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 9

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 9
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 9

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OVERDORS.

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Greene and Clark Counties,

OHIO.

٠١

INTRODUCTORY.

HE time has arrived when it becomes the duty of the people of this county to per- petuate the names of their pioneers, to furnish a record of their early settlement, and relate the story of their progress. The civilization of our day, the enlightenment of the age and the duty that men of the pres- ent time owe to their ancestors, to themselves and to their posterity, demand that a record of their lives and deeds should be made. In bio- graphical history is found a power to instruct man by precedent, to enliven the mental faculties, and to waft down the river of time a safe vessel in which the names and actions of the people who contributed to raise this country from its primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly the great and aged men, who in their prime entered the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage, are passing to their graves. The number re- maining who can relate the incidents of the first days of settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an actual necessity exists for the collection and preser- vation of events without delay, before all the early settlers are cut down by the scythe of Tinie.

To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind from remotest ages. All will be forgotten soon enough, in spite of their best works and the most earnest efforts of their friends to perserve the memory of their lives. The means employed to prevent oblivion and to perpetuate their memory has been in propor- tion to the amount of intelligence they possessed. The pyramids of Egypt were built to perpetuate the names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhu- mations made by the archeologists of Egypt from buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people

to perpetuate the memory of their achievements. The erection of the great obelisks were for the same purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and monu- ments, and carving out statues to chronicle their great achievements and carry them down the ages. It is also evident that the Mound-builders, in piling up their great mounds of earth, had but this idea- to leave something to show that they had lived. All these works, though many of them costly in the ex- treme, give but a faint idea of the lives and charac- ters of those whose memory they were intended to perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of the people that then lived. The great pyramids and some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity ; the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crum- bling into dust.

It was left to modern ages to establish an intelli- gent, undecaying, immutable method of perpetuating a full history-immutable in that it is almost un- limited in extent and perpetual in its action; and this is through the art of printing.

To the present generation, however, we are in- debted for the introduction of the admirable system of local biography. By this system every man, though he has not achieved what the world calls greatness, has the means to perpetuate his life, his history, through the coming ages.

The scythe of Time cuts down all ; nothing of the physical mán is left. The monument which his chil- dren or friends may erect to his memory in the ceme- tery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished, which otherwise would be forgotten, is perpetuated by a record of this kind.

To preserve the lineaments of our companions we engrave their portraits, for the same reason we col- lect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we think it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to wait until they are dead, or until those who know them are gone: to do this we are ashamed only to publish to the world the history of those whose lives are unworthy of public record.

Yours Very July Atle Baughman

Mary Baughman

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

119

BIOGRAPHICAL.

NDREW H. BAUGHMAN. It is a real pleasure to meet with one whose sympathy is as broad as the human race, whose integrity is beyond question, whose disposition is accommodating, and whose as- pirations are noble. Such is the character and disposition of Mr. Baughman, whose biog- raphy and portrait we present to our readers. He is one of the retired bankers of Xenia, and oe- eupies a conspicuous position in social, political and business eireles. He is now a, Director of the Xenia National Bank, of which he was formerly President, having held a like position in the First National Bank before the expiration of its charter. As a representative of Christian worth, business ability and broad intelligence, he is widely and favorably known, not only in Xenia, but throughout the entire Buckeye State. Especially is his name interwoven with the history of the Re- formed Church in the United States; generous in his support of all the enterprises of that church, he is particularly remembered on account of his gift of $20,000, which established the "Baughman Pro- fessorship of the Latin Language and Literature and Biblical Instruction" in the Heidelberg Univer- sity at Tiffin, Ohio.

A native of Washington County. Md., Mr.

