The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 62

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

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 62

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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business) have fitted their building for a flouring-mill, an enterprise that Fletcher and the surrounding vicinity has long needed; Coppock & Bro. are thoroughgoing young men, and only time is needed to establish a trade in their business. Sept. 25, 1873, J. W. married Miss Mary C. Heiker ; she was born in this county Feb. 17, 1853 ; they have had two children, viz., Blanche, deceased, and Ira D., now liv- ing ; Mrs. Coppock is a daughter of William and Anna (Keller) Heikes.

ISAIAH D. COUNTS, retired farmer ; P. O. Conover. He was born in Bour- bon Co., Ky., Nov. 3, 1815, and is a son of Elijah Counts, who was born in Vir- ginia in 1787, and was of German and Welsh parentage ; Elijah was brought up on the farm, and, in his earlier years, learned the harness and saddler's trade, which he followed until 1818. He married Margaret Wiley, of South Carolina, and, soon after their marriage, they emigrated to Kentucky, where they remained until 1819 ; they again removed and settled in Staunton Township, Miami Co., where he entered a farm of 80 acres near Casstown; there they remained, clearing up their farm, until 1863, when they sold out and settled in Fletcher, where Margaret died Sept. 2 of the same year ; Elijah spent his remaining years in various places until Aug. 29, 1879. when he, too, passed away ; they had twelve children, of whom six are now living, our subject being the third son ; he shared all. the pioneer difficulties of Staunton Township, where he nobly assisted his father in opening up the farm. The generations of the nineteenth century can look back over the pages of this history and see what their ancestors have passed through. In 1836, Isaiah began life for himself, and his time has chiefly heen devoted to farming since; in 1855, he moved from Staunton Township to what is now his farm of 120 acres, in Sec. 13, Brown Township ; this he rented one year and then bought an adjoining farm, where he remained until 1865, when he bought and located where he now is; the above property has been accumulated by the energy and industry of himself and family. Nov. 12, 1843, he married Letitia Wilson, who was born April 13, 1820, and died Dec. 29, 1851, leaving her husband with three children. Isaiah, Sept. 8, 1855, married Elsie Anna Ayers. The children of I. D .. Counts are L. F., W. T. and J. W., now deceased. L. F., in the late rebellion, seeing the need of defend- ing his native country, enlisted in Company E, 110th O. V. I., where he partici- pated in two severe engagements and others of minor importance ; after serving three years, he was mustered out of service and returned home uninjured.

W. S. COX, practical physician ; Allen's P. O. Dr. Cox was born in Lost Creek Township, Miami Co., Ohio, Aug. 7, 1828, and is a son of George Cox, who was born in Virginia near the close of the eighteenth century. Early in the nineteenth century, he with his parents emigrated to Ohio and settled in Hamilton Co. About 1824, he married Elizabeth Shotwell, she being a native of Clermont Co., Ohio, and ten years his junior ; they in 1826 emigrated to Miami Co. and located on Sec. 4, Lost Creek Township, where they spent many years. In the fall of 1862, the death of George Cox occurred, from injuries received from a runaway team of horses ; his wife survived until 1873, when she, too, passed away ; their children were ten in number, of whom all reached maturity, and seven are now liv- ing, viz. : John S., now a druggist in Ogden, Ill .; S. W., also a druggist in Bement ; Van B., now a farmer in Champaign Co., Ohio ; Paul V., now a resident of Fletcher; Elmira C., now Mrs. James Bradley ; Caroline, now Mrs. Samuel Davis, of Fair- mount, Ill. W. S. being the oldest, was raised on the farm and assisted in perform- ing the labor connected therewith ; early in life he received an education sufficient for teaching, which occupation he followed several terms. During this time, he began the study of medicine, and in 1852, graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute ; in September of the same year, located in Plattsville, Shelby Co., Ohio, and began the practice of medicine, building up a good practice, and, as a young practitioner, was much liked ; here he remained until April, 1858, when he saw fit to change his location to that of his present one, where he has since resided, hav- ing lived in the village of Lena twenty-two years, and is the oldest physician of the place. The Doctor is located a short distance north of Lena, with all the con- veniences necessary, and at present is in possession of 100 acres of land in Secs. 1

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and 6, Brown Township ; he has for a number of years been a member of the Masonic fraternity. May 19, 1853, he married Nancy S. Duncan, who was born in Brown Township, Miami Co., Ohio, Sept. 22, 1830 ; they have six children, of whom five are now living, viz .: Ariminta O. J., now Mrs. Isaac Wolcott ; Amanda E., now Mrs. A. J. Brantner, of Illinois ; R. Lorelly, now Mrs. Joseph Johnson ; Edward S. and George S. Mrs. Cox is a daughter of John and Deborah Duncan, whose names will be seen under T. P. Duncan's sketch in some other part of this work.

