USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, Ohio > Part 82
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ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
member was T. P. Townsley. Our subject applied himself closely to mastering the business, becoming a valued salesman in the store, and in February, 1857, was admitted to a partnership. Upon the death of his brother, James, he became the head of the establishment, the firm name of Allison & Townsley being retained until 1889, when the firm dissolved partnership and the en- terprise was discontinued.
Before retiring from the dry-goods trade Mr. Allison had extended his efforts into other fields of business activity, being one of the organizers of the Xenia Twine & Cordage Company, which became a profit- able concern. In company with others he took hold of the Xenia Mill on the Cincin- nati pike and from a small concern it was developed under his direction until it be- came a flourishing institution. At length, however, Mr. Alison sold his interest and in partnership with Joseph N. Field, now a capitalist in England, organized the Field Cordage Company, which erected a cordage plant in Nenia. The Cordage Trade Jour- nal in an obituary written at the time of his death gave the following account of his busi- ness interests: "After it was operated for several years the Fieldl Company's Binder Twine factory was leased in January, 1890. to the National Cordage Company for five years at the rental of forty-five thousand dollars a year. At the same time Mr. Alli- son made a contract not to engage in a competing business, for which he was to re- ceive six thousand dollars per annum. The National Company repudiated the contracts after living up to them for one year, and when suit was brought to enforce them the Ohio court decided they were null and void. being in restraint of trade. However, in
October, 1891. the National Company bought the Field Company's property for two hundred and forty thousand dollars. Mr. AAllison then became active in opera- tions independent of the National Cordage Company. Joining with Messrs. Hooven and Gamble, of Miamisburg, Ohio, he helped to launch the Hooven & Gamble Company in the manufacturing of machinery for the manufacture of cordage, Mr. Allison being president of the company from its incorpora- tion in 1892 until April, 1900. In 1892 he was instrumental in organizing the North- western Cordage Company, which erected a plant in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Allison was vice-president and general manager. and his son, Lewis M. Allison secretary of that corporation. This company was not successful, which was partly due to the mis- fortunes of unusual description. One of these was the falling of a roof that was heavily weighted by snow, the accident caus- ing injuries to a number of employes, several of whom recovered verdicts for large sums, one being for twenty-eight thousand dollars. which was later set aside as excessive. On May 19, 1893. Charles S. Rogers, president of the Northwestern Company, committed suicide by jumping from the 'high' bridge over the Mississippi river at St. Paul. He left a letter addressed to Mr. Allison, who continued an officer of the company until December, 1894. In January, 1895. MIr. Allison applied for the appointment of a re- ceiver for the company, alleging that the corporation was insolvent, owing over two hundred thousand dollars, while its assets. held at three hundred thousand dollars, were not worth over fifty thousand. This appli- cation was denied, although the company's officers admitted that money had been lost.
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In September, 1898, the property was sold to the Northwestern Grass Twine Company, and in March, 1899. the cordage machinery was sold to the Hooven & Allison Company of Xenia, Ohio, and the Columbian Cordage Company, of Auburn, New York. in Sep- tember. 1897, Mr. Allison purchased the Ohio, Xenia and Field Cordage mills in Xenia from the reorganization committee of the United States Cordage Company. He immediately sold the Ohio mill to the Hooven & Allison Company and later he sold the Xenia mill to C. N. Lupton. In October, 1898, the Field Twine & Cordage Company, under the management of Mr. Allison, started up the old Field works, mak- ing binder twine for the McCormick Har- vesting Machine Company, and the hard fibre machinery has operated steadily since then. Mr. Allison planned to start the liemp twine plant last July, but his illness prevented him from doing so."
Mr. Allison was certainly a man of great business enterprise and of undaunted perse- verance and deserved great credit for what he accomplished. He looked beyond the ex- igencies of the moment to the possibilities of the future. He was always looking for opportunities and was quick to recognize a favorable one and use it. His keen discrim- ination, sound judgment, while they contrib- uted to his own advancement, also promoted the general prosperity.
