USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the state of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all other authentic sources > Part 45
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George A. Barnes, furniture dealer, Xenia, Ohio, was born in that city, July 14, 1837. He is a son of Henry and Ruth Barnes, who had a family of thirteen children. George A., the subject of our sketch, was married December 27, 1872, to Miss Julia Ann Wright, daughter of George and Sarah Wright, of Xenia, Ohio. They have a family of five children, two sons and three daughters, Clarence, Anna, Lester, and a pair of twins, Ethel and Ester. He spent his time with his father at the carpentering business until he was twenty-one years of age, and in 1856 he left home and went to Pike's Peak, and, not liking things there, continued his travels to California, where he remained but a short time. He came back to Salt Lake; and then to Kansas, where he took charge of a mail train. He then resided at St. Joe, Missouri, when he went to Kan- sas City, and thence to Santa Fe, New Mexico. While at Salt Lake, his business was with General Percival Smith, as superinten- dent of supply trains for the government. He then went to Santa Fe, and from there to the Rio Grande, to Texas, and when the first notes of war were sounded he was in New Orleans, and had to make his way overland, as best he could, to Evansville, Indiana, where he enlisted in the first regiment he met, the Twenty-Fourth Indiana, Colonel A. P. Hovey. He went into camp at Vincennes, where he joined Company A, and was mustered in as a private, then promoted to corporal, and in a short time was promoted to duty sergeant. When the regiment was ordered to St. Louis, they joined Fremont, and his company was ordered on duty to guard the first gun-boat built, the ironclad "Benton." He then went with Fremont to West Missouri, where the famous Zagoni charge was made. He was again promoted, to orderly sergeant, and, re- turning to Jefferson City, Missouri, they took boats for the Tennes- see River, and participated in the fight at Fort Donalson, Fort Henry, and Shiloh, where the regiment was assigned to Lew Wal- lace's division. He was then promoted to sergeant-major. They then crossed the country to Memphis, arriving in time for the naval engagement, and remained in command of the city for a
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week; thence to Helena, Arkansas, when they were ordered up White River, to reinforce General Curtis; was in several engage- ments on White River; then returned to Helena, where he was promoted to captain, and assigned to the First Arkansas regiment, to raise the first colored regiment on the Mississippi River, by order of Adjutant-General Thomas. He was promoted to major of the regiment, which was mustered in as the Forty-Sixth United States Infantry, equipped and in service inside of two weeks, at Lake Providence. It was then assigned to Goodrich's Landing, where one entire company, officers and men, were captured and shot down. He was also in the massacre at Millakin's Bend, and in three months they had only three hundred and eighty-one left out of one thousand and fifty men. From there they went to Vicks- burg, where he was under Sherman; up the Yazoo, and had a fight at Chickasaw Bayou; then returned to Memphis, and took charge of a picket post in 1863 and 1864; thence to New Orleans, where he was made enrolling officer, under General Banks; and from there to Brazos Santiago, on the western coast of Texas; thence up the Rio Grande, and captured the last rebel stronghold. The war being over, he got a leave of absence for six months, and raised a company of three hundred men called Cortenas' Guerrillas, who were equipped by the United States, and crossed the river and organized the liberal movement under the great Mexican chief, General Cortenas, at Bagdad, Mexico. They then went to Mata- moras, and after a week's siege captured the entire garrison, con- sisting of French and Austrian troops. Afterwards the prisoners were sent to Viseconise. When their army gained force sufficient, they went into the interior and through the war until Maxamillian was captured at Queratta, and saw him shot. He afterwards join- ed his regiment at Brownsville, and from there returned to New Orleans, where he took the yellow fever in 1867, and was compell- ed to resign on account of ill-health. He returned to Xenia, and was soon appointed superintendent of the county infirmary, which position he held three years, since which time he has been engaged in the furniture business, and has a trade second to none.
