The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 73

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

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 73

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JOHN G. HARDENBROOK, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Feb. 16, 1826, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Wagoner) Hardenbrook ; Peter Hardenbrook was born in New Jersey, and came to Ohio about 1819; they were the parents of six children, three of whom are now living, viz., John, Phoebe (now Mrs. Kuhl, living in Van Wert Co., Ohio) and Rebecca (now Mrs. John A. Smith, also living in Van Wert Co.) ; Peter Hardenbrook lost his wife by death May 26, 1837 ; he married, for his second wife, Susannah Merrell, with whom he lived till April, 1865, when she departed this life; Jan. 13, 1877, he, too, passed away from works to rewards. Mr. Hardenbrook lived with his father till past 30 years of age ; Dec. 17, 1856, he was united in marriage with Rachel Ross, daugh- ter of James and Elizabeth Ross, who were born in Pennsylvania-he March 15, 1792, and Elizabeth (Watson), his wife, born July 29, 1800; they were married Feb. 12, 1824, and had seven children, viz., John, Susan, Hugh W., Rachel, Mar- garet C., Lucinda and Joseph ; Elizabeth. the mother, died July 9, 1874; the father, James, is still living with Mr. Hardenbrook, is now 80 years of age, and has lived in the county since 1842. Mr. Hardenbrook, the subject of this sketch, by his marriage has three children, viz., William Otho, born Jan. 7, 1858; Charles E., Dec. 18, 1859 ; and George, Feb. 13, 1866. After his marriage, he lived on his father's farm about eight years ; thence to Hamilton Co., where he lived two years ; thence to the farm upon which he now resides ; he owns here 75 acres of good land, mostly in cultivation, with good buildings, and has a very pleasant home.

JOHN T. KNOOP, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; was born in Miami Co., Jan. 22, 1841, and is a son of William and Rachel A. (Kerr) Knoop. He is a native of this county, and she of Virginia, coming with her parents to this county in 1825. John Knoop, the grandfather, came to this county in 1798, and was a native of Pennsylvania, his mother coming from Switzerland; he was one of the few pio- neers who first settled in Miami Co., at the place where Staunton Village is now located ; they erected a block-house, in which they placed their families for safety, while they selected and opened out their farms and built their log cabins. In 1800, John, the grandfather, occupied his cabin, and commenced to make a farm and & home. This cabin is still standing on the old Knoop place, now eighty years since its erection, and is in a very good degree of preservation. The grandfather, John, and wife, Barbara, were parents of seven children ; viz., George, Jacob, John, Eliza- beth, Nancy, William and Thomas. Jacob Knoop was born in the block-house Nov. 30, 1798, being the first white child born in Miami Co. This family of the grandfather are now all passed away "to that bourne whence no traveler returns ; " their works and labors remain to be cherished by their children, and their lives, like Washington's, will never die, but will be remembered and cherished by the descendants yet unborn. One incident should yet be recorded, showing the sacrificing spirit of the noble old pioneers and grandfather. In the early set- tling of this county, there came a season of scarcity, especially in the corn crop, but John had a good supply of old corn in store. His neighbors all around him were in want, so he visited them all, and ascertained how much they each one needed, and agreed to furnish them at 75 cents per bushel. In the meantime, grain buyers and speculators were coming there to buy his corn, and offered him $2 per bushel, but he refused their offer and manfully stood by his contract, supplying

