The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 78

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

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BENJAMIN F. BROWN, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; was the son of James and Martha (Summers) Brown, who were born in Virginia, who, in the early settle- ment of Kentucky by Daniel Boone, were with their parents among the second lot of Migrants who went with Daniel Booneand settled in Kentucky ; here the grand- parents lived and died, except the grandmother on his mother's side, who came to . this county before she died ; Mr. Brown's father, James, when 16 years of age, was put into the United States service ; in 1783, with a squad of troops, among whom was Daniel Boone, he came across the Ohio River, at what is now Maysville, and north- ward through the Northwest, as it was then called, to drive back the Indians, who were at that time very troublesome ; they went up as far as where West Lib- erty is now located and destroyed an Indian village there and then returned. At this time there was not a white settler in the Northwest Territory, north of the Ohio river ; James Brown remained in Kentucky until 1805, when he came and located in this county, on the very piece of land upon which his son Berry now lives ; it was then an unbroken wilderness west of the Miami River, and they had to cut out their road through from Staunton, a distance of seven miles, which took them two days ; here they commenced to make an opening, built a log cabin, with split-puncheon floors, doors etc., split out of timber ; everything was of the roughest and executed in haste, as the winter was just upon them ; getting it in- closed, they moved into it near the last of November ; cold weather set in before all was completed, but they made out to live through the winter, which was ex- tremely cold and severe ; they were much troubled by the wolves, which carried away their pigs, devoured them, and, often during the day time, would drive in their cattle; they, however, were possessed of one advantage, being able to pro- cure a plenty of wild game for meat ; such was their beginning, but they labored on from year to year, clearing up and making improvements, as time and means would permit ; in the mean time Mr. Brown was giving all aid and support to the early education of the rising generation, being earnestly devoted to schools and the

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moral and religious training of his children ; in 1817, he had made such progress that he built a brick house, which still stands as a part of MI. Brown's present residence, and is in remarkably good condition ; he lived till the 29th of Decem- ber, 1846, when he passed away from a life of remarkable activity, of labors and hardships, to one of rest and rewards ; Mr Brown, being the youngest child of his father, remained with him till his death. He was united in marriage with Mary Hilliard, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Hilliard, early settlers of this county, Feb. 13, 1840 ; they have had born to them four children, viz., Joseph H., who was in the naval service under Admiral Porter, and died while up the Red River, with typhoid fever, May 8, 1864 ; Thomas, who is married and lives on the home farm ; Nannie J., who is Mrs. Hamilton, living in Newton Township ; and Clara, who is living at home. Mr. Brown, at the death of his parents, bought out the interests of the other heirs, now having 230 acres of good land, with fine buildings for him- self and a comfortable new house which he built for his son, who lives on the farm ; Mr. Brown has also a farm of 100 acres in Newton Township, purchased by the proceeds of his own labor and industry ; as far as this world's goods can supply the wants of life, Mr. Brown is amply provided, and has everything needed for comfort and convenience. Mr. Brown was politically a Whig and latterly a staunch Republican ; he has been a very prominent man in public affairs of this township and county, having been County Commissioner twelve years, during which time about 200 miles of turnpike roads were built and others converted into free turnpikes, he having the principal management of the business ; he has also been Township Trustee for nine years ; during this official career, Mr. Brown has located, caused to be located, or superintended the construction of, more public ditches and drain- age than perhaps any other man in the county ; he has also had a large amount of business to do in the way of settling up estates of deceased persons ; in fact, the whole life of Mr. Brown has been one of continued activity ; he has had the entire trust and confidence of the people, his one great leading principle in his official capacity being to deal honestly and justly by all, without regard to their political faith or other circumstances ; he is now nearly three score years and ten, and has been so largely in public official life, that he has many times, to some extent, neglected his own business affairs. Mr. Brown now feels justified in refusing all public offices, and will devote the remnant of his life to his own interests, but will probably always be an active man, as he is one, who, from his nature and educa- tion, can never be a drone, or idle, in any acceptation of the term ; we feel, in plac- ing this record of so active and useful a life upon the pages of this history, that it will stand as a monument and a bright example to all future generations.

