History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 61

Author: H. Z. Williams & Brothers
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Number of Pages: 559

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William Watts settled in this township in 1831. He was born in Johnson county, Indiana, in July, 1829, and was married in 1852 to Rachel Cline. He has a family of seven sons and three daughters, who are all living but one, viz .: Levi C., John E., Sarah E. (deceased), Wil- liam A., and Mary J. (twins), Eleanor L., Richard, James I., Isaac, and Alice.

William Woolverton was born in Green county, Penn- sylvania, in 1800. Thomas Woolverton, his father, emi- grated to Butler county, Ohio, in 1804. In 1807 he came to Preble county, and settled on Seven Mile creek, in Washington township. Soon after their arrival they cut a road through the woods to John McCormick's, on Four Mile creek. When William was sixteen years old, he killed a wolf, receiving from the county commission- ers four dollars for the scalp. With this money he bought the cloth for his first coat. In 1827 he bought the farm of John McCormick, in Jackson township. In 1828 he married a daughter of Silas Dooley, she dy- ing in 1847. In 1851 he was married to Maria Mc- Comas. He had four children by the first marriage, and seven by the last, most of whom are living. He built the first frame barn in Jackson township, which he raised without giving the hands whiskey. He was also among the first to banish whiskey from the harvest field. He died about two years ago.

Solomon Wilcox settled in Jackson township in 1831. He is a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in the year 1800. On his removal to Ohio he lived a few years in Cincinnati, and afterward to Licking county, from whence he moved to this county. He married in

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

1824 Malinda Collins, who died in 1871, at the age of sixty years.

William McWhinney was born in East Tennessee, and died in 1823. His wife, Elizabeth Kendrick, was born in Virginia in 1788, and died in 1875. They emi- grated to Preble county at an early day. To them were born five children: Thomas and James are dead; New- ton lives in California; Lucinda is the wife of Eli Con- ger, and Samuel is dead.

Thomas D. McWhinney settled in section eight in the year 1832. He was born in Indiana in 1810, and was married in 1829 to Miss Nancy Alexander. They both died at the residence of their son, John A. There were born to them seven children, two of whom are now living. These are William A., a merchant at New Paris, and John A., a farmer of this township. William has been twice married-in 1834 to Margaret Catharine Cail (who died in 1876), and in 1878 to Mary J. Wisen- baugh. John married Rebecca C. Scott in 1874.

Marcus D. McWhinney, son of William A. McWhinney, of New Paris, was born on the farm where he now lives, in 1835. In 1864 he was married to Sarah E. Swaine, daughter of Elisha Swaine, of Washington township. She was born in 1842. To Mr. and Mrs. McWhinney have been born four children-Elmer; Clarence and Lawrence, who were tiwns; and Bertie. Lawrence died in 1867. Mr. McWhinney owns two hundred acres of land in sections twenty-nine and twenty.

M. V. Snodgrass was born in 1836, on the farm in section twenty-four which his father, Joseph Snodgrass, entered at an early day. In 1865 he married Emma Miller, who was born in Washington township in 1845, and whose mother now lives near New Hope, Jackson township. Their only child, Lilly May, is eight years old.

Samuel M. Griffis was born in Washington township, December 29, 1837. In 1864 he was married to Rebec- ca Blinn, who was born in 1843. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living at home; the other two are dead. He owns one hundred and sixteen acres of land in section two of Jackson township, about nine miles northwest of Eaton.

Christian Markey came from Baltimore county, Mary- land (where he was born in 1826), with his parents, Amos and Jane Markey, in 1838 or 1839. Amos Markey settled on Twin creek, in Twin township, the land now being owned by his son, John. Christian was mar- ried in 1848, to Miss Anna Crumbaker (born in 1830), and began housekeeping on the farm now owned by John Lesh, in Lanier township. Two years afterward he moved to Washington township and bought a farm in section thirty, which he occupied eight years. He then came to Jackson and purchased a quarter of section twenty-five, where he has since resided. He has, by in- dustry and thrift, become the owner of a fine property, owning at this time eight hundred and twenty acres of land, with farm buildings second to none in the township. His wife, Anna, deceased in September, 1873, and a year subsequently he was married to Miss Zilpha A. Barn- hart, widow of William Henry Barnhart, born in 1841.

By his first wife he had twelve children, eight of whom are living. By his second marriage he has had two chil- dren, one living and one deceased. Jonas Markey, born in Washington township in 1851, married, in 1876, Julia Bloomfield, born in 1856. Mrs. Christian Markey was the mother, by her first husband, of four children, two of whom survive.

