The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 134

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214

USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county > Part 134

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CHARLES CROOK, retired farmer; P. O., Taylorsville. The gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch is a son of Thomas Crook, and a brother of the distinguished Brig. Gen. George Crook. His father, Thomas, was born in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 30, 1788, and was united in marriage with Elizabeth Matthews, in 1812, with whom he lived thirty-two years. They were the parents of ten children, of whom six are living at the time of writing, viz: Catharine, now Mrs. Thomas Ater; Maria, now Mrs. Samuel Sulivan; Thomas, Capt. Walter, (his sketch appears in the biographies of Butler Township,); Brig. Gen. George and

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Charles. His wife was summoned out of this world in 1844. She was a lady who was esteemed by a large circle of friends, and treated everybody that came under their roof with kindness and respect Mr. Crook celebrated his marriage with his second wife, Anna Galahan, Oct. 14, 1845. He survived his second wife five montlis. Mr. Crook, by occupation was a morocco dresser, but his health becoming impaired was compelled to seek a more active employment, and in 1814 he made his first journey from Baltimore, Maryland to Ohio on horseback, and purchased the farm where he resided until his death. He returned to Baltimore and emigrated in com- pany with his brothers-in-law, Judge Mathews and John Mathews, to Ohio the same year in wagons. From the time of locating here his principal occupation had been farming. By temperate, industrious habits and close attention to his busi- ness, he accumulated a large amount of property, both personal and real. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace for a number of terms, and dis- charged the duties of that office to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He was summoned out of this world by the angel of death in 1874. He was a man of exemplary habits, and was held in high esteem by the citizens of Wayne Town- ship, and all with whom he met, and he was one of the men that raised Montgomery County to its present standard. He never identified himself with any church, yet he was moral in his deportment, and the family have lost in him a kind, indulgent father, and the community a good citizen. Charles Crook, the subject of this sketch, was born Oct. 17, 1830, and obtained his primary education in the district schools of the county, and received a higher course in the High School at Spring- field. He assisted his father with agricultural pursuits until he was united in mar- riage with Eliza Boohier, in 1855. They had three children, viz: Charles W., (deceased,) Laura E. and Thomas T., he cultivated the home farm until his father's death, after which he became owner. Mr. Crook has never souglit any office, but was elected to the office of County Commissioner, which he filled for three years, beginning in the fall of 1873, thus showing the confidence and esteem with which he was held in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Crook are both worthy members of the German Reformed Church, and have taken an active interest in the cause of religion since 1872. Mr. Crook is a man of untiring industry, and possesses good business qualities. He is a kind and indulgent parent and husband, and is held in high esteem by his many friends.

BIOGRAPHY OF A CENTENARIAN.

Jolin Cuppy was born at Morristown, N. J., March 11, 1761. When an infant twelve months old his father emigrated to Hampshire Co., Va. In 1779 he joined the American army as a private and was placed in Capt. McManus' com .- pany and ordered into Eastern Virginia to fight against the numerous bands of Tories that were organizing to join Col. Tarlton for the purpose of raiding and laying waste the settlements in North and South Carolina. He was present at the capture and execution of George Wolf, the leader of a notorious band of outlaws, who carried on a guerilla warfare under the supervision of Tarlton in North Caro- lina; at which time he received an honorable discharge, and returned to his home in Hampshire. County. He entered the service again in 1781, at which time he was attached as a private to a company of volunteers under the command of Capt. Robert Means. Before the company received orders to march, the news of Lord Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown was confirmed.

On the receipt of this intelligence, the company was disbanded and the soldiers returned to their homes, again holding themselves in readiness for a future campaign. In 1788 Mr. Cuppy emigrated to Ohio Co., Va., and erected a log cabin on the banks of the Ohio river, near the site of New Cumberland. The government erected a block house and stationed a small body of soldiers near where the town of Wellsburgh now stands, for the purpose of protecting the hardy pioneers from the numerous bands of hostile Indians who frequently crossed the Ohio river to murder and rob the settlers.

