The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 113

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

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 113

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subject's entire life has been given to farming. He was married to Miss Sarah Coate in April, 1829 ; she was a daughter of Samuel Coate, and granddaughter of Marmaduke ; Samuel Coate died at the residence of our subject in February, 1867, at the age of nearly 97 years. After the marriage of William M., he moved to his present place of residence, where he has lived for one-half century ; when he located on his place, it was a dense forest ; by hard labor, and perseverance, he has brought it to a high state of cultivation. April 28, 1879, he was called upon to mourn the death of his devoted wife, Sarah. A life member of the Friends' Church, she died leaving an enduring monument of good works behind her. Mr. and Mrs. Miles had a family of twelve children-James, Mary J., Ellwood T., Abijah J., Enoch, (deceased), Wade, Samuel P., John E., Jonathan R., Henry W., Margaret and Phebe. This family contributed four sons to the late civil war. Ellwood and Samuel enlisted in the 5th O. V. C., and were identified with the Army of the Cumber- land, and participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing. At the expiration of their three years' term, Samuel returned home, and Ellwood re-enlisted, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. Abijah, was Assistant Surgeon of the 48th O. V. I. for about one year ; previous to his enlistment he had taken a course of medical lectures ; after returning from the army he graduated from the Miami Medical College, then located in Madison Co. and began practice; in the spring of 1866, he was appointed to a professorship in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, which position he still holds ; in the summer of 1875, he made a voy- age to Europe ; while in France he was called upon to mourn the death of his wife ; since his return he has been located in Cincinnati. Henry enlisted in August, 1862, in the noted 110th O. V. I., and participated in eighteen battles ; was taken prisoner at the battle of Winchester, and was confined for a time in Libby and Belle Isle Prisons; was paroled and soon after exchanged and returned to his regiment; remained in the service till he was mustered out with his regiment June 25, 1865. at Washington City ; he then returned home and has since been operating the homestead farm. He was united in marriage, in 1872, to Miss Laurena Coate. They have one child, a son.

ALEXANDER C. MILES, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; was born Dec. 3, 1844, near his present home. His father, S. Y. Miles, was born in 1824 in this township, where he passed fifty-nine years of his life, and was a son of Jonathan Miles, a native of South Carolina, who immigrated to this country in 1807 or 1808, and located on Sec. 31. He was married first to Miss Pearson, and in 1843 to Hester Cothran ; they had a family of five children, of whom A. C. is the oldest. He remained at home, assisting in the duties of the farm, till he was 19 years old, when he enlisted in the late civil war as a member of the 1st O. V. C. This was in February, 1864, and he was sent direct to the front at Nashville, Tenn., participated in part of Atlanta campaign, then went to Louisville, Ky. ; was re-mounted, and returned South into Georgia and Alabama ; here engaged at Selma and Columbia. He was stationed at Darlington, and from this place returned home via Hilton Head and New York City, and was discharged at Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 29, 1865. He engaged at once with his father. He has been twice married, first to Eunice Coppock, Nov. 26, 1868; she died in 1870. His second marriage was with Sarah (Muck) Coppock, June 5, 1873; they have three daughters. Mr. Miles is a worthy member of the A., F. & A. M., of Pleasant Hill.

DAVID MILLER, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1817. His father, Henry Miller, and his mother, Ann E. Klein, were both natives of Pennsylvania ; they reared a family of fourteen children, nine sons and five daughters. Henry Miller gave his attention chiefly to farming. and followed it till his death, which occurred in Cumberland Co., Penn., at the age of 77 years. A. E. Klein, his second wife, died at the age of 66 years. The subject of this sketch was next to the youngest of the family. His life has been that of a farmer. He passed the first ten years of it in the place of his nativity, when he was taken with his parents to Cumberland Co. Here he remained, assisting his father in the duties of the farm, till he was 23 years old. He then embarked in life on his own

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resources, operating a farm in same county for about nine years. In the spring of 1850, he concluded to make his home in Ohio. That he has made farming a success. is evidenced by his large farm and fine buildings. He has been a faithful member of the German Baptist Church for about thirty-three years. His first marriage was in 1840, with Martha Kauffman, of York Co., Penn., with whom he lived about two and a half years, when her death occurred. A son and daughter were born to this union. His second marriage was with Nancy Nussleman, of Lancaster Co., Penn., who died in 1868, leaving four sons and one daughter. His third marriage was with Anna Eller, a native of this county ; they have no children.

