The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 146

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 146

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WILLIAM WYRICK, merchant, Johnsville, As a representative of the mercantile trade in Johnsville, we here have the pleasure to present the name of William Wyrick, who was born in this county May 22, 1845, a son of David and Mary (Furry) Wyrick, he a native of the county, and she of Maryland. The grandfather, William Wyrick, was a native of North Carolina, but emigrated to Ohio about 1817, and located in Jackson Township, where he lived till his death. David, who was born in this county in 1820, was raised and grew to manhood, inured to the scenes and hard- ships of those early days. He was married and became the father of two children, William and Elizabeth (deceased). Mr. Wyrick was a farmer by occupation through- out his life. He was a very industrious, hard-working man, one whose character was undoubted, and was esteemed and respected by all who knew him. He became pos- sessed of a good competency, owning 200 acres of land, upon which he had good

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improvements. Here he lived till his death, March 18, 1872. His wife is still living, being now fifty-six years of age, and resides in Johnsville. Our subject remained at home upon the farm till the spring of 1872, when he and his father purchased the stock of general merchandise of J. K. Campbell, in Johnsville, and commenced upon mercantile trade, which continued only a short time, in consequence of the death of his father. Since then he has continued the business alone, or in partnership with others, the last partnership being dissolved in the spring of 1880. He is now carrying on the business by himself. Mr. Wyrick, as a business man, has been very successful. He has established a good trade-a trade second to none in Johnsville. He is very social and affable in his manners, kind and accommodating in business, and possesses the confidence of his community. Mr. Wyrick has been twice married ; first, in July, 1867, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of Jesse D. and Delila Harry, whose history is given in sketch of Jesse D. Harry, in this work. By this union they had four children, three of whom are now living-Olive M., Mary D., and Berba T. His wife died March 6, 1875. On February 21, 1876, he was married to Mary, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Morrisson, natives of Maryland ; issue, two children-Myrtle M. and Daisie C.

TILMAN WYSONG, farmer, P. O. Pyrmont, born on the farm where he now resides March 27, 1840, is a son of Valentine and Lydia (Barnhart) Wysong, he a native of this county, and she of Preble county. The grandfather, Jacob Wysong, was a native of Virginia, but became a resident of Montgomery County prior to the war of 1812, and lived and died herc. The grandfather, David Barnhart, was a native of Maryland, and also an early pioneer, coming here about the same time as the Wysongs. Valentine was born about the time of the war of 1812, and was raised and grew to manhood, inured to the scenes and hardships of those early and troublesome days. He was married, and became the father of seven children, five of whom are now living- Huldah, Tilman, Amanda, Sarah and Matilda Ann. Mr. Wysong followed farming and bricklaying during his life, which was all spent in this township except the last four years of his life, during which he lived in Covington, Miami County. He cleared up one farm in this township alnost entirely, and did a great amount of hard work. He finally moved to Covington, having obtained a good competency, and intending to retire from all active labor ; but there he still worked more or less at his trade, and was elected a member of the City Council. He died in March, 1876, beloved and esteemed by all who knew him, and in his death the community lost a worthy man and valued citizen. His wife is still living, and is now in Shelby County, Ohio. Our subject lived with his father till twenty-three years of age. He was married February 24, 1863, to Elizabeth, daughter of Christian and Susan Martin, natives of Pennsylvania, early set- tlers of this county, locating here about 1833, and who were the parents of eight chil- dren, six of whom are living-Susan, Isaac, Sarah, Elizabeth, John and Jacob. Mr. Wysong and wife have had two children, one of whom is now living, Edward. Their lives have been passed in this township, and engaged in farming, and they reside upon the old home farm, which consists of forty acres, mostly in cultivation, with good buildings and improvements. He has been Constable one term. Mr. Wysong and wife are mem- bers of the United Brethren Church, having been such for ten years.

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CLAY TOWNSHIP.

