The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 105

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

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WILLIAM FRESHOUR, lawyer and broker, Covington. Mr. Freshour, the only member of the bar at Covington, is a life-resident of Miami Co. ; was born in Newton Township in 1841; his early youth was spent on the farm and at school. In 1861, when the first call was made for troops, he was the first man to sign the roll in Covington, and served in the 11th O. V. I. until mustered out by reason of expira- tion of term of service in August. Soon after, enlisted for three years, and was assigned to the 44th O. V. I., in which he served until the spring of 1864, when they "veteranized " and he remained until November, when by reason of a wound which he received during Hunter's retreat from Lynchburg, he was discharged. He started in the 44th a private, was promoted to First Sergeant, and on the re- organization, was elected First Lieutenant, and a little later was promoted to Captain. His wound in the right ankle was caused by a minie ball, declared by the Surgeon in charge so serious as to require amputation of the limb, but the Captain could not see it that way, and went to Cincinnati, where, under the treat- ment of Dr. Groesbeck, he so far recovered as to be able to use his limb for ordinary locomotive purposes. After returning, he was at, to and from, Covington, until 1867, when he went to Washington, where he remained in the employ of the Treasury Department six years. In the fall of 1873, he went to California, and on his return, stopped two years in Minneapolis, and returned to Covington in 1876 ; since which time he has been engaged in different enterprises, latterly being Presi- dent of the Stillwater Valley Bank, from which he withdrew in June, 1879, and has since been engaged as broker and lawyer, and is doing a very satisfactory business. He was married in 1873 to Miss Emma, daughter of Jacob E. Shellen- barger ; they have two children.

JACOB FURNAS, retired farmer ; P. O. Versailles. Jacob Furnas is a son of William Furnas, born May 29, 1775, in South Carolina, who moved to Ohio in 1803, and located in Warren Co .; lived there two years; then moved to Miami Co. and located in Newton Township, and lived there until death. Jacob Furnas was born Nov. 28, 1807, upon his father's farm in Newton Township ; was raised and educated a farmer ; his educational advantages were very limited ; he is one

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of the oldest citizens living, born in Miami Co .; has seen the full development of the county, having resided upon his farm for forty-seven years. He has twice been married-first, with Miss Abby Large; she died in 1862, leaving two chil- dren-Joshua and Rachel. His second marriage was celebrated March 16, 1868, with Mrs. Margaret McDonald, whose maiden name was Dowler; she had twice been married ; first with Samuel Mitchell ; from that union she had two children- Fernando W. and Joseph T. Mitchell.

JOSHUA FURNAS, farmer ; P. O. Versailles. Joshua Furnas, is a son of Jacob Furnas, whose biography appears in this work. Joshua was born upon his father's farm Aug. 18, 1839 ; when young, he assisted his father on the farm and attended school .. At the age of 20 years, he attended a select school controlled by the Quakers in Newton Township ; he then taught school for ten or twelve years. In the year 1861, he went to Iowa; when there, enlisted in the 28th Iowa V. I; was discharged three months later on account of prairie sore eyes ; he then came back to his native place ; in October 1862, he enlisted in the 110th O. V. I. and went to battle for his country ; he was in the battle of the Wilderness, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, Sailor's Run, and many other lesser engagements. After his return from service, he married Miss Eliza Dowler, Oct. 6, 1869 ; they had one child-Emma Bell.

S. B. GIFFIN, retired farmer ; P. O. Covington. S. B. Giffin, born about six miles south of Dayton, Ohio, Sept. 11, 1804, is a son of William Giffin, a native of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Ohio, about the year 1800, and located near Cincin- nati; lived there awhile, then moved to Montgomery Co .; from there to Warren; in the year 1835, he moved to Miami Co. and located southwest of Piqua, and lived there until death. S. B. was raised, until 16 years old, upon a farm ; he then learned the trade of a blacksmith ; he worked eleven years southwest of Piqua, and twelve years in Covington ; he had to quit his trade on account of his eyesight failing him ; he purchased a farm near Covington, now known as the Tobias farm ; traded this for the James Etter farm ; sold it and bought the old Souder farm, which he exchanged for the farm where he now resides ; his farm is situated half & mile west of Covington, containing 81 acres of rolling land. Near his residence is one of these valuable springs that are quite numerous in Miami Co. He has twice been married ; first, with Miss Martha Vanhorn, of Hamilton Co., Ohio, in April, 1828. They had nine children, of whom four are living-William, John V., Bob- ert and Martha A. His second marriage was with Miss Martha Scott.

