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 74
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ADAM C. FRAMPTON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 15 ; P. O. Stelvideo. The subject of this memoir is a son of Hugh Frampton, who was a native of Penn- sylvania and was born in 1799 ; he came to Ohio and settled in Richland Town- ship, Darke Co., when he was a young man. He was united in marriage with Mary Coppess ; she was born in North Carolina in 1805. They were the parents of five children, of whom four are now living, viz., Adam C., William, Martha (Mary J. deceased) and Sarah E. Mr. Frampton entered 80 acres of land which at that time was all under heavy timber ; here they settled, lived and died. Mr.
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Frampton departed this life in 1862 ; his wife dying two years previous. Our subject was born in Ohio. Darke Co., Nov. 5, 1826 ; he remained at home until he was 22 years of age, during which time he acquired a good common-school educa- tion in the district school. At the age of 20 he commenced school teaching. which he followed for about three years ; teaching during the winter months and working on the farm in the summer. On the 31st of May, 1849, he celebrated his marriage with Mary Jane Patterson ; she was born in Maryland in 1826 and is a daughter of Robert and Anna Patterson, who emigrated from Maryland in 1832 and located in Richland Township, this county. Mr. Patterson departed this life in 1842 ; his wife's death occurring in 1854. They were the parents of five chil- dren, four of whom are living, viz., John, Esther, Mary Jane, Samuel and Michael. deceased. After the marriage of Mr. Frampton. he settled on his farm in Richland Township ; remaining there about three years, he sold out and moved to Stel- video, Ohio, and in company with two of his brothers-in-law erected a steam saw- mill and engaged in the timber business, following the same for about thirteen years, meeting with good success ; he then sold out and purchased fifty acres of land in Sec. 15, Adams Township, for which he paid $800 ; he also owned 60 acres in the same section, but disposed of 4 acres and now has 106 acres in his farm. When he purchased this land, it was all under heavy timber with the exception of 2 acres ; he moved into a little house which had been erected previ- ous to his coming here, but in a short time he had the residence erected he now lives in, and a good barn and other good farm buildings ; he has 70 acres cleared and under a good state of cultivation. It can be truly said that Mr. Frampton is a " pioneer," that is, as far as clearing and opening out a farm is concerned ; he has accomplished this by his hard labor, correct business and temperate habits, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and amiable wife. He has been identified more or less with township offices since his residence in the county ; served as Trustee of Adams Township for a period of six years, and has held some other offices ; he is not a church member, but believes that religion must be lived as well as professed, and it can be said that he is always be found at his post ready to relieve suffering humanity. Five children are the fruits of this union, four of whom are living. viz., Robert P., Carrie, Minnie and Lillian. On the 3d of March, 1878, the death messenger entered this peaceful and interesting family and removed from carth to heaven, Rosella, a daughter of 16 summers, cut down in the bloom of life and leaving a host of friends to mourn her loss. Mr. Frampton is a member of the I. O. O. F. Order ; also a member of the Patrons of Husbandry and is strictly temperate in all his habits, not using tobacco in any shape and has never taken a drink of any liquor only for medical purposes, and is an earnest worker in the cause of temperance.
JACOB F. GAUBY, manufacturer of brick and tile ; P. O. Bradford, Ohio. Jacob, his father, was born in Pennsylvania on the 20th of March, 1803 ; he mar- ried Christina Fike, who was born in Berks Co .. Penn., on the 11th of March, 1811 : they emigrated to Ohio in 1855, locating in Darke Co., where they resided until death overtook them ; Christina died June 11, 1873, and on the 16th of October. 1873, Jacob sank peacefully to rest.
