USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, Ohio > Part 90
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ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
ject purchased the wagon works of one of the early settlers and with the exception of the first year he has conducted the business alone, covering a period of more than forty years. In his work he has ever been thor- ough and reliable, and his straightforward dealings and capability have secured to him creditable success.
In the early part of 1864 Mr. Lutz re- sponded to the country's call for aid and be- came a Union soldier, joining Company E. One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry. With his regiment he went to New Creek, Virginia, and he participated in the battle at that place. He took part in no other engagements but experienced many of the hardships and privations incident to a soldier's life. After four months service he received an honorable discharge at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in October. 1864. and then resumed the pursuits of civil life. Ile has since been engaged in blacksmithing and wagonmaking in Nenia and as the years have passed he has added to his capital until he is now the possessor of a handsome com- pence. For a number of years one of his sons has been associated with him in the conduct of the business. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lutz has been blessed with six children of whom the following are liv- ing : Jacob H. ; John E. ; Laura B., now the wife of John F. Sanders: Cora E., and Ida S., the wife of George Sinz. Mr. Lutz and his family are members of the Reformed church and fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of Lewis Post. No. 347. G. . A. R .. while in his political views he is a Re- publican. His life has been quietly passed, not marked by any event of special import- ance, yet his history is that of one who has
ever been true and loyal to public and private duty. He is known as an honorable man, a pleasant, sociable companion and a fond husband and father.
JOSHUA BARNETT.
In public office as well as in private life Joshua Barnett has shown himself a worthy and loyal citizen, devoted to the best inter- ests of the community. Throughout his business career he has carried on farming and has ever been upright and reliable in his dealings with his fellowmen. Among Greene county's native sons he is numbered, his birth having occurred in the northeastern part of Spring Valley township. October 13. 1852, his parents being John and Amelia ( Moody) Barnett, both of whom were na- tives of Maryland. Soon after their mar- riage they emigrated to Ohio, settling on a farin in Spring Valley township. Greene county. The father had acquired a good education in his youth and had engaged in teaching before he came to Ohio. Here he owned a farm of one hundred and fifty acres and his labors transformed it into a valuable tract, which annually returned to him a good income. Unto him and his wife were born nine children, eight of whom reached mature years, while five are still living, namely : Oliver, a resident of Xenia township; Ed- ward, who lives on the lower Bellbrook road in Xenia township: James, whose farm bor- ders the upper Bellbrook road, in Sugar- creek township; Virginia, the wife of George Nisonger. of Beavercreek town- ship: and Joshua. The father was an ad- herent of Republican principles and was a
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member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Joshua Barnett in his youth. Amid work and play and the duties of the school room the years passed and at the age of twenty-three he en- tered upon an independent business career. When about twenty-five years of age he made his first purchase of land, comprising forty-five acres in Spring Valley township. He put some improvements upon that farm and made it his home for about four years, after which he sokl it and purchased his present farm of seventy-five acres. This is a rich and arable tract of land and an- nually he garners good harvests. He has splendid improvements upon his place, in- cluding an attractive home two stories in height and containing eight rooms. It is tastefully furnished and is celebrated for its warm hearted hospitality. There is a good bank barn and other necessary improve- ments, and the farm is a monument to the enterprise, capable management and business ability of the owner. He has gained the property through his own well directed efforts.
On the Ioth of January. 1877, occurred the marriage of Mr. Barnett and Miss Caro- line Simison, of Spring Valley township. a daughter of Milo and Mary ( Kelly) Simi- son. Their home has been blessed with four children : Samuel D., born October 29. 1877; Ohmer J., born February 29. 1880; Ethel : born September 19. 1882 : and George C .. born December 2, 1888. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, being connected with Gladys chapel and Mr. Barnett has served as superintend- ent of the Sunday-school for several years. He is now a trustee of the church, does all in his power to extend its influence, and con-
tributes liberally to its support. In 1876 he proudly cast his first presidential vote, sup- porting Hayes, and has since been a stanch Republican. In 1902 he was the candidate for county commissioner. He has served as a member of the state board of equalization for the counties of Greene, Clinton. Ross, Fayette and Highland, and succeeded in se- curing a reduction on the assessment for all these counties-over one million dollars for Greene county alone. He is public spirited and progressive and heartily co-operates with every movement and measure calcu- lated to prove of general good. His worth is widely acknowledged and the circle of his friends is only limited by the circle of his acquaintances.
