History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 76

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

USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches > Part 76

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Jonathan and Jane Hewitt, natives of Ireland, came to America in 1814, to Butler county the same year, and to this township in 1827, locating on the John Murray farm, one mile northwest of Camden, where they lived the balance of their lives. Mr. Hewitt died in 1842, and his wife, ten years later. They had nine children, of whom the eldest, Hamilton, now living in Iowa, was born in Ireland, and the second, Margaret Ann (Hamil- ton), also in Iowa, upon the ocean. The other descend- ants are, John, in Iowa, Robert in Indiana, Thomas, in Camden, Irvin and Susan (Skinner), in Iowa, James, in Nebraska, and Mary Jane, in Illinois. Thomas Hewitt married for his first wife Ann Hazelton, and his present wife was Mrs. Hannah Aukey, nee Devall. It is a re- markable fact that in this family of nine children, the oldest over seventy years of age, there has never oc- curred a single death. The six brothers have all been seen together in the harvest field at the old homestead- a half dozen as sturdy and strong men as the county could furnish.

Louis Loop was born in Augusta county, Virginia, from which State he emigrated to Ohio, and in 1823 set- tled in section thirteen, Somers township. His wife was

Nancy Wilson. He died in this township about 1850. They had seven children, as follows: Lavina C., Susan- nah, Wilson, Eliza, Julia, Robert and Anderson. Ander- son Loop married Anna Lehman, and has always lived on his farm. During the war of the Rebellion he served in the Seventy-fifth and One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio. He has two children.

Daniel Lamm, born in North Carolina in 1808, moved to Ohio in 1831 and settled in Somers township. His wife, Keziah Elliott, born in 1807, is now living. He has been dead since 1836. They have had three chil- dren-Bethena, who married Ellis C. Smith, Benjamin and Daniel. Benjamin Lamm married, first time, Mary, daughter of Samuel Stowe. They had three children- Wilber A., Elmer N. and Charles S. His second wife was Julia A. Loop, daughter of Lewis Loop. Mr. Lamm is a carpenter and farmer. He is the owner of fifty-nir.e acres of land.

Daniel M. Westfall was born in Preble county in 1837. He was the son of Eli Westfall, a native of Virginia, who came to Ohio more than sixty years ago. Daniel married Martha Posey, daughter of George Posey, of Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Westfall was born one child-Mary S., now fourteen years of age. Mr. Westfall served three years and five months as a private in the Thirty-first In- diana regiment, company E. He received several wounds in the face, which nearly destroyed his eyesight. He was wounded at Kenesaw Mountain.

Adam Rahn settled in Stark county, Ohio, about 1829. His father was Philip Rahn, a first lieutenant in the army of General Washington. Mr. Rahn was a member of the celebrated Rahn family of Pennsylvania. Adam Rahn married Hannah Keplinger, of Baltimore county, Maryland. Nine children were born to them, all of whom are living. Their son, Samuel K. Rahn, left Canton, Stark county, at the time of the death of his father, which event took place in 1858. He went to Dayton, where he engaged in the manufacture of agricultural im- plements, He afterwards engaged in the dry goods and grocery business. He now owns one hundred and eighty- two acres of land in section twenty-five. He has made large improvements, having put out sixteen hundred acres of tiling, and a large orchard. He deals only in the best stock. S. K. Rahn married Hattie Garlaugh, daughter of David E. Garlaugh, of Dayton. To Mr. and Mrs. Rahn have been born two sons-Charles, at- tending school at Springfield, and Lewis, who is at home.

William Owens was born in Pennsylvania about 1790, and died in Iowa in 1863. He married Macy Pollock, of Pennsylvania, who died in 1841. They had eleven children. Their son, John B. Owens, was born in 1828 and came to Israel township in 1838. He was married to Nancy Swan. They have one child --- Nancy E. Mr. Owens owns a farm of eighty-three acres in section sev- enteen of Somers township, where he now resides.

William Swan, sr., was born in Pennsylvania about 1790. He emigrated from that State to Ohio, and set- tled in section twenty-nine of Somers township, in 1839, where he died in 1845. His wife, Elizabeth Carr, of Pennsylvania, died in 1862. They had four children,

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viz .: William, Robert, who married Mary Ann Parsons, a descendant of Sheriff Parsons, of Massachusetts, who held office under George III; Mary E., wife of John B. Owens, and Maggie E., who married John Marshall, and died in 1879. William married Christina Krama in 1863. The fruits of this union are two children, William and Mary E. He is a prominent church member, and has held important offices in church. He has a fine farm of two hundred acres. Is engaged in fruit raising also.

