History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 66

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 66

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Mrs. Fogarty was born near Oxford, in Butler county, January 12, 1883. She was graduated from the Oxford high school and spent two years at Miami University. Her parents are natives of Ohio and now reside in Oxford. They have had five children. Blanche, Myrtle. Bruce, Mary and Ruby. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Fogarty were David McDill and wife, early settlers of Butler county, Ohio, where they lived the rest of their lives. Her maternal grandparents were William Johnston and wife, also

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early settlers of Butler county, Ohio, whose children were Mary, Margaret, Ella, Melissa, James, John, William, Robert, Martha and Sarah.

Mr. Fogarty has been county examiner of schools for the past six years and was president of the county teachers' institute for two years. Politically, he is a Democrat and has been somewhat active in the councils of his party. He is an active member of Camden Lodge No. 153, Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. and Mrs. Fogarty are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Fogarty is an elder in the church and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday school at Camden. Mr. and Mrs. Fogarty are much admired for their strong mentalities and their genial dispositions and are popular and highly respected by every one.

ISAAC MILLER.

The life records of self-made men will invariably show that untiring energy has constituted the basis of success. True there are other elements which enter into and conserve the advance of personal interest, such as per- severance, discrimination and the mastering of expedients. The foundation of all achievement, however, is earnest, persistent labor. At the outset of his career, Isaac Miller recognized this fact and he has never sought any royal road to prosperity and independence. He began work earnestly and diligently in order to advance his material interests, and the result is that he is now numbered among the progressive, successful and influential busi- ness men of Preble county.

Isaac Miller. the president of the Farmers Banking Company, of Eldo- rado, is a native of Monroe township, Preble county. He was born on a farm, January 19, 1855, and is the son of Levi and Susanna (Wehrly) Miller. Levi Miller was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in Sep- tember, 1819, and Susanna Wehrly was born in Monroe township. She died in 1907. Levi Miller was fourteen years old when he came with his mother and a colony of others to Preble county, Ohio. His mother, with her two sons and four daughters, located in Monroe township and there she purchased a small farm of eighty acres, all of which was heavily covered with timber. This land was cleared and improved and there she lived until her death at the age of ninety years. All of the family were reared in this locality and nourished by this little farm. The Wehrly family is all deceased except two, one of whom. Noah, served three years during the Civil War.

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Mr. and Mrs. Levi Miller were the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom are living, Samuel, Andrew, Polly J., Isaac, Catherine, Lydia, Mary A., George, Mina and Melzina. The three deceased are Caroline, Emma and Anna.

Isaac Miller, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm and re- ceived his education in the district schools, which he attended in the winter. In the summer time he worked on the farm. He remained under the paren- tal roof until he was twenty-three years of age.

Mr. Miller was married in 1878 to Martha A. Beard. She was born in Preble county, Ohio, and her parents were natives of Maryland. She was educated and reared in Monroe township. She came of a family of eleven children, J. Q., Nelson, W. H., David, J. D., George E., Franklin C., M. L., Martha A., Mary C. and Emma A. Ten of these children are living at the present time.

To Isaac and Martha A. (Beard) Miller four children have been born, Hallie P., Maude H., Carl D. and Helen. Hallie P. was born in Septem- ber, 1879, and was graduated from the Eldorado high school. She is the wife of Albert Schlientz, of Brookville, Ohio. Maude H. was graduated from the same school and is the wife of Frank W. Schreel, of Greenville, Ohio. Carl D., born in 1887, was educated in the Eldorado schools and was graduated from the Miami Commercial School at Dayton, Ohio, at the age of eighteen. He married Myrtle Snyder and is now cashier of the bank, of which his father is president. Helen was born in July, 1902, and is a student in the public schools.

When H. G. Bloom organized the Farmers Bank in June of 1899, Mr. Miller became cashier and served in that capacity until October 2, 1906. On November 1, 1906, the Farmers Banking Company was organized, with Mr. Miller as cashier of the new bank. He served in this capacity until July. 1913, when the bank of Eldorado severed its connections with the bank at New Paris, and New Madison, and was reorganized. Isaac Miller was made president, the other officers being A. J. Hamilton, vice-president; and C. D. Miller, cashier; the directors being Isaac Miller, W. A. McClure, George E. Beard, Samuel Miller, A. J. Hamilton and C. D. Miller. The paid up capital stock of this company is fifteen thousand dollars and its sur- plus is thirty-five hundred dollars.