JAMES WALLACE POLLOCK.
One of the finest farms in Greene county is that owned and occupied by James W. Pollock. It is well located on the Xenia pike. a mile and a half from Cedarville, in Cedarville township, and it comprises three hundred and sixty acres. One hundred acres of this adjoins the birthplace of Whitelaw Reid, the New York journalist. The Pollock family is of Scotch-Irish line- age, and the first representative of this branch of the family in America was Will- iam Pollock, the grandfather of our sub- ject, who came from Scotland and located in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he spent his remaining days. In that coun- ty John Pollock was born and grew to man- hood. In Westmoreland county of the same state lived Abraham and Jane ( Johnson) Elder, who were also of Scotch-Irish de- scent, and unto them was born a daughter.
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Jane. The Elders removed to Logan coun- ty, Ohio, about 1820 and there Mr. Elder became a man of note, his ability making him a leader in public affairs. He was elected one of the first judges of the coun- ty and filled that position for many years. John Pollock also left the Keystone state and became a resident of Logan county. There he formed the acquaintance of Jane Elder and in 1834 they were married. They located upon a tract of land near Huntsville and there they reared their fam- ily of eight children. the subject of this re- view being the third in order of birth.
It was upon the 12th of January. 1840. that James Wallace Pollock first opened his eyes to the light of day. At the usual age he entered the district schools, and after studying there for some time he pursued a course in a select school near his home. Remaining with his parents until after the breaking out of the Civil war he joined the Union army on the 23d of June, 1862, at Huntsville and was assigned to Company D, Forty-fifth Ohio Infantry, which was attached to the Army of the Cumberland. He took part in some of the principal en- gagements against Morgan, that at Somer- set being the most important. At Phila- delphia, Tennessee, on the 20th of Octo- ber, 1863, he was taken prisoner and was sent to Atlanta and thence to Libby prison. Not long afterward he was transferred to Belle Isle. where he was held for four months, and later he was conveyed to Pem- berton and then to Andersonville. where he spent six months during the worst period in all the horrors of that loathsome prison den. During his confinement Mr. Pollock had charge of a mess of one hundred men, for whom he drew the stuff they called rations. The commissary sergeant of a small party
of colored troops was brutally shot by the guard and the rebels would not issue rations directly to the negroes, so it became neces- sary for white men to draw their supplies. The position was not a pleasant one to fill and few cared to undertake it, but Mr. Pol- lock volunteered to take charge of the ne- groes and did so until his removal from the place. At one time the raiders became so numerous and so bold in their depredations, -even at times murdering the defenseless prisoners,-that a committee was formed to remedy the evil. Mr. Pollock was one of the committeemen and aided in bringing the miscreants to justice six of them being hung. When captured our subject weighed one hundred and seventy-five pounds, but under the horrors of prison life his weight was reduced to eighty-three pounds. From An- dlersonville he was sent to Charleston, where a party of prisoners were kept un- der guard for six weeks until the stockade at Florence was completed and they were sent there. On the way Mr. Pollock and a comrade, Charles Hoffman, of Buffalo, New York, made an attempt to escape, jumping from the car while it was in motion. A few shots were fired at them, but they managed to get away in the darkness, traveling all night. The next day, however, they were run down by bloodhounds and taken to Florence. reaching there only thirty-six hours after the others. Mr. Pollock still bears on his leg the scars left by the bites of the hounds. After he had spent ten weeks at Florence the prisoners were ex- changed in Charleston harbor in 1864 and were then sent home on furlough. Mr. Pollock rejoined his regiment on the 5th of April, 1865, and was mustered out with his command at Camp Parker, near Nash- ville, on the 19th of June following.
