Greenville Twp. -
CHARLES BACHMAN, tailor and clothier, No. 88 Broadway, Greenville, Ohio.  There are probably but few of the successful business men of Greenville, who have shown the energy, enterprises, and quick conception of the wants and demands of the public, as the subject of our sketch, who is among the popular clothiers of Greenville.  He was born in Prussia June 1, 1836, and emigrated to America when 18 years of age; in 1861, he located in Eaton, and followed the occupation of merchant tailor, until 1867, at which date he came to Greenville, where he has since followed the above business, with the exception of two years.  As one of the patrons of the above gentlemen, we can cheerfully recommend him as educated in his business, and to his honorable dealings, together with his large and carefully selected stock of seasonable goods and to his personal attention to the details of every branch of his business, may be attributed the secret of his success.  A card of his business is to be found in the business directory of Greenville, in another part of his work.  His marriage with Julia Marenthall was celebrated in 1861.  She was also a native of Prussia.  They are the parents of three children, viz., Jennie, Samuel and Malely.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 473
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Greenville Twp. -
JACOB BAKER, attorney at law, Greenville; born in Butler Township in 1840; practiced law in Greenville since 1864, where he has been connected with some of the most important legal proceedings had in the county; was defeated for the Legislature in 1865, and elected in 1867.  He introduced and carried through several important pieces of legislation.  He was a delegate from this Congressional District to the St. Louis Convention at which Mr. Tilden was nominated for President.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 473
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Greenville Twp. -
DAVID BEANBLOSSOM, (Greenville Twp.), (Deceased); one of the early pioneers of Darke Co., was born in North Carolina, May 25, 1801; when 16 years of age, he came to Ohio and located in Darke Co., consequently he was one of its very early settlers.  He was twice married; his first wife was Susanna Rarick; she died about the year 1834; eleven children were the fruit of this union, of whom one is now living - Joseph, now living in Greenville Township.  His marriage with Mary Delk was celebrated No. 6, 1836; she was born in Darke Co., a few miles south of Greenville, Sept. 30, 1816; she was a daughter of Etheland Delk, who was born in North Carolina, and came to Darke Co. in a very early day.  The children by the last marriage were fourteen in number, of whom two are deceased.  The living are Ludena, born May 20, 1840; Enos, Jan. 6, 1842; Ann Eliza, born Oct. 25, 1843; Julia A., born Nov. 24, 1845; William, Jan. 6, 1848; Elizabeth S., born Oct. 22, 1849; Margaret M., born Feb. 9, 1852; David D., Jan. 14, 1854; John C., Aprl. 18, 1856; Rachel and Isabell (twins), and Henry A., born Jan. 13, 1859.  Of the deceased, Nancy, born Aug. 28, 1838, died Feb. 26, 1854; the other died in infancy.  Mr. Beanblossom died Dec. 8, 1861, upon the same place he located, in 1817, and where he lived forty-four years; his old residence, which he built in 1820, is now occupied by his son Enos.  Mr. Beanblossom suffered all the privations and hardships of frontier life.  He commenced without capital, and split rails at 25 cents per hundred to obtain his wedding outfit.  He, with the assistance of his wife, fought the battles of life nobly, and at the time of his death, had accumulated upward of 400 acres of land; built his present residence in 1856.  He took a deep interest in the cause of religion, and was a Deacon in the Christian Church and was a member of the same for forty years.  He died respected and beloved by all who knew him.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 474
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Greenville Twp. -
ENOS BEANBLOSSOM, (Greenville Twp.) , Sec. 1; P. O. Pikesville.  Another of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born upon Sec. 1, Greenville Township, Jan. 6, 1842, where he has always lived, with the exception of three years that he served in the army; he is a son of David Beanblossom, who was born in North Carolina, and emigrated to Ohio, and located in Darke Co. in 1817; he entered Government land, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred Dec. 8, 1861, aged 63 years.  The mother of Enos Beanblossom was Mary Delk, who was born in Ohio, and is now living in this county.  Our subject was raised to agricultural pursuits, which he followed until July 10, 1862, when he enlisted in the 45th O. V. I.; he served in the army of Gen. Sherman until the fall of 1864, when he was made prisoner in Tennessee and taken to Belle Island; after remaining there three months, he was taken to Andersonville, where the cruel treatment received here was in keeping with its well-known acts of barbarism; during his imprisonment his weight was reduced from 155 to 94 pounds; he remained in prison some five months, and was released in the spring of 1865, and received his discharge during the summer, at Columbus; thence returned home and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed.  He now owns 100 acres of well-improved land.  His marriage with Ann E. Sipple was celebrated Mar. 31, 1872; she was born in Darke Co., Feb. 3, 1845; they have four children - Irene M., born May 17, 1873; Daisy V., born July 31, 1875; Ora E., born July 26, 1877, and an infant, born Sept. 14, 1879.  The residence in which Mr. Beanblossom now lives was erected by his father in 1820, and is now a good comfortable home.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 474
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Greenville Twp. -
