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 33
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 33
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last long repose." Grandfather Derst in religious belief was a Methodist, as was also his wife,
The mother of our subject was taken by her par- ents to Ohio when a child of three years. She was reared to womanhood on the frontier and exper- ienced her full share of pioneer life, bearing cheer- fully with her husband its privations and hardships. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and departed this life in 1846. The parental bousehold was completed by the birth of seven children: Elizabeth, the eldest living, mar- lied a Mr. Retter, who is now deceased, and she re- sides in Dayton; Roctta, Mrs. Willis, died in Berrien County, Mich. in 1885; Jane died when a child of three years; Mary, Mrs. J. D. Bacon, is a widow and resides with her daughter in Dayton; two children died in infancy.
The subject of this notice spent his early years in a comparatively uneventful manner under the home roof and completed his studies under the primitive methods of instruction and in a log school- house with slab benches, puncheon floor, greased paper for window panes and chimney built out- side of carth and sticks. He attended school from three to five months in the year and spent the balance of his timc at work on the farm. Later he pursued his studies at a select school. At the age of cighteen years he began the study of med- icine under the instruction of his father, taking it up readily as he was already familiar with the. treatment of ordinary diseases, and had spent much time in his father's office.
In the fall of 1844 Dr. Greene entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati and during the snm- mer of 1845 rode with his father, assisting him in his practice. In the fall he returned to the col- lege, from which he was graduated in 1846. He commenced the practice of his profession with his father and remained with him until the death of the latter, in 1849. Ile then went on with his father's practice, becoming very successful, bnild- ing up a large patronage and acquiring a compet- ence. While there is now no necessity for further exertion, he still attends his old patients who are reluctant to give him up.
Dr. Greene has a very fine home in Fairfield and owns considerable land, having one farm on the
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Xenia Pike, another on the Dayton road, besides two, farms in Indiana. From these sources he is in the enjoyment of a handsome income. Over forty- one years ago, January 31, 1849, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Celenira J. Guthridge, the wed- ding taking place at the old Ewing House in Xenia. Mrs. Greene was born August 31,1827, in Westville, Champaign County, this State, and is the daughter of Rev. John Guthridge, a minister of the Baptist Church; a Kentuckian by birth and a man of note in his community. He came to Ohio probably about 1805, and first settled in Champaign County and later moving near Fairfield where he spent the remainder of his days. The mother of Mrs. Greene bore the maiden name of Margaret Parkinson, and she is now deceased.
Mrs. Greene received a good education and for some time prior to her marriage followed the pro- fession of a teacher. There were born of this un- ion three children, the eldest of whom, Duff W., following the profession of his father, is also an oc- culist and aurist, and is in the enjoyment of a lucra- tive practice, being located at Dayton. He was graduated from the Ohio Medical College in the class of 1876 and spent the summer of 1888 in Europe, pursuing his studies mostly in Berlin and Vienna. The only daughter, Bertha S., dicd in 1882, when an interesting young lady of twenty-two years. John R. died when a child of nine months.
Although the duties of his profession have re- quired his close attention, the Doctor has still found time to interest himself in local politics and in 1877 was elected to the State Legislature and re-elected in 1879. He thus served two terms and made his in- fluence sensibly felt at the State Capitol, being on various important committees. IIe has likewise served as a member of the Village Council and Township Treasurer. Socially he belongs to the lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Osborn. He was given the Royal Arch degree at Dayton and also belongs to the Commandery at that place. In his younger years he was a Whig, but upon the abandonment of the old party, gave his cordial indorsement to Republican principles. He is prominently connected with the State and County medical societies. Ilis experience, educa- tion and high principles which have characterized
all his dealings with his fellow. men have gained him the unqualified esteem of the community at large. A lithographic portrait of Mr. Greene is shown on another page.
W ILLIAM MCCLELLAND. No better repre- sentative of honorable manhood and pros- perous agricultural life could be obtained in the bounds of Greene County, than is to be found in the gentleman above named, whose home is in Sugar Creek Township. His paternal grand- father was a Revolutionary soldier, his father served with distinction throughout the War of 1812, and he himself bore his part in the preservation of the freedom which they had fought to promulgate. In the maternal line he descends from a equally honorable ancestry, his mother, in her girlhood Miss Martha McConnell, having been a native of Ken- tucky.