J. M. BROWN, tanner and dealer in hides and leather ; Piqua. Mr. Brown is a native of Piqua, having been born, in 1835, one door east of where his leather store now stands ; was brought up in Piqua and learned his trade here, and farmed several years in this vicinity ; in 1871, he purchased the tannery on River street, which he has since conducted; his salesroom is on High street, north side of Market space. Mr. Brown married, in 1869, Sarah J., daughter of Mathew Johns- ton, also a resident of Washington Township.

HENRY C. BROWN, farmer; P. O. Piqua; born in Piqua, Sept. 26, 1844, is a son of John and Mary (Knox) Brown; he was born in Kentucky Oct. 23, 1794, and she in Tennessee, July 8, 1809; was his second wife; his first wife was Turzah Brandon, daughter of Abel and Jane Brandon, who were natives of North Carolina, and came to Ohio in the days of the pioneers; by this union they had seven chil- . dren, viz., Elizabeth, born April 19, 1821 ; Nelson, born Sept. 22, 1824; William Armstrong, born Feb. 12, 1827 ; Martha Jane, born Jan. 6, 1829; James Ellison, born Jan. 24, 1831 ; Sarah Ann, born July 30, 1833, and John Madison, born Dec. 17, 1835, being all deceased except the youngest-John Madison. He lost his wife by death Nov. 12, 1837, and Jan. 3 1839, was united to Mary Knox, daughter of William and Margaret Knox, who were born in North Carolina and emigrated to Tennessee in a very early day ; from Tennessee came to Ohio, where they lived and died; by this union they had four children, viz., James Harvey, born Jan. 7,

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1840 (now deceased); Mary Turzah, born Sept. 2, 1842 ; Henry C. and Miles Knox, born Nov. 9, 1846. John Brown, the father, was brought up on the farm now owned by B. F. Brown, whose sketch and history appear in this work; after his first marriage, he located in Piqua, where he followed the hatter's trade, continuing at this business until his death, which occurred Sept. 15, 1846. Mr. Brown, the subject of this sketch, was only about two years of age at his father's death; the mother, Mary, remained in Piqua and raised her family ; in 1866, she bought the farm upon which they now reside, and moved upon it the same year; they have & fine farm of 220 acres, with a good brick house, a very large barn and other build- ings, constituting a pleasant and beautiful home.

W. W. V. BUCHANAN, Magistrate, Piqua. Mr. Buchanan is one of the present old residents of Miami Co. ; he was born in Montgomery Co., Sept. 15, 1826, and in the following year his parents removed to a farm in Newberry Town- ship, this county, where the son grew to manhood ; he received the benefit of the district schools in his earlier boyhood, and, later, attended the Lebanon Normal, and taught seven years ; he came to Piqua in 1849; was a teacher in the Piqua schools until 1872; then engaged in the insurance business. In 1875 he was elected Mayor, which office he filled one term, at the same time being Magistrate of Washington Township, which latter office he is still filling. He was married, in 1849, to Miss Phoebe, daughter of Andrew Dye ; they have five children living, of whom A. C. is the eldest; he was born Oct. 9, 1850, and grew up here in Piqua; is a graduate of the high school, and also of the Lebanon Normal; was a teacher for three years in the grammar school at Troy; he also studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1877, and is now an honored member of his profession in this city. In his school days, Mr. Buchanan studied engineering, with a view of surveying, and has practiced the latter more or less since. He married, in 1874, Miss Anna Belle, daughter of David Shoemaker, deceased ; she is also a graduate of the high school ; Mr. Buchanan comes of pioneer stock, who were animatetd with enthusiastic patriotism, as will be seen by the different sketches of his family connections, which appear in this work. W. W. V. is a member and Secretary of the Upper Miami Valley Pioneer Association, a plain, pleasant, sensible man and respected citizen.

