The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 123

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

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HARVEY KLEPINGER, farmer ; P. O. Potsdam ; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in the year 1842 ; is a son of John and Elizabeth Klepinger ; he was born in the State of Pennsylvania, she in Maryland. They emigrated to and settled in Montgomery Co., in which they now live. He was born in the year 1802, she about 1810. They were parents of nine children, all living, viz., Amos, Franklin, Newton, Matilda, H. A., Samuel, Harvey, John and Oliver. Harvey was reared on the farm, on which he labored until he obtained his majority, after which he began life on his own responsibility and engaged in farming. He was a member of Co. K, 179th O. V. I., serving till the close of the war ; discharged in 1865. In 1870, he was married to Sarah J. Hyer, by whom he has had four children, viz., Hattie.M., William A., Dora B. and Rollin. In 1872, he moved to the place where he now resides. He owns 80 acres of land, which is all in fine condition, and well improved. His education was received in the district schools, in which he fitted himself to discharge the duties which attach to life. His estimable wife is a member of the German Baptist Church, and is a daughter of Moses and Rebecca (Stoner) Hyer, who reside in Montgomery Co. They are the parents of four children, three of whom are living, viz., Amos, Sarah J. and Susanna ; Willis, deceased. His wife was born in 1850.

JACOB KREIDER, farmer ; P. O. Potsdam ; born in Lebanon Co., Penn., in the year 1836 ; is a son of Peter and Catherine Kreider, who were natives of Penn- sylvania, in which they lived. His father died in 1844, aged 42 years ; his mother was born in 1808 and is still living, as, also, is her mother, who is 90 years of age. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom are living, viz., Jacob, Joseph, Catherine and Eliza ; the deceased are Sarah, Mary, Henry, and one in infancy. LL

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Our subject was reared on the farm in Pennsylvania, where he labored till he was 19 years of age, at which time he removed to Montgomery Co., Ohio, where he lived two years, employed on the farm as a "hand ;" he then came to this county, and engaged in farming on his own responsibility. In 1859, he married Elizabeth, Hoke, by whom he had three children, viz., Susanna and Mary (twins) and Elias. Mrs. Kreider departed this life in 1862, aged 25 years. His second marriage was celebrated with Eliza Spitler, Nov. 14, 1865, by whom he has had five children, viz., Willie, Cora E., Ollie E., Lola B. and Charley. Mrs. Kreider is a daughter of the well-known John Spitler, whose sketch appears in this work. Mr. Kreider has followed the fortunes of the farm all his life, and for twenty years has resided in this county ; he owns 75 acres of land, which is all in a good state of cultivation, and handsomely improved with more than ordinary buildings. He is one of our self-made men, in the broadest sense which the term implies, having begun life with only small capital. He invested in a steam saw-mill, which was destroyed by fire, involving him in a loss of $2,000. His farm and stock are the fruit of his own hard labor and good management.