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ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Returning to Logan county he entered Duff's Commercial College, from which he was graduated the following year. He then turned his attention to the drug business, in which he was engaged for several years, during two years of this time carrying on a store at Cedarville, while for a consid- erable time he was in Xenia. In 1871 he removed to his present farm and has since carried on farming and stock-raising, al- ways having thoroughbred cattle at the head of his herd. For the past ten years he has made a specialty of polled Durham, which popular variety he introduced, being the first man to own one in the county. For many years he had a thoroughbred Devon herd which he exhibited at different state fairs in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and the St. Louis exposition, taking many prizes for the herd. He not only met with success but did much to better the grade of stock in the county. At present he has about fifty head of polled Durhams, known as the Hill View herd, and considered one of the finest of this section of the state. For many years his place was known as the Ander- son stock farm. but Mr. Pollock has changed the name to the Hill View stock farm. Hle is one of the most progressive. enterprising and prosperous stock raisers of the locality and a man of excellent busi- ness ability.
During his residence in Cedarville Mr. Pollock was united in marriage to Miss Nettie, a daughter of Sammel and Jane ( Townsley ) AAnderson, of that place. the wedding being celebrated Novembe: 4 1860. Iler father was born on the farm where Mr. Pollock is now living, and it remained in his possession for fifty-six years, but in AAugust. 1869, he was called to his final rest. Ile was a son of William Anderson, who
came to Greene county from Kentucky at a very early day and settled upon the tract of land which now constitutes the Hill View stock farm. Samuel Anderson was born in 1818 and throughout his life was an active and enterprising agriculturist. His widow is still living at the age of seventy-seven years, making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Pollock. Unto our subject and his wife have been born three children. Edith is now the wife of Rev. Pressley Thompson. of Washington, Pennsylvania, a minister of the United Presbyterian church, and they have four children: Wilbur Pollock, Mar- garet. Pressley. Jr., and Donald Bruce. Jennie is the wife of Leonard Aitken, who is engaged in general mining at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and they have one child, Regina. Junia, the youngest chikdl of Mr. and Mrs. Pollock, is still at home.
In his political views Mr. Pollock is a stalwart Republican, never wavering in his allegiance to the party. He has been a most active factor in promoting agricult- ural interests in this portion of the state. and in addition to his being a member of the board of agriculture he is one of the charter members of the American Devon Cattle Club and one of the founders of the Ohio Spanish Merino Sheep Breeders' .As- sociation, and was a member of the state board of agriculture from 1890 until 1894. He was serving as its president at the time he retired from the office. His political service covers six years spent as county commissioner of Greene county, from 1890 until 1896. He filled the office for two terms by election and for one term by ap- pointment. Mr. Pollock has always taken an active interest in educational affairs and served for fifteen years as a member of the Xenia township board of education, and
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ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
has always stood for progressive ideas. He county, he bought one hundred acres of land gave all his daughters collegiate educations at Monmouth, Illinois. He was a member of the county agricultural board for twenty consecutive years, serving two years as its president, and did much to build up the fair. He and his wife are devoted and loyal mem- bers of the United Presbyterian church and for many years he has served as one of its elders. A man of broad views and liberal policy, yet strong in his good name as well as in his business ability, James W. Pol- lock well deserves mention among the prom- inent residents of Greene county.
ROBERT GRIEVE.
