USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, together with historic notes on the northwest and the state of Ohio > Part 80
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SCHOOL.
The village is embraced in sub-district number two, the present building being a successor of the first school house erected within the limits of the township. It was erected in 1866, and consisted of one-story containing one room. In 1876, another story was added; the building is now thirty feet wide and fifty feet long, con- tains three rooms, two down stairs and one above. The secondary
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grade is in charge of Mr. J. S. Thomas, assisted by Mrs. Lizzie Thomas, the number of scholars enrolled being seventy-three ; the principal department has an enrollment of forty; D. F. Donaldson is principal of this room. The school is in session nine months each year.
THE BOWERSVILLE SAW-MILL.
Aside from the "old corn-cracker" and an occasional portable saw-mill, no manufacturing institutions of any kind ever had an existence in Jefferson township until about the year 1845, when a steam saw-mill was erected on a part of the land now embraced in the village of Bowersville, by Christopher Hussey and Joseph Smith. This mill was the only one in this part of the country, and was fitted up with a so-called sash-upright saw. At the expiration of four years it was sold to Christopher, jr., and Elijah Hussey, who paid $2,200 for the mill and thirty-six acres of timbered land sur- rounding the same. Under their management an enormous amount of timber was sawed and used in the erection of houses and con- struction of fences ; considerable timber was also hauled to Xenia by wagon. After operating the establishment about five years, they sold it to J. C. Irvin and Andrew Jackson, who paid $2,100 for the building, machinery, and three-fourths of an acre of ground. After this time it passed through various hands, until 1876, when it was purchased by Charles Wilson, the present owner, who has disposed of the old machinery, and replaced it with a circular saw, and added other modern improvements. A corn-cracker was at- tached by the original owners, and to this day Saturday is usually devoted to the grinding of corn. There is at present a portable mill. in another part of the village, which is owned by Stephen Hussey and Albert White. Within the last years much ash and walnut have been sawed and shipped via. Columbus, Washington and Cincinnati Railway.
THE BUSINESS INTERESTS
Of the village are represented as follows: Groceries and notions, R. II. Wolfe, L. H. Starbrook, G. L. Gerard & Son; dry goods, Thomas Donaldson, D. W. Carpenter; hardware, L. H. Starbrook, G. L. Gerard & Son; undertaking, D. W. Carpenter, R. A. Bower-
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master; blacksmithing, I. C. Stewart & Co .; carriage and wagon making, Johnson & Bentley ; drugs, A. F. Plummer; saw-mills, Hussey & White, C. M. Wilson; dressmaking and hairdressing, Mrs. M. E. Burr, Mrs. N. Stewart; physicians, F. W. Rose, J. M. Hussey; attorneys, C. S. Perkins, T. P. Browder.
BIOGRAPHIICAL.
Silas Bales, farmer, Paintersville, is a son of John and Sarah (Lucas) Bales. Mr. Bales was born March 6, 1789, and died March 11, 1864; she died June 8, 1874. He served a few months in the war of 1812, and then returned to this county, where he was mar- ried about 1813, and where he passed the remainder of his life. There were twelve children of this family, four daughters and eight sons, Silas being the eldest. He was born in this county, June 11, 1814, and here he was reared, and afterward married Miss Elizabeth Smith, also of this county, by whom he had two chil- dren, Sarah and Martha, both of whom are living. Sarah married a Mr. Marshall, now deceased; she then married Moses Mckay, her present husband, and has two children, William S., and Edwin F. Martha married Joseph Hollingsworth, whose biography ap- pears in this work ; they have five children. Mr. Bales has a farm of one hundred and seventy-eight acres, on which he lives. Him- self and wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for at least thirty-five years. He was elected trustee of the township in 1859, and re-elected in 1860.
Allan Barber, farmer, Bowersville, son of Stephen and Mary (Vanaman) Barber, was born July 7, 1845, in this county, where he was reared and educated, and where, with the exception of nearly four years spent in the army, he has passed all his life. He enlisted September 19, 1861, and was discharged July 26, 1865. Was in Company I, Thirty-First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and par- ticipated in twenty-three engagements, among which were Stone River, Chickamauga, and Mission Ridge; and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. After his return he engaged in farming. November 4, 1867, he was married to Martha E. Sparks, of this county, by whom he has had four children : Charley E., John E., Lulu J., and Mary M., all of whom are living. Mr. Barber's mother was a daughter of Benjamin Vanaman. Mr. Barber owns and lives on the old homestead, of sixty-five acres, engaged in farming.