Mr. Cuppy and one of his neighbors, after being attacked by the Indians, and

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causing two of them to "bite the dust," by their never-failing rifles, removed his family to Cox's Block House, which was then occupied by Capt. Samuel Brady, who had command of thirty sharp shooters. After removing his family to a place of safety, he entered the service of the United States as a scout. From the spring of 1791 to the autumn of 1794, in company with Capt. Samuel Brady, his mess- mate, he acted as a scout along the banks of the Ohio river. During this eventful period of his life, he endured many privations and made numerous hair breadth escapes. For four consecutive years he never slept on a bed. He was present and took an active part in the bushwhack battle at Cross Creek, between thirty scouts and a large party of Indians. In this battle Lawson Vanbuskirk, George Aidy and William Davis were killed, and Samuel Ricks wounded. The Indians were routed with a loss of fifteen killed and nine wounded.

Shortly after the termination of his active service as a scout, he was appointed by Lieutenant Governor Wood, the then acting Governor of Virginia, on the 17th day of August, 1796, Captain of a company in the 1st Batallion of the 4th Regi- ment of the 10th Brigade, 3d Division, Virginia Militia. In a short time after receiving this appointment, he was called upon to aid in the suppression of the rebellion caused by the passage of the "Excise Laws." In this expedition he was eminently successful, and won the esteem of his superior officers and comrades in arms.

When the insurrectionary movement was arrested and quiet restored, he retired from the army, and returned with his family to his log cabin home on the banks of the beautiful Ohio river. At that time the country was an almost unbroken forest, and it required strong arms and stout hearts to convert the howl- ing wilderness into the beautiful farms that can be seen at the present time in that locality. He remained in the State of Virginia, devoting himself entirely to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, until the autumn of 1821, at which time, owing to the death of his wife, to whom he was devotedly attached, he disposed of his farm and removed to Lawrenceburg, Ind., where he resided with his son-in-law, Mr. Samuel Bartholomew, who married his eldest daughter, Ehzabeth. In the spring of 1823 he came to Southern Ohio, and settled on a farm in Wayne Town- ship, where he resided until the time of his death. He was not only a kind husband but an affectionate father, and greatly beloved by his children.

In his manners he was plain and unaffected; in his habits, strictly temperate. The most disgusting spectacle imaginable in his sight was that of a drunkard. In his dealings with the world there was a dignified generosity, which shunned all low trickery and cunning in trade and everything that had the semblance of meanness and dishonesty. He was a true patriot and loved his country, whose rise, progress and spreading glory he had been permitted to witness. He had a fine constitution, a well wrought, muscular frame, and enjoyed most excellent health until near the close of his pilgrimage. He was fond of manual labor, and when 75 years of age could use the sickle and lead in the harvest field with ease. He had been a professor of religion for half a century and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty-five years. He loved the church and its ordinances, and his seat was seldom vacant at the house of worship, unless lawfully hindered. When 80 years old he would walk one and a-half miles to meet his brethren in the house of worship. He stood in their midst like the aged forest oak. A new generation of trees had sprung up about him, while those who put forth their young branches when he did, had all been felled by the tempest of death-an ambassador of the past generation. What a privilige to listen to the experiences of a man who had seen the snows of one hundred winters! Many a hill of diffi- culty had he climbed and trodden many a vale of humiliation. How refreshing to hear him say that he "has never regretted setting forth on his pilgrimage to Zion, and that the pleasures are sweeter and the toils less irksome than in youth."

How sweet the memory of the venerable centenarian who had no fear of death. He was but a short time confined to the house or sick chamber. The noble taber-

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nacle was at last worn out, and the weary wheels of life stood still. He had great peace of mind, strong faith and imperishable hope. For a long time he seemed conscious of the near approach of death, and frequently expressed a desire to depart to that beautiful summer-land where "sickness, pain and death are felt and feared no more." On the 28th of June, 1861, in the stillness and hush of the early morning twilight, he died without a struggle, aged 100 years, three months and seventeen days. He was the last survivor of the party of scouts who patrolled the banks of the Ohio river during the Indian war, which terminated in 1794. His children, five in number, the fruits of his first marriage, are all long since dead. His grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, to the number of over one hundred, are distributed among eight of the Western States from Indiana to California and Oregon, all living in the West except three great grandchildren, who reside near Norfolk, Va.