Hon. Isaac M. Barrett, miller and farmer, Spring Valley, was born in Saratoga County, New York, in 1827. He is the son of George and Mahala Barrett. His father is a native of Vermont; his mother, of New York. They had a family of ten children, Ma- ria B., Sarah, Mahala M., Mary L., Calista A., Rosanna, Isaac M.,
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Slocum, John R., and Merritt H. They immigrated to Ohio in 1838. Isaac M., the subject of our sketch, was married, in 1852, to Miss Rebecca Swayne, daughter of Thomas and Eliza Swayne, of Clarke County. They have a family of ten children, Swayne T., George, Evans, John R., Isaac M., Don Carlos, Clifford, Clara Bell, Mary Ella, and Hattie. George and Isaac M. are dead. His wife died in January, 1855, and in March, 1859, he married his present wife. He held the commission of major in the service; was at Cumber- land Gap, Virginia, and was mustered out in 1863. He also held the office of internal revenue assessor for the Seventh Congressional District for over three years, and represented Greene County in the legislature for four years, from 1873 to 1877. Received his ap- pointment as revenue assessor from Abraham Lincoln, being the first appointed in the seventh district. He inaugurated and organ- ized the entire system of levying internal revenue taxes for that district. Mr. Barrett is a self-made man. He inherited nothing from his ancestors, but through his untiring energy has climbed to his present position. He is not only one of the most popular of men, but among the wealthiest, owning some of the finest farms in the county, and is also owner of the Spring Valley Mills, one of the best paying institutions in the county. He is a Republican in politics, and always is a ready worker for the cause of right, and gives with a liberal hand to the needy.
Peter O. Benham, farmer, Xenia, Ohio, was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1839, and is the son of Peter and Catharine Ben- ham, both natives of Cincinnati, Ohio, who came to Montgomery County, Ohio, about the year 1830, with a family of twelve chil- dren, six sons and six daughters. Peter, the subject of our sketch, was married, February 18, 1864, to Miss Elizabeth A. Stenible, of Xenia, Ohio, daughter of Frederick Stemble, one of Xenia's oldest inhabitants, who held an office in that place over twenty years, a fact to which every boy in Xenia, during his reign as city marshal, can testify. Our subject has had a family of six children, three of whom died in infancy, and the living are Blanchie S., Harry F., and George W. When the war broke out, he was among the first to respond to the call, and on the 8th day of October, 1861, enlist- ed under Captain Fisher, in Company E, Seventy-Fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and continued in the service until May 22, 1865, when he received an honorable discharge. He was in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Jonesborough, Kenesaw and
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Lookout Mountains, Peach-trec Creek, and Fort McAllister, on the Atlantic Ocean ; was sergeant of his company, and for bravery was detached, on the 18th of October, 1863, and placed on General Jeff. C. Davis' staff, who was in command of the Fourteenth Army Corps, and held the responsible position of commander of an am- bulance train. He was captured on the 22d of February, 1865, by General Wheeler's force, and put in Saulsbury Prison, and from there to Andersonville, and thence to Libby, where so many of our brave soldiers suffered worse than death. He was finally released, and on the 22d day of March, 1865, started for "Home, sweet home." He received his education in the Beaver Creek High School, where he has spent the greater portion of his life. He is a member of the Odd-Fellows, and holds the office of vice grand, and is also a member of the Encampment. He now resides on a farm, about two and a half miles west of Xenia, and by his genial disposition and correct habits has gained many warm friends.
William T. Beall, farmer, Xenia, Ohio, was born in Allegheny County, Maryland, in the year 1798. He is a son of John and Eleanor Beall, who immigrated to Kentucky about 1810, and stopped at Maysville about two years; came to Ohio in the year 1812, and located on Cæsar's Creek, with a family of nine sons and four daughters. William T., the subject of this memoir, located in Greene County in the year 1823; was married in the year 1822, to Isbellanna Alexander, a daughter of old Colonel John Alexander, who was a representative of the county to congress for two terms. Mr. Beall has an interesting family of four sons and six daughters. He received a portion of his education in Maryland, and a portion in Kentucky, and finished it in Greene County. He was, after the war of 1812, one of the old militia captains, who used to pa- rade in after days with their cornstalk guns, etc., and were so noted for obeying orders from their officers. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and now one of its trustees. He is a solid Republican, and gave four of his sons to the Union, and only regreted that he had not a dozen more to give. His eldest son, John A., was lieutenant of a company. in the Ninety-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and his third son, Eli C., was color-ser- geant in the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; and George W., and Washington T., were privates under Colonel Robert Stephenson. All proved themselves gallant soldiers, and at the close of the war were honorably discharged. His youngest
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son, Washington, is now seeking his fortune among the Black Hills. The old gentleman and lady were agreeably surprised on the anniversary of the fiftieth year of their married life; he being presented with a fine gold-headed cane and pair of spectacles, and his wife with a very fine breast-pin and pair of spectacles; but they were still more surprised to see the host of friends that greeted them on the occasion.