JOSEPH BEANBLOSSOM, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Greenville; another of the old settlers; born in Darke Co., Ohio, Feb. 7, 1826, he was the oldest son of David Beanblossom, one of the early pioneers, whose biography appears among the sketches of Greenville Township in this work.  The subject of our sketch was raised to agricultural pursuits upon the farm of his father, until he attained his majority, when, upon the 22d of February, 1847, he was married to Rhoda Brandon; she was born Mar. 12, 1823, and died Sept. 3, 1853, leaving three children - Thomas A., born Nov. 7, 1847; Mary A., born Oct. 19, 1849; David W., born Nov. 24, 1851.  His marriage with Elizabeth Potter was celebrated Nov. 6, 1855; she was born in Greenville Township, Darke Co., Sept. 26, 1829, and was a daughter of David Potter, one of the early pioneers, who came to Darke Co., in 1812 or 1813, and died in 1869; his widow who survives him, is now living upon the old place, where she has lived for upward of fifty years; her maiden name was Maria Ullery; the children by the union of Joseph Beanblossom and Elizabeth Potter are four in number, viz.: John R., born June 29, 1857; George N., born Aug. 24, 1858; Charles F., born May 26, 1860; Maria, July 27, 1864.  Mr. Beanblossom located upon his present place in 1857, where he has since lived for a period of up-ward of twenty-two years.  Upon locating here it was all woods; he has since cleared some 70 acres, and brought the same to a good state of improvement.  His home farm contains 140 acres, with good buildings, located two miles northwest from Greenville.  Mr. and Mrs. Beanblossom are entitled to a place in the front ranks of the old settlers of Darke Co., having been continuous residents of the county for upward of half a century.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 475
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Greenville Twp. -
JACOB L. BEATTY, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Greenville.  Among the settlers of Darke Co. in 1850, we mention the name of the above gentleman; he was born in Fayette Co., Penn., Apr. 16, 1816, and was the only son of Thos. Beatty, who was born in New Jersey in 1787, and came to Pennsylvania with his parents in 1797, and to Guernsey Co., Ohio, in 1832, and, in the fall of 1848, came to Darke Co., and located in Neave Township, where he died Jan. 21, 1855.  He married Mary Roury,  in Pennsylvania, in 1815; she was born in Fayette Co., Penn., Apr. 8, 1798, and is now living with her only son, Jacob, in the 82d year of her age, is in possession of all her faculties, and can read any common print without the use of glasses; there were two children by this union - Jacob L. and Eliza; the latter is now Mrs. Dr. Thomas Duncan Stiles, of Neave Township.  The subject of this sketch followed farming in Guernsey Co. until 1850, at which date he came to Darke Co. and located upon his present place, where he has since lived for a period of thirty years; he has 120 acres of land upon Secs. 8 and 5, 80 acres of which are under a good state of cultivation.  His marriage with Hester Stiner was celebrated in 1840; they were the parents of six children - Mary E.,  born Sept. 18, 1841; William H., Apr. 16, 1843; Sarah A., Mar. 7, 1845, died Aug. 30, 1846; Eliza J., born Nov. 20, 1847; Thomas, May 10, 1851, and Reuben L., Dec. 21, 1860.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 475
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Greenville Twp. -
SAMUEL BECHTOLT, farmer; P. O. Greenville; born in Miami Co., Ohio, Jan. 10, 1819; when an infant, his parents removed to Warren Co., where the subject of our sketch was raised to farm labor until 20 yeas of age, and, in the fall of 1849, he came to Darke Co., and located in Greenville Township, and, in 1852, purchased his present place, where he has lived for a period of twenty-seven years.  He owns 132 acres upon his home farm, with good farm buildings, and one-half of the woolen-mills owned by the firm of Fox & Bechtolt.  His marriage with Eleanor Vannote was celebrated in 1840; she was born in Warren Co., Ohio; they have four children now living; lost two by death; the living are Catherine E., Joseph, Mary E. and George; the deceased died in infancy.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 475
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Greenville Twp. -
LEWIS BECKLER, farmer; P. O. Greenville; another of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Aug. 30, 1837; at 10 years of age, he came to Darke Co., and made his home with Henry Beckler until 23 years of age, and, upon the 20th of December, 1860, was united in marriage with Elizabeth Dininger; she was born in Darke Co., April 14, 1843; they were the parents of two children.  Mrs. Beckler is a daughter of Jacob Dininger, one of the early pioneers of Darke Co.  Upon the marriage of Mr. B., he located upon his present place, where he has since lived; he owns 100 acres, upon which is his home farm, under a good state of improvement.  He is a son of Peter Beckler, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Montgomery Co., Ohio, where he married Hannah Dill.  He died in Montgomery Co., in 1840.  His widow was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, and is now living, at the advanced age of 73.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 475
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Washington Twp. -
ANDREW BICKEL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 15; P. O. Hill Grove; was born in Brush Valley, Centre Co., Penn., Sep. 2, 1805; moved to Montgomery Co., Ohio, with his parents in 1811.  His father, Andrew Bickel, was born in Pennsylvania, and married Catherine Gloss, born also in Pennsylvania; he died in St. Joseph Co., Ind., in 1854, and she died hereon Sept. 15, 1858; he was drafted in the war of 1812, but hired a substitute.  Andrew, the subject of this sketch moved to this place, where he now resides, Mar. 2, 1831, having entered 80 acres in August before; he built his cabin of logs in the woods, without windows or doors, but in the fall he procured a plank, of which he made a door, using wooden pins for nails, being to poor to buy nails, or latch, or hinges, but his latch string has always been out for a friend; in 1838, he built a hewed-log house and weather-boarded it; in this he still resides, a good, warm, substantial habitation; he sold forty bushels of corn of his own raising for 25 cents a bushel, and every year since has had corn to sell; and in the early days he never refused a neighbor a sack of corn whether he had the money or not; in the first twelve years alone he cleared 50 acres; after that his boys were old enough to help him, and they did.  He married Nancy Moyer May 30, 1830; she was born in Rockingham Co., Va., Aug. 1831; John, born Feb. 9, 1839; Daniel, born Oct. 21, 1837; Sally, born Dec. 2, 1839, died Mar. 30, 1843; Elizabeth, born Jan. 3, 1842; Abigail, born Jan. 19, 1844, died Mar. 20, 1853; Mary, born April 25, 1847, died May 21, 1847, and Andrew, born June 15, 1852.  Catherine married Henry Blocher; Elizabeth married John J. Norris.  Mr. Bickel is hale and hearty, and says at the age of 60 he could cut and split from the stump 200 rails, or cut and put up two cords of hard wood in a day.  He voted for Andrew Jackson in 1832.  He now owns the old homestead of 120 acres, where he resides.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 751

