The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 148

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 148

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NATHANIAL PEGRAM, boots and shoes, Brookville, was born June 4, 1843, in Warren County, N. C. He was born a slave, and has, consequently, been deprived of all educational advantages. During the rebellion, he was pressed into the service of the Confederate army as a servant to his master, who was wounded in the engagement at Lynchburg, and Pegram was taken prisoner by the Union forces and conveyed to Tar- ville, where he entered the service of Lieut. Burns, of the Union army. In this capacity, he continued for nine months, when he started for his former home. While en route, he was recaptured near Wytheville, Va., and held for an account of himself. He escaped in the night, and by concealing himself in the day-time succeeded in reach- ing his destination, after a long and tedious journey of six weeks. His mistress allowed him the privilege of engaging in the boot and shoe trade in his own behalf, he paying her $50 per month in confederate money to indemnify her for the loss of his labor. He continued this business successfully until 1867, at which time he dis- posed of his stock in trade and shipped as cook and steward on a wrecking vessel from Wilmington, N. C. Not liking this occupation., he availed himself of an early oppor- tunity which presented itself of escaping by stowing himself in the hold of a tug which was unloading provisions alongside of his ship. Arriving at Wilmington, he was, con- fronted by the shipper, of whom he demanded his pay, which was refused. He at once

commenced legal proceedings, attached the tug, and thereby obtained satisfaction in the sum of $500. In 1869, he commenced driving team for Adams Express Company, and at one time received a present of $25 and two suits of clothes for honesty in handling a $30,000 money package. In 1870, he repaired to Baltimore, Md., where he engaged in shoemaking. Eighteen months thereafter, he went to Washington, D. C., where he remained four years in the employ of the Government as watchman in the Treasurer's Office and Interior Department. In 1880, he went to Cincinnati, then to Key West, Ky., then to Dayton. Ohio, then to Brookville, where he now resides.

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He married Sarah Gardner, by whom he had five children. Of these, four-Nathaniel, Louisa, Eugene and Mary A .- are now living. In 1865, he was deprived by death of his better half. In 1875, he took to wife Elizabeth Allen, by whom he had one child, which died in its infancy. In religious belief, Mr. P. is an earnest and consistent Methodist, and takes every opportunity of enlightening his people in the truths of that Gospel to which he is so devoted.

HENRY RASOR, farmer, P. O. Clayton. John Rasor was born in Dauphin County, Penn., August 25, 1791, and came to Ohio in 1807, and settled in this county. He married Miss Hannah Michaels in 1820. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are still living-Peter, John, David, Daniel, Samuel, Noah, Catherine, Mary and Henry. The subject of this sketch was born March 21, 1827, on the same place he now owns. He married Miss Malinda Baker, daughter of Benjamin Baker, of Clay Township. They are the parents of eight children, all of whom are living-Levi, Sadie, Cicero, Noah, John H., Martha, Hannah F. and Samuel E. Mr. Rasor received his education in the common schools of Clay Township. In politics, Mr. Rasor is a Democrat. He and his wife have been members of the Brethren in Christ Church for twenty-three years.

MICHAEL N. REED, farmer, P. O. Dodson, was born in Madison Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, December 18, 1829. He is a son of Peter Reed, of Madi- son Township, deceased. Peter was born in Pennsylvania, February 26, 1788. The father of Peter, Conrad Reed, was a native of Germany; he emigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania in a very early day. He was married in Pennsylvania. He then wended his way westward, and settled in Clermont County, Ohio, in the year 1816. He was the father of ten children ; only one is supposed to be living, viz .: Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Bailey, of Illinois. Peter, the father of Michael N., emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Madison Township, Montgomery County, in the year 1816. Peter was united in marriage, March 28, 1822, to Miss Wilhelmina Neipman, a daughter of Engle Neipman ; he was born in Germany in 1757 ; he emigrated to Penn- sylvania in the year 1793 ; he died in Pennsylvania, July 11, 1814. Wilhelmina was born July 31, 1793. By the marriage of Peter and Wilhelmina there were born to them five children, viz .: Abraham (now dead), John, of Dayton, Ohio; Henry, of Clay Township ; Michael N .; Benjamin, who lives in Missouri, and Peter, of Madison Township. Peter continued to live in Madison Township from the year 1816 until his death, May 11, 1874; he was in his eighty-second year at the time of his death. His wife, Wilhelmina, died November 18, 1875, in her eighty-third year. Michael N. made his home with his parents, most of the time engaged in farming, until his mar- riage. He was united in marriage, March 4, 1852, to Miss Mary Wagoner, a daughter of John Wagoner, of Randolph Township, Montgomery County ; she was born May 19, 1828 ; her father was a native of Pennsylvania. By their marriage there were born to them two children, one of whom is now living, viz .: Daniel W., born June 3, 1853, a carpenter by trade. He was united in marriage, August 18, 1874, to Miss Emma Somer, a daughter of Joseph Somer, of Clay Township. Emma was born April 15, 1858; they had one child born them, Melvin S., born February 21, 1877. Emma died August 27, 1879. The daughter of Michael N. and Mary, Emily Frances, who died April 16, 1866, was born August 9, 1856. Mr. R. and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, at Brookville. Mr. R. settled in Clay Township Feb- ruary, 1870, and owns a farm of forty-five acres of good land.

