The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 72

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

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 72

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).

CHARLES P. YOUNG, tailor, Casstown ; born in Maryland May 20, 1829; is a son of Peter and Charlotte (Geisinger) Young, both natives of Maryland, where they lived and died. The grandparents were also natives of Maryland, but the ancestry came from Germany and England. Peter and Charlotte were parents of ten children, of whom six are now living, viz., Sarah Jane, now Mrs. J. W. White ; Cassandra G., now Mrs. H. T. Rudy ; Ellen ; Ann Louisa, now Mrs. Shaffer ; Charlotte Elizabeth, now Mrs. Kefauvre ; and Charles P. ; the five daughters all living at present time in Maryland. In 1850, Mr. Peter Young was Deputy Mar- shall, and took the census of Middletown and Catoctin Districts, of Maryland. Mr. Young, our subject, lived with his father until 21 years of age, and during this time learned the tailoring business, at which profession he has devoted himself the most of his life ; he followed his trade in Maryland till 1864, when he removed to Springfield, Ohio, thence to Miami Co., then back to Springfield, remaining some two years ; back to Miami Co. again, where he has since resided, following his trade, having continued the business here for sixteen years. Jan. 13, 1870, Mr. Young was united in marriage with Pamelia P. Webb, daughter of Elisha and Mary Webb, who are mentioned in sketch of John Webb in this work. Mr. Young, has had a life experience at his trade, and is now considered one of the best work- men in the county, having all the work he can attend to, doing a large amount of custom work for Kaufman & Ellis, of Troy. Mr. Young is a stanch Republican, and has been Justice of the Peace for three years.

HARRISON YOUTSEY, farmer ; P. O. Casstown ; born in Maryland Jan. 20, 1821 ; is a son of John and Catharine Youtsey, who were probably born in Maryland, the ancestry originally coming from Germany. John and Catharine removed from Maryland to Miami Co. in 1831, and located upon the farm where

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G. G. McDowell now resides ; 'there he lived about seven years, then went to the farm which has since been known as the Sanderson place, and resided three years, after which he resided with his children until his death, which occurred in Janu- ary, 1859. Mr. Youtsey lived with his father until 20 years of age. Nov. 9, 1843, he was united in marriage with Sarah Ann Saunders, daughter of .William and Elizabeth (Sheets) Saunders, by which union they have had eleven children, of whom five are now living, viz., Maria Ellen, now Mrs. Amos Cromer ; William H .; John C. ; Clara, now Mrs. William Linton ; and Andrew S. Mr. Youtsey, after his marriage, located for a few months in Elizabeth Township, near Sheets' Mills, then went on a farm south of Casstown, where he resided about four years, afterward going on to a farm near Miami City and residing four years, finally settling on a farm where he now resides. When Mr. Youtsey was married and started out in life, he was possessed of barely enough means to keep house and live in the most humble style ; now he owns five good farms, embracing 724 acres, all excellent land, and most of the farms have good improvements with excellent buildings ; on his home place he has a large, fine house, which he built since he located upon the farm. This large amount of property has mostly been accumulated by his own energy and industry in the space of thirty-five years.

STAUNTON TOWNSHIP.

JOHN D. BATTSON, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, March 14, 1835, and is a son of William and Eacy J. (Donavan) Battson. Mr. Battson was born in Virginia and Mrs. Battson in Pennsylvania, coming to Ohio at an early day. They were parents of two children, viz., John D., and Joseph, dying in infancy. Mr. Battson, the father, was first united in marriage with Sarah McCann, daughter of James and Ann McCann ; by this union they had seven chil- dren, of whom five are living, viz., Rachel, James, Mordecai Milton, Maria and Jonathan. He came to this county in 1838, and located in Elizabeth Township, where he remained about three years ; thence into Staunton Township, where he lived and died, departing this life Nov. 5, 1854. Mr. Battson, our subject, lived with his father till his death, and then with his mother till Aug. 28, 1856, when he was united in marriage with Catharine J. Ullery, daughter of Adam and Mary Charlotte Ullery, who were from Germany, coming to this country in 1823; they located in Pennsylvania, then in Ohio, near Dayton, where he lived a short time, finally removing to Miami Co., where he lived and died at the advanced age of 89. He was one of the first of Napoleon's soldiers, and was in several severe engagements under that distinguished warrior and conqueror. When he came to this county, he opened out and cleared a farm from the native forest. Here they met all the hardships and dangers of pioneer life, their nearest neighbors being the Indians, wolves, bear, deer, etc., which infested the forests where they came to make a home ; but from year to year the forests disappeared, and other settlers came nearer to them, till, in his latter years, he enjoyed the comforts of a good home, good neighbors and excellent conveniences. John D. Battson and wife are parents of eleven children, ten of whom are living, viz., Clara Jane, Jonathan Homer, John Sherman, Joseph Morton, Mary Maud, Hattie Emily, William Ellsworth, Dora Bell and Flora May (twins) and Daisy Dean. Since Mr. Battson's marriage, he has fol- lowed farming on rented farms in Miami Co. (with the exception of eight years, during which he lived in Darke Co.) until three years ago, when he bought the farm upon which he now resides. He, like his father before him, is an industrious, straightforward man, having the confidence of his neighbors and the community where he lives ; he has been Justice of the Peace for seven years, and Township Clerk for five years.

