History of Greene County, Ohio, Part 65

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

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of the general's headquarters when General Sheridan made his famous ride and could hear him galloping down the valley long be- fore he had reached his destination. On be- ing relieved Mr. Linkhart was put on com- missary duty at Harper's Ferry, but after two weeks was taken ill and from the hos- pital there was transferred to a hospital in Hagerstown, Maryland, and then to Harris- burg. In the fall of 1864 he was granted a thirty-days furlough and returned home. On account of ill health he remained at home for forty days and then proceeded to Colum- bus and Pittsburg and at the latter place was arrested because he ont-staid his fur- lough. He was transferred to Baltimore and next to Washington and after being in the barracks facing the capitol grounds for two weeks under guard, then on to Alexandria. Virginia. Ten days later with a squad of men of his company he was sent to Grafton. West Virginia, where he was released. With fifteen others he startedl to march to Ber- erly, arriving on the rith of January, and that night the whole Union command was captured by General Rosseau's Confederate Cavalry. The regiment lost forty men be- fore surrendering. The Union troops were then marched to Stanton. West Virginia, en- during many hardships, and were then load- ed into freight cars like cattle and sent to Libby prison, but that place was so crowd- ed that no more could be received and these men were put in a large four-story brick warehouse across the street. afterward known as the Pemberton prison. About four hundred were put in one room on the second floor. On the 14th of February. 1865. they were paroled and transferred by rebel boat to General Butler's lines, and thence on the City of New York to Annapolis, Maryland. and after a week Mr. Linkhart was sent

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home on a furlough. Several weeks later he reported for duty at Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he remained for a month in charge of several thousand horses and mules. Hle was mustered out of service July 30. 1865. at Clarksburg. West Virginia, transferred to Cincinnati and then proceeded to Camp Dennison, where he was paid off and finally discharged. He was a brave and loyal soldier and deserves the gratitude of his country for what he accomplished as one of the defenders of the Union.

Soon after his return Mr. Linkhart learned coopering and for fifteen years was in the employ of the Miami Powder Com- pany, most of the time in the coopering de- partment, but some of the time in the pow- der department. He also engaged in paint- ing for that company for a time.

On the 6th of March, 1870. Mr. Linkhart married Bessie J. Clark, a native of Fair- haven, Connecticut, and a daughter of Thomas Clark, who was connected with the Miami Powder Company. He was an expert powder maker and was kille.1 at Newburg. now a part of Cleveland. Our subject and his wife were married in Cleveland and to them were born four children, but twin daughters died in infancy and Ira Fay died at the age of eighteen months, while Clara G., the only surviving child, is the wife of Newton C. Reutinger, of Chillicothe, Ohio, by whom she has one child, Clement H.

After severing his connection with the powder company Mr. Linkhart removed to Xenia, and was employe l as janitor of the courthouse, in which capacity he servedl for four years. In the meantime he was elected township clerk of Nenia township, and served in that capacity for three years. It the end of his service as janitor he was ap- pointed deputy sheriff under James A. John-

son, which office he held for four years. He was elected sheriff of Greene county in 1886, taking the cath of office in January, 1887, and was re-elected in 1888, holding the office until January, 1891. He thus served for four years, when, according to the laws of Ohio, he was no longer eligi- ble to re-election. He then lived retired for a time, but in 1892 was made the Republi- can candidate for mayor. Two years later he was again nominated but both times was defeated. In 1896, however, he was again nominated and this time was elected and so capably did he administer the affairs of the office that he has been continned in the posi- tion by re-election to the present time.

Fraternally he is a member of Lewis Post. No. 347. G. A. R. : Xenia Lodge, No. 52. I. O. O. F .; Elks Lodge, No. 668; and he also belongs to the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church of Xenia. He was elected to the office of president of the Ohio League of Municipalities at Columbus, Jan- uary 7. 1902. an organization formed to further the interests of the cities and their officers. He is today as true to his duties of citizenship as when he wore the blue uniform of the country and fought to protect the stars and stripes upon southern battlefields. The terms progress and patriotism might be termed the keynote of his character, for throughout his career he has labored for every public interest with which he has been associated, and at all times has been actuat- ed by a fidelity to his country and her wel- fare.

