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Biographies
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Source:
History of Darke County, Ohio
- Illustrated -
Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co.
1880.
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1880 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE to GO to LIST of
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES >
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Greenville Twp. -
WILLIAM H. SCHULTZ, farmer and stock-raiser;
P. O. Greenville; born in the State of Maryland, Sept. 7, 1843; here
he was engaged in various pursuits until 1863, at which date he
emigrated to Darke Co., Ohio, and for two years was employed as a
farm laborer. Upon the 8th of April, 1865, he was united in
marriage with Martha A. Noggle; she was born in Darke Co.,
Jan. 18, 1846; they have three children - Mary E., born Mar.
1, 1869; Margaret F., born Aug. 21, 1872, and Julia P.,
born Jan. 13, 1875. Mr. Schultz purchased his present
place of 120 acres in 1867; it is valued at $10,000, nearly all of
which he has accumulated by his own hard labor and correct business
habits; he was a son of Frederick Schultz, who was born in
Pennsylvania and died in Maryland in February, 1876; he married
Mary P. Poblitz, also a native of Pennsylvania; she died in
1877. The wife of the subject of this sketch is a daughter of
David Noggle, one of the old settlers of Darke Co., and who
is prominently mentioned in this work.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 - Page 527 |
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Greenville Twp. -
JOHN H. SCHWABLE, proprietor of Turpen House
billiard hall and sample room, Greenville, Ohio, born in Seneca Co.,
Ohio, Mar. 10, 1850; he was left an orphan when quite young, and has
since made his way through the world alone; when 10 years of age, he
went to Piqua, Miami Co., and after attending the public schools two
years, learned, and worked at the baker's trade five years, and in
1872 came to Greenville, and for five years was employed as clerk of
the Wagner House; in November, 1877, he purchased his present place
of business, which he has since successfully followed. Mr.
Schwable is very genial, gentlemanly and courteous to his large
and increasing trade, and gives his personal attention to his
business in all its details. Upon the 24th of April, 1877, he
was united in marriage with Mary Haas; she was born in
Germany; they have two children, - Henry L. and Frank J.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 - Page 527 |
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Greenville Twp. -
IRA SEBRING, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 1;
P. O. Greenville. To the subject of this memoir we are pleased
to accord a place to one of Darke Co.'s permanent settlers; he was
born in this township Dec. 8, 1846, and is a son of John and
Matilda Sebring, who were among the early pioneers of this
county, and who gave civilization, improvement and refinement a
foothold in the vast wilderness of Ohio; they settled here in this
township in 1823, and he has been a resident here ever since, having
lived here continuously for fifty-seven years, and is now in
declining health, as strength and vigor are gradually fading away;
Mrs. Sebring departed this life twenty-five years ago;
they were the parents of five children, of whom three are now
living, viz., Angeline, Malinda and our subject, who
was raised a farmer boy, and assisted his father in agricultural
pursuits till his 18th year, when he began life for himself and
engaged in farming; through his own exertions, he stored his mind
with useful information, and was prepared to enter the field of
labor in imparting knowledge; he has successfully labored in the
schoolroom at irregular intervals for nine years, and is among the
successful educators of the county; he has 65 acres of fine land
where he resides, all under a good state of cultivation, and his
improvements are number one and comfortable in every way; he entered
the race of life with a very small capital, and by energy,
perseverance and good management, he has made a good home, and is
surrounded by all the comforts of life. He was united in
marriage with Joanna, daughter of Samuel and Ella Dunn,
Aug. 1, 1867; they were natives of Maryland; afterward residents of
Clark and Greene Cos., Ohio, and settled in Darke Co. in 1866, where
they now reside; Mr. and Mrs. Sebring were the parents of
five children, viz.: Samuel J., born Nov. 7, 1868, died Feb.
12, 1871; Elldatta, born Sept. 27, 1870; Oraetta May.
born May 26, 1873, died Jan. 2, 1880; Vinnie V., born Oct.
