The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 75

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

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 75

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JESSE O. DAVY, M. D., physician, Alcony ; was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Oct. 18, 1840 ; is a son of Henry D. and Elizabeth (Leatherman) Davy ; he was born in Ohio and she in Maryland, the paternal ancestry coming from Eng- land, and the maternal from Germany. Henry D. and wife were parents of ten children, of whom seven are now living, viz., Catharine, now Mrs. Hodgden, in Kansas; Ruth, now Mrs. Clawson, in Delaware Co., Ohio ; John L., Ezra J., Will- iam, Jesse O. and Mary, now Mrs. Gilmore, of Knox Co. ; he lost his wife by death in 1850, and, in 1851, was married to Catharine Bastater, daughter of Jacob Bas- tater, born in Maryland ; by this union he has had three children, viz., Alvin J., of Troy ; H. Dolphus, of Cincinnati, and Elias S. Dr. Davy, our subject, received while young a good common-school education ; in 1858, he attended a select school at Olive Green, Delaware Co., and, during his attendance here, determined to adopt the medical profession ; he went to Navarre, Stark Co., where he devoted one year to the study of medicine, and, April 6, 1861, entered Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio, where he graduated in 1868; soon after entering the college, in April, 1861, he enlisted in the three months service, in the war of the rebellion;

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at the expiration of which he returned to college and remained two years ; thence, again, he enlisted in the 59th O. V. I., and served till the close of the war, being while in the army most of the time in the Brigade Hospital as Brigade Steward ; his duties were to examine all the wounded as they were brought back to the hos- pital for treatment, and to assign them to their proper tents, which afforded him splendid opportunities for future usefulness in treating traumatic wounds ; at the close of the war he returned to the college, completed his studies and graduated as above stated ; from there he went to Cincinnati and attended two courses of lectures at the Ohio Medical College ; removed to Springfield and began practice, meeting with very flattering success, and situated under very favorable auspices ; but, like many others, not satisfied to let "well enough alone," he left his profession and entered upon a manufacturing business, which financially proved very disas- trous ; during the settlement of his business affairs, he took an agency with the Champion Machine Company, which he held for about two years ; when he entered again upon his profession, at his present location, Miami City, by buying out Dr. Thatcher, an old resident physician ; he has been in practice here for four years, and is meeting with good success and remunerative returns; from his thorough qualifications for his profession, and the love, interest and energy he displays in its prosecution, there is no question of his future success. On June 30, 1868, was celebrated his marriage with Susanna A. Hopper, daughter of Abraham and Sarah Hopper; he being a native of New York State and she of Ohio; they were the par- ents of four children, of whom three are now living, viz., Johanna, now Mrs. C. C. Johnson, living in Hamilton ; Angeline, now Mrs. Ernsberger, living in Richland Co., and Susanna A.

VAN S. DEATON, M. D., physician, Alcony; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Aug. 1, 1847 ; is a son of Nathan and Sarah (Schoby) Deaton, he being born in Virginia, and she in Ohio ; the grandfather, George W. Deaton, was also a native of Virginia ; the grandparents Schoby were born in New Jersey, the grandmother Schoby living to be 89 years of age. The ancestry of the Deaton family were from Eng- land. Nathan and Sarah were parents of six children, of whom five are now living, viz., Van S., Lydia A. (now Mrs. J. Cutter, of Kansas), Emery G. (also in Kansas), Emma D. (now Mrs. John McMorran, living in St. Paris, Ohio), and William D. (of Clark Co.). Dr. Deaton being only 9 years of age when his parents died, was raised by his uncle, Levi Deaton, till 17 years of age. Then he enlisted in the war of the rebellion, in the 16th Ohio Battery, in which he served till the close of the war, received an honorable discharge and returned home; he then remained with his uncle for a time, but, having obtained a limited education in his boyhood days, he felt a desire for a more proficient scholarship, and in 1867, entered the National Normal School, at Lebanon, Ohio, taking such a course of study as would prepare him for the profession of teacher ; he continued at this school for two years, and then taught for several terms, during which time he studied medicine under Dr. Thatcher, of Miami City, then attended three courses of lectures at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, in the winter of 1871-72 and the spring of 1873, graduating at the close of the latter term ; he located at Addison, Champaign Co., Ohio, where he practiced for four years, then went to Miami City, where he has continued his practice for nearly three years. On March 6, 1876, he married Laura E., daughter of Henry C. and Elizabeth Shidaker, by which union they have had two children, viz., Clarence Ross and Ernest Eldridge. Dr. Deaton, since com- mencing the practice of medicine, has been favored with abundant success, having, during the seven years of his professional duties, won the favor and a good share of the patronage of the community. The thorough education and qualifications he possesses, coupled with an energy and purpose of will to excel in his profession, will doubtless win for him in the future the favor of the people, and give him & high standing in the medical profession.