H. B. DENMAN, physician ; Allen's P. O ; was born in Spring Creek Town- ship, Miami Co., Ohio, Feb. 4, 1843, and is a son of Abraham and Margaret A. (Stickle) Denman, whose death occurred in 1855 ; Abraham married, for his second wife, Catherine Lee, and now, resides in Miami Co. H. B. was raised on his father's farm, assisting in all the duties connected with agricultural pursuits until his majority ; his early education was obtained in the district schools ; in 1864. he entered the schools of Dayton, Ohio, where he remained until March 4 of the fol- lowing spring ; at this time commenced the study of medicine under Prof. D. D. Bramble, of Cincinnati ; H. B. applied his time closely and allowed no thought on other occupations to trouble his mind ; in 1866, he attended his first course of lectures at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, from which he graduated in 1869; on June 1, 1870, he commenced the practice of his profession in Lena, Brown Township, where he has since been located, attending closely to all duties of the medical profession. Sept. 24, 1874, his nuptial was celebrated with Rose H. Brecount, she was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, July 30, 1846 ; one child was born to them July 9, 1875, Mattie B. Mrs. Denman is a daughter of S. G. and Tamer (White) Brecount.

JOHN W. DILL, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Fletcher ; was born in Greene Co., Ohio, March 18, 1830, and is a son of Burton and Elizabeth (Davis) Dill ; they are both natives of Delaware ; their marriage was celebrated soon after the war of 1812, through which Burton Dill passed, enduring many hardships. About 1819, they emigrated West, locating in Sugar Creek Township, Greene Co., Ohio, where they both died, he in the 47th year of his age, and she in her 66th year. Their children were seven in number, of whom four are now living. John W. was raised on the farm, and secured a common-school education in his native county ; after his majority, he engaged in carpentering, which was his steady occupation for four years ; afterward he followed it in connection with farming. In 1869, he purchased his present farm of 50 acres, in Sec. 19, Brown Township, Miami Co. ; he located on his farm in 1872, and many changes have been made since ; at present his farm is all under cultivation and well improved. He married Mary Worthington, of Montgomery Co., April 28, 1855 ; her death occurred June 8, 1873, at the age of 33 years 1 month and 8 days ; she was the mother of three children-George A., Daniel and Sarah E., deceased. Mr. Dill married for his second wife, Jane Snodgrass, born in Spring Creek Township, Miami Co., who is a daughter of Thomas and Lucinda Snodgrass.

J. A. DUER, retired farmer ; P. O. Fletcher. Another of the pioneers of Miami Co. is J. A. Duer, who was born in Bucks Co., Penn., in 1809, and is a son of William and Charlotte (Anderson) Duer. J. A. was raised to farm life until 17 years of age, during which time he procured a common education. In 1826, he engaged in the blacksmith trade, which he completed in 1830 ; the same spring he emigrated West, first stopping in Warren Co., Ohio, as a journeyman ; in the fall of 1830, he came to Miami Co., and bought 80 acres of land in Sec. 8, Brown Township, where he opened up a shop in the wilds, to do such smithing as the pioneers might need. Remaining a few years, he located in Fletcher, and continued his trade until the purchase of his present farm of 160 acres in Sec. 13, Brown Township, and afterward worked at his trade in Montgomery Co., Ohio, a quarter of a century ; from that time thence to 1874, his entire time was devoted to the farm ; he then turned it to his son, and now lives retired on the same. Mr. Duer came to Miami Co., when wilds abounded, and since then, he with other pioneers,

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has made many changes. In 1833, married Sarah Fryback, who was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1814 ; ten children have been born to them, of whom five sons are living, viz., George W., William A., John, Elias F. and James T. Mr. and Mrs. Duer have been consistent members of the Presbyterian Church of Fletcher for nearly twoscore years.

WILLIAM H. DUER, farmer ; P. O. Conover ; was born in Bucks Co., Penn., July 15, 1836, and is a son of George S. Duer, whose name can be seen under the sketch of Joseph S. Duer ; received a common education, and was brought up to farm labors ; after coming West he continued at home, and assisted in all the duties connected with farm life until his majority, after which, he entered the path of life for himself, and by diligence and forethought, financially progressed until 1866 ; he then purchased his present farm of 80 acres in Sec. 14, Brown Township, where he is well situated. Upon November, 1859, his marriage with Susannah Moore was celebrated ; she was a daughter of William Moore, who was born September, 1831, and died in 1874, leaving husband and two children, viz., Mary S., born Nov. 16, 1860, and James L., born Oct. 3, 1866. Mr. Duer married, for his second companion, Sarah E. Worthington, March, 1876 ; they have one son, George F., born Oct. 18, 1877.

