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 53

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 53
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 53

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Andrew Hodge, the father of Samuel, died in March, 1857, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. He was twice married, but by his second wife, Jane McClintic, of Virginia, no children were born. Both he and his wives were Presbyterians in religion. Mr. Hodge was a stanch Democrat, po- litically, a good man in his family, and a kind and hospitable neighbor. Ile was greatly attached to his children, and gave each of them a farm. Sam- uel E., the subject of this notice, obtained such education as was afforded by the pioneer schools, and lived unmarried until approaching the fortieth year of his age. He was then wedded, November 4, 1836, to Miss Sebina Spencer. Mrs. Hodge was

born March 4, 1815, two miles east of Harmony Village, Clark County, and is a daughter of Mat- thew and Abigail (Rice) Speneer, who were born, reared aud married in Otsego County, N. Y.

The Spencer family. removed to Clark County, this State, in 1811, and the father took up a tract of land in Harmony Township, where with his good wife he endured all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and where they both spent the remain- der of their days, having in the meantime built up a comfortable homestead. Mr. Spencer only lived abont thirteen years after the removal to Clark County, his death taking place in 1824. The year following his removal here he enlisted and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Mrs. Spencer sur- vived her husband for the long period of forty-six years, her death taking place in May, 1874, when she was nearly eighty years old. Seven children had been born to them, the eldest of whom, a son, IIamilton, died in Champaign County, Ill. The oth- ers were named respectively-Sebina, Julia Ann, Angeline, Maria, Fanny and Matthew. With the exception of Mrs. Hodge they all removed to Champaign County, Ill., where the survivors are still living.

The subject of this notice was a man greatly re- spected in his community, and as the township ad- vanced in prosperity and importance he was called to fill various offices of trust and responsibility. To him and his good wife there was born a family of eight children, all of whom lived to mature years. Mary Jane died unmarried; James H. is a resident of Harmony Township; Angeline is the wife of John A. Yeazell; Andrew and Matthew are at home; Isabel is the wife of James Ingle, of Moore- field Township; Abigail died when twenty-seven years old; Sarah E. is at home. Mr. Hodge was for many years a consistent member of the Presby- terian Church, to which he was a liberal contribu- tor, and he was uniformly the supporter of every enterprise calculated to promote the welfare of his community. At his death he left one hundred and ninety acres of land, and Mrs. Hodge is now the owner of an equal amount elsewhere. She has re- mained at the homestead with her unmarried chil- dren since the death of her husband, and they have carried on the improvement of the farm, putting

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up a fine residence and other buildings, and man- aged it in that wise and capable manner which has made of it one of the most valuable estates in Clark County. They are people of more than or- dinary intelligence, and hold a high position so- cially.

OSEPH ANDERSON. In the death of the above-named gentleman Greene County lost a high-minded and public-spirited citizen, while from the bereaved family cirele a loving husband and father was removed, leaving a void in their lives that not even his honored memory can fill. He was a native of this eounty, having been born on the farm now occupied by James R. Anderson, December 10, 1815. IIe was reared on the homestead, receiving a common- school education, and having instilled into liis. mind the firm principles which characterized him through life.

On May 9, 1839, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Stanfield, and located on three hundred aeres of land in Spring Valley Township, which forms the farm now occupied by his widow and family. Ile began his career in life without other capital than his natural abilities and the knowledge and habits acquired in youth, but his energy and industry led to his suceess in his chosen calling. He accumulated land until his possessions in Greene County amounted to three hundred and seventy aeres, and he also owned a farm of eighty-two acres in Delaware County, Ind. In polities he was a staneh Republiean, and in religion a member of the Reformed Church, in which he was an Elder about forty years. He was still holding that office when called home, Septem- ber 19, 1889.

The widow of our subjeet was a daughter of John and Ruth ( Mendenhall) Stanfield, both of whom were born in Spring Valley Township, Greene County. She was born on the banks of Cæsar's Creek, four and one-half miles south of Xenia, July 26, 1821, being the second in a fam- ily of eight children. Her eldest sister, Charity, who is now deceased, was the wife of Jolin Ander-

son; Minerva, the next younger than herself, is the wife of William Crumley; the fourth member of the family cirele is Margaret; the next is Mary J., the wife of Thomas Anderson; the sixth mem- ber of the band is William; two children died in infancy. The grandparents of Mrs. Anderson were William and Charity Stanfield, who settled on Cæsar's Creek about 1800, having come from Guilford County, N. C. They had two sons and four daughters, all of whom reared families. The faith of the Stanfields was that of the Society of Friends.