Robert Grieve is a retired farmer who makes his home in Nenia. His birth oc- curred on the old family homestead within two miles of the city, July 27. 1831. He comes of a family of agriculturists that through different generations has been con- nected with the tilling of the soil. The family is of Scotch lineage, the father, Archibald Grieve. having been a far- mer of county Selkirk, Scotland, where he was born in 1775. In the year 1812 he crossed the Atlantic to America, landing at New York, where he remained until 1814. He then made his way by boat to Warren county, Ohio, and cast in his lot with the pi- oneer settlers of the state. He was united in marriage to Agnes Stephenson, who was born in Roxboroughshire, Scotland, and was a daughter of John and Isabella Steph- enson. The marriage was celebrated March II, 18m. and a year later they sailed for the new world. When Archibald Grieve ar- rived with his family in what is now Greene
and immediately proceeded to clear a suffi- cient amount of this in order to erect a little log cabin which would serve as a shel- ter for his family, and the wolves also seemed to think that it might serve the same purpose for them. It was often necessary to bar the door in order to keep ont the wild animals. Wild deer roamed through the forests and venison was a well known dish upon the pioneer boards, if a member of the family happened to be a good shot. Mr. Grieve proceeded as rapidly as possible in clearing and cultivating his land and in a few years he had a comfortable home, al- though in early days the family endured all the trials and hardships incident to frontier life. He and his wife were members of the Seceder church, now known as the United Presbyterian church, and although the near- est place of worship in the early days was eight miles distant from their home, it did not prevent these worthy people from at- tending divine services. Archibald Grieve and his wife were the parents of nine chil- dren, of whom our subject and four broth- ers are the surviving members.
Robert Grieve of this review is the only one of the family now residing in Greene county. His oklest brother died in the year 1847. Like most boys of the period Robert Grieve attended the public schools during the winter months and throughout the re- mainder of the year assisted in the labors of the field and meadow. He was this en- gaged until twenty-one years of age, when he put aside his text books and thereafter devoted his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. . In 1867 he purchased a farm upon which he long resided-a tract of sixty acres which he cultivated and improved, transforming it into a valuable property.
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ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
He still owns this and also has another farm of one hundred acres on the border line of Xenia and New Jasper townships, which is now managed by his son. For many years in addition to the cultivation of crops best adapted to the soil and climate. Mr. Grieve was extensively engaged in rais- ing graded stock, including shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, and also bred horse. Thoroughly familiar with the best methods of farming and stock-raising and directing his efforts along well defined lines of labor, he met with a richly merited de- gree of success in his undertakings and as the years passed accumulated a comfortable competence, which now enables him to live retired. lle makes his home in Xenia, en- joying the fruits of his former toil, which supplies him with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
Mr. Grieve married Miss Elizabeth Crawford in 1856. She was a daughter of Robert Crawford, a resident of Xenia, and died in 1888, leaving three sons : Archibald, who is now on one of his father's farms: Rankin, a resident of Xenia, who was sher- iff of Greene county for four years; and John. at home. In 1892 Mr. Grieve mar- ried Miss Johanna Kyle, who died in 1895. Religiously he is a member of the Second United Presbyterian church.
HENRY D. STAFFORD.
Henry H. Stafford was born in Bethel township. Miami county, Ohio, on the 8th of October, 1836, and is a son of William E. and Harriet Newell ( Steele ) Stafford. both of whom are now deceased. The sub- ject of this review is indebted to the common
school system of his native county for the early educational privileges which he en- joyed and later on was a student for one term in Carlyle Academy. He then re- turned to the home farm, living with his uncle and guardian until he was married and giving to his uncle the benefit of his ser- vices in the care and cultivation of his uncle's fields.
