The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 155

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 155

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WILLIAM BRADFORD, JR., farmer, P. O. Dayton, is a grandson of one of the first settlers of Van Buren Township, John Bradford, a native of Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood. He married Mary Gillespie July 15, 1782. Twelve chil- dren were the fruits of this union, viz .: Robert, George G., John, Jean Ellenor, James G., William, Samuel D., Mary, Margaret, David D., Martha Ellen and Allen. He eame to Ohio in 1800, and spent one year near Cincinnati. He then entered 160 aeres of land south of Dayton, and in 1801 moved his family to their forest home. The forests then abounded in wild animals, which gradually reeeded as settlers came in. As the years went by, one after another was added to their number, until the cabins were dotted here and there all through the forest. By dint of hard labor, the mighty oak was laid low, the fields spread abroad, and the rieh grain could be seen ripening, to the great sat- isfaction of these old pioneers. George G. Bradford, the father of our subjeet, was born in Red Stone, Penn., April 29, 1787. He was reared a farmer. On the 29th of March, 1821, was united in marriage with Margaret MeAnless, a daughter of James McAnless, born January 11, 1796. To them nine children were born, viz .: James J., Mary A., John, Jane A., William, George G., Margaret, Martha D. and Joseph A. Mr. George G. Bradford, Sr., died June 1, 1840. She survived till September 17, 1872. William, the subject hereof, was born in Van Buren Township, June 12, 1830. His occupation is farming. In 1858, he and his brother John purchased 100 acres of land adjoining the home farm. He finally sold his interest and bought eighty aeres of timber land in 1868. This he has cleared up, and has erected good substantial build- ings. His marriage with Louisa Jane Hopkins was celebrated July 11, 1878. She is a native of Bellbrook, Greene Co. June 10, 1847, is the date of her birth. Her parents, Samuel H. and Mary Ann Hopkins, were natives of Warren County, Qhio, he born October 5, 1806, and she August 1, 1814. Their marriage eontraet was solem- nized May 28, 1829. Fourteen children were born to them, viz .: Mary C., James H., Sarah M., William A., Josephine R., Lydia A., John F., Franeis M., Isabel A., Louisa Jane, Samuel T., Alfretta and Albert (twins), and Clara V. The twins, Lydia A. and James H. are deceased. The latter met his death by the aeeidental discharge of a gun. Mr. William Bradford and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Chureh. He has served the same as Deaeon for five years.

JOHN BREIDENQUER, dairyman, P. O. Dayton, was born in Auglaize Coun- ty, Ohio, March 1, 1841. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Fishback) Breidenouer, were natives of Germany, where they married and had one ehild born. They emigrat- ed to Ameriea in about 1836, and settled in the above-named county, where they still

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reside. Farming is his occupation. Five children have been born to them in this coun- try. The names of all are as follows : Elizabeth, Christina, Maria, John, Margaret (deceased) and Jacob. In 1858, John came to Dayton, and for four years was engaged with Harris & Flutenbarger in the dairy business ; he then spent four years at the Asy- lum, one year as farm laborer and three years as nurse. Again he engaged in the dairy business, and for the last fourteen years, has conducted it for himself. By close atten- tion to the business, habits of economy, and the aid of his good wife, he has advanced step by step, until he owns seventy-two acres of land in Van Buren Township. He served four months in the civil war, a member of the Forty-fourth Regiment, Company H, Ohio National Guards. His marriage with Caroline Stultz was celebrated October 1, 1867. She is a daughter of Isaac Stultz, of Mad River Township, born January 13, 1848. John and Caroline Breidenouer are the parents of four children-Emma E., William E., John H. and Pearly May.