The widow of our subjeet is a noble-hearted woman who has carefully reared her children and endeavored in every department of life to faith- fully discharge the duties before her. She belongs to the Reformed Church, and like her deceased husband has ever been regarded with respect by those among whom her lot in life is cast. She is the mother of twelve children, ten of whom sur- vived their father's death-John S., the first-born, died at the age of three years; James, whose home is in Indiana, belonged to the One hundred and Sixtieth Ohio Infantry, and was wounded while serving his country during the late war; A. C. was also a soldier, having been in the one hundred day service; Felix is living in Indiana; following on the family roll are: Milo, whose sketeh appears elsewhere in this volume; Margaret A., Lewis and David (twins), Joseph F., Mary J. and Ruth C. The last named is the wife of George M. Hegler; David married Emma Crets, who died leaving one child, named Bertha.

AMES A. McDONALD. This young gentle- man occupies part of the old McDonald homestead in Xenia Township, three and one-fourth miles south of the city, upon which his grandparents settled prior to the War of 1812, and upon which both himself and father were born. His estate comprises one hundred and twenty-two aeres of well-improved land upon which he is pursuing a successful agricultural ca- reer, winning a competence from the soil which af-

ArtSmith Jr

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forded maintenance to previous generations of the name. Ilis natal day was August 6, 1856, and he was reared upon the homestead, reeciving an ex- cellent English education and being instructed by his parents in the principles of right doing and habits of usefulness.

The wedded life of Mr. MeDonald began Sep- tember 12, 1877, on which day the rites of wed- lock were celebrated between him and Miss Amy E. Ford. The bride was a daughter of James M. and Mary ( Peterson) Ford, of Caesar's Creek Township, and possesses those pleasing traits of character and useful accomplishments whieli are so needful to a wife and mother. To her have born eight children, of whom the following are now living: Orval, Leavitt, Ford H., Emma Pearl, Mamie Edith and James Ray.

Among the earliest pioncers in this county were Isaiah and Edith MeDonald, who came from North Carolina about the year 1802, and spent the re- mainder of their lives in this county. Their son Leavitt and his wife, in her girlhood Susan Strong, also came from North Carolina, the family which they reared comprising five sons and five daughters.

Among the children of Leavitt and Susan Mc- Donald was John N., who was born January 13, 1818, and lived for sixty-five years on the farm now occupied by onr subjeet, afterward spending three years on an adjoining lot where he died January 8, 1887. His entire landed estate amounted to two hundred acres which he improved and thoroughly cultivated, and a part of which became the prop- erty of the son of whom we write. His widow, who is still living, bore the maiden name of Eliza- beth Saville, and both belonged to the Reformed Presbyterian Church. To them five children were born, two of whom-C. W. and James A., were reared to maturity.

DOLPLUS H. SMITH, JR. Iu point of energy, enterprise and determination, the subject of this notice is looked upon as one of the leading men of Mad River Township. He is what may be properly termed a " hustler" in

the broadest sense of the term and is genial, jovial and generous, one who is a universal favorite in both social and business circles. He is mostly in- terested in agricultural pursuits, an extensive dealer in live stock and owns a snug farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres on seetion 6, Mad River Township. In addition to this he operates fourteen hundred aeres of his father's land.

In noting the career of a man who has been more than ordinarily successful, the mind naturally reverts to the origin from which he sprang. The immediate progenitors of the subject of this sketch were Adolphus H: and Sarah (Bates) Smith, the former of whom was born February 24, 1814, in New York City. The paternal grandfather, Justin Smith, also a native of the Empire State, was born in Oneida County, where he lived until reaching manhood. Then going South he engaged as a shipper at Charleston, S. C. After sojourning there for a time, he returned North and became interested in the wholesale liquor business, making his head- quarters in Philadelphia, Pa. Later he took up his abode in New York City and was there married to Miss Maria B. Lloyd.

