USA > Ohio > Logan County > The historical review of Logan County, Ohio > Part 49
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On the 18th of February, 1849. Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Har- riet Shoots, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, September 4. 1830, and died Febru- ary 2, 1902, leaving many friends as well as her immediate family to mourn her loss.
in 1863. and remained a faithful member of the same until her death. Eleven chil- dren blessed this union: Mary K., born January 24. 1850. married Joseph Lusby, who resides on a farm near Rushsylvania, and they have three living children, Wil- liam, Benjamin and Sherman. Josephine, born June 9. 1851, is the wife of Leighton Y. Shafer a farmer of Rush Creek town- ship, and they have four children, Sarah Ethel. Zebilum D .. William Yancey, and Floyd. Of this family Sarah Ethel is now the wife of Stephen L. Lease a farmer liv- ing near Bloom Center, and they have one child, Mary Ann. Zebilum is a teacher in Logan county. Miller M., our subject's oldest son, was born November 27, 1855. and died October 28. 1871. Rosabelle, born August 6. 1856, is the wife of Lewis W. Hall, a retired farmer of Bellefontaine, and they have one daughter, Cleopatra, who was married April 14, 1901, to Omer P. Norris, a farmer of Stokes township, and has one child. Natalie E. Wilfred, born July 9. 1860. married Emma Erwin, of Kansas. and is engaged in farming near Rush Creek lake, in Rush Creek township. They have five children. William. Glendale, Harriet, Elwood and Lulu. Farmer, born June 17. 1862, married Ida Roberts and has one child. Ola. He lives on a part of the homestead farm near Harper. Benjamin born Octo- ber 19, 1866. died December 1, 1880. Jo- seph, born January 24. 1868, died August 25. 1868. Sarah Etta, born April 22, 1870. is the wife of Willoughby P. Baughman, a farmer living near Jackson Center, and they have four children. Gordon K., Hildred. Florence E. and William N. Harriet. born January 7, 1873, is the wife of Sylvester P. Wright. a farmer living near Bloom Center,
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in Stokes township, and they have one child, plemented his early education acquired in George M. Centennial L., born October 28, 1876, is at home with the father.
The Democratic party has always found in Mr. Miller a stanch supporter of its prin- ciples, and he takes an active interest in pub- lic affairs, as every true American citizen should. His life has been one of industry and his course ever honorable and upright, so that he is held in high regard by his fel- low citizens.
WILLIAM M. HALL.
The subject of this sketch is one of the representative farmers and highly respect- ed citizens of Rush Creek township. He has been a lifelong resident of Logan county, being born here on the 16th of December, 1849, a son of Samuel and Magdelena (Driesbach) Hall. His father was born in Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, January 4. 1810, but was only six months old when brought to Ohio by his parents, the family locating in Fairfield county, where he grew to manhood. He attended school until sixteen years of age and then followed farming throughout the remainder of his life. Religiously he was identified with the Reformed church and he was a man who commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He married Magdelena Dries- bach, who was born September 14, 1811, and they became the parents of the fol- lowing named children: Ervin, John, Wil- liam H., Jacob H., Louisa J., Samuel J., David, Magdelena, Sarah Ann, William M. and Lewis W.
William M. Hall, of this review, sup-
the public schools, by a course at West Geneva College, and for three years he successfully followed the teacher's profes- sion but the greater part of his life has been devoted to farming, in which he is still engaged with marked success. He is the owner of a valuable place of over three hundred acres of the best farming land in Logan county, and has erected thereon a splendid residence with modern con- veniences. He is progressive and thor- oughly up-to-date in all his methods of farm management and to these qualities, as well as to his industry and good busi- ness ability can be attributed his success.
In 1874 Mr. Hall led to the marriage altar Miss Mary C. McGinnis, who was born in Champaign county, Ohio, on the 18th of June, 1854. Her father, William McGinnis, was also born in that county in 1821 and was a farmer by occupation, starting out in life for himself at the age of eighteen years after receiving a com- mon-school education. He voted with the Whig party until its dissolution and then became a Republican. He married Sarah Shoots,' whose birth occurred in Cham- paign county about 1821, and they had six children, namely : Mary Catherine, wife of our subject ; Alonze, Benjamin S .; Nora M. ; Malissa, and Gilman. Mrs. Hall is de- scended from the same family to which George Washington belonged, the Gen- eral's mother being a Miss Ball, whose sis- ter, Mrs. Hardin, was the great-great- great-grandmother of Mrs. Hall. A daughter of Mrs. Hardin married a Mr. Lewis, and their daughter married a Mr. McGinnis. becoming the mother of the grandfather of Mrs. Hall.
