The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 141

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 141

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HENRY WAYMIRE, retired farmer, P. O. Iamton. The father of Henry

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Waymire was a native of North Carolina, and was born in 1776. On his arrival in Ohio, he located with his father in this township. He celebrated his marriage with Sophia, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Plummer, in 1796. They were the parents of thirteen children ; the living ones are Davis, born February 8, 1802; Daniel, April 26, 1806; John, August 31, 1808 ; Catharine, March 5, 1811; Elizabeth, July 14, 1812; Henry, July 6, 1816 ; Sarah, June 8, 1818; Rosanna, October 19, 1821; Isabell, May 27, 1824. Henry received an ordinary education, for those days, as the number of schoolhouses was limited and far between, going to school in the winter and assisting with the farm duties in the summer. His father died in 1825, and on his arrival at the age of twenty-one, became owner of the homestead, which contained 160 acres, since which he has added, by hard labor and industry, 181 acres on Section 13, sixty-five on Section 18, fourteen on Section 7, 103 on Section 12, nearly all of which are under a good state of cultivation. He has been elected to the township offices for thirty-five years, and is also Notary Public. He was married to Malinda, daughter of Sylvanus and Elizabeth Swallow, in 1837. They were the parents of three children, In 1840, his wife passed into the dark valley of viz. : Mary A., Davis and Augustus.

death, beloved by all who knew her. His children being young and needing a mother's care, he sought the hand of Hannah, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Pierson, and was married in the fall of 1840. They have had by this union two children, viz. : Eli R. and Oliver P. Mr. Waymire is one of the most enterprising and progressive citizens of the county, and his family are noted for generous hospitality.

DANIEL W. WAYMIRE, farmer, P. O. Iamton, was born in Butler Township, August 21, 1839. His father, John, was born in this township in 1808, and was united in marriage with Margaret Coble, of this county. They were the parents of four children, viz. : Isaac C., Sarah, Hamilton and Daniel W. The subject of this memoir obtained his education in the district schools, and was brought up to farm labor. He lived with his parents until 1860, after which time he farmed his father's place on shares until his marriage with Amanda, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Miller, in 1863. He has been identified with the township offices. They are members of the Christian Church, and have been earnest laborers and consistant Christians. They are the parents of three children, viz. : Welby L., Eva A. and Carrie O).

CHRISTOPHER C. WEISENBORN, farmer, P. O. Chambersburg, was born in Prussia, December 17, 1820. He emigrated to America and settled in Dayton, Ohio, in 1844, where he remained but a short time, when he rented 106 acres in But- ler Township and cultivated it until 1852, when it was purchased by him. Christo- pher obtained his education in the schools of Prussia, which was a very ordinary one. He has since added to his farm, by hard labor and untiring industry, thirty-nine acres, making 145 acres, nearly all under a good state of cultivation. He was united in marriage with Sophia Shettletrier, in 1848. They were the parents of two children, viz .: Caro- line (now Mrs. George Shoup) and Christopher (deceased). Mrs. Weisenborn was sum- moned out of this world, leaving the children almost in their infancy. Mr. Weisenborn, seeing that his little ones needed a mother's care, sought the hand of Lesetta, daughter of Christopher and Caroline Densmier, and was married May 29, 1853; are the parents of ten children, viz. : Anne M., Catharine S., John C., Gottlieb O., John, Louisa M., Mary C., William F., George H. and Henry W. Mr. Weisenborn has been a life-long member of the Lutheran Church, and has brought up his children in the fear of the Lord.

SAMUEL WELLS, retired farmer, P. O. Vandalia. Among the pioneers of Montgomery County few are left to tell of the privations and hardships endured in the early-settlement of the Miami Valley, but in the old settler whose name heads this sketch, together with his venerable wife, we have a living link stretching back to the time when this county was a dense forest and civilization crude throughout its length and breadth. Samuel Wells was born in the State of Maryland, June 15, 1798, and was the son of William and Rhody Wells, natives of that State, who died when Samuel was a child. He was taken to the home of his uncle, Samuel Wells, who, together with his wife, Martha, cared for their nephew until he reached manhood. In 1817,