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all his neighbors as he promised. . William Knoop, the father, passed his entire life in this county ; he was Justice of the Peace for twenty years, and Clerk of the township for several years. When the war of the rebellion came, he was one of the patriots who went to his country's defense, serving for about sixteen months, when he was discharged for disability. He departed this life in November, 1874, being 64 years of age, having, like his father before him, passed an active and energetic life, devoted to the public good of his county and country. His wife is still living on the home place where he died. They were parents of eight children, viz., James M., Henry C., deceased, being killed at the charge on Ft. Wagner, in South Carolina ; John T., Mary B., now Mrs. William R. Saunders; Mark K., Frances C., married to Thomas Scott, but now deceased ;' Emma, now Mrs. George W. Scott, in Troy ; Olive A., now Mrs. Hance. John T., the subject of this sketch, lived with his father till 20 years of age, when he enlisted in the 42d O. V. I., at the commencement of the rebellion, and served through the war. Here we remark that the patriotism of the Knoop family was fully exhibited by their works, by the father and four sons all entering the service, one, Henry C., being sacrificed upon the altar of his country, and the others returning with honorable discharges to their homes. Mr. Knoop was united in the holy bonds of matrimony in May, 1868, with Elizabeth Farver, daughter of John and Margaret Farver, he being born in Maryland and she in Ireland. He first located on the place where he now resides with his father-in-law, where he remained two years, thence to one of the Knoop farms, where he lived about five years, till the death of his wife's father, when he moved back to the old farm, his present place of residence. Mr. Knoop is now serving as Land Appraiser. Politically, he is a stanch Republican.

CYRUS H. LE FEVRE, farmer ; P. O. Piqua, was a son of Christian Le Fevre, one of the old pioneers of Miami Co., who was a native of Maryland, and emigrated to this county in 1808, locating upon the farm now owned by Cyrus, his son. This land, when he located upon it, was all a wilderness ; he made the first opening and put up his log cabin, but did not get it plastered, but leaving that to be done after he should get back from Lebanon, where he went to marry his wife, it being near Christmas. After the marriage ceremony was performed he returned, arriving home to his cabin on Christmas Eve ; while on his way home, it commenced snow- ing, quite a depth of snow falling, then it turned cold and remained so witlı fre- quent snows all winter, so that they had to live in their cabin just as it was, with the cold blasts sweeping through between the logs ; they endured it bravely during the winter, cleared up some four acres of timber land, and prepared it for corn the next spring. At this time there were three families by the name of Dye, three families of Knoop, one family of Marti :. , and one other of Le Fevre ; these consti- tuted about the entire population of this part of the township ; they braved all the hardships and dangers from wild beasts and savages, and from sickness ; they suf- 'fered much from fever and ague. All this they endured that they might make homes for themselves, and hand them down to their posterity. Those were the times when they manufactured their own material for clothing for winter and sum- mer wear, and whatever it wanted in beauty, closeness of texture and warmth, was made up in coarseness and roughness, producing irritation of the surface of the body, and keeping up a good circulation of the life-giving fluid-the blood. They persevered, they were industrious, they were economizing, and they were honest. These qualities enabled them to overcome all obstacles, and procured good homes, with as good soil for productiveness as the sun ever shone upon. Mr. Le Fevre, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1824, and has always lived upon the old home farm, which his father, above mentioned, cleared, and upon which he died, his death occurring February, 1871. Mr. Le Fevre was united in marriage, Feb. 26, 1856, with Caroline M. Babb, daughter of Daniel and Leah Babb, who were natives of Virginia, and came to Ohio nearly fifty years ago; by this union they have had two children ; viz., Walter and Franklin. He lost his wife by death Feb. 7, 1875; Mr. Le Fevre and his father have erected all the buildings on the place, which are large and commodious, arranged for comfort and convenience ; he

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now owns 260 acres of the excellent bottom land of the Miami Valley, of which 200 acres are in cultivation. The selection of this fine quality of land by his father and the early settlers. while it was all in the wilderness, shows the wisdom and judgment they exhibited in obtaining some of the best land that could be found in the State ; and they will be honored and remembered for their noble work by their children's children for ages to come.

