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 56
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 56
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After a residence of a year in Columbus, Ohio,
Very Sincerely evy Wmyb Sidley.
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our subject came to Xenia, in 1831. He has thus lived here for almost sixty years. Here he con- tinued to work at his trade until 1876. Hc was united in marriage July 16, 1840, with Miss Mary A. Monroe, a native of Xenia, and the daughter of David and Barbara Monroc, natives of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Moore became the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters, namely: Thomas M., George M .; Robert Wallace, now in Dayton ; David, deceased; Anna, Mrs. Hibben; and Margaret L., Mrs. Jobe. Mr. Moore lost his wife, who had been to him a faithful companion for many ycars, December 19, 1884.
In his political affiliations Mr. Moore was orig- inally a Democrat, later a Free-Soiler. IIc is a strong temperanee advocate, but never held office, attending strictly to his own business. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. Two of his sons, George and Thomas, were soldiers in the Civil War. George enlisted in his sixteenth year, and served until the close of the war. Thomas served a few months in the latter part of the war. Mr. Moore is highily esteemed, and his name will be held in fond memory long after he has passed to his rest.
EV. WILLIAM II. SIDLEY. Although comparatively a young man, this gentle- man, who is the pastor of St. Raphael's Catholic Church, Springfield, has accom- plished much work in connection with his parochial dutics. He is a man of ripe scholarship, pleasing manners, and an earnest and cloquent speaker; possessing great energy and perseverance, he is thoroughly interested in his calling, with a mind constantly devising some new method by which to benefit his people, and build up his church and its various institutions.
Coming of substantial Irish parentage, our sub ject was born in Geauga County, this State, No- vember 17, 1844, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Turner) Sidley, the former of whom was a native of County Limerick, Ircland, and emigrated to this country when a young man, settling among
the pioncers of Geauga County. The mother was born of parents who were natives of Ireland, and who, upon crossing the Atlantic, settled first in New York State, and thence removed to Michigan, residing near Detroit until their death. Their daughter, while on a visit to Geauga County, this State, met the gentleman who afterward became her husband. After their marriage Henry Sidley and his wife located on a farm in Geauga County, where the mother is still living. The father de- parted this life in 1877.
There were born to the parents of Father Sidley twelve children, of whom he was next to the eldest. Ten of these are living, and all are residents of Ohio. William H. spent his boyhood on the farm, and walked two and one-half miles to school, pur- suing his studies until a youth of sixteen years. Then leaving home, he entered the University of Notre Dame at South Bend, Ind., where he pur- sued his studies two years. From there he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and spent seven years in the Theological Seminary. Afterward he spent eigh- teen months in the Theological Seminary at Cin- cinnati, and on the 11th of June, 1870, was ordained to the priesthood. His first charge was at Sidney, Ohio, where he spent three years. In 1873 he was called to Springfield, taking charge of his present congregation, which numbers at the present time six hundred families, and which has a parochial school of nearly six hundred children.
Father Sidley at once exerted himself for the best interests of St. Raphael's, both church and school, being instrumental in the erection of the school building and the residence of the teachers who are employed as teachers. Father Murphy is his assistant at St. Raphael's. In 1884 the congre- gation had so increased in numbers that it became necessary to organize a second church, which is located in the southeastern part of the city, and named St. Joseph's Catholic Church, which has a resident pastor. Father Sidley also put up there a good school building of cight rooms with a base- ment, and also another residence for the Sisters employed as teachers.
In 1887 Father Sidley was made Dean of the Dayton Conference and permanent Rector of St. Raphael's Church. Hc takes the greatest interest
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in the education of the children in the parochial school, giving them all the advantages of the best intellectual training, together with complete relig- ious instruction. They are taught to be thoroughly Catholic in religion, and thoroughly American in ideas.
Feeling the necessity of a larger and finer church edifice, Father Sidley has recently purchased ground adjoining the church, to make room for a building which in the near future will take the place of the old church. They will then have one of the best and most complete church properties in the State. Elsewhere in this volume appears a lithographic portrait of Father Sidley.