The father of our subject was Robert McClelland, a native of Forks of Yah, Pa., a farmer and a cooper. He came to Ohio in 1804 and settled on a farm which was solid timber, four miles west of Xenia. Upon this farm he lived forty-two years, his death taking place in 1847. He was twice mar- ried and cach wife bore him twelve children; three of those borne by his second wife, the mother of our subject, arc now living. Robert McClelland was a prominent man in his day. He was a captain in the War of 1812, and was especially noted for his bravery which amounted almost to rashness. At one time lie was in command of Ft. McArthur, in what is now Hardin County (see Howe's Ohio Historical Collections.) After honorably serving out his time he was discharged and had reached his home when he was ordered to report to St. Mary's where he was stationed. He was also a captain un- der Gen. W. H. Harrison during the Black Hawk War. He was an Elder in what is now the United Presbyterian Church.
The subject of this sketch was born January 3, 1825, on his father's farm in this county and re- ceived a limited education in the district schools. At the age of twenty-one years he began life for
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himself, and his father dying soon after, he assumed the responsibility of the head of the household and the care of a family which comprised fourteen members. His farm, which comprises one hundred and fourteen acres on the old Military Reservation, is a valuable one and is still carried on by himself. There are twenty acres of timber land on the estate, and the remainder is under excellent tillage and has brought to its owner a competence that insures to him the comforts of life should no unforeseen calamity overtake him. The residence now occupied by the family was built in 1863, at a cost of about $600, and that occupied by his tenant was erected in 1872. The barn which now adorns the estate was erected in 1858.
Mr. McClelland is a strong friend of temperance and was one of the first men in this community who stopped furnishing liquor to hands in the harv- est field. This was in 1847, and the effort to com- bat the popular practice was quite difficult for a time. He has always taken an interest in politics, . is an ardent Republican and has been a delegate to county conventions. He is now Land Appraiser for Sugar Creck Township, in which he formerly served as Supervisor. During a part of the Civil War he was a member of the One hundred Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry and after serving the cause of the Union was honorably discharged. He is a member of the Agricultural Society. In the United Pres- byterian Church he holds the office of Elder, and in the local Sunday-school he has been Superintendent and a teacher. Stern integrity is ingrained in his character and no more scrupulously honest man can be found in the county, or indeed within the State or Nation.
The first marriage of Mr. McClelland was cele- brated December 1, 1847, his bride being Miss Jane, daughter of George and Elizabeth Watt, who came from Ireland and settled in this locality in 1820. During the years in which Mr. McClelland was struggling to accumulate means and supply his home with the improvements and comforts that he desired, his wife stood by his side as a true com- panion and helpinate. On March 30, 1883,, she was called from time to eternity, her otherwise happy union having been childless. The pleasant home is now presided over by one who bore the
maiden name of Hannah Naughton, with whom Mr. MoClelland was joined in holy wedlock July 3, 1884. She also is of Irish descent, being a daughter of James and Mary Naughton, natives of the Emer- ald Isle. She was taken into the family of David Brown who came to the Buckeye State in 1819, and she attended the district school near Jamestown. Like her husband she is a consistent member of the United Presbyterian Church, while her refined manners add a charm and favorably impress those whom she meets and pave the way for the friend- ship which follows their knowledge of her good qualities.
UDSON REDMOND. This name is familiar among the industrial interests of ClarkCounty, as belonging to one of its most skilled me- chanics and a man who occupies a high posi- tion both in social and business circles. He has been the architect of his own fortunc, making his way in the world from a modest beginning and has proven a fine example of the results of patient in- dustry, a wise economy and good management. His native place was Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and the date of his birth August 16, 1824. His father, Peter Redmond, was a native of Ireland and emi- grated at an early age to America with his paternal grandfather, who was also of Irish birth and ances- try. The family settled first in Western New York, but later removed to Cattaraugus County, where Grandfather Redmond spent the remainder of his life. He was well-to-do in his own country but came to the United States on account of political and religious tyranny.