URIAH B. LLOYD farmer ; P. O. Troy ; was born on the farm upon which he now resides, Aug. 23, 1833, is the son of John and Anna (Deweese) Lloyd ; he was born in Pennsylvania April 1, 1790, and his wife in Virginia about 1797. John, thef ather, came to this county in February 1814 ; after being here about two or three years, he was united in marriage with Anna Deweese, daughter of Lewis and Mary Deweese, who were born in Virginia and came to Ohio at a very early day. By this marriage they had eleven children, viz., Margaret, deceased; David ; Mary, now Mrs. H. Puterbaugh, living in Elkhart Co., Ind ; Isabel ; Rachel, now Mrs. D. Counts, living in Troy ; Ruth; Mehitabel, now Mrs. George Buckles; Elizabeth, deceased ; Uriah B ; Henry, and Hannah L., now Mrs. William Burton, living in Indiana. After his marriage, he lived one year with his uncle, and then located upon the farm upon which Uriah and Henry now reside; here he commenced right in the woods, and cut out the first stick of timber, made an opening, built a log cabin, and began a pioneer life ; from day to day and year after year he toiled and labored, enduring the hardships and deprivations, such as pioneers only know and realize ; after sixty years of industrious labor, he died, attaining the venera- ble age of nearly 85 years; his works remain as mementoes of his labors, having brought 93 acres from the dense forest into a good cultivation, with good buildings erected and everything quite comfortable and convenient, in contrast to the dreary wilderness of sixty years before. His wife departed this life about three years prior to his death. Uriah B. and two sisters, Isabel and Ruth, all still unmarried, live upon the home place; also Henry, who is married, resides in another house upon the farm, and have, since the death of their father, continued the management of the estate.

SPAFFORD W. MAXWELL, farmer and Justice of the Peace ; P. O. Troy ; he was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Oct. 20, 1836; is a son of Thomas and Susanna (Jones) Maxwell, who came from New Jersey to Ohio in 1806 ; they were the parents of four children, viz., Stephen J., Martha A., deceased, Rachel and Spafford W. The grandfather, Thomas, was also born in New Jersey. The great- grandfather, Thomas, was a native of Scotland, and came from Edinburgh to New York in a very early day, prior to the Revolutionary war ; he was a tailor by trade. Thomas Maxwell, the father, came to Miami Co. in the fall of 1839, and located upon the same farm upon which Esquire Maxwell now lives. This is one of the old pioneer farms, which was first purchased by Caleb Hathaway, one of the first settlers of Miami Co., who located here in 1798, opened out and cleared up the farm. Thomas bought the farm of Mr. Hathaway at above date (1839), and has always resided here since ; is still living with his son, and is now about 80 years of age. Spafford Maxwell, our subject, remained with his father till his marriage, which event occurred Jan. 8, 1868, when he was united with Rachel A. Devol, daughter of Harrison and Jane L. Devol ; he was born in Ohio, and she in Penn- sylvania, but came with her parents to Ohio when about 13 years of age; by this union they have had seven children, viz., Minnie Jane, born Nov. 19, 1869 ; Wal- ter Thomas, born Dec. 13, 1871 ; Sallie E., born Jan. 31, 1873; Anna May, born May 7, 1875; Bertha and Merta (twins), Feb. 4, 1877; Wilbur D. born Aug. 11, 1879. After his marriage, he rented farms until the spring of 1874, when he bought his father's farm, upon which he has since resided. He has an excellent farm, consisting of 103 acres of land with good buildings, and every convenience. Mr.Maxwell is, politicaly, a Democrat; was elected Justice of the Peace in April, 1876, and is now serving his second term of office ; he was also one of the patriots who, in the war of the rebellion, went to his country's defense, enlisting in the 147th O. V. L, in the 100-day service; he served four months, when he received his dis-

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charge, and was mustered out at-Camp Denison and returned home. He holds a membership in the First Presbyterian Church at Troy, his membership dating back for twenty-two years.

