USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, together with historic notes on the northwest and the state of Ohio > Part 47
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West, advertising and soliciting, and seeing much more of the world than most young men of his age. Having sown his wild oats, he has settled down with his good wife in his native place, where he is engaged at his trade, in which he stands at the head in all its branches. A first-class workman, with a kind and genial disposition, he is well-thought of by all who know him.
Charles D. Craig, grocer, born in Greene County, in 1862, is a son of Moses and Mary E. Craig, who were both born in Ohio, and have a family of five sons, Percie M., Frank R., Claude V., Claude W., and Charles, the subject of our sketch, who is a young man of energy and a pleasant disposition, and a man well adapted to the business in which he is engaged, as one of his genial habits will surely build up a good trade in the grocery business, in which he is now engaged, with E. Smith, on Detroit Street, Xenia.
Morris Cretors, painter, was born in Xenia, December 25, 1841. Ilis father was born in this state, and his mother in Belfast, Maine. They had a family of five children, Ella, Morris, Cheney, Jennie, and Elmer. In 1845, Morris was married to Miss Jennie Young, of Cincinnati. Three children has been the result of this union : Samuel, yet living; Walter, deceased; the third died in infancy. He is engaged in the painting business, in Xenia, with his brother.
Newton Davis, farmer, was born on the farm where he now re- sides, two miles south of Xenia, known as the old Davis farm. His parents, Josiah and Elizabeth Davis, were born in Virginia, and immigrated to Ohio in 1807, and settled on the farm where Newton, the subject of this note, now resides. They had a family of five children, all boys. Newton was married in 1855, to Miss Catharine Lloyd, and has been blessed with four sons and one daughter. The whole family are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a trustee, steward, and class-leader for upwards of twenty-five years, and is known as one of the most Successful farmers in the county. He received his education in Greene County, at the old Union Seminary, near his place-a house where John Findlay, a brother of our old Methodist minister, James B. Findlay, taught the youth in olden time. His children, Ellen, Josiah, Belleville, Russell, and Herman, are all living. Mr. Davis' father was a man who was noted and beloved by all who knew him for his generous soul, in constantly relieving the wants of the poor and afflicted, and the son is following closely in his footsteps, making many friends.
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David Y. Davidson, baker, born in Georgetown, Kentucky, August 13, 1835, is a son of Joseph and Margaret Davidson, both of whom were born in Ohio. David received a common school education in Xenia, where he spent his youth. He was a member of the Ninety-Fourth Ohio Regiment, and served two years in the army. December, 1864, he received an honorable discharge, and returned home to resume his business. In 1866-'67 he was a mem- ber of the city council, and has been chief of the fire department since 1871; is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and also of the Royal Arcanum, of which he is secretary. On the 20th of February, 1866, he was married to Miss Charlotte Dibble, daughter of Schuyler and Catharine Dibble, of Pittsburg, Indiana. In the bakery and confectionery business he is doing the principal part of the trade in Xenia.
Joseph N. Dean, attorney-at-law, was born in Greene County, August 22, 1844. He is the son of Joseph and Hannah Dean, and received his education partly at country schools and partly at Xenia College. Graduated at Iron City Commercial College, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and at the Cincinnati Law School, and spent six years with his father, on his farm, and three years in the army. Was with General Garfield, at the battle of Prestonburg, Kentucky, as a member of Company B, Fortieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and also in the battle of Chickamauga, the storming of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and in the Atlantic campaign ; with Sherman, at the seige of Atlanta, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain; in Resacca, in Franklin, Tennessee, Jonesborough, and Lovejoy Station, and received a soldier's honorable discharge at the close of the war. In 1867 he was married to Miss Lydia Cleaver, daughter of James and Mary Cleaver, of Clinton County. His wife died in 1872, leaving him a son, Walter P., to brighten his path through life. In politics he is a Republican, and is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. He is now residing in Xenia, engaged in the practice of law, and by his genial disposition and fair dealing has grown into a practice that many might envy.