On the 4th of October, 1864. Mr. Staf- ford was joined in wedlock to Miss Sarah Ellen Kable, a daughter of Samuel and Catherine Kable, who were early settlers of Greene county. In the year 1867 Mr. Staf- ford came to this county, living upon a farm which belonged to his wife's mother. They made their home there for about six years and on the expiration of that period our sub- ject purchased his present farm of eighty- nine acres in Beavercreek township. The buildings and improvements here all stand as evidences of his life of industry and enter- prise. for all have been erected by Mr. Staf- ford, including a large and attractive home and a barn, thirty-six by fifty-six feet. He carries on general farming and stock-rais- ing and the fields are under a high state of cultivation, while everything about the place is characterized by neatness.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stafford have been born six children : Harriet Catherine is the wife of Johnson Engle, a resident of Mont- gomery county. Ohio, and they have four children-Elberta. Stafford, Paul and Eliza- beth. Franklin K. is engaged in teaching. He is a graduate of the Heidelberg Uni- versity at Tiffin, Ohio. Edwin L., Herbert S. and Harry H., are all at home. The last three are graduates of the Beavercreek town- ship high school: and Harry and Herbert are now students in Heidelberg University. Carrie Edith is deceased. The parents and
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their children holdt membership in the Re- formed church, taking a very active part in its work. Mrs. Stafford is now serving as treasurer of the Ladies Missionary Society and Mr. Stafford has been treasurer of the church, also deacon, and is now filling the position of elder. In politics he is a Pro- hibitionist and has ever been a strong advo- cate of temperance principles and of all those movements and measures which tend to benefit humanity. During his residence here, covering more than a quarter of a cen- tury, he has become widely and favorably known, enjoying in a high degree the con- fidence and good-will of his fellow men.
TOBLAS DREES.
The name of Tobias Drees is so closely associated with the history of Greene county that this volume would be incomplete with- out his life record. For forty-two years he figured conspicuously as a representative of building interests and his efforts were equal- ly potent in the moral development of the city. His life, so honorable and upright, forms an example well worthy of emulation by those who appreciate the value of char- acter. He realized fully that "Honor and fame from no condition rise" and that upon the man depends his position in the business and social world. To know Tobias Drees was therefore to honor him, for throughout the years of his manhood he faithfully per- formed the tasks which devolved upon him and his course was so straightforward that his record was above reproach.
It is known that Tobias Drees was a rep- resentative of the family in the ninth gener- ation. He was born February 19, 1819, in the grand duchy of Oldenburg. Germany,
where his family was an old one. In the year 1832 the father started for the new world accompanied by his family. They took passage on a sailing vessel at Bremen and in the month of February arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, making their way to Pittsburg, where they remained for six weeks. During that time the subject of this review acquired a sufficient knowledge of the English language to act as interpreter for the party that accompanied the family. and it was not long before he was quite fa- miliar with the new tongue. He found em- ployment as a waiter in a hotel in Pittsburg, From that city the family removed to Min- ster. a German village in the northern part of Auglaize county, Ohio, and the father, securing a tract of land, began farming, but later. in connection with his son Tobias, he secured employment on a canal boat run- ning between Troy and Cincinnati.
When sixteen years of age Tobias Drees of this review left home, being allowed the privilege of securing work elsewhere on the condition that he would return a part of his wages for the support of the family, which he did for a number of years. On one oc- casion while making a trip to Troy he seri- ously considered the future and what he should make of himself and he determined that whatever came he would lead a life of industry and integrity-a resolution to which he always strictly adhered. He first worked as a teamster and later was a porter and clerk in a hotel. When he had attained his majority he determined to learn a trade and entered upon an apprenticeship to a cooper, but after three weeks he decided that the work would never be congenial and sought and obtained a release from his in- denture. He next began learning the car- penter's trade under the direction of the
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firm of Crandall & Brown, of Troy. Ohio, entering their service in 1842. They had the contract for building the Greene county courthouse and as the families of the two partners removed to Xenia Mr. Drees ac- companied them and completed his term of apprenticeship, during which time he be- came an excellent workman, having largely mastered the builder's art. He then started in business on his own account in the same building in which the firm of Crandall & Brown was located, and though he began operations on a very small scale he gradually worked his way upward as he demonstrated his ability to faithfully execute the terms of a contract and in a manner highly satis- factory to those who sought his services. His business constantly increased in volume and importance and he secured the contracts for the erection of many of the finest and most important structures of the city. in- cluding public buildings and private resi- dences. Notably prompt and reliable he suc- cessfully carried on operations as a con- tractor and buildler until 1883, when he he- came interested in the manufacture of twine and assisted in organizing the Nenia Cord- age Company, in which he became a large stockholler and also acted as its treasurer until his death. He invested a portion of his capital in some excellent farm property and for the comfort and gratification of his family erected one of the finest residences of the city.
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