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 77
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805
SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
There were ten children of this family, who helped to clear and farm the lands of the then new country. Our subject was born in Warren County, February 22, 1818, and was married July 21, 1842, to Miss Rosanna Bargdill, daughter of Joel and Phœbe (Strong) Bargdill, who came to Ohio, in 1815, with her parents, and located temporarily near Jamestown, then removed to the farm now owned by our subject, where the father died. Mr. and Mrs. Bargdill were. married in 1832. Mr. Patterson has a family of four children, Jacob M., William H., Joel F., and Phœbe, all of whom are living. Jacob and Joel are married. He has a farm of one hundred and seventeen acres, well improved, on which he lives, situated two and one-half miles southwest of Jamestown, also has one-third in- terest in seventy-one acres joining him on the south. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church of Cæsar's Creek society .; he has been a member of the church thirty-eight years; she per- haps, forty years. They are members of the Patrons of Husban- dry. He is a well known and respected citizen, and has a respected family.
Jacob M. Patterson, farmer, son of John C., jr., whose biography appears in this work. Our subject was born July 7, 1843, and mar- ried September 2, 1869, to Miss Sarah J. Sanders, daughter of Moses, whose biography also appears in this work. They have three children, Harry E., Luella E., and Harvey C., all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are members of the Baptist Church. He has been a member of the church twenty years; she perhaps, fifteen years. He is a highly respected citizen, and lives in the neighborhood where he was reared.
James F. Robinson, farmer, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, on the 16th day of April, 1838, and is a son of Singleton and Anna Robinson, who are both natives of the State of South Carolina, and with their parents emigrated to Ohio, in an early day, where they afterwards married, and settled upon a farm in Fayette County, where they have always lived. The fruits of this union where seven children; four boys and three girls, all living save one. Our subject's father was a great hunter: while it was a source of great pleasure to him, he also made it profitable, furnishing all the meat the family consumed. They lived almost entirely on wild meats ; such a thing as putting up meat for winter use was not thought of. Our subject's mother died some twenty-eight years ago. His father still lives upon the old place in Fayette County; they were
51
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
both members of the Christian Church. Our subject's grandfather settled in Montgomery County, Ohio, near Dayton many years ago, when the now flourishing city was a small village. He hauled the rock for the first stone foundation built in the village. Ile after- wards moved to Fayette County, where he lived until three years ago, when he departed this life at the age of ninety-four years. Our subject's boyhood days were spent upon the farm with his father. ITis education was received at the district schools of the period. He was a second lieutenant in the hundred day service, he served four months, and was honorably discharged. He was mar- ried in November, 1861, to Anna E. Moorman; to them have been born seven children, three boys and four girls: Frank O., Dela May, Charles A., Reuben R., Bertha, Blanche, and Anna Louise. He and his amiable wife are both members of the Friends Church. Mr. Robinson has lived in this county some years, and has a farm of two hundred and six acres of land, most of it under a high state of cultivation. He has been trustee of Silver Creek Town- ship for the past three years, and has filled the office acceptably to his constituency.
Moses Sanders, farmer, Jamestown, is a son of William and Elizabeth (Lynders) Sanders, who were born and married in North Carolina. They came to Ohio about 1801, and located some twelve miles south of Xenia, where they remained about two years, when Ebenezer Thomas offered to trade a farm of sixty acres, situated in sight of the present village of Jamestown, for a horse. The ex- change was made, and in 1803 he removed to the said farm, where he lived the remainder of his life, dying July 3, 1861, aged eighty- five years. Mrs. Sanders died March 30, 1879, aged about seventy- nine years. There were twelve children of this family, all of whom lived to maturity, and all married, except William, who died at the age of twenty-three years. Seven are living at this writing, Moses being the youngest of the family. Mr. Sanders owned about two hundred and eighty-five acres of land at his death; had sold a part of what he had formerly owned. Our subject was born December 5, 1820 ; was married, January, 20, 1847, to Miss Elizabeth Harness, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Peterson) Harness. She is a de- scendant of John Jacob Peterson, who was born in Germany, Jan- uary 7, 1706. They have four children, John W., Sarah J., James H., and Asa C., two of whom are married. He has a farm of three hundred acres, well improved, situated one mile southwest of James-
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SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
town, on which he lives, also a farm of one hundred acres, two miles east of the same village. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. Their parents were members of the same church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity ; also a mem- ber of the Masonic Beneficial Association, and is well and favora- bly known. They are both exemplary Christians.
