The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 106

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

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 106

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T. HUBBARD, farmer ; P. O. Piqua. Timothy Hubbard, born in Tipperary Co., Ireland, came to America about the year 1848, and located in Piqua, Ohio. He was raised as a farmer, and has always been engaged in that pursuit. He married Martha, a daughter of Samuel E. Burns, a native of Pennsylvania (she was John Carson's widow); she had one child, Edwin Carson ; of this union they had seven children, three living-James H., Michael W. and Martha J.

A. J. JOHNSTON. farmer ; P. O. Covington ; son of Frederick J., a native of Ireland, who came to America in 1806, and located in Greene Co., Ohio; he entered land and lived upon it until his death, which occurred two years ago, at the age of 104 years and 3 months. A. J. Johnston was born on the sea Dec. 25, 1806; he was reared a farmer, and helped his father to clear the farm; Jan. 1, 1837, he came to this county and located in Covington, where he kept hotel for two years; then moved to the Greenville Falls, and followed coopering for ten years ; in 1850, he purchased a quarter-section of woodland, about half way between Covington and Piqua, for $700 ; in 1864, he sold it for $11,000, and purchased the farm where he now resides for $6,000. Mr. J. has twice been married, first to Eliza, a daughter of J. W. Maxwell, of Preble Co., Ohio ; from this union they had one child, Eliza, who married Richard Adams, now residing in Wisconsin ; his second marriage occurred in 1836, to Mary A., a daughter of Giles Thompson, of Greene Co., Ohio; they had six children, five of whom are living-Louisa J., James A., Frederick W., John K. and Edward.

A. H. JONES, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; son of Joseph Jones, a native of North Carolina; emigrated to Ohio about the year 1829 with his mother, and located in Newton Township, Miami Co .; when 14 years old, he was bound to Henry Knoop for $5 per year ; while living with Mr. Knoop he learned the wagon-making trade ; after he obtained his freedom, he worked at his trade about seventeen years ; he then began buying and selling land until he had accumu- lated a great deal of property ; he died in the year 1877. A. H. was born Oct. 28, 1852, about one and a half miles west of Covington, on the Covington and Gettysburg pike ; he was raised and educated as a farmer, and has always been engaged in that pursuit. His marriage was celebrated Feb. 22, 1877, to Miss Martha, a daughter of David Ingle, a native of this county, now living in Mont- gomery Co., Ohio ; they had one child, Edward Forest.

J. M. KENDALL, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; was born, Nov. 14, 1836, in this township ; was reared a farmer, but has been engaged in several other different pursuits ; he is now attending his farm, which lies in the north part of this town- ship, and has everything tidy about the farm and premises. He married Miss Jerusha, a daughter of James Patterson, deceased ; they have three children- Olive B., Joseph L. and Matellus. His father, William Kendall, a native of Penn- sylvania, was left an orphan, and, when 8 years old, he came to Ohio with an uncle, about the year 1813; in early life, he learned the carpenter's trade, and fol- lowed the business for ten or twelve years ; he purchased a farm in the northeast part of this township, and lived there until his decease.

JACOB KENDELL, M. D., druggist and physician, Covington. Dr. Kendell, a life-resident of Miami Co., was born in Newton Township Dec. 16, 1845; his parents, Jerry and Mary (Boggs) Kendell, were early residents of Newton Town- ship. His father's death occurred there in 1850, and his mother's in 1853. Jacob, being an orphan at 8 years of age, was cared for by an uncle until he was 12 years of age, during which the uncle made him pay more attention to work than schooling. He then became the ward of Dr. Weaver, whose biography also appears in this work, and who not only gave him opportunity for education, but also encouraged him. When he arrived at 18, he began teaching, and reading medicine.