WILLIAM R. SANFORD, druggist, Brookville, was born in Union County, Ind., December 20, 1855. William R. is a son of Charles C. Sanford, deceased. Charles C. was born on Nantucket Island, Mass., in the year 1796, and was a cooper by trade ; in 1814, he went on the sea as a sailor, and continued to follow the sea until 1836, when he emigrated to Indiana, and settled in Union County. In 1843 or 1844, he was united in marriage to Miss Minerva P. Howe, of Indiana. By this union there were born to them four children, three of whom are now living, viz .: Aun L., wife of William E. Pentecost, of Union County, Ind .; Lucretia, wife of Joseph H. Pente- cost, of Union County, Ind .; and William R. Their son, Albert, died in 1855, -

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Charles C. and wife died in Union County, Ind .; in 1861, William R. entered a drug store as a clerk when he was twenty-one years old, in Brighton, Ill., and from there he went to Fidelity, Ill., and clerkcd there for some time in a drug store; in 1877, he came to Brookville, Montgomery Co., Ohio, where he has since continued to reside ; in 1878, he purchased a drug store, and has continued in business since. He was united in marriage, September 25, 1878, to Miss Lizzie S. Marshall, a daughter of William B. Marshall, of Clay Township. Mrs. Sanford was born in 1859. Mr. Sanford and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Brookville, Ohio, and he is one of the leading druggists of that town.

JOHN SAYLER, farmer, P. O. Clayton, Ohio, was born in Maryland, June 18, 1842, was brought up on his father's farm, and lived at home with his parents until October, 1862, when he came to Ohio and located in Harrison Township, Montgomery County. April 18, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Wampler, a daughter of Jesse Wampler, of Harrison Township; she was born June 15, 1845. Jesse Wampler emigrated from Maryland and settled in Montgomery County in 1812. (The Wampler family is one of the representative families of the county.) In 1871, Mr. Sayler moved to Clay Township, and in the spring of 1872 purchased the H. M. Turner farm of 160} acres, adjoining the town of Salem on the west, where he now resides. There have been born to them five children, viz .: Jessie, born September 6, 1866; Charles, October 1, 1867 ; Lloyd, February 20, 1869 ; Howard, August 18, 1873, and Milton, March 23, 1878. Mr. Sayler has been elected a member of the School Board of Clay Township for two terms. Mrs. Sayler is a member of the Ger- man Baptist Church. She was baptized in the church by Israel Brower, in Harrison Township, in 1866. The marriage ceremony of John and Harriet was performed by Peter Nead, of the German Baptist Church.

LEWIS R. SMITH, Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, Brookville. Peter Smith, the father of Lewis R., was born in Pennsylvania, was by occupation a miller and farmer, and was united in marriage with Catharine Rickard about the year 1808, and they were blessed with a family of seven children, viz .: John, Mary (deceased), Peter, Rebecca, Lewis, Henry (deceased) and Samuel. Mr. Smith was a patriot of the war of 1812. In 1825, he emigrated to Ohio, and located in Stark County, and continued in the occupation of tilling the soil until 1833, when he disposed of his farm to advan- tage and moved to Montgomery County, locating in Clay Township, near the present site of Phillipsburg, where he purchased a farm containing eighty-five acres, under cul- tivation. In 1855, he disposed of his farm and moved into Phillipsburg, where he remained until he was summoned out of this world, in 1866. His wife died in 1865. Lewis, the subject of this memoir, was born October 25, 1827, and obtained a very limited education ; but, being of an inquisitive nature, by profound reading he gathered a mass of information. By occupation he was a wagon-maker, and followed various other pursuits, until he celebrated his marriage with Lydia J. Davis, in 1857. There was born to bless this union two children, viz .: Silas W. and Cassius C., and both passed out of this world in 1861 with the mcasles, which had settled on the lungs, and their mother followed them the same year, leaving our subject to bear his grief alone. A few months prior to the death of his wife he engaged in the tinning business, in which he continued until the breaking-out of the rebellion. He answered the call of his country for volunteers and enlisted as a private, August 15, 1861, in the Eighteenth United States Infantry for three years, and, at the expiration of this term of service, came home to visit his friends. He re-enlisted in the Fifteenth Regiment United States Veteran Volunteers, of Hancock's corps, and served until the close of the war. In 1865, lie engaged in the business of contracting and building, in which he continued until 1875. During this period he married his second wife, Mrs. Mary Thomas, the widow of a fallen comrade. By this union they had three children, of whom one survives, George V. C. As an evidence of the esteem in which he was held in the community, he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and has discharged the responsibilities of that office with public acceptance and credit to himself for a term comprising a period of five years. He has held many other positions of public trust, and always acquitted