Grandmother Smith, likewise a native of New York State, was a danghter of Paul B. Lloyd, an Irish nobleman, who became one of the wealthiest clothing merchants and importers in the city of New York, dealing almost exclusively in fine goods. After sojourning in the great metropolis for a timc, Grandfather Smith returned to the vicinity of his birthplace where he became interested in the man- ufacture of iron and operated a furnace. Later lie removed to Rochester, N. Y., where he followed the same business. In November, 1838, lie resolved upon another ehange of location and removed to Indianapolis, Ind. Thereafter he made his home with his son, Adolphus HI., and died on Friday, December 29, 1854.

Broad and liberal in his views Justin Smith was a Universalist in his religious belief and maintained that charity for all mankind which made him a man who had not an enemy in the world. His death was not only mourned by his family but by the entire community. His remains were laid by those of his wife who had died in Indianapolis in 1839, and their daughter, Mrs. Julia Fisher, in Spring

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Grove Cemetery, ncar Cincinnati. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject, Pollicopus Smithi by name, was a native of Wales whence he cmi- grated to America with two brothers and settled in Oneida County, N. Y., where he reared a family of eightcen children.

To Justin Smith and his good wife there was born a family of seven children, the record of whom is as follows: P. B. L., who became a lead- ing merehant in Indianapolis, died in Marseilles, France, in 1868; Adolphus H., the father of our subject, was next in order of birth; Mary Franees became the wife of Major V. C: Hanna, and died in Detroit, Miel .; Mr. Hanna was a paymaster in the army during the late Civil War. Amelia T. married John H. B. Nowland, who is the author of several biographical works, and they reside in In- diana; Julia became the wife of Elwood Fisher, one of the most prominent citizens and politieians of Washington, D. C., who died at Atlanta during the Civil War. Mrs. Fisher subsequently died in Jeffersonville, Ind., and her remains were conveyed to Cineinnati and laid with those of her father and mother. Frederick A. was a paymaster in the army from the beginning to the close of the war; he is now City Clerk of Piqua and County Clerk of Miami County. Justina is the widow of the late Col. C. W. Strum, of Piqua, Ohio.

Adolphus H. Smith, Sr., was reared in Rochester, N. Y., to which his father removed when he was a boy and therc he enjoyed the advantages of good schools and attended college for two years. At the age of nineteen lie was employed about the locks at Rochester and also conducted a small store in connection therewith. When reaching his majority he engaged in general merchandising at Rochester in company with his brother, P. B. L., and did a successful business.

In November, 1838, the whole Smith family re- moved to Indianapolis, Ind., where one brother attended to the mercantile business while Adolphus H. engaged in milling and distilling on Sugar Creek, Johnson County, and was thus occupied three years. In 1841 he left the business in the hands of his brother and going to Cincinnati en- tered the employ of Jolin Bates, a banker. He not only attended faithfully to his duties in the bank

but studied his own interests in another direction and in the course of eight months, won the affec- tion of liis employer's daughter, Sarah E., to whom he was married September 15, 1842.

Mrs. Sarah E. (Bates) Smith was born in Roches- ter, N. Y., and received a thorough education, com- pleting her studies in the schools of Cincinnati. She was a shrewd, sharp business woman and bc- eame the elose adviser and counselor of her hus- band-a true helpinate who aided him greatly in the building up of his fortunes. After remaining his companion for a period of nearly thirty-onc years, this excellent lady died at her home in Cin- einuati June 22, 1873. She was not only greatly mourned by her own family but beloved by the entire community. In religious belief she was a devout Episcopalian.

Grandfather Bates was a native of England and after emigrating to America became one of the most prominent business men of Cincinnati. En- terprising and publie-spirited, he was concerned in many of the important enterprises of the young and growing eity-built and owned the National Theatre there and also owned theatres at Louisville, Ky., and St. Louis, Mo. He prosecuted an exten- sive banking business and also operated as a whole- sale liquor merehant.

In 1842 the father of our subject began operat- ing as a broker in Cincinnati, but in the fall of 1843 he removed to Piqua, Ohio, and engaged in mercantile business. He also beeame a contractor, furnishing supplies for the completion of the Erie Canal to Toledo. The following winter he en- gaged extensively in pork packing. In the spring of 1844, however, he sold out and removing to Indianapolis, Ind., resumed charge of his old busi- ness and also carried on farming about two years. At the expiration of this time he returned to Cin- cinnati and renting the White Mills from John Bates, carried on milling and distilling extensively until 1855. Then having accumulated considerable capital he began operating as a banker in partner- ship with Henry O. Gilbert. They also transacted an extensive business in real estate.

