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 52
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 52
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On January 5, 1862, Capt. Kilpatrick with his regiment participated in the battle of Blue's Gap, Va., and on June 9, of the same year took part in the well fought battle of. Port Republic. In the latter engagement Col. Kilpatrick, then Captain, was captured during the retreat from that battlefield, and confined at Lynchburg, Va., thence was taken to Salisbury, N. C., and later to Libby prison, being incarcerated in those loathsome prison pens for two months and cleven days. He was then paroled, but understanding that he was exchanged he went to Covington, Ky., and was there engaged in drilling and organizing the hastily raised levies in Kentucky during the time of the Kirby Smith raid. After ascertaining that he was on parole he desired to be relieved, but the Commander, Col. Shinkle, who could not well dispense with his ser- vices, persuaded him to remain, which he did until the rebels left the vicinity. From Covington he proceeded to Camp Lew Wallace, near Columbus, where he was Provost Marshal of the camp until November, 1862. Then joining his regiment at Harper's Ferry, he was present at the defense of Dumfries, Va., December 27, 1862, and on January 8, 1863, was promoted from a captaincy to be a Lieutenant-Colonel.
Col. Kilpatrick commanded the regiment in the battle of Chancellorsville, May 1, 2 and 3, 1863. Before noon on the third day of this famous en- gagement he was severely wounded in the right arm, which necessitated amputation at the shoulder joint; also very severely wounded in the left thigh. He was taken to the Washington Hotel in Washington, D. C., where he was nursed by his
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wife until his recovery. Then joining his regiment at Louisville, Ky., he commanded it at the battle of Mill Creek Gap, Ga., May 8, 1864, also was present at the battle of Resaea, May 14 and 15. On the night of the 15th the regiment was detailed under command of Col. Kilpatrick, to eut out and bring off four pieces of artillery and a flag from the rebel redoubt. They faithfully performed their duty and the Colonel, under whose command they were, at the head of his regiment, received the thanks of Col. Cobham, who commanded a brigade in that part of the Union line. The regiment had the advanee of the Army of the Cumberland, and, after crossing Pumpkin Vine Creek, May 25, they encountered the advance of the Confederate Army. A sanguinary engagement took place and such werc the fearful odds against the Union defenders that the regiment lost about one-fourth of its men in twenty minutes. Nevertheless they steadily main- tained their position until re-enforcements arrived.
The last battle in which the Colonel participated was that of New Hope Churell, which lasted from May 25 until June 1. Ou the 17th of August, 1864, his regiment having been reduced to fifty men, on account of the many casualties, and of the faet that the three years for which most of his men enlisted had expired, he resigned lis commission and September 28, following, was appointed Captain of the Veteran Reserve Corps. In November, 1864, he was appointed Assistant Provost Marshal of the military district of Wash- ington, also Commander of Forest Hall Prison. After filling this position for a few months he was ordered January 18, 1865, to Alexandria, Va., and was on duty with the Provost Mashal of the de- fenses south of the Potomac. On May 8 of the same year, he returned to Washington, and was on duty with the provisional cavalry until August, 1865. and was then assigned to Company G, Sixtlı Regi- ment Reserve Corps. He remained stationed with his regiment at Johnson's Island, Ohio, until De- eember, 1865. Being mustered out of volunteer serviee June 30, 1866, he was, on July 28, the same year, appointed Captain of the Forty-second United States Infantry, and was on recruiting service in Brooklyn and Albany until April 15, 1867. Thence he was transferred to Hart's Island, New York
Harbor, and on May 9, the same year, went to Sackett's Harbor, in command of Company F, until May 4, 1868. From May, 1868, until May, 1869, lie was Commander of the post of Ft. Ontario, N. Y., and from June 3, 1869, to February 10, 1870, was Military Commissioner of the Eleventhi Distriet of Virginia, ineluding Charles City and New Kent Counties; also Superintendent of registration and election, and remained in the Old Dominion until February 10, 1870. From that time until the 15th of the ensuing December he was on recruiting ser- viee in New York City, and was then retired with the full rank of Colonel. In the volunteer service he was brevetted Major and Lieuteant-Colonel for gallant and meritorious services during the war, and in the regular army was brevetted Major for gal- lantry at the battle of Port Republic, June 9, 1862, and brevetted Lieutenant-Colonel for gallantry at the battle of Chancellorsville, Va.
