USA > Ohio > Clark County > The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 2 > Part 66
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N. HARDMAN, merchant ; P. O. Enon; is the son of Peter and Margaret, Hard- man. Peter was born in Virginia and Margaret in Scotland. Peter Hardman married early in life Miss Margaret Hacker, who ten years previous, when she was 11 years of age, being at the house of her sister, on Hacker's Creek, near Clarksburg, Va., was toma- hawked and scalped by the Indians. It seems that a marauding party of Indians was passing through the neighborhood, and attacked the family with whom she was staying, all the members of which were slain. Young Miss Hacker managed to conceal herself behind a door while the work of death was going on, but was finally discovered by one of the savages, who aimed a blow at her with his tomahawk, which took effect upon the side of her head ; she fell and laid as if killed. Thinking their work of death complete, they scalped all the members of the family, and dragged the little girl after them from the house by the hair for some fifty yards, where they scalped her and threw her over a fence; observing that she gave signs of life, one of the savages stabbed her with his knife, which fortunately struck a rib, doing but little harm. She was afterward found and cared for, and recovered, although she suffered greatly, and finally died in her 39th year, from the effect of the tomahawk wound on her head. The subject of this memoir was born in Greene Co., Ohio, Jan. 3, 1813; never received but about three months of schooling. At the age of 18 years, started in life for himself by driving stage from Springfield to Cincinnati, then from Springfield to Columbus, and other lines. Those were days before the use of the powerful and useful railroad engine was seen swiftly passing through our land, and travelers then spent weeks and months to complete 2 journey that is now made in a few short hours. In 1836, married, abandoned stage driving, and engaged in blacksmithing, which he followed a period of five years in West
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Union, thence located in Enon, Clark County, where he continued his trade until April, 1870, at which time he was taken severely ill, and remained an invalid for eighteen months; reduced his weight from 1763 pounds to 41 pounds, hence was a mere skeleton of the human being. At the time of his marriage, could neither read, write, or calculate the smallest sum in arithmetic ; but since his wife began to instruct him, and through his own energy and industry, and her sincere and earnest efforts, he has learned all this, and now is a fair business man. He has always been an earnest worker in the Re- publican party from its' organization. He is now, and has been for five years, Mayor of his village, and had the honor of being Chief Marshal of the Centennial celebration of the " Battleground of Old Piqua," on Aug. 9, 1880.
JOSEPH HEBBLE, physician ; P. O. Enon. Of the medical profession of Mad River Township, we record the following of Dr. Hebble, who was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., where he acquired his early education in the common schools. In 1841, engaged in teaching, and soon became prominently known as a teacher; there he continued in this pursuit until 1846, when he came to Ohio, locating in Greene County, where he pursued the study of medicine until 1851, thence entered the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio. After attending one course of lectures, abandoned the Medical studies, and engaged in teaching until the fall of 1853, when he resumed the study of medicine in the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, graduating in the spring of 1855. Soon after located in Miami Co., Ohio, where he successfully practiced four years, thence in Johnsville, Montgomery Co., Ohio, where he practiced until July, 1803, when he was commissioned Surgeon of the 55th, O. V. I. After a service of one year, returned to Ohio, and located in Enon, where he has since resided, and has a suc- essful practice. He married Miss Mary E. Casad, by whom he has had nine children ; all but one are now living.
J. N. HINKLE, JR., teacher ; P. O. Enon. Teaching, as well as all other profes- sions, requires due preparation to secure perfect success, which evidently J. N. Hinkle did ; he is a son of J. N. Hinkle, Sr., and was born in Union Co., Ohio, June 4, 1854. Spent his early life in the common schools, where he judiciously applied himself until 1870, when he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, in which in- stitution he devoted his time two years; then engaged in teaching one year, and entered school at Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio. One year later resumed the profession of teaching, in which he has since been engaged. He is a live and industrious teacher, and commands the best of wages, which his ability merits. His nuptials were celebrated Nov. 1, 1874 with Miss Samantha Kirkland, of Delaware Co., Ohio. This union has been blessed with two children, viz. : John C. and Charles D., both living at the writing of this article.
