Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, Part 93

Author: Chapman Brothers
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 894

USA > Ohio > Fayette County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 93
USA > Ohio > Madison County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 93
USA > Ohio > Pickaway County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 93

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and force of character, who was very influential in its social, religious, political and public life, and was known for his generous encouragement of all things that would in any way benefit the commu- nity. His was one of the half-dozen families who organized the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, the first church in Ross County. The father of our subject has in his possession a sword which is a memento of the Captain's bravery in an encoun- ter, in 1814, with the Indians near Little San- dusky, he having saved his life by its dexterous use when they were upon him with their knives, anxious to secure his scalp as a trophy.

Capt. Entrekin's wife, who was born February 16, 1783, died January 16, 1845, at the age of sixty-one years. The following is the record of their children: Elizabeth, who was born January 4, 1803, and subsequently married James McCoy, died August 23, 1872; dames, born October 18, 1804, married Margaret Steele for his first wife, and Elizabeth Shirley for his second wife, and died October 19, 1870; Catherine, born November 1, 1806, married John Carter, of Nicholas County, Ky., and died in Missouri in November, 1867; John, born April 9, 1809, married Frances Moore who is now dead: William W., father of our sub- ject, was born March 12, 1812; Daniel Crouse, the next in order of birth, was born September 21, 1814, married Jane Torbet, and died in Indepen- dence, Jackson County, Mo., in 1891; Pheraby, born May 25, 1817, was first married to Russell D. Rockwell, and next to Abram Jones, of Ross County; Dianthe, born August 1, 1819, married Dr. A. W. Thompson, of Cireleville, and died Aug- ust 22, 1858; Jane, born January 30, 1822, died in infaney; Nancy C., born December 8, 1831, is living in Kingston, Ohio.

The father of our subject obtained his education in the crude pioncer schools of Ross County, that were taught on the subscription plan, his first teacher being George II. Kimball, of Vermont. Mr. Entrekin attended school but two and one- half years in his youth. Ile was a tall lad, his head grazing the ceiling of the old log school house. Ilis boyhood days were spent on his fath- er's farm in clearing away the timber and pre- paring the soil for cultivation, as they were living

in a perfect wilderness. At the age of sixteen, his father, who had engaged extensively in farming after the War of 1812, established him as a farmer, cattle-breeder and dealer, giving him charge of four farms, and he did an extensive business. He went to Kentucky annually for twenty-three years, to buy cattle to feed and sell. He has lived on the old Entrekin homestead on section 34, Picka- way Township, a half-mile north of Kingston, since 1828, a period of sixty-four years. At first he lived in a part log and part frame house, but in 1840 he built a commodious brick house, which he occu- pied until his death, hewing the heavy timbers that form the foundation, and having the brick made on the farm, teaming one hundred and forty-four loads of stone to be used in the construction of the dwelling, the only material not found on the farm. Ile drove a six-horse team in doing his work. lle had been a very large land-owner in his time, once having nearly eight hundred acres in his home farm, and had had three thousand acres of land in his possession, but he divided a good deal of it among his children.

Mr. Entrekin, Sr., was married May 31, 1842, to Miss Jane Bell, a native of Circleville, born March 7, 1820, and a daughter of Thomas and Ruth (Foresman) Bell. Her father came to America from Ireland, his native country, when he was a lad. Ile afterward returned to his old home, but eventually came back to the United States and settled in Ohio. He was a miller and a store- keeper, and for many years was a well-known business man of Circleville. He died in 1823, and his wife in 1833. Four of their six children are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Entrekin had four children, as follows: John Rockwell; Creaton, born March 24, 1847; Flora Belle, September 18, 1849; and Taey C., February 24, 1862, who married New- ton Davis, of Decatur, Ill., where they live. Flora Belle died June 25, 1892. The parents of our subject were both members of the Presbyterian Church, of which Mrs. Entrekin still continues a member, sinee their childhood days, and their names are associated with many good works that have benefited the community where they have lived so many years. Mr. Entrekin was an old- line Whig in early manhood, and he voted for

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Gen. W. H. Ilarrison in 1836 and 1840, and in 1888 had the pleasure of casting his vote for Gen. Benjamin Harrison. Hle died at his home June 1, 1892, and his widow still survives him on the old homestead.

