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 79

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 79
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 79

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Harbine continued milling for some years, and finally built extensive oil, flour and woolen mills, together with a store, and became largely interested in the grain trade at Xenia. He also had two mills on the Miami River, where was erected the first cotton factory in this part of the country. Mr. Harbine became one of the leading men of this section, and was largely interested in the development of the turnpike system, besides being instrumental in securing the building of the Little Miami road. He was warmly interested in the establishment and maintenance of schools, and labored to bring about the teaching of Greek, Latin and mathematics in the common schools. Polit- ically, he was in the early days a stanch Whig, and later gave his support to the Republican party. Religiously, he was a prominent member of the Reformed Church.

To Grandfather Harbine and his estimable wife there was born a family of eight children, all of whom grew to mature years -- Daniel R .; Jacob H. is a resident of Beaver Creek Township; Mary E., mother of our subject, was the third child; Hattie M. is the wife of the Hon. John Miller, and they occupy the old homestead; Sarah J. married Dr. William Hagenbaugh; Anna C. is the wife of George Smith; J. Thomas; and B. F. is deceased. Grandfather John Harbine departed this life at the homestead in Xenia Township, June 8, 1873. He was fond of travel and a polished gentleman.

The Harbine family were of old Huguenot stock, and the early ancestors were driven from their native France to lands where they might worship according to the dictates of their own conscience. In this manner three families of that name left their native land about the year 1700. One family settled in Algiers, where a small town now bears their name. The other two came to America, one settling in West Virginia and the other in Berks County, Pa. Grandfather Harbine's great-great-

D) S. Alexander

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grandfather, Peter Harbine, took his family, and with numerous other Huguenots fled to Switzer- land first, but they too finally left for America. During the voyage a son was born, Peter, Jr., who was the great-grandfather of John. His grand- father was Adam and his father was Daniel, the latter of whom was born in Berks County, Pa.

In 1749 Peter Harbine purchased a tract of land from Thomas and Richard Penn, in the then Prov- ince of Pennsylvania. This land still remains in the family, who have in their possession the old deed given by the Penns; and the old stone house and barn built over a century ago still, in point of solidity and strength, rival many modern farm houses and barns in the Keystone State. Grand- father John Harbine prosecuted his education at Clear Springs, Md., to which place his father had removed, and completed it at an academy in Penn- sylvania.

OHN S. ALEXANDER. Among the por- traits of representative and prominent citi- zens of Greene County, we are pleased to direct the attention of the reader to one of Mr. Alexander, which appears on the opposite page. It perpetuates the lincaments of one who, a native born citizen of the county, has worked by dint of untiring industry and unflagging persistence from poverty to a position of comfort. His farm and the old homestead of his father lie about three- quarters of a mile apart and the former is three and one-half miles from the city limits. A Demo- crat in politics, Mr. Alexander, while keeping him- self well posted upon the leading topics of the day, has never sought political honors and, with the ex- ception of representing his township in the County Board of Supervisors, has lived the quiet life of a citizen.

Coming of worthy lineage, the subject of this notice is the son of John Alexander, whose name can by no means properly be omitted from the list of pioneer settlers of Greene County, he having come to this region as early as 1806. He is a vet- eran of the War of 1812 and fought the Indians in

the northern part of Ohio. His father purchased land in Xenia Township, Greene County. John Alexander was a carpenter and a cabinet-maker and manufactured coffins, besides other articles in that line. He died at his homestead in Xenia Township, January 30, 1865.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Rebecca Hook. She was a native of Virginia and the sister of Charles Hook, who was one of the early pioneers of this county and who for many years prosecuted farming in Xenia Township. The parental family included eight children, five sons and three daughters: Mathew, the oldest born, is still a resident of this county; Mary, now Mrs. S. M. Drake, lives in California; James is a resident of Iowa; John, Isabella and George are residents of this county; Charles served in the Union Army during the Civil War and died in Nashville, Tenn .; Josephine is living with her brother, Mathew, in this county. Mrs. Rebecca (Hook) Alexander departed this life at the homestead in 1866. Both she and her husband was connected with the United Presbyterian Church and the father, politically, was a stanch Democrat.