30, 1875; Ratio V., born Feb. 10, 1878; they have been very
unfortunate in raising their children. as that dreadful
scourge, the scarlet fever, has carried two of their little ones
from their embrace. Mr. S. has been a member of the
Reformed Church for six years, and his amiable wife for a period of
eight years; they are exemplary Christian people, and through their
faith they see the gateway of entrance whereby they can be re-united
with the little ones that have gone before them.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 528 |
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Greenville Twp. -
JOHN SEBRING, farmer, Sec. 1, P. O.
Greenville. This gentleman is another of the early pioneers of this
county; he was born near Cincinnati. Ohio, Aug. 20, 1816, and is the
son of Jacob Sebring, who was born in New Jersey
December. 1776. In the latter part of the eighteenth century,
he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Smalley, who
was also a native of New Jersey; they were the parents of eight
children, five of whom are still living; he emigrated West in 1816,
locating temporarily near Cincinnati, Ohio; after remaining here a
few years, he removed with his family in 1821 to this county,
settling upon a piece of land located in the same section on which
our subject now resides; at this time, this county was covered with
a vast stretch of wilderness, with only here and there a spot
cleared off large enough to erect a log cabin; to assist his father
to clear away the dense forests and cultivate the soil gave our
subject ample employment till he was 21 years of age; educational
facilities were then very meager, but he availed himself of all the
advantages then offered in this direction, acquiring for himself a
common-school education. He has been twice married, first to
Matilda Clark, Nov. 23, 1837; they were the parents of
five children, three of whom are still living; the father and
children were soon called upon to mourn the loss of an affectionate
wife and loving mother. About five years later, Mr.
Sebring celebrated his second marriage, with Malinda
Gower, Nov. 15, 1858; they are the parents of three children,
all of whom the swift messenger of death has visited and consigned
to the silent tomb; he now owns a beautiful farm, the result of his
own industry and frugality, assisted by his kind companions, and is
surrounded with everything that tends to lighten the burdens of
declining life.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 528 |
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Greenville Twp. -
C. J. SHADE, farmer; P. O. Greenville;
although a young man, the above gentleman may be classed among the
old settlers, this being his native county, and his birth occurred
in 1844; he is a son of A. R. and Sarah Shade, who were among
the early settlers, locating in this county in the year 1820, when
there were but few improvements, no pikes, and but few roads were
passable save on horseback; the dense forest where they located has
since been cleared, and in its place is found fine cultivated farms;
at that early day, there was also plenty of game; deer, wild
turkeys, wolves, etc., were to be seen in large numbers; the early
life of our subject was that of a farmer's son, his education being
confined mostly to the privileges offered by the common schools.
His marriage with Mary Anderson was celebrated in Randolph
Co., Ind., in 1865; they have three children by this union—Sarah
Catharine, Charles A. B., and Mary Eveline.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 - Page 529 |
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Richland Twp. -
JOB M. SHAFER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec.
27; P. O. Versailles; was born in Bedford Co., Penn., Sept. 4, 1830;
his father, John Shafer, was born in the same county, July
17, 1802, and married Dorothy Mann Feb. 24, 1824, of the same
county; she was born Feb. 20, 1804; his father, Sickfrit Shafer,
was born in Virginia, and married Mary Hess; Mrs. John Shafer's
father, James Mann was born July 27, 1763, and married
Dorothy Hill June 13, 1786; she was born May 2, 1761; Mr.
Jacob Mann died Nov. 5, 1830; Dorothy, his wife,
died Aug. 6, 1845; John Shafer moved to Darke Co. in 1837;
they had five children, viz.: Anna, born Apr. 30, 1826,
married Alexander B. Brandon; Mary born June 9, 1828,
died June 20, following; Job M., the subject of this sketch;
Margaret, born Oct. 7, 1833; died Sept. 5, 1841, of the milk
sickness, and Jacob, born Dec. 10, 1835, died Dec. 11, 1845.