HARRIET V. CALDWELL; P. O. and residence, Piqua. Harriet V. Cald- well, a native of Kentucky, born near Lexington, in 1802, is the daughter of Caleb Kemper; her parents removed to Walnut Hills, near Cincinnati, while she was yet a child ; her father was a teacher in the schools of Cincinnati for a num- ber of years, and her grandfather Kemper was the first Presbyterian minister who preached in Cincinnati. She was married to Matthew Caldwell Nov. 7, 1823, and soon after they started for their new home, then in the woods, now Piqua They first set up housekeeping on what is now the northeast corner of Ash and Caldwell streets, where they lived upward of twenty years, then removed to the opposite corner south, where the widow still resides, his decease having occurred April 26, 1864. Mr. Caldwell was the son of Matthew Caldwell, Sr., who was among the first purchasers.of land in this vicinity. Matthew, Jr., was a farmer, and contin- ued to farm until his lands were needed for town lots ; then platted his farm, and sold it out in lots; the regularity of his plat, rectangular streets, general appearance and convenience of access, shows more wisdom and forethought than was exercised by some who made additions to the town. The present high school building occupies a portion of the old farm, and Mrs. Caldwell now buys grocer- ies where her husband cleared the ground and cultivated crops in her younger days ; she has lived to see the hand-cards and spinning-wheels superseded by carding and fulling-mills, and these, in turn, by the modern woolen factories. When she came to Piqua, in 1823, they traveled in wagons over what would now be considered impassable roads ; about 1840, she made a visit to her parents, near Cincinnati, going on the "canal packet," a great improvement over the wagon and stagecoach of former years ; when, in 1857, the D. & M. R. R. being completed, she was able to leave home at 6 A. M., and place a jug of fresh cream on her

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mother's dinner table, on Walnut Hills, she felt that the climax was reached, and all were delighted. Mrs. C. is now an old lady, and, while she takes pleasure in recounting the olden times, is grateful for the privileges and improvements with which modern days are blessed; she has been a quiet, unassuming but useful Christian woman and mother, raising a family of four children, three of whom are living-Ann Elizabeth, now Mrs. James Cox, of Redwing, Minn .; Jennie, now Mrs. Thomas Gray, resident of Piqua, and James K., a substantial farmer of Wasgington Township.

JOHN T. CATHCART, farmer ; P. O. Piqua; was born in Maryland, in 1821, and, when but 6 months of age, his parents emigrated West, locating in Montgom- ery Co., Ohio ; there the father, Thomas M., purchased a small farm, which he cul- tivated until about 1830, at which time he removed to Jackson Township, Shelby Co., purchasing a large farm ; this he took from its wild state to a good degree of cultivation ; this farm received his attention and supervision until his death, which occurred in 1842, the mother, Elizabeth (McCandles) Cathcart preceding him seven years. After the death of his father, our subject was left on the tide of time to battle for himself, which he did by engaging as farm laborer ; in a few years he became the possessor of a team, and commenced farming for himself in Montgomery Co., Ohio; in 1845, he located in Washington Township, Miami Co .; since, a few changes have been made, but for the past twenty-three years he has resided on his present farm of 75 acres, now in the Second Ward of the incorporated city of Piqua. Four years ago he was elected as Township Trustee, which office he now holds. In 1844, he married Caroline, daughter of Joseph and Mary E. Johnson ; Caroline was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1826; their children are seven in number, viz., Mary, deceased ; James M., Louisa C., Martha, deceased ; John F., Mabel and Joseph E.

J. M. CHEEVER, retired merchant, Piqua ; born July 19,1788, in Boston, Mass .; was a son of Joseph M. and Eliza (Stewart) Cheever ; his father was a sea-captain most. of his life, and his mother's father also ; what is quite remarkable in the history of his ancestors, is that, on his father's and mother's sides combined, there were seven- teen sea-captains. When Mr. Cheever was 13 years of age, he was apprenticed by his step-father to Thomas G. Thornton, of Saco, Maine, one of the largest merchants of that day, a man of great political and financial power, being a member of the Legislature, President of insurance companies, and holding other important posi- tions ; notwithstanding his greatness and the high positions held, he was a very haughty, bad man. Mr. Cheever only remained with him about two or three years, returning to Boston, where he learned the baker's trade ; this he did without his parents' knowledge, meeting their disapproval ; he worked at this business some three years, then started westward to seek his fortune ; with two other men made the journey to Pittsburgh, a distance of 1,200 miles, on foot ; at Pittsburgh he went into the grocery trade, which he followed about three years, meeting with great success ; bought property, built several houses and made other speculations. This was done during the war under an inflated condition of business, but as the war closed, property shrunk in value, and Mr. Cheever was brought financially into close quarters ; he sold off his property, settled up all his business and had about $150 left ; he bought a small boat, started down the Ohio River all alone, and, on a dark night, in which he could see neither tree nor bank, guided his boat by sound, arriving in due time at Cincinnati safely ; here he entered into the auction busi- ness, which he followed for a time, then the grocery trade, then in the river trade with New Orleans for some two or three years, then in the pork trade at Cincin- nati, in all of which he made considerable money and also lost some. In 1822, he located at Piqua and entered into the mercantile trade. This was when Piqua was in its infancy, there being only a few inhabitants and one old tavern stand. Here Mr. Cheever's energy and business qualities found scope for full play ; he dealt heavily in grain, buying thousands of bushels of corn at 10 cents per bushel, and wheat at 31 cents, also dealt largely in pork, in fact, buying and shipping everything which usually comes in the routine of a trade in a new country, and. at

