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 55
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 55
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OSEPII CROMWELL. It is universally conceded that Southern Ohio is settled up a by a class of people more than ordinarily -- intelligent and enterprising. This applies to Greene County especially, and likewise to Xenia Township. Among the leading men of the latter may be mentioned Joseph Cromwell, who has just passed his seventy-sixth birthday, and who has made for himself an admirable record as a man and a citizen. For nearly forty years he has been ac- companied on his life journey by a most estimable lady, who still remains the partner of his joys and and sorrows. Mrs. Cromwell shares with her hus- band the esteem and confidence of the people among whom they have spent so many years, and who have learned to value them for their sterling worth of character, their kindness as friends and neighbors and their hospitality to all who come within their door.
The subject of this notice was born in Washing- ton County, Md., in March, 1814, and is the son of Richard Cromwell, who died there in the prime of life. The mother, Mrs. Susan ( MeLaughlin) Crom- well, likewise a native of Washington County, Md., came after the death of her husband to this county in the fall of 1832, accompanied by her family and settled on a tract of land in Xenia Township south of the present flourishing city. She reared her chil-
dren and died at the residence of her son-in-law, James Hawkins, about 1872. To herself and hus- band there was born a family of eight children, of whom Joseph, our subject, was the fifthi, and four of whom are living.
Mr. Cromwell lived with his mother in Xenia Township until approaching manhood and then went to Montgomery County and commenced learn- ing the miller's trade. Two years later he started for the West and for five years thereafter followed his trade in Alton, Ill. We next find him in Pekin, that State, where he sojourned about four years. He then went into Peoria County, where he oper-
ated a mill about one year. At the expiration of this time he returned to this county and has since followed his trade within its limits, doing business in. Bellbrook and Oldtown and is at present part proprietor of the Oldtown Mills. He has been prospered, finanerally, and owns a fine residenee northwest of the city limits of Xenia.
Mr. Cromwell was married, in Xenia Township, January 8, 1861, to Miss Bathsheba, daughter of Jolin and Wilmoth (Foreman) Allen, who were natives, respectively, of Virginia and North Caro- lina. They came to this county during its pioneer days, where the father for a number of years fol- lowed farming and then retired from active labor and took up his residence in Xenia, where he and his estimable wife spent the remainder of their days. Their family consisted of seven children, of whom four are living.
Mrs. Cromwell was the third child of her parents and was born in Xenia Township, March 20, 1830. Her childhood and youth were spent in a compara- tively uneventful manner during which period she learned all the arts of housewifery and acquired those habits of industry and economy which fully fitted her to be the partner of a good man's home. She remained with her parents until her marriage, and of her union with our subject there have been born five children, viz: Oliver; John, who died when thirty-two years of age; Charles R., Harry and Emma B.
Mr. Cromwell cast his first Presidential vote for Van Buren, and since that time has affiliated with the Democratic party. His estimable wife is a mem- ber in good standing of the Methodist Church.
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They have a very pleasant and attractive home which is the frequent resort of the friends which they have gathered around them during their long residence in Xenia Township, and by whom they will be kindly remembered long after they have departed hence.
W ILLIAM BROWN, a prominent and sub- stantial farmer of Pleasant Township, Clark County, is numbered among its most successful men, and one who has contributed largely to the best interests of his community. A native of Summerford, Madison County, Ohio, he was born November 13, 1829, to James and Mary Ann (Burnside) Brown, the former of whom was a na- tive of New York State, and born June 21, 1795, on what was known as the German Flats, southeast of the city of Albany.
The father of our subject received but a com- mon-school education, and remained a resident of his native place until a youth of nincteen years. He then emigrated to Upper Canada, accompanying his father's family thither. His father was a mem- ber of the New York General Assembly, and re- mained until the Assembly adjourned, while the son went to Canada to look after the family. Grandfather Brown, however, was not permitted to join them, as he sickencd and died. A message was sent to Canada but the mother could not be- lieve the story, and sent her son James, in hastc on horseback to Albany where he learned the melan- choly truth, but did not arrive in time to see his father buried. The family lived in Canada only about three months, then returned to New York State, this being during the year 1812.