BENJAMIN LANGSTON, farmer; P. O. West Milton ; born on the place on which he now lives Jan. 16, 1829 ; is a son of Leonard and Frances (Christ) Lang- ston ; his early boyhood days were spent on the farm, but his father paid rather more attention to educating his children than was common with early settlers ; April 11, 1848, he left home to learn the carpenter's trade, his worldly possessions consisting of two suits of home-spun and 25 cents in money ; he labored hard at his trade during the summer, and when winter drew her icy curtains round, and the shivering blasts of the north wind whistled through the chinks of the old log schoolhouse, Benjamin occupied a seat therein, and strove with might and main to penetrate the misty depths of knowledge, which was so difficult to delve down into in those days ; in March, 1850, he began practicing his trade on his own account, which he continued in until March, 1851. March 29 of the same year, he was married to Rebecca Wheelock, a daughter of Lyman Wheelock, an old settler, who died Nov. 25, 1850 ; our subject has adopted and reared one daughter- Rosella ; also adopted and partially reared four others, viz., John Westfall, E. G. Langston, M. Pearson, deceased, and Geo. W. Beck ; the latter, however, only remained with him from his 16th year until he was 19 years old ; Mr. Langston worked on leased land till March, 1853, at which time he purchased the old home- stead farm for the sum of $2,300, paying $1,000 down ; here he remained until August, 1860, when he sold his personal effects, moved to the Brush Creek settle- ment and, during the years 1861, 1862 and 1863, worked at his trade and discharged the duties of some of the township offices ; in November, 1863, he returned to his farm, and May 2, 1864, was called on by Gov. Brough to accept a Second Lieuten- antcy in Co. D, 147 O. N. G., which was soon transferred to the scenes of war, and placed in charge of Fort Ethan Allen, which was situated in Virginia, near Wash- ington ; his regiment participated in the battle before Fort Stevens, July 12, 1864 ; his time was occupied in usual garrison duty style, having charge of the company a portion of the time ; he was mustered out at Camp Dennison, Aug. 30, 1864 ; the home-guard companies were continued, of one of which he was elected Captain in July, 1865 ; he was mustered from the service of the State May 2, 1866, by proclamation of the Adjutant General of Ohio, thus ending his military career. Upon his return home he resumed his labors on the farm ; he owns 83 acres of land, which is finely improved and in a high state of cultivation ; Oct. 8, 1878, he was elected one of the County Infirmary Directors, which position he now holds ; he and his estimable wife have been members of the Christian Church since August, 1851, and are exemplary Christian people ; he is, and has been, an earnest worker in the cause of Sabbath schools, as well as a powerful champion in the cause of temperance ; he has been remarkably healthy, never paying but $2 to a physician, with the exception of one case-a chronic complaint, which was completely eradi- cated by Dr. A. E. Duncan, of Yellow Springs ; Mr. Langston has traveled exten-

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sively, having been over eleven different States, and visited many of the large cities in the Union.

DAVID LANGSTON, farmer ; P. O. West Milton ; born in this township Ang. 16, 1834 ; is a son of Leonard and Frances (Christ) Langston ; his father was born in Georgia, his mother in Maryland ; they came to Ohio in 1807, and left their native home in a two-wheeled vehicle, but, while crossing the mountains, the cart broke down, which necessitated its abandonment ; their earthly effects were transferred to the backs of their steeds, as were also grandmother and the children, who were unable to endure the fatigue of travel, while grandfather, rifle in hand, made the entire journey on foot; they first settled in Preble Co., in which they lived for awhile, then removed to this township, in which he entered 160 acres of land in Sec. 17 ; while on a return trip to Preble Co., the wolves made a raid on his flock of sheep, and devoured every one ; they were the second lot of sheep brought to the township; a Mr. Duncan had brought a few previously ; he moved his family into a cabin, and began the great labor of clearing ; he was without means, having spent the last shilling for tobacco, when he crossed the Ohio River; his rifle was his support, supplying both food and raiment ; he was a great hunter, and the crack of his rifle was never heard but what some inhabitant of the forest would fall a victim to his prowess and unerring aim. They were the parents of eight children, seven daughters and a son. Grandfather L. died in the spring of 1840, aged 60 years ; his wife died at the advanced age of 96 years ; to her descendants she used to describe scenes of the Revolutionary war, in which she had carried water to the famished soldiers who were worn with fatigue, or the more unfortunate ones who were burning with fever, caused either by gaping wounds or the malaria which arose from pestilential swamps. Peace be to the ashes of these veteran pioneers. They have done a good work ; like the gladiators of the arena, they bared their arms for the conflict, and, with meas- ured strokes, hewed their way into the heart of a wilderness, in whose winding labyrinths perils of every nature met them at each advancing step. David's father is living, and resides in Darke Co .; they are the parents of ten children, of whom all are living but one, Leonard; the living are Benjamin N., John C., Martha, David, Henry C., Mary A., Hannah E., Jesse S. and Parolee ; Leonard was a member of the 8th O. V. C., and was one of the daring and successful spies and scouts of the Union forces, who did so much for the success of our armies; he was frequently with the enemy in disguise and was one of them, so far as he could further his purpose. In one instance, he was taken prisoner by our own men, and would have suffered death, had not his brother recognized him; the blood of the boys was up, and they would listen to no explanation he might make, thinking they had caught a spy, and were bound to have an execution ; he passed through every danger incident to his calling, and was, in November, 1864, decoyed by a company of the enemy who were dressed in blue uniform, and flying the stars and stripes; upon discovering their true character, he refused to surrender, knowing death would be his portion if he did, made the attempt to cut his way out, and, after slaying their Captain and others of the party, he himself was shot, and soon after died from the effects of the terrible wounds he received. His remains were brought home and interred in the cemetery on Greenville Creek. Our subject was drilled for two years in the Covington Blues, after which he was appointed drill- master in the 11th Ohio, assigned to Co. E, and given a Sergeant's commission. He was afterward 2d Lieutenant of Co. B. 110th O. V. I., and still later was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, which he held till sickness compelled his resignation .. Word of his decease was taken to his regiment. The Chaplain summoned the boys, and David's funeral sermon was preached in good earnest. Upon his return to health, he was given the commission of a 1st Lieutenant, in Co. G, 147th Regiment, 100-day men, in which he served his time; he was in the engagement at Ft. Stevens ; the commanding officer was suddenly taken sick (?), and the command devolved upon David ; he was discharged from the service of his country in September, 1864. His first marriage was celebrated with Rachel Hyer, in March, 1857, by whom he had

