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 85
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WASHINGTON LONG; farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Versailles. Stephen Long, the father of Washington, was born in Kentucky, on the 8th day of August, 1798, and emigrated to Miami Co., Ohio, in the year 1806, where he farmed for a period of about twenty-eight years ; moved to Darke Co., Wayne Township, Sec. 17, where he resided till his death, which occurred on the 29th day of December, 1854. Sarah, his wife, died on the 27th day of December, 1871, on the old home farm. Washington Long, the subject of this sketch, was born in Miami Co., Ohio, on the 15th day of October, 1823 ; came with his parents to Darke Co. in the year 1834, where he has continued to reside ever since; he worked on the farm till he arrived at the years of his majority ; however, in the mean time attending the dis- trict school, obtaining a good common-school education ; went before the Board of Examiners, obtained a certificate, and taught his first school when only 22 years of age, now thirty-four years ago, receiving for his labor the enormous salary of $10 per month ; continued to teach during the winter months, working on the farm in the summer, for a period of about eleven years, with good success, giving entire satisfaction wherever he taught. Mr. Long is quite an active worker in the canse of religion and temperance, being a member of the Christian Church for a period of about twenty years ; his religious impressions were mainly due to his mother, who was a pious, thrifty and hard-working woman, given to saving, and devoted to her family. His father was a minister of the Gospel, being a regular ordained
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minister of the Christian Church. Versailles, at that time, contained only about three families ; the settlement was then called Jacksonville. Mr. Long is not in any sense of the term an office-seeker, yet he has held various offices much of the time during his residence in Darke Co., viz. Township Trustee, Assessor, and in the fall of 1879, was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for Representative of the Twelfth Congressional District to the State Legislature, and was elected by an overwhelming majority ; has many warm friends, and is beloved by all who know him ; has by his industry, and the help of his good and amiable wife, accumulated a considerable amount of property. Mr. Long has been married twice ; first, to Miss Susan M. Lyons, on the 1st day of May, 1862 ; one child was born to them, viz. Joseph N., born on the 19th day of December, 1862; Susan M. Long departed this life on the 27th day of December, 1862. After a period of four years, he married Miss Polly Brewer, the nuptials being celebrated on the 16th day of October, 1866 ; she was born in Darke Co., Ohio, on the 6th day of December, 1832. Elizabeth Brewer, her mother, was born on the 24th day of August, 1806; she departed this life on the 24th day of July, 1864; two children were the result of his second marriage, viz .: Ellen J. was born on the 23d day of July, 1867 ; the other was not named-died in infancy. When Mr. Long came to Wayne Town- ship, there were but three families living in Jacksonville, now Versailles, there being only about ten acres of cleared land on the tract ; he now has 200 acres, valued at $50 per acre.
LEONARD MARKER, furniture dealer and undertaker, Versailles. Ray- mon J., the father of Leonard, was a native of Ohio, born in Montgomery Co. on the 29th of August, 1824. He was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Back- man, in Dayton, Ohio, in April, 1845 ; in 1850, he with his little family, moved to Darke Co., locating on the west bank of Swamp Creek, opposite Bower's old mill, where he resided till his death, which occurred in 1855, being only 31 years old ; his wife preceded him about ten months, being only 29 years of age; Mr. Marker, although a young man when he died, had accumulated considerable amount of property, and was known as being strictly honest, industrious and a square-dealing citizen, filling several offices of trust, being Justice of the Peace of the township in which he lived ; he was one of a little band of about twenty who organized Versailles Lodge, No. 286, I. O. O. F., being a charter member and one of the prin- cipal officers of the lodge when he died ; he was buried by the order in the beau- tiful little cemetery just south of Brock, in this county, where a handsome monu- ment marks the resting-place of himself and wife; he sank peacefully to rest beloved and honored by all who knew him. Leonard, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Ohio, born in Montgomery Co. on the 9th of June, 1846, and at the age of 4 years was taken with his parents to Darke Co., and at the age of 9 he, with two brothers and a sister, all younger than himself, were left orphans, thrust upon the cold charities of the world ; but here the fraternity which had watched over and cared for their father was at hand, and good homes were pro- vided for them all, and Leonard was taken by an uncle to Montgomery Co., with whom he lived until he was 19 years old, when he commenced the furniture trade in Versailles, Ohio, as an