Samuel Young was born in 1790, in Pennsylvania. From this State he moved to Ohio, and in 1801 settled in Cincinnati. In 1812 he moved to Butler county, where he died in 1875. By his first wife, Miss Baker, he had two children -- Josiah, who married Rebecca Greenwood, and Hannah, wife of James Irving. By his second wife, Rohama McCain, he had eight children- James D., Sarah Ann, Maria, Malinda, Julia, Alexander, Samuel Edgar, and Dorcas. James D. Young married Elizabeth E. Armstrong, and has a family of eight chil- dren. He owns a stock and grain farm of two hundred and eighty acres, one of the finest in the county.

James B. Duffield's paternal ancestors were from Ire- land, and his maternal relatives came from Germany at an early day. His father emigrated from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, to Butler county, Ohio, about 1830. His wife, Elizabeth Bell, the mother of James B. Duffield, was a native Pennsylvanian. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living. James B., the third child, became a resident of Somers town- ship in 1845. He married Jane McLary, daughter of Samuel McLary, of Butler county. Their children are: Mary E., deceased; John, the husband of Ada Stafford ; Eliza Jane, wife of Nathaniel Shellenberger; George, hus- band of Nettie Stubbs; and Sallie, living at home. Mr. Duffield is one of the most enterprising and successful farmers of the county. His farm consists of more than five hundred acres of well improved land. He is a large stock dealer and breeder of fine stock. He does busi- ness on a large scale, and is known all over the county as a leading stock man.

William Stubbs was born in Georgia in 1803, and in 1805 came to Preble county with his parents and settled in section thirty-six of Somers township. His wife, De- lilah Perham, lives in West Elkton. They had six chil- dren, four of whom are living. Their second son, Elihu, who lives on the home place, was born in 1833, and mar- ried Susan Gifford. Their three children are: William, Jesse, and Mary. Mr. Stubbs' farm consists of one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in the southeastern corner of Somers township.

Christian Eby, sr., who was born in York county, Penn- sylvania, removed to Ohio and settled in Montgomery county in 1838. He died in Lanier township, near En- terprise, in 1859. He married Susannah McDonald, who was raised in Pennsylvania. His children were Elizabeth, John, Jane, Samuel, Susannah, Christian, Agnes, Catharine, Adam, Wilson, James, Sarah L., and Jacob. Samuel, Agnes, and Susannah are deceased.

Christian Eby, one of the thriftiest farmers of this township, first started for himself in Montgomery county.

He had little in the way of cash to begin with, but by industry aud frugality afterward accumulated a fine prop- erty. He returned from Montgomery county to Hemp- stead, Maryland, where he married Diana Murray. He has six children living and two deceased. His residence is one of the finest in southwestern Ohio.

John C. Eby, son of Christian Eby, was born in Mont- gomery county in 1845, and in 1855 came to Preble county with his parents, and stopped in Gratis township until his marriage, which occurred in 1873. He married Mattie A. Silver, who was born in 1853. She is the granddaughter of Major Robertson, who was an early settler of Twin township. Five of their six children are living. Mr. Eby lives a short distance west of his father, and owns a farm of two hundred and thirty-eight acres.

Franklin F. Raikes was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Somers township in 1844. His father died about 1823. His mother's maiden name was Frances Stiner. He is the last of four children. His brother, Wesley, was killed in the battle of Gettysburgh. The wife of Franklin Raikes is the daughter of William Darby, of Washington city, the publisher of Darby Geo- graphical dictionary. He was also surveyor of Louisiana, was a captain in General Jackson's army at New Orleans, and was at one time connected with the treasury depart- ment at Washington. Mrs. Raikes is his only child. To Mr. and Mrs. Raikes have been born seven children, only two of whom are living. Mr. Raikes came to Ohio in 1844, and actively engaged in politics in behalf of Henry Clay. He is a strong advocate of the common school system, and is constantly identified with the interests of schools. He served eighteen months in the army of the Potomac, as lieutenant of company G, Seventy-fifth regi- ment, and served for two and a half years in the Ohio cavalry. He is a saddler by trade.