Washington Twp. -
DANIEL W. BICKEL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 17; P. O. Hill Grove; was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Nov. 11, 1838, and is the eldest son of Tobias Bickel, of Sec. 18, Washington Twp., who was born in Centre Co., Penn., May 6, 1811, and married Elizabeth McAdams, of Hamilton Co., Ohio, in June, 1837, she was born in that county Nov. 15, 1815.  Tobias Bickel moved to where he now resides in 1848; he followed teaming in Cincinnati until he was 25 years of age; he had no advantages for an education in his youth, but has given all his children good opportunities, which they have improved; they have had eleven children, viz.:  Daniel, Margaret, Hamilton A. Sarah E., deceased; Catherine, deceased; John J., Nancy J., Joseph, Elijah, Stephen R., deceased, and Marcus D.  Mr. T. Bickel has been a successful and thrifty farmer ever since he came to Darke Co., and owns, free and clear, 240 acres, which he has redeemed from a wilderness of swamps, by open and blind ditching, as well as clearing of heavy timber.  The subject of this sketch, at the age of 20, commenced teaching school, and followed it four years; has been Assessor of the township for two years, and Clerk one year.  He married Rebecca Chenoweth, daughter of John Chenoweth, deceased, of this township, Sept. 28, 1861; she was born May 25, 1838.  They have had three children, viz.; the first died unnamed; John H., born Oct. 29, 1863, and Ira E., born Feb. 28, 1866.  He owns a fine home and 156 acres of land; himself and wife are members of the Methodist Church.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 751