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CYRUS T. BROWN, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; was born in Miami Co., June 13, 1844, is a son of Daniel and Eliza H. (Telford) Brown ; Mr. Brown was born in Rhode Island May 9, 1809, and his wife in this county Dec. 10, 1816; the grandfather, Arnold Brown, was also born in Rhode Island, emigrating to Ohio in 1834, and locating in Hamilton Co., where he remained about four years, then going to Miami Co., on the farm where Cyrus now lives ; the farm was nearly all in the woods, with a log cabin on it. He was father of six children ; here he and his son Daniel commenced to clear up and make a home. They started from the com. mencement in the dairy business, making butter and cheese, some of which they marketed near home and some in Cincinnati ; there being no railroads, they had to go through with teams. Daniel, the son, was married June 13, 1843 ; by this union they had six children, viz., Cyrus T., Cornelia J., Mary B., now a physician in New York City ; Rebecca O., now deceased ; Arnold O. and Harry W. Mr. Brown, the father, always remained upon the home place with his father till his death, which occurred April 13, 1869, he being about 83 years of age, after which he still continued upon the farm till Dec. 24, 1877, when he, too, was called away by death. His sons now have the management of the place, which their fathers have improved and brought into a fine state of cultivation, with good buildings and many conveniences. Mr. Brown, the father, first bought 160 acres, and from time to time added more to it, by purchase, till he became owner of 1,000 acres ; at various times portions were sold, until now they have 500 acres, one of the largest farms in Staunton Township. Mr. Daniel Brown was one of the moving spirits in the leading business enterprises, and one of the originators of the First National Bank of Troy, holding some $20,000 of stock in the same; was also one of the organizers of the Gas Company. He erected the "Beehive Corner," or Brown's Block, as it is usually known in Troy ; during the building of this block, Mr. Brown met with an accident, from which his life was miraculously saved ; he fell from the third story to the pavement below, striking on his feet and sliding into the cellar. The fall was caused by some mismanagement of the derrick in raising material to the top of the building at which he was working ; he was thrown head foremost over the walls of the building, but catching by the ropes, turned himself, striking upon his feet ; although badly hurt and jarred, his life was saved. Daniel Brown's mother departed this life Sept. 21, 1862. The death of Mr. Daniel Brown was & great loss to the community, he being one of its most public-spirited men.

J. D. COUNTS, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; was born Aug. 17, 1816, in Miami Co., and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Frame) Counts, who were born in Kentucky, coming to this county in June, 1816, and locating upon the farm now owned by John. Jacob, the father, was in the war of 1812, and was with Gen. Harrison's army when he passed all through this section of the country ; he formed such a favorable impression of this valley and dislike to the institution of slavery, then existing in Kentucky, that he resolved to come and locate in this county ; when he settled here, there was but little cleared land, with a log cabin upon it; he built a new log house, cleared up the farm, and erected a good barn, and making other improvements, living here the remainder of his life ; he died in December, 1872, being in his eighty-third year. The grandfather, Jacob, also located on this farm at the same time as his son, in 1816 ; he was born in Maryland, but while a young man went to Virginia and from there to Kentucky, where he lived till above date (1816), when he located in Miami Co. The great-grandfather came from Germany, and on the mother's side the ancestry came from Ireland. Mr. Counts, the subject of our sketch, always remained with his father till his death. He was united'in marriage, in August, 1843, with Mary Marshall, daughter of Martin and Eleanor Marshall, who were born in Pennsylvania ; by this union they have had two chil- dren, viz., Caroline, now Mrs. Rollins of Troy, and Walter, still living at home. Mr. Counts is a stanch Republican, like his father before him, who was represent- ative from this county in 1842 and 1843; was Justice of the Peace for eighteen years. The history of the Counts family exhibits lives replete with activity, and so connected with the early settlers of this county, that it stands forth with great

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prominence to future generations; in the history of their ancestors and early pio- neers. Mr. Counts and family are members of the Presbyterian Church at Troy, his membership dating back for forty years. His parents were also very active Chris- tian workers in the church, and their character and example stands forth as bright and shining lights for all future generations.