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himself with honor. In 1880, he located in Brookville, where he now resides, and was commissioned to enumerate the census of his township.

JAMES R. S. SMITH, attorney at law, Brookville, was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1837. He married Miss Rogers in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, some few years prior to that time. They were the parents of three chil- dren-Wilson, Elizabeth and James R. S. The subject of our sketch was born in the then county of Huntingdon, Penn., now Blair, near the town of Hollidaysburg, August 16, 1824, and came to Ohio with his father in 1837, coming all the way in their own conveyances, against the protest of their friends-the journey being made in the winter. On September 12, 1854, he married Miss Harriet McCarter, of this county. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are still living-Minnie, Nellie, Mary and William. Mr. Smith received a common school education in the schools of Clay Township, and a collegiate course at Farmers' College, College Hill, Cincinnati. He read law with Wood & Nead, of Dayton. He enjoys the confidence of his neigh- bors, and has a large practice in this neighborhood. Mr. Smith in politics is a Repub- lican, and has figured largely in the politics of this section. He was appointed to the office of Assistant Revenue Assessor under Abraham Lincoln in 1864, removed under Andrew Johnson, and re-appointed under U. S. Grant in 1869, and filled that office till it was abolished. In his early life, he followed the profession of school teacher for many years. In the spring of 1856, he went to Kansas, and located in Lawrence, in the midst of the political storms then sweeping over that Territory, and was a prominent member of the Free State party in that part of the State-was recognized as a Radical among them. He was the first Mayor of Brookville, and organized the village govern- ment.

NOAH H. STECK, farmer, P. O. West Baltimore, is one of the industrious and enterprising young men of Clay Township. He was born in Jackson Township, Mont- gomery County, Ohio, February 21, 1858. He is a son of John A. Steck, a farmer in Clay Township. John A. was born in Baden, Germany, in 1821. He was married while in Germany to Miss Margaret Burk, in the year 1848. In the year 1850, John A. and family emigrated to America and settled in Montgomery County the same year. By this union there were born to them eight children, all of whom are now living. John A. has lived in Montgomery County since he came to America, excepting five years spent in Preble County, Ohio. He is the owner of a farm in Clay Township, where he lives, of ninety-six acres. John A. and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, in Darke County. Noah H. started in life as a farmer and has willingly fol- lowed the choice of his youth since.

HENRY STOUFFER, farmer, P. O. Clayton. Frederick Stouffer was born in Lancaster County, Penn., August 24, 1814, and came to Ohio in 1818, with his father, John Stouffer, who was born in Lancaster County, Penn., and settled in Clay Town- ship. John was married to Isabel Kelly, a native of the same county and State. They were the parents of six children, three of whom still survive-Henry, Jane and Frederick, the latter of whom married Miss Mary Jane Weaver. She was born Octo- ber 14, 1815, in Augusta County, Va .; they were the parents of nine children, eight of whom are still living-Elizabeth, Luther, Samuel, Sarah, Prudence, Leander, John and Henry E., the subject of our sketch, who was born March 11, 1850, in this county. He was married November 28, 1878, to Miss Amanda A. Beachler, who was a daugh- ter of George Beachler, who was born December 11, 1822, in this county, and married Susan Booher, November 2, 1848. They had four children, two of whom are still living-Mamie and Amanda A., who was born April 13, 1850, in Dayton. Henry and Amanda A. Stouffer have one child, Tessie B., who was born November 14, 1880.

