USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, together with historic notes on the northwest and the state of Ohio > Part 83
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Eunice to John Mendenhall; they have seven children living. Alice to Edward R. Walton, living near New Burlington; they have one child, Hetty. Amos to Catharine Mendenhall, and lives near the old homestead. Mr. Compton has taken quite an interest · in school matters, and in consequence has been school director sev- eral times. IIe, with his wife and family, are orthodox Quakers, and attend at the Cæsar's Creek Friends' Church. They have been life members through birthright. Is now, and always has been, a Republican, and voted first for John Quincy Adams, in 1828. His wife was born February 20, 1813, of John and Alice (Teague) Sted- dom, who came from South Carolina to Warren County, near Leb- anon, about the same time the Comptons came to this state, 1804 or 1805. She remained at home with her parents until her mar- riage with our subject. After that they removed to their own home; and until the marriage of her own son and daughters, she devoted herself to them. Now the two live alone on the old home- stead, waiting for the summons that comes to us all sooner or later; but with them the preparation is made, and they will only exclaim : "Not mine, but thy will be done, O Lord."
Isaac Evans, farm and stock raiser, was born in this township on the 8th of December, 1835, and is the son of Robert and Sarah (Coppock) Evans, who came to this state from South Carolina in 1829. His father's biography is given elsewhere in this work, in conjunction with Rebecca Evans. The first experience of Mr. . Evans in regard to schools, was with that then prevalent, subscrip- tion class. Before he finished his education, however, he had an opportunity to attend the free schools, although the system was yet in its infancy. Afterward he attended commercial college in Cin- cinnati, graduating in 1857. Prior to attending college, after leav- ing school, he worked on the farm, and when he returned from Cincinnati he worked in the saw and grist-mill his father had built, and also gave some of his attention to farming. The saw and grist- mill were conducted under the firm name of R. Evans & Sons. This partnership was continued until 1864, when it was dissolved, and Isaac purchased the place where he now resides, the old home- stead, of his paternal grandmother. January 31, 1860, he was mar- ried to Miss Matilda Stump, by whom he had six children, all liv- ing: Frank S., Minnie B., Louie A., Alta M., William J., and Charles R. Our subject has been township trustee at several differ- ent periods, and was elected land appraiser for 1880, and performed
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his duties so well that no changes were made. He is, and always has been, a Republican, and cast his first vote for the martyred Lincoln, in 1860. Is a member of Waynesville Lodge No. 163, F. & A. M., joining in 1865, and is also a member in good standing of Spring Valley Lodge No. 302, I. O. O. F. He has about three hun- dred acres of good land, and eighty acres in wood and prairie. The greater portion of this land is the result of hard, energetic la- bor and sensible economy on the part of himself and wife. He is a gentlemen trusted by his neighbors, and respected by all who come in contact with him.
Mrs. Sarah S. Evans, farmer, Spring Valley, was born in Waynes- ville, Warren County, November 7, 1822, and is a daughter of Robert and Hannah (Townsend) Huston. Mr. Huston was born in Bucks County, Tennessee, January 1, 1778, and came to this state in about 1814, and purchased the land where his daughter is now residing. Miss Townsend was born at Cape May, New Jersey, November 30, 1787. In about the year 1819, she came to this state with her brother, and they settled near Hillsboro, where she had a sister residing. After remaining there about a year, they removed to Waynesville, where she met and married Mr. Huston, July 19, 1821. The result of this union was two girls and one boy, Sarah S. and Mary, who died in infancy, and Daniel T. September 24, 1829, Mr. Huston died, and the care of the children devolved on Mrs. Huston. By close application, they each received a very good edu- cation. Daniel, after his father's death, worked on the farm and at various other employments, as long as his roving disposition would permit, and in 1850 he started overland for California. He mined until he became sick, and on his recovery, went to carpen- tering. Worked in this manner at various places, when he con- cluded to settle down, having previously married, and in 1861 he purchased a farm near San Barnardino, California, and a residence in town, from which he goes daily to superintend the farm. Can perform no physical labor himself, as a few years ago he was so severely hugged by a bear as to render him a cripple. Sarah re- mained at home with her mother until March 24, 1842, when she was married to Moses Evans, and went with him to live about one and one-half miles from where she now resides. She is the mother of nine children, seven living: Joseph, Hannah L., Mary E., Angie, Hilliard, Emma, and Eddie; those deceased are Robert and Daniel. Two of those living are married, Joseph to Anna Buckles, of
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Xenia, and lives on the farm, and Angie to Newton Berryhill, a farmer of Clio, this county. Robert was in Company H, Second Ohio Volunteer Heavy Artillery. Enlisted in August, 1863, and was mustered in the following month. Was with the command until in 1864, when he was taken sick with the small-pox; he recovered the following year, and was attacked with camp diarrhea, to whose influence he succumbed, July 20, 1865, in the twenty-second year of his age. Was interred near where he died, and was taken up to be sent home, but from some cause could not then be sent, so the body was reinterred, and lay until the following year, when he was brought home and laid in the family burying ground. He died in the fear of the Lord. Mrs. Evans is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church of fourteen years standing, and, pleasant to relate, all her family, except one daughter, belong to the village of Spring Valley. Mr. Evans died October 21, 1868, since which time Mrs. Evans has lived a widow.
