USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions > Part 58
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
Digitized by Google
603
PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
Montgomery county; Jonathan, born on February 17, 1856, now living in Montgomery county ; Samuel, born on April 25, 1858, now living in Mont- gomery county ; George, born on January 6, 1860, also living in Montgomery county, and Ruth, born on November 24, 1861, deceased. George, Elizabeth and Catherine own the home farm where the three live together.
Jonathan Garber was born in 1814 in Rockingham county, Virginia. He was a shoemaker by trade, having learned this trade in Virginia. He came to Ohio in an early day, locating in Montgomery county, where he en- gaged in farming, and where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1890. His wife was born in 1815 in Rockingham county, Virginia and died in 1874.
Allen Garber was devoted to the farm from the time he was old enough to do odd chores. He attended the district schools of Montgomery county but was compelled to work most of the time and it was not possible for him to obtain a very liberal education. He came to Preble county, Ohio, Octo- ber 27, 1867, and began farming his father's land. He rented for a time and then purchased one hundred and five acres. Mr. Garber now owns two hundred and ten acres in Harrison township, comprising a well-improved farm. During the period of his active career he was an extensive breeder of Holstein cattle and made many exhibits at Darke and Preble county fairs. At one time he was engaged in the implement business at West Sonora and sold the first wheat binder that came into Preble county. Mr. Garber has lately moved to his modern home situated on ten acres of land in section 22 of Harrison township and here he will spend the remaining days of his life, surrounded by all of the comforts which his early toil has won.
Allen Garber has been married twice, the first time, in 1867, to Katherine Kimmel. who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, and who died in 1871. Two children were born to this union, both of whom died in infancy. Mr. Garber married, secondly, in 1876, Adeline I. Hapner, who was born on March 1, 1845, in Warren county, Ohio, and who was the daughter of Morgan M. and Minerva (Snorf) Hapner, the former of whom was born, November 12, 1818, in Preble county, and died on August 15. 1851, and the latter of whom was born on May 9, 1823, in Warren county and died on January 22, 1906.
To Allen and Adeline (Hapner) Garber, five children have been born, as follows: Lee R., of Indianapolis, Indiana; Alpharati, who lives at home: Virgil, of Harrison township; Mrs. Nina Hecathorne. of Eaton, Ohio, and Mrs. Vina Rider, who lives on the home place.
Mr. Garber is a Democrat and at one time was trustee of Harrison town-
Digitized by Google
604
PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
ship, a position which he filled with credit to himself and to the people who elected him to this position. He is an active member of the agricultural board and is recognized as a man familiar with all the "ins and outs" of farming, his advice frequently being sought by young farmers of the present generation. He is highly respected and honored by all the citizens of the locality wherein he resides.
HARRY H. FLORY.
Splendid achievements always excite admiration. Men of large deeds are the men the world delights to honor. Ours is an age representing the greatest progress in all lines of material activity. The man of initiative is the one who forges to the front. Among the well known citizens of Preble county, Ohio, and among those who have been prominent in many lines of activity, a place of priority must be accorded to Harry H. Flory, of Harrison township. He is, in the fullest sense of the term, a progressive, self-made American, thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of the advanced age in which he lives, conducting his farming and business matters as carefully and as systematically, as do those at the head of great industrial enterprises in the city. In all of his career he has displayed an aptitude for successful management. He has not permitted the accumulation of a competence to affect in any way his actions toward those less fortunate than himself and is a most sympathetic and broad-minded man, in consequence of which he has a host of warm and admiring friends.
Harry H. Flory, the son of James A. and the grandson of Henry Flory, was born, February 15, 1877, in Lewisburg, Ohio. In March, 1877, his father moved out along the county line, three and one-half miles northeast of Lewisburg, to a place known as the Adam House estate. At this time the country was mostly wooded. James A. Flory cleared his farm and for many years afterwards was engaged in the nursery business, making a specialty of small fruits. There he reared his family of five children, Harry, Pearl, John, Charles and May.
In 1872 James A. Flory married Margaret Brock, a member of one of the pioneer families of Darke county. Margaret Brock had been put into the hands of strangers near Middletown when a little girl on account of the death of her mother, who left a family of eleven children. When she had reached maturity she came to Preble county, locating at Lewisburg, where
Digitized by Google
605
PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
she worked for John Snyder, a hotel keeper, until her marriage. The entire Brock family became well known for their family reunions and the longevity of the members of the family. The youngest of the family of eleven chil- dren was fifty-five before there was a break in the family. Daniel, who was the first to die, passed away in January, 1915.
