The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 143

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 143

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HENRY HULL, SR., farmer, P. O. Johnsville, born in Virginia November 2, 1806, is a son of John and Mary (Rinchart) Hull, natives of Virginia, their ances. tors being from Germany. John, with his family, emigrated from Virginia to Ohio in 1820, locating at a place called Old Town, where they lived about two years, thence located in Montgomery County, Perry Township, where they resided till their death. They were parents of five children, who are now living-Henry, David, Elizabeth, Mary and Adam. Henry was about eighteen years of age when he came to this county with his parents, being the oldest child of the family, here they were raised and. grew to maturity, inured to the scenes and hardships of this then new country. Henry was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Salome Crull, to whom ten children were born, all now living-John, Josiah, Samuel, Henry, David, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Salome, Noah and Edward. He lost his wife by death March 4, 1877. Mr. Hull, after his marriage, located on the farm where he now lives, and has since resided, a period of nearly half a century. He started in life with cighty acres of land, which was in the woods, and by his own labors and industry cleared it up and accumu- lated more means and purchased more land from time to time till he became owner of over 800 acres of land. This is an example of success from honest labor and economy and good management, which has but few if any equals, and is a record of which his descendants may well feel proud, and from which example the poorest man may take courage and feel that he can succeed if he only practices the same industry and economy. He has since divided the greater share among his children, thus giving them a good start in life. He is now in the seventy-fifth year of his age, is very deaf, and has been thus afflicted for many years. His farm is now carried on by his two sons- Samuch and Henry-who are unmarried, and make their home with him. Mr. Hull has been a member of the German Baptist Church for many years.

NOTE .- Since the above was written, Henry Hull, Sr., died, his death occurring March 30, 1881.

JESSE D. LEHMAN, farmer and leaf-tobacco-dealer, P. O. Johnsville, was born in this county and township December 6, 1839; is a son of Henry and Catharine (Crawford) Lehman, he a native of Ohio and she of Maryland. The grandfather, Henry Lehman, was a native of Pennsylvania, but emigrated to Ohio, locating at New Lancaster, where he resided till about 1825, when he removed to Montgomery County, and here lived till his death. He was the father of eight children, four now survive- Elizabeth, now Mrs. Sharp, living in Indiana; Henry ; Hannah, now Mrs. Hosier, resid- ing in Dayton ; and David. The grandfather, Joseph Crawford, was born in Frederick County, Md., but became a resident of this county about 1829, where he lived till his death. Henry was cleven years of age when brought to this county by his father; was raised and grew to maturity inured to the hardships of a new settlement; was married and became the father of five children-four now survive : Jesse D., Philip, Noah and Margaret, now Mrs. Hull. Mr. Lehman was a cooper by trade, which business he fol- lowed about forty years, generally renting his farm, but during his later years has lived mostly retired from all active business. He has been a hard-working, industrious man, who devoted himself closely to his business, never desiring, or holding office ; commenc-

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ing in life a poor man, has, by his own efforts, accumulated a good competency, and now in his advanced years is able to live in comfort, free from the general anxieties of life. Our subject remained with his father, raised to his trade till about twenty-four years of age ; was married December 17, 1863, to Amanda, daughter of John and Mary King, whose history is given in sketch of Eli Wogamon, in this work. Mr. Lehman and wife have three children : Webster Corwin, John Henry and Oliver Warren. Mr. Lehman, after his marriage, gave his attention to farming for about ten years ; thence he êntcred upon mercantile trade, also in connection with that business engaged largely as dealer in leaf tobacco, and thus continued till May 2, 1880, when he sold out in the mercantile business, and since gives his exclusive attention to buying tobacco, and the superintending of his farm. The farm upon which he resides, he bought in the spring of 1876, and moved onto it in the spring of 1878. Mr. Lehman, from his youth up, has exhibited a general business tact; by his own industry and good management, before he had reached twenty-one years of age, he had saved money enough and bought twen- ty-four acres of land, giving him a fine start in life; since which he has improved his means and talents ; kept himself active and accumulating, till now he has a good farm and ample means to live comfortably, and conduct an active trade in leaf tobacco. Al- though not seeking nor holding offices, as the nature of his business and inclination for- bid it, yet a confiding community have pressed him into service as School Director for sixteen years, and a member of the Board of Education during the same period of time. NOTE .- Since the above was written, Mr. Lehman died ; his death occurring Jan- uary 21, 1882.

