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 98
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SOLOMON WEILLS, retired; Painter Creek. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Preston Co., Va., Feb. 12, 1818, and is a son of William and Sarah Weills ; his father was born in Maryland in 1775, and died in 1848; his mother was born in 1781, and departed this life in 1848; they are the parents of sixteen children, of whom all are living, so far as is known, except four. Our subject was reared on the farm, where he labored till he began his
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labors in the schoolroom, which he followed till he was 23 years of age. He received his preparatory education in Washington, and studied theology under his brother, who was a very eminent minister of the Lutheran Church ; he frequently filled his brother's appointments, during his studies, thus gaining a practical and theoretical experience at the same time ; he was ordained a minister of the Gospel in 1847, his first regular charge being in Washington Co., Penn .; here he labored for ten years, and frequently preached to other congregations ; at the expiration of this time. he removed to Union Co., Ind., and was placed in charge of the Luth- eran Church in Liberty, also St. Paul's Church, in an adjoining county ; here he labored for seven years, and was then called to Tippecanoe, where he labored for four years, filling two regular appointments, and, he informs us, while on this charge, he preached more funeral sermons than in all his previous life in the ministry ; in 1866, he went to live near Greenville, and was actively engaged for awhile ; thence to Adams Township, where he remained one year; thence to the place where he now resides ; he owns 163 acres of improved land, which is in a high state of cul- tivation. He celebrated his marriage with Lydia, a daughter of John and Hannab. Shaffer, May 2, 1844 ; to this union six children were given, viz .: Alpheus, born Feb. 6, 1846 ; Mosheim, born March 4, 1848 ; Henrietta, born March 9, 1850 ; Her- man J., born May 23, 1851; Agnes H., born Aug. 21, 1854, died Jan. 13, 1868 ; Hazelius, born March 3, 1858; Mrs. Weills died in 1865 ; he was again united in marriage with Martha J., a daughter of Elisha and Eliza Penny, March 5, 1873.
JOHN N. WILLIAMS, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill; the subject of this memoir was born in Miami Co., Ohio, in 1839, and is a son of Isaac and Sarah Williams ; his father was born in Miami Co .; lived, died and is buried in the county of his nativity ; his grandfather, John Williams, was born in Virginia, and settled on the farm where our subject's father spent a lifetime, where his eyes first beheld the light of day, and where he met the summons of death ; on the land where his grandfather located was a place held sacred by the Indians, was a place of general rendezvous for all neighboring tribes, and on the same spot the early pioneers erected four block-houses, forming a square, which gave the settlers a place of protection and security from the many attacks of the Indians in those troublesome times. Isaac Williams was born in 1810; his wife, Sarah, was born in Montgomery Co., in 1820, and is still living ; the land entered by his grandfather remained in the family name for nearly three-quarters of a century. Our subject was reared on the farm, and assisted in the labor of the same till his 21st year, when he united his destiny at the marriage altar with that of Sarah, a daughter of S. C. Miles, in 1861. In 1864, he volunteered in the 147th O. V. I., one hundred-day men ; served his time and was honorably discharged ; he after- ward emigrated to Kansas, where he remained one year to a day, and then returned and settled on 117 acres of land in Darke Co., where he resided for six years, and then disposed of this land and removed to where he now resides ; his brother Daniel was Adjutant of the 61st O. V. I., and was among the slain at the battle of Gettysburg, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Christian Church, and are exemplary Christian people ; they are the parents of four chil- dren, viz., Floy. Perry L., Daniel W. and Allen.