LEVI BAKER, grain, tobaeeo and stoek dealer, Brookville. Michael Baker, his grandfather, was born in Somerset County, Penn. He married Catharine Schmooker of the same State. The result of this union was twelve children, of whom three are living, viz .: Samuel, Elizabeth and Benjamin. They emigrated to Ohio in 1804, and entered a traet of land near Dayton, containing 600 acres. The friendly Indians in the neighborhood advised him to change his location on aeeount of what was called the " milk siek." Mr. Baker thereupon moved to Clay Township, and entered a traet of 1,200 acres. At the time the land was entered, there were about three hundred Indians of the Shawnee tribe eamped on the plaee and remained about two years. During this period the neighboring tribes were eommiting many depredations along the border, and nearly all the families beeame alarmed and moved to Dayton. The friendly Indians prevailed on Mr. Baker to remain and eonceal himself, and they would take eare of him, but he thought he would rather go to Dayton. In a short time after his arrival, he eoneluded that he would be mueh safer on his own place, and therefore returned. When he arrived the friendly Indians were glad to see him, and demonstrated their de- light by giving a feast which lasted a couple of days. Mr. Baker passed from this world in 1853. The family lost in him a kind and indulgent parent, and the community a good eitizen. Benjamin, the father of our subjeet, was born in this township the 25th day of March, 1810. He married Franeis Niswonger in 1830; as a result of this union, had twelve children, the following of whom are living-Sadie, Malinda, Sarah, Johanna, Mary, Minerva, Noah, Levi, Cyrus C., Sylvester. Mr. Baker was an Old-Line Whig, but sinee the organization of the Republican party has been a faithful supporter of its in- terests. He has been a consistent member of the German Baptist Church for the past thirty years. Levi, the subject of this memoir, was born January 9, 1836, and obtained his edueation. in the common sehools, and assisted his father with the farm duties until twenty years of age, when he was united in marriage with Catharine A. Ganger, in 1856. There were born to bless this union, two children, Mary A. and one who died in infaney. He continued tilling the soil for six years, and then engaged in the grain business, which he has followed successfully until the present. As an evidence of the esteem and popularity with which he is held in the community where he lives, he Was elected Assessor of his township, which position he filled for a period of thirteen years. Mrs. Baker was summoned out of this world April 5, 1879. He married for his second wife Rebeeea Koonts, November 18, 1879, and they have one ehild, Edith L. Baker. In 1862, he engaged in the general merchandise business, which he continued until 1870. when he disposed of his store and engaged in the produee and stoek business exclusively. He possesses good business qualities, and has been sueeessful in every enterprise that he has been engaged in. Although he has never identified himself with any ehureh, he has led an honest and upright life.

JACOB BAKER, farmer, P. O. Brookville. His father, Jacob Baker, is the son of Michael Baker, whose sketch appears with the biography of Levi Baker. Jacob obtained a very limited education, and assisted his father in elearing the land of timber. He was united in marriage with Sarah Michael in 1854. Had fourteen children, of whom nine are living. Jacob, the subject of our sketch, was born in 1836, and reared on the farm. He celebrated his marriage with Sarah Shank in 1854. They are the parents of three chlidren, viz., Permelia, Almira and Lawrence L. Mr. Baker has followed the oeeupation of tilling the soil to the present time, with good suceess. He east his first vote for " father Abraham," and has sinee been identified with the Republican party.

NOAH W. BAKER, hotel and liveryman, Brookville. Michael Baker, Jr., was a son of Michael Baker, Sr., who came to this county in 1805, from Laneaster County,

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Penn, Michael Baker, Jr., was born about the year 1812 ; after reaching manhood he married Betsey Warner, by whom he had seven children. After her death he married her sister Roseann, and they were the parents of three children, two of whom are still living-Harvey C. and Noah W .; the subject of this sketch was born November 15, 1848, and was married June 5, 1870, to Sophia Borden, who was born in Preble County, Ohio, October 17, 1853. They are the parents of five children. Mr., Baker has been in the hotel business for twelve years, seven of which he has been in the Eureka House, which he built in 1873. In politics, Mr. Baker is a Republican.

