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 28
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 28
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Dr. MeLaughlin inherits a high degree of intel- lectuality from his parents, both of whom were teachers of large experience and much scholarship. His father, George F. Mclaughlin, was born and reared in Maryland, eoming to Ohio when still a single man. In this State he married Miss Rosanah F. Monroe, of Champaign County, who afterward assisted him in the Bellefontaine schools, of which
he was the principal for a number of years. He died in 1845, when our subject was but eighteen months old. The wife and mother survived until 1878, when she breathed her last in Urbana.
The natal day of Dr. MeLaughlin was March 29, 1844, and his birthplace Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio. He remained with his mother, at- tending sehool at Urbana during his boyhood and youth, completing his studies there in the Urbana Collegiate Institute from which he was graduated in 1864. Having read medicine with Dr. A. H. Balridge, he entered the Eelectic Institute of Cin- cinnati from which he was graduated in the spring of 1867. He then returned to Urbana, where he began the praetiee of his profession, remaining there during 1867 and 1868. He then removed to Xenia, Greene County, remaining in that city five years, gaining experience and winning an excel- lent reputation. He then removed to Springfield in the spring of 1875, where he now enjoys a lucra- tive praetiee which is steadily increasing.
Dr. MeLaughlin belongs to the National Eelec- tie Medical Association, the State Eelectie Medical Association and the Central Ohio Eclectic Medical Society. He is medical examiner for the Order of Chosen Friends and Grand Medical Examiner to the Ohio Division of the Independent Forresters, in which organization he holds membership. He is also surgeon for the Ohio, Indiana & Western and the Ohio & Southern Railroads, as well as physi- cian and surgeon to the Springfield Hospital. His studious habits are kept up as well as his many calls will allow, and he endeavors to keep fully abreast of the times in his knowledge of the recent investigations and theories of the medical world. His personal character is honorable, his manners pleasing, and he is one upon whom his fellow-men look with respect.
R OBERT MILLER, senior member of the un- dertaking firm of Miller & Bryan, is operat- ing at Fairfield with a good understanding of his business and is looked upon as one of its representative men. He comes of a good fam-
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ily, is well-to-do finaneially, liberal and public- spirited, a Demoerat in polities and an active mem- ber of the German Reformed Church.
Mr. Miller was born in Bath Township, May 2, 1826, and was reared to farming pursuits. His fa- ther died when he was a lad of ten years and there- after he was his mother's elief assistant on the farm. His education was limited to the clementary spelling book, Pike's arithmetic and the New Testa- ment. He never saw a blackboard until his sehool days were over, these terminating when he was six- teen years old. After reaching his majority, he was joined in wedloek with Miss Deborah A. Kin- ney, the wedding taking place at the bride's home in Bath Township, October 5, 1848. Mrs. Miller was a native of the same township as her husband and was born February 10, 1830. Her father, John Kinney, was a native of Pennsylvania, an early settler of Bath Township and became one of its most prominent and successful farmers.
After his marriage Mr. Miller settled with his young wife upon a rented farm of one hundred and twenty aeres near the old homestead and where they lived for a period of ten years. He then purchased the heirship to his mother's estate and secured the home farm, paying therefor $40 per aere and until the outbreak of the Civil War was successfully engaged in farming and stock- raising. During the war he served in the State Militia and assisted in driving Morgan from the soil of the Buckeye State.
In 1874 Mr. Miller, having resolved to retire from the arducus labors of farm life, rented his place and removed to Fairfield of which he has sinee been a resident. In 1879 he embarked in the undertaking business, which is the source of a eom- fortable income. Ile owns his residenee and sev- eral lots in the city and is looked upon as one of the solid eitizens who have been no unimportant factor in lending dignity and importanee to the community.