The reader will be interested in the principal facts concerning the personal history of one whosc pub . lic reeord has become so widely known. Col. Kil- patriek was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scot- land, April 20, 1825, and belongs to the Dalgar- noek branch of the Kilpatrick family. Tracing his ancestry back a few generations we find that his great-grandfather, Hugh Kilpatrick, was born on a a farm in Dumfries-shire, Scotland, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. In his early manhood he went to Paisley, then but a small town, where he engaged in the lumber business; he was a member of the firm of Kilpatrick & Middy and resided there until his death. The maiden name of his wife, the great-grandmother of our subjeet, was Jean Pinkerton, who lived to the great age of ninety-four. She also spent her last years in Pais- ley.
The grandfather of Col. Kilpatrick, likewise named Hugh, was born in Paisley and learned to weave the celebrated Paisley shawls. He finally beeame owner of a shop and looms employing sev- eral men in that business and spending the elosing days of liis life in his native town. He was an Elder in the Abbey Church, an edifice which was erected in the eleventh eentury and is still stand- ing. His wife bore the maiden name of Bell Mon- roe, and died in Paisley. Among the children she
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bore her husband was James, the father of Col. Kil- patrick. In Paisley, where he was born January 1, 1800, James Kilpatrick passed his youth, aud at an early age learned the trade of a weaver, but when still quite young joined the British Army as a member of the regiment known as the Scotch Grays. After a time his father purchased his dis- charge, and the, returning to his home, married Miss Janet Lang, who also passed the earlier portion of her life in that Scottish town. About five or six years after his marriage James Kilpatrick took service under the government at St. John's New- foundland, where he died when about thirty-five years old.
The maternal grandfather of our subject, Robert Lang, was a native of Paisley and was the son of Peter Lang, who was born on a farm near Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire, Scotland. Peter Lang was one of a family of nineteen children, all of whom lived to manhood and womanhood. Peter Lang, after spending his youth on the homestead, went to Paisley, where he died at a ripe old age. His wife was in youth Miss Katherine McKeller.
Like some other ancestors of Col. Kilpatrick, Robert Lang, his maternal grandfather, learned the trade of a silk weaver, and lived and dicd in Pais- ley. He married Miss Margaret Lang, a native of Greenock, Renfrewshire. In 1851, the mother of our subject came to America, joining her brother Robert, in Cincinnati. She was the mother of three children, the cldest of whom died in infancy ; the second, a daughter, Margaret, married and died in Scotland. The mother made her home in Cin- cinnati, and her death occurred while on a visit to her son, Robert L., October 30, 1874.
He, of whom this sketch is written, attended school quite regularly in his boyhood, and when a youth of sixteen joincd the British Army, becom- ing a member of the Twenty-fourth Regiment, in which he served eleven months. Afterward he was transferred to the Forty-second Regiment, which was well-known as the "Black Watch." From the history of the State of Ohio, published by Henry Howc, we learn that this was the first regiment that ever trod the soil of Ohio, coming here in 1764, during the time of Indian troubles for the purpose of releasing some three hundred
woman and children, who were held captive by the Indians. They were successful in their efforts, and restored their captives to their friends in the set- tlements.
The first two months of his service Col. Kil- patrick passed in Ireland, thence was transferred to England, where he remained nine months. Next we find him in the Black Watch in Scotland, whence in November, 1842, he accompanied his regiment to the Isle of Malta in the Mediterranean ; he reached this port January 1, 1843, and so- journed there, performing severe military duty, until March 17, 1847, then went with his regiment to the Bermuda Islands, where he remained until March 23, 1851, and at that date purchased his dis- charge. This closed his military career as a Brit- ish soldier, and he soon afterward came to the United States, proceeding directly to Cincinnati. During half of his term of service in the British Army he was a non-commissioned officer.