DAVID HUPMAN, farmer ; P. O. Enon. Mr. Hupman is the son of John and Elizabeth Hupman, both natives of Virginia; they emigrated to Ohio Sept. 28, 1835, locating in Clark County. His mother died Jan. 1, 1856, and his father in December, 1872. Our subject was born in Virginia Jan. 17, 1817, and was educated in the common schools of Clark County. Mr. Hupman assisted his father to clear up his farm, which was among the earliest in this vicinity. and has followed the occupation of farming all his life. He married Miss Maria E. Miller, of Clark Co., Ohio, Nov. 1, 1840. They are the parents of seven children, viz. : Harriet F., born April 5, 1841; Charlotte, born April 8, 1843, died in infancy ; Mary E., born Nov. 10, 1844, died May 30, 1870; Jacob, born July 18, 1847; Ellen Ann, born Feb. 26, 1850; Caroline, 'born Oct. 13, 1853; Martin, born May 6, 1856. Mr. Hupman owns a farm of 80 acres, under good cultivation, but is at present living with his youngest son, Martin.
W. B. JENKINS, farmer ; P. O. Enon. Mr. Jenkins is the son of Daniel and Elizabeth ( Moore) Jenkins. His maternal grandfather, Daniel Moore, and wife, Rachael Parks, settled in Sec. 24, Mad River Township, at an early day, and resided there until their death. They were buried on their own farm. His father. Daniel Jenkins. was born in New Jersey, April 30. 1782, and his mother in Pennsylvania, the same year. They came to Ohio in IS12, Daniel being in the war of that date. His wife died Nov. 8, 1827, and he was again married to Mrs. Elizabeth Ford, a native of Virginia. By
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his first wife he had the following children : Marilla (deceased), Ephraim S., Elmoore, William Belford, David G. (deceased), and Amon (deceased). He died Jan. 13, 186%. Our subject was born in Clark Co., Ohio, Aug. 16, 1818, and received only such edu. cation as the common schools of that day afforded. He worked at farming until 21 years of age, when he learned the carpenter and millwright's trade, which business he followed until 1851. He married Miss Rachael Sayre, of Clark County, Jan. 2, 1851 ; she was born March 24, 1830, in the house where they now live. She is the daughter of Loyd and Nancy A. (Albin) Sayre. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Vir- ginia. Her grandparents, Joseph and Elizabeth Sayre, were natives of Pennsylvania. and came to Ohio, aud settled in Sec. 24, Mad River Township, at an early day, and here died. Her father died January, 1853, and her mother, April, 1857. They had four children-Rachael, Elizabeth, Statia (deceased) and Catharine. By his marriage with: Miss Sayre, our subject had three children, viz. : Charlotte J., born Sept. 17, 1852, atl educated at the Female Institute, at Springfield ; Anne E., born June 22, 1856, died March 3, 1860 ; and George W., born Feb. 22, 1861. Mr. Jenkins has worked his way through life unaided, and now owns a farm of 149 acres, under a high state of' cul- tivation. He is politically a democrat, and has been elected Trustee of the township for eleven years. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and as a upright, honest citizen, he is the peer of any man in Clark County.
FRANCIS JOHNSTON, farmer; P. O. Enon. Francis Johnston is the son of Arthur and Frances Johnson, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America in 1791, locating in Pennsylvania, where they lived till 1795, when they removed to Kentucky. In 1829, they came to Ohio, locating in Greene County. The subject of this sketch was born in Shelby Co., Ky., Oct. 7, 1814; his education was obtained in the common schools of Kentucky in log schoolhouses, and the teacher being paid by subscriptions raised in the neighborhood. He came alone on horseback to Ohio, bringing. seven horses, at a cost of 83.873. He lived at home with his mother until ber death, which occurred in 1849, since which time his sisters have kept house for him. Mr. Johnston. in 1859, bought the farm of 189 acres on which he now resides, and known as the old " Galloway farm," which was the first settled in the township, and the remains of the first cabin are still to be seen near his present dwelling. It is supposed to be the first house built in Mad River Township. Mr. Johnston has a number of Indian relics, which he has found and preserved, and shows with considerable pride. He has held the office of Township Trustee for several years, being elected by the Republican party, and fill- ing the office with credit to himself and his constituents.
A. P. KIDWELL, agent and operator C., C., C. & I. R. R., Enon. Mr. Kidwell is the son of Amos and Rachel Kidwell, who were natives of Virginia and emigrated to Ohio (Nov. 15) in the year 1839, locating in Franklin County. Our sub- ject was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, Jan 12, 1845, and received a common-school edu- cation in his native county. At the age of 19 he went to Louis Center and learned telegraphing, in which business he has since been engaged. He was sent to Enon to take charge of the first office on the short line, and has remained there ever since; he married Miss Augusta Sherman, of Delaware Co., Ohio, and they have two children- Vernon, born Jan. 21, 1879; and Henry Stanley, born April 16, 1880.