James Brown at this time being of suitable years and stature to enter the army, was for a time held by the British with the intention of pressing him into their service. After examination, however, he was released and rejoined his family. The mother had already removed to Ohio, and James followed shortly afterward. They settled two and one-half miles southwest of Mechanicsburg, and James re- mained with his mother until his marriage, which
took place November 13, 1823. IIe then with his young wife removed to Summerford, Madison Connty, where he purchased a farm of two hundred and eight acres, all of which he improved, building up a good homestead, where he resided until his death. This event took place March 13, 1870.
James Brown possessed more than ordinary in- dustry and perseverance, and as the result of cor- lect habits was blest with remarkably good health and a frame of more than ordinary vigor and en- durance. He was a valued member of his cowmn- nity, prominent in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a sincere and earnest Christian. During his early manhood he was a strong supporter of the old Wliig party. Upon its abandonment he wheeled into the Republican ranks, and maintained his allc- giance to this party until the close of his life. To him and his good wife there were born the fol- lowing children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Caroline, is the wife of William Sanford. The others were named respectively: William, David, Hiram, Eliza, the wife of Harmon Ditz; Delilah, Mrs. William Wilkinson; Rachel, Mary M., (the wife of Jacob C. Vanness); and Melissa, the wife of Charles N. Lafferty.
The death of James Brown occurred very sud- denly as he was sitting in a chair, apparently in his nsual good health. His career was that of a self- made man, he having started in life at the foot of the ladder, without other resources than those given him by a kindly Providence. Solely through his own efforts he worked himself up to a good posi- tion, socially and financially. IIc was the son of William and Elizabeth (Brooker) Brown, who were both natives of New York State, where they were reared and married. Their family consisted of the following named children: Jonathan, James, Oliver, Cornelius, Amy, Dyer, Sarah and Elizabeth. They all accompanied their mother to Ohio, and with the exception of Dyer, all are deceased. He is over ninety years old, and lives in California. The Brown family is of Scotch extraction, and have been noted for the possession of the substantial qualities peculiar to their nationality.
The mother of our subject was born Deember 14, 1803, in Bedford County, Va., and was a daugli- ter of William and Elizabeth (Frankinberger)
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Burnside, who were likewise natives of the Old Dominion. The maternal grandparents of our sub- ject were natives of Virginia, and moved to the young State of Ohio about 1807, settling first in Cæsar's Creek Township, Greene County. Two years later they removed to the vicinity of Me- ehaniesburg, where Mr. Burnside died in October, 1823. His widow subsequently made her home with her eldest son and died at the age of eighty- six years. Grandfather Burnside was a blacksmith by trade, at which he worked in the army during the War of 1812. His children were named respeet- ively : William, Joel, Mary, Malinda, Lueinda. Hester, Elizabeth and Michael. With the exeeption of Hester, all are married. William, our subjeet, spent his early years after the manner of most farmer's sons, and received a practical education in the common school. He was a youth of more than ordinary intelligenee, and developed into a teacher, which profession he followed several terms.
Upon reaching his majority, Mr. Brown started · out in life for himself, choosing farming for his life voeation. In 1855 he purchased eighty aeres of land upon which he has sinee maintained his resi- dence. His industry and good judgment brought him the reward of prosperity, and as his capital ae- eumulated, he invested it in land, and is now the owner of four hundred and forty broad aeres, and of quality as ehoiee as any to be found in the Buek- eye State.