Washington Twp. -
HENRY M. BICKEL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 8; P. O. Hill Grove; was born Jan. 2, 1831, in Montgomery County, Ohio, and came with his parents to Darke County in April following; his father, Andrew Bickel, was born in Centre County, Penn., Sept. 2, 1805, and married Nancy Moyer, who was born in Virginia Aug. 27, 1810; both, hale and hearty, are now living on the farm they bought in 1830, at that time in an unbroken wilderness, in Washington Twp., though they experienced all the hardships and privations so well known to all the early settlers of this portion of Ohio, but now, instead of the wilderness, amid the most fertile and productive agricultural land of the State, Henry M., the subject of this sketch, has owned the farm (234 acres) where he lives twenty-three years; this also has he redeemed from wilderness and swamps to bountiful productiveness, being among, if not the very first man to "blind tile," which is the making of the fine farms in Darke County; now he is surrounded by abundance and comfort; at 21 years, he was not worth a dollar, and possesses today the first silver dollar that he earned, by cutting eight cords of hardwood.  June 12, 1856, he married Mary Crumrine; she was born in Darke County July 8, 1839; they have had six children, viz., John C., Lucy C. (deceased), Mary A., Dora (deceased), Harrison C. and Henry L.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 752

Harrison Twp. -
JOHN BILLMAN, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. New Madison.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 689
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Greenville Twp. -
CHARLES BILTEMIER, manufacture and dealer in boots and shoes, etc., of the firm of Biltemier & Maitini, Broadway, Greenville.  The above gentleman is the oldest continuous person in the above business in Greenville; he was born in Hessian Germany in 1822; at the age of 14 years, he commenced the trade of shoemaking, which he followed twelve yeas in his native country; he emigrated to America in 1848, and landed in Baltimore; coming directly West, he located permanently in Greenville in 1849, where he has since lived; upon locating here, he received employment as journeyman until 1855, at which date he engaged in business for himself, which he has since successfully followed; in 1864, he associated with his present partner, since which time they have conducted the business under the above firm name; they carry a large and complete stock of gents', ladies', youths and children's goods, and employ from three to five hands.  He was married to Carolina Dohm in 1852; she was born in Hessian Germany; they have four children now living, viz., Lizzie, Caroline, Henry, and Anna.  He with his wife, have been members of the German Methodist Church since 1853.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 476
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Greenville Twp. -
WILLIAM J. BIRELEY was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1812, and died suddenly in Adams township, Darke county, Ohio, several years ago.  He was the son of John and Barbara Bireley.  John was born in the first county above named and Barbara was born in Hagerstown, Maryland.  Her maiden name was Brindle.  The grandfather, John Bireley, was born in Saxony and emigrated to this country before the Revolutionary war.  The grandmother was from Wurtemberg, Germany, and also came to this country prior to the Revolutionary war.  Mr. Bireley's father came to Lancaster, Ohio, in the spring of 1822 and in the fall following went to Montgomery county, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1827.  Mr. Bireley, the subject of this sketch, came to Darke County, Oct. 15, 1830, and located in Greenville.  He carried on the boot and shoe business for William Martin, Sr., and continued with him about five months, when he returned to his mother, in Montgomery county, where he remained until 1833, when, on January 24th, of the same year, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Martin, daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth Martin, Sr.  The were born at Sewickley, Pennsylvania, came to Ohio in 1814, and located in Butler county in 1815, settling about five miles east of Greenville.  After raising a large family of children they moved to Greenville, where they lived and died.  Mr. Bireley, in May, 1833, came back to Greenville and entered upon the manufacture of earthenware, which occupation he followed for twenty-eight years, doing an extensive business.  He then bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, one mile out of the corporation of Greenville, and in 1851 he moved his family to this farm.  In 1858 he sold this farm and bought another, five miles east of Greenville, upon which several quarries of limestone were located.  He engaged in the manufacture of lime and continued at this business until January, 1880, when he rented the place to Martin Smith and Emanuel Hershey for five years, receiving four hundred dollars yearly, or two thousand dollars for the five years.  In 1870 Mr. Bireley moved from the farm into Greenville, where he resided for a number of years, or until the expiration of the above lease, when he moved back on the farm, where he resided at the time of his death, and where his widow now resides with her daughters, Mary R.  Mr. Bireley was the father of ten children, seven of whom are now living:  Henry R., Elizabeth E., William W., Barbara C., Harry H., Wade G., all married and settled in life, and Mary R., the youngest, who remains at home with her mother.  Mr. Bireley united with the Methodist Episcopal church in 1835, lived a consistent Christian life and the record he has left here upon the pages of time is surely a worthy example for a future generations to follow.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 476
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Greenville Twp. -
THOMPSON L. BISHOP, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Greenville; one of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Nov. 8, 1829; he attended the common and high schools, until 12 years of age, and in 1842 came to Darke Co. with his parents, and located on Section 9, where he assisted his father in agricultural pursuits, until he attained his majority. In 1850, he went to Warren Co. and for three years was employed by the month as farm laborer; the first year he received for his wages $144, and for the next two years he received $15 per month; in 1853, he returned to Darke Co. and cropped with his father two years, receiving one-third of the proceeds. The summer of 1855 he passed in traveling through the Western States, and in the spring of 1856, he purchased an interest in the saw-mill at Gordon, Twin Township, and followed this business four years, and in the spring of 1860 purchased ninety acres of his place, and has since added, by purchase, three acres, and has made improvements upon the buildings to the amount of $5,000, and has brought the same to a fine state of cultivation, located one mile from the city limits of Greenville. He was united in marriage with Cynthia A. Dunham, in Warren Co., Ohio, Dec. 10, 1856; she was born in the same county in 1836. They have three children, viz., Sylvan E., Cora, and William G. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have been members of the Baptist Church for a period of twenty years.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 477
Contributed By Nancy Hannah

Greenville Twp. -
WILLIAM F. BISHOP, retired; P. O. Greenville; another of the old settlers; born in New Jersey April 27, 1800; is a son of Frazee Bishop, who was also a native of the same State, born in 1775 and married, in 1797, Elizabeth Lamb, also a native of the same State. Our subject came to Ohio when 5 years of age, and was raised in Butler Co.; in 1842, he came to Darke Co. and purchased 217 acres of land upon Section 9, southwest of Greenville, where he lived until 1865, when he purchased his present residence on Fourth street, where he has since lived, retired from active business. His marriage with Maria Bogus was celebrated Sept. 6, 1825; she was born in Kentucky Dec. 6, 1805. They are the parents of ten children, of whom seven are now living, Thompson L. being the oldest, and is prominently mentioned among the sketches of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have peacefully trod the path of life together for a period of upward of fifty-four years; the anniversary of their golden wedding was celebrated, at their residence on Third street, Greenville, upon Sept 6, 1875, to which were gathered some 300 persons, representatives of all ages, from childhood to old age, to pay their respects to this aged couple. They came loaded with costly gifts, among which we mention a gold-headed cane and gold spectacles to Mr. Bishop; Mrs. Bishop received her full share. Mr. Bishop has been a member of both the I. O. O. F. and Masonic Orders for many years, and is held in respect and esteem by all who know him.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 477

Greenville Twp. -
JAMES J. BLEASE, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, No. 9 Third Street, Greenville. Ohio. Greenville, like all cities of its size, has its representative business men in nearly every branch of trade, and to the above gentleman must be accorded the honor of being the representative merchant, in his line, of the place. He is a native of Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, and was born April 18, 1843. At 7 years of age, he emigrated to America with his parents, lauding in New Orleans March 17. 1851; thence to Cincinnati, where he attended public school continuously until the spring of 1857, at which date he removed to Richmond, Ind., and learned the shoemaker's trade, and, in 1863, engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he continued to follow until 1868, at which date he came to Greenville, and in October, 1869, engaged in the above business, which he has successfully followed. He has given a great deal of attention to the manufacturing of boots and shoes to order, and also manufacturing for his retail trade; he gives employment to from five to ten hands, and carries the largest stock of boots and shoes in Greenville, and by honorable and fair dealing, together with his personal attention given to every detail of his business, has built up a large trade, which is yearly increasing. His marriage with Martha A. Pannel was celebrated in 1869; she was a native of Eastern Virginia; they were the parents of three children, of whom two are deceased; the living is James.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 477
Contributed By Nancy Hannah