REUBEN MOORE, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; was born in this county on the old Moore farm July 8, 1852, and is the son of Rufus and Lydia (Bennett) Moore; he was born in Butler Co., Ohio, March 13, 1807, his wife coming from the same county Nov. 11,1815; they were married Feb. 17, 1833, and were parents of seven children, viz., Nancy Jane, born Aug. 23, 1836, was married to George W. McMillan, by whom she had three children, viz., Alva E., Harry W. and Elroy C .; Nancy J. died July 1, 1866; Mary Ann, born July 12, 1839 ; Lewis, born April 7, 1843, died April 16, 1843 ; Elias, born July 17, 1845 ; Theodore, born Oct. 1, 1847 ; Eliza, born Aug. 6, 1850, now Mrs. A. Berryman, of Troy, and Reuben. Gershom Moore, the great- grandfather, was born in 1752 ; his wife, Anna Moore, was born in 1758; they were parents of the following children, viz., Lewis, born in 1778 ; Reuben, born in 1791; Elias, born in 1792 ; Phebe, born in 1793; Philip, born in' 1794 ; Catha- rine, born in 1795, Rachel, born in 1797, and Nancy, born in 1800, the ancestry coming from Wales. Lewis Moore, the grandfather, was born in New Jersey Aug. 16, 1778, and Susan Moore, the grandmother, was born in New Jersey July 5, 1786 ; they were the parents of twelve children, viz., Anna, born June 6, 1805, and died June 8, 1845 ; Rufus, born as above stated ; Eliza, born Dec. 17, 1809 ; Sarah, born Oct. 15, 1811 ; Elias, born Oct. 5, 1813; Amy, born Nov. 2, 1815; Anthony B., born Nov. 5, 1817, and died Feb. 14, 1839 ; Reuben, born Oct. 14, 1819, and died Oct. 9, 1849 ; Samuel, born Jan. 13, 1822, and died July 27, 1823; Lydia, born Nov. 29, 1823; Stephen G., born Nov. 12, 1825 ; Alpheus E., born April 5, 1828, and died Aug. 17, 1858. Lewis Moore, the grandfather, departed this life May 8, 1859, and Susan Moore, the grandmother, died Dec 19, 1872. George Bennett, the grandfather on the mother's side, was born in Virginia March 3, 1783, and Nancy Bennett, his wife, was born June 10, 1783 ; they were parents of ten children, viz., Henry, born Aug. 25, 1814; Lydia, born as given above; Thomas, born Jan. 7, 1817; John, born April 7, 1818, and died Sept. 29, 1818; Susannah, born July 21, 1819; Amelia, born Jan. 27, 1821, and died July 17, 1825 ; Mary Ann, born June 10, 1823, and died July 5, 1825 ; George, born in September, 1824, and died Aug. 7, 1825 ; George, born July 14, 1826 ; Elizabeth Ann, born April 23, 1841, and died in 1874. George Bennett, the grandfather, departed this life March 15, 1844, and Nancy Bennett, his wife, died June, 1836. Rufus, the father, after his marriage, lived for a short time in Butler Co., then moved to Loramie, Shelby Co., where they resided till 1840, when they came and located in Miami Co., on the northwest quarter of Sec. 4, in Staunton Township ; here he cleared the greater portion of the farm, and erected all the buildings, and improved the place till he had a fine farm and comfortable home ; March 9, 1876, he was called away by death, from labors to rewards, being nearly 70 years of age; his wife, Lydia, is still living on the home place, and is in her 65th year. Reuben Moore lived with his father until his death, and, March 23, 1876, was united in marriage with Florence E. Brandenburg, daughter of Cornelius and Elizabeth A. Brandenburg, who were natives of Maryland, and came to this county about 1852 ; they were parents of two children, viz., Laura A. and Florence E .; by this marriage they have had two children, both dying in infancy ; Mr. Moore, after his marriage, remained with his mother on the home farm for two years, then bought the farm upon which he now lives ; he owns 80 acres of good land, is a young man of energy, and will doubtless in a few years have a fine and beautiful home.

