History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 72

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

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The family of Mr. and Mrs. Trout consisted of eight children in all, six of whom lived to maturity: Samuel B., born October 4, 1831, died March 21, 1835; Sarah R., the wife of Benjamin Deardorff, was born December 29, 1834, and died July 5, 1857; Mary J., who was born October 12, 1838, married Alfred Johnson, and has three children; Catharine E., born February 1, 1841, married John Halderman, and has four children; Joseph, born December 23, 1842, died April 24. 1863; Lavinia V., born May 28, 1845, died January 17, 1865; Henry M., born November 24, 1849, died May 28, 1863.

Mr. Trout at his death left his widow the possessor of five hundred and forty acres of valuable land, in two farms-the home place of two hundred and twenty acres, managed by Alfred Johnson, and a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in sections twenty-three and twenty- six of Lanier township, under the management of John Halderman. The homestead farm and residence are beautifully situated on the bor- der of the valley of Twin creek, on the Winchester and Middletown pike, with Winchester and West Alexandria not far distant.

Although in her seventy-second year, having already exceeded the limit of human life, Mrs. Trout enjoys better health than she did in her younger days, when frequently her strength was overtaxed by burdens too heavy to be sustained. Six or eight years ago she was severely afflicted with rheumatism, which for a time checked her activity, but she recovered, and is finishing her days in health and peace. She still takes her old home paper, the Rockingham (Virginia) Register, thus keeping fresh in her memory the scenes of her youth.

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

sonally concerned, and indeed, controls but a part of that which now stands in his name, but is desirous of be- ing able, eventually, of giving each of his eight children the same number of acres which he received from his father. He is not a church member, but has always been a liberal supporter of religious and benevolent enter- prises. Mrs. Fudge is an earnest member of the German Baptist denomination. Their children are: Ira, born January 31, 1851, married Ellen Clark, and lives on a part of his father's farm; Ada Jane, born May 9, 1852, now the wife of John W. Kinsey, and lives in Montgom- ery county; Eliza Ann, born June 27, 1854, now the 'wife of V. J. Drayer, and resides in Winchester; Nancy, born September 24, 1858; Samuel, born December 4, 1860; Laura Elizabeth, born August 3, 1862; Amos, born June 27, 1868; Susan, born June 11, 1871; all liv- ing at home.

REV. H. M. HERMAN,

pastor of the Reformed church at West Alexandria, is the son of Samuel and Susan Herman, and was born in Lampetre, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on the twen- tieth day of March, 1834. He attended the common schools until his twelfth year, and subsequently entered the dry goods store of Benjamin Bowers, one of the old merchants of Lancaster county, with whom he remained until his eighteenth year. He then entered the aca- demy at Lancaster city, where he diligently pursued his studies for two years. For the next two years and ten months he taught the district school at Safe Harbor, and while thus engaged, took private instruction also in the classics. He attended Marshall academy, and after- ward entered the freshman class of Franklin and Marshall college, from which institution, he in due time, gradu- ated. He immediately afterward entered the theological seminary at Mechanicsburgh, and after completing his theological course, was chosen vice-principal of Clairion Collegiate Institute near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This position he subsequently resigned to accept the pastorate of the Reformed church at West Alexandria. He en- tered upon his regular pastoral duties December 16, 1861. Mr. Herman is a man of unusual energy and in- dustry. His unceasing activity is a good illustration of the scriptural injunction : "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do with thy might." During his pastorate of nine- teen years he has preached two thosand eight hundred and two sermons, and delivered seven hundred lectures. He has received into the church five hundred and fifty- eight members, married two hundred and thirty-six couples, and officiated at four hundred and fifty-five funerals, be- sides making about four thousand regular pastoral and the usual social and friendly visits. It will thus be seen that Mr. Herman's pastorate has not only been an unus- ually busy one, but attended with the most gratifying success. The relationship of pastor and people has been a most pleasant one.

Mr. Herman was united in marriage, April 10, 1862, to Miss Bella D., eldest daughter of Hunter and Marga- ret L. Orr of Lawsonham, Pennsylvania, and has a fami-

ly of four daughters and two sons. His eldest daughter is a student at the Female seminary, Oxford, Ohio.