SIMON P. STRADER, farmer, P. O. West Baltimore, was born in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, September 10, 1818. His father, Sampson P. Strader, was born in North Carolina, in the year 1796, and emigrated to Ohio and set- tled in Montgomery County at an early day. He was married to Miss Mary E. Benner, in 1817. By this union there were born to them five children, four of whom are now living. Sampson Strader died in 1877, in his eighty-first year. His wife, Mary, died

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in 1878. Simon remained at home with his parents on the farm until he was married. He was united in marriage to Miss Lydia A. Jolinson, a daughter of Zenas Johnson, of Alexandersville, Ohio, October 26, 1842. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. David Winters, of Dayton, Ohio. By this union there were born to them eleven children, five of whom are now living, viz. : Mary A., born October 8, 1843 (now the wife of Dr. J. F. Winst, of Alexandersville, Ohio), Jacob F., October 21, 1858; Chester J .. born June 1, 1863 ; Chauncey S., born February 23, 1865, and Howard V., born July 1, 1869. The following children are dead : Simon V., Charity M., Payton D., Lydia A. and Lawton D. Mr. Strader has resided in Montgomery County for the past sixty-four years, excepting two years when he lived in Darke County, Ohio. Mrs. Strader is a member of the Presbyterian Church, at Carrolton, Montgomery County. Mr. Strader is the owner of a farm of sixty-three acres, in Clay Township, where he resides.

MRS. TAMAR THOMAS, farmer, P. O. Center, Ohio, is a pioneer, and was the first white child born in Union Township, Miami Co., Ohio. She was born on the 9th day of September, 1802, and is the daughter of Caleb Mendenhall, deceased. Her parents emigrated to Ohio from North Carolina, and settled in Miami County the day that the subject of this sketch was born. Tamar was united in marriage to Isaac Thomas October 26, 1827, and moved to Clay Township, Montgomery County, the same year. In 1817, Isaac Thomas emigrated to Montgomery County, Ohio, and settled in Clay Township. In 1821, he entered ninety-two acres of land from the Government. His widow now resides on the same. This marriage was blessed by the birth of eight children, five of whom are now living, viz .: Permelia (now the wife of Isaac Goodyear, of Miami County, Ohio), Harriet (now the wife of H. Jones, of Darke County), Milo, Caleb (who is the owner of a farm adjoining the old, homestead in Clay Township). He was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Coffman June 23, 1859. She was born October 16, 1837. There have been born to them nine children, six of whom are now living, viz .: Adam S., Rebecca E., Ora May., Ward B., Tiffin Aldis and Alta Pearl. Caleb and wife are members of the Christian Church at Phillipsburg, Caleb is a member of Lodge No. 120, F. & A. M., at Marshall, Henry Co., Iowa. Caleb lived seven years in Iowa engaged in running a saw-mill. Setli, a deceased son, was a member of Company H, Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry; he died at Memphis, Tenn., August 31, 1863, in his twenty-ciglith year. Susannah, a daughter of Mrs. Thomas, and the wife of Francis M. Ibaugh, died February 24, 1870. Elaw, deceased, was married and left a wife and one child, Ida Bell, who now makes her home with her grandmother. Irwin T. was born January 28, 1838; he is a twin brother to Susannah, deceased. He was married November 7, 1858, to Miss Sarah Tibbs, of Phillipsburg. They had nine children born them; four daughters are dead. The following are now living, viz .: Arnold F., Francis O., William W., Cora O. and Web- ster E. Irwin is the owner of a farm of eighty-five acres in Clay Township, near the " old homestead." Irwin is a member of Lodge No. 594 Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Phillipsburg. He has served two terms as Township Trustee. He is the President of the Special School Board of Phillipsburg. Isaac Thomas came to Clay Township as above stated in 1817, and lived in the township until his death September 17, 1880, in his seventy-seventh year. He lived and died a member of the " Friends" Church. His widow is a member of the same denomination. She is now in her seven- ty-ninth year, a woman of clear mind, and remarkably active for one of her age. What wonderful changes has she been permitted to witness in the development of this county.