SAMUEL W. COX.

Samuel W. Cox, one of the older resi- dents of Yellow Springs, was born in the township of Miami, in the first house that

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ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

was built within the limits of what is now known as the village of Yellow Springs. His natal day was December 5, 1833, and his parents were Samuel W. and Elizabeth (Jones) Cox. The latter's father, Dennis Jones, who was born in Wales, and emi- grated to America, married in Loudoun county, Virginia, and came to Ohio at a very carly day, locating in Clark county, where he lived and died. He had followed merchandising in Virginia. The father of our subject was born in Bucks county, Pent- sylvania. The parents were married in Georgetown, D. C., where two children were born unto them. The father was a black- smith by trade and followed that pursuit throughout his entire life. He was employed on the Chesapeake & Ohio canal during its construction and in 1827 he came to this state, spending his first winter in Clark county, later becoming a resident of Miami township. Greene county, his home being near the springs from which the village re- ceived its name. His farm is now known as the Kneff place. There Mr. Cox lived for seven years and on the expiration of that period he purchased a place near the village. upon which he remained until called to the home beyond, when he was seventy-seven years of age. At the time of the war of 1812 he joined the army, but remained at the front only a short time. He served as postmaster of the village of Yellow Springs, under the administration of James K. Polk. for four years, and was a stanch advocate of the Democratic party and its principles. His wife survived him for twenty years, passing away about seven years ago. Both were consistent and faithful members of the Methodist church and Mrs. Cox, the mother of our subject, was one of the twelve who organized the first Methodist church in

Yellow Springs. In their family were ten children, five of whom are yet living.

Samuel W. Cox learned the blacksmith's trade of his father, and followed that pur- suit at Yellow Springs for forty-five years, when he retired. This in brief is the his- tory of his business career and one must read between the lines in order to learn of the untiring activity, the good workmanship, his honesty in all trade relations and his ar- faltering perseverance. All who knew him recognized these sterling traits in his busi. ness life and thereby he won a liberal pat- ronage and eventually secured a comfort- able competence which now enables him to rest from further labor in his pleasant home in the village of Yellow Springs. He has been a prominent factor in public life here and for the past fifteen years has filled the position of treasurer of the village. He has also been a member of the school board and for seventeen years has been treasurer of Miami township. In matters of citizenship he has always been loyal and faithful and this has been manifest not only in public office, for at the time of the Civil war he joined the army for one hundred days' ser- vice as a member of Company A, One Hun- dred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and on the expiration of that term he re-enlisted as a member of Company K. One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He participated in a number of battles and skirmishes and was at length discharged in Columbus, Ohio, holding the rank of sergeant at the time he was mustered out.

Before he went to the war Mr. Cox was married. It was on the 4th of December, 1855, that he was joined in wedlock to Mary J. Rice, a daughter of Edward and Aviza ( Sparrow ) Rice. By this union were born

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four children, all of whom are deceased, ural pursuits. He was born in Crawford Cora J. having slied at the age of eleven months. Edward W. at the age of nineteen years, Mary F. when nineteen years of age. and Franklin R. in infancy. Mrs. Cox was born in Maine, and in 1851 came with her parents to Ohio. Her father was superin- tendent of the construction of Antioch Col- lege, and afterward became treasurer of the institution, continuing in that position for about three years. He then went to Oxford and built an addition to the college there. Throughout the greater part of his business career he was a carpenter and contractor. successfully carrying on the work which he had chosen as a life vocation. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Cox, when about eighty years of age, and his wife passed away about twenty-two years ago. Both held membership in the Christian church and were people who enjoyed in a high measure the confidence and respect of their fellow men.

Mr. and Mrs. Cox have long been mem- bers of the Methodist church, in which he has served as trustee for many years. They have a large circle of friends in Yellow Springs and throughout the surrounding country, and are highly esteemed by all with whom they have been brought in con- tact. Throughout his entire life Mr. Cox has resided in this locality and at all times his allegiance to public welfare has been a marked trait in his career.