apprentice boy, and at the age of 21, in 1868. launched out in the furniture and undertaking business on his own resources ; for several years adversity stared him in the face, but with an indomitable will and that stern, " never give up " which characterizes him, he pressed on and surmounted many difficulties, and is now doing a good, lucrative business ; in connection with his inereasing furniture trade, he has a fine hearse, and, with all the modern appliances he is continually coming in possession of for the taking care and putting away the dead, he is becoming the leading undertaker of northern Darke Co .; he is comfort- ably located in his new and commodious rooms on East Main street; in the spring of 1869, he celebrated his marriage with Miss E. Gertie Reed, daughter of James H. Reed, of Versailles ; they have a family of three children, viz., Eugenie Grace, James Reed, Maud. Mr. Marker has filled several offices of trust in his
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community ; he is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, also of Versailles Lodge, No. 286, I. O. O. F., of which his father was a charter member ; he has taken all the higher degrees of the encampment, and has several times filled the honor- able office of the D. D. Grand Patriarch of the Encampment.
MARTIN MARKER, farmer and stock-raiser ; Sec. 13; P. O. Versailles, Ohio. George, his father, was a native of Maryland, born in Frederick Co., on the 19th of June, 1782 ; he emigrated to Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1823, where he resided till his death, which occurred on the 29th of November, 1850. Margaret, lris wife, died in Preble Co., Ohio, at the advanced age of 84 years. Martin, the subject of this sketch, is one of the old settlers of Darke Co., being a native of Maryland, born in Frederick Co., on the 15th of June, 1815 ; came with his parents to Montgomery Co., Ohio, when he was about 7 years old, where he spent his boy- hood days on his father's farm ; he received his education in the subscription schools of Montgomery Co. On the 30th of May, 1837, he celebrated his mar- riage, in Montgomery Co., with Margaret Weaver, who is a native of Ohio, born in Montgomery Co., on the 18th of January, 1818 ; shortly after his marriage, he rented a farm, on which he remained about two years, when he took a lease in Butler Township, Darke Co., but only remained six months, when he moved on a tract of land in York Township, consisting of 94 acres, which his father-in-law gave him in lieu of $100 ; he erected a log cabin and began the laborious task of opening up a farm ; he cleared and put under cultivation about 40 acres. He traded his farm for a saw and flouring mill, known as the "John Hole Mill," which he operated about ten years, but, accidentally, was forced into a law-suit, in which he lost almost the entire property. He then leased 70 acres in York Township for three years, and, in a short time, he purchased the tract for $600, paying $10 down, which was every cent that he possessed ; but, at the expiration of the three years, he had paid out. He then purchased 80 acres more, paying $400, and, in a few years, he erected a brick house and cleared 60 acres. In 1850, he sold out to his brother Raymond for $1,700 ; he then purchased 164 acres, where he now resides. In 1863, he sold out, and purchased 240 acres in Cedar Co., Iowa, where he moved, and, in a short time, he added 280 acres more, making in all 520 acres, 120 of which was timber land. In 1866, he sold the entire body, at a gain of nearly $6,000 ; he then removed to Darke Co., on the old farm, the party failing to pay for it, where he has continued to reside ever since; he erected a bank-barn, 70x40 feet, at a cost of $2,500, also a very large two-story brick house, and raised an orchard of 300 bearing fruit-trees ; the farm contains 164 acres, valued at $16,000. He has given his children, in lands and money, about $11,000, all of which he and his good and amiable wife have accumulated by their hard labor, having passed through the many struggles, trials and dangers so common to the pioneer of the West. They have been members of the Luth- eran Church for upward of forty-five years. Mr. Marker has had his full share of township offices since his residence in the county, viz. : In 1851, he was elected District Assessor, he platted and appraised the lands in five townships, viz., Wayne, Richland, York, Wabash and Patterson, which he performed in 102 days, receiving a compensation of $204; his work was received with universal satisfaction by the people ; he is also known as the best and most successful aue- tioneer in the county. He relates many thrilling incidents of his early life in Darke Co., which the writer would have been pleased to mention, but, for the want of space, had to omit. Margaret, his wife, should have special mention for her heroic deeds, as she has shared the storms as well as the calmns, the joys as well as the sorrows ; she is the mother of eleven children, of whom nine are living, viz. : Lovina S., born Feb. 12. 1838; Martin V., June 27, 1841 ; Mary, March 27, 1843 ; Emanuel, Sept. 12, 1845 ; Martha J., May 25, 1851; Lucinda and Malinda (twins), March 12, 1855 ; Josiah, March 28, 1858; Amanda, Nov. 9, 1872.