JAMES M. DYE, deceased. The name that heads this sketch was one of the prominent men of this county, and will ever be remembered for his many virtues and kind acts; many years have passed since the name of James Dye was first

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known, and his family were among the foremost pioneers of Miami Co. ; the Dyes, as will be seen in the county and township history, were a numerous and energetic people, and to them is due, in a great measure, the prosperity of our county. Mr. Dye was born in Miami Co. Sept. 6, 1805 ; his parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth (Jackson) Dye, were natives of Pennsylvania, and were married in that State ; when he came to Warren Co., he was very poor, but, possessed of indomitable pluck and energy, began accumulating, slowly, means for a livelihood; they were the parents of ten children, of whom Sarah Meeks, William Benjamin and Maria Jones are now living. During his boyhood, and, in fact, all his lifetime, James Dye was engaged in agriculture, and, from a humble beginning, accumulated wealth rapidly, through good management, until he left a large landed estate of 1,390 acres. His marriage to Miss Letty Cecil, who was born Aug. 28, 1806, was cele- brated March 3, 1825 ; her parents were natives of Pulaski Co., Va., and emigrated to Miami Co. in 1812 ; their names were Thomas and Nancy (Grayson) Cecil ; they had thirteen children, of whom Mrs. Letty Dye, the widow of our subject, survives. James and Letty Dye reared a large family ; Thomas C. Dye, their eldest son, was born June 22, 1827; Benjamin F., Jan. 28, 1829 ; Gordon C., July 15, 1831 ; Joseph C., April 25, 1833; Milton, Jan. 29, 1835 ; Roswell S., March 30, 1837 ; Elizabeth, Feb. 21, 1839 ; Grayson, Jan. 11, 1841 ; Robert, Aug. 19, 1842 ; Nancy J., May 26, 1845 ; and Webster, Feb. 11, 1848 ; of these, Milton, Gordon, Robert, Webster and Benjamin F. are now dead ; the demise of their father, James M., occurred Nov. 10, 1873 ; he was a man widely known, and his business qualifica- tions brought him in contact with the prominent men of this as well as other counties ; his integrity was beyond question, and he was authority on agricultural topics. The marriage of Benjamin F. Dye and Sarah L. Tally, of Clermont Co., Ohio, was celebrated Jan. 8, 1856 ; Josephi wedded Alice Miller, probably in 1860; Grayson married Louisa Shaffer in October, 1864 ; Thomas was married to Mrs. Catharine Moore, of Vermillion Co., Ill .; the two daughters, Lizzie and Nannie, live with their mother on the Dye homestead, a beautiful and well-improved farm near Troy ; their residence is a large two-story frame, well furnished, presenting an air of neatness and comfort, which, added to the cordiality of the hostess, makes it a pleasant place to visit. Elizabeth (Jackson) Dye was a native of Redstone, Tenn., and came from that place to Ohio in 1798; her death occurred Feb. 1. 1817 ; Benjamin Dye died July 23, 1843 ; he was aged 64 years. The portrait of James M. Dye appears in this work.

BENJAMIN FLINN, deceased ; born in Miami Co., April 2, 1822 ; was a son of John and Agnes (Priest) Flinn, he being born in Virginia, and she in Kentucky. The father, John, with his mother, was captured in Virginia by the Indians, and kept in captivity for fourteen years, during which Mrs. Flinn died ; John, gaining the confidence of the Indians, was granted many privileges to go and come as he pleased, and finally was permitted to visit his friends in Virginia, which he did, and then returned to the Indians ; becoming dissatisfied with them, he went back to Virginia, soon after come West, and became interpreter for Johnson, the Indian Agent, during the war of 1812. It is supposed that he became a settler of Miami Co. prior to 1807, which would make him one of the early pioneers. Here he mar- ried Agnes Priest, by whom he had a large family of children, of whom Benjamin was the seventh child. He lived with his father, mostly, till his marriage, which occurred Nov. 20, 1845, with Catharine, daughter of John and Rebecca Smith ; he was born in Maryland, and she in Virginia. By this union they had six children, of whom five are living, viz., Agnes, Rebecca Jane, Charlotte, Franklin and Mary. After their marriage, they located upon the farm where his widow, Mrs. Flinn, now resides. He died March 13, 1879. Since his death, the son, Franklin, and son-in- law, Mr. Pence, are taking charge of the home farm, consisting of 158 acres of fine land, with good buildings and improvements ; also another farm of 89 acres. Mr. Flinn was an industrious, enterprising man ; a kind husband and father, a good neighbor, and one who had the confidence of the people, as indicated by the offices he held, being School Director for several years, Township Trustee for two years,

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and filling other offices. He was an active member of the Christian Church for some twenty-five or thirty years, and his wife for twenty-two years.