The year following the purchase of his land Mr. Brown was married, October 15, 1856, to Miss Jane Mitchell, the wedding taking place at the bride's home in Madison County. Mrs. Brown was born in Pike Township, Madison County, this State, February 19, 1837, to Abijah F. and Margaret Ann (Standley) Mitchell. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell were among thie earliest settlers of Madison County and endured all the toil and privation incident to life in a new country. Mr. Mitchell opened up a farm in the wilderness, making for himself and family a comfortable home. The mother died Sep- tember 16, 1876, the father makes his home with our subjeet.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, the eldest of whom, a daughter Maude, died August 1, 1873, at the age of eleven years. The
survivors are Walter A., Myrtie E. and Nellie R. In politics Mr. Brown is an uncompromising Dem- ocrat-a man of decided views, and one who is not easily turned from his eonvietions. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
MOS E. DUNCAN, M.D., who oeeupies the Chair of Physiology in Antioch College, Yellow Springs, is a plain, unassuming gen- tleman, possessing great ability in his spee- ialty, and broad eulture in other branches of knowl- edge, as will be seen in reading his life history. He beeame connected with Antioch College as a Trustee in 1870, becoming Assistant Treasurer in 1874. In the winter of 1886, the Chair of Physiology was endowed by Dr. C. N. Hoagland, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and the professorship bestowed upon Dr. Dunean. The two physicians had been intimately associated during the Civil War, in the capacity of army sur- geons, sharing together many trying seenes. The friendship begun at that time, has grown wider and deeper for a period of more than a quarter of a een- tury, not a shadow of doubt or distrust having marred it. The great want of a more thorough knowledge of sanitary seienee was observed by the friends, and has proved a topic of consideration by them on many occasions. When Dr. Hoagland saw his way to the endowment of a chair which would to some extent fill the long felt need, nothing was more natural than that he should wish his friend, whose ability and interest he so well knew, to become its ineumbent.
The Dunean family is of Seoteh blood, and con- nected with many interesting events in the history of "Auld Seotia." Samuel Duncan, the grand- father of our subjeet, was born near Dundee, and upon emigrating to Ameriea, made his first settle- inent in Virginia. He afterward removed to South Carolina, his son Isaac being born near Charleston in 1796. His next location was at Jonesboro, Tenn., whenec in 1803, they eame to Ohio, settling tempo- rarily at Oldtown, Greene County, and making their permanent location, and future home, in Mi- ami County, near Ludlow's Falls, where grand-
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father Duncan died in 1833. The religious faith of the family was that of the Society of Friends.
Upon reaching man's estate, Isaac Duncan mar- ried Elizabeth Dickson, of Miami County, whose mother was a cousin of Gen. Anthony Wayne. Her father, Robert Dickson, who was born at sea on ship-board, was a Revolutionary soldier, and during the war received a sabre wound in his left elbow, which crippled him for life. Two of her brothers- William and Nicholas-served in the War of 1812, the latter holding the rank of captain. Mrs. Eliz- abeth Duncan was born in 1800, near Charleston, S. C.,and breathed her last in 1874, having survived her husban 1 many years. His death had taken place in 1847, being occasioned by the accidental upset- ting of a wagon-load of hay. They were the par- ents of ten children, five of whom are now living.
The natal day of our subject was November 7, 1834, and his birthplace Miami County, in which his childhood and youth were spent, his elementary education being obtained in the district schools. After his father's death he remained upon the farm with his mother until his studies were sufficiently advanced to enter Farmers' College, at College Hill, near Cincinnati. His teachers in that institution were the same to whom President Harrison had recited the previous year. After an attendance of a year at Farmers' College, our subject began teach- ing in 1856, at the same time reading medicine, to which study his taste led him to determine to de- vote his talents. He continued his labors as a peda- gogue until 1859, proving a successful instructor, and while teaching others, fixing the knowledge he had obtained more firmly in his own mind. In 1859-60, he attended the Medical College at Cin - cinnati, in the fall of the latter year beginning to practice medicine at Bartonia, Ind. Beginning there empty handed, having to borrow money to buy his first supply of medicine, he progressed so rapidly, that within thirty days he had a living practice.
After the outbreak of the war, he closed his office October 10, 1861, and was enrolled as a private in Company B, Seventy-first Ohio Infantry. Within two months he was appointed Hospital Steward, and also served as an Assistant Surgeon, perform- ing a surgeon's duties in both camp and hospital.
On February 18, 1864, he was promoted to the po- sition of Surgeon to the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry, with which regiment he remained until after the close of the war. No more important or danger- ous duties belong to army life, than those performed by the medical fraternity, and nowhere is greater bravery and self-control needed than in the care of the wounded.
Dr. Duncan was present at twenty-one battles. including some of the most important conflicts of the war. He was on the bloody field of Shiloh two days, during the first day's engagement having charge of the ambulance train, and being on the front line, whence he brought off the wounded Lieut. Col. Kyle, of Troy. At Fl. Donelson he participated in the second and third engagements, and he was also present at the battle of Greenville, E. Tenn.,September 4, 1864,and in Bristol, (Tenn.) ; Marion, Mt. Ayr, and Wytheville, (Va.); and at the capture of the forts of Saltville.