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He graduated at the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, in 1869, and in the same year began practice in connection with Dr. Weaver, in which he has remained ever since. Weaver & Kendell are druggists as well as practitioners (see Dr. Weaver's biography). The Doctor is the present Township Clerk, and highly respected both as a citizen and physician. His residence is a neat brick, situated on High street. LEWIS KENSINGER, grain dealer, Covington. Mr. Kensinger is the present representative of one of the first pioneer families of Newberry Township, and is & life resident of Miami Co. His father, John Kensinger, born in Maryland in 1796; married Mary Hulings ; came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1805, and to Miami Co. in 1808. He was a millwright by trade, and resided near Covington. During his early residence here he was employed a great part of his time aiding in sur- veying and locating land for settlers. His patriotism was a marked characteristic. During the war of 1812 he was a member of the "Frontier Guards," and when troops were being enlisted during the late war, he, although nearly three-score and ten, uselessly, but honestly, offered his services. In 1820, he entered a tract of land about a mile north of Covington, where he resided about ten years, then sold it and purchased the farm also north of Covington, where he resided the balance of his days. Mr. Kensinger, Sr., was of the desirable kind of pioneer. He was a member of the Masonic order, also of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a man universally respected and esteemed, and regarded as an excellent Christian citizen. His decease occurred in 1872. The subject of this sketch was born in 1832. His youth was spent on the farm, receiving such education as the common school afforded, until about 18 years of age. He then worked three years at millwrighting, but soon after learning the trade engaged in farming, at which he continued about ten years, then engaged in milling, grain buying, etc., and has been occupied in merchandising in some form ever since. He is now engaged in grain buying, in connection with Mr. Flockemmer, under the firm style of Flockemmer & Kensinger. They are among the most reliable and extensive business men of Covington. Mr. Kensinger was married in 1852 to Alice Hitchin, only daughter of William Hitchin, who was a native of England. Alice was born in Ohio in 1834; they have five children.

JACOB LINK, farmer; P. O. Piqua; is a son of David Link, of Montgomery Co., Ohio, who came to his death by cramp while bathing in the Miami River. Jacob Link was born in Montgomery Co. Jan. 30, 1831 ; grew to manhood upon a farm, and, when 20 years old, began the business of running a thrashing ma- chine ; he ran the first machine in Montgomery Co., and has followed the business most every season up to the present time. He served as Trustee in Montgomery Co. during the whole time of the late war, and has held the same office in this town- ship. . His marriage with Miss Sarah D., daughter of Jacob Darner, of Maryland, was celebrated Feb. 23, 1853; they had eleven children, eight living-Calvin, Charles E., D. B., Francis D., William H., Oscar H., Emma May and Samuel J. Mr. Link has 157 acres of land.

C. E. LINK, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; is a son of Jacob Link ; was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Jan. 25, 1856. Was united in marriage Jan. 30, 1879, with Miss Eliza, daughter of Mathias Ingle, of this township, and grand-daughter of Philip Ingle, and great-granddaughter of Michael Ingle, one of the first settlers in this township, who entered the farm now owned by her father ; Mrs. Link's father was born Feb. 8, 1823, on the farm entered by his grandfather, and has done his share in improvement. He was married to Miss Lindsay, a daughter of John Rike, deceased, and has one child-Mathias J.

J. H. LONG & BROTHER, milling; North Clayton. J. H. Long was born in Wayne Co., Ind., Aug. 31, 1840, and William H. Long was born in the same county, Jan. 2, 1842 ; are sons of Peter Long, a native of Pennsylvania, now living in Elk Co., Kan. ; they were raised and educated upon a farm ; J. H. learned the milling business when young, in which he is still engaged ; he worked eleven years in Darke Co., in the Bear's, Hoover and Foster mills ; two years in Preble Co., near . New Paris, and one year in the Greenville Falls mills, in this county. W. H., when

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young, learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed four or five years. In 1875, they purchased the Clayton Mills, and have been doing a good custom bus- iness ; they make a good grade of flour, that will compete with any made in the county. W. H. is the patentee of the White Lily or improved Providence Wash- ing Machine, one of the most complete washers ever put before the public. J. H. married Miss Sarah, a daughter of William Hess, of Darke Co., April 2, 1862 ; they have had five children, four living-Mary E., Laura E., John W. and Cora E.

JAMES MoCLARY, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; is one of the old residents of Miami Co., having been born Feb. 18, 1821, on a farm about two miles north of Covington, where he has resided almost continuously for more than a half-century. His father, John McClary, was a native of Kentucky ; came to Miami Co. as early as 1812 ; was a soldier in the latter part of the last struggle with the red men here. Married Miss Eliza Brandon ; she was a native of South Carolina ; her father, Benjamin Brandon, a soldier in the Revolution, emigrated with his family to Miami Co. about 1812, and located near Piqua ; Mr. McClary, Sr., located near Covington, soon after his marriage, where he remained until his decease ; James remembers going to school, when a small boy, by a path his father had cut through the woods ; books being scarce and money scarcer, an alphabet was pasted on a sort of paddle which served for a primer ; when a little older, he was often sent to mill; mounted upon the sack of wheat, which was thrown across the back of a trusty horse, he would strike out by the bridle path for the mill, which was on the Miami, near Piqua ; he usually went to the mill and got his grist the first day, returning as far as Grandpa Brandon's, where he would stay all night, have a good time with the children, and return home with his flour the next day ; such were some of the disadvantages experienced by the youth of those days; as he grew older, there was, of course, gradual improvement and increased facilities. In 1842, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy, daughter of George Buchanan, who was among the first settlers of Newberry Township; after his marriage, he built a house on a small tract, a part of the old homestead which his. father had given him ; a few years later, his parents having died, he sold out and went to Piqua, where he resided about eighteen months, in the meantime purchas- ing several shares in his father's estate; then returned to the old homestead, bought out the other heirs, becoming the owner of the farm upon which he was born, where his youth and early manhood were spent; his son, George D., lives on and cultivates it, Mr. McClary having removed to his residence in the north part of Covington about six years ago; Mr. McClary has grown with the county, and his associations and history are inseparably interwoven with the his- ·tory of Newberry Township; he has served it as Assessor, and is now one of the Board of Trustees ; he has a family of three children living, and one dead.