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J. S. Dillon, physician and surgeon, was born in Logan County, Ohio, in 1840. Is a son of Benjamin R. and Elizabeth Dillon. His father was born in New Jersey, and his mother in Ohio. They were married about 1820, and had six children, Melissa, Malachi, Laura HI., Mary, Joseph S., and John. The subject of this sketch began life for himself when thirteen years old. In 1859 he went
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to Kansas, and after a sojourn of six months, his father, who had been keeping a hotel, died, and he took charge of the business. In a short time he sold out, and turned his attention to speculating and doctoring, until the war broke out, when he went into the sut- tler business, which he followed till its close, after which he took a stock of goods, valued at $85,000, to Mexico. After selling out, he went into a sheep speculation, taking over four thousand head to Montana, where he disposed of them at a loss of $3,000. IIe re- turned to New Mexico, and took a contract to supply the Navajo Indians with beef. Started for their reservation with three thou- sand head of cattle and one hundred and seventy-five head of horses, and arrived there with two hundred and eighteen head, all told, being continually preyed upon by the Camanche Indians, who killed ten of his men, cutting the flesh entirely from the bones of one of his comrades. He then went to Arkansas, and practiced medicine there for six or seven years. The doctor, having seen much of pioneer life, and becoming disgusted with it, returned to the states and settled in Xenia. Although having been in that city but a short time, he has secured a good reputation, curing some cases pronounced hopeless by other physicians, and bids fair to be- come one of the noted physicians of the country.
Charles II. Dill, commercial traveler, Dayton, Ohio, was born in Freeport, Warren County, Ohio, in 1850. Son of Daniel and Anna Dill, both natives of Delaware, who immigrated to Ohio about the year 1838, with a family of twelve children. The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Minnie A. Kichl, daughter of Jacob and Emeline Kiehl, of Jamestown, Ohio, April 20, 1879, and are blessed with one child, four months old. Received his education in Ohio, where he has spent the greater portion of his life. Is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, and is now traveling for the firm of Glawe & Co., of Dayton, Ohio, selling water-proof horse covers, etc. He is a young man of jovial temperament, and makes friends wherever known.
George Dodds, marble dealer, was born in Roxburgh County, Scotland, February 19, 1837. Is the son of George and Isabel Dodds, who had eight children, two of whom died in infancy. The family all received a good common school education in the parish schools, working on the farm in summer, and going to school in winter. The father died while the children were young, throw- ing the responsibility of supporting them upon the mother, and
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never did woman more truly fulfill her mission. George Dodds, the subject of our sketch, commenced to work on the farm at the age of ten, and continued to work in summer, going to school in winter, until he was seventeen, when he determined to learn a trade. An opportunity presented itself for him to learn the blacksmith trade, and this being his choice, he accepted the situation, and worked at it about two months. This was in June, 1854. Having an older brother in this country, who was in the marble business, and who was anxious to have him come out here, he sent for him to come to America with some friends, who were about to visit their old home in Scotland. On July 6, 1854, he left home, his mother accompanying him on foot to his aunt's, near Roxburg, a distance of ten miles, and on the 11th set sail for the new world in the steamship Glasgow. The voyage was a very rough one, lasting seventeen days. They landed in New York, July 28th, and on the 29th took the train for Cincinnati, reaching Madison, by steamer, on Sabbath evening, the 31st, where he met his brother at the wharf. After a few weeks, he commenced learning the marble business under his brother, and making such rapid progress in the finer art of drawing, his brother advised him to learn the art, and at the end of four years was highly complimented for his brilliant success. In the spring of 1859 he removed to Yellow Springs, and formed a partnership with his brother, under the firm name of A. & G. Dodds. They continued in business there until the fall of 1864, when they removed to Xenia. October 17, 1861, he was mar- ried to Miss Lizzie I. Ferguson, of Madison, Indiana. They lived happily together until the 20th of August, 1865, when death claimed her for its own. She left him a little boy, Fremont, three years of age. October 11, 1866, he was married the second time, to Mary E. Brown, daughter of Hiram and Rebecca Brown, of Xenia. At this time his brother was in Scotland, arranging for the shipment of the famous Scotch granite, and on his return brought out Mary and William, the two youngest of the family, the mother having died in July of that year. The firm of A. & G. Dodds became exten- sively known as importers of Scotch granite, and in 1867 they opened a branch in St. Louis, and Andrew took charge of it. A few months afterward the partnership was dissolved, George con- tinuing in the business, and on May 1, 1871, he took Alexander Caskey as partner, the firm name being Dodds & Caskey. In May, 1872, they opened a branch in Pittsburgh, Mr. Caskey taking