WILLIAM H. MURPHY, banker and lumber dealer, of the firm of Kusnick, Murphy & Co., Versailles, Ohio ; was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, on the 6th
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day of September, 1818 ; he lived with his grandmother until her death, which occurred in the year 1831 ; worked on the farm by the month and day for different persons, performing all kinds of labor until he was about 17 years old, when he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, continuing at the same for a period of about eight years, meeting with good success, after which he sold out, and engaged in farming till the year 1862, when he sold his farm, and moved to Covington, Ohio. and engaged in the grocery and provision trade, which he followed for about one year ; he then removed to Wayne Township, where he purchased a farm, in Sec. 19, near the corporation of Versailles ; farmed, and carried on the hardware busi- ness in Versailles ; sold his farm and continued the hardware business for a period of about six years. with fair success ; sold out his store and connected himself with the bank on the 1st of January, 1878, with Francis Kusnick; since having added the lumber business-which is the only lumber-yard in Versailles ; Mr. Murphy was left an orphan, being thrust out in the cold world to fight the battles of life alone, which he has braved through with unflinching nerve, gaining the vietory. and is now reaping the reward of a handsome fortune, which he has accumulated by his own hard labor ; he obtained a good common-school education. He has in no sense of the word been a political aspirant, although he has had his full share of township offices ; while living in Miami Co., he served one term as Justice of the Peace ; also served as Township Trustee two years ; and in Wayne Township, where he now resides, has held the office of Justice of the Peace for a period of nine years, and is now serving his fourth term ; and two years as Township Trustee, and Township Treasurer one year ; he is a live, energetic, thorough business man, and is beloved by all who know him. The Squire has passed the many struggles, inci- dents and dangers so common to the early pioneers of the great West, and is to-day hardy and robust at the ripe old age of 62 ; was an active member of the Chris- tian Church at the breaking out of the great rebellion, when he withdrew from the church. Was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sipe on the 7th day of January, 1838 ; thirteen children were the fruits of this union, viz .: Catharine, born Oct. 3, 1838 ; Leander, March 12, 1840; Sarah, April 19, 1841 ; Simon, Sept. 15. 1842 ; Angeline, April 1, 1844 ; John, May 10, 1845; William H., June 19, 1847 ; Mary M., Nov. 20, 1849 ; Ellen, Aug. 4, 1851 ; Esther, March 27, 1853 ; Elizabeth, Sept. 26, 1855 ; Susan, Aug. 21, 1857 ; Joseph, Aug. 6, 1860. Mary, his wife, died Sept. 30, 1862 ; was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Arnold (whose maiden name was Thompson), on the 8th day of February, 1864; she was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, on the 8th day of July, 1823. Leander, his eldest son, who lived four miles southeast of Columbia City, Ind., went to see a neighbor, on some business, who lived about three-quarters of a mile off, and has never been heard of since ; this was on the night of the 4th of December, 1866 ; it seems that he had some diffi- culty with the gentleman, the facts of which could not be obtained ; it is supposed that he was murdered ; his father received a letter from him on the same day. stating that he was well, and getting along very well, and, in three or four days after, Mr. Murphy received a letter from Leander's cousin, conveying the sad news that his son had very suddenly disappeared, and could not be found ; he left all his effects at home, or the place where he was working.
