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 35

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 35
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 35

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).

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who are now deceased. Of this union there has been born one child, a son, Charles. The latter married Miss Clara Smith, of Springfield, and they became the parents of one daughter, Edith. Mrs. Caroline Schindler departed this life at her home in Springfield, September 20, 1888. In October, 1889, Mr. Schindler was married to Miss Elizabeth Martin, also a native of Hagerstown, Md. Mrs. Elizabeth (Martin) Schindler died February 17, 1890.

Politically, Mr. Schindler votes the straight Republican ticket. He has been a member of the School Board, and became connected with the Lutheran Church in 1838. In this he has officiated as chorister from that year to 1890, of both church and Sunday-school and various other public meet- ings. For a period of forty years he served as Superintendent of the Sunday-school, commencing this work in 1850 and organizing schools in differ- ent parts of Clark County.

C APT. PERRY STEWART. There is not within the limits of Green Township a citi- zen whom the people are more delighted to honor than Capt. Stewart. Intelligent, energetic and enterprising, he has not only been a prominent man in the affairs of Clark County, but has ac- enmulated a fine property and has held many posi- tions of trust and responsibility. He was in former years a County Commissioner, served in the State Legislature and commanded a company during the late Civil War. All the enterprises tending to ad- vance the interests of the people, morally, intellect- ually and financially, have received his unqualified endorsement and substantial aid. He keeps himself thoroughly posted upon the leading events of the day, and is possessed of those qualities of character most desired in one who manifestly was born to be a leader and who exercises a marked influence upon those around him.

Capt. Stewart is the offspring of excellent an- cestry and the son of John T. Stewart, who was born in Dauphin County, Pa., in March, 1781. The latter, while not a surveyor by profession, platted the city of South Charleston, in Clark County.

During the War of 1812 he furnished cattle in large numbers to the United States Government and looked after the wants of the family of his brother, Samuel, who was serving as a Captain in the army of Gen. Hull, when the latter surrendered at Detroit. Capt. Samuel Stewart had raised a military company from Clark and Champaign Counties.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was like- wise Samuel Stewart, a native of Ireland, who emi- grated to America about 1735, and settled in Penn- sylvania. He was born in 1733 and died in Dauphin County, Pa., September 19, 1803. The great-grand- father who also bore the name of Samuel, was born in Scotland or Ireland and was the son of Rob- ert Stewart, who removed from the vicinity of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, to Ireland, in 1661, to escape persecution on account of his religion, he being a stanch Presbyterian.

John T. Stewart emigrated to Ohio with his fa- ther's brother, Samuel, in the fall of 1806. They set- tled in the wilderness on a tract of heavily timbered land, which they entered from the Government, put up a log house and began felling the trees around them. They kept bachelor's hall and cured their own meat for use during the winter. The second fall their smokehouse was burned, together with its contents and they were thus left with a very small stock of provisions. They had, how- ever, a good neighbor in the person of Benjamin Whiteman, who came over and told them that he had plenty of meat in his smokehouse and they were as welcome to it as his wife; that if they did not help themselves he would be offended.

The father of our subject after due time decided that it was not good for man to live alone and ac- cordingly on the 2d of March, 1815, took to him- self a wife and helpmate-Miss Ann, daughter of Robert and Ann (Ingram) Elder. Robert Elder came to Ohio in 1813, and like his estimable wife was of Scoteli-Irish descent. He died October 3, 1825, and the mother passed away September 20, 1827. The latter was born May 19, 1798, in Dauphin County, Pa. After his marriage, John Stewart put up a log house on his own farm, brought the land to a state of cultivation and there spent the remainder of his days. He lived to be nearly

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seventy years old, and departed hence in April, 1850. The mother survived her husband more than thirty years, remaining a widow, and passed away September 25, 1880. at the advanced age of eighty-two years. She was laid by the side, of her husband in the Presbyterian Cemetery at Clifton.