To our subject and his wife were born
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the following children: Loren, born July 20, 1875. died at the age of three years. three months and ten days. Leona E., born December 24. 1878. is a graduate of Heidelberg University of the class of 1902 and is now a teacher in the Bellefontaine public schools. Cora MI., born October 5, 1880, is the wife of Jesse Austin, a chemist at the cement works in Harper. Ohio, and they have one child. Lowell L. Wil- liam Lester. born May 20. 1883. died at the age of three months and ten days. Sarah I., born October 13, 1885. is attend- ing high school in Bellefontaine. Thur- man. born July 4. 1888, and Gladys M., born September 14. 1891. are attending the district school. The family stand high socially and have a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county. Mr. and Mrs. Hall hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a Democrat in politics.
WILLIAM JACKSON.
William Jackson, who was one of the brave defenders of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war, and is now an honored resident of Logan county. Ohio, his home being in Monroe township. was born on the Ist of June, 1829, in Newark. New Jersey, his father being Samuel Jackson, who was a native of Yorkshire, England. and was a stone-mason by trade. The sub- ject of this sketch is indebted to the public schools of his native state for the education- al privileges he enjoyed. being a student in such institutions until sixteen years of age, and after putting aside his text books he turned his attention to carpentering.
On the 15th of July. 1852, Mr. Jackson was united in marriage to Mrs. Georgia C. Warrell, a widow living in Frankford, a part of Philadelphia. She was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. April 9, 1833. and is a daughter of William and Ruth Allen. Her father came from Bir- mingham. England. Of his eight children five are now deceased, namely : William, Jo- seph. Emma, Edward and Ellen. Those still living are Mary. James and Georgia. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson became the parents of seven children. as follows: Ruth, born April 12, 1853. is the wife of Marion Down- ing, of Ohio, and they have seven children. Emma, born August 26, 1855. is the wife of Henry Harish, whose home is in West Liberty, Logan county ; George, born April I, 1858. is deceased; Mary, born April 19. 1860, is the wife of John Ricks, by whom she has seven children, and they reside in Huntsville, Logan county: Harry, born January 20, 1867. married Minnie Crevistor and has one child. They live with his fa- ther upon the old home farm: Joseph, born April 16, 1870, and Samuel, born March 19. 1873, are both unmarried and reside at home.
After his marriage Mr. Jackson lived in Pennsylvania for several years. In 1859 he took up his residence in Philadelphia, and from there removed to Savannah, Georgia. and later to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent three years. We next find him a res- ident of Bellefontaine, and he has since made his home in Logan county. He now lives in Monroe township,and in his farming operations is meeting with good success.
On the opening of the Civil war Mr. Jackson put aside all personal interests, and donning the blue uniform of the nation went to the defense of his country's flag, and the
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cause it represented. Hardly had the married in Holmes county to Miss Miriam echoes of Fort Sumter's guns died away Edwards, who was born in Virginia and was a daughter of Jesse and Harriet (Lily) Edwards. In her girlhood she came to Ohio and resided upon a farm near Nashville in Holmes county. where she was reared to womanhood. In the fam- ily were nine children of whom five are still living. namely: Richard A., of Belle- fontaine; William T., who is a farmer of Warsaw, Indiana; Francis O., who is a traveling salesman residing in Los Angeles, California ; Robert U .: and Her- bert E .. who is a farmer of Coshocton county, Ohio. when he enlisted, April 15. 1861, for three years, or during the war, becoming a mem- ber of Company H, Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was in every engagement in which his command took part. The war being over, he was honorably discharged in October, 1865, and returned to his home in Bellefontaine. He supports the Republican party, which embodies his views on public questions of national importance. and has al- ways been found as true to his country's in- terests in times of peace, as when he follow- ed the old flag to victory on southern battle- fields.
ROBERT U. GRAHAM.