Baughman was born seven miles east of Hagers- town, October 11, 1807, his parents being Andrew and Esther (Herr) Baughman. The father was born and married in Lancaster County, Pa., and followed the occupation of a farmer and hotel-keeper ; during the War of 1812 he was Captain of a volunteer company. He survived his wife eight years, she having passed from earth when her son, Andrew H., was a lad of only seven years. Soon after her decease our subject was taken into the home of his unele, who lived on a farm west of Hagerstown, and there he remained until he was fifteen years of age. Then commeneing life for himself, he worked in a mill getting no wages the first year, and dur- ing the second year received $5 per month. There he remained until of age, never at any time re- ceiving more than $9 per month, but from this salary managed to save a small amount.

After having attained his majority, young Baughman walked all the way to Wheeling where he boarded a trading boat for Cincinnati, receiving his passage and fifty cents per day for labor per- formed on board. From Cincinnati he went to Hamilton, where two uneles were living, and after sojourning a day or two with them he came to Al- pha, Greene County. On Christmas day he began to work in Harbine's mill, getting $9 per month and his board. Adding to what he had saved while at the Whitmore mill, he succeeded in aecumulat- ing the sum of $100, when with his cousin, Jacob Herr, he rented the mill and sawmill running them

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successfully during the years 1830 and 1831. He was then offered one-third the profits of the Snyder mill if he would become its manager, which posi- tion he accepted, continuing so engaged until 1836, when he formed a co-partnership with his employ- er's son, Casper Snyder. Buying the mill they op- crated it for a number of years under the firm name of Baughman & Snyder.

Mr. Baughman was manager of the mill until 1853, it having in the meantime been enlarged and good brick houses having replaced the log huts that were about it when he took charge. He was also one of the first to engage in the distilling bus- iness in the county. In 1853 he sold his mill in- terests and bought a farm of two hundred and fifty acres which he set about improving while Mr. Snyder with whom he still con- tinued a business connection, took charge of both the Old Town mills. which they had pur- chased, and in which Mr. Baughman still owns a half interest. The first real estate which he pos- sessed was a farm in Greene County, which he had purchased while still employed by the elder Sny- der. His first taxable property was a horse and he yct has the receipt for forty cents tax which he paid upon it, and can place that receipt beside one for $1,100, the amount of his present taxes.

In addition to the farm which lay two miles southwest of Xenia, Mr. Baughman bought in the city limits seven acres, which is included between King Street on the east, Galloway on the west, Church on the south. and Shawnee on the northi. In 1871, he erected on this site an clegant residence whichi, surrounded by a beautiful lawn, is still onc of the most tasteful abodes within the city.

Mr. Baughman was first clected a Director of the Xenia Bank, which afterward became a branch of the State Bank of Ohio, and on the passage of the National Bank Law was changed into the First Na- tional Bank, of Xenia. In each of these organiza- tions he had been a Director and Vice-President, and upon the death of the President of the First National, he was elected to that position, retaining it until the expiration of the charter of the institu- tion. When a re-organization was cffected under the title of the Xenia National Bank, the Gov- ernor not permitting them to take the former namnc,

he became the first President, continuing to hold that station until his health compelled him to rc- sign. He still retains his financial interest in the bank, and the office of Director which has been his for thirty-eight years. Hc does a real-estate, bank- ing and private loan business.

In the political arena Mr. Baughman has been a busy man, having held the office of County Com- missioner for twelve years, besides being Alderman for a lengthy period, during which he was Presi. dent of the Board three terms. Many times he has been solicited to run for more prominent offices, but was too busy to devote himself entirely to pol- ities or public life. Hc began his political career in Maryland and when he became of age cast his first Presidential ballot for Gen. Andrew Jackson. He continued to affiliate with the Democratic party until 1856, when he voted for John C. Fremont, and since then has wielded all his influence in be- half of Republicanism.

Mr. Baughman has been a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows since 1846. In 1833, he united with the Reformed Church in the United States, where he has continually held an of- ficial position, having been re-elected Elder, in Jan- uary, 1890. He has been Deacon, Sunday-school Superintendent, Delegate to the Synod and Clas- sis, Treasurer of Ciassis and Board of Church Ercetion, member of the Peace Commission and for many years one of the Board of Trustees of the Heidelberg University. He has been a liberal supporter of the church in all her enterprises, and was the largest contributor to thic new college building at Tiffin. His name will be revered by future generations for his munificence, and particu- larly for the deep interest which he has manifested in the university named. The confidence of the public in him is shown by the fact that he has been guardian for fourteen children and has settled ten large estates.

