USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, together with historic notes on the northwest and the state of Ohio > Part 51
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David E. Spahr, physician, New Jasper, this county, was born in the above place in the year 1852, and is a son of Gideon and Eliz- abeth Spahr; his father a native of Virginia, and his mother of Ohio, both having spent the last fifty years in this state, with a fam- ily of twelve children, five daughters and seven sons. The subject of our sketch was married, December 3, 1872, to Emma Highwood, daughter of William and Caroline Highwood, of Van Wert, Ohio, and has a family of one son and three daughters, Lillie M., James
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H., Gertrude C., and Jessie. Received his education at Van Wert, Ohio, and graduated at the Fort Wayne Medical College, in the allopathic school of practice, and has spent the principal portion of his life in this county. Is now residing at New Jasper, where, by his inveterate study and hard work, he has gained a reputation and respect that few of his age have been able to control.
John B. Spencer, proprietor Burnett House, Xenia, was born in this county, December 22, 1845, and is the son of George W. and Mary A. (Faulkner) Spencer. His father, a native of Utica, New York, was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and de- voted his life to the elevation of Christianity. At the age of forty- five he removed to this county, continuing in the service of the Master, and closed his earthly career in 1850, while on a visit to friends in Utica, dying triumphantly. Our subject received a lib- eral education at the Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio. At the age of twenty, he engaged in the mercantile business, at Lam- berton, Ohio, continuing for a period of three years. At twenty- one, he married Hannah Hackney, daughter of Joseph and Debo- rah Hackney, of Wilmington, Ohio. Three children are the fruits of this marriage, Debbie L., George W., and Harry E., all living, and all have amiable dispositions. During the late unpleasantness he was a sergeant in the One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was subsequently engaged in travel- ing, disposing of notions at auction. Abandoning this, he acted in the capacity of traveling salesman, being employed by the well- known firm of Foos & Co., of Springfield, for four years, until Feb- ruary, 1880, when he assumed control of the Burnett House, in this city.
Smith A. Stowe, farmer, was born in this county, in the year 1835. Is the son of Joseph and Mary Stowe, who came to Ohio in the year 1827, with a family of two daughters and one son. Our subject was married, in the year 1867, to Maria S. Hook, daughter of Lewis Hook, whose mother was a Lloyd, one of the old settlers of this county. Received his education at the old Union Seminary, near where he now lives. He and his wife both belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, he being one of the trustees and lead- ing members, and is also one of the successful farmers of the county. During the war his wife was connected with the Christian commission of workers, who so promptly and effectually soothed the cares and anxieties of the sick and wounded soldiers on the
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. field of battle, and is a woman of nerve and energy, equalled by few of her sex. Mr. Stowe was a member of the Seventy-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving three years, and about half of the time was in charge of a supply train, a very responsible position to fill, and in December, before the close, received his discharge. Mrs. Stowe, the mother, settled on Cæsar's Creek in early life, and remained until her family grew up. John L., her brother, became a very popular and prominent minister of the gospel, and a mem- ber of the Methodist Book Concern of Cincinnati, and was also presiding elder for some years, and postmaster at Thorntown, In- diana. IIer brother Matthew was elected to the Indiana Legisla- ture for two terms, and her brother Benjamin F., in Delaware County, has held several offices of importance, and is now county commissioner. ' She had six sisters, also, all of whom married prominent professional men, except Louisa, who remained single until her death. Mr. Stowe is now living about two miles south of Xenia, on one of the finest farms in the county, which speaks for itself of the enterprise of its owner.
S. S. Street, dentist, Xenia, was born in New Burlington, Clinton County, Ohio. His father and mother were born in Lumberton, Pennsylvania, and immigrated to Ohio about the year 1835. Our subject received a common school education in Ohio, and com- menced the study of dentistry in the fall of 1877, graduating at the Ohio College of Dentistry and Surgery in the spring of 1880, and immediately commenced practicing in this city, and has a very fine and rapidly increasing business. Is a single man, and stands second to none in his profession.