. J. V. GIFFIN, farmer ; P. O. Covington. J. V. Giffin, a son of S. B. Giffin, whose biography appears in this work, was born in Warren Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1831 ; when 16 years of age, he learned the trade of a wagon-maker, and has worked at the business for over thirty years ; in 1852, he moved to Logansport, Ind., lived there nine years, then removed to Miami Co., Ohio ; he has been engaged in farm- ing for the last three years ; has a small farm about one mile southwest of Coving- ton, and also a residence in Covington. He married Miss Annie N., a daughter of Joseph Young, March 10, 1858. They had five children-Samuel J., Schuyler O., Ida May, Mattie B. and George E. Mr. Giffin has served as Mayor of Covington for three years and seven months.

CHARLES M. GROSS, carriage manufacturer, Covington. Mr. Gross is an old resident of Covington, and has been identified with the business interests of the town for many years ; he was born in Bucks Co., Penn., in 1823, and came to Miami Co. with his parents, in 1837 ; in 1841, he went to Dayton and learned the carriage maker's trade, and, in 1845, started a little shop here, which he contin- ued until 1862, when he enlisted in the 110th O. V. I., in which he served until the surrender of Lee at Appomattox ; after the war, he again engaged in the manu- facture of carriages in Covington, and has continued the business ever since; the shop now located on High street, is a two-story structure, the upper part being used for trimming and finishing, and the lower for storage and salesroom, where the most fastidious taste can be gratified with a satisfactory equipage; the expe- rience and reduced expenses of the firm (now Charles Gross & Son) enable them to

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sell as low as the lowest who furnish first-class work. Mr. Gross entered the army in 1862 as First Lieutenant, and returned in 1865 a Captain ; he was a prisoner nearly two years, eleven months of which were spent in the infamous Libby ; he was also one of the 600 officers who were placed under the fire of the Government guns at Charleston ; he is now an active business man and respected citizen. He was married, in 1845, to Miss Mary A. Alloways, of Preble Co .; they have three sons and two daughters ; the oldest son, W. H., is associated with his father in the factory.

J. B. HAMILTON, livery, Covington. Mr. Hamilton is a Buckeye, born in Lebanon, Warren Co., in 1852 ; he is a son of Russell C. Hamilton, an early resi- dent of Warren Co., who removed to Shelby Co. in 1869. J. B. was married in Shelby Co. to Clarissa Sims, daughter of J. C. Sims, an early resident of Shelby Co .; soon after his marriage, he removed to Miami Co., and farmed in the vicinity of Fletcher until 1877, when he engaged in the livery business in Fletcher ; he removed to Covington in October, 1878, where he succeeded Lewis Face in the livery business, and has lately associated Mr. McGinnis with him, in order to meet the increased demands of his growing business.

JOHN HARRISON, physician, Covington. Among the professional men of Covington, none are more worthy of special mention than Dr. Harrison ; he was born in Montgomery Co. in 1821; when 15 years of age, went to Middletown, tak- ing an academic course, after which he engaged in mercantile pursuits ; in 1841, he began to read medicine ; in 1842, his father, Isaac Harrison, died, leaving him dependent on his own resources, but, being determined to pursue his studies, he resorted to different means of raising funds, sometimes teaching, at others clerk- ing, and ran a woolen-mill, during night time, one year, sandwiching his studies with his work; finally, by a little help from his brother-in-law, he was enabled to finish his professional studies, and graduated at the Ohio Medical College in 1844; commenced practice in Tippecanoe the same year; came to Covington in 1846, where he has continued practice ever since; during his residence here, he has also contributed to the business interests of Covington, having been associated with Mr. Routson in 1858, when the business now conducted by A. Routson & Son was inaugurated ; in the spring of 1869, he, in company with J. B. Latchford, estab- lished a drug store, from which, in 1872, Mr. Latchford retired ; L. S. Harrison, son of Dr. Harrison, took charge, and continued the business until 1876, when the son, who was a graduate of pharmacy, desiring a larger place, and the Doctor hav- ing his time entirely occupied in taking care of his large practice, they sold out; Dr. Harrison is now one of the oldest practicing physicians in Miami Co., and a leading and influential citizen ; his office is located at the corner of High and Ullery streets, and is a part of his large, substantial residence. He was married Jan. 19, 1849, to Miss H. M. Dunham, of Piqua ; they have had five children- three sons and two daughters of whom the first-born died in infancy, three are residents of this county, and one of Terre Haute, Ind.