JONAH KNIGHT, minister; P. O. Enon. The father of Rev. Knight was born in Connecticut, and in early life emigrated to Vermont, where he spent his life, which ended in 1830; his wife being a native of the last-named State, in which she lived, and died in 184S. The subject of this sketch was born in Vermont June S, 1803, remaining at home until the age of 20, aud acquired his education in the com- mon schools. When starting in life, he possessed good physical powers, engaged as farm laborer, and made his way by his own exertions. He followed this pursuit for six or eight years, and in the meantime applied himself, at every opportunity, to divino thoughts, and commenced preaching in behalf of the Christian Church, to which he had belonged for eleven years. To this profession he has ever since applied himself, and deeply interested in the welfare of the church. In 1832, he married Miss Caroline Fay of New Hampshire, to whom eight children were born; one died in infancy, seven
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grew to maturity, of whom only one survives, and now resides in Nebraska. Caroline died April 11, 1847, and was interred at Mechanicsburg, Ohio. Rev. Knight remained a widower over five years, then married Mrs. D. Robinson of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was an active worker in the Church in his native State about eleven years; thence located in the city of Lyun, Mass. Two years later he emigrated to Ohio and located at Woodstock; there spent over five years in the cause of Christianity, where good way. accomplished; he then located in Warren Co., Ohio, and two years later, removed to. his farm of 102 acres, near Louisburg, Ohio, remaining all the time in the ministry ; he then became prominently identified in the erection of the Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, of which institution he was Secretary of Board of Trustees for over six years ; acted as agent to secure funds for the college, and defended it in a suit brought in by the builder, A. M. Merryfield, in the year 1865, he being the only trustee of the college at the time. He employed an able attorney, who, after a suit of seven years, came out victorious. He is an active ageut in the Christian Biblical Institute, established at. New York, for young men preparatory for the ministry. He is now located at Enon, Ohio, and has spent a useful life, which has now been over three-fourths of a century.
GEORGE LAYTON, clerk, Enon. William, his father, was born in the " Northwest. Territory," now Ohio, Jan. 8, 1800. Elizabeth, his wife, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1806. George, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Ohio, born in Clark Co., Jan. 1, 1848; he received his primary education in the common schools; and in 1860 he entered Wittenburg College, from which he was graduated in 1867 with the highest orders; he entered the law school of Ann Arbor in 1869, graduating from the same in 1871. Mr. Layton is a young man of rare abilities, possessing every element. of a thorough-going business man, and at present is filling the position of Chief Clerk in one of the leading warehouses of the place.
B. D. LONG, teacher; P. O. Springfield. Mr. Long was born in Pennsylvania. March 2, 1851. His parents were B. H. and Elizabeth Long, both natives of Penn- sylvania. They came to Ohio in April, 1860; and located in Clark County in 1861. Our subject received his education in the common schools, with the exception of three months spent at Wittenburg College in 1866, after which he engaged in teaching com- mon schools, and with such success as to command the highest wages paid in Mad River Township. Mr. Long was elected Assessor of Mad River Township for three years, also an active member of the School Board for the same period, and greatly interested in educational affairs generally. He married Miss Susan Rathbon, of Clark County, March 17, 1870. They are the parents of seven childrer, viz .: John, Aaron, Lizzie, Mandie, Alfred, Benjamin and George. George died April 19, 1878.
R. L. MILLER, dealer in agricultural implements, Enon ; his parents, Abra- ham B., and Barbara Miller, were both born in Lancaster Co., Penn., and emigrated to Ohio in 1840, locating in Clark Co. R. L., the subject of this sketch, is a native of Ohio, born in Clark Co., May 12, 1853. He was brought up to farm labor, and re- ceived his education in the district schools ; when 18 years of age he commenced to learn the carpentering trade, which he followed for about six years, meeting with good success. He married Miss Irena Shellabarger when he was 22 years old. Two chil- dren have been born to them, viz .: Bertie May, born April 1, 1876 ; Dasia fowa, de- ceased. Mr. Miller is now engaged in selling agricultural implements and machinery of all kinds.
