USA > Ohio > Clark County > Portrait and biographical album of Greene and Clark counties, Ohio, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county; together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States > Part 106
USA > Ohio > Greene County > Portrait and biographical album of Greene and Clark counties, Ohio, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county; together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States > Part 106
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Jacob, Andrew, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Susan and Peter.
The paternal grandfather of our subjeet was Leonard Coy, who upon settling in Beaver Creek Township secured thirty-two hundred acres of land. His father was Jacob Coy. The family originated in Germany, from which Jacob Coy, Jr., the great-grandfather of our subject, started with his parents for America. Both parents dicd on shipboard and were eonsigned to an ocean burial. Their effeets were confiscated by the ship's crew, and thus Jacob, with a young brother and sister, was cast upon the shores of the New World penni- less. They were consequently sold to pay their passage, and Jaeob, then a youth of eighteen, labored six years for a Pennsylvania planter to free himself and his brother and sister. He was subsequently married and settled in Maryland, where he became well-to-do and the owner of three hundred and fifty acres of land. Even at the time of his marriage he was so poor that he was obliged to borrow the money to meet the nee- essary expenses. He finally started for Ohio, go- ing down the river to Cincinnati, where he stopped two months, and when this now flourishing city was simply a collection of sixteen log cabins. After his arrival in this county he purchased thirty- two hundred aeres of land in Beaver Creck Town- ship, and thereafter surrounded himself with all the comforts of life.
Mr. Coy from the time of his boyhood until a man of twenty-five years, after leaving school, oc- cupied himself in farming, then purchased a store at Zimmerman, and engaged in mereantile pur- suits for the following ten years. In 1847 he succeeded in having a post-office established there, and was appointed its first Postmaster. In 1855 he sold his store and invested the proceeds in a farm. Two years later he located upon that which he now owns and occupies. This comprises onc hundred and sixty-two aercs of choiec land, which is highly productive, and which is supplied with good buildings, machinery and live-stock. Mr. Coy is numbered among the solid men of his town- ship, and both as a farmer and a member of the community, has made for himself a good reeord.
One of the most interesting and important events
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in the life of our subjeet occurred January 25, 1849. when he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Zimmerman. This lady was born Feb- ruary 23, 1831, in this township, and is the daugh- ter of Jaeob and Mary (Shoup) Zimmerman, both of whom were born in Beaver Creek Township, and were children of its earliest pioneers, the former a son of Dr. G. Zimmerman. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Coy, seven in number, were named respeet- ively: Cassius L .; Lewis E., of Dayton ; Lodema, tlc wife of William Stewart; Emma J., Permelia J., Burley J. and Marcellus E. Mrs. Coy belongs to the Dunkard Church.
HOMAS C. WALKER. This name will be remembered by many of the earlier residents of Jefferson Township, Greene County, as that of one of its most worthy citizens-one who built up for himself a good home in their midst and identified himself with the various interests of the people around him. Ile was born May 30, 1817, in Highland County, this State, and departed this life at his homestead in Jefferson Township, May 11, 1883.
Mr. Walker was the youngest child of his parents whose family consisted of ten children. The fa- thier, John Walker, was a native of old Virginia and of substantial Scoteh ancestry. He was reared in his native county where later he was married and settled until after the birth of all his children, with the exception of Thomas C. He then deter- mined upon a change of residence and accordingly emigrated to this State, loeating in Highland County, where he died full of years and honors at an advanced age. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Crawford, spent hier last years in Ohio.
The subject of this notice remained a member of his father's household during his childhood and youth, becoming familiar with farming pursuits. Upon approaching manhood, with the natural de- sire of youth for change, he left home and repair- ing to Hillsboro, he commeneed an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade. He followed this a number
of years and then on account of failing health found that he must change his oeeupation and accordingly resnmed the farming pursuits to which he had been reared. He resided a few years in his native county and then removed to Ross County. He sojonrned in the latter a few years, then selling his farm property, removed to Greene County and com- meneed the improvement of the farm where he spent the balance of his life and where his widow still resides.