Peter Redmond was a lad of twelve ycars when he came to America with his parents, and lived in Western New York until after his marriage. He then purchased a tract of timber land in Cattarau- gus County, where he put up a log house in which he and his young wife began the journey of life together. Under that lowly roof the subject of this sketch was born. The father followed the trade of a miller until about 1834, when he disposed of his possessions in Cattaraugus County and removed to Penfield, Wyoming County. A few years later he
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changed his residence to Livingston County, pur- chasing a home in Gibsonville, where he spent the closing years of his life.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Sarah Curtis. She was born in Hatfield, ConI., and was the daughter of Abijali Curtis, also a na- tive of New England and a farmer by occupation. Grandfather Curtis also emigrated to New York and spent his last years in Western New York. Mrs. Redmond after the death of her husband re- moved to Ohio and died in Logan County. She was the mother of nine children, seven of whom lived to mature years, namely : James G., Judson, our subject, Jeremiah, Mary, Hattie, Harry A., and Frank. Charles died young, and Eliza at the age of nine years.
Mr. Redmond, our subject, remained a member of the parental household until a youth of nineteen years, then commenced learning the trades of a millwright and carpenter, serving an apprenticeship of two years at Pike, Allegany County, N. Y. Afterward he went to Toledo, Ohio, where he was employed in a flour mill a few months, and later he worked at lis trade in Maumee City five years. He next embarked in milling at Russelvania, Logan County, but was there only one year. He remained in Logan County, however, for a time afterward and operated the Carr Mills two years. Afterward he was in the Milliner Mill one year. He next re- moved to Champaign County and was employed as foreman during the building of the White Cedar Mill. When the building was completed he rented it and operated it two years.
Changing his occupation now, Mr. Redmond lo- cated on a farm which he had purchased near Belle- fontaine, Ohio, but after prosecuting agriculture two years, he traded the farm for the Carr Mill on Stony Creek, Logan County. Two years later he sold the mill and, in 1866, coming to Springfield purchased the property known as the Rogers & McCormick Mill, which was located five miles east of Springfield on Beaver Creek and comprised a briek building, 45x55 feet in dimensions and four and one-half stories high. It was equipped with the old-fashioned burr system with which Mr. Redmond operated until 1887. He then remodeled the mill and put in a complete roller system and
this mill now operates successfully with a capacity of fifty barrels of flour every twenty-four hours.
In October, 1843, Mr. Redmond was joined in wedlock with Miss Harriet Hinman at the bride's home in Ontario County, N. Y. Mrs. Redmond . was born January 16, 1829, in Ontario County, N. Y., and is the daughter of Justus and Ruth (Buell) Hinman, who were natives of Connecticut and spent their last years in Michigan and New York respectively. Of this union there have been born six children, viz. : Edgar, Orelia, Clara, Inez and Harry G. Francis, the eldest born, died aged ten montlis. The family residence, a commodious brick structure, is pleasantly located on a rise of ground near the mill property and forms a very comfortable and attractive home, whose inmates enjoy a sufficiency of the good things of life to- gether with the society of hosts of friends. Our subject and his estimable wife are members in good standing of Sinking Creek Baptist Church, in which Mr. Redmond officiates as Deacon. For many years lie voted the Republican ticket, but is now an ar- dent Prohibitionist.
E LI McKINDEY ARBOGAST can number among his ancestors two of the early settlers of this part of Ohio, and he himself was born in this eounty, and has ever since made liis home here, with the exception of a year elsewhere. In his business as a contractor and builder he has done a great deal to promote the growth of Springfield, his place of residence, and the surround- ing country. When he came here in early manhood the city was but a village of three or four thous- and people, and he has seen it grow from a mere commercial town, the metropolis of an agricultural community, to be one of the most flourishing man- ufacturing cities in the State, with a population of nearly forty thousand inhabitants.
