USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, Ohio > Part 94
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JOHN F. HAVERSTICK.
The spirit of enterprise and progress. which has been such a potent factor in the rapid development and upbuilding of this country is manifest in the career of John F. Haverstick, a wide-awake business man who is now serving as general manager of the Central Union Telephone Company of Xenia. He is numbered among the native sons of this city, his parents being Frederick and Leah (Zellers) Haverstick. The par- ents were born and reared at Hagerstown, Maryland, coming to this county with their
J. F HAVERSTICK.
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parents before their marriage, and through- out the years of his business career the fa- ther followed farming, but for twenty years prior to his death was an invalid. He passed away in 1888. In the family were four children.
Like the others, Mr. Haverstick of this review, attended the public schools of Greene county, acquiring a good education which well fitted him for life's practical du- ties. He laid aside his text-books at the age of sixteen years and entered upon his business career, learning the trade of a car- riage trimmer, which he followed until 1882. He then entered official life, for nine years filling the position of deputy county clerk. In the year 1890 he was elected coun- ty clerk and served in that capacity to the satisfaction of all concerned until 1900, when no longer desiring political office he retired to private life and accepted the posi- tion of general manager of the Central Union Telephone Company, which had been tendered him. He assumed charge on the 3d of December, 1900, and is proving his capability by the excellent manner in which he controls the affairs of the company. He superintended the construction of the present plant, which was substituted for the old plant of the Miami Telephone Company. It was erected at a cost of seventy-five thou- sand dollars and is equipped with the west- ern electric method, the most improved tele- phone system known to the business. When Mr. Haverstick took charge and put in op- eration the new plant, there were only two hundred and thirty subscribers. Two years have not yet passed, and yet the number has been increased to six hundred and fifty sub- scribers. Mr. Haverstick is also in charge of the Middletown plant which is operated by the same company and has an office in
Xenia, employing seven operators. There are two switchboards, three men and two assistants in the accounting room. Mr. Haverstick is thoroughly familiar with the telephone business and his capable control has resulted in advancing the financial suc- cess of the company and in giving entire sat- isfaction to his patrons. He is also vice president of the Home Building & Loan As- sociation of Xenia.
On Christmas day of 1876, Mr. Haver- stick was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Bosler, a daughter of Thomas Bosler, and unto them have been born a daughter, Edith M., now the wife of W. L. Reynolds, of Dayton, Ohio. The family home is at 441 North King street. Fraternally Mr. Haverstick is connected with the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Honor, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while. politically he is a Republican. He never wavers in his allegiance to the party. He. is alert to business opportunities and pos- sibilities : is also deeply interested in the de- velopment and upbuilding of his native city .. and throughout Xenia and Greene county enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends ..
WILLIAM TOBIAS.
Not many men who have passed the age of four score years and are residents of Greene county can claim this portion of the state as the place of their nativity, but Will- iam Tobias is a native son of Greene coun- ty, his birth having occurred in Beavercreek township, March 14, 1821. There is a par- ticular satisfaction in reverting to the life history of the honored and venerable gentle-
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man whose name initiates this review. since his mind bears the impress of the historical annals of the state of Ohio from the early pioneer days, and from the fact that he has been a loyal son of the Republic and has at- tained to a position of distinctive prominence in the township where he was born and where he has retained his residence until the present time, being now one of the revered patriarchs of the community.
Mr. Tobias is still an active factor in agri- cultural circles in Beavercreek township. He was born March 14, 1821, his parents being Samuel and Elizabeth ( Hanney ) Tobias. both of whom were natives of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and were of German lineage. In pioneer days they started west- ward and took up their abode in Greene county, driving across the country from Pennsylvania. Locating in Zimmerman, the father purchased twenty-five acres of land and erected a log cabin which is still stand- ing although it has been remodeled. His death occurred when his son William was about seven years of age, and the mother afterward became the wife of Michael Swi- gart. Her death occurred about 1871 when she was seventy-six years of age. By her first marriage she had three sons and three daughters: Lydia, who became the wife of William Kirkpatrick. but both are now de- ceased : Margaret, who married Noah Enry. but both died in Illinois : William, of this re- view : Daniel, who resides near Troy. Mi- ami county : Samuel, deceased : and Cather- ine, who married Walley Haines, but both are now deceased.
