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 78
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ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
Jennie, Anna Bell ; Henry, the father of Elijah, was born in Virginia, on the 22d of November, 1793. He married Susan Winters, who was born in 1793 ; Peter Weaver, the father of Henry, laid out the town of New Petersburg, in Highland Co .; Henry, Elijah's father, departed this life on the 22d of November (being his birthday), 1865, Susanah, his wife, in 1866. She had a very remarkable dream a short time before her husband's death, in which she was warned of the death of her husband, also of her own, which was to occur just one year after her husband, and in one year and two days from that time, she sank peacefully to rest. John, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Ohio, born in Darke Co., on the 24th of September, 1852; he spent his boyhood days on his father's farm assisting in the cultivation of the soil, receiving his education in the district schools ; when he was 18 years old, he went to Dayton, Ohio, where he worked for Peter Bolander in the fruit-tree nursery for about six months, after which he returned home and rented 6 acres of his father and engaged in the fruit-tree business on his own hook, and at the same time worked on the farm, which he followed for a period of about two years, meeting with good success ; he followed buying and selling cordwood, which he hauled with team for one season, after which he coneluded to take in a partner for life. On the 15th of April, 1875, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Hattie A Butt, daughter of Simon and Lovina Butt, who was born in Darke Co. on the 28th of January, 1852 ; after his marriage he rented his father's farm and engaged in farming, where he resided for about two years, after which he moved on his father-in-law's farm, where he has resided ever since. Mr. Weaver is a young man of good moral habits, a live, energetic, thorough business man, and, with the help of his good and amiable wife, has accumulated some property ; one child has been born to them, viz., Simon Homer, born on the 5th of November, 1879.
DAVID G. WENRICH, farmer and dealer in agricultural implements ; P. O. Bradford, Miami Co., Ohio ; was born in Adams Township, Darke County ; is a son of David and Elizabeth (Grubb) Wenrich. David was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Jan. 1, 1816. and was a son of Thomas and Esther (Brandt) Wenrich. Thomas Wenrich was born in Berks County and his wife in Dauphin Co., Penn. ; being poor folks, they hired out their son David to work at farming, until, in his 17th year, he went to learn the cabinet and carpenter trade, which he followed till nearly 21 years of age. Having a desire to see the Western country, he then took a trip to Ohio, landing at Dayton, where he made a short stay ; he then went to Salem and worked at his trade for about six months, when he went to Miami County, near Covington, and worked as journeyman at his trade for one year. In the mean time, his parents immigrated to Miami County, and located where Brad- ford, in part, now stands. On the Ist of March, 1838, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Grubb, who was born in Miami Co., July 22, 1818, by whom he had eight children-Mary, born in Miami Co., Oct. 10, 1839 ; Hettie, Jan. 8, 1842, and died in 1866, leaving one of her two children ; John, Feb. 6, 1844; Levi, born in Darke Co., Oct. 7, 1846; David. Nov. 25, 1849 ; Malinda. May 5. 1852 ; Martha, Oct. 31, 1854 ; Isaac, Jan. 27, 1858. Our subject always lived at his native place, the farm which his father and family cleared up, with the exception of 15 acres ; they have now a very desirable farm of 160 acres, of which about 106 acres are in a good state of cultivation. David G. followed teaching in public schools for ten winters ; is one of the original proprietors of an agricultural store in Bradford, owning a half- interest in the same, which he runs in connection with the home farm, of which he has entire charge. His marriage with Allie Babylon was celebrated Dec. 28, 1875 ; she was born in Miami Co. Jan. 7, 1851, and is the mother of two children- Sherman Byron, born Sept. 15, 1876 ; Chloe Bell, Jan. 2, 1880.
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GERMAN TOWNSHIP.
LOYD BROWN, farmer ; P. O. German. The subject of this sketch is one of the prominent farmers of German Township ; was born in Baltimore Co., Md., in 1807 ; he is the son of Nicholas Brown, who was also a native of Maryland. Our subject was raised on a farm, and early acquired the art of farming which he has suc- cessfully practiced all his life. His minority was spent at home assisting in the duties of the farm, after which time he set out on his own responsibilities. For a time, he farmed the homestead on shares. He was united in marriage, in Maryland, to Miss Rachel Miller, who was also born in Baltimore Co. They emigrated to Ohio soon after their marriage and located first in Harrison Township ; after remaining here about three years, he came to the place where he now resides and where he has ever since lived. By dint of hard labor and habits of industry and economy, he has put himself in the possession of several fine, well-improved farms. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of eight children, all of whom grew up to mature years ; since then, death has visited four of them. The others are located on farms near the homestead.