ORA D. ORBISON, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; he was born in Staunton Town- ship, Miami Co. ; is the son of David W. and Hannah D. (Jones) Orbison ; he was born in this county Jan. 21, 1819, and his wife in Berlin, Mass., Feb. 9, 1820 ; when in her infancy, her parents removed to Marlboro, N. H., where they lived and died; she received a good preparatory education, then attended the Female Seminary at Holyoke, Mass., where she graduated and received her diploma Aug.

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1, 1844 ; for two succeeding years, she taught high schools for young ladies, in South Adams, Mass., and Winchester, N. H. ; in 1846, she came to Troy, Ohio, and engaged as a teacher in the high school ; on the 13th of July she was married to David W. Orbison, with whom she had a congeniel Christian companionship for nearly nine years, when the merciless messenger, Death, came, and he passed from works to rewards; by this union she had five children, of whom three died in infancy ; two are now living, viz., Ora D., born Nov. 25, 1849, and David W., Oct. 29, 1856. After Mr. Orbison's death, his wife remained on the farm, which had been originally purchased of Gen. Harrison, who, in an early day, owned a large tract of land in this township ; here she managed to support herself and two children, and met the back payments on the place as they became due, making such improvements upon the place as were necessary, for a period of nine years, at the expiration of which, Aug. 24, 1865, she was married to Moses G. Grosvenor, with whom she lived as a true helpmeet till Feb. 1, 1878, when she departed this life with every assurance of a blesssed immortality beyond ; she was an active member of the church for thirty-seven years, and was always noted for her zealous efforts in every good word and work. Since the death of their mother, the two sons, Ora D. and David W., have taken charge of the farm, where they have a very pleasant home.

RALPH PETERSON, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Nov. 21, 1800 ; is a son of Harp and Charity (Senteny) Peterson ; he was born on Long Island, and his wife in New Jersey, her ancestors being from En- gland and his ancestors from Holland ; he (the father) was one of the first emi- grants into Ohio ; locating in Kentucky, where he remained only one season ; in the spring of 1794, came to Cincinnati and located, planting a field of corn on ground where the fountain now stands, on Fifth street ; they were the parents of nine chil- dren, of whom five are now living, all located in the Miami Valley except one, who is living in Illinois, viz., Sarah, now living near Glendale, who is eighty-seven years of age; Elizabeth, four miles north of College Hill ; Ralph, our subject ; Jacob, at Springdale, Hamilton Co .; and Elisha, living in Towanda, Ill. Mr. Ralph Peterson was united in marriage May 31, 1822, with Sarah Hardenbrook, daughter of James and Phoebe (Smith) Hardenbrook ; by this union they have had eleven children, seven of whom are living, viz., Mrs. Emily Counts, Madison, John G., Jacob S., Martha Ann, now Mrs. Cushing ; Adeline, now Mrs. Dr. Walton, of Piqua ; and William W. In September, 1827, Mr. Peterson located in Miami Co., on the farm on which he now lives; he commenced right in the wilderness and struck the first blow to fell the timber and make a home ; he built a log cabin, and from year to year cleared and im- proved, till now he has one of the best farms in the neighborhood, with fine build- ings, a very large frame house and everything for comfort and convenience ; this has all been accomplished by energy and industry, Mr. Peterson being one of those active men who never tire. During the rebellion, three of his sons went to the de- fense of their country ; the first one, William, enlisted for three years or during the war, and was one of the first troops who crossed the Ohio River ; he was a prisoner in Andersonville, and suffered untold hardships, almost starving to death; was among the last shipment of prisoners who left the terrible place ; his sufferings were so great he was made a cripple probably for life ; after he became so far re- covered as to be able to do any business, he obtained a Government office as store-keeper three miles below Piqua, which position he still holds ; the other sons, John G. and Jacob S., were in the 100-day service, at expiration of which they returned home; Mr. Peterson has served as County Commissioner in the early days of the county, and had the superintendency of the building of the first three permanent bridges ever built in the county ; Mr. Peterson, politically, is a stanch Republican.