In Greene County, this State, January 6, 1831, John S. Alexander was born and spent his early years under the parental roof, becoming familiar with farming. He attended the district school three months in the year and the balance of the time worked for his father on the farm until twenty- one years old. In 1873 he purchased his present farın then consisting of one hundred and two acres. Later he added sixty-six acres and now has a fine property, the accumulation of hard labor and close economy. Besides this, he has one hundred and sixty acres in Henry County, Ohio, that also being choice farming land. He has substantial modern improvements, including a stock scale house, put up in 1885, since which time he has made a specialty of Short-horn cattle, sheep and mixed Poland-China and Chester-White swine. He is able to exhibit some fine specimens of Norman and thorough-bred horses of the Tom Ross stock, and is numbered among the prominent and successful breeders of fine stock in the county.

A steadfast adherent of the improvement of the county, a faithful worker in developing its re-

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sources, he has conscientiously performed every known duty as an honest man and a citizen, with the solitary exception that he still remains a bach- elor. He has many warm friends, who recognize in him qualities which contribute to stalwart man- hood, while his insight into men and things, his comprehensive views of business matters, and his keen judgment, have caused his advice to be sought for and followed by his fellow-men.

LLEN H. MIARS, a leading farmer and stock-raiser of Spring Valley Township, Greene County, has contributed his full quota toward its growth and development. He is a native of the Buckeye State and was born in Union Township, Clinton County, April 21, 1828. He is a son of Samuel and Hannah (Haines) Miars, the former of whom, it is supposed, was a native of Hampshire County, Va., and born Octo- ber 29, 1799. The mother was born in Clinton County, this State, about 1803.

Samuel Miars, in 1812, was brought by his par- ents to this State, they stopping for a short time at Wilmington. Thence they removed to Union Township, Clinton County, where the father spent the remainder of his life, dying in April, 1875. He was first a Whig and then a Republican, and be- came a noted breeder of Short-horn cattle. He was prospered, financially, and accumulated somewhere in the neighborhood of nine hundred acres of land. The parental family consisted of six children, viz: Allen H., our subject; Mary Jane, the wife of William F. Oglesby, of Clinton County; Isaac, also a resident of that county; John M., of Sedgwick County, Kan .; Martin M., of Clinton County, this State; and Louisa, the wife of Alfred Mckay, of Wilmington.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was Martin Miars, a native of Virginia, and who mar- ricd Miss Jane Summers. Their children were named respectively: David, John, Samuel, Martin, Jacob, Elizabeth, Polly and James. All were mar- ried and reared families, and all lived to be over fifty years old. Grandfather Miars made the jour-

ney from the Old Dominion in wagons, and after settling in Clinton County occupied himself as a blacksmith and accumulated two hundred acres of land. He dicd about 1844, having survived his wife a number of years. The Miars family origin- atcd in Germany.

The mother of our subject only survived her husband twelve days. She was a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Leonard) Haines, who came to Ohio from North Carolina about 1800, settling near what is now known as Center Church, in Clin- ton County. Their children were named respect- ively : Jonathan, Isaac, Joshua, Zimri, Lydia, Hannah and Abigail.

The subject of this notice was rearcd and edu- cated in his native county and remained a mem- ber of the parental household until thirty-two years old. In the meantime he was married, March 7, 1859, to Miss Mary M., daughter of Jonas and Prudence (Smalley ) Stump. The parents of Mrs. Miars were natives of Virginia and Ohio respect- ively, and located in Spring Valley Township in the pioneer days. They are now living, at an ad- vanced age, in Spring Valley. Of this union there was born one child only, a son, L. Fremont. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Miars located on a farm ncar Wilmington, where they lived until 1882. That year they removed to their prosent farm near Barrett's Mills, where they have two hundred and seventy-six acres of land, and also thirty-eight acres which belong to Mrs. Miars. This forms one of the finest estates on the Little Miami Bottom. Mr. Miars is looked upon as a good citizen and is a liberal contributor to the churches and other worthy institutions. He is a Republican in politics.