Soon after reaching his majority, Thomas C. Walker was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Carothers, in November, 1842, the wedding taking place at the bride's home in Highland, Ohio. Mrs. Walker was born November 3, 1815, in Washing- ton County, Pa., and is the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Bothwell) Carothers. The latter were natives of Virginia, belonging to the F. F. V's and like the Walker family traced their ancestry to Seotland. After the birth of two children Thomas Carothers and his wife removed from Virginia to Washington County, Pa., where they resided a number of years and where the mother died about 1820. She was eut down in her prime at the early age of thirty years and when her danghter Mary was a child of five. Her father, Thomas Carothers served in the war of 1812, and subsequently be- came a prominent man in his community; he spent his last years in Ross County.
Thomas Carothers after the death of his wife re- moved with his family to Hillsboro, this State, where he established a tannery which he conducted for a number of years. Then removing to Ross County he engaged in farming, purchasing land in the vicinity of Greenfield. There his death took place in 1855, when he was about seventy-five years old. He also served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a man of decided ideas and one who was looked up to in his community. In religion he was a stanch Presbyterian. He was proud of his antecedents as he had reason to be and was able to trace his ancestors to the French Huguenots who fled to America on account of religious persecution. To him and his estimable wife there was born a fam- ily of seven children, three sons and four daughi- ters, one of whom died young but the others lived to mature years and two are yet living, these being
Leffel
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Mrs. Walker and her sister, Catherine. Mrs. Dyer, of Monticello, Ill .; the latter is now eighty-one years old.
Mrs. Walker preserves withi religious eare vari- ous family relies, among them an old family Bible, belonging to her husband's father, and part of a sun dial which was the property of her maternal grandfather. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Walker remained residents of Highland County for a number of years where Mr. Walker improved a farm. In Jefferson County they settled upon a tract of one hundred and fifty aeres and where Mr. Walker labored faithfully, tilling the soil and effeet- ing one improvement after another and at his death left his family in comfortable eircumstances.
To Mr. and Mrs. Walker there was born a family of five children, one of whom, Thomas, Jr., died when three years old. The survivors are recorded as follows: James L. married Miss Mary Hyslett and they are residents of Jamestown; Sally J., Martha Ann and John D. remain with their mother, assisting in the farm work and the management of the homestead .. Mr. Walker in polities was a staneh adherent of the Democratic party and his religious views eoineide with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was careful and eonscienti- ous in the transaction of business and gave sub- stantial aid to the various enterprises calculated for the advancement of the people around him. He was one of the pillars of the church in which he had offieiated as Class-Leader for some years. The family holds a good position in thic community and is looked upon as forming a portion of its reliable element.
OL. JOSEPHI LEFFEL, a life-long resident of Clark County, is carrying on a large and extensive business in Springfield as a breeder of fancy poultry, and of pets of various kinds, his trade extending all over the United States; he is also engaged in training and selling Shetland ponies. He was born near Medway, September 21, 1833, and is a son of James P. Leffel, one of the early settlers of this county, and a native of Bote- tourt County, Va.
James Leffel, after passing the first eighteen ycars
of his life in the above named county, left the pa- rental roof to seek his fortunes in the Far West, as this part of the Nation was called, and making his way to this county, he east in his lot with its pio- neers. He found employment in a mill and dis- tillery, receiving $10 a month for his services. He was very industrious and of good habits, and after working at that low salary for four years was en- abled to buy a mill.
At that time there were no railways or eanals here, and James Leffel used to take his flour to Cineinnati with an ox-team. Money was searce, and he traded flour oftentimes for merchandise, which he would dispose of at home for cash or wheat. He operated his mill and distillery until about 1834, when he sold out, and purchased a farm in Springfield Township, south of the eity, and gave himself up to agriculture until his death April 7, 1887. Ile was a man of consideration in the township, in whose agricultural development lie bore an active part, and was all-worthy of the re- spect accorded to his charaeter. When he first came here the county was but thinly populated, Indians were plentiful, and in the forest wilds deer, bear and other game abounded. He lived to see the district well settled and wealthy, and dur- ing his residence here Springfield grew from a hamlet into a eity of upward of forty thousand in- habitants. The maiden name of his wife was Eliza- beth Miller; she was a native of Virginia, and departed this life some years before her husband. She was the mother of ten children, six of whom survive.