Samuel E. Sanders, farmer, Jamestown, is a son of James and - Temperance (Morrow) Sanders. The father is a native of this county, born April 14, 1806, and married in December, 1846. Mrs. Sanders died triumphantly in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Sanders is, perhaps, the oldest pioneer of this township. Samuel was born in this township, September 18, 1845, where he was reared and educated, and where he was mar- ried, November 27, 1879, to Minnie E., daughter of Philip Bakman. One child, George, is the result of this union, who was born August 28, 1880. Mr. Sanders is a farmer and stock dealer, and lives one a mile and half southwest of Jamestown. Is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of that place, having united about 1875. His wife's parents are residents of Cincinnati.
Theadrick L. Sheley, farmer, is a son of Michael and Lois (Strong) Sheley, who were married in this county about 1807. He was a native of Virginia; born in 1772, and died in this county, in 1853. His father, John, served seven years in the revolutionary war, and died at the age of ninety-seven years. The parents of our subject came to this county in 1806, where they remained until death. Mrs. Sheley was born in 1775, in Connecticut, and died in 1824. They were married in 1807, and seven children were born to them, our subject being the youngest son; four survive. The first death was that of Martha, in June, 1864, aged forty-three years. Our subject was born in this county, in July, 1818, where he was reared, and where he married Miss Sarah Phillips, in November, 1847, and where he has since lived. There were eight children of this family, James, William, John, Caroline, Sylvester, Charlie, Lois, and Louisa, all of whom are living but Lois, who died January 31, 1862, aged seven months. Mrs. Sheley, daughter, and one son, are members of the Christian Church of Jamestown. Mr. Sheley has a farm of sixty-two acres, well improved, on which he lives, and also has a farm of about four hundred and four acres, three miles east of Jamestown, in Silver Creek and Ross townships, Greene and Clin- ton counties. He united with the Masonic fraternity of James- town, in 1862, and is still a member.
808
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
George Smith, farmer, Jamestown, is a son of John C. and Maria (Keiter) Smith, natives of Virginia, and born in 1806, he June 18, she May 21. They were married there, December 11, 1834. Nine children were born to them: George, Susan, Isaac, Esther, Mary, Elizabeth, Ann, John F., and Margaret C .; Susan and Ann deceased. They came to Ohio in 1863, locating near Paintersville, this county ; here they remained some months, and then came to the farm on which our subject now lives, situated two and one-half miles southeast of Jamestown, and where the father died, February 12, 1880. He and his sons, George and Isaac, had a farm of two hundred and fifty-two acres; the deed remains as be- fore his death-to the three, jointly. George was married, May 27, 1874, to Miss Mary J. Smith, Mary to Justice Baker, Margaret to Robert January. The mother is still living, and in her declining years enjoys the realization of having a highly respected family of dutiful children.
Samuel Smith, minister and farmer, Jamestown, a native of Vir- ginia, is a son of John and Elizabeth (Howard) Smith. They came to this county in the fall of 1838, where he has since lived. His mother died in Auglaize County, July 22, 1865; the father, about two years later. Our subject was born November 15, 1817, and has been twice married; first to Miss Nancy Sanders, October 16, 1841, who was born November 15, 1814. There were six children by this marriage : Mary E., John W., Albert N., Samuel M., George W., and James L., the two last named deceased. Mrs. Smith died July 17, 1858. He then married Miss Jane A. Patterson, January 9, 1859. One child is the result of this union, Charles L. Mr. Smith and both wives and children were members of the Baptist Church, he having been reared and educated in that church, his mother be- ing a member when she was married; she taught her children lessons of Christianity. Mr. Smith, sr., joined the church when at about the age of sixty years, and was soundly converted. They both died triumphantly in the faith. He was very honest, suspect- ing evil of no man. Our subject is the oldest child of the family. He joined the church at the age of twenty-two years, and has been actively engaged in religious service; has been in the ministry fifteen years. Was baptized into the Cæsar's Creek Baptist Church by Elder William Sutton, and has been deacon of this church fifteen years. Ilis son, James is an eminent minister, preaching at Green- field. The father and family are exemplary members of the
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SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
church, and good citizens. He has a farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres, about two miles east of Jamestown, on the Wash- ington pike, where he lives, and one of one hundred and sixty acres south of Jamestown about three miles. He had at one time about six hundred acres of land in this county, the result of industry and good management, having only twelve cents when he came to the county. He possessed an iron constitution, and is a robust man yet.