Mr. Arbogast was born in Moorefield Township, March 4, 1830, a son of George Arbogast, who was born in Pendleton County, Va., August 10, 1793, a son of Michael Arbogast, a native of the same State. Ilis father, great-grandfather of our subjeet,
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was born in Germany, and coming to America in Colonial times, lie settled in Virginia, and event- ually died there. The grandfather of our subject was reared to agricultural pursuits on his father's plantation, in the Old Dominion, and made his home in that commonwealth until 1816, when he emigrated to Ohio, accompanied by his wife and their five sons and two daughters-George, Silas, Eli, Enoch, Solomon, Elizabeth and Abbie. He settled in that part of Champaign County now in- cluded in Clark County, buying a tract of land in Moorefield Township, of which he thus became one the earliest settlers, and where he resided until his mortal career was closed by death. The maiden name of his wife was Buzzard.
The father of our subject was the eldest son of the family, and at the time of their location in Clark County it was a wilderness, with dcer, wolves and other wild animals haunting it, and he being an expert marksman, won a reputation as a skilled deer hunter. He bought a tract of land in Moore- field Township, and engaged in farming there for a long time with good profit, accumulating consid- erable property, but he lost it all by going security for some friends. He subsequently removed to Springfield Township, and there his life was rounded out by death in the month of April, 1868. He had lived to see the county quite well developed, with fine farms, busy towns, and flourishing cities, where he once saw but primeval forests, wild prairies and uncultivated meadows, with settlements few and scattering. The maiden name of his wife was Eliz- abeth Hullinger, who was a native of Pennsylvania. Her father was Daniel Hullinger, an early pioneer of Ohio, coming to this State in 1816, and settling in Champaign County, near Fremont, where he im- proved a good farin, upon which he spent his last days. The maiden name of his wife was Shackey. The mother of our subject died in Springfield Township, in July, 1867. She and. her husband were the parents of sixteen children, of whom the following thirteen were reared to maturity : Eliza, Melinda, Catherine, Nancy, Enoch G., Matilda, Eli M,, Charles, Harvey, Seth, William II., John and Isaac.
Eli MeKindey Arbogast was reared and educated in this county, and at the age of eighteen com-
menced to learn the carpenter's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years, and becoming a mas- ter of his chosen calling in all its details. He then did "jour" work until 1857, when he established himself as a contractor and builder, and has ever sinee carried it on with excellent pecuniary re- sults in this county, with the exception of a year's residence in Dayton. He has always conducted a thriving business, erecting many residence build- ings, etc., in this city, and even carrying on his building operations in other parts of the county, and has gathered together a comfortable amount of property, and by wise investments of his money has increased his bank account. During the long years of his residence in this city his fel- low-citizens have always found him prompt, truth- ful and even dealing in all his business trans- actions, in which, moreover, he has displayed excellent discernment and sound sense. He and liis estimable wife are members in high standing of the St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a Trustce, and they are earnest in their endeavors to further the cause of religion. Mr. Arbogast first joined the church on Columbia Street, and later connected himself with the Center Street Church, and subsequently severed his connection with that church upon the organization of the St. Paul Society, with which he has since been identi - fied. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as a member of Springfield Lodge, No. 33.
Mr. Arbogast has been blest in his domestic re- lations. He has been twice married. November 6, 1851, he was married to Catherine Coffield, a native of Butler County, Ohio, and a daughter of John Coffield. After a happy wedded life of twenty- seven years that woman of sainted memory passed to her reward, and her household knew the comfort of her presence no more, her death occurring Novem- ber 11, 1878, five days after the anniversary of her wedding. Of that union our subject has three children-John, George and William.