ANDREW DEWEESE, farmer; P. O.Troy ; he was born in Miami Co. Nov. 1, 1827, is a son of Thomas and Ruth (Dye) Deweese ; he was probably a native of Virginia, she of Pennsylvania, and came to this county among its earliest settlers ; they were the parents of seven children, viz., John, born May 5, 1823 ; Mary, born Sept. 15, 1825, now Mrs. George W. Fuller, living near Urbana; Andrew ; Eliza- beth, deceased, was married to John Croy, by whom she had three children ; David, born March 7, 1833; Melissa, born Aug. 21, 1835, deceased ; Thomas, deceased. Mr. Deweese first located upon the farm now owned by Statlers, where he resided about seven years, thence going to the farm adjoining it on the north, upon which the sons, Andrew and David, now live, where he lived, and died, Feb. 17, 1838, his death being caused by a runaway team, throwing him from a sled; he was dragged quite a distance and so much injured that he died the next evening. When Thomas came upon this farm it was all in the wilderness, and they commenced, in pioneer style, in the log cabin, toiling and laboring from year to year, till at last they were permitted to see some 50 acres cleared, a good brick house erected, and everything brought into such improved condition that it became a very comforta- ble and pleasant home. Andrew and David have now managed the farm for about thirty-five years, and, during this time, have bought out the other heirs, being . entire owners of the farm for many years. Andrew was united in marriage Sept. 5, 1866, with Elizabeth Hart, daughter of Wilson and Laura Hart. Andrew and David have an excellent farm, in fine cultivation. After the death of Thomas Deweese, Ruth, his wife, was left with a large family of seven children, one being an infant, while the eldest was but 15 years of age; with this charge upon her hands, it called forth all the energy and good judgment of her well-balanced mind to keep her family all together, raise and train them aright ; but she was a woman fully qualified for the undertaking, and well did she do her work, managing the farm, educating and training the children in so successful a manner that her care and teaching can never be forgotten by them, her labors and good works deserv- ing a place upon these pages to be handed down to mothers of future generations ; on Dec. 21, 1876, her labors being done, at her Master's call, she quietly passed away from the toils and cares of earth to joy and peace beyond.

GEORGE W. DEWEESE, farmer; P. O. Troy ; was born in Staunton Town- ship in 1828, and is the son of Joshua and Mary (Gerard) Deweese; he was born in Virginia, and his wife in this county ; the date of his birth is Dec. 4, 1796, and she was born April 21, 1800, being the first white female child born in Miami Co. The grandfather, Samuel, was from Virginia, and came to this county, locat- ing in Staunton Township in 1812; he was a Baptist minister, and lived in this county till about 1820, when he departed this life. Joshua and Mary were mar- ried in 1818, and resided on the home place of his father's, where he lived and died, departing this life May 3, 1859. They were parents of fourteen children, of whom eleven are now living, viz., Samuel, Martha, Sarah, Catharine, Henry G., George W., Rachel H., John B., Joshua H., Joseph, Mary A., deceased, Thomas W., Mary A., deceased, and James W., deceased. Mr. Deweese lived with his father until 21 years of age, then went to California, where he remained about three years and a half, thence back to this county. Sept. 4. 1855, he was united in marriage with Eliza J. Stillwell, daughter of Elias and Elizabeth Stillwell, who were born in New Jersey. By this union they had five children, viz., Milford, George, deceased, Alma, Horace, deceased, and Wilbert T. Mr. Deweese, after his marriage, located on the farm now owned by S. Cecil, where they lived till 1875 when he sold out and bought the farm upon which he now resides, this being the old home farm of his wife's father, upon which he settled in 1819.

