USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, Ohio > Part 79
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
Robert Il. Ferguson accompanied his father to Greene county in 1832 and upon the home farm was reared. Throughout his entire life he carried on agricultural pur- suits and his death occurred in the spring of 1883 at the age of sixty-three years. In early manhood he had wedded Mary J. Cooper and they became the parents of four children, of whom our subject was the sec- ond. Horace .A., the eldest, is residing in Dayton and has four children. Sally Mary is the wife of O. Frank Collett, of New Burlington, and has two children. William married Mary Mendenhall and died January 6, 1889, leaving two children. Robert H. Ferguson gave his political support to the Democracy, but was never an aspirant for office. He held membership with the Bap- tist church and his life was in consistent har- mony with its principles.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for John L. Ferguson in his youth. He worked in the fields and acquired a good common-school education. On the 20th of September, 1880, he married Miss Margaret E. McCluire, of Sugarcreek township. a daughter of John C. and Elvira (Young) MeClure. She was reared upon the home farm where our sub- ject now resides. She had one brother, Cyrus MeClure, who became a member of the Seventy-fourth Ohio Regiment and died of measles in the hospital at Nashville, Ten- nessee. There were nine children in the family, of whom Mrs. Ferguson was the eighth. All reached years of maturity and six of the number are yet living. Mr. Fer- guson purchased a small tract of land from his father and made it his home for six years, when he came with his family to his present place of residence. purchasing sev- enty acres of Mr. MeClure. Nearly all of the improvements upon the property have been made by our subject save a little build- ing of one room which had been erected by Mr. McClure, who died shortly afterward, passing away March 5, 1886, while Mrs. McClure died May 18, 1901. In his farm- ing methods Mr. Ferguson is enterprising. practical and progressive, and his labors have been attended with a high degree of success. His fields are now richly cultivated and his buildings are in good repair. His efforts have been so discerningly directed along well defined lines of labor that his work has brought to him a very gratifying competence.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson has been born one child. Ethel, whose birth occurred in Spring Valley township and who is a graduate of the Bellbrook high school of
554
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
the class of 1001. The parents held mem- bership in the Baptist church, but on ac- count of the distance of their home from a church of that denomination they identified themselves with the Methodist Protestant church. Politically Mr. Ferguson is a Dem- ocrat, and for two terms served as justice of the peace of Sugarereek township. The cases which he decided during that time showed that he was strictly fair and im- partial, and no decision which he ever ren- dered was ever reversed.
REV. NICHOLAS J. KELLY.
Rev. Nicholas J. Kelly is pastor of St. Brigid's church of Xenia. He came here early in the year 1901 and soon gained a place in the respect and affections of his peo- ple, while engaged in the promotion of the cause of Catholicism. He was born in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, on the 31st of August. 1851. being a son of Christopher C. and Cathar- ine (Carey) Kelly, both of whom were na- tives of Ireland, and are now deceased. In the parochial schools of St. Peter's Cathed- ral of Cincinnati Father Kelly pursued his early education, after which he was em- ployed for several years by the firm of Chat- field & Woods, proprietors of a large paper house of that city. Determining, however. to devote his life to the priesthood he re- sumed his education and from 1875 until 1878 was a student in St. Xavier College in Cincinnati. Subsequently he matriculated in Mt. St. Mary's Seminary of the West. located at Price Hill. Cincinnati, and in 1880 he became a student in Mt. St. Mary's of Emmittsburgh, Maryland. In 1881 he once more entered St. Xavier College, from
which he was graduated in the class of '83. with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered St. Mary's Theological Semin- ary in Baltimore, Maryland, where he com- pleted the full course and was ordained to the priesthood on the 18th of December, 1886, by the Most Rev. William Henry El- der. in St. Peter's Cathedral, Cincinnati. Ohio.