Lydia Oilar Cuppy, second wife of John Cuppy, was born in Monroe County (now Greenbrier), Va., Feb. 8, 1798. She came with her parents to the vicinity of New Carlisle, Clark County, who, in 1811, settled on the land now occupied by John Williams. The following year witnessed the commencement of the war between Great Britain and the United States, and the few log cabin settlers who had reared their primitive homes in the Mad River Valley either volunteered or were drafted, and so there remained at home but here and there a male member of the family. During the absence of her father in the war, she resided in the fami- ilies of Thomas Stockstill, Henry Williams and Capt. John Williams, all of which men were in the war. In 1816 she was united in marriage with Joseph Russell, and to them were born four children, all of whom are long since deceased. Mr. Russell died in January, 1823, and in October, 1824, his widow married John Cuppy, with whom she bore in common the many trials incident to pioneer life. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Cuppy has resided with her eldest son, Henry, on the old homestead. The second son, Fletcher P., has long resided in Wash- ington City, and is an able and successful practitioner of the law. Mother Cuppy often speaks of the many trials and privations incident to pioneer life, and the unusual amount of hard labor that was required to furnish the means of subsist- ence for those bearing arms against a hostile and savage foe. The pioneer women of many families were compelled to cultivate the few acres that had been cleared by their husbands, and perform all the labor required of the sterner sex, but stimu- lated by a love of liberty, they labored with strong hands and willing hearts. In early life Mrs. Cuppy united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and to use her own language, "she has long since outgrown the old Orthodox idea of religion as advocated by the pulpit-round dancers and hot gospelers of the early part of the nineteenth century." To attack these ideas and shake off the superstition inculcated in our early moral training requires an iron will and a determined pur- pose, and no pioneer woman is more abundantly blessed with these qualifications than her. Speaking of the shock of the earthquake here in 1812, she says that the ministers considered it as evidence of the wrath and displeasure of the Deity, and the cyclone of the same year, they spoke of as the breath of an angry God. She says "she now believes in worshiping a God of love and not a God of hate and anger." "The following stanzas," says Mrs. Cuppy, "were, in my girlhood, sung on funeral occasions :

"Praised be the Lord. I pardoned am, My spouse. good soul, is pardoned too. We shall be saved. through Christ the Lamb, In spite of all that we can do. "Our children, boys and girls, are all, (By nious parents sanctified.) Are safe in grace what'er befall, For who shall Christ's elect divide ? "For others it is nought to me Who shall be saved, or who be damned. For grace shall still exalted be, And saints rejoice tho' hell be crammed," 1

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ABRAHAM DARST, farmer, P. O., Fishburg Box, was born in Miami County, Aug. 20, 1817. His father, Isaac Darst, came to Ohio, and settled in this county in 1807. He was married to Jane Morgan in 1812. The result of this union was nine children, of whom five are living, viz: Sarah A., Charles, Abraham, Mary, Isaac. Abraham, the subject of this sketch, obtained his education in the common schools. He was united in marriage to Sarah, daughter of Henry and Susan Deam, March 21, 1838. He rented land and set out with a will to gain some of the comforts of life. In 1842 he purchased the farm where he now resides, containing 120 acres. He has a large, commodious farm house, and has, with the assistance of his good and industrious wife, made many material improvements to correspond. Mrs. Darst has been a worthy member of the German Reformed Church for a number of years, and is esteemed by a large circle of friends and all who are brought in contact with her. Mr. and Mrs. Darst are the parents of three children, of whom two are living, viz: Warran H. and Alvina. Mr. Darst has arrived at the advanced age of 63 years, and is now reaping the reward of his toil all through life.