WILLIAM H. RIKE, physician, Versailles. Henry, his father, was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1822 ; he married Rebecca Dowler, who was born in Miami Co., Ohio, in 1824. William H., the subject of this sketch, was born in Miami Co., Ohio, on a farm, Dec. 3, 1850; he assisted his father on the farm during the summer months, and attended the district school in the winter, obtaining a good common-school education, and at the age of 19 he entered the Piqua school, where he finished his literary education ; he then taught school for a period of four years, in the mean time studying medicine under the instructions of Dr. J. Harrison, of Covington, Ohio ; he graduated at the Ohio Medical College. March, 2, 1876, and immediately thereafter, took up his residence in Versailles, for
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the purpose of following his profession ; he now has a good, lucrative practice. He celebrated his marriage, in 1876, with Emma V. Fetter, in Miami Co., Ohio, who was born Sept. 9, 1851 ; one child has been born to this union, viz., Venus Blanche, born August 15, 1878.
ADOLPHI SEIBT. merchant, Webster. F. T. Seibt, the father of Adolph. was born in Bautzen, Saxony, Germany, in the year 1804 ; he emigrated to Amer- ica, landing in New York, in the year 1830 ; went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and enlisted in a company of traders, known as the " Hudson Bay Company," whose business was to obtain furs from the Indians ; served about eighteen months ; this was in the year 1832. Mr. Seibt, while a single man, and after he was mustered out of the company, traveled through the country fixing watches and clocks, and it was while he was engaged in this business, that he met Miss Erdmute Schmidt, at a farmer's house ; it was then that the law of affinity asserted her divine right, and they were united in marriage in a short time ; he moved to Darke Co., Ohio, where Webster now stands, but at that time a wilderness ; this was in the year 1836 ; erected a storeroom in the course of time, and engaged in the dry-goods business, etc., which he followed till his death, which occurred on the 14th day of October, 1874 ; was mar- ried in the year 1836. Mr. Seibt was Postmaster in Webster for a period of twenty years. Adolph, the subject of this sketch, was born in Webster, on the 18th day of August, 1847 ; he lived with his parents, working on the farm during the sum- mer season, and attended the district school in the winter months, till he was about 20 years old, when he attended the Commercial College of Dayton, Ohio, for three months. Mr. Seibt has made one trip to Germany, remaining two years, dur- ing which time he attended the grammar school of the city of Bautzen, obtaining a good education ; returned home, and at the death of his father, he took charge of the store. and stocked it throughout with an entire new stock, and commenced busi- ness on his own responsibility, where he has continued to operate ever since, with a full line of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc .; was united in marriage to Miss Maggie E. Battie, in Darke Co., Ohio, on the 25th day of May, 1871 ; she was born in Darke Co. on the 20th day of October, 1844 ; they have had five children, viz .: Christiana, born March 17, 1872; Loranda, Oct. 25. 1874; Ida, Aug. 6. 1878; Willie F., Aug. 10, 1879. Mr. Seibt has a great many friends, and is beloved by all who know him ; his mother, Christiana, was born in Bautzen, Saxony. Germany, on the 24th day of December 1810; she lives with her son, Adolph ; is 69 years old, and is enjoying good health.
JOHN S. SIMON, merchant, Versailles. George S. Simon, the father of John S .. came to this country at a very early day, and settled at Versailles in the year 1839. where he has continued to reside ever since. John S .. the subject of this sketch, was born in Versailles, Ohio, July 27, 1847 ; assisted his father in the store when but a very small boy, in fact, was brought up behind the counter : attended the village school during the winter season. in which he obtained a good common-school education ; clerked for his father in the store for seventeen years. applying himself very closely to business. After this the entire stock was trans- ferred to him, when he commenced business for himself. continuing up to the pres- ent time, and he has, by his strictly temperate habits and industry. accumulated quite a large fortune. He carries a very large stock of gents' furnishing goods and ready-made clothing. He was united in marriage to Miss Amanda J. Brush. in Versailles, April 15, 1867. who was born in Lockington, Shelby Co .. Ohio. July 2. 1850. Two children are the fruits of this union, viz .: G. W. Harry, born Oct. 14. 1867 ; Maggie F., Jan. 31, 1875. Mr. Simon has never been a political aspirant. although he has held many offices of trust ; he was elected Township Clerk when only 22 years of age, serving three years with much credit to himself; was elected Justice of the Peace October, 1874. re-elected in 1877, being the youngest Justice of the Peace ever eleeted in Versailles ; was elected Mayor in the spring of 1879, which office he now holds ; he has also been a member of the School Board for six years. Mr. Simon has many warm friends, and is esteemed by all who know him.