G. M. CALDERWOOD, physician ; P. O. German; the subject of this memoir was born in Butler Township, in September, 1849 ; he is the son of J. R. and Jamima (Otwell) Calderwood ; his father was born in Montgomery County, Nov. 6, 1821, and came to this county when quite young ; he is one of the prom- inent citizens of the county, and a millwright and carpenter by occupation ; his wife is a native of North Carolina, born near Goldsboro the 13th of April, 1825. Our subject was raised on a farm, assisting in its duties during the summer, and devoting his winter months to the acquisition of knowledge in the common schools, till he was 18 years of age, at which time he entered the union school at Green- ville ; at this latter place he spent one year, and subsequently entered the profes- sion of teaching ; this he followed successfully for a few years, employing his leisure time in reading medicine, which he continued till the winter of 1872, when he attended lectures at the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati. He first began practice in Adams County, Ind. ; at the end of about six months he located in Bradford, Ohio, where he remained in practice about eightcen months ; his health being much impaired at the end of this time, he retired from active work for a period of six months. April 12, 1875, he formed a partnership with Dr. Jobes, of Palestine, which continued about seven months, when Dr. Jobes was elected to the office of Probate Judge of this county ; after the partnership was dissolved, he con- tinued the practice here in his own name ; he has, by careful attention to his profes- sional duties, built up a large and increasing practice, and is one of the promising young physicians of the county. He was united in marriage Aug. 5, 1872, with Miss Isabella Reed, at the residence of Rev. McConnell, of Greenville ; she is a native of Versailles, Darke County, where her father has been engaged in the dry goods and grain business for about half a century. Mr. and Mrs. Calderwood are the parents of three children-Rhoda, Jimie (who died when eight months old) and Carl.
GORDEN CLOYD, farmer ; P. O. German. The subject of this memoir is a native of this county, born in German Township in 1822 ; he is the son of the pioneer James Cloyd, who was perhaps the first permanent settler in the township. He was born in Virginia in 1780 ; when but a mere lad he emigrated to Ohio, at the breaking-out of the war of 1812, and he gave his services in the defense of his country ; he was stationed a portion of the time at Fort Greenville. He was at this latter place when the children of William Wilson were murdered within sight of the block-house, and was one who assisted in their burial. At the close of the war, he remained in the county, and married Miss Elizabeth Norftsinger, the.
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GERMAN TOWNSHIP.
daughter of Andrew Norftsinger, one of the first settlers in the county, who came to the county previous to the war of 1812, and erected a block-house in Neave Township, and remained there during the war. He was a "man of the chase," and delighted in hunting. James Cloyd was a member of the first grand jury that ever met in the county ; after his marriage, he first settled on the prairie southeast of the present town of Palestine ; from there he located on land now owned by David Wilcox ; he remained here about sixteen years, in which time he prepared much of the farm for agricultural uses, which was all in the woods when he entered it ; he then disposed of this farm with the intention of emigrating to Illinois, but after visiting this latter place he returned satisfied to spend the rem- nant of his days in German Township ; he then entered a quarter section just west of Palestine, on which he erected a house and passed the remainder of his life. He died May 26, 1872, at the ripe old age of 81 years 10 months and 11 days ; thus passed away a pioneer and a soldier, lamented by all who knew him ; he had a sympathetic heart and a charitable spirit, and many a needy neighbor was made glad by his charities. His wife survived him only a few years, her death ocenrring June 17, 1875, at the age of 76 years 3 months and 6 days. They were the par- ents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, four of whom are still living. Our subject's early life was devoted to such labor as the frontiersman was accus- tomed to do ; he availed himself of what educational opportunities then offered, often going a distance of two miles through swamp and thickets to school. At the age of 20, he went to Preble County and engaged as a laborer on a farm ; he re- mained here five years, and then located on the place where he now resides. He was married in 1846 to Miss Julia A. Woodmansee, a native of Butler County ; her father was an early settler and prominent citizen of the township, having fre- quently had the offices of Trustee and Justice of the Peace conferred upon him. Mr. and Mrs. Cloyd are the parents of four children-Edward, Elmira, Flora B. and Sampson. They are members of the M. E. Church, and are leading exem- plary lives.
