History of Greene County, Ohio, Part 63

Author: Robinson, George F., 1838-1901
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 934

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When only a few months old Rev. Car- son, of this review, was taken to Pennsyl- vania. His father died soon afterward. He was reared in Cannonsburg. that state, ac- quiring his education there, and was gradu- ated from JeffersonCollege with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts. in the class of 1849. In 1875 the degree of Doctor of Di- vinity was conferred upon him by Mon- mouth College. After his graduation he followed the profession of teaching for about three years. In the summer of 1852 he entered the seminary at Cannonsburg, in which he was graduated in March. 1855. and on the 22d of June, that year, he was licensed to preach, after which he supplied various churches, including his father's old

congregation in Tennessee. In November. 1856, he was ordained and installed as pas- tor of the congregation at South Buffalo. now Claysville, Washington county, Penn- sylvania, where he remained until May. 1867. which covered the period of the Civil war. During the progress of hostilities be- tween the north and the south Dr. Carson vas connected with the Christian commis- sion, stationed at Romney, Virginia, and in the spring of 1864 was stationed at Knox- ville. Tennessee. His most important work. however. during the Civil war was that which he performed as the president of the Union League of Buffalo township, and also in the active support which he gave to the administration in its work of putting down the rebellion. He met with much opposi - tion in the community where he was lo- cated, but his eloquent words and logical ut- terances had marked influence in mokdling sentiment.

In 1867 Dr. Carson removed to Can- nonsburg, where he remained until 1869 as pastor of the United Presbyterian churchi. and in the month of December, of that year. he came to Nenia, accepting the pastorate of the Second United Presbyterian church, and since that time he has filled its pulpit. cover- ing a period of almost a third of a century. In the fall of 1873 he was also elected pro- fessor of homiletics and pastoral theology of the Xenia Theological Seminary, occu- pying that chair for fifteen years, or, until the spring of 1888, when, finding that his duties were too arduous he resigned the professorship and gives his attention only to the pastoral work. He has served as a member of the board of managers of the Xenia Theological Seminary: and was its secretary for four years.

On the ist of October, 1856. Rev. Car-

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son was married to Miss Mary H. Clark- son, a daughter of the Rev. Thomas B. Clarkson, of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, a granddaughter of the Rev. James Clark- son, of Guinston, Pennsylvania. Her death occurred in Nenia, March 21, 18944. She possessed a most amiable and kindly dis- position and was of great assistance to her husband in his work. The Doctor's labors have covered a wide range along lines that tend to uplift humanity. He has been a strong supporter of the temperance policy of the Republican party, and in this way has been a factor in political circles. Ile indorses every movement and measure for the promotion of education that will fit the young for the practical and responsible du- ties of life. Ile has been a delegate to differ- ent synods of his church, and his wise counsel and keen insight to possibilities have made his opinions of value in such gatherings. His knowledge is broad and comprehensive, for his reading has covered a wide range. He is interested in anything that will give him a clearer, broader view of life and its purposes and of human na- ture, and aid him in the work of so present- ing the truth to his parishioners and his auditors that his words will influence their lives for good. He is an able and elo- quent divine, is an earnest student who reads widely and brings to his duties the riches of a strong mind and untiring zeal.

GEORGE A. MCKAY.

George A. McKay is holding the posi- tion of city engineer of Xenia and of county surveyor of Greene county and in both of- fices is displaying his capability and fidelity