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L. M. STEVENSON, teacher, Versailles, Ohio. Samuel W. Stevenson, the father of L. M., was born in the city of Belfast, Ireland, Oct., 24, 1809 ; his father, Anthony, was keeper of the King's Cheque on Duties and Customs. His mother, Sarah, was a descendant of Sir John Cornwall, whose daughter married a French exile, named La Waie, a Huguenot, who had to fly for his life during the religious revolts in his native country, and crossed the channel, landing in Ireland, where he made his home for the remainder of his life. He made the acquaintance of Sir John Cornwall, while shooting birds in a small strip of timber belonging to the estate, known as Edendork, about one mile northwest of the town of Dungamour, County Tyrone, Ireland, and about eight miles south of that beautiful body of water, Lough Neagh) ; his parents being all Protestants, he received his early relig- ious instructions in the creed of the established Church of England, and, in his early training, had inculcated the hereditary hatred of the Papists so common on the Island, where but two parties are known, the Papists and the Protestants, the latter being generally known as the " Orangemen," from William, Prince of Orange, Samuel W., like so many boys brought up in such close relationship with marine life, formed a great desire to be a sailor, and have his home on the mighty deep ; so strong did the desire become, that, at the early age of 14, he left school and appren- ticed himself to a sea-captain, for the purpose of becoming a sailor and navigator. The choice of office had been very suitable, and so well did he conduct him- self, that he gained the confidence of the commander, and, before the first voyage was completed, he was promoted to second mate, which office he filled with credit to himself, and was promoted to first mate. His first voyage was
made to Cronstadt, Stockholm, thence up the Baltic Sea to St. Petersburg, Russia. The second was to cross the Atlantic with a miscellaneous cargo to the United States, in which branch of the service he remained until October, 1829, having landed first at Pictora, Nova Scotia. on the 9th of July; during the night between October 31 and November 1, he was shipwrecked near Eastport, Me., from where he arrived at Quebec, July 2, 1830 ; at this time he was engaged in the shipment of timber, and on the 10th of July, while loading his vessel, he fell from the rigging to the deck, receiving such severe injuries as to prevent him going to sea after- ward ; he was placed in the Marine hospital at Quebec, known as the Sailors' Hos- pital, where he remained until he so far recovered from his injuries as to be able to again earn a livelihood ; during the time of his illness he heard from home, but. as an estrangement had arisen between him and his father, he determined not to return home until he could own and command a vessel of his own ; being, however, prevented from going on in his chosen vocation, he never accomplished his purpose : immediately after leaving the hospital he went with a party to the " front," as it was called, to cut and prepare ship-timber, with a contractor named Raney, in whose employ he remained one year ; thinking he could now improve his condition le quit with the contractor who tried to defraud him of his year's carnings ; from this a vexations lawsuit arose, which lasted for three years, but was finally decided in his favor. and the contractor was compelled to pay the amount due ; having obtained his money. he started again, but was prostrated at Roches- ter, N. Y .. for nearly a year by sickness. and was able to go to work with only 50 cents in his pocket; his determination never wavered; he started in search of something to do, and found it with a civil engineer named Col. Hovey, with whom he remained for some time, and left his employer with mutual regret, the Colonel saying. "You think the great El Dorado is Ohio ;" this remark at once decided him that, be his fortune what it might, he never would come back in a worse condition financially than he then was, and if his condition was better he did not wish to return ; putting his purpose into execution, he arrived at Oswego. N. Y., Sept. 5, 1835, where he remained for some time. obtain- ing and finishing several contracts of a canal then being contracted for ; his desire to go to Ohio being paramount to all else. he left New York, and arrived in Shelby County, Ohio, some time in 1838 or 1839 ; the canal extending from Cincinnati to