W. R. RUE, farmer ; P. O. Enon. Mr. Rn is the son of John and Sarah Rue .. His father was a native of Maryland, and his mother of Pennsylvania ; they removed. to Cincinnati in 1798, removing to Greene Co. in 1807. The subject of this sketch was born Feb. 8, 1815, in Mad River Township, and was of great assistance to his father in clearing up his farm which was among the first improvements in this vicinity. MIr. Rue remembers distinctly when the Indians were roving around in bands numbering from five to five hundred. He has many relies of the Indians, including a fine pipe- and two of the largest ear-rings ever found, one of which he found on his farm and the- other near the county house. These relics were exhibited at the Clark-Shawnee Cen- tennial, and was a great attraction. Mr. Rue married, in 1840, to Miss Lois Forsythey
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of Virginia. He purchased the old homestead in 1865, living on it several years, and then selling it and buying the farm on which he now resides, containing 814 acres. Mr. Rue attended general muster for about fifteen years, and from the age of 21 to 55 never failed to work the roads. He saw the Mormons when on their way from Cort- land, N. Y., to Nauvoo, Ill., several of whom worked a few days for his father. The family consists of four children-three sons and a daughter.
REUBEN SHELLABARGER, fariner ; P. O. Enon. Among the old and prominent families of Clark Co, the one to which this gentleman belongs is well wor- thy of proper recognition in this work. Reuben Shellabarger was born in Mad River Township Nov. 8, 1815, and is a son of Ephraim and Rebecca (Winget) Shellabarger, he a native of Northumberland Co., Penn., and she of Cincinnati, Ohio ; her parents, Reubeu and Elizabeth Winget, natives of Virginia, coming to this Township in 1805. Ephraim Shellabargar came to this town in 1811, was preceded by his brother Jacob and accompanied by his brothers Samuel, John and Martin. He was married in 1814 to Rebecca Winget, to whom were. born six children-Reuben, Margaret, Martin, Eliza- beth, David and Ann, all of whom are now living. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church, and died in this township. The subject of this sketch grew to maturity in his native township, receiving such an education as those early days afforded, and was here married Nov. 17, 1836, to Elizabeth Baker, daughter of Melyn and Mary (Layton) Baker, pioneers of Mad River Township. Mrs. Shell- abarger was born in the above township Aug. 6, 1818, and had born to her Eph- raim, Mary Ann (deceased), Melyn, Minerva, Derastus (deceased). Sarah Jane, Agnus, Rebecca, Maria E., Penie B. and Susan E. (deceased). Mrs. Shellabarger was a sincere adherant of the Christian Church, and died Aug. 5, 1873. Mr. Shellabarger was again married June 24, 1876, to Jane Ryuearson, daughter of Barnett and Mar- tha (Winget) Rynearson, he a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Mad River Township, where both are now residing. Mrs. Shellabargar was born in this township Jan. 20, 1831. and is a member of the Christian Church, to which denomination her husband has be- longed for forty years. Mr. Shellabarger has been a hardworking, honest farmer all his life and has accumulated a property of 317 acres of fine land which he has well im- proved. Politically he has always been a stanch Democrat, and in 1854 was elected Township Trustee and re-elected several times, serving continuously until 1877, when he retired, but in 1879 the people again chose him as Trustee, and he is now filling that office. In 1870, and 1880, he was Township Land Appraiser, and has been a member of the Board of Education since its establishment in the township. He is a man who, by integrity and straightforward dealing through life, has merited the confidence and esteem of all good citizens, and is now enjoying the fruits of an industrious, upright life.
A. H. SMITH, stock-dealer ; P. O. Enon ; a son of A. H. and S. E. Smith, of' Cincinnati, Ohio. They moved to Clark Co., Ohio, in 1866; bought 1,470 acres of land, all in one body, adjoining the village of Enon. Our subject was born in Cinein- nati, Oct. 1, 1850 ; there obtained his early education, and enjoyed city life until 16 years of age. After his parents moved to Clark Co. he attended select school at Spring- field, Ohio, starting in life at the age of 18 years. After which he married Miss S. J. Shellabarger, of Clark Co., Oct. 17, 1871, and to this union six children have been born-Amelia, Sallie, Maria, Mary, Justin and Arelia. Mr. Smith now oversees his father's farm, and devotes his time principally to stock, and at present is one of the Trustees of his Township, to which he was elected by the Democratic party.
