USA > Ohio > Darke County > The history of Darke County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; > Part 64
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T. W. CULBERTSON, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Greenville ; was born Oct. 25, 1828, within sight of the place where he now resides ; he is the son of Samnel Culbertson, a native of Pennsylvania, who was born in June. 1801, and emi- grated with his family to this county at quite an early day, settling on a piece of land in Van Buren Township. At that time, this county was almost entirely cov- ered over with dense forests and immense swamps ; the labors of the pioneer had not yet made extensive inroads on the vast wilderness. He was united in
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marriage with Miss Rebecca Westfall in 1823; six children were born of this union, to wit : Orin, Mary JJ., T. W. Elizabeth and James ; Orin and Elizabeth are deceased ; the others are settled in this county. The privations and hardships of pioneer life soon told upon the health of the elder Culbertson, and in 1837, he was called to bid farewell to his family and take his departure to that " undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns," leaving a loving wife and six small children to contend with the trials and difficulties incident to frontier life ; his wife remained upon the homestead and survived him about sixteen years, dying in 1853. Our subject was quite small at the death of his father, after which he remained with his mother till her death, assisting in sustaining her and giving her the comforts of a home ; he early learned the brickmason's trade. His educational advantages were necessarily limited, as a pioneer's life is one of constant exertion for sustenance, but what opportunities did offer in this direction were well improved. At the death of his mother, the home was broken up and he went to live with his sister, Mrs. Studabaker. Nov. 26, 1857, he celebrated his marriage with Elizabeth Harper ; she is the daughter of William S. Harper, a native of Pennsylvania, who also emigrated to this county at quite an early day. Immediately after the mar- riage of our subject, he moved upon a piece of land in Sec. 7, which he had pre- vionsly purchased ; this was all in the woods, and he was obliged to clear off a spot large enough to erect a cabin on ; this constituted the first home of his own ; here, in the dense forest, he set out with his helpmeet, on the course of life, and by their own exertions they have caused the golden grain to wave where once stood the mighty forest ; in his rich fertile farm, we again behold industry and frugality bountifully rewarded. They are the parents of seven children, to wit : Frank, Edward, Charlie, William H., Harry, Cora B. and Purley, all of whom are yet living and residing under the parental roof. Mr. Culbertson, realiz- ing the advantages of an education in this advanced day, is offering his children all the opportunities now afforded by this county in this direction, and they, we are glad to chronicle, are making good use of them.
JOHN W. DEARDOURFF, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, No. 13, Third street, Greenville. The subject of this memoir is a native of Preble Co., born June 3, 1845 ; he is a son of Daniel Deardourff, who was born in Adams Co., Penn., and came to Preble Co. about the year 1849. He married Elizabeth Stouf- fer ; she was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., and is now living in Greenville, at the advanced age of 79 years. John W. was raised in Preble Co. until 20 years of age, during which time he attended the common schools, and learned and worked at the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until August, 1862, at which date he enlisted in the 50th O. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was in many severe engagements, among which was the battle of Perryville, and in the three months' campaign against Atlanta, during which time he was engaged some eighty-four days ; after the capture of Atlanta, he returned to Franklin, and after the battle of the latter place, the army fell back to Nashville, where he was engaged in the three days' fight; in the spring of 1865, he joined Sherman at Golds- boro, and was with his army at the surrender of Johnson ; he then lay in Salis- bury some thirty days, then returned to City Point and Baltimore; thence to Cleveland, where he received his discharge, in the latter part of July, 1865, hav- ing served in the Union army three years. Upon receiving his discharge, he came to Darke Co. and was employed at his trade until the spring of 1877, when he engaged in business for himself, which he has since successfully followed ; a card of his business is to be found in the business directory of Greenville, in another part of this work. His marriage with Phebe S. Craig was celebrated in March, 1869 ; she is a daughter of David Craig, whose sketch appears among the biographies of this work ; they have two children-Harry A. and Charles.
JOSIAH B. DEETER, Sec. 4; farmer and manufacturer of all kinds and sizes of drain tile ; P. O. Woodington ; his factory is located one-fourth of a mile south of Woodington Station ; he may be considered one of our old settlers, being
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born in Greenville Township, Darke Co., June 3, 1844; his father, Daniel M. Deeter, was born in Pennsylvania in January, 1801, and came to Darke Co. some- where about the year 1825, where he has since lived. He married Anna Bolinger in Pennsylvania; she died in the spring of 1879; the subject of this sketch fol- lowed agricultural pursuits during the early part of his life, and subsequently purchased an interest in the tile factory of Hime, Martin & Co., which, after two years he became the sole owner of; since that time he has conducted the business in his own name ; his yearly sales in tile have exceeded $3,000 ; he also owns 94 acres of land, which extends to the station, his residence being located one-fourth of a mile from the same. His marriage with Hattie A. Crosson was celebrated July 17, 1873 ; she was born in Cincinnati July 18, 1855; she died in April, 1875 ; one child was born to them-Claud M., born Aug. 29, 1875 ; died Feb. 19, 1876.