Mrs. Deborah A. ( Kinney ) Miller departed this life at the family residence in Fairfield April 21, 1886. Of the three children born to her and our subject, the eldest, a daughter, Vinette J., met a painful death at the age of three years, being fa- tally burned, her clothing having caught fire from
a candle which she was carrying; Sarah M. died at the age of four years; Robert Edwin, the only sur- viving child, is pursuing his studies in Heidleburg College at Tiffin, this State, and expects to gradu- ate in the elass of 1892. Mr. Miller east his first Presidential vote for the Democratic candidate in 1848 and has always supported the principles of the Democratie party. Until recently, he has been quite active in polities, frequently officiating as a delegate to the county and State conventions. He was Township Assessor for a period of sixteen years and until resigning in 1887. For many years he was a Sehool Director in his district and is now the Treasurer of the sehool funds. He has been a member of the Town Council of Fairfield two dif- ferent terms. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic Lodge at Osborn.
The father of our subjeet was Capt. Thomas Miller, a native of Lancaster County, Pa., and born in 1801. The paternal grandfather was Robert Miller, likewise a native of that county and who oceupied himself as a contractor and builder. He eame to Ohio as early as 1807 and purchased of Elias Kerkendall three hundred and twenty acres of land at $3 per aere, a part of which is ineluded in the land owned by his grandson Robert. He resided upon this until his death, the circumstances of which were very painful, as he was fatally in- jured by being thrown from a vehicle in which he was riding.
Capt. Thomas Miller was a farmer by oeeupation and gained his title by services in the Ohio State Militia. Ile was a man of note in his community, an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and departed this life September 26, 1836. He was married in early manhood to Miss Sarah Wolfe who was born in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1800. Grandfather John W. Wolfe was also a native of that county, where he learned the trade of a tailor. He emigrated to Ohio about 1805, and purchasing a large tract of land became well-to-do and was a prominent and public-spirited eitizen. He passed the elosing years of his life at the old homestead in Bath Township.
The mother of our subjeet, after the death of her first husband Mr. Miller, contracted a second mar- riage with Judge Simeon Dunn of Trenton, N. J. Judge Dunn was likewise an carly settler of Bath
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Township, a very intelligent man and a leading politician. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and about 1830 or 1832, represented the county in the State Legislature. He was for years a Township Trustee and served as Associate Judge for fourteen years. To Thomas S. and Sarah Miller was born a family of eight children, viz: Eliza- beth, Mrs. Drake, now a widow and a resident of White County, Ind .; Robert, our subject; John and Abraham deceased; Christiana, Mrs. Nickey, a widow, residing in Muncie, Ind .; Mary, Mrs. Stine, of Walla Walla, Wash .; Margaret, Mrs. Newman, a widow, who is residing in Quincy, this State, and Sarah, Mrs. Batdorf, of Bath Township. There was born to the mother by her second marriage three children-Francis and Joseph L., deceased, and Thomas S., whose home is in Decatur, Ill., but who is now sojourning at Ann Arbor, Mich., for the purpose of educating his son.
W ILLIAM H. HARRY. Probably no man in Greene County has a more intimate ac- quaintance with its political history than he with whose name we introduce this sketch. Mr. Harry was born in Xenia, March 14, 1835, at No. 22, West Market Street, where he spent all his life until the fall of 1889, when he removed with his family to the corner of Union and Galloway Streets. He is the son of Samuel Harry, a native of Frederick, Md., and who was born April 6, 1791.
The father of our subject served as a Sergeant in the War of 1812, and about 1820 came to Old- town by way of New Orleans and up the rivers. He was a wagon-maker by trade and had been Superintendent of the Washington navy yards, en- gaged in the manufacture of gun carriages. When taking a trip South, he remained in the Crescent City a few months, whence he came directly to this county and settled in Xenia, in 1822. He bought property west of the Bradley Hotel and carried on wagon-making until being elected Sheriff of Greene County, in 1846. He served two terms, and was noted for his bravery and fidelity to duty. Dur-
the imprisonment of Jesse Ramsbottom, who had been convicted of the murder of his wife, he pre- vented the lynching of the criminal by a mob who were determined to take his life before the regular process of the law could be carried out. He died at his home in Xenia, March 22, 1867.