THOMAS BRIDGMAN, farmer, P. O. Dayton. Among the early settlers of Van Buren Township we are pleased to give space to the gentleman whose name ap- pears above. He was born in Jefferson County, Va., April 15, 1803-a son of Francis Brigdman, also a native of Virginia. Francis was of English and French extraction; and married Mary Scott, a lady of Irish descent; thirteen children were born to them, ten of whom grew to maturity, viz., William, Uriah, Thomas, Mary, Joseph, Nancy, John, Francis, Catharine and Elizabeth. William was a very early settler in Champaign County, and died January 1. 1881. Uriah was drowned in the Potomac River. Nan- cy is a widow residing in Washington, D. C. John died in Missouri. Francis is a farmer in Logan County, and the rest are supposed to be dead. At the age of twenty- four; Thomas came to Ohio through the persuasion of his uncle, John Bridg- man, who had been residing here about two years. He located in what is now Van Buren Township, and for a year or two worked by the month for Asa John, on the farm and in the distillery. On the 25th of May, 1829, he married Sarah, daugh- ter of Asa John. She was born July 8, 1814, and died March 26, 1836, the mother of two children-Benjamin F. and Asa J. Mr. Bridgman consummated his second marriage July 4, 1838, with Esther John, a sister of his first wife. She was born June 12, 1820. Nine children are the fruits of this union-Sarah, Mary Jane, W. H. Harrison, John T., Perry B., Albert, Laura Ann, Francis Marion and Charles Grant. Since coming to this county, Mr. Bridgman has resided most of the time on the farm where he lives at present. His farm of 151 acres, is a good one, well improved and under good cultivation. For a number of years, he and his father-in-law ran a steam saw mill, which was erected on the farm of Mr. John in 1833. In 1860, they rebuilt on the Beavertown and Indian Riffle pike. Since the death of Asa John, his interest in the mill is owned by his son, John John. Mr. and Mrs. Bridgman and two children are members of the United Brethren Church.

JONAH J. BULL, farmer, P. O. Dayton, was born in Greene County, Ohio, Feb- ruary 28, 1812, a son of Thomas and Isabella Bull. His father was of English de- scent, born in 1763, on Bull's Run, in Virginia. The stream probably derived its name from the family, as they were very early settlers there. Jameson was his moth- er's maiden name. She was of Irish parentage, born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1784. . They emigrated to Ohio in 1800, and settled in Greene County where they resided several years, when they moved to Shelby County, Ohio, and there spent the re- mainder of their days. He died when about fifty years of age, the father of two sons- Jefferson and Jonah J. His widow afterward married Daniel Valentine, by whom she had five children, viz., Anna, Mary, Rebecca, Esther and Isabella. Mrs. Isabella Valentine survived her second husband some eight or ten years, and died at the age of seventy-two. The subject of this sketch was raised to farm life. From the time he was eight years old, the time when his mother married her second husband. he lived with his grandmother, and, with her aid, managed her affairs till twenty-four years of age. He worked at whatever he could get to do by the day or by the month, when wages were 6 4 cents per day and $3 per month. On coming to this county, he paid his tax with 95 cents, and had 40 cents remaining. He now owns a fine farm in Van Buren

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Township, Montgomery County, besides the lot near the Asylum, where he resides- all the fruits of his own industry, aided by his good wife. Mr. Bull has served his township as Trustce for about twelve years. His marriage was consummated No- vember 17, 1835, with Miss Eliza Jane Braden. Slic was born in Turtle Creek Town- ship, Warren county, January 8, 1816. To them six children were born; two died in infancy, and one, Alpha J., at the age of twenty-one. The living are Isabella J., Galveston T. and William H. Mrs. Bull and daughter are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

