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 86

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 86
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 86

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).

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spent in journey work there, he returned to Dayton, and the following year went back to his native county in the Keystone State, where he worked at his trade and farming for a year. He then returned to Ohio and took up his residence on the home farm, abandoning his trade and till- ing the soil until after the war began.

In August, 1862, Mr. Kauffman entered the service, being mustered in, at Piqua, as a Corporal in Company F, One Hundred and Tenth Ohio In- fantry. The command was sent to Virginia, where for some months their experiences were not par- ticularly memorable, except to those engaged in them, as they took part in no prominent battles for some time. The first heavy engagement, which is famous in history, was the battle of Win- chester, in June, 1863. Then, as part of the Army of the Potomac, they followed up Gen. Lee, par- ticipating in the battles of Warrenton Gap, the Rappahannock, Brandy Station, Centerville Heights, Culpeper Courthouse and the scarcely less danger- ous and equally arduous minor skirmishes during the fall. Mr. Kauffman was promoted to the rank of Sergeant after the battle of Mine Run. The regiment wintered at Brandy Station, then crossed the Rapidan, and during the following season bore gallant part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spott- sylvania, Cold Harbor, Bermuda One Hundred, James River, Petersburg, and Weldon Railroad.

The command to which Sergt. Kauffman be- longed then fell back and took up a position below Petersburg, whence they were taken to Baltimore on the train, and marching to Monocacy Junction, participated in the battle there, July 9, 1864. During that engagement the Sergeant received a minie ball in the lower part of his right thigh, but walked back two miles until helped away on horseback to the field hospital at Allsott's Mill. He was then sent to Baltimore in a box car and placed in Patterson Park Hospital, in the Lincoln Ward, where he received the best of treatment. Gangrene set in and the flesh had to be cut away and canstic applied, consequently the wound was a long time in healing and the sufferer remained in the hospital until the holidays. Being then able to go about on crutches, he received a thirty days' furlough and visited his home,

At the expiration of his leave, Sergt. Kauffman returned to the hospital and was sent to one at Germantown, near Philadelphia, where he re- mained until the last of March, when he was able to rejoin his regiment. He remained with the command, which was at Petersburg when he reached it, until the close of the war, but was in the hos- pital at City Point two weeks, and transferred by boat to Washington Hospital. There he was pres- ent at the Grand Review, but on account of the lameness with which he has been afflicted since he was wounded, he was not able to take an active part in that great event. He was mustered out of the service and honorably discharged June 22, . 1865, and returned to his home conscious that he had faithfully discharged his duty as a patriotic citizen and secured the esteem of his comrades and superior officers. At Cold Harbor also he was struck by a ball, but as its force was largely spent it did him no serious injury.

After his return from the field of battle Mr. Kauffman came to Osborn and opened a grocery business in connection with his brother John, under the firm name of Kauffman Bros. The part- nership continued and the business was kept up until 1874, when our subject sold out, and return- ing to the farmn, operated it until 1880. Another grocery stock was then bought, and in partnership with John A. Kneisly, our subject again cm- barked in the business, the firm carrying on the store until 1888, when they sold their stock and dissolved partnership. The war having left Mr. Kauffman in such a condition that he was not able to pursue any active physical career, and such a degree of prosperity having attended his efforts that he was able to retire from business, he did so at the termination of the above-mentioned part- nership.

Mr. Kauffman is a stanch Republican, doing all that he can to advance the interests of the party whose principles he thinks best calculated for the good of the land. He has been a delegate to county conventions. His first vote was cast for Gen. Zachary Taylor. He has ever been public spirited and enterprising, and as an honorable man, a reliable citizen, and a pleasant and agree- able companion, is honored and respected by all to

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whom he is known. He has never married, a fact to be regretted by those who know his kindly. nature.

Jacob Kauffman, a brother of our subject, and his associate in the liome, went to California in 1819, via the Isthmus of Panama, and spent two years as a miner on the Coast. Returning to his home, he engaged in farming, afterward being in- terested in the grocery business in Dayton for five years and then again becoming a farmer. He also em- barked in the sale of fruit trees, traveling for five years in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, etc., in that business. Afterward he located in Osborn, where he was engaged in the grain business until his retirement from active affairs.

