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 93

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 93
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 93

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).

acres in a body, a part of which is now included in the city of Springfield. His first abode was a cabin built of unhewn logs but he soon erected a better structure of hewed logs, which in those days was considered quite a pretentious dwelling. Subse- quently a brick house was built and in it he was living when called from time to eternity in Decem- ber, 1848. His wife had breathed her last the pre- vious year and the bodies of both were interred on the home farm. The following notice written by one who knew him well, was printed in the Spring- field Republic a short time after Mr. Perrin's death.

"An Old Pioneer is gonc. I have always loved to meet an old settler, who "walked in the wilder- ness" when there were no neighbors, and when one of them is taken from among us by Death, I feel like cherishing his memory. John Perrin, who died on the 16th day of December last, a little upwards of seventy years old, was a native of Washington County, Md., from which place he emigrated in June, 1806, and located here. Forty-two years of industry was rewarded with affluence; and forty- two years of a just and upright life in all his deal- ings and transactions, secured to him the confidenc of the whole community. Solomon says "Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom, but a man of understanding walketh uprightly". Mr. Perrin was in this a man of understanding that he gave an example of integrity as well as of industry. These qualities produce a sort of independence and force of character in a man, which make his loss more sensibly felt in his circle and indeed in the whole community.

"But few are left-long may they be spared- who remember the state of the country, when Mr. Perrin pitched his tent here in the "back-woods" when a man might travel in a bee line for ten or more miles and not be obstructed by a farin fence. Springfield was a town only on paper for the hazel brush covered the site. There were no mills, nor churches nor schools; and no one then thought about turnpikes, and there were but few roads or paths of any kind. As for railroads or telegraphs, they were not then even in the distant future. Men of enterprising, discriminating minds like Mr. Per- rin, saw that the county possessed the elements of fu- ture prosperity and greatness. The hardships and privations incident to the first settlement of such a country were great, and required industry, patient endurence, rigid economy and integrity. All these he had in an eminent degree, which enabled him to wrestle with the difficulties of the enterprise, and now in a good old age, surrounded by those who

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love him, he has been gathered to his fathers. Ile has left four sons and one daughter."

The subject of this biographical notice could scarcely fail to do credit to a parent so highly re- garded as was John Perrin Sr., and to secure for himself a similar regard from those who knew him. He was reared on the home farm, attending the pioneer schools, which were taught in the log schoolhouse, and at his home learning much use- ful knowledge which was not a part of the school curriculum. During his early years, his mother did all her cooking by a fireplace, cook stoves being unknown upon the frontier; she used also to spin and weave wool and flax, clothing the family with the fruits of her own labor.

Mr. Perrin remained with his parents until their death and inherited the old homestead, continuing to reside upon it until he also was gathered to his father's June 27, 1888. He had in the meantime erected a fine brick house, enlarged the barn, and otherwise improved the place which forms one of the most pleasant homes of the county. The farm contains two hundred and eighty-three and a half acres, twenty-three of which are within the corporation limits of Springfield, the remainder ad- joining the same. The dwelling is furnished in a manner which reflects credit upon the taste of the occupants while making no pretentions to undue elegance.

On March 9, 1853, Mr. Perrin led to the hymen- cal altar Miss Mary Dunn Roush, who was born in Berkley County, Va .. February 2, 1825. Her paternal grandparents were born in Germany, and upon coming to America located in Virginia, spend- ing the remainder of their lives there. Her grand- father was a slave-owner and became well-to do. Martin Ronsh, her father, is believed to have been born in the Old Dominion. He was a planter, working his lands with slave labor until 1847, when he sold his possessions there and came to Ohio. After residing in Madison County a year he came to Springfield, in which town he abode a twelvemonth after which he removed to a farm which he had purchased in Springfield Township, dying there in 1877 at the age of eighty-six years. His wife, who had borne the maiden name of Mar- garet Patton, was born in Greencastle, Franklin

County, Pa., spent her last years in Springfield, and was buried beside her husband in Ferncliff Ceme- tery.