Robert U. Graham, whose enterprise and business foresight are manifest in his capable control of a general mercantile es- tablishment in Belle Center, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio. May 2, 1866, and is a son of Robert and Miriam (Edwards) Graham. The father, who is still living on a farm in Coshocton county, was born in county Donegal. Ireland, and when thir- teen years of age came with his widowed mother and five children to America. He was next to the youngest in a family of seven children. The members of the fam- ily who did not cross the Atlantic with the mother afterward came to America. The family was in limited circumstances, but as the years passed the father of our sub- ject made for himself a place in the busi- ness world and prospered in his under- takings. He was twice married, his first union being with Miss Mary Ramsey of Coshocton county. He was afterward
Robert U. Graham was reared upon the home farm in the county of his na- tivity and acquired a fair common-school education. He remained with his par- ents until he was about twenty-two years of age. when he came to Belle Center and clerked for an older brother, R. A. Gra- ham, who was then in business in this place, but is now located in Bellefontaine. For three years Mr. Graham of this re- view served as a salesman for his brother and later engaged in business on his own account. In December, 1891, he opened a grocery store in Piqua, Ohio. where he re- mained for about a year and a half and then returned to his father's farm in Co- shocton county, where he carried on agri- cultural pursuits for two years. Later hie conducted a general store at Jackson Center in Shelby county for five and a half years and on the expiration of that period removed to Springfield, Ohio, where he remained for six months. He then came to Belle Center on the 15th of April, 1901. and in connection with his brother pur- chased the store of which he is now the owner. In October, 1902, he became sole
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proprietor and is now conducting a pros- and is of German descent. His parents perous and profitable business.
During the period of his first residence in Belle Center Mr. Graham was united in marriage on the Ist of January. 1891, to Miss Margaret M. Laughlin of this place. She was here born and is a daughter of Thomas Clark and Fanny ( Henry) Laughlin. Mrs. Graham is a graduate of the Belle Center high school and for one year engaged in teaching. Unto our sub- ject and his wife have been born three children: Fanny M., who was born in Belle Center. December 22, 1891, and died January 4, 1892; Robert Clark, who was born in Piqua, January 4, 1893; and Malcolm, born in Belle Center, Novem- ber 15, 1902.
In his political views Mr. Graham is a stalwart Republican. having supported the party since casting his first presidential ballot for Benjamin Harrison in 1888. He has served as a delegate to the state con- ventions and takes a deep interest in the growth and success of Republican princi- ples. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias of Belle Center and the Golden Eagles at Jackson Center. He is a man who in his business life and his social and political relations has command- ed the respect and good will of those with whom he has been associated and in his mercantile affairs he has met with credit- able success.
SAMUEL ALEXANDER.
Samuel Alexander, a retired farmer living in Bellefontaine, was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1823,
were William and Elizabeth (McGee) Alexander, who were also natives of the Keystone state and about 1838 emigrated westward to Ohio, settling upon a farm in Logan county, where they spent their remaining days.
Our subject was about thirteen years of age at the time of the removal of the family to this locality. Their home was south of Middleburg in Zane township and in that locality he pursued his education in a log school house, which, however, was afterward superseded by a more modern and better equipped school-building. He continued his studies until eighteen years of age and in the meantime he had be- come familiar with farm work in all of its departments. When but twenty years of age he left home and did farm labor for about three years, after which he began farming on his own account on rented land. For nine years he was the owner of a farm near Middleburg and subsequently he sold that property and purchased a farm near DeGraff, which he still owns, this being located in Union township and comprising eighty-three and one-fourth acres. When it came into his possession it was partially covered with timber, which he cleared away, transforming the land into richly productive fields, while upon the farm he made valuable improvements. There is a large ten-room residence upon this property together with a big bank barn, sixty-two by forty feet, and all the necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. In 1884 Mr. Alexander removed to Bellefontaine and purchased his present home at No. 311 North De- troit street. He superintended his farm- ing interests for sometime, however, or
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until his eyesight was impaired in 1901 by has reached that goal. During the first an attack of la grippe. This also affected his hearing ard since that time he has leased most of his farm to tenants.