JAMES N. EAKINS, farmer ; P. O. German. The subject of this memoir is a descendant of one of the early pioneer families of the Township. He was born in the township Aug. 15, 1855, and is the son of George Eakins, and grandson of the pioneer Benjamin Eakins. Benjamin Eakins came to this township imme- diately after the elose of the war of 1812 and located on the land where our subject now resides. His first house still stands a monument of early days. He passed through with all of the privations and hardships incident to frontier life, sharing its trials and triumphs, and died at a ripe old age honored by all who knew him. Our subject was early left an orphan by the death of his parents, and was then taken and raised by his uncle, Wash Brown. He is now engaged in farming which has always been his occupation, and is one of the promising young men of the county. Dee. 31, 1876, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Thomas, who was born and raised in New Madison. She is also a descendant of early pioneers of Harrison Township. Mr. and Mrs. Eakins were the parents of two children, one of whom has been taken from them by the messenger of death.
SOLOMON FRANK, retired farmer ; P. O. German, Ohio. This gentleman was born near Wheeling, W. Va., April 12, 1817, and is the son of Stephen Frank, a native of New York State ; when quite small, he emigrated to Montgomery Co., Ohio, with his parents ; his father deceased when he was a small boy, thus leaving him without the comforts or benign influences of a parental home; this misfortune early threw him upon his own resources ; he engaged at the occupation of farm- ing, hiring out, until he was 18; at this age, he began the coopering business, which occupation he followed for upward of twenty years. In 1840, he came to this township and located in the town of Palestine, where he pursued his usual vocation. He has been married twice ; his marriage with Miss Acca Parent was celebrated Dec. 15, 1842 ; her parents were early settlers of this township, and their biographies oceur under the sketch of I. D. Parent. Mr. Frank and family,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
together with a large circle of acquaintances, were called upon to mourn her death, which occurred March 29, 1861 ; she was for many years identified with the cause of religion, being first a member of the M. E. Church, and, at her death, of the U. B. Church ; her life was an exemplary one, and her death a loss which the church and community both felt. Mr. Frank was united in marriage the sec- ond time. Feb. 16, 1862, with Mrs. Sarah A. (Crisler) Leas; she is a native of Proble Co., Ohio. Six children were born to the first union, one of whom deceased when quite small ; the rest are all living ; one child was the fruit of the last union, which died in infancy. Mr. Frank has devoted his latter years to farming and superintending his farm. Mr. and Mrs. F. are both active members of the U. B. Church of Pleasant Grove, and are leading exemplary lives.
REUBEN GOENS, farmer ; P. O. German ; was born in South Carolina Sept. 1, 1830, and is one of the early settlers of this section of the country ; his father, Henry G., was born in North Carolina and emigrated to Ohio with his family in 1833, locating in German Township, near Palestine ; he is the father of nine children, and has been married three times ; he is still living, at the age of 72 years. hale and hearty. Our subject lived with his parents till he was 8 or 9 years of age, when he went to live with Benj. Stanton, a Quaker, of Newport, Ind., now known as Fountain City ; with this man and in this vicinity he spent his boy- hood days. While here he became an enthusiastic co-worker with the Friends- who were as a class severely opposed to the system of slavery-in assisting fugi- tive slaves to escape into Canada ; he entered heartily and earnestly into the work while yet a boy, and many slaves owed their freedom to his assistance. The Friends had formed a secret society, the object of which was to aid the refugees to escape. They established a " Court of Inquiry " to avoid being deceived by im- postors, their purpose being to assist only those who were fleeing from bondage. In this court, our subject often sat and listened to the sad tales of the fugitives, till he formed an intense hatred against the "cursed institution of slavery," and deter- mined to render, with any and all sacrifices, whatever assistance he could to the " runaways." As they would find their way to Newport, he would drive them over to what was known as the " Greenville Settlement," making the trip after night to avoid detection ; from this latter place, they were helped into Canada. After he had grown up to majority, he had a strong desire to visit Canada, and see how those whom he had aided in their "flight for freedom " were prospering under their new surroundings. To this place he found his way, and here met many whom he had helped in their escape. He remained here for a year or more and then returned home. In the mean time, he was engaged on the lakes as a laborer on a boat, and also on the Canada Southern R. R. At this time, there were no educational oppor- tunities provided the colored race in Indiana. Recognizing the necessity of edu- cating the slaves who found their way