ADAM DEAM, farmer, P. O., Sulphur Grove, was born April 12, 1817. His father, Henry, was a native of Virginia, and came to Ohio with his father in 1802, and settled in what is now Warren County, near Springsboro. After Mont- gomery County was laid out, he moved to Wayne Township. He was united in marriage with Susanna, daughter of Benjamin Kiser, in 1813. They were the parents of seven children, of whom six are living, viz: Adam, Henry H., Hannah A., Sarah A., David W. and Lewis R. He purchased 160 acres that was covered with a dense growth of timber, and built a cabin, moved into it, and went to work . to put it under cultivation and try to gain some of the comforts of life. He has since added, by hard labor and industry, 104 acres, in Shelby County, making in all 264 acres. Mr. Deam was summoned out of this world in 1862. His wife survived him eight years. They were both worthy members of the German Re- formed Church, and, aided by their children, had been consistent workers in the advancement of religion. They were held in high esteem by all who knew them. Adam, the subject of this memoir, obtained his education in the common schools, was reared on the farm and assisted his father in agricultural pursuits until he was 21 years of age, and followed various pursuits until 1841, when he was married to Julia A., daughter of John and Eliza Bond. They have one child, viz: Sarah E., (now Mrs. J. S. Booher). Mr. Deam rented land for seven years and accumulated, with the assistance of his good and industrious wife, enough to purchase the house and farm where he now resides, containing 72 acres, nearly all under cultivation and improved. They both have been consistent members of the German Reformed Church for the past thirty-three years. Mr. Deam has never been an aspirant for office, but was elected to the office of Township Trustee and Path Master for a number of years. Mr. Deam is now 64 years of age; and by industry has managed to save something to keep them in their declining years.

JESSE GARVER, farmer and stockraiser, P. O., Dayton, is one of the enter- prising men of this township, and was born Dec. 5, 1840. His father was born in Pennsylvania, June 10, 1800, and was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of John Lucas, in 1820. They were the parents of sixteen children, of whom twelve are living, viz: Samuel, Mary, David L., George W., Liddy, Margaret, Sarah, Amos L., Jesse A., Catherine, Malinda and John C. Jesse, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools, and was brought up to agricultural pursuits, and remained with his father until 1862, when he obtained a position as traveling salesman for Baker & Co., of the Geneva Nursery, in New York State, which position he held until 1864, when he engaged in the stock business for himself, which he carried on very extensively, furnishing stock for the East- ern market until 1872. He purchased the place where he now resides, contain- ing 120 acres, of which 100 acres are under a good state of cultivation. He celebrated his marriage with Lucinda, daughter of Israel and Susan Brower, in

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1866. They are the parents of one child-Clara B., born Dec. 20, 1877. Mr. Garver has a large and comfortable farm house, and, with the assistance of his good and industrious wife, has added many material improvements to correspond. He is very industrious and persevering, and is successful in all of his business transactions, and has accumulated enough of this world's goods to enjoy many of the comforts and luxuries of this life.

JOHN M. GREIDER, Bishop, P. O., Osborn, Greene Co., was born in Penn- sylvania, Feb. 28, 1823. His grandfather, John Greider, is supposed to be a descen- dant of Jacob Greider, who was one of the oppressed Menonites, and fled with Jacob Hostator from Switzerland to Wurtemberg, taking nothing with them but a few linens and wearing apparel. Greider remained but a short time, but emigrated to America, and, in company with Hostator, after paying the brethren of their faith a visit at Peoquea, settled on the north side of the Conestoga, about 2 miles south from the present site of Lancaster. Here he entered a tract of land, contain- ing about 800 acres, in 1716 or '17, among the new surveys at Conestoga. Here he erected a temporary shelter, a tent, covered with cloth brought from Switzer- land, which served him and the family until autumn, when the tent gave way to a cabin, built of round, unhewn hickory saphings, and covered with bark. When the weather became cold, his tawny neighbors, the Indians, paid him regular night visits, to obtain shelter with him and sleep by the side of a genial fire. They fre- quently supplied him with fresh fish and venison, which they gave in exchange for bread. On one of these occasions, Mr. Greider, having that day consulted his almanac, to regulate his clock by the rising and setting sun, noticed that there would be, in a few weeks, an echpse of the moon. He informed his guests that on a certain evening the moon would hide her face. To hear that the moon would refuse to shine, was nothing new to them, as they had seen eclipses before, but that their white neighbor should possess so much prescience as to know this before-hand, was strange to them. At the time specified for the broad- faced moon to hide her disk, fifty or sixty Indians assembled there. To their utter astonishment the moon's face began to lessen. Profound silence pre-