To our subject and the widow who now mourns his loss, seven children were born, six of whom survive to comfort their mother in her grievous affliction and to share the burden of grief that fol- lows the removal of a beloved parent. Thesc bear the names of Margaret Amclia, Ellen Nora, wife of James E. Studebaker; John Martin, Mary Belle, Ida Lavenia, and Minerva Cooper. The deceased child who was called Katie McKee died at the age of seven years and five months. Mrs. Perrin is a consistent member of the First Lutheran Church, which her husband attended and liberally sup- ported, although not identified with the organiza- tion. Throughout the entire community Mrs. Per- rin is regarded with the respect due to a woman of her fine character, intelligent mind, and habits of usefulness, and the other members of the family share in the esteem of their neighbors. Mr. Per- rin lies buried within two hundred yards from the spot where he was born and where he had always lived.

OHN B. ABELL. This young gentleman is now Superintendent of the Democrat Com- pany of Springfield, having been chosen for that position when the company was in- corporated, the business having become too large for one man to manage in all its departments. Al- though it has been but a few years since he began his residence here, his scholarly attainments, men- tal capacity, and business acumen are already well known and give him an excellent standing in social and business circles. He comes of excellent families in both lines of descent and so far his life has done credit to the name it bears, while the promise for the future is a bright one.

The father of our subject, Commodore Lawrence A bell, distinguished himself in the naval service dur- ing the late war and died from hardships and exposure in 1866, at Salem, Mass. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann Hathaway, was a native of the Old Bay State, where she died, when

George Heinmer

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her son of whom we write was but an infant. John B. was born in Marblehead, May 1, 1860, and af: ter his mother's death was reared by his uncle Charles 1). Abell, his youth being spent upon a farm. Upon reaching his seventeenth year he en- tercd Williston Seminary, afterward attending Phillip's Academy from which he was graduated in 1881. Coming West, he then entered Oberlin College, from which institution he was graduated in 1885. Immediately after his graduation Mr. Abell came to Springfield and entered the law office of Gen. J. Warren Keifer, with whom he read law three years. During the same time he carried on quite an extensive ice business on his own account. Closing out the business at the ex- piration of a few years, he became an advertising solicitor and editor of the Daily Democrat, con- tinuing thus engaged for a year when the company was incorporated and his present position assumed.

Among the members of the class of '85 in Ober- lin College was Miss Mary E. Upp, of Sandusky, Ohio, whom he married June 30, 1886. The pop- ularity of the young couple, their estimable char_ acters, and mental eulture, open before them an extended path of usefulness, and win for them the friendly regard of all with whom they come in con- tact. Mr. Abell and wife are both members of the First Congregational Church, and politically, he is a stanch Democrat.

G EORGE STEINMANN, a lithographie por- trait of whom appears on the opposite page, was for many years engaged in business in Springfield, and was widely known and greatly re- speetcd. He was a native of IIesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many, and a son of Adam Steinmann, who was born in the same locality. The father emigrated to this country with his family, and located among the pioneers of Hancock County, where he bought a traet of land, and actively entered upon its develop- ment, making his home there until his demise.

The subject of this sketch was quite young when he accompanied his parents across the water from the Fatherland to their new home in Ohio. In carly

manhood he learned the trade of a baker, and after- ward established himself at that, and carried on the business in Springfield very profitably many years, being one of the best in his line in the city and hav- ing a large patronage. By his death, March 19, 1875, in the comfortable home that his toil had built up here, Springfield lost a good citizen, one whose business activity had promoted its industrial inter- ests. By his devotion to his business, and by the sound integrity with which he conducted it, he won not only worldly gain, but the consideration and kindly regard of all with whom he dealt. The fol- lowing words of the poet written of another apply to him:

"His youth was innocent; his riper age Marked with some acts of goodness every day ; And watched by eyes that loved him, calm and sage, Faded his late declining years away, Cheerful he gave his being up and went To share the holy rest that waits a life well spent."