The wife with whom Mr. Baughman has lived happily fifty-seven years, bore the maiden name of Mary Snyder, and the rites of wedlock were cele- brated between them February 7, 1833. Mrs. Baughman was born in Washington County, Md., September, 7, 1814. She is a daughter of Jonathan Snyder, one of the early pioneers of this county,

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

to which he came in 1816, when his daughter was searcely more than an infant. He built the first inill in this vicinity. the structure being afterward purchased by our subject and his partner. Having 110 children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Baughman have adopted and reared several, to whom they have become strongly attached, and who have been given all the advantages which would have been theirs had they been bound to them by ties of blood.

ACOB HERING. This upright and honor- able gentleman, now living a quiet life in Xenia, has probably been as thoroughly identified with the interests of Greene County, and particularly of Beaver Creek Town- ship, as any man now living. He is the fourth ehild and only son of Jacob Hering Sr., a native of Switzerland, who after his marriage with Miss Bar- bara Richenbaugh, eame to America in 1795. They settled in Maryland, but in 1806 eame to this county then almost an unbroken wilderness. Mr. Hering bought six hundred aeres of land in Beaver Creek Township, elearing the entire place himself, and living for some years in the log house in which our subjeet was born. He continued his agrieul- tural labors there until 1836, when he entered into rest. His wife had departed this life in 1810, leav- ing three daughters and a son, the latter scarcely more than an infant.

Mr. Hering was not only a believer in the prin- ciples of Christianity, but one who manifested that belief in his daily walk and conversation. He be- longed to the United Brethren or German Reformed Church, and did much to build up that organiza- tion in his seetion. He thoroughly appreciated the need of good schools and used his utmost efforts toward their institution and support. IIe was not a politician but one whose fitness to serve his fel- lowmen was understood, and by them he was made Road Supervisor and a school offieer.

The daugliters of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob HIering, Sr. are: Elizabeth, who married Joseph Kent of Mont

gomery County ; Margaret, the wife of Isaae Kent, of the same eounty and a brother of Joseph; and Barbara, who married Adam Kline of this eounty.

Jacob Hering. Jr., with whose name we introduce this sketch, was born June 9, 1808, and grew to maturity on the homestead, on which he lived un- til 1882. He received an exeellent common-school education, and assisted his father in the work of the estate until after he had become of age when he married, but remained with his father until the death of the latter. Becoming the owner of three hundred and thirty-five aeres of the old homestead, he continued to reside upon it making many im- provements and prosecuting a successful career until he determined to retire from active duties. Buying a neat new cottage on West Market Street, Xenia, he moved into town where he is now enjoy- ing merited repose from the labors of life, eheered by the companionship of many friends and his sur- viving children. He has seen this country ehange from a forest to the improved land of to-day, where flourishing towns and highly cultivated farms take the place of a few and primitive dwellings and small improved tracts which he recalls in his boy- hood. He still retains his ownership to the splen- did farm in Beaver Creek Township, which is now operated by two of his sons.

On February 2, 1831, our subject led to the hy- meneal altar, Miss Mary Steele, daughter of Eb- enezer Steele, a prominent eounty official. The bride was born in Maryland and came to this county with her parents in 1812. She is a sister of Jolin Steele, whose grandson, J. D. Steele, is well known here and is represented in this volume. She faithfully discharged her duties as wife and mother until July 2, 1868, when she was called from time to eternity. She had borne nine children, six of whom reached years of maturity and four are yet surviving. Amanda is now liv- ing with her father and taking charge of the house- hold; Ebenezer lives on the old farm; Angeline was the wife of Lester Arnold, whose sketch appears on another page in this book; Henry Har- rison who was born in 1840 and named for the General whose name was so prominently before the public at that time, was a member of the Sev- enty-fourth Ohio Infantry during the Civil War,

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and Captain of Company F, proving himself to be a valiant soldier; John J. died from fever contracted in the service of his country, being enrolled in the One hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and held a Lieutenant's commission at the time of his death, being then in his twenty-second year; Albert Franklin is living on the home farm.