AARON S. DENISE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 27; P. O. Greenville ; one of the early pioneers of Darke Co., born in Butler Co., Ohio, Jan. 16, 1825; he was the oldest son of John S. Denise, who was born in the State of New Jer- sey March 25, 1803, and came to Ohio when quite young. He was united in mar- riage in Warren Co., Ohio, with Margaret M. Clark March 18, 1824; she was born in Warren Co. Aug. 15, 1804; they were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are now living ; they were among the early settlers of Darke Co., coming here in 1829, and locating upon Sec. 27, Greenville Township, which at that time was a howling wilderness, and upon this spot Mr. Denise passed the remainder of his days ; his decease occurred April 25, 1852 ; his widow now lives upon the same place, and although upward of 75 years of age, is in possession of all her faculties ; our subject came to Darke Co. with his parents in 1829, and is conse- quently one of the old settlers of the county; he remained upon the old home- stead until 1855, after which he went to Illinois and remained four years, thence to Missouri, staying there two years, and, in 1861, returned to Darke Co., and. in September of the same year, enlisted in the 40th O. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was first forwarded to Kentucky. where he was in several battles, after which he was transferred to the Army of the Cumberland; partici- pated in the battle of Chickamauga, then the siege and capture of Atlanta, contin- uing upward of four months fighting; in the fall of 1864 and the early part of the winter of 1865, he was in the Fourth Army Corps, under Maj. Gen. Thomas, operating in Tennessee in protecting the cities of Nashville, Chattanooga and other points, during which time he was engaged in the battle of Nashville for two days, at the expiration of which time the rebel army under Gen. Hood were badly defeated ; he was also in many other engagements; in the spring of 1865, he was forwarded to Texas, and stationed at Galveston and San Antonio for sev- eral months, and in the fall of 1865. returned to Columbus, where he was mustered out of service and received his discharge in October of the same year, having served in the Union army upward of four years; after two years' service, he veteranized, and at the expiration of three years, was transferred to the 1st O. V. I., and remained with the same until the close of the war; he was never taken prisoner, but had many narrow escapes ; he was twice wounded, but only kept from duty a short time ; he returned home Oct. 25, and located upon his present place, where he has since resided; he has 100 acres in his home farm, of which 80 are under a good state of cultivation, one mile west of the city of Greenville ; also 40 acres in Daviess Co., Mo .; Mr. Denise is no politician, but is a strong Republican, and labors for the success of his party, and to make use of his own words, he always votes as he fought.
JOHN G. DEUBNER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 13; P. O. Greenville ; one of the old settlers of Darke Co .; born in Saxony, Germany, July 2. 1825, where he received a good German education and followed farming and working in woolen mills until 23 years of age, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York in May, 1848; he immediately came to Darke Co., and was employed working
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in the Broadway Hotel, Greenville, some five years, and, in 1853. he located upon Sec. 13, where he has since lived for a period of twenty-six years ; he now has 82 acres under a good state of improvement, with good farm buildings ; when locating here, there were only 15 acres cleared ; he has since cleared 35 acres and brought the same to a good state of cultivation ; when Mr. Deubner purchased his first land, he had a capital of about $50 ; he has since accumulated all the above property by his own hard labor, and it can be truly said of him that he is one of the self-made men of Darke Co. He is a Democrat in politics, and always labors for the success of the party ; he has held the office of Township Trustee of Green- ville Township for three years during his residence here. His marriage with Wil- helmina Bildemeyer was celebrated March 8, 1853; she was born in Hessen, Ger- many, Sept. 11. 1835 ; they were the parents of thirteen children-John C., born Nov. 21. 1853 ; Frederick H., born Sept. 17, 1855 ; Charlotte, Feb. 25, 1858 (died Aug. 10, 1871) ; Lewis H., July 19. 1859 ; John W., Sept. 10. 1861 : Wilhelmina P., Nov. 29, 1863 ; Charles A., July 14, 1866 ; Caroline S. and Louisa (twins), born Sept. 25, 1868 ; Sophia, March 6, 1871 (died July 20, 1874) ; Powell G., born Feb. 14. 1874 ; Mary, June 11. 1876, and Amelia M., Dec. 3, 1878.