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one child, viz., Daniel W. Mrs. Langston died Jan. 2, 1860. His second marriage was celebrated with Lucy Slade, April 7, 1864. He owns 26 acres of land, which is in a good state of cultivation and well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Langston belong to the Christian Church. Four of his brothers were in the army during the late war; John was Captain of Co. E, 11th O. V. I. afterward Captain of Co. B, 44th O. V. L, and was mounted at Lewisburg May 23, 1862. Benjamin was 1st Lieu- tenant of Co. D, 147th Regiment, 100-day men. Henry was a member of Co. D, 147th O. N. G., and Jesse served three years in the 110th.

BENJAMIN LONGANECKER, farmer; P. O. Potsdam ; he was born in what is now Juniata Co., Penn., in 1817 ; his parents, Henry and Anna (Hart) Longanecker, were also born in the same State ; there they were married, and in the year 1834, removed to and settled in Newton Township, this county, on 160 acres of land, on which they resided till their decease ; his father died Oct. 1, 1872, aged 81 years 3 months and 11 days ; his mother departed this life Dec. 25, 1863, aged 69 years 11 months and 14 days ; they were parents of ten children, seven of whom are living, viz., Benjamin, David, Henry, Sarah, Anna, Fanny and Susan ; the deceased are Esther, Isaac and Elizabeth. Our subject was reared on the farm, assisting in its cultivation until he was 24 years of age, and then began learning the smith's trade, which he followed about twelve years. Dec. 13, 1838, he was married to Rebecca Welbaum ; they have had six children, five of whom are living, viz., Sarah A., Jeremiah., Samuel, Joseph and Henry (twins); one died in infancy ; Mrs. Longanecker departed this life July 26, 1848, aged 31 years 6 months and 9 days. His second marriage was celebrated with Magdalene Welbaum, April 4, 1850 ; they have eight children, viz., Caroline, Susanna, Ephraim, Davis, Ezra, Harvey, Ella and Willie ; Mrs. Longanecker was born Nov. 1, 1825, and is a daughter of Abraham Welbaum, who came from Pennsylvania and settled here at an early day ; he died Sept. 24, 1863, aged 60 years 6 months and 12 days ; her mother, Rebecca, is now the wife of Emanuel Martin ; to Mrs. L.'s. parents eleven children were born, eight of whom are living-Magdalene, Lydia, Fanny, Eve, William, Joseph, Levi and Rebecca ; the deceased are Barbara, Obadiah and Amos ; his first wife was a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Welbaum, whose sketch appears in this work under the head of Jacob Welbaum ; after he abandoned the shop, he settled on the place on which he now resides, which was in March, 1856 ; he owns 310 acres of land, 70 of which is situated in Newberry Township ; the land is all in a good state of cultivation and well improved ; his buildings on the home farm are of more than ordinary character; a large house and commodious barn, with their pleasant surroundings, make his home a very attractive place ; he has held some of the offices of the township, of which we mention School Director, Supervisor, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Longanecker are members of the German Baptist Church, he having been connected with it for a period of forty years, and is one of the Deacons of the church ; she has been a member for twenty-six years ; both are Christian people and take great interest in the welfare of the church ; his children- Joseph, Henry, Sarah, Caroline and Susanna-belong to the same church ; Samuel is a minister in the Christian Church and resides in Frederickstown, this county.