In 1861 Mr. Smith sold out his interests to his partner and began furnishing supplics for the army. During the Civil War he contracted thus to the

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amount of over $12,000,000 and never had a black mark against him. He enjoyed the fullest eonfi- denee of the Government officials and was entrusted at various times with large sums of money. In 1865 he purchased twelve hundred and eight aeres of land, constituting two improved farms which proved a safe and sure investment for his eapital. He continued a resident of Cincinnati and operated in real estate until 1875. Then retiring from aet- ive business he settled down upon his farm wliere he has sinee lived in eomfort and quiet, looking after his property and adding improvements as it seems necessary. He purchased additional land and is now the owner of seventeen hundred and eight aeres along the Mad River and which consti- tutes eight improved farms, operated principally by tenants. He also owns considerable real estate in Cincinnati and Newport, Ky.

After the death of his first wife the father of our subjeet married Mrs. Sarah Morse, widow of Judge Morse, of Cincinnati, and daughter of John Cheevers, one of the early settlers and prominent men of Piqua. This lady was born September 15, 1821, in Cincinnati and they became the parents of five eliildren, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Amelia, became the wife of Dr. Graham A. Wells, a prominent dentist of Indianapolis, Ind .; Maria L. married Gen. Andrew Hiekaloper, who is now president of the Cincinnati Gas Company; Sarah is the wife of John Harbine, of Xenia; Mr. Har- bine is engaged in the oil business. Adolphus H., Jr., our subjeet, was next to the youngest; William H. is a merehant of Donaldsville.

The subject of this notice was born October 1, 1850 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and lived there until about fifteen years old. After his father purchased land in Clark County, Adolphus H. spent his sum- mers in the country and his winters in his native city. When of suitable years he attended Robins' Military Academy at Springfield for two years, and later lie was a student of Notre Dame, at Sonth Bend, Ind., for two years. Sixteen days after reaching his majority he was married in Mad River Township October 17, 1871, to Miss Sarah J., daugh- ter of Reuben and Elizabeth (Baker) Shellabarger. The father of Mrs. Smith was born in Mad River Township, and became one of the foremost citizens

of that vieinity, serving as a School Director for a long period and as Township Trustee for twenty years. He was also prominent in the Christian Church. He died in 1889. His wife had preceded him to the silent land in 1875.

After his marriage Mr. Smith located on a farm two and one-half miles west of Enon where he op- erated one hundred and sixty acres as a renter. He began at the foot of the ladder and was obliged to practice the most rigid economy, but he was pros- pered in his labors and in 1877 secured the land which he now owns, loeating thereon and also as- suming charge of the large amount, heretofore spoken of and belonging to his father. He has ef- feeted many improvements on his farm since taking possession and has now a fine residence, good barns and other buildings and all modern convenienees. He makes a specialty of live stoek, raising and feeding cattle and swine in large numbers, ship- ping three hundred cattle a year and nearly as many swine. He has also made quite a reputation as a breeder of draft horses.

The farm belonging to Mr. Smith is considered one of the most valuable in the Buckeye State and it forms a most pleasant home for himself and his family. The seven children born to himself and his estimable wife are as follows: Amelia H. be- came the wife of E. L. Baylor and they reside in Springfield; Maria L. at an early age exhibited muehl talent as an artist and is now perfeeting her- self in this aeeomplishment under the instruction of Mrs. Dunlap, of Springfield. She studied art at Earlham, Ind., and makes a specialty of crayon portraits. Mary K., Justin Bates, Rilla J., Ger- trude E. and Helen V. are at home with their parents.

Mr. Smith for the past ten years has served as Township Trustee and he is also a Justiee of the Peace. IIe is a member of the School Board of lis distriet and socially belongs to Osborn Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. Among the Masons of West Carlisle he has attained to the Royal Archi degree. Ile has been for a number of years a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Fairfield and is now attempting to organize a lodge at Enon. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias in New Carlisle. In August, 1889, he or-

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ganized a lodge at Mad River of which he is Post Chancellor. Politically, like his honored father, he is a straight Democrat and has served at various times on the County Central Committee. Mrs. Smith is a consistent member of the Christian Church.