Ten children were born to John Stewart and his estimable wife, eight of whom are living, namely : Juliana, Mrs. Anderson; Perry, our subject; Elder R .; Samuel, deceased; Charles, James M., Thomas E .; Oscar N., and William C. Harriet, died aged about two years. Perry, the second child, was born June 6, 1818, and spent his early days after the manner of the sons of pioneer farmers, obtaining a limited education in the subscription school and assisting in the various pursuits of farm life. He grew up healthy in mind and body and at an carly age could do a man's work. He remained at home assisting his father until over twenty-six years old and then having resolved upon establishing a fire- side of his own, was joined in wedlock October 15, 1844, with Miss Rhoda A. Wheeler.

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stewart settled upon a tract of timber land which the Cap- tain transformed into his present well-developed farm. He first put up a one story house of brick, to which, in 1860, he added another story and two more rooms on the ground floor. He felled the trees around him and brought the land to a good state of cultivation, adding the various improvements, one after another, which became essential to the comfort and success of the progressive agriculturist.

· As time progressed Capt. Stewart invested his accumulated capital in additional land, and after selling off a part has still left three hundred and and fifty-five acres, which yield him annually handsome returns. The home farm comprises two hundred and fifteen acres, and the Captain owns three lots in the city of Springfield. To him and his excellent wife there have been born ten chil- dren, of whom the record is as follows: Harriet Joanna Stewart became the wife of James Hatfield; they have three children and live two miles north of Clifton. Julia Ann is the wife of R. N. Elder, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; David Wilmot married Miss Amanda Mcclintock; they have five children and live at Enon Crossing.

John T. married Miss Anna M. Keifer; they have three children and live in Greencastle, Ind. Mary E. is the wife of Samuel Kerr; they have two chil- dren and live near Troy, Ohio. Jane E. is the wife of George Nicholson; they are the parents of one child and live near New Moorefield, Clark County. Jessie Isabel died when four years old; Charles Fremont married Miss Clara Garlough; they have three children and live on the farm adjoining that of Captain; Perry Morton and E. Wheeler, remain at home with their parents. The Captain and Mrs. Stewart are prominently connected with the Chris- tain Church at Springfield.

During the second year of the Civil War our subject in July, 1862, received permission from the Clark County Military Commission to raise a. com- pany of volunteers with whom he repaired to Piqua and they were mustered into the service by Capt. Drake, named Company A, and formed a part of the Ninety fourth Ohio Infantry. On the 24th of August the company was sworn into service and on the 28th, the company left Camp Piqua and arrived at Lexington, Ky., on the 30th and werc just in time to take part in the skirmish at Tate's Creek Ferry. On the 1st of September Capt. Stewart was captured by the troops of Gen. Kirby Smith but paroled the same day. He then returned home and waited until the following Christmas when he was exchanged and joined his regiment January 17, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tenn. This was shortly after the battle of Stone River and he then took part in the Tullahoma campaign under Gen. Roscerans, who was marching against Gen. Bragg and on to Chattanooga.

Capt. Stewart met the enemy in several battles and skirmishes, but finally on account of ill-health was obliged to resign his commission. He received an honorable discharge November 9, 1863, and then returning home gave much of his time there- after to the recruiting of soldiers as long as they were needed by the Government. On the battle- field of Chickamauga he received a wound in the leg from a spent ball. The Captain has always taken an active interest in politics and during the early days was a member of the old Whig party; in 1842 he identified himself with the Liberty or Abolition party. Later he joined the Republicans.

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He has frequently been sent as a delegate to the County, State and Congressional Conventions and was in the National Convention at Philadelphia when Gen. Grant was nominated for his second term. He also assisted in the nomination of Ruth- crford B. Hayes, at Cincinnati, although not then a delegate. He was one of the charter members of Mitchell Post, G. A. R., at Springfield. In 1866, he was elected a County Commissioner and the fol- lowing year was made the nominee of the Repub- liean party in Clark County for the State Legisla- ture, serving in the Fifty-eighth General Assembly. He was a Justice of the Peace at the time of enter- ing the army. The cause of education finds in him a steadfast friend and he has served as a School Dircetor in his district for several years. In his religious views Capt. Stewart conforms to the doe- trines of the Christian Church, attending services at Springfield and officiating as a Trustee.