A lithographie portrait of Mr. Kauffman is pre- sented in connection with this sketch.

ILLIAM H. NEER owns and occupies a farm of one hundred acres, pleasantly lo- cated two miles east of Catawba, Clark County. He is also interested in other land west of Catawba, and in addition to general farming raises all kinds of stock. The home farm is sup- plied with a full line of the buildings needful to the successful prosecution of the labors performed thereon, and it needs but a glance over the broad expanse to assure a stranger that Mr. Neer is an enterprising and progressive agriculturist. He is a native of Pleasant Township, having been born west of Catawba, July 5, 1848, and on his father's farm acquired a knowledge of the business which he has adopted as his own. He received a good common-school education, and taught four winter terms of school. At the age of twenty-one years he began his personal career as a farmer, and after a few years took a companion in the person of Miss Anna E. Cartinell, with whom he was united in marriage December 29, 1874.

Mrs. Neer was born September 6, 1850, her birth- place being in this township, not far from that of her husband, with whom an acquaintance was be- gun in childhood. The childish friendship "grew

with their growth and strengthened with their strength," developing into a regard which husband and wife should feel for each other. Their happy union has been blessed by the birth of four bright daughters-Estelle M., Carrie A., Laura E. and Mary C. Both Mr. and Mrs. Neer belong to the Methodist Protestant Church, and are held in ex- cellent repute for the manner in which they have endeavored to carry the precepts of Christianity into their daily lives. Mr. Neer has served as Township Trustee two terms. In politics he is an active Republican.

Nathaniel and Rebecca (VanMeter) Cartmell oc- cupied the first plastered house in Pleasant Town- ship, to which they came from Loudoun County, Va. Among the members of their family was a son, Nathaniel M., who was born here in 1816, and who became a farmer. He married Mary Lof- land, who was born in Marietta, in 1823, and who bore him five sons and three daughters, Mrs. Neer of this sketch being one of the number. N. M. Cartmell served as Township Trustee, and also as Trustee of the Children's Home near Springfield.

The subject of this sketch is a grandson of Amos Ncer, who was born in Loudoun County, Va., and'upon coming to Ohio, in 1817, settled on land entered by his father, Henry Neer, who had come hither at an early day. This Henry Neer was born in the Old Dominion, in 1748, and died in this county February 3, 1828. He located a tract of land where Catawba now stands. In 1827 Amos Neer bought a small tract about two miles south- west of that village, now owned by his grandson, A. W. Neer. His first wife bore him seven chil- dren-Jonathan, Elizabeth, Ann, Susannah, Jane, Nathan and Matilda. After the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Hannah Golden, by whom he had three children-Joseph H., Amelia and Han- nah; the last two now deceased. He was again married to Nancy Toland. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and he and his first wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died April 25, 1843, aged fifty-six years.

Nathan Neer was born in the western part of Pleasant Township, August 15, 1822. He married Mary A. Hunter, who was born in the same neigh- borhood March 1, 1823. To them were born seven

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children, viz .: Levi, who enlisted in the spring of 1865, as a member of Company F. Eighth Ohio Cavalry,and served about five months, subsequently dying at the age of twenty-three years; William II., of this notice ; Miranda E., wife of James H. Engle, who died childless; Luther, Charles F., Alonzo W. and Laura J. Nathan Neer was an active member of the Republican party, and served as Township Trustee. Ile and his wife were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, liberal in their support of its various enterprises, and holding leading places among its members. Mr. Neer died November 13, 1886, his widow surviving until June 22, 1889.

G EORGE L. PAINE, D. D. S., the oldest resident dentist of Xenia, is a practitioner of forty years standing, having embarked in the profession of dentistry May 1, 1850. He, like so many of the prominent and successful citi- zens of Xenia, is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born July 3, 1822, in Montgomery County. His early years were spent on his father's farm in Miama Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, where he attended the common sehool, and at the same time became familiar with the pursuits of agri- culture.