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the same time buying and selling a great deal of property, building houses and working for the general improvement of the town. His life has been one of remarkable activity, passing through many hardships and even hair-breadth escapes with his life from accidents, from war and from contact in those early days with the Indians of the country. Being a man with an iron will, knowing no danger, his vast energy, with industrious habits, has carried him safely through all. He was united in marriage, Feb. 12, 1818, with Helen Harp, and is the father of eleven children, of whom three are now living. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, his membership extending over the vast period of sixty-two years, forty-five years of which he was a Trustee of the church ; he was one of the prime movers in organizing the church here in about 1823, which had quite a struggle for raising the means for building and other interests of the church. Mr. Cheever's indomitable energy and powerful influence, coupled with his own means, which were freely given, overcame all obstacles, and now he has the consola- tion of beholding one of the largest and best-finished churches in the city, & good parsonage, separate building for classrooms and not a dollar of indebtedness remaining against it ; the church now has a membership of 400. Mr. Cheever's unconquerable energy has carried him over all the dangers and obstacles of business life, enabling him to accumulate plenty of this world's goods ; that energy has been coupled with a Christian character, and has, with his money, been freely used for the upbuilding of Christianity. Mr. Cheever is now about 92 years of age.

HARVEY CLARKE, Piqua. Among the business men of Piqua, Mr. Clarke deserves mention. Heis a native of New Jersey, born in Essex. Co. in 1823; came to Piqua in 1845, and has been identified with the business interests of Piqua ever since. He was for fifteen years a member of the firm of Clarke & Zollinger, grocers ; then became a member of the firm of Rouser, Evans & Clarke. founders and machinists, in which he continued until 1873, when he sold his interest and became interested in one of the valuable stone-quarries south of town, which he still con- tinues, and is also a stockholder and Director of the " Piqua Straw Board and Paper Company," lately organized ; he is now superintending the construction of their exten- sive buildings, and when the works are completed will take an active part in the busi- ness management. His residence is a neat, commodious brick structure, located near the northern terminus of Main street. He married, in 1849, Mary J., daughter of Henry Ketchen, whose biography also appears in this work. They have six chil- dren-Mrs. Joseph E. Mendenhall, Harry, James H., William B., Fanny and Allie. A. G. CONOVER, deceased. Mr. Conover was one of the leading, enter- prising spirits of Piqua. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1819; early in life he came to Piqua and studied engineering ; his first work as engineer was in connection with the Miami & Erie Canal, and after its completion he was more or less engaged upon public works, the Wabash & Erie Canal, the now Panhandle Line, Dayton & Michigan, and Greenville & Richmond Railways being among the most important. In 1862, he was elected a member of the State Board of Public Works, in which capacity he served three years with ability and acceptance. As a citizen of Piqua, he was the first Secretary of the Gas Company, and afterward its President ; a stockholder and Director of the Piqua National Bank, and also of the Northern Ohio Fair Association ; he was also intimately connected with the hydraulic and water-works, and in fact every public improvement made during his career here. " Conover's Opera House " will long remain a monument to his liberality and enterprise. The following is an extract from an obituary, written by one who knew him well : " As a man of business, he had but few superiors, and as a valuable thorough-going citizen, but few equals in this community. Mr. Conover began life as a poor boy, and by energy, much hard work, and a life of frugality, acquired a large property. He was a member of St. James' Episcopal Church, and for many years a vestryman. He leaves a wife and one son." Mrs. Mary Conover is a daughter of John O'Ferrall, Sr., M. D., a native of Piqua, an estimable, cultured lady. Her marriage with J. G. Conover was celebrated Jan. 10, 1861 ; their only

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child, Wilbur G., a promising young man, will this year finish the preparatory course, and next year enter upon the regular course, at Kenyon College.