HENRY GARDNER, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; born in Ireland; is a son of Charles and Ann Gardner, who were also born in Ireland, and lived and died there. They were parents of six children, of whom four are now living, viz., John, who is somewhere in America ; William, who came to America, but returned again to Ireland, where he still lives ; Charles, living in Canada ; and Henry. Mr. Gard- ner, our subject, came from Ireland to America in 1847, and was in Canada about two years, then removed to Miami Co., and located first on the Robert Sproul farm, where he lived about eighteen years ; then on the farm where he now resides. On Feb. 28, 1854, he married Rebecca Jane, daughter of Robert and Isabella Sproul. They have had six children, viz., Nancy Bell, Robert Charles, Sarah Elizabeth, William Thomas, Samuel Ellsworth and Elvin Hays. Mr. Gardner has now resided twelve years on his present farm of 150 acres of fine land, with good build- ings and improvements.

O. C. GARMAN, farmer ; P. O. Troy; born in Adams Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 1843; is a son of Peter and Hannah (Countryman) Garman, who were born in Highland Co., Ohio. The grandparents were natives of Virginia, the ancestry originally coming from Germany. Peter and Hannah, the parents, have always resided in Adams Co. They were the parents of six children, viz., Susanna, now Mrs. Bell ; Salome, now Mrs. J. Pulse ; Mary Ann, now Mrs. Murphy ; Obadiah C., Daniel H. and Hymen P., living in Kansas. Mr. Garman lived with his father till 20 years of age. In August, 1862, he went to the defense of his country, and enlisted in the 60th O. V. I .. serving three months, being captured by the rebels, then paroled, and re-enlisted in June, 1863, in the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery, where he remained till the close of the war. After his return from the army, he attended the National Normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, during the summer, and taught school during the winter, until he graduated, after which he followed teaching for five years, and since, has farmed and taught alternately. On Aug. 21, 1873, he was united in marriage with Mary P. Phillips, daughter of Clark C. and Mary P. Phillips. They had three children, viz., Anna E., Cora May and Clark P. After their marriage, they located in Higginsport, Ohio, where he was the principal of their schools for one year, thence to Patriot, Ind, where he remained two years as principal of their schools, with his wife (who is also a graduate of the same school at Lebanon) as a teacher, then to West Milton, this county, for one year, and after- ward to the farm where he now resides. Mr. Garman has 60 acres of land, 50 of which are in cultivation, with excellent buildings upon them. Mr. Garman, though a recent resident of Miami Co., has served as Township Clerk one year. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, having been such for fifteen years.

JAMES M. GEARHEART, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; born in Miami Co., March 10, 1824; is a son of John and Eleanor (Beatty) Gearheart, who were natives of Virginia ; the grandfather Gearheart was a native of Virginia, the grandfather Beatty was born in Ireland. John, the father, came to Miami Co. with his par- ents, and became one of the early settlers, locating a little north of the Dye farm. John located on the farm now owned by Thompson Ely, where he lived about sev- enteen years, thence to the farm where James now lives ; here he died Aug. 16, 1850, his wife Jan. 3, 1871. They were the parents of five children, of whom two are now living, viz., James M. and John N. Our subject lived with his father until his marriage, Sept. 16, 1847, when he was united with Maria Matilda, daughter of Robert and Isabella Sproul. By this union they had six children, viz., John H., Robert S., William J. (deceased), James E., Thomas B. and Mary B. Mr. Gearheart, after his marriage, located upon the home farm, where he has resided up to the present time. He has a fine farm of 150 acres, 110 acres in cultivation. Politically, Mr. Gearheart is a Republican, Religiously he is & Methodist, his wife and children being Presbyterians.