Isaac Miller, in addition to his interest in the bank, also owns a farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres in Darke county, Ohio. He is one of the live wires in this part of Preble county, Ohio, and a representative citizen in every respect. Mr. Miller is a member of West Manchester Lodge

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No. 520, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Eldorado Lodge No. 389, Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor. He was a charter member of the latter lodge. Mr. Miller is independent in politics. He was one of the township trustees two years and served as justice of the peace for fifteen years. He has served as a member of the board of education of the Eldorado school district for the past thirty years and is the present clerk of the board. Mr. Miller also served four years as mayor of Eldorado, resign- ing that position to become a banker.

Isaac Miller is a man of more than local influence. He possesses the natural qualities that mark a leader among men, whether in business or poli- tics. He is a man of initiative, and is favorably endowed with the disposi- tion which has won him a host of friends.

WILLIAM M. BYERS.

Perhaps the most favorable place in which to rear a child is in the coun- try, and if the child be a boy and be forced to hew his own path in life, his mettle is thoroughly tested. This was the case with William Byers, who began to make his own way in life when he was sixteen years of age, and by thrift and industry was fairly well ahead when he was twenty-one, by which time he had bought the coveted span of horses, which every farmer boy hopes to own as soon as possible.

William Byers was born in Hamilton, Ohio, October 14, 1851, the son of Mathias and Margaret (Beard) Byers, and was one of a family of five children, of whom three are living, these being Martha, the wife of William Bennett, of Somers township; John, a Somers township farmer, who mar- ried Sarah Bennett, and the subject of this sketch.

The parents of William Byers were born and reared in Germany, com- ing to America before marriage. The father died when William was about three years of age. After his death Mrs. Byers married Nicholas Eckert, and to the second union were born two children, one of whom died in youth and the other, Clias Eckers, lives in Hamilton, Ohio.

Reared by his uncle, John Byers, William began working by the month at the age of sixteen and at the age of twenty-one was married, after which he rented a farm and continued to do so for five years. Receiving eight hundred dollars from the uncle who reared him, Mr. Byers bought fifty-five acres, which is now included in his present farm of one hundred and twenty-

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four acres of land as fine as can be found in Dixon township. In 1899 the barn was built, with a basement under the whole barn, sixty-five feet long and fifty feet wide. He stables ten head of horses, and for a fine herd of Jersey cows has erected a cow barn, all of concrete, sixteen by sixty-five feet. His splendid modern residence was built in 1905. Mr. Byers keeps abreast of the times and gladly adopts modern ideas in farming when they are proved practical.

In 1872 Mr. Byers married Inez Lain, who was born and reared in Tipton, Indiana. To this union were born three children, Maggie, the wife of Harry Silvers, lives in Washington township; Lewis F., and Bessie, a high school graduate, who lives at home.

Politically, Mr. Byers is a Democrat. In his home and public life he is quiet and unostentatious, preferring to advise by precept and example, rather than by word of mouth. He is sincerely respected throughout his com- munity and his splendid home and farm stand as constant reminders to the younger generations that thriff and industry are sure to be rewarded.

HARRY C. DURKLE.

There is perhaps no life story in this volume which more clearly demon- strates the source of industry and honesty in the affairs of life than does the life story of Harry C. Durkle, the popular and well-known agent of the Cin- cinnati & Northern railroad at Ingomar, Preble county, Ohio. He is a self-made man and a splendid example of what can be accomplished by conscientious work and strict attention to business.

Harry C. Durkle was born on July 21. 1865, at Gratis, Preble county, Ohio, the son of Joseph and Lydia ( Focht) Durkle, to whom five children were born, Cora, deceased; Harry C., the subject of this sketch : Court C., of Richmond, Indiana; Willard, a tobacco buyer of Ingomar. Ohio; and Frank, also of Ingomar.