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the whole family came to Ohio, settling in Miami County, where our subject remained until 1822, when he removed to where we now find him. He was married to Mary Jolinson, September 18, 1822, of which union five children were born, viz. : Rebecca (the wife of Isaac Wademan), Mary (wife of James Sunderland), William, Nancy (wife of Richard Sunderland), and Sarah (wife of Stephen Dodson), all of whom are living within sight of the old homestead. Mrs. Wells was the daughter of David and Mary Johnson, and was born in Rowan County, N. C., December 23, 1802, emigrating with her widowed mother to Ohio, in 1809, settling in Montgomery County, where she has since resided. When Mr. Wells and wife built their log cabin upon the present homestead, there were but two farmers settled between him and where "Ebenezer Church" now stands, and the dense forest abounded in wild game. Here they have lived and labored hand in hand for over fifty-nine years, the last forty-three of which they have been consistent members of the Disciple Church, and as they pass down the valley of life they have the consolation of knowing that their children are among the most respected citizens of their township, and that they themselves will leave a record of honesty, morality and Christian charity which their descendants may point to with just pride and filial reverenee.

WILLIAM WELLS, farmer, P. O. Vandalia, was born May 16, 1830, in this township, and has never lived out of the county. He remained at home on the farm with his parents until twenty-two years of age. His first purchase was twenty-seven acres, for which he paid $675, or $25 per acre. At the time he bought it (1854), it was all timber, but by hard labor and economy acre after acre has been added, until now the home contains 267 acres in a high state of cultivation. In 1873, he built a fine residence and other substantial improvements have been made. The valuation to- day is about $23,000, and it is situated on the " New Troy Turnpike," one mile north of Vandalia. This is one of the model farms of the county. He married Miss Nancy, second daughter of William Sunderland, May 25, 1852. Five ehildren have been born to them, three of whom are living-Ellis E., William S. and Charley H. The first named married Miss Emma Clemmer, October 23, 1879. Mr. Wells has been a mem- ber of the School Board nine years, and both he and wife have been consistent mem- bers of the United Brethren Church for twenty years.

DELAFAYETTE WESTERMAN, general county store and proprietor of Eagle Hotel, Vandalia, was born in this township December 28, 1844, and has spent most of his life here. He received his education in the public schools; remained with his father until fourteen years of age. His mother died when he was but eight years old, which necessitated the dissolution of his father's family, hence his leaving home at such an early age. When eighteen, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry for one hundred days. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, he returned home, and spent several years working on a farm as a hired hand. From this time until 1868, he followed the occupation of clerk in a dry groods and grocery store, at Chambersburg, soon after which he engaged in mercantile business at Chambersburg, and in 1869, he removed his store to where we now find him. He earries a general assortment of goods and keeps the only hotel in the place, and is worth $4,000. Leav- ing home so young and accumulating this amount with no assistance shows both good management and sound judgment. April 18, 1868, he married Miss Fannie E. Shif- fert, of Madison County, Ky. Four children are the result of this marriage, two of whom are still living-Nellie L. and Lorena G. Mr. Westerman is a courteous gentle- man, and one of the most enterprising business men of Vandalia.

REV. JOHN WINGER (deceased) was born in Lancaster County, Penn., Feb- ruary 26, 1807; remained at home with his father until twenty-seven years of age, during which time he learned the business of manufacturing woolen goods ; removed to Ohio with his parents in the year 1827, and settled in Montgomery County, where he remained until his death. He organized the church known as the Brethren in Christ, in the Stillwater Valley ; entered the ministry in 1840, under the guidance of the River Brethren, where he continued to labor until the organization of the church, now known as the Brethren in Christ, which occurred about 1853. He was a preacher for

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thirty-nine years, and during the time never asked for or received any pay for his min- isterial services. He married Miss Sarah Moyer, and eight children were born to them, seven of whom are living. Sarah departed this life August 20, 1847, and the remains are buried on the farm where we now write. Again he married Miss Catharine Slot- terbeck, and two children was the result of this union, one of whom is living. On the 28th of January, 1879, Mr. Winger was afflicted with apoplexy, from the effects of which he died, and his remains lie beside those of his wife Sarah. Catharine, his second wife, died July 20, 1878, and the remains rest in the same enclosure. Rev. Winger was a man widely known and universally beloved. He had written a short sketch of his life, but it has never been published ; half of his good deeds will never be known, as he speaks more of the good done by others than himself, but eternity will unfold the record of his life.

PERRY TOWNSHIP.