Mr. Allison was twice married, On the 15th of May, 1868, he was joined in wed- lock to Miss Julia Myers and they became the parents of three children, who are yet living: Lewis, who assisted his father in the conduct of the cordage business : Jeanette and Albert. Mrs. Allison died on the Ist of March, 1892, and for his second wife Mr.
Allison chose Miss Louie Myers, a sister of hers for his wife, their marriage being celebrated in St. Paul, Minnesota, on the 25th of January, 1894. She still survives her husband. Like him, she shares in the high regard of many warm friends and has a large circle of acquaintances in Xenia. Throughout the years of his manhood Mlr. Allison took a deep and active interest in everything pertaining to the public progress. and his hearty co-operation was given to many movements for the general good. llis natural endowments were a quick and strong temper and a warm heart, a gentle manner and a quiet courtesy. To control the first and to make his life the flower and expres- sion of the other traits was the task which nature assigned him. We know nothing of the struggle, but were daily witnesses of the victory. Kindness was the motive of his life. He had a well-spring of affection and a quick and generous sympathy which in- creased by giving. Like all who walk through life on a higher plane than the great majority of his fellows, his companionship was select. rather than large, but the many who looked up to and respected him realized as fully as did the few who were nearer him that a true man had fallen.
JOHN AMBUHL.
John Ambuhl, deceased, was a factor in business circles in Xenia for many years and he had a wide acquaintance in the city. He was born in Switzerland on the 15th of Au- gust, 1826, and was one of seven children. whose parents were Jacob and Rachel ( Crupp) Ambuhl. In the schools of his na-
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tive land he acquired his education and when a young man he learned the weaver's trade which he followed for a number of years, but he had very little opportunity to advance his business in his native country and he re- solved to seek a home in the new world. having heard favorable reports of the advan- tages here given to young men of ambition and determination. Accordingly in the year of 1854 he sailed for the United States, land- ing in New York. Later he made his way westward, taking up his abode in Greene county, and after arriving in Xenia he learned the butcher's trade. In 1858 he es- tablished a meat market which he conducted successfully until his death. Hle prospered in his undertakings for his business affairs were creditabiy managed and he put forth every effort to please his customers. His prices were also reasonable and his work brought to him a good financial return.
On November 16. 1858. Mr. Ambulil was united in marriage to Miss Eva Fisher. a daughter of Andrew Fisher, who followed farming for a livelihood. She was born in Bavaria May 16. 1835, of which place her parents were also natives. With them she came to America when eight years old. the family first settling in East m. Pennslvania. and about 1854 moving to Xenia, where Mr. Fisher remained until his death. They. as well as Mr. Ambuhl. were all members of the Reformed church. In the family were six children. By her marriage Mrs. . \n- buhl became the mother of seven children : William T., who represents his mother's business and is a wide-awake, progressive young man: Ida F .: Katie: Fannie B .: Frank .1 .: Carrie E .. and Ella. The chil- dren all reside with their mother and the family is a highly respected one in the com-
munity. the members of the household occu- pying an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Ambuhl passed away on the 5th of Sep- tember. 1887. lle was a member of the Democratic party and strongly endorsed its principles. He was also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men and enjoyed the high regard of his brethren of these fra- ternities. He never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world for here he found the opportunities he sought. winning success in business, gain- ing a good home and enjoying the friendship and regard of a large circle of acquaintances.
WILLIAM H. BULL.
It argues well for Greene county. its opportunities and advantages, that so many of its native sons have remained residents of this part of the state, and among this number is William H. Bull, who was born upon the old homestead farm in Xenia township and is still living there. His par- ents were James R. and Amelia (Moudy) Bull. The father was also born upon the farm where occurred the birth of our sub- ject. It was called Clark's Run road and consisted of one thousand acres of land. It had been purchased by the great-grandfather of our subject. William Bull, who in 1797 became the owner of this property. He was a native of Virginia and when a young man emigrated to Ohio, having bought what was known as the old Bull homestead. He there spent his remaining days clearing the land of the timber and transforming it into richly cultivated fields, making there a good home for himself and family. He passed
MRS. WM. H. BULL.
WM. H. BULL.