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HENRY G. DEWEESE, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; was born in Miami Co. Jan. 8, 1826 ; is a son of Joshua and Mary (Gerard) Deweese, he being a native of Virginia, Dec. 4, 1796, and coming to this county when only 10 years of age, in 1806. She was born in Ohio April 21, 1800, being the first female white child born in the county. Her father was one of the earliest settlers, locating in this county in 1798. They were the parents of fourteen children, viz., Samuel, born July 14, 1819 ; Martha, Feb. 1, 1821 ; Sarah, April 27, 1822 ; Catharine, Feb. 16, 1824; Henry, Jan. 8, 1826 ; George W., Jan. 1, 1828 ; Rachel, July 7, 1829; John, Feb. 19, 1831 ; Joshua, Sept. 1, 1832 ; Joseph, May 30, 1834 ; Thomas, May 5. 1839 ; Mary Ann, Jan. 30, 1841, deceased ; Mary Ann, born July 18, 1849, deceased ; and James, born Nov. 9, 1853, deceased. Mr. Deweese lived with his father until 21 years of age, when he "struck out " for himself, working for $8 per month for about four months, then rented a farm for about two years, when he bought 100 acres of land, but had only $200 to pay down on it ; he was told by his father and brothers that he could never meet the payments for the balance, but he went to work with energy, and before it was all due, he had all paid for. He was united in marriage, Aug. 26, 1848, with Lucy Ann Estey, daughter of David and Ann (Knoop) Estey, who were born in New Brunswick. By this union they have had nine children, viz., Aminta J., born July 16, 1849 ; Zelia A., April 10, 1851, deceased ; Jotham G. W., born Jan. 16, 1853; Franklin A., Sept. 19, 1854 ; Henry H., May 17, 1856 ; Maggie A., May 2, 1860 ; Florence E., Sept. 8, 1862 ; Docia Ellen, Sept. 18, 1869 ; and Alvah Watson, March 13, 1873. Mr. Deweese, with but little capital on which to start, has labored and accumulated from year to year, till now he has 264 acres of good land, fine buildings and every- thing required for comfort. Mr. Deweese and wife are members of the Christian Church, their membership dating back for twenty-five years ; have been active members both financially and otherwise.

GRAYSON DYE, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; a descendant of the old Dye family, of pioneer history ; was born in Miami Co. Jan. 11, 1841, and is the son of James M. and Letty (Cecil) Dye ; he was also born in Miami Co. and she in Virginia, but came with her parents to Ohio when a small child. They were united in marriage March 3, 1825-the day before that upon which Andrew Jackson was inaugurated as President of the United States ; by this union they had thirteen children, of whom six are now living, viz .. Thomas C., Joseph C., Roswell S., Elizabeth, Gray- son and Nancy J. The grandfather, Benjamin, was born in Pennsylvania, but left there and came to Cincinnati in 1798, thence to Miami Co. in 1799, being one of the earliest of the pioneers ; they located upon the same section upon which Grayson, the grandson, now lives, and on the very road which was cut out through the then wilderness, during the war of 1812, by Gen. Wayne; "these were the

days that tried men's souls." The father, James M., and the son, Grayson, both were born on the same section, making a continued residence of the Dye family upon the same land of eighty-one years. Grayson Dye was united in marriage, Oct. 12, 1864, with Louisa Sheafer, daughter of Eckert and Rachel Sheafer, who were born in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio in 1848 ; by this union they have three children, viz., Thomas A., Pamelia, James M. Mr. Dye owns a good farm of 199 acres of excellent bottom land, and also has charge of his mother's farm of 220 acres, thus giving him the superintendency of 419 acres of land; he is largely engaged in stock-raising, having 700 sheep and the best blooded stock ; he is an active, thorough-going farmer, believing that successful farming requires knowledge and scientific attainments.

SIMON ESTEY, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; was born in Miami Co. January, 1824, and is the son of David and Ann Estey, who were born in New Brunswick, but came to this county, about 1823, and located in Lost Creek Township; the grand- father was also a native of New Brunswick ; David and Ann were parents of eleven children, of whom ten are now living, viz., James, Michael, Charles, George, Simon, William, Mary, Lucy, Jotham and Maria ; Mr. Estey remained with his father till 1844. In September of that year, he was united in marriage with Sarah

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M. Deweese, daughter of Joshua and Mary Deweese ; he was born in Virginia ; his wife was the first female white child born in this county, as mentioned in sketch of H. G. Deweese in this work, her father being one of the earliest settlers in the county, and her ancestors coming from Wales at a very early day ; Mr. Estey, after his marriage, located on one of his father's farms in Lost Creek Township, where he lived about four years ; then bought a farm in Staunton Township, where he re- mained for nineteen years ; sold out and bought the farm upon which he now resides ; he owns 130 acres of excellent land on the Miami Bottoms, with fine buildings all in good condition.