S. A. BUTTERFIELD, retired farmer, P. O. Dayton, is a representative of a very ancient noble family of Scotland, who for about 300 years were the owners of a castle. At the time of the contest of Great Britain with Scotland, when the latter was brought into subjection to the former, an old gentleman and his five sons were banished to the Colonies. They landed at Boston, Mass., and from them the Butterfields of this country originated. One of these sons was the father of Benjamin Butterfield, the father of John Butterfield, of Massachusetts, the father of Jeremiah Butterfield. He was born in Massachusetts, March 4, 1776. Although he was subject to the King for the space of four months, he frequently remarked that he saw no difference between living in a republic and a kingdom. He came to the Northwest Territory in 1787, traveled through what is now Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and on to the Spanish country, where he learned there were great inducements offered by the Spanish Government to persons who would found colonies. He decided not to attempt to found a colony, but accepted a section of land by paying $10, the charges of surveying, recording deed, etc. This was in Missouri, about thirty-five miles above the mouth of the Missouri River. On account of the unhealthy climate and his dislike of the government, after spending about three years, he started on his return trip to New York, across Missouri and Illi- nois, to Vincennes, Ind., thence to the mouth of Salt River, and wintered at Boones- boro, Ky., where he engaged in chopping wood and clearing land. In the spring, he renewed his journey on foot and reached his destination in August. In 1799, he married Mary Campbell, a native of Massachusetts, born in 1781. He took a second trip to the Northwest in the spring of 1800, accompanied by a brother and brother-in- law, who returned in the fall. He was engaged in surveying, and assisted in establish- ing the Ludlow line. In the meantime, he made choice of a tract of land on the west of the Great Miami, ten miles below Hamilton. He returned to New York, and in 1802 brought his wife to their new home in the forest. Their first house was erected within the present limits of Hamilton County. They owned something over a section of land, which they cleared and improved, afterward building in Butler County, making one of the best farms in Ross Township, Butler County, where the residue of life was spent. Few men have endured the hardships that he did and accomplished as much, having traveled thousands of miles on foot and on horseback, wading or swimming streams, and endangered on all sides by wild beasts and Indians. After settling here he dealt largely in hogs, and made frequent trips to New Orleans by means of flatboats. On arriving at New Orleans, they sometimes found the market glutted, in which case they would take shipping for Havana, Cuba. On one of these trips the ship was wrecked ; but he opened the pens and his hogs swam to the shore, where some were stolen. He also made his way to the shore safe, and afterward returned to his family. His children were eight in number, and were named as follows: Sarah, Sherebiah A., John, Jeremiah, Nathaniel, Elijah, Mary and Elizabeth. Sarah died at the age of twenty-one, and Nathaniel at the age of forty-four. The rest are all living, but reside in different parts of the United States. Jeremiah Butterfield, Sr., departed this life in 1853, his wife having preceded him about seven years. Sherebiah, the eldest son, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, June 2, 1804. He was raised a farmer, and was acquainted with the hardships of frontier life. He used to accompany his father on his trips South with stock; was on another vessel at the eventful time before mentioned. His marriage was celebrated in 1828. His wife, Mary, was born in Kentucky February 10, 1806, and came to Ohio in about 1822. Five children were born to them-Sarah, born March 29, 1829; Supplya, September 12, 1832; Jennie, February 5, 1834;

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Elizabeth, April 11, 1837, and Anna, January -, 1841. Sarah is now the widow of William Willey, and resides in this township. Supplya was killed by a French rough in June of 1857. He had been practicing medicine in Texas, but left on account of trouble in government affairs. He was on his way to Monterey, and was known to have money or notes about his person. Jennie is now Mrs. William Smith, farmer, of Cynthiana, Ky. Elizabeth is the wife of George G. Bradford, married April 29, 1861. Mr. Bradford is a representative of a very old family of Van Buren Town- ship, and resides on the old homestead, where he was born April 29, 1833. Elizabeth Bradford is a graduate of College Hill. Anna graduated at the Cincinnati Medical College, and is now Mrs. John Campbell, of Indianapolis, a very prominent lady of the State. She is President of the Woman's Rights Association of Indiana, and made quite a number of Greeuback speeches during the campaign of 1880. Mrs. Mary But- terfield depared this life December 20, 1872. He is still living, and makes his home with his daughter Elizabeth. He has in his possession a gun that an uncle carried through the Revolution, and that his father carried on his tour through the Northwest. It now has its third stock, and is highly prized by its owner.

ADAM COBLENTZ, retired farmer, P. O. Dayton. Among the old residents of Van Buren Township, Montgomery County, we are pleased to mention the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. His father, Adam Coblentz, was born in Frederick Co., Md., May 19, 1762 ; grew to manhood and learned the shoemaker's trade in his native State, where, in the latter part of 1787, or the early part of 1788, he married Elizabeth Coleman. She was a native of the same place, born July 12, 1769. They were of German descent, and in 1807, came to Ohio and entered a fractional section (190 acres) of land in what is now Van Buren Township, Montgomery County, and purchased ninety acres besides, on which was a small improvement. The remainder they reduced to a state of cultivation, and made it their home. He departed this life January 28, 1838. His wife survived till May 5, 1862. Both were exemplary members of the German Re- formed Church. Their children were nine in number, and were named as follows : Peter, Elizabeth, Jacob, Mary M., Daniel, John and Joseph, born in Maryland ; Mary Ann and Adam, born in this State. Peter served in the war of 1812, under Hull ; was present at the time of the surrender at Detroit. Jacob went out in 1813 with Capt. Brier, but soon returned. Adam, the youngest of the family, was born Septem- ber 26, 1812. He was reared a farmer, and still lives on his farm of 158 acres. He has a sacred relic in the shape of a German Bible, printed in 1776, for which his father subscribed. Mr. Coblentz was united in marriage, January 25, 1876, with Anna Mary Bridenbaugh. She was born in Dayton July 26, 1852. One child, Ann Rebecca, has been the issue of this marriage. They are members of the Reformed Church