ILLIAM H. HOUCK, the son of a pioneer family of Clark County has been promi- nently identified with the interests of Springfield for many years, and as a manufacturer of brick and in other ways has done a great deal toward building up the city. He is honored not only as one of the most substantial, public- spirited citizens of this municipality, and one of its most successful business men, but for his unswerving integrity and high personal character.
A native of Maryland, he was born in the town of Emmitsburg, Frederick County, April 5, 1821. George Houck, his father, is supposed to have been born in the same place, while his father, John Houck, it is thought, was a native of Pennsylvania. He was a brick-maker by trade and carried on the business in Emmitsburg, though he spent his last years at Mercersburg, Pa. The father of our subject learned his father's trade at Emmitsburg and made the brick there for the large nunnery in that town. In 1836 he decided to try life in what was then the "Far West," and emigrated to this State with his wife and ten children, performing the journey with a wagon and a pair of horses and a carriage and one horse. Arriving in Springfield May 21, Mr. Hauck left his family in the village and visited other parts of the country on a prospecting tour, but finding no location that suited him better than this he returned to Springfield and bought a brick-
yard located on Washington Street between Yellow Spring and Plum Streets. This city was then a small place, with no railways or canals, the only communication with the outside world being over rough roads. Mr. Houck continued in business many years and was so prospered that lie accumu- lated a competence, and was enabled to live in re- tirement during the last part of his life, his death occurring here about the close of the war. He was of much assistance in building up the county, which he lived to see well developed, and his memory is cherished as one of the most worthy of the stalwart, intelligent, energetic pioneers of this region. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Mary Snyder, and she was a native of Pennsylva- nia, and spent the last years of her life in Spring- field. There were ten children born to her and her husband, eight of whom were reared to matu- rity.
William Houck was a lad of fifteen years when the family left the old home in Maryland to build up a new one amid the pioneer scenes of the wilds of Ohio. He remembers well the journey hither, and can contrast the village of other days with its population of twenty-five hundred, with the flour- ishing city of the present inhabited by forty thous- and people. The trade of brick-maker seems to have descended in his family from father to son, at least he was of the third generation that adopted it, and when he was seven years of age he began his initiation into his future calling, and finally succeeded his father in his business, and has con- tinued in it since, building up a large trade, ex- tending to various parts of the State and even be- .yond. He has also found other means of increasing his wealth. In 1851 he purchased twelve acres of land on South Limestone Street, at $150 an acre, which was regarded as a large price, and his friends thought it a wild speculation, but with character- teristic discernment he foresaw that the property was bound to rise in value as the city grew and would in fact some day form a part of the city, so he waited with calm assurance for his prophetie vision to become a reality. He built a substantial briek residence there when it was all woods between his residence and the railway station, and for a few years was quite alone. He only had to wait, how-
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ever, until Springfield grew in his direction. and now his land is very valuable, as it is within the city limits, has been platted, and is covered with build- ings, which extend several blocks beyond his former residence that he built on the edge of the forest. He sold that house in 1875, and built his present commodious dwelling at No. 312, South Limestone Street, and remodeled in 1886, making it one of the most conveniently arranged and most desirable homes in the city. He owns besides considerable other real estate in the city and other valuable property.
To the wife who has contributed her quota to his prosperity, presides with grace and true hospi- tality over his home, and makes his interest her own, Mr. Houck was united in marriage in 1850, the ceremony that made them one being solemn- ized in Rushville, Ill. Mrs. Houck was born in Indiana, a daughter of Jolin and Mary Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Houck have five children, as follows : Emma, the wife of the Rev. William Singley; Laura B., Lavinia, William F. and John H.