When a little lad William Tobias made his way from home to the little log school- house of his district, where sitting upon a rude bench, he conned his lessons, becom- ing familiar with the common English
branches of learning. After he was eight years of age he went to live with Peter Swi- gart, a brother of his step-father, with whom he remained until twenty-two years of age. After his marriage he began farming upon rented land and when several years had passed he purchased a tract of land in 1870, becoming the owner of ninety-six acres. He remodeled the house. built a good barn, and successfully carried on general farming and stock-raising.
On the 24th of December. 1846. Mr. Tobias wedded Sarah Swigart, and unto them were born two children: Martin Lu- ther, now a resident of Beavercreek town- ship, married Christine Peoples, and they have two children, Edgar and Clara. The mother died and Martin afterward wedded Mary Barnhart, by whom he had three chil- dren, Eva. Grace and John. Samuel, the second son of the family. married Emma John and resides in Dayton. They have three children, Homer, Howard and Harold. The first wife of William Tobias died in 1851 when about twenty-four years of age and was laid to rest in Mount Zion ceme- tery. On the 19th of June. 1852, he was again married, his second union being with Jane Miller, who was born near Cincinnati, in Hamilton county, Ohio, a daughter of James and Elizabeth ( Wheeler ) Miller. Her mother was born in Maryland, her fa- ther. Willerson Wheeler, being a planter and slave owner until he liberated his slaves and moved to Baltimore, where he lived until his daughter Elizabeth was fourteen years of age, when they went to Pennsyl- vania, where she met the gentleman who be- came her husband and who was a native of Center county, that state. Three times they came to Ohio, locating first in Columbus. but after two years returned to the Keystone
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state. Their third trip was made by water te Cincinnati. Mr. Miller was a soldier of the war of 1812, serving under General Harrison. He died in 1840, and was laid to rest in the Byron cemetery, while his wife passed away in 1854 in Dayton. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tobias have been born the follow- ing children: William, of Beavercreek township, who married Jennie Alice Gar- lough and has one child. Emerson D. : Cath- erine, the wife of John W. Barney, of Day- ton, by whom she has four children, Dora, Bertha, Eugene J. and Ralph; Elizabeth, who is the twin sister of Catherine and is at home with her parents; Daniel and Cal- vin, now deceased ; Orville, of Beavercreek township, who married Effa Miller. by whom he has one child, Raymond: one who died in infancy: Newton W., of Ohio, who married May Kemp and has one child, Viv- ian G.
In his political views Mr. Tobias is a Republican, who has long endorsed the prin- ciples of the party, but has never been an office seeker. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Reformed church. During his long residence in the county he has wit- nessed much of its growth and development, has seen many changes and has taken an active and helpful interest in its progress and improvement.
JOSEPH KYLE, D. D.
Although Dr. Kyle has been a resident of Greene county for only a few years, he has been so closely and prominently connect- ed with the educational and moral interests of the county in that time that no history of the county would be complete without the
record of his career. It is widely acknowl- edged that the most important profession to which a man can direct his energies is that of teaching. whether it be from the pulpit. from the lecture platform or from the schoolroom. Its primary object is ever the same .- the development of one's latent powers that the duties of life may be bravely met and well performed. The intellectual and moral natures are so closely allied that it is difficult to instruct one without in a measure influencing the other, and certainly the best results are accomplished when the work goes hand in hand. Christian instruc- tion is having an influence over the world that few can estimate, for it is in youth that the life of the man is marked out, his fu- ture course decided and his choice as to the good or evil made. Dr. Kyle is devoting his time, energies and thought to educational work and in former years engaged in preaching the Word from the pulpit. He is now professor of systematic theology in the Xenia Theological Seminary.
Dr. Kyle is a native of Greene county, his birth having here occurred on the 20th of November, 1849. He represents a fam- ily that for almost a century has been con- nected with this portion of the state. His father, Joseph Kyle, Sr .. was born in this county, June 20. 1809. and followed farm- ing for a livelihood. After arriving at years of maturity he married Ann Cassil, who at her death left five children, and later he married Mrs. Hadassah Hunter, a daughter of John Kennedy, of County Derry, Ireland. Of this union four children were born, of whom Dr. Kyle of this review is the oldest. The father died on the 28th of August, 1881. and the mother passed away on the 15th of June, 1898.