Mrs. Stewart was born December 30, 1824, in Clark County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Ebenezer and Joanna ( Miller) Wheeler, who were natives of New Jersey. They removed to Ohio about 1800, prior to their marriage. The paternal grandfather upon coming to this State, settled on what is now the most populous part of Cincinnati, securing land at a mere trifle. Her maternal grandfather, Moses Miller, settled upon the present site of Brighton, a suburb of Cincinnati, and for many years was the owner of a large farmn. After their marriage in September, 1803, Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler settled near Cincinnati, and in 1806 re- moved to what subsequently became the home- stcad in Clark County. There was born to them a large family of children of whom there is living only Mrs. Stewart and her brother, Samuel M., who is a resident of Lyon County, Kan.

W. OWENS, A. M. This gentleman is a contractor and builder in Xenia, and also the owner and manager of a wood working shop at No. 333 South Detroit Street, where he has fine power and the requisite ma-

chinery for doing excellent work. He does the largest business in contracting in the county, and having been so engaged for over a decade, has become thoroughly well-known as one whose con- tracts are carried out in the most honorable man- ner, those who employ him being insured reliable work in whatever he has undertaken. In his in- tercourse with his fellow-men, Mr. Owens is pleas- ing and honest, while his private character is irre- proachable, and he is highly spoken of by all who know him.

The subject of this sketch is a grandson of Thomas C. Owens, who bore a very prominent part in the pioneer work of this county, both as a private worker and as a publie servant. He came to this State from the Old Dominion, and located ncar Union Church. For many years he filled the office of County Surveyor, and for a long time was County Recorder and County Anditor. He be- longed to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was engaged in local ministerial labors. He was thoroughly known throughout the county, with whose early history he was so closely identified. His son, Alfred H., was born and grew to matu- rity in this county, and engaged in farming for a few years. He then began contracting and build- ing, making his headquarters in Xenia, and for about twenty years continued his connection with mechanical work. He belonged to the First Methi- odist Episcopal Church of Xenia, and his charac- ter and ability were appreciated by his fellow-men to such a degree that they bestowed upon him various township offices. He married Miss Mary J. Eichelberger, of Germantown, near Dayton, who bore him seven children.

In Xenia Township, on what is known as the Wilmington Pike, March 1, 1858, the subject of this sketch was born. His education was com- pleted in Xenia College, from which he received the degree of Master of Arts, in 1876. After leaving the school room he engaged with his father in contracting, and at his death, in 1879, continued the business, which he has enlarged, and to which, in 1886, he added that of wood-working, buying the mill before mentioned. He belongs to the Republican party and is a firm believer in its principles; his religious faith coincides with that

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expressed by the ereed of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and he holds membership in Trin- ity Church.

The marriage of Mr. Owens took place at the home of the bride in Xenia, June 16, 1880, the lady with whom he was united being Miss Anna L., daughter of John S. and Isabelle Saylor. She was quite young when her parents came to this place, in which she grew to maturity, obtained an excellent education and has made many friends by her graees and virtues. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Owens comprises four daughters: Lorena May, Lulu Jane, Ida Mabel and Hazel Kirk.

OHN W. HAMILTON, Justice of the Peace. This sturdy old pioneer of Greene County, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, has lived in Yellow Springs since 1845, and has held a prominent place in municipal affairs and in society. He has been Justice of the Peace for thirty-nine years, has had the office of Notary Publie for a lengthy period, and for twenty years was Mayor of the city. In both physical and mental endowments he was blessed by nature, and although his early advantages were not the best, he secured a good common-school education and upon that foundation has built an amount of information and knowledge equal to that gained by many men whose opportunities seem much greater. The char- acter of the man is displayed in this, and in the en- terprise which he has exhibited in worldly affairs and the station which he holds in the community. His home is one of comfort, one of its most notice- able features being that its walls are lined with pictures, indicating the love of the family for the beautiful and artistic.