T. S. MoGINNIS, liveryman, Covington. Mr. McGinnis was a native of Ohio, born in Champaign Co. in 1845; his parents removed to Shelby Co. the year of his birth, and he there grew to manhood ; was married to Miss Bell Woodard and resided there, being occupied in farming ; recently he moved to Covington, where he is now engaged in the livery business in connection with Mr. J. B. Hamilton, whose biography also appears in this work; Mr. McGinnis comes of pioneer stock, his ancestors on both sides being Virginians and early emigrants to Kentucky ; his great-grandfather was scalped by the Indians in his own dooryard, near Mays- ville, Ky .; his grandfather removed from Kentucky to Champaign Co., Ohio, in 1812, and served in the army during the war; Mr. McGinnis is now in the prime of life, and is an active, energetic man, just embarking in a new business venture, in which there seems to be a good prospect of success.

O. M. MoGOWEN, liveryman, Covington. Mr. McGowen, a native of Vir- ginia, was born in 1817; came to Ohio when a child, and lived in the vicinity of Day- ton until about 1845, during which time he learned the bricklayer's trade; he then came to Miami Co., first located near Piqua, and was engaged in farming until 1864, when he engaged in the livery business in Piqua ; in August, 1865, he removed his stock to Covington, and has continued the business here ever since.

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Mr. McGowen is now doing a very satisfactory business here ; his stable is locatedl on the north side of the C., C. & I. C. R. R., near the depot, where he keeps livery equipments fully equal to the demands of the place; his residence, situated on the same lot and near the stable, is a very neat and comfortable home.

GEORGE W. McMAKEN, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. O. Covington. George W. McMaken, farmer and stock-dealer, is a son of John McMaken, Sr., a native of Kentucky, who came to this county when the howling of the wolves was as famil- iar as the barking of dogs is now ; he located on the farm where George W. now lives ; he brought a fine lot of cattle from Butler Co., Ohio, and lost all of them with milk-sickness ; he lived to the good old age of 78 years ; his wife still sur- vives, is 80 years old and enjoys good health. George W. was born in this county July 13, 1836, on the farm where he now lives; he married Miss Hannah E. Aspinall, a native of England ; they had three children, of whom two are living- Frank L. and John Ellsworth.

MICHAEL MAIER, wagon and carriage manufacturer; P. O. and residence Covington. Mr. Maier was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1835 ; received the usual schooling until 14 years of age, when he began work at his trade, which he has followed ever since. He came to America in 1853; first worked in Hartford, Conn., about four years, then came West and located in Covington, where he worked a few months for C. M. Gross, then bought a shop on the Troy pike and carried on business until 1864, when he bought out Gross, and has continued the business at Gross' old stand ever since. The shop, located on Spring street, between High and Pearl streets, is a two-story structure, the upper part being used for finishing and trimming. This long experience enables him to turn out first- class work of all kinds, at low prices. His residence is situated at the corner of Pearl and Spring streets, adjoining the shop. He was married in 1859, to Agnes M., daughter of George Neth ; they have had seven children, five sons and two daughters. Mr. Maier has been a member of the Town Council several years ; has also been both Town and Township Treasurer the past four years, and is one of the substantial citizens of Covington.