The life record of our subject is an honor to him and an example to the youth of the present gener- ation. IIe is gifted with a strong, clear mind, ten- acity of purpose and far-seeing sagacity, which have enabled him to control his business affairs to the best advantage, so that he has become wealthy. He is liberal in the use of his money, showing that he has not labored merely for himself. In his politics he is a strong Republican; religiously, both he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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OSEPHI J. MILLER, EsQ., a popular and able young attorney of Springfield, his na- tive city, has already gained an enviable rep- utation before the bar for talent and knowl- edge of his profession, and is very prominent in public life. His father, George John Miller, was born in Bavaria, and was a son of John Miller, likewise a native of that country, who was, in turn, a son of Andrew Miller. Both the grandfather and great-grandfather of subject were royal foresters,
and were life-long residents of Bavaria. The maiden name of the grandmother of subject was Marie Zweckert, and she was also a Bavarian. She was the mother of six children, namely: Frantz, Marguerette, George, Jolin, Johann, Catherina and Jolin M. The three youngest sons came to Amer- ica; Johann located in Cincinnati, and there spent his last years; John M. became a successful physi- cian in Springfield.
The father of our subject was reared in his na- tive land, and at an early age learned the trade of a butcher. When he was thirty-five years old he came to America, and settling in Springfield, en- gaged in his old business in this city, residing here until his death, in 1878, when his community was deprived of an honorable and nseful citizen. He came to this city when it was in its infancy, and beside being a witness of much of its growth and did what in him lay to advance its prosperity. He was married in Springfield to Agnes Storz, a native of Germany; she was born in Renfrizhansen, War- tenberg. She was reared in her fatherland, and was the only member of her family who ever came to America. She now resides in Springfield, and is held in respect and esteem by all who know her. The subject is the only survivor of the three chil- dren born to his parents, one child dying in infancy, and their son John is now deceased.
Joseph Miller was born in Springfield, Septem- ber 27, 1855, and in its public schools laid a solid foundation for a fine education. He subsequently became a student in the Holbrooks Normal School, at Lebanon, in Warren County, where he pursued a thorough course of study. When not in school he assisted his father in the butcher business till he was seventeen years old, and then devoted his whole time to his studies till 1876. In that year he commenced reading law with E. S. Wallace, was well grounded in that profession, and in the fall of 1878 was admitted to the bar, and at once opened an office for the practice of liis calling, in which he has been eminently successful, and to-day is num- bered among the leading lawyers of the city. He has secured a large clientage, and in 1888 was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace for a term of three years.
Mr. Miller's intellectual powers are harmoniously
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developed, so that clear judgment, sound sagacity, and cool, practical sense, and a constant devotion to duty are among his distinguishing characteris- tics, and have enabled him to rise to his present position. He is just, cautious, politic and cour- teous in his dealings, and in his honorable career as a lawyer has ever shown himself worthy of the confidence placed in him by his clients. Ile was reared in the Lutheran Church, and has always been true to the faith of his fathers. He is an ar- dent Democrat in politics, and has been since he cast his first Presidential vote for S. J. Tilden, always using his influence to promote the highest interests of his party. He is identified with the I. O. O. F., as a member of Springfield Lodge, and of Mad River Encampment.
OSEPH NISONGER is almost a life-long resident of Greene County and for many years bore his part with the farmers of Xenia Township, winning from the soil a competence and from his neighbors the respect due to honest, industrious and Christian manhood. He has now retired from the arduous labors of life and is enjoying the . fruits of his early toils and the pleasures of a life in the city of Xenia, where he can enter into the intellectual and religious work of his fellow-men without undue exertion. IIis pleasant home is located at No. 110, Cincin- nati Avenue.
Jacob Nisonger, the father of our subject was born in Virginia and came hence in 1808, accom- panied by his wife, formerly Miss Rebecca Reed, and three children. He made his settlement two iniles west of Xenia, on what is now the Upper Bellbrook Pike, and in the thick woods where there was not even a place to camp. A pole pen was the first shelter, if shelter it could be called, and after camping in it for a time, the family took possession of the new log house that was considered quite a palace. The 'parents saw the usual hardships of pioneer life but outlived them, witnessing the gradual development of the country and bearing their share in its progress toward improvement and
civilization. They reared a family of fifteen chil- dren. Mr. Nisonger was not a politician except to the extent of casting his vote, and that was given to the Democratic party. Ile was one of the first members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this county. His death took place in 1834.
