of three years, during which time he received thirty-six dollars the first year together with his board: sixty dollars the second year, and one hundred dollars the third year. He afterward worked as a journeyman and in 1862 he engaged in teaching school in Sugarcreek and Beaver- creek townships. In 1864 his patriotic spirit was aroused and he became a member of Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, with which he was at the front for about four months, during which
time he participated in the battle of New Creek. His younger brother, John, had en- listed in 1861 as a member of the Twenty- seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was taken prisoner in Missouri, near Kansas City. Later he was paroled and sent home to Ohio, and after that he never returned to his regiment. In 1864 he became a member of the Ohio National Guard, rais- ing a company of which he was made cap- tain. He was also out with the one-hun- dred-day men, being connected with the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment, during which time he participated in the battle of Monocaey. He was there taken prisoner, but after an hour was released, and is now living in Jackson county, Kan- sas, where he has made his home since 1868. He was married in Clinton county, Ohio, to Margaret Terry, and they have three chil- dren, two born in Ohio and one in Kansas. James, another brother of our subject, was also in the one hundred days' service, and he died near Glasgow, Missouri, in 1866. Addison, who enlisted in March. 1864, in the Seventy-fourth Regiment, was killed at Peach Tree Creek. July 20, 1864, being shot in the forehead while on the skirmish line; thus all four of the sons were in the service in the year 1864.
After the close of his military career George Talbert engaged in the lumber busi- ness at Wilmington. He was married in the home in which he now lives, June 4, 1874. to Miss Martha Stump, a daughter of Jonas and Prudence ( Smalley ) Stump, the latter a daughter of William Smalley, who was captured by the Indians and held as a prisoner for five years. His captors were members of the Delaware tribe, and by them he was taken to Upper Sandusky.
310
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
AAfter his marriage Mr. Talbert resided in Wilmington until 1884, when he removed to his present place of residence in Spring Valley township, and has since devoted his energies to the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to this climate. The farm com- prises two hundred and twenty acres of land and is under a high state of cultiva- tion, owing to the industrious and persever- ing efforts of Mr. Talbert. In his political views our subject was a Republican for some years from the time he cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln until 1884. when he gave his support to Cleveland. At one time he was identified with the Ma- sonic fraternity of Xenia and later with the jodge in Wilmington. Whether in mercan- tile or agricultural life he has ever been found to be a reliable business man who possesses the enterprising spirit so char- acteristic of America. He has made the most of his opportunities and as the archi- lect of his own fortunes he has builded wise- ly and well.
BENJAMIN W. ARNETT, D. D., LL. D.
"Earn thy reward ; the gods give naught to sloth," said the sage Epicharmus, and the truth of this admonition has been verified throughout the ages which have rolled their course since his day. There are few men in America that have more truly carned the position to which they have attained than has Bishop Arnett. Ile has been designated as "churchman, statesman and orator." and he stands to-day as one of the most distin- guished divines of this land, and yet few men have a more accurate or comprehensive knowledge of the political and social condi-
tions of the country, or have a broader out- look upon the world's work and the trend of events. There has hardly been an idle moment in his entire career from the time when with earnest purpose he set to work to master the daily tasks assigned him in the schoolroom. Since then he has labored to ameliorate the conditions of his own race. to uphold his nation's honor and promote her usefulness and to extend the influence of Christianity until its mighty principles shall find exemplification in every walk of life. Although the following is but the briefest outline of his work, he who will read be- tween the lines will gain recognition of the unending activity which has made Bishop Arnett distinguished in church, in state and in society, although distinction would be the last thing for which such a man would seek. his entire career having been permeated with the one idea of helping his fellow men.
Benjamin William Arnett, D. D., LL. D., was born March 6, 1838, in Brownsville. Fayette county. Pennsylvania. When six months old he was baptized by Rev. Sam- uel G. Clingman, of the Ohio Annual con- terence. He was convicted under the preaching of Rev. Jeremiah Lewis, February 10, 1856, and converted February 14th. He was received into the African Methodist Episcopal church February 17th. by Rev. Leven Cross of the Ohio Annual conference. lle was licensed to preach March 30, 1865. by Rev. J. D. S. Hall, of the Baltimore Annual conference, at Washington, D. C .. and recommended to the traveling connec- tion by Rev. William B. Lewis, of the Ohio Annual conference, at Lexington, Kentucky. receiving his first appointment at Walnut Hills, in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 19. 1867.