Jacob Sterzenbach was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1829. . His father was a native of Ba- varia, Germany. Jacob Sterzenbach came to Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1831. From there, in 1848, he came to Ohio, and settled in Somers township. His wife was D. Rexy Houk, born in 1828. They have four chil- dren-Caroline, Samuel, Margaret, and Renie. Mr. Sterzenbach has been township trustee for eight years, and owns one hundred and ten acres of land.

William Douglass was born in Scotland about the year 1771. In 1805 he settled in Milford township, But- ler county. He came to this State from Pennsylvania. His wife was Eliza Coulter. He had nine children- Thomas C., Margaret A., William A., James H., Robert A., Isabella, John C., Benjamin B., and Samuel J. Mr. Douglass died in 1869. James H. Douglass was born in 1843. He married Martha J. Dewitt, daughter of Willis Dewitt, of Butler county, and has two children.

Ferdinand Grupe was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1814. He moved to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1851, and settled in Somers township. His wife was Elizabeth Spice.

Louis E. Grupe was born in 1843. In 1864 he mar- ried Margaret Barnet, who was born in 1844, in Somers township. Mr. Grupe was in the war of the Rebellion

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for two years. He was discharged after the battle of ' CHURCHES IN SOMERS Stone River, Nashville, Tennessee. He served as private in the Twentieth Ohio volunteer infantry, as sergeant in the Thirty-sixth Indiana volunteer infantry, and as com- missary in the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio national guard. He was engaged in the battles of Perryville, and Wild Cat Mountain, Cumberland, Maryland. Mr. Grupe now runs a flour- and grist-mill in Baltimore, Harrison township.

David Semple was born in Pennsylvania in 1815. His father was born in Ireland in 1785. David Semple mar- ried Sarah Sterrett. They have had eleven children, four of whom are now living.

Lewis Parker was born in New Jersey in 1802. From New Jersey he emigrated to Ohio, and, about 1833, he settled in Butler county, where he is now living. He owns a farm of three hundred acres. His wife was Mary Smith (now deceased). The result of this union was nine children, as follows: Asher; Sarah, who married John Van Skiver; Lucy, who married John Mings; Wil- liam, deceased; Thomas, John, Richard, Charley, and Lewis. Thomas married Maggie McGruen. They have had four children-Alonzo, Mary, Richard, and William. Charles married Charlotte Kimball. Their children are- Annie, Laura (deceased), Cora, William, Jessie, Richard, and Minnie. Mr. Parker owns a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-eight acres, which is in a high state of cultivation. Richard Parker, born in 1842, bought his present place in 1876, and built his residence in 1879. He is a farmer and dealer in live stock. His farm comprises about one hundred and sixty acres.

James White's father was born in Butler county about the year 1804, and died in that county in 1838, when about to remove to Illinois. His wife was Sarah Frazee, by whom he had two children: Lydia, the wife of David Kennedy, and James. The latter was married to Eliza Kennedy, daughter of Benjamin Kennedy. To Mr. and Mrs. White have been born six children: Nellie, Ada, Charles, John, Sadie and Mattie. Mr. White owns one hundred and seventy-four acres just southwest of Cam- den, and on this farm he has his residence.

Moses Whitson was born in Pennsylvania in 1790. He emigrated from that State to Ohio in 1847, and set- tled in Camden. His wife was widow Frances Raikes. They have three children living: C. S., M. T. and L. W. One died when four years old.

L. W. Whitson married Rachel Swain. Two children were born to them, one of whom is now living.

M. T. Whitson, born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1836, married Eliza J. Loop, daughter of Lewis Loop, of Somers township. Two children are the result of this marriage.

Thomas Lloyd was born in Pennsylvania in 1814, and emigrated to Ohio in 1851, and settled in Camden. By his wife, Margaret Clarke, he had six children, five of whom are living.

Thomas C. Lloyd married Flora Korner, by whom he has had one child. Mr. Lloyd is a carpenter, builder and contractor.

TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE OF CAMDEN.

The Christian church was the pioneer among religious organizations in Somers township, as well as elsewhere in the county. Bank Spring church was organized in the northern part of the township, very soon after the settle- ment was made, and about 1830 a small house of worship was built on Seven Mile creek, near the locality now known as Barnett's station. During the early years of its existence this was a strong and flourishing organization, and embraced in its membership nearly all of the pioneer families in the neighborhood. This was during the days of Purviance, Dooley Burton W. Stone, William Kincaid and other strong, energetic and self-sacrificing apostles of religion. The church suffered a decline when these men passed away, and was weakened by the preaching of the doctrines of Alexander Campbell, but it remained in organic being until about 1840. The church building passed into the hands of William Bennett, and when he died, his family gave it to the Universalists, from whom it went into the hands of Richard Pottenger about 1868.