Joseph Durkle was born in 1837. He was a valiant soldier for the Union cause during the Civil War and performed honorable service in the cause of his country. After the war, he worked as a laborer until his death, which occurred in 1872. His wife. who was Lydia Focht, was born on November 9, 1842, in Preble county, the daughter of Michael and Margaret (Sweeney ) Focht. She died on December 5, 1897.

Harry C. Durkle went to Ingomar in 1885 and there worked as a laborer

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until 1890, a period of five years. From 1891 until 1895 he was the pro- prietor of a general merchandise store at Ingomar and then became agent for the Cincinnati & Northern Railroad Company at that place. Mr. Durkle is a man who pays strict attention to his business and who has made many friends for the railroad which employs him. He believes that courteous and efficient service is the keynote to success and has always insisted on giving this char- acter of service to the patrons of the company which he serves. In addition to his duties as agent for this railroad, Mr. Durkle has built up a large and flourishing business in the sale of fertilizing and stock powders.

In 1896 Harry C. Durkle was married to Anna Unger, who was born in 1868, in Lanier township, Preble county, Ohio, the daughter of John and Anna (Glander) Unger, both natives of Preble county, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Durkle three children have been born, Grace, who was graduated from the West Alexandria high school with credit and was a popular young woman in her community. She married Gus Vercamp and is now living in Chicago, Illinois. The other two children, Ethel and Howard, are still at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Durkle are devoted members of the Evangelical Lutheran church.

CHARLES T. WOLFORD.

Charles T. Wolford is another of the gallant boys, who, a half century ago, enlisted to save the Union, and during that ever-memorable struggle he was found ready for action no matter how dangerous or arduous the duties. He did not enter the service, as some did, for the purpose of sport or frolic, but saw beneath the surface and saw that the south was determined to break up the Union for the purpose of establishing a confederacy of slave-holding states. From the earliest years he had been taught to hate slavery and to do all that he could to blot the stain from his country's escutcheon. He re- garded it as a foul blot on the old flag, so that when the rebels precipitated the conflict he was ready to take up arms to preserve the Union.

Charles T. Wolford, a retired farmer living on Rural Route 3, out of Richmond, Indiana, was born in Allegheny county, Maryland, October 22. 1836, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Evans) Wolford. Jacob Wolford was the son of Daniel Wolford, whose parents were natives of Germany. Elizabeth Evans was born in Pennsylvania and after their marriage they moved to Pennsylvania where they spent the remainder of their lives. Jacob Wolford was a quiet and unassuming farmer and a devout member of the

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Methodist Episcopal church. He was the father of eleven children, two of whom are now living, Rebecca, the widow of Nathan Street, who lives in Pennsylvania, and Charles T., the subject of this sketch. Two of the sons of Jacob Wolford served in the Civil War.

Charles T. Wolford was reared on a farm in Pennsylvania and received his education in the common schools of that state. He worked on a farm by the month until the call for volunteers in the Civil War, when on October 22, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Sixty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, serving until December 1, 1863, when the war department issued an order to fill up the ranks of the regular army out of the volunteers. On this date Mr. Wolford re-enlisted in the Fourth United States Cavalry and served three years. He was discharged December 1, 1865.

Mr. Wolford was in the battle of Stone's River, Franklin, Missionary Ridge, Chattanooga, Nashville and several others. He suffered a slight. cut in the head and had three horses shot from under him in the three years he was with the cavalry.

At the close of the war, Mr. Wolford returned to Darke county, Ohio, where he lived for some time. He also lived for a time in Wayne county, Indiana, but has been a resident of Preble county, for twenty-seven years.

Charles T. Wolford was married, January 7, 1869, to Malinda A. Hill, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, and who is the daughter of Milton Hill, who had two sons in the Civil War. Mrs. Wolford was reared and educated in Darke county, Ohio. At the time of his marriage Mr. Wolford was a poor man and he rented land for three years. He then purchased one hun- dred acres six miles east of Richmond, Indiana. Mrs. Wolford, who was born May 13, 1849, died March 29, 1894.