JOHN W. LONG, farmer, P. O. Brookville, born in this county February 17, 1831, is a son of Isaac and Esther (Miller) Long, natives of Ohio. The grandfather, Michael Long, was a native of Pennsylvania, but became one of the early pioneers of this county, settling here soon after 1800; was here through all the Indian troubles, and all the hardships of those early days. Daniel Miller, the maternal grandfather, was also a native of Pennsylvania, emigrating to this county about the same time of the Longs, and were truly pioneers of the country, enduring the trials and dangers which only those early settlers knew and realized. Isaac, being born here, amidst these scenes and dangers, grew up to manhood inured to all the many hardships; was married, and became father of ten children-Daniel, John W., Elizabeth, Susanna, Samuel, Isaac, Mary, Henry, Joseph and Harriet. Mr. Long and wife have passed their entire life in this county ; have always followed farming, and were an industri- ous and prosperous family ; he is now one who has the confidence of his com- munity ; was Township Trustee for several years. Our subject remained with his father till his marriage with Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Lydia Basore; he is a native of Pennsylvania, and she of this county. This marriage was cele- brated December 22, 1853; by this union they have had seven children, six now survive-Mary E., Samuel H., John E., Elmer I., Susie A., Sadie Ida. After their marriage, they located upon the pla e where he now lives, and has since resided, a period of twenty-eight years ; he has cleared up a great portion of his farm, and erect- ed all the buildings on the place which, with all the improvements, are good, and con- stitute a fine home and farmer's residence.

GEORGE MELLINGER, farmer, P. O., Brookville, born in Pennsylvania April 5, 1844, is a son of Joseph and Lydia (Kissinger) Mellinger, natives of Pennsylvania. Joseph spent his life at farming in Pennsylvania, until the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, when in the draft made for soldiers he hired as a substitute, but being quite advanced in years and not able to stand the hardships of a soldier's life, he was discharged from the service and shortly afterward came to Ohio to this county, where he died. His wife located near Salem, this county, where she was married to Jackson McNally, with whom she lived till her death, which occurred August 16, 1863. Joseph and Lydia were parents of four children, three now living-William, George and Nancy Bell. Our subject was thrown upon the world at twelve years of age, to work his own way through life. He went here and there, wherever he could find work and a home, and thus continued till seventeen years of age, when in October, 1861, he enlist-

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ed in the defense of his country, in the Seventy-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Mason ; served out his time and re-enlisted as a veteran, and served till the close of the war. His regiment was in the Army of the Cumberland, and he saw and participated in twenty-two different battles, some of the hardest fought battles being those at Shiloh, Franklin, and that at Atlanta, Ga. At the close of the war, he re- ceived an honorable discharge and returned home. He was married, May 26, 1868, to Malinda, daughter of David and Nancy Lana (McCormack ) Spittler; by this union they have had five children-Ambrose, Edna Irene, Flora Bell, Clara Viola and Lottie Fidella. Mr. Mellinger, after his marriage, lived on rented farms till March, 1880. when he bought and located upon the place where he now lives ; he has twenty acres of good land, with good buildings, constituting a pleasant and comfortable home. Mr. Mcl- linger has had a " rough-and-tumble " life, being thrown upon the world when only twelve years of age, and enlisting in the war at seventeen years of age, having seen. much of the rough side of life. He is now quite pleasantly located, and we may trust and hope that the balance of his life may be as pleasant and profitable as his past has been rough and unpleasant.

