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 57
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John Engle, was born in Beaver Creek Township, in the year 1812, and is a son of Isaac, and Susana (Swigart) Engle. His father was born in Maryland, and his mother in Pennsylvania, and was a sister of Michael Swigart, whose history appears in this work.
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Isaac Engle came here a young man in 1810, and located in Beaver Creek Township, where he made a permanent home. He was mar- ried in this county to Susana Swigart, about 1811, by whom he had ten children, seven living, John, Peter, Henry, Isaac, Susana, Sarah, and Rebecca. The deceased are Eliza, Catherine, and Isaac and Jacob, twins. Mr. Engle was a farmer by occupation, and dur- ing the winter run a still. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and received from the government a donation of land. They were members of the German Reformed Church. He died in 1863, aged eighty-one years. She departed this life in 1859, at the age of sixty- three years. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, and received a limited education in the district schools. He was married in 1840, to Catherine Brown, by whom he had two children, Sarah E. and Mary C. Mrs. Engle departed this life in 1847. He was again married in 1855, to Matilda Ann Leonard, by whom he has had five children, four living, George W., Justice A., Eliza E. L., John W. F., Elnora B., deceased. Mr. Engle has lived in the county all his life. He and his wife are members of the German Reformed Church, to which they have been connected for a num- ber of years. Mrs. Engle was born in Warren County in 1833. Politically he is democratic.
William H. Engle, farmer, and proprietor of steam saw-mill, Dayton, Ohio, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1829, and passed his boyhood days in that state; receiving the rudiments of his education in the common schools. In 1850, he was married to Charlotte E. Dartrough, after which he came to Ohio, and lo- cated where he now resides. For the ensuing six years he worked at carpentering, after which he worked as a hand on the mill he now owns. In 1869 he purchased the mill, and became sole owner, and since then has given his entire time and attention to it. The mill is located on the west side of the township, and is a two-story frame, 30x70 feet. The power is derived from a twenty-four horse power engine, which gives motion to an old-fashioned sash-saw, having a cutting capacity of 2,500 feet per day. The mill is in operation about eight months in the year, cutting all kinds of lum- ber, but making a specialty of fine walnut sawing. Mr. Engle is a gentleman well versed in his business-understanding fully every department of the work. Upon his arrival in this state he was without capital to commence business, but by hard work and econ- omy succeeded after several years of toil in placing himself on a
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sound financial basis. After purchasing the mill, he became iden- tified with the interests of the people-his business qualifications became known, and he has since received a very liberal patronage. Besides the mill property, he owns seventeen acres of land, which has been greatly improved, and makes one of the most desirable homes in the township. To Mr. and Mrs. Engle six children have been born, four of whom are living: Orion, William J., Emily I., and Stanley Q. Two died in infancy. The whole family are members of the United Brethren Church-the parents having be -- come such twenty years ago.
David A. Fries, farmer, was born in Frederick County, Virginia, November 8, 1829. He was a son of Jacob and Harriet (Babb) Fries, who were born in the state of Virginia, where they were married, and lived until the spring of 1830, when they came to Ohio by team and wagon, and settled in Cæsar's Creek Township, temporaily, and afterwards lived in various parts of the county, following teaming as a vocation until his death, which occurred in 1837, at the age of thirty-five year. Was born in the year 1801. They were parents of seven children, of whom are living, Susan Adams, Julia Whittington, Harriet Stull, and David A. The de- ceased are Catherine J., James M., and Clarrissa R. Mrs. Fries was born in 1801, and is still living at the ripe old age of seventy- nine years. The subject of this sketch was reared to farming, and milling pursuits, which he followed jointly until 1870. He was for about fourteen years, proprietor of what is known as the Trussler mills, on the Little Miami, in Sugar Creek Township. Since 1870, he has given his attention exclusively to farming. He owns seventy- five acres of land in the southeastern part of the township. His land is mostly in cultivation, and well improved. He came here in early childhood, in his mothers lap, and has a distinct recollection of the long ago. He has cut wheat in Xenia, where the Catholic Church now stands, and has played ball at the Chamber's corners, besides throwing mud from the race, where J. Thomas Harbine's mill now stands; all of which was done before the iron rail reached Xenia. He was married in 1855, to Martha J. Owen, daughter of George.Owen, by whom he has six children, Malinda H., George H., James W., Winnie, Laura B., and Roscoe L. Mrs. Fries was born in Xenia, May 6, 1831. Politically he is a Democrat, having always voted with that party upon all questions at issue. He is one of our self-made men, having begun life empty handed, yet by
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enterprise, and judicious management, has built up a good property. He has taken much interest in schools, giving his children good educations. In 1863, during the draft, in eight days time, he raised a company in full lacking six men, advancing money from his own pocket, and canvassed this school district to aid the cause.