Four children, two of whom are living, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wolford, Harry C., born May 20, 1873, and Grace A. Harry C. is a gradu- ate of the New Paris high school and is now president of Southland College near Helena. Arkansas. He married Anna Barnet, of Preble county, Ohio, and they have no children. Grace A. also was graduated from the New Paris high school and is the wife of Earl Brandenburg, of Jackson township. They have one daughter. Anna E., who was born on November 7, 1910.

Mr. Wolford is a member of the Friends church at New Westville. Ohio, and has been treasurer of the church for many years. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at New Paris and has been a Demo- crat in politics for a long time. Mr. Wolford is one of those substantial, honorable men, whom it is a delight for any community to honor, and de- serves to rank as one of the representative citizens of Preble county.

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ASA BURCH.

Whether the elements of success are in an individual or whether they are quickened by a process of circumstantial development, it is impossible to determine clearly. Yet the study of a successful life, whatever the field of endeavor, is none the less interesting and profitable by reason of the existence of this same uncertainty. In the life career of Asa Burch, who for many years has been identified with the civic and agricultural life of Preble county, Ohio, are to be found many qualities that always gain success if properly directed. In Asa Burch, Preble county has a distinguished citizen and a man who has served his country faithfully and well at a time when patriotism was put to the supreme test.

Asa Burch, who lives on Deem street in Eaton, Ohio, was born in Cayuga county, New York, November 16, 1834, the son of Alfred G. and Cynthia (Reed) Burch, who emigrated to Ohio in 1845 and located in New Haven, in Hamilton county. Alfred G. Burch was a miller by trade and worked at different places. In 1848 he moved to a farm where he followed the occupation of a farmer the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Baptist church and politically was identified, first with the Whig, and later with the Republican party. He also was a great temperance man. He died in 1872, and his wife in 1886. They were highly respected and prosperous farmers at the time of their death. They were the parents of eleven children, two of whom are now living, C. R., who is now a resident of the state of Michigan; and Asa, the immediate subject of this interesting biographical sketch.

Asa Burch spent his boyhood days on a farm and his education was neglected during this period. He has profited widely, however, from the school of experience and hard knocks. He began working for himself at the age of twenty and worked as a farm hand for several years. He enlisted in September, 1861. in the Eleventh Ohio Battery, and was wounded October 4. 1862. He was discharged December 13. 1862, on account of disability. After his discharge from the army, Mr. Burch returned to Butler county, Ohio, and worked there on a farm. At the time of his marriage, he had saved about eleven hundred dollars.

Asa Burch was married March 14, 1867, to Livona F. Clark, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, in March, 1845, and who was the daughter of Franklin and Rhoda (Fuller) Clark. She was reared in town. Mr. and Mrs. Burch moved to a farm in Butler county, Ohio, which they rented for a period of fourteen years. They prospered and finally bought a farm in

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ASA BURCH.

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Preble county, moving to it in the spring of 1882. This farm consisted of eighty-four acres and Mr. Burch still owns it. He moved off the farm in 1894 to Eaton, Ohio, where he stayed four years and then moved back to the farm, where he stayed two years. In 1900 he again removed to Eaton, where he since has resided.

Mr. and Mrs. Burch are the parents of two children. Jesse C., who is a farmer in Washington township, this county, married Elizabeth Wilkin- son, and to this union two children have been born, Myron, who is fifteen, and Dorothy, who is eight. Agnes, the other child of Mr. and Mrs. Burch, is the wife of Bernard Potter and lives in Gasper township. They have one daughter, Arline, who is six years old.

Mr. and Mrs. Burch are members of the Presbyterian church, Mr. Burch being one of the elders. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Eaton, Ohio, and is an ardent Republican. No man living in Eaton is more highly respected than Mr. Burch and few men have led a more honor- able and upright life than he. He is eminently deserving of the esteem in which he is held by his neighbors and fellow townsmen.

JOHN BUSCH.

Preble county, Ohio, has good reasons to take pride in the personnel of her farmers and stockmen. On the roll of the enterprising farmers of this county, few are more highly respected than John Busch, of Twin township, who has attained prominence in his chosen vocation and, for a number of years, has stood as one of the foremost farmers in this part of Ohio. Mr. Busch's success has been attained in a community that has been distinguished for a long period for its progressive and enterprising farmers. Mr. Busch realized early in life that no honor can be well merited that is not founded upon worth and that no respect can be won that is not founded upon accom- plishments. His life and labors have been eminently worthy because they have been devoted to the best interests of his family and the community.

