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 15

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 918

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 15
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 15

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The mother of our subject died when her son William H. was but eight years old. From that time until a youth of twelve years, he was under the care of his father, obtaining a somewhat lim- ited education in the common schools, and acquir- ing the habits of self-reliance which have served bim so well in his latter years. Hc remained a resident of his native State until after the out- break of the Civil War, and then determining to have a hand in the presevation of the Union, en- listed in Company A, Nineteenth New York In- fantry, which soon afterward transferred to Company E, Third New York Artillery. He first went with his comrades to Washington, D. C., thence to Newberne, N. C., and for a time was sta- tioned at Ft. Rowan, and later at Ft. Totten, so- journing at the latter place probably fifteen months. He then went out with the Hunter cxpe- dition to take Charleston, after which the regiment went into Virginia, and was assigned to the com- mand of Gen. Butler. Mr. Van Tassell was at Petersburg at the time of the mine explosion, an occasion ever to be remembered. Although expe- liencing many privations and hardships, he escaped comparatively unharmed amid the vicissitudes of army life, and at the close of the war received an honorable discharge, and was mustered out at Fort- ress Monroe. Later he received his pay at Ilamp- ton Roads, Va., near the same place.

Returning now to his native State, Mr. Van T'assell repaired to Syracuse and entered Amnes' Business College, where he commenced the study of telegraphy. When acquiring a sufficient knowl- edge of this he came West, and asked for employ- ment in the service of the then C. C. & I. Railroad

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(now a part of the Pan Handle), by whom he was advised that there were no paying vacancies, but that if he desired to do so, he could go to Dublin, Ind., a small town two miles west of Cambridge City, where the only recompense he would receive would be the limited practice the office afforded, and an assurance that he should have the first pay - ing vacancy. Amongst strangers, without money, there was nothing to lose and a great deal to gain, as practice in, and a better knowledge of the busi- ness he had chosen, was most desirable. The offer was accepted. After a sojourn of six weeks at Dublin, our subject was called to the general offices of the company at Indianapolis, Ind., where he re- mained for two weeks, working the most responsible office on the line, at a salary of $83.33 per month. A vacancy occurring at Urbana, Ohio, Mr. Van Tassell was placed in charge of that office, where he remained three months, when he was promoted and sent to Columbus, Ohio, and a year later was called to Richmond, Ind., and again elevated, this time to the position of Chief Train Dispatcher and Chief Operator, which he handled acceptably until 1871, when he resigned to enter the employ of the Rock Island & Peoria Railroad, at Peoria, Ill., as Chief Train Dispatcher and Superintendent of Tel- egraph. He was next connected with the Indiana, Bloomington & Western Railroad Company, per- forming the same duties as before, but still advanc- ing, and finally becoming Train Master and Division Superintendent, which latter position he held until the road passsed into the hands of the Big Four, (Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad.)

On the 25th of February, 1885, in addition to his duties as Division Superintendent, Mr. Van Tas- sell was appointed to the Superintendency of the Ohio Southern Railroad, a position which he has filled with great credit to himself, and satisfaction to the officers of the road. He was married De- cember 10, 1874, in Warren, Ohio, to Miss Jennie E. Kibbee, of Urbana, Ill. Mrs. Van Tassell was born September 20, 1853, in Warren, Ohio, and is a daughter of John and Jane (Ilubbard) Kibbce, who were natives of Connecticut, and are now de- ceased. The only child of this union is a son, Royal Emile, who was born February 8, 1876. The

family resides in a neat and tasteful structure, pleasantly located at No. 81 West High Street. Mr. Van Tassell votes the Republican ticket, and socially belongs to Lodge No. 51, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, one of the best lodges in the order.

The father of our subject during the Civil War, enlisted in the Thirty-third New York Infantry, and going with his regiment to the Potomac, re- mained with it until the expiration of his term of enlistment, serving faithfully three years. After receiving his discharge he removed to Michigan, locating in Newago County, where his death took place at Fremont, in 1889. The mother died about 1852.