John R. Entrekin has always lived in Pickaway, his native township, where he was reared on his father's farm, obtaining his education in the local schools, and becoming thoroughly familiar with all branches of agriculture under his father's in- struction. Since his marriage, he has lived on section 27, where he has one hundred and sixty acres of good farming land, that are amply supplied with modern buildings and all the improvements that go to make up a farm that ranks with the best in the vicinity.

Our subject was married September 13, 1876, to Miss Laura JJ. Anderson, a native of Frankfort, Ross County. They have one son, Carl A., born November 15, 1878. Both Mr. and Mrs. Entrekin are among the leading members of the Presby- terian Church at Kingston, of which he is Elder, and they have done much to promote its useful- ness as an influence for good in the community.

LIVER PERRY BRINKER, M. D., a resident physician of Darbyville, and a native-born son of Pickaway County, whose life record is an honor to its citizenship, is distinguished in his profession, which he still practices, and also has an enviable reputation as a business man, whose valuable farming and stock interests are very ably managed.

Dr. Brinker was born in Walnut Township, De- cember 11, 1837, and is a son of George Brinker, a hero of the War of 1812, who in after years played a prominent part in developing the agri- cultural resources of this county by reclaiming several hundred acres of land from its original wildness, and was also a conspicuous figure in the religious life of his community. IIe was a Penn- sylvanian by birth, and was reared on a farm in his native State. In early manhood, he married Elizabeth Young, who was a native of Virginia,

and he and his wife came on horseback, with their earthly possessions in a small bundle, to Ohio to found a home in the forest wilds of Pickaway, in the early days of its settlement, and in the busy years that followed were among its most diligent and useful pioneers. Mr. Brinker bought a quar- ter-section of land in Walnut Township, and worked out by the month to pay for it. Game was plentiful, the country being wild and sparsely settled, and as he was a fine marksman, the man who employed him paid him to hunt deer and other wild animals by the month instead of work- ing on a farm all the time. He was a man of fine physique, six feet in height and straight as an arrow, and was well endowed with those traits that lead to sueeess in any walk in life. lle and his wife began life here in a log house, and bent their energies to better their fortunes, working early and late, and with her active co-operation, he gathered together a valuable property, becom- ing the proprietor of seven hundred acres of choice farming land.

At the age of seventy-three, death closed the life of this good man, but he still lives in the hearts of those who knew and loved him for his pure, noble character. Ile was simple and straightfor- ward in his manner, sound and sensible in his opinions, and he was a veritable Christian, with strong religious convictions. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and did much to en- courage the growth of the denomination in his neighborhood, having preaching at his house, and in other ways promoting the cause in which his sympathies were so deeply enlisted. He had a good record as a soldier, serving with devoted patriotism throughout the War of 1812. Ile helped to carry the day in the famous battle of Lake Erie. fought near Put-in-Bay September 10. 1813. when for the first time a whole British squadron sur- rendered in a naval contest with Americans, the victory being announced to Gen. Harrison by the brave Capt. Oliver II. Perry, by whose in- vincible courage and determination it had been won. in the message so famous for its simple brev- ity, yet so full of meaning: " We have met the enemy and they are ours-two ships, two brigs. one schooner, and one sloop." So greatly did the

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father of our subject admire and reverence his old commander, he named his son of whom we write in his honor. An uncle of our subject was killed in that same war. The Doctor's mother, of blessed memory, departed this life at the age of sixty-five. She was George Brinker's second wife, and was the mother of three children: Catherine E., now deceased, one who died in infancy, and the Doctor. Ilis first wife was the mother of a large family of children, carefully training them to honorable lives: Barney, John, Silas, George, Nancy, Susan, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary and Lavina.

Our subject was reared on a farm in his native township. His father and mother died when he was a boy, within seven weeks of each other, and after that sad event in his life he went to live with his sister Nancy. Ifis early education was conducted in the district schoolhouse, which was built of logs and furnished with slab benches, and the school was carried on under the rate-bill sys- tem. When about eighteen years of age, the Doctor went to college at Delaware, but was taken sick a few months later and had to return home. He then had private instructions in Fairfield County, and after obtaining a certificate, taught school one winter there and one term in Franklin County. Deciding to enter the medical profes- sion, for which he had a natural taste, he began to prepare himself for it under the instruction of Dr. George E. Eels, of Lithopolis, with whom he read medicine three years, thus laying a solid founda- tion for the course that he subsequently pursued at the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, of which he is a graduate.

