History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 47

Author: R. E. Lowry
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 985

USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions > Part 47

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Mrs. Cokefair was born in Pendleton, Indiana. Her mother was born at Franklin, Ohio, and her father at Newcastle, Indiana. Her father died in 1912 at the age of eighty-five years and ten months. Her mother died on February 23, 1915. They had seven children, four of whom lived to maturity, William G., Harry, Della and Arthur. Mrs. Cokefair's father was a dry gooods merchant in young manhood, but he later looked after his farms in Madison county.

The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Cokefair were William and Ann (Robinson) Silver, early settlers of Madison county, Indiana. Mrs. Silver was a native of Kentucky and died at the age of forty-four, her husband surviving her many years, his death not occurring until he was eighty-five years old. They had five children, Josephine, Quincy, Araminta, Louisa and James. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Cokefair were William and Susanne (Millard) Gregg, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of whom was a farmer near Springboro, Ohio, who died there at the age of seventy- eight, his wife dying at the age of seventy-seven. They were the parents of Mordecai, Hiram, Jonah, James, George, Amanda and Catherine.

Charles B. Cokefair, in his personal and business life, has proved a worthy son of a prominent father and enjoys the unlimited confidence of the people of the community in which he has lived for so many years.

WILLIAM H. STRAW.

Preble county has been fortunate in the number and character of its farmers, and very much of the prosperity of the county can be attributed to the fact that its farmers have kept abreast of the times. It can hardly be questioned that the farmer is an index to the civilization of the community. If the farmers are progressive and up to date, it follows naturally that the standard of living in that community will be high. Thousands of banks have been organized within the last few years in order to supply the needs of the farmer. The farmer and his stock furnishes most of the money for most of the smaller banks throughout the United States. The wholesome living, which is the good fortune of the farmers, is a big factor in main- taining the general tone of a county. Preble county has long been known as one of the best farming counties of Ohio, and among the excellent farmers

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of this county William H. Straw, now living retired at 114 South Maple street, Eaton, Ohio, deserved a place in the foremost ranks.

William H. Straw was born April 6, 1840, in Preble county, Ohio, the son of Peter and Mariah (Huffman) Straw, both natives of Germany, who were married in Preble county and were extremely successful as farmers. Peter Straw was quite well-to-do, having, with the aid of his good wife, made the entire competence which he possessed at the time of his death in 1874. His wife died in 1880. Peter Straw and wife were the parents of seven children, four of whom are living: William H .; Joseph; George W., and Sarah, who is the wife of Robert Appleby.

William H. Straw was reared on a farm in Preble county, Ohio. His education was somewhat neglected. Early in life he worked in a slaughter house, but quit this work for farming after his marriage at the age of twen- ty-one. When he married he had absolutely nothing but a strong body and a willing mind, dominated by a determination to do well those things which his hand found to do. He began life as a renter of a small farm, and, with the constant and encouraging aid of his good wife, prospered from the very beginning of his farming venture. He presently was able to buy an excel- lent farm of one hundred and one acres, to which he later added one hun- dred and six acres and later a strip of forty-seven acres, having had, at the time he sold his place and retired from the active life of the farm, an ad- mirable farm of two hundred and fifty-four. acres, -all of which he had brought to an excellent state of cultivation and which he had improved ac- cording to the most approved methods of modern agriculture. Mr. and Mrs. Straw attribute their success in life to their habits of thrift and frugality, in which they became so well grounded during the days of their early strug- gles for a foothold, and it is highly fitting that the lesson of their lives should be set out here in the history of the county in which this success was achieved.

Mr. Straw was married October 10, 1861, to Melvina Stetler, the daugh- ter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Marona) Stetler, the former a native of Penn- sylvania and the latter a native of Delaware, who came to Preble county, Ohio, from their native states, their daughter, Melvina, being born in Wash- ington township, January 23, 1840. She was reared on the farm and edu- cated in the common schools. To William H. and Melvina (Stetler) Straw were born two children, Alice and Florence, the latter of whom married John W. Horine and had one daughter, Pauline, and died at the age of thirty-seven. Alice, the wife of Leonard Spacht, lives in Washington town- ship.