Usually a man's career is largely the result of his early surroundings, and especially of the prin- ciples which have been instilled into his mind dur- ing his tender years. The subject of this notice is the offspring of a good family, being the son of Henry Paine, of New England antecedents, and a native of Connecticut. Henry Paine, in 1820, and when a young man, cast his eyes toward what was thien the Great West, the young State of Ohio, and in company with a brother, made his way mostly by stage to the present site of Cincinnati. For some years thereafter he was engaged as a steam- boat captain, plying the waters of the Ohio, during which time he accumulated a little capital, which he invested in pork, and for twenty years thereaf- ter was quite an extensive dealer in this commo-

dity. During that period he was no nnimportant factor in giving to the Queen City its other, and perhaps more forcible cognomen "Porkopolis."

The elder Paine finally left Cincinnati and turned his attention in an entirely different channel, namely, that of education, and for many years thereafter he was directly connected with the school system of Montgomery County. Not long after becoming a resident of the Buckeye State, he met and married, at Franklin, Miss Alettah Lanc. This ladly was born in New Jersey, and accompanied her parents to Ohio when a child of eight years, they settling among the pioneers of Cincinnati, locating at that point when the now great city was only a village, to which they had made their way on a flatboat as early as 1808. Grandfather George Lane entered a whole section of land, upon which he erected a homestead where he spent the remainder of his days. Near that homestead subsequently grew up the town of Carlisle, on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad.

In the vicinity of Carlisle, Henry Paine was mar- ried, and there spent the remainder of his life, pass- ing away about 1848. He held no civil office, but was quite prominent in military affairs in which he took a warm interest, and was for a long period a inajor in the old Ohio militia. Ilis estimable wife survived him a number of years, her death taking place in Montgomery County, in 1862. The house- hold circle was completed by the birth of six chil- dren, five of whom grew to mature years, and four are now living. George L., like his brothers and sisters, obtained his early education in the com- mon school, being encouraged in his studies by bis father, who was ambitious to have all his children avail themselves of the opportunities presented them in this direction. George L. became thor- oughly acquainted with English and the classics, and like his father before him, developed into an efficient teacher, and was assistant in the academy at Germantown Ohio, for three years.

We next find young Paine becoming interested in the study of medicine, but he abandoned this shortly after taking one course, and entered the Cincinnati Dental College, from which he was graduated as a dentist in 1852. He had, however, prior to this, practiced the art considerably, and

7. Hol ford.

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with fine suceess. ITis interest in this profession led him to give to it his best efforts, and not many years had passed before he beeame noted for his skill, which resulted in the building up of a large and lucrative business. He was located for a time in Dayton, but about 1850 eame to Xenia, of which he has sinee been a continuous resident, and is looked upon as one of the old landmarks insep- arably connected with the welfare of the city.

Dr. Paine was wedded January 27, 1846, at the bride's home at Carlisle Station, to Miss Eliza Ann Barkalow. Mrs. Paine was born in Miami Town- ship, May 3, 1826, and is the daughter of James and Catherine (Vandervere) Barkalow, who were natives of New Jersey, but who eame to Ohio dur- ing the period of its early settlement. The parents of Mrs. Paine are now deceased. To the Doetor and his estimable wife there remains but one ehild, Elmer E., who is now a gentleman of fine capabili- ties, and managing editor of the Akron (Ohio) Daily Beacon. The younger Paine obtained a classical education in the Ohio State University at Columbus, and married Miss Margaret Humphreys, an aecomplished lady, who, after being graduated from the Michigan University, was for some time employed as a teacher.

With the exception of supporting the principles of the Republican party at the general elections, Dr. Paine has very little to do with polities. Early in life both he and his wife identified themselves with the Presbyterian Churel, with which they still remain eonneeted. The family hold a high social position, and have a pleasant and attractive home in the northern part of the city where is dispensed a generous hospitality to their hosts of friends.

REDERICK HOLFORD. Sinee he took up his residenee in this eity several years ago, with the view of retiring to private life and to the enjoyment of an ample fortune, this gentle- man has been among the foremost eitizens of Springfield to forward its finaneial interests, and his hand is seen in various schemes to extend its in- dustries and eommeree and to advance its growth

in various directions. His operations are by no means confined to this eity and county, but reaeh far beyond, as he is engaged in various enterprises requiring large capital, his interests extending to different parts of the United States. He is a man of remarkable energy and tenaeity of purpose, with marvelous capacity for business, and notwithstand- ing lie is long past the meridian of life lie throws himself into his work with the vigor and zeal of a man in life's prime, and is still perfectly able to su- perintend the investment of his money and to man- age his large property with unerring judgment.

