USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, Ohio > Part 109
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John H. Koogler acquired his early edit- cation in the district school located one mile east of where he now lives, and there he pur- sted his studies for three months during the winter until he reached the age of twenty years. During the remainder of the time he gave his father the benefit of his labors in operating the home farm until his marriage.
In the meantime the Civil war broke out. and in 1862 Mr. Koogler enlisted in Com- pany E. Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, which was assigned to the Army of
the Cumberland, and with which he partici- pated in many important engagements, in- cluding the battle of Chattanooga: Perry- ville, October 8, 1862; and Stone River, which was fought on the last day of the year, the rebels leaving there on New Years day. The next engagement in which our subject took part was at Hoover's Gap, Ten- nessee, in the spring of 1863; the battle of Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, 1863; Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain above the clouds and Missionary Ridge. He was with Sherman at Dalton. Georgia, and on the famous march to the sea, and participated in the grand review at Washington, D. C., at the close of the war, being mustered out of service in that city in 1865.
Mr. Koogler was married June 1. 1871, to Miss Christina Warner, a native of Bath township, this county, where her parents, Henry and Harriet ( Casad) Warner, were also born. She is the third in order of birth in a family of ten children, the others being as follows: George and Fairfield. both resi- (lents of Greene county ; Paul P., who lives at the old home about two miles north of where our subject now resides; Henry Grove, a resident of Beavercreek township; Sophia C .. wife of Samuel Dellinger, who lives near Fairfield: Mary, deceased : Eliza- beth Jane, wife of Benjamin Nichols, of Darke county, Ohio; Ann, wife of John Welsh, of Bath township; and Aaron and john, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Koogler have no children.
After his marriage Mr. Koogler rented a farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres and successfully engaged in farming on his own account, operating that place six years. He then removed to Dayton, but soon returned to the old neighborhood,
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where he remained three years, and in 1883 located upon his present farm. After rent- ing the place for four or five years his fa- ther gave him seventy acres, and to the im- provement and cultivation of that tract he has since devoted his energies with marked success. He has remodeled the house, built a barn and made many other useful improve- ments, which add greatly to the value and attractive appearance of the place. Hle is a thorough and systematic farmer and a man highly respected and esteemed by all who know him. At national elections he votes the Democratic ticket, but is not bound by party ties at local elections where no issue is involved, but supports the men whom he believes best qualified for office.
RICHARD J. FOWLER.
Richard J. Fowler, one of the early set- tiers and highly respected citizens of Cedar- ville township, was born in Union county, South Carolina, on the 14th of March, 1842. and is a son of Edward Fowler, his parents having lived and died in that state. Our subject was left'an orphan when a small boy, and was then bound out, remaining in his native state until he was twenty-one years of age. He began learning the mill- wright's trade, but did not follow it to any great extent. for he found agricultural pur- suits more congenial.
On attaining his majority Richard J. Fowler came to Ohio, settling in Cedarville township, Greene county, where he was em- ployed as a common laborer until the year 1805. when, desiring to engage in business on his own account that his labors might re-
dound to his own prosperity, he rented a small farm in the same township and began agricultural pursuits for himself. For seven years he remained upon that property and then purchased land at sixty dollars per acre. He is still living upon his original purchase. The first tract that he owned comprised only five acres, but as his financial resources in- creased he has added to this from time to time until he now owns seventy-eight acres in the home farm. He remodeled the house. which is now a large stone residence neatly furnished, making a very comfortable resi- dence. Upon the place are commodious barns and good outbuildings, and Mr. Fowler is successfully engaged in general farining and stock-raising. In addition to the home property he owns a farm of seven- ty-six acres on the Columbus pike, known as the John B. Squires farm. This has also a good set of buildings upon it and the land is all under cultivation. He has continuous- ly carried on his farm work since coming to this county with the exception of the period of his service in the Civil war. He was a member of the Ohio militia in 1863 and was called out with his company at the time of the Morgan raid in this state. The com- mand was encamped at Camp Chase for ten days, but did not take an active part in any warfare. for Morgan did not continue his plan to invade this section of Ohio. Mr. Fowler then returned to his home. resuming the work of the farm.