Benjamin NAnell
813
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
He was ordained a deacon April 30, 1808. by Bishop William Paul Quinn, at Column- bus, Ohio, and as an elder by Bishop Daniel A. Payne, May 12, 1870, at Nenia, Ohio. In addition to his pastoral work Bishop Arnett received a license to teach school De- cember 19. 1869, and taught at different times until December. 1871. During his ministerial work he has filled the following appointments : 1867-8-9, Walnut Hills, Ohio: 1870-1-2. Toledo, Ohio : 1873-4-5, Al- len Temple, Cincinnati, Ohio; 1876-7, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal church, Urbana, Ohio: 1878-9, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal church, at Columbus, Ohio. He was elected as ministerial dele- gate from the Ohio Annual conference to the general conferences of 1872. 1876 and 1880. and served as assistant secretary in 1872 and as general secretary in 1876 and 1880. At the general conference of 1880, held in St. Louis, Missouri, he was elected the financial secretary of the general conference and re- elected in 1884 at the session held at Balti- more, Maryland. The Bishop was a mem- ber of the National Equal Rights League. ot Syracuse, New York, October 4. 1864. Frederick Douglas, president ; a member of the Equal Rights Convention, held at Cleve- land. Ohio, Hon. John M. Langston, presi- dent : secretary of the National Convention. at Washington, D. C., December, 1866, Hon. John M. Langston, president ; chaplain of the National Convention of Colored Men, September 2. 1882, held at Louisville, Ken- tucky, Frederick Douglas, president ; a dele- gate to the national Young Men's Christian Association convention, at Washington, D. C., in 1871, Hon. John Wanamaker, presi- dent; foreman of a jury, where all were white, at Toledo, Ohio, in 1872 ; he was fore-
man of a jury composed of all colored men, in the spring of 1872, at Toledo, Ohio; he was chairman of the committee on resolu- tions of the congressi mal convention in 1872 held at Toledo, Ohio, composed of five coun- ties, having been nominated by I. R. Sher- wood ; appointed recruiting agent by special order No. 178 of the war department, Au- gust 24, 1863, by General L. Stearns, major and assistant adjutant general of the United States Volunteers ; he was fraternal delegate to the Miami convention of United Brothers, held August 12, 1872, at Pleasant Ridge, Ohio.
Bishop Arnett's connection with societies began wth the organization of the Sons of Hannibal, at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in 1859. He organized the Sisters of Protec- tion in June, 1859. at Brownsville, Pennsyl- vania. In August, 1859, he organized the Mutual Aid Society, composed of men. In 1863 he organized the Brothers and Sisters of Love and Charity, at Brownsville, Penn- sylvania. He was a delegate to the Na- tional Guard tabernacle, in 1863, at Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. In 1864 he organ- ized the Faith and Hope League of Equal Rights, at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and one at Uniontown, Washington, Mononga- hela City, Allegheny and Pittsburg, Penn -. sylvania, respecively. In 1865 he was a member of the State Equal Rights League. of Pennsylvania, acting as western solicitor of the same, having charge of twenty-one counties. In 1865 he organized a joint stock company and started a store, preparing the charter which passed through the legislature. In June. 1865, he organized the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, at Browns- ville, Pennsylvania, and he has organized lodges of this order at Toledo. Cincinnati,
46
814
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Walnut Hills, Urbana, Ohio: Covington and Harrodsburg. Kentucky. He was a mem- ber of the Committee of Sub-management. in 1876, of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. In 1874 he was grand orator of the Good Samaritan, and the Daughters of Samaria, for the states of Ohio and Indi- ana, and a life member of the same. He was a member of the Corinthian Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, at Cincinnati. Ohio, being raised to the degree of Sublime Master Mason, August 13, 1875. He was arched in December, 1877. in Gustava Chap- ter, of U'rbana, Ohio: he was grand orator at the Biennial Movable Committee of Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, of Cincinnati, Ohio, October 15. 1884: he was grand orator of the Grand Lodge in 1879: grand chaplain of the Royal Arch Chapter of the state of Ohio in 1879: a member of the Knights of Wise Men of the World, at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1882. and grand lecturer of the same; also grand lecturer of the councils of the Independent Order of Immaculates, at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1883: a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars in 1884: he was district master of the Sons of Temperance, in 1872. at Toledo, Ohio; and a member of the United Brothers of Friendship. The Golden Gate Lodge of San Francisco and the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows gave him a reception in October, 1886. The Central Republican Club. of San Francisco, gave him a farewell meeting at the Wigwam. Oc- tober 19, 1886; he was vice-president of the Republican State Convention in 1878; de- livered one of the ratification speeches in Music Hall. Cincinnati: he was a member of the Ohio State Sunday school convention.