James M. Beatty, carpenter, Xenia, was born in Rochester, New York, in 1840. He is a son of James and Isabella Beatty, both of whom were born in Ireland, and immigrated to New York, and from there to Ohio, about the year 1848, and settled in Montgom- ery County, with a family of four sons and one daughter, Robert, James, William, George, and Katie, all of whom are now living. James, the subject of this memoir, when he first came to Ohio, en- tered into the carpenter business with his father, where he re- mained two years, and when the war broke out he enlisted in Com- pany A, Ninety-Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Anderson, our ex-governor, and remained in the service of his country for three years, undergoing many privations and having some very narrow escapes. He was taken prisoner on the 20th day of December, 1863, at Chickamauga, and remained such for twenty months. While a prisoner he was conveyed to Belle Island, near Richmond, and thence to Smithsburg, Camp Libby, where he re- mained some two months; then he was removed to Danville, Vir- ginia, and put in prison No. 5, where he remained about four months; and from there he escaped and was recaptured by blood- hounds at Plymouth, and taken to Warrington and put in jail ; thence he was taken to Rolla and put in conscript camp, where he remained some three weeks; thence to Andersonville, Georgia, where he remained just one year ; then he was sent to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he went into prisoners camp. From there he started, on the 25th of April, for home. On the 27th, the boat blew up, and from twelve hundred to fourteen hundred lives were lost. During his prison life he made several escapes, but in every instance the blood-hounds brought him to bay. He was promoted to second sergeant during the war, and after he landed in Colum- bus he felt as though he was again breathing the free air of Ohio, his beloved " Home, Sweet Home." At one time during his im- prisonment, himself and comrades made their escape through a tunnel one hundred and sixty feet long, which they dug, and came
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out under a negro's cabin; but being exposed, were recaptured and returned to the rebels. During this escape he received a shot from one of the rebel pickets through the left arm, above the el- bow. He is now pursuing his trade, and by his steady habits and perseverence is doing a business he may well be proud of. He was married in 1871, to Miss Cynthia Reed, of Xenia, daughter of Arnold and Cynthia Reed. The result of this marriage is one son, Charles A., now in his fifth year. Mr. Beatty is a staunch Repub- lican in politics, and can be relied on at all times when his country needs his services.
George Bell, deceased, was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, in 1780, and with his father and three brothers came to Ohio in the winter of 1805-'6, and settled for a few years five miles south of Xenia. In 1812, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of . land three miles southeast of Xenia, which he cleared and lived upon until his death, his father and mother remaining under his care until their death, August 16, 1817, when he married Vinca, daughter of Tinsley Heath, who preceded him to this county from Virginia. This union was blessed by ten children, nine of whom are now living, John M., James M., Thomas L., Lewis L., Erasmus U., Jewett F. G., Ann M., Sarah C., and George F. He was very active in the anti-slavery cause, and was a member of the first anti- slavery society ever founded in this country, which advocated the unconditional release of those thousands of souls in bondage. He was of Scotch descent. His grandfather was a shipper between England and the colonies, and by going securities lost heavily, and came west. They were descendants of the Bells of Edinborough, Scotland. He was not an office seeker, but always took an active part in whatever he thought was right, and was a man of great in- fluence. He commenced without anything, and succeeded in get- ing a good home, and was well known for his acts of charity throughout the country. His son Jewett F. G. was united in mar- riage with the daughter of the late John Eavey, near Xenia, Octo- ber 14, 1880. He attended the Ohio University, and graduated, in 1862, in the scientific course. His wife also graduated at Xenia College. In politics he is a Republican, and during the war was a staunch supporter of the cause, doing his share of the work at home, and donating more money to the government than he actu- ally earned. He is now living near Xenia, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising. He is a man of very genial dispo-
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sition, well educated, and beloved by all who know him.