During sixteen years he has devoted his time and energies with untiring zeal to the work and advancement of his church. For about a year he served in the mission field and was then stationed as the assistant pas- tor at St. Peter's Cathedral at Cincinnati. when on the 19th of October. 1889. he was appointed pastor of St. Gabriel's parish in Glendale, where he served eight years. On the 27th of September. 1897. he was given charge of the parish of Lebanon and the at- tached missions of Monroe, Morrow, Fos- ter's Crossing and Waynesville, where he remained until the 12th of March. 1901. He then took charge of St. Brigid's church in: Xenia. He is a man of scholarly attain- ments and broad general information as well as theological learning. Consecrated to his holy office he puts forth every effort in his power to advance the cause of his church and the moral and intellectual standing of the community at large and under his lead- ership the various churches with which he has been connected have made very satisfac- tory advancement. He soon won friends in Xenia, not only in St. Brigid's church but among people of various denominations. His life is indeed a busy one. Each morn- ing he celebrates mass at six o'clock and sometimes earlier. He is particularly watch- ful and helpful to the sick of the neighbor- hood and is a man of broad sympathies and humanitarian principles.
REV. N. J. KELLEY.
557
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
St. Brigid's church, of which he is now serving as pastor, is one of the strong Cath- olic churches in this portion of Ohio. The large brick edifice, ninety-one by forty-three feet, is situated on the corner of Second and West streets, and the church property also contains a school building of three rooms and the rectory, containing ten rooms, while there is a convent furnishing a pleasant home for the Sisters of Charity, who have charge of the school. The early history of the church is somewhat lost in obscurity be- cause adequate records have not been kept. There are church and marriage records dat- ing back from 1849 but little other data was kept. It was learned that in 1844 there were five Catholic families in Xenia and that in that year a Rev. Father Juncker of Day- ton celebrated mass on the porch of the home of Jacob Klein. About 1849 Archbishop Purcell of Cincinnati and Rev. Father Rose- crans celebrated mass before nine persons in Xenia. It is possible that other priests vis- ited the city in the meantime and before the church edifice was erected. As the congre- gation grew it became imperative that a more commodious place of worship be had than a private residence. This was found in the basement of the court house, the use of which was given gratis to the Catholics and other denominations alike. In 1849 the Catholics of Xenia were organized into a denomination. Father Kearney was in charge of the little church and was succeed- ed by Rev. Father Howard in May, 1850. Rev. Father Blake succeeded Father How- ard and became the first resident pastor of Xenia, arriving in August, 1851. It was intended to build a church in that year but the work was not accomplished and it was not until the IIth of June, 1852, that the corner stone was laid, the church being ded-
icated and the sacrament of confirmation ad- ministered on the 31st of October of the same year. The cost of the church was about five thousand dollars and it was called St. Brigid's in honor of the patroness of Ireland. Father Blake remained in charge for thirty-four years, during which time the church made rapid and satisfactory growth. The work was organized in various depart- ments and its influence was widely extended. In 1885 Father Blake practically retired and Father Cunningham of Yellow Springs took charge. remaining until 1887, when he was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Stoeppelmann, who on the 4th of October of the same year was succeeded by the Rev. Isaac J. Hoster. The church was then in debt and though improvements were much to be desired, none were attempted until the debt was paid, and this was accomplished during his first year as pastor. In September, 1888, the lot ad- joining the church and school was purchased for one thousand dollars and the sisters re- moved into a little cottage which stood on the lot. In the summer of 1889 another lot was purchased on which was a good house and in this the sisters took up their abode in August. The church and school have re- ceived excellent attention, many improve- ments being made. Three altars, costing fifteen hundred dollars, the bequest of Fa- ther Blake, were erected and used for the first time on Christmas Day of 1888. In the spring of 1894 the pastoral residence was begun and was occupied on the 6th of No- vember, following. The school is presided over by five Sisters of Charity and one hun- dred and forty-five scholars are enrolled. This school was begun in 1855 but it was not until 1879-80 that the Sisters of Charity took charge of the school. In February, 1898, the parochial school board was estab-
33
558
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
lished which undertook to raise sufficient money to support the school without draw- ing on the ordinary receipts of the church. Various church societies have been estab- lished and are in good working order and the influence of the church is being continu- ally extended under the guidance of Father Kelly. Satisfactory progress is being made along many lines and he has the confidence and co-operation of his people to an unusual degree. This being the jubilee year of the church, it having been founded fifty years ago, the pastor and congregation are mak- ing extraordinary efforts to fittingly cele- brate the occasion. To this end the pastor and people are making strenuous efforts to liquidate the present debt, which was Janu- ary I, 1902, about forty-five hundred dol- lars, and at the present time have every reason to feel confident of success.