SIMON MIKESELL, general merchant, Johnsville, born in Bedford County, Penn., April 7, 1839; is a son of John and Elizabeth (Richey) Mikesell, natives of Pennsylvania. The maternal grandfather, Isaac Richey, was probably a native of Penn- sylvania, and lived and died in his native State; he married Mary Whetstone ; they had four sons and four danghters. Mr. Richey was a man of good education, and fol- lowed teaching as a profession for several years ; was a devoted brother in the German Baptist Church, and became a minister and a bishop in the same ; was one of the most strenuous and exacting kind ; would not enter a house that was carpeted, or ride in a carriage with springs, believing these things tended to evil. John Mikesell was a farmer by occupation, and lived and died in Pennsylvania. He died in August, 1839, aged forty-four years. His wife died in the fall of 1857, aged fifty-nine years. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters ; four of whom are living-Mary, Susanna, Samuel and Simon. Our subject was only six months old when his father died, and the whole care and responsibility of raising and. edueating Simon, devolved upon his mother, and faithfully did she perform her work, bringing him up to the honorable and healthy labor of farming, with a good, common school education. When he arrived at nineteen years of age death deprived him of his mother. In the fall of 1860, Mr. Mike- sell went West, and in the spring of 1861, on the breaking-out of the rebellion, he volunteered in the defense of his country, and enlisted in the Eighth Regiment Mis- souri Volunteer Infantry, and served three years ; was engaged in many of the hardest fought battles of the West-at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, cte., and fortunately, escaped without a wound, and in the summer of 1864, his time of service having expired, he received his discharge at Louisville, Ky. ; thencc he entered the employ of the Royer Wheel Company, at Cincinnati, in the turning business ; this business lie followed at Cincinnati, Tippecanoe, Harrisburg and Troy about twelve years. Thenee, entered as traveling salesman for Studabaker, manufacturer of woolen cloths, for four years. Thence rented the Studabaker factory and ran it one year. Thence entered the mercantile trade in Johnsville, in partnership with Lee Thompson, in September, 1880, in which business he still continues, and is having a good and prosperous trade. Was married, December 25, 1860, to Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Shuss, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Shuss still resides in his native State ; Mrs. Shuss is deceased. They were parents of nine children ; seven now survive-John, Jacob, Daniel, Adam, Mary Ann, Rebecca and Elizabeth. Mr. Mikcsell and wife have had, by their union, eight children ; four now living-Freemont, Harvey, Daniel and Edward. Mr. Mikesell and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church, in which he has been elected as a minister.

ROBERT MILLIKIN, farmer, P. O. Amity, born in this county Nov. 8, 1833; is a son of Mathew and Anna ( Hecathorn ) Millikin, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather, Robert Millikin, was a native of Ireland, who cmigrated to America some time in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and was the father of five children. The grand-

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father, Daniel Hecathorn, was a native of Virginia, but became a settler in this county about 1828, where he lived and died. Mathew emigrated from Pennsylvania to this county about 1830, and was the father of seven children ; six now survive-Margaret, Daniel, Robert, Anna, Andrew and Martha. Mr. Millikin was a farmer by occupa- tion, and resided in this county till his death. He died in May, 1848 ; his wife died in June, 1860. Our subject was fifteen years of age at the time of the death of his father, but remained with his mother till after his majority; was married, August 25, 1859, to Barbara, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Garber, natives of Virginia, but who emigrated to this county about 1828, where they lived till her death in April, 1870. He is still living in this township, now over eighty-four years of age. They were parents of nine children ; eight now survive-James, Henry, Josiah, Washington, John, Susanna, Rebecca and Barbara. Mr. Millikin and wife have had seven children ; five now sur- vive-Daniel, George W., Rebecca J., James M. and John R. Mr. Millikin has always resided in this township and followed farming as a business. He bought and located upon the place where he now lives in the spring of 1865. This farm consists of sixty acres of land, mostly in cultivation, with good improvements.