JACOB A. N. HARRY, farmer; P. O. Covington. Jacob A. N. Harry, a son of John, and grandson of Jacob Harry, Sr., a native of North Carolina, who emi- grated to Ohio September, 1811; located in Montgomery Co .; served in the war of 1812 ; was detailed to sled provisions from below Dayton to Forts Larimor and Defiance ; John Harry was born in Guilford Co., N. C., March 27, 1810; came to Ohio with his parents when quite small, and had a pioneer's education ; in the year 1848, he located in Tippecanoe, in this county ; remained there five years, then moved to Darke Co., and was engaged in making brick ; in 1858, he removed to this county, and located in this township. Jacob A. N., born Oct. 17, 1856, in Darke Co., Ohio, is a young man that is well respected, and promises something for the future.

SAMUEL HARTLE, retired farmer ; P. O. Bradford. Samuel Hartle is a son of Frederick Hartle, a native of Blair Co., Penn., who emigrated to Ohio in 1829, and located upon the farm where his son Samuel resides. The subject of this sketch was born in Blair Co., Penn., Sept. 22, 1825 ; came to Ohio with his parents when

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quite small ; was reared and educated as a farmer ; soon after his father's death, which occurred in 1861, he rented his farm, and has since lived a retired life; he is living a single life, on a No. 1 farm, lying in the northwest part of Newberry Township, and is highly respected by the citizens of his neighborhood.

A. J. HARTLE, farmer ; P. O. Covington. A. J. Hartle was born July 5, 1841, upon the farm where he now lives ; his early life was spent helping his father and attending the district school ; he is a son of John Hartle, a native of Pennsyl- vania, who came to Ohio in the year 1820, and located in Newberry Township. When the subject of this sketch was 19 years old, he enlisted in the 44th O. V. I. ; was in the engagements at Lewisburg, Dutton Hill, Lynchburg (lasting twenty- two days), Liberty, Beverly, and a great many others ; was discharged in August, 1865. He married Miss Catharine, a daughter of John Lindsay, deceased ; they had five children, of whom four are living, viz., Carrie B., Rosa A., Ottie May and Luedna

JAMES HARTLE, farmer ; P. O. Covington. James Hartle is a son of Fred- erick Hartle, deceased, and brother of Samuel, whose biography will be found in this work ; was born in Blair Co., Penn., Jan. 28, 1828, and came to Ohio with his parents when 1 year old ; he was raised a farmer, and has always been engaged in the business. His marriage with Miss Catharine, a daughter of Peter Lehman, deceased, of Darke Co., was celebrated Dec. 18, 1851 ; they had nine children, viz., Elizabeth, Lavina T., Columbus, Frederick, La Fayette, Albert, Calvin, Ora and Dr. Franklin.

PHILIP HARTZELL, carpenter and millwright; P. O. Covington. Mr. Hartzell, one of the old residents, is a son of Philip Hartzell, Sr., who was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio when a young man with his father, Adam Hartzell. Adam located in Montgomery Co., about 1800, and resided in that county until his decease. Philip, Sr., married Elizabeth Miller, came to this county and settled on Greenville Creek, either just before or immediately after the war of 1812 ; his decease occurred in Covington, he being in the 68th year of his age. The subject of this sketch was born in 1824, and grew to manhood here in the pioneer days of Newberry Township ; went to school in the first house built for school purposes, on Greenville Creek ; Mr. Hartzell's life has been varied with suc- cess and reverses ; he remained on the farm with his father until he arrived at his majority, worked at millwrighting about one year, then worked at bridge building, first as a hand, and later he became a contractor ; for several years was the principal contractor in the county, and built nearly all the bridges in Miami Co .; while repairing an old bridge, the old timbers suddenly gave way,and he fell on the stony ground some twenty feet beneath ; some of the timbers falling on him and crushing the frontal bone, required the removal of a portion and the placing of a silver plate instead, which he now carries, the only mark or reminder of his fearful accident being the ugly scar and sunken spot on his forehead, underneath which is silver plate instead of bone ; in 1860, he was an equal partner in the Covington flour-mill, and had a large investment in property in Covington, but, being some in debt, the pres- sure of 1861 compelled him to sacrifice heavily ; he soon recovered sufficiently to buy a mill at Casstown, but in 1868, a fire swept away the labor of years and left him with almost nothing ; he managed to trade into a coal mining company in the Hocking Valley, and in two years had an interest worth $6,500, which he ex- changed for a mill at Sidney that he sold for $9,000; in 1872, he bought the Burket mill property, in Union Township, which he improved considerably, and when he had it nicely fixed it took fire and burned ; there being no insurance, he was unable to re-build, but still owns the site, including 60 acres of land ; since the last misfortune, Mr. Hartzell has resumed his trade. He was married in 1846, to Elizabeth Swisher, daughter of Jacob Swisher, who was an early resident of this county, and resided in the same neighborhood with the Hartzells, but at the time of her marriage she was a resident of Darke Co. ; they have seven children. ROBERT N. HARWOOD, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; his father, John Har- wood, was a native of England ; came to America in 1832, located at Saratoga, N.