John, the father, resides where he first settled in Richland
Township; his wife died Apr. 11, 1875. Job M., the
subject of this sketch, has always followed farming on the old
homestead, where he now resides; he was elected Justice of the Peace
in April, 1856, and served three years, and has been Township
Trustee. He married Elizabeth Brandon, Mar. 20, 1851;
she is the daughter of James R. Brandon, and was born in
Darke Co. (see
Alexander B.
Brandon's biography in this work) Oct. 10, 1831; they have
six children, viz.: Dennis, born Dec. 24, 1851;
Margaret A., born Mar. 11, 1855, married Cyrus White;
John C., born May 13, 1858; Allen W., born Mar. 30,
1862; Mary, born Mar. 24, 1866, and Bertha, born Jan.
31, 1872. He owns 263 acres of land and a good home.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 749 |
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Twin Twp. -
G. W. SIGERFOOS, deceased. The subject
of this sketch was born in the State of Maryland Dec. 13, 1825; he
emigrated to Montgomery, Ohio, when 9 years of age, his early life
being devoted to farming and teaching. Upon the 28th of July,
1850, he was united in marriage with Nancy Shanck, daughter
of Peter Shanck, whose biography appears among the sketches
of Monroe Township, in another part of this work; she was born in
Montgomery Co. Oct. 2, 1830; upon the marriage of Mr. S., he
followed brickmaking and school-teaching some five years in
Phillipsburg; in 1855, he engaged in the dry-goods trade at
Georgetown, Miami Co., continuing the same ten years; he then
devoted six years to farming, then came to Gordon and again engaged
in the dry-goods trade, and in 1872 came to Arcanum and engaged in
teh dry goods trade, continuing the same until his death, which
occurred Oct. 16, 1875. The children of G. W. and Nancy (Shanck)
Sigerfoos were six in number, viz.: Lorin, born Aug. 25,
1851, died Nov. 28, 1870; Orrin, born Mar. 22, 1853, died
Aug. 12, 1870; Arrabella, born Oct. 22, 1856; Ella B.,
Jan. 26, 1863; Charles P., May 4, 1865, and Edward,
Dec. 14, 1868. It will be seen by the above that the family
circle remained unbroken until Aug. 12, 1870, when the death
messenger entered and claimed Orrin as its first victim, and
the November following again made his appearance, this time laying
his cold, icy hands upon the first-born; thus within the short space
of about three months two of the members of this happy family were
removed from earth to Heaven, followed five years later by the death
of a kind husband and father.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 657 |
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Twin Twp. -
A. F. SMITH, druggist, Arcanum; one of the old
settlers of Darke Co., and is a son of Jesse and Christina Smith,
natives of Pennsylvania. He removed with his parents from
Pennsylvania, to Preble Co., Ohio, in 1836, and remained there for a
period of sixteen years, and was engaged in agricultural
pursuits till 1852, when he abandoned that occupation, and removed
to Arcanum the same year, and assisted his brothers in their
business for two years, when he again resumed farming in Twin
Township for a period of five years; and thirsting for a more active
life he returned to Arcanum and entered in a general mercantile
business, which he followed for twelve years, with fair success;
then embarked in the drug business, which, he is still engaged in,
and carries a full and perfect stock of drugs, paints, oils, and
everything found in a first-class retail house. He was united
in marriage with Miss Jane M., daughter of Herman and
Margaret Conners, residents of Darke Co., in September, 1854.
Two children have been given to this union, viz., Margaret E.
and Eberle S. Mr. and Mrs. Conners departed this life
within a few hours of each other, and their bodies were interred in
the same grave.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 658 |
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Monroe Twp. -
ADAM SMITH, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 36;
P. O. Gordon. The subject of this sketch was born in
Wittenburg, Germany, Nov. 7, 1818, and is a son of Frederick
and Catherine Smith, natives of the same place.
His father died when he was quite young, and his mother when he was
13 years of age; his father was a shoemaker by trade, but our
subject was a weaver, and followed his trade in various places.