The father of our subject was first married to Miss Sarah, daughter of Thomas Towler, who was one of the earliest settlers of Xenia, and they be- came the parents of four children. Only one was reared to mature years, Mary A., Mrs. Peacock, of Indianapolis. His second wife was Mary, daughter of Benjamin and Catherine ( Marsh) Manor. The Manor family came from the vicinity of Winclies- ter, Va., during the pioneer days of this county. This second marriage resulted in the birth of one child only, William H., the subject of this notice. The mother is still living, making her home with her son, our subject, and is now seventy-four years old.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was James Harry, a Quaker preacher, who married a Miss Rush and died in Maryland. They were the parents of two sons and three daughters. Grand- mother Harry died near Xenia at the advanced age of ninety-six years. The Harry family traces its ancestry to Scotland.
The subject of this sketch attended the city school of Xenia during his boyhood days and later entered Antioch College, which he left in the fall of 1856 from the junior class. He spent the greater part of the following year in the Recorder's office, and was then Assistant Clerk of the Probate Court until after the outbreak of the Civil War. He promptly responded to the first call for troops, en- listing in Company E, Twelfth Ohio Infantry, in the first call for three months, and going to the front, participated in the battles of Winchester, Wapping Heights, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Tolapotomoy, Cold Harbor, Peters- burg, Monocacy, Opequanland, New Market, Cedar Creek and Sailors's Creek, which latter was his last battle, and he had the satisfaction of witnessing the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He remained in the service until August following. and was then given an honorable discharge.
This included two cnlistments, as at the expira-
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tion of his first term of three months Mr. Harry re-enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Tenth Infantry, after which he fought at Winchester and the Wilderness. He accompanied Sheridan on the Shenandoah campaign, and was in all but three of the thirty-five battles with which his regiment engaged. After the battle of the Wilderness he was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant for meritorious conduct on the field, and about three months later was made Adjutant of the regiment. In the winter of 1865 he was tendered a Captain's commission for gallantry after breaking the lines at Petersburg. He received his final discharge at Columbus, Ohio, about July 1, 1865.
In the spring of 1867 Capt. Harry was appointed Chief Clerk of the Seventh Assessors' District of Ohio, and he served as Assistant Assessor and Sur- veyor of distilleries, then as Gauger up to the elec- tion of President Cleveland, when, being a Repub- liean, he stepped out. He identified himself with the Masonie fraternity in 1865, and has been a warm defender of its principles for a quarter of a century. It is hardly necessary to state that he votes the straight Republican ticket.
Mr. Harry was wedded to Miss Caroline E., daughter of Judge J. J. Winans, of Xenia, in Octo- ber, 1869, and they are the parents of three chil- dren-Mary C., Samuel and James W. Mrs. Harry was born in October, 1846, in Xenia. IIer mother bore the maiden name of Caroline Morris.
E DWIN I. THORN, M. D. There are few prac- titioners within the limits of Greene County who, according to their years, have attained to a more enviable position than that of Dr. Thorn, who is still on the sunny side of fifty, having been born October 31, 1847. His native place was Yel- low Springs, and he was the youngest in a family of five children, the offspring of Isaac and Hannah (Smith) Thorn, both of whom were likewise natives of this county, and are now deceased. The pater- nal grandfather of our subject was William Thorn, a native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. He emigrated to this county at an early day, and
spent lis last years near Cedarville. His son, Isaac, who was reared on the farm, when approaching manhood, turned his attention to the medical pro- fession, and became successful and prominent as a physician, having an extensive practice in the early days in this and Clark Counties. He was actively engaged in his practice at the time of his death, which occurred from cholera in the city of Spring- field, when he was in the forty-ninth year of his age. The mother of our subject survived her hus- band many years, and died in California in Feb- ruary, 1890.
The subject of this notice was but two years old at the time of his father's death, and remained with his mother in Springfield during his boyhood and youth. He attended the district school until fif- teen years of age, then going to Richmond, Ind., became clerk in a dry-goods store, and was thus oe- eupied for eighteen months. Then deciding to en- ter the medical profession, he went into the office of his uncle, Dr. E. Thorn, of Yellow Springs, and when sufficiently advanced in his studies, took his first course of lectures in the Michigan State Uni- versity at Ann Arbor. His second course was taken during the winter of 1867-68, at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in the class of the latter year.