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ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
away when about seventy years of age and was laid to rest in the Stevenson graveyard. His son, Richard Bull, the grandfather of our subject, also lived and died upon the old homestead. passing away at the age of fifty-three years. He built a house to re- place the old log cabin which had been built by his father and he also purchased other property, having a valuable farm of two hundred and four acres at the time of his death.
James R. Bull likewise occupied the old homestead throughout his life. He attended the district school which was built upon the farm, the land having been given for that purpose by the family. When his school days were ended he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising and throughout his business career carried on those pursuits, meeting with creditable success in his under- takings. There he died at the age of sev- enty-two years and was laid to rest in the Woodland cemetery in Xenia. In his re- ligious faith he was a Methodist and be- longed to the Oldtown church. His politi- cal belief was with the Democracy. but he was never a politician in the sense of office- seeking. His widow is still living and yet resides upon the old family homestead with her youngest son, Richard. She is a native of Maryland and when nine years of age came to Ohio with her parents, Peter and Nancy (McClain) Moudy. Her father was also born in Maryland and on emigrating westward took up his abode in Beavercreek township, Greene county, where he lived for about a year and then removed to Cedarville township. He built the old Moudy tour mill, but shortly after its completion died. Ilis wife passed away in 1860. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bull were born five children, the eldest of whom is William H. Bull, of this
review. Lewis M., who resides in Xenia, was for twenty years a grocer of that city but is now a traveling man. He is married and has one son. James Ambrose, who was engaged in the grocery business and in school teaching, died at the age of twenty- six years. Ann Sophia died at the age of six months. Richard E. resides upon the old home place in Xenia township.
On the old family homestead, which had so long been in possession of the family, William H. Bull was reared, and in the district schools of the neighborhood he mastered the branches of learning usually taught in such institutions. He early be- came familiar with farm work and assisted his father in the labors of field and meadow until he was thirty-one years of age. In 1878 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and eighteen acres, all of which is under a high state of cultivation. He has remodeled the buildings and the place is conveniently located upon the Clifton pike in Xenia township. During the past nine years he has been engaged quite extensively in stock-raising and finds this a profitable source of income owing to his capable man- agement and his reliable business methods. He is to-day numbered among the progres- sive farmers and stock-raisers of his com- munity and well deserves mention as one of the representative citizens of this locality.
On the 28th of March, 1877, in Xenia township. Mr. Bull was united in marriage to Miss Annie L. Stevenson, a daughter of Samuel N. and Sarah O. ( Keenan) Steven- son. U'nto our subject and his wife have been born three children, but the first born died unnamed, in 1889. Annie May is now a student in the high school of Xenia. They also lost their youngest child, W. LeRoy, who died at the age of seventeen months.
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ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
It will be interesting in this connection to note something of the ancestral history of Mrs. Bull. Her great-grandfather, Samuel Stevenson, resided in Kentucky until his re- moval to Ohio, when he established a home in Greene county. His son, James Steven- son, was the grandfather of Mrs. Bull. He came to what is known as the Stevenson neighborhood, from Kentucky in 1798. lo- cating on six hundred acres of land. incluid- ing the site of Wilberforce University. He married Ann Galloway, a sister of Esquire George Galloway, who with his family came from Kentucky about the same year and lo- cated five miles north of Nenia near the Little Miami river, building for the family home a residence just north of the large iron bridge across the Miami river on the Yellow Springs pike. This residence is now owned by the Miami Powder Company, who have patriotically preserved it as first built. It bears the placard, "Built in 1801." Upon the old family homestead on the 4th of April, 1816. Samuel N. Stevenson, the fa- ther of Mrs. Bull, was born, and there he
spent his entire life. He reclaimed almost all of his farm of two hundred acres from the forest and thereon built a large and com- modious home. On the 4th of March. 1846. he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Olive Keenan, who was born in Perry, Som- erset county, Ohio, July 30. 1821. They be- came the parents of eight children: Mary E., the wife of Philander Mayne, of Mount Carmel, Illinois ; Rachel S., the wife of N. B. Smaltz, of Warrenboro, Missouri: J. William, who resides in Cedarville town- ship: Ellen L., the wife of Wallace Free- man, of Mount Carmel, Illinois : Annie L., now Mrs. Bull; Aletha, the wife of Robert Bird, of Cedarville, Ohio: Louie, who died at the age of twelve years; and Susanna,
who died in infancy. All of the living chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson were home upon the occasion of the goklen wedding of their parents, celebrated March 4, 1896. The fifty-fifth anniversary of their marriage occurred only a few weeks before the death of Mr. Stevenson.