GEORGE BIXLER, farmer, P. O. Brookville, born in Maryland, December 18, 1820; is a son of Samuel and Leah ( Maus) Bixler, natives of Maryland, emigrating to Ohio in August, 1827, locating in Preble County, residing there till the spring of 1829, when they removed into Montgomery County, locating on Wolf Creek, about ten miles from Dayton, where they resided till their death. He died May 16, 1859. She died December 31, 1866. They were parents of seven children ; five now survive-George, Eliza Ann, Catharine, Anna Mary and David. Mr. Bixler was a miller by trade, which business he followed about ten years, till the time of locating on his farm in Montgomery County. When he came to Ohio to look for a location, he and his brother- in-law came through on horseback, with only one horse, riding alternately while the other walked ; thus making the entire distance of over 500 miles. This was during

the pioneer days before railroads existed. He made three trips back and forth from his native State in this manner, when traveling was in that day through the then thinly settled country, attended with many dangers. On his second trip, he brought with him $800 in silver, in his saddle-bags across his horse. This was in the time of the so-called " wild cat " money, when nothing but gold and silver were of any certain value at any distance from its place of issue. This silver he deposited with the land- lords at the various taverns where he put up over night on his journey, for safety. At one stopping place, on the mountains, he had some fears of robbery, from suspicious ap- pearances, but he came through safely, and invested his money in the farm above-men- tioned, on Wolf Creek, purchasing 160 acres of land at $5 per acre. Shortly after their death, this same land was sold at $80 per acre, thus showing what his improve- ments and the advance in the value of land in this vicinity had accomplished. He was a man of industrious habits ; never went in debt; always paid as he went. What he did he did safely, and ran no risks. Our subject remained with his brother till twenty-six years of age ; was married February 18, 1847 to Rachel Ann, daughter of John and Phebe Clemmer, natives of Virginia, but became pioncer settlers of this county, locating here just after the war of 1812, he having been a soldier in that war. Mr. Bixler and wife have had seven children ; six now survive-Samuel J., Mary E., John A. H., David M., William I. B. and Jessie Fremont. Mr. Bixler has always followed farming. He bought and located where he now lives in the spring of 1849, where he has since resided-a period of thirty-two years. Has a good farm of 185 acres, with large, fine buildings and good improvements; also owns 255 acres in Darke County. Mr. Bixler is one of the most prosperous and prominent farmers of Perry Township, holding the confidence of his people and community. Politically, a Repub- lican, he has been Township Treasurer two terms; is a man of integrity and honor, whose life, like his father's, has been such as is worthy of imitation by the rising gen- erations. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

JOHN W. BOWMAN, farmer, P. O. Johnsville, born in this county, Jackson

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Township, March 7, 1833; is a son of John and Elizabeth (Bright) Bowman ; he is a native of Warren County, Ohio, and she of Virginia. The grandfather, David Bow- man, was born in Maryland, but emigrated to Ohio and located in Warren County about 1795, where he resided for a few years, when he moved into this county, and lo- cated in Madison Township, where he was one of the early pioneers ; and here he lived and died. The grandfather, Peter L. Bright, was born in Virginia, but became a resi- dent of Jackson Township, this county, where he lived till his death. John Bowman was born in 1797. Here he was raised and grew to maturity, inured to the trials and hardships in those early days in this then almost entire wilderness; was married and became the father of nine children, eight now living: David R., Joseph, John W., Samuel, Isaac, Mary Ann, Daniel, Peter L. Mr. Bowman, after his marriage, bought and located in Jackson Township, and opened out right in the woods ; has remained there to the present time; has over 100 acres cleared and in good cultivation ; erected good buildings, and brought the farm into its present state of improvement, with all the conveniences, making a fine farmer's residence. He lost his wife in the spring of 1877. He is still living on the home place, where he has now made a continuous resi- dence of over half a century, and has reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. Our subject remained with his father till thirty-three years of age; was married April 7, 1867, to Catharine, daughter of John and Mary Keener. Natives of Pennsylvania, but became settlers of Madison Township, this county, December 1, 1831, where they still reside. They are parents of seven children-Scbastian, Abraham, John, Elizabeth, Catherine, Jacob and David (twins). Mr. Bowman and wife have three children- Mary Elizabeth, John D. and Jeremiah A. Mr. Bowman commenced his business life on twenty acres of land, which he bought, adjoining his father's farm, where he re- sided till the spring of 1873, when he bought and located on the place where he now lives and has since resided. Their farm consists of seventy-six acres, mostly in cultivation, with good buildings and improvements, located just on the outskirts of Johnsville, con- venient to schools. church and post office, and is a very pleasant home.