JOSEPH S. DUER, farmer ; P. O. Conover ; was born in Bucks Co., Penn., Sept. 9, 1838, and is a son of George S., who was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 1, 1796, and was raised on a farm. About 1823, he married Sarah Titus, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1804; they were the parents of two children, of whom one died in infancy ; the mother, in 1829, was called away ; George S. afterward married, for his second wife, Mary Slack, who was a native of Pennsylvania ; they, in 1852, emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Sec. 8, Brown Township, Miami Co., where her decease occurred Dec. 12, 1876 ; three children were born to them, of whom Joseph S. is the youngest ; he was brought up to agricultural pursuits, and received a common education. Sept. 9, 1861, he enlisted in the 8th I. V. I., to defend his country ; while in the service he participated in one severe battle ; was mustered out of service Sept. 9, 1864, and returned home, where he again engaged in farming, which has since been his occupation. He has since his majority been elected to and filled the office of Township Trustee. Upon Nov. 12, 1867, his marriage with Jane'N. White was celebrated ; she was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, in 1845 ; their children are four in number, of whom all are now living, viz-, Claire R., George O., Anna M. and Charlie S. ; the parents of Mrs. Duer, George and Mary J. (Anderson) White, were both natives of Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Champaign Co., Ohio, in 1831, and removed to Miami Co. in 1851, where their decease occurred, his in 1869 and Mrs. White's in 1878.

T. P. DUNCAN, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Fletcher ; is a son of John Duncan, who was born in Ireland Aug. 16, 1797, and received a medium educa- tion under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church ; in 1817, he emigrated to New Brunswick where, Aug. 18, 1819, he married Deborah Knoop ; she was born in New Brunswick March 22, 1796 ; in 1822, they emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Elizabeth Township, Miami Co., where they remained five years ; they then removed to Brown Township and located on Sec. 24, where they spent many happy days ; they were consistent members of the Baptist Church ; Jan. 15, 1870, Mrs. Duncan died ; Mr. Duncan 'still survives, and resides in the village of Fletcher ; he was the father of eleven children, of whom seven are now living, two being ministers of the Baptist denomination. T. P. Duncan was born on what is his present farm in 1832, and was brought up to agricultural pursuits ; his education was that of a common-school course. In the rebellion of 1861, he enlisted in Co. F, 147th O. V. I., to defend his native country. After his return, he continued his farm pursuits. Sept. 14, 1854, he married Abigail Branson, who was born in this county Feb. 26, 1836, and died March 19, 1876, leaving four children ; four had passed away previous to her death. T. P. married for his second wife Mary E.

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Hottle, who was born in Virginia March 11, 1842, and is the mother of two living children.

MICHAEL DUNCAN, Justice of the Peace ; P. O. Fletcher ; was born April 8, 1822, near the St. John River, New Brunswick, a few miles from Frederic- ton. Mr. Duncan is a son of John Duncan, whose name will be seen under the sketch of T. P. Duncan in some part of this volume. Michael is one of twelve brothers and sisters, of whom seven are now living, of which he is the oldest ; he was raised to agricultural pursuits and obtained a medium education : his farm duties were continued until 1840, at which time he engaged in saw-milling ; ten years later, he commenced to clear a farm of 40 acres in Brown Township ; this work was continued until 1852, when he engaged in general merchandising in Fletcher, Miami Co .; this was continued until four years ago ; during this time his attention was directed to the buying and handling of grain. Mr. Duncan, since 1876, has been called upon by his friends to fill many of the public offices in his township. The marriage of Mr. Duncan and Lydia C. Howland was celebrated Dec. 25, 1845 ; Lydia was born in Warren Co., Ohio, Feb. 4, 1825 ; the children of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan are Caroline H., now Mrs. John Robbins ; John, and Hannah J., now Mrs. William W. Hobart. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan have for over one and a half score of years been consistent members of the Baptist Church. The father and mother of Mrs. Duncan were both natives of New Jersey ; they emigrated to Ohio soon after the war of 1812, locating in Warren Co .; afterward came to Brown Township, Miami Co., where they both passed away, Mrs. How- land Jan. 20, 1860, in the 56th year of her age ; Mr. Howland May 3, 1873, in his 76th year.