D. E. MINNICH, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; was born on the farm on which be now resides in 1846, and is the son of George E. Minnich, a native of Pennsyl- vania ; he was born May 17, 1816, in Lancaster Co. ; he was brought to this county by his parents when he was 10 or 12 years old ; here he passed his boyhood and youth ; after making several changes, he finally located on the place where the subject of this sketch now lives; he remained here till 1872, when he disposed of his farm, and, after moving several times, located near Union City, in Darke Co .; here his death occurred in May, 1877. He was married twice, first June 14, 1837, to Esther Brant, of Pennsylvania ; five sons and two daughters were born to them. Margaret Casper was his second wife, by whom he had a family of four sons and three daughters ; of the fourteen children four are now dead. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm, and his early education was limited to the common school. In 1868, he married Rebecca, daughter of H. Reiber ; of their seven chil- dren, six survive ; in 1872, he purchased the old homestead of 80 acres, where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Minnich are members of the German Baptist Church, of which he is a Deacon.

DAVID MINNICH, retired farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill; was born in Frank- lin Co., Penn., in 1829, and was only 4 years old when he was brought to this State by his parents ; he is of German extraction, and the son of George Minnich, a native of Pennsylvania, who, in 1833, immigrated to this State and settled in Montgomery Co., Ohio ; a few years later he removed to this county, but at his death, which occurred when he was about 60 years of age, he was living in Franklin Township, Darke Co. He celebrated his marriage in Pennsylvania with Miss Nancy Shoemaker ; she survived her husband a few years, her death occurring about eighteen years ago. The boyhood of our subject was passed upon the farm till 18 years of age, when he came to this village in 1847, and embarked in the blacksmith business, which he carried on for twenty-five years ; his health then be coming impaired, he abandoned the business and engaged in farming ; this he con- tinued till about one year ago, since when he has been living a life retired from active business ; Mr. M. has no penchant for political office, but has been elected for fourteen years in succession to the office of Township Trustee, an evidence of his business sagacity and fidelity to his trust. His marriage with Miss Melinda Deeter, was celebrated in the fall of 1850 ; she is a native of this township, and a descendant of early settlers ; they had six children, four have died ; the living are Christina, married to O. P. Jay, and William. Mr. and Mrs. M. are members ot the German Baptist Church, and are living exemplary lives.

ADAM MINNICH, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; born in Darke Co., Ohio, in 1835; is the son of George and Mary (Deeter) Minnich. George was born in Dauphin Co., Penn, in 1807, his early life was passed upon a farm ; at the age of 18, he learned the art of tanning, which he followed three years in his native State. In the spring of 1829, he came to Ohio and settled on Wolf Creek, in Montgomery Co., and in 1830 or 1831, he removed to this county, locating in Newberry Town- ship ; and in 1833, he moved to Darke Co., but returned to this county in 1838, locating in Newton Township, on Sec. 5, where he has since resided. He was mar- ried in 1830 to Mary Deeter, daughter of Abraham Deeter; she was born in Mont- gomery Co., in 1813; Abraham was a native of Pennsylvania ; he was married in his native State, but emigrated to this State in 1805 ; he lived for a time in Mont- gomery Co., but, in 1813, moved to this county and located in Newton Township.

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He died in 1850, at the age of 70 ; his wife died in 1859, 72 years of age. Of their ten children, six still survive. The parents were consistent members of the Ger- man Baptist Church for nearly half a century. Adam now lives upon the old homestead. He married Lydia Ganby in 1854; of their seven children, two sons are dead, one being accidentally shot at 4 years of age, the ball passing through his head. Abraham Deeter arrived in Montgomery Co. in November, and unloaded under a large oak, with $1 in cash to carry him though the winter ; he after- ward became one of our wealthy farmers.