JOHN DEVOR, lawyer, Greenville, was born in Darke Co. in 1831. His grandfather, John Devor, was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Darke Co. in 1808 : he entered the first half-section of land in the present limits of the county, and laid out the town of Greenville in 1810 ; in 1816, he moved his family to the county, they having, for eight years previously, lived in Montgomery Co., Ohio. Upon the organization of the county, in 1817, he was appointed Treasurer, and served as such three years. He followed the business of surveying for some years. His son, James Devor, was born near Maysville, Ky., while the family were on their way from Pennsylvania, in 1795 ; he learned surveying from his father, and. for a number of years, was County Surveyor. He was the first Auditor of Darke Co .; from May, 1844, to October, 1847, he was County Treasurer, and, for a number of years, he was a Justice of the Peace ; he died October, 1855. His wife. Patience Dean, was a daughter of Aaron Dean, one of the early settlers of the county ; they were married March 1, 1828, and ten children were born to them, of whom the second son is our subject. He received a common-school education, and acquired a knowledge of surveying under his father's instruction ; at the age of 19. he commenced the study of law with the late Hiram Bell, Esq., of Greenville, and was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1852, and at once opened an office in Greenville. In 1855, he was elected County Surveyor, and was re-elected in 1858, serving six years ; from 1854 to 1867, he was a law partner of the late Michael Spayd. of Greenville ; in the fall of that year, he formed a law partnership with Hon. William Allen, which continued eleven years. For four years, he was Assist- ant Assessor of Internal Revenue for the Fourth District of Ohio; he was also Registrar in Bankruptcy for the same district during the existence of the bank- rupt law, which went into effect March, 1867, and terminated September, 1878. July 29, 1856, he married Miss Elizabeth Travis, daughter of John Travis, of But- ler Co., Ohio ; Mrs. Devor died Oct. 22, 1878. Formerly a Whig, Mr. Devor natur- ally became a Republican. and, for many years has been Chairman of the Republican Central Committee of Darke Co. Mr. Devor is eminently social, and is an industrious and energetie business man. He is at present a law partner of M. T. Allen, and the firm is one of the strongest of the Darke Co. bar.
ELIJAH DEVOR, attorney at law, Greenville. The subject of this mnemoir was born in Darke Co., Ohio, Oct. 16, 1849, and is a brother of John Devor, whose sketch and portrait both appear in this work. Our subject was the son of James Devor. one of our early pioneers, and who, as well as the grandfather, are prominently mentioned in the sketch of John Devor, as well as in the historical part of this work. Elijah Devor obtained a common-school education, and, at 19 years of age, commenced the study of law with Allen & Devor ; he attended the Cincinnati Law School, at Cincinnati, Ohio, one term, graduated from the same,
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and was admitted to the bar in April, 1871 ; commenced the practice of law with M. T. Allen, as a partner, in 1872, and continued the same two years ; in 1875, he associated with his present partner, and they have since conducted their business under the firm name of Devor & Bodle. He is, also, Treasurer of the Greenville Gas Co. On the 8th day of October, 1875, he was united in marriage with Emily A. Webb, daughter of H. A. Webb, of Greenville; they have two sons by this union, viz., Henry Webb Devor and John Devor.
WILLIAM H. DILL, merchant, Justice of the Peace and Postmaster, Pike- ville ; another of the old settlers of Darke Co., born in Beamsville, Richland Town- ship, June 8, 1839 ; he was the oldest son of John H. C. Dill, who was born in Germany March 16, 1805 ; he emigrated to America and located in Butler Co., and, about the year 1837, came to Darke Co. and settled in Beamsville, where he lived until 1855 ; he then removed to Dallas and engaged in the grain trade one year, after which he followed farming three or four years ; he then returned to Dallas and engaged in the dry-goods trade for one year, when he came to Pikes- ville, in the spring of 1862, and engaged in the general merchandise trade and the purchase of grain up to the time of his death, which occurred April 2, 1865. He married Martha C. Seigment, in Ohio, Nov. 17, 1834 ; she was a native of Ger- many, born Oct. 23, 1815, and died in Darke Co. March 7, 1858 ; they were the parents of eleven children, of whom eight are now living, six in Ohio, one in Indi- ana and one in Missouri. Our subject resided in Beamsville until 16 years of age, where he received some experience in the mercantile store of his father ; he then assisted his father in farming, in Brown Township, some four years, when he com- menced clerking in Dallas, and, the following year, his father located in Dallas, in the merchandise business, and he then assisted his father in his store one year ; in the spring of 1862, he came to Pikeville with his father, and remained with him until the latter's death ; he continued the business two years, and, in 1867, the store and stock were destroyed by fire; he was then engaged in various pursuits until the spring of 1879, when he engaged in the merchandise trade, which busi- ness he now follows. He received the appointment of Postmaster under the administration of Lincoln, in 1862, and was the first Postmaster of the town ; he has also held the office of Justice of the Peace for twelve years in succession. His marriage with Julia A. Reed was celebrated in Darke Co., Ohio, Sept. 8, 1861 ; she was born in Darke Co. March 28, 1843 ; they have two children-Ida E., born Sept. 3, 1862, and Frank E., April 26, 1874.