JOHN N. GEARHEART, farmer ; P. O. Troy; born in Miami Co., Jan. 6, 1826 ; is a son of John and Eleanor (Beatty) Gearheart; he being born in Miami

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Co., in about 1800, and she in Champaign Co. ; the grandfather, John, being a native of Virginia, and removing to this county about 1799, cotemporary with the Knoops, Gerards, etc., the first pioneers of the county. He located on the old Gearheart place, on the west edge of Elizabeth Township, where he lived and died, at the ripe old age of about 100 years. His son John, the father of our subject, after his mar- riage, located on the farm now owned by Thompson Ely, where he cleared up a farm, most of it right from the native forest ; here he remained for many years, and brought the farm into a good state of cultivation ; then located two miles north, on land now owned by Mr. Turner and James Gearheart, where he lived till his death, which occurred when he was about 52 years of age. They were the parents of five children, of whom two are now living, viz., James M. and John N. John. N., our subject, lived with his father till 1849, when he was united in marriage with Mary A. Rowe, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Rowe ; he being born in Pennsylvania, but locating in this county when about 18 years of age; she was born in this township ; they were the parents of four children, of whom two are now living, viz., Mary A. and Nancy, now Mrs. Isaac A. Beales. After Mr. Gearheart's marriage, he located on a part of his father's place, which Mr. Turner now owns, and resided there some four or five years ; then removed to the farm where he now lives. They are the parents of nine children, of whom eight are now living, viz., John C .; Henry R., dying in infancy; Elizabeth E., now Mrs. William Greer ; Laura J., now Mrs Gross, living in Preble Co .; Nancy C., now Mrs. McNeal; William M. R., Mary F., Nelson E. and Iva B. Mr. Gearheart has a fine farm of 200 acres, and all but 40 acres in cultivation, with good buildings and improvements. Mr. Gear- heart and wife are members of the Christian Church, he having been such for thirty years, and she for thirty-five years. They have also had the pleasure to see all their children but one become Christians and members of the same church.

S. DAVIS GREEN, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. O. Troy ; he was born in Lost Creek Township, Dec. 2, 1823, and is the son of George W. and Nancy (King) Green ; he was born in Pennsylvania, and came to this county and located in Lost Creek Township about 1810 to 1812. He was married three times, first to Martha Gray, by whom he had one child, viz., William ; his second marriage was to Miss Nancy King, by whom he had five children, of whom two now survive, viz., Nancy, now Mrs. Harter, and S. Davis ; his third consort was Mary Hendricks, who had five children, viz., Margaret, Jane, Samuel, Ann and Robert ; the mother of our subject died in 1825; about 1831, the father located in Elizabeth Township, and died in 1833. Our subject being only 10 years of age when his father died, he was placed in the care of John C. Dye, with whom he remained until October, 1845, when he was married to Miss Hannah, daughter of Asa and Hannah French, he a native of New Jersey, and she of Kentucky ; by this union they have had five children, viz., Asa, Zelora, Sarah Eliza, now Mrs. A. Thackara, Joseph F., and Glenn. Mr. Green farmed on rented land for nine years, then bought and located upon the farm where he has now lived for twenty-six years ; he has 170 acres, 140 of which are cleared and in cultivation, and since his occupation has erected a fine brick house, a large barn and other buildings for comfort and convenience. Mr. Green and wife are members of the Casstown Baptist Church, having united with it while it was located in Staunton ; it is the oldest Baptist Church in the county, having been organized in 1804 ; he has been a member of this church for thirty-four years, and Clerk of the same for the past twelve years ; his wife has been a member for thirty- six years.

BENJAMIN F. HANCE, farmer ; P. O. Casstown ; he was born in Miami Co., Dec. 24, 1842, and is a son of Joseph and Patsy (Wilson) Hance ; he was a native of Kentucky, and she of Ohio ; the grandfather Hance was born in England, and came to America during the Revolutionary war ; Joseph, the father, came with his father to Miami Co., about 1812 or 1813, and located in Lost Creek Township, where his father died; Joseph and wife were parents of twelve children, of whom eight are now living, viz., Lydia, Margaret, William, Sarepta, Benjamin F., Seymour, Willis, and Letitia ; Joseph

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died in Lost Creek Township, May 16, 1864; his wife died Nov. 5. 1855. Our subject lived with his father till 17 years of age, when he went to learn the carpenter's trade with his brother Lewis, with whom he remained about four years, thence returned with his father, where he remained till his death. On Feb. 15, 1866, he was united in marriage with Priscilla Clyne, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Clyne ; by this union they have had two children, viz., Horatio In- graham and William Otho. After Mr. Hance was married, he remained on the old home farm for two years, thence went to St. Paris, Ohio, for two years, and finally settled on the farm where he now resides ; here he has 100 acres of good land with excellent improvements.