SAMUEL MOHLER, minister, Covington ; one of the early settlers of New- ton Township ; was born in Juniata Co., Penn., May 8, 1808, his father, Jacob, being a native of Lancaster Co., Penn. Jacob was a farmer and wagon-maker. He married Mary Bollinger, and by her reared four sons and two daughters, five of whom still survive. Jacob died at the age of 62, in his native State ; his wife then emigrated to this State, where her death occurred in 1854, upward of 72 years old. Samuel is the fourth child of the family ; his early life was passed on a farm, where he acquired the art of farming. At the age of 18 he began the tanning business and followed it over twenty years. Sept. 14, 1829, he took a journey to the "Far West," which was then Ohio; after a journey of twenty-two and one-half days he landed at Dayton, Ohio, whence he journeyed up the Stillwater to his present place, which he purchased, consisting of 49 acres, in Sec. 5. Here he has lived ever since, a period of half a century ; since his location here, he, by industry and economy, added a large farm to his first purchase, which he has recently disposed of; upon locating here he erected a tannery, which he successfully operated for wenty years ; on his farm is a fine spring of living water, and an extensive lime- stone quarry. Mr. M. identified himself with the German Baptist Church over half a century ago, and has been an earnest worker and faithful member ever since. He has served in the capacity of minister in the above church for twenty years, and for the last ten years as Presiding Elder, at present superintending four districts. He is a man of many sterling qualities, a useful and much-respected citizen. He married Catharine Saylor, of Pennsylvania, May 8, 1828, and by her has reared six sons and fonr daughters. One son, Rudolph, died Jan. 15, 1866, leaving a wife and one child, Anna. Six children have located in vicinity of the homestead, and three in Missouri.

HENRY MOHLER, farmer; P. O. Covington ; born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1829; is the son of Rudolph and Elizabeth (Miller) Mohler, she de- ceased ; he has followed the vocation of farmer through life; he remained at home assisting his father in the duties of the farm till he grew up to maturity; he made his first permanent location on his present place about twenty-six years ago, having operated a saw-mill on Stillwater about two years prior to this ; his large homestead, with its fine improvements, bears testimony of his industry, enterprise and skill as a farmer ; he was only 13 years old when he came to this county with his parents ; he finds his religious creed in the German Baptist Church, of which he and his wife are faithful members. He was married, in 1852, to Anna Deeter, daughter of Abraham and granddaughter of David Deeter, a pioneer of this county ; eight children-six sons and two daughters-have been the issue of this. union ; one son and daughter died when quite small.

WILLIAM MORRIN, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; another of the prominent farmers of Newton Township ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., in May, 1815, and emi- grated to this State with his parents in 1821, locating in Washington Township; he is of Irish and German extraction, his father emigrating from Ireland to Penn- sylvania when a young man. Our subject was reared a farmer, which has been his chief occupation throughout life ; his education was received in the public schools of Washington Township. In 1840, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Elizabeth I. Mitchell, a native of this county and a descendant of Kentuckians ; at this period, our subject began life for himself, farming the homestead place; here he successfully toiled for several years, when he moved to Piqua, his principal object being to educate his two daughters ; he embarked in the grocery business,

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which he continued twelve years, when he moved on a farm near Troy, and three years subsequently purchased the farm on which he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Morrin are the parents of three children, one of whom is dead ; the remaining two daughters have both been married ; one is a widow now, living at her father's-the other living in Montana ; Mr. and Mrs. Morrin are consistent members of the Bap- tist Church of Troy.

JACOB MUCK, farmer; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; born in Pennsylvania, in August, 1813; is the son of Henry Muck, also a native of Pennsylvania, and a farmer by occupation ; he was married twice, and reared a family of ten children. Our subject was raised on a farm, and has made farming his chief occupation through life. In 1840, he immigrated to Ohio and located in Montgomery Co. ; from here he moved to Franklin Township, Darke Co., locating on Painter's Creek. At the end of five years, he moved to Newton Township, in this county, which has since been his place of abode. Eleven years ago last June, he purchased his present place. For fifteen years, during the thrashing season, he has been running a thrashing machine. He celebrated his marriage with Miss Christina Smith, a Pennsylvanian, in 1833 ; nine children have been born to them, seven daughters and two sons ; a son and daughter have died. In politics, Mr. M. is a Republican ; and with his wife holds his connection with the Shiloh Christian Church.