here, the Friends, assisted by other chari- table persons, erected a Manual Labor Institute in Randolph Co., Ind., just across the line from the Greenville settlement. Into this enterprise our subject entered with enthusiasm and assisted in clearing the ground and erecting the building, and has since rendered what aid he could to the institution. Prof. Tucker was employed as teacher for about twenty years, during which time the school pros- pered greatly. and the good which has flowed from it to the colored race can never be estimated. Those have been educated here who have since occupied seats in Congress, and hundreds are scattered over the South and elsewhere to-day, giving to others the knowledge which they acquired at this institution. Mr. Goens is now filling the position of Trustee for this university, which is still ac- complishing much good. Mr. G. has been married twice ; his first marriage was with Miss Mary Clemens, who deceased in 1852 ; she was the granddaughter of James Clemens, the first settler in this part of the county ; his second marriage was consummated with Miss Emily A. Smith, also a granddaughter of James Clem- ens ; Mr. G. has since been chiefly engaged in farming, though he has dealt to some extent in stock. In 1864, he gave his services for the defense of his country,
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being placed in the 45th Penn. V. I. ; they were located at Washington City near Gen. Lee's farm till April 15, 1865, when they were ordered to the front ; he par- ticipated in the battles around Petersburg and Richmond, and was present at Lee's surrender ; they were then sent into Texas, where they remained till they were honorably discharged, the last of September, 1865, at Brownsville, Tex. ; he then re- turned home by way of the Gulf and Mississippi River to Cairo, Ill., and from there by railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Goens are the parents of five children, two of whom are dead ; the living are Robert C., Rufus W. C. and Russell V. Mr. G. may be re- garded as one of the self-made men of this township ; beginning with no capital, he has struggled up with the assistance of his wife against misfortune and adver- sity to take a place among the thrifty and enterprising farmers of the township.
H. L. HILL, retired farmer ; P. O. German. Mr. Hill is one of the few remaining pioneers of this county ; he was born in York District, South Carolina, the 1st of February, 1815 ; is of Irish descent ; he is the son of William E. Hill. whose father, William Hill, came from Ireland. William E. was born in Franks- town, Washington Co., Md., April 9, 1772 ; though of Irish birth, the first language he lisped was German, that being the prevailing language of his native town ; his parents moved to South Carolina when he was quite a small lad ; his father, was one of the patriots during the great struggle for American freedom, and took an active part in it ; near the close of the war, when the British and Tories held pos- session of South Carolina, and were visiting the patriots with merciless severity and cruelty, murdering hundreds in cold blood, they called at the house of Mr. Hill, thinking to find and dispatch him as they had many other brave men, but Mr. Hill was at his post of duty repelling the bloodthirsty murderers, and they failed to find him ; not being able to ascertain his whereabouts from Mrs. Hill, equally patriotic, and his daughter, they attempted to extort the desired informa- tion from William E., then a lad of about nine summers, by hanging him ; this they did several times, punishing him most severely, but to no avail ; thus failing in their purpose, they proceeded to plunder the house, taking out the feather beds and scattering the feathers to the winds. William E. Hill's boyhood was spent. upon a farm, but quite early in life he turned his attention to the carpenter's trade, to the construction of cotton gins and cotton screws chiefly ; being raised in a Slave State, his early training was such as to lead him to look favorably on this system of servitude, but his nature never could endure to see the slaves cruelly used ; at one pe- riod in his life, he was called near Charleston to erect a cotton gin for Rambert, one of the largest slaveholders in the country ; every evening those slaves who failed to per- form the daily task imposed upon them by their cruel master, were taken to the whipping-post and unmercifully whipped ; their agonies from this could be heard all night through, and Mr. Hill gave it as one of the most painful periods of his life, although he was allowed the comforts and luxuries of the splendid Rambert mansion. In order to obtain a place among the higher class of society, Mr. Hill was obliged to purchase some slaves and become a slaveholder ; this purchase proved a financial disaster to him, which misfortune led him to seek a more con- genial clime, and in the fall of 1817 he emigrated to Ohio, locating on a school section about three miles west of the present town of New Madison. Here he pur- chased a lease for $1, with about seven acres cleared on it ; here, on this piece of land, he and his devoted wife spent the remnant of their days, and now their bodies lie interred on the same soil. He combined with farming the occupation of cooper and loom manufacturer, and his looms are yet to be found over this county, relies of pioneer life. Although not much given to the " chase," he had one which ended in a remarkable fruition. In company with two of his neighbors, John Downing and Thomas Mecum, one winter morning. when the ground was covered to an unusual depth with snow, over which a strong crust had formed, he spied seven deer, and gave chase with dogs ; the snow so impeded the progress of the deer that they all soon fell victims to the eager dogs. Mr. Hill was married to Miss Sarah Farris in South Carolina, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland,