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Mrs. Straw is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Straw is a mem- ber of Eaton Lodge No. 30, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politi- cally, he is a Republican. Few men living in Eaton are more highly re- spected than William H. Straw, and very few have contributed more to the substantial wellbeing of the community in which he lives.

JOSEPH FLEISCH.

The true measure of individual success is determined by what one has accomplished. An enumeration of those men who have succeeded in their special vocations in Preble county and at the same time are impressing their personalities on the community, men who are conferring honor upon the locality in which they reside, would be incomplete were there a failure to make specific mention of Joseph Fleisch, a farmer of Dixon township. His success has been the direct result of his industry, optimism and good busi- ness management.

Joseph Fleisch was born in the southern part of Preble county, Ohio, October 26, 1841, the son of Michael and Catherine ( Megley) Fleisch. Michael Fleisch was born in Bavaria, Germany, and his wife was also a native of Germany. She was first married to a man by the name of Vanier. Michael Fleisch came to the United States at an early age and finally located in Butler county, Ohio, where he was married. His wife lived at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, before coming to Ohio. Michael Fleisch worked in a dis- tillery in Butler county. He came to Preble county, Ohio, in 1842, where he bought a farm and lived upon it until his death in 1891. He was the father of ten children, only two of whom are living, Joseph and Jacob, the latter of whom lives in Kansas.

Joseph Fleisch has been a resident of Preble county, Ohio, since 1841. He worked on a farm during his younger days and after he had reached his majority he was employed by his father for five hundred dollars a year, working for him until he was twenty-four years old.

On November 2. 1865, Mr. Fleisch was married to Lucinda Laflin, who was born and reared in Union county, Indiana, July 2, 1845, the daugh- ter of William and Mary ( Maddox) Laflin. To this union were born eight children, seven of whom are living: Lottie, the wife of L. C. Reaver; Jacob, who is married and lives in Dixon township; Lawrence, who is mar- ried and lives in Wayne county. Indiana : Ida, the widow of Waldo Powell:

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MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH FLEISCH.

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Viola, the wife of Frank Brandley; William, who married Ethel Duffield and lives on the farm with his father, and Warner, who married Minnie Parker and lives in Wayne county, Indiana.

Mr. Fleisch now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, but at different times in his life has owned much more than this. He is a Demo- crat, although he has never taken an especially active part in political affairs and has never held office. He is a man highly respected in his community, not only for his enterprising habits, but for his genial temperament and native friendliness. Few men have a larger claim to the gracious regard of his neighbors and friends than Joseph Fleisch.

JAMES SWIHART.

The present generation derives great pleasure in contemplating the ca- reers and works of those of the generation whose active lives are finished. In the hurly-burly of active life there is little time to measure accurately one's own successes and triumphs, defeats and rebuffs. Moreover, self- analysis is difficult for one of a proper perspective. With a passed genera- tion, whose works are finished, a focus is obtainable and deeds appear in their proper proportion. It is not difficult, for example, to measure the many good deeds of the venerable James Swihart, of Eaton, Ohio, whose live has been devoted unceasingly to noble thoughts and unselfish service.

James Swihart, now living retired in Eaton, Ohio, was born January 8, 1825, in Montgomery county, Ohio, the son of Jonathan and Sophia (Cloyd) Swihart, the former born in Pennsylvania in 1802 and the latter in Virginia in 1805, who were the parents of eight children, James, Ste- phen, Henry, Jonathan, Harvey, Catharine, Eliza and Anna.

Jonathan Swihart and wife came west to Ohio in 1810 and settled in Montgomery county, where they engaged in farming. They died there, he at the age of seventy-four and she at the age of ninety-six years, three months and six days. Throughout their lives they were devout members of the German Baptist church.

The paternal grandparents of James Swihart were Adam Swihart and wife, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1810, where they died. Adam Swihart was a farmer and was descended from good German stock. Among his children were Jonathan, Henry,

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Daniel and Levi. The maternal grandparents of James Swihart were James and Sophia Cloyd, natives of Virginia and of Irish descent, Mrs. Cloyd's father having come from Ireland to America. Their children were Ed- ward, Joshua, Stephen, Sophia and Hannah.