James Kelley was born in Gratis township in 1811. George and Eliza Kelley were the parents of Mr. Kelley. In 1838 he married Hannah Goodlander, the daughter of Jacob and Mary Goodlander, of Fayette county, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelley have been born fifteen children, eleven of whom are living, viz .: Elizabeth; Matilda, widow of Elijah Paddock; James; Irvin; Lorinda, wife of J. W. Collins; Ebenezer, who married Sarah Parks; Martin, who married Emma Aydleaott; Emma is the wife of Petis A. Reid; William, John, and Addie are at home. Mr. Kelley owns a fine farm in section thirty- three, where he resides.

Elijah Kelley emigrated to this county in 1836, and settled first on Seven Mile creek in this township. Several years afterward he removed to the place where he now lives, in section twenty-eight. He was born in Virginia in 1803, and was married in 1830, to Margaret Henry, who was born in Virginia in 1811. They have had a family of four children -- two sons and two daugh- ters, of whom John B. is the oldest. He was born in 1831, and married in 1869, Amanda C. Longnecker, who was born in 1844.

J. B. Kelley, born in Virginia in 1831, came with his parents to Preble county in 1836, and settled in Jackson township. In 1869 he married Miss Amanda C. Long- necker, who was born in Preble county in 1844. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelley have been born two children, both living. Mr. Kelley owns sixty acres of land in section thrity-three of Jackson township.

Eli Conger was born in Dixon township, and is the son of Rev. Josiah Conger, one of the pioneer preachers of the New Light church in Jackson township. In 1838 Eli was married to Lucinda McWhinney, by whom he has had four children, three of whom are living: Carrie, the wife of Judge A. I. Harris, of Eaton; John Newton Conger died in 1843, James H., married Emma Lock- wood, and is in the grain firm of Cook & Conger, of Eaton; Elizabeth is the wife of Barnet Huffman, and re- sides on the farm in Dixon township owned by A. G. Collins. The farm of Mr. Conger, comprising two hun- dred and fifty acres, is one of the best in the township. He pays particular attention to the raising of fine stock. At an early day he was elected township trustee of Jack- son, and held said office for nine years. In 1848 he be- came the township assessor, and served two years. In 1851, while a resident of Dixon township, he was made justice of the peace, which office he held for eighteen years. He became county commissioner in 1871, and this office he held two terms, in all six years.

James Paxton, a colored man, was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, in 1802, and emigrated to Preble county in 1838, settling in section two of Jackson township. His father, William A., and his mother, Elizabeth Pax-

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ton, were both Virginians. In 1839 James married Anna Eliza McClora who died in 1878. To them were born eight children, of whom three sons and one daughter are living-two in this county, one in Darke, and one daugh- ter, the wife ot William B. Hogan, in Richmond, Indi- ana. His son, Samuel H. Paxton, enlisted in the service of his country September 3, 1864, joining the Forty- second regiment, company C, and was discharged at Chattanooga September 3, 1865. James Paxton now re- sides in Richmond, Indiana, and the farm is in charge of his son.

Lewis B. Plummer came to this county from Indiana in 1844, and settled near Eaton. He is the son of Thomas Plummer, who resides in Kansas. In 1870 he married Mary A. Swain, by whom he has had one son, James Roddie. He owns two hundred and forty acres of good land in section twenty-six, which has been greatly improved during the last few years.

William H. Weist is located in section thirty two, where he owns two hundred and ninety-three acres of land in a high state of cultivation. He was born in 1847, and, in 1872, was married to Miriam Paddack. She was born in 1851, and has had two children, Ebe- nezer, born in 1873, and Fanny, born in 1877, died March 16, 1879.

Samuel Swisher, general stock dealer, and one of the substantial farmers of Jackson, was born in this township in 1848. He married Sarah Campbell, who was born in 1849. Mr. Swisher was elected township treasurer in 1876, and held the office one year.

Henry Swisher removed to this county, from Indiana, in 1848. In 1862 he was married to Miss Sarah Bulla. In 1866 he purchased a dry goods and grocery store. Subsequently he sold out and moved to New Madison where he remained two years. He then bought out S. R. Kelley, at Florence Station, but only continued the store some six months when he sold to Samuel Swisher, and moved onto his farm. In 1877 he again engaged in the mercantile and grain business, buying out his brother, at Florence Station, in which he still continues.

John Melling was born in Preble county, Ohio, in Twin township, in 1808. His first wife, Catharine Shoe- maker, born in 1815, died at the age of twenty. His second wife was Susannah Melling, daughter of William Melling, who was born in Virginia in 1815, and is still living. By his first wife one child, Daniel, was born. Six children were born to him by his second wife, two of whom are living.