In entering upon the practice of his profession, Dr. Thorn associated himself in partnership with his unele, which partnership continued until the death of the latter, October 2, 1876. Thereafter Dr. Thorn continued his practice alone, and is now in the enjoyment of an extensive and lucrative business. In the meantime, October 12, 1871, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Rebecca A., daugh . ter of Elder R. Stewart, the wedding taking place at the bride's home in Clifton, Greene County. Mr Stewart and his wife were both natives of this State.
Mrs. Thorn was born May 7, 1849, in Yellow Springs, received a good education, and remained with her parents until her marriage. This union resulted in the birth of three children-Carrie S., Una Maude, and Edwin II. The little family oc- cupy a snug home in the northern part of the city, and number their friends and associates among its cultured people. The Doetor is a member of the Ohio State Medical Society, and keeps himself thor-
elhace . R. J Hostetter Lublin Hostetter
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oughly posted upon the new theories and the mod- ern methods of practice. Although no politieian, he gives his uniform support to the Republican party, is the friend of education, and has served for several years as a member of the School Board.
SAAC K. HOSTETTER. One of the most ex- tensive business enterprises in Osborn, Groene County, is that of the subject of this sketch, who is a grain buyer and the proprietor and man- ager of a flour and feed store. He owns a large elevator and is the only man of the place engaged in shipping from that point; in priees he is obliged to compete with the mill and larger cities, yet he makes the business profitable and has a large trade. He also owns the large brick building in which his office and flour and feed store are situated, an at. tractive residence and other property. 1
In the ancestral history of most families there are interesting incidents of an historical nature and such is the case in that of our subject. His great- grandfather Hostetter, with three brothers, came from Germany to America, and with two of them entered the Revolutionary army, aiding the cause of American freedom until the close of the War. One of the brothers, however, hired with the Eng- lish army, acting as an enemy to his brothers and the cause they espoused. The Americans got after him, but the Englishi helped him to Canada and gave him a large tract of land there. The grand- father of our subject was Henry Hostetter, a native of and farmer in Lancaster County, Pa., whence he removed to Adams County. There he remained until his death, continuing his agricultural employ- ment and also freighting to Pittsburg.
George Hostetter, father of our subject, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., and adopted thic occupation to which he had been reared. He lo- cated in York County, but in 1849 came to the Buckeye State, settling in Wayne Township, Mont- gomery County. There he continued his farm work for several years and then bought town prop- erty in Osborn and abandoned farm life. He moved into town in 1856, residing there until his death, August 5, 1887, when he had reached the
extreme age of eighty-eight years. He belonged to the Mennonite Church. His wife was a native of Adams County, Pa., was of German ancestry and a daughter of Peter Keplinger, a Pennsylvania farmer. Mrs. Susan Hostetter died in 1866, leav- ing four children of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest. The first-born, Peter, died in Indiana, in 1883, at the age of fifty-eight years; Maria, Mrs. Forry, lives in Champaign County ; Emanuel is a resident of Osborn.
The gentleman of whom we write was born in Hanover, York County, Pa., October 31, 1833, and during his boyhood attended the subscription schools, the temple of learning being a log building with slab benches, puncheon floor, and the other primitive fittings with whose description we are all familiar. In 1849, he accompanied his father to Ohio, making the journey by river and canal to Dayton, and remaining with his parents until eigh- teen years old. He then began working at the car- penter's trade and in 1853, when twenty years old, began contracting and building in partnership with his brother Emanuel. The partnership continued four years and was then dissolved and our subject continued the business alone until 1860, when he went to Dayton, and found employment in the sash and blind factory.
Mr. Hostetter belonged to the Ohio State Militia or Natioral Guards, which were called out in 1864. Responding to the call on May 6, he was mustercd into Company K, One hundred Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, at Camp Dennison, and sent to the de- partment of West Virginia. He was present as an active participant in the battle of New Creek, Va., where he saw hard fighting; the command to which he belonged was then sent out after guerrillas and had two heavy skirmishes, at Greene Springs and Moorefield. During his short but aetive army life Mr. Hostetter had bullets pass through his clothing and other narrow escapes from death, but was able at all times to perform the duties required of him as a brave man should. Being sent back to Camp Dennison September 18, 1864, he was mustered out of the service receiving an honorable discharge.