Mr. Hering filled the position of Township Clerk for a number of terms and held the offices of Township Treasurer and School. Director for many years. He considers himself a lifelong Repub- lican, his first vote having been cast for Henry Clay, and his adherance being naturally given to the party which grew out of that to which he first belonged, and which carries on the work it began; he is proud of having voted for both Harrisons. He belongs to the Reformed Church with which he has been identified during all his mature life. Look- ing back over a long life, like all mortals lie can see wherein he might have practiced more thor- oughly the small virtues which are needful to a perfect character and life, yet having ever endeav- ored to do the right, he finds no cause for serious regret, knowing that "to err is human, to forgive divine." His influence has ever been on the side of morality, religion and high civilization, and is felt throughout a wide circle.

IXON GRADY BROWN. In collecting the pioneer history of Southern Ohio it is found that the Brown family, from whom sprang the subject of this notice, occupied a eonspie- uous place. They were people of steady habits, substantial and reliable, and uniformly stood well in the several communities where they located. He with whose name we introduce this sketch remains as one of their most honored representatives and during the later years of a useful and eventful life, is now living in quiet retirement at a pleasant home in Jamestown, of which he has been a resident since 1885.

From 1835 until 1885 Mr. Brown was a resident of Cedarville Township, Greene County, being lo- cated on Cæsar's Creek engaged in farming and

stoek-raising and also operated a sawmill. He im- proved a large traet of land, transforming it into a valuable and productive farm. The first advent of his father's family here was in 1834. Prior to this, however, in 1832, Jacob Brown, leaving his native State of Virginia, visited Ohio, and after spending some time in looking the eountry over returned to the Old Dominion, and in the spring of 1834, not being able to abandon his idea of settling in the Buckeye State, eame back and purchased two thous- and acres of land, mostly unimproved and included in what is now Cedarville Township. He paid for this $8,000 in cash, which he had received for one hundred and sixty- eight acres of improved land a few miles from the city of Leesburg, Loudoun County, Va. This purchase was formerly the prop- erty of the well-known Col. William Elsey.

In making the journey hither Jaeob Brown trav - eled in true pioneer style, overland with teams, a four-horse wagon, a two-horse wagon and a car- riage. The father rode on horseback and was ac- companied by his four sons and four daughters, of whom Nixon G., our subjeet, was the youngest and is the only surviving son. The little band of emigrants made their way slowly over a thinly settled country, being sheltered at night usually under the roof of a primitive tavern, but frequently passing the night in their wagons and by their eamp-fire. After a tedious journey of nearly four weeks, frequently over almost impassable roads, in- cluding Darby Plains, which was always dreaded by the travelers of those days, they arrived at their destination.

The father of our subjeet was a man weighing nearly two hundred and fifty pounds, and his ride on horseback proved particularly trying to him. Their location comprised a part of what is known as the Military Traet, and on the land thus taken up, only a few acres of which had been cleared, the father and sons at onee set about the eree- tion of a double log house in about the center of their possessions. This accomplished, they began to clear the land and till the soil. After years of arduous labor they found themselves the possessors of a comfortable home, with a large estate whiel was each year growing more valuable. Jacob Brown lived to see this large extent of land mostly

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under cultivation and embellished with good build- ings. His children attained to mature years and some were married and settled in comfortable homes. The father departed this life January 22, 1860, when over eighty-four years old, having been born December 17, 1775.

Jacob Brown was born of Quaker parents and in the peaceable doctrines of this sect was reared and held to them during his entire life. He was mar- ried, December 14, 1800, in his native county, to Miss Judith Walters. who was born there August 8, 1781. She likewise was the daughter of Quaker parents and of English extraction. She proved in all respects the suitable partner of her husband, enduring patiently and cheerfully the hardships of pioneer life, was a devoted mother and reared her children in the way they should go. She passed away a few years prior to the deeease of her hus- band, her death taking place May 27, 1856.