Miss Rebecca Evans, Spring Valley, was born October 10, 1818, in Newberry District, South Carolina, in the same house where her father was born, November 9, 1797. Her mother was born in the same district, March 13, 1799. Robert Evans, her father, and Miss Sarah Coppock were married December 18, 1817, and became the parents of fifteen children. The names of those dead are Mary Ann, Joseph, Sarah, Robert, Sophia, Moses, and two who died in infancy; those living are Esther, now married to Louis Hartsock, and living in Missouri; Lydia, married to William Stanfield, who resides in Kansas; Mary, united to I. M. Barrett, proprietor of the flouring mill on the railroad just out of the Valley ; Isaac, married to Matilda Stump, and living in this township-his biography is also given in this work ;- Nancy J., married to Martin Peterson, and living in the cast part of the township, and Margaret, married to Aaron Crites, and living about one mile out of the Valley; Re- becca, the eldest, and the subject of this sketch, never married. Mr. and Mrs. Evans remained in South Carolina until September 24, 1829, when they came to this state, and settled on the farm now occupied by Aaron Crites. The immediate cause of their removal to this state was the institution of slavery. They belonged to the Society of Friends, and consequently opposed to it. In 1832 Mr. Evans, in conjunction with James Vandoler, a millwright, built a saw-mill where S. Cornel now owns, and then sawed the lumber for a grist-mill, which they completed the following year. This at
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that time was an enterprise of such public importance that Mr. Evans came to be viewed as a benefactor, and was so spoken of by his neighbors. Mr. Vandoler being more millwright than miller, sold his interest, in the latter part of 1833, to Thomas Evans-no relative to Robert Evans-and James Smith. Politically, Mr. Evans was a Whig prior to the Republican party, and voted first in 1820 for James Monroe. He died at the old homestead, November 9, 1868, on the seventy-first anniversary of his birth; his wife sur- . vived him until June 17, 1871, and departed mourned by a host of friends. Rebecca being the eldest of a large family, had few op- portunities for an education, but improved well what time she did pass at school. Some of her sisters possessed the advantage of a boarding-school, but Rebecca, never. She remained at home until the death of her parents, and after that with different brothers and sisters, until December, 1879, when she purchased property in the Valley, where she now resides. She also owns a little farm about two miles from the Valley. For nearly thirty years, she has been a member of the Spring Valley Methodist Episcopal Church, but lately has been unable to attend divine services on account of rheu- matism, which confines her not only to her home, but to her chair. She is kind, benevolent, and loved and respected by all who know her, and her acquaintances are legion.