James A. Flory served four years as a Union soldier in the Civil War and wrote a history of Sherman's march to the sea. He and his wife are now retired from the farm and live in Dayton, where they will spend their declining days. The sons are known for miles around for their gigantic size and the part they have taken in building up the community. They are well scattered in this country. Pearl is engaged in business in Cleveland; Charles lives in Chicago; John in Dayton and Harry on the old home farm. These sons and the daughter have made it possible for their father and mother to see some of the wonders of the world, in fact, the entire family has traveled widely, seeing the best things the world has to offer.
Harry H. Flory married Jennie Furry, the daughter of Martin Furry, who lives near Johnsville, Ohio. To this union there was born one child, Isabella, who died on August 11, 1903.
Harry H. Flory has been popular for many years as a public speaker and campaign orator and debater. He is a temperance speaker of rare force and eloquence and has become famous throughout eastern Ohio as one who speaks straight from the shoulder and tells plain truths in a forceful way. He possesses an extensive library and has been a student from the time he was seven years old. He still puts in a great deal of time in his library. He is an extensive contributor to magazines and farm papers and is the author of "Little Brown's Pioneer History."
. Mr. Flory has been a farmer since leaving the law office of Charles W. Finch in Dayton in 1902. He is a man who follows strictly scientific prin- ciples on the farm and has been engaged in the general stock raising business for the past twelve years. During this period he has raised and sold more hogs than any other man in Harrison township. Mr. Flory is rated as one of the foremost citizens of Preble county. He is a power in Preble county and a booster in all things. He and his good wife believe in following in the footsteps of the Master and are devoutly religious in all of their thoughts and actions. They believe in the efficacy of prayer and that there is a Supreme Being who will answer the supplication of His faithful servants on this earth.
No history of Preble county would be complete that did not contain the life story of Harry H. Flory and his wife.
Digitized by Google
- .
606
PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
WILLIAM A. CORWIN.
Among the representative farmers of Preble county is the subject of this sketch, who owns a splendid farm in Harrison township. Mr. Corwin is carrying on various phases of farm industry with discretion and energy and is sure to find definite success. He has always been a hard worker, a good manager and a man of economical habits. Being fortunately situated in a thriving farming community, it is no wonder that he stands today in the front ranks of the agriculturists of this favored locality.
William A. Corwin, a tobacco grower and farmer, was born, March I, 1849, on the farm he now owns. He is the son of James and Malinda (Grisson) Corwin, to whom four children were born, as follows: Cortland, who lived many years at Eaton and died at Dayton, Ohio, in 1909, was ex- sheriff and a farmer, merchant and hotel keeper; Mrs. Elizabeth Arnold, who lives in Monroe township; William A., the subject of this sketch; and Mrs. Margaret Housman, of Harrison township.
James Corwin was born on October 10, 1816, in Warren county, Ohio, and in 1826, came with his parents to Preble county, where he farmed until his death, which occurred in 1888. He was the son of Mathias and. Margaret (Snorf) Corwin, who were of English descent and who came to Ohio from Kentucky. James Corwin's wife, who was Malinda Grisson before her mar- riage, was born December 19, 1814, in Virginia and died in Harrison town- ship, this county, in 1889.
William A. Corwin was reared on the farm where he now lives and re- mained with his father until he had reached his majority. He then rented land and began farming for himself. After renting for several years, he purchased the old homeplace and has made improvements costing in the neighborhood of twelve thousand dollars. He has a large, modern home and other buildings to correspond, located close to the Pennsylvania railroad line. He has eighty-five acres of well-improved land, eight acres of which is in natural timber. Mr. Corwin for years has grown tobacco and has in- variably received the top price for his product. He keeps good grades of cattle, horses and hogs and they have proved very profitable to him.