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charge there until May 1, 1873, when the firm was dissolved, Mr. Dodds continuing the business at Xenia up to the present, a period of over twenty-one years. A few years ago he erected a new busi- ness house, and has recently added another room for the display of his goods. At the age of fifteen he formed a temperance resolu- tion, which he has faithfully kept up to the present. In 1860 he united in forming a lodge of Good Templars at Yellow Springs, working it until 1865, and was instrumental in organizing one in Xenia, with which he was connected about fifteen years. In 1873 he received a letter from Dio Lewis, in regard to inaugurating his new temperance movement, and he at once 'telegraphed him to come. It was a grand success, and resulted in starting the woman's crusade movement in that city. He also worked the Murphy movement from beginning to end. In politics he is a Republican, and an uncompromising Union man. Was raised in the United Presbyterian Church, and at the age of twenty united with the Christian Church at Madison, Indiana. There being no Christian Church in Xenia, he finally, in February, 1874, united with the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is still a member. At this time his family consists of G. Fremont, by his first wife, and six children by his present wife, Carrie, Frank, Leslie, Charlie, Earle, and Ralph. His brother Andrew died May 5, 1872. James came to the United States in 1856, and is now in Dayton, Ohio. Maggie, the only one on the other side of the Atlantic, lives in Northumberland, England. Mary is a physician, practicing in St. Louis, in company with Mrs. Andrew Dodds. William, the young- est, is agent for George, in the marble business.
George S. Drake, engineer of fire department, Xenia, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, in 1847, and is a son of George W. and Catharine Drake. Ilis father was born in Virginia, and his mother in Pennsylvania. They located in the above county in 1845, and his father died in 1873. The mother is yet living, and resides in Muskingum County. They were parents of fourteen children, six of whom are living, Samuel, John H., Mary E., Kate, Louis B., and George S. The boyhood of George was passed in Zanesville. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-Eighth Regiment, Ohio National Guard, and after serving his time (three months), enlisted in Company E, Nineteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was in the battles of Chickamauga, Nashville, Franklin, Kenesaw Mountain, being wounded in the shoulder at the last-named battle ;
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also participating in the battles of the Atlanta campaign, and was discharged in 1865. In 1866 he obtained a position as fireman on the railroad, serving in that capacity for five years, and then took charge of an engine on the Little Miami Railroad, holding that position for six years. In 1875 he located in Xenia, and was given his present position. In 1872 he was married to Ann A. Matthews, by whom he has had two children, Nettie E. and William D. Mrs. Drake was born in Franklin County, in 1847. Politically, Mr. Drake is a Republican.
John S. Eavey, farmer, deceased, was born near Boonsborough, Maryland, January 14, 1814, and died September 30, 1879, being the second son of Margaret and Jacob Eavey. He received a liberal education for that day, passing his early youth and manhood with his parents. ITis father was the owner of an extensive mar- ble quarry on Beaver Creek, near Boonsborough, Maryland. The subject of our memoir was engaged in the sale of marble from early manhood up to the time of his marriage, which was at the age of twenty-four, to Miss Margaret Kanode, daughter of John and Margaret Kanode, who resided near Hagerstown, Maryland- Mr. Kanode being an extensive farmer. In the third year of his married life, Mr. Eavey and his estimable wife immigrated to this state, settling on land near Xenia, granted him by his mother, and by industry and prudence he became one of Greene County's most wealthy citizens. Honorable in all the relations of life, taking a creditable interest in many of the enterprises of the county, he was admired and respected by all who knew him. The result of his marriage was five sons and one daughter-one of his sons dying in infancy-Arthur W., Henry H., John K., Joseph E., and Susan A. Arthur W. purchased, some years since, a large farm in the State of Mississippi. Henry II. is well known as a wholesale dealer in groceries in Xenia. John K., and Joseph E., are both enterprising farmers in the vicinity of Xenia. Susan A. is living near the city of Xenia, with her husband, J. F. G. Bell, son of George Bell, one of the earliest pioneers of this county, and whose biography, with his wife's, will be found on another page of this history. Ilis grandmother was a neice of General Metzinger, of Holland, and is thereby a legal heir of the Metzinger estate of sixty-five million dollars.