In 1850 was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Miss Martha Ellen Silva, a native of Greene county, Ohio, and a dangh- ter of William and Elizabeth ( Jeffreys ) Silva. both of whom are now deceased an.1 were laid to rest in Cedarville township. The father was a blacksmith by trade, but
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followed farming during much of his active life. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fowler have been born ten children, all of whom are yet liv- ing : Mary Elizabeth, at home; Robert Mc- Millan, who married Regenia Spencer, of Buffalo, New York, and is in the employ of a railroad company, living in Buffalo : Laura Ellen, at home ; Annie M., who is secretary of the mission school conducted by the Pres- byterian church in Augusta, Georgia: Jen- nie Ethel, who is a teacher in the graded schools of Columbia, Missouri; William Leonard, who is now attending college : Clarence Edward ; Carrie, Helen and How- ard Sprowl, who are all attending school; and Edith Irene, at home. All of the chil- dren were born in Cedarville township, and have enjoyed the advantages afforded by the public schools.
Mr. Fowler is a member of the Reformed Presbyterian church, with which he has been identified for thirty-five years, and is now chairman of the board of trustees. In his political views he is a Republican, and, while he strongly endorses the principles of the party, he has never sought or desired office. preferring to give his entire attention to his business affairs in which he has prospered as the years have gone by.
WILBUR F. TRADER.
Wilbur F. Trader, who for several years has been engaged in the practice of law in Xenia, was born in that city on the 27th of December, 1847, and he is one of a family of nine children, whose parents were Alfred and Lucinda (Robinson) Trader. Of this number seven grew to maturity, while five
are yet living. The parents were numbered among the representative citizens of Greene county, and the former was born in Ross township, the latter in Sugarcreek township. She was a granddaughter of the Rev. Joshua Carman, one of the first Baptist ministers of this portion of the state, while the grand- father of our subject on the paternal side was one of the first representatives of the Methodist ministry to preach in southern Ohio. Moses Trader, the grandfather, was born in Virginia in 1787, and came to Greene county prior to 1800. In connection with his ministerial work he carried on mer- cantile business in Xenia and also engaged in farming until 1838. Two years later he removed to Missouri, where his death oc- curred.
His son, the father of our subject, ac- quired his early education in the public schools, and in his younger years engaged in farming. He afterward embarked in mer- chandising in Xenia, where he carried on business until 1838. In 1840 he was elected county treasurer and filled that position for twelve consecutive years, a fact which in- dicates that the trust reposed in him was never betrayed. Immediately after his re- tirement front office he was made cashier of the Xenia Branch Bank and for two decades filled that position, the success of the insti- tution being attributable in no small degree to his efforts. He at lengthi resigned his po- sition in the bank and lived retired until his death, which occurred in March, 1883. His wife survived him a short time, passing away January 27, 1887.
Wilbur F. Trader, the subject of this re- view, acquired his education in the schools of Xenia, and took up the study of law un- der the direction of Judge Munger, being
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admitted to the bar in 1877. since which time he has engaged in active practice. Ile has also been an active factor in public ai- fairs. In 1880 he was elected mayor of Xenia; four years later was again chosen to that office; and was once more elected in 1886. In 1888 he was elected prosecuting attorney and filled that position for two terms.
Mr. Trader was united in marriage to Miss Katharine E. Short, a daughter of . 1. 1. Short, a physician of Franklin county, Ohio. They have one daughter, Olive. The parents hold membership in the Methodist church and in his political views Mr. Trader has always been a Republican, unswerving in his allegiance to the party.
HENRY CONKLIN.