JOHN G. MILLS, farmer, P. O. Pyrmont, was born in Dayton, Ohio, July 4, 1837 ; is a son of John and Sallie Ann (Gest) Mills, natives of New Jersey. Moses Mills, the grandfather, was a native of New Jersey, but removed to Ohio in 1806, locat- ing in Greene County. At this time John was about one year old, and was raised and grew to maturity in Greene and Clark Counties. He became a resident of Dayton about 1834 or 1835, and engaged in mercantile trade for several years. In 1840, he was elected Auditor of the county, and re-elected five times in succession, thus serving in this office twelve consecutive years. In 1852, he bought three quarter sections of school land in Perry Township, and moved on to it in 1853. In 1854, he returned to Dayton and was elected Secretary of the Dayton & Michigan Railroad, which posi- tion he held for a short time, and was then appointed Cashier of the Dayton Bank, which position he held till 1857; thence removed to his farm and resided on it one year ; in 1858, was nominated by the Republican party as a candidate for Sheriff of the county ; was elected and served two years. Soon after the expiration of his office, the war of the rebellion having commenced, he received an appointment from the Govern- ment as Provost Marshal for this district, and first located in Hamilton, and thence in Dayton, holding said office until the close of the war, or till the office was abolished, since which time he has lived mostly retired from any active office or business. Having served a long and active life, ever possessing the confidence of the people, and having held many offices of trust, which were filled to the universal satisfaction of the people, and of whose record his descendants may ever feel proud, and which will ever stand on the pages of history as a monument to his memory. He was the father of six children ; three now survive-John G., Charles and Truman B. Our subject was raised in Day- ton and remained with his father till his majority, receiving a good education and be- came a graduate of the Dayton High School; thence he engaged in teaching school, which profession he followed three years ; thence he entered upon the business of farm- ing, locating upon the place where he now lives and has since resided. Mr. Mills hav- ing a thorough education, is capable of filling positions of trust, and of being a great benefit to his neighborhood and community. He has been a member of the school board for twelve years or more. He was married, December 27, 1860, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of Daniel and Mary Mundhenk, he a native of Philadelphia and she of New Jersey ; issue, five children-Sallie, Sherman, Daniel C., Rosa and John.

TRUMAN B. MILLS, farmer, P. O. Pyrmont, was born in Montgomery Coun- ty, June 27, 1847; is a son of John and Sallie Ann Mills, whose history appears in the sketch of John G. Mills, in this work. Mr. Mills was raised in Dayton, receiving a good education in the common schools and high school of Dayton. On the breaking- out of the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in the one-hundred-day service in the One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment Ohio National Guards, under Col. John Lowe, and served through his time of enlistment and returned home ; thence entered as clerk un- der his father, who was then Provost Marshal, where he remained about one year; thence

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attended the Commercial College of Dayton, after which he became assistant book- keeper for the wholesale dry goods house of Darst, Herchelrode & Co., where he re- mained a few months, thence became book keeper for A. B. Darst, thence Deputy Clerk in the Clerk's office at Dayton. But such business proving too confining for his health, he turned his attention to farming. On November 6, 1873, he was married to Miss Eliza Jane, daughter of Hiram and Jane C. (Williams) Lewis, he a native of New York State and she of Dayton. Mr. Lewis became a resident of Dayton about 1846; was married and resided there about five years, thence removed to Painesville, Ohio, and lived till 1855, when he returned to Dayton, where he has since resided. He has been quite a prominent and active man; was engaged in the nursery business for several years, and latterly in the insurance business, and in the manufacture of fruit tree labels. Mr. Mills and wife by their union have three children-Olive B., born December 5, 1875; Nellie C., born June 14, 1877, and Jennie W., born February 6, 1879. In 1873, Mr. Mills located upon the farm where he now lives and has since resided, which farm is a part of the school lands bought by his father in an early day, as mentioned in sketch of John G. Mills. The farm consists of 177 acres of land, mostly in cultivation, with good buildings and improvements, constituting a pleasant home and residence.

JOSHUA V. MILLS, farmer, P. O. Pyrmont, born in this township and county August 31, 1839, is a son of William and Jane Mills, whose history appcars in sketches of G. M. Mills in this work. Our subject lived at home with his father till his majority. Was married, November 1, 1866, to Anna, daughter of Jacob and Catharine Myers, whose history appears in sketch of Jacob Myers in this work. Mr. Mills and wife have had six children-Emma, Flora, John, Mattie, Cora C. and Eva Jane. Mr. Mills, after his marriage, located on the farm, where he now lives and has since resided. His farm consists of eighty acres, sixty of which are in cultivation, with good brick house, a good barn and large tobacco shed, which he has erected since he came upon the place, the whole improvements in excellent condition, constituting a fine home and resi- dence. Mr. Mills and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, to which they have belonged twelve years. After the breakiug-out of the war of the rebellion, Mr. Mills answered the call of his country by enlisting October 28, 1861, in the Seventy-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Mason and served through the war in the army of the Cumberland, and was engaged in many of the hard-fought battles and skir- mishes of that army; some of the principal of which were the battles of Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Franklin, Nashville, Atlanta, etc., and escaped with but one wound which was obtained at the battle of Nashville; was discharged from the army on the 6th of January, 1866, and returned safely home.