The Doctor pursued his early education
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in the common schools of Greene county and afterward attended the Monmouth Col- lege, where he was graduated with the class of 1872, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Later he pursued a theological course in the Xenia Theological Seminary and then became connected with the mission field of Nebraska, where he remained for four months. On the Ist of January, 1877, he located in Springfield, Ohio, and accepted the pastorate of the United Presbyterian church, where he was ordained and installed April 24. 1877. there remaining until the Ist of September, 1891. While there the new church edifice was erected and dedicat- ed. in August, 1887. He was then called to Allegheny, Pennsylvania, in charge of the Fourth United Presbyterian church, contin- uing as its pastor for eight years. On the expiration of that period he came to Xenia, in September, 1899, and is now professor of systematic theology in the Nenia Theo- logical Seminary.
Dr. Kyle has been twice married. He first weddled Miss Ella M. Barnett, a daugh- ter of William A. Barnett, the wedding be- ing celebrated on the 14th of October, 1880. The lady died on the 25th of October, 1897. and on the 7th of June, 1900, the Doctor was again married, his second union being with Miss Marion L. Brown of Allegheny. Pennsylvania, a daughter of Mrs. Jane Brown. This union was blessed with one child but it died in infancy. The Doctor and his wife reside on North King street and their home is the center of a cultured society circle. It is noted for its hospitality and the cordial and kindly feeling which al- ways exists there in the entertainment of their many friends. The Doctor is a strong advocate of the Prohibition party. Ile takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to
the welfare and progress of the community along all lines of advancement. He is a man of strong force of character, unequivo- cal in his championship of all that is right, and yet there is in him an abiding charity which has won for him the respect, confi- dence and high regard of all with whom he has been associated.
ALLEN FAULKNER.
Allen Faulkner was born July 29, 1824, in Caesarscreek township on the farm which is yet his home, his parents being Thomas and Mary (McGuire) Faulkner. The fa- ther was a son of Robert Faulkner, a native of Berkeley county, West Virginia. In his 'family were four children : Susanna, Thomas. David and Elizabeth.
Thomas Faulkner was born in Berkeley county, West Virginia. November 8, 1787. and as his mother died when he was about seven years of age he went to live with his grandmother. His grandmother was a most pious and devout Christian woman, and from her he received his early religious im- pressions which proved of benefit to him in moulding his character in later life. In 1810 he wedded Mary McGuire. a daughter of Jonathan and Catherine McGuire. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and the mother died when Mrs. Faulkner was quite young. She, too, was reared by her grandmother, from whom she received Christian training. Thomas Faulk- ner had been reare:l in the faith of the so- ciety of Friends, but because he married out- side of the church he was disowned by the denomination. Feeling it his duty, however. to be working for Christianity, he became a member of the Church of Christ. Later.
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after careful thought and deliberation. he joined the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife had become a member when sixteen years of age. In 1828 they left that denomination and became identified with the Methodist Protestant church, in which Mr. Faulkner served as class leader for many years. In 1806 he had removed from Vir- ginia to Ohio and two years later his wife came to the Buckeye state. He had about one hundred dollars in currency when he sought a home in Greene county. In 1808 he took up his abode in Caesarscreek township on Painter run and there rented a farmi for five years. He was drafted for service in the war of 1812, but shortly after his marriage he obtained his release from the army on the payment of one hundred dollars. In 1816 he purchased a farm with money saved entirely from his own earnings and upon this place spent his remaining days. It was a tract of one hun- dred and thirty acres covered with a dense forest at the time he came into his posses- sions, but he cleared and developed it and the house which he built is still occupied by our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Faulkner be- came the parents of eight children, of whom two died in infancy. The others were Jon- athan, who lived and died in Iowa: Mrs. Elizabeth Conklin, of Lumberton, Ohio: David, deceased ; Lucinda, the deceased wife of Samuel Painter : Allen: and Mary, the deceased wife of Thomas Way, who is now in Georgia. The father of this family voted with the Whig party and served as trustee of his township. He died April 16, 1871. at the advanced age of eighty-three years, five months and ten days, and his wife passed away July 5. 1873, at the age of eighty-three.