RS. FANNY (MORGAN) FLACK, whose commodious, well-appointed home at No. 188 West High Street, Springfield, is one of the coziest and most desirable abodes in that part of the city, is a woman of more than or- dinary decision of character, and of high social standing, and during the years that she has been a resident of this place, by her gracious manner and kindly and considerate bearing toward others, she has gathered around her a circle of warm friends. She is the widow of the late Robert Flack, who will long be remembered as a prominent and successful business man of Springfield, with whose highest interest he was associated many years.

Mrs. Flack was born in the city of Dublin, Ire- land, and is the descendant of a long line of ances- tors, who for many years made their home in Glamorganshire, Wales, and for the part they took in the Revolution under Cromwell were given a large estate, known as Monkfield, and located in County Galway, Ireland. Mrs. Flack's grandfather, Charles Morgan, inherited the estate. He was a barrister, and practiced his profession in Dublin, where he made his home till his death. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Blake, and she was a native of County Galway. Mrs. Flack's father, Peter Blake Morgan, was born in Dublin. and fell heir to Monkfield. He traced his ances-

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try back to Caraetaeus, the savage King of Wales, whose daughter married a Baron Morgan. of Wales. He was educated at Trinity College, in his native city, and adopting his father's profess- ion practiced it there, spending his entire life on his estate at Monkfield. After his marriage he ceased to practice. He was a gentleman of thor- ough culture, and had an extensive knowledge of the law. The maiden name of Mrs. Flack's mother was Mary Roaeh, and she was born in Munster, Ireland, and spent her last years in Dublin, dying a few months after her husband. It was their eus- tom to spend their winters in Dublin. Both she and her husband were reared in the Protestant Church, and died in the faith. They had but two children-Fanny and Julia. Julia married George MeNally, a jeweler in Dublin, and is now deceased.

Mrs. Flaek was reared in her native city, and was given the advantages of a fine education. She was married there, in August, 1845, to Robert Mc- Nally, a native of that eity, and a son of James and Elizabeth ( Howard) MeNally. His father was a barrister, and both of his parents were members of the Episcopalian Church. Mr. McNally was a clerk in a wholesale eloth house in Dublin, and while yet in the vigor of early manhood his career was closed by death, in 1847. Mrs. Flack contin- ued to reside in Dublin till 1848, and in that year came to this country with a party of friends on a visit, setting sail from Dublin, and landed at Phila- delphia after a voyage of five weeks. She seems to have been pleased with the country, as she de- cided to make it her home for the future, influenced to this decision, perhaps, by the eloquent persuas- ions of a certain gallant young gentleman whom she met in the Quaker City, Robert Flack, to whom she was afterward married in New York City, the ceremony that made them one being solemnized in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, by the Rev. E. H. Canfield, September 30, 1851.

Mr. Flaek was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, a son of John and Nancy (Burns) Flack, natives of Ireland, and of Scotch ancestry. He was reared and educated in his native county, and came to Ameriea when about twenty-two years of age. He engaged as a clerk in New York City, where he re- sided till 1855, and then removed with his family

to Saline County, Southern Illinois, where he en- gaged largely in farming. He was an ardent Un- ion man, and on the breaking out of the war would have offered his serviees as a soldier to his adopted country, but a broken limb debarred him from the privilege. So he was forced to be content to ex- ercise his patriotism at home, where, perhaps, it was equally needed, and he took an active part in raising and forwarding troops and supplies, and in rousing the people to the needs of the times. He remained a resident of the Prairie State till after the close of the war, when he sold his property there, and coming to Springfield established him- self in the grocery business here, and from that time till his removal by death, September 9, 1889. was a valued eitizen of this eity. He was a man among men, strong, manly, fearless in his adher- enee to the right, and thoroughly imbued with principles of truth and honesty, which he carried into all his relations, whether of a business, social or domestie nature, and none knew him but to re- speet him for the integrity of his character, and to esteem him for those genial traits that made him kind, generous and self-forgetful. Politically, he was a stanch Republican, as also are his sons. His was a deeply religions nature, and as he was reared in the Presbyterian faith, he was a devoted mein- ber of that church till his death, identifying him- self with the First Presbyterian Chureh after he came here. Mrs. Flack was reared in the Church of England, but there being no Episcopalian Church in Springfield when she came here, she joined the First Presbyterian Church with her hus- band, and has ever sinee been an active worker in its behalf.