JOHN DININGER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 32; P. O. Greenville. The subject of this memoir is justly entitled to the credit of being one of the early set- tlers of Darke Co .; he was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Nov. 7. 1823, and was the oldest son of Jacob Dininger, who was born in Germany Sept. 26, 1798 ; he emigrated to America when 18 years of age, and located in Montgomery Co., Ohio, and, in 1834, came to Darke Co. with his family, and followed farming in this township until his decease, which occurred June 11, 1875. He married Margaret Swank ; she was born in Montgomery Co. in 1806, and is now living upon the home farm, where she has resided for forty-five years. John Dininger made his home with his parents until 30 years of age ; at the age of 24, he commenced to clear his present place, and has since cleared some sixty-five acres of his home farm, which contains 100 acres, besides upward of one hundred acres in Washington Township, with good farm buildings upon each place. He has taken a deep inter- est in the cause of religion, having been a member of the Lutheran Church for upward of twenty years, his wife and son also being members of the same church. His marriage with Catherine R. McClure was celebrated Oct. 1, 1857; she was born in Montgomery Co., Ang. 25, 1834 ; they were the parents of three children -Ira, born Aug. 31, 1858, died Oct. 8, 1879; John L. and Hattie (twins), born March 31, 1864 ; Hattie died April 2, 1864, and Ira died from quick consumption at the home of his parents, after an illness of one year. Mrs. Dininger was a daughter of George and Maria (Merkles) McClure, who came to Darke Co. in
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1843 ; her father was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., April 23, 1803, and died in Darke Co. in 1870; her mother was born in Berks Co., Penn .. March 8, 1812, and died Aug. 25. 1879.
MICHAEL W. DININGER, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Greenville. The subject of this sketch is a brother of John and Lewis Dininger, who are also mentioned in this work, and a son of Jacob Dininger, who is prominently mentioned in the sketch of John Dininger. Michael W. was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Jan. 29, 1833, and came to Darke Co. with his parents in 1834; his education was obtained in a rude log schoolhouse, and, by hard study, he obtained a fair com- mon-school learning ; he assisted his father in agricultural pursuits until 21 years of age, when, on the 21st of September, 1854, he was united in marriage with Mary A. Kerst; she was born in Pennsylvania in 1835 ; they are the parents of five children, of whom four are now living-Sarah E., Isaac, Mary C. and Margaret R .; the deceased died in infancy. Upon the marriage of Mr. D., he located upon his present place, where he has since lived ; his home farm contains 100 acres, with good farm buildings, which he has brought from a wilderness to its present high state of cultivation by his own hard labor. He has been a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church for many years, his wife and three of his children being members of different churches.
LEWIS DININGER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 6; P. O. Greenville. This gentleman is a brother of John and Michael W. Dininger, and a son of Jacob Dininger, all of whom are mentioned in this work; Lewis Dininger was born in Greenville Township, Darke Co., Ohio, March 30, 1840, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. At 26 years of age, he was united in marriage with Miss A. E. Kerst, their marriage nuptials being celebrated on the 8th of February, 1866 ; she was born in German Township, Darke Co., in 1844 ; six children were the fruits of this union, viz., Flora S., Anna M., Charles, Achie E., Harley and Otto S .; Charlie died at the age of 1 year and 10 months. Mr. Dininger erected his present residence in 1870, where he has since lived, and upon this place he has lived since his birth ; he now has 100 acres of land, with good farm build- ings. He has been a member of the Lutheran Church since early boyhood, his wife also being a member of the same church.