Samuel G. Goode, farmer and stock raiser, Xenia, Ohio, was born in Clinton County, July 1, 1830, of Dr. Henry J. and Margaret (McKee) Goode. The doctor was born in Virginia, in April, 1793, and the ancestry is traced back, step by step, until their blood is found flowing in the veins of those who hazzarded their lives in the settlement of Jamestown. They came originally from Germany to England, and then to the New World. From all time the Goodes have been noted for their great moral worth, and their word, once given, was as good as their bond. Dr. Goode came to Warren County with his brothers Phillip, Barwell, and Gains, when he was but ten years of age. His parents had died when he was quite young, as he cannot remember his father, and has only a faint re- collection of his mother. These four brothers constituted the first settlement near Waynesville. With these brothers he lived until he attained his majority, and married. Was in the war of 1812 as a lieutenant; did not enlist, however, until 1813; he then served with distinction till the close of the war. After the war he studied and graduated in medicine, and marrying at that time Miss MeKay,
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living near Mount Holly, he commenced his practice there. Mount Holly at that time was a flourishing village, with a fine farming community around it, but since then a distillery has been started, and the curse of intemperance can be seen in the dilapidated con- dition of the town. After a few years of successful practice here, he removed to near New Burlington, and there practiced until his retirement, in 1849. Finding, however, that he could not cease practicing and remain, he purchased a stock farm near Sidney, in Shelby County, and removed there with his family, four boys and six girls. Here he remained until two of his daughters died, and the rest of his children married, except one son and one daughter. His wife died in 1860, and he then kept house with his daughter until about 1872. She then died. About this time, feeling the want of companionship, he married Mrs. Mary Wilson, but she sur- vived the union only a short time. He died July, 1879, regretted by a large circle of friends. Mr. Goode's life had always been blameless, he being a consistent life member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and when the summons came, he was prepared and willing to go. Samuel went with his father to Sidney from Burlington, and remained with him until his marriage. In fact, the burden of the farm duties fell upon him, as he was the only one regularly at home. He was married May 11, 1859, to Miss Narcissa A. Lyle, of this county. The result of this marriage was eight children : James M., attending school with Prof. Smith, of Xenia; Elizabeth M., Mary A., Katie B., Joseph H., Samuel, Moses, . and Luela. Mr. and Mrs. Goode, with their entire family who are old enough, are members of the Union Methodist Episcopal Church, the former having belonged for more than thirty years. Their respective parents carly inculcated the good benefits to be derived from following the teachings of the Bible, and in early life led them to that fountain from which to drink is to thirst no more. He is a staunch Republican, and voted first for Winfield Scott. Resides three and one-half miles south of Xenia, on the Burling- ton and Xenia Pike; where he lives is supposed by Mr. Fred Bon- ner to be the first settlement south of Xenia. Mr. and Mrs. Goode are respected by all their neighbors, and make friends wherever known.
John A. Harner, farmer and stock raiser, Xenia, was born of John and Magdalene (Hanes) Harner, August 31, 1836. His pa- ternal grandfather came from Germany at fourteen years of age,
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and his grandmother was also of German descent. His father's biography is given elsewhere in this work. Being of an industri- ous disposition, and one of a large family, he never had an oppor- tunity to attend school except in winter, and only enjoyed the free school system for a short time. From all time John was industri- ous to a degree seldom found in boys, and had nearly $10,000 saved before his marriage. This amount he invested in the farm where he now resides. February 13, 1868, he united in marriage with Miss E. E. Lantz, daughter of John and Catharine Lantz, who came from Frederick County, Maryland, to this state, about 1838. By this marriage he became the father of four children: Vinton L., deceased, and Maggie C., John H., and Anna Jessie, living, and aged respectively ten, six, and two years. Mrs. Harner is a mem- ber of the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, and has been for a number of years. He is not connected with any church, but his life is ex- emplary. He is Republican in political proclivities, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. Resides on a farm of two hun- dred and twenty-five acres, surrounded by all that goes to make life comfortable. Good out-buildings, with fine stock, show an air of energy truly commendable. He is a man whose word if given is as good as his bond. Is well respected, and implicitly trusted by all who know him.
James Hollingshead, farmer, Spring Valley, was born in Fred- rick County, Virginia, in October, 1817. He came to this county with his parents, Richard and Mary (Babb) Hollingshead, fifty- nine years ago, and settled within a mile of where he now resides. The school privileges of his youth were quite limited, being com- pelled to walk three miles to school. Ile remained at home until near his majority. December 15, 1841, he was married to Miss Mary Allen, who was born in Washington County, Ohio, in 1821. Although having no children of their own, he and his estimable wife have raised three girls and two boys. The farm of one hun- dred and fifty-four acres he now occupies, has been made through his own exertions, as he only had thirty-seven cents in his pocket when he left the parental roof. Mr. Hollingshead has been a life- long Democrat, and cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren in 1840. Since 1832 he has been a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, having joined at the old Sardis Church, now gone. Has been an Odd-fellow in good standing for more than thirty years, first in Xenia, and now at Spring Valley. Is an exemplary Christian, kind husband, and a good neighbor.