James Swihart was reared in Montgomery county, Ohio, and came to Preble county in 1850, settling one-half mile south of New Hope in Jack- son township, where he bought a farm of seventy-six acres for fifteen hun- dred dollars. He improved this farm and added fifty-two acres to it and there lived more than sixty years, at the end of which time he sold the farm and moved to Eaton, April 19, 1914. The barn on this farm was built in 1854 and the house in 1866.

On September 15, 1847, James Swihart was married to Mary Miller, the daughter of Rev. Daniel and Sarah (Harris) Miller, the former of whom was a German Baptist minister, born in 1799. To James and Mary (Miller) Swihart four children were born, as follows: John Henry, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, who married Melissa Surface and has two chil- dren, Charles and Mary; Sarah Ann, the wife of Martin Saylor, of Eaton, Ohio, to whom have been born five children, Hugh, Dora, Mary, George and Abraham, the latter of whom died in infancy; Daniel M., of Eaton, who has one daughter, Dessie, and Sophia, who died at the age of twenty- two months. Mrs. Swihart died in 1870, at the age of forty-two. She had two sisters, Anna and Sarah, and one brother, Samuel.

Mr. Swihart married, secondly, May 15, 1872, Mrs. Catherine Wysong, the widow of Columbus Wysong, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Eikenbary) Wysong, who had two children by her former marriage, Alice and one who died in infancy. Alice married John Markey, of Preble county and they had five children, two of whom are now living, Clarence and Esther.

Mrs. Catherine Swihart was born in Preble county, November 22, 1848. Her parents were natives of Preble county and her father died here about 1894 at the age of sixty-eight. Her mother, who was born January 7, 1828, is still living at the age of eighty-six years. John and Elizabeth (Eikenbary) Wysong were the parents of ten children, Catharine, Isaac B., Adam, Reuben, Simon, Eli, Sarah Ann, Delilah, Mary and Harriett.

Mr. and Mrs. James Swihart are members of the German Baptist church in which Mr. Swihart is a deacon. Politically, he is identified with the Re- publican party. Although past eighty-nine years of age Mr. Swihart is well preserved, has a keen intellect and a remarkably good memory. He has been a resident of Preble county sixty-four years and has seen a won-

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derful development in that time. He has always been an industrious man, a hard worker, feeling that it is better to wear out by industrious habits than to rust out. His strength of body and active mind have, no doubt, been so well preserved as a consequence of his energetic physical and men- tal exercise. He and his good wife are now enjoying a well-earned respite from their long years of toil. They have a substantial competency for their old age, are loved by everybody and enjoy the reflections and commenda- tions which come to those whose lives have been well spent.

Daniel M. Swihart was reared on his father's farm in Jackson town- ship and attended the district schools. He lived at home until twenty-three years of age and then began farming for himself. In 1891 he moved to Eaton and worked in a hardware store for seventeen years. For the past six years he has been in the insurance business, in partnership with George H. Kelly and Daisy Kline, the firm being Kelly, Kline and Swihart.

Daniel M. Swihart was married April 17, 1881, to Elizabeth Scheid, the daughter of George and Catherine (Miller) Scheid. One daughter, Dessie, as has been before mentioned, was born to this union. Mrs. Daniel Swihart's parents were natives of Germany and came to America, settling in Butler county, Ohio, where they were married. Her father is deceased but her mother is still living. They were the parents of ten children, Mary, Elizabeth, Ella, Ottilla, Nora, Anna, Emma, Frank, Reuben and Edward.

The Swihart family are eminently respected citizens of Preble county and enjoy the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances.

DR. HORATIO Z. SILVER.

The subject of this biographical sketch was born in Dixon township, Preble county, Ohio, September 22, 1872, a son of Oscar W. and Helena (Button) Silver, natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively. Oscar W. Sil- ver and wife were the parents of three children, Dr. Horatio Z., of Eaton; William B., of Dixon township, this county, and one who died in infancy.

Oscar W. Silver was reared on a farm and has always followed this vocation. He lived on the same farm in Dixon township for about fifty years, and he now owns one hundred and sixty acres. He was a soldier in the Civil War, being a member of Company H, One Hundred and Fifty- sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he was a private. He is of Quaker faith, while Mrs. Silver is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

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The paternal grandparents of Doctor Silver were William B. and Ann (Johnson) Silver, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Delaware, who were early settlers in Preble county. William B. Silver was a well-known farmer, and was one of the first salesmen for the McCormick Reaper Company. He and his wife lived to an advanced age, and were the parents of tight" children, Joshua, Horatio, Oscar W., Joseph, Robert, Mrs. Maggie Jennings, Mrs. Reba Freeman, and a daughter who died in early childhood.