In an old time log school-house Allen
Faulkner pursued his education, but attend- ed school only when the weather was so bad that he could not work upon the farm, this being largely through the winter months. He always remained on the old family home- stead and when his father was unequal to the task of caring for the place, its manage- ment and operation devolved upon our sub- ject. This farm comprises two hundred and twenty-seven acres of land, all of which is cultivable and is now well improved.
On the 18th of July, 1847, Mr. Faulk- ner married Ablona Ilartsock, who was born in Berkeley county. West Virginia, in 1828, a daughter of Elijah B. and Elizabeth (Steidley) Hartsock. The father was born in Maryland, February 28. 1798. and re- moved to Virginia, in 1811. There he was married in 1820 and ten years later he came to Ohio, settling on Price run. in Caesars- creek township, where he spent his remain- ing days. He and his wife were devoted members of the Methodist Protestant church and took a very active interest in its work, and for a long period he served as class lead- er. His death occurred in 1864 when he was sixty-six years of age, and his wife passed away fifteen years afterward. Their children were: Washington, now deceased ; William Harrison, who lives in Iowa ; Fran- cis Marion, who has also passed away ; Eliz- abeth A., now Mrs. Faulkner ; James Fred- erick, a resident of Caesarscreek township; Andrew Jackson, who makes his home in Nebraska ; and Mary Catherine, who is the widow of Rev. O. P. Stevens, formerly a pastor of the Methodist Protestant church of Xenia.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Faulkner have been born eight children : Jonathan R., who died in infancy; Franklin K., who is also de- ceased; Lydia Catherine, the deceased wife
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of Jesse Painter : Cordelia J .. who married William Bales, a resident of Clinton county, Ohio, by whom she had five children,-Em- ery, Thomas, Allen, now deceased, Lorenia and Flo: Louisa Elma, the wife of Eli Haines of Caesarsereek township, by whom she had three children,-Lizzie Mary, Homer Harvey, deceased, and Bernice: Thomas, who married Minnie Peterson, a daughter of C. C. Peterson, and by whom he has three children .- Howard P., Law- rence T. and Dorothy. all living with Mr. Faulkner of this review on the home farm; James, a resident of Xenia, who married Ola Peterson, a daughter of C. C. Peterson : and Cora, who has passed away.
Our subject and his son Thomas are stanch Republicans and both have served as trustee of Caesarscreek township. Mr. and Mrs. Faulkner are members of the Method- ist Protestant church, while Thomas and his wife belong to the Society of Friends, and James and his wife are connected with . the Reformed church. The family is one of prominence in the community for its members are recognized as people of genu- ine worth, closely associated with agricul- tural interests and reliable in all life's rela- tions. The success of Mr. Faulkner's life is not due to any happy succession of advan- tageous circumstances, but to his own sturdy will, steady application, tireless industry and sterling integrity!
HON. JOHN H. COOPER.
An enumeration of the men who have been honored by Greene county and have in turn conferred honor and dignity upon pub- he office there would be incomplete were
there a failure to make prominent reference to the Hon. John H. Cooper, who served for six years as judge of the probate court. He was a son of the Rev. Ebenezer Cooper of the Reformed church. His father was born in South Carolina in 1792 and al- though that state was his place of residence during his youth he was educated in New York city and pursued his theological stud- ies in Philadelphia. Upon completing the course he returned to the south to enter the ministry there, first becoming pastor of the church at Fayetteville. Tennessee. Later he accepted the pastorate of a church in Fay- ette county, Indiana, where he continued his ministerial labors until he lost his health. He then resigned and gave up all connec- tion with the work of the church as a pas- tor but never lost his deep interest in the cause of Christianity and its promulgation. Removing to Cedarville. Greene county. Ohio, he here spent his remaining days and his influence was widely felt for good throughout the community. After complet- ing his education Mr. Cooper was united in marriage to Miss Jane McMillan of South Carolina, who survived him until 1888. They reared a family of six sons and one daughter.