Washington Twp. -
SAMUEL W. BLOCHER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 23; P. O. Greenville; is the youngest son of Samuel Blocher of Washington Twp., and was born in this township Oct. 20, 1845; was raised a father, and has continued to follow it successfully, and has just erected for himself one of the finest brick residences in this county.  He married Catherine M. Glunt, daughter of Joseph Glunt, deceased; they have three children, viz.:  Ira, born July 22, 1873; Hugh, Feb. 12, 1876; and Myrtle, Aug. 6, 1878.  Mr. B. owns 183 acres of fine farming land adjoining the homestead of his father.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 752

Greenville Twp. -
S. B. BLOTTMAN, grocery and provisions, queensware, fruits and country produce, Greenville. Among the most enterprising and energetic business men of Greenville, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch requires more than a passing notice; he was born in Baden, Germany, May 6, 1846; at 9 years of age he emigrated to America, coming to Greenville Dec. 31, 1854; he was employed at various pursuits for several years, among which were draying, ditching and farming, and as hostler; in 1864, he had accumulated $90, with which he purchased a dray and harness, then purchased a horse on time and commenced draying as his first business adventure, and by close attention, hard labor and correct business principles, he succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations; in 1868, he disposed of his draying, and with the fruits of his previous earnings embarked in the grocery trade, which business he has since successfully followed, his sales having increased until 1879, and exceeds upward of $30,000; Mr. B. is one of the self-made men of Darke Co., commencing in life without capital, and has, by his energy and correct business principles, placed himself in the front ranks of the successful merchants of Greenville. His marriage with Mary A. Kelly was celebrated in Greenville, Sept. 15, 1868; she was a native of Pennsylvania; they have three children now living, having lost one by death — the living are William B., Mary M. and James F.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 478
Contributed By Nancy Hannah

Greenville Twp. -
H. BORNSTEIN.  Wholesale and retail dealer in wines, liquors, etc., Greenville. Born in Berlin, Prussia, Sept. 18, 1827, where he received his education in the subscription school, and was engaged as clerk in the dry-goods store of his father until 17 years of age, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York in 1844 : he then devoted several years traveling in the Southern and Western States, and in 1853, located in Dayton, Montgomery Co., and until 1875 was engaged in business in Dayton and Cincinnati; in the fall of 1875, he removed to Greenville, where he has since successfully followed the above business; a card of his business appears in the business directory of Greenville in another part of this work. He was married in Cincinnati in 1860, to Sarah Childs, who was born in that city: they have four children — Rosa, Eddie, Malcolm and Blanche.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 478
Contributed By Nancy Hannah

Wayne Twp. -
DANIEL BOYER, farmer, grain and stock raiser, Sec. 35; P. O. Webster.  Daniel, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in York Co., in about the year 1800.  He married Elizabeth Hoff, who is a native of the same State and county, born in 1799.  Mr. Boyer followed farming in Pennsylvania, where he resided till his death, which occurred in 1847.  Elizabeth, his widow, remained on the old home farm till 1867, when she came to Darke Co., and at present resides with her daughter Barbara, who married Peter Moul, Adams Township.  They were the parents of eleven children, viz, Jonas, Maria, Barbara, Mannassa, Catharine, Henry, John, Samuel, Elizabeth, Aaron and Daniel.  The subject of this sketch, who is a native of Pennsylvania, born in York Co., on the 25th of September, 1834, lived at home till he was about 14 years old, when he went to work for his Uncle Peter Blaser, on the farm, where he worked during the summer and autumn, and then returned home and attended school during the winter.  In the spring, he hired out with a neighbor for $5 per month, where he remained till the next fall, attending the district school in the winter.  He then went to York and drove team for Sultzbaugh & Quickle, drawing lumber, coal and iron, for which he received $11 per month, being the highest wages paid at that time; as he was always at his post ready for duty, being active, quick and willing, he never lacked for employment and always commanded the highest wages; he followed his business till he was 21 years old, when he became infatuated with the Western fever, thinking that he could better his condition, and, true to his nature, he started for the State of Ohio, arriving at Versailles in April, 1856, at about 3 o'clock on a dark and foggy morning, and when the conductor called out "Versailles" he grasped his carpet-bag and made for the door, and when the train came to a halt he walked out on the platform of the car, and, thinking that he was at the station, made a leap for the platform of then depot, but, alas! he missed it and landed in the ditch, with his carpetbag on his head and his legs driven into the mud up to his knees, murmuring to himself,  "It this Darke Co., and if so, where am I? and how will I get out alive?"  However, he managed to find his way out and made for a hotel, which he found and went to bed, where he slept sweetly till about 8 o'clock in the morning, when he awoke, donned his clothing, ate his breakfast, paid his bill, placed his carpet-bag on his back and started on foot for his brother Henry, who resided about four and a half miles south, in Adams Township, where he remained for three months; he worked for his brother at the carpenter's trade, after which he farmed Benjamin Bashore's farm on shares, receiving one-third of the grain. He only remained one season, when he engaged with George Hetzler to farm his land on the same terms for one season, and met with good success.  On the 17th of October, 1858, he celebrated his marriage with Elizabeth Cable, daughter of John and Susana Cable; she is a native of Darke Co., Ohio, born on the 6th of October, 1841.  He remained on the Hetzler farm for about five years, during which time Mr. Hetzler died, and at the sale of the personal property he purchased most of the stock and farm implements and moved on his little farm of 55 years, in Sec. 36, Wayne Township, for which he paid $860, and in a short time he purchased 48 acres which joined him, making in all 103 acres, which he improved, residing on the same till 1872.  He then rented a farm of Levi Huddle, in the same township, containing between 500 and 600 acres, which he has under his management, and at present is the largest grain and stock raiser in the county; he now has ten head of horses and mules, forty head of cattle, one hundred head of sheep and fifty head of hogs; he grew over 3,000 bushels of small grain last year, and about 4,000 bushels of corn.  In 1879, he purchased 55 acres more, for which he paid $2,000; he now owns 158 acres, valued at $7,900; he erected a frame barn, 48x78 feet, on his farm, at a cost of about $1,000.  Mr. Boyer commenced life with but little of this world's goods, but by hard labor and correct business habits has accumulated a handsome little fortune, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and industrious wife.  When he married Miss Cable, her father gave her one horse, "Jack," which is still living, being 24 years old.  Mr. Boyer has had his full share of township offices since his residence in the county; has served as Trustee of Wayne Township two yeas, Supervisor, School Director, and was a member of the School Board for a period of nine years.  Mr. and Mrs. Boyer are members of the "River Brethren," a Baptist body.  Ten children have been born to them, of whom nine are living, viz.: Ellen, John, Sarah, Milton, David, Maggie, Emma, Daniel, Mary.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 601