Squire Hamilton is the son of James and Marga- ret (Keenan) Hamilton, natives of Ireland, who settled in Perry County, Ohio, in 1828, the father being a farmer. Companions in life, "in death they were not divided," both dying September 26, 1836. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living. The birth of our subject took place August 1, 1820, and he therefore began his

residence in the Buckeye State when a lad of eight years. He began to carve out his own career in life when eighteen years old, at which time he was bound as an apprentice to a cabinet-maker at Som- merset. After serving two years he ran away on account of ill treatment, and walked on the Na- tional road to Bellefontaine, Logan County, hav- · ing but $1 m his pocket. He worked at elcaring land by the aere, then at his trade for a time, and in 1838, went to Shelby County, where for three years he was employed on the Miami Canal, taking contraets to build portions of it.

For three years Mr. Hamilton belonged to the corps of civil engineers under Timothy G. Bates, who worked from Piqua, to St. Mary's. He then located in Dayton and spent six months in buying horses there and selling them in the East. He then, in 1845, located in Yellow Springs, where he has sinee remained. He contracted for building a portion of the Miami Railroad, but for over twenty years his business has been the manufacture of brick, and since 1867 he has made over one hun- dred miles of turnpike. During the Civil War he was enrolling officer for this township. Two of his sons enlisted in Company D, Forty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and subsequently became members of the Eighth Ohio Cavalry, serving during the war. William ranked as Third Sergeant and Charles was a private; both spent twenty-seven days in Libby Prison, after which they were exchanged. Twice during their army life they were visited by their parents. The father belonged to the "Squirrel Hunters," which body was called out at the time of Gen. Morgan's raid.

During his long service as a Justice, Squire Ham- ilton has tried over ten thousand eases, never hav- ing a decision reversed. In one ease that came before him, snit was brought for a turkey, and the costs amounted to over $60. He has tried eases where the renowned Thomas Corwin and John A. MeMahon plead before him. He has been active in politics, having first given his allegianee to the Whig party, casting his first Presidential ballot for Gen. William Henry Harrison. Upon the disinte- gration of that party and the formation of the Re- publiean, he became identified with the new political body which embodied in its platform the

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principles in which he believed. Squire IIamilton has belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for thirty years.

The subject of this notice has been twiee mar- ried, his first alliance having been contracted in 1841, and his bride having been Miss Ann Hayes, who shared his fortunes unti! 1870, when she died. The union had resulted in the birth of four chil- dren of whom we note the following: William mar- ried Mary Haney, and lives at Yellow Springs, their family comprising seven children ; Charles married Hester Horney, has three children and also lives in Yellow Springs; James, who is unmarried, resides in New York City; John married Mary Shaw, has five children, and lives at Goes Station. The second marriage of Squire Hamilton took place in 1871, his bride being Miss Elizabeth Musselman, a native of Piqua. This worthy lady is a member of the Christian Church, and a respected and useful mem- ber of the community. She has one child, Edward, who is unmarried and lives with his parents.

ENRY II. HOPKINS. Deseended from two old New England families, this gentleman has in his personal affairs manifested the frugality, industry and prudence that are prominent traits in the Yankee eharaeter, acquir- ing thereby a fortune that has enabled him to be- stow upon his children thorough educations and to surround his family with every comfort. He has likewise manifested a deep interest in the publie welfare, identifying himself with various move- ments, which tend to the higher civilization and prosperity of the community, and gaining a repu- tation second to none as a publie-spirited citizen.

The ancestry in the paternal line is traced back to Stephen Hopkins. The parents of our subjeet were Allan and Rachael (Saulsbury ) Hopkins, the latter having been a daughter of Joseph Sauls- bury, a mariner. Rhode Island was their native State, and there they grew to maturity, married, and continued to reside. The father, who was a farmer and cooper, died in 1851, at the age of sixty-four years. The mother survived until 1877,

reaching the advanced age of eighty-nine years. They were the parents of six children, two of whom are now living.

The gentleman of whom we write was born June 2, 1812, at Scituate, R. I., being the third on the family roll. He received an excellent common- school education, after which he took a thoroughi academic course, fitting himself for the professson of teaching, in which he was engaged for about twelve years in his native State. He had also oe- cupied himself to some extent in farming, and con- tinued the two employments until the spring of 1839.