Col. Leffel attended the pioncer schools of this, his native county, the first one being taught in a log house, and furnished with home- inade furniture, slabs for seats with the bark side down, and eom- mon wooden pins for legs. After attaining his ma- jority he engaged in bee culture, and making a thorough study of it, he patented a hive, which has sinee been used very extensively. He finally turned his attention to breeding fancy poultry, in which he is extensively engaged at the present time, having upward of forty distinct varieties of fowls. He has all the appliances in neat buildings, ete., to carry on the business to the best advan- tage. He also raises pets of various kinds, inelud-
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ing rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, etc., besides training Shetland ponies.
In the montli of March, 1876, Col. Leffel was united in marriage with; Miss Sadie Mead, a native of this city, and a daughter of Alfred and Nancy (Hatcher) Mead. Four children complete their pleasant liome circle, as follows: Joseph Frank, Gilbert, Blanche and Philip L.
Our subject is a inan of exceptionally fine char- acter, and of irreproachable habits. In his business career he has carried on his extensive dealings with unfailing honesty, and has won and retains tlie eil- tire confidence of the many with whom he has business relations. He is a man of thought as well as of action, and his liberal mind and varicd infor- mation make him an interesting companion. A son of one of the early pioncers of the county, lie has proved himself a worthy scion of the stock that laid the basis of the present prosperity of this region, where his life has been passed.
In connection with his personal sketch a portrait of Col. Leffel is shown on another page.
C HURCHILL M. HAUGHEY. The little city of Bowersville, Greene County, is sur- rounded with some of the finest farming land in the Buckeye State, indicating in a marked manner the class of people which settled here in the early days. He of whom we write, and who is now a veteran of seventy-two years, owns and oc- cupies one of the finest of these farms, this being two hundred acres in extent, and comprising a tract of fertile land, and improved with substantial modern builings. This was his father's old homestead, and the fact that the son has kept it up in a praise- worthy manner reflects no small credit upon his industry and energy. It possesses for him a far more than moneyed value, it having been his home since he was an infant of six months.
The subject of this notice was born near Wil- mington, Clinton County, this State, February 8, 1818. His father, John Haughey, was a native of Virginia, and the son of Thomas Haughey, who was also born in the Old Dominion. The parents of
Grandfather Haughey were of Irish birth and an- cestry, and crossed the Atlantic prior to the out- break of the Revolutionary War. They settled in Virginia, locating, it is believed, in Grayson County, where it is probable they spent the re- mainder of their lives. In religion they were of stanch Presbyterian stock, honest and worthy peo- ple, whose motto was to follow the Golden Rule, and do good as they had opportunity.
Thomas Haughey after reaching manhood adopted farming as his vocation, and was married in Gray- son County, Va., to Miss Violet Clanch. This lady was likewise born and reared in the Old Dominion, and came of Welsh parentage. The young people commenced the journey of life together on a farm, where all their children were born. John, the father of our subject, was the eldest child. The paternal grandfather for a time carried a musket during the Revolutionary War, and upon various occasions used it. He possessed in a marked man- ner the hardy and substantial traits of his ances- tors, and was well calculated to battle with the difficulties of life on the frontier.
Upon reaching manhood Jolin Haughey learned wagon-making, and followed this trade a short tine while a resident of his native State. He was married in Grayson County, Va., to Miss Patience Studivant, who was also born in Virginia, and they lived in Grayson County until after the birth of one child. Then deciding upon a removal, they started overland with teams to Ohio, settling in Hamilton County as early as 1812. A short time later, however, they removed to Clinton County, locating in Union Township, where the father farmed for a time on rented land. He then pur- chased a few acres, of which he was the owner, however, but a short time.
In the meantime the parents of Mr. Haughey with their family, excepting one sister, emigrated, about 1817, to Ohio, and the following year lo- cated in Greene County, the father purchasing a par- tially improved farm, embracing part of the land now occupied by his son, Churchill M. There the parents settled, and were successful in building up a comfortable home. The grandparents there spent their last days, Grandfather Haughey dying when nearly eighty-eight years old. His wife had passed
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away some years previously at the age of eighty. They were most excellent and worthy people, greatly respected in their community, and although not: belonging to any religious organization, were favorably inclined to the doetrines of the Christian Church.