to the trusts reposed in him. He was born in this county on Christmas day, of 1850. and is the son of Samuel F. and Angeline .A. Mckay. The father was a native of Ohio, and after arriving at years of matur- ity was married in 1850 to Miss Angeline Moore, who was born in Virginia and came to Ohio when only seven years old. Her fa- ther, Presley Moore, was numbered among the pioneer settlers of the Buckeye state and at length lost his life by accident, a trec falling upon him. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Kay were born five children: George .... Maria I ... Oscar F .. Sarah J. and Irving F. Samuel F. Mckay d'ed in 1895 and his wife, who survived him some years, died in the spring of 1900. He was a member of the Baptist church and the mother of the Reformed church. Ile was, until his (leath, a resident of Caesarscreek township. George A. McKay, of this review, was reared upon his father's farm, but could not content himself with the work of the fields, desiring broader opportunities. He ac- quired his education in the common schools and in Antioch College of Yellow Springs. He became master of the various branches of mathematics and his qualification in this regard has made him a capable surveyor. He commenced engineer work when only sixteen years of age and for a long period served as civil engineer in connection with the Miami Valley & Columbus Railroad, the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton, the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad, and later with the Chicago & West Michigan, now the Pere Marquette Railroad, with which he had been connected for four years prior to his election to the office of county sur- veyor in 1892. Ile assumed the duties of that position on the Ist of January, 1893. and by re-elections has since been continued

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

therein. He was also appointed city engin- eer soon afterward and has since been the incumbent in that position.

On the 25th of September. 1873, Mr. Mckay was united in marriage to Miss Ida I. Peterson. a daughter of Jacob S. and Sarah C. Peterson, of Ohio. Four children have graced this union: Werter P., Mabel L., Nellie G. and Edna. Mr. MeKay is a member of Xenia Lodge, F. & .A. M .. and also of Xenia Chapter. R. A. M., while he and his wife hold membership relations with the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church. He is well known as a public- spirited and progressive citizen, whose ad- vancement in life is the outcome of his own efforts. He has won a creditable repu- tation as a public official, who is prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties, and in social life he has gained the regard of all with whom he has come in contact by reason of his fidelity to manly principles. his genial disposition and his deference for the opinions of others.

GEORGE W. HARPER.

No history of Greene county would be complete without the life record of George W. Harper. He has passed the seventieth- milestone on life's journey, and has wit- nessed much of the remarkable advance which this country made through the nine- teenth century. He has lived to witness the dawning of a new century of prosperity and progress, and yet takes a deep interest in all that pertains to the national welfare and to local improvement. He was a friend of Abraham Lincoln in early life and has known many other prominent men of this

and other states. He has been a very im- portant factor in the business development of this section of Ohio, and as the years have passed he has prosperekl in his un- dlertakings until now he is numbered among the men of affluence in his community. Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Cedarville or Greene county who occupies a higher place in public regard. not only by reason of this splendid success, but also because of the honorable, straight- forward business policy he has ever fol- lowed.

George W. Harper was born in Ross township, this county. on the 30th of May, 1825, and comes of a family of English origin. His paternal grandfather, John Harper, was born in Virginia, near Harper's Ferry, and it was in honor of this family that Harper's Ferry was named. During the early days the ferry was owned by Thomas Harper, a brother of John, who operated a boat at that point for many years. John Harper was a loyal defender of the cause of liberty at the time of the Revo- lutionary war, and carried his musket over many a field where the battle waged, con- tributing his share to the brilliant victory which crowned the American arms. Leav- ing the Atlantic coast he made his way in- land to Ohio, and became one of the hon- ored pioneer settlers of Greene county, his last days being passed upon the old home farm in Ross township. He purchased there a large tract of land which was aft- erward divided among his children. He died at an advanced age and was laid to rest in a cemetery of Ross township.

Thomas Harper, the father of our sub- ject, was born at Harper's Ferry, a large part of the property there being then owned by his uncle Thomas, for whom he was

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named. He came to Ohio about 1812 and journey was accomplished on foot. He located in Ross township, where he en- gaged in farming and stock-raising. The land which he purchased was a raw tract. but he improved it, transforming it into a farm of rich fertility. By judicious invest- ment of his capital he became the owner of fifteen hundred acres, and in addition to its cultivation he successfully engaged in the raising of hogs and cattle on an extensive scale. Ile married Mary Sirlotte, a native of Maryland, and a daughter of George and Elizabeth Sirlotte, who were probably natives of Maryland, and trace their ances- try back to France. Thomas Harper lived to the age of eighty-one years, passing away in 1882. In his religious faith he was a Methodist and in his political views was a Democrat. His wife died upon the home farm in Ross township, in 1872, at the age of seventy-one years. She, too, was a men- ber of the Methodist church during the greater part of her life, and her earnest Christian character left its impress upon the lives of her children. The remains of Mr. and Mrs. Harper were interred in Black- son's cemetery in Clark county. In their family were five children, George W. Har- per being the eldest of the three surviving members.