GEORGE W. WRIGHT, minister, merchant and Postmaster, Painter Creek. The subject of this memoir was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Dec. 3, 1835, and is a son of Robert Wright, a native of Pennsylvania, who removed to Ohio in a very early day ; he is still living, and resides in Miami County, his wife departing this life when in the bloom of womanhood ; they were the parents of six children, three of whom are living, viz. : John, George and Susannah ; the deceased are Elizabeth, Barbara and Catherine. Our subject assisted his father in agricultural pursuits till he was of age, when he began life for himself, and chose farming as his occupation, which he followed till 1867, when he came to Painter Creek and entered a partnership with his father-in-law, John Hayworth, in a general mercan- tile business, which they successfully followed for a period, and at his father-in-
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law's death he assumed individual control of the business, and is still to be found at the old stand, ready to cater to the wants of the buying public ; he was appointed Postmaster Nov. 14, 1879 ; he received his education in the common schools, which he only had the privilege of attending at certain times, but, by making good use of his time and being studious in his habits, he acquired a fair understanding, and is well fitted to discharge the many responsibilities incident to his ministerial duties ; he began his labors in the ministry in 1874, and was regu- larly ordained a minister of the Brethren in Christ Church Nov. 14, 1877. when he received a regular charge; in 1878, he was chosen a delegate to a convention, held in Pennsylvania in November of the same year, to revise the constitution of the church; in 1879, he filled three regular appointments ; this year, he fills only two. He celebrated his marriage with Elizabeth, youngest daughter of John Hayworth, May 13, 1858; her parents were among the first settlers of Darke County, both deceased; Mr. and Mrs. Wright are the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living, viz., Aaron, Eliza A., Angeline, John, Simon, Clara M. and Forrest ; the deceased are Delmont and Ivens ; Mr. Wright has filled the Treas- urer's office of the township for two terms, and is the present incumbent; he has also filled the office of School Director for three terms ; his grandfather was born in Ireland, and emigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where he mar- ried, and afterward removed to Montgomery County ; the D. & U. R. R. passed between his house and barn, and, while attempting to pass from the barn to the house, he was caught by a passing train and thrown some seventy feet from the point of collision and instantly killed, aged 70 years ; his grandmother survived a few years, and departed this life at the age of 95.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
JACOB ARMACOST, farmer, Sec. 17 ; P. O. New Madison.
GEORGE BACON, hardware merchant, New Madison ; was born Dec. 26, 1826, in Jefferson Co .. N. Y .; removed with his parents to Michigan in 1834. where he remained until 1848, when he went to Cincinnati, and thence to different parts of Ohio, locating in New Madison in 1849, and engaged in mercantile busi- ness, which he has continued ever since, having now become one of the substan- tial business men of New Madison, being one of the firm of Bacon & Aughee. Mr. Bacon was married to Clara Aughee Feb. 17, 1850, at the home of her parents, near New Paris, Preble Co. They have two children-Orla and Flora.
JOHN BILLMAN, farmer, Sec. 26 ; P. O. New Madison.
T. J. BLOOM, miller ; P. O. and residence New Madison. The business interests of New Madison could not be properly presented without a more than passing notice of " The New Madison Mills," of which Mr. Bloom is proprietor. He came here in 1868 ; the business of the mill could then be done in from two to three days' run in each week. In 1875, Mr. Bloom determined on improvement ; tore down the old mill and rebuilt it, placing an entire new set of machinery, which included the patent process, and now has a capacity to produce forty bar- rels of flour and grind 150 bushels of corn in a twelve-hour run, and is prepared, both by experience and improved methods, to produce the very best of flour ; he is doing both a custom and merchant business, and such is the reputation of his flour, that he sells all of it on orders, thus saving the expense and risk of con- signments. Mr. Bloom, although a young man, is already one of the prominent and substantial business men of New Madison. He was born in Preble Co. in 1845 ; his father was a miller, and T. J. naturally grew to be a miller while young He enlisted in the three-months service in 1862, and was taken prisoner at Har- per's Ferry and held until some time after the expiration of his term of service, then
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paroled, after which he returned to New Madison and resumed milling. Was mar- ried in 1864 to Miss Mary C., daughter of Lewis S. Davis, of Richmond, Ind. ; they have one child-Charles.
WILLIAM BROWN, farmer. Sec. 36 ; P. O. Brinley Station ; was born in Vir- ginia Nov. 21, 1807 ; his parents came to Ohio in 1808, traveling on horseback, and first settled in Washington Co., afterward in Clinton Co; about the time of becoming 21, his parents removed to Warren Co., when he began life for himself ; having had but little education, he worked out by the day or month, as he had opportunity, until 1840, when he came to Preble Co. and took charge of a farm belonging to his sister, her husband having died March 17, 1842. He was married to Susanna Shuman ; she was born in Preble Co. Nov. 29, 1823 ; they settled on a farm he had previously purchased in Harrison Township, Darke Co. ; after remain- ing about two years he removed to Preble Co., where he purchased a farm ; they remained here until 1853 ; he purchased 151 acres in Darke Co., where they removed and have since lived. Mr. Brown now owns two 80-acre tracts in Preble Co., under good cultivation, besides the home farm, which is well improved, and altogether worth at least $15,000. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of eight children-Hannah, born Jan. 6, 1843, now Mrs. Milton Thomas, of Preble Co .; Joseph, born Nov. 25, 1844, now living in Preble Co., on Sec. 25, Harrison Town- ship ; Sarah J., born Feb. 5, 1847, now Mrs. Geo. Miller, also of Harrison Town- ship ; Wm. S., born April 14, 1849 ; John H., born Oct. 9, 1851 ; Thomas M., born July 9, 1854 ; Franklin J., born Oct. 23, 1856 ; Jacob S., born May 12, 1859 ; all of whom are now living.
