History of Greene County, together with historic notes on the northwest and the state of Ohio, Part 57

Author: R. S. Dills
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1037

USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, together with historic notes on the northwest and the state of Ohio > Part 57

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IIenry Ankeney, farmer, deceased, was born near Byron, on the place where his wife and children now reside, in the year 1823, and was a son of Henry and Esther Ankeney. His boyhood was passed on the farm, receiving his education in the common schools, and working for his father until over twenty-one years of age. In 1850 he was married to Evaline, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Marley) Greene, by whom he had eight children, seven living : Margaret, Harriet E., George W., Sarah E., Johanna, Ruth, and Marcellus N., deceased. After their marriage they located on the present farm, and after five years went to Mahaska County, Iowa, where they resided four years, and then returned, that he might be near his aged father. His farm consisted of one hundred and sixty-

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eight acres, on which he resided till his death, December 11, 1879. He was much beloved and respected, and his death was universally regretted. Mrs. Ankeney was born in Berkeley County, Virginia, in the year 1823, and when two years old, came with her parents to Ohio, and settled in Licking County, making the journey in a cart, with eight children. They afterward came to this county, and lo- cated in this township, where they lived till their death at the age of seventy-six years. To them thirteen children were born. Mrs. Ankeney is a member of the German Reformed Church, which she joined at the age of seventeen.

Thomas Bigger, retired farmer, was born in Kentucky, in 1792. Is a son of John and Mary Bigger. His father was born in Ire- land, and his mother in Pennsylvania, where they were married, and afterward removed to Kentucky. In 1806 they removed to Montgomery County, Ohio, and were among the pioneers of that county, in which they lived and died. They were parents of ten children, four of whom are living, Joseph, Mary, James, and Thomas. The former lives in Xenia, and James on the home farm in Montgomery County. The deceased are Hugh, Rebecca, Han- nah, Sarah, William, and John. Mr. and Mrs. Bigger lived to a good old age, he dying upward of forty years ago, and she about twenty years since. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, and received a common school education in the district schools. He has been thrice married; first, with Hannah Snow- den, by whom he had two children, Samuel and Maria, now Mrs. Thomas White. His second marriage was celebrated with Catha- rine (Conaver) Bradford, who bore him one child, John B. His third and last marriage was consummated with Elizabeth (Cunning- ham) Dallas, by whom he has had three children, two of whom are living, Samuel, Elizabeth, and James, deceased. About the year 1856, he came to the place where he now lives, and is the owner of one hundred and eighty acres of fine land, which is highly im- proved, making a beautiful and comfortable place, in which he and his aged wife may end their declining years. They are both mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church, to which they have been connected for many years, he having been a ruling elder for more than half a century, and has always taken much interest in matters pertaining to religion ; and though we find them far down the hill, toward the setting sun of life, both are reconciled to the will of their Master, and are patiently awaiting his summons. His de-

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ceased wives were also members of the same church, as also are his children, which is a source of gratification to their aged parents. Officially, he has served the people in his township as clerk, etc. In politics he is a Republican, and during his long life has upheld the principles of that party by influence and ballot. Ifis father left the South when the shadow and curse of slavery be- gan to darken that fair land, and sought an asylum in the free states, to be away from its taint and accursed influence. He was a strong anti-slavery man, and did all in his power to hasten the free- dom of the unfortunate and down-trodden blacks. He and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian Church, of which both, after a long and useful life, passed away as bulwarks. By his mar- riage with his last wife, he had two children, Dinsmore and Martha.

Samuel Brown, farmer, was born in Pennsylvania, November 17, 1816, and is a son of George and Elizabeth Brown, who were born in the same state, in which they were married and lived until 1824, when they immigrated to Ohio, locating near Bellbrook, where they made a permanent home, and died at advanced ages. They had seven children, five of whom are living: Anthony, Abraham, George, Adam, and Samuel. The deceased were Catharine and Mary. They were members of the German Reformed Church, and exemplary Christians, their death being regretted by all. Our subject was reared on the farm; was eight years old when he came to Ohio, and thus early in life became an auxiliary in the labor of the farm, and remained with his father until of age, when he began life for himself. He engaged in job chopping, a work in which he took great delight, and old as he is, can swing an ax with much of