John Haughey, the father of our subjeet, was very successful in his farming operations, and in due time became the owner of six hundred and eighty-four aeres of choice land. In 1837 he put up a fine briek residenee which, although it has now been standing for the long period of fifty- three years, is still a substantial dwelling, and a fitting monument to the industry and perseveranee of its builder. He died at the home of his daugli- ter, Mrs. Lurana Baker, in Silver Creek Township, in Deeember, 1876, and like his father before him, was nearly eighty-eight years old. In early man- hood he was an old-line Whig, but later identified himself with the Republican party. In religious matters he was a follower of Thomas Payne. The wife and mother preceded her husband to the silent land, dying at Bowersville at the age of eighty- two years. She differed widely from her husband in his religious belief, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal Churel.
The subject of this notice was one of a family of twelve children, eleven of whom grew to mature years. He spent his boyhood and youth at the parental homestead, that which he now owns and occupies. He remained a bachelor until thirty- three years old, and was then married, July 24, 1851, in Cæsar's Creek Township, to Miss Susan- nalı Ketteman. This lady was born in Hardy County, Va., November 24, 1822, and was the daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Peterson) Kette- man, who emigrated from the dominion to Ohio about 1832, settling in Cæsar's Creck Township. They lived on a farm a number of years, and then removed to the city of Xenia, where the mother died in 1872, after having attained her fourseore years. Mr. Ketteman was born in 1795, and is still living in Xenia, at the advaneed age of ninety-five. Both he and his good wife were members of the German Reformed Church.
Mrs. Haughey was one of a family of two sons and six daughters born to her parents, four of whom
are yet living. She was eight years old when the family came to Ohio, and was reared to woman- hood in Cæsar's Creek Township, remaining under the parental roof until her marriage. The five children born of this union are recorded as follows : Albert L. married Miss Mary Hussey, who died, and he was then married to Anna Bloeher, and they live in Xenia; Charles C. took to wife Miss Ida Crawford, he lives at the homestead, and is the father of one child, a daughter, May; William J. and Russell W. likewise remain at the homestead and assist in the farm work; Flora is the wife of Edward Compton, and they live on a farm in White County, Ind. Mr. Haughey east his first Presidential vote for Gen. William Henry Harrison, and likewise voted for the grandson of "old Tip- peeanoe," in 1888. Mrs. Haughey belongs to the German Reformed Church. It is characteristie of the Haughey family that they are natural mechan- ies, skillful in the handling of tools, and very in- genious.
AVID ENOCH. An attractive rural home in Clark County is owned by David Enoclı, who is one of the Trustees of German Township, now serving his second year in that capacity. He resides on section 4, where he owns sixty acres of well-tilled land. He was born in this eounty, January 31, 1825, and has lived in this State the greater part of his life. Twenty years were spent in Illinois, but he returned here deter- mined to make this his abiding place during the remainder of his life. He was reared to manhood amid the pioneer scenes of the first half of the een- tury, bearing such a part as was possible to one of his years in the improvement of the country, and in the meantime taking advantage of the op- portunities afforded by the publie sehools to ac- quire an education.
The schools of that early day did not embrace the curriculum taught at this period of time, but in them a solid foundation eould generally be laid, upon which a lover of knowledge eould build a more extensive structure. This was done by our
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subject, who has endeavored to keep abreast of the times in his knowledge of current events and gen- eral topics. He has ever been interested in the growth of his native county in material prosperity and the higher civilization, and willing to aid the enterprises which promise to effect those ends. He is a Democrat and a member of the Reformed Church.
Mr. Enoch has been twice married, the first alli. ance being consummated in 1850. His bride was Miss Elizabeth Morris, who shared his fortunes until November 28, 1876, when she passed through the valley of the shadow of death. She left two sons, John and William. The second wife of our subject was Mrs. Susan Staley, widow of the late Hugh Staley, of this county. She departed this life December 1, 1889.