MACEDONIA CHAPEL (METHODIST EPISCOPAL)

is located in the eastern part of the township. An or- ganization was affected here at an early day, but up to 1825 or 1826 no regular meetings were held, and there was preaching only occasionally held, generally by loca preachers, and at rare intervals by the preacher of Green ville circuit, and later by those appointed to the Eaton circuit. Charles and John DeMoss and Garritt V. Hop- kins were among the active, early supporters of Method- ism in the neighborhood of Macedonia. About 1830 the Macedonia society bought a small church building of the Baptists in Gratis township, and moved to the spot which their chapel now occupies. This was replaced in 1868 by the present structure.

LOW'S CHAPEL (UNITED BRETHREN).

William Low, one of the principal followers of the Un- ited Brethren faith during his life, may be regarded as the founder of the church which bears his name. Low had preaching in his house about 1840, and his barn was sometimes used for religious gatherings in the summer time. Still later a frame house, which stood upon his farm, was moved to the roadside, and preaching was held in that for a number of years. In 1862 Mr. Low donated a lot, consisting of one acre of land, from the front of his farm, and upon the lot was erected the house of worship known as Low's chapel, and largely attended by people of the United Brethren church and others in the western part of Somers township. The chapel cost about one thousand two hundred dollars, and is a very pleasant and comfortable house of worship. Rev. P. H. Davis was pastor for the church at the time the house was erected, and the building committe, or trustees, were: Joseph Dillman, John Van Scarver, and Lewis Parker. The present officers are as follows: John Q. Pottenger, John Dodge, and John Reeve, trustees; John Reeve, class leader ; John Dodge, class steward. Preaching is afforded every two weeks, the pulpit being supplied by the

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Rev. A. K. Albright. The church membership is thirty- nine.

There are three churches in Camden, the Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, and Universalist. The first and second are old churches, and unfortunately we are un- able to give any extended history of either of them, an extended and thorough search for facts revealing very lit- tle beside the discovery that the records of both have not been kept.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

was organized early in the existence of Camden, and the first church edifice stood upon the hill just west of town, surrounded by a burying-ground, which was deeded to the trustees at the same time the ground for the church was-about 1830. This church edifice was used at its original location until 1836, and then moved to the site of the present church. Father Zimmerman was one of the most active of the early members, and did much to advance the interests of the church. The present Meth- odist Episcopal church of Camden was commenced in 1849, and finished in 1850. It is of wood, and was built at a cost of about one thousand two hundred dollars, though half as much more has been expended in mak- ing improvements during recent years. A parsonage was built in 1872 at a cost of about one thousand five hun- dred dollars. The present pastor of the church is the Rev. G. W. Weaver, and the following are the officers: John R. McGriff and G. W. Schultz, stewards; John R. McGriff, G. W. Schultz, J. C. Walls, James Richards, class leaders; G. W. Schultz, J. A. Huffman, J. C. Walls, Peter Foutz, William Orebaugh, trustees; J. A. Huffman, treaurer and clerk.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

like the Methodist Episcopal, is an old organization. It is in a flourishing condition; has about eighty members, and has recently put up a very handsome and amply commodious church building upon North Main street, the cost being a trifle over four thousand five hundred dollars. The church was organized about the time the Methodist Episcopal church came into existence, and some time prior to 1830 a house was erected which, for the time, was a very fine one. It is still standing on South Main street, and is known as the town hall or Fowler's hall. The church has now no regular pastor but a stated supply. The following are the officers: Robert Homsher, James Wilson, William Corson, John B. Owens, William Swan and William L. Woods, elders; J. S. Ferguson, Thomas Hewitt, deacons; Howard Young, John M. Sheafer, Benjamin Fowler, trustees.

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

Rev. T. S. Guthrie, of Eaton, Ohio, commenced preaching occasional sermons in the old "Bank Spring church," about two miles north of Camden, during the summer of 1867. The services were largely attended by the citizens of Camden and vicinity, a portion of whom had never heard a Universalist preacher, and went through curiosity. The interest grew, however, and in a few months there was a feeling manifested to secure a house in town to hold services in and have preaching

regularly. Payne's hall was secured and Rev. T. S. Guth- rie was engaged to preach regularly, commencing on the twelfth day of April, 1868. An excellent choir was or- ganized under the supervision of Professor James A. Mitchell, with Mrs. Mary E. Whiteside, as organist.