Throughout his entire business career Mr. Stevenson carried on general farming and stock-raising and as the years passed he prospered in his undertakings. His life rec- ord was ended in death March 23. 1901. and he was laid to rest in what is known as the Stevenson cemetery. His widow still survives him and is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Bull. In the year 1837 her father joined the Methodist church and from that time until his death was one of its zealous and active members. For more than a half century he served as a class lead- er and was ever devoted and loyal to the cause of Christianity. His life was indeed honorable and upright : he practiced moder- ation in all things, was strictly honest in all his dealings with others and was noted dur- ing all his long life for his cheerful disposi- tion and for the self-sacrifice he was ever ready to make for the happiness of others. Ilis virtues were many : his faults were very few, and he was esteemed by all with whom he came in contact.
NEWTON S. MCKAY.
At an early epoch in the development of Greene county the MeKay family was es- tablished within its borders, his ancestors bearing all the hardships and trials of pio- neer life and aiding in laying broad and deep the foundation for the present progress and improvement of the county. The work
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ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
began by his ancestors the subject of this review is still carrying on, and is widely known as a progressive and loyal citizen of his native county. He was born in Caesars- creek township upon the farm that he now occupies July 30, 1856, and is a son of Moses and Rachel ( Faulkner ) MeKay. His father was born in Clinton county, Ohio, Novem- ber 20, 1823. and his parents, George and Mary ( Ferguson) Mckay, were natives of Berkeley county, West Virginia. On emi- grating westward to this state Mrs. McKay, the grandmother, road on horseback. They took up their abode in Clinton county, and the grandfather purchased one thousand acres of land in the midst of the forest, and there, with characteristic energy, began the development of a farm. When the estate was divided at the time of his death, each of his nine children received one hundred acres.
Moses MeKay, the father of our sub- ject, pursued his education in a little log schoolhouse near his home. In the same school his future wife was a student. She was born in Caesarscreek township. Septem- ber 12, 1824, and after reaching years of maturity they were married on the 16th of November, 18448. They began their do- mestic life upon the farm which is now the home of their son Newton, and there spent their remaining days. Mr. MeKay cleared the greater part of the land. He cleared one hundred acres and was also the owner of one hundred acres of timber land. In connection with the raising of the crops best adapted to the soil and climate he was ex- tensively engaged in the manufacture of maple sirup and sugar. His industry was unflagging. his perseverance never failing, and to these qualities of his
manhood he largely owed the credit-
able success which crowned his ef- forts. Both Mr. and Mrs. McKay were members of the Baptist church. The latter was reared in the society of Friends, but be- cause of her marriage outside of the faith she was disowned by the church. In his po- litical views he was a Republican, the party receiving his warm endorsement. They had but two children, the daughter, Mary E., being now the deceased wife of Freeman H. Oglesbee, who is living in Caesarscreek township. The father, Moses MeKay, was called to the home beyond October 13. 1862, and his wife, long surviving him, passed away June 3, 1898. Both were interred in the old family burying ground on the home- stead farm.
In a manner not unlike that of most boys of the period, Newton S. Mckay was reared. At the usual age he began mastering the common branches of learning taught in the district schools, continuing his education 1111- til eighteen years of age, although during the last few years he attended only through the winter months. He has known no other home than the farm upon which he lives, and it is endeared to him through the associations of boyhood and manhood. To this place he brought his bride when, on the 31st of December, 1879, he was married to Miss Ella O. Jenkins, whose birth occurred in Liberty township. Clinton county, in 1857. Her parents, Marshall and Elizabeth ( King) Jenkins, were natives of that coun- ty, but both are now deceased, the father having died October 28, 1865, at the age of forty-five years and is buried in the Bap- tist cemetery, Liberty township, while the mother passed away December 30. 1891, at the age of sixty-seven, and was laid to rest
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ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
at Tipton, Indiana. In their family there were eight children: James, who lives in Kansas : Celeste, the wife of John T. Hemp- stead, of Clinton county; Mary, who mar- ried Thomas Sutherland, of Indiana ; John. a resident of Texas ; Mrs. McKay : Emmett ; Anna, the wife of Eugene Hale, of Wil- mington ; and David, of Clinton county, Ohio. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been graced with three children, of whom Zora and Roy B. are at home, while Mary died in 1803 at the age of thir- tecn months.