Francis A. Stewart, musician, Xenia, born in the State of Vir- ginia, in the year 1854, and only son of William E. and Elvira E. Stewart; received a common school education in this city, and spent his youth in Pickaway, Hardin, and Greene counties, making car- riages and going to school. Left his birthplace in 1857, and came to Ohio, remaining until 1873, when he connected himself with a concert troupe, known as the Tennesseeans (now known as Dono- ven's Tennesseeans, who were engaged in giving concerts, the pro- ceeds of which were for the erection of a new college building at Nashville, Tennessee, for the education of the colored race in the South), and is now tenor singer for the company. Is a Republican in politics, and by his steady habits and economy has amassed a sufficient sum to be the owner of a fine two-story dwelling on Main
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Street in this city. Is also a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and for a single man he is nicely fixed for the future.
J. D. Stine, editor and business manager of the Xenia Torchlight, was born near that city in June, 1833. Received a common school education until seventeen years of age; became a student of Miami Academy, in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1853, and attended An- tioch in 1854-'55; was superintendent of public schools of James- town, in 1855-'56, and principal of the German school department of the public schools of this city, in 1856-'57. Graduated in the scientific department of the Ohio Wesleyan University in 1859, and was superintendent of the public schools of London, Ohio, from 1859 to 1864. Married Miss Jennie A. Evans, of Delaware, Ohio, in 1860, and was a member of the board of school examiners of Madison County for eleven years; clerk of the Ohio House of Rep- resentatives from 1874 to 1876; editor and proprietor of the Madi- son County Union from 1863 to 1870, since which time he has been connected with the Torchlight, as above mentioned, a paper having as large, if not a larger, circulation than any paper in the county.
L. A. F. Summers, engineer, Xenia, was born July 22, 1832, on the Great Kanawha River, near Red House shoals, in Mason Coun- ty, Virginia, and is a son. of Lewis, one of ten children, five sons and five daughters, of Francis and Sarah Summers. But little is known of their ancestry. Lewis died August 24, 1833, in his twenty-fourth year. Three years before his death he was married to Samantha Webster, a native of New York, born September 2, 1805, and daughter of Augustine and Mary (Tyler) Webster, both natives of Connecticut. They immigrated to Ohio in 1810, and located in Meigs County, on the Ohio River. After remaining there a short time, they moved to near Chester, in the same county, where they raised a family of seven sons and five daughters. When two years of age, the subject of this sketch came with his widowed mother to Meigs County, this state; thence to Athens County; and from there to Washington County, near Plymouth. He received a common school education at Savannah, and after- wards attended Coolville Seminary, and Delaware College. At the age of eighteen he began teaching during the winter, and in the summer worked on the farm. In the fall of 1853 he moved to Bellbrook, this county, and devoted his entire time to teaching. In 1855 he was married to Miss Eleanor J., second daughter of
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Henry and Elizabeth (Lawrence) Mills. Seven children were born unto them. Two boys (twins) died when but a few days old; the others, three sons and two daughters, are living. Mr. Summers continued his teaching for ten years ; was a strict disciplinarian, and was accounted a thorough educator. Many of our eminent busi- ness men credit him with giving them their first start. In the fall of 1863, finding that teaching brought too small an income for a growing family, he attended the Dayton Commercial College until he secured a situation as book-keeper. Remaining there about six years, he left Dayton, and settled on a farm near Bellbrook. Fi- nancially, his farming was a failure; and at the end of ten years he relinquished it, and resumed book-keeping. IIe has suc- · ceeded in raising a family who are entirely free from all the vices of the world,-not even using tobacco,-all of whom bid fair to fill any position of trust in the community, creditably to themselves and their employers. During the war he was drafted, but was dis- charged on account of physical disability. In politics he is an unswerving Republican, yet always ready to oppose dishonesty, wire-working, or any unfair means of electing a candidate. He is at all times a strong advocate of temperance, and all measures for its promotion. Since 1851 he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is ever ready to espouse the cause of the oppressed against the oppressor, justice against injustice, morality against immorality, and right against wrong.