EDWARD J. BUNCH, retired ; New Madison ; born in Harrison Township Jan. 17, 1827. His parents, Nazareth Bunch and Permelia (Simons) Bunch, were among the pioneer settlers of Darke, having emigrated from Perquimons Co., N. C., in 1824, and entered a quarter-section of land, upon which this son was born, reared, and now owns. Mr. E. J. Bunch commenced business for himself in 1853, purchasing a stock of goods in New Madison, which business he continued about two years, when he sold out. A short time after this a remarkable incident occurred ; he was bitten by a rabid dog, and, although the same dog had bitten a son of Washington Ubrem, and also a number of cattle, hogs, etc., he alone recov- ered, being attended by Dr. G. Miesse, of Greenville. Mr. Bunch and Miss Cath- erine Coblentz were married at the home of her parents, in Butler Township, Nov. 22, 1855 ; soon after they went on a farm he owned in Harrison Township, and have continued to live in Harrison Township ever since, owning different tracts of land until 1862, when he purchased the old homestead, where he lived until 1873, when he purchased a handsome residence property in New Madison, where he now resides ; he has just completed a fine brick building, near the railroad track, which he designs for a warehouse. Mr. and Mrs. Bunch are the parents of three chil- dren-Eva and Edward, the first having died in infancy.
CHARLES W. CHENOWETH, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Hollandsburg, Ohio ; was born in Maryland Sept. 3, 1830 ; in 1838, he came with his parents to Darke Co .; they settled in Harrison Township, and afterward removed near Arba, Ran- dolph Co., Ind .; his mother now resides there ; his father's death occurred in 1876. The subject of this sketch remained at home with his parents until his marriage with Minerva J. Harrison, which occurred Feb. 24, 1853, after which they lived with her parents in German Township until the following fall, then removed to Randolph Co., Ind .; remained there until 1856, when they removed to Harrison Township, Darke Co., and lived on Sec. 3 eight years ; then removed to the farm in German Township, upon which her father settled in 1832 ; remained there until 1876, then removed to the farm near Hollandsburg, where he now resides ; his wife's death occurred here Sept. 28, 1878. The following is an extract from the obituary notice, written by her Pastor : "In the death of Sister Chenoweth the husband has lost a kind and affectionate wife, the children a loving and indulgent mother, the church a worthy member, and the community an exem -
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plary Christian character. She united with the Christian Church at Hollandsburg in the year 1854, during a meeting held by Father Ashley, and lived a consistent Christian life until death summoned her to her reward." She left seven children, viz .: William A., born Dec. 26, 1854, married to Rosa Thomas in 1877, and now resides in German Township ; James A., born Oct. 21, 1857, married to Emma Karn Sept. 28, 1879, and now resides in German Township ; Marietta K., born Oct. 11, 1860 (now Mrs. Geo. Sharpe), and resides in Harrison Township ; Wash- ington E., born Oct. 14, 1862 ; Morton M., Nov. 6, 1865 ; Ellennora B., Dec. 31, 1869, and Elmer E., July 1, 1872 ; the four last are all at home and attending school. Mr. Chenoweth has been an active, industrious citizen, and quite success- ful ; starting poor, he has steadily advanced, and now owns, besides his home farm adjoining Hollandsburg, which consists of 87 acres well improved, 178 acres in German Township in a good state of cultivation, with fair improvements ; his two married sons now live on and farm this place. Mr. Chenoweth purchased the farm where he now resides in 1875, for the purpose of getting better church and school privileges for his family. He has been a prominent member of the Christian Church here, and is now Deacon and one of the Trustees, and is an active, useful member of society and a substantial citizen. He was married to Mary A. Felton Sept. 14, 1879.