After a sojourn of a few weeks in Cincinnati, Col. Kilpatrick came to Springfield and engaged in sign-painting. After working here a short time he returned to Cincinnati, and entering the employ of T. F. & C. A. Davis, to learn the trade of a grainer; he subsequently established a business of his owu. He was thus employed at the out- break of the Civil War, when he left his own busi- ness enterprises to serve his country. He nobly discharged his obligations to his adopted land, and not more bravely did the native-born sons of the North go forward in battle, nor more courageously did they offer their lives at the altar of their nation's freedom, than did this devoted patriot, who although of foreign nationality, could yet inspire many to "rally round the flag" and rouse others to that enthusiasm which was the nec- essary forerunner of a successful termination of the war.
The faithful helpmate of Col. Kilpatrick for thirty-five years was in her youth Miss Margaret, daughter of John and Ellen (Craig) Lang, both na- tives of Scotland, where Mrs. Kilpatrick was like- wise born. Her early life was spent in Paisley, where she was born, January 12, 1828;having been carefully trained by her worthy parents she was fitted to become the mistress of a large house and
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the hostess of a charming home which until lately, was the frequent resort of people of culture and refinement, but now she is an invalid. Religiously, Mrs. Kilpatrick belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
Col. Kilpatrick, socially, belongs to the Spring- field Lodge, No. 33, I. O. O. F., also to Mitehell Post, No. 45, G. A. R., and is a charter member of the Ohio Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and one of the original members of the Military Service In- stitution of the United States. He is numbered among the members of the Caledonian Society of Cincinnati, which is the oldest chartered society in the State. He likewise belongs to the Fifth Ohio Volunteer Association, the Union War Prisoners' Association, and the "Thistle Society" of New York City. He was one of a few young men, who, in 1856, started a Republican Club in the Fifteenth Ward in Cineinnati. Their meetings were held in a carpenter shop, and it was there that Rutherford B. Hayes, who was then a resident of that ward, addressed one of their meetings. Thus it will be seen that Col. Kilpatrick has always been a stanch Republiean.
G EORGE WHITTREDGE. The grandfather of the subject of this notice settled in Har- mony Township, Clark County, at an early day and was classed among its best citizens. He transformed a portion of wild land into a valuable homestead, one hundred and twenty-two aeres of which is owned and oeeupied by his grandson of whom we write. The latter was born where he now resides, December 20, 1840, the old place being located in the south western part of the town- ship. In addition to general farming he makes a specialty of stock-raising and is proving a worthy representative of one of the most highly respected families in the county.
The parents of our subjeet were Thomas and Lucinda (Winchester) Whittredge, the former of whom was born in 1813, near Rochester, Mass. and the latter that same year in Butler County, this State. Thomas Whittredge was brought to
Ohio by his parents in the fall of 1818, being then a lad of five years. 'His father purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land from the Government at $1.25 per aere; the father died in October, 1841, at the early age of twenty-nine years. He and his wife were consistent members of the Free Will Bap- tist Church. They were the parents of three sons, the eldest of whom, Worthington, is a resident of Van Wert, this State; George, our subject was the second born; Thomas was aceidentally killed at the age of four years by the discharge of a flint-lock musket.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Joseph Whittredge, likewise a native of Rochester, Mass., and born in 1774. He went to sea when a youth of seventeen, became a captain before reach- ing his majority and was a seafaring man during the early part of his life, sailing for a period of twenty-seven years to and from the West Indies. He was first married to Miss Abigail Foster who bore liim one son and three daughters, all of whom lived to mature years, were married and reared families. The first wife died in Massachusetts and Grandfather Whittredge was then married to Mrs. Olive Rider by whom he had three sons-Thomas, the father of our subject, Worthington, an artist of New York City, and William, who died when four- teen years old. The second wife had two children · by a former marriage.
Capt. Whittredge removed to Ohio in 1818 and entered one hundred and sixty acres of Govern- ment land, the same upon which our subjeet now resides. He made a specialty of cheese-making and died at the old homestead at the advanced age of eighty-one years. He was a man of a deeply re- ligious turn of mind and frequently officiated as a preacher. He was kind and benevolent to the poor and was one of the early adherents of the Masonie fraternity. His father, Thomas Whittredge by name, was born and reared in Massachusetts where he followed farming all his life. The family orig- nated in England and was represented in this country during the Colonial days, by two brothers who came from Yorkshire soon after the arrival of thePlymouth Colony.