Sharing his countrymen's love of a domestic life, our subject was peculiarly happy in his private re- lations. The maiden name of his wife, who survives him, was Margaret Biddle, and like himself, she was a native of Hesse Darmstadt, where she was born December 15, 1820. Her father, John Biddle was also a native of that country, his birth taking place May 4, 1793. He lived in Germany until 1830, when he came to America with his wife and three children, landing in Baltimore, and making his way to Pennsylvania. He lived in that State a few years before coming to Ohio, where he settled near Mayville. A few years later he came from there to Springfield, which he found to be a small place, and much of the land near the city covered with dense forests. He was employed at various kinds of work until he retired from active life, and is still residing here at an advanced age, having nearly rounded out a century of life. His wife has long been dead, her death occurring in 1843. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Price, and she was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom were reared, four of whom survive, and there are sixteen grandehil- dren, twenty-eight great-grandehildren, and one great-great grandehild.

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Mrs. Steinmann was ten years old when she came to this country, and she remained with her parents until her marriage with our subject in 1843 gave her a home of her own, over which she presided with characteristic energy, managing its affairs with prudence aud discretion, and making it a pleasant abiding place for her household. Hler pleasant wedded life brought to her two children, Elizabetli and Catherine. Elizabeth married Frederick Um- melmann, a native of Germany, who came to Amer- ica when a young man and settled in Springfield. He is a pumpmaker by trade, and has carried on his ealling in this eity some years. Mr. and Mrs. Ummelmanı have two children, Cora E. and Charles Elmer. Cora married Frank Schaefer, and they have one child, Edna C. Mrs. Steinmann's daughter Catherine married William Steinmann, and lives in Springfield, they have one ehild Theo- dore W. The family are all held in high estima- tion, and are valued members of the St. John Luth- eran Church.

ETER BUFFENBARGER bears the name which has been well known in Clark County since the early part of the present century. The family is of German anees- try and the early home in America was in the Old Dominion. From the vicinity of Petersburg, George and Hannalı ( Hawes) Buffenbarger came to Ohio in 1804, loeating within a mile of where our subject now lives, near what is known as the Buffenbarger bridge. His homestead contained eleven hundred acres of land lying along the Little Miami River. Upon it are still standing trees raised from seed brought by Grandmother Buffenbarger from Vir- ginia. It was very difficult to start an orchard as rabbits and other animals were great enemies to young fruit trees.

The first wheat sold by Grandfather Buffenbar- ger brought twelve and a half eents per bushel. The first brick made in Clark County, was the work of the old pioneer and as there were no brick-ma- sons in the county he built his own briek house, although he had never even seen a brick laid. He

went thirty miles to get a mason's trowel seventy - five years ago. Ile was in the War of 1812 and while absent from home Indians visited the house where his wife was alone and stole everything they eould carry away with them, including the provisions, his gun, axes, ete. Ile lived to the extreme age of ninety-four years and his hair was as black on the day of his death as it had ever been. Grandmother Buffenbarger reached the age of eighty-one years.

The next in the direct line of deseent was Wash- ington Buffenbarger, who was one of the first Buck- eye boys born in Clark County, and took delight in telling that fact. The year of his birth was 1809, and the place the old homestead, of which he in- herited a share. His own homestead comprised three hundred aeres in Clark and Auglaize Counties. He lived to the age of sixty-six years, rearing a family of five children. Ilis wife was Mary, daughter of John Gowdy, of Greene County. She was born in Addison, Champaign County, and died June 16, 1890, at the age of eighty-two years. Washington Buffenbarger was a Captain in the militia and was Justice of the Peace for twenty-seven years, hold- ing the office from his first election until his death. His family was made up of the subject of this sketeh ; Hannah, now the wife of Seth S. Briggs; Priscilla, wife of Milton Ryan; Mahala Ann, who lives on the old homestead, and Francis M., who is married and has one child.

The gentleman whose name beads this biograph- eal sketch was reared at Dolavarden, on the old homestead and received his education in the schools of the county. Ile became well versed in practical knowledge, carly in life acquiring an understand- ing of agricultural pursuits, in which he engaged when he had reached a suitable age. He began his life-work on the Buffenbarger estate after his mar- riage in 1853, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Kiser, who has proved an efficient helpmate and devoted mother. Their family comprises twelve children whose record is as follows: Napoleon B. resides in Charleston and holds the office of Constable; Jane is the wife of Madison Pepple and the mother of two children-Ralph and Lawrence; Alice is the wife of Charles Merritt, a farmer near his father- in-law, their family comprising three children- Buelalı Ellen, Thomas Edward and Esther Aliee;

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Jennettie lives with her parents on the old place; Stacy married Miss Jessie Dick, of Springfield, and has two children -- Jessie and James Frederick ; Ella, a young lady, is living with her parents; Jones married Miss Cora B. Arnett; Simington, Anna, Mamie, Sally and Harley are at home and complete the family circle.