C. H. Spahr, the son of Gideon and Phæbe Spahr, who immi- grated from Hardy County, Virginia, about the year 1816, and settled on the head waters of the Shawnee, east of Xenia, was born January 30, 1826. He with his parents, in the fall of 1832, moved to a farm two miles west of Jamestown, and remained until the fall of 1846, assisting at farm labor, and attending such schools, common and select, as the county afforded. In the fall of 1846, he entered the office of Dr. E. Owen, of Champaign County, as a stu- dent of medicine. After remaining in the offices of Drs. Owen and A. B. Newkirk for three years, and going through the curriculum of the Starling Medical College and doing some practice, he settled in Jamestown, on February 2, 1854, into regular practice, and has continued therein until the present time, with the exception of the winters of 1864-5, during which time he served as the representa- tive of Greene County in the legislature, having been elected to that office in October, 1863, by the largest majority ever given prior to that time to any candidate for the same office in the county. In politics he is a Republican, endorsing the leading acts of the party from 1855 to the present. Has long been closely identified with the interests of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the I. O. O. F., in each of which he holds a membership. Lives in comfortable circumstances. He was married, March 11, 1858, to Mary A., daughter of John Peters, of Ironton. To them has been born six children : Phobe R., Fannie S., and George R. are living; three died in infancy. The family of Gideon and Phoebe Sphar consisted of four sons and five daughters. Dr. B. E. Spahr died in the spring of 1861, and Raper A. Spahr fell at the battle of Stone River, Ten- nessee, in 1863, bravely defending the Union. The Rev. B. N., of the Ohio conference, and Dr. C. HI., of Jamestown, survive. The daughters are all living: Mrs. Iliff, of Randolph County, Indiana ; Mrs. McMillan, of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Mrs. Zartman, of Trinidad, Colorado; Mrs. Bargdill and Mrs. Adams, of Jamestown. The father, Gideon, died June, 1856, and the mother, Phæbe, died July, 1867.
810
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
James Snodgrass, farmer, was born in Virginia, in 1795, came to Ohio in 1808, and with his parents located in what was then Champaign County, now Clarke. He knew Springfield when there was but one dry goods store, owned by a Mr. Amler, a tavern owned by Griffith Foos, and the residence of a Mr. Walker, in the now populous city, which were made of logs. Mr. Snodgrass vol- unteered in the service of the war of 1812, served five years, was discharged at Green Bay, January 13, 1819. Before he enlisted, he was hauling a load of goods from Dayton to Springfield for Mr. Amler, when he met Joseph Vance, (quartermaster of General Hull's corps), who, on account of the scarcity of teams, told him that he would have to press his team into service to haul provisions for General Hull. While they were talking, his father came up and hired the team to him, acting as driver, and at his return en- listed in the war. He had previously served six months with a band of scouts against the Indians, under Captain Kiser. "Thus I got to see the elephant's tail, and wanted to see his horns" said the gentleman. He was in the third regiment under Colonel Miller. Was on the battlefield of the Thames. At the time of his discharge, he started to walk from Green Bay home, accompanied by three friends; they thought they could reach Chicago in two days, but were delayed by snow and cold weather; he froze one foot very badly and stopped with Mr. LaSales to stay over night. Mr. La- Sales told him that he could get a doctor who would cure the fro- zen foot so that he could proceed on his journey the next day, and accordingly called on an Indian doctor, who put something re- sembling pounded bark and salt on the foot. This was to remain until morning, and was very painful. He put in the night very restlessly, would sing, whistle, and swear at intervals. The remedy proved a good one, and they proceeded on their journey. They traveled eight days with only about a gill of biscuit crumbs to eat. Upon arriving at Chicago, they found nothing but a log tavern and the garrison of the army. Mr. Battey living across the Chicago River from the garrison, who owned the land where the city now stands, told them he would give them an acre of land for each house they would build there. Mr. Snodgrass was accompanied by James Collins, James Steelman, and John B. Ennis. Mr. Snod- grass came to this county, whither his parents had moved during his absence, in 1819. Came through Lafayette, Indiana, then a village, through the Miami Valley, near the present site of Troy,
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SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
which then was represented by a log tavern, which stood near where the west corporation line of the city now is. There were not more than twenty people in Xenia then. Was married, Thurs- day, September 18, 1825, to Abigail Mendenhall. After his return went to Halifax, North Carolina, with some hogs for a Mr. Hunt. On the way they remained over night with a Mr. Strong, who by some misunderstanding, thought they had stolen one of his hogs and had them arrested for it. They were put in a log jail to await trial, but effected a. compromise by giving Strong one hun- dred dollars. With this exception, he was never in jail or under arrest. Mr. Snodgrass is a man of unusual activity for a man of his age.