ANDREW DUNN, carpenter ; P. O. Fletcher ; is a son of Simeon and Sophia (Read) Dunn, who was a native of New Jersey, his wife of Ohio ; their marriage was celebrated in Greene Co., Ohio, where they both passed from the stage of life; ten children were born to them, Andrew being the fifth one ; he was born in Greene Co., June 22, 1816, and brought up on the farm to the age of 15 years ; in the mean time, he procured a moderate education ; in 1831, he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, under Samuel C. Michell ; he located in Fletcher in 1838, where he has since resided ; soon after his arrival he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law ; they at once commenced contracting and building ; this partner- ship has since been dissolved, but Mr. Dunn has been favorably known as a car- penter. May 10, 1840, he married Belinda Earhart ; she was a native of Butler Co., Ohio; her death occurred the same year in which she was married. Mr. Dann married, for his second wife, Mrs. Juliana (Earhart) McQuillen ; she is also a native of Butler Co., Ohio, born in 1821 ; their children are four in number-Franklin, Simeon H., Wilson S. and David T.

D. B. EARHART, teacher, Fletcher, was born in Brown Township, Miami Co., Feb 16, 1841; he was raised to agricultural pursuits, and his early edu- cation was acquired in the district school; he attended the high schools of Troy and Piqua, thereby amply preparing himself for the profession of teaching; this has been his entire occupation for several years ; he is now located in the village of Fletcher, where he has charge of the schools of that place. His nuptials with Elizabeth Weatherhead were celebrated in 1867 ; the issue of the union are Effie E., Myrtle C., deceased, Clara M., deceased, and Wilber S. ; Mrs. Earhart was born in Lost Creek Township, Miami .Co., and is a daughter of James and Elinore (Sayers) Weatherhead.

J. N. FRAZIER, general merchant, Conover. Mr. Frazier was born in Mont- gomery Co., Ohio, Aug. 27, 1818, where he was brought up to farm labor ; in 1828, he came to this county and continued farm pursuits until 1836; in the mean time he received a moderate education ; about 1836-37, he engaged in the carpenter's trade, which he continued until 1859, when he changed his pursuit to his present business, locating in Fletcher, Brown Township, where he carried a stock similar to that which he now carries in Conover ; he continued his business in Fletcher until 1862, when he removed to where he now is, having an investment, in goods

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and property, of about $5,000 ; Mr. Frazier, since his majority, has held the most prominent offices of Brown Township. Aug. 29, 1841, he married Rhoda V. Bre- count, who was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, and is two years his junior ; their children are four in number, of whom all are living, viz., Sarah P., Solomon G., Anna A. and Franklin B., of whom all, save the youngest, are now married. The father of J. N., Benjamin Frazier, was born in Burlington Co., N. J., about 1788, where he was brought up to the blacksmith's trade, which was his chief occupa- tion during life. During the war of 1812, he married Beulah Norcross, who was a native of New Jersey, and six years his junior ; in 1814, they emigrated to Ohio, and located in Centerville, Washington Township, Montgomery Co., where they remained a number of years ; they afterward removed to Shelby Co., Ohio, where they died, Mr. Frazier at the age of 70 years, and Mrs. Frazier attaining 88 years ; eight children were born to them, of whom all are now living; seven are mar- ried and have families.

S. G. FRAZIER, general merchant, Allen's, was born in Fletcher, Brown Town- ship, Miami Co., Jan. 20, 1847 ; he is the junior member of the firm of Colvin & Frazier, and spent his earlier days on the farm, receiving a common education ; in the year 1867 or 1868, he began life for himself, and has been variously engaged until entering upon his present business, which is described in the sketch of J. F. Colvin. Mr. Frazier's marriage with Belle Robinson was celebrated Aug. 20, 1878 ; she was born in Miami Co., Ohio.

D. W. GEARHART, farmer ; P. O. Fletcher ; is a son of Daniel and Mary (Baty) Gearhart, now both deceased ; the children of this union were eight in num- ber, of whom six are now living. D. W. was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Sept. 8, 1837, and was raised to agricultural pursuits, and obtained a limited education ; shortly before the late rebellion, he started in life for himself by engaging in farm- ing in various places, being only five years out of this county, in Shelby Co., Ohio; in 1875, he purchased a part of his present farm of 76 acres, in Sec. 36, and, the following year, added to it the remainder ; his farm is well located and has good improvements. The marriage of D. W. Gearhart and Mary A. Deweese was cele- brated in December, 1859; she was a native of Miami Co. ; they lived together twelve years, when death seized her and separated them ; they had three children, one of whom, Thomas, preceded his mother to the silent tomb ; two are now liv- ing, viz., James and Iska. Mr. Gearhart married, for his second wife, Melissa Sim- mons, who was born in 1839, on the farm now owned by D. W. ; one child has been born to them-Laura A. Gearhart.