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Daniel Bayliff, farmer, Paintersville, is a son of Joshua and Mary (Fry) Bayliff, who were married in Virginia, and who came to Ohio in 1804, locating where Cincinnati now stands. At that time the place contained but few houses, and only one business house, which was a dry goods and grocery store combined. Here they remained for about a year, and then moved to this county, locating in Cæsar's Creek Township. In 1836 they went to Auglaize County, where he died July 29, 1839. Mrs. Bayliff died in this county, June 8, 1816. When they first came to this county Indians and game abounded, and it was customary to attend church fully armed, in order to resist the attacks of the many enemies. The nearest market was Cincinnati, from whence all supplies had to be transported on horseback. Our subject was born May 22, 1816, within a mile of where he now lives, where he has a farm of one hundred and forty-eight and three-fourth acres, well improved. He was twice married. First, to Miss Eliza Stephens, of Clinton County, by whom he had two children : Joshua, born April 4, 1837, and Reece, born July 10, 1854. Reece was married, October 30, 1875, to Miss Mary O'Conner, by which union there are two chil- dren, Walter J., born August 30, 1876, and John, born March 7, 1876. Joshua was married, January 21, 1860, to Mary L. Steph- ens, by which union there are four children: William C., born' March 31, 1861; Amanda E., born July 7, 1862; Jane, born Feb- ruary 12, 1864, died at the age of two; and Emma, who died in her first year. Joshua died December 12, 1870. Mrs. Eliza Bay- liff died December 21, 1866. Our subject then married Mrs. Ma- lissa (Fosset) Smith, October 30, 1867. She had four children by her first marriage, which was celebrated in 1845, with Aaron Smith, who died August 19, 1853. The children are all living and married : Angeline C. to Louis Powers, Phoebe to Albert Burrell, Levi to Miss Sarah J. Arey, and Abigail to James Curry, who died September 21, 1880.
Gilbert T. Bentley, farmer, Bowersville, is a son of William and Sarah (Hite) Bentley ; Mrs. Bentley died in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1852, Mr. Bentley lives in Wilmington, Clinton County, and was born in Highland County in 1808. There were eight children by this marriage, five living: Ann, Jane, Elam V., Gilbert T., and John; Emily, Eliza, and Rhoda, deceased. Gilbert married Miss Lydia A. Hussey, daughter of Christopher, November 19, 1868. Five children are the result of this marriage: Jacqueline, Jennie,
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William, John T., and Huston M., all living. Mr. Bentley has a farm of fifty acres, well improved, on which he lives, a part of the Christopher Hussey land. Is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Bow- ersville Lodge No. 559; united with this order at Wilmington in 1870, and is a charter member.
Thomas D. Bone, farmer, Paintersville, is a son of Thomas and Ellen (Turner) Bone, and a native of Maryland; was born in 1792, and died April, 1876; she of Tennessee, died June, 1865. They were married in this county in 1814. There were thirteen children of this family : Christina, Isaac, Dinah, Mary, Stephen, Catherine, Elizabeth, Sarah, Thomas, James, and Rhoda; Harrison and Ellen, deceased. The subject of this sketch was born July 27, 1834, in this county, where he was reared, and where he married Miss Eliza J., daughter of David and Mary Devoc, who lived in Paintersville, November 30, 1865. There were five children of this union : Foster L., Flora A., two infants and Etta. Mr. Bone was one of the " brave, noble boys in blue." He volunteered February 24, 1862, being a member of Company A, Seventy-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was in two heavy battles, Buzzard's Roost and Re- sacca. Received an honorable discharge at the close of the war.
John Brakefield, farmer, Pearson's Station, is a son of Elias and Mary Brakefield. Elias was born in Berkeley County, Virginia August 31, 1806, and his wife in Ohio, January 27, 1810. They were married in Ohio about 1830. There were five children of this family : Armilda, John, David, Thomas, and Elizabeth S. The parents and all the children are living. The subject of this sketch was born January 26, 1833, in Fayette County, where he was reared and educated. He was married to Miss Rachel Fearnow, of Buck- skin Township, Ross County, at Chillicothe, November 12, 1856. Four children are the result of this union, Mary A .. David A., Re- becca E., and Elias L., the latter deceased. The mother was born June 17, 1837, and died on the farm where the family now lives November 18, 1862. Mr. Brakefield married Miss Margaret J. Little, March 20, 1864, who was born July 10, 1845, in Fayette County. There are nine children of this union : Olney O., Ar- milda H., John A., Hattie, Mattie, Rachel E., Thomas J., William A., and Sophronia. Mary A. was married to William F. Little, of this county, January 1, 1878; one child, Ward B. Mr. Brakefield has a farm of one hundred and forty-four acres, well improved, on which he lives, having about one hundred acres in cultivation.