Mr. Alexander has been twice married. He first wedded Sarah Jane Marquis on the Ist of November. 1849. an own cousin of Governor Marquis, of Ohio. They traveled life's journey together for about forty-four years and then, in 1893. were separated in death. Mrs. Alexander being called to her final rest. On the 2nd of November. 1898. Mr. Alexander was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Robb, an own cousin of Ex-Judge Robb. of Lima, Ohio. She was born in Logan county in 1849. a daughter of Sylvester and Isabel (Moore) Robb, both of Washington county, Pennsylvania. They settled in Lo- gan county, Ohio, in 1831, and here the father died March 31. 1883. and the moth- er in Jefferson township, May 20, 1896. Mrs. Alexander has four brothers living : James M., of Union county, Ohio ; Thom- as B., of Hall county, Nebraska; Joseph H., who resides near Zanesfield, and S. C., of Lima.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Alex- ander was twice drafted for service, but the county paid money rather than send him to the front. Mr. Alexander and his wife are both members of the First Pres- byterian church and while living upon his farm he assisted in building the church of that denomination at West Liberty. His political support has always been given the Democracy. When he started in life he had but fifty cents in his pocket. He never had ambition to become wealthy. but he wished to be in moderate circum- stances in order that he might provide a good home for himself and wife and he
year he spent only two dollars, saving the rest of his earnings and in course of time he had enough to purchase a small farm. From that time he has steadily pro- gressed and is now the possessor of a very comfortable competence, which enables him to rest from further labor. His life history should serve as a source of encour- agement and inspiration to others and proves conclusively that success may be gained through earnest purpose.
REUBEN B. KELLER.
The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, who has gained advancement through honorable business methods, and won a high reputation in his chosen calling through merit. Such has been the career of Reuben B. Keller, who is now cashier of the People's Bank of Bellefontaine. He was born in this city in 1842, a son of Sebastian Keller, who was a native of Clark county. Ohio, and a farmer by occupation, removing from Bellefontaine to a farm in Logan coun- ty. He wedded Lydia Houtz, of Bellefon- taine, and unto them were born several chil- dren. Mr. Keller became the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and forty-five acres, which he had at the time of his death. in the year 1892. His widow still survives him, and is now living on the old home place with her. son-in-law. J. G. Harris. Mr. Keller, of this review, has two brothers and three sisters : Mrs. Elizabeth W. Mor- . ton, who resides near Huntsville, Ohio; Mary M., the wife of J. G. Harris ; Columbia J., the wife of Warder Dowell, who resides
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upon the county farm: John H. S., of cashier and when changes occurred in the Bloomington, Indiana; and David C., who is a member of the firm of Keller & Dowell, of Bellefontaine.
Upon the old home farm Reuben B. Keller, of this review, was reared, and at an early age he worked in the fields and meadows. When nineteen years of age. however, he left the plow and, donning the blue uniform of the country, he went forth in defense of the Union, enlisting in 1862. as a member of Company D. Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years under the command of Captain Robert Dow and Colonel Benja- min P. Runkle, with the Army of the Cum- berland. He participated in the siege of Knoxville, and the hotly contested engage- ment at Philadelphia, Tennessee, but most of the time he was on detached duty as clerk in the division headquarters. He was on de- tached service throughout the Atlanta cam- paign, but was in active service in the saddle for eighteen months. Wherever duty called him, however, he was found to be loyal to his country, and the trusts reposed in him were never betrayed. but always discharged with loyalty to the Union cause.
After the war Mr. Keller became a stu- dent in Eastman's Business College, in Poughkeepsie, New York, in which he was graduated with the class of 1866. He then returned to Bellef. ntaine, and was employed as bookkeeper Ly F. D. Prouty, a dealer in agricultural implements for two years. Subsequently he formed a partnership with George W. Rife, known as Rife & Keller, dealers in agricultural implements, and in January, 1869. he became bookkeeper in the People's Bank, which in July, 1880, was re- organized as the People's National Bank. At that time he was appointed assistant
office-holding of the institution occasioned by the death of the president, .\. Riddle, Mr. Keller was made cashier and has since con- tinted to serve in that capacity. He is also one of the stockholders and directors of the institution.