After leaving college, the Doctor entered upon the practice of his profession with his old instruc- tor, Dr. Eels, with whom he remained six months. Returning then to Pickaway County, he estab- lished himself at Bloomfield, whence he went a year later to Shadeville, Franklin County, where he built up a large and lucrative practice. He was a resident of that town from 1865 until 1880, with the exception of a year spent at Circleville. In the latter year, he came to Darbyville, which he has since made his home. For some time, he de- voted himself exclusively to his practice, which was extensive, covering a good deal of territory,

for he early made a name for himself as a physi- cian of rare ability, well grounded in medical learning and the proper treatment of the prevail- ing diseases of this section of the country. Of late, he has given much attention to farming and stock interests, and buys and raises a considerable num- ber of cattle and hogs, owning some very fine cat- tle of standard breeds. He has two hundred and thirty-six and one-eighth acres of land, one hun- dred acres in one tract, the remainder in another, and all in Muhlenberg Township, except thirty- three and one-third acres in JJackson Township, and he rents it, taking his pay in grain, which brings him in a good income. In the season of 1884-85, he built the frame residence on Main Street, Darbyville, in which he and his wife have a home attractive in its appointments and abound- ing in the comforts that add so much to the pleasure of living.

Our subject was married, in the fall of 1864, to Miss Kate Hill, a native of this township, whose family history will be found in the biographical sketch of her sister, Mrs. Anna Montgomery. Mrs. Brinker is a true, womanly woman, whose fine personal attributes have won her the sincere regard of all who come under her influence. She is of the Methodist faith in religion and a devoted member of the church. Of the four children born to her and her subject, three have passed through the gates of death to the land of the immortals: George E., Annie Bell and Frank. One son, Eras- mus W., is left to be their pride and comfort in their declining years. He is a bright and talented young man, well educated, a member of the Co- Inmbus Bar, and has a promising future before him in his profession. He is popular in social circles, and is an earnest worker in the Methodist Church, of which he is a member in high standing.

Dr. Brinker is a man of strong personality, with a broad, calm, practical mind and firm will, and a keen sagacity in business matters, whereby he has achieved financial success. He is of a generous temper, has given liberally of his means to churches and charitable objects, and his name is associated with many of the progressive movements that have resulted in local improvement. He was head of the village government as Mayor for some years,

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and administered public affairs with a firm and steady hand, and he was also School Direetor for a short time. In his polities, he was a Democrat, until that party repealed the Dow Prohibition Law, but since then he has been independent.

AMES A. MCLEAN, who is widely and fa- == vorably known throughout Fayette County as one who has held high official positions, is one of the leading citizens of Wash- ington C. H., where he has a beautiful home. He is a native of that city, born March 4, 1841, in a house that stood on the present site of the Arling- ton House, the place being at that time the property of his father, Samuel McLean.

Samuel McLean was born in one of the early homes of Ross County in 1808, and was reared amid the pioneer scenes of his birthplace. ITis parents were natives of Pennsylvania and were of Scotch descent. After completing his education, Samuel McLean came to Washington C. II., in 1837, and established himself in this eity in the general mercantile business. Ile was married that year to Miss Eliza C. Robinson, who was a daughter of John Robinson, a prominent farmer of Ross County at that time. Mr. McLean continued pros- perously engaged in his business until his death, Au- gust, 22, 1852. He was one of the original settlers of Washington C. H., and his widow, who is still living at a venerable age, is one of the oldest resi- dents of the town, whose good fortune it is to have witnessed its rise and progress almost from the be- ginning. Samuel MeLean was a Whig and had an intelligent understanding of politics in his day. He was the father of seven children. of whom these four are living: James A .; John R., a resident of Washington C. H .; Cincinnatus, a jeweler at Athens; and Ione, the wife of M. B. Bryan, a resident of Washington C. H. and a farmer by oc- cupation.