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He is a good farmer and excellent citizen, and a member of Lodge No. 181, I. O. O. F., of Jamestown. Both his wives were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
William II. Burr, farmer, Bowersville, is a son of John and Hen- rietta Burr, who were born in this county, where they were reared and married, and where they died. There were five children of this family : William II., Louisa E., Mary E., Hannah B., and John, all of whom are living, save John, who died at the early age of one year. William II. was born November 20, 1852, and mar- ried Miss Flora Hussey, a daughter of Christopher, whose father was the earliest settler in this township. There are are four chil- dren of this family, Charlie M., Euphemia, John C. and Frederick E., all living save John C., who died at two years of age. Mr. Burr has a farm of ninety-six acres, on which he lives, and which is a part of the larger tracts of land formerly owned by Christo- pher Hussey. IIe and Mrs. Burr are members of the Christian Church of Bowersville. They were also members of the Patrons of Husbandry, and Independent Order of Good Templars of Bow- ersville.
Nathan Carpenter, farmer, is a son of Nathan and Cynthia (Grigsby) Carpenter, natives of Virginia. They were married in September, 1821, and had seven children: David, James, William, Sarah, Nathan, Susan, and Thomas. Nathan is the only one living. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died, November 12, 1874, leaving evidences of his victory over sin, and that he is now enjoying the home of the bless- ed. Though eighty-four years of age, Mrs. Carpenter is a regular attendant of the church services. Our subject was married, August 12, 1856, to Mary J. Davis, a native of this county. Seven children are the result of this union : John. N., William, Lizzie C., Mary J., David E., Frank D., and Linnie May, all of whom are living save William, who died at the early age of thirteen months. John was married, October 9, 1879, to Ellie F. Stewart, of this county, a na- tive of Maine. Mr. Carpenter owns a farm of two hundred acres, well improved, on which he lives, and farms to both grain and stock. Himself, wife, and three eldest children, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bowersville. Is a member of the Odd-Fellows lodge of Bowersville; was formerly a member of the Jamestown lodge, removing his membership here at the time of the organization of this lodge. Mrs. Carpenter's parents, John and
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Elizabeth (Degroat) Davis, were members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. There were eight children of this family-Adelia, David, James D., Mary J., Andrew, Lizzie, John, and Amanda, five of whom are living; Amanda, James, and Andrew, deceased. Mr. Davis died November 22, 1877. Mrs. Davis is still living, and at the age of seventy-three is enjoying good health.
Thomas H. Carpenter, farmer, is a native of Monroe County, Virginia, and came to Ohio with his parents, Thomas and Jane Carpenter, at the age of two years. He was born January 6, 1842, and was reared, educated, and married to Mary C. Smith, in this county, February 20, 1862. Seven children are the result of their union : Nancy J., Della May, Samuel, Anna M., Altazara, Minnie B., and Guy, all of whom are living, and none married. Mr. Car- penter has a farm of two hundred and sixty-six acres, on which he lives, and farms chiefly to grain. Mrs. Carpenter is a member of the Baptist Church. The father of our subject was reared in Vir- ginia, and lived there until 1844, when he came to this county, re- maining here till his death. He was the father of ten children- Nathan II., John, Sarah E., Thomas H., David W., Abner G., Franklin G., Charles O., and George O. The three eldest are de- ceased. Mrs. Carpenter's mother is dead; her father, Samuel II. Smith, now about sixty-eight years of age, is still living near James- town, this county.
Cargle Chitty, farmer, is a native of Virginia; was born in 1831; came to Ohio in 1844; located in this county; was married on the 10th of February, 1859, to Miss Rebecca A. Osborne, of this coun- ty, and ten children are the result of their marriage: Henry, Mary E., Andrew S., Leander M., Rosetta, John II., William F., Luther, Ollie V., and Monroe, all living but Henry, who died January 7, 1861, aged eight months; none married. Our subject has a farm of one hundred and five acres, well improved, and resides on it, farming chiefly to grain. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, believing that it is the party of superiority. His wife is a native of this county, and was born August 28, 1840. Her father, David M. Osborne, is a resident of Fayette County; his father, Da- vid, sr., was one of the pioneers of this county. Our subject is a charter member of Bowersville Lodge No. 559, I. O. O. F.