DAVID J. MARTIN, P. O. and residence Covington ; is a son of Jacob Martin, and grandson of John Martin ; his grandfather came from " Morrison's Cove,"Penn., through Cincinnati, Ohio, and located in Warren Co., when there was but one frame building in Cincinnati. Jacob grew to manhood in Warren Co., and was married first to Abigail Thomas, who was of a Quaker family, and the mother of David J .; they removed to this county in 1830, and located in this township, near Clayton. Mr. Mar- tin was a millwright, and built a great many mills in this vicinity ; he laid out the town of Clayton, and was a useful and respected citizen ; he removed to Iowa in . 1852, and died there in 1856, at the age of 68. The subject of this sketch was born in Warren Co. in 1829, but grew up in Miami Co. ; he learned the blacksmith's trade in a machine shop in Piqua, and followed his trade here and in Piqua, until 1862. He enlisted in the United States Army, was mustered with the 110th 0. V. I., and remained in the service until after he witnessed the surrender of Lee, at Appomattox ; since his return he has invented, or rather perfected the invention of, a "tweer" for blacksmith's forges, for which he has a patent, and which is now in very general use ; he also invented an automatic car-coupler, which ought to be in general use, and would be, but for the parsimoniousness of railroad corpora- tions, who place more value on a few dollars than upon the lives and limbs of their servants ; he has also patented an animal-trap, which has been quite exten- sively introduced, and is meeting with general favor. He organized the Covington Silver Mining Company, who purchased a mine near Rosita, in Custer Co., Colo., which is now being successfully operated by a Philadelphia company that have it leased. In 1873, he organized what is known as the Covington Stone Com- pany, of which he is the only resident member, and of which he has had the sole charge. The company now employ from five to fifteen hands, and are ship- ping stone to all points within reasonable distance, their sales amounting to about $8,000 per year. Mr. Martin is an active, wide-awake business man, and an old,

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respected citizen of Covington. His residence is situated on the Piqua pike, near the eastern corporate limits. He was married in 1851 to Miss Mary, daughter of Samuel Thompson, whose biography also appears in this work.

A. F. MIKESELL, farmer ; P. O. Covington. A. F. Mikesell, a son of John Mikesell, whose biography appears in this work ; was born in this county, Newton Township, July 3, 1842 ; he was raised in the mercantile and milling business, but when 20 years of age, began farming, and has been engaged in that occupation ever since ; he has a beautiful farm north of Covington, where he resides ; his barn, built in the form of an octagon, is novel, odd and beautiful. Mr. Mikesell's mar- riage with Miss Jane Beery was celebrated Jan. 1, 1867 ; she was a daughter of Levi Beery, a native of this State, now residing in Henry Co., Iowa. They had six children-Arthur, Alma, Elnora, Vinnia, Maurice and John L.

JOHN MIKESELL, retired, Covington. Mr. Mikesell, a native of Pennsyl- vania, is a son of William Mikesell, who came from Bedford Co., Penn., to this county in 1822, and settled in Newton Township, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1856. The subject of this sketch was born in Bedford Co. in 1817, and grew to manhood on the farm in Newton Township ; when 20 years of age, he began to learn wagon-making, which he followed until 1847, when, on account of ill health, he sold out and engaged in merchandising in Covington, which he continued about seven years ; after which he purchased .the "Sugar Grove Mill " in Newton Township, and afterward the Covington, now called Dunkel's, Mill, and operated it from 1859 to 1865, Mr. J. C. Ullery being associated with him ; after he sold out his milling interest, he engaged in the " tree " trade, in which he continued until the fall of 1879, when he retired ; he is now occupied in looking after his lands and other affairs, and attending to such public business as the peo- ple choose to place upon him. Mr. Mikesell is the present Land Appraiser, a use -. ful, respected citizen, having grown up in Miami Co., and identified with some of its important industries which have helped to develop the county. He owns, besides his residence, a nice property on High street, in the south part of town ; 150 acres north of and adjoining the corporation ; also 140 acres about two miles northeast. He has been twice married ; his first marriage, with Susan Fridley, of Pennsylvania, was celebrated at her home in Franklin Co. in 1841; her death occurred in this county in 1845. His second marriage was with Betty Thompson, daughter of Capt. John Thompson, and was celebrated in 1846. They are both worthy members of the German Baptist Church, and useful, respected members of the community. He had three children by his first wife-A. F., Mary M. Rapp, of Montgomery Co., and Elizabeth Mohler. By his second wife he had three children-Catherine B., now Mrs. William V. Swisher, of Union City ; Mellie and Jennie.