One of Greene county's most prosperous farmers and highly respected citizens was Henry Conklin, who was a resident of this locality for thirty-five years and was prom- inently identified with its agricultural devel- opment. A native of New York, he was born in Rensselaer county, on the 20th of January, 1817, and is a son of Abraham and Unldah (Carmichael) Conklin, the former of Holland and the latter of Scotch descent. The father was also born in the Empire state and spent his entire life within two miles of the Hudson river. By trade he was a ship carpenter and assisted Robert Fulton in building the first steamboat that was ever constructed, but his later years were devoted te farming. He died at the advanced age of eighty-six years, while his wife, who passed away some years previous, died at the age of
seventy-two. They were the parents of nine children, of whom our subject was the third in order of birth. Four of the number are still living. John C. Conklin, the oldest son, was a member of an llinois Cavalry regi- ment during the Civil war and was killed in an engagement in Virginia. Edward B., an- other son. now living a retired life on a fruit farm in California, followed school teaching in early manhood, and later engaged in banking. Ile also took quite a prominent part in public affairs and was at one time a member of the California senate. Volney B. Conklin, another son of Abraham, is a Baptist minister residing with his family in Minnesota.
Until twenty-six years of age Henry Conklin of this review remained in eastern New York, and was indebted to the common schools of that state for his educational ad- vantages. He assisted in the operation of the home farm until seventeen years of age. and then commenced learning the trade of a wagon maker, which he followed during the succeeding nine years in New York. Coming to Ohio in 1843. he first settled in Lumberton. Clinton county, where he worked at his trade for five or six years, and then turned his attention to farming. Thirty-five years ago he removed to Greene county and purchased a farm in Xenia town- ship, which is a valuable place of five hun- dred and thirty-three acres on the Columbus pike. When it came into his possession. however, it was only partially improved, but he made it one of the most desirable farms in the county, placing the land under excel- lent cultivation and erected thereon goo't and substantial buiklings and remodeled the residence. Here he carried on general farm- ing and stock-raising. and met with most gratifying success in his undertakings.
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In 1847 in Greene county was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Conklin and Miss Mary Davis, a daughter of William Davis, who was an early settler of this region, having come from Pennsylvania when this county was almost an unbroken wilderness. Here he spent the remainder of his life, dying at the age of eighty-two years at his home in Xenia, where he was then living a retired life. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Conklin were born nine children, five sons and four daughters, as follows: (1) Mary Elizabeth married Mathew H. Corry, now deceased, who was a farmer of Xenia township. and she died at the age of thirty-six years. (2) Volney, a farmer of Jefferson township, this county, married Elma Johnson of Bowersville, a daughter of Robert Johnson. (3) James A .. born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1852, aids in the operation of the home farm, where his entire life has been passed with exception of ten years spent in Nebraska. (4) Edward L. married Flora Haughey and is now living in Illinois. He is also an ag- riculturist. (5) Ella married Howard Cor- ry, of Jefferson township, this county, and chied leaving two children, Herman C. and Ernest E. (6) Sarah I. is the widow of J. E. Lowry, of Cedarville, Greene county, and has one child, Hazel Virginia, living with her mother on the farm. (7) Roscoe re- sides with his mother on the farm. (8) Ar- thur, a farmer and stock-raiser living on the Columbus pike, married Nancy Filson, and has one son, Earl Henry. (9) Eva Estella is the wife of Harry Steele, who lives on a farm near the old homestead.
Although a public-spirited and progress- ive citizen, Mr. Conklin never cared for po- litical office but took an active interest in all that tended to advance the welfare or im- prove the community in which he lived. His
life was ever such as to command the confi- dence and respect of all with whom he was brought in contact, and he had a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout his adopted county. In his death, which oc- curred July 14, 1902. the community real- ized that it had lost one of its best and most valued citizens.
THE XENIA REPUBLICAN.
The Xenia Republican was founded in 1879 by Warren Anderson, Esq., formerly mayor of Xenia, and subsequently superin- tendent of the Miami Telephone Company. Iut 1880 Mr. J. M. Milburn became associ- ated with Mr. Marshall in the publication of the Republican, and in the following year Mr. John A. Beveridge, who had just dis- posed of his interest in the old Xenia Torch- light, succeeded Mr. Milburn. From that time until the death of Mr. Beveridge, in May, 1900, a period of nineteen years, the business was continued under the firm name of Marshall & Beveridge. A few months afterwards the interest of the deceased was sold to the surviving partner, and the es- tablishment has since been conducted under the name of the Marshall & Beveridge Com- pany.