- his youthful vigor. February 11, 1840, he was married to Eva Snypp, who bore him six children, four of whom are living: Chris- tina, Jacob, Marcellus, and Franklin. The deceased are George and Mary. Mrs. Brown died in 1856. She was a member of the Reformed Church. ITis second marriage was celebrated with Char- lotte (Clark) Sellers, August 28, 1856. She has borne him three children, Charles A., Benjamin II., and Charlotte F. In 1840 he came to where he now lives. He is one of the men of this county who had a full share in bringing about its present almost perfect state of perfection. Is self-made, beginning life without means, and from his first eighteen months' labor with an ax, saved $200, which was the nucleus of his present large property. Ile and his wife are members of the German Reformed Church, he joining

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when first married, and both take much interest in religious mat- ters. Her parents, Benjamin and Elizabath Clark, came to Ohio in an early day, locating in Clarke County, where her father died. Her mother departed this life in Montgomery County, aged thirty- five years. Her father was born in England, and they were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and parents of four children, two living: Benjamin and Charlotte. The deceased are Rachel and Samuel. Mrs. Bigger had five children by her first husband (Mr. Sellers), three of whom are living : Henry. Scott, and Elizabeth. The deceased are Zachariah T. and Anna. Henry was a member of Company E, Seventy-Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting at the beginning of the war, and serving until the close. He was twice wounded, once severely through the right arm. Scott was a member of the same regiment.

John Burrows, deceased, was born in Maryland, in the year 1800. HIe was the son of William and Priscilla Burrows, who immigrated to Ohio in 1810, and in 1814 located on land where Sarah Burrows now resides. Here a permanent home was made, then land was cleared up and improved, and, in the course of human events, be- came one of the pleasant places in the township. Grandfather William Burrows died in 1827 or 1828, aged about sixty-one years. Priscilla, his wife, departed this life some six years afterwards. They were parents of fourteen children, six living, viz: Martha J., Sarah, Anineta, Margaret, Richard, and Joseph. John Burrows was married to Eliza Davis in 1837, by whom he had five children, of whom only one, Sarah, is living; the deceased are William C., Nelson D., Matilda, Mrs. Fogle, and Mary T. On the land settled by his father, he made a life-long place of residence, and at his death left one hundred and sixty acres of fine land. He died in 1870, aged seventy years. ITis wife preceded him to her last rest- ing place in 1864, aged fifty-three years. She was a member of the Reformed Dutch Church till her death. Nelson was a member of Company D, Twenty-Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting in the begining of the war, August 31, 1861. He saw much active service, and passed through many of the hard-fought battles of the war, and after his return home, died of wounds contracted while in the service of his country.

Jacob Coy, retired farmer, Alpha, is the oldest living settler in this township. He was born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1792, being a son of Jacob and Susana Coy, who were born in Ger-

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many. They, with their parents, came to America when yet young, and while on the voyage, Jacob's parents died and were buried in mid-ocean. Their effects were confiscated by the ship's crew, and their children, seven in number, were thrown upon the shores of a new world penniless, in consequence of which they were sold to pay transportation. He (Jacob) was eighteen years old at the time, and labored six years for a Pennsylvania planter to free himself and younger brothers and sisters. IIe afterwards located in Maryland, where he was married, and lived a number of years, accumulating three hundred and fifty acres of land. When married he borrowed the money to cover necessary expenses. In 1800 he immigrated to Ohio, coming down the river to Cincinnati, where he stopped two months. Then there were only sixteen low log cabins in the place. He was importuned to stay, but pushed his way by team and wagon to Greene County; their way was cut through the woods in ad- vance of the teams, and were eight days in coming. He purchased three thousand acres of land, all in a body, and erected a small log cabin, into which he moved his family. Two kegs of nails used in the erection of the cabin, were brought from Cincinnati on horse- back, by young Jacob, our subject, for which twelve and one-half cents per pound were paid. Here Jacob Coy, sen., lived and died, his death occurring in 1835 or 1836, at the age of ninety-three years. His wife died about 1840, aged eighty-three years. They were parents of twelve children, all dead except Jacob, who was the youngest. They were members of the German Reformed Church of many years standing. Jacob was eight years old when his parents landed in Ohio, and distinctly remembers counting the houses in Cincinnati, and says he has gathered hazel-nuts where the city of Dayton stands. He has seen many hardships, and often working till midnight in burning brush; he has hauled flour from Cincinnati for $2.50 per barrel; wheat was sold for twenty-five cents per bushel, corn ten cents, coffee seventy-five cents per pound, and of the latter, three or four pounds did an ordinary family a year. He labored on the farm for his father till of age, when he began life for himself, but remained with his aged parents, to whom he was much attached, caring for them while they lived. On the old home farm he has lived four score years, and witnessed all the great changes that have transformed the wilderness to a garden of peace and plenty. In 1813 he was married to Barbara, daughter of Leonard Snypp, who bore him twelve children, five living; Peter,

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Henry, Adam, Leonard, and Susana. The deceased were, Rebecca, Catherine, Sarah, Jacob, David, Anna, and an infant. Mrs. Coy died in 1859 or 1860. Both were members of the German Re- formed Church, having joined after their marriage. He has served as elder and deacon for twenty years. In politics he is a Republi- can, and during his long life has failed but once to cast his ballot for the benefit of that party.