The dead body of Gen. Morgan was examined by Dr. Duncan, news of the whereabouts of the Gen- eral having been brought to the command by a young boy who was going to the mill. During that battle Dr. Duncan was signaled by Mrs. Col. Frye, and told that he was in danger of being shot by sharpshooters. He faced the enemy, organized a little party of one hospital steward, an ambu- lance driver, and two orderlies, and reaching the house where the sharpshooters were, captured three of them, a Lieutenant and two privates. For this valourous deed, he received great praise from the fighting Governor, Parson Brownlow, of Tennes- see. After being present at the surrender of Gen. Joe Johnston, in North Carolina, and the closing scenes of the war in that part of the country, Dr. Duncan was with his command, which was em- ployed in scouring the country, collecting war material, and paroling Confederate troops until September 9, 1865, when he was mustered out at Knoxville, Tenn.
The following letter in relation to the services of Dr. Duncan during war times, will explain itself: WASHINGTON, D. C., May 24, 1890.
J. M. HARRIS, P. C.
Yellow Springs, Ohio,
Dear Sir :- In reply to your letter asking me to
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give a sketch of the services of Dr. A. E. Duncan, a member of Burkholder Post, No. 115, Depart- ment of Ohio, G. A. R., and Assistant Surgeon of the regiment I had the honor to command during the greater portion of its service, I have the honor to reply :
While encamped at Nashville, several hundred miles from the homes of my Regiment of East Ten- nessec Loyal Mountaineers, there was a vacancy in the office of Assistant Surgeon of my regiment, and the Surgeon himself being physically disqualified for efficient service because of long imprisonment and brutal treatment by the rebels, there was pres- sing need of a medical officer. Under this state of affairs it happened fortunately for our regiment, that Dr. Duncan was encamped conveniently to us and was willing to accept the vaeant post. He was ordered before the Medical Examining Board at Nashville, and his examination having been most creditable, he was immediately commissioned by Military Governor Andrew Jolison, as Assistant Surgeon of the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry.
The zeal, ability and untiring energy with which he devoted himself to his duties, speedily secured for him the respect of every officer and soldier of the regiment, including a small number who had rather objected to the appointment of an unknown Ohio stranger instead of an old acquaintance and neighhor of their own seetion. In a very short time after joining our regiment, Dr. Duncan be- came Acting Surgeon, and from that time during nearly the whole of the war, he performed the double duty of Assistant Surgeon and Regimental Surgeon. In the numerous raids made by our regiment, he was always Acting Surgeon, and sometimes the only medical officer with the regiment. I never knew a medical officer to perform so much hard work as he did. Indeed few men in any branch of the service would have done the work of others as well as his own, and done it uncomplainingly. His work was done so cheerfully, zealously, and eili- eiently, that it secured for him the respect and affection not only of his regiment, but of the other regiments of the brigade, which benefited by his counsels and labors.
In our engagements Dr. Duncan was always at the front, personally superintending the removal
of the wounded and watching over them in the hos- pital as devotedly as it was possible for any sur- geon to do. Our brigade had a memorable engage- ment on the 4th of September, 1864. At about 10 P. M., on September 3 of that year, we broke camp with that portion of our brigade whose horses had not been completely broken down by weeks of hard marching and hard fighting. We had about eleven hundred men in the saddle, and two small Parrott guns. We left camp in the midst of a furious storm, such a storm as is characteristic of the moun- tain region in which we were serving. It literally rained in torrents, and the night was so dark that we would sometimes only know the deviations we had made from the path we intended pursuing, by the flashes of lightning. The roads were so bad, and the darkness so intense, that it took us between seven and eight hours to travel eighteen miles, go- ing as rapidly as darkness and the condition of the roads would permit.