The happy wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. Flaek was blessed to them by the birth of the following children : Louisa, who married James Huffman, and resides in Springfield; Robert W., who is en- gaged in business in Springfield; John, deceased; George, an attorney in New York City; Fanny, the wife of John D. Brown, living in Chicago; Nettie, the wife of Harry Van Sickle, of New York City; Charles, who is engaged in business in New York City; Floronce, who married P. O'Neil, and lives in Ironwood, Mich. Mrs. Flack's danghter Fanny, now Mrs. Brown, has been twice married. She was

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first wedded when she was eighteen years old, to Harvey Foreman, and at the age of twenty was left a widow with one child-Mabel. She was inarried to her present husband when she was twenty-seven years old. For many years after coming to this city Mr. and Mrs. Flack resided on North Street, but in 1888 Mr. Flack purchased the home on High Street in which the family now re- sides.

Mrs. Flack had by her first husband one son, Isidore Flack McNally, who enlisted as a soldier during the Civil War, serving as corporal in Com- pany F, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Indiana Regiment. He was less than eighteen years old when he enlisted, and was honorably discharged.

HIMAAZ JACOBS. As a man who forms one of the substantial landmarks of Miami Township, Greene County, Mr. Jacobs is worthy of more than a passing mention. He settled here in the early days, tak- ing up a tract of land on section 26, and to the cultivation of this has successfully bent liis ener- gies. ITis land is more than usually fertile, yield- ing to the proprietor a comfortable income. Mr. Jacobs is a plain, unassuming man, contented to live in a modest manner, careful and methodical, and pursuing the course which has gained him the esteem and confidence of those around him.

The State of Maryland has contributed many substantial men to the settlement of Greene County, and among these is Mr. Jacobs, who was born in Alleghany County, that State, October 13, 1821. His schooling was obtained in a log cabin, into which light was admitted through greased paper for window panes, which was heated by a fireplace, with a eliimney built outside of earth and sticks, and where the children sat upon slab benches, with their feet unable sometimes to reach the puncheon floor. If the teacher could read, write and "cipher" he was considered competent as an instructor and his pupils could not be expected to go beyond him. The school days of Mr. Jacobs were very limited, and he was required at an early age to

make himself useful about the farm, remaining there with his parents until a youth of nineteen years. He then set out with liis elder brother, Samuel (now deceased ) for the prairies of Illinois. They settled on land in Ogle County, whicre they sojourned two ycars and then our subject returned home where he remained until after his marriage.

This important and interesting event in the life of Mr. Jacobs was celebrated Marchi 10, 1846, the maiden name of his choice being Miss Emily, daughter of Jacob and Sally ( Jacobs) Trollinger. The newly wedded pair settled in Allegheny County and a few years afterward upon their present farm and bent their energies to the establishment of a permanent home. In due time there was born to them a family of six children, only four of whom are living : J. Cicero married Miss Miriam John- son ; they have five children and live on the home farm: Jacob Thomas, Mary L. and William Austin, are unmarried and remain with their father.

Mrs. Emily Jacobs departed this life August 19, 1888. She, with her husband, became identified with the Christian Churchi many years ago. Of this church Mr. Jacobs has been a Trustee and has contributed annually to its support. He cast his first Presidential vote in 1844. For years he has been a member of the School Board, but has care- fully refrained from assuming the further respon- sibilities of office, and although elected Township Supervisor, declined to serve. In politics he has been very conservative and for the last few years his interest in the temperance movement, has constrained him to cast his vote with the Pronibi- tionists. His farm embraces one liundred and sev- enty-two acres of land, all enclosed with sub- stantial fencing and all under good cultivation, with the exception of twenty-five acres in timber.

The immediate progenitors of our subject were Gabriel and Margaret (Jackson) Jacobs, who were natives of Maryland, the father born July 7, 1781. Gabriel Jacobs learned carpentering during early manhood, but in later years turned his attention almost exclusively to farmning. The parents were married in their native State, and the father there spent his entire life, departing hence, October 11, 1848. The mother remained a widow until her death, which took place October 20, 1855, in

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Greene County, this State. Eleven children were born to them, six of whom are living.