M ARY E. GARD, widow of the late Silas H. Gard, has been a life-long resident of Clark County, and has witnessed and participated in its growth in all that is to-day visible of material prosperity or high civilization. Al- though her early educational privileges were de-

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cidedly inferior to those bestowed upon the rising generation, she made good use of what she had and during her mature years has read and observed so as to add to her store of knowledge. In the school of pioneer life she learned those practical lessons and firm principles which make her honored and useful in her day and generation, and bestow upon hier the pleasing consciousness of duties donc.

The history of the progenitors of our subject is not devoid of interest. Her grandfather, William Ross, was born in Kentucky and was stolen by the Indians when quite small, and preparations were being made to burn him when he was bought from his captors by an old French trader. He came to Clark County in 1798, took up three sections of land in what is now German Township, and toiled and suffered among the frontiersmen whose scattered homes gave but little promise of the present popu- lation. His home was thrown open to the people for worship whenever Methodist ministers came to the neighborhood, there being no church here. Mr. Ross assisted in building the first church put up by that denomination, it being one and a half miles north of Tremont City, of logs, and erected in 1820.

In the family of the pioneer Mr. Ross was a son Presley who was born in this county and who mar- ried Deborah Wallace, a native of Kentucky, who came to this section when a young lady. This worthy couple became the parents of a daughter whom they christened Mary E. She was born Janu- ary 12, 1825, grew to maturity with the usual privileges of the subscription and later of the pub- lic schools of Tremont City, and the home influ- ences of the day in a family of respectability.

Among the early settlers of this county were Gersham and Mary Gard, whosc son Silas HI. was born in German Township, April 14, 1818. Here he grew to man's estate, acquiring such a store of knowledge as could be obtained in the schools of the time and a thorough understanding of farm work. During his entire life he kept up the habit of reading that had given to him an extended knowledge of general topics and the world's pro- gress, and ever manifested a deep interest in the welfare of humanity. He was a man of strong con- victions, high aims, and hospitable and benevolent, nature. In the temperance field he labored exten

sively, while in the work of the Lord hc was zeal- ous and efficient. In 1842 he united with the Meth- hodist Episcopal Church and served as a Trustee, also acting as Superintendent of the Sunday-school for several years. After having been a Republican for a number of years he became identified with the Prohibition party. Although frequently so- licited to accept offices of trust he preferred the quietude of his home life. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity.

On February 2, 1843, Silas II. Gard and Mary E. Ross were united in marriage. Beginning his wedded life with a capital of about $500, Mr. Gard, by a life of persevering industry and the use of ex- cellent business qualities, accumulated a large cstate of valuable land. During the later years of his life he and his companion spent considerable timc in travel and visiting friends in various lo- calitics, partly as a means of enjoyment and partly as a measure of benefit to his health. On Novem- ber 19, 1884, he was called hence, his death remov- ing from his fellow-men one who had been respected by all who knew him. His widow still continues to reside on the home farm, finding consolation for her loss in the Christian's hope and cheered by the friendship and love which are her portion. Like her deceased husband she is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Tremont City, and she also belongs to the Home Missionary So- ciety of that denomination.

Mr. and Mrs. Gard had a large family, seven of whom are yet living: Sarepta is the wife of Dr. B. F. Herman of Baltimore, Md .; Anson A. lives in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Emma R. is the wife of M. U. Lafetra of Los Angeles, Cal .; Darius F. lives in Virginia; Ida is the wife of Charles B. Woodhead of Los Angeles, Cal .; Emerson and Wilber R. live in German Township.

Mrs. Gard has made two trips to the Pacific Coast, one having been taken in company with her husband not many months before his decease. They left their home December 13, 1883, going south through Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, and sojourning for a time at New Orleans. They then crossed the Mississippi and taking the southern route soon reached the Pacific Coast where they remained until October 1, 1884, when they began

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their homeward journey. They returned via San Francisco, Ogden, Salt Lake City and Pueblo, pausing at Reno, Nev., for a visit and spending a day and night at Salt Lake City, where they heard Mormon preaching. They spent several weeks at Topeka, Kan., and also visited at Kansas City, Mo., and at Springfield, Ill. The entire trip was very enjoyable, the curiosity of mountain travel and the scenery witnessed in crossing the Rockies proving of especial interest.