BENNETT J. HARTER. farmer ; P. O. Troy ; born in Kentucky, Feb. 19. 1819; is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Harter ; he was a native of Virginia, and she of Kentucky. The grandfather Harter was born in Maryland, and the grand- mother Harter in Virginia, the ancestry being originally from Germany. Jacob, the father, removed to Miami Co. about 1820, and located in Elizabeth Township, where he followed his trade as hatter, in connection with farming, for about twenty- three years, then sold out and bought a grist-mill and distillery, about three miles southwest from his first locality ; here he carried on the business some ten years, then removed to a farm just east of there, and farmed for a few years, when he retired from active business and located in Troy, and resided till his death, which occurred in 1875. When Mr. J. first came to this county, he commenced with but a few dollars' capital, but by industry and unfaltering energy, enduring faithfully all the hardships and deprivations of those early settlers, his diligence and econ- omy won for him a large competency, so that during the latter years of his life he could enjoy all that money or wealth could procure ; but it is said that he declared that the happiest period of his life was during his first years in Miami Co., when he had to labor the hardest and economize the most. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom four are now living, viz., Bennett J., Samuel K., Catharine (now Widow Randolph), and Franklin L. Mr. Harter, our subject, lived with his father till about 28 years of age. In 1844, he married Miss Nancy Green, daughter of George and Nancy (Knight) Green ; he was born in Pennsyl- vania, and she in Ohio ; by this union they have had six children, of whom three are living, viz., Bell S. (now Mrs. Charles C. Royce, of Washington, D. C.), Mary Josephine (now Mrs. E. W. Heywood, of Boston), and Jacob D. After his mar- riage, he lived on a rented farm for two years, then bought the Smulser farm, where he lived about five years, then removed to the Cove Spring farm, where he has since resided. He has 366 acres of excellent land well improved.

JAMES T. HERMAN, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; born in Clark Co., Ohio, July 4, 1848 ; is a son of Lawson D. and Hannah (Rail) Herman, also born in Ohio, the grandparents being from Maryland and New Jersey ; Lawson and wife were the parents of nine children ; three are living, viz., John Wesley, Mary Louisa and James T .; Lawson D. Herman lost his wife in 1849 ; in 1852, he married Eliza- beth, daughter of John Flinn, of whom mention is made in the sketch of Benja- min Flinn ; by this marriage they had one child, viz., Lawson A .; Mr. Herman, the father, lived in Clark and Miami Cos .; he started in life very poor, his only capital being good health, energy and a determination to gain a home and the comforts of life ; in this he was successful, as he became owner of 400 acres of land and some $10,000 in money besides ; he was born March 2, 1807, and died in Clark Co. Feb. 2, 1874. Our subject lived with his father till 25 years of age ; on Jan. 25, 1874, he was united in marriage with Margaret M., daughter of George and Ruth Ann Mumford ; by this union they have three children, viz., Anna Bertha, Charlie Wilbert and James Edward ; Mr. Herman, after his marriage, located upon the farm where he now lives, and commenced in a log cabin; he has everything in good repair, fine new buildings erected and all the conveniences required for a pleasant home.

SAMUEL KNICK, farmer ; P. O. Alcony ; born in Miami Co. Dec. 9, 1832; is a son of William and Rachel (Armstrong) Knick, natives of Virginia, who came

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to this county among the early settlers ; they were the parents of nine children, six now living, viz., William, James, George, Isaac, Samuel and Thomas ; Mr. Knick, the father, was in the war of 1812, and, after his death,. his widow drew a pension ; he died Dec. 14, 1848, aged 56 years 2 months and 7 days ; she died Oct. 3, 1864, aged 71 years and 7 months. Our subject was 16 years of age at the time of his father's death, after which he worked by the month till about 23 years of age. Oct. 18, 1855, he was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth, born Feb. 27, 1835, a daughter of David and Catharine Ann Strock, natives of Pennsylvania ; they were the parents of nine children; seven are living, viz., Oliver, Mary Eliza- beth, Jacob, John, David, George and Addison. Mr. Knick has had six children, viz., Melissa, born Aug. 25. 1856 ; Emma J., Oct. 31, 1858 ; Frank, May 18, 1862 ; Charles, Dec. 18, 1865 ; Ella, May 9, 1873 ; and Ida, Sept. 12, 1877. After their marriage, Mr. Knick located on the farm where the Orphans' Home is now located ; remained about two years, then bought and located upon the farm where they now reside; they have a fine farm of 140 acres, and good improvements. Mr. Knick is a Democrat, and has been Township Trustee for four years ; he and wife are members of the Christian Church, he having been a member for fourteen years, and she for thirty years.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 75

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