John Ewing, retired merchant, was born in Campbell County, Kentucky, the 6th day of January, 1800, and is a son of John and
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Margaret Ewing, who were raised in York County, Pennsylvania, and moved to Kentucky in 1795; thence to Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1801. Mr. Ewing lived in Hamilton and Clermont counties until fourteen years of age, and then came to Xenia and entered the store of James Gowdy, as a clerk, in which capacity he re- mained until grown up, when he entered into partnership with Mr. Gowdy. This partnership was continued until 1838, when Mr. Gowdy withdrew from the business, and it was continued by . Mr. Ewing until 1861, when he retired to a more private life. A common school education was all that he received in his early life.
Paul Fetz, farmer and gardener, was born in Germany, February 1, 1825, and is a son of Paul and Elizabeth Fetz, both of whom were natives of and died in Germany, having raised a family of nine children. Paul, the subject of this sketch, came to Ohio in 1849, and was married in 1852 to Miss Elizabeth Seppert, daughter of Henry Seppert, of Cincinnati. The result of this union is five children, George P., Henry, Katie, Charles, and Willie, all living. Receiving his education in Germany, he served in her armies for a year and a half, and obtained his release and came to this country in his twenty-fifth year. He is now engaged in farming and gardening about a mile from the city, and by economy and faith- fulness to business he has become a man of comparative wealth, and enjoys life as a man only can who has a clear conscience, and knows his accumulations have been made from honest toil and square dealing.
R. S. Finley, physician, was born in Winchester, Adams County, Ohio, in 1827. His father, Samuel S., a Virginian by birth, and his mother, a Pennsylvanian, were married in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and immigrated to this state in 1808, raising a family of four children. R. S. Finley received a common school education in Xenia, and graduated in medicine in Cincinnati, in 1850, and immediately commenced practice in Xenia. He graduated in the eclectic school, but is practicing the homopathic principle, and is to-day one of the leading citizens of the county. The Presby- terian Church is honored by his membership.
John W. Gazaway, minister, Wilberforce, was born in Zanes- ville, Ohio, in 1841, and is a son of Wesley and Cynthia Gazaway, both of whom were born in this state, and the parents of seven children, Charles H., Samuel J., John W., Virginia A., Martha E.,
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Sarah P., and Jacob P'. John W., the subject of our remarks, was married, in 1865, to Miss Jerome L. Jackson, daughter of Wilson and Maria Jackson, of Putnam, Ohio, and has a family of five children, Grafton W., Lucy A., William W., Eva V., and Maria J .; and Martha E., and Annie L., deceased. Educated at Zanes- ville, where he spent the greater part of his life, he was ordained an elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1873. IIe commenced preaching in 1868, and joined the traveling con- nection in 1871. The greater portion of his labors up to this time have been spent in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky. He is a member of Doric Lodge No. 6, Free and Accepted Masons, of Newark, Ohio. He is now ministering to a congregation in Spring- field, Ohio, where he is beloved by all who know him, for he is a man who shows his work by his daily walk and conversation. He was converted in the year 1855, in the city of Zanesville, Ohio, under the administration of Rev. A. R. Greene, and has always been an upright Christian man.
James E. Galloway, retired merchant, was born in this state, and is the youngest son of old Major Galloway, one of the old pioneers of Greene County. They immigrated to this county in 1778, and here spent nearly all their lives. James E., the subject of this sketch, received his education at the Miami University, and graduated there in 1844. After graduating, he engaged in the . mercantile business in St. Louis, Missouri, and in 1849 left that city and crossed the plains to California, where he remained for seven- teen years, engaged as a wholesale merchant. Leaving there, he went to Montana, Idaho, and various other places, and then left the West for Ohio, in 1870. Remaining here until 1872, he went to Chicago, where he remained for some years, and then returned to the old homestead in this county, where he has remained ever since. There are few men who have seen so much of the world as Mr. Galloway. He has visited South America, New Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, and many other points of interest. At one time he went with a train and a party of six men across the plains to Cali- fornia. Stopping at Salt Lake City, they did some trading with Brigham Young's elder, Hyde. The old priest would not trade with them, but his substitute, Hyde, did the trading in the way of notes, and when they wanted their notes cashed old man Brigham was generous enough to do so, with a small shave of from twenty to thirty per cent .; showing there are some tricks among the
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prophets as well as the gentiles. The country at that time was so new that most of the inhabitants were compelled to live in their wagons. When the name of old Major Galloway is spoken, it carries us back to his boyhood days, and it is hoped the son may live to the good old age of his father.