JAMES FOSTER, Superintendent of Infirmary ; P. O. Troy ; was born in Pennsylvania March 26, 1830 ; and is a son of James and Sarah (Boher) Foster, who were also born and raised in Pennsylvania, but came and located in Miami Co. in the fall of 1854; they resided in Troy till their death; Mr. Foster dying Dec. 31, 1876, and his wife in February, 1878; they were parents of seven chil- dren, four of whom are now living, viz., Elizabeth, now Mrs. Miller, living in Nebraska ; Susan, now Mrs. Burkholder, of Troy ; John H. and James. The ancestry on the father's side came from the North of Ireland, and on the mother's side from Germany. Mr. Foster, the subject of this sketch, remained with his father in Pennsylvania till of age ; receiving a limited education in the common schools. Sept. 15, 1851, was celebrated his marriage with Rosanna Miller, daughter of John and Theresa (Obold) Miller, who were also natives of Pennsylvania ; by this union they have had five children, viz., Mary E., now Mrs. H. G. Knoop, living in Casstown ; Sallie, now Mrs. J. A. Sterrett, of Troy ; Theresa Helen, now Mrs. James Brooks, residing in Dunkirk, Ind. ; Jennie and Maggie. Mr. Foster, after his marriage, remained in Pennsylvania about three years, and in the spring of 1854, came to Ohio and located at Troy, and, in the immediate vicinity of Troy, entered upon and followed agricultural pursuits for fifteen years ; when by appoint- ment of the Board of Directors of the Miami Co. Infirmary, he became Superin- tendent of that institution, which position he still holds, having held this office now for eleven years.

WILLIAM GREEN, farmer; P. O. Troy ; he was born in Jackson Co., Ohio, January, 1809, is the son of George W. and Martha (Gray) Green ; he was born in Pennsylvania, and his wife in Ireland ; George W. Green, the father, came to Miami Co. just prior to the war of 1812, locating in Lost Creek Township, where he lived thirty years or more, thence went into Elizabeth Township, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1837; he commenced right in the woods, clearing them and built a log cabin, and had to endure all the trials and dangers of the early pioneers ; a war being in progress, he would bar the door of his cabin as securely as possible, and take his ax to his bedside, in readiness for defense against the Indians ; during the war, his brother Timothy contracted to furnish pork for the army at Detroit, at a stipulated price; George and a Mr. Rogers went his security for the proper delivery of the pork, but to their misfor- tune, in a short time pork advanced in price, so that he met with a heavy loss, and George and Rogers each had to pay $3,000; the former's whole estate was not worth over $1,000, but after about fifteen years' exertion George paid off his entire indebtedness ; Rogers, not living very long after, never was able to pay off his indebtedness ; George was one whose energy knew no bounds ; he was always busy and working for the public good ; during his life, he built three saw-mills and one grist-mill, in the meantime supporting a large family, as he was father of seventeen children. Mr. Green, the subject of this sketch, lived with his father until 23 years of age. In 1832, he was united in marriage with Cassia Sayers, daughter of Thomas and Frances Sayers, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and located in Miami Co. among the early settlers ; by this union they had four children, viz., Joseph, Ellen (now Mrs. Ziegler), Clarissa (deceased), and one dying in infancy ; he lost his wife by death Dec. 29, 1838 ; March 1, 1840, he was married to Priscilla French, daughter of Asa French, who came to Ohio in a very early day ; by this union they had five children, viz., Martha J. (now deceased), Sarah Maria (now

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Mrs. J. Cloyd), Abbott, William and Eliza Dye (deceased, being buried the very day on which she was to have been married to John W. Stilwell) ; Mr. Green, when first married, located on Lost Creek, and bought the half-interest in the grist-mill that his father built, which he run for a few years, then sold it and bought a farm ; sold the farm and bought the mill again, ran it for a time, then sold out; he and his brother went into the mercantile trade in Casstown, after a time sold out and bought a grist and saw mill on Indian Creek ; disposing of his interest to his brother, he rented a mill one mile below on the same creek ; while here he lost his wife by death, and then left the mill, buying the farm where he now resides ; he here has a fine farm of 140 acres ; has now resided here forty years; has good buildings and a very comfortable and pleasant home.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 72

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