Just as the day began to dawn, after having cap- tured his pickets, most of whom were sleeping in the town of Greenville, Tenn., the home of the late President Andrew Johnson, we surprised and at- tacked a command of the famous rebel cavalryman and raider, John HI. Morgan, with his men num- bering about twenty-two hundred, or double our own force, with six pieces of artillery. We killed Morgan, and captured two pieces of his artillery, and killed and wounded from seventy-five to one hundred of his men, with a loss of only three killed, and about fifteen wounded on our side. Morgan's command was so thoroughly routed, that it never paused in its flight until it had run twenty-five miles, and it was so thoroughly demoralized, that it was, utterly worthless during the remainder of the war.
In this engagement our Assistant and Acting Regimental Surgeou, Dr. Duncan, became so on- thused and went so far to the front, that he cap- tured three of the fleeing Johnny Rebs. The fame Morgan had acquired by his many dashing and successful raids and the estimate placed upon him by Gen. Grant, in his memoirs, to-wit: that he was one of the most daring and suceessful cavalry offi- cers produced by the war, makes it pardonable in us we think, in feeling some pride in our thoroughly
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successful surprise and attack of his hitherto suc- cessful command. I will not consume your time with other references to the services of our little army of loyal Southern mountaineers. My object in writing, was not to give an history of the services of our brigade, but to pay a tribute to the faithful and efficient service rendered to his country by Comrade Amos E. Duncan, and which services will be ever appreciated by his comrades of the Union Army of loyal Eastern Tennessee.
Very Respectfully, JOIN B. BROWNLOW, Late Lieutenant-Colonel, Ninthi Tennessee Cav. Vol., U. S. A.
Returning to the more peaceful life of a civilian, Dr. Duncan now opened an office at Arcanum, Olio, where he practiced his profession five years, since which time he has devoted himself principally to scientific investigations, to the duties which have devolved upon him in connection with Antioch College, and particularly to those which pertain to physiology and sanitary science. Ably assisted by his son, who is far advanced in microscopic photo- graphy, and who is his assistant in the college, lie has likewise made many investigations in bacteria analysis.
On Christmas Day, 1857, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between Dr. Duncan and Miss Anna B. Brandon, a lady whose fine mind and no- ble nature had won the regard of the young phy- sician. She is a daugliter of Isaiah and Elizabeth (Hall) Brandon, of Miami County, in which she opened her eyes to the light January 24, 1840. The happy union has been blessed by the birth of two children, but the parents have been called upon to mourn the loss of Della, the first born; Denman C. was born at Bartonia, Ind., April 26, 1861, and bids fair to take a high stand among the scientists to whom he is already becoming known as a keen observer and deep thinker.
It is scarcely necessary to say that Dr. Duncan belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, as his war record would naturally lead to that conclusion. He has been interested in the Masonic fraternity, and holds a demit from the Royal Arch degree. His first Presidential ballot was cast for Jolin C. Fremont, and he has always been an earnest Repub-
lican. His knowledge and skill in medical science, and all matters pertaining to the health of the body, his intelligence in other lines of study and affairs, and his manly character, alike entitle him to esteem, and he is regarded with the highest respect, not only throughout the community where his later years have been spent, but in other places where " he is known, having an extended acquaintance, and an assured position among the learned men and women of the land.
Dr. Duncan has written several articles that have been published, on subjects relating to his chosen profession and sanitary science, inviting attention in 1861, to the fact of paralysis following diph- theria, and being caused by it, before the real na- ture of that grave and fatal malady was well understood by the profession at large.
OHN MOORE. Few, if any, of the residents of Xenia have been citizens thereof for a longer period of time than he of whom we give this brief biographical sketch. For many years he has lived here, an interested witness of the advancement and growth of the city and county, which have been so transformed by the en- ergetic pioncers and their descendants as to bear not the slightest resemblance to the original dreary and unoccupied tract of land. Mr. Moore hasaided in this development, and feels a pardonable pride in the results of his efforts.
Mr. Moore was born in the northern part of Ire- land, County Tyrone, September 15, 1811. His pa- rents were Thomas and Margaret ( Wallace) Moore, and they had a family of four sons, all of whom are deceased except our subject. The parents died when John was but a lad, and in company with his uncle and aunts he emigrated to the United States in 1822. His grandmother, who was also of the party, died at sea. The ship anchored at Quebec, Canada, and thence our subject removed, still in company with his relatives, to Franklin County, Pa., in 1825. He remained there about five years, and learned the tailor's trade.
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