W. J. MAST, dealer in lightning rods, West Milton ; was born in Mont- gomery Co., Ohio, Feb. 13, 1825 ; his father Absalom Mast, was born in Randolph Co., N. C., in 1796. David Mast, father of Absalom, was probably born in Lan- caster Co., Penn., in 1761, and removed with his parents to the Newberry District, N. C., where he was reared, and from which he removed to Ohio in the spring of 1831. They were parents of the following children, all deceased, viz., Obedience (Mrs. John Quilling, who gave birth to the first white child born north of Dayton), Rebecca (Mrs. David Sheets), Sarah (Mrs. Solomon Waymire), Nancy (Mrs. Yount) and Absalom. The latter was married to Mary Johnn, of Montgomery Co., in the year 1818, by whom he had ten children, six of whom, are living, viz., Elizabeth, Johnson P., Wesley J., Cynthia A., Asher C. and Mary J. The deceased are Harriet, David, Madison and Arabella. Mary Johnn, wife of Absalom Mast, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1799, and with her parents came to Ohio and settled on

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Wolf Creek, in Montgomery Co., in 1810; she died .ing. 23, 1846. In an early day, Absalom Mast had command of a Light Horse Company, of which he was Captain. He was a good horseman and a lover of the equine race. He died at the residence of his son, Asher C., Dec. 15, 1877. Our subject was reared on the farm, laboring for his father till his 21st year, when he opened a hotel in West Milton, which he conducted for ten years, after which he dealt extensively in stock, and was also proprietor of a livery stable. In 1859, he abandoned these pursuits and turned his attention to the lightning-rod business, and since 1870 has given his full attention to this business. July 7, 1847, he was married to Sarah, daughter of Burrell Pickering. They have four children, Josephine (now Mrs. Will H. Frink), Georgiana (now Mrs. Benson Mote), Fordney and Lewis L.)