The subject of this notice was born in England, near Oxford, May 9, 1813. His father, Thomas Holford, was a native of Berkshire, England, and in his early youth he acquired the trade of a shoe- maker, beeame a manufacturer, built up a fortune, and spent his last years in retirement. Our sub- jeet learned his father's trade, and in 1833 left home to seek work in London, and was employed at his trade there one year. His father had always taken a great interest in America, and consequently our subject had heard a great deal about the New World, and ambitious to see the country, and to see what life held for him here in this Eldorado of the home-seeker and fortune-hunter, he set sail for the United States in 1834, and landing in New York, remained in that eity one year. He then coneluded to seek what was then the "Far West," hoping to better his finanees, and seeure a home for himself. He started by the most convenient and expeditious route, by steamer on the Hudson River to Albany, thence by rail to Selienectady, the only passenger railway in the United States at that time, and the first he had ever seen ; at Seheneetady he took pass- age on a canal boat for Buffalo. At Tonawanda he and others left the boat and went on foot to visit Niagara Falls. There was but a small settle- ment of whites there at that time, and quite a num- ber of Indians. Three days later the party returned to Buffalo by steamer, and there engaged passage for Chicago. On his arrival in that city he found it a flourishing village of twenty-five hundred in- habitants, with the surrounding country sparsely settled, and the most of the land owned by the Government. Mr. Holford had a friend living about fifty miles north of Chicago, and desiring to visit

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him, he took passage for his place in a box wagon or stage, and the roads being bad the male passen- gers were obliged to walk a part of the way.

After arriving at his destination our subject made a claim to a tract of Government land, but after residing on it a few months, concluded that it would be rather slow work getting rich there, and returned to Chicago, where he resided a few months and then went to the territory of Iowa, making his way across the State of Illinois to Fulton, then but a hamlet, where he crossed the Father of Waters to Clinton County, Iowa. He made a claim to a tract of Government land at Camanche, and at once commenced to improve a farm. He devoted him- self assiduously to agriculture the ensuing four years, and then he retraced his footsteps eastward as far as Cincinnati, where he established himself in the shoe business, and though he had but little capital and had to commence in a small way he soon worked up an extensive trade, and continued in business until 1874, when, having acquired a fortune, he came to Springfield, intending in this beautiful city to live in retirement from the cares of a business life and to enjoy his wealth at his ease. His vigorous temperament, however, would not allow him to live in idleness, and he was not satisfied until he once more found himself amid the excitements of an active business life. Ile accepted the position of Vice-President and Treasurer of the Republic Printing Company, publishers of the daily and weekly Republic, and he also became a member of the company that built the paper mill at Enon this county, besides prominently identify- ing himself with various other enterprises. Among other things he utilized the large tract of real estate that he purchased when he first came here, for build- ing purposes, and erected several good houses, inany of which he still owns, deriving a good in- come from their rental, and others he sold at an advanced price.

Mr. Holford has passed the seventy-seventh milestone on life's journey, but inheriting a strong constitution, and being temperate in all things, hc enjoys good health both physically and mentally, his vigorous step, clear eye, and keen intellect be- traying no marks of age. He has one son, named George, in whom his hopes and ambitions are now

centered. We have seen in this brief life-record that our subject possesses a rare talent for business, far-reaching foresight, and conspicuous practical good sense, and that the wealth that he has se- cured by the exercise of these traits has been of benefit not alone to himself and his friends, but to his adopted city, as by wisely expending a portion of it licre he has promoted the welfare of the com- munity. A man of frank, pleasant bearing, of quick and genial wit, whose powers of observation and. wide experience have given him a large fund of information, he is an entertaining companion and has gathered around him a large circle of friends. IIe is active in religious matters as an Elder in the Second Presbyterian Church. He has always shown a great interest in charitable objects, and was one of the first members of the Board of Directors of the Childrens' Home of Clark County, located at Springfield, Ohio.

The lithographic portrait of Mr. Holford, shown elsewhere in this volume, represents one of Clark County's honored citizens.