SAMUEL G. BARNES, dry goods and groceries and carriage manufacturing, Brookville, was born in Erie County, N. Y., May 5, 1836. His father was a native of the same State and county, and was united in marriage with Charlotte Rowe about the year 1821, and had nine children, viz .: Jane, Martha M., Eliza, Laura A., Charlotte A., Mary M., James G., Samuel G., Alice M. Mr. Barnes, by occupation was a miller, which he followed up until the time he came to Ohio in 1838. He located in Marion County and died a short time after his arrival, leaving a large family to the care of Mrs. Barnes, who managed to keep them together until 1845, when she broke up house- keeping, and our subject was bound out to a neighboring farmer until he was twenty- one. Our subject at this time was nine years of age, and had been to school only one winter, but being of an inquiring disposition and of studious habits, he obtained a fair knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic. In 1847, the farmer with whom our subject was bound, failed, and our subject was thrown on his own resources at the age of eleven years. He followed various pursuits until 1849, when he engaged with Morrhous & Davis, at Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio, to learn carriage-smithing, and con- tinucd in their service for a term comprising a period of five years, and worked at journey work until 1857, when he took for a wife Rebecca Snyder, and as a result of this union had one son -- Charles A. Mr. Barnes continued at journey work until 1859, when he commenced business for himself in Plattsburg, Clark Co., Ohio. Mrs. Barnes was summoned out of this world in 1861, when he disposed of his business and went at his country's call for volunteers, and enlisted in Company C, Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as Corporal, and in a short time was made Color Sergeant, which position he continued in until he was wounded at the battle of South Mountain, Md., and was confined to the hospital for a period of nine months, when he was put in Company F, Twenty-first Veteran Reserve Corps, stationed most of the time at Phila- delphia. He received his discharge in 1864, and re-enlisted in the same company until the close of the war. His marriage with his second wife, Eliza Biggart, was cele- brated in 1865, eleven months prior to his receiving his discharge from service. He continued following his trade in Philadelphia until 1870, when he came West to Dayton, Ohio, remaining but a short time, and then came to Brookville, where he now resides ; continued working as a journeyman until 1872, when he embarked once more in the carriage manufacturing business for himself, which he continued operating very suc- cessfully until 1880, when he disposed of his shop and purchased a stock of dry goods and groceries. He, having a large and extensive circle of acquaintances, was soon able to command a large trade. In 1881, he associated himself with A. F. Roller in the carriage manufacturing business.

JESSE A. BINKLEY, farmer, P. O. Center, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., December 7, 1814 ; he is a son of Samuel Binkley, deceased, of Miami Town- ship. Samuel was born in Lancaster County, Penn., June, 1786. He was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Beam, of Lancaster County, Penn., 1805. She was born June, 1786. By this union there were nine children born to them, eight of whom are now living. The youngest is past fifty years of age. A rather remarkable circum- stance is that there was not a death in the family for more than fifty years from the date of their marriage. In the spring of 1837, Samuel and family emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Germantown, Montgomery County. They lived there some nine months, when they moved to Miami Township, where Samuel continued to live until his death, in 1872, in his eighty-sixth year. His widow is still living in Miami Township, in her ninety-sixth year. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Jesse, the

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subject of this sketch, remained at home with his parents on the farm ; a part of the time was spent in the "Shuey Mill," in Germantown. He had learned milling in Pennsylvania. Jesse was united in mariage November 19, 1846, to Miss Caroline Whisler, who was born November 27, 1823, a daughter of Daniel Whisler, deceased, of Miami Township. This union has been blessed by the birth of twelve ehildren, eleven of whom are now living, viz .: Henry, born June 10, 1848; William A., born March 24, 1849 ; Adaline, born October 30, 1850, now the wife of A. Rhodes, of Anderson, Ind .; Newton, born June 18, 1852; Jesse, born April 8, 1853; Caroline W., born December 19, 1854, wife of William Worman, of Clay Township; Alice A., born December 6, 1856, wife of John H. Welsh, of Randolph Township; Jacob B., born May 2, 1858; Pharis, born January 2, 1861; Samuel, born June 11, 1862; and Theora, born December 2, 1867. Their daughter Clara was born October 1, 1865, and died January 3, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Binkley and seven of their children are members of the United Brethren Church at Phillipsburg, Ohio. Mr. Binkley has been a Town- ship Trustce for several terms in Clay Township. In 1847, he moved to Clay Town- ship, and settled on the farm where he has since lived. He owns a farm of 160 acres, well improved, with a large dwelling and substantial outbuildings.

LEWIS CAYLOR, farmer, P. O. Brookville, is the grandson of Peter Caylor, who emigrated from Virginia to Ohio, locating in Jefferson Township. It cannot be as- eertained at what time, but it was almost a wilderness, and the Indians were very numerous. He was united in marriage with Sarah Retter. One daughter and five sons were born to bless this union, three of whom are living, viz., Joseph, Benjamin and Elizabeth. The father of our subject was born in Jefferson Township, September 19, 1812. He celebrated his marriage with Elizabeth Miller. Ten children were born to them-John, Susan, Lucinda, Anna, Peter, Lewis, Hannah are living at the present writing. Lewis, the subject of this sketeh, was born in Jefferson Township January 26, 1845, and assisted his father with the duties of the farm until 1865, when he mar- ried Lidy A. Baker. They were the parents of two children-Altha M. and Herod V. Mr. Claylor's principal occupation has been tilling the soil. He purchased a farm in Van Buren Township, Darke Co., Ohio, in 1867, remaining until 1878, and dis- posed of his place and purchased the farm where he now resides. As an evidence of the popularity and esteem with which he is held in the community where he lives, he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, which office he has filled to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.