REV. JOHN S. MCCRACKEN.
In the history of this county Rev. John S. MacCracken well deserves mention. for he bore a very active part in the moral de- velopment and progress of his community. He devoted his entire life to the work of the ministry and although many years have passed since he departed this life his mem- ory is still enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him.
Rev. MacCracken was born in Butler county, Ohio, April 6, 1804, and came of an old American family that was founded in this country in colonial days. The great- grandfather was killed by the Indians while standing in the yard of his frontier Pennsyl- vania home, while his grandfather was killed during the Revolutionary war, May 31,
1778. The parents of our subject were John and Martha ( Wilson) MacCracken, both natives of the Keystone state and carly set- tlers of Brown county, Ohio. During the boyhood of their son, John S., they removed to Greene county, this state, and there the father purchased land and developed a farm in the midst of the wilderness.
In Xenia Rev. John MacCracken ac- quired his early education, being a pupil of the Rev. Hugh McMillen. He afterward engaged in teaching for several terms and then continued his own education as a stu- dent in Miami University, where he com- pleted the course with the class of 1839 and at once entered upon the work of the min- istry. His first charge was at Kenton, Ohio, where he succeeded in establishing the United Presbyterian church, donating one- half of his salary-which at best was not a very large one-toward the erection of a church edifice. In 1851. after an eight years' pastorate in Kenton, he removed with his family to Oxford. this state, and while there visited many places which were desti- tute of moral instruction - organizing churches wherever he was called. He re- tained his residence in Oxford for five years and thence removed to Greene county. lo- cating first in Cedarville, where he and his son both engaged in teaching school for a year. The family then came to Xenia and it was in this city that the Rev. John S. Mac- Cracken spent his remaining days.
On the IIth of November, 1839, he was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Mrs. Eliza Welch and they were blessed with the following children: Henry, who is now chancellor of the University of New York: John Joseph, who died in infancy; George, an attorney at law of Urbana, Ohio; Anna MJ., a teacher in the high school
559
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
of Xenia: and one who died in infancy. Mrs. MacCracken was a most intelligent and cultured lady. A daughter of James and Mary ( Hawkins) Dougherty, she was born November 2, 1810. in Jefferson county. Ohio. Her father was a native of Mary- land and her mother of Pennsylvania, and both were of Scotch-Irish and English ex- traction. They provided their daughter with excellent educational advantages for those days and she continually added to her knowledge by a thorough and comprehensive course of reading. She was a student in Steubenville Female Seminary, of which Dr. Beatty was president. That institution is the alma mater of hundre.Is of women who have blessed and elevated society with their presence. She was first married to Rev. Johnson Welch, a graduate of Alle- gheny Seminary, who was a recognized power in the ministry, and at his death was president of Franklin College. Two chil- dren were born of this union: James, who has devoted his life to the preaching of the gospel and in 1901 was moderator of the synod of Kansas: and Eliza, wife of Pro- fessor .A. M. Brooks, who became principal of the Bettie Stuart Institute of Springfieldl. Illinois. The father of these children passed away April 17, 1837, and many friends, be- sides his immediate family, mourned his loss. Left a widow, Mrs. Welch began teaching school, and in Oxford, Ohio, founded the ladies seminary which was the beginning of the present college at that place. After becoming the wife of Mr. MacCracken the lady continued her active work in the church and was a most able as- sistant to her husband. He passed away in Xenia on the ist of April. 1863, mourned by all who had known him. The poor and
needy found in him a warm friend, the sor- rowing and distressed a comforter. He had a deep sympathy which enabled him to en- ter into the troubles and sorrows of his parishioners. Hle was also very good and kindly and all realized that they had lost a true, faithful and generous friend. His wife long survived him and passed away on the Inth of January, 1893. at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Her influence had been like the perfume of the violet unob- trusive, yet ever present, and by her kind- nesses and her gracious spirit she induced many to follow in the straight and narrow path. Her children owe her a debt of gratitude not only for the personal sacrifices which she made that they might obtain the best educational advantages, but also because she ever held before them the highest ideals of honesty, integrity, purity and service.
JOSEPHI B. VAN EATON.