OHN V. B. EDWARDS. One of the most pleasant and comfortable liomes of Xenia, Greene County, is that owned by Mr. Edwards and occupied by him continuously since April, 1866. It is a very substantial, large, old-fashioned residence, located near the heart of the city on the corner of Third and West Streets, and surrounded by five acres of land, with smooth lawns and ornamental and shade trees. Mr. Edwards is a retired farmer, and still owns a fine farm of three hundred and five acres in Ross Township.

The Empire State was the early tramping ground of Mr. Edwards and in Kinderhook he was born June 22, 1812; he is the son of Elijah and Catherine (Van Buren) Edwards, the former born in Con- necticut, not far from the city of Bridgeport, and the latter in Kinderhook. Mrs. Edwards was of a distinguished family, her cousin being Martin Van Buren, President of the United States. Elijah Ed- wards was by occupation a tiller of the soil, and when John was quite a boy, he accompanied his parents on their removal to Oneida County, and there the father died in 1864. The mother passed away in 1871. Mr. Edwards was a quiet, generous man, more devoted to his family than to any polit- ical affairs, and was a consistent and worthy mem- ber of the Baptist Church.

A family of five children came to Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Edwards, and they were named respectively: Nichols, Jolin V. B., Charles W., Charlotte, and Catherine. Charlotte married Mr. Van Deusen and died in 1889 at Howell, Mich .; Nichols, resides in

Waterville, N. Y. ; Charles W. died in Iowa, May 23, 1889. The education of our subject was gleaned from books conned in rude log schoolhouses, in districts where the family resided, and was further increased by a course of study at Waterville Academy.

When ready to start out in life for himself Mr. Edwards came to Licking County, Ohio, and bought a good farm in Lima Township, which he improved by building a log cabin in the woods and clearing the land of the timber on it. He also erected out- buildings for the shelter of stock and storage of grain, and fenced the estate, subdividing it into pastures. He finally became the owner of four hundred acres of land there, and after his marriage left the old house to take possession of a more con - venient and modern dwelling. On the estate he made the usual improvements suggested by the en- terprising farmer, planting out an orchard, enclosing and sub-dividing the land with fences, erecting a commodious barn, setting out ornamental and shade trees, and still further embellishing it by a drive- way of various trees, and a fine lawn.

At this pleasant homestead six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, and were named respectively : Catherine, who became the wife of D. Bemo, of Indian Territory; Francis, Charles, Ada, Jesse and Delia, now Mrs. S. Bonner, of War- ren County, this State. These children were trained to become useful members both of society and business circles, and now reside mostly in Ohio. In 1864 Mr. Edwards sold liis land and spent one

year visiting the old home in New York, whence, returning to Ohio, he purchased a fine home for his declining years. By making his home in Xenia, he was able to take advantage of the excellent op- portunities that city afforded for granting classical and finished educations to his children.

Not only has our subject accumulated a compe- tence for himself, but he has assisted his children in starting in life, and recently deeded a farm of one hundred acres in Warren County to his daugh- ter. He now owns a large number of houses in Xenia, and the rents therefrom bring him in a com- fortable income. His property represents his un- aided efforts, and is the result of industry combined with good business judgment. His life illustrates

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forcibly to young people what ean be done by in- telligent and well directed labor. He is highly spokeu of among bis numerous aeqnaintanees, and is esteemed as an honorable and upright man, of striet integrity. He has no political aspirations, but easts his vote with the Republican party.

Mrs. Edwards, who for forty-three years has been the devoted companion of her husband, bore the maiden name of Adaline C. Hall, and was a native of New York State. Her parents, John and Tempe (Reeve) Hall, moved at quite an carly day to Michigan, where the parents died. Mrs. Edwards was united in marriage with our subject, April 29, 1847, in Ohio, and after their union they located in Licking County, Ohio. Mr. Edwards justly at- tributes much of the success which has met his ef- forts to his wife, who is possessed of a generous fund of practical knowledge, and whose refinement and pleasant womanly qualities make her a favorite in society wherever she may be.

QUINCY SMITH. The State of Ohio is not only rich in agrienltural resources, but is also famed for producing some of the best live stock on this continent. To this indus- try the subject of this notice has given much time and attention and is noted as a breeder of blooded horses, cattle, sheep and swine. He has a well-de- veloped farm, finely located just west of the New Carlisle (Clark County) corporation limits, where he has gathered together all the conveniences for the prosecution of liis business and is meeting with more than ordinary success.