On October 8, 1874, William A. Corwin was married to Amanda Fet- ters, who was born on December 22, 1851, in Montgomery county, Ohio, the daughter of Solomon and Katherine (Williams) Fetters, both of whom were natives of Ohio. To this union four children were born, Wade, who is a farmer in Harrison township; Mrs. Mazy Siler, who lives in Monroe town-
Digitized by Google
607
PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
ship, Preble county ; Raymond C., who lives in Dayton, Ohio, and Mrs. Nolah Fitzwater, who lives with Mr. and Mrs. Corwin.
Mr. Corwin has always been interested in the educational affairs of his township and has been a conspicuous member of the school board. He also has been interested in good roads and lately has been a supervisor of a road district in Harrison township. Mr. Corwin is an ardent Republican and he and his family are members of the Christian church, in the affairs of which denomination they take an active interest. Fraternally, Mr. Corwin is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
JOHN WHIPP.
Self-assertion is believed by many people to be absolutely necessary to success in life. There are good reasons for the entertainment of such belief. The honest man very rarely gets what is due him, the selfish and restive man elbows his way to the front, taking all that is in sight, until it sometimes seems that modesty is a sin, with self-denial the penalty. There are, how- ever, exceptions to all rules and it is a matter greatly to be regretted that the exceptions to the rule are not more numerous. One notable exception is John Whipp, a prominent auctioneer of Preble county, Ohio, who lives at Lewisburg. John Whipp is a man who is possessed of sufficient modesty to be a gentleman at all times and yet sufficient persistency to win in the business world. As a result of these happily-blended qualities, Mr. Whipp has won a host of friends in Preble and adjoining counties where he is well known to all classes as a man of influence, integrity and business judgment. He is particularly well known because of his vocation.
John Whipp was born on July 29, 1849, in Warren county, Ohio, the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Brelsford) Whipp, to whom fourteen children were born, four girls and ten boys. Four of the family are deceased.
. Daniel Whipp was born in Pennsylvania, in 1822. He came with his parents to Ohio, locating in Warren county, where he remained and farmed until 1858, in which year he moved to Montgomery county, where he farmed for six years and then retired, moving to Covington, Ohio, where he died in 1877. Mrs. Daniel Whipp, the mother of John Whipp, was born about 1823 in Warren county, Ohio, and died in 1895.
John Whipp was reared on the farm and in the early days was com- pelled to work hard at home, in consequence of which he received very little
Digitized by Google
608
PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
education. He was married when he was about twenty-one years old and for a time thereafter rented land in different localities. Finally he purchased thirty-one acres in Twin township, this county, which he farmed until 1909, in which year he moved to Lewisburg, where he had property and in 1895 began crying farm sales. He is now well known throughout Darke, Mont- gomery and Preble counties, Ohio, as a successful auctioneer. Mr. Whipp has cried from sixty-five to eighty sales in a single season.
In 1873, John Whipp was married to Mary Ellen Snyder, who was born on February 23, 1851, in Montgomery county, Ohio, the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Shank) Snyder, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respec- tively. To this union four children have been born, Jesse, who lives at Lewisburg, Ohio; Mrs. Gertrude Wigger, of Harrison township; Mrs. Kath- erine Bierly, also of Harrison township; and Edward, deceased, who was the second child born to his parents.
Politically, Mr. Whipp is a Republican. He is a member of the Re- formed church and he and his wife are prominent in the local affairs of this church. No history of Preble county would be complete that did not contain the life story of John Whipp, the well-known auctioneer.
WILLIAM TONEY.
Men who have been fortunate in their struggle for wealth and affluence and who are the pride of the community made notable for their success are always the leaders of agriculture and business. Among the retired farmers of Preble county few have attained a larger measure of success than Wil- liam Toney, of Eaton. In this century, when every modern device for farm- ing is obtainable and when success depends for a large part on the wise man- agement of the farmer, it is hard for us to realize the handicaps of the farm- ers of the last century, when farming implements were so crude and so much depended on manual labor. Despite all handicaps, privations and hardships, some farmers made a wonderful success and one of these farmers is William Toney.
William Toney was born in Dixon township, Preble county, Ohio, July 15, 1838, the son of Herman and Fannie (Kingery) Toney, natives of Vir- ginia and Indiana, respectively, who were the parents of six children: Wil- liam ; Carey, of Dixon township; Jonathan, deceased; James, of Dixon town- ship, and two who died young. The father of William Toney was a small
Digitized by Google
1
rs old and purchased ıntil 100g d in 1805 ke. Mont- r. Whipp
was born i James reper- lives a Kath-
e Re- i this ntain
re
1.