David Garlough, farmer, son of Adam and Catherine (Hanes) Garlough, was born in the northwest quarters of this township, April 2, 1808. His father was born in Washington County, Mary- land, in 1786; his mother in the same county and state a few years later. Their early life was passed in the place of their nativity, where they received their education, his father being a good general scholar, and afterwards became proficient in the English language. Grandfather Adam Garlough, came with his family to Ohio, in the fall of 1807, locating on land in this township. Their goods were sent down the Ohio River to Cincinnati, the family coming over- land by teams. The trip occupied about eight weeks. Mr. Gar- lough, sen., and a Mr. Hanes, were here some years previous, and purchased land. Mr. Hanes never returned, but his family came, and occupied the land. Grandfather Garlough purchased three quarters of a section of land, one-quarter for each of his children. Erecting a cabin, into which he moved his family, he began the work of clearing. His wife died soon after coming here, after which he married the mother of Samuel Puterbaugh. He died be- tween 1820 and 1825, aged upwards of seventy years. Adam, the father of our subject, was married to Catherine Hanes, in this county, in the winter of 1807 and 1808. She, with her brother and his family, came in 1807, their trip being made on horse-back. They located on land now owned by their son, Arthur, in the north- west part of the township, where they made a permanent home for many years. He was a member of the German Reformed Church, while his wife was a Lutheran. They lived together as man and wife forty years before being separated by death. She was born April 22, 1788, and died April 19, 1852. Several years after her death, he went to Minnesota to visit a son, and while on his return, was taken siek in Warren County, Illinois, at the residence of another son, where he died in 1856, aged about seventy years. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom ten are living: David, Jacob, Otho, Adam, Arthur, Jonathan, Henry, Francis, and Jane. One died in infancy. At the age of eleven years, our sub- ject held the plow, from which time he made a full hand in all de-
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partments of the field. He remained with his father, until past twenty-three years of age. His sons were all raised to sobriety, and industry, and through their combined efforts at their father's death, he owned 1,100 acres of land, principally all in Beaver Creek Township. October 4, 1832, he was married to Rebecca, daughte of Henry and Mary C. Weaver, who were among the pioneers; after marriage, he located where he now resides. Here they have since lived, and reared a family of four children, Mary C., (now Mrs. Wm. Needles) ; Hattie, (now Mrs. S. K. Rahu) ; Alexander H.,
and Jennie. Two children, Martha and an infant, are dead. He and his good wife have lived together nearly half a century, and have seen many of the changes take place that have transformed this county from a wilderness, to a garden of peace and plenty. They are members of the German Reformed Church of nearly fifty years standing. He has served as trustee of the township, besides other offices of a local nature.
Jacob Garlaugh, retired farmer, Harshmanville, was born in sec- tion eleven, Beaver Creek Township, in 1810, and is a son of Adam Garlaugh, whose life history appears in this work. He was reared on the farm, where he remained working for his father until he at- tained his majority, and received his meager education in the sub- scription schools. In 1840 he was married to Anna E. Miller, by whom he had thirteen children, nine of whom are living: Lydia A., Edward O., Zachariah T., Mary J. and Martha E., twins; Hanes, Harriet V., Jacob L., and Sallie B. The deceased are Oli- ver, William A., and Alice. After his marriage he located in Montgomery County, this state, where he lived six years, and fol- lowed farming. At the end of this time he moved to Bath Town- ship, this county, on land where he has since resided. Mr. Gar- laugh has been very successful in life, having accumulated one thousand five hundred acres of land, besides a large chattel prop- erty. Mrs. Garlaugh is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, with which she has been connected for many years. Their son, William A., was a member of Company C, One Hun- dred and Fifty-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting in May, 1864. He was in some of the closing battles of the war, and at New Creek Station, West Virginia, August, 1864, was captured, and afterwards incarcerated in Saulsbury Prison, North Carolina. After enduring the horrors of the prison-pen until February, 1865, he died the most terrible of all deaths-starvation-aged about
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twenty-four years. Edward O. was married, January 11, 1870, to Martha E., daughter of John C. Harshman, whose sketch appears in this work. To them five children have been born : Edward A., Oscar II., and Lulla, living; and William S., and Anna F., de- ceased. Edward O. was born in 1846; his wife in 1851.