ELIZA MENDENHALL, retired, West Milton ; born in Virginia in the year 1809 ; is a daughter of John and Elizabeth Garber. Her father was born in the State of Pennsylvania ; her mother in Maryland ; they removed to and settled in Ohio, in which State they lived till their decease ; he died at the age of 76 years, she in the 74th year of her age. They were parents of seven children, four of whom are living, viz., Jacob, who resides in Menard Co., Ill .; Nancy ; Mary, now Mrs .. Moshier ; and our subject. The deceased are Christian, Catherine McCool . nee. Garber, and one in infancy. Her grandfather was born in Germany, and was 3: years old when his parents came to this country. Mrs. Mendenhall has been twice married ; first, to David Syler, in 1829, by whom she had four children, two of whom are living, viz., Milton and Susan ; the deceased are John and Joseph. Mr. Syler departed this life in 1835, aged 34 years. Her second marriage was cele- brated with Thaddeus Mendenhall in 1840. To them four children were born, one- of whom is living, viz., Priscilla ; the deceased are Angeline, Thaddeus and Emily .. Mr. Mendenhall died in 1846, aged 45 years ; was born in North Carolina in 1801, and is connected with the Mendenhalls whose very interesting sketch appears in this work. Mary Garber was married to David Pearson in 1838, by whom she had one child-Milton, deceased. ''Mr. Pearson died July 12, 1840, aged 24 years. Her second marriage was celebrated, in 1844, with Peter Moshier ; to them five children were born, all of them deceased, viz., William, Eliza A., Mary C., Elmira and Elizabeth. Eliza and Nancy are members of the Christian Church, of more than 30 years' standing, and are exemplary Christian ladies, taking much interest in the cause. Their sister, Mary, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, like her sisters, has been a long worker in the vineyard of the Lord. Mrs. Menden- hall owns 764 acres of land, all well improved, thus making her a comfortable home in which to enjoy her declining years. Her sisters, Nancy and Mary, were burned out on the 10th of April, 1880. They are now erecting a new home on the site of the old one. Mary was born in Virginia in 1815 ; Nancy, her sister, in the same State in the year 1812.

JACOBT. MILES, physician and surgcon, Laura ; born in Newton Township in the year 1845 ; is a son of Wade and Mary Miles. His father was born in this county, his mother in the State of Indiana ; his father died in 1855, aged 35 or 36 years ; his mother was born about the same year, and departed this life at the age of 30 years ; They were the parents of eight children, of whom five are living, viz., Abijah W., Sarah, Charity, Vachti and Jacob T .; the deceased are Jane, Naomi, and one in infancy. His boyhood days were spent on the farm ; and, at the age of 18, he enlisted in Co. K, of the 86th O. V. I .; his regiment was in the Army of the Ten- nessee, under Burnside's command. While on a scout in Western Virginia, he received a wound in the right knee, which deprives the Doctor of the free use of his limb ; he also lost one eye while in the service, from the effects of small-pox ; after his return home, he studied and taught school until 1870, at which time he began the study of medicine under Dr. A. E. Duncan, who is a very able physician ; under his instructions he read medicine four years, then entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, studying in the classes of 1873-74 and graduating from the class of 1875 ; he returned to Laura, in which place he began the practice of medicine, since when he has built up a large and increasing practice. His-

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marriage with Susan Coate was celebrated in 1873, by whom he has had two children, viz., Harry L. and Mary R. Mrs. Miles is a daughter of Elijah Coate, who was born in this county, in which he lived until 1860, then removed to Indiana, where he has labored much in the ministry. Mrs. M. is an exemplary member of the Christian Church, and a consistent Christian woman.