Jacob F .. the subject of this sketch, was born in Pennsylvania on the 7th of December, 1837 ; he spent his boyhood days in Pennsylvania, where he received a good education in German ; came with his parents to Ohio when he was 17 years old ; after he came to Ohio, he obtained some knowledge of the English lan- guage by his own efforts ; he remained at home until he was 21 years old, and on the 20th of January, 1859, he celebrated his marriage with Rebecca Wise, a native of Ohio ; he then engaged in farming, and in a few years he purchased 122 acres of land ; unfortunately, he lost his wife on the 22d of March, 1865 ; three chil- dren were born to them, viz .: Moses, born Oct. 19, 1860 ; Jacob, born July 16, 1862 ; Rebecca. born March 9, 1865. About one year later, he celebrated his second marriage with Abigail Boocher, of Montgomery Co .. Ohio ; three children
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by this union. of whom two are living, viz .: Henry, born June 27, 1868 ; John, born Dec. 3, 1870. On the 16th of January, 1874, the death messenger called again and summoned his wife to that better land ; this, a second bereavement, almost crushed him to the earth. 'In 1874, he was married to Malinda J. Stose, a native of Ohio, born on the 7th of June, 1853 ; three children have been born to this union, viz .. Effie J. D., Cora, William. Mr. Gauby has sold off 80 acres of his land, investing the proceeds in his manufacturing of tile and brick ; he now owns 42 acres of land where he resides, one house and lot in Bradford, also a blacksmith-shop ; he is now engaged in the manufacturing of brick and tile, and it is said that his tile and brick are the best in the county. The brickmasons say that they can make a better job out of his kiln than from any other in the country ; he has the largest and most complete tile manufactory in the county. Mr. Gauby has had his full share of township offices ; served as Constable and Supervisor ; he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and was a member of the German Baptist Church until he joined this order, when the church dismissed him for join- ing this good and noble order.
WILLIAM E. GEORGE, dealer in grain and hogs, also ticket, freight and express agent, Gettysburg, Ohio. George, his father, was a native of Germany, born in Hesse-Darmstadt in 1812; Mary, his wife, whose maiden name was Bishop, was a native of Adams Co., Penn., born in 1815 ; they were united in marriage in Gettysburg. Penn., where they spent their days. Mrs. George departed this life Dec. 24, 1843, Mr. George in 1879. Our subject is a native of Penn- sylvania, born in Gettysburg, Adams Co., the 6th day of June, 1835 ; he spent his boyhood days in his native State, where he received his preparatory education in the district schools, after which he entered the preparatory department of the Pennsylvania College, where he obtained an academic education, and at the age of 20 years engaged in teaching school in the vicinity of Chambersburg, Franklin Co .. which he followed about three years ; came to Darke Co., Ohio, in the fall of 1857, and located in Washington Township, where he engaged in teaching in the district schools, which he followed for a period of about seven years, averaging about nine and a half months per year ; he was united in marriage with Deborah H. Fonts on the 13th of January, 1861; she was a native of Indiana, born in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., on the 16th of October, 1840 ; her parents were natives of Maryland, and came to Indiana in an early day, On the 4th of June, 1863, the death messenger entered the household of Mr. George and removed from earth to heaven his beloved companion ; after her death he sold all his real and personal property, following his profession of teaching in different localities, during which time he entered Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College of Indian- apolis, where he graduated in the fall of 1865 ; he then came to Gettysburg, Darke Co., and resumed his profession, teaching at different places in Adams and Franklin Townships and vicinity, for about eight years. On the 28th of Decem- ber, 1865, he celebrated his second marriage with Sarah M. McDowell, born in Darke Co. Jan. 4, 1844 ; her parents were from Pennsylvania, and came to this county in a very early day. In July, 1872. Mr. George was appointed ticket, freight, and U. S. Express agent of the P., C. & St. Louis R. R. at Gettysburg and at the same time engaged in the grain and stoek trade, which he has since followed ; he now has in course of erection a large elevator, 26x110, and 26 feet high, which will be supplied with all the necessary machinery ; he handled about 170,000 bushels last season. of different kinds of grain. Mr. George has one child by his last marriage, Myrtie A., born Oct. 10. 1871 ; also one child by his first wife, viz., Charles A., born on the 3d of December, 1862 ; his mother died when he was but 6 months old, after which his uncle, William English, of Spar- tanburg, Randolph Co., Ind., took him to raise, where he now lives, but is making arrangements to engage in the drug business in Marshall, Ill. Mr. George has been identified with the various township offices since his residence here ; has been clerk of the township for about twelve years, which office he now holds ; was
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appointed Deputy U. S. Marshal in 1870, having for his district, Adams, Franklin, Van Buren and Monroe Townships ; he was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in 1850, but after he came to Darke Co., Ohio, he cast his lot with the Presbyterians, his wife also being a member of the same church ; he has accumulated a consid- erable amount of property by his hard labor, connected with correct business and temperate habits, in which he has been assisted by his good and noble wife ; he owns 260 acres of land in Iowa, and about five aeres in the corporation of Gettysburg, the whole valued at about $6,000. Mr. George commenced life with- out any of this world's goods, and when he came West he borrowed $50 to bring him here, and has met with many trials and troubles since he commenced life ; the greatest misfortune was in losing his right arm on the 19th of February, 1849. two and a half miles south of Gettysburg, Penn .; while feeding a thrashing ma- chine he unfortunately got his hand caught in the cylinder, and was mangled so badly that he was compelled to have it amputated ; he is a man who possesses an indominitable will, strictly honest, and a thorough business man ; strictly temper- ate, neither chews nor smokes tobacco ; is a great worker in the cause of temper- ance ; a Republican in politics.