James Spencer, retired farmer, Jamestown, was born in South Carolina, August 13, 1810, and is a son of Thomas and Susanna (Bingham) Spencer, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of South Carolina. Thomas was born about 1799, and died in 1861; his wife was born in 1790, and died in 1835. They moved to this county in 1829, and were the parents of nine children, James the oldest. He was married, April 4, 1834. The result of this union was twelve children : Thomas, William, Armina, Mary, Su- san, J., Frank, Kesiah, Nannie, and Isabel, living; Maria, and two who died in infancy. The family are all members of the Metho- dist Protestant Church. William and Francis are in the ministry. The former is located in Gibson County, Indiana, and the latter is superintendent of Muskingum College, and an eminent minister. Mr. Spencer, sr., has been an exemplary member of the church for fifty years, and his wife for fifty-five years. They have a farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres, just north of Jamestown, where they live, retired from active life. They also have a large residence on the finest street in that city.
Lisbon Syfers, banker, Jamestown, is a native of Greene County, Pennsylvania, where he was born, May 11, 1815. Here he was reared, and at the age of fifteen came with his parents (Jacob and Elizabeth) to Wheeling, Virginia, where he remained until 1833, and then moved to Jamestown, where he has since lived. Until 1847 he was engaged in cabinet making, after which he followed other mercantile pursuits. In 1870 he engaged in his present busi- ness. Was married, January 19, 1837, to Miss Mary P. Dawson, by whom he had two children : Rufus K., and Eliza J., who died in 1844, aged two years and six months. Rufus is in Indianapolis,
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
engaged in the wholesale grocery business. Mrs. Syfers died June 7, 1845, in the twenty-eighth year of her age. Mr. Syfers then mar- ried Miss Miranda Hodges, on the 4th of October, 1847. Two chil- dren are the fruits of this union: Luella and Lizzie; the latter died in her third year. Mr. Syfers struggled with poverty in his youth, but by industry and good management succeeded in accu- mulating a competency. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. His father was born in Virginia in 1790, and died at the age of eighty-six; his mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1793, and died in 1873.
John W. Thomas, farmer, is a son of Arthur and Mary (McCon- nell) Thomas; the former born in Pennsylvania, July 5, 1805, and the latter in this county, November 11, 1809, and were married in this county, November 16, 1829. There were ten children of this family-James, Leah, Henry, Tunis, Olive, Elizabeth, John W., Amanda J., Martha, and Frances M., the two latter deceased. Our subject was born in this county, October 20, 1843, where he was reared, and married Miss Keziah McCleary. One child, James, was born to them, who is living. Mrs. Thomas' parents, James and Lucy A. (Bangham) MeCleary, were married in 1833. There were five children of this family-Josephine, Ophelia, Charles, Keziah, and Sherman, the first named deceased. Mr. Thomas has a farm of eighty acres, on which he lives, farming chiefly to grain. His wife is a member of the Mount Carmel Methodist Episcopal Church.
Joshua B. Thomas, farmer, was born in this county, January 22, 1827, where he was married, May 19, 1859. Ten children are the result of this marriage : Jacob A., Mary E., Nancy M., Sarah E., Anna L., Hannah L., Benjamin F., Joshua S., Hattie J., and John L., all of whom are living but Jacob A. and Hannah L. They are all unmarried, and at home with their parents. Mr. Thomas was born and reared on the farm where he now lives, which was bought by his father about 1810, and where he lived till his death. His father was born in the year 1800. There were eight children of his family, five of whom are living, Joshua being the third child, and only son living. There were many wild animals in this locality when our subject was a boy, such as deer, raccoons, and wild-cats. He now owns the home farm, of one hundred and twenty acres, and sixty-seven acres in Jasper and Cæsar's Creek townships, and farms to both grain and stock, handling horses and hogs more ex- tensively than any other stock. He and his wife are members of
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SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Mount Carmel Methodist Protestant Church. His parents were members of the same church.