Mrs. Jacobs who was the third child of her par- ents, was born April 4, 1826, in Alleghany County, Md., of which State her parents were also natives. They lived there several years and then Mrs. Trollinger died and a few years later Mr. Trol- linger emigrated to Ohio and settled on the land now owned by Nimrod Trollinger. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom are living.

OHN C. PATTERSON. Silver Creek Town- ship is rarely fortunate in having been settled up by a class of men enterprising, intelligent and industrious, who have almost uniformly prospered and are owners of fine homesteads which they have built up by the labor of their own hands, and which stand as the most fitting monuments which could be erected to worthily perpetuate their names. Among these is the farm of Mr. Patterson, embracing one hundred and fifteen acres of choice land, thoroughly cultivated and embel- lished with substantial and convenient buildings. It lies on the Jamestown and Paintersville Pike and has been occupied by the present owner since 1861.

Mr. Patterson has been a resident of Silver Creek Township, Greene County, excepting two years, since 1828. Prior to this he was for one year a resident of Xenia and he lived also one year in Jasper. Hc came to this county from Warren County, this State, wherein he was born February 22, 1818, at his father's homestead in Turtle Creek Township. His father, Capt. John C. Patterson, was a native of Greene County, Pa., and the son of Thomas Patterson, a native of Dublin, Ireland. Grand- father Patterson came of substantial Irish stock and was reared to manhood in his native county, where he was married to Phebe Carson. She was born in the city of Dublin and was also of a good family. The marriage, however, was opposed by Grandfather Patterson and soon afterward the young people set out for America, which they reached in safety and settled in Pennsylvania. Grandfather

Patterson, however, soon afterward joined the Continental Army and fought all through the Re- volntionary War, being at the battle of Lundy's Lane and in many other important engagements, including that which resulted in the capture of Cornwallis.

After the war was over Grandfather Patterson returned to Greene County, Pa. He had served gallantly in the army and was mnstered out with the rank of Captain, having command of a com- pany of Irish volunteers who, like himself, were delighted to have an opportunity to fight the op- pressors of their own Ireland. His wife spent her last days on the farm in the above-mentioned county, living to be very aged; the grandfather died in Delaware County, Ohio, attaining to nearly one hundred years. Both were conscientious mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. There was born to them a family of eight children, of whom John C., the father of our subject, was the third in the family and all are deceased.

John C. Patterson was born in Greene County, Pa., where he was reared to man's estate and mar- ried Miss Betsey McFarland, who was also a native of that county and of Scotch- Irish ancestry. They settled down on a farm where four of their children were born, three of whom lived to come with them to Ohio in the carly part of the present century. They located on a tract of wild land in Warren County where they resided fifteen years. Then in 1828 they removed to Greene County, settling in what is now New Jasper Township.

The father of our subject now purchased one linndred and thirty-three acres of land, seventy acres of which he brought to a good state of culti- vation. Later he sold out and purchased another farm in Cæsar's Creek Township where he and his estimable wife spent the closing years of their lives. Mr. Patterson was seventy-five years old at the time of his death and his wife seventy-four; both were members of the Baptist Church. There had been born to them ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom only two are living: John C. Jr., our subject, and his sister, Abigail, Mrs. Sutton, who is a resident of Hutington, Ind., and has arrived at the age of seventy-seven years.

Mr. Patterson, of whom we write, remained a

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member of his father's household until a man of twenty-five years. He was married July 21, 1843, under the roof which still shelters him, to Miss Rosanna Bargsdall. This lady was born in Silver Creek Township, December 10, 1823, and is the daughter of Joel and Phebe (Strong) Bargsdall who were natives respectively of Virginia and New York State. Both came to Ohio in their youth with their respective families, settling in Greene County and were married in Silver Creek Township. They at once settled upon the farm which remained their home until the close of their lives. Mr. Bargsdall departed hence in 1838, in the prime of life. He was an honest, hard-working man and a citizen held in high esteem. He took an active part in polities, belonging to the old Whig party and voted for John Q. Adamns. The wife and mother is still living, being now nearly ninety-two years old and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Patterson. She is remarkably bright and aet- ive for one of her years and can tell many an in- teresting tale of the pioneer days.