Israel Cline, farmer, Bowersville, is a son of Jacob and Abigail (Wilson) Cline, who were natives of Virginia, and who died in
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this county. The subject of this sketch was born in Virginia, November 23, 1826, and came with his parents to this county in 1827, where he has since resided. June 5, 1856, he was married to Miss Isabella Kidlow, by whom he had three children: Delphina J., Flora, and Elizabeth, all of whom are living. Delphina was married to Macy Stephens; the others are at home, unmarried. Mrs. Cline died May 6, 1874. June 1, 1876, Mr. Cline married Miss Mary, daughter of Andrew Stephens, whose biography ap- pears in this work. Mr. Cline has a farm of fifty-three acres, well improved, on which he lives. Farms chiefly to grain. Is a good citizen, worthy the respect of all who know him.
Thomas Donaldson, merchant, Bowersville, is a son of John and Mary Donaldson, both natives of England, where Mr. Donaldson died in 1855, and where she still lives. They were the parents of four children : Thomas, William, Joseph, and Rachel, all are na- tives of and reside in England, except Thomas, who came to the United States at about the age of fifteen, and located in Ohio. With the exception of three years passed in the army, fighting for the preservation of the country of his adoption, he has since been a constant resident. He was in Company A, Seventy-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. January, 1857, he married Maria Wilson, of this county. Mr. Donaldson is a charter member of the Bowers- ville Lodge No. 559, of Odd-fellows; also a member of the Masonic fraternity, of Jamestown, since 1866.
Daniel Earley, farmer, is a son of Daniel and Rachel (Caseldine) Earley, who owned about seven hundred acres of land in Clinton County ; were pioneers of that county and prominent people. He died November, 1877, aged seventy nine years. She is still living, is past seventy years of age. Daniel, jr., was born in the same county, February 18, 1830; was married to Miss Louisa Vannanan, a daughter of Benjamin, January 9, 1851; she was born September, 1828. There were eight children of this family, five of whom are living : Nancy K., Daniel B., Rosa B. Mary A., and Clara. Calvin, Rachel, and Luella have died. Mr. Early has a farm of three hun- dred and forty acres, well improved, on which he lives; situated about one mile west of Bowersville, and is one of the best farms of the township. He has in this township, about four hundred acres of land, and is one of the most prominent financial citizens. IIe is an active business man and a respected citizen. He had about nine hundred acres of land here before he divided with his
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children, Rosa, Mary, and Daniel, who are married. He has held the office of township trustee several terms, has no office at present. When he was drafted to serve in the rebellion, he hired a sub- stitute which cost him a great deal of money. He also contributed liberally to exempt the township from draft, and was active in raising money for that purpose. During the war, he dealt largely in mules, which proved a financial success. Since then, he has dealt principally in cattle, sheep, and hogs.
Christopher Ellis, farmer, Bowersville, is a son of John and Re- becca (Richardson) Ellis, both natives of Virginia. IIe came to this state in 1809, and died October 23, 1878, on the farm where Christopher now lives, aged eighty-one years. Mrs Ellis came here when eight years old, and remained until her death. They were married about 1821, and had five children : Leroy S., Zachariah, and Christopher, living; and Elizabeth and John S., deceased. Our subject was born January 20, 1832, in Clinton County, where he was reared, and where, September 10, 1857, he married Miss Sarah Starbuck. Eleven children is the result of this union: Uriah T., Rebecca M., Viola, Charles L., and Stella, living, and four infants, deceased. Mr. Ellis has a farm of fifty acres, well improved, on which he lives. He has been a member of the Odd- fellows, of Bowersville, since July 4, 1874. Mrs. Ellis is a " Daughter of Rebecca." She has been a member of the Chris- tian Church for twenty-six years. Mr. Ellis' grandparents came to Ohio in 1809, with twelve children, two of whom survive.