Of the eleven children born to the parents of our subjeet only two are living, Nixon G. and his sis- ter, Mrs. Sarah J. Wilson, who lives in Springboro, Warren County, this State, and who is now seventy years old. Mr. Brown was born February 2, 1827, and was a lad of eight years when his parents came from the place where he was born, in Loudoun County, Va., to this State. He cannot remember the time when he spent his days in idleness, for all the children were required to make themselves useful as soon as large enough. He put his shoul- der to the wheel in the elearing and cultivation of the large extent of land which his father purchased, and after reaching his majority beeame owner of three hundred and sixty-five acres. To this he gave his best efforts for years thereafter, cultivat- ing the soil, putting up a fine set of buildings and effecting the improvements which have made it one of the most desirable estates in this part of the country. He still retains possession of this farm. which is now operated by his son-in-law and which affords him a handsome ineome.

The subject of this notice was married in Lou- coun County, Va., May 12, 1853, to Miss IIannah P. Wilson. Mrs. Brown was born November 22, 1824, near Leesburg, Va., to William and Elizabeth (Nicholas) Wilson, who were residents the greater part of their lives in Loudoun County to which they

had removed from Maryland. Mr. Wilson was a farmer by occupation and after his removal to Vir- ginia located upon land from which he built up a good farm and there spent the remainder of his days, dying December 19, 1871, when seventy-seven years old. His wife, Elizabeth, passed away some years later, in May, 1874, at the age of seventy-six years. They were the parents of twelve ehildren, four sons and eight daughters, most of whom lived to mature years, and five are yet surviving.

Mrs. Brown received careful training from pious parents, remaining with them until her marriage. Both she and her husband adhere loyally to the Quaker faith of their ancestors, although attending the churches of other denominations within their reach. Mr. Brown, politieally, is a sound Repub . lican. He was the first Vice President of the People's Bank at Jamestown, of which he is now a Direetor and a large stockholder. Personally, he is a man of commanding presence with well-developed mus- cles, made so by healthy labor during youth and middle life, of which faet he has never been ashamed. He was never addicted to the use of in- toxicating liquors or tobacco in any degree.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of two chil- dren only, both daughters. Mary E. became the wife of Otis T. Wolford, and they reside on the old farm in Cedarville Township; Hattie married Dr. W. P. Madden, of Xenia. Mr. Brown retains in his possession his father's old family Bible, which could seareely be purchased at any price. He has also an illustrated handkerchief upon which is im- printed scenes in the life of Gen. Washington, which was given him by his aunt in Virginia, and which is many years older than himself.

NDREW DUNCAN WILLIAMSON is one of the prominent farmers of Greene County, having a fine estate four miles south of Xenia, on which he has resided sinee 1846, and which he has brought to a high state of development, raising from it crops which in quality and quantity rank with the best. The landed estate comprises two hundred acres and a

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full line of farm buildings, well construeted and commodious, meets the eye of the visitor, while fine stock and modern machinery indicate that the owner is both capable and progressive in carrying on his work.

Mr. Williamson was born in York County, Pa., January 30, 1815, his parents removing to Wash- ington County the same year and four years later changing their location to Jefferson County, Ohio, settling near a place called Warren, where they re- mained about thirteen years. In 1833 they went to Shanesville, Tusearawas County, but in April 1836, located in this county, where they permanently re- mained. Our subjeet was with his parents during their various changes of residence and came with tliem to this county by wagons, continuing to reside under the parental roof until his marriage in the spring of 1838. He then located five miles north of Xenia Township, from which place he removed to his present location some years later. He has not only acquired an excellent reputation as an agriculturist, but has served his fellow. citizens in public capacities, laboring earnestly for the ad- vancement of the cause of education and for the good of the community in various ways.

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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 9

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