The mother of our subjeet was the daughter of Lyman Winchester, who married a Miss Good-
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speed, both of whom were natives of New York State. The Winchester family originated in Scot- land. The maternal grandparents of our subject spent their last years in this county. George Whit- tredge was reared to farming pursuits and ob- tained his education in the common school. Two days prior to attaining his twenty-sixth year he was joined in wedlock December 18, 1866, to Miss Catherine A. Franklin. Mrs. Whittredge was born May 11, 1844 in Clifton. this State, and is a daughter of Hiram and Ann ( McCoy) Franklin who were natives respectively of Vermont and Greene County, this State, and are residents of this county. Four children have been born of this union, the eldest of whom a daughter, Eva, is the wite of George Vince; they have one son, Charles C. Minnie, Maude and Clifford romain at home with their parents. Mr. Whittredge, politically, gives his support to the Democratic party and has served as Township Trustee for twoterms. He is consid- ered a reliable man-one whose word is as good as his bond.
OHIN LOUCK. Among the residents of Fair- field, Greene County, no man stands higher in the community than the above-named gentleman, who is now serving as Clerk of Bath Township, and Justice of the Peace. His hon- esty, integrity, and sterling worth are well known, his long residenec in the county having given him an extended acquaintance, and the genuine regard of all who know him. His residence in the county began in 1835, and he has been identified more or less prominently with its business interests since that time, as well as in various departments of its public affairs. Although quite advanced in years, he is still hale and hearty, and is an entertaining companion.
. Squire Louck was born in Hanover, Pa., January 12, 1813, and at the age of nine years accompanied his parents to Baltimore, Md. Six years later he returned to his native State, taking up his residence with an uncle on a farm. His early education was obtained at subseription schools, which were held in the primitive log house with puncheon floor, 1
greased paper windows, and slab benches and desks. At the age of eighteen years, he apprenticed him- self to a shoemaker, with whom he remained nearly three years, after which he began the butcher busi- ness in York County, running a shop and wagon at Strinetown. He continued the business until 1835, when, desiring to better his condition in life, he piled his worldly effeots into a wagon, and turned his footsteps Westward. On May 1, he crossed the Alleghany River, at Wheeling, Va., and reaching Greene County, Ohio, May 17, located in Fairfield. He engaged in teaming between Urbana, Spring- field, Dayton, and Cincinnati, continuing in that occupation until about 1810.
The next enterprise of Squire Louck was to start a boot and shoe store at Fairfield, which was then a stirring place, and he continued the sale and man- ufacture for four years, when he sold and removed to Indiana with his team. Settling near Rensselaer, Jasper County, he bought a small farm, but taking sick and not liking farm life, he returned here the same fall. Again engaging in the boot and shoe business, he continued in it until 1858, when he be- gan farming in Bath Township. In 1854 he was elceted County Treasurer on the Democratic ticket, and leaving his farm, he resided in Xenia two years, fulfilling the duties of his office. He then located in Fairlield, where he has been engaged in various lines of business.
In 1872, the firm of Louck & Bryan was organ- ized for the sale of groceries, the connection con- tinuing four years, when our subject sold out. The next year he built a store, and again embarked in the business, which two years later he sold to Mr. Evans, from which time his principal occupation has been that of an auctioneer. Having a natural ability for that pursuit, he had engaged in it in 1840, and has done seven-tenths of the auction busi- ness within a radius of ten miles.
Besides the office before mentioned, Mr. Louek has served in other capacities as a public servant, In 1868, he became Township Clerk, and has held the office continually since that time. In 1885 he became Justice of the Peace. He has also been a member of the Common Council, and in his younger days served as Constable twelve years. He had some trying experiences while connected in the
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constablery, but fortunately eseaped being shot at in any of them. At the time of the differences be- tween Michigan and Ohio in regard to the north- ern boundary line of this State, he was Captain of a company of the State Militia. They were called to Xenia, but as the trouble blew over, they soon returned to their homes without having engaged in any contest. Squire Louek is a Democrat, whose first Presidential ballot was east for Martin Van Buren, and who has stanehly adhered to the party from that time. He has been on the Central Com- mittee, and his personal influence is always given to the party in which he believes. He belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Osborn, and is Past Master of the Royal Areh Masons of Dayton. His wife belongs to the Methodist Epis- eopal Church.