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM TONEY.
Digitized by
Digitized by
-
== - -..
609
PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
boy when he was brought by his parents from Virginia to Preble county, and he grew to manhood in the latter county. He was always a farmer in Dixon township.
Herman Toney started in for himself in early manhood on one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he improved and where he reared his family. He added to this farm until he at one time owned seven hundred and twenty acres. He lived to the age of eighty-seven, and his wife died at the age of forty years. They both belonged to the German Baptist church.
The paternal grandparents of William Toney were Carey and Elizabeth Toney, natives of Virginia and pioneer settlers of Preble county, Ohio, where they were farmers. They died in Preble county, he at the remarkable age of one hundred and four and she at the age of one hundred and three. To them were born eight children: William, Archibald, Jesse, Squire. Harmon, James, Jonathan and Fannie. Carey Toney was a soldier in the War of 1812.
The maternal grandparents of William Toney were Jacob and Barbara Kingery, early settlers in Union county, Indiana, where they died. Their children were Balsar, Samuel and Fannie.
William Toney was reared on his father's farm in Preble county and attended the district schools. He lived at home until grown and then began farming one of his father's farms of one hundred and sixty acres, which his father afterward deeded to him. He lived on this farm until he moved to Eaton in 1910. He bought another tract of one hundred and sixty acres, another of one hundred and twenty and one of eighty. He gave one hundred and twenty acres to his son, Andrew H., who now resides in Eaton, Ohio.
On December 29, 1859, William Toney was married to Elizabeth Witt, the daughter of Andrew and Eleanor (Swafford) Witt, to which union three children were born, Andrew H., Orla L. and Minta Alice. Andrew H. is a farmer in Dixon township. He married Ida Flora and they have six children : Grace, Ellen, Ambrose, Ansel, Earl and Ezra. Of these children, Grace married Richard Parker and has two children, Dearl and Andrew. Ellen married Emmett Druley and has three children, Olive, Elbert and Verl. Am- brose married Allie Hart and they have one son, Kendrick, and one daughter, Louise. Ansel married Stella Dunlap and has two children, Ivan Dunlap and Elvin Owen. Earl married Ethel Dunlap and has one daughter, Janet. Orla L., the second child of William Toney, died at the age of twenty-one, nine days after his marriage to Cora Parks. Minta Alice died at the age of one year eleven months and two days.
Mrs. William Toney was born in Harrison township, Union county. (39)
Digitized by Google
610
PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
Indiana, July 3, 1842. Her father, Andrew Witt, came from Virginia and her mother was born in Indiana. They lived nearly all of their married life in Union county, Indiana. Her father died in 1867 at the age of fifty-six years and seven months. Her mother died November 13, 1910, at the age of ninety-six years and seven months. Mr. and Mrs. Witt were the parents of ten children, the first three dying in infancy and the others being Isaac, Elizabeth, John, Malinda, Andrew, Lewis and Ross. The paternal grand- parents of Mrs. William Toney were John and Elizabeth Witt. They were the parents of eight children: Sarah, Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary, Andrew, John, George and Daniel. Her maternal grandparents were Isaac and Sarah (Armstrong) Swafford. They also reared a large family, including Eleanor, Rebecca, Sarah, Elizabeth, Archibald. James and William.
Throughout his life William Toney has been active in the political affairs of Preble county. He is a Republican and has served as township treasurer, trustee and as school director, all of which positions he has discharged con- scientiously and efficiently, and in such a manner as to earn the commendation and approval of the constituents to whom he was responsible. Mr. and Mrs. Toney are active and devoted members of the Christian (New Light) church and contribute loyally to the support of this church.
ANDERSON LYONS.
One of the most enterprising of the present generation of farmers in Preble county, Ohio, who has believed from the outset of his career that the wisdom of yesterday is sometimes the folly of today and that, while the methods of our grandfathers in tilling the soil were all right in their day, yet in the twentieth century were compelled to adopt new methods. along different lines. In view of the fact that conditions of climate, soil, etc., have changed since the days of the pioneers, Anderson Lyons has been a close observer of modern methods and is a student at all times of whatever per- tains to his chosen life work. He has, therefore, met with encouraging suc- cess all along the line. Judging from his past record. he will yet achieve wider and larger success in this favored section, noted for its fine farms and skillful farmers.