The maternal grandparents of Doctor Silver were George and Alice (Zimmerman) Button, natives of North Carolina and early settlers in Preble county, who were located near Camden. George Button was a farmer and died in Gasper township, at the age of sixty-five years. His widow survived him some years, her death occurring in Dixon township at the age of eighty-two years. George Button and wife were the parents of eight children, namely: John, who was killed at the battle of Stone River; Thomas, William, George, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary and Helena.

Doctor Silver was married June 19, 1900, to Lora Smith, the daugh- ter of Joseph M. and Hannah (Phares) Smith, and to this union one daugh- ter has been born, Helena. Mrs. Silver is a native of Ohio, where her parents also were born. Her mother died in Rushville, Indiana, in 1885, and her father now lives in Dayton, Ohio. Joseph M. Smith and wife were the parents of six children. Lora, Edna, Harriet, Jessie, and two sons who died in childhood. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Silver was Stephen Smith, and he and his wife were the parents of the following children: Sarah, Nettie, Belle, Charles, Watson, Joseph, James W., Marietta, Lydia and Baxter.

LEWIS JOHNSON.

The biographies of the representative men of a county bring to light many hidden treasures of mind, character and courage well calculated to arouse the pride of family and community. It is a source of regret that the people are not more familiar with the personal history of such men, in the ranks of whom may be found farmers, mechanics, teachers, lawyers, physi- cians, bankers and members of other vocations and professions. Lewis Johnson is distinctively one of the representative citizens of Preble county. and as such he has made his influence felt among his fellow men. He has

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justly deserved the reputation he has for enterprise, integrity and honor, qualities which entitle him to consideration in a work of this character.

Lewis Johnson was born in Butler county, Ohio, April 25, 1866, a son of Benjamin and Lydia (Moore) Johnson, both of whom were born in But- ler county, Ohio, the latter's birth occurring near the town of Oxford. Ben- jamin Johnson enlisted for service in the Union army in May, 1864, and served one hundred days in Company I, One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being mustered out of service Septem- . ber 8, 1864. After the war Benjamin Johnson returned to Butler county, Ohio, where he again took up farming, and during the remainder of his life he followed agricultural pursuits in Butler county, his death occurring in 1876. He was the father of six children, five of whom are still living, as follows: Lewis, the immediate subject of this review; Joseph Johnson, a resident of Richmond, Indiana; Belle, the wife of Frank Hill, a farmer of Gasper township, in this county; Alva, the wife of Sylvester Lowman, of Dayton, Ohio, and Hattie, the wife of Adam Surface, of New Hope, Ohio.

Lewis Johnson was reared on a farm in Butler county, Ohio, and there received his education in the district schools, which he attended during the winter seasons, working on the farm during the summers. At the age of twelve he began to "dig" for himself. Part of his earnings after this age were given to his mother, who was left a widow when Benjamin was ten years old, and this practice he continued until he had reached his majority, at which time Lewis Johnson bought his first suit of "store" clothes, neces- sity previously having limited him to home-made clothes.

Mr. Johnson was married in February, 1894, at the age of twenty- seven, to Clara Rumley, a daughter of Charles Rumley, and a native of Mary- land. At the time of his marriage Mr. Johnson had about five hundred dollars. He rented land for eleven years, and in 1905 he purchased ninety- six acres in sections 24 and 25 of Dixon township, this county, and on this farm he carries on a system of general farming, and enjoys the well de- served success which he has attained in his vocation. He and his wife are the parents of seven children, six of whom are now living: Ethel, Clarence, Mabel, Grace, Robert and Charles. Marie, the second child, died at the age of sixteen years.

Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Sugar Valley Methodist Episcopal church, in which she takes an active and interested part. Politically, Mr. Johnson is a Democrat. He is a quiet man of modest demeanor, an honor- able citizen of Dixon township, and a man who thoroughly deserves the kind consideration bestowed upon him by a large circle of neighbors and friends.