The subject of this sketch attended the publie schools of his native city, and after his education was completed, he taught two terms of school dur-

ing the winters of 1861 and 1862. In the latter year, in which he attained his majority, he threw aside all personal aims and ambitions, to take his place in the ranks of brave boys in blue to help fight his country's battles, his name being placed on the roll of Company C, One Hundred and Four- teenth Ohio Infantry, on the 9th of August, he having been engaged previously in assisting to re- eruit the regiment, and he was commissioned Ser- geant of his company. He was present at the siege of Vicksburg, faced the enemy in the battle of Arkansas Post, on the White River. and did his share of fighting in other engagements. However zealous he was in the interest of the cause for which he and his comrades did battle, and however loyalty to the flag prompted him to dare and suffer much, he was obliged to succumb to the hardships and pri- vations of war, and February 6, 1863, was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to his home and friends with a fine record for good soldiership, of which they were proud.

After he left the army. Mr. McLean resumed teaching and was so employed one term. He then received the appointment to the office of Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for the Sixth Dis- triet of Southern Ohio. He acted in that capacity for two years and was then made Deputy Assessor of the Internal Revenue for the same district, which position he filled six years. He next worked as civil engineer and Surveyor of the County. He filled the office of Surveyor of Fayette County twelve years and was regarded as one of the most useful and reliable of the officials who had ever served the county in that position. At the expira- tion of his term of office, Mr. McLean turned his attention to farming, purchasing a farm of five hundred acres in Wayne Township; and taking up his residence on the place. he devoted himself zeal- ously to tilling the soil and raising stock and con- tinued to occupy the farm for ten years, with the exception of several winters spent in Washington (. H. that the children might attend school. In the fall of 1888, he settled here permanently with his family, having purchased a residence at No. 225 East East Street, in a very attractive quarter of the city. Mr. MeLean is prominent socially as a member of the Masonic fraternity and asa Knight

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Templar. Politically, he is a Republican of the highest standard, and religiously, a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. McLean was married, in 1867, to Miss Cath- erine, dangliter of Charles Briggs, who was a prom- inent farmer of Ross County. She is a woman eminently fitted in every way for a home-maker, and to her devotion to his interests our subject owes much. They are the parents of five children: Nettie, the wife of Dr. Charles B. Jones, a practic- ing physician at Kingston; Charles R., who is at home; Eliza, who is attending the Ontario Ladies' College, at Whitby, Ontario, Canada; Fred B. and Mary, who are at home attending school.

C R. DALBEY is a member of the famous firm of Dalbey Bros., of Washington C. II., proprietors of the Fayette Poultry Yards, and one of the largest dealers in their line in the State. The Dalbey brothers are sons of the Rev. R. M. Dalbey, who was born in Great Grove, Greene County, in 1816, coming of one of the early families of Ohio. He attended the pioneer schools of that county, but was mainly self-edu- cated, as he was very fond of books and through- out life was a great student. He was early converted to the cause of Christ, into which he threw his whole soul, and at the age of twenty-six he entered the ministry, joining the Ohio Confer- ence of the Methodist Protestant Church. He devoted himself earnestly to his sacred calling twenty years, and then, being obliged to abandon it on account of a throat trouble, he turned his attention to the grocery business, which he carried on some twelve years. Returning then to the pulpit, he continued to occupy it until the hour of his death, which occurred at Jasper Mills in the fifty-ninth year of his age.

The mother of our subject was Elizabeth A. (Harrison) Dalbey, a native of England, and a sister of Hon. Richard A. Harrison, of Columbus, and a daughter of the Rev. Robert Harrison, who was a native of England, and a resident of Springfield,