JOHN DARLAND, farmer ; P. O. New Madison, resides Sec. 11; was born in Nicholasville, Ky., May 30, 1805, and came with his parents to Preble Co., Ohio, in 1810 ; he remained with his parents during his minority, receiving but little education ; after he became of age, he worked wherever he had opportunity, making his home with his parents until his marriage with Martha Beatley, which occurred April 22, 1839 ; he then rented a farm ; two years later he purchased and removed to a farm in Wayne Co., Ind. ; in 1865, he purchased the farm upon which they now and have since resided. They are the parents of nine children, viz .: Harrison, born July 14, 1840 ; Benjamin, born Aug. 7, 1842 ; Oliver, born Dec. 20, 1845 ; Thomas, born Jan. 10, 1848 ; Margaret J., now Mrs. John Hill, born June 4, 1853 ; George, born March 27, 1856; Mary E., born Aug. 10, 1858 ; John M., born Jan. 15, 1862 ; and Dora, born July 30, 1865, Mr. Darland, as will be seen. started with nothing but his own energy and physical strength to rely upon, and has gradually advanced, until by his energy, industry and economy, he now has 230 acres of land, with good buildings ; they have raised a large family, all of whom are living, some at home and some in distant States. Mr. and Mrs. Darland are both of the quiet, substantial type, highly respected citizens, and he is a useful, respected citizen.
THOMAS J. DAVIS, (deceased) ; was born in Butler Co., Ohio, July 29, 1834 ; came to Darke Co. in 1854, and engaged in the furniture and under- taking business, which he continued until 1867, then started a general store at Hollandsburg, which he continued until the time of his decease, which occurred Aug. 6, 1879 ; the following extract from the obituary written by one who knew him, shows how he was regarded by his neighbors : "Mr. Davis was an active, intelligent, useful citizen, esteemed by all who knew him; was a worthy mem- ber of the Masonic Order, and always cherished and sustained all efforts for the support and propagation of that which was good and noble." He was married to Mary E. Harrison, June 8, 1856 ; she is a daughter of Harvey Harrison, who was one of the pioneers of German Township, and a successful physician for more than twenty years; they were the parents of three children, viz., Harvey E., Florence J. and Charles C. Harvey E., when about 15 years of age, became deaf, the effect of a severe sickness ; he is now a young man and an artist ; the way in which he became an artist is remarkable and somewhat romantic ; when he first realized that he was permanently deaf, he was nearly beside himself, so great was his grief and mortification, and in his desperation the thought came to his mind that perhaps he could make a picture, and he immediately proceeded to try ; with some common paint, procured from a paint shop near by, a pallet and brush of
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his own manufacture, a smooth board for a canvass, and a picture of a little girl for a subject, he executed his first portrait ; the result so astonished his parents and friends that he was provided with the necessary outfit, and such was his delight at finding he could do something, notwithstanding his deafness, that he threw his entire energy into his efforts, and, although he never had any instruction except such as he could get from books, he now executes a portrait which will compare favorably with productions of regularly instructed artists, and proves him to be a genius in art. Mrs. Davis and her three children still reside at the home provided by the loving and lamented husband and father ; she is an intelligent, modest woman.
D. B. DENHAM, retired ; P. O. New Madison ; was born in Denhamstown, on the Ohio River, Oct. 3, 1809 ; when about 6 years old, his mother died, and his father bound him to J. Lyon, a wagon-maker of Springfield, Ohio, when he was 14 years old, his master, Mr. Lyon, died, and Mr. Denham then engaged to learn the blacksmith trade ; after completing his apprenticeship, he worked as journey- man in Troy and Hamilton, Ohio, and different places in Indiana, and in 1838, returned to Troy, and married Miss Rebecca Marshall, a native of Pennsylvania, born in Bucks Co., Sept. 6, 1811 ; after his marriage, he continued to work at his trade in Troy and Staunton, until 1845, he removed to Pulaski Co .. Ind., but not being satisfied here, he returned in a few months to Troy, Ohio, and resumed blacksmithing in partnership with a Mr. Daily ; in 1858, removed to Darke Co., and purchased 127 acres of land in York Township ; after living here one year, returned to Troy ; a year or two later, he removed to Dallas, where he worked at his trade a short time, after which. he again went on to his farm in York Township, but only remained about one year, then removed to Brown Township, where he remained until 1866 ; he sold out in York Township and came to New Madison, purchased 80 acres in Harrison Township, near New Madison, also several pieces of property in New Madison, including the residence in which they now reside ; upon one of these lots he built a shop, in which he carried on blacksmithing until, quite recently, he sold his shop, tools and stock, and is now living a quiet, retired life. Mr. and Mrs. Denham are the parents of six children, only one of whom is living-Charles M., a harness-maker of New Madison. The names of the deceased are Rachael J., Henrietta, Sarah E., Nancy T., and the first, who died in infancy ; Rachael J. was married to Charles A. Reigle, Oct. 9, 1861, Uzeuno and Estell V., their son and daughter, are now of Mr. Denham's family ; Sarah E. was married to Charles D. Bevington, Nov. 21, 1867 ; Frank W. B., their son, is also with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Denham. It will be seen by this record that Mr. Denham has lived not so much for himself as for others.