Oscar Summers, engineer, was born in this county, July 10, 1856, and is a son of Henry and Matilda Summers, who raised a family of five children, all living, but one. His father was a native of South Carolina, and his mother of this county. Oscar, the subject of our sketch, was married August, 1876, to Miss Fannie Sterling. They have a family of two sons, Earl and Albert. The principal part of his life has been passed in Xenia, where he received his education. He is now employed as engineer at the Greene County Infirmary-a position for which he is admirably adapted. Mr. Summers has made hosts of friends by his promptness and sterling qualities.
George W. Thomas, carpenter, Xenia, was born in Berkeley County, Virginia, in the year 1821, and is a son of Archibald and Catharine Thomas. Ilis father was a native of Wales, and his mother of Germany. They immigrated to America about the year 1800, with a family of thirteen children. George W. was married,
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September 5, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Gaskill, daughter of Hudson and Mary Gaskill, of New York. During the war he was one of the " squirrel hunters," who drove Morgan from Ohio soil in 1864. Received his education in this county, and is now extensively en- gaged in carpentering. Being an active, jovial man, and having traveled for some thirty years, has many friends and acquaintances.
Alfred Trader, cashier First National Bank, Xenia, was born in this county in 1810. A limited common school education was all that was bestowed upon him. In 1834 he was married to Miss Lucinda Robbins, and has a family of four sons and one daughter. He was engaged in the mercantile business with his father for a number of years. In 1839 he was elected county treasurer, and continued in that position for twelve years. At the end of that time he was elected cashier of the Xenia Branch Bank, and con- tinued in that capacity after it was merged into the First National Bank of Xenia. In 1871 he was succeeded by another party, and in 1878 was again elected to the position, which he continues to occupy at the present time. He is a self-made man, and compe- tent to fill any business position.
George Watson, farmer, Xenia, was born in Virginia, in the year 1816, and is a son of Francis and Martha Watson-both Virginians -who immigrated to Ohio in 1818, with a family of three sons and six daughters. George, the youngest, was married in 1840 to Miss Cynthia A. McDaniel, who bore him one son. His wife died in April, 1841. Mr. Watson was again married, the lady being Miss Margaret Richarson, by whom he has four children : James W., John F., William H., Sarah E., Robert L., and Thomas R., all liv- ing. Mr. Watson received a common school education in this county. His son, James, served over three years in the Union army, in the Thirty-Fourth Ohio Regiment. William was in the one hundred days service, and his son John enlisted, but was sent back from Camp Dennison. All were honorably discharged. Mr. Watson and his sons are among the most energetic farmers in the county.
George Watt, physician and dentist, Xenia, was born in this county in the year 1820, and is a son of Hugh and Isabella Watt ; his father a native of Belfast, Ireland, and his mother of-Pennsyl- vania. The former immigrated to Ohio in 1790, and was the young- est brother of the famous Scotch chemist, James Watt, of Glasgow, Scotland, who was the discoverer of the composition of water, for
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which the University of Glasgow awarded him a medal, which his nephew George, the subject of our sketch, now has in his posses- sion. His father had a family of six sons and three daughters, Mary, John, Hugh, Jane, Thomas, Nancy, Andrew, James M., and George, our subject, who was married, in the year 1845, to Miss Sarah J. McConnell, of this city. Having no children, they adopt- ed a daughter, now Mrs. William H. Sillito, of this city. Mr. Watt was surgeon of the One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry from May 2, 1864, to September 4, 1864, and was com- pelled to resign on account of physical disability. Held a profes- sorship in the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, in Cincinnati, for twenty years, and also edited the Dental Register for fifteen years. Received his professional education at the Medical College, and Ohio College of Dental Surgery, at Cincinnati. Is also the author of Watt's Chemical Essays, published in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, in 1867, and also author of the one-hundred-dollar prize essay of the Mississippi Valley Association of Dentists, besides many other articles of note. He was twice elected professor of chemistry of two different colleges in New York city, but was con- pelled to refuse all on account of ill-health. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church, and has held the po- sition of elder for many years. With the exception of about five years, his life has been spent in Ohio, where he is extensively known. ,
David B Watt, farmer, was born in this county, in the year 1855, and is a son of William and Sarah G. Watt, both' natives of Scot- land. His father immigrated to this country in 1833, and his mother in 1837. They had a family of ten children, all of whom are now living but three daughters. David, the subject of our sketch, was married September 2, 1880, to Miss. Anna Fleming daughter of J. B. Fleming, of Xenia. IIe received his education in this county, where his life has been passed. Mr. Watt and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church, of Xenia. They own a farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres, one and a half miles east of the city, and it is a model for those who seek to find only that which is best.
