USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, together with historic notes on the northwest and the state of Ohio > Part 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
Digitized by Google
651
SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
he is a Republican, having always voted with that party upon all questions at issue.
Joseph Holmes, farmer, Beavertown, was born on .the place where he now lives, in 1839. Is a son of Samuel and Mary (Stew- ard) Holmes, pioneers, whose history appears in this work. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, and received an or- dinary education in the common schools. In 1867, he was married to Sarah A. Porter, who bore him three children, Elizabeth M., Mary I., and Sarah A. Mrs. Holmes departed this life in 1875, aged thirty-three years. His second marriage was celebrated, in 1878, with Anna Crawford. Mr. Holmes has lived in this county all his life. Was engaged in the hardware business in Xenia for two years. Is a member of the Sugar Creek United Presbyterian Church, as is also his wife, having been connected with it some years. Politically, he is a Republican, and has always voted with that party.
W. A. Hopkins, Bellbrook, was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1835, and is a son of Samuel II. and Mary A. Hopkins. The boyhood of our subject was passed in the village of Bellbrook, re- ceiving his education in the common schools. In 1851, he entered the store of B. F. Allen & Co., with whom he remained fourteen years, learning the different phases of mercantile life. In the spring of 1865 he became a partner to his employer, Mr. Allen, for a limited term of three years, and at the expiration of two years Mr. Allen failed, when Mr. Hopkins purchased the stock and con- tinued the business for six years, when he sold to Thomas White, and has since acted as business manager for that gentleman. No- vember 23, 1859, he was married to Hannah J., daughter of Thomas White, by whom he has had six children, Stella, Mary M., Thomas, Kate, Grace, and another, who died in infancy. IIe and his wife have been members of the United Presbyterian Church for thirty years. John and Francis, brothers of Mr. Hopkins, were members of Company F, Thirty-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served during the war, and were honorably discharged. Mr. Hopkins is a member of the town council and school board, offices he has held for several years.
Archibald Huston, farmer, deceased, was born near Dayton, in the year 1816, and was a son of John and Margaret Huston. His early life was passed in his native place, and after attaining his ma- jority came to this county. October 22. 1835, he was married to
Digitized by Google
652
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Barbara Swigart, daughter of Michael and Sarah Swigart, whose history appears in this work. They lived for three years after their marriage on her father's place, and in the spring of 1838 came to where his widow and family now reside, and made a permanent home, clearing and improving a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which is located one of the best stone quarries in the county. To them ten children were born, Caroline, Martha E., Sarah E., William, Philena, Eliza J., Anna, Mary C., Harrison, and George W., the latter deceased, who was a member of Company E, Ninety-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting in 1863, serving two years, and passing through a number of engagements, being ' instantly killed, by a shot through the head, at the battle of Resacca, Georgia, on the 14th day of May, 1864, aged eighteen years. Wil- liam was a member of Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth O. N. G., served his time, and came home uninjured. Mr. Huston was a member of the Lutheran Church, and departed this life Octo- ber 11, 1875. Mrs. Huston was born in 1816, and is also a Lu- theran.