Andrew Turner, farmer, is a son of William and Elizabeth (Cru- zen) Turner, who were married in this county, May 28, 1819. He was born near Cincinnati, October 23, 1792, where he was reared, and from where he went to the war of 1812, in which he served as a teamster four months. Our subject's mother was born in Vir- ginia, October 27, 1802, and died in this county, in 1871. There were nine children of this family, Andrew being the youngest one living. He was born March 11, 1843, and was married to Susanna Glass, of this county. Four children are the result of this union- Mary E., Cora E., Carda and William G., all living. He has a farm of seventy-five acres, on which he lives, and farms chiefly to grain. His wife is a member of the Oak Knoll Christian Church.
Hiram Turner, farmer, is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Beason) Turner. His father was born near Cincinnati, May 11, 1795. At that time there were but three houses in the place. Mrs. Turner was born June 6, 1795. They were married in this county, August 10, 1819. There were nine children of this family, our subject be- ing the sixth child. Of these, five are living. Mr. Turner served six months in the war of 1812, and came to this county in 1815, where he died, April 30, 1870. Mrs. Turner died July 16, 1845. Our subject was born in this township, June 19, 1830, where he was reared, and where he married Miss Margaret J. Shrack, a daughter of Samuel and Abagail (MeFarland) Shrack, April 11, 1855. Four children are the result of this marriage: Lorena J., who died Feb- ruary 18, 1857, in her first year, Abbie S., Francis M., and Henry C. Mr. Turner has a farm of fifty acres, well improved, situated two miles southwest of Jamestown, on which he lives. His grand- father, Harkless, settled on what is now known as the Ireland farm, situated one mile south of Jamestown, when it was an unbroken forest, and when the Indians were numerous. Mrs. Turner and children are members of the Baptist Church, with which she united at the age of fourteen. Mr. Turner's father helped to dig the well at what is now the Galt House, at Cincinnati.
William Turner, farmer, is a son of Levi and Mary (Sanders) Turner, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Kentucky. They were married in this county, May 11, 1820. There were five chil- dren from this marriage, three of whom are living, William being the oldest. Mr. Turner, sen., was born August 31, 1797, and died
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
December 15, 1870. Mrs. Turner was born October 30, 1802, and is still living. Our subject was born in this township, July 3, 1821, where he was reared, educated, and married Miss Elizabeth P. Shrack, May 3, 1855, who bore him nine children : M. Alice, James H., W. Dennison, Elizabeth J., Hulda A., Charles E., Florence E., Flora M. and Oscar, seven of whom are living. Mrs. Turner died March 30, 1872, in the fortieth year of her age. She was a worthy member of the Baptist Church, with which she had been connect- ed since the age of sixteen, and died triumphantly, saying, "Jesus, whom she embraced in her childhood, comforted her on her death- bed." Mr. Turner is a well-respected citizen who is known through- out the township. Though not compelled to do so, he hired a sub- stitute to serve in the rebellion. Politically, he is a Republican, and served several years as township clerk; also served one term as trustee of the township. He is an active worker in the church in which his wife died, and is also actively engaged in the educa- tional interests of the community. He has a farm of two hundred and sixty acres, well improved, situated two miles and a quarter southwest of Jamestown, on which he lives.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
As introductory to the history of this township, we know of nothing more appropriate than the following letter to Nathaniel Massie, the veteran surveyor of this country :
" HANGING-FORK, April 26, 1786.
" DEAR SIR :- I am, at this time, unable to come over on the busi- ness that I promised you. For my attending the surveys, it will not make the least difference, as you can do it as well as if I was with you. I wish you to divide the land that is surveyed, belong- ing to the Dutchmen, and survey the entries that lay joining of those lands, and divide the entries also. Survey that land you pur- chased of Captain Owing, and survey the one thousand and five hundred acre entry, that is located at Logan's old camp, on Bird's trace, about one mile from another large camp. The old camp was made on the first campaign, in the year '80, and the other the next campaign. I wish you to survey the entries that are on the heads of Grassy Creek, in the name of Howard Lewis. If you find where Creuss was buried at a camp, you can easily find the entries. You must take the marked way from the camp up a ridge, westwardly course, about two miles, and the way is marked all the way of the two miles with a tomahawk; and then you will turn down a hol- low to your left hand, until you cross a branch of Grassy Creek, and you will see some stumps, where there has been some fire-wood cut, on the east side of the branch, and continue the marked way the same course, perhaps two and a half miles, near the heads of said waters, and there you will find some trees marked, as the entry calls for, on the west side of the black oak, and some small trees marked near the said oak; and you will return down to the same branch to the creek, and down the creek to the fork, and cross the forks and go a southeast course about four miles until you come to a creek; then up said creek until you find a camp on said creek, in the bottom, where you will see trees peeled, and stumps, and an old
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