Mr. and Mrs. McKay have a wide ac- quaintance throughout the county and their circle of friends is almost co-extensive. Their pleasant home is noted for its hos- pitality and good cheer. The house was crected by Mr. Mckay's father the year pre- vious to his death. The farm comprises one hundred and sixty-six acres of rich land. the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation, and in connection with general farming Mr. Mckay is engaged in the raising of shorthorn cattle and has won a number of prizes at county fairs. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The Republican party received his political endorsement, and he has served as trustee of his township. His aims have al- ways been to attain to the best, and he has carried forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken. His success has been the result of honest persistent effort in the line of honorable and manly dealing.
ARTHUR GERLAUGIL.
Arthur Gerlaugh is a retired farmer liv- ing in the northwestern portion of Beaver- creek township. He was born February 16,
1819. in an old log house that stood within sight of his present dwelling upon the farm which is yet his place of abode. His parents were .Adam and Catherine ( Haines) Ger- laugh. The former was born in Washing- ton county, Maryland, in 1786, and the lat- ter, a native of the same county, was born a few days later. In 1807 AAdam Gerlaugh became a resident of Ohio, accompanying his father, who also hore the name of Adam, to Beavercreek township. Greene county, settling upon the farm which is now the home of our subject. The family sent their goods down the Ohio river while they trav- eled overland by wagons and teams, eight weeks being consumed in making the trip which led through the forests and over poor roads, which were often scarcely more than a trail. Some time prior to the arrival of the family the grandfather, accompanied by Mr. Haines, made a trip to Ohio, looking over the land, and after making purchases they returned to Maryland. The latter never afterward came to Ohio, but his family later removed to this state and occupied the land which he had purchased. Adam Gerlaugh. the grandfather, had become the owner of three-quarters of a section, securing a quar- ter-section for each of his children. Upon the place he erected a log cabin and the family began their life in Ohio in that prin- itive dwelling. With characteristic energy he took to work, clearing the farm and de- veloping the fields. The land was covered by a dense growth of timber. Soon the woodman's ax awakened the echoes of the forest and in course of time the sunlight fell upon the plowed fields and the ripened grain which had there been planted by pioneer hands. Adam Gerlaugh bore an active part in the work of primitive development and
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progress, and aided in laying the foundation for the present advanced condition of Greene county, enabling it to take an important po- sition in this great commonwealth. He died between 1820 and 1825, when about ser- enty years of age.
.Adam Gerlaugh, the father of our sub- ject, became familiar with pioneer experi- ences, for his youth was largely passed in Greene county before the work of progress and civilization had made great changes. He married Catherine Haines in the winter of 1857-8. She had come with her brother and his family to the county in 1807, mak- ing the trip on horseback from Maryland. They settled upon the land which had been purchased by her father some time before when he had come to Chio with the grand- father of our subject. Mrs. Gerlaugh was born April 22, 1788, and her death occurred on the 19th of April, 1852. She and her husband had lived together as man and wife for forty years until death separated them, their mutual love and confidence increasing as the years passed by. Mr. Gerlaugh be- longed to the German Reformed church. while his wife held membership in the Lu- theran church. Several years after her death he went to Wisconsin to visit a son and while on the return trip was taken ill in Warren county, Illinois, and there died in the home of another son, in 1856, when sev- enty years of age. This worthy couple were the parents of ten children, eight sons and two daughters: David. now deceased, who is mentioned on another page of this vol- ume ; Jacob, who has also passed away and his history forms a part of this work ; Otho and Adam, who have departed this life; Robert, who lives in Warren county, Illi- nois; Arthur, of this review ; Jonathan, de-
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