Nathan James, farmer, Bellbrook, was born in this state, May 13, 1833, and is a son of David W. and Rebecca (Austen) James, who were the parents of nine children, all of whom are living: Nathan, Emily, William, Angeline, Lydia, Julia, John, Jennie, and Benjamin. Our subject was reared on the farm, and received the rudiments of his education in the district schools; afterwards attending a graded school in Bellbrook, where he graduated. He commenced teaching at the age of twenty-five, and continued in that capacity for twelve years-farming during the summer season. In the spring of 1868 he closed his last school, and turned his whole attention to farming. Since that time he has settled his father's estate, and also Mr. Hoblit's. Mr. James now owns one hundred acres of land, all in a good state of cultivation. Has been township trustee for the last four years. Is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Lewis A. Kemp, farmer, born in Montgomery County, July 30, 1825, son of Isaac, and Margaret (Herring) Kemp; they were par- ents of five children, three of whom are now living, Lewis A., Jacob HI. and Dr. J. D. Kemp. Mrs. Kemp was a native of Germany, and came to this country with her parents in 1805, and settled in this county. Mr. Kemp was born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1786, and with his parents came to Ohio, in 1806, where he re-
Digitized by Google
653
SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
mained about six months, then returned to his native state, and completed his education. He then became an educator, a profes- sion he followed for about six or eight years, after which time he married, and moved on a farm his father gave him, where he re- mained till his death, December 24, 1871, aged eighty-five years. Our subject was reared on the farm, where he received the rudi- ments of his education in the country schools ; he afterwards com- pleted his education in the city schools of Dayton. He commenced teaching, December 7, 1846 in winter, and farming summer time, and continued for about twelve years. In 1859 he married, and turned his whole attention to farming, which he has followed ever since, and now owns two hundred and four acres of land, all in good cultivation and well improved. Mr. Kemp has filled most of the township offices in Mad River Township, Montgomery County. Trustee two years, assessor one year, and clerk for twelve or four- teen years, and was appointed school examiner by Judge Bagget, and served two years and three months. He is a member of HIar- rison Lodge, No. 331, Odd-fellows, and has filled many of the offices in the subordinate lodge, and is now a member of the encampment. IIe has been a consistent member of the German Reformed Church for thirty-two years, holding the office of deacon six years, and elder for some time, and was obliged to resign on account of re- moval to this county, in 1875. Mr. Kemp was married March 24, 1859, to Hester A. Taylor, to whom were born six children, five of whom are now living, Stephen A., Josephine, Lewis A., Adia L., and Horace S. John T. died at the age of three years.
William S. Morris, surveyor and farmer, Bellbrook, was born in Warren County, February 11, 1811, and is a son of Benjamin and Mary P. (Spinning) Morris. They were both from New Jersey, and came to Ohio in 1790. Mr. Morris at the age of sixteen help- ed to build the fort at Round Bottom, where he remained for about five years, farming, as did most of the inmates of the fort; work- ing in the day time and doing guard duty at night. At the age of twenty he was married to his first wife, who bore him one child, and shortly after its birth both died of the small-pox. He after- wards married Mary Spinning, by whom he had ten children, only three of whom are now living: Isaac, Phobe (wife of John Herd, now living in Champaign County), and William S. The greater part of Mr. Morris' married life was spent in Unionville, near Shakertown, Warren County, where he reared and educated
Digitized b Google
654
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
his family. He died while on a visit to his son William, at the advanced age of eighty-eight. Our subject was reared on the farm, where he received the rudiments of his education, which was afterwards developed by a course in Lebanon College. He then began teaching school, which he followed for about four years. At the end of that time, he engaged in engineering on the Warren County canal, where he remained for three years, when he again turned his attention to teaching, but this time for about seven years. He then married, and turned his whole attention to farm- ing and surveying, which he has followed ever since; being the owner of one hundred and seventy acres of land, well improved. December 31, 1845, he united his fortunes with those of Mary Pence. To them were born twelve children, seven of whom are now living : Olive A, a graduate of the medical department of the State University of Iowa, and is the first and only female graduate in Greene County ; Wickliff C., Mattie, wife of S. E. Raper, of Bellbrook; Alice, Lucy B., Clara, and William S. The deceased are Clara, Lucy, Benjamin, and two who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are members of the Christian Church.
S. B. Murphy, farmer, was born in Centerville, Montgomery County, August, 1818, and is a son of John C. and Mary (Beck) Murphy. Mr. Murphy was born in 1790, in Kentucky, and Mrs. Murphy in Ohio. Mr. Murphy came to Ohio in 1812, and immedi- ately on his arrival here, enlisted to serve in the war of 1812, and was transferred to the front at once, and went into active service. IIe served during the war, and at its close was honorably discharg- ed. Our subject was reared on the farm, and received the rudi- ments of his education in a cooper-shop on one corner of the farm, and graduated in a six cornered brick school house on another corner of the same farm, and afterwards taught one term in the same school house. After teaching, he took a course in a higher school, then married, and went to farming on a farm of his father's: he only remained two years on the farm at that time, then went to Dayton and started butchering, and continued in this business three years, when he embarked in the hotel business in Cincinnati, where he remained for two years; going west to Hancock County, Illinois, he purchased a tract of land, remained one year, sold out, and went to California, in the fall of 1852, and returned in the spring of 1854, a sadder, but wiser man. Ile then purchased a farm one mile north of Bellbrook, and gave his whole attention to farming
Digitized by Google
655
SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
for about nine years, when he entered the coal trade extensively, one year in Dayton, and nine in Cincinnati. IIe again went west to Nemaha County, Kansas, and there engaged in merchandising, stock raising, feeding and farming. He had a general store in the county seat of Nemaha County, where he did an extensive business for five years, and then came back and purchased the homestead where he has remained ever since. Mr. Murphy now owns two hundred and thirty acres where he lives, and a large tract of land in Kansas. . Our subject was married to Miss A. Messler, March .3, 1841, who bore him five children, three of whom are now living, Maria E., now Mrs. Bagget, William R. and Ella J. The deceased are Albert A. and John C. S. B. Murphy has been a Mason for forty years. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy and family, are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.