Mrs. Buffenbarger is the oldest child of John and Sarah (Taylor) Kiser who were natives of Win- chester County, Va., and who had accompanied their respective parents to Ohio early in the pres- ent century. John Kiser was a son of Jacob Kiser who settled west of Selma about 1809 and lived to be eighty-four years of age. The son was a great hunter in the days of flint-lock muskets and his eldest son has a gun which was brought by the family from Virginia and used by him. Mrs. John Kiser was a daughter of John Taylor who, with his two sons-Samuel and George-entered twelve hundred acres of land in this vicinity and who died fifty-two years ago at the age of one hundred and ten years. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Buffenbarger are John Kiser now living near Selma; Sarah E., Jane, George, Anna Eliza and Laura.

Mr. Buffenbarger possesses great faith in the principles of Democracy and never fails to cast his vote in behalf of the candidates who are pledged to support them. He has the respect of his fellow- citizens as an energetic and successful farmer, reli- able citizen and a man of excellent character. The Kiser and Taylor families, which his estimable wife so worthily represents, have long been identified with the Methodist Church.

OSEPH E. EAVEY. This well-known resi- dent of Greene County, as becn no unim- portant factor in advancing its dairy inter- ests, and is at present successfully operating a creamery just outside the city limits, where he has one hundred and eighty-four acres of choice land and all the requisite buildings. His farm is ac- knowledged to be one of the finest in Grecne County. IIc built a fine brick residence in 1878,

and he has a good barn and all the other outbuild- ings required by the country resident, together with fruit and shade trees, and the improved machinery, both for tilling the soil and for carrying on his pre- sent business. Ile has spent his entire life in this vicinity, having been born and reared on the farm adjoining that which he now lives. He established his creamery in 1888, and is a leading stockholder in the Citizens Bank.

The subject of this notice was born September 20, 1848, and is the son of John S. and Margaret C. (Kanode) Eavey, both of whom were natives of Washington County, Md., and who were born in 1814, and 1817, respectively. They were married in Maryland, and in that State were born their two eldest children. John Eavey was a miller by trade, which he prosecuted in Maryland until emigrating to the West. In 1842 he started out with a cov- ered wagon, accompanied by his family, and coming to this county, secured two hundred and forty acres of land, that upon which his son, Joseph E., now resides. In 1845 he removed to the Bonner place, adjoining, which he likewise purchased, and where he lived until 1875. Soon afterward he erected a brick residence on the Wilmington pike, just out- side the city limits of Xenia, where he spent his last days, dying in 1879. The wife and mother re. sides in Xenia. They were the parents of five chil- dren, all of whom lived to mature years, viz .: Arthur W., Henry H., Susan A., Mrs. F. G. Bell, of Xenia; John K., of Tampa, Fla .; and Joseph E., our subject, who was the youngest born. The pa- ternal grandfather spent his last years in Mary- land.

Mr. Eavey at an early period in his life became familiar with the arts of plowing, sowing, and reap- ing, in which he assisted his father until reaching man's estate. He attended the common schools, and by keeping his eyes open to what was going on around him in the world, acquired a fair knowledge of business methods while still a young man. When ready to establish a home of his own, he was mar- ried October 18, 1877, to Miss Etta S., daughter of John F. and Rebecca (Van Eton) Wright, who lived at that time near the city limits. The father is living in Xenia, and the mother is deceased. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Eavey, a

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son and daughter, John II. and Helen M., who are now at home. Mr. and Mrs. Eavey have for many years been prominently connected with the First United Presbyterian Church.