LEVI GILBERT, farmer ; P. O. Gettysburg. James, his father, was a native of Maryland, born in 1776 ; was taken to Pennsylvania by his parents, where he married Mollie Reeser in Lebanon Co., where they spent their days; he departed this life about 1814 ; Mollie, his wife died in about 1816 ; six children were born to them ; three are living at the present writing, viz .. Levi, Joseph and Benjamin ; Joseph lives in Montgomery Co., Benjamin in Darke Co. Levi, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Lebanon Co. on the 26th of September, 1806 ; he was left an orphan when quite young, thrust out on the cold charities of the world to fight the battles of life among strangers ; he lived in Lebanon Co. till he was about 16 years old, working for different persons for his clothes and board ; he would attend subscription school part of the winter, which tuition he paid him- self ; he went to Dauphin Co .. where he worked by the month on a farm for about one year and a half, after which he went to Lancaster Co., where he resided till he was about 30 years old, following teaming and farming. On the 8th day of December, 1829, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Mariah Spires, who is a native of Pennsylvania. born in Lancaster Co. on the 13th of July, 1808. In 1837, he and his family of three boys bade farewell to friends and their native county, started with a two-horse team for the West to better their condition, and on the 21st day of May they arrived in Miami Co., where he rented the Eller farm near Cov- ington, where he remained about five and a half years, meeting with good success, during which time he purchased 110 acres in Adams Township, Sec. 19, all of which was under heavy timber, for which he paid $400 ; after he purchased this tract of land, he commenced the task of elearing and opening up a farm, worked at spare times till he had cleared sufficient to put out a little crop ; during this time, he had erected a log cabin, and in 1843 he moved his family into this "mansion," where he has continued to reside ever since, but not in the old log cabin, as in the course of time he erected a beautiful two-story brick house, and other farm buildings. Mr. Gilbert has accumulated a considerable amount of property by hard labor, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and amiable wife, both of whom have passed through the many struggles. dangers and incidents so common to the pioneer of the West; they have a host of friends and are held in high esteem by all who know them ; they are active workers in the cause of religion, being members of the Evangelical Church, and the writer can truthfully say that they are living devoted Christian lives, and he will never forget that pleasant hour and a half he spent in their company. May their days, which will be few in the body, be brightened by the golden light of spirit land-the summer land-and when they are through with the body may the passing-out be as a gentle zephyr. They are the parents of seven children, of whom six are living, viz., Henry, Samuel, Levi S .. Frances (now Mrs. Merrick), Mollie (now Mrs. Holman), Elizabeth
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(now Mrs. Reck), Elmira (now Mrs. Flomerfield) ; Henry, his son, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Lancaster Co. on the 23d of October, 1830 ; he spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, assisting in the clearing and the cultivation of the soil. He received a good common-school education in the district schools. At the age of 18, he commenced to learn the coopering trade in his father's shop, where he worked till he was 21 years old, after which he continued on his own responsibility till he was about 29 years of age, during which time he made his home with his father. He celebrated his marriage with Nancy A. Hill on the 28th of August, 1859 ; she was born in Miami Co. in 1839, and on the 12th of August the death messenger removed her from earth to heaven, leaving one child, who in seven days later fell asleep in death also. In two years and five months, le celebrated his second marriage, with Miss Mary E. Harry, who is a native of Mont- gomery Co., Ohio, born in Dayton in May, 1843 ; seven children by this union, viz .: William H., born Dec., 28, 1863 ; Samuel H., born September, 1865 ; John C., born March, 1867 ; Benit, born August, 1869; Edward O., born March, 1872 : Vinie B., born November, 1876 ; May, born September, 1879. Mr. Gilbert resides on his father's farm, carrying on the coopering business during the winter and farming in the summer.