. In 18So occurred the marriage of Mr. Keller and Miss Annabel Taylor, who was born in Logan county, in 1849. Her par- ents are both deceased, but she has three brothers and three sisters who are living. namely : Mrs. Sarah J. Casebolt, of Belle- fontaine, who is now a widow: Mrs. Ruth H. Grimes, of this city; T. O., who is em- ployed in the Citizen's Savings Bank, of Columbus, Ohio: W. S., who is a passen- ger conductor on the Big Four Railroad : Frank G., who is a street car motorman of Sioux City, Iowa: and Alice, of Bellefon- taine. U'nto Mr. and Mrs. Keller have been born two children: Ada A., the wife of Guy C. Odor, who is engaged in the job-printing business at St. Mary's, Ohio: and Herman B., who is attending college at Oberlin, Ohio. They also lost their sec- ond child, Mamie, who died at the age of eight months. Their home is at No. 312 North Detroit street, where they are pleas- antly located and the household is noted for its gracious hospitality.
Mr. Keller is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in Masonry has taken the degrees of the blue lodge, chap- ter and commandery. For two years he represented his lodge in the grand lodge; for a similar 'period was worshipful master of the lodge; and for five years was high priest of the chapter. He is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and with the Royal Arcanum, and in politics is a stalwart Republican. He has
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never been an office-seeker, but has served as Their children were James, Josephus, trustee of the city water-works. He is now a member of the First Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as elder. He takes an active interest in all things pertaining to the city's development, and has been a co- operant factor in everything calculated to promote the welfare of this section of Ohio.
JAMES BRADEN. SR.
James Braden, Sr., is one of Logan county's highly respected citizens, whose useful and well spent life has not only gained for him the confidence of his fellow men but has secured for him a comfortable competence which enables him to lay aside all business cares and spend his de- clining years in ease and retirement at his pleasant home in Harrison township.
A native of this county. Mr. Braden was born July 1, 1822, in Liberty town- ship. which then included Union town- ship. his parents being Robert and Lucinda (McNay) Braden. His father was born on the 25th of February, 1799, in Harrison county, Kentucky, six miles from Cynthiana, his birth occurring in a block- house where the family had taken refuge from the Indians. The paternal grand- father, Samuel Braden, was a native of Londonderry, Ireland, and on his emigra- tion to America when a young man settled on the Licking river in Harrison county, Kentucky, where he conducted a store, becoming quite well-to-do. There he mar- ried Jane Newell. who died leaving four children, three daughters and one son, Robert, our subject's father. The daugh- ters were as follows: Jane married Samuel Blair and both died in Hardin county.
Samuel, Rachel, Jane, Bettie and Hannah, all of whom lived to be married. Christina married William Blair, a brother of Samuel, and removed to Vermilion county, Illinois, both dying near Danville, in that state. Of their several children only one is now living, Samuel, who resides at Newell Station. Vermilion county, Illinois. Mary wedded Handy Powell and they died in southern Indiana. leaving four daugh- ters. Finally, in company with his brother- in-law, John Newell, Samuel Braden came to Ohio to buy stock. They separated with the agreement to meet at a certain place but our subject's grandfather was never again heard from.
In 1810 Hugh Newell came to Ohio in a "prairie schooner" and married Eliza- beth McNay, being here when the war of 1812 broke out. As times were hard he returned to Kentucky but in 1817 again came to this state. being accompanied by Robert Braden, who afterwards married Mr. Newell's sister-in-law, Lucinda Mc- Nay, who was born in 1801. Our sub- ject was the eldest child born to this union. The second of the family died in infancy, but ten reached manhood and woman- hood and five are still living. Of this fam- ily Mrs. Elizabeth Williamson lives in Ver- milion county, Illinois : Mary wedded Gar- ner Williamson and died in Logan county, Ohio; Lucinda never married: Cynthia married Joseph Norton and died leaving two children ; Jane and Samuel both died unmarried ; John resides in Logan county ; Robert lives in Dayton; and Clay, the youngest of the family, died in this county, December 31, 1902. On coming to Ohio the father purchased eighty acres of land on section 5, Union township, Logan county, and after the erection of a log
طه
الحراري
JAMES BRADEN, SR.
MRS. JAMES BRADEN. SR
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
cabin he began to clear and improve his and put forth every effort in her power place, following farming throughout the remainder of his life. He was ably as- sisted and encouraged by his estimable wife, who deserves great credit for the pluck and fortitude she displayed in pio- neer times. She was seventy years of age at the time of her death, having long sur- vived her husband, who passed away July 21, 1855. At that time he owned two hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Union township. In politics he was an old line Whig and was a man highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him.
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