JASON DOWNING, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. New Madison ; was born in Chester Co., S. C., April 14, 1811 ; son of John and Margaret (Faris) Downing, both of Irish descent ; Jason came with his parents to Darke Co., in 1817, and was raised during the early times, in Harrison Township, and is one of the most intelli- gent and best informed of the few now living, who were here at so early a day ; his father having been a teacher in South Carolina, he received a fair education ; he remained at home until about 27 years of age ; his father had a blacksmith shop on his farm, and hired a smith part of the time ; Jason spent considerable time in this shop, and obtained a pretty good idea of the trade, but thought he would try teaching school ; after one term, he concluded that did not suit him, and he learned the brickmason's trade, at which he became very proficient, and has followed it more or less all his life, having done some brickwork during the past year. Dec. 16, 1841, he was married to Rebecca J., daughter of John and Jane Beard, who were pioneers of Butler Township ; after his marriage, they settled on the farm upon which they now reside ; he had previously purchased it, put up a cabin and made some improvements, but when he was ready to occupy it, he built a house, which forms a part of his present commodious dwelling ; the old cabin, now used as a sort of shop, is about the only reminder of those early days of hard labor and privations he so well remembers. The farm now consists of 120 acres,
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80 of which are under cultivation ; thus Mr. and Mrs. Downing were early settlers and are now among the oldest residents of Harrison Township, and have contrib- uted their full share toward the growth and improvement of Darke Co. They are the parents of eight children, viz .: Robert, born Sept. 18, 1843, now married and resides in Sec. 9; Samuel, born April 17, 1846, died Aug. 24, 1852 ; Margaret J., born Oct. 12, 1848, now Mrs. George W. Miller, of Preble Co .; Sarah C., born June 1, 1851, now Mrs. J. E. Armacost, resides in Harrison Township ; George W., born Sept. 22, 1853, still at home ; Fanny E., born April 7, 1856, now Mrs. L. W. Arma- cost.
JAMES L. DOWNING, farmer, Sec. 10 ; P. O. New Madison ; was born Feb. 20, 1852, on the farm where he has since and at present resides ; he is the son of John E. and Sarah M. Downing ; John E. was born in South Carolina, and came with his parents to Darke Co. when a boy ; Sarah M. (Morrison-Brawley) Downing, was born in Preble Co. and came with her husband to Darke Co. in 1833; they settled upon the farm upon which the son, James L., now lives, his mother living with him, the father having died Oct. 27, 1872 ; the Downings were very early set- tlers and are noticed at some length in the township history ; the farm upon which Mr. James L. and his aged mother now live, was partly cleared and improved by John Tibbs, a pioneer of Harrison Township, from whom John E. purchased it. The old log cabin with stick chimney which Mr. Tibbs built, still stands where he placed it, as a reminder of the limited accommodations and privations of the early settlers ; since the time it was built, the dense forest has been cleared away and cultivated fields now greet the eye ; a neat and commodious house has been built, also a frame barn and other buildings for the accommodation of stock and storage of grain, implements, etc., evidences of industry, economy and practical wisdom. Mrs. Sarah M. Downing is the mother of nine children by her first hus- band, John Brawley, viz .: Thomas S., born May 29, 1836, now married and resides in Kansas ; Martha Ann, born Oct. 10, 1837, died Sept. 16, 1838 ; Levi P., born Jan. 19, 1840, was married to Louisa J., daughter of Patterson Purviance, died April 13, 1862 ; by her second husband, John E. Downing ; Louisa J., born Nov. 29, 1843, now Mrs. Allen Tyler of Preble Co .; Mary C., born March 19, 1846, died Dec. 31, 1876 ; Melissa E., born Nov. 7, 1849, died Aug. 19, 1876 ; James L., born Feb. 20, 1852 ; Margaret E., born May 2, 1855, died April 20, 1877 ; infant son, born March 9, 1858, died Sept. 6, 1858 ; Florence A., born Dec. 11, 1859, died July 24, 1879 ; Ruth A., born August 15, 1862. Mr. Downing is the inventor of " Downing's Hand Planter," which bids fair to excel all other hand planters. In politics he has been a lifelong Democrat ; he cast his first ballot for Andrew Jack- son ; he was a member of the School Board for more than twenty years, and has always been an intelligent, useful citizen, and, although somewhat advanced in years, is now a very intelligent, social, agreeable gentleman.
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