JACOB CARMONY, farmer, P. O. West Baltimore, was born in Washington Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio, July 10, 1823. He is a son of Jaeob Carmony. late of Clay Township, deceased. Jacob was born in Pennsylvania, October 18, 1790. He emigrated to Ohio and settled in Washington Township, Montgomery County, in 1810 or 1811. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Stansell, a daughter of Henry Stansell, deceased, of Washington Township, Montgomery County. She was born June 4, 1796, in Mason County, Ky. By this union there were born to them six children, four of whom are now living-Henry S., of Miami County, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of George Halloway, of Portland, Ind. ; William, of Lawrenee County, Ill., and Jacob, the subject of this sketeb. Jacob, Sr., lived in Washington Township until 1866, when he moved to Clay Township, where he died April 26, 1869. His wife died in Clay Township, January 1, 1872. Jacob. Jr., lived with his parents engaged in farming until he was married, September 16, 1846, to Miss Mary Tice, a daughter of Joseph Tiee, of Clay Township, where he died October 4, 1871. She was born in the State of New Jersey, April 24, 1829. By this union there have been born to them nine children, six of whom are now living, viz., William J., born May 16, 1847 , Joseph T., born May 23, 1849; Arminte, born August 25, 1854, wife of Joseph Lasure, of Indiana; Clara, born May 24, 1859, wife of William Thompson, of Preble County, Ohio ; Sarah E., born February 17, 1861, wife of Lewis Westfall, of Clay Township, and Henry J., born December 15, 1862. William J. was married to Miss Sarah A. Rasor, a daughter of D. Rasor, of Clay Township, September 27, 1868. They have had five children born to them, viz., Clara E., Milton O., Emma L., Henry

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W. and Francis J. Mrs. Carmony is a member of the New-School Baptist Church at Gordon, Darke Co. Mr. C. has resided in Montgomery County all his life. He is the owner of a farm of 166 acres in Clay Township, where he lives.

WARREN H. COOK, farmer, P. O. Clayton, was born in Clay Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio, March 18, 1840. He is a son of the late Harris Cook, a native of Providence, R. I., who emigrated to Ohio in an early day. Warren lived at home with his parents until twelve years of age, when his parents sent him to a select school at West Milton, Miami Co., Ohio (known as the Quaker Seminary), where he attended two terms. When he was only fifteen years old he taught a school in Darke County, Ohio, and the following summer he attended the schools at West Milton. The next winter he taught school in Darke County; then remained at home for a year, when he attended the Normal School at Troy, Miami Co., Ohio. The subsequent winter he taught the schools at Pattysville, Miami County; the next winter he taught a school north of Georgetown, where he commenced the study of medicine with his brother-in-law, Dr. Bobbs, of Phillipsburg, In the winter of 1861-62, he taught the Phillipsburg schools again. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His regiment served in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Army Corps. He was in active service some fourteen months, when, by order of Secretary Stanton, he was detached from active service and attached to the Adjutant General's office at Washington, D. C. He had charge of the Corresponding Burcau under Col. Taylor until he was discharged. Upon his return home, he attended medical lectures at the Miami Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1865-66, on account of rheumatism contracted while in the army, he had to abandon the study of medicine. In the summer of 1866, he attended the Normal School at Dayton, Ohio. In the following winter of 1866-67, he taught the schools at Salem, Montgomery County, and in 1867-68, the Brookville schools. From 1869 to 1871, he taught a school four miles northwest of Dayton. April 13, 1871, he was united in marriage to Miss Hattie N. Turner, a daughter of H. M. Turner, of Montgomery County. By this union there have been born to them two children, viz., Bertha A., born November 9, 1872, and Malcomb, December 4, 1874. Hattie N., his wife, was born November 16, 1848. In 1875, he moved to Grant County, Ind., where he engaged in the drug business with Dr. Bobbs. This partnership continued one year, when Dr. Bobbs retired, and Mr. Cook continued the business one year, when he sold out and returned to Montgomery County, Ohio, and settled on the farm where he now resides. Mr. Cook is the owner of a farm of 110 acres of land in Clay Township, northwest of Salem three-quarters of a mile.