The marriage of our subject to his present ami- able and true wife, who devotes herself to making his home pleasant, took place December 27, 1880. She has also been twice married. Her maiden name was Annie Gano, and she was born in As-
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bury, Hunterdon County, N. J., May 6, 1841. She was first married June 15, 1857, to Johnson Elliott. He was an attorney and praetieed his profession first in Bueyrus, this State, and later in Wapakon- eta, the county seat of Auglaize County, and there he died while yet not far past the prime of life. Mrs. Arbogast's father, William Gano, was born in Asbury, N. J., while his father, Asher Gano, is thought to have been born in either Germany or Pennsylvania of German parentage. He was a well-to-do farmer, owning a large farm near As- bury, and died there. Mrs. Arbogast's father fol- lowed the trade of a carpenter in Asbury until 1842, and then left New Jersey to make a new home in Ohio, and located near West Liberty, in Logan County, and died in 1844, in the home that he purebased there. The maiden name of his wife was Jemima Smitt. She was born in Asbury, and was a daughter of Joseph Smitt, who was a farmer and spent his last years in New Jersey. The maiden name of his wife was Wykoff. She was a native of New Jersey, and a life-long resident of the State. Mrs. Arbogast's mother spent her last years with her children, and died at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
DAM L. EPPLEY, a peaceable and law- abiding eitizen, has been for some time variously engaged in the eity of Spring- field and stands well in his community. He was born April 18, 1858, in Yellow Springs Township, Greene County, this State, and is the son of Jolin D. Eppley, a native of Logan County. The latter was born in 1827, and was the son of Adam Eppley, a native of Pennsylvania, whose father was an ironworker at Pittsburg during the infancy of this industry in the United States, and spent his last years in the "smoky eity" when it was a town of very little importanee. He died in the prime of life, when his son Adam was but a child, and the latter was reared by his unele, John Nier.
When seven years old Adam Eppley was brought to Ohio, the journey being made overland with
teams. and prior to the War of 1812. He lived with his uncle a few years in Logan County, then removed to Clark County, and resided with Peter Sintz, one of its first settlers. Then returning East, he served an apprenticeship at the miller's trade in Rockingham County, Va. There also he he seeured a life partner-Miss Rebeeea Durr. He returned to Ohio about 1824 and settled in Logan County, but subsequently removed to Springfield. We next find him in Montgomery County, where he resided about three years. He then returned to Clark County and rented a farm three years, after which he bought a farm in Green Township. Upon this he lived a few years, then sold and purehased another farm in the same town- ship, upon which he built a brick house and made other improvements. After three years he sold this also, and purchased a farm in Mad River Township. A three years' residenee there seemed sufficient for that locality, and selling out again, he removed to Kalamazoo County, Mieh. Three years later he returned to Ohio, and thereafter re- sided in Greene, Darke and Clark Counties. He spent his last years in Springfield with his daugh- ter, Mrs. Mahlon Kershner. He died in the Cen- ter Street Methodist Church, when about seventy- seven years old.
John D. Eppley, the father of our subjeet, re- mained a resident of his native county until after his marriage, and then purchased a traet of land in Green Township, Clark County, where he resided about five years. He then sold out and went to Iowa, where he sojourned a few months, then re- turning purchased land near Yellow Springs, Greene County, where he resided about four years. Af- terward he operated on rented land for a a time, then purchased land in Mad River Township, but a year later sold this and bought a farm two miles southwest of Springfield. He engaged in general agriculture, also in dairying, and in 1873 opened a stone-quarry, which he operated in connection with farming. He resided there until his death, which oceurred in February, 1885.
The mother of our subjeet bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Sayre. She was born in Mad River Township, and was the daughter of Lloyd Sayre, one of its earliest pioneers. She only survived her
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husband eighteen days. Adam L., of this sketch, was their only child. He was reared on the farm, and educated in the common schools, and remained with his parents until they no longer needed his filial offices. He resided on the farm about one year after the death of his parents, then removed to Springfield. He was married July 1, 1880, to Miss Nora M. Patton. Mrs. Eppley was born near Enon, Clark County, and is a daughter of William Patton, who was a native of Ohio, and who settled in this county during its pioneer days. Her mother is deceased. Politically, our subject is a stanelı Republican.
E DWARD MERRITT. This worthy eitizen and upright man has been a resident of Clark County for over half a century, and is widely and favorably known, his long residence giving him a large circle of acquaintances and his character winning their respect and admiration. He is a son of Thomas and Jane (Gaskill ) Merritt, both of whom were born in Burlington County, N. J. The mother was a daughter of Josiah Gaskill of that county in which our subject also was born in the little village of Mount Holly. Thomas Mer- ritt was a cabinet maker by trade, but after follow- ing the occupation for many years he abandoned it and moved on to a farm when his son Edward was but three years of age.
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