Harvey Paddack, son of Ebenezer Paddack, was born in 1847. His wife, Frances, whom he married in 1872, is the daughter of Lewis Paddack. Her father is one of the old settlers of Jackson, and lives in section twenty- one, two miles north of West Florence. They are the parents of one child, a daughter, Ruth, born in January, 1880. They live in section twenty-nine, not far from the old homestead.

John Mills, the father of William C. Mills, was a native of Ireland, and married Miss Elizabeth Comton, who was born in South Carolina. In 1820 they settled in Monroe township.

William C. Mills was born in Monroe township, in 1821. In 1843 he married Miss Harriet West, who was born in Kentucky in 1819. They have had no children. Mr. Mills now owns three hundred and twenty-eight acres of land, well improved. In 1861 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he held for nine years. In 1865 he was elected county commissioner, and remained in that office for six years. He has been township trustee for nearly fourteen years.

George W. Dickey, M. D., born in Butler county in 1822, commenced the practice of medicine in New Hope, Preble county, May 7, 1849, and is at present in a large practice. He married Miss Lydia J. Tillson in 1850. She was born in New Paris, Jefferson township, April 13, 1834. They have five children-Frances Edna, born in 1850, the wife of Dr. O. W. Tobey, of Pyrmont, Mont gomery county, Ohio; George Oliver, born in 1855, and living at home; Ida Rosanna, born in 1857, wife of Dr. W. A. Arrasmith, of Campbellstown; Lida Zoe, born in 1860, living at home; Chalfant Cass, born in 1863; and Ross V., born in 1869, also at home.

Abraham Brower was born in Chester county, Penn- sylvania, in 1792, and he married Sarah Loy in 1817, . who was born in 1798. In 1859 he married for his sec- ond wife Mrs. Elizabeth Whitesell, who was born in 1807, and now resides near New Paris. There were nine chil- dren, seven boys and two girls.

Jacob L. Brower, son of Abraham Brower, married Miss Susanna Surface in 1843, who died in 1877. Six children were born to them, and the four who are living are at home.

Aaron Brubaker was born in Virginia, as was also his wife, Elizabeth Flora. They emigrated to Preble county in 1825, and settled in Gratis township. They had ten children, five sons and five daughters.

George Brubaker was born in 1813, in Virginia, and came to Preble county with his parents. In 1838 he married Miss Anna Banta, who was born in 1818. Eight of their ten children are living. Peter and Effie Banta were the parents or Mrs. Anna Brubaker.

John T. Kempler, born in 1819, and Mahala Clem- mer, born in 1826, were married in 1844. They have had three children-Samuel, husband of Elizabeth Sur- face, lives in Indiana; Mary S. is the wife of David Tobey, who resides near New Hope; and Andrew J., who mar- ried Rosanna Daffler, resides at New Hope. Mrs. Kempler's parents were Virginians, and were the parents of twelve children, seven girls and five boys.

D. R. Parker, now residing in section twenty, one and one-half miles east of Florence Station, was born in 1849, and in 1872 was married to Mary A. Kelley, who was born in 1848. Joseph L. Kelley and I.ettie McWhin. ney were the parents of Mrs. Parker. Their family con- sisted of six children: Mrs. Dr. Hinman, of Cincin- nati; Mrs. Eli Halderman, of Lanier township; L. R. Kelley, of Richmond, Indiana; Mrs. Hornaday, living at Red Oak, Iowa; Carrie, the wife of George Koby, of Middletown, Butler county, and Mrs. D. R. Parker.

John G. Goldsmith was born near Eaton in 1828. His father, William Goldsmith, is one of Preble county's

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BAH MARKLEY.

ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL.

Archie Campbell, as he was familiarly called among his friends, was a descendent of the old Scottish family of that name, his paternal ancestors having emigrated to the English colonies at an early date. The family set- tled in Pennsylvania, where they remained for many years. John Campbell, the father of Archibald, grew to manhood and married Sarah Vance. He soon after- wards removed to Tennessee, and settled near Knoxville, where he was engaged in farming until 1817, when he re- moved to Ohio, and settled in the wilds of Preble county, with his wife and ten children. He located in Jackson township, about eight miles northwest of the county seat. Here he resided until his death, which oc- curred in 1847, when he was eighty-seven years of age. His widow survived him eleven years, dying at the age of eighty-six. They were the parents of eleven children, named as follows: Samuel, Jane, Elizabeth, Archibald, Mary, James, Andrew, Robert, William, Alexander P., and Nancy, of which large family all are living but Elizabeth, Jane, Nancy, and Archibald. Archibald was born at the old Tennessee home on the fifth day of January, 1803. His early boyhood was passed in assist- ing in the labors of the farm, and in obtaining a limited education. At the age of twenty-two he was married to India Larsh, the only child of Lewis and Anna Larsh, of whom mention is made below. After their marriage the young couple settled on one hundred and seven acres of land near the home of Mr. Campbell's parents, and com- menced clearing up a farm. Here Mr. Campbell resided during the remainder of his life and engaged in the laborious and peaceful pursuits of a farmer. He was widely known as a man of solid worth and intelligence, and commanded the respect and esteem of his acquaintances. Plain and unassuming in his manners, industrious and frugal in his habits, never engaging in the turmoils of political strife, or the uncertain projects of speculation, he acquired a comfortable fortune and at his death left