GEORGE M. MILLS, farmer, P. O. Pyrmont, born in Montgomery County, An- gust 1, 1850, is a son of William and Jane (Campbell) Mills. The grandparents. Joshua and Lucy (Curless) Mills, natives of New Jersey ; emigrated to Ohio in 1819, living in Warren and Preble Counties for a short time, when, in 1820, moved into the woods in Montgomery County, Perry Township, opening out by cutting the first stick of timber, clearing up a small patch, putting up a log cabin, the wild beasts and deer being very plentiful. Here they made their start in life and endured all the hardships of those early days. They were parents of nine children; six now survive-Jane, John, Rebecca, William, Sarah and Mary. Mr. Mills was a very industrious, hard- working man, one who was physically and mentally strong, and, during his life, accom- plished a great deal of work. He clcared up a good farm and erected good buildings, and enjoyed in his last days the conveniences and comforts of a good farm and home. He died about 1850 or 1851, his wife having died a few years previous to his death. William remaincd with his father till his majority. Was married, February 10, 1827, to Jane Campbell, a native of Warren County; by her he had seven children; five now living-Bethany, Samuel, Naomi, Joshua and William. His wife died October 17, 1848. On October 18, 1849, was celebrated his marriage with Jane Smith, daughter of John and Phebe Clemmer, he a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Virginia; by this second marriage, they had five children-George, Charles Edgar, Eliza Jane, Josiah and Hiram. Mr. Mills followed farming as an occupation, and has always

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resided in Perry Township ; has labored industriously in his younger days, and was reasonably prosperous in his life, accumulated a good competency, and, as old age and infirmity came upon him, he retired to Pyrmont, and, in 1879, gave up all active labor, where he hopes to pass the remainder of his days free from the toils of life. Mr. Mills and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, and have been Christian work- ers for many years. Our subject grew up to maturity under his father's care, brought up to farm labor ; receiving a good education, and, at eighteen years of age, became a teacher and taught school four winters, since which he has given his attention to farm- ing. Was married, October 24, 1878, to Martha Dell, daughter of Levi W. and Sarah E. (Sodders) Mundhenk, he a native of this county, and she of Greene County; they are parents of three children-Clarence Willie, Lizzie Forest and Martha Dell.

CHARLES E. MILLS, farmer, P. O. Pyrmont, born in this county December 9, 1851, is a son of William and Eliza Mills, whose history appears in sketch of G. M. Mills in this work. Our subject lived with his father till about nineteen years of age. Was married August 7, 1870, to Anna, daughter of Charles and Margaret (Gus- tin) Wysong, he a native of Virginia and she of Ohio. They were parents of twelve children; ten now living-Hannah, Harrison, Mina, Stephen, Lydia, Elizabeth, Rachel, Jacob, Margaret and Anna. Mr. Wysong became an early settler of Montgomery County, locating here about 1826, and is now living in Preble County, seventy-nine years of age. Mr. Mills and wife have four children-Charles W., Stephen Elva, Hurly O. and Maggie E. Mr. Mills lived in Preble County two years after his mar- riage, then in fall of 1872 located upon the place where lie now lives and has since* resided. The farm consists of thirty-one acres, mostly in cultivation with good improvements.

DANIEL MUNDHENK (deceased), born in Philadelphia January 18, 1814, is a son of Daniel and Anna Maria Mundhenk, whose history is given in sketch of Charles Mundhenk in this work. Daniel (deceased) came to this county with his father and grew to maturity, inured to the hardships of pioneer life. Was married November 27, 1834, to Mary, daughter of Joshua and Lucy Mills, whose history appears in sketch of George M. Mills in this work; by this union they had eleven children; six now sur- vive-Mary Ann, Rebecca, Eleanor, Daniel, Perry and Charles H. Mr. Mundhenk died October 9, 1875. He was a quiet, unassuming man, who attended closely to his own business; a man of strict integrity ; a kind husband and father, providing well for his family ; living honored and respected by all who knew him, and died mourned by a large circle of friends, and regretted by a confiding people. He and wife were mem- bers of the United Brethren Church to which they belonged for forty years. His widow is still living on a part of the home farm, where she has a good brick house con- stituting a fine home and residence.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 143

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