John Ginn, farmer, was born on the place on which he now re- sides, February 24, 1815, and is a son of Thomas and Rachel (Neal) Ginn. His father was born in Ireland; his mother in Kentucky. When a young man, his father emigrated to America, and located in Kentucky, where he was married to Rachel Neal. Several years after-in 1814-he came to this county, and located where our subject now lives, purchasing one hundred acres of wild mili- tary land. He was successful in life, and accumulated enough to enable him to live comfortably and pay for his land, which cost him $250, and is now worth $10,000. A year previous to his death he removed to Xenia, where he died at the age of eighty-four years. Mrs. Ginn died in 1830, in the prime of her womanhood. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom three are living: Robert, John, and Ann. Our subject was raised on the farm, and in 1838 married Jane Hamilton, who has borne him four children, two of whom are living : Rachel, and James H. The de- ceased are William and Thomas W. After his marriage he work- ed for some years at different places, and finally purchased the old homestead. He owns one hundred and fourteen acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Ginn are members of the United Presbyterian Church, with which they have been connected for many years. His parents were members of the old Seceder Church.
W. A. Hagenbuek, physician and surgeon, Alpha, was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1831. He is a son of Stephen and Mary (Schreiber) Hagenbuck, who were born in the same county and state in which they were married and resided until 1836, when they came to Ohio, and located in Fairfield, Greene County, and followed the avocation of farming until 1876, when they removed to Dayton, where he died October 26, 1878, aged seventy-seven years. Mrs. Hagenbuck is still living, and resides in Dayton. To them eight children were born, of whom six are still living : W. A., Elizabeth, now Mrs. David Huston; Sarah, de- ceased; Anna, now Mrs. Harvey Bennett; Stephen; Alice, now Mrs. James Andrews; Caroline, and Louis, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hagenbuck were both members of the German Reformed
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Church, of which he was an elder. The Doctor's early boyhood was passed on the farm, and received the rudiments of his educa- tion in the district schools, which was afterwards developed in the high schools in Springfield. In 1852 he began the study of medi- cine under Dr. J. J. Mellkenney, a prominent physician of Fair- field, who was his preceptor for three years, after which he entered the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, which institution conferred on him its diploma of graduation, in 1855. He began the practice of his profession in Fairfield, but in 1856 located in Alpha, where he has since given his time and attention to the de- mands of a large and increasing practice, being now among the older practitioners of the county, and enjoying an enviable reputa- tion as a skillful physician. In 1860 he was married to Sarah J., daughter of John and Hettie Harbine, old and prominent settlers, whose history appears in this work. To them four children have been born, William, Ettie, Jennie, and Frank. Mrs. Hagenbuck was born in Alpha, in the year 1838. The doctor has a beautiful home in the village of Alpha, and is enjoying all the comforts of life, and is a man well preserved and competent to discharge the arduous duties of his profession. He is a member of the Masonic lodge No. - , of Xenia, with which he has been connected since the year 1866.