NATHAN HEYWOOD

was born in Concord, Massachusetts, September 8, 1807. When four years of age, in the winter of 1811-12, his parents moved to Genesee county, New York, making the journey with a sled. When about eleven years of age the family moved to Allegany county, in the same State, and in 1819 to Clermont county, Ohio, by way of Cin- cinnati; the journey to that city being made with a raft. Nathan Heywood was united in the holy bonds of matri- mony March 5, 1829, to Margaret Frey, who was born near Middletown, Maryland, January 12, 1808. After his marriage he settled near Goshen, in Clermont county. In 1833 he removed to Preble county, and settled in Gratis township, but only remained two years, when he returned to Clermont county. He resided there until 1856, when he removed to Knox county, Illinois. A combination of circumstances, however, caused him to again move back to Clermont county in 1858. In 1865 he removed to Madison county, Indiana, and after a residence there of some eighteen months, he came to Preble county, Ohio, where he has since lived. His occupation has mainly been that of a farmer, but he for- merly worked for about seven years at the trade of wagon making. Mr. Heywood many years ago united with the German Baptist church, and in 1838 or 1839 was elected by the church in Goshen, Clermont county, Ohio, to its ministry, and has filled that office from that time to this, and for the last thirty years as an ordained elder. He is now the senior bishop or elder of this, the upper Twin district. He is a man of deep piety and earnest religious zeal, and his labors have been greatly blessed.

There have been born to Nathan and Margaret Hey- wood eight children, two of whom are deceased. All of them were born in Clermont county, Ohio, except Anna, who was born in this county. The following are their names in the order of their birth: Mary, born February 5, 1830, married for her first husband Edward Harris, of Clermont county, and for her second husband Joseph Radall, in Goshen, Clermont county, Ohio. They now reside in West Alexandria. Lydia, born June 9, 1831, married Job Randall; she is now a widow and resides in Eaton. Anna, born January 21, 1833, married William Jones, of Clermont county; he is deceased and Mrs. Jones has since lived with her parents. David, born May 1, 1835, died in Eaton; Nathan, jr., born June 17, 1837, is now living near Eaton; John, born October 12, 1839, died in Illinois; Alfred, born January 20, 1842, is living in Clermont county, Ohio; Isaac, born March 8, 1844, is living in the same county.

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MONROE.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

Monroe township lies in the northern part of the county, and is bounded on the east and west by Harri- son and Jefferson townships. To the north lies Darke county, and on the south it borders on Washington town- ship. It is designated in the congressional survey as township nine of range two.

In appearance this towhship presents an attractive pic- ture of rural life. The country is level and well cleared, and the eye can see long rows of fields extending into the distance, dotted here and there with the darker grouping of timber. Fortunately, a large quantity of the latter is still standing, and adds much to the appearance of the township. The soil is clay on limestone sub-soil, and is of a highly productive character. The cereals- such as corn, wheat, etc .- are raised in large quantities and form the staple articles of production. An improved system of agriculture is pursued and the prosperous con- dition everywhere apparent demonstrates the complete success with which this system has been met. The neat and tasty residences, the well kept farms, and the general air of plenty shows the cheerful and thirfty condition of the inhabitants. Those of them who engage to any ex- tent in business or political life, are a wide-awake and en- ergetic class, intelligent enough to comprehend how much to their advantage it is to follow closely the advance of progress. They are generally well read and well informed persons. Some exceptions exist, where, either through prejudice or from religious restraint, the people are de- barred from the pleasure and instruction procured by an extensive knowledge of affairs at home and abroad. These latter, although belonging, at times, to the money- ed class, still cannot be classed among the intelligent or better read class of inhabitants. They rarely vote or show any interest in political affairs, and while by a peaceful disposition they do so much to insure the quiet of the township, they lend no assistance to its progress.

The land of the township was at first considered al- most irreclaimable. The soil was boggy and treacherous, and, in consequence, Monroe township was among the last to be entered by the settlers. But, by means of drainage, the soil has been brought into a firm and pro- ductive condition. Immense labor has been expended, and many rods of tile laid, to bring the land into its present condition. There are three tile factories in the township, all doing a large business. Some of the older inhabitants can still recall the time when cattle were often found fastened in the bog in places now covered with fine harvest fields.