Joseph B. Van Eaton departed this life in 1808, but he is remembered by his many friends as a citizen of worth, as a progres- sive farmer and as a loyal soldier in the Union army during the Civil war. He was born in Greene county upon the farm in Xenia township where his widow now re- sides. His parents were John and Sarah ( Bigger) Van Eaton. His father lived and died in Greene county, having come to Xenia when a young man. He purchased a farm of one hundred and forty-three acres, then a tract of wild land, and with char- acteristic energy began its further develop- ment and improvement. He erected good buildings, placed his land under a high state
560
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
of cultivation and raised good graded stock. being an active representative of agricultural pursuits in Greene county until called to his final rest at the age of sixty-four years. His widow passed away some years later. In their family were ten children, but only one of the number is now living.
Joseph B. Van Eaton of this review spent his boyhood days upon the old family homestead and in the district schools of the neighborhood acquired his education. At the time of the Civil war, however, he put aside all personal considerations and busi- ness interests in order to aid his country in her hour of peril. He enlisted in Company D. One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Infantry, as a private and was commissioned adjutant before the regiment left its first camp. and during the last year of his service he was promoted to the rank of captain in command of Company D-the company with which he had gone to the front. On the 12th of Sep- tember. 1804. he was wounded and in the winter was discharged on account of his in- juries. For several months he lay in the hospital and was for some time unable to resume work. After the close of the war he returned to his home in Xenia township. where he spent his remaining days living the life of an honorable and upright man. his attention being devoted to farming and stock raising.
On the 13th of March. 1865. Mr. Van Eaton was united in marriage to Miss Martha Jewett Files, a daughter of Sylvanus B. and Martha ( Janet ) Files. Her father was a native of Rhode Island and her mother of Massachusetts. When a young man Mr. Files came to Ohio and was married in Co- umbus, after which he removed with his wife to Greene county, where he engaged in
farming to some extent, but largely lived retired from business cares. In the east he had engaged in business as a woolen manu- facturer. He died in Holland, Ohio, when about seventy-nine years of age and his wife passed away at the advanced age of eighty- three years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Van Eaton were born two children: Ida, who is now the wife of O. K. Putnam, of California, and is the mother of three children-Raymond, M. Virginia and Charles Harry. They spent the first year of their marriage in California and upon their return to Ohio Mr. Putnam's health failed and they again went to the Golden state. Harry Bigger. born in Xenia township, October 21, 1867. died June 12. 1892, at the Children's Hos- pital in Pittsburg. He was a graduate of the Xenia public schools, also of the West- minster College. For a time he engaged in teaching school in Darlington. Pennsyl- vania, and at the time of his death was a medical student in the Children's Hospital in Pittsburg. He was a young man of marked ability and his death was greatly mourned. He was an earnest and discrim- inating student, a great lover of books and the future seemed bright before him on ac- count of his superior ability, but death claimed him and he was laid to rest in the Woodland cemetery.
Mr. Van Eaton, the father, was a Re- publican in his political views. . \ valued member of the First United Presbyterian church, he served as one of its deacons and took a deep and active interest in its growth and upbuilding. His wife is also a mem- ber of the church and like him assisted in its work. On the 28th of December. 1898. Mr. Van Eaton was called to his final rest
561
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
and his remains were interred in the Wood- land cemetery. In citizenship he was loyal. in friendship faithful, and in his family he was known as a devoted husband and fa- ther. Throughout his entire life he com- manded the respect of his fellow men by rea- son of his genuine worth, and his loss was «leeply mourned throughout the community.
ALLEN H. MIARS.
Allen H. Miars is one of the progressive and enterprising agriculturists of Spring Valley township, and a glance at his well developed and highly improved place in- dicates his careful supervision and modern methods. There is particular satisfaction in reverting to the life history of the honored and venerable gentleman whose name in- itiates this review, since his mind bears the impress of the historic annals of the state from early pioneer days, and from the fact that he has been a loyal son of the republic and has attained to a position of distinctive prominence in the community where he has long resided. He was born in Union town- ship. Clinton county, Ohio, April 21. 1828, a son of Samuel and Hannah ( Haines) Miars. The paternal grandparents, Martin and Jane ( Summers) Miars, were both na- tives of Virginia, and in that state were married !. The great-great-great-grand- mother was a native of Germany. Martin Miars, accompanied by his wife and chil- dren, came to Ohio in the year 1811, locat- ing near Wilmington, Clinton county, where he spent his remaining days. His children were David, John, Martin, Jacob, Samuel, Betsey, Polly and Jane, all now deceased.