Judge Cooper, whose name introduces this review, was born in Fayette county, Tennessee. January 13, 1831. and when a youth of sixteen years came to Greene coun- ty, Ohio, with his maternal grandfather, Daniel McMillan. a pioneer settler of this portion of the state. The lad attended school in Xenia with his uncle. D. McMil- lan, the famous cattle man of this county. When he had completed his educational training he entered the store of James C. McMillan, for whom he engaged in clerking for a number of years. He then began busi-
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ness on his own account as a member of the firm of Stark, Lytle & Cooper, dealers in general dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, carpets and other household commod- ities, that connection being maintained until 1861. Mr. Cooper next entered into part- nership with W. C. Hutchison & Company as an active member of the firm of Cooper & Hutchison until 1879, when by popular suffrage he was called to the position of the county treasurer, and so capably did he serve that he was re-elected for the second term, filling the position until chosen pro- bate judge of Greene county. It was in 1884 that he was elected to that position for which he qualified on the 9th of February. 1885. On the expiration of a three years' term he was re-elected and discharged his duties most creditably and honorably, win- ning the high commendation of a large ma- jority of the citizens of Greene county.
On the 19th of October, 1859. in Xenia, Judge Cooper was married to Miss Julia Platter, a daughter of Christian Platter, who was born in Ross county October 19. 1840. Five children graced this marriage but three of the number died of scarlet fever at ages varying from four to eight years, while Belle died in 1888 at the age of seventeen years. The surviving member of the fam- ily is Emily P., who is still living with her mother.
The Judge was a leading and active member of the Republican party, believing that its principles would best conserve the national welfare. He was a man of excel- lent business and judicial ability. He long held membership in the Presbyterian church of which for many years he was a ruling elder. On the 27th of May, 1892, he was called to his final rest and his remains were interred in Woodland cemetery. His widow
and daughter still survive him. He left to them not only a comfortable competence but the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. A man of great natural ability, his success in business, from the beginning of his residence in Xenia, was uniform and rapid. His life was an example in all re- spects and he ever supported those inter- ests which are calculated to uplift and ben- efit humanity, while his own high moral worth was deserving of the highest com- mendation.
JOHN M. HILL.
John M. Hill, who is a factor in agricul- tural circles in this county, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, September 11, 1852, his parents being Elijah and Rebecca ( Mills) Hill. On the maternal side the ancestry can be traced back to Joseph Mills, the great-grandfather of our subject, who was born in the parish of Tamaho, Kildare county, Ireland, on the ist of May, 1736. His father was a native of Wayne county. Indiana, while the mother of our subject was born in Preble county, Ohio. They were married in the former county and took up their abode in the latter county when Mr. Hill of this review was a youth of twelve summers. There he remained until he was about seventeen years of age, in which year his mother died. He spent the following year in Wayne county and then came to Greene county, Ohio, but after a year passed returned to Preble county. His father died January 1, 1873, at the age of forty-six years and eleven months.
Mr. Hill of this review acquired a good common school education. In February, 1873. he once more came to Greene county,
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where he has since remained, with the ex- ception of six years which he and his wife spent in Preble county. He married Miss Mary A. Compton, whose birth occurred in Clinton county, Ohio, August 12, 1856, the wedding taking place May 21. 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Hill enjoy the high regard of many friends in this portion of the state. They are identified with the Society of Friends, and Mr. Hill gives his political sup- port to the Republican party.
JESSE COMPTON.
Jesse Compton is a retired farmer resid- ing near New Burlington. The greater part of his land is in Greene county, but his home is situated across the line in Clinton coun- ty. He is, however, so widely and favor- ably known throughout this portion of the state that he well deserves representation in this volume. He was born in the township of Spring Valley on the 12th of January. 1825. his parents being Samuel and Allie ( Thatcher ) Compton. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to Samuel Comp- ton. the great-great-grandfather of our sub- ject, who emigrated from England to North Carolina. The great-grandfather also bore the name of Samuel and came to Ohio before our subject's grandfather, making the trip in 1803. He settled just south of the Greene and Warren county line about one mile west of the northeast corner of Warren county. and when his death occurred his remains were interred upon the old farm there. He died February 6, 1805. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Lewis, died May 17. 1821. It is probably that the first of the name in America left England be-
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