Carroll R. Ellis, farmer, is a native of Fayette County, Ohio ; was born December 18, 1858; came to this county in March, 1880; has since been a resident here; was married here, March 9, 1880, to Miss Emma Vanniman, a daughter of Stephen and Rebecca J. Van- niman, whose biography appears in this work. She is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church of Bowersville. They have a farm of fifty acres, well improved, on which they live. His parents are natives of Fayette County, and were married about 1856. Eight children are the result of this union : Carroll, Lincoln, Rufus, Minter, Cicero, Icy. The last three are of one birth, and were born July 13, 1875. Icy is the only surviving one of the triplets. The parents, Lindley and Elizabeth (Allen) Ellis, still live on the farm, consisting of one hundred and forty-five acres, where our subject was born and reared, and near which he received his edu- cation. He evidently was reared by good parents, as he is a good
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citizen, and enjoys the respect of all who know him, and has marks of proper training in childhood. .
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William Finlay, farmer, is a native of Ireland, where he was reared, and where his parents were born and reared, and where his father died, December 8, 1845. IIis mother came to the United States in 1857, and William and his sister Catharine came in 1861. He was born July 10, 1842. Since he came here, he has earned and saved enough money to buy a farm of seventeen and a quarter acres, on which he and his mother live. They began housekeep- ing together, in 1863. When he and his sister arrived at New York, he had only $1.25 with which to buy food on the way to Xenia, and when he arrived there he had only three cents. His parents had three children : William, Catharine, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Finlay was born about 1813. Her heart goes back to old Ireland, the place of her childhood, where she left many beloved kindred and friends. This is a respected family, and good citizens, who came to America to better their condition in life.
Simon L. Gerard, grain and stock dealer, Bowersville, was born August 5, 1832, and is a son of John and Jane Gerard, who are residents of this county, where he was reared, educated and mar- ried to Sarah E. Ireland. Three children are the result of this marriage, James, Laura, and Liddie, all living. James was mar- ried, May 7, 1878, to Maggie Stanford, and is now living with his parents. Mrs. Gerard, James and wife are members of the Chris- tian Church. Mr. Gerard was elected assessor of this township about 1868, and served five successive terms; was elected township trustee in 1876, to which office he has since been re-elected annu- ally. He has a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, well improved, and two lots in Bowersville, on which he has a good house, where he resides.
Jacob Gerard, farmer, Bowersville, is a son of John and Jane Gerard, and a native of the township where he now lives, and where he was reared and married Miss Sarah A., daughter of James and Hannah Wilkinson. Was born December 30, 1847, and mar- ried June 12, 1865. IIe lives on a farm owned by his father; is a good farmer, and well respected citizen. Mrs. Gerard's father is a resident of Silver Creek Township, formerly of this township; had a farm of ninety acres here, sold it, and removed to Silver Creek. Was elected and served as justice of the peace when in this town- ship, and a good and respected citizen.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Millie Hargrave, a native of North Carolina, Jackson County, was born 1813, where she lived until twenty-one years of age, then came to Clinton County, Ohio, where she remained one year, and then came to this county where she has lived since. Was married December 4, 1834, to Herbert II. Hargrave. There were ten chil- dren of this marriage, of whom eight are living: Harriet, Rachel, John, William, James, Mary, Catharine, Lucinda, and Anna. Mr. Hargrave was born 1805, died September 8, 1869. He had a farm of three hundred and seventy-five acres of land, which after his death was divided among the children and widow. She has one hundred and twenty-five acres, well improved on which she lives. He came to Ohio at the age of twenty-one years, spent several years in traveling, ate dinner with President Jackson in the White House, who took pains to show him through the house, and the national relics. He, tired of traveling, bought the land where Mrs. Hargrave and family now live. Then there were but few houses in this locality. Jamestown had but one store. Xenia had about five hundred inhabitants. The only railroad seen in Mrs. Har- grave's journey from North Carolina, was in West Virginia. The village of Bowersville had but one house, that was owned by a Peter Bowermaster. The nearest church, was a log about four miles south of their home. They have heard the wolves howl . around the house, and counted the wild turkeys as they passed. Mr. Hargrave went out one morning to find some strayed hogs, got lost on his own land, then almost an unbroken forest, and wan- dered through the woods all day but found his way home just at dark. The farming implements consisted of a wooden plow, wood harrow, cradle and sickle.
John Hargrave, farmer, was born in this county September 16, 1844, where he was reared, and married to Miss Emeline Glass, a native of the same county, March 20, 1872; three children is the result of this marriage, Lucian E., Jasper A., and Charles O., all of whom are living. Mr. Hargrave is a member of the Christian Church of Bowersville. He has a farm of one hundred and one acres, well improved, on which he lives, and farms chiefly to grain. This farm is a part of the land mentioned in his mother's biogra- phy. He is a son of Herbert Hargrave and Millie, whose sketches appear in this work.
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