WILLIAM L. GRAHAM, farmer and stock-raiser ; Allen's P. O. ; was born in Brown Township, Miami Co., July 19, 1834, and is a son of William Graham, Sr .; he was born in Bucks Co., Penn., May 7, 1802, where he received a limited education, and worked on the farm with his father until 16 years of age, when he engaged in blacksmithing ; this he followed twenty years ; Feb. 17, 1825, he mar- ried Clementina Middleton, who was born in New Jersey in 1804; they, in 1832, emigrated to Ohio and settled in Miami, where the village of Lena is now located; there he set up a blacksmith shop, but, soon after, he bought a farm in Sec. 1, Brown Township, on which he moved in 1840, felling the timber and clearing the land; he reduced the land to a good degree of cultivation, and continued farming for many years ; Jan. 21, 1875, he passed from the stage of life, leaving a wife and five children to mourn his loss, and share his estate, which consisted of ahout 300 acres of good land. William L. is the oldest child and only son ; he was brought up on his father's farm and taught the principles of managing the same; in his boyhood days, he received a limited education ; in 1870, he had his present farm, in Sec. 1, deeded to him by his father, where he has erected good farm build- ings and is well situated. April 12, 1855, he married Lucinda M. Merritt ; she was born in Warren Co., Ohio, Nov. 28, 1831 ; they, by this union, have three children, viz., Arthur E., born March 9, 1859, died Oct. 3, 1861 ; Clara E. and Ella M., born Feb. 7, 1863. The parents of Mrs. Graham were both natives of Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio early in the nineteenth century, locating in Warren Co. ;

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after which, the father served as a patriot of the war of 1812, under Capt. Curtis ; returned home near the close of the war, and remained until 1832 in Warren Co., when they removed to Miami Co., settling about two miles southwest of Ļena, where they lived and died, Mr. Graham Dec. 9, 1847, and Mrs. Graham Nov. 15, 1870.

JAMES GRIFFIS (deceased), was born in Springboro, Ohio, Aug. 2, 1802, and was of Welsh parentage; he purchased his first land in Indiana, con- sisting of 80 acres, which he sold, and came to Miami Co. in 1852, locating on his farm of 70 acres in Sec. 24, Brown Township. March 26, 1835, he married Miss Susan Wharton, who was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio ; they had by this union nine children-Samuel W., Mary, Harrison, Deborah, James, Catherine (deceased), Albert, Oliver F. (deceased), and William S .; Mr. Griffis passed from the stage of life May 22, 1866. Mrs. Griffis is a daughter of Samuel and Deborah (Davis) Wharton, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they married, and emigrated West early in the nineteenth century, locating in Warren Co., Ohio, where Samuel died Feb. 5, 1855, at the age of 69 years 7 months and 2 days ; Deborah survived until Aug. 16, 1866, when she, too, passed away at the age of 80 years 6 months and 11 days. May this history be handed down to our future posterity, that they may look back over the pages of a valuable and interesting enterprise.

ALFRED HANCE, retired farmer ; P. O. Fletcher ; was born Feb. 2, 1823, and is a son of Benjamin and Nancy (Frizell) Hance, both natives of Kentucky, where they married ; in 1815, they emigrated to Miami Co., Ohio, locating in Lost Creek Township, where they both died-Mrs. Hance in 1866, he surviving until April 3, 1877 ; in the prime of life, he passed through the war of 1812-15, endur- ing many hardships ; they had four sons and three daughters, of whom two are now deceased. Alfred was raised to agricultural pursuits, and received a limited education, remaining at home until 21 years of age, when he engaged in farming for himself in Lost Creek Township; in 1856, he purchased 160 acres in Elizabeth Township, Miami Co., on which he located and improved ; this he sold in 1865, and purchased 200 acres in Sec. 30, Brown Township, which was partly improved, and has since undergone a great change. His marriage with Miss Elizabeth Miller was celebrated August, 1844 ; she was born in Clark Co., Ohio, and is a daughter of John and Joanna (Smith) Miller, she being a native of Ohio, and he of Vir- ginia ; his death occurred in Clark Co. in 1862. Mr. Hance and wife are the parents of ten children-Margaret M. (now Mrs. J. E. Bradley), Melissa A. (the deceased wife of W. A. Lewis), Laura (now Mrs. John C. Duncan, of Dayton, Ohio), Milton M., John P. (both of Urbana), Amanda (now Mrs. G. H. Rundle), Ida B., Mary M., Elmer E. (also resides in Urbana), and Allen D. Hance.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 62

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