The subject of this sketch was born on the farm in Xenia Township, June 23, 1820, having a twin sister, Mary. He grew to maturity in the home of his infancy, obtaining his education in the district schools and remaining with his mother on the farm after the deatlı of his father. His mother lived to be seventy-seven years old, dying in 1857, and her son, of whom we write, was on the home farm at the time of her death. In 1853 he removed to Indiana, but after a sojourn of three years returned to this county, taking up his abode in Beaver Creek Township, where he carried on agricultural pur- suits until 1885. At that time his sight failed him, and for three months he was totally blind, the trouble being occasioned by cataracts; his eyes were operated upon, and his sight is now quite good. In 1886 he moved into the city, occupying the pleasant property belonging to his son, who is occupying the farm. Mr. Nisonger is a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. He exercises the elective franchise in behalf of the candidates of the Republican party.
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The estimable and highly respected companion of Mr. Nisonger bore the maiden name of Eliza- beth Manor. She is a native of Virginia, but ac- companied her father, George Manor, to this county when but a child, and here obtained her education and the training which fitted her for a worthy womanhood. To her and our subject has come but one son, George, who was born April 14, 1843, on the farm that was his father's birthplace.
The lad completed his studies in Xenia and afterwards assisted his father until he became of age, when he entered the Union army to bear a part in the defence of the old flag. He was en- rolled in Company D, Seventy-fourth Ohio In- fantry, in 1864, and made one of the valiant band who accompanied Gen. Sherman from Atlanta to the sea and northward after the first wonderful campaign was concluded by the surrender of Sa- vannah. He was at Raleigh, N. C., at the time of
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the general surrender, and with his comrades marched through Richmond and to Washington, tak- ing part in the Grand Review, after which he was honorably discharged and mustered out of the ser- vice at Camp Denison.
On his return to his home young Nisonger en- gaged in farming, and sinec that time has made his home in Xenia and Beaver Creek Townships. He now occupies the farm of his father in the lat- ter Township, and owns other lands in Spring Val- ley Township, all being well-improved and finely cultivated, and making up the sum of two hundred and twenty-seven acres. On December 2, 1868, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between him- self and Miss Virginia Barnett, an estimable and intelligent young lady of this county. He is a sturdy Republican, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a worthy seion of the families from which he derives his origin.
R OBERT GRIEVE. The subject of this sketch was born July 27, 1829, within two miles of his present home. He is one of the prominent farmers of Xenia Township, and owns an excellent place some two miles from the Court House in Xenia. He is wide-awake and progressive, and has made a good name for himself in the township. His ancestors for many genera- tions have been farmers, and have the reputation of being successful ones, too. His father, Archi- bald Grieve, was a tiller of the soil in County Selk, Scotland, where he was born in 1775. IIe emigrated to America in 1812, landing in New York, where he remained until 1814, when he traveled via boat to Warren County, Ohio, thus becoming one of the pio- ncers of the State. The mother of Robert Grieve was Agnes (Stephenson) Grieve, who was born in Roxboroughshire, Scotland, and was the daughter of Jolm and Isabella Stephenson. The parents of our subjeet were married April 11, 1811, and one year later took passage for the New World.
When Archibald Grieve arrived with his family in what is now Greene County, he bought one hun- dred acres of land, and immediately proceeded to
clear sufficient land to enable him to build his lit- tle log cabin, which served for shelter from not only the elements, but also from the droves of wolves that abounded everywhere. It was neces- sary to bar the door to keep out the hungry creat- ures, who would intrude wherever they could force an entrance. Numbers of deer also roamed through the forest, and the settlers need never be without the most toothsome venison, did they but use their weapons aright. Mr. Grieve proceeded as rapidly as possible in the clearing and cultivating of his land, and in a few years had a comfortable home. They were religiously united with the "Seceeders," what is now known as the United Presbyterian Church. For a number of years their nearest place of meet- ing was eight miles distant. Distance and danger, however, did not prevent them from attending the services. Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Grieve were the parents of nine children. Four sisters, besides him of whom we write, are all that survive.