DAVID MYERS, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; born in Juniata Co., Penn., in 1824 ; is the son of Michael Myers, also a native of Pennsylvania ; he was married to Elizabeth Neman, and had a family of ten children, two dying in infancy. Mr. Myers died at the age of 44, when our subject was about 12 years old ; his wife died seven years ago, at the advanced age of 81 years. Michael M. emigrated to Ohio and located in Miami Co., in 1834 ; he first purchased a farm in Newberry Township, and soon after in Newton, at which latter place his death occurred. Our subject has made farming his occupation. After the death of his father, he lived from home about one year, when he and his brother took the homestead place and operated it till his marriage. This latter event he celebrated with Belinda William- son in 1840; she was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, and died in 1876, having had two children, one of whom died in infancy. Mr. Myers celebrated his second marriage in 1877, with Catherine Wackler, a native of York State ; she came to this county with her parents when quite small, and located in Newberry Township. One child, Agola Mabel, has been born to this union. Mr. Myers is a member of the Christian Church of Covington, and Mrs. M. of the Evangelical Lutheran of the same place.

H. H. MYERS, dealer in boots and shoes, Pleasant Hill ; one of the enter- prising business men of Pleasant Hill ; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn, in 1843 ; he is of German parentage, the son of Michael and Roney Myers, who were both natives of Germany. They emigrated to America early in the present century, and located in Pennsylvania. Michael Myers was born in 1796, and is still living at the advanced age of 84 years, with his mental and physical faculties well pre- served. Our subject's early education was limited to the common schools of Penn- sylvania ; he early turned his attention to the trade of shoemaker, which has been his vocation through life. During the late civil war, he exchanged the comforts of home for the privations and hardships of the camp and battle-field. He served three years as a member of the 110th O. V. I., which distinguished itself in many hard-fought battles. Our subject participated in the battles of Winchester, the Wilderness, the Shenandoah campaigns, siege of Petersburg, and many others ; at this latter place, Mr. Myers received a severe wound on the head, while storming the enemy's works, occasioned by a blow dealt with a gun in the hands of a rebel ; he was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, on the 2d day of July, 1865. After returning home, he resumed shoemaking ; this he has since continued with an interval of four years, which time was engaged in farming. He now carries a large and well-assorted stock of boots and shoes, and practices integrity in all of his transactions. His marriage was celebrated with Miss Mary E. Jay in 1871. Three children have been born to them.

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WILLIAM M. NORTH. farmer ; P. O. Laura ; is one of the carly pioncers of Newton Township; he was born in Union Township Feb. 24, 1807, and is the son of John North, a Georgian by birth ; his father, John N., Sr., was born in Virginia, from which State he emigrated to Georgia ; he was employed as a messenger during the war for American independence, and was frequently in danger from the British troops. He was married to Rachel Nichols, and they lived together for seventy- three years ; Mr. North emigrated to this State in 1805, and located in Miami Co .. of which he afterward became a prominent citizen ; he and his wife lived to a ripe old age, he dying at the age of 96 years, and she at the age of 94 years ; he was a nephew of Lord North, of Revolutionary fame. John North, Jr., was born pre- vious to the outbreak of the Revolution. He married Miss Tamar Mendenhall in 1798 ; in 1804, he emigrated to Ohio, locating in Union Township. in this county : during the war of 1812, he was employed as a teamster ; he reared a family of five sons and two daughters-Martha. Delany, Singleton, Win. M., Layton, Austin and Richard ; all grew up to maturity and reared families ; Austin has been Judge of the Court of Franklin Co., Iowa, for several years. John N., Jr., in 1810. became the first settler in Twin Township, Darke Co., and kept the first store in Ithaca. Our subject has experienced all the trials and triumphs incident to pio- neer life. He was married, Aug. 2, 1830, to Miss Esther Hall, who was born in Union Township in 1810, and was the daughter of Amos and Susan (Coate) Ilall. originally from South Carolina ; in November, 1832, Mr. N. purchased the farm on which he now resides, and moved on it. He held the office of Township Trustee for twelve years, and Assessor for one year. He has had a family of eleven chil- dren, six sons and five daughters, four of whom have died; three of his sons. Amos H., L. M. and W. I., were soldiers in the late civil war; Amos H. and L. M. were members of the 71st O. V. I., in the three-years service ; they participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, where L. M. was wounded through the arm, and was subsequently discharged ; Amos H. remained in the service almost three years, but was discharged on account of some trouble with his eyes ; W. I. was a member of the 147th O. N. G. Mr. North was called to mourn the death of his wife, March 8, 1879. Mr. North merits special mention for the kind, filial care which he rendered to his own and his wife's parents during the latter period of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Hall, the parents of Mrs North, lived to ripe old ages : Mr. Hall died suddenly, lamented by all who knew him.