C. W. CREAGER, retired farmer, P. O. Dayton, Box 810, was born in Frederick County, Md., November 24, 1812, a son of Casper and Barbara (Smitb) Creager. They were of German descent, and natives of the above-named State. In 1813, they, with three children, came to Ohio and settled in Warren County, near Franklin. His death oc- curred in May of 1846, aged eighty-five years, as nearly as can be ascertained. His wife survived just one year, and died at the age of sixty-cight. He died at 6 A. M. and she at 6 P. M. They were reared in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and remained in fellowship with the same, and had their children instructed in the doctrines of that church. Adam, Solomon and Christian William, were the children born in Maryland, and Ezra, David, John, Sophia, Daniel and Mary. born in Warren County, Ohio. C. W. was reared a farmer; worked for his father till twenty-one years of age, when he began life for himself ; worked by the month and cropped for about six years. On the 25th of March, 1830, he married Susan Dolan. She was of Irish parentage, born April 14, 1822. They lived on rented land at different places till 1845, when they purchased a farm in the western part of Montgomery County, where he remained twelve years, and then purchased 151 acres in Van Buren Township, of the same county, where they now reside and arc comfortably situated for life. They are the parents of eleven children-William Henry, John P., Mary A., Ezra, Susan, Jacob, Eliza Jane, infant daughter deccased, Daniel, George and Emma Florence. The two youngest

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sons and the oldest are deceased. William H. was a member of the Catholic Church, with which his mother is also identified. Mr. Creager is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

WASHINGTON DERN, farmer, P. O. Dayton, was born in Frederick County, Md., December 1, 1811, a son of Frederiek and Elizabeth Dern. They were both na- tives of Maryland, and were the parents of eight children. Washington, the fourth child and only one to leave his native State, learned the miller's trade. After following his trade a few years in the East, and thinking there were better opportunities in the West for young men to start in life, he decided to emigrate. He came to Ohio in 1837, and for several years lived in different parts of the State. After coming to Montgomery County, for two years he was engaged in Pease's mill, Dayton. He then rented the Umbaugh Mill, four miles north, and operated it for about seven years. In 1858 or 1859, he purchased a farm of ninety aeres in Van Buren Township, quit mill- ing, located on his farm and has sinee been engaged in agricultural pursuits. His mar- riage was celebrated with Mary Ann Pentzer November 16, 1841. She was born in Maryland July 8, 1816, and came to Ohio in 1837, with her parents, Valentine and Mary Pentzer, who settled in this eounty. Washington and Mary Ann Dern are the parents of five children-Mary E., Frederie V., Washington P. (deceased ), William H. and George E. On the 24th of March, 1879, Frederie V. was united in marriage with Miss Crinda Whipp. Mr. Dern and family are members of the German Reformed Church.

WILLIAM EWRY, wagon-maker, Beavertown. His father, Basil Ewry, was a son of John and Elizabeth Ewry, born November 20, 1812. He was reared a farmer, with fair advantages for obtaining an education. By application and a tenacity of pur- pose, his intellectual attainments were above medioerity. On the 8th of November, 1838, he married Magdalene Swigard, by whom he had two children-William and David. Mrs. Ewry departed this life Mareh 18, 1843. The second marriage of Mr. Ewry was with Miss Elizabeth Swigard. The result of this union was ten children, viz. : Henry H., John G., Benjamin F., Albert R., Oliver P., Isaac W., Charles O., two infants and Mary E. Mr. Ewry started in life under adverse eireumstances, but became well off. In 1845, he purchased a farm east of Beavertown, on which the resi- due of his life was spent. He was a Republican in polities, and a member of the Ger- man Reformed Church, having served the same about twenty years as Elder and Dea- con. He met his death by a vicious horse; the animal kieked him three times, from the effects of which he died four days later, April 5, 1864. His widow is still living and resides in Beavertown. William, the oldest ehild, was born July 31. 1839. He assisted in the labors on his father's farm till eighteen years of age, when he commenced to learn the trade of wagon-maker, with Franklin Bridgman. This has been his occu- pation ever since, for the last twenty years aeting as proprietor ; five years in the West. He was united in marriage with Amelia Harper, November 9, 1866. She was a native of Van Wert County, Ohio, born in 1843. Dora Maude is the only child. On the 12th of September, 1880, death entered this happy little family and elaimed the mother for his prey. She was a consistent member of the United Brethren Church, with which her husband is also identified.