W. L. CRON; P. O. Piqua; Mr. Cron, a native of Miami Co., and son of John Cron, was born in Spring Creek Township in 1826, and remained on the farm until about 19 years of age, when he began his apprenticeship as " cabinet joiner;" after serving a full term he was engaged at cabinet-making, carpentering and farming until 1862, when he entered the United States army as 1st Lieutenant of Co. A, 110th O. V. I., in which capacity he served until the spring of 1864, when he resigned, returned to Piqua, and resumed farming on the old homestead. In October, 1868, he joined fortunes with his cousin W. L. Cron, who was then operating a small fur- niture establishment here, having a horse-power with which he run a limited amount of machinery; this, with a small stock of lumber and manufactured furniture, with $1,300 cash, constituted their capital ; from this humble beginning the business has been developed, in spite of unfavorable circumstances, to its present vast pro- portions, during which W. L. has been the salesman ; at first each made a hand in the shop and did their own work, now their pay-roll includes over 100 names, and the retail salesroom, where W. L. presides, presents a display of furniture which, in point of style, quality and quantity, would do justice to a much larger city, reflect- ing great credit upon the management; the firm now consists of L. C. & W. L. Cron and John Schneyer, the style of the firm being L. C. & W. L. Cron & Co .; as the biography of each appears in this work, and their factory and business is men- tioned at length elsewhere, it need not be repeated here. Mr. Cron has been twice married ; his first wife, a daughter of Jehiel Day, died in 1855. He was married in 1857 to Miss Mary F., daughter of Ebenezer Frost of Spring Creek Township.

CROZIER & SONS, carriage manufacturers, Piqua ; William R. was born in Pennsylvania in 1813; is the son of John and Sarah Crozier, who were emigrants from Ireland at an early day. In 1815, his parents moved to Ohio, locating in Ross Co., where they remained about nine or ten years, then moved to Auglaize Co., where they remained only about two years, finally locating at Piqua. Mr. John Crozier was a self-educated man, and said to be one of the. best penmen of that day ; he followed the occupation of teacher during the most of his life ; after locat- ing at Piqua he was teacher there for several years, also taught various schools in the vicinity ; he purchased a farm about seven miles northwest of Piqua, where he had a good home ; in his later years, as he became too enfeebled by age for the active duties of business life, he retired to his farm, passing the remainder of his life in peace and quiet, until the messenger of death called him hence. Mr. Cro- zier, the subject of our sketch, remained with his father till about 17 years of age, when he went into the carriage manufacturing business, which he has followed continuously to the present time. In 1837, he was united in marriage with Cath- arine Stattler, daughter of Christopher and Fanny (Winans) Stattler, in which union they have been blessed with nine children, four of whom are now living, viz., James S., Sylvester, Fanny S. and William G., the latter being now in partnership with his father. Mr. Crozier is the oldest established carriage manufacturer now residing in Piqua ; he has been in the business, and in the same buildings, for nearly a half-century ; his trade extends not only in his own county, but through adjoining counties, and even States ; the " winged messengers " come by mail from various directions, sounding the praises of his excellent work; we feel warranted in the assertion that the honorable dealings for so many years with his numerous patrons, the constant and growing reputation of his work, will ever keep him in the front rank in this line of business.

T. L. DANIELS, deceased. Mr. Daniels was a native of Hamilton, Ohio, born Dec. 22, 1828; he came to Piqua when a young man, as the first telegraph operator; he married, Jan. 11, 1863, Miss Catherine O'Ferrall, daughter of John O'Ferrall, Sr., M. D., and became prominently identified with the business of Piqua, being a member of the firm of O'Ferrall, Daniels & Co., also F. Gray, O'Ferrall & Co., and O'Ferrall & Daniels ; was a member of the City Council, its President for many years, and, at the time of his decease, which occurred May 14, 1873, was

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 78

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