SAMUEL M. OAKS, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; he was born in Union. Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1833, and is a son of Samuel Oaks, born in Pennsyl- vania in 1806; Samuel was a smith by trade, and when about 6 years old, came to Dayton, Ohio, with his parents, the place then consisting of only a few houses. He married Isabella Hamel, of Pennsylvania, in 1828, by whom he had eight sons and four daughters ; five still survive, as also do the parents at an advanced age. Our subject was inured to farm labor, and has made farming his occupation ; in this he takes a great interest and exhibits great enterprise, the aggregate of his crops attesting his skill and success as a farmer ; in 1858, he moved to this county and located in Concord Township, and, at the end of nine or ten years, he returned to his native county ; some three or four years later, he located on his present place, where he has since resided, and made many improvements ; he is a self-made man ; in early life, thrown upon his own resources, he has, by industry and economy, risen to a position of affluence ; socially, he is pleasant and affable, religiously, an earnest Christian, and, with his wife, a member of the Congregational Brethren Church of Pleasant Hill: He married Melinda J. Smith, nee Buley, in 1855; she was born in this county in 1837 ; of his five sons and one daughter, four sons have died, three upon the same day ; Mr. Oaks takes a great interest in educating his children, giving them the best opportunities in this direction ; his daughter, Ella S. Biteman, being a teacher by profession.

S. H. OVERCARSH, teacher, Pleasant Hill ; he was born in sight of his present home, in 1856, and is the son of Michael and Martha (Brandon) Overcarsh; Michael was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1827, and is of German descent, and &

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son of John und Catherine (Hoover) Overcarsh, who had one son and one daughter ; when Michael was 10 or 12 years old, his parents came to Ohio, locating on his present place, where he has since resided ; his parents both died on the same day, Nov. 9, 1873 ; he was born March 14, 1794, and she July 11, 1795. Michael was married April 19, 1853, to Martha, granddaughter of Anna Brandon, elsewhere noticed in these sketches ; she died Dec. 24, 1878 ; three sons and two daughters were born of this union. Our subject was raised upon a farm and educated in the common school ; he improved his educational opportunities well, and entered the profession of teaching in 1875, which he has since continued during the winter, devoting his summer months to farming ; he is a Republican in politics, and a Protestant in religion, being a member, with his wife, of the Christian Church ; per- sonally, he is pleasant, affable, industrious and enterprising. He was married, in 1878, to Jemima Maier, of this county, daughter of Eberhart and Lucy Maier ; one daughter, Martha, has been the issue of this union.

WILLIAM PATTY, physician, Pleasant Hill ; is one of the prominent citizens of Newton Township, born Dec. 30, 1827, in Miami Co., of Welch extraction on the paternal, and English on the maternal side. His ancestry settled in South Carolina in an early day, where his father, Charles Patty, was born, July 21, 1788. He was married to Phebe Pearson, born Aug. 5, 1789. In 1808, they pioneered their way into the Stillwater Valley, locating within the present limits of Newberry Township. When war was declared in 1812, safety required them to retire to the southern part of the county, where they located in the extreme southeast part of Union Township ; after a time he moved to Montgomery Co., and at the end of twenty years, to Newton Township, where his death occurred Sept. 23, 1848; his wife died July 24, 1868, at the age of 79. Dr. Patty was raised in Montgomery Co .; his educational advantages were meager, but well improved, and he entered the profession of teaching at the age of 17, which he continued for four years, in the meantime devoting his leisure time to the study of medicine. In 1853, he attended a course of lectures at the Eclectic Medical College, of Cincinnati ; he then practiced till 1866, with the exception of four years, when he attended another course of lectures, receiving his diploma. He made his first location at Laura, and from there came to his present place in the spring of 1867. As a physician, he has been successful, as a citizen he is sociable and charitable. He married Sarah J. Dawell, of this county, in 1849 ; they have four sons and one daughter ; two sons are dead. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and, with his wife, is a member of the Christian Church.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 113

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