CHARLES STINE, hotel, Enon. Charles Stine, the subject of this sketch, was born in Union Co., Penn., May 6. 1838. His parents were John and Sarah Stine, both natives of Pennsylvania. They emigrated to Ohio in the fall of 1838, stopping about one year in Medway, Clark Co., when they removed to Fairfield, Greene Co. where they have since resided. His wife died Nov. 18, 1880. The family consisted of fourteen children-eight sons and six daughters, all of whom are living, our subjeet being the tenth of the family. Charles started for himself Nov. 15, 1858, by going to California, by water, from New York, by the way of the Isthmus of Panama, landing
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at San Francisco December 16, having had a favorable passage, and only one incident of note during the trip. The steamer Moses Taylor, of which he was a passenger, caught fire on the Atlantic Ocean, when five days out of New York, and gave the pass- engers quite a fright, but no serious damage was done. He went from San Francisco to Yreka. where he learned the blacksmith's trade, remaining there till the fall of 1861, when he made a trip to Oregon, Washington Territory and Idaho, returning to Yreka the following spring, where he remained until the fall of 1864, when he returned to Ohio, after an absence of six years. He lived on the farm with his father for ten years,
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making a business of breeding fine hogs, in which he was quite successful. In June 11. 1874, he married Hannah Palmer, of Fairfield. He went into the employ of the Springfield Turnpike Co. as keeper of the toll-gate on the Springfield Pike, near Day- ton, where he continued for nearly seven years, when he removed to Enon, purchasing the hotel, at that place, where he intends making his future home. His family of two sons, John, the eldest, was born Dec. 16, 1875, and Frank, who was born Nov. 2, 1877.
N. SUMMERBELL, D. D., minister, Enon, long known as the Pastor of Bible Chapel, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and at present the oldest pastor in Cincinnati, was born in New York March 8, 1816, and is the son of Rev. J. Summerbell, a minister in behalf of the M. E. Church. Our subject early began to develop great reverence for the Scriptures, and a corresponding minister of Isaac N. Walter, a Christian minis- ter, was ordained at Little Compton, Rhode Island, in 1839, by Baptist and Christian ministers. His early ministry was in New York City, New Jersey and New England. From the beginning. he became an unwearied Bible student, attending school during the day, and studying the Word of God at night; so well was this known that his brother, a house-carpenter, requested to be awakened when he retired for his two or three hours' rest. The first winter after his conversion, he studied the Bible carefully, word after word, and adopted its leading principles and doctrines, which have since governed his life. In 1849, he removed from Milford, New Jersey, to Cincinnati, Ohio. After building the Bible Chapel, on Longworth street, in 1855, he then removed, as a missionary, to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1859, where, after being the leading instrument in erecting a church, he was called to the Presidency of the Union Christian College, in Indi- ana, where he faithfully labored six years. By this time the college became well established, and finding that his established cause had declined in Cincinnati, he returned to his old field of labor. He married, in 1843, Miss Euphemia J. Sulton, of Hope, Warren Co., N. J., an accomplished lady and a great worker in the cause of Christ. They are the parents of Rev. J. J. Summerbell, a graduate of Union Christian College, and at pres- ent Pastor of the Christian Church at Milford, N. J. His daughter, who was an ac- complished lady and teacher of vocal and instrumental music in the above-named college. was called hence in 1877.
GEORGE S. WRIGHT; P. O. Enon. Mr. Wright was born March 1, 1845; is the son of Levi and Mary J. Wright; whose parents emigrated from Frederick Co., Va., settling in Clark Co., Ohio, at Green Plains (a Quaker settlement), in 1818. He remembers of having heard his grandfather ( Richard Wright, who died in 1864) say that when he settled at Green Plains, that he was compelled to wagon his grain to Cin- cinnati for market. often trading a bushel of wheat for a pound of coffee. Our subject was reared on a farm, and his father having died in 1848, he was compelled, in early life, to attend the arduous duties of providing for sister, brother and widowed mother, who still reside on the same farm near Green Plains, with the exception of the sister, Mrs. Howe, who resides in Brattleboro, Vt. On account of these early cares, he received but a common school education. When the cry of war rang through the land for volunteers, and President Lincoln made his first call for 300,000 to protect the nation's flag, Mr. Wright dropped his school-books, and at the early age of seventeen years, responded to that call, by enlisting, on the 11th day of January, 1862, in the 10th O. B., which was soon assigned to the Army of the Southwest, under Gen. Grant, participating in the battles of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing), Corinth (where he and his gun came near being captured, only escaping by a desperate struggle), Iuka Jackson, Grand Gulf, Vicks- burg (forty-two days' siege), Kenesaw Mountain, Marrietta and Atlanta, Ga., where
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