He came to this country in 1848, and landed in New York, his voyage
occupying eight weeks. He went from there to Pennsylvania,
where he remained five weeks, and then went to Cincinnati, and was
employed on the river steamers, and made runs to New Orleans for
about two months, when he abandoned the river and came to Dayton,
where he was employed for some time, and then to Miami Co.,
remaining for six years, working in a tan-yard; thence to near
Miamisburg, for five years, and followed farming. He was
united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of
Frederick and Elizabeth Stover, Oct. 15, 1854. They were
natives of Pennsylvania, afterward residents of Montgomery Co.; both
are dead, dying at advanced ages. Mrs. Smith was
born in Montgomery. Sept. 24, 1824. Mr. Smith is
one of our self-made men, as he began life with no capital, and he
has, by good management and industry, made a good property; in all
his trials and labor he has been nobly assisted by his wife, and
they now own 80 acres of land, all in a good state of' cultivation,
and his improvements are No. 1 in every particular, all made by
their hard, earnest labor, and they have a good home, surrounded by
all the comforts of life. They are the parents of only one
child, John A., born July 17. 1859. Mr. Smith
has been a member of the Lutheran Church all his life, and is a
consistent Christian gentleman.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 643 |
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Monroe Twp. -
ADAM N. SMITH, farmer and stock-raiser;
Sec. 30. The subject of this sketch was born in Maryland, in 1828,
and is a son of George A. and Nancy Smith; they were natives
of Maryland; his father died in 1875, and his mother is living and
resides in Carroll Co., Md.; our subject was raised on a farm and
assisted his father in the same till he was 25 years of age, when he
began life for himself and followed farming for seventeen years,
when he removed to Montgomery Co., where he resided for seven years;
thence to Baltimore, in Preble Co., where he remained for one year;
thence to the place where he now resides; he first purchased 40
acres of land, mostly in the woods, and by hard work and goal
management, he succeeded in clearing off his land, and it is now in
a good state of cultivation; he has since purchased 38 acres, and
now owns 78 acres in all; his improvements are good, and he bids
fair to be one of our leading farmers; he was married to
Elizabeth, daughter of George Wagner, Feb. 1,
1853; they are natives of Frederick Co., Md., afterward reidents
of Montgomery; her father died in 1876; her mother is still living
and resides in Montgomery. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the
parents of five children, Ida E., Martha F., William S., Charles
G., George J. Mr. Smith has been a member of the M.
E. Church for thirty-five years; Mrs. Smith is a
member of the German Baptist Church, of twenty years standing; both
are old soldiers of the Cross, and are leading members of the church
they represent—good exemplary Christian people.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 743 |
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Greenville Twp. -
ANDREW J. SMITH, barber and hair-dresser, Greenville; was
born in Fredericksburg, Va., Oct. 5, 1828, and is a son of Robert
and Sarah Smith, who are still living and reside in Piqua, and
are upward of 80 years of age. Our subject came to Greenville,
May 6, 1859, and has followed his profession ever since; he has been
very successful in business, having accumulated a good property, all
the fruit of his own hard labor. He is one of the leading
tonsorial artists, and we can advise any who want a good, clean and
easy shave to give Andy a trial.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 530 |
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Mississinawa Twp. -
DAVID SMITH, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Union
City. The subject of this sketch was born in Clermont Co.,
Ohio, Apr. 8, 1809; he followed milling for about eight years before
coming to this county, Oct. 3, 1847, since which time he has devoted
his attention principally to agriculture. He was married Dec.