SAMUEL FRANKLIN WOODWARD.

Sammel Franklin Woodward, of Osborn, is now living a retired life, although for many years he was identified with agricult-

county. Pennsylvania. December 15. 1830. and is a son of John and Mary ( Foster ) Woodward. The family is of English line- age and the ancestry can be traced back to one of six brothers. Five of these brothers were over six feet in height and were in the King's Guard. The one who was under six feet came to America, settling in Massa- chusetts, and was the founder of the fam- ily in the United States. John Woodward. who was born in Massachusetts, removed te Vermont when a young man and there operated a farm until 1809, when he took up his abode in Cortland county, New York. Seven years later he removed to Crawford county. Pennsylvania, settling in Spring township, where he purchased land and became a prominent, influential and well-to-do agriculturist. When he was a young man he served for one year with the Green Mountain boys in the Revolutionary war under that brave and intrepid officer. Colonel Ethan Allen. He married into the Washburn family, which is still one of the prominent and well known families of Ver- mont.

To John Woodward and his wife was born a son named for his father, John. His birth occurred near Rochester, Vermont, in 1795. and he removed with his father to the Empire state when but fourteen years of age. After his parents removed to Penn- sylvania he lived for a year in Geneseo county, New York, and then joined his fa- ther and mother in the Keystone state. Be- coming a farmer there, he accumulated some money and became the possessor of one hun- dred and fifty acres of land. In politics he was a Republican from 1856, when that party was first organized, and held sev-

MRS. S. F. WOODWARD.

S. F. WOODWARD.

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eral township offices, while his religious faith was with the New Light. or Christian, church. He remained upon a farm until he reached the age of four-score years, when he sold his property and for two years lived with his daughter in Winneshiek county. lowa. He then spent nine years with his son. Samuel F. Woodward, and then went to live with another son at Girard. Erie county, Pennsylvania, where his death oc curred February 24. 1889. his remains be- ing interred in Spring township. Crawford county. Pennsylvania, where he had lived for so many years. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Foster, and was born near Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania. in 1794. there remaining until she was eight years of age, when she accompa- nied her parents to Crawford county, where she was married to John Woodward in 1810. She possessed great activity of both mind and body, and was particularly skill- ful in any kind of housewifely arts, incluid- ing weaving. She possessed much natural skill as a mathematician and in her life dis- played many graces of character and kindly acts which endeared her to all who knew her. She entered into eternal rest in 1856. at the age of sixty-two years. Her father. George Foster, was born in the north of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, was a farmer by occupation and was married near Belfast.

Unto John Woodward and his wife were born six children, of whom Mrs. Mary J. Nicholson, the eldest. died in Hamilton county. Jowa; Charlotte, who became Mrs. Huntley, died in Erie county, Pennsylvania : John, who was a lieutenant in the Pennsyl- vania militia, is now living in Erie county. that state; Caroline is the wife of H. P.

Nicholson, a resident of Winneshick county. Iowa ; and George died in 1863, six months after his marriage. Hle had great talent as a portrait painter, and had he lived woukl doubtless have become famous in that line. llis own portrait, painted by himself, now hangs in his brother's residence in Oshorn as an evidence of his remarkable talent.

Samuel Franklin Woodward was the fifth of the family in order of birth. Ile received a common-school education, and displayed more than the ordinary talent for learning. Ile seemed to have inherited his mother's mathematical ability and at the age of nineteen he began teaching in his own township. In the summer months he attended Kingsville Academy in AAshtabula county, Ohio, and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1853. While in school he never had but one fellow pupil who was his equal in mathematics, and he earned much of his tuition money by acting as teacher of mathematics and surveying. In 1853 he filled the chair of mathematics in his alma mater for four and one-half months during the absence of the regular professor, and he is still one of the best math- ematicians in the county. Among his fel- low students in college were J. C. Bur- rows, who is now representing the state of Michigan in the United States senate; J. B. Burrows, now a lawyer of Painesville. Ohio: also S. W. and A. W. Chapman, E. H. Gilkey and many other prominent men who have attained eminence in national fame.