John M. Stake, undertaker and manufacturer of furniture, Bell- brook, was born in Washington County, Maryland, in 1808. Is a son of Anthony and Catharine Stake, who were born in Pennsyl- vania, and when young removed with their parents to Williams- port, where they were married. Anthony was a boat carpenter, and built boats that plied on the Potomac. They both died in Maryland, he at the age of sixty, and she at the age of fifty-five. They were parents of twelve children, two living-Eli and John M., the subject of our sketch, who went to live on a farm in Berk- eley County, Virginia, at the age of eleven, remaining there four years, and then went to Pennsylvania and learned his trade. In 1838 he came to Ohio, the trip being made by team in seventeen days, and has since prosecuted his trade in Bellbrook, making furniture and doing an undertaking business. IIe has held the office of trustee for nine years, and is a member of the council. In politics, he is a Democrat, having cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. In 1832 he was married to Harriet Shriver, of Mary- land, by whom he has had eight children, George W., Catharine, Ellen, Carrie, Thomas E., Mary, John, and Henry C. Mr. and Mrs. Stake have lived together as man and wife nearly half a cen- tury; have seen their youngest child reach the age of thirty, and half their children married and settled in homes of their own, and though far advanced in years, we find them in health and strength, and bid fair to live many years to enjoy the fruits of their hard- earned labor.
Solomon Swigart, farmer, Bellbrook, was born on the old home
Digitized by Google
656
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
farm, where Michael, his brother, lives, in the year 1832. Is a son of Michael and Sarah (Ware) Swigart, whose sketch appears in this work. Solomon was reared on the farm, and received a com- mon education in the district schools. In 1856 he was married to Rebecca, daughter of Joseph Campbell, of New York, who has borne him eleven children, seven of whom are living: Harriet, William HI., Mary C., Joseph M., Albert S., Edward, and Nannie M. The deceased are Drusetta E., Elmer E., John W., and an in- fant. The same fall of his marriage he located where. he now re- sides, and where he has since lived, owning one hundred and nine acres of land, which is mostly under cultivation, and well improved. In connection with his farm he also runs a circular-saw mill, which proves a source of accommodation to the surrounding public. Mr. Swigart and his wife are members of the Mount Zion Lutheran Church, with which they have been connected for many years, and are exemplary Christian people, taking much interest in religious matters. Joseph and Drusilla Campbell settled in Bath Township, this county, about 1828. Mrs. Campbell is living, and resides in the county. Mr. Campbell died of cholera, in 1843. Mrs. Swigart was born in Bath Township, in 1835. Mr. Swigart is a Republican in politics, and has served his district in the capacity of school director. The Campbells belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Michael Swigart, farmer, Bellbrook, was born on the place where he now lives, in the year 1827, and is a son of Michael Swig- art, whose history appears in this work. He was reared on the farm, and received an education in the common schools, which was obtained at odd times, and was rather meagre. Michael has been thrice married: in 1852, with Elizabeth, daughter of Solomon and Susanna Shanks, who has borne him one child. Mrs. Swigart died in 1853, aged about thirty years. The second marriage was cele- brated in March,1855, with Charlotta Swadner, daughter of Henry and Eleanor Swadner, of Montgomery County, Ohio, by whom he had five children, two living, Henry and Lincoln; the deceased are Charles, Wilson, and Samuel. Mrs. Swigart died in 1866, aged about thirty-four. His third and last marriage was celebrated in 1867, with Hannah V. Rike, daughter of William and Elizabeth Patterson, of Xenia, who has borne him two children, one living, Oscar, born in Knox County, and an infant. Mr. Swigart has lived on the place where he was born all his life, and owns one hundred
Digitized by Google
657
SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
and forty-seven acres of land, all in cultivation and well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Swigart are members of the Lutheran Church, to which they have been connected for a number of years. He is elder of the church, and has been acting in the capacity of deacon. During the war, in 1863, he was captain of a company of home guards. Politically he is a Republican.