ILLIAM H. BERGER, one of the best- known residents of Springfield Township, Clark County, is a man of more than or- dinary intelligence, thoroughly educated, acquir- ing a good fund of general knowledge through his own efforts, and is looked upon as one of the most useful members of the community. He was born in Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Pa., Jan- uary 21, 1830, and is the son of Daniel and Esther (Body) Berger, both of whom were natives of that county. The paternal grandfather was also born there, and was a son of Henry Berger, whose father was born in Germany. The latter emigrated to America at an early day, and thereafter spent his life in Pennsylvania.

Grandfather Berger was a resident of his native State during his entire life, spending the last years in Berks County. His son Daniel was reared and married in his native county, where he learned the trade of a brick, stone and plaster mason, and fol- lowcd these trades many years. He lived in Berks

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County until 1838, then concluded to seek his for- tunes in the West. He set out on the long jour- ney with his wife and five children overland with a team and wagon, and after four weeks spent in travel, located in Clark County, this State. The only railroad which they came across was one lead- ing into the eity of Harrisburg, Pa. The present flourishing city of Springfield was little more than a hamlet, having only a few manufacturing in- terests.

Upon his arrival in Ohio the father of our sub- ject found a vacant house in Lagonda, which he rented, and began looking about for a tract of land suitable for his necessities and means. After about one month he purchased one hundred and thirty-three acres, at $16.663 per acre, upon whichi was a set of log buildings, the place now being owned and occupied by his son, William H. The log house was covered with clapboards, rived by hand and held in place by weight poles. The famn- ily occupied this humble dwelling for two years, and then Mr. Berger put up the substantial brick building which now adorns the premises. In due time other buildings were erected, the land brought to a good state of cultivation, and Mr. Berger gathered around himself and family all the comforts of modern country life.

Upon some occasions the family to which the mother of our subject belonged spelled their name Boda. Mrs. Esther (Body) Berger was born in Berks County, Pa., and is the daughter of Henry Body, likewise a native of the Keystone State, and of German parentage. He followed the occupation of a farmer, and spent the closing years of his life in Berks County.

Daniel Berger was one of the charter Trustees of the United Brethren Church near Lagonda, serving many years in that capacity, and was very active in efforts to take advance steps for educating the children of the neighborhood. He died May 19, 1878, in his eighty-fourth year, his wife dying at the same age, August 31, 1881. Their remains were laid away in Newcomer Cemctery. The aged couple had lived over sixty years in the mar- riage relation. To them had been born seven children-Eliza, Mary, Catharine, Saralı, William H., Daniel and Ellen. Eliza died December 24,

1825, aged six years; Mary, March 31, 1825, aged four; Ellen, June, 1845, aged eleven; and Cathar- ine, May 24, 1889, aged sixty-five.

The subject of this notice was a boy of eight years when his parents came to Clark County. As soon as large enough he commenced assisting in the lighter labors incident to opening up a farm, and he acquired his education mostly in the dis- trict school, attending three months during the winter season. He, however, was fond of his books, and employed his leisure hours in gaining useful information. Later, to his great satisfac- tion, he was permitted to attend the High School at Springfield one year. Before reaching his ma- jority he commenced teaching, and followed this profession in the Hunter District and Moorefield Township. Subsequently he taught six months of each year for a period of twenty-five years, six years of that time in Moorefield Township and the remainder at Lagonda. During the vacations he was employed on the farm.

Mr. Berger has been identified with the Prohi- bition party since its formation, and has held var- ious offices in connection therewith. He has always maintained a warm interest in the cause of education, serving as a member of the School Board eighteen years, and availing himself of every opportunity to facilitate the proper training of the young in this direction. He has also officiated as Township Trustee, and in other local offices. IIe is a member in good standing of the United Breth- ren Church, in which he has served as Steward, Class-Leader and Trustee, holding one or more church offices each year for thirty-five years. He has also been active in Sunday-school work, being Superintendent of the Lagonda Sunday-school without intermission more than twenty years, and in all longer than a quarter of a century. His wife and children are also members of the same church. He has quite frequently been appointed guardian of children, some of whom, now doing business, still come to him for advice ; and has like- wise had numerous estates to settle as administrator or executor.

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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 86

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