JOSEPH B. JOHNS, retired surveyor, P. O. Dayton, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, Feb. 26, 1813. His parents, Benjamin and Rhoda Johns, were natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Welsh and the latter of English extraetion. They came to Ohio in 1811, landing at Cineinnati in April. They then set out on horseback for Dayton, and soon after entered land in the vicinity of where Trotwood now is. Here he died in June of 1814, from exposure in the war of 1812, in which he served. He was born May 19, 1786. His wife was born April 18, 1786, and died in 1835. Their children were Mary Ann and Joseph B. Mary Ann was born in Fayette County Penn., December 20, 1810. She became the wife of Leonard Miller. He was also a native of Pennsylvania, born May 6, 1804, and died January 9, 1867, their five chil- dren having gone before. The subject of this sketeh received a good education, and at the age of nineteen began teaching, which he followed eighteen years. He has been

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identified with the principal offices of the township, serving as Assessor, Clerk, Trustee, and was Justice of the Peace nine years, was City Engineer for the city of Dayton twelve years and was County Surveyor for fiften years. He now resides with his widowed sister, on a farm in Van Buren Township.

JOHN A. KOHL, farmer, P. O. Dayton, is a son of Jacob and Catharine ( Mil- ler) Kohl. They were natives of Hesse, Germany, he born February 2, 1795, and she October 15, 1813. In about 1834, they emigrated to America and spent the first two years in Miamisburg, Montgomery County, Ohio, after which they lived in Dayton two years, and then moved to the country south of the city. In 1846, they purchased a farm of thirty-three acres and engaged in farmning. They were industrious, economical people, and afterward added twenty acres to their farm. Two children were born to them-John Augustus and Harriet. The latter died at the age of sixteen. Mr. Jacob Kohl was confirmed in the German Reformed Church ; but, on coming to this country, there being no German services in his church, and his wife being a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, he connected himself with it, and remained in com- munion with the same till death. He departed this life January 2, 1880. His widow is still living, and resides with her son. He was born in Miamisburg April 12, 1836, and is now an enterprising farmer of Van Buren Township. Besides the home farm, he owns fifty-eight acres, which is under good cultivation and well improved. On the 29th of January, 1860, he was united in marriage with Catharine Ridenour, the only daughter of Jacob and Rebecca Ridenour. They were natives of Maryland, came to Ohio nearly fifty years ago, and were parents of eight children. Catharine was born August 23. 1842. To this union four children have been given-Frances M., Anna R., Jacob H. and an infant son. Mrs. Kohl and daughter are members of the German Reformed Church.

WILLIAM KRAMER, proprietor of vineyard and flower garden, P. O. Dayton. The gentleman named above was born in Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany, June 25, 1826, and as soon as large enough commenced learning wine-making, the prevailing business in that land, noted for its extensive vineyards and excellent wines. In 1848, he emigrated to America and landed in New York in December of that year, having been forty-four days on the voyage over. He did not tarry long in the East, but came directly to the Miami Valley, and in Mad River Township, this county, started a vine- yard, which he successfully operated for a period of three years, after which he located in Van Buren Township near the Insane Asylum. Here he continued for four years, or until 1855, when he bought sixty acres of his present place, which was then in a perfectly wild state, never even having known the sound of the woodman's ax. He has since then put the whole of it under cultivation, and from time to time added more, until now he has ninety-five acres, all under a high state of cultivation, and method- ically laid out in orchards, vineyards and flower-gardens. He has deep, cool cellars in which huge casks of 1,600 gallons capacity are placed for the reception of the wine annually pressed from his luscious grapes. He has transformed his large dooryard into a magnificent wine garden, where he dispenses good cheer to the thirsty people who hourly visit him from the city. Each year witnesses some improvement in his beautiful grounds. There are cool wine-houses, delightful summer-houses where the youth can enjoy their tete a-tete undisturbed and deeply-shaded walks between beds filled with the finest blooming plants. In addition to these, he has recently erected a bowling-alley for those that desire more vigorous amusement. On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Kramer was united in marriage to Caroline Agryshe, who was born in Germany in 1823, and came to this country in 1845. By her he has had three children, now living-William (of the firm of Cook & Kramer, carriage-makers, Dayton), Frederica (now Mrs. Chris- tian Lechner), and Adolph (a mechanic in the city of Dayton). The old folks stay at the vineyard and devote the whole of their attention to their many visitors, whose vehi- cles constantly crowd the beautiful avenue leading to the gardens. In addition to the immense home consumption supplied by Mr. Kramer, he ships to all points of the country, and the increasing demand for his productions indicate the inadequacy of his facilities for supplying the future wants of his customers. No wine is allowed to leave

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 155

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