Joel Swigart, farmer, Bellbrook, was born in this township, on section 4, in the year 1820, and is a son of Michael and Sarah (Nave) Swigart; the former was born in Somerset County, Penn- sylvania, in the year 1787; he was a son of Peter Swigart, who with his family came to Ohio in 1808, and located in Beaver Creek Township. Peter Swigart was born in Germany, and upon landing in America was sold to a planter to pay his transportation. He was father of six children, who came with him to Greene County, in which they made homes, living here till their decease. Peter died about the year 1839, aged eighty-two years. She departed this life in 1827 at an advanced age. They were life members of the Lutheran Church. Michael Swigart, father of our subject, was twenty-two years old at the time his father came to Ohio, and about two years after was married to Sarah Nave, who bore eight chil- dren, of whom four are living, Michael, Solomon, Joel, and Barbara Huston, nee Swigart; the deceased are David, Elizabeth, Martha, and Sarah. After his marriage he located in Sugar Creek Town- ship, as before described, making a permanent home here till his decease, which occurred in February 11, 1869, aged eighty-three years. She departed this life about 1836, aged thirty-nine. They were life-long members of the Lutheran Church, and were much interested in religious matters, he serving his church in the capac- ity of elder and deacon for many years. Politically he was Repub- lican. Our subject was reared on the farm, and received an ordi- nary education in the district schools.
In 1843 he was married to Margaret Huddleston, daughter of John and Eva Huddleston, of Beaver Creek Township, who bore him five children, three of whom are living, Sarah J., Mary C., and Elmira. The deceased are Elizabeth A., and Ida B. Mrs. Swigart died in 1878, aged fifty-three years. She was born in this county in 1825. Iler parents came here in an early day, living and dying where they settled. She was a member of the German Reformed Church, to which she had been connected for several years, and was a very exemplary woman. After their marriage they located on the place
Digitized by Google
658
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
where he now lives and has since resided. He owns one hundred and seventy-seven acres of land, mostly in cultivation and well im- proved, making a pleasant home. He is connected with the German Reformed Church, of which he has been a member for a number of years. Politically he is a Republican.
John Turnbull, M. D., physician and surgeon, was born in Ced- arville Township, this county, March 10, 1840. His father, John Turnbull, sen., was born near Nashville Tennessee, February 17, 1801. His mother was the oldest daughter of Judge Samuel Kyle of Cedarville Township. She died when he was thirteen years old. Ilis grandfather, William Turnbull, was born in Koxboroughshire, near Kelso, Scotland, October 29, 1757. He came to America, August 27, 1784. Ilis grandmother, Elizabeth Turnbull, was for- mally Miss Elizabeth Marshall, was born near Nashville, Tennessee, November, 1766, She was married to grandfather, August 27, 1797, and located on a plantation near the Hermitage, the home of Pres- ident Andrew Jackson. He received his early education at the district schools. At the age of fourteen years, he entered the sel- ect and graded school at Cedarville; at nineteen was placed under the tutorage of Dr. John G. Kyle of Xenia. In 1860, attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College of Pennsylvania, returned home in 1861, and enlisted as a private in Company A, Seventeenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at the first call for troops in the late war. In April 1861, was promoted to the position of hospital steward of the regiment, engaged in the battles of Buchannon, and Rich Mountain, was mustered out of service at the expiration of enlist- ment, returned immediately into West Virginia, and assisted in caring for the sick and wounded, at the battle of Carnifax Ferry, and bringing hundreds of them down the river to Cincinnati. He acted as volunteer assistant surgeon of the Sixty-Fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, participating in the long and forced marches through Kentucky and Tennessee, and in the battles con- nected therewith. After a hard and laborious service of nearly a year, which he rendered gratuitously for his country, he returned home. In the summer of 1862, volunteered with the minute men of Ohio, went to Cincinnati, and North Bend, Indiana, after two weeks was mustered out, and returned to the Jefferson Medical College, in the fall of 1862. Graduated March, 1863, returned home, was ordered to report for medical examination for the position of assistant surgeon in the army, at White Sulphur Springs. Was
,
Digitized by Google
659
SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