at Norwalk, Ohio, in 1878, and was elected vice-president of the same : he was also elect- ed a delegate to the International Sunday- school Union, at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1878. and at Toronto, Canada, in 1881 : was elect- ed by the Sunday-school Union of Ohio to represent them at the Robert Raikes' Cen- tennial in London, England, in 1880; elect- ed to represent the Inter-Denominational Sunday-school Union of South Carolina at the World's Convention, London, July 2, 1889: was a member of the reception com- mittee which welcomed Hon. J. G. Blaine to Greene county in 1886-7: he was the author of the bill abolishing the "Black Laws" of the state of Ohio, and to provide for teaching scientific temperance in all the schools.
The literary work of Bishop Arnett is mainly statistical and historical. He has furnished his race and church more historical ‹lata and statistics than any man in the United States. He and Bishop J. C. Hart- zell, of the Methodist Episcopal church, are nearly alike in this respect. For ten years he compiled and edited the Budget. The combined editions of this publication aggre- gated thirty-nine thousand volumes, with a total number of thirteen million, four hun- dred and thirty thousand pages. Bishop Arnett is now engaged on a history of the race and the African Methodist Episcopal church, which will doubtless surpass all others in accuracy and interest, for he is eminently qualified to so prepare it. The church and race will not be disappointe.l with his labors.
Bishop Arnett was united in marriage May 25. 1858, to Mary Louisa Gordon, at Brownsville. Pennsylvania, and their chil-
815
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
dren are as follows : Alonza, Benjamin W .. Jr., Henry Y., Anna L., Alphonso T., Flos- sie G. and Daniel .1.
May 25. 1890, Bishop Arnett responded to the address of welcome of Hon. James .A. Beaver, governor of Pennsylvania, at the International Sunday-school convention at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He was elected and was one of the vice-presidents of the International Sunday-school convention, fill- ing that office until 1893. He delivered an address by invitation before the Republican state convention, of Denver, Colorado, Sep- tember 28, 1886. He was one of the invited guests and delivered several addresses at the Centennial Celebration of the First Settle- ment of the Northwest Territory. April 7. 1888. at Marietta, Ohio. He delivered the oration at the Jubilee of Freedom, held Sep- tember 22, 1888, at the Centennial Exposi- tion, of Columbus, Ohio. He delivered an address in the House of Representatives, in the state of Georgia, before the Colored Teachers' Association. December 11, 1883. He was a member of the Centennial confer- ence of Methodists, held at Baltimore, Mary- land. December 24, 1884, at which time he delivered an address entitled : "The Mis- sion of Methodism to the Extremes of So- ciety." He delivered the annual address be- fore the college societies of Wilberforce Uni- versity. June 19. 1877. He delivered the annual address before the college faculty. students and friends of Claflin University and the Claflin College of Agriculture and Mechanical Institution, May 22, 1889, at Orangeburg, South Carolina. He delivered the address of welcome at the Sub-Tropical Exposition, at Jacksonville, Florida, to Hon. Frederick Douglas, in behalf of the board of directors and citizens, on April 4. 1889.
He was chaplain of the National Republican convention, in 1896. at St. Louis, Missouri, with J. M. Thurston, president, that nom- inated Ilon. William McKinley as candidate for president of the United States. He pre- sented President Mckinley with the Bible upon which he took his oath of office, in be- half of the African Methodist Episcopal church. He was a member of the World's Parliament of Religions, delivered six ad- dresses and received a gold medal from the African Methodist Episcopal church for the part he took in behalf of his church. He has been one of the speakers at the Inter- national Christian Endeavor meetings since 1895. He was present at the laying of the corner-stone of the government building in Chicago and was one of the guests of the city, October 9, 1899. In August, 1900, lie was a guest of the Grand Army of the Re- public, in Chicago, and delivered an address before the veterans. He was a delegate to the Ecumenical conference of London, in 1901. and was chairman of the Statistical committee and reported the statistics for the Western Hemisphere, and on the 7th of Sep- tember of the same year presided in the Wesley chapel, at City Roads, London, Eng- land. At the present date he holds the fol- lowing offices: Secretary of the bishop's council, African Methodist Episcopal church: historian of the African Methodist Episcopal church : trustee of the Archæolog- ical and Historical Society of Ohio; vice- president of the Anti-Saloon League of America; vice-president of Educators of Colored Youth ; trustee of Wilberforce Uni- versity : director of Payne Theological Sem- inary, at Wilberforce, Ohio; trustee of the United Society of Christian Endeavors; trustee and vice-president of the Normal and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.