Benjamin F. Darst, the subject of this sketch, was born in Lost Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, on the 16th day of Decem- ber, 1838. His ancestors were German. His father, Rev. John Darst, an eminent minister of the German Baptist Church, was born in Franklin County, Virginia, January 1, 1790, came to Day- ton, Ohio, in 1813, and settled in Miami County, Ohio, January 18, 1818, and died June 24, 1875. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary Strasburg, after whose family name the city of Strasburg, in Germany, was named, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, and came, with her parents, to Ohio in 1818, and now resides near Troy, Miami County, Ohio. Mr. Darst received a fair common school education ; then at the age of sixteen he entered the New Carlisle Academy for two winters, assisting on his father's farm during the summer. Taught school one winter, and then engaged in farming for his father. He was married on the 29th day of March, 1860, to Miss Rebecca Ann Shoup, whose father, Rev. Moses Shoup, of the German Baptist Church, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, on the 1st of October, 1793, and came with his parents, George and Charlotte Shoup, to Greene County, Ohio, in the spring of 1805. Her mother came with her parents to Mont- gomery County, Ohio, in 1804, and was joined in marriage to Mr. Shoup in 1818, and died January 11, 1877, having lived together almost sixty years. Mr. Darst removed to Greene County immedi- ately after his marriage, and engaged in farming. He lived with and cared for his wife's parents, who were now in declining years, until their death, and still lives on the old Shoup homestead. The issue of his marriage was four children, three sons and one daugh- ter: John Charles Darst, born May 18, 1861; Moses Darst, born January 8, 1868: Lizzie Darst, born September 4, 1871, and Harry Darst, born April 2, 1877. In the year 1861, when the war broke out, Mr. Darst used his influence and means to encourage enlist- ment to fill the ranks of the Union army, and in the summer of 1863 joined Company D, Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer Militia, and was

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elected and commissioned Second Lieutenant of his company. In the year 1864, when Governor Brough made a call for one hundred days volunteers, he went with his regiment to Camp Dennison, on the 2d day of May, 1864, and was mustered into the United States service as Second Lieutenant of Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Ohio National Guards, under command of Colonel Robert Stevenson; was transferred to New Creek Station, West Virginia, and from thence to Greenland Gap, and was engaged in scouting until July 28, when the regiment was ordered to fall back to New Creek and await the enemy under Johnson and MeCaus- land, who attacked us about 2 o'clock P. M., August 4. The engagement was a warm one, and lasted until after dark. The Union forces, under command of Colonel Stevenson, acquitted them- selves bravely, and during this engagement, Lieutenant Darst took an active part. IIe was always a favorite among his comrades, and his genial, pleasant disposition and social qualties, made him friends of them all. After returning from the service and being mustered out at Camp Dennison, September 1, 1864, his captain, II. B. Guth- erie, died, and Lieutenant Darst was unanimously chosen as captain of his company, which position he held until the war closed, and his regiment was disbanded. He was appointed notary public, is a surveyor and civil engineer. In the spring of 1865 he was elected township trustee for four consecutive years, until he declined serv- ing any longer. He was also for many years a member of the board of education. In 1879 was elected real estate appraiser, and in spring of 1880 appraised all the real estate in Beaver Creek Township; was a delegate to the state conventions when Hon. John Brough and Hon. R. B. Hayes were nominated and subsequently elected governors of the state. In the spring of 1879 he and his estimable wife united with the German Baptist Church, at Zimmer- manville, and he was elected to the ministry the following year, and in that capacity has served the church until the present time, being a faithful minister and a good counsellor in all matters pertaining to the peculiarities of his fraternity. The residence and farm of Mr. Darst are two miles south of Shoups Station or Zimmermanville, on the road leading to Bellbrook, near Mount Zion Church.

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. IIe 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 II. 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 arc 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. IIe 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. Ile 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 II., George II., 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. IIe 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 sick 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. Rahn) ; 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.

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History of Greene County, together with historic notes on the northwest and the state of Ohio, Part 57

Author: R. S. Dills Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1037

Author: R. S. Dills
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1037