Mrs. Isabella Bickett was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1802, and is the daughter of Matthew and Isabella Alexander, na- tives of Pennsylvania, who immigrated to Ohio in 1804, with a family of six children, Francis, John, William, Isabella, Matthew, and Robert. Isabella and Robert are the only survivors of the family. Isabella was married, in 1827, to William R. Bickett, of Greene County. They raised a family of six children. Adam R., Matthew A., Mary J., William H., Elizabeth I., and Lydia A. The last named died in 1865. Mrs. Bickett received her education in Greene County, where her life has been spent. She is a member of the Second United Presbyterian Church. She is now living on a farm three miles east of Xenia, with her daughter, Mrs. Solomon · Foust, who was married in 1868, and has one son, Edwin, who is living with his mother and grandmother on the farm, and attend- ing school. Mrs. Bickett is now in her seventy-ninth year, and is uncommonly active for one of her age. The family, from the old- est to the youngest, are Republicans, and enjoy the reputation of being benevolent, and always ready to lend a helping hand in time of need.
Wendel Bloom, grocer, was born in Bavaria, in 1835. He is the son of Wendel and Catharine Bloom, both natives of Bavaria, and both deceased. They raised a family of three children, John, Wen- del, and Martin. Wendel, the subject of our sketch, was married, in 1857, to Miss Margaret Byer, daughter of August and Johanna Byer, of Wittenberg, Germany. She has borne him seven children, John, Mary, Wendel, Kate, George, Edward, and one dead, whose name was Martin. Mr. Bloom is a member of the Red Men, and has filled all the offices; is also a member of the Catholic Church. He is now engaged in the grocery business, on Main Street, in Xenia, and has lately purchased the property on Detroit Street, known as the old Hivling House, fitted it np, and now has one of the finest rooms in the city. He is a thorough business man, and by his genial disposition has gained many warm friends.
Peter Boon, minister, was born in Virginia, in 1825, and is the son of James and Sarah Boon, who had a family of nine children. Peter came to Ohio in 1850, and in 1860 was married to Miss Louisa E. Lewis, daughter of Henry and Ann Lewis, of Canada. He has a family of five children, four by his present wife, and one by his
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first, Laura J., Mary M., Louis P., Dora M., and Anna B., all living. He enlisted on the 16th of March, 1864, in Company K, Sixteenth Ohio, and was mustered out March 16th, 1865. Received his edu- cation as best he could, never being sent to school; but by his un- tiring energy fitted himself for the ministry, and has been laboring in the First Baptist Church in Xenia for ten years.
John G. Bowser, railroader, was born in Greene County, in 1854. He is the son of Mike and Hulda Bowser, who have a family of four children, Frank, Maggie, Emma, and John. Emma was mar- ried to W. H. McCaidy, of Springfield, Ohio. The father is one of Xenia's oldest settlers, and at one time kept what was then known as the Hivling House. He was also, at one time, sheriff of War- ren County. John has been engaged in various branches of busi- ness ; was clerk in the Xenia post-office some four years; engaged in the Neff House, at Yellow Springs, for some time, and for the last five years has been engaged in railroading and telegraphing in Chicago. He is an energetic young man, of fine appearance, and well adapted for almost any position.
Barclay Y. Berry, tobacco manufacturer, Xenia, was born in the State of Pennsylvania, June 25, 1832. He is a son of Michael and Martha Berry, both natives of Pennsylvania. His father died in his native state, and his mother came to Ohio in 1860. The family consisted of John L., Barclay Y., Thomas R., and Jane-all living but the daughter, who lost her life in her eighth year by being burned to death. Barclay, the subject of our sketch, has followed the manufacture of tobacco and cigars since he was eleven years of age. He married Miss Mary O. Lutz, and by her had seven chil- dren, John H., Frank R., Fannie and Annie, who were twins, Em- ma S., William A., and Charles, deceased. He enlisted in the union army in 1864, and was honorably discharged the same year. He was also one of the Squirrel Hunters, who drove Kirby Smith from this state. He was city marshal in 1867-'68, filling the office two terms, and was street commissioner for six years. He is a member of the Odd-fellows, and Knights of Pythias. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for ten years. By his genial disposition and faithfulness to business he has gained for himself many friends, and a steadily increasing patronage.