Silas Hale, retired, Bellbrook, was born near Bellbrook, August 26, 1803. He is a son of John and Sarah (Bowen) Hale, who were probably born in Maryland. They removed to Kentucky, and in 1802, came to Ohio, and located in Sugar Creek Township, where he engaged in farming and tanning. Though on a small scale at first, through energy he developed a good business. In 1338 he moved to Indiana (Kosciusko County), where he died in 1845, aged seventy-five years. His wife died December 25, 1813, aged thirty- six years. They were parents of three children, two living, Bowen and Silas ; James, deceased. By his second marriage, with Sarah Lewis, he had nine children, six living: Rhoda, Sarah, Martha, Lewis, John, and Riley. The deceased are Harman, Nancy, and David. The subject of this sketch was brought up on the farm in the woods, and when old enough, was put to work in the tan-yard, where he labored till seventeen years old, at which time he was ap- prenticed to the cabinet-making business, in Wilmington, Clinton County, which, after completing, he returned to Bellbrook, and prosecuted his trade for ten years. In 1833 he turned his attention
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to mercantile pursuits, furnishing a store on the same corner he now occupies. In 1849 he was elected justice of the peace, which he held for six years. He has also been treasurer of the township for forty years, and is the present incumbent in office. During President Pierce's administration he was appointed postmaster of Bellbrook, and, though a Republican in politics, has held office through Democratic administrations. In 1830 he was married to Miriam Opdyke, by whom he has had ten children, seven of whom are living: John, Henry, Frank, James, Silas, Dorinda, and Mary J .; the deceased are Bowen, Melancthon, and Angeline. Bowen was a member of Company D, Seventy-Fourth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, enlisting in December, 1861, and died at Camp Chase, in April, 1862. John was also a member of the same company and regiment as his brother Bowen, enlisting at the same time. He was discharged on account of disability, in July, 1862. Frank was a member of Company F, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisiting July 25, 1861. He was in the same company and regiment as his brother Henry, whose biography appears in this work. He saw much active service, passing through some of the engagements of the rebellion. He was discharged in 1864. He was also a member of the Second Kentucky Regiment, Company H, one hundred day men ; served a portion of his time, and was honorably discharged. Mr. Hale, our subject, has been fairly successful in life, and though he started a poor boy, has, through his energy and perseverence, combined with the assistance rendered by his wife, who has borne with him the fatigues and labors of the day for more than half a century, built up a good property, consisting of about one hundred and fifty acres of land and a good property in Bellbrook. He and his amiable wife are members of the Protestant Methodist Church, with which they have been connected since 1840. In politics he is Republican, having always voted with that party on all questions at issue.
Jacob Hanes, farmer, Zimmermanville, is a son of Jonathan and Mary Hanes, whose sketch appears in this work. He was born in this township April 2d, 1832, and was reared on the farm, working for his father until twenty-five years of age. In 1867 he was mar- ried to Mary M., daughter of William K. and Sarah Stull, who has borne him four children, Jonathan W., Francis A., Jacob L., and Cassius A. Mrs. Hanes' parents were born in Greene County, and had four children, Francis, Mary, John B., and Jacob. Her mother
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died in 1864, aged forty-four years. Her father was born in 1820, and is yet living. Francis was a member of the Seventy-Fourth · Ohio National Guards; was in the engagement at New Creek, West Virginia. Sarah, mother of Mrs. Hanes, was a member of the German Reformed Church. For two years after his marriage Mr. Hanes lived on his father-in-law's farm, then located where he now lives. He owns eight and two-thirds acres of land, which he farms to garden products, often realizing handsome profits. He is a constant reader, and keeps himself well-posted on the current" events of the day. He is no political aspirant, is satisfied in living a quiet, ordinary life. His estimable wife is a member of the Ger- man Reformed Church, with which she has been connected for a number of years. She was born March 9, 1847.
John Hanes, farmer, Trebein, was born in Washington County, Maryland, in 1824. IIe is a son of Adam and Sarah Hanes, who were born in the same county and state : his father November 14, 1791, and his mother February 1, 1795. They were reared in their native county, in which they were married June 18, 1818. They resided there until 1831, when they removed to Ohio, their journey being made by team and wagon. They located tempora- rily on the Darner farm, where they resided about five months. During that time he purchased one hundred and ninety acres, where our subject now lives, on which they moved in the fall of 1831. Their land had been improved, and thus they escaped many of the hardships which would otherwise have been theirs. Here they made a permanent home, prospered, and at his death, the land had greatly increased. Politically he was an old line Whig, had no aspirations for official honor, yet served as trustee of his township. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, she belonging to the German Reformed. They were parents of eight children, five living: Samuel, John, Luther, Lucretia, and Mary J .; the deceased are Ann Maria, David, and David E. Mr. Hanes departed this life June 6, 1865, his wife preceding him June 12, 1858. John was a member of Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Ohio Nationel Guards, enlisting in May, 1864; the regiment was organ- ized in 1863 as home guards. He was discharged at the expiration of his term of service. His boyhood was passed on the farm, and he obtained a superior education in the common schools. He remained with his parents until he was thirty-six years old, when, March 5, 1860, he was married to Mary, daughter of John Middle-
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ton, of Cæsar's Creek Township, still residing on the old homestead. He is a Republican, and has held the office of trustee and land assessor, each, two years. He owns two hundred and thirty acres of land under good cultivation, well improved, and one of the most delightful places in this vicinity. They are members of the German Reformed Church, with which they have been connected eight or ten years.