JOHN J. TURNEY, farmer, P. O. Voorhees, is a son of Joseph Turney, wlio was a native of Westmoreland County, Penn. He was united in marriage with Margaret, daughter of the Rev. W. Webber, about 1812 ; he was a descendant of King William of Holland ; eleven children were born to bless this union-Benjamin, Rachel, John J., Weaver A., Joseph, Margaret and Elizabeth are living at present. They emigrated to Ohio in 1819, and endured all the hardships and privations incident to a journey over the mountains in wagons ; when they arrived in Pittsburgh they ob- tained a passage down the Ohio River in a keel-boat as far as Portsmouth, and continued

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their journey to Franklin County in wagons and located in Blenden Township, and commenced clearing off the timber preparatory to making a home. The subject of this sketch was born April 10, 1821, and passed through the usual routine of life incident to pioneer days, attending school at every opportunity. His educational advantages were limited ; but, being of an inquisitive nature and a constant reader, he gathered a mass of information. At the age of eighteen years, the desire to see other places aud to find a congenial and promising opening for business, induced him to visit various places, engaging in such employment as he could find. One journey that we will mention is a trip that he and his brother made down the river from Cincinnati to New Orleans in 1839, on a flat-boat. As they were filled with no desire to remain in that great southern metropolis, they journeyed up the Arkansas River as far as Little Rock; uot finding any employment, they came back to Pine Bluff and accepted a contract of clearing up a piece of ground containing ten acres. covered with timber and a dense canebrake. There were three of them, and John J., our subject. was to cut the timber and the other two the canebrake. As they had no almanac or any other means of telling the day, they continued their work as usual Sunday morning ; our subject was not made aware of the fact until near mid-day, when his brother gave a terrible yell, and Mr. Turney made all possible speed to where they were working, fearing that some accident had happened. When he arrived to where they were, they asked him if he knew it was Sunday. They surrendered their contract to a couple of young men, after they had spent about four weeks time on it, and went up the river about fifteen miles and rented a small farm and commenced tilling the soil. They had labored hard to get their seed in the ground in season, and expected to reap the benefit of their exertions in the fall. Their crops had obtained a fair start when a heavy rain-storm came up and laid the fruits of their toil under a vast area of water, destroying everything. This discouraged our subject so much that he concluded to seek an opening elsewhere, and he purchased a skiff and bid his brother farewell, and started down the river ; the next day, he overtook an Indian chief and his wife who were wending their way down the river, trading at the villages that stand upon the banks of the Arkansas, but they went so slow that our subject soon left them far behind. As he neared the mouth of the river, the current slackened considerably from the fact that the Mississippi was very high and backed up the Arkansas for several miles, and this obstructed his progress ; he disposed of his boat and continued his journey on foot ; in the evening, arrived at the resi- dence of one of the early settlers of that neighborhood and applied for a night's lodg- ing and was at first refused, but they finally concluded to accommodate him for the night. They put him up in the loft over the dining room, which was ascended by means of a ladder. He passed the night very comfortably and continued his journey in the morning. About mid-day, he arrived to where there was a low place in the road where the water made its way through and spread back over the country, and he was com- pelled to make a crossing here or make an extensive detour of twenty miles. But he was fully determined to cross herc, and threw his bundle and coat over and then waded into the water until it reached his neck. He arrived in Napoleon, after a journey of four days, and obtained a deck passage on a steamboat to Cincinnati. and in a short time he arrived at home. In 1842, he moved with his father to Union County, and purchased a farm that was covered with timber, and in a short time had a considerable part of it under cultivation. In 1843, our subject engaged at his trade of tanning at Marysville, Union County, Ohio, remaining but a short time, aud went to Fort Wayne, Ind. ; thence to Warren, where he associated himself with Benjamin Rickhard, and carried on the tauuing business until the fall of 1844, when he disposed of his interest and returned to Fort Wayne and worked journey work until July, 1845. He visited various other places in search of employment, but was not successful until he reached Buffalo, N. Y. He remained there a few months and came to Dayton, stopping at the many towns on the road. He continued working at his trade in Dayton during the winter of 1846-47, and then went to Franklin, Warren County, and engaged with the firm of Evans & Worley, and remained in their service for eight years, and was ad- mitted as one of the'firm, Mr. Worley retiring. Mr. Evans was interested in the firm

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of Evans & Meyers, in Shelby County, and Mr. Turney purchased the interest of Mr. Meyers. Mr. Turney celebrated his marriage with Eliza J. Ross in 1848. They were the parents of eight children, six boys and two girls-Jared, Joseph, Edward, George, Gertrude A. and Clifford were living at the time of this writing. Mr. Turney continued in the tanning business until 1869, when he sold out and engaged in the manufacturing of harness and collars, and dealing in leather until 1876, when he concluded to retire from active business life to the farm, and purchased the land where he now resides. Mr. Turney has been identified with the township offiees and has taken an active interest in promoting Democratic principles. In 1879, the death mes- senger visited the residence of Mr. Turney, and carried off his wife from earth to the spirit land. She was an estimable lady and took great care in raising her children up in the fear of the Lord. Mr. and Mrs. Turney were both worthy and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 148

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