DR. J. BROWER, physician and surgeon, Johnsville, born in West Alexan- dria, Preble County, Ohio, February 14, 1841 ; is a son of Joseph and Maria (Spatty) Brower, he a native of this county, and she of Switzerland. The grandfather, Abra- ham Brower, was a native of Virginia; he emigrated to Ohio and located near Ger- mantown about 1805, being one of the early pioneers ; he resided there a short time, thence he moved into Preble County, where he resided till his death, Joseph, who was born about 1809, or about four years after his father came to this county, was rocked in the pioneer cradle, and grew up to manhood inured to the scenes and hard- ships of those primitive times, receiving but a meager education, such as those days afforded ; but he possessed a natural ability and became a very popular man of his day ; was elected Justice of the Peace when only eighteen years of age ; held many of the offices of his township and county ; was County Treasurer for four years, and became a man of wealth and influence, and is still residing near West Alexandria, now over " three score years and ten," loved and respected by all who know him. Our subject, who was born and raised in Preble County, and educated in the common schools, conceived the idea in his youthful days of becoming a physician, and early commenced to prepare for that profession by entering upon a course of study under Dr. O. E. Tillson, of West Alexandria, with whom he remained several years, thence in the winter of 1875 entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati ; went through their complete course on the practice of medicine and surgery, and graduated in 1878, receiving his diploma with honors. He immediately located in Johnsville, and commenced the prac- tice of his profession ; has now been located here four years ; has a good, lucrative practice, and from his affableness of manners and social qualities, his thorough course and preparation for his profession, with his natural ability and love for the same, we may safely predict for him a growing practice and a success in his profession second to but few in the county.

JOSEPH BROWN, farmer, P. O. Brookville, born in this county March 20, 1837, is a son of Joseph and Marilla Elizabeth (Michael ) Brown, natives of Maryland, who

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emigrated to Ohio, locating first in Butler County about 1830, remaining one year, thence to Montgomery County, where they resided till their death; he died August 17, 1839, aged about forty years ; his wife died August 30, 1880, aged eighty years. They were parents of eight children, three now living-Caroline, Amanda and Joseph. Mr. Brown was a blacksmith by trade, which business he followed while living in Maryland. but after coming to Ohio he gave his attention to farming till his death. Two of his sons, Josiah and Solomon, were in the war of the rebellion ; the former died of sickness in a hospital and never returned home ; the latter contracted disease, of which he never recovered, and died some four years after his return. Our subject was in his third year when his father died, but his mother, who was a woman of courage and resolution, kept her family together and raised them all till they grew to maturity. Joseph mar- ried, January 20, 1859, to Sarah M., daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Hubler) Wright, natives of Ohio ; they were parents of seven children, five now living- Sarah M., George W., Oliver Perry, Jane and Samucl Michacl. Mr. Brown and wife by their marriage have four children-Cerella R., Perry A., Mary Elizabeth and Emma J. Mr. Brown has always followed farming during his life, and all in this county except about five years, during which he lived in Shelby County ; he has bought and sold and lived on several different farms during his life. He bought and located upon his present farm in March, 1880 ; this farm consists of eighty acres, fifty of which are in cultivation, with good buildings and improvements, and is very pleasantly situated about one-half mile southwest of Brookville.