this State, many years, coming to this country in 1830, and a pioneer preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Six of the seven children born to the Rev. R. M. Dalbey and wife are still living, five sons and one daughter. The eldest is the Rev. J. HI. Dalbey, who is a member of the Ohio Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church; the sister, Mary E., lives at the family residence at Washington C. II., as also does her brother next younger; the Rev. A. F. Dalbey, a member of the Cincinnati Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church; our subject is the fourth in order of birth; after him comes .J. L., a member of the Cin- cinnati Conference, who has charge of a church at Christiansburgh; W. R., the youngest of the fam- ily, is city editor of the Cyclone, a Republican organ, is Secretary of the Southern Ohio Poultry Association, and a member of the Mystic Circle. The Rev. J. II. is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, to which his brother A. F. also belongs, be- side being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. All are Republicans, with the ex- ception of J. L., who is a Prohibitionist. Like his brother, our subject is also a zealous member of the Methodist Church, and is an active worker in the Sunday-school. The mother of this family died in 1880, at Jasper Mills, and her mortal re- mains were placed beside those of her husband. The principal subject of this sketch, C. R. Dalbey, was born in the town of Xenia. He was educated in the public schools of Springfield, and after leav- ing school learned the trade of a carpenter, at which he worked five years. At the end of that time, he inaugurated the enterprise which has grown into one of the most extensive poultry businesses in this part of the country. All of his brothers are associated with him, and theirs is one of the largest poultry firms in the State. Their estab- lishment is located at Nos. 387, 389 and 391 Wash- ington Avenue. Their business is ably conducted under the name of the Fayette Poultry Yards, which is known far and wide, as they have patrons throughout the Union. They breed about thirty different varieties of fancy poultry, dealing in none but the purest breeds. One reason for their remarkable success is their far-sighted policy of extensive advertising, by which means they have

John Riddle

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reached nearly two millions of people in various parts of the United States. They are now getting out their seventh annual catalogue, which will be issued in a neat form, and will be fully illustrated-

OHN RIDDLE and his intelligent and in- teresting wife are recognized universally as among the foremost people of Darby Town- ship, Pickaway County. Ile is a man of ex- cellent judgment, and few farmers who began with scant means, as did he, have accumulated so much property in as short a time. Ile was born in Mad- ison County, just north of Mt. Sterling. Ohio, September 1, 1831. His father, Abner Riddle, was be:" in Pennsylvania, in 1783, but came to Madi- son County, Ohio, when a young man, traveling -

by wagon. He worked out for neighboring farmers for several years, and after his marriage bought a farm one-half mile north of Mt. Sterling.

The young couple settled in the woods in a log cabin and had frequent calls from Indian neigh- bors. Game was plentiful and the deer and tur- keys which fell by the young farmer's gun supplied his family with meat. Ile owned one hundred and thirty acres of land, which he improved and developed into a good farm. At one time, he was a member of the Christian Church. His polities were of the Whig persuasion, but he never cared to occupy office. Ilis death occurred in 1848.

The mother of our subject was born near Har- per's Ferry. Va., and was known in maidenhood as Sarah Thomas. When quite young, she came to Ohio with her parents, who were early settlers in these parts. She reared to years of maturity eight children, namely: Mary A., Mrs. Alkire; Jackson; Maria, Mrs. Robison; Harrison; Letha, Mrs. Corney; John, Abner, and William L. The mother died at the age of eighty-four, having spent a long life in usefulness. She was a member of the Christian Church, and was very active in her early days, but on account of her loss of eyesight in her later years, she did not often attend divine service. Both parents lie at rest in the Alkire Cemetery, near Mt. Sterling.

Hle of whom we write had his early training and education upon the farm and in the primitive schoolhouse. He was allowed to attend school in the winter only, as his help was needed upon the farm during the summer. He began life for him- self at the age of eighteen. hiring out to neighbors by the month at the wages of 87. and continued working for others until he reached the age of thirty-five, laboring most of the time in Ohio, but spending some time in Illinois and Indiana. Dur- ing 1856. he was in Piatt County, IL., and in 1863 was in Benton County. Ind .. where he had an in- terest in some cattle which he was engaged in herding. In 1856, he drove a large number of cattle through to the Eastern market.

November 21, 1866, our subject was married to Martha Elizabeth Young, who was born near Mt. Sterling, December 16, 1814. They lost two chil- dren, who died in early infancy, and have one living, Tenny E., a son of eighteen years, who is now attending school at Darby. Immediately after marriage, they settied on the farm where they now live. a property which belonged to the father of Mrs. Riddle, and which was bought by Mr. Riddle in 1868. To the three hundred and forty original aeres he has added until he now has five hundred and thirty aeres and here he has made substantial and permanent improvements, putting in dramage. establishing fences, and erecting excellent farm buildings. They first settled in a log house, but in 1876 built the large frame house in which they now reside, and during the same year put up the frame barn.

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Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, Part 93

Author: Chapman Brothers Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Bros. Number of Pages: 894

Author: Chapman Brothers
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 894