The Xenia Republican is published every Tuesday afternoon. It is a nine-column fo- lio, and, as the name imports, is devoted to the principles of the Republican party, with- out, at the same time, subordinating an inde- pendent expression of views upon all sub- jects that do not jeopardize party unity, which, to be right, must proceed from the largest latitude of discussion. In connec- tion with the newspaper office is a complete
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and efficient job printing plant. supplied with all modern equipments and the latest designs in type, which enables it to guaran- tee service in that line which can not be ex- celled by any office located in cities of pro- portionate size. The Women's Missionary Magazine of the United Presbyterian church is also published in connection with this of- fice, and has a circulation in nearly every state in the Union.
HIUGH A. ALEXANDER.
Upon the farm where his birth occurred on the 20th of March. 1827. Hugh A. Mex- ander still resides. His parents were Jacob and Margaret ( Alexander) Alexander, and both were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Kentucky at an early day. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Hugh Mexander, who about 1811 pur- chased one thousand acres of land in Greene county, Ohio, a portion of which is now the beautiful homestead of Hugh .\. Alexander. About 1817 the father of our subject came to this county and located on the land which his father had previously bought. He here erected a log cabin and made for himself : good home in Miami township. It was here that he met the lady whom he afterward married, and upon this place, in the first cabin which was erected by Jacob Mexan- der, the subject of this review was born. The farm at this time consisted of about two hundred and seventy-five acres of land, which Mir. Alexander partially improved. but he died at a comparatively early age, passing away in 1838. He was a Demo- ciat in politics and a man of genuine worth.
His widow survived nim until 1800 and died upon one portion of the original old home place at the age of over seventy years. She was the mother of ten children, of whom our subject is the sole survivor.
Hugh . \. Alexander was reared upon the home farm and here has spent his entire life. Ile is indebted to the public schools of the county for the limited educational privileges he enjoyed, the parents of the scholars hav- ing to pay a portion of the tuition in money. while each had to furnish a proportionate amount of the stove wood. Since taking charge of the farm he has made many im- provements, including the erection of a large and substantial building. In his fields are seen good crops and in his pastures stock of high grades. Everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating the careful supervision of a progressive owner.
In 1860 Mr. Alexander was united in marriage to Caroline Stahl, who was born in Germany and came to the United States when a small child with her parents. They resided in Dayton, Ohio, where the father died, but the mother is still living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have been born eleven chiklren, of whom ten are still liv- ing. John. an insurance agent residing in Topeka, Kansas, is married and has five chil- dren. Cynthia is the wife of Jacob Johnson, of Yellow Springs. Margaret is at home. Jacob, now a farmer of Oklahoma, wedded Miss Merrell and they have two children. Emmet and Wiley. Hugh, who operates the home farm, married Flora Raney and they have one child. Eleanor. Minnie is the wife of Riley Me Millan and they have three chil- dren. Ethel, Harvey and Wilber. Anna is at home. Abbie is the wife of S. A. Rahn, a merchant of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and
H. A. ALEXANDER.
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they have one child, Ralph. William is a representative agriculturist of the commun- merchant of Yellow Springs. Arthur is still under the parental roof. Walter died at the age of eleven years. All of the children were born upon the home farm and all in one house. Mr. Alexander has witnessed nearly all of the improvements made in Greene county and has done his share in making the county what it is to-day. He is now living a retired life, having through many years been identified with agricultural pursuits whereby he has gained a comfortable com- petence that enables him to put aside all labor.
WILLIAM C. WILLIAMSON.
ity. He passed the psalmist span of three score years and ten, passing away January 10, 1898, while his wife died on the 29th of November of the same year. Our subject was the eldest of their family, the others being Robert E., of Montgomery coun- ty, who married Mary Allen and has two children : Joseph A., of the same county, who wedded May Elliott and has one child ; Maggie E., who became the wife of How- ard Woods and died in Greene county, leav- ing one son, Herman; Charles E. of Greene county, who married Nellie Fulkerson and has one child ; and Thomas A. of Montgom- ery county, who married Jennie Bradford and has one child. Mr. and Mrs. William- son held membership in the United Presby- terian church and politically he was a Re- publican but was never an office seeker.