LEVI S. GILBERT, farmer, P. O. Gettysburg, Ohio; a son of Levi and Mariah Gilbert ; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., on the 13th day of September 1835; came with his parents to Ohio, locating in Miami Co., and in 1842 removing to Darke Co, where he spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district school ; at the age of 16, he commenced to learn the coopering trade in his father's shop ; he followed his trade about six- teen years, four years of which he worked in Gettysburg ; in 1863, he sold out his shop and purchased a farm of 124 acres in Sec. 29, Adams Township, where he moved and has since resided ; he now has ninety acres in a good state of culti- vation, a beautiful brick house ; a barn, 80x47 feet, which he erected at a cost of about $1,500 ; on the 29th day of September, 1859, he celebrated his marriage with Rosana, daughter of Mathias and Arnstena, who was born in Montgomery Co., on the 28th day of December, 1840 ; five children have been born to them, viz., Elmer E., born August 9, 1862 ; Nora May, born December 5, 1865 ; Harry A., born Feb. 17, 1867 ; Edith J., born March 25, 1869 ; Raymond M., born March 7, 1874, Mr. Gilbert has accumulated a considerable amount of property, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and amiable wife ; he is strictly temperate in all his habits. In 1864, he enlisted in the 100-day service and went forth in defense of his country.
AARON HAHN; P. O. Gettysburg. The subject of this sketch was born in Mahoning Co., Ohio, March 26, 1816 ; he is a son of Samuel and Hannah (Pau- line) Hahn, who were natives of Maryland; Mr . H. was born about the year 1790 or 1791, his wife in 1795 ; they came to Darke Co. in 1831 and located in Frank- lin Township ; Mrs. H. departed this life in 1861 ; Mr. H. is still living, and resides in Greenville, with his son Amos. Our subject came to this county with his parents when 15 years of age, where he assisted his father on the farm during the summer season and attended the district school through the winter, thereby obtaining a good common-school education ; he remained at home till 21 years of age, when his father gave him 93 acres of land, all under heavy timber ; he then commenced the task of clearing and preparing the land for cultivation. On the 21st of March, 1839, he was united in marriage with Mary A. Reck, and located upon his farm, to which he had added until possessed of 184 acres in all ; Mrs. H. departed this life May 11, 1853; their children were five in number by this union, of whom four are living, viz .: Mary E., born May 18, 1844 ; Jeremiah, Oct. 15, 1846 ; John E., May 21, 1850 ; Joseph, April 30, 1853 ; Mr. H. carried on his farm and cared for his children till Jan. 26, 1854, when he was united in marriage with Catherine Feeser ; she was born in Frederick Co., Maryland, July 7. 1834 ; they remained on the farm in Franklin Township till 1868, when he sold, and bought 127 acres in
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Adams Township, which he traded for 84 acres in Sec. 25. locating there in 1873, where he still resides ; his residence is situated in the corporation of Gettysburg ; he has been afflicted with palsy for several years, which has confined him to his room a greater part of the time ; Mr. H. has in no way been an office-seeker, vet he has been identified with the township offices since his residence here ; he has served as Trustee of Franklin Township for a period of six years, and has been Clerk and School Director ; the children of Aaron and Catherine (Feeser) Hahn were ten in number, of whom nine are living, viz .: Emeline, born April 15, 1857; William, Oct. 16, 1858 ; Martha E., May 5, 1860; Susanna C., Sept. 10, 1861; Laura B., May 16, 1863 ; Ansenora, Oct. 24, 1865 ; Samuel N., May 15, 1868 ; Sarah J., May 1, 1869, and Benjamin F., May 15, 1871. Mr. H. has passed through the many hard struggles, trials and incidents of frontier life, and has accumulated a good property, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good wife. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are good, consistent Christian people.
ROBERT L. HARPER, farmer ; P. O. Horatio. He was born in 1812, in Pennsylvania, the son of Robert and Sarah Harper, both being born in Pennsylva- nia. He was married in 1832 to Martha Adams, daughter of George and Eliza- beth Adams, who were born in Virginia, and came to Ohio in about 1810 ; George Adams-Col. Adams, as he was then called-was in the war of 1812, serving as Colonel all through the war, and bringing home the marks of active service, hav- ing seven bullets shot through his body ; the issue of the marriage of the subject of our sketch were eight children. of whom five are now living, viz., William S., Thomas B., Robert, George and Martha Jane, all married and settled in life. except Martha Jane. who is yet single and remains at home. Mr. Harper located upon the farm where he now lives, consisting of 81 acres, in the spring of 1833, and cut out the first stick of timber, made an opening, and put up a little log cabin, this being the only settlement around nearer than New Harrison, one and a half miles distant ; from this beginning he labored, open- ing out and improving as time and means would permit, till now he has 60 acres cleared up and in good cultivation, with a good frame house and good barn ; this has all been accomplished by diligent industry and energy, coupled with econ- omy. he being $300 in debt when he went on to the farm, and now he has the pleas- ure to enjoy the comforts around him for the rest of his life; Mr. Harper is a brother of Sanford Harper, of Greenville. This is a very remarkable example of early pioneer life, one who endured especially the toils and hardships incident to such a life, and it will stand recorded here upon the pages of this history, as a bright and shining example of what diligence and industry will accomplish, and will be read with interest and profit by children's children and future generations for ages to come.