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John Hupman, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Augusta County, Virginia, August 8, 1821, of John and Elizabeth (Fauber) Hupman, who were born in Virginia in 1790 and 1791, respectively. They came to this state in 1835, and settled within seven miles of Springfield, west. Their original intention was to go to Illinois; and while encamped in this state, on their way there, they were met by some people in this state on a visit, and they persuaded them to go to Fall Creek, Indiana, twenty-five miles north of In- dianapolis. They represented the soil good, and the climate salu- brious. They went, but found no corn or flour; in fact, nothing was found for themselves or teams to subsist on, and they became discouraged, and started to return to Virginia : intending, however, to stop and see a sister of Mrs. Hupman, who resided close to where they eventually purchased, in Clarke County. There he was induced to settle, and there he raised his family, consisting of Cath- erine, David, Fanny, married to Henry Cosier, and is living on the old home place in Clarke County; John, Joseph, Samuel and Sara. Two are since deceased, Jacob and Peter. He was in the war of 1812, but marrying while the war was in progress, he hired a sub- stitute; but the war closed soon, and his soldier was home nearly as soon as himself. He died in 1873, in his eighty-third year. His wife had died some time before, November, 20, 1851, in her sixtieth year. The chances for an education were better in Ohio than in Virginia ; for in the latter state the subscription schools were the only local educators extant, while in Ohio the free school system had been adopted. Until he was twenty-one years old he had op- portunities to attend in the fall and winter, and in consequence had a more than ordinary education- With the exception of one year, learning the carpenter trade, he remained at home helping his father and brothers clear the forest and plant crops, until his mar- riage. April 28, 1846, he was united in marriage to Jane K. Peter- son, daughter of Jonas Peterson, sr., whose history appears in this work. This resulted in the birth of eight children, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Secelia Ann, married to Thomas Moore; Sara Emily, married to Joseph A. Webb, passen- ger agent Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Columbus, Ohio; Sue L., Frank, married to Alice Compton; Charley S., Jonas S. C., and Harvey C. Mrs. Hupman died February 2, 1869, a member of the German Reformed Church, and regretted by all. April 27, 1875, he was again united, to Miss Amanda Brewer. Taking consider-
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able interest in school matters, he was on different occasions elected school director. Mr. and Mrs. Hupman are members of the Ger- man Reformed Church; he since 1847, and she for quite a long period. He is also a member of Xenia Lodge No. 52, Odd-fellows, and a member of Shawnee Encampment No. 20; joining the latter in 1868. As far back as he can remember, his progenitors have been Democrats, and of course he is one, staunch, tried and true. In 1844 he cast his first vote for James K. Polk. Socially, he is a pleasant gentleman, well respected in his community.
Isaiah McClellan, retired farmer. Robert and Betsy (Job) McClel- lan, came to Sugar Creek Township from Alleghany County, Penn- sylvania, in 1805, and built a cabin, the site of which is yet visible, in which Isaiah McClellan was born, November 1st, of the same year. Isaiah's father, served with distinction through the war of 1812, and was especially noted for his bravery, which amounted almost to rashness. He was a captain in that war, and at one time was in command of Fort McArthur, now Hardin County. (See Howe's Ohio Historical Collections.) After honorably serving out his time, He was discharged and died in this county about 1847, in the seventieth year of his age; his mother having previously died, in 1813. Captain Mcclellan reached home, when he was ordered to report to St. Mary's where he was stationed. Educational ad- vantages in Mr. MeClellan's youth, were limited to the proverbial subscription school, and while young, he never knew the blessings of our present free school system. On some land given him by his father, on condition that he would remain at home until married, he being past his majority, he built a shop and carried on coopering for some ten or twelve years, a business his father had engaged in before him. April 13, 1833, he married Miss Margaret Woodburn, by whom he had three children, one living. Mrs. Sallie Dunwid- die, and Margaret and Becky, deceased. His wife dying in 1838, he was again married, in 1840, to Miss Ann Hamilton, who bore him four children; William, Nancy E., Harvey, and Ellen. The third, Harvey, being married to Miss Laura MeClellan a distant re- lative. Mr. McClellan is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, as is also his wife and all his children. He has been a member since 1832, and his wife since 1834. He was one of the founders of the second United Presbyterian Church ever built in Xenia. He has been an ardent Republican ever since the organiza- tion of the party, but cast his first vote for John Quincy Adams.