William C. Williamson is a well known farmer of Sugarcreek township, intelligent, enterprising and progressive. His birth oc- Upon the home farm William C. Will- iamson spent his boyhood days, working in the fields and meadows from the time of early spring planting until after the crops were harvested in the autumn. During the winter months he pursued his education in the public schools. He remained with his father until twenty years of age when he began farming on his own account on his father's land, and as a companion and help- mate for the journey of life he sought Miss Lucy Morris, their wedding being celebrated in Sugarcreek township. December 24. 1885. The lady was born in this township, a daughter of William S. and Mary ( Pence) Morris, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Unto Mr. and Mrs. William- son have been born a son, Calvin Morris, whose birth occurred October 19, 1899. curred in this township January 20, 1857. his parents being Joseph C. and Mary El- eanor ( Cramer ) Williamson. The father was born in Washington township. Greene county, August 22, 1827, and was a son of Eleazer and Susannah (McNutt) William- son, who were among the early settlers of the Buckeye state, the grandmother being the first white woman to cross the Ohio river at Cincinnati. Amid the wild scenes of frontier life Joseph Williamson was reared, and after arriving at years of matur- ity he was married in Greene county by the Rev. Stewart, on the Ist of January, 1856, to Miss Mary E. Cramer, who was born June 24. 1829. He followed farming in Sugarcreek township, Greene county, and in Montgomery county, his farm lying on both Mr. Williamson fully realizes the duties and obligations of citizenship and rightly be- sides of the division line. He had about two hundred and thirty acres of land and was a lieves that every man should give an earnest
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support to the political party which embod- ies, in his opinion, the best forms of govern- ment. Since casting his first vote for Gar- field in 1880 he has been a Republican. Ile belongs to the Presbyterian church and his wife to the Christian or Disciples' church. and he has been superintendent of the Sun- day-school and also a leader of the music of the Sunday-school in the Christian church in Sugarcreek township. Both take an act- ive interest in church werk and their efforts have been effective in its advancement. Mr. Williamson belongs to the Grange at Waynesville. In his farming operations he is persevering, diligent and honorable and well does he merit the success which has come to him.
WILLIAM S. MORRIS.
William Spinning Morris was born near Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio. February 17, 1811, a son of Benjamin and Mary (Spinning) Morris. The Morris family came originally from England. Isaac Mor- ris, the grandfather of our subject, lived in Morristown. New Jersey, prior to and dur- ing the Revolutionary war, and during that contest he served as a private with the min- ute men of the Morris county, New Jersey. militia. Ile married Rebecca Hathaway and they became the parents of five sons and two daughters, of whom Benjamin, born February 20. 1774. was the second child. At the close of the Revolutionary war the family removed to the Northwest Territory. as Ohio was then called. The route chosen was by way of Pennsylvania, and several Weeks were required in making the overland journey through the wilderness and over the mountains to Redstone, near Pittsburg.
After tarrying there for a few months they embarked on a flatboat with all their pos- sessions and floated down the Ohio river, landing at Columbia, near Cincinnati, in the year 1790. This site was afterward abandoned because of the frequent overflows of the river. and they went north ten or twelve miles to a place called Round Bot- tom, on the Little Miami river. In order to protect themselves against the Indians they at once began the erection of a fort. Benja- min Morris, then sixteen years of age. as- sisted in its construction. A small patch of ground was cleared and such grain as they had brought with them was planted. While at work, whether sowing or reaping. two men were kept on duty as sentinels. yet the settlement suffered from occasional attacks by the Indians until after General Wayne's successful campaign in 1795. To add to their hardships smallpox broke out among them and carried off several of their num- ber, including the young wife and infant child of Benjamin Morris. He had mar- ried a Miss Tichener.
Jacob, the eldest son of Isaac Morris, joined St. Clair's forces against the Indians and was among the victims of that awinl defeat. When General Wayne was organ- izing his army Benjamin Morris removed from the fort and enlisted as a pack-horse man, thus taking part in the campaign. Mi- ter peace had been established Isaac and Benjamin Morris removed from the fort. The former purchased a tract of land about four miles west of Lebanon. Warren county. He died in his eighty-eighth year. Ile was a man of small stature and somewhat orig- iral in his religious views.
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