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SOLOMON C. WILSON.

As long as history endures the United States will acknowledge its in- debtedness to the heroes of 1861-1865, who fought for the preservation of the Union, the honor of the stars and stripes, a flag which has never trailed in the dust in any struggle in which this country has been involved. Among those whose records as valiant soldiers in the Civil War reflects lasting honor upon them and their descendants is Solomon C. Wilson, a retired farmer living at 206 North Maple street, Eaton, Ohio, and one of the well-known citizens of Preble county.

Solomon C. Wilson was born in Columbia, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1842, the son of James and Susanna (Cramer) Wilson. James Wilson was born in County Down, Ireland, and came to this county with his parents, William and Ann (Clowny) Wilson, who settled first in New York state and later removed to Franklin county, Pennsylvania. They came to Ohio in 1844, locating in Preble county, and here they spent the rest of their lives. Mrs. Wilson was a devout member of the Presbyterian church and exerted a profound religious influence in her family. She and her husband were the parents of ten children, James, William, Joseph, Robert, John, Isaac, Sarah, Jane, Mary A. and Margaret.

James Wilson was married in Pennsylvania and came to Preble county in 1844, locating at Camden, and lived on a tract of land near that town. He was a stone mason by trade and worked at his trade in connection with farming. His wife died in 1858 and he married again, this second union being without issue. Five children of the first marriage are still living, as follow: Sarah, who is the wife of Abraham Roush; Solomon C., the sub- ject of this sketch; Susan E., the widow of J. P. Wilson; Irene, the wife of T. R. Maddock; and Rebecca, the widow of George R. Spivey. James Wil- son died in 1879.

Solomon C. Wilson was reared on a farm near Camden, Ohio, and re- ceived his education in the district schools. At the age of nineteen, being fired with patriotism and love of his native country, he left home and friends and on July 29, 1861, enlisted in Company D, Forty-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he saw three years of hard service. His regi- ment operated in West Virginia about eighteen months and took part in the battle of Vicksburg. After the battle of Vicksburg his company and regi- ment were assigned to the Second Brigade, the Second Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps, under General Sherman, and in the fall of 1863 oper- ated around Memphis and Chattanooga, taking part in the battle of Mission-

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ary Ridge. Mr. Wilson was with Sherman's army until August 27, 1864, when he was discharged near Atlanta, Georgia, his term of enlistment having expired. Upon his discharge from the army, Mr. Wilson returned to Preble county and resumed farming.

On January 5, 1865, Solomon C. Wilson was married to Matilda Leach, who was born near Eaton, February 16, 1848, the daughter of Jacob and Matilda (Jennings) Leach. The Jennings family were natives of England and the Leach family came from Tennessee. Mrs. Wilson was reared on a farm and educated in the district schools.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson began housekeeping in a very moderate way. They farmed until 1892 when Mr. Wilson was ap- pointed superintendent and his wife matron of the Preble county infirmary. They remained there ten years, at the end of which time they returned to the farm for one year, moving to Eaton, in 1903, where they have since lived. One daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson is living, Mary E., born June 15, 1866, who was graduated from the common schools and is the wife of D. C. Payne, of Camden, Ohio. One son, James Herbert, born November 12, 1867, died in infancy.

Mr. Wilson is a Republican and for many years has been active in the local councils of his party. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church at Eaton, Mr. Wilson being a member of the official board. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and past com- mander of the local post. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are quiet, unassuming people who have performed every duty and discharged every obligation, both public and private, that has arisen during their long and honorable lives.

CHARLES O. ACTON.

There is nothing which stimulates a man to deeds of worth and a life of uprightness and rectitude more than the recollection of the strength of char- acter and examples of right living which have been shown by his forefathers. In this respect, Charles O. Acton is fortunate beyond the majority of men in being descended from a line of men who, in their community, have been men of strength and influence, doing their duty well whether in the peaceful pursuits of ordinary life or in positions of public trust. The heritage of such memories of the lives of one's forefathers is of more value than ma- terial wealth. In the business affairs of Eaton, Ohio, Mr. Acton occupies a position of importance and stands high among his associates.

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History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 47

Author: R. E. Lowry Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 985

Author: R. E. Lowry
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 985