WILLIAM DILTS, farmer, P. O. Brookville, was born in Hunterdon County, N. J., May 21, 1815. His father, William, was born in 1765, and was united in marriage with Catharine Holcomb about 1790. They were the parents of eleven chil- dren, of whom eight are living, five daughters and three sons. William, the subject of this memoir, was educated in the common schools and brought up to farm labor. He was apprenticed at the age of seventeen years to learn the carpenter's trade, and served four years, and continued in the employ of his brother until he was united in marriage with Mary Allen in 1837. Followed his trade until the fall of 1837. In the spring of 1838, he packed all his worldly possessions in a wagon and started for the West. He arrived at West Baltimore, this township, after a long and tedious journey of twenty-one days. In 1839, he rented a rude cabin near Brookville, and followed his trade until 1843, when he moved to Liberty Corners, remaining three years and pur- chased the farm where he now resides. Mrs. Dilts was summoned from earth to the spirit land in 1867. He married, for his second wife, Maria Conrad, in 1869. Mr. Dilts is the father of eight children, five by his first wife, and three by his second. Mr. Dilts has been a worthy and consistent member of the Baptist Church for the past thirty years. Mr. Dilts started in the world with nothing but good health, and, with the assistance of his good and industrious wife, accumulated enough of this world's goods to keep them in their declining years.

WILLIAM G. EWING, farmer, P. O. West Baltimore, is a son of John Ewing, a pioneer of Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio. John Ewing, Sr., the

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grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Kentucky. He emigrated from Kentucky and settled in Washington Township, Montgomery County, in the year 1797. He was one of the first Associate Judges of Montgomery County. John Ewing, the father of William G., was born in Washington Township, Montgomery County, in 1802, where he now lives. He is the oldest person living in the township that was born in it. He was united in marriage in the year 1823, to Miss Elizabeth Ewell, a daughter of Joel Ewell (deceased), of Washington Township, Montgomery County. The Ewell family came to Montgomery County from New Jersey in a very early day and settled in Washington Township. Elizabeth was born in 1804; by the marriage of John and Elizabeth there were born to them fourteen children, four of whom are now living --- Jeremiah, born 1825; William G., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, born February, 1827, and Robert, born September 7, 1838. The subject of this sketch was born March 30, 1826. John and Elizabeth are still living in Washington Township; John is in his eightieth year and Elizabeth in her seventy-eighth year. William G. lived at home on the farm until 1849, when he went to California and remained until May, 1854, when he returned. He was united in marriage November 4, 1856, to Miss Malinda Sunderland, a daughter of Aaron Sunder- land (deceased), of Washington Township. She was born February 13, 1838; by this union there have been born to them six children, three of whom are now living --- Cora M., born October 27, 1863; Lilly M., born January 14, 1866, and William A., born February 7, 1876. Three of their children are dead, viz .: A son who died in infancy April 8, 1859; Otto W. died September 3, 1864; and Laura S. died September 22, 1865. In 1869, Mr. Ewing moved to Clay Township and settled on the farm upon which he has sinec lived. He owns a farm of 1053 acres. Mrs. Ewing is a member of the New-School Baptist Church at Centerville, Ohio. Mr. Ewing, while residing in Wash- ington Township, was Trustee one term. In Clay Township, he has been a member of the school board for some time. He served in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty- first Regiment Ohio National Guards, under Col. Lowe, of Dayton.

HUGH FERGUSON, farmer, P. O. Bachman, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, March 30, 1831. He is a son of William Ferguson (deceased), late of Dayton, Ohio. William was born in Delaware in the year 1787. He was united in marriage in the year 1808, to Miss Jane Watson, of Delaware; by this union there were born to them nine children, four of whom are now living-Christopher B., who lives in Day- ton; Robert H., of Darke County, Ohio; Joseph J., who lives in Missouri, and Hugh, the subject of this sketch. William Ferguson emigrated from Delaware to Ohio and settled in Montgomery County, where he lived until his death. He settled first in Dayton, when there were but few houses at that point. William was a farmer. He died in Dayton October 21, 1874, in his eighty-eighth year. His wife (Jane) was born in Delaware in 1787; she died June 20, 1871, in her eighty-third year. Hugh was reared on a farm, and has since continued to follow the choice of his youth. He was united in marriage January 28, 1858, to Miss Fidelia Valentine, a daughter of Jona- than Valentine, of Dayton, Ohio; she was born September 19, 1836; Jonathan Val- entine was a native of New Jersey; he died in Dayton in 1864; by the marriage of Hugh and Fidelia there has been born to them seven children, six of whom are now dead. They have one daughter living-Lizzie M., born May 11, 1862. Mr. Fergu- son has been a resident of Montgomery County since his birth, excepting three years he lived in Greene County, Ohio. In March 14, 1871, he moved to Clay Township, where he has since continued to live. He is the owner of a farm of seventy-two acres. Mr. Ferguson and daughter are members of the United Brethren Church at South Arlington, Ohio. Mrs. Ferguson is a member of the Reformed Church in Greene County, Ohio.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 146

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