successful, and on the 29th, of June, 1863, was commissioned, and appointed assistant surgeon, One Hundred and Fifth regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Joined the regiment in the front of General Rosecrans army at Tullahoma, Tennessee, was mustered into the service July 3, 1863, and assumed the entire charge of the medical department of the regiment, being the only medical officer con- nected with it. At the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, he had three bullet holes shot through his clothes. Two men were shot dead while he was dressing their wounds on the field. IIe was taken prisoner while remaining with the wounded on the battle field of Chickamauga, and was paroled to take care of our wound- ed in the rebel lines. For three days and nights after this battle, he never closed his eyes to sleep, being kept constantly on the alert, amputating, dressing, and caring for the wounded and dying. Being overcome from exhaustion, on the fourth day after the bat- tle, he sank down to sleep among the wounded on the ground. IIe awoke in a few hours, and finding some old, musty, moldy, unsifted corn-meal, which he mixed with cold water, and baked it in a heap of ashes. This was the only diet for fourteen days. After the exchange of prisoners were made, and while on the way to Chattanooga to join our army, a squad of rebel cavalry halted them, stripped him of his clothing, watch, and all other valuables he had, with the exception of a little breath. In a week or two, he was able to return to the fragment of his regiment, and gnaw army beef, without even a hard-tack, coffee, corn, or a square of condensed vegetables. Participated in the battle of Lookout Moun- tain, and Mission Ridge. Was ordered to take charge of a ward of sick, in third division hospital, in connection with the duties of his regiment. Was relieved from his hospital duties to take the en- tire charge of the medical departments of the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and the Second Regi- ment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.
Going home, on the 24th of May, 1865, he passed with Sher- man's army in review before the President of the United States, in Washington, D. C. This was his last act with the army. The One Hundred and Fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry was mustered out of service at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, June 3, 1865. After his arrival home he married his former preceptor's daughter, Miss Josephine A. Kyle. September 7, 1865, located in Monmouth, Illinois, where he practiced medicine for a season. Returned to
Digitized by Google
660
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Xenia, Ohio, in the spring of 1866, and entered into partnership with Dr. John G. Kyle, his father-in-law, with whom he practiced medicine for a few months. June 28, 1866, he moved to Bellbrook, Ohio, and opened an office, where he has been giving his entire time and attention to the demands of a large and increasing prac- tice. Was chosen a member of the Ohio State Medical Society, June 18, 1863, in session then at White Sulphur Springs, Ohio. Is the father of two children: Jesse K., and Pearl A. Has been placed in nomination by his colleagues for the office of county coroner, and on two different occasions has received the nomina- tion for state representative. He has been elected and re-elected member of the town council; elected and re-elected member of the Bellbrook School Board, and now president of the same; and is president of the Bellbrook Library. IIe has a large library of medical and literary works, which has cost him near one thousand dollars.
Thomas White, farmer, was born in Kentucky, June 11, 1803, is son of Stephen and Mary (Bigger) White. His father was born in Ireland, 1768, his mother in Maryland, 1760. Our subject's father settled in Kentucky, in 1790, and in the year 1806, removed to Ohio, where he purchased a tract of land in Montgomery County, whereon subject was reared, and received his education on the farm. At the age of fifteen Thomas commenced hauling produce to Cincinnati, and from that time on, he had the management of all the business pertaining to the farm. Thomas frequently hauled flour to Cincin- nati, and sold it for $2.123 cents per barrel, and pork for $1.50 per one hundred pounds, and at one time, traded one bushel of corn for a gallon of whisky, hauled the whisky to Cincinnati, and sold it for 123 cents per gallon, taking five days to accomplish the trip. At the age of twenty-seven, our subject received all his father's pro- perty in his own name. He remained on the homestead till the year 1837, when he purchased a farm in this county, and removed to it, and rented the old homestead. He married Maria Bigger in 1837, to whom four children were born, Hannah J., now Mrs. Hop- kins, Mary E., Armanda, and James P. Mr. and Mrs White and family are members of the United Presbyterian Church. Mr White now owns three hundred and seventy-eight acres of land, all well improved.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.