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Y., and, in 1854, came to Meigs Co., Ohio, living there until 1862, when he re- moved to this county. The subject of this sketch was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Aug. 1, 1840 ; he came here with his parents ; was raised a farmer, and is now en- gaged in that pursuit ; Mr. Harwood is living a single life.

DANIEL HAY, retired farmer ; P. O. North Clayton. Daniel Hay, a son of John Hay, a native of Bedford Co., Penn., emigrated to Ohio in 1816 ; entered land in Newberry Township, near where North Clayton is now situated; they had to open the road from Harrison Creek to their land themselves; his nearest neighbors were more than a mile away, through the woods. He, with the help of his family, began the laborious task of opening a farm in the woods, in a new country ; they endured all the hardships and disadvantages connected with the early settling of the country. Daniel Hay, born in Bedford Co., Penn., Feb. 22, 1813, came to Ohio with his parents, when only 3} years old ; was reared and educated in the woods ; his school advantages were very limited, as he did not receive ten months' school- ing in all ; he remembers when he would see ten Indians to one white man ; he was the second Assessor in Newberry Township, has held several public offices, has been Township Trustee, and Justice of the Peace four years, never having a case sent to the court ; he was School Director for thirty-five years in succession. Mr. Hay married Miss Sarah J., a daughter of John Kinsinger, one of the very first settlers in the county ; their children are Mary M., Jesse A., Anna E., Daniel C. and Emma A. In the year of 1852, he went West, bought 123 head of cattle in Missouri, and drove them across the plains to California ; returned the next year. D. HECKENDORN, farmer ; P. O. Covington. D. Heckendorn, born in Perry Co., Penn., Aug. 6, 1818, was raised principally on a farm ; when 18 years of age, he began to learn the carpenter's trade, which he worked at about twelve years. He moved to Ohio in the year 1838, and located first in Newton Town- ship, Miami Co., remained there until 1864 ; came to this township (Newberry) and located on the farm where he now lives ; he has a farm of 88 acres, northwest of North Clayton, in Sec. 12 ; he has also 200 acres of land in Kansas. He has three times been married ; first, with Miss Anna, a daughter of William Long, of New- ton Township ; she died June 2, 1849, leaving four children-Mary A., Catharine J., Esther and William J ; his second marriage was with Mary A., a daughter of Jacob Reiber, of Newton Township, who died April 10, 1858; they had six chil- dren by this union, two living-Levi A. and John R. ; Nov. 24, 1864, he married Barbara Aspenall (Fults), a daughter of Jacob Fults, of Indiana. Mr. Heckendorn is a member of the Christian Church in North Clayton.

BENNETT HELMAN, farmer ; P. O. Bradford. Bennett Helman is a son of Adam Helman, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in the year 1864 and located near Bradford, in Darke Co., where he is living at the present time. Bennett was born in Indiana Co., Penn., Jan. 15, 1850 ; his early life was spent assisting his father on the farm and attending school; after he attained his major- ity, he clerked in the Bradford hotel and dining hall ; he also clerked awhile in a dry-goods store ; he owned a third-interest in a flouring-mill in Gettysburg, Darke Co., Ohio, where he was engaged in the milling business for several years. In 1876, he purchased his beautiful farm of 52 acres with good improvements, located about one mile south of Bradford, on the Covington and Gettysburg Pike. His marriage was celebrated Sept. 3, 1869, with Miss Mollie, a daughter of Levi Gilbert, a native of Lancaster Co., Penn, now living in Darke Co., Ohio.

H. G. HEOFFER, minister, North Clayton. H. G. Heoffer, born in Clayton, Jan. 19, 1846, was raised and educated in that town ; when 20 years old, he learned the trade of a plasterer, which he worked at thirteen years. During this time, he was preparing himself for the ministry ; he was licensed to preach the Gospel at Yel- low Springs Sept 5, 1877, and ordained at North Clayton Sept. 29, 1878, minister of the Christian Church. He was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Ballen- ger March 20, 1869. They had three children-Lizzie Hortense, Maggie Capitola and Charles D. C. H. G. is a son of John Heoffer, a native of Lancaster Co., Penn., who came to Ohio in 1845 and located at Clayton.