In 1854 Mr. Woodward started west- ward, journeying by way of the canal to the Ohio river, thence proceeding down the lat- ter river by steamer to Maysville, Kentucky. He had intended stopping at that place and

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teaching, but was dissatisfied and soon aft- erward made his way to Jowa, where he re- mained two months. During that time he invested some money in real estate. buy- ing government land in Black Hawk county. Two or three years later he purchased more land lying in Webster county, Iowa, and at one time he owned over four hundred acres. but has since disposed of all of it. After two months spent in Iowa Mr. Woodward re- turned to Pennsylvania and in August, 1854. went to Montgomery county, Ohio, on the opposite side of Mad river from Osborn, in this county. There he began teaching, re- maining in Montgomery county until 1859. when he located in Osborn, where he fol- lowed educational work until 1860. On the expiration of that period he became prin- cipal of the school at Fairfield. In 1862 Mr. Woodward began dealing in fruit trees and successfully followed that business for twelve years. During the first five years he traveled with his men and always came in at the end of the week with the largest sales. Ilis motto was: "One thing at a time and that well done." He was very successful. and by honest dealing made an excellent reputation for himself and the firm. In one day he delivered seventy-three thousand dol- lars' worth of goods and received sixty-five hundred dollars and twenty-three cents. in cash. He has done from twenty to sixty thousand dollars' worth of business in one year. In 1874. feeling that the oversight of so large a business was too severe a strain. he retired and invested his money in real estate. On the ist of April. 1875. he broke ground for his large fine brick home, which is of modern architectural design. He over- saw the erection of this building and on the 24th of November he moved into the house.

which is one of the finest in this section of the county, costing about ten thousand dol- lars. It is surrounded by a beautiful and well kept lawn, and the house in the inte- rior is designed in white walnut. He also has a very select library of many choice volumes.

On the Ioth of November, 1856, Mr. Woodward was united in marriage to Mary C. Sloan, a native of Wayne township. Montgomery county, Ohio. She was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, July 3. 1833, and was only a year old when her par- ents came to Ohio, the journey being made in a one-horse covered wagon. Mrs. Wood- ward received a good education, and at the age of eighteen years began teaching. but. not finding the work congenial, she dis- continued it after nine months. She was a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth ( Crook) Sloan. Her father was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, in that part which was afterward cut off to form Dauphin county. He was a son of John Sloan, a native of that county, of Scotch- Irish descent. In 1833 he came to Wayne township. Montgomery county. Alexander Sloan followed his father's occupation- farming .- but being a natural mechanic. able to make anything out of wood, he be- came a fine cabinet-maker, and also did the carpenter work upon his farm at Jersey Shore, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. In 1834 he also came to Ohio, locating near his father. where he continued agricultural pur- suits for a number of years and then turned his attention to loaning money. Elizabeth Crook, his wife, was born in Somersetshire. England, and came to America when four years of age. She was the mother of seven children, five of whom are now living :

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James S., who resides upon the old home- stead farm in Wayne township, Montgom- ery county; Elizabeth S., who resides with our subject ; Lucinda R., now Mrs. Powell. of Champaign county, Ohio; and William H., who is a farmer of the same county. Mrs. Woodward has always manifested con- siderable poetic ability and talent, but she never devoted her time to literary work until 1880, since which time she has giv- en much attention to the writing of poetry. She has published a book of miscellaneous poems entitled, "Roses and Thorns," and has another book almost ready for publica- tion, called "Darkness and Dawn." She writes upon local and national themes and many of her poems have elicited the high- est commendation from capable critics. She has a broad mind and deep sympathy added to her artistic temperament, and her literary work is of a very high character. We take pleasure in publishing at the end of this review one of her poems that gives a glimpse of the old educational institution of learning of the pioneer days, and thus pos- sesses historic value. The reader will see that the merit of the poem is so great that no "apologies" should be made to Wood- worth for its copying his metre. It is the equal of "The Old Oaken Bucket" in pa- thetic description, and will carry the men- ory of all of our older readers back to the days when they went to the "deestrick" school in the log house of the early days. with its hewed log benches. succeeded later by rough lumber benches. Mrs. Woodward was a "scholar" in the log schoolhouse she so fittingly describes, and the Rev. D. Ber- ger, of Dayton, Ohio, was there one of her teachers.