SAMUEL BRUMBAUGH, farmer, P. O. New Lebanon, born on the farm where he now lives February 4, 1823, is a son of George and Elizabeth (Vaniman) Brumbaugh, natives of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather, Conrad Brumbaugh, was born in Germany, and came to America probably prior to the Revolutionary war, and experienced many of the troubles with the Indians; he lived and died in Pennsyl- vania. The maternal grandfather, John Vaniman, was born in England, but came over to America in a very early day and lived for many years in Pennsylvania; thence, in 1805, he came to Montgomery County and located in Madison Township, and entered his land from the Government. He was truly a pioneer of the county, and experienced the very roughest and wildest of pioneer life, and there he lived and died. The first winter they lived on corn, turnips and wild game, getting their corn ground up on Mad River, carrying it on horseback through blazed paths several miles to mill. These were times that tried men's souls, and much praise is due them for the great work they done in opening out this wilderness, which now has become such a beautiful country filled with a plenty of all the comforts of life. George Brumbaugh emigrated to Ohio when a young man, about 1807-08. Was married in 1815, and located on the land where Samucl now lives; this farm then had about six acres cleared, and here he spent his life's labors, passing through the scenes and hardships of those carly settlers ; he died .in March, 1848, aged fifty-eight years ; his wife died in January, 1871, aged eighty- two years. They were parents of two children-Samuel and Catharine. Mr. Brum- baugh served in the war of 1812. Our subject, who was born and raised on the farm where he now lives, was married, September 11, 1845, to Mary, daughter of Jacob and Catharine Rifc, natives of Virginia, but who became residents of this county about 1837. They were parents of five children, three now living-Jacob, Elizabeth and Mary. Mary was born in Virginia February 11, 1823, and was about thirteen years of age when brought to this county. Mr. Brumbaugh and wife have had seven children- George, Jacob R., Emanuel, Catharine A., Elizabeth E., Sarah J. and Isaac C. After their marriage they located on the old home place with his father, and here he has spent his entire life ; has now been a resident of this farm fifty-eight years ; has a good farm of 185 acres, with good buildings and improvements, and expects to pass the remainder of his days upon the place where his eyes first saw the light of day. Mr. Brumbaugh and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church, to which they have bc- longed for thirty years.

PHILIP CRAWFORD, farmer, P. O. Johnsville, born in Frederick County, Md., September 16, 1818; is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Mort) Crawford, natives

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of Pennsylvania, but who emigrated to Ohio and located in Montgomery County in 1829, where he lived till his death, which occurred in 1832; his wife died in 1854. They were parents of four children-Catharine, Philip, Elizabeth and Lydia. The grandfather, Crawford, was a native of England, and lived but a few years after eom- ing to America, and bat little is now known of his life. Our subject was about eleven years of age when brought to this county by his parents, and about fourteen when his father died, after which he was raised by his mother till he grew to manhood; was married December 28, 1843, to Jane, daughter of George and Mary Purcell, natives of Pennsylvania, but who became early settlers of Preble County and later of Warren County. They were parents of six children ; four now living-Foster, Jane, Thomas and Harvey. Jane was born in Warren County. Mr. Crawford and wife have had ten children ; seven now survive-John, Mary, Leander, Daniel and Isabell (twins), Agnes and Alice. Mr. Crawford's entire life has been spent in this township since eleven years of age, and has followed the trade of brieklayer until 1875, since which he has given his attention to farming ; he bought the farm upon which he now lives in 1848, purchasing the same of Jacob Harry, and in the spring of 1849, located upon the farm with his family, where he has since resided, a period of thirty-two years. Mr. Craw. ford eommeneed in life a poor man, and by his own labor, industry and good manage- ment has aeeumulated a good competeney ; he now owns 150 aeres of land, constitut- ing three farms, the greater part of which is in good cultivation with good improve- ments. Mr. Crawford, as a eitizen and neighbor, is held in high esteem ; has been Assessor of his township fifteen years. This is an example of success, obtained purely by his own labor and industry, which is worthy of imitation, and which, placed upon the pages of this history, we trust may be read by and produce its salutary effect upon · the rising generations.

JACOB DIEHL, farmer, P. O. New Lebanon, born on the adjoining farm where his brother John now lives, February 24, 1816, whose aneestral history is given in his brother Eli's sketeh in this work. Our subject was married September 20, 1842, to Catharine, daughter of David and Catharine Brumbaugh, whose history and aneestors are given in sketch of Samuel Brumbaugh. Mr. Diehl and wife have four children-John W., born July 18, 1843; Catharine A., June 20, 1846 ; George L., May 31, 1850, and Samuel P., born July 27, 1856. In the spring of 1844, Mr. Diehl bought and located upon the farm where he now lives and has since resided, a period of thirty-seven years. It consists of a quarter-section of good land upon which he has erected good buildings, large and commodious, with everything comfortable and con- venient around him, constituting a very pleasant home and farmer's residence. Mr. Diehl, in early life, obtained a good common-school education and taught school sor- eral winters. He is a man of undoubted integrity, commanding the confidence and respect of his community ; has always avoided lawsuits, desiring peace and good will to all. He and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church, having been such for thirty-five years.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 141

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