Until twenty-one years of age Mr. Har- per, of this review. remained upon the old homestead. He attended the common schools of the township, also select schools in Xenia, and later became a student at Greene Plains. After attaining his ma- jority he turned his attention to the cattle business, buying cattle in both Illinois and Indiana, and driving them through to Lan- caster. Ohio, and Philadelphia, where he sold them in the market. This was before the era of railroads in the west and the long

also crossed the Alleghany Mountains ser- eral times before a railroad had been built across that chain. He finally extended his operations as far west as Springfield, Illi- nois, driving cattle through from that point to Philadelphia. While in the former city he boarded in the same house with Abra- ham Lincoln, whose acquaintance he formed and with whom he formed ties of friend- ship. Mr. Harper now recalls many enter- taining reminiscences connected with their acquaintance. He continued in the cattle business for five or six years, after which he purchased some farm lands in Greene and Clark counties. He there bought and bred cattle and shipped them to the mar- kets after fattening them. Hle still owns his original homestead, which lies largely in Ross township. Greene county, consisting of about one thousand acres. He continued to successfully deal in cattle until his removal to Cedarville in 1805. Here he engaged in the banking business for ten or twelve years and was the chief mover in the establish- ment of the bank, which opened its doors for business in 1888 and soon was placed on a safe financial basis which brought to it many patrons. Mr. Harper continued as its president until about three years ago, when he withdrew in order to lead a retired life. He is not engaged in any active busi- ness pursuits at the present time, save the supervision of his property interests. Since removing to Cedarville he has always man- aged his large farming property from this point. He has at present seventeen liun- dred acres of valuable land, while his wife has seven hundred and seventy-five acres. He also owns about two thousand acres in Missouri, most of which is grazing land. Mr. Harper has carefully controlled his

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business affairs and his sound judgment, county. His parents, Robert and Elizabeth business foresight and enterprise have been the strong features in his remarkably suc- cessful career. He has erected a number of fine building's in Cedarville, including his own residence, a han Isome brick structure. and has thus contributed to the improve- ment of the town.

In 1860 Mr. Harper was united in mar- riage to Miss Vinna M. Murray, a daughter of George Murray, of South Charleston, Ohio, an extensive and prominent farmer who died about twenty years ago. In his political views Mr. Harper was formerly a Democrat, but is now a Populist. He served as a member of the city council of Cedarville for a number of years, and was the Democratic candidate for state sena- tor on one occasion, but he never sought office, preferring to devote his care and at- tention to his business affairs. He be- longs to the Methodist church and is and has been for many years one of its trustees. For more than forty years he and his wife have traveled life's journey together, and throughout the long period their home has ever been hospitably open for the reception of their many friends. Mr. Harper is a man of strong purpose. of unfaltering de- termination in the execution of business projects, and his success is attributable to his own efforts. He has a very wide ac- quaintance throughout this portion of the state and is held in the highest regard by all with whom he has come in contact.

AS.A LITTLE.

.Asa Little, treasurer of Greene county, was born in Ross township, June 18, 1845. and has always made his home in this

( Hiatt) Little, were natives of Virginia and were there born, reared and married, but about 1830 emigrated westward and cast their lot with the early settlers of Ross township. Greene county, where the father engaged in farming. He made agricultural pursuits his life work and died in 1875 at the age of sixty-five years, while his wife passed away in 1889 at the age of seventy- eight years. They were the parents of six children, all of whom reached years of ma- turity, namely: J. H., who is now a resi- dent of Yellow Springs, Ohio: John, de- ceased : Mrs. Lucy Ritenhour, who has also passed away ; Emily, the wife of J. M. Birch, of Yellow Springs; \sa, of this review ; and Anna, the wife of Ilenry J. Flagg of Xenia.