Samuel M. Wead, farmer, Xenia, was born in this county, March 2, 1856, and is a son of Joseph and Martha A. Wead; his father a native of Ohio, and his mother of Virginia, who had a family of twelve children, three of whom are dead, Mary, Narcissus, and Da-
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vid. The living are James A., William S., Alice L., Samuel M., Jennie I., Mattie A., Amanda, Joseph S., and George W. Samuel M., the subject of our sketch, is a single man, and is living with his father, who was born near Dayton, Ohio, and has lived in this county nearly fifty years.
Paul Weiss, insurance agent, Xenia, born in Weissbach, Rhein Phalz, a province of Bavaria, is a son of Jacob and Maria Weiss, natives of Germany. His mother died when he was an infant, and his father after he left his home for the new country. The subject of our sketch came to this country in February, 1866, and has made his home in this city ever since. In 1874 he was married to Min- nie J. Schury, of this city, daughter of II. G. and Charlotta Schury. They have three children, Emma E., Edgar H., and Paul, all living. IIe has been for years a leading member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and now a grand officer; also a member of the Odd- fellows. Is now engaged in the insurance and real estate business, and represents some of the European steamship lines, and a gene- ral European business, such as sending and collecting moneys, and issuing letters of credit to all parts of Europe. Is one of our liveliest business men, and has handled in his business, within the last six months, between sixty and one hundred thousand dollars in foreign moneys, and about sixty thousand dollars' worth of property, not including his other transactions. He has made him- self among the first and most respected in his line of business in the county. Is a man who has never had the advantage of an En- glish education, and while he recognizes this as the greatest nation on earth, he still clings to his original language, and prides himself on being a German, and a citizen of this great country.
Prof. Charles A. White, Xenia, was born in New Vienna, Ohio, in the year 1860. Is a son of Stephen D. and Fannie F. White. Received his education at Washington Court House, and spent the principal portion of his life there. He teaches organ and piano music; has been engaged in teaching about four years, and has been very successful. Is a member of the African Methodist Epis- copal Church, and in politics is a Republican.
David M. Wright, farmer, was born March 3, 1852. Is a son of Merritt and Mary B. Wright. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of this county. His father came to Ohio about the year 1837, and has a family of eight children living. David, the subject of our sketch, was married, October 7, 1879, to Lura M.
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Tiffany, daughter of the late Thomas Tiffany, one of Xenia's old settlers. Both himself and wife are very zealous members of the Second Presbyterian Church of Xenia. Received a common school education in this county, where he has spent his life. His father died while he was quite young, and he was put with Stephen Led- better to be raised, who was a cousin of his father, and judging from the looks of things, he has been well paid for his trouble in raising him; for he has certainly a model farm, and it tells what kind of a man is at its head. In politics he is a staunch Republi- can, and a great reader, and for a man of his age, is well posted on most of the important topics of the day.