Samuel Miars, the father of our subject, was born in Frederick county, Virginia. Oc- tober 29. 1799, and in 1811 accompanied his parents to Clinton county, Ohio. He pur- sued his education in a log schoolhouse, de- voted his entire time to farming throughout the years of his manhood, and at his death owned eight hundred acres of land. When he left home he had but four half dollars as his entire capital, but industry, economy and unremitting diligence made him a prosper- ous agriculturist. He married Miss Han- nah Haines, a native of Clinton county and a daughter of Jacob Haines, who with his wife came from North Carolina to Ohio. He secured a tract of wild land in Clinton county, erected a log cabin, and cleared six acres of land which he planted. He was of Scotch .descent. Unto the parents of our subject were born six children: Allen H. : Mary Jane, the wife of William Ogleshec. of Clinton county: Isaac, deceased : Milton, of Oklahoma: Martin, who lives on the old home farm in Clinton county; and Sarah Louise, the wife of Alfred Mckay, of Wil- mington. Ohio. The father died in 1874. and the mother passed away four days later. Thus the community lost two valued citizens of sterling worth.
Through the period of his youth Allen HI. Miars attended the district schools in the winter months, when the work of the farm was practically over for the year. Through- out the remaining time he assisted in the work of the fields and meadows and thus gained that practical experience which has been of much value to him in carrying on farm work on his own account. He re- mained at home until March, 1859, when he married Miss Mary Melinda Stump, a na- tive of Greene county and a daughter of
562
ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Jonas and Prudence Stump. Her maternal grandfather. William Smalley, was born in New Jersey in 1761, and when fifteen years of age was stolen by Indians, at Fort Du Quesne and his father was killed by them. While with the red men Mr. Smalley was obliged to witness their atrocious cruelty as they burned several people to death. On one occasion he saw an infant torn from its mother's arms and thrown into the flames. In 1784 he escaped from his captors and re- turned to Pittsburg. Pennsylvania. A few years later he removed to Cincinnati. He afterward participated in military service in Harmar's campaign and was present when St. Clair was defeated. At that time he discharged his musket thirty-five times and it is said that twenty-one of the shots took effect. He was with Waynes' army, having charge of the sharpshooters, and was pres- ent when Colonels Lynch and Truman were killed. He cseaped death by jumping behind a tree and telling the Indians that he had deserted the whites. Ile helped to build one of the first houses in Cincinnati and was a valued pioneer who contributed much to the work of reclaiming the wild district. peopled by savages, for purposes of civilization. The parents of Mrs. Miars have both passed away. The mother, surviving her husband for a few years, departed this life in Jan- mary, 1902, at the age of ninety-two.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Miars established their home in Clinton county, where he carried on farming for twenty years near Wilmington, and then sold the property preparatory to removing to Spring Valley township. Greene county. Arriving in 1882. he purchased two hundred and ser- enty-eight acres of land. to which he has since added thirty-seven acres. He carries
on generai farming and keeps a good grade of stock, and in his business life has pros- pered. . As the years have passed his income has increased, and to-day he is the possessor of a very valuable farm, which is the visible evidence of his life of industry.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miars has been born one son. Fremont, who attended the com- mon schools, was graduated in the high school of Wilmington, then attended the Wilmington College and also spent two years as a student in the National Normal University. He spent a year and a half in Virginia, but with the exception of that period has always resided with his parents. and now largely relieves his father of the care and labor of the home farm. He was married in February, 1893, to Miss Cora Bryce, of Spring Valley, and to them has been born a daughter, Mary Margaret. The father and son are both stanch Republicans and occupy a leading place as representa- tive agriculturists of the community. Mr. Miars of this review has passed the seventy- fourth milestone on life's journey, and well does he deserve the uniform respect which is extended him. He has faithfully per- formed his duties, with due regard for the rights of his fellow men, and in this portion of Ohio he has a large circle of friends.
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.