Jonathan Hanes, retired farmer, Zimmermanville, is another of the old and prominent settlers in this township. He was born in Maryland, in 1802, and is a son of Jacob and Mary Hanes, who were born in the same state, where they were married, and in 1805 immigrated to Ohio. Mr. Hanes, in partnership with a Mr. Puter- baugh, purchased a flat-boat in Wheeling, on which they loaded their goods and families, and came to Cincinnati, and from thence, by team to this county, and located on land now owned by his son Jacob. Five acres had been cleared, which was a great help to him, in getting his first crop. In his house was the first county clerk's office, presided over by John Paul. Here Mr. Hanes and his wife made a permanent home. He held some of the prominent offices of the county, serving as .associate judge for seven years; was also justice of the peace many terms, and a soldier in the war of 1812. He was successful in life, built up a large property, and was respected and esteemed by all who knew him. He died in the sixty-sixth year of his age. His wife survived him, and died at the age of eighty-two years. Six children were born to them, four of whom are living: Jacob, Jonathan, Mary, and Frances. The de- ceased are Eleanor and Catharine. Our subject was reared on the farm, and after attaining his majority, engaged in distilling, in its season, for several years. In 1831, he was married to Mary Smelt- zer, by whom he had two children, Mary and Jacob. Since his marriage he has lived where he now resides, and owns four hun- dred and eighty-four and a half acres of choice farming land. He has led rather a quiet life, having no aspirations for official honors, though his fellow-townsmen have frequently bestowed upon him local honors. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and exemplary Christians. In the church, he has been a deacon for many years. For half a century this old couple have traveled life's journey together, as man and wife; have shared each other's joys, partook alike of each other's burdens and sorrows, and now, in their declining years, we find them far down the hill,
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toward the setting sun of life, but yet strong, and enjoying the fruits of their labors, gleaned from well-spent lives.
John Harbein, deceased, was born in Washington County, Mary- land, January 17, 1804. Is the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Ruber) Harbein, who were born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, from which they removed to Maryland, where he was engaged in milling pursuits, and where he and his wife lived till their decease. The subject of this sketch was reared to milling pursuits in his native state, where he received the rudiments of an education in the dis- triet schools, and remained with his father in the mill until his twenty-third year, when he was married to Hetty, daughter of Ru- dolph and Magdalene (Kauffman) Herr, who were born in Lancas- ter County, Pennsylvania, in 1827, and the following year, in the fall, removed to Ohio, in a team, locating in Alpha. Fitting up the dilapidated old mill, which had been purchased the year before his coming, he began using it, operating a distillery and saw-mill in connection with it, until 1855. A year or two later, he built a grain warehouse in Xenia, on the site of the oil-mill now owned and operated by J. Thomas Harbein, and also fitted up an oil-mill on Beaver Creek, by putting in new machinery, and changing from water to steam power. In this enterprise he was actively engaged until 1868, when he practically retired from active business, but continued giving an oversight to his well-founded enterprise. During his long life of active labor he built up an enviable reputa- tion as an honest and efficient business man. Religiously, he was strongly impressed with the convictions and truths of the Bible and Christianity, and at about the age of twenty-eight, became a member of the Reformed Church, and during his long and event- ful life was a consistent and exemplary member, being identified in the official capacity of elder and deacon, positions he honorably filled. Politically, in early life he was a Whig, and upon the death of that party, became a strong Republican. He attended to his usual avocations up to the time he received his first stroke of paralysis, from which he partially recovered, so as to still attend to his busi- ness. From his second stroke he never recovered, losing his speech, and gradually failing, until he passed away, June 8, 1873. His re- mains are interred in Woodland Cemetery, in Xenia, where a mon- ument marks his last resting-place. Eight children were born to him, five of whom are now living: Jacob H., Hettie (now Mrs. John M. Miller), Sarah J. (now Mrs. Dr. Hagenback), J. Thomas,
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