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HENRY HILL, dealer in farm implements, stock, etc., Covington. Henry, son of John Hill, a native of Maryland, emigrated to Ohio about the year 1803, and located on Stillwater, south of Pleasant Hill, Newton Township, Miami Co. He served in the war of 1812 ; was Captain in Ft. Greenville. Henry was born in Newton Township June 17, 1823; his early life was spent in helping his father upon the farm ; his schooling was very limited. When in his 19th year, he mar- ried Miss Amelia, a daughter of Zachariah Green, of Newton Township. From this union they had eight children, of whom five are living. Mrs. Hill died about the year 1860. Mr. Hill was again united in marriage, Oct. 12, 1861, with Mary (Dunham) Mowry. When he began life for himself, he received $300 from his father's estate, and his father-in-law gave him 70 acres of timber land south of Pleasant Hill ; he lived there twenty-two years, and during that time added to his 70 acres, 132 acres more; he opened or cleared 125 acres himself; in 1865, he sold his farm for $9,065, and purchased a farm of 80 acres a short distance west of Covington, where he now resides ; he has since added 16 acres to this farm ; by . industry and economy he has accumulated considerable property ; he has a tract of land east of Covington, a lot and warerooms in Covington, and a beautiful res- idence in Versailles, Darke Co., Ohio. He is dealing extensively in farm imple- ments, machinery of all kinds, etc.

MARTIN HIMES, grain dealer, Covington. Among the important business enterprises of Covington is the grain warehouse operated by the firm of Shuman & Himes, of which Mr. Himes is the active man ; he is a " Buckeye " by birth, in Montgomery Co., in 1823 ; removed to Greene Co. in 1848, and came to Miami Co. in 1865; he first purchased a farm about one mile east of Covington, where he resided, being occupied in farming until 1873, when he came to Covington and engaged in grain buying in connection with J. R. Shuman, whose biography also appears in this work ; their business has gradually increased and is now quite extensive ; they have lately erected a large crib and fitted it with the necessary machinery for shelling, cleaning and handling corn; they are also handling a large quantity of tabacco, besides their usual quantity of grain. Mr. Himes was married in 1846 to Miss Anna Vancleave, also of Montgomery Co. Her father was & nephew of John Vancleave (Old Johnny, as he was called), who laid out the city of Dayton. Mr, Himes has two children living-Robert W., Assistant Superintendent and teacher in the Covington school, and Chas. M., R. R. agent and dealer in agri- cultural implements, Covington.

EMANUEL HOOVER, farmer ; P. O. Bradford. Emanuel Hoover, a son of Issac Hoover, a native of Blair Co., Penn., came to Ohio in the year 1818 and located in Newberry Township upon land entered by John Brumbaugh; Mr. Hoover went into the woods and opened his farm Jan. 1, 1828, but was crippled for life at a raising. Emanuel was born in Blair Co., Penn., Sept. 9, 1817 ; he came with his parents to Ohio when quite small ; was raised and educated in the neigh- borhood where he lives ; he never learned a trade, but is naturally a carpenter, and has worked a good deal at the business. He has twice been married-first with Miss Lydia Weaver, April 14, 1842 ; she died June 1, 1844, leaving one child- Elizabeth. His second marriage occurred Oct. 9, 1848, with Rachel Boocher ; from this union they had ten children, seven living, viz., Catharine, John B., Lydia B., Levi, Sarah A., Isaac and Nancy. Mr. Hoover was elected first degree minister in the German Baptist Church Aug. 5, 1863, and was promoted to the second degree in 1868 ; Jan. 25, 1878, he was elected Bishop or Elder of the Upper District Church, and is a man that is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him.

GEORGE HOWARD, farmer ; P. O. North Clayton. George Howard was born in York Co., Penn., Jan. 26, 1800 ; he emigrated to Ohio about the year 1822, and located first in Montgomery Co .; lived there six years, then moved to Wayne Co., Ind .; he remained there about a year, came back to Ohio and located in this county ; lived here several years, then moved to Darke Co., where he lived twenty years ; he then came back to this county and located near North Clayton. Mr. Howard has done a great deal of hard labor. He is now over 80 years old, being

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educated and raised to manhood in Pennsylvania. He has twice been married ; first with Miss Mary Blickensalve, of his native place, who died in 1855, leaving five children ; his second marriage was with Mary Hughes (Edington), a native of Virginia, who had three children with her first husband; from this union they had one child-Quintila. He has a farm of 170 acres near Clayton.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 105

Author: W. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051