Greenville Twp. -
ABRAHAM N. BREWER, harness-maker, Greenville. The gentleman whose name heads this article was born in Warren Co., Ohio, July 1, 1833, and is a son of Abraham and Ann Brewer; his father was born in Kentucky Jan. 17. 1800, and departed this life July 27, 1843; his mother was born in Pennsylvania March 18, 1797, and died Aug. 26, 1873. Our subject's early days were spent on the farm, and, after he had attained a proper age, he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed for five years, and then followed wagon-making in Arcanum, where he settled in 1858; in 1865. he turned his attention to the manufacture of harness, in which ever since he has been successfully engaged; none know better how to do their patrons justice, and Abraham will always be found found ready and willing to give his patrons the best stock in the market, and his jobs are turned out in a workmanlike manner. His first marriage was consummated with Mary Hough June 8, 1858; to their union, five children were given, viz., Lorenzo, Thomas N., Ella H., and two dying in infancy; Mrs. Brewer departed this life Nov. 9, 1863; his second marriage was celebrated with Miss Emeline Baker, in November, 1874.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 478
Contributed By Nancy Hannah

Adams Twp.  -
JOHN BREWER, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Stelvideo. Peter, his father, was born in Pennsylvania in 1777; he married Holy Babe Larern, a native of Pennsylvania, born about 1779; they emigrated to Ohio in 1804, locating in Hamilton Co., and in 1819 he moved to Darke Co., where he resided till his death, which occurred in 1855; his wife died in 1843. John, the subject of this sketch, is one of Darke Co.'s old settlers; born in Pennsylvania on the 7th of October, 1802; came with his parents to Darke Co. in 1819; his education, which is very meager, he obtained by his own exertions; he lived with his parents till he was about 24 years of age, when, on the 8th of June, 1826, he celebrated his marriage with Elizabeth Coppess, who is a native of Greene Co., Ohio, born on the 2d of November,1807; after his marriage, he rented a farm on Stillwater, where he remained for two years; he purchased 80 acres in Adams Township, for which he paid $50, erected a log cabin and moved, and began the task of opening up his farm; has added 93 acres more, making in all 173 acres, with 125 acres in a good state of cultivation, the whole valued at $11,000; he also owns a house and lot in Stelvideo. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer are among the oldest settlers of Adams Township, and have lived to see the mighty forest disappear before the woodman's ax; and where the old log cabin stood, a large two-story frame house is in its place; they have passed through the many struggles, dangers and incidents so common to the pioneer of the West, but with an indomitable will, associated with frugality, industry and correct business habits, they have accumulated considerable amount of property; ten children have been born to them, of whom nine are living, viz.: Alfred, born March 10, 1827; Mahala, born Dec. 25, 1828; Peter, born Aug. S, 1831; Adam, born Nov. 25, 1833; Daniel, born Oct. 4, 1835; Jesner, born Aug. 29, 1840; Phoebe, born Oct. 9, 1843; John, born July 2, 1847; David, born May 30, 1850. Mr. Brewer is not a church member, but a true religionist, and is known as a man of good principle and full of humanity; he has raised six grandchildren, besides his own family — one for Mahala, two for Alfred, and three for Phoebe.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 540
Contributed By Nancy Hannah