A lithographie portrait of Mr. Smith appears elsewhere in this volume.

OHN HIOUGHI, a retired farmer, formerly a resident of Silver Creek Township, removed in 1882, to Jamestown, where he has a pleas- ant home on Washington Street, and is sur- rounded by all the comforts of life. He built his present residence since the removal, and besides this is the owner of seventy-five acres of choice farming land, which is the source of a handsome income annually.

The subject of this notice, a native of Greene County, was born in Silver Creek Township, April 22, 1822, and pursued his early studies in the log schoolhouse during the pioneer days, while at the same time he was taught to make himself useful about his father's homestead. He remained under the parental roof until reaching his majority, but after his marriage went to Fayette County. There he engaged in the mercantile business, and also built a steam sawmill near Main Point, which he and his partner, Mr. Clemens, operated together for five years. He then took in a new partner, Mr. Sheeley, and under the name of Hough & Sheeley, they operated for another five years, when they sold out, and Mr. Hough returned to Silver Creek Township.

Next, in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. Hough began operating the old Mercer farm, upon which he lived until the removal to Jamestown. Ile was married April 15, 1853, to Miss Eveline Mercer. This lady was a native of Ross Township, Greene County, and was born August 15, 1830. Iler parents were John and Rebecca (Dalby ) Mer- cer, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respec- tively, and who were reared and married in Fred- erick County, the latter State. After the birth of

seven children, they, in 1826, removed to Ohio with their family, making the journey overland with teams. After living two years in the vicinity of Jamestown, they settled on a new farm in Ross Township, and there the father died, June 28, 1 880, when nearly ninety-one years old, having been born September 14, 1789. Mrs. Mercer was born October 27, 1795, and died at the old homestead in Ross Township, June 7, 1873. Both were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Mercer for many years officiated as a Class-Leader, and was in other ways prominent in church affairs.

Mrs. Hough was reared and educated in Ross Township, remaining under the home roof until her marriage. She was one of fifteen children, eight of whom are living. She received careful home train- ing and a fair education in the common school, and developed into an intelligent and attractive woman- hood. To Mr. and Mrs. Hough were born no chil- dren. They are regular attendants of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in Jamestown, of which Mrs. Hough has been a member for many years. In former years Mr. Hough affiliated with the Re- publican party, but he is now a lively Prohibition- ist, totally opposed to the manufacture and sale of intoxicating drinks. He has never sought office, but keeps himself well posted upon current events, and endeavors to give his support to the enterprises best calculated for the welfare and advancement of his fellowmen.

WEN BROCK is pre-eminently a self-made man, having accumulated a very comfortable fortune entirely by his own efforts, the only financial assistance he had from his father having been one horse. He owns and occupies a fine farm of ninety-thrce acres in Cedarville Township, to which he removed in 1887, and which is now one of the best improved estates in the county, having upon it a fine and commodious brick residence and excellent barns to which he has added since he be- came the possessor. He also owns a tract of valu- able land, of one hundred and twenty-three acres,

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near Xenia. He was- born in Ross Township, De- cember 7, 1846, being the eldest child of his par- ents, and was reared on his father's farm, receiving a good common-school education. He was married when thirty-three years of age, and having been working for himself for a number of years, during which time he had made considerable money, he was able to begin his wedded life as the owner of two hundred and seventy-eight acres of land which lie purchased from his father.

The marriage of Mr. Broek was celebrated in 1879, his bride being Miss Margaret A., daughter of Jolin and Sarah Gano, of. Cedarville Township and formerly of Virginia. The newly wedded cou- ple at once began housekeeping on the tract of land which the husband had purchased and which he brought from a state of nature into a fine condition of productiveness and improvement, placing it all under the plow. He finally traded the cstate for the land he now owns near Xenia, and in March, 1887, bought his present home place, to which he removed the following fall. In liis efforts to seenre a competence and to improve his home, he lias been ably seconded by his estimable wife, whose thrifty management of household affairs has added much to the comfort of his home. Four interesting chil- dren cluster about the fireside, named respectively, Wilbur, Homer, Clarence G., and Edith, the baby. The oldest is manifesting his active intelligence in school work, while the younger boys are gleaning Inuch information from their parents and home surroundings and will ere long be following their brother's footsteps in the school room.

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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 53

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