A remarkable event took place seven years ago, it being the celebration of the fiftieth wedding ani- versary of Mr. and Mrs. Louck, who were married in York County, Pa., February 20, 1833. Mrs. Louek bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Bourke, is a daughter of Thomas Bourke, who was a Penn- sylvania farmer, and was born in York County, in 1807. Throughout the long years of her wedded life, she has been a devoted wife and mother, and has manifested at home and abroad the Christian graees which befit a believer in, and professor of Christianity. Five daughters and one son have come to bless her union with our subject: Luey A. is the wife of A. S. Barton, a plasterer in Spring- field; Catherine married A. Barr, who keeps a meat market in Wayne Township, Montgomery County; Mary A. is the wife of J. W. Harrison, a farmer in Hall County, Neb .; Margaret is the wife of William Harrison, a carriage trimmer of Spring- field ; Laura married Z. T. Hebble, earpenter in Fairfield; John still remains with his parents.
The subject of this sketch is a grandson of George Louek, who was a native of the Province of Alsace, Germany, and a farmer by occupation. He came to America prior to the Revolutionary War, throughout which struggle he fought for American independence, holding the rank of eap- tain. In common with his comrades, he endured many hardships, often sleeping on brush piles to keep out of the water, and suffering for both food
and elothing at times. He was an early settler in York County, Pa., where he secured Government land, improved a farm, acquired a competence, and lived to be some four-seore and ten years old. He belonged to the Lutheran Church.
George Louck, Jr., who was born in York County, Pa., followed in his father's footsteps as a patriotic citizen, and took part in the War of 1812. He was a butcher, and for a number of years ran a market in Hanover, in his native county. He subsequently removed to Baltimore, Md., which he made his home during the remainder of his life, dying there in 1826, at the age of fifty-eight years, his decease being occasioned by yellow fever. His wife, in her girlhood Miss Catherine Huffman, was also a native of York County, Pa., and of German extrae- tion. Her father, George Huffman, a well-to-do farmer of the same county, took part in both the first and second contests for American release from British tyranny. After the death of her husband, Mrs. George Louck returned to Pennsylvania, whenee she was brought to Ohio in 1856, by our subject, her only child who grew up. She after- ward lived in Champaign County, where she died in 1858. She was a consistent member of the Luth- eran Church, and to her teaching and example our subjeet owes much of his fine principles and up- right life.
AMUEL E. HODGE. Although now de- ceased for the long period of thirty-eight years, the great excellence of character which distinguished Mr. Hodge has caused him to still be remembered with thoughts of kind- ness by his neighbors, and with affection by his immediate family. He was one of the earliest pio- neers of Clark County, coming hither when the country was practically a wilderness, and bore with his fellow-settlers the heat and burden of the day in bringing a portion of the soil to a state of eulti- vation, and building up a home upon what was then practically a frontier. His energy and industry were proverbial, and he was prospered in his labors as a tiller of the soil, leaving to his family a com-
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fortable property. He was born near Mt. Sterling, Ky., December 11 1796, and departed this life De- cember 7, 1852, at the age of fifty-six years.
Mr. Hodge came of respectable parentage, being the son of Andrew and Isabel ( Mateer) Hodge, who were natives respectively of Virginia and Ken- tucky. Andrew Hodge when a young man ran away from home and went to Kentucky, where his brother Hamilton had already located, and there happily he found his fate in the person of Miss Mateer, to whom he was in due time married. In 1806, leaving Kentucky they came to Ohio, and se- lecting a tract of land in Pleasant Township, Clark County, Mr. Hodge there with his wife took up his abode, and his family still continue their resi- dence there. He entered three hundred and twenty acres of land, occupying a part of section 25, in the southwest part of the township, and made an ar- rangement with parties to put up a cabin, then went back to Kentucky. In the meantime the In- dians had been troublesome, and when Mr. Hodge returned in December following with his family, lic found no roof to shelter them, and they lived in a tent until he could build a house.
Mr. Hodge next set about the improvement of lis property, clearing the land and bringing the soil to a state of cultivation. He followed farm- ing all his life with the exception of the time he served in the army during the War of 1812. There were born to him and his excellent partner six children, whom they named respectively: Williams, John, Samuel, James, Sarah M., now the wife of William Baird; and Jane M., Mrs. Jerry Yeazell.
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