The parents of our subject were Henry and Mary (Jones) Enoch, natives respectively of Penn- sylvania and Virginia. Henry Enoch came to this county with his parents about 1812, and was here reared to manhood amid pioneer scenes. The fam- ily settled on Chapman's Creek, in the woods of German Township, where they endured some of the hardships to which the early settlers were subjected. Henry Enoch, who became well known throughout this part of the county by the familiar title of "Colonel," was a public-spirited, energetic and re- liable citizen, whose death was mourned by many friends. He was a member of the Democratic party. To him and his good wife nine children were born, of whom the following survive: David, Mary, John, Esther and Henry, mostly residents of this State.
C HARLES HARNER. There are few per- manent residents of Xenia Township, Greene County, who are not familiar with the name of this old and honored citizen. He for many years was one of the leading agriculturists of Xenia Township, but some time since wisely re- tired from active labor, and amid the comforts of a pleasant home in Oldtown is enjoying the fruits of his carly toil. He is a large property-holder,
owning nearly one thousand acres of land in this county, and he has watched its growth and devel- ment with the interest only felt by those came hither in the pioncer days, and who labored and waited for results. Its present condition is due to the cfforts of those early pioneers whose names it is designed to perpetuate in this volume.
The Harner family is of German origin, and in the Fatherland, Jacob Harner, the immediate pro- genitor of our subject, was born. There also lie was rearcd, and later cmigrated to America. He was married in Pennsylvania, the maiden name of his wife being Anna Maria Hefly, a native of Ha- gerstown, Pa. The parents of our subject soon after their marriage emigrated to this county and settled in Beaver Creek Township when the coun- try around them was mostly inhabited by wild animals. There the father secured a tract of land, built up a good homestead by the labor of his hands, and died about 1846. The mother departed this life in 1868, after the decease of her husband. Their family consisted of ten children, three of whom are living. Charles, our subject, was the seventh child. He was born at the old homestead in Beaver Creck Township, July 19, 1817, and there grew to man's estate, living with his father until he was married. He then purchased the farm in the northeast part of Xenia Township, where hic continued to live until his removal to Oldtown early in the '60s.
Mr. Harner was married in his native township, March 19, 1840, to Miss Mary Ann, daughter of the late Morgan Morgan, a native of Washington County, Md. Her mother bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Recl, and was a native of the same county as her husband. They were married in Maryland, whence they emigrated to this county at an early day, settling in Beaver Creck Township, where they lived until called hence. There were born to them five sons and one daughter, and Mrs. Harner was the next to the eldest. She was born at the old homestead in Beaver Creek Township, March 14, 1823, and spent her early life in a manner common to the daughters of pioneer farmers. She attended the district school and was trained by her excellent mother in all useful household duties, so that she was fully fitted to take her place as the
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mistress of a good man's home. To Mr. and Mrs. Harner there have been born eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, these being named respectively : Martin, Mary E., David J., Isabella, Morgan J., Rose Ann, Martha C., Charles A., Franklin J., James H. and Samuel B. This large family presents a spectacle of a circle still unbroken by the hand of the Destroyer. The most of them are married and comfortably settled in life. Mr. Harner, politically, is a pronounced Prohibitionist, while both he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Reformed Church.
E DWARD HARRISON, of the Lagonda View Farm, in Clark County, was born in Frederick City, Md., April 18, 1832. His father, Zephaniah Harrison, of Seoteh-Irish de- scent, was born in Frederick County, in Novem- ber, 1795. He was a volunteer in the War of 1812, and his company, under Capt. Brengle, lay on their arms on Federal Hill during the night of the bombardment of Ft. McHenry, ready for ac- tion. He was a skilled mechanic, a wise man and a born naturalist.
The mother of our subjeet, Mary Ann (Haller) Harrison, was two or three years younger than her husband. She was born in Frederick City, of German parents, and was a Christian woman, pos- sessing a large heart and generous impulses. Dur- ing the late Civil War she and her husband were thoroughly loyal and were, with other members of the family, active in their efforts in behalf of the sick and wounded soldiers after the several severe battles which were fought in their vicinity.
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