Returning to the shop in which he had been ein- ployed Mr. Hostetter was made foreman of the inc- chanical department, but not liking the position he
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returned to blind making as soon as a man could be found to fill his place. Hc remained in the en- ploy of the company until the spring of 1870, when he came to Osborn, and on April 3, embarked in the grain business in partnership with his brother, under the firm name of E. Hostetter & Co. The firm did a successful business for fifteen years, when the connection was dissolved, our subject buying out his brother, and continuing the busi- ness alone. He has manifested business tact and judgment of a high order, conducts his affairs ac- cording to honorable methods, and is respected by his fellow-men.
In Donnelsville, Clark County. November 4, 1865, the ceremony was performed which united the lives and fortune of our subject and Miss Lu- titia Leffel. This lady was born in the place where she was married and is a well-informed. agrceable and useful woman, whose Christian character affords a bright example to those about her. She has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since she was twelve years old. Her father, Peter Leffel is a devout and active Christian and for many years has been a Class-Leader in the same church. He is an old settler of Clark County and a promi- nent farmer, his home being on Jackson Creck near Donnelsvillc.
Mr. . Hostetter is a charter member of Fairfield Post No. 64, G. A. R. and takes an active part in its work. The Methodist Episcopal Church is that of his choice and he attends and supports it in every way possible, being now a Trustee. In poli- tics he is a stanch Republican, not only casting his vote for that party but wielding all his influence in its favor. When twelve years old he had an at- tack of scarlet fever, which left him slightly dcaf. A portrait of Mr. Hostetter and wife is shown else- where in this volume.
AMES BRYSON. Among those who, after years of untiring industry and the practice of a prudent economy are now able to enjoy the reward of their toils, may be mentioned Mr. Bryson, who is in the enjoyment of a comfort- able home in the shape of a valuable farm finely
located in Xenia Township, Greene County. He came to this place in the fall of 1880 and since that time has not engaged in any active business or labor, simply looking after his property and wisely giving himself a needed rest and the enjoy- inent of the society of his friends. The Bryson farm is situated about one and one-half miles north of Xenia and forms one of the prettiest pictures in the landscape of that region. The proprictor is recognized as one of the old landmarks of this county and one who has been no unimportant factor in advancing its prosperity. Every man who has redeemed a portion of the soil from the wilderness and erected thereon a comfortable homestead, las thus contributed to the development of the county and is worthy of honorable mention.
Mr. Bryson was born March 1, 1815, in North- umberland Connty, Pa., and lived there until the spring of 1834. He was rearcd amid the peaceful surroundings of country life and trained to the habits of industry and sentiments of honor which have made him what he is to-day among his fellow- citizens. He acquired a practical education in the common schools and when leaving school chose farming for his vocation, of which he made an art and a science and in which he has been more than ordinarily successful.
In the spring of 1834 Mr. Bryson concluded to seek his fortunes on the soil of Ohio and accord- ingly in company with his father came to this county. They secured a tract of land on the Clif- ton Pike, running from Oldtown to Clifton, and James, working with his father, lived there until the fall of 1880. In the meantime he was married in Xenia Township, March 17, 1853, to Miss Nancy A., daughter of William and Elizabeth Bradfute. Mrs. Bryson was born January 10, 1828, in Cedar- ville Township, this county, of which her parents were early pioneers and where they spent the clos- ing years of their lives. The young people com- menced the journey of life together under the old rooftree and became the parents of four children : William B., the eldest, is on the old home of Mr. Bryson; Nettie died when four years old; Robert E., and Agnew E. The former resides on a farm in this township, the latter at home.
Since starting out upon his own account Mr.
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Bryson has been uniformly successful. At one time lie was tlie owner of about seven hundred acres of land in this county. There are few men possessing a better knowledge of the value of property and he has for some time been one of the Real-Estate Appraisers of Xenia Township. Mr. Bryson during his early manhood affiliated with the old Whig party, but since its organization has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party. Both he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Third United Presbyterian Church, in Xenia, of which Mr. Bryson officiates as an Elder. While actively engaged in farming he made a specialty of stock-raising which netted him handsome returns.
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