To the public school system of his native township Asa Little is indebted for the early educational privileges which he enjoyed. He afterward attended . Antioch College, in Yel- low Springs, where he took a special course. completing his education in the school room at the age of eighteen years. He then en- gaged in teaching in Greene and Madison counties, successfully following that profes- sion for several years. He afterward be- came an active factor in commercial circles. being engaged in the grain business at Jamestown, Xenia and Yellow Springs, op- erating along that line for several years. In 1898 he put aside personal interests in order to serve his fellow townsmen in the office of county treasurer, to which he had been elected in the fall of that year. In 1901 he was again chosen to the position, so capably had he filled the office, and will continue as the incumbent until September, 1904. He is a careful custodian of public office, being most reliable, honorable and capable.

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In 1865 Mr. Little was married to Miss Margaret Moorman, a daughter of Charles T. and Matilda Moorman, who were early settlers of this county. Two children graced this marriage, but Arthur Ward died at the age of thirteen years. The surviving son is C. H. Little, who is now engaged in the wholesale grain business in Xenia. In his social relations Mr. Little is an Odd Fellow, belonging to the lodge at Yellow Springs, and both he and his wife are members of the Christian church. In his political views he has always been a Republican but had never sought or held office prior to the time that he was elected county treasurer. His official record has demonstrated the fact that the confidence reposed in him was well placed. He is most capable and loyal and his word no man can question.

AUGUSTUS THOMPSON.

Augustus Thompson has now passed the seventy-seventh milestone on life's journey and is a venerable and honored resident of Yellow Springs. He was born March 12. 1825. in Geauga county, Ohio, and lived at the place of his birth for twenty-six years. Ilis parents were William and Lucinda ( Walden) Thompson. The family is of Scotch-Irish lineage. The great-grandfa- ther after coming to this country from Scotland settled in Pennsylvania at an early day. His son, Isaac, the grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He married and had eight children six sons and two daughters.

William Thompson, the father of our subject, was the third child and fought for his country against England in the war of

1812. He was born in Pennsylvania, March 21. 1789, but came to Ohio with his parents in 1801. being about twelve years of age. His father purchased a tract of timber land in Geauga county and much labor was re- quired in clearing this in order to make it cultivable. William Thompson, although the youngest in the family, shouldered his ax and went to the woods with the rest. doing his full share in the arduous undertak- ing. and ere long became quite an expert woodsman, and this led him to believe that he could make a farm for himself. Hle there- fore purchased a tract of one hundred acres of timber land adjoining his father's farm and began its cultivation and improvement. He built a house from timber from his own land and as companion in his new home and one with whom he might share the joys and sorrows of life he chose Miss Lucinda Walden, who at that time was teaching school in Huntsburg township. She was an earnest Christian lady, a member of the Methodist church, and her brother, Asa, was a minister of that denomination. She had two other brothers, Elisha and Rial, the former a Methodist in religious faith, and the latter a Universalist. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were married in Warren, Ohio, on the 8th of February, 1815, and then start- ed to make a farm in the midst of the forest. As the result of his industry and persever- ance he was enabled to pay for his farm from his sale of maple sugar, which he man- ufactured from his own trees. He did all of the work in connection therewith even to the manufacture of the buckets and troughs. The wife faithfully performed the work of the home, using the spinning wheel and loom and thus furnishing the family with an abundance of towels, table linen, bedspreads and clothing. Nine children came into this

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household, eight sons and one daughter. All were married and secured homes for them- selves, and five of the brothers became de- fenders of the Union in the Civil war. Will- iam Thompson did his full duty to his chil- dren. to his friends and to his country, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He served as township treasurer and filled many minor offices with credit to him- self and satisfaction to his constituents.

The family passed through varied experi- ences and two sad accidents occurred in the family history. One was the death of Elisha James, who had gone to the woods in order to get fuel for the schoolhouse fire togetlier with many other patrons of the school. He was then but a little more than twelve years of age and was killed by a falling tree. Again three years later the youngest child. Henry Thompson, was struck by lightning when he and a cousin had gone to gather wild strawberries. William Thompson, the father, died at the age of eighty-four years and six months. The mother, who was born in Massachusetts and lived there until a few years prior to her marriage, passed away at the advanced age of eighty-four years and four months. The former was an Episcopal- ian in religious faith and the latter a Metli- odist.