In his political views Mr. Woodward is a Republican, having supported the party since its organization. Prior to that time he was a member of the Free Soil party. For five years he served on the Republican central committee, and at various times has been a delegate to the county and state con- ventions. He was also a member of the first school board of Osborn, and for twen- ty consecutive years filled that position with the exception of a brief period of two years. lle was also clerk of the board at the time of the building of the schoolhouse. Ile served as a member of the first town coun- cil of Osborn and continued in that position for fifteen years. In 1890 he was a mem- ber of the state board of equalization. Ile has always been very active in politics but of late years has largely left political work to younger men. Mr. Woodward is a Ra- tionalist, while his wife is a Spiritualist. He is a Mason, having attained the Royal Arch degree, while with the lodge at New Carlisle he is connected. He has been three times a delegate to the grand lodge and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity of Osborn. Mr. Woodward may well be called a self-made man, as his ad- vancement in life has come as the direct re- sult of his earnest and capable efforts, his judicious management and careful invest- ments. He stands to-day a strong man ; strong in his individuality; strong in pur- pose and in his good name: and his wide acquaintance in Greene county has gained for him many friends who hold him in the highest regard for his many excellencies of character.

The following is the poem written by Mrs. Woodworth:

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ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

THE OLD LOG SCHOOLHOUSE.

( With a mental apology to the spirit of Samuel Woodworth ).

How off' like a dream of the golden-hued morning.

The visions of childhood rise up to my view.

And backward I hie me to youth's radiant morning.

When life was all brightness and skies were all bhie;

The sweetest and dearest of all youthful pleasures,

With fondness and love I remember them still,

Came to my young life when I carried my treasures-

My books-to the schoolhouse on top of the hill.

The dear old log schoolhouse.

The time-honored schoolhouse,

The schoolhouse that stood on the top of the hill.

I loved the old schoolhouse, though wood- sy and homely.

With long high-backed desks standing back 'gainst the wall.

With little high windows to let in the sun- light.

And long, narrow benches with no backs at all.

The tall spreading trees, which were scat- ered around it.

Their tops stretching skyward. I gaze on them still.

And many the pleasures we gleaned from the streamlet- The streamlet that ran by the foot of the hill.

The beautiful streamlet. The clear limpid streamlet.

The streamlet that ran by the foot of the hill.

When lessons were ended, and lunch we had taken.

We'd play base and blackman, and have rarest fun :

Or. gather in groups, and tell stories and riddles.

And swift flew the moments till school hours begun.

Blest years of my childhood! O, halcyon school days.

Though long years have flown, how I cherish you still :

The fondest and sweetest of memory's pleasures.

Cling 'round the old schoolhouse on top of the hill.

The dear old log schoolhouse,

The time-honored schoolhouse.

The schoolhouse that stood on the top of the hill.

The old *pig-pen tree, how we loved to ex- plore it.

And wonder how long since its life first begun : How long since its branches first swayed in the breezes.

And lifted its head to the life-giving SlIn.

Though life has been checkered by many a sorrow.

Fond mem'ry turns back to the old places still.

Though gone the old land-marks. I' fondly remember

The dear old log schoolhouse on top of the hill.

The time-honored schoolhouse. The dear old log schoolhouse.

The schoolhouse that stood on the top of the hill.

The old spelling matches. O how we enjoyed them.

'Twas Anna and David, and Mary and John Were always first chosen : we vied with each other. And great was the generous rivalry shown.

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Our spelling quartet has been scattered and broken.

And one has passed on. but we think of him still :

We greet him no longer-his form lies en- shrouded

Far, far from the schoolhouse on top of the hill.

The dear old log schoolhouse. The time-honored schoolhouse.

The schoolhouse that stood on the top of the hill.

My teachers in mem'ry all rise up before me.

I look in their faces-their voices I hear :

Their kind commendations when lessons were perfect,

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History of Greene County, Ohio, Part 65

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