In March of that year Mr. Hopkins was united in marriage with Miss Maria, daughter of Asaph and Mary (Mowry) Wilder. She was also born at Scituate, R. I., and was about four years younger than her husband, her natal day having been the 11th of March, 1816. She received a good common-school education and became a teacher, having a fine record as an instructress and winning the friendship of her patrons by her intelligence and true ladyhood. Her qualities of mind and character were well known to her husband, who has never had eause to regret his choiee. The home over whiel slie has presided has ever been a model of neatness and order, and while looking well to the ways of her household, she has not neglected her personal appearanec or failed to keep herself well- informed and fitted for usefulness.

The father of Mrs. Hopkins was educated for a physician, but his health failing, he embarked in mereantile pursuits, finally becoming a farmer in Rhode Island, his native State. He and his wife were born of old New England families, their mothers being second cousins and of Irish extrac- tion ; one of them married Mr. Mowry, a French- man, and the other Mr. Wilder, an English phys- ician. The Mowry family held the faith of the Quakers. Mrs. Hopkins was the eldest of six chil- dren.

After their marriage, onr subjeet and his wife lived upon a farm in Rhode Island until 1856, when they became residents of Yellow Springs, Ohio, where they have since remained. Their objeet in coming here was to to give their sons good educa- tional advantages, as they owned a scholarship in

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Antioch College. Mr. Hopkins became a merchant, but after two years spent in trade abandoned it and took up the fruit tree business, which he car- ried on for a dozen years, after which he retired from active business life. He did not, however, abandon the fields of usefulness which were open to him in other directions, but is still active in municipal affairs, and particularly in those pertain- ing to the cause of education.

Mr. Hopkins helped to organize the schools of Yellow Springs into the graded system. serving on the School Board for sixteen years and being So- perintendent of Schools for a time. He was Presi- dent of the Board when the Union Schoolhonse was erected. Eight years ago he was chosen on the Educational Board of Antioch College, which is a life appointment. He is also a member of the Executive Board of that institution, and has been chosen Treasurer, now serving in that capacity. He is a member of the City Council of Yellow Springs, in which he has served for twenty-four years, and some thirty-three years since he oc- cupied the Mayor's Chair. IIe represents the Council in the Building Committee of the new Town Hall, said committee having been appointed by the Joint Board, which consists of the City Council and the Township Trustees. Ile has also served as Trustee in Miami Township, by appoint- ment, and at one time was Justice of the Peace in Rhode Island. In politics he has always been in- terested, as all good cititizens should be, and his sympathy and support has ever been with the Re- publican party. Both he and his wife belong to the Christian Church, of which he is a Trustee. Both have taken an active interest in the Sunday- school department, Mr. Hopkins having been Su- perintendent and Mrs. Hopkins having been a Sunday-school teacher, both in Rhode Island and here, during a period of over twelve years.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins comprises three sons, fine men, in whose character and lives their parents can take a just pride. Wilson A., who was born in 1844, is a wholesale grocer at Greenville, Darke County ; he married Miss Alice Dawson, and their family consists of two children. Elmer B., born in 1845, lives in Yellow Springs, owning a wholesale grocery store in Springfield;

his family comprises a wife, formerly Miss Angie McCoy, and three children. A. F., who was born in 1846, is still single, making his home with his parents and following the occupation of a com- mercial salesman. The three sons were students at Antioch College when the Civil War broke out and diminished the attendance at the institution, many of whose students took up arms in defence of the Union. The Hopkins boys enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and after serving their time, again enlisted in another regiment and each served until the close of the war. Elmer was Orderly Sergeant and Wilson was secretary of the company. All are now identified with the Grand Army of the Republic.

C IIRISTIAN NEFF. This gentleman is one of the oldest pioncers of Tremont City, Clark County, in the near vicinage of which his home farm is located. He is the owner of one hundred and fifty-eight and one-half acres of valua- ble land, cighity-nine being comprised in the home farm. Hle is a self-made man as to his financial standing, and largely self-educated, as his school privileges were somewhat meager. IIe and his estimable wife are now enjoying the fruits of lives spent in well doing, having the confidence and esteem of their fellow-citizens, by whom they are classed among the representative pioneers of the county. Mr. Neff was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., being the youngest of seven children in the parental family, and the only one surviving except his sister Susan, widow of Charles Braus- letter, whose home is in Missouri.

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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 35

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