Adams Twp. -
HENRY BROWN, carpenter and farmer; P. O. Gettysburg, Ohio. Samuel, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Lebanon Co. in June, 1803; he married Frances Kopp, who is a native of the same place, born in June, 1803; they emigrated to Ohio in May, 1834, locating in Wayne Co., eight miles north of Wooster, where they remained till the fall of 1847, when they removed to Montgomery Co., remaining there till spring, after which they removed to Miami Co., locating near where Bradford now stands, remaining till 1850, when he moved across the line into Darke Co., where he resided about four years, during which time he purchased a tract of land in Section 24, consisting of 124 acres, Adams Township, all of which was under heavy timber; during the time between 1850 and 1854, he, with the help of his boys, erected a hewn-log house and cleared several acres, and in 1854 he moved his family, where he resided till his death, which occurred on the 3d of March, 1866, leaving a family of eight children, of whom seven are living at present, viz., Jacob, Henry, Daniel, Reuben, William, Fanny (now Mrs. Brandle), Elizabeth; his widow still lives on the old home farm, being 76 years old; Henry, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Ohio, born in Wayne County on the 27th of August, 1834; spent his boyhood days on the farm, assisting his father in the clearing and the cultivation of the soil, receiving his education in the district schools; he remained at home till he was 22 years old, when he quit his parental roof and went in search of his fortune; he commenced to work at the carpenter's trade when he was about 25 years old, in Gettysburg, Ohio, which trade he has followed ever since, making his home with his mother on the old home farm, assisting in the farming, etc. Mr. Brown is a live, energetic, thorough business man, strictly temperate in all his habits, and is highly esteemed by his many friends and acquaintances. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 541
Contributed By Nancy Hannah

Greenville Twp. -
JOSEPH BRYSON, farmer and stock-raiser; resides on Sec. 9, Township 11 , Greenville Township; P. O. Greenville. Among the old settlers of Darke Co., the gentleman whose name heads this sketch is assigned a place in the front ranks, being born upon the place where he now resides, on the 30th of November. 1821; he was a son of James Bryson, one of the early pioneers of Darke Co., who came from Bedford Co., Penn., and located upon the above place in 1817 : he was born near Hagerstown, Md., May 21, 1786, and died March 20, 1863, upon the place where he had lived for nearly half a century-. He married Mrs. Rachael Rush Aug. 12, 1817; her maiden name was Rachael Creviston; she was born March 3, 1784, and died Feb. 14, 1855; she came to Darke Co. in 1810; her first husband was Henry Rush, and Lemuel Rush, now living three and a half miles north of Greenville, is the only child now living by that union, and is probably the oldest continuous male resident of Darke Co.; the children of James and Rachel Bryson were six in number — Morris, whose sketch appears in this work, born May 1 3, 1818; Mary Ann, born Jan. 29, 1820, died Dec. 15, 1854; Joseph, born Nov. 30, 1821; Rachel J., born Dec. 25, 1823; Eliza, born Jan. 23, 1826, and James H., born Feb. 26, 1829. Until 25 years of age, Joseph followed farming on the old place; he then followed carpentering and fanning during the summer, and school-teaching during the winter, for seventeen years, since which time he has devoted his whole attention to farming; he has resided upon his present place for a period of fifty -eight years, and is the oldest continuous resident upon any one place that the writer of this article has yet found in Darke Co.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 480
Contributed By Nancy Hannah

Greenville Twp. -
MORRIS BRYSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 8; P. O. Woodington; one of the old settlers of Darke Co., Ohio; born in Darke Co., what is now Greenville Township, May 13, 1818; his father, James Bryson, was born in Washington Co., Md., May 21, 1786, and came to Darke Co. in 1816. He held various offices in the county, among which was County Commissioner, and served a term in the Assembly of Ohio; was County Judge some ten years, and was Justice of the Peace many years, and held other offices. He died March 20, 1863. He married Mrs. Rachel (Creviston) Rush; she was previously the wife of Henry Rush, who died in Ft. Rush, during the campaign of Harrison; his brother Andrew was killed in 1812, by the Indians, upon their first depredation : the first white child born in Darke Co. was Thomas Rush, a half-brother of the subject of our sketch; the latter was raised to agricultural pursuits, and, upon the 8th of April, 1846, was united in marriage with Mary Ann Cole; she was a daughter of Joseph Cole, one of the early pioneers of Darke Co., who located here in 1818; upon his marriage, he farmed rented land two years, and, in 1848, purchased 80 acres of his present place, where he has lived for a period of thirty-one years; he now has 287 acres of land, all of which he has earned by his own hard labor, with the exception of 80 acres. The children of Morris and Mary Ann (Cole) Bryson were ten in number, of whom seven are now living, viz.: James W., Rachel, Joseph C., Isaac N., Anna C., Volney D. and David H.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 480
Contributed By Nancy Hannah