ADAM MINNICH, Justice, Covington ; is one of the oldest residents of Miami Co. now living in Covington ; he was born in Pennsylvania in 1810 ; his youth was spent on a farm, and he had the privilege of attending school in winter ; in 1832, he came to Montgomery Co., Ohio ; in the following year came to Covington, where he has resided continuously ever since. There were not, when he arrived, over half a dozen houses in the town, not one of which is now standing, except as a part of some remodeled building. Mr. Minich has been identified with the interests of Miami Co., and particularly of Covington, nearly a half-century, having been engaged in merchandising almost continuously until 1860, since which he has occupied some of the local offices, being the present Justice at Covington. He was married in 1838 to Miss Mary A. Shade, daughter of Jeremiah Shade, who was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and came to Miami Co. about the same time Mr. Minnich did. Mary was born in 1818, and was the mother of fourteen children, ten of whom are living.

RICHARD MORROW, farmer ; P. O. Covington. Richard Morrow is a son of Allen Morrow, a native of Pennsylvania ; emigrated to Ohio in the year 1812; located first in Hamilton Co., afterward moved to Montgomery Co., and in 1837 arrived in this county and located in Washington Township, where he lived until death. The subject of this sketch was born in Armstrong Co., Penn .; after he attained his manhood he farmed eight years, then kept a hotel in Waynesville,

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Warren Co., Ohio, for fourteen years ; came to the conclusion that it was not a good place for his children, sold out and bought a farm in this township, where he now lives. He married Miss Ruth Beck, of Greene Co., August, 1837. They had eight children, of whom five are living, all married.

JAMES MOTT, retired farmer ; P. O. Bloomertown ; son of Zachariah Mott, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in the year 1818, and located in Darke Co., about two miles east of Gettysburg ; lived there about six years, then moved to Tippecanoe Co., Ind., and from there to White Co., where he lived until death. James Mott, born in Darke Co., Ohio, April 22, 1819, lived with his par- ents until he was 10 years old, the time of his father's death ; he came back to Ohio, and lived with an older brother for seven years, then began doing for himself. June 12, 1845, he married Miss Annie, a daughter of Joseph Elmore a native of South Carolina. They had two children, one living-Nancy F., mar- ried John Etter, who is tending the farm. Mr. Mott has a splendid farm of 160 acres, with first-class buildings upon it, situated south of the Mott pike.

SAMUEL MURRAY, farmer and preacher, Covington ; is a son of David Murray, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and came when a boy with his parents to Montgomery Co., where he married Hannah Kimmel, and resided on Wolf Creek until about 1832 or 1833, then removed with his family to Miami Co., having pur- chased the northeast quarter of Sec. 32, which he improved and lived on until in 1856, he sold out and returned to Montgomery Co., where he still resides. The subject of this sketch was born in Montgomery Co. in 1828, and grew to man- hood here on the farm in the days of hard labor and limited facilities ; he has always followed farming, first commencing for himself in Sec. 28 ; his farm is the north half of two 80-acre tracts, one being in Sec. 32, and the other adjoining in Sec. 33, it being the unimproved portion of each tract at the time he purchased; he has cleared most of it, erected the present neat and substantial buildings, and the farm now compares favorably with others in this well-improved neighborhood. He was married Jan. 23, 1851, to Mary Shellaberger, daughter of Jacob and Han- nah (Mohler) Shellaberger, who also came from Pennsylvania, and settled in Sec. 33 of this township. She also grew up here, and both Mr. and Mrs. Murray went to school in a log schoolhouse that stood on the same ground where the present neat brick house is situated, in which their children are now being educated under much more favorable circumstances than their parents enjoyed. Mr. Murray is & useful, respected citizen, and both he and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church, of which he was elected Deacon in 1860, and since 1864 has been the chosen and useful minister. They have five children, all of whom are as yet members of the family household.

DAVID M. MURRAY, physician, Covington. Among the professional men of Covington, of deserved reputation, is Dr. Murray ; he is the son of D. M. Mur- ray, Sr., whose biography appears in connection with that of Rev. Samuel Murray, The subject of this sketch was born on the farm near Covington in 1835 ; he be- gan practice in Clark Co. in 1862, and in 1863 entered the army, where he served 88 Acting Assistant Surgeon until the latter part of 1864, when he returned and prac- ticed at Pleasant Hill about two years, then purchased a drug store in Indiana, but soon sold out and returned to Miami Co. where he practiced a short time with Dr. Cable at Covington, then bought a drug store in Dayton, which he conducted about four years, practicing there at the same time ; he afterward returned to Miami Co. and practiced again at Pleasant Hill about two years ; he again came to Covington in 1877, and has practiced here since in connection with Dr. Cable ; he is a re- spected member of his profession and a worthy Christian citizen.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 106

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