The woods are now composed mostly of beech and

sugar maple. The growth of poplar and walnut which predominated at the time of the first settlers, has been exhausted. A few fine specimens of these trees are still' found, but not in large enough quantities to make them valuable. An interesting incident is preserved relative to the age of some of these old giants of the forest. In 1865 Mr. P. M. Pense felled a huge poplar tree, and at the height of seven feet from the ground, found a flint embedded in the wood. It was evidently the head of an arrow. The bowman had broken off the stem, and left the head embedded. When found, the flint was in the heart of the trunk, and Mr. Pense asserts that he found three hundred growths outside of the flint. This seems almost incredible. If the belief that each year adds one growth, and only one to the girth of a tree is correct, the arrow was shot in the sixteenth century. To our mind there is nothing absolutely incredible in the story, although it is certainly marvellous. The flint is still in the possession of the finder.

There are four streams of some size in the township, but only two of them pass through any great extent of territory. Price's creek, named after Major Price, an early settler on its banks, crosses the township from northwest to southeast. Parallel to the latter, about two miles to the northeast, is the Dry fork of Twin, which rises in section ten, and flows to the southeast. In the southwestern corner, crossing two or three sections, is Banta's fork, near whose junction with Twin creek in Lanier township is the famous mound, attributed to the Mound Builders. Twin creek itself crosses section one of Monroe township in the extreme northeastern part.

There are several small towns within the limits of the township; of these, Eldorado is the only one that is in- corporated. The others are West Manchester, Ham- burgh and Brown's station. Hagerstown is a place long since fallen into oblivion. Brown's station is a mere rail- road station. Hamburgh was formerly a place of some local importance, but it is rapidly becoming an unrecog- nizable place. Eldorado and West Manchester are the two growing places, and will receive a detailed notice in the proper place. A railroad-the Dayton & Western, the only one in the township, passes through these two latter places, and its presence is chiefly instrumental in advancing the growth of these towns.

The roads are generally kept in good repair, not so well, perhaps, as in those townships where the supervisors are regularly elected. In Monroe the road directors are appointed at the discretion of the trustees. Several pikes cross the township to the north and south. The old national road crosses the southern part from east to west,

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A.H.MARKLEY-

GEORGE KIMMEL,

one of the most prosperous and influential farmers of Monroe township, was born in Jackson township, Preble county, April 30, 1827. His father, Jacob Kimmel, em- igrated from Pennsylvania after this section of the State had been settled. George worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years old, when he learned the car- penter trade and soon became a contractor. He employed a large force of hands and superintended most of the building in Washington and Jefferson townships until 1856, when he retired from the trade and devoted his en- ergies to improving the farm in Monroe township on which he now lives. He purchased this farm in 1851, it being two lots, one hundred and seventeen and one-half acres each, of the section set apart for the purpose of building up and mantaining a public school system.

Mr. Kimmel was married June 27, 1849, to Lettecia Harshman, whose father, Peter Harshman, was one of the first residents of Washington township. He was a Virginian by birth and for a few years after his coming to Ohio was compelled to live alone, the hostile disposi- tion of the Indians who inhabited the forest by which his cabin was surrounded making it too dangerous for women to venture into the new country. He was a sol- dier of the War of 1812. He died, on the farm which he improved, in 1862. Mrs. Harshman, mother of Mrs. Kimmel, is yet living. She was born in New Hamshire in 1803.

The family of George and Mrs. Kimmel consists of seven children, as follows: John M., born August 25, 1850; William A., born September 20, 1852; Mary Frances, born May 25, 1857; J. P. Lincoln, born June

A.H.MARKLEY

MRS. GEORGE KIMMEL.

16, 1860; Ozroe Franklin, born June 1, 1863 ; Orlando Perry, born December 25, 1866; Flora Viola, born De- cember 28, 1873. Sarah Ellen Pottert, a niece of Mr. Kimmel, born March 29, 1859, was received into the family in infancy. John M. is engaged in the clothing business in Eldorado. William resides in Dayton, and Lincoln in Kansas. All the other members of the fam- ily are at home.

The farm which George Kimmel purchased in 1851 was then almost entirely native forest, and a couple of log huts were the only buildings. The rich soil is now under excellent cultivation, and the improvements are substantial and commodious. In 1872, while the pres- ent handsome residence was being built, the frame house in which the family then resided caught fire, and, with most of the household furniture, was consumed.