John Busch was born on September 25, 1860, in Germany, the son of John and Anna ( Wealvbore) Busch, who have seven living children. John Busch. Sr., was born in 1832 in Germany and came to Preble county, in 1885. He raised tobacco for two years but grew tired of this occupation and then moved to the home of his son, Detrich, in Montgomery county, where he re- mained until his death in 1902. He was married twice and two children

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were born to the first union. Five children were born to the second union, of whom John Busch is one. The second Mrs. Busch was born in 1834 in Ger- many and died in 1897.

John Busch attended the schools in Germany and worked there as a farm hand for four years. He also worked in Preble county, Ohio, for ten years as a farm hand. In 1892 he rented one hundred and seventy acres of land in Lanier township and four years later he moved to Gasper township and rented two years. Subsequently, he returned to Lanier township and rented two hundred and seventy-eight acres of land. In 1905 he moved to Twin township and purchased one hundred and sixty acres. He sold forty acres of this and now owns one hundred and nineteen acres of well-improved · land upon which he has made extensive improvements, including a tobacco shed, one hundred and ten by thirty-eight feet. and also a stable, forty by forty-four feet. Mr. Busch's chief products are tobacco, wheat, corn and oats.

In 1890 John Busch was married to Dolly Fisher, who was born on De- cember 10, 1867, in Lanier township, the daughter of David and Sarah (Neff) Fisher, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio, both now deceased. David Fisher was a farmer in Lanier township. To Mr. and Mrs. John Busch, eight children have been born, Edward, deceased; Christian, of Twin township; Harry. Anna, Carl, Clara, Warren and Grace, all at home.

Mr. Busch is a Democrat and was elected a school director of district No. 4 of Twin township four years ago and has served continuously since that time. He and his family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. John Busch is among the well-known citizens of Twin township and is honored and respected by his neighbors. He has ever proved worthy of any trust imposed upon him, either public or private.

JAMES E. WYNKOOP.

Many nations have contributed their best blood to the population of the United States, but no nation has given to this country better citizens or more loyal subjects than has Germany. The various revolutions which occurred in Germany in the nineteenth century, while they were unfortunate for Ger- many, were, on the other hand, a blessing to America, for during these revo- lutions thousands of the best German people fled to the United States and

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became citizens of this country. No more patriotic citizens fought for the north during the Civil War than did the thousands of German soldiers who enlisted under the stars and stripes and fought for their newly-adopted country. Wherever a German settlement is found in this country, thrift and material advancement are sure to be seen. Among the many German families which came to this country during the last century, that of the Wyn- koops is one of the most prominent.

James E. Wynkoop, a farmer living on Rural Route I, out of Eldorado; Ohio, and the proprietor of "Redpole Knoll Farm," consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, was born two miles west of Somersville, Ohio, July 14, 1864, the son of Isaac N. and Jane (Everson) Wynkoop, both natives of Butler county. There were three brothers who came from Germany to the United States early in the last century and established the Wynkoop family in this country. All of the present Wynkoops are descendants of one of these three brothers.

The father of James E. Wynkoop, Isaac N. Wynkoop, was reared in Butler county, Ohio, and after his marriage there, moved to Indiana, where he remained for a short time and then returned to Ohio. He came to Preble county in 1874 and settled in Dixon township, where he owned eighty acres of splendid land. Subsequently, he moved to Eaton and lived there three years, when he bought a farm east of Eaton where one of his sons now re- sides. Both he and his wife died on this farm. Isaac N. Wynkoop and wife were the parents of four children, H. E., who married Emma Charles, now deceased, lived in Indiana; Laura B., the widow of Lewis Kongable, of Winfield, Iowa; J. E., the subject of this sketch, and George F., who lives on the old home farm east of Eaton.

James E. Wynkoop was seven years old when his parents came to Preble county, Ohio. He was educated in the public schools and remained at home until he had just passed his majority. During his early life he was a clerk for several years in Eaton and worked in the grain house for Cook & Miller.

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History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 66

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

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