Jacob Ganyon, grocer, born in Germany in 1854, is the son of John and Elizabeth Ganyon, both natives of Germany, who immi- grated to this country in 1866, with a family of five children. Jacob, the subject of our sketch, was married, in 1879, to Miss Mary Paul, daughter of John and Effie Paul, of Warren County, Ohio. They have one child living, Elizabeth, and one dead, Mary. He is a member of the Red Men, and is now engaged at No. 129 Second Street, Xenia, in the grocery business. Mr. G. is an active, energetic young German, such as our people may be proud to wel- come among them.
George Ganyon, grocer, was born in Europe, January 10, 1852. Is the son of John and Elizabeth Ganyon, both natives of Europe, who immigrated to this country in 1865, with a family of five chil- dren. George, the subject of this sketch, was married, January 28, 1874, to Miss Enz, by whom he had one child, Lucy. Was mar- ried to his second wife, Miss Lelila Kelsay, daughter of John and - Kelsay, on the 25th day of August, 1879, and by her has one child, George. Mr. Ganyon is a member of the German Protest- ant Church, and is now engaged in the grocery and restaurant business, on the Cincinnati pike, in Xenia. Like his brother, he is one of the prosperous Germans that all true Americans take pleas- ure in welcoming to our borders.
M. M. Gaunce, editor Xenia Democrat. The Xenia Democrat- News began its existence sometime in 1872, under the ownership of John Fahey and Frank Funk, then called the Xenia Enterprise. and was independent in politics. In February, 1874, it was changed to the Xenia News, and made a nine-column paper, Fahey, propri- etor, with Coates Kinney the editor, and independent in politics. Early in 1875 W. V. Luce bought a half interest in the paper, be- came its editor, and made it Democratic in politics. In September, 1876, Luce & Fahey sold the paper to M. M. Gaunce. In January, 1878, Gaunce named the paper the Xenia Democrat-News, and has conducted it as a Democratic paper ever since, as it was under the Luce & Fahey proprietorship. Since the time Gaunce became the owner, LeGrand Tiffany has been its foreman, and has set up two
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sides of the paper each week. The paper has been a co-operative, or patent outside, with the exception of short intervals.
John M. Gee, engineer, Wilberforce, Greene County, was born in Ohio, in 1849. Is the son of Charles W. and Jane A. Gee. The former was a native of Ohio, and the latter of Virginia. They had a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters. The subject of our sketch was married to Miss Frances V. Woodson, daughter of George and Anna Woodson, of Jackson County, Ohio, in 1874. Two children, Anna B. and Julia, are the result of this union. Mr. Gee is a practical engineer, and an honor to his pro- fession. He is making his home at Wilberforce.
Ballam T. Goings, farmer, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1822. Is the son of Joel and Elizabeth Goings. His father is a native of ITindostan, and his mother of Dublin. They came to Ohio about 1830, with a family of ten children. Ballam, the sub- ject of our sketch, was married to Miss Mary A. Taylor of Xenia, in 1870, by whom he has four children, Zora B., Peninnah, Tecum- seh, and Oswego K. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in Company C, Eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and partici- pated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Island No. 10, and many others. Received an honorable discharge in 1864, and returned to Rich- mond, Indiana, where he remained five years, and then came to Xenia, remaining in that city ever since. Received his education at Oberlin, Ohio. Spent most of his former life on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. After settling in his present home, he discov- ered on his farm a vein of silver sand, used for molding purposes, which, if properly managed, will give him a comfortable living the remainder of his days. Mr. Going is a man of great energy, and knows the value of his mine, and is now shipping his sand all over the country.
George Gordon, farmer, was born in Cumberland County, Penn- sylvania, September 7, 1786. In 1790 his father removed West, and settled in Kentucky, and in 1802 removed to Ohio, and settled near the present site of Lebanon, then a part of Hamilton County. George remained with his father until 1813, and then married Miss Agnes McDaniel, who was three years his junior, and who had come with her parents from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and settled in Warren County, Ohio, within a few miles of where his parents then lived. In March of the same year the newly-mar- ried couple came to this county, and settled in the woods, in Sugar
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