Mr. Smith was born under the roof which still shelters him, April 5, 1843. His parents were David J. and Sallie (Cory) Smith, the former of whom was born in the town of Annan, Scotland, in February, 1795. The parents of David J., who are also of Scotch birth and parentage, emigrated to America when their son was less than a year old and settled near Scottsville, N. Y. There young David was reared to mature years and in 1812 emni- grated to Clark County, this State. In the mean- time he had learned the trades of a stonemason and

blacksmith. Later he learned something of civil engineering and subsequently turned his attention to surveying and for sometime was engaged in surveying Government lands in Ohio, assisting in establishing the lines between Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.

The father of our subject in 1817 assisted in fix- ing the boundary lines between Indiana and Ohio and Ohio and Michigan. He later became inter- ested in farming and stock raising. After coming to Ohio he made his home with Elnathan Cory, whose daughter he subsequently married. After the death of Mr. Cory the property fell to his daughter who married David J. Smith, upon which the latter settled with his wife and where their son J. Quincy, our subject, was born. At this homestead the father died in 1878. He left a competeuce to his family and also the heritage of a good name. For many years he commanded a company in the Ohio State Militia and ever after- ward was familiarly known as "Capt. Smith." Po- litically, he was a Whig until the abandonment of the old party and then cordially endorsed Repub- lican principles. In religion he was a member of the Christian Church. The paternal grandparents spent their last years in New York State. The mother of our subjeet was born January 2, 1809, at the farm where J. Quiney now lives and al- though she is eighty-two years old she is bright and active and in the enjoyment of good health.

The maternal grandparents of our subject were Elnathan and Hannah (Jennings) Cory, natives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They emigrated to this State while it was a Territory as early as 1797, partly by the way of the Ohio River and thenee overland with horses and wagons to the vi- einity of Deer Creek and near the present site of Lebanon. They sojourned there among the In- dians and wild animals until 1803, then removed to what is now Clark County and took up a traet of Government land. This land is now in the pos- session of Mr. Smith. Upon it he built up a good homestead and there he and his wife spent the closing years of their lives. Mrs. Cory died of cholera in 1834. Mr. Cory survived his wife eight years, dying in 1842 at the age of sixty-six. He was a man of some prominence and accumulated

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a large property. Ilis father, Thomas Cory, set- tled in Clark County, Ohio, about the same time and died in 1813. Elnathan Cory's wife's father was killed by the Indians on Deer Creek, near Lebanon, at an early day.

To David J. and Sallie (Cory) Smith there was born a family of ten children, namely: Hannah, who died when five years old; Nannie J., Henry C., David II., Hannah M., Elnathan C. J. Quincy, Lyda M., who died at the age of forty-one years; Sarah F. and Mary who died when two years old. J. Quincy, the seventh child, has spent his entire life at the farm which he now owns and occupies with the exception of the time he spent in the army. In 1861, he enlisted as a Union soldier for three years in the Sixteenth Ohio Battery of light artillery which operated in the States of Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. He served three years, participating in the battle of Champion Hill, was at the siege of Vicksburg, the second battle of Jackson and other minor engagements and skirm- ishes. His battery formed a part of the Thirteenth Army Corps, commanded by Gen. John A. Mc- Clernand, of Illinois.

Upon leaving the army Mr. Smith returned to the farm and has since contentedly followed agri- cultural pursuits. The residence in which he now lives was put up by his father in 1828. This with its surroundings forms one of the most delightful homes in Clark County. There are fruit and shade trees and besides the dwelling, the various out- buildings required for the shelter of stock and the storage of grain, including two large fine barns. Mr. Smith avails himself of modern machinery and the most approved methods of tilling the soil, keeping himself thoroughly posted in regard to all matters connected therewith. He is looked upon as a man who understands all the details of his chosen calling and whose labors have been re- warded with well-earned success. Politically, Mr. Smith is a strong Republican. Both he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. In Masonry Mr. Smith has attained to the Thirty-second Degree. He is a favorite both in social and business circles, public spirited and a fine conversationalist.

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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 79

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