DAVID MILLER, farmer ; P. O. West Milton ; he was born in Montgomery Co. in 1813, and is a son of Michael and Sarah Miller ; his father was born close to the Pennsylvania and Maryland line ; his mother was reared in Clermont Co., Ohio ; Michael, with his parents, went to Kentucky when he was only 10 years old, in which State they remained seven years, then crossed the river and took up their abode in Clermont Co., in which they lived some time; they then went to Montgomery Co., Ohio, in which they lived till their decease; his father died at the age of 74, his mother, when 46 years of age ; they were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are living, viz., John, David, Jacob, Michael, Daniel, Abra- ham, Benjamin, Andrew and Aaron ; the deceased are Joseph, Mary and Nancy ; by his second mariage, with Elizabeth Brumbaugh, he had ten children, six of whom are living, viz., Emanual, Sarah, Elizabeth, Isaac, Esther and Solomon ; the deceased are Catherine, Susan, Lydia and Samuel. When the old homestead was sold, eighteen children and one son-in-law were present. Our subject was reared on the farm, on which he labored until he was of age, at which time he began life for himself, and worked as a day laborer, in which way he made enough to pur- chase the land whereon he now resides. In 1839, he married Nancy Longanecker ; to them ten children were born, nine of whom are living, viz., Sarah E., John A., Mary A., Frances, Michael, Samuel, Mahala, Isaac and Catherine, and David, deceased ; Mrs. Miller died in 1862, aged 43 years 8 months and 14 days. His second marriage was celebrated with Elizabeth Falknor in 1862, who died in 1877, when upward of 60 years of age. His third marriage was celebrated with Cather- ine Bowser in 1877 ; in 1840, he settled on the place on which he now resides, and at that time his land was all in the woods ; he has made it what it is, a beautiful place, well cultivated and improved ; Mr. Miller began the struggle with the world empty handed and from his father's estate received only a small portion ; he and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church, with which they have been connected many years, and are every-day Christian people. His deceased wives were also members of the same denomination, and died relying fully upon the promises of their blessed Savior ; his children, John, Sarah E., Mary A. and Michael, are also members of the same church, which affords their aged father much satisfaction. Mrs. Miller was born May 12, 1816 ; she is a daughter of John and Anna Long ; he died in 1870, she in Pennsylvania, in the year 1825 ; they were the parents of seven children, four living, viz., Peter, Abraham, Elizabeth and Catherine ; the deceased are David, Isaac and John. Mrs. M. was married to Henry Bowser, in 1836, by whom she had six children, viz., Mary, Elizabeth, John, Catherine, Matilda and William ; Mr. Bowser died in 1874, aged 64 years 1 month and 15 days ; he was born in 1810; all of her children are members of the German Baptist Church.

JOHN A. MILLER, farmer ; P. O. West Milton; born in this township in the year 1844 ; is a son of David Miller, whose sketch appears in this work. He was reared on the farm, on which he labored for his father till his 21st year, when he began life for himself, and continued farming on leased land. He lived on the farm belonging to D. M. Coat for fifteen years. In 1864, he was married to Sarah J. Fortner, by whom he has had nine children, seven of whom are living, viz., Mary B., Charles, Ella, Maggie, Harry, Claude and Loren ; the deceased are Laura, aged 7 months, and Anna, at about the same age. Mrs. M. is a daughter of John and Elizabeth Fortner, who were among the early settlers of this county ; both deceased. She was born here in 1844. They are members of the German Baptist Church, with which they have been connected twelve years, and are consistent Christian people, and endeavor to discharge every Christian duty.

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JOHN H. MILLER, farmer and thresher; P. O. West Milton ; born in Berkeley Co., Va., in 1823 ; is a son of Zachariah and Mary Miller, who were born in the same State in which they were married. In 1835, they emigrated to Ohio, and settled in this township, in which they made a permanent home. He is still living at the advanced age of 79 years ; his mother departed this life in 1863, aged 62 or 63 years. They were parents of five children, all living, viz., John H., Elizabeth J., Jacob, Maria and George N. ; John H. was reared on the farm, his early boy- hood days being spent in a manner incident to youth, remaining with his father until he attained his majority, after which he engaged in cabinet-making, which he followed for awhile. His health becoming poor he abandoned the work, and began carpentering, which he followed seven years. In 1852, he was married to Maria A. Pennel, by whom he had two children, one living, viz., Mary F .; Jennie, deceased. Mrs. M. is a daughter of Hugh and Rachel Pennel, who were residents of Cass Co. In the winter of 1852, he came to the place on which he now resides ; he owns 77 acres of good land, on which are erected excellent buildings. He has been extensively engaged in thrashing for a number of years, and is the oldest thresher in the county, having followed it for thirty years, always giving his patrons satisfaction, by doing a No. 1 job. He and his wife have been members of the Christian Church for twenty years. Mrs. M. was born in Ohio in the year 1830. Their daughter, Mary F., is the wife of George W. Beck, who resides near, and is one of the educators of the county.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 123

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