A.H. MARKLEY

MRS. ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL.

his widow and children in easy circumstances. He died on the sixteenth of March, 1873, at the age of seventy years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were born thirteen chil- dren, seven of whom are living. Cornelius, who was born October 24, 1825, married Jane Dalrymple, and died in Monroe township, in 1871. Lewis B. born in 1827, died in the following year. Eldred R., born May 2, 1829, married Lavina McManus, and resides in Strea- tor, Illinois. Banjamin F., who was born January 16, 1832, married Rebecca Stanley, and resides in Jackson township. George W. and Thomas J. (twins), were born June 22, 1834. George married, first, Mary A. Zeek, and after her death he married Margaret Murray, and is living in Jackson township. Thomas, who mar- ried Sarah Thurston, resides near Anderson, Indiana John V. was born December 22, 1836, and in 1862 was married to Mary Reed, of Iowa. She was born in But- ler county in 1838. They, with their four children, reside with Mrs. Campbell on the old place. Minerva J., who was born May 31, 1839, is the wife of Thomas Bulla, of Jackson township. Monroe was born August 29, 1842, and in the fall of 1869 he married Isabella, daughter of Stephen A. and Pery Smith, of West Alex- andria, born in 1851. They have five children, and reside in Jackson township. Mary Ann Campbell, born June 24, 1846, married James Sheffer, and lives in Wayne county, Indiana. Laura P., born in 1849, and Sarah O., born in 1852, each died at the age of two years. Besides the children above mentioned there was one who died in early infancy.

Mrs. India Campbell still resides on the same spot where, in 1824, she and her husband commenced house- keeping, and although death has robbed her of the com- panion of her youth. She is surrounded by a large circle of children who honor and revere her with all the love and devotion of filial affection.

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Catherine Amancy

One of the oldest of the pioneers of this township is Mrs. Catharine McManus, now in the eighty-sixth year of her age, having been born near Brownsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1795. She is the sixth and only surviving child of the eight children born to her parents, Abraham and Catharine Miley. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and her mother was born near Hagerstown, Maryland. In the spring of 1810 Mr. Miley and family emigrated to Ohio, coming down the Ohio river in a flat-boat. After tarrying for about three months in Cincinnati, they removed to their newly pur- chased farm near Gregory's fork in Butler county, about seven miles north of Hamilton. Here Mr. Miley kept a tavern for some time, which bore the sign of the cross keys; but not liking this business, he soon devoted his sole attention to the care of his farm.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Miley died in the year 1819. Feb- ruary 2, 1815, Catharine Miley was wedded to John C. McManus and in 1819 they removed to Preble county, and settled on the farm in the southeast quarter of section twenty-six, where Mrs. McManus has resided ever since. When they first came to this county the country round about was a wilderness, and although not entirely without neighbors, they had to undergo the hard- ships of pioneer life. Mr. McManus, who was a promi- nent public man, has been fully noticed in the chapter on the Preble county bar. He died in 1852, and is buried

in the old Frame graveyard not far from the scene of his activity.

To Mr. and Mrs. McManus were born eleven children, seven of whom are living. Abraham I., born in 1811, died when a child. Sarah Ann, who was born October 1, 1819, married William Billinger, and resides in Wood- ford county, Illinois. Mary E., who was born in 1822, died when a child. John G., who was born February I, 1824, lived to manhood, and died in Preble county in 1854. Margaret J. was born October 24, 1825, and is the wife of Dr. Warren B. Munger, who is practicing in Union county, Indiana. Elizabeth, born January 7, 1828, is the wife of George Wescott, who lives in Woodford county, Illinois. Samuel M., born July 25, 1830, died in 1855. Mary C. is the wife of Porter P. Webb of Gas per township, and was born November 7, 1832. Lavina E., who was born September 28, 1834, is the wife of E. R. Campbell and lives in Streator, LaSalle county, Illinois. Julia A., born May 30, 1836, is the wife of James Wilson who resides in Dixon township. The youngest child, Charles H., now resides at the old homestead and has charge of the farm. In October, 1865, he married Martha Wilson, by whom he has had two children, Ina I. and Laura Osa. Mrs. McManus, though approach- ing her four score years and ten, still retains much of her youthful vigor, both of mind and body.