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His father, Robert, was a Whig. Mr. MeClellan was not in the late war, but his son William was in the One Hundred and . Fifty- Fourth, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Stevenson commanding. He was in several skirmishing, and one rather severe engage- ment, in Western Virginia where they were stationed. He was hon- orably discharged in September, 1864. Mr. McClellan, though suffering with disease, hardly looks his age, seventy-five years.
William McKnight, farmer, was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, June 29, 1777, and with his parents came to Augusta County, Virginia, in 1797. His parents, John and Mary (Patter- son) Mcknight, came from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Rockbridge County, in 1772, and were born in 1732 and 1741, re- spectively. In 1758 they were married, and the result of this union was seven sons and three daughters, of whom William was the eighth child and sixth son. The names of the others, according to their ages, were James, David, Hannah, Mary, John, Andrew, Samuel, Robert, and Isabella. William's opportunities for an edu- cation in his youth, were poor, as his fatlier owned no land or slaves, and white people of that class were not much in demand, except occasionally as laborers. Ile persevered, however, and by energy and close application, secured sufficient of the rudiments of an ed- ucation to enable him to teach, and after his removal to Ohio, he made out deeds and mortgages, and did considerable writing of a public character; in fact, was for some time justice of the peace. William lived at home, worked, went to school, and eventually taught school until his father's death, which occurred in 1801. He remained at home about one year after that, and in the early fall of 1802, he took a trip to Woodford County, Kentucky. After re- maining there a short time, he hired on a flat-boat for a trip to New Orleans, which, at that time, was under the Spanish Govern- ment. After numerous hardships he, with the others, reached their destination. It would take three months to row a boat back, so he, after crossing Lake Ponchertrain on a small sail-boat, took his way on foot, through the almost trackless forest, for Kentucky. He camped out every night until he reached Tennessee, and then he found settlements, and made the entire distance, nine hundred miles, in a little more than thirty days. After reaching Kentucky, he took his horse and started for home, Virginia, through Ohio, and passed over some of the land he afterward owned. In his journey there was no regularly laid out road, but a blazed trail or
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trace, as they were called. It was the first road of any kind, how- ever, in that section of the county, and a section of one of the trees being taken, and the rings counted, show the trail to have been blazed before 1786. We are indebted to Samuel McKnight, son of William, for this information. This trace extended from Waynesville to Old Chillicothe, and between these two places he saw no white man, but on the east side of Caesar's Creek he found vacated log cabins, left by the white men because of anticipated Indian troubles. Although he heard firing, he saw no Indians. He reached Augusta County in 1803, and went to work in the dis- tillery which he and his brothers, Samuel and Robert, had started prior to his visit to Kentucky. In the winter and spring of 1804-5 he with his brother Samuel came to Ohio to purchase land, and after locating what they wanted, they found the owners lived in Richmond, Virginia. They then returned home, and the same year William went to Richmond and purchased the land, one thousand acres, of Pickard, Pollard & Johnson, Robert Gibbons' survey. In September, 1807, they sold their distillery interests, and with their brother David and others, forming a colony, they set out for Ohio, by way of Harper's Ferry, through Pennsylvania, and by that way, as they could not cross the mountains to come in a direct line. In 1808, he went back to Virginia, and married Jane Fulton, and started for Ohio immediately, three horses serving to transport themselves and personal effects. The result of this union was three sons and three daughters: Hannah, John, Margaret, Mary, Samuel, and David; the daughters are now deceased, but the three sons are living, two of them married; John to Sarah B. Davis, and David was married to Emma J. Adams, Rappahannock County, Virginia, April 23, 1868. They have four children, Han- nah, William, Mary, and Robert, aged, respectively, eleven, uine, five, and two years. David lives on part of the tract origi- nally owned by his uncle Samuel. Samuel, the other son, is yet unmarried, and in his sixty-fourth year, but looks no more than fifty. Mrs. McKnight died August 6, 1825, and the house work then devolved on Hannah, the eldest daughter. She never mar- ried, and remained at the old homestead until her death, September 22, 1868. Mr. McKnight never married again, but lived there with Hannah until his death, which occurred July 16, 1853. Prior to his death, however, he made a will, and gave his land jointly to his sons and daughters, leaving their share in money. His sons lived
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