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Toledo being in process of construction, he obtained a contract from Jesse McClure ; he again went to ditching, in the prosecution of which he so injured his health by exposure that he could work no longer physically ; he then, by the solicitation of his friends, began to teach school ; having fully determined to make the United States his home, he filed his intentions in the Court of Shelby County. Ohio, on the 9th of November, 1839, and in 1842 received his certificate of citizen- ship ; having once entered upon the vocation of teaching, he was so successful that he could not withdraw, and his services were in continual demand ; lie became somewhat engaged in local politics, serving for several terms as Clerk of Cynthiana Township, and was finally brought out as a candidate for the office of Auditor of Shelby County ; in this he was defeated by only six votes. On the 24th day of December, 1841, he married Mary Ann McClelland, by whom he had two sons ; the elder, Alexander Finley, was born Sept 4, 1842 ; and the younger, Leander Montgomery, April 12, 1845. After his marriage, he tried farming, but could not make it a success, and finally abandoned it altogether. On the 27th of July, 1847, his wife died, and he was again cast out upon the world. Leaving his two children with their grand- father, he opened a school in Sidney, Shelby Co., which he taught with his usual success, and at the close of the term he engaged with Mr. McGrew to run his line of boats from Sidney to Cincinnati until the freezing up of the canal, but trade became so depressed and freight so light that he released Mr. McGrew from the contract after making two trips to Cincinnati. Again becoming a pedagogue, he opened and taught a school in Wapakoneta, the present county seat of Auglaize Co., closing his school in September, 1849. He was then called to Houston, Shelby Co., to take charge of the school there, and in the spring of 1850 he entered a piece of land in Shelby Co., lying about four miles east of Berlin. He now resumed teaching during the winter, and in the summer he cleared his land. May 15, 1851, he married Mary Ellen, the second and only living daughter of Mr. William English, of Wayne Township, Darke Co. He now began to keep house a second time, and during the winter he taught the school near Speer's landing, on the Lar- amie, about two miles cast of Houston, removing in May, 1852, to his " home in the woods," where he remained until September, when he was again called to take charge of the school at Wapakoneta and to act as County Examiner. To his great surprise, he found the same figures on the blackboard that he had placed there in 1849. He now gave up the project of clearing his farm and gave his whole atten- tion to teaching, serving in this capacity at Hardin, Shelby Co .; Morant, Jefferson Co., and Versailles, Darke Co., Ohio, from which place he removed May 1, 1856, to Covington, Miami Co., where he had purchased a small property. There he remained seven years, and began to accumulate some wealth. purchasing property in the town, now owned and occupied by D. C. Shellabarger. This, with his little farm, he exchanged for what was known as the "Two Mile House," on the Coving- ton and Gettysburg Pike, two miles west of Covington. In March, 1864. he sold out and removed to Versailles, Darke Co., purchasing a farm about two miles northwest of the town, where he resided until Nov. 7, 1872, when he again removed to Hill Grove, near Union City, Ind., where he took charge of the flouring- mill, for which he had exchanged his farm. He remained here until June 7, 1873, when he again returned to Versailles and lived with his younger son until his death. May 31, 1876. During life, he was always an upright and honest man, a fearless and uncompromising patriot, giving both his sons to the service of his country during the war, both of whom returned safe at its close. He finally sank peacefully to rest, sincerely mourned by many ; loved. honored and respected by all. Leander M. Stevenson, whose name heads this sketch, is a young man of fine address, and possesses rare abilities as an educator and instructor, and merits more than a passing notice. As will be seen in his father's sketch, he was left an orphan while he was quite young, having passed through the many struggles and trials so common to those that have been left
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