J. N. DITMAN, merchant tailor, Greenville ; the subject of this sketch was born in Germany Sept. 25, 1837, and is a son of Henry and Louisa Ditman ; our subject emigrated with his parents to this country in 1840, and landed at Balti- more ; he was reared in Carroll Co., Md., and removed to Richmond, Ind., in 1863, where he remained for a short time ; thence to Connersville in 1864 ; thence back to Richmond in 1873, and remained about two years, when he moved to Bradford, Ohio, and resided upward of two years, and then came to Greenville and engaged in his business, which he is prosecuting with considerable energy, giving employment to several workmen. He was united in marriage with Sarah Ann Slaugenhaupt Feb. 17, 1861 ; they are the parents of six children, viz : Mary L., born Nov. 10, 1861 ; Gertrude E., Dec. 2, 1864; Inez E., Nov. 30, 1866 ; Laura B., Dec. 1, 1867 ; J. Willard, Sept 5, 1872; Maud, March 13, 1877.
F. M. EIDSON, tanner and currier, Greenville ; born in Preble Co. Ohio, Dec. 14, 1835. where he passed his boyhood days, receiving a common- school education, and also learning his present trade ; he came to Darke Co. in 1860, where he has since resided, with the exception of five months which he served in the late rebellion. In 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucetta Kester, and by this union they have four children, viz., Clara D .. Boyce G., Virginia K. and George M. Mr. E. has, since a resident of Greenville, been a member of the Board of City Councilmen six years, and is at present President of the Union Public School Board, and is also Vice President of the Home Relief Association. A card of his business will be found in the business directory in another part of this work.
WILLIAM EMRICK. farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Greenville ; born in
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Preble Co., Ohio, Nov. 6, 1836 ; he was a son of Jacob Emrick, who was born in Berks Co., Penn., in the year 1795 ; he came to Montgomery Co. at an early day, then to Preble Co. in 1830, where his decease occurred May 18, 1872 ; he was married three times, his second wife being the mother of the subject of our sketch ; her maiden name was Elizabeth Detmore, who was born in Virginia in 1810, and died in October, 1838. William Emrick, after obtaining a good common-school education, remained with his father and assisted him in agricultural pursuits until Dec. 29, 1857, when he was united in marriage with Mary J. Collins, who died May 18, 1868, leaving four children, viz., Franklin, Valorous. Elmer E. and Cora : Oct. 15, 1868, he was married to Susanah Emrick ; they have two sons by this union-Orpheus and Elihu. In the spring of 1858, he commenced farming in Preble Co., and continued the same until January, 1866, at which date he came to Darke Co., and purchased a farm of 40 acres in Twin Township, which he after- ward disposed of, then purchased 80 acres, which he also sold, and, Jan. 26, 1876, purchased the place where he has since lived ; he now owns upward of 100 acres, with good farm buildings, under good improvement, located three miles from Greenville. During his residence in Preble Co., he held the office of Township Clerk of Twin Township in the latter county for four years.
JAMES ESTY, retired farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 31; P. O. Greenville ; another of the old settlers of Darke Co .; born in the province of New Brunswick Sept. 17, 1814 ; his father, David Esty, was born in the above province July 31, 1792 ; he came to Ohio in 1822, and located in August of the same year, having been two months on the way ; he engaged in farming and milling until his death, which occurred Nov. 20, 1874; he was married, in New Brunswick, to Ann Knoop, Sept. 30, 1813 ; she was born March 19, 1792, in New Brunswick ; they were the parents of eleven children, all of whom lived to grow up; ten are now living, of whom James Esty is the oldest ; Mrs. Esty died Aug. 21, 1873. The Bible from which the above record was copied was purchased by David Esty in 1829, and is now valued very highly as an heirloom by our subject, who came to Miami Co. with his parents in. 1822, being then 8 years of age; he was raised to farming and running a saw-mill until Jan. 1, 1842, when he was united in marriage with Jane McDowell ; she was born in Franklin Co. Feb. 20, 1817 ; they have one son by this union-John C., born Dec. 4, 1842. Upon the marriage of Mr. Esty, he commenced farming for himself in Miami Co., and continued there until March 4, 1856, when he located upon Sec. 31 in Greenville Township, where he has since lived ; he now has 165 acres of land, with good farm buildings, located two miles from Greenville. John C. Esty, the only son of James and Jane (McDowell) Esty, has always lived upon the home farm, and for the past two years has been a partner with his father in the products of his farm. He married Ellen Greena- walt on Dec. 18, 1873 ; she was born in Greenville Jan. 5. 1847 ; they have one child-Eva May, born March 8, 1875.
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