JOHN G. PETERSON, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; was born in this county in May, 1832, and is a son of Ralph and Sarah Peterson. Mr. Peterson lived with his father till about 16 years of age, when he went to learn the stone-cutter's trade in Piqua, which business he followed about thirteen years. He was married, in Decem- ber, 1856, to Catharine P. Brooks, daughter of Clarkson F. and Sarah Brooks, who

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were born in New Jersey, but moved into New York State; thence to Ohio; then to Illinois, where they lived about sixteen years, and removed to Ohio, where they lived till they died. By this union they have had four children, viz., Ada L., Wil- lis M., Frederick W. and Sallie E .; the eldest, Ada L., is now Mrs. Shearer. Mr. Peterson left his trade and went to farming on his father's farm in 1861, where he remained till the spring of 1866, when he bought the farm upon which he now resides, and located thereon. He owns 85 acres of good second bottom land. Mr. Peterson was one who, during the rebellion, enlisted in the 100-day service, in 147th O. V. I., in which he served for four months, when they were mustered out, and returned home. He and his family are members of the Christian Church.

ISAAC T. ROLLINS, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; was a son of Josiah and Nancy (Tucker) Rollins, who were born in the State of New Hampshire. They were par- ents of ten children, of whom two only are now living, viz., Isaac T. and Hannah, who is now Mrs. Stewart. Josiah, the father, moved from New Hampshire to Ver- mont, where they resided for a time, and in 1815, came to Ohio, locating in Miami Co., on the farm upon which Isaac now lives ; he bought the farm with just a few acres cleared, on which were two small log-cabins ; the cabin on the east part of the farm is of historic interest. During the war of 1812, they built a substantial stockade around the cabin, and the families, for some distance around, took shelter here every night, for better security from the enemy. The grandfather, Joseph, was also born in New Hampshire, but moved into Vermont, where he lived and died ; the grandmother, Hettie, lived to come to Miami Co., with her son Josiah; living and dying on the same farm where Isaac now lives. Mr. Rollins, the sub- ject of our sketch, was united in marriage Nov. 28, 1828, with Eleanor Hart, daugh- ter of Charles and Nancy (Chamberlin) Hart, who were natives of New Jersey, but came to Miami Co. in 1812. By this union they have had seven children, viz., Charles H., Josiah B., Caroline, now deceased ; Leander J., Marion J., Sylvester A. and Horace J. Mrs. Rollins, coming to this county so early in its settlement. remembers distinctly the dangers and trials they passed through during the war of 1812 ; although but a child, yet the events were indelibly fixed upon her memory. Mr. Rollins' farm consists of 95 acres of excellent land, and has now been owned by the Rollins family for about sixty-five years. During the war of the rebellion, five out of the six sons of Mr. Rollins enlisted in defense of their country, serving until discharged by sickness, disability, or the close of the war ; the oldest son, Charles H., served four years and nine months, being in some of the hard-fought battles, such as Pittsburg Landing, Atlanta campaign, and in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tenn. ; during this service, he was promoted for bravery and meritorious conduct from a private to Captain. The Rollins family, in its history, dates back for nearly 250 years in this country, and then connects with its history in England, where it has had a prominence for many ages past. The youngest son, Horace J., is, by profession, a landscape painter, being a student of the art at the McMicken University of Cincinnati ; he has devoted many years to this art, and has acquired a proficiency in its principles which entitles him to the notice of the public, and especially to those who are students and lovers of this science ; he is author of a book entitled, "Studio, Field and Gallery," " intended as a Manual of Painting for the Student and Amateur, and information for the general reader." Of the merits of this work there can be no doubt, as it is pub- lished by D. Appleton & Co., of New York City, who having undertaken its publi- cation, is a sufficient guarantee of its intrinsic worth and value.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 73

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