The subject of this notice is the only member of his father's family residing in this country. His eldest brother died in 1847. During the youth of Robert Grieve he attended the country schools in winter, and worked on the farm of his father through the rest of the year. He continued this practice until he was twenty years of age, when he left school and devoted himself to business life. He bought the farm upon which he resides at pres- ent in 1887. It consists of sixty acres improved and cultivated. He owns another farm of one hundred acres on the boundary line of Xenia and New Jasper Townships which is in charge of his son. He deals largely in stock, raising graded Short-horn cattle, Poland-China hogs and an im- proved breed of horses.
OHN J. KIRKHAM. One of the most at- traetive homesteads in Harmony Town- ship, Clark County, is owned and occupied by the subject of this notice, who, in 1849, when a boy of twelve, rode over the land when it was covered with wild grass and water knee deep. It now presents the appearance of a beautiful and
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well-tilled tract, the fields laid off with neat fencing, the farm improved with modern buildings and ev- erything about the premises denoting the thrift and prosperity, which could only have been brought about by the most unflagging industy and good management. Mr. Kirkham is a thorough and skillful farmer, and has obtained an enviable repu- tation as a stock-raiser, being able to exhibit some of the finest animals in this part of the county. HIc took possession of this farm in 1876, although be- coming its owner in 1868. In the meantime he lived on his sister's farm adjoining, and could thus give to his property the requisite attention. It lies on section 26, and comprises one hundred and nincty-one acres.
The birthplace of Mr. Kirkham was at his father's homestead in Lisbon, Harmony Township, and the date thereof, March 2, 1837. With the exception of four years spent in Green Township, he has been a resident of his native township all his life, IIe attended the common school during his boyhood days, and later spent five months in Wittenberg College at Springfield. When a youth of nineteen years he began teaching school, which profession he followed two years. Subsequently he occupied himself as a farm laborer, and in cultivating rented land. He remained a bachelor until approaching the thirty-ninth year of his age, and was then mar- ried, January 24, 1876, in Springfield, to Miss Agnes J. Roddy. This lady was born in the State of New York, November 22, 1849, and is the daughter of Michael and Margaret (Drum) Roddy, who were both natives of Ireland. Mr. Roddy emigrated to America when a young man and sct- tled in New York State, where he remained until 1850. Then coming to Ohio he settled on a farm near Lisbon, and remained there until his death, which occurred about 1865. His widow is still living, and makes her home on the farm of our sub- ject. The six children born. to them were named respectively, Mary, John, Fanny, deceased; James, Agnes and Charles.
Mrs. Margaret (Drum) Roddy is likewise a na- tive of Ircland and of Irish ancestry. She lived in her native country until reaching womanhood, and upon emigrating to America settled in New York State, where she made the acquaintance of her
future husband. Mrs. Kirkham was given suclı education as was afforded by the common schools, and remained with her mother until her marriage. Of her union with our subject there have been born eight children, viz .: John M., George C., James W., Jesse G., who died at the age of six years; Walter H., William S., Agnes M. and Benjamin F. The survivors are at home with their parents, and are being given the training and education suitable to their station in life. The Kirkham homestead, in all its appointments, reflects credit upon the en- terprise of the proprietor, while the family holds no secondary position among the best people of the community.
AVID L. BAKER. A well-regulated farm in German Township, Clark County, is the home of the gentleman above named, the estate having been settled upon by his father, who was a pioneer of Clark County. Upon it our subject first saw the light of day, March 23, 1850, and around it the memories of his entire life cluster. He was educated in the public schools of the township, acquiring an excellent practical edu- cation, and received from his father a thorough un- derstanding of agriculture, which he chosc as his life work. The eighty acres of land which he owns are kept by him in excellent cultivation, and the natural fertility of the soil is improved by the use of the best fertilizing agents and a proper rotation of crops.
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