Mr. Kimmel has always been a leading citizen. For fifteen consecutive years, with the exception of one term, he was trustee of his township, and for three years was township treasurer. He was for a long time an officer in the Universalist church, of which he and Mrs. Kimmel are members.

In politics Mr. Kimmel is a Prohibitionist; during the war he acted with the Republican party. He con- tributed liberally to the fund to exempt Monroe town- ship from the draft. When Breckenridge's raid threw this section of Ohio into a furor, Mr. Kimmel enlisted in the home guard, but was never called into active ser- vice. He is a radical temperance man, and believes in radical methods of reform.

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

tending a little to the south. The present Eaton and Greenville pike is the same as the old "Wayne trace," as it is called, made by Anthony Wayne on his march to Fort Greenville from Cincinnati or Fort Hamilton, as it was then a fort with only a few houses surrounding it. Owing to the level country, these roads are easily kept in order, and if they are at times found out of repair, it is in that part of the township where a slight elevation causes a "wash" in the road.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

Owing to the lack of positive authority we are unable to state the exact date of the first settlement in Monroe township. That it was settled much later than the other townships is certain, as the land was in such a condition as to discourage the pioneers from any attempt at set- tling. The whole surface of the township was boggy, and in places covered with stagnant pools. This was due to the fact that a great many small streams found their rise in this part of the county. The township was severed from Washington township on the twenty-ninth of Sep- tember, in the year 1817.

It is certain that the country was quite settled before that time. Although the only positive date of entry is that of Josiah Davisson, in 1816, on section fourteen. Several years before this, however, Charles Armantrout moved from Rockingham county, Virginia. He made a camp in the woods and lived in it until he could build his cabin. He is familiarly known as "old daddy Ar- mantrout," by those who can remember him. At the time of his entry he was single, but afterwards married Christina Gray, a daughter of one of the next settlers who came after Armantrout. He entered eighty acres of land on the road passing through Hamburgh and Eldorado, and about one mile south of the former. His entry was at such an early date that he was accustomed to have Indians stop at his cabin to solicit permission to warm and to borrow some fire to roast their potatoes.

After Armantrout, came William Brown, from Pennsyl- vania. He settled on section twenty-nine, in the south- eastern quarter, on the farm now known as the Brown place.

At an early date John Jellison settled in the south- eastern part of section twenty-three.

Isaiah Adams, from New Jersey, settled on the eastern half of the section on which Hamburgh now stands. His house was the first one built there where the town is lo- cated.

Jacob Baker, from Rockingham county, Virginia, set- tled on section sixteen.

Aaron Chrisler, from the same place, entered one hun- dred and sixty acres in section twenty-six.

The above, together with the Murdocks, who settled in section five, were doubtless the first settlers, but whether they are arranged in the order of their entry is a question no one now living can decide.

Josiah Davisson was born in Rockingham county, Vir- ginia, in 1742, and died in Monroe township, in 1825. He came to this State in 1816, and settled section four- teen of Monroe township. He was married twice, but

none of his children are now living. By his second wife, Nancy Williams, who was born in Virginia in 1772, and whom he married about 1800, he had six children, all now deceased. Josiah, one of these children of the sec- ond marriage, was born in Harrison county, Virginia, in 1808. His first wife, whom he married in 1841, was Jane Blackford, born in Preble county in 1822. She died in 1845. Three children were born of this mar- riage, none of whom are now living. His second wife was Hannah Foos, born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1819. They have five children, viz .: Francis M., Elizabeth A., Oscar E., Edward C., and Sarah A. Mr. Davisson was township trustee for twenty-one years, and a justice of the peace from 1857 to 1863. He also held several minor offices. His farm contained two hundred and three acres. In 1863 he died at the old homestead, where his widow and children now reside. Mr. Davisson was a prominent citizen, and was always identified with the interests and improvements of the township and county. Francis M. Davisson was born in 1847. He was elected county surveyor in 1878, and is still holding that office, and gives general satisfaction.

Samuel Parks was born in North Carolina in 1771, and died in Preble county in 1848. His wife, Charity Runyon, was born in North Carolina in 1776, and died in Preble county in 1856. Eleven children were born to them, five of whom are living. Curtis, born in 1804, lives in Indiana; Katharine, born in 1809, widow of Am- brose Hoffman, lives in Indiana; Sarah, born in 1815, widow of Stephen Johns, lives in Illinois; Samuel, born in 1818, married and lives in West Manchester; Selina, born in 1820, wife of Thomas Murray, lives in Oxford, Ohio. Mr. Parks first settled in Dixon township, near Sugar valley. He was in the War of 1812.