Thomas A. Brown, mail agent and farmer, Xenia, was born a slave in the State of Maryland, in the year 1814. His father and mother, Jeremiah and Isabella Brown, were both slaves, and na-
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
tives of Maryland, and had a family of five children, William, Charles, Dennis, Anna, and Thomas A. The subject of this sketch was married in 1840, to Miss Frances J. Scroggins, of Wheeling, West Virginia, by whom he had a family of six children, Jere- miah A., Bell J., Anna E., Hallie Q., John G., and Mary Frances, who was burned when her father's house was destroyed by fire. He lived in Canada from 1861 to 1870, and came to Ohio in 1871 for the purpose of educating his children, which has been done successfully at Wilberforce. Two of them, John G., and his daughter, Hallie, are teachers, and she is a very fine elocutionist. He is a self-made man, and at one time owned real estate worth nearly a million dollars. He bought the freedom of his two broth- ers, one sister, and himself, and to-day owns a very fine property at Wilberforce, and also a fine farm in Canada. He is a staunch Republican in politics. He is now making his home at Wilber- force, and has the esteem and confidence of all who know him.
Charles Brooks, farmer, was born in Paris, Kentucky, in 1836, and is the son of Dr. John and Evaline Brooks, both natives of Kentucky. Charles, the subject of our sketch, was married, in 1856, to Miss Hannah Blackburn, daughter of David Blackburn, of Kentucky. They have one child dead, Joseph, and one living, Charles Anna Brooks. He is a member of the Christian Church, and also a member of the Odd-fellows, and is right supporter of the noble grand. He is now living on his farm of forty-three acres, four miles east of Xenia, on the narrow-gauge railroad, and is one of the many men of his color who came here after the war. He is now one of the prosperous farmers of Greene County, a good citizen, and well beloved by all who know him.
Mrs. Eliza J. Bryant, matron of Greene County Infirmary, Xenia, was born in Bath County, Kentucky, December 25, 1822, and is the daughter of Augusta and Sarah Shoat. Her father was a na- tive of Maryland, and her mother of Virginia. . He immigrated to Ohio in 1808. She was stolen when a child, and brought to Ken- tucky. They had thirteen children, who are all dead but Eliza. She came to Ohio in 1841, on account of the oppression of slavery, it being the year of the reign of the black Indians, when the slave- holders were disguising themselves, and killing off the colored women and children. She has been twice married; first to Mr. Thomas, by whom she had two children, James and Louisa. She came to Ohio in 1845, on account of her health, to spend the sum-
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mer. She was again married, March 2, 1854, to George W. Bryant, a Baptist minister, who died in Natchez, Mississippi, October 8, 1867, in the home missionary field. God blessed them with seven children, George, Sarah, John, Eddie, Franz, William, and James. She is at present matron of the Greene County Children's Home, which position she has filled for the last four years. She professed a hope in Christ in May, 1841, and is now a member of the church. She is a woman of unusual ability, remarkably well preserved, and peculiarly adapted to the position she now fills.
Henry S. Buckles, carpenter, was born in Greene County, in 1815. He is the son of John and Elizabeth Buckles, both natives of Vir- ginia, who immigrated to Ohio in 1804, with a family of nine chil- dren. Henry, the subject of our sketch, was married, in 1837, to Miss Ellen Thomas, daughter of Archibald and Catharine Thomas, of Greene County. They have a family of eight children, three of whom are dead, James W., Mary E., and Archibald T. Those liv- ing are Narinah P., Eliza J., William M., Emma V., and Arthur S. Mr. Buckles is a member of the Good Templars, and also of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Xenia. He received his education in an old log school house, in Bellbrook, where most of his life was spent, with the exception of eighteen years in Champaign County. He is one of the oldest carpenters in Xenia, and none in the coun- ty surpasses him in his profession. He is a truly good and moral man; not only moral, but religious, being one of the old class leaders in his church, and is a man who shows his religion by his daily walk.
Abner S. Buck, attorney-at-law and notary public, Xenia, was born in Washington, Fayette County, Ohio, on the 20th day of September, 1818. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah Buck. His father was born in Pennsylvania, March 7, 1780, and his mother in New Jersey, September 29, 1789. Our subject received his educa- tion at Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio, where his youth was spent at school and at labor. He studied law in his father's law office, which he entered in May, 1837, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1841. During the time he was studying, he cut three hundred cords of wood. After practicing four or five years he became dissatisfied with his profession, and withdrew from it and engaged in various other avocations. He was elected to the office of justice of the peace of Xenia Township, on the 3d day of April, 1876, and reelected April 8, 1879. He is a member of the
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