John F. Wright, retired farmer, Xenia; born in South Carolina, in the year 1818; son of Andrew and Rachel R. Wright, natives of South Carolina, who immigrated to Ohio in the year 1832, with a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters: Mary E., Jane D., William F., John F., Sarah A., Margaret L., Rachel, and Andrew E. Our subject, John F., was married, in the year 1842, to Miss Eliza Ann Jackson, daughter of David and Anna Jackson, of Cedarville, Ohio. He had one child by his first wife, Andrew J., who died in 1848. In the year 1852, he married Miss Rebecca Van Eaton, daughter of John and Sarah Van Eaton, of Xenia, and by her had three children, one son and two daughters: George L., Sarah E., and Mary. Their son died in 1870, leaving them their two daughters. Mr. Wright received his early education in South Carolina, and spent his wild boyhood days there, as one of many of his boyhood adventures, on an old gray horse, will show. At the age of ten, his father sent him on an errand, on the old horse, and wishing to make a quick trip, he put on a pair of spurs. Planting them in the sides of the old gray, he had his desired wish, for off he went at full speed; and a hunter seeing him coming, mistook him for a deer, and came very near shooting him. But the old horse kept on, and landed him, luckily, at the very house to which he was going, and he was well enough satisfied not to re- peat the operation in returning home. Both his wife and himself. are now members of the United Presbyterian Church. He is on the shady side of life, but is a man of uncommon energy and activ- ity; is of a genial disposition, and well beloved by all who know him. He is on the retired list of farmers, and in his old age has plenty of this world's goods to ease his journey the remaining days of his pilgrimage.
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James E. Wright, engineer in fire department, was born in Xenia, on the 13th day of February, 1846, and is a son of William and Ursula Wright. His father was a native of Washington County, Maryland, and his mother of Xenia. Our subject is the only one living out of a family of five children. Received his education in Xenia, where his youth was spent. At the age of eighteen he left school, and entered the army, and after receiving an honorable dis- charge, engaged in railroading through the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, which he followed a number of years. After be- coming tired of the railroad business, he entered the Xenia Fire Department, as engineer, where he still remains. This is acknowl- edged to be one of the best trained fire departments in Ohio, a full notice of which is given in another part of this work, and a man can feel proud to belong to it. He was also in the one hundred day service, and is a member of Shawnee Encampment No. 20, and Lodge No. 52, I. O. O. F. He was married in Dayton, Ohio, in January, 1879, to Miss Carrie E. Drake, daughter of John and Kate Drake, of Janesville, Ohio. They have one child, Maine D., born October 20, 1879.
John B. Wright, farmer, was born in South Carolina, in the year 1808, and is a son of William and Nancy Wright, both natives of that state, who immigrated to Ohio in the year 1830, with a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters. John B., the sub- ject of our sketch, was married, in 1835, to Miss Sidney Simpson, daughter of William and Mary Simpson, of Xenia. Their family consisted of three children, William, Mary, and Samuel, all of whom have been called to their final home. He and his wife are members of the Third Presbyterian Church of Xenia. Received his education in South Carolina, and has spent most of his life in this county, having lived here fifty-one years. Speaking of the past, he remarked that the year 1812 was the hardest time ever known in his history, many families begging to work for their board and clothes. In that year, also, was seen the largest and plainest comet ever known, which caused much alarm, many think- ing the day of judgment had come.
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CEDARVILLE TOWNSHIP.
Cedarville Township was organized in 1850, and is composed of portions of Xenia, Miami, and Ross townships. Its outline is ex- ceedingly irregular, and has been compared to a headless bat with outstretched wings. It lies in the northern part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Miami, and by Green, one of the south- ern townships of Clarke County. Ross Township bounds it on the east, New Jasper on the south, and Xenia Township on the west.
Some of the earliest settlers in the county located here, owing to the peculiar advantages of the place, which afforded an abundant quantity of water, which might be utilized in running mills of various kinds, so necessary to the prosperity of a new colony; and also a superabundance of what was then an almost impenetrable forest.
The population of the township, according to the census com- pleted in June, 1880, was 2,716. Cedarville village, alone, has a population of 1,046.
The topography of the township does not differ materially from that of the surrounding townships. It contains something more than twenty-three thousand acres of land, the greater part of which is tillable and highly productive. The soil is a rich, black loam, of great depth. Part of the township abounds with an abundance of limestone, the quality of which is not surpassed in our state. The manufacture of lime, therefore, is one of the chief industries of the place, and from this source a great deal of money pours into the township. It is estimated that the amount of lime ship- ped from Cedarville each year will average $60,000 worth; and as the quantity of limestone appears inexhaustable, there is nothing to prevent this amount being greatly increased. The surface of the township is generally rolling, and is crossed from northeast to southwest by Massie's Creek, which is the only stream of any his- torical importance in the township. It received its name from 536
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