Samuel Parks was born in Dixon township in 1818. In 1838 he married Lydia McDonald, born in Gasper township in 1822. They have seven children. His son Henry was in the war of the Rebellion for three years, as private in the Fifth Ohio cavalry. Mr. Parks owns a farm of two hundred and forty-three acres, part of which is farmed by his son. Hugh McDonald, father of Mrs. Parks, was born in Maryland in 1777, and died in 1856. Mrs. Parks is the only child now surviving.

Anderson Leas was born in Harrison township, Preble county. His father, John Leas was born in Lewisburgh, in 1809, and died in West Manchester in 1873. Ander- son Leas was born in 1839. In 1864 he married Lydia A. Townsend, who was born in Darke county in 1844. They have two children-J. Warren and John Edgar. Mr. Leas has been township assessor for seven terms- from 1874 to the present date. He and his brother Asa furnished substitutes in the three years' service, although not drafted in. John Leas, father of Anderson and Asa Leas, established their present business in 1857, under the name of Townsend & Co. They were engaged in the dry goods and grocery business, and were also large buyers of grain and wool. They were the largest grain buyers in the county. In 1863 Anderson Leas was taken in partnership, and his brother Asa in 1867. They now carry on the business under the name of A. & A. Leas.

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

Mr. Anderson Leas has been postmaster for about fifteen years. He has also had charge of the railroad office of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis railroad for about twelve years. Their business amounts to about sixteen thousand dollars per year. Asa Leas was born in Harri- son township in 1841. In 1867 he married Jennie Zar- ber, born in 1849. They have had four children, three of whom survive. Mr. Leas has been in business with his brother Anderson in West Manchester since 1867.

John Juday was the first of that family who came to Preble county. In 1805 he settled in Twin township. He was born in Maryland in 1768, and died in Darke county in 1868. His first wife was Mary Pense, born in Maryland about 1787, and died in Twin in 1833. Ten children were born to them, only three of whom are now living, viz: William, who lives in Jefferson town- ship; Samuel in Indiana, and Andrew in Monroe town- ship. He married for his second wife Margaret Swayne, by whom he had no children. At one period of his life Mr. Juday was township supervisor. Andrew Juday was born in Twin township in the year 1817. In 1840 he married Susan Disher, born in Monroe township in 1822. Ten children have been born them, six of whom are living. Mr. Juday has been a school director for seven years; also has held the office of township super- visor. His farm contains one hundred and sixty acres of land. He was elected ensign of the militia.

Jacob Shewman, sr., was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, in 1778. In 1800 he married Hannah Holder- man, who was born in Franklin county, Virginia, in 1786. Nine children were born to them, three of whom are living-Jacob, Martin and Susannah. In the early set- tlement Shewman came to Preble county and settled on Aukerman's creek, in Lanier township. He stayed there three years, and then moved to Gasper township. He had little or no capital when he came to this county, but had accumulated a property of a hundred acres of land before his death, which occurred in Monroe town- ship in 1840. His wife died in 1861, in Darke county. Jacob Shewman, jr., was born in Gasper township in 1812. In 1837 he married Elizabeth Sayler, born in Gasper in 1820. They have had twelve children, seven of whom survive. Mr. Shewman was township trustee for thirteen years, from 1850 to 1863. Martin Shew- man, born in Gasper township in 1817, married, in 1841, Sarah A. Cosbey. She was born in Hamilton county in 1822. They have had eleven children, five of whom are living. He was township trustee from 1864 to 1877. He now owns and farms one hundred and twenty-three acres in Monroe township.

George Coppock was born in Tennessee about 1785, and from that State he emigrated to Ohio, and in 1812 settled in Washington township. His death occurred in Arkansas in 1830. During the War of 1812 he served under General Jackson. His wife, Elizabeth Zellers, was born in Virginia in the year 1797, and died in Mon- roe township in 1878. Six children were born to them, two of whom survive, viz: Louisa (Hammon) who lives in Indiana, and Charles. The latter was born in Wash- ington township in 1822, and in 1850 married Mahala

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History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 72

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

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