Anderson Lyons, a well known farmer and stockman of Harrison town- ship, was born on April 26, 1863, in this county, the son of Frederick and Susannah (Link) Lyons, to whom seven children were born. Frederick Lyons was born on October 3, 1821, in Preble county, and died on September
Digitized by Google
F
611
PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
12, 1903. He was a great potato raiser, having at one time the largest crop ever grown in Preble county. He was also noted for his large herd of Pol- and-China hogs. His wife, who, before her marriage, was Susannah Link, was born on November 15, 1826, in Preble county, and died on September 5, 1910.
Anderson Lyons has always lived on the farm. When a young man he attended the district schools of his locality and when twenty-two years of age, he rented land from his father in Darke county. Two years later, when he was twenty-four years of age, his father gave him one hundred and ten acres of land in Noble county, Indiana, and Mr. Lyons bought thirty acres more and farmed this for nine years. At the end of this period, he sold out and returned to Preble county, where he since has purchased one hundred and eighty-five acres of land in Harrison township. At the very first, he began making improvements on the farm by replacing the old buildings with new ones. Among other things, he has erected a thoroughly modern house and barn, which are a credit to any Preble county farm or any Preble county farmer. Mr. Lyons' house is equipped with steam heat and running water throughout, both hot and cold, and he uses an acetylene lighting system. He also has running water in the barn. All of these things Mr. Lyons planned himself and they are a distinct evidence of his genius as a successful farmer because everything is designed to fulfill two ends, comfort and utility. Mr. Lyons has twenty acres of natural timber and has set out a large orchard. He has always kept a good grade of stock on his farm. One of the unique features which may be seen on his farm is a mammoth bull, which Mr. Lyons uses in the harness along with his horses for plowing and other work. There is nothing like this to be found in all Preble county.
On November 2, 1884, Anderson Lyons was married to Jane Gantz, who was born May 31, 1856, not far from Enterprise, in Preble county, Ohio, a daughter of Samuel and Susannah (Stiver) Gantz, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Montgomery county, Ohio. They were farmers in Preble county and both are now deceased.
To Anderson and Jane (Gantz) Lyons eight children have been born, Mrs. Clara Miles, of New Hope. Ohio: Oscar F., of Dennison. Texas: For- rest F., who is at home; Mrs. Theresa Bowers, who lives in Washington township. Preble county : Leroy I., Harry W., Grace and Mary, who are at home.
Mr. Lyons is an independent voter and he and his family are members of the United Brethren church at West Sonora and are active in the affairs of that church. Anderson Lyons is well known as an enterprising farmer, a successful business man and a good neighbor.
Digitized by Google
--
.
612
PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
CASPER F. PORMAN.
In the history of Preble county, Ohio, Casper F. Porman occupies a con- spicuous place as a farmer. For many years he has been one of the repre- sentative farmers of Harrison township, progressive, enterprising and perse- vering. Such qualities always win success sooner or later, and to Mr. Por- man they have brought a satisfactory reward for his well-directed efforts. While he has benefited himself and the community in a material way, he has also been an influential factor in the educational, political and moral uplift of the community favored by his residence.
Casper F. Porman was born in Germany, February 18, 1865, the son of John F. and Margaret Porman, to whom eight children were born, five in Germany and three in Preble county, Ohio, as follow: John H., who was born in Germany, is deceased; Casper F., with whom this narrative deals, is the second child; Mrs. Mary Etzler, who was born in Germany, is now living in Harrison township, in this county; Detrich F., a farmer in Harrison town- ship, Preble county; Mrs. Hannah Huechting. a widow now living in Euphemia, Ohio; one who died in infancy ; John D., of Euphemia, Ohio, and another who died in infancy.
John H. Porman was born in 1836 in Germany and came to this country in the spring of 1874, settling in Lanier township, Preble county, Ohio, where he worked by the day, raising tobacco for different people. In 1881 he pur- chased a small farm in Twin township, and farmed there until his death in February, 1889. Mrs. John H. Porman, who, before her marriage, was Margaret Unger. was born on February 5. 1838, in Germany, and died at her home in this county, July 12, 1900.
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.