ISAAC HARSHEY, furniture and undertaking, Gettysburg. The brother of David, a native of Darke Co., Ohio, born on the 23d of February, 1839 ; lived at home till he was 30 years old ; attended school during the winter months in District No. 2. Adams Township, where he obtained a good common-school education, and at the age of 18 he commenced to learn pump-making, which he has, with cabinet-mak- ing, followed ever since, and he is at present carrying on the furniture and undertak- ing business with his brother ; in May, 1864, he enlisted in the hundred-day service, joining himself with the 152d Regiment, Company C ; he served four months, during which time he participated in several severe engagements, viz., Lynchburg. Va., and Sweet Springs, Va .; he was mustered out in September, 1864, after which he went to Illinois, where his father resided, and farmed with his father for two years, when he. with his father, returned to Darke Co., Ohio, and in 1868 he moved to Gettys- burg, formed a partnership with John S. Plants, and carried on the pump and cab- inet making business for about eighteen months, when they dissolved partnership, and he formed the present partnership with his brother. On the 2d of May, 1869, he celebrated his marriage with Margaret Layer. daughter of Peter and
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Hannah Layer; she is a native of Darke Co., Ohio, born on the 25th of Novem- ber, 1844 ; one child has been born to them, viz., Hannah B., on the 5th of Sep- tember, 1871. Mr. Harshey is not a member of any church, but lives in his own soul's freedom, keeping the Golden Rule in view, being honorable, truthful and very conscientious in all his dealings with his fellow-man. He has, by hard labor, con- nected with correct business and temperate habits, accumulated some property. in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and amiable wife.
DAVID HARSHEY, of the firm of Harshey & Bro., manufacturers of furni- ture and undertakers, Gettysburg, Ohio ; Jacob, their father, was a native of Penn- sylvania, born in Adams Co., in 1806. He married Elizabeth Deeter, who was born in Miami Co., Ohio, on the 20th of October. 1815 ; he came with his parents to Ohio in the fall of 1833, locating in Darke Co., where he purchased 160 acres in Sec. 29, Adams Township ; he also entered 240 acres in Adams and Richland Town- ships ; in September, 1864, he sold out and removed to De Witt Co., Ill., where he purchased 120 acres of prairie land near Clinton, the county seat ; he had, however, previous to his moving to Illinois, purchased 200 acres in Fayette Co .; in 1865. his wife died, after which he sold out and removed to Darke Co., and purchased 80 acres in Sec. 29, Adams Township, where he remained about five years, when he sold out and purchased 41 acres in Franklin Township, where he moved and on the 12th of April, 1874, he departed this life, leaving a family of eight children, viz., Isaac, David, Hannah, John D., Jacob, Lucinda, Susanah and Elizabeth. David, the subject of this sketch, was born in Ohio, Darke Co., on the 17th of Nov- ember, 1841, lived at home until he was about 18 years of age. receiving his education in the district school. after which he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade with G. W. Weaver, of Miami Co., where he worked about two and one-half years, when he engaged with B. Kepner, receiving good wages ; he worked for him two years, after which he carried on the business on his own responsibility, meeting with good success ; in June, 1863, he enlisted in the 152d O.V.I., Co. C, and went forth in defense of his country, serving three months, during which time he was in several severe engagements, viz., Sweet Springs, Va., on Greenbrier River, and was with Hunter when he made his raid on Lynchburg, Va., where he was repulsed ; he returned home in September, and re-enlisted in September, 1864. in the 19th O. V. I., Co. F, for three years ; during this campaign, he was in the battle of Ft. McAlister and the siege of Savannah, Ga .; he was mustered out in June, 1865 ; after his return from the army he followed his trade, and in 1872 he formed a partnership with his brother Isaac, in the manufacture of furniture and the undertaking business, in Gettysburg, where he has remained ever since ; they have a complete outfit of machinery suitable for their business, and are doing a good business ; on the 10th of November 1878, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Clara H., daughter of Sam- uel and Eliza M. Lehman, who was born in July, 1859 ; one child has been born to them, viz., Franklin Judson, born on the 26th of July. 1879 ; Mr. Harshey is strictly temperate in all his habits, and is a member of I. O. O. F., of Gettysburg.
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