On the tenth day of October, 1868, a meeting was held at the residence of Mrs. Olivia Carrol, for the pur- pose of effecting a church organization. The following named persons united in church relations upon profes- sions of faith, and organized a church under the name of "The First Universalist church of Camden, Ohio," viz .: D. R. Pottenger, Olivia Carroll, Maria Yost, Martha Barnett, James Barnett, Ira K. Place, Ellen M. Pottenger, Olivia Pottenger, and Susan Pottenger.

A constitution was adopted for their government as a church organization, acknowledging its allegiance to the Universalist church of the United States, and recognizing the ecclesiastical authority of the general convention, and the jurisdiction of the Ohio convention.

After the permanent organization was effected, there was quite a number of accessions to the church, and it was deemed advisable to procure a lot and erect a church. The trustees procured a lot on the northeast corner of Lafayette and Main Cross streets, a beautiful location, being in the central part of the town. A build- ing committee was appointed with James Barnett as chairman. Subscription books were put in circulation for the purpose of raising a fund sufficient to build a church edifice, which were responded to liberally by the members and friends of the church. The building was commenced early in the spring of 1869, and completed about the first of December of the same year. The church is a substantial brick building, thirty-eight by fifty- eight feet, and was erected and furnished at a cost of about five thousand dollars. The church was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on the fifth day of January, 1869.

The Sunday-school was organized, with A. B. King as superintendent, on the second day of January, 1870.

Rev. T. S. Guthrie supplied the pulpit regularly up to October 9, 1870, when Rev. R. T. Polk, of Oxford, Ohio, assumed the duties of regular pastor.

Rev. W. J. Crosley and wife were engaged to supply the pulpit.for one year, to preach alternately, commenc- ing in April, 1876. After the expiration of their engage- ment, the pulpit was supplied by J. W. Tucker, D.D., of this place, until April 28, 1878. J. S. Cantwell, D.D., (editor of The Star in the West, of Cincinnati, Ohio), assumed the duties of pastor.

Peace and harmony have prevailed throughout the en. tire organization of the church.

THE VILLAGE OF CAMDEN

is situated about two miles from the north line of the township and railway between the eastern and western boundaries, upon the western side of Seven Mile. It is tastefully laid out and presents a neat and attractive ap- pearance. The streets are broad, cleanly and well shaded, and the residences which flank them are general- ly thrifty, comfortable, home-like looking places. Few

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villages present so little of the unsightly as Camden. It is a community in which good order prevails, and in which the better class of morals form the dominant power. As the center of trade for a large, highly improved sec- tion of country in which the farmers are nearly all well- to-do, Camden has a larger share of retail business than generally falls to the lot of villages similar in size. Although it has seen better days, there are many material evidences of prosperity in the Camden of to- day, and it is a prosperity which flows from the best pos- sible sources-that is the measured success of the many rather than the large gains of a few individuals, com- panies or corporations. The village is not dependent upon any one, or two, or three manufacturing enterprises, and therefore cannot be bereft of its prosperity by any sudden disaster. It felt, several years ago, the benefit that accrued from heavy mechanical industries and found out how swiftly financial ruin could sweep away and destroy their usefulness. At present it has the steady, safe, certain sustentation which arises from the patron- age of a rich farming country, and as no combination of circumstances can divert this trade which is the chief support of the village, it can make no backward step, but on the contrary, must slowly gain in good condition.

The traveller who views Camden from the window of the railway car, sees only such an aspect of the village as is presented by hundreds of others in Ohio and In- diana, but one who alights from the train, and tarries for a time in the little capital of Somers township, cannot fail to be impressed with its decidedly superior attrac- tions. Camden presents, however, the most attractive appearance to one who approaches it from the east or west by the turnpike. Looking down upon the little cluster of houses, and churches, and stores from the hill top, one may very naturally imagine one's self nearing the ideal village, and fancy that under the shade of the maples and locusts that shade the streets and half con- ceal the houses, the current of the river of life must flow onward very smoothly and quietly.

The location of Camden was wisely made. It occu- pies one of those spots which seem intended by nature for the abiding place of man, and which, in addition to all of the elements of practical and material advantage, has the crowning one of beauty. This village of the valley is a gem in appropriate setting.

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History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 76

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

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