The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Patterson were Elisha W. and Phebe (Vail) Strong, who were natives respectively of Boston, Mass., and New Jersey. They were married either in Massachu- setts or New York State, and afterward settled on a farm in the latter State where they lived until after the close of the War of 1812. Thenee, coming to Ohio, they settled on land included in the military traet and comprising a part of the present farm of our subject. The country was then very thinly settled, their nearest neighbors at first being several miles away. They lived to see the country opened up and settled by an intelligent class of people, and died at this same farm when ripe in years.

Mr. and Mrs. Patterson began their wedded life with very little means, but strong in hope and eour- age and labored together with the mutual purpose of securing a home and a competence. Prior to this Mr. Patterson had learned millwrighting which he had followed for eleven years thereafter. Later he turned his attention to farming and has been very successful. The family circle comprised the following children: Joel was married and died at the age of forty-two years leaving four children; Phebe was married, and died at the age of twenty-seven

years, leaving one child. The survivors are Jacob M. and James Sanders, who live on a farm in Randolph County. William H. remains on the farm with his father and assists in its management. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are regular attendants of the Baptist Church in which our subjeet has officiated as a Deaeon for some years. Politieally, he is a sound Republican.

AMES WILLIAMS, Ile with whose name we introduce this biographical notice is probably the oldest living resident of New Jasper Township, Greene County. He was born April 25, 1807, about two miles west of Yellow Springs, to John and Charlotte (Chal- mers) Williams, the former of whom died when his son James was but three years old. John Williams was a native of West Virginia, and the son of Thomas Williams, who probably spent his last years in Virginia. The mother after beeom- ing separated from her family could hold very little communication with them on account of the laek of mail facilities, and finally to a great extent lost track of her family. The little that she gath- ered afterward was conveyed to her by a brother, Noah, who visited her shortly after the death of her husband.

The subject of this sketch pursued his early studies under a very imperfect system of instruc- tion, and in a log schoolhouse with slab benches and puncheon floor and greased paper for window panes. The writing-desks were fastened to the wall in the rudest manner, and the room was warmed from a fireplace which extended nearly aeross one end. A large back-log was drawn into the room by the scholars, and before its glowing fire the pioneer children conned their lessons, frequently assisted by a healthy application of bireh bark. Mr. Williams can remember seeing, in 1812, Indians, who came to get liquor, and upon one oe- casion as a band of them were coming up the road he ran home to his mother as fast as his legs could carry him.

The mills and markets in those days were only approachable by imperfeet wagon roads, and for

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some years Cincinnati was the nearest point where the Williams family could obtain supplies and haul their grain. A wagon load of this comprised forty to fifty bushels, for which the pioneer farmer would re- ceive perhaps forty to fifty cents per bushel. There were no reapers or mowers in those days, not even cradles, the grain being cut with a siekle and threshed out by being trampled upon on the floor with horses or oxen. The journey to mill and back usually consumed one week.

Young Williams was at an early age taught to make himself useful, and when ten years old went into the earding-mill at Yellow Springs, where he staid as long as it was operated-a period of about two years. His mother then purchased a farm, and he returned home. The moncy then in use were large coppers, "fippenny-bit," "eleven penny bits," and a quarter dollar, and when ehange was required this money was frequently cut in pieces to suit. Mr. Williams afterward worked in the card- ing-mill of Jaeob and Isaac McFarland, in the winter season, and with John and Robert C. Reid at the earpenter trade.

At the age of twenty-six years our subject was married, in January, 1833, to Miss Agnes Brown, and the mother lived with her son and daughter- in-law until the fall of 1862, when she died at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Of this union there were born four children, one of whom is living. Mrs. Agnes (Brown) Williams departed this life at her home in Jasper Township, in 1853. The daughter Jane died in 1856, when eighteen years old. The son, David Brown, is now senior member of the firm of Williams & McPherson, in Xenia.

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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 15

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros. Number of Pages: 918

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 918