vailed. Their spokesman expressed the cogitation of their wonder-stricken visitors: "'Tis the white man's God tells him this, else he would not know it." We will now return to our subject. His grandfather, John, was born Feb. 17, 1764, and received his education in the common schools, which he only had the privilege of obtaining at certain times, but by making good use of his time and being studious in his habits, he acquired a fair understanding, and was well fitted to discharge the many responsibilities incident to his ministerial duties, and was a regularly ordained Minister of the Menonite Church. He was united in marriage with Martha Hertzler, and was the father of seven children, viz: Elizabeth, John, Christian, Jacob, Maria, Michael, Martha, of whom three are living, viz: Christian, Maria (now Mrs. Herr), Martha (now Mrs. Funk). His father, Christian, was born Nov. 8, 1799. He obtained his education in the common schools, and was brought up to farm labor. He was united in marriage with Susan, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Coffman) Miller, in 1812, and purchased land of his father to the amount of 134 acres, of which about 90 acres were under a good state of cultivation and improved. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom nine are living, viz: John M., Benjamin M., Jacob M., Amos M., Elizabeth, Susan, Anna, Mary, Barbara. John M., the subject of this sketch, obtained his education in the common schools, which he did not have the opportunity of attending very regularly, but, by close attention and studious habits, he acquired a fair under- standing, and was well fitted to discharge the duties that were laid upon him. He was brought up to farm labor, and assisted his father with the duties incident to a farmer's life, and remained at home until 1847, when he was united in marriage with Anna, daughter of John and Fanny Erb. They rented land and took hold with an indomitable will to make a home and try to gain some of the comforts of life. In 1856 they set out to try their fortune in the great West, and followed the

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tide of emigration that was flowing westward at that time, and settled in Clark County, where he remained but a short time, and purchased the farm where he now resides, containing 160 acres and a large and commodious farm house, and has added, with the assistance of his good and noble wife, many other material improvements to correspond. They are the parents of thirteen children, of whom ten are living, viz: Samuel E., Tobias E., Barbara E., Mary E., Susanna E., Christian E., John E., Benjamin E., Jacob E. and Elizabeth. Mr. Greider organ- ized the first Menonite Congregation in this county, and was ordained as Deacon Dec. 15, 1861, and was regularly ordained as Minister, Dec. 20, 1862, and was well qualified for the responsibilities incident to his ministerial duties. He organ- ized and held meetings in his home and in the school houses in the neighborhood, and finally erected a church in Clark County, where they assemble and are actively working for the conversion of souls, and have succeeded in bringing a large con- gregation together. The church is now in a prosperous condition. Mr. Greider was ordained as Bishop in 1872, thus showing the confidence and esteem that the congregation held him in, to bestow the highest honors of the church upon him. Mr. Greider is now 58 years old; he furnishes an example for future generations, that is worthy of their imitation.

ABRAM H. KENDIG, farmer; P. O., Osborn Greene Co. The subject of this sketch was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., May 17, 1823, and was reared to agri- cultural pursuits in his native county, until February 1849, when he emigrated to Ohio and located upon his present farm, where he has lived for a period of thirty- two years. He has a farm of nearly 200 acres, in Montgomery and Clark Counties, nearly all under a high state of cultivation, largely brought to this condition by his own personal exertions. He has taken a deep interest in religion, having been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of twenty years; his wife has also been a member of the same church for forty years. He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Maria Rohrer, of Lancaster Co., Pa. She died in 1850, leaving two children, Elizabeth and Mary Ann. The latter is now dead, and the former living in Clark County. Feb. 10, 1852, he married Miss Elizabeth Shepherd, born in Lancaster Co., Pa., May 4, 1828, one of six children born to Henry L. and Susan (Sherer) Shepherd, who came west with their family in 1834. Her father emigrated to this country with his sister in 1816, and her mother was a daughter of Gottlieb Sherer, a farmer and distiller of Lancaster Co., Pa. By this his second marriage Mr. Kendig had five children, viz: John W., Susan A., and Albert N., now dead, and Henry F., now married and living on the home place, and Susie Emma, aged 16 years, and living at home with her parents. Mr. Kendig is the youngest son of John K., who died in October, previous to our subject's birth, leaving a widow and six children to mourn his loss. The widow, who was one of the best of mothers, and a good Christian woman, raised the family in the fear of God, and had her reward in seeing them all reach the age of discretion, as sober, industrious, Christian men and women. A full history of the Shepherd family will be found in the biography of Robert Sloan, in this work.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 134

Author: W.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1214

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214