Augustus Thompson, who was the fifth in order of birth in that family, spent the first twenty-six years of his life upon the home farm in Geauga county, and in the district schools of the neighborhood obtained his education and through the summer months assisted his father upon the home farm. Hle was the first of his family to re- spond to the country's call for aid. enlisting April 27. 1861, as a member of Company D, Nineteenth Regiment of Ohio Volun- teers. Ile served for four months and was

then discharged at Columbus, but he after- ward re-enlisted in Company A. Twenty- ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until July. 1862, when he was again dis- charged on account of disability. Upon his return from the war he removed to Bay City. Michigan, in 1862, in order that he might educate his children, and there en- gaged in teaming, which he followed for a number of years, also devoting some atten- tion to farming. In 1877 he removed to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he was first employed in a planing mill for three years. He then engaged in the somewhat novel em- ployment of building up the trade of run clown hotels, going to Texarkana, Texas, for that purpose in response to a telegram. Six months' faithful service brought the de- sired result, Mr. Thompson then resigning to become the manager of another run down hotel in the same town. Here he was again successful. but from his excessive labors so exhausted his vitality that he was forced to abandon this occupation and for five months devoted himself to traveling for his health. At that time he reached Dayton, and he has since been a resident of Ohio. Sixteen years ago he located at Yellow Springs, where he has since resided. Here he has since been connected with agricul- tural pursuits, and although he does not do any of the hard work upon the farm he still has the general oversight of his agricultural interests in Miami township.

In July. 1851. Mr. Thompson was un :- ted in marriage to Miss Rovilla L. Johnson. who was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio. and died in Bay City, Michigan, when about sixty years of age. She was the mother of two children. Henry C., who was born in Geauga county, Ohio, was educated in Bay City, Michigan. He spent his evenings in

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· the office of the city surveyor, acting as as- sistant in the work of drawing maps, and during the periods of vacation he was in the field, becoming familiar with the practical work of civil engineering and surveying. He has become an expert surveyor and is still following that business in Bay City. Michigan, where he has served as city sur- veyor. He also served as city surveyor of Lansing for one year. At the age of sixteen years he began teaching school and followed that profession until he had mastered surveying, when he abandoned it in order to take up his chosen lite work. He married Kate Whitmore. and they have three children. Frank C. Thompson, the youngest son, was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and began teaching in the district schools before attain- ing the age of sixteen. After two years he was made principal of a graded school, a position which he held for five years, when he resigned in order to accept another posi- tion in which he continued for five years. Ile afterward held the office of city comp- troller at West Bay City, Michigan, and later was employed on the farm of Hiram Confer in Greene county, but he soon re- turned to West Bay City to assist his broth- er Henry in surveying and civil engineering, and was afterward appointed by the post- master general to the mail delivery service in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in which po- sition he has since served. He married Car- ric Confer, a daughter of Hiram Confer. then of Yellow Springs, but now a resident of California.

For his second wife Mr. AAugustus Thompson chose Matilda Hamma, the wed- ding being celebrated on the 29th of De- cember, 1885. The lady was born in York county, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of

David and Susan ( Wolff ) Ilamma. Her father was born in Pennsylvania of German lineage, on the paternal side, while on the maternal side the line is of English descent. The parents of Mrs. Thompson removed to Ohio during her early girlhood, settling in Richland county, where her father carried on farming. He afterward sold his farm, settling in Greene county, purchasing a tract of land in Miami township. Here he died in 1865 at the age of seventy-seven years. and his wife died some years previous upon the old homestead in Miami township. She was the mother of seven children, but only three of the number are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson make their home in Yellow Springs and are well known there. Mr. Thompson owes his success in life to his own earnest and indefatigable efforts. Ile has led an upright and honorable life, char- acterized by loyalty to his country and by fidelity in friendship as well as honor in busi- ness relations.

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History of Greene County, Ohio, Part 63

Author: Robinson, George F., 1838-1901 Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 934

Author: Robinson, George F., 1838-1901
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 934