M RS. ELIZA MACCRACKEN. Students of philosophy tell us that "rays of light are colorless when unbroken," and students of human nature learn that the deepest char- acters, the strongest minds, are formed not by un- broken happiness, but by the varied scenes of grief and joy, trials and disappointments. To only few is it allotted to attain to the great age of fourscore years, and among the list of octogenarians of Greene County, very considerable mention belongs to Mrs. MacCracken, who is a most intelligent, and in many respects remarkable character, and who entered upon her eightieth year November 22, 1889. She possesses an excellent memory, and is justly proud of her children, who occupy promi- nent positions in life. Many years ago she was a teacher, and numbers among her former pupils some who are now filling eminent stations in life. As a friend and neighbor she is helpful and kind. As a Christian she is faithful and devoted.

Jefferson County, Ohio, was the birthplace of Mrs. MacCracken, and the date of her birth Novem- ber 22, 1810. Her parents, James and Mary ( Haw- kins) Dougherty, were natives respectively of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and were both of Scotchi-Irish extraction. They gave their daugh- ter what was in those days a very fine education, and which she afterward supplemented by a thor- ough course of reading. She attended the Steuben- ville Female Seminary, of which Dr. Beatty was President. That institution is the alma mater of hundreds of women who have blessed and elevated society with their presence. Early in life she con- meneed the vocation of teaching, and the results of her faithful work are apparent even now.

The first marriage of our subject occurred Sep- tember 16, 1833, when she became the wife of the Rev. Johnson Welch, who was a recognized power in the pulpit, and in many respects a remarkable

man. He was a graduate of the Allegheny Semin- ary, a theological institution of high order among the United Presbyterians. Mr. and Mrs. Welch became the parents of two children-James and Eliza. James followed in his father's footsteps, and is now preaching in Troy, Davis County, Iowa. Eliza is the wife of Andrew M. Brooks, and is now Principal of the Bettic Stuart Institute, of Spring- field, Ill. While yet in the prime of life, and after only four years of married life, the Rev. Jolinson Welch passed away, April 17, 1837.

A few years after the death of her husband Mrs. Welch was again married, the Rev. J. S. MacCracken becoming her husband, and the ceremony which united them being performed November 11, 1839. Mr. MacCracken was the son of John and Martha (Wilson) MacCracken, natives of Pennsylvania, and early settlers of Brown County, Ohio. Their son, John S., was born in Butler County, Ohio, April 6, 1804, and died April 1, 1863. He and his wife had a family of five children, the record of whom is as follows: Henry is now Principal of New York City University ; John Joseph died in infancy; George is an attorney-at-law in Urbana, this State; Anna M. is at home, and is a teacher in a classical school in the old Xenia College Building; another child died in infancy, unnamed.

Mr. and Mrs. MacCracken passed the eventful lives of a pioneer preacher and a pioncer teacher. He came of a hardy pioneer family. His grand- father was killed by the Indians while standing in the yard at his frontier Pennsylvania homc. His father removed to Greene County, Ohio, when the son, John S., was a boy, and there bought land and evolved a home out of the wilderness. John Mac- Cracken received his early education in Xenia, being a pupil of the Rev. Hugh McMillen, the founder of Xenia College. He later became a student at Miami University, and having completed his studies entered the ministry. His first charge was at Kenton, Ohio, where he was successful in establishing the United Presbyterian Church. He donated one-half of his salary (not a large one) toward the ereetion of a church edifice. In the meantime his wife taught a select school, being led to organize it principally on account of laek of fa- cilities for education in that locality, and largely

W Hunter

Elizabeth Hunter

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in behalf of her own children, who owe their enii- ment success in a large degree to her instruction.

In 1851, after eight years pastorate in Kenton, Ohio, the family removed to Oxford, the same State, and while there Mr. MacCracken visited many destitute places, organizing churches wherever called. They resided in Oxford five years, remov- ing thence to Greene County, and loeating first at Cedarville, where father and son taught one year. Then the family located in Xenia, where Mr. MacCracken died. The loss was a grievous one to the family who, however, mourned not alone. The poor, whom he had helped; the sorrowing, to whom he had pointed out the balm for sadness; the erring, whose footsteps he had guided into the straight and narrow way, all realized that they had lost a true, faithful and generous friend. For many years his widow has walked alone down the pathway of life toward the valley of death. But the loving care and affection of her children have brightened her declining years, and to them she will bequeath a legacy of tender memories, and the heritage of a noble, consecrated life.

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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 93

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