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

oldest pioneers. In 1849 he married Frances Swofford, whose parents settled in this county in 1830, and now reside in Johnson county, Iowa. Mr. Goldsmith is the owner of one hundred and ten acres of land in section twenty-two, seven miles northwest of Eaton. He is the father of seven children, of whom two are dead, and the rest are living in Jackson township.

William Deem, son of Joseph Deem, was born in 1824, and emigrated to Preble county, Washington township, in 1842. In 1850 he married Sarah Harsh- man, who was born in 1830. To them have been born twelve children, all of whom, save one, are living. Mr. Deem owns a large farm in sections thirty-five and thirty- six, of Jackson township. He is one of the substantial farmers of his neighborhood.

Christian Flora was born in Franklin county, Virginia, in 1824. His father, Jonathan Flora, was born in 1792, and died in 1863. He married Mary Bowman. They had ten children. In 1831 Christian Flora, in company with his parents, emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Gas- per township, Preble county. In 1848 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Potterf, who was born in 1830. She is the granddaughter of Gasper Potterf, after whom the township was named. Mr. and Mrs. Chistian Flora have had four children-Edwin, Alonzo, Alvina, Perry and Anna.

Thomas Wolverton and family emigrated in 1804 from Pennsylvania to Butler county, Ohio, coming down the Ohio river in a flat-boat. In 1807 they removed to Preble county and settled on Seven Mile creek, in the western part of Washington township. There were no settlements near them, and only a few cabins in Eaton. Soon after their arrival they cut a road through the woods to McCormick's, on Four Mile creek. Thomas Wolverton was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serv- ing during the entire conflict. He entered the service as a private, and rose to the rank of colonel. His son William, generally called General Wolverton, from the fact of his service in the State militia, was a well known resident of the county for many years. He was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1800, and came to Ohio with his father. When he was sixteen years old, it is said, he killed a wolf, for the scalp of which he received four dollars. With this money he bought of Cornelius Van Ausdal cloth for a coat, the first coat he ever wore. In 1827 he purchased the farm of William McCormick in Jackson, and lived there until his death in June, 1827. He was twice married-in 1828 to a daughter of Silas Dooley, sr., who died in 1847, and in 1851 to Mrs. Maria McComas, who is still living. General Wolverton erected the first frame barn in Jackson township, and raised it without whiskey, which was regarded as an in- novation upon established usage.

Jacob Cooper was born in Montgomery county, in 1814. His parents emigrated from Virginia in 1813, and his father's name was Joseph Cooper. He married Catharine Riner. Five children were born to them-Hannah, Mary, Daniel, Margaret and Jacob-all living. Mrs. Cooper, the mother of Jacob Cooper, is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Jacob Cooper was

married to Harriet Patten in 1835, and has had eight children, of whom seven are living, viz .: Elizabeth, Peter R., Daniel W., Catharine Jane, Jacob M., Joseph S. and Emily A. John B. is dead. Daniel W. is the present county treasurer.

Temple Aydelott was born in North Carolina in 1805, and in 1831 married Jemima Cook, also a native of North Carolina. They were residents of this county for many years. Their son, John C. Aydelott, was born in 1835, near Neil's Station, just over the Indiana line. His first wife was Sarah E. McWhinney, daughter of Thomas McWhinney. Three children were born to them. Mary and Emma are married, and Halstead lives at home. Mrs. Aydelott died in 1871. In 1873 Mr. Aydelott was married to Mrs. Juliet Swain, widow of Martin E. Swain. Her maiden name was McWhinney, she being the daugh- ter of Stephen McWhinney, of Eaton. She had one child by Mr. Swain-Martha J. Two children have been born since her marriage with Mr. Aydelott, viz .: Tracy and Walter. Mr. Adelott is an enterprising farmer, and has a pleasant home in section fifteen.

I. N. Aydelott was born in 1847, on the farm in Dixon township once owned by the Larsh family. In 1869 he was married to Evangeline, born in 1849, daughter of Robert Bell. This union has been blessed by one child -Letitia May, who was born April 17, 1873. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty-five acres of land sit- uated in section twenty-seven, Jackson township.

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History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 61

Author: H. Z. Williams & Brothers Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 559

Author: H. Z. Williams & Brothers
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 559