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on the 8th day of March, 1780 ; she emigrated to America when only 12 years old, with her parents, settling on Fishing Creek, York District, South Carolina. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hill, and all grew up to years of matu- rity but three, who died in their infancy. Mr. Hill deceased in April, 1848, his wife surviving him till June, 1855, when her death occurred. Thus we record the death of two more of the early pioneers of this county. During their lives, they were successively members of three religious denominations, viz., Presbyterian, United Brethren and Universalist. Our subject was only 2 years old when he came to this county ; his early life was not much different from most of the pio- neer boys ; the log cabin constituted his home and the wilderness his surround- ings ; poverty was the most constant companion of his youth, and frequently has he been tucked under the bed while his only shirt was receiving a vigorous appli- cation of soap and water. The first teakettle used in the family was purchased for $3, and his mother spun flax and tow, at 123 cents per dozen cuts, to pay for it. The domestic wear of his sisters consisted of home-made goods. made of cotton filling and flax chain, the cotton being carded and spun by hand ; these goods, colored in various hues, constituted their Sunday costume. The first calico dresses introduced into the neighborhood, by a family from Kentucky, were objects of no little interest to the community, and the family that had the audacity to make such a display of finery as this ran no little risk of being ordered to leave the county or don the home-made goods ; it was looked upon as a dangerous cus- tom, not to be allowed with impunity ; this feeling, however, soon wore off, and the fair daughters of the forests were allowed to indulge in the luxuries of a calico dress ; the first dress of this make introduced into the family of our subject was purchased of Shadwick & Co., of New Paris, at 25 cents per yard, and paid for in home-made goods at the same price ; this served as a passport into the higher class of society. Financial circumstances did not improve materially till Mr. H. grew up to manhood and was able to perform considerable manual labor. At the age of 21, by agreement previously entered into, his father deeded to him 80 acres of land, one-half swamp and one-half timber ; this was his first earthly possession. About this period, March 16, 1837, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Kunkle, who was born in 1815, in Bedford Co., Penn., and came to this county with her parents when only 3 years of age, locating in Harrison Township ; her mother is still living, at the ripe old age of 86, in the possession in a remarkable degree of all her faculties. After the marriage of Mr. H., he moved to his land, then all in the wild state ; hard work and perseverance were demanded of them both to meet the exigencies of their surroundings ; these were heartily furnished. Mrs. H. performing her part at the spinning-wheel and loom, in addition to the usual domestic duties ; after they had been struggling against poverty and its concomitants for some time, Mrs. Hill's mother bequeathed them $250, the savings of her own small earnings, $218 of which were in silver half-dollars; with this Mr. Hill started for Fort Wayne, Ind., on foot, a distance of ninety miles, to enter land, and succeeded in entering 148 acres in Allen County ; at the end of seven- teen years, he disposed of his first farm and purchased 160 acres in German Town- ship, See. 27, where he has since lived ; he subsequently added to this by the pur- chase of 268 acres ; in 1870. his estimated worth was $20,000, the accumulation of his own exertions, assisted by his wife. At this period of his prosperity a great financial calamity befell him, which was doubly severe because of the manner and source from which it came, it being security and forged notes to the amount of $12,000 ; for him and his devoted companion to have the fruits of their lives' toils and sacrifices thus unlawfully snatched from them was a bereavement most keenly felt, and on his family it fell with equal weight. Mr. and Mrs. H. are the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters, and are the grandparents of twenty- one children ; one son, the youngest and oldest daughters, and five grandchildren have died. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are members of the Universalist Church at Palestine. BALSER HORN, farmer ; P. O. Hollandsburg. Mr. Horn was born in
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