Greenville Twp. -
DR. LEO MYERS BUCHWALTER, physician and surgeon, Greenville: the paternal ancestry of Dr. Buchwalter, whose portrait appears in this work, can be traced, not without many missing links, however, to the year 1527, at which time the Mennonites or Anabaptists (to which denomination they belonged), on account of their peculiar belief, were compelled through religious persecution to flee from their native canton, Berne, Switzerland, first to the Netherlands, and subsequently to the United States, arriving in Lancaster Co., Penn., about the year 1709. From the time of their exodus until the birth of Gerhardt Buchwalter, grandfather of Dr. Buchwalter, the line of genealogy cannot be traced with certainty. He, it appears, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., June 9, 1771. Married Maria Brobsten in 1796, who bore him thirteen children : Benjamin, the oldest, father of Dr. Buchwalter, was born August 9, 1797; married Catharine Miller, daughter of Joseph Miller, of Middletown, Md., in 1824, the fruits of which were eight children, two of whom survive; in 1826, he removed to Dayton, Ohio, and after remaining here ten years, went to Laurel, Franklin Co., Ind., where he followed his calling of millwright, erecting many of the best mills in the country; in 1842, he left Laurel and located in Harrison, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at which place he was appointed Postmaster in 1852, in which capacity he served until 1861. when he was elected Mayor, the duties of which office he creditably discharged for a period of ten years; after this he came to Darke Co., and soon after died at Euphemia, Preble Co., Ohio; his wife followed him July 11, 1877. Dr. Buchwalter, the subject of this sketch, was born April 11, 1831, in Dayton, Ohio; his boyhood days were passed in the usual routine incident to youthful life in general up to a suitable age to attend school, which in those early days was not over a stone pavement a few blocks distance to a fine schoolhouse, but, when the boy was determined enough to encounter the difficulties, he took his lonely way through the woods, along a winding path for many miles to a rude log cabin; these very hardships, stamped upon that boy an energy of purpose, which intensified by maturer years, defies all opposition; at the tender age of 12, Dr. Buchwalter's father placed bin? in his mill, requiring his time eighteen hours out of the twenty- four — six of which, however, viz., from 6 P. M. until 12 M., being watch duty, he employed in reading and study, thus acquiring a very fair education in the English branches; in his 16th year he began teaching, which he followed about four years, then entered the store of Michael Miller, at Euphemia, as clerk; having thus by his own industry secured the necessary funds, he, in the fall of 1855, began reading medicine in the office of Dr. G. S. Goodheart, of Harrison, Ohio; before completing his course of reading, however, he was compelled to resume the counter, first with Miller & Moore, and subsequently with Moore & Winner. On the 1st day of November, 1864, he married Miss Matella Wilson, second daughter of Hon. William Wilson, of Greenville, by whom he had one child — Anna. In the spring of 1866, Dr. Buchwalter graduated from the Miami College of Medicine, and immediately located in Hollandsburg, in which he remained nine years, in the mean time building up an extensive practice; in 1874, he removed to Greenville, where he has by his indomitable will, untiring perseverance, and thorough acquaintance with his profession, built up a practice, which, while it is inferior to none in the county, is rapidly and permanently increasing. Dr. Buchwalter possesses an excellent library, which he is constantly enlarging by the addition of the leading medical and scientific productions of the day; he is, in the broadest sense of the term, a self-made man, and has won his way, conquering step by step, every opposing element that has impeded his pathway to that success and high professional skill to which he has at length fully attained. In the Biographical Cyclopaedia, appears a biographical sketch of the Doctor, to which, through more recent information, we are enabled to add some additional facts and recommendations.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 478
Contributed By Nancy Hannah

Wabash Twp. -
JOHN C. BURNS, farmer and teacher, Sec. 11; P. O. North Star; a son of Abraham and Elizabeth Burns; was born in Richland Township, Darke Co., Sept. 25, 1842; his parents settled on Sec. 9, of Richland Township, in 1823.  Was united in marriage with Sarah F Templeton in Greenville, Darke Co., Aug. 9, 1866; they have four children - Atta, Lulu, Cary F. and James H.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 761
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Wabash Twp. -
HENRY J. BURNS, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. North Star; a son of Henry and Sarah (Oliver) Burns; was born in York Township, this county, July 5, 1848.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 761
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

Greenville Twp. -
JOHN K. BUTT, farmer, Sec. 24; P. 0. Greenville; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Oct. 22, 1824; when 5 years of age, his father died; he lived with his mother until 16 years of age, when he commenced to learn the blacksmith trade, which business he followed with the exception of six years, until 1871; he then came to Greenville Township, and purchased 12 acres of land upon Secs. 12 and 13, where he lived until the spring of 1879, when he rented the farm upon which he lives. He is now farming 89 acres, and is engaged in raising corn, wheat and tobacco; he first came to Darke Co. when 13 years of age, and, after a residence of three years in Palestine, went to Preble Co. and has since lived in Preble, Montgomery and Darke Cos. He has been twice married; his first wife was Delia Arnett; they were married Oct. 10, 1844; she was born in Montgomery Co. and died Oct. 22, 1858, leaving two children, viz.: Sarah A., born Sept. 12, 1845, now Mrs. Jacob T. Miller, of Montgomery Co.; Marion A., born Feb. 8, 1852. now Mrs. Philip Hartzell, of Darke Co. His marriage with Eliza Lantz was celebrated in Montgomery Co. Dec. 6, 1859; she was born in Berks Co., Penn., June 3, 1837; they have three children— Flora F., born July 18, 1861; William P., born Oct. 3. 1864; Franklin E., born July 11, 1867.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 480
Contributed By Nancy Hannah

Adams Twp. -
ABRAHAM BYRD, SR., farmer; P. 0. Webster, Darke Co., Ohio; was born Feb. 18, 1804, in Shenandoah County, and raised in Rockingham Co., Va.; in 1840, he came to Ohio and stopped for a part of the first summer in Montgomery County, and then settled in Darke County; worked at his trade, bricklaying, for two years. He then married Emma Radefelt, who was born Nov. 17, 1820, in Adams County, Penn.; about the time of his marriage, he bought 80 acres of land in Sec. 36, Adams Township, on which he is still living; he has 65 acres cleared, all of which he accomplished but about 15 acres; they are the parents of ten children— George S., born June 2, 1843; Hannah C., Nov. 27, 1844; Jacob F., March 31, 1847; Sarah I., Nov. 11, 1849; Mary M., Jan. 17, 1852; Abraham and Emma, July 27, 1854; Henrietta, April 16, 1858; Lucy A., Feb. 27, 1860, and Silvester, Aug. 4, 1862.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 541
Contributed By Nancy Hannah