27, 1827, in Clermont County, to Julia A. Riley; she was born
in New Jersey; the fruit of this union has been nine children, viz.,
Peter, Simon, Levi, Elisha B., John Z., James Phoebe, Elizabeth
A. and Eliza O. Mr. Smith held the office of
Township Treasurer for the remarkable period of twenty-two years in
succession, and he had a surfeit of minor offices. He has a
fine farm of 80 acres.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 -
Page 763 |
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Twin Twp. -
JOHN SMITH, merchant; P. O. Arcanum; one of
the old settlers of Darke Co.; he was born in Adams Co., Penn., in
1828, and removed, with his parents, to Preble Co., Ohio, in 1835 or
1836, and resided there till 1850, when he removed to Sampson, in
Darke Co., where he remained about one year, thence to Arcanum, in
1851, and opened a store of general merchandise, it being the first
store ever opened in Arcanum. The dimensions of this building
were only 16x24 feet, and would present a striking contrast in
comparison with his large, elegant and commodious store of the
present day - the latter being 90xx32 feet. Mr. Smith
is one of the pioneer merchants of Darke Co., and has for thirty
years been passing through the different phases of mercantile life,
and by his strict business integrity and popular business habits,
built up a trade that is second to none in Darke Co. He was
united in marriage with Sophia McNutt in 1851; they were the
parents of three children, viz., Milton W., Leonidas H.,
Theophilus D. Mrs. Smith departed this life Feb. 7, 1859,
leaving a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn her loss;
his marriage with Delia V. Bittle was celebrated in 1863; the
children by this union were Edwin S., Bertelle L., Roy C., Maude
C. and Mamie. W.; the above are all living.
The deceased, Elmer E., was born Dec. 4, 1864, and died Sept.
9, 1866. Mr. Smith is a son of Jesse and Christina (Dietrick)
Smith, natives of Adams Co., Penn., born deceased; Mr. Smith
died at the age of 69 years; Mrs. Smith at the age of 40.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 658 |
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Greenville Twp. -
O. H. SMITH, Greenville, Ohio; dealer in stoves and tinware.
The subject of this memoir was born in Winchester, Randolph Co.,
Ind., in 1855, and is a son of Jeremiah and Cynthia Smith,
residents of Randolph Co.; both are dead; his father died in 1872 at
the age of 68 years; his mother died in 1873, aged 54 years.
Our subject resided at home till he was 17 years of age, when he
began life for himself and followed various pursuits; he removed to
Greenville in 1877 and opened a hardware store, which business he is
still engaged in. He was united in marriage in 1878, Dec. 24,
to Miss Voria Southern; her parents are residents of this
place.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 530 |
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Twin Twp. -
WILLIAM M. SMITH, miller, grain and tobacco
dealer, also dealer and shipper of live stock, Arcanum, Ohio.
We could hardly do justice to the business interest of Arcanum
without devoting a brief space of this work to the gentleman whose
name heads this sketch, as we consider that the local interests of
the town as well as the surrounding country owe a debt of gratitude
to Mr. Smith as conducting his many branches of business in a
highly honorable manner, and supplying a market for the productions
of the surrounding country. He was born in Adams Co., Penn.,
Nov. 16, 1829, and in the sketch of his brother, John Smith,
will be found a more extended genealogy of the family. The
subject of our sketch came to Ohio about the year 1836, and located
in Preble Co.; here he was raised to and followed agricultural
pursuits until 1858, when he came to this place and clerked in the
store of his brother one year. For the next ten years he was
engaged in the general merchandise and grain trade, disposing of the
same in 1869; he then devoted one year to the real-estate business,
the three years succeeding being agent of the D. & U. R. R.; about
the year 1872, he erected his present warehouse, since which time he
has successfully followed the above business, his shipments of grain
in a season to the Eastern markets being upward of 200,000 bushels,
his purchases of tobacco being disposed of for export; his mill has
a capacity of from 400 to 500 bushels a day, the production of which
is shipped largely in car-load lots to the New England States; his
shipments of live stock will exceed fifty car-loads yearly; and, as
stated above, we consider the business as conducted by the above
gentleman of great importance to the interests of Arcanum and the
surrounding country. Upon the 16th of February, 1852, he was
united in marriage with Maria Keltner; she was a native of
Indiana, but came to Montgomery Co. with her parents when quite
young. They are the parents of four sons and two daughters,
viz., John W., Seges, Jesse C., Charles E., Daisy and
William R.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 658 |
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Washington Twp. -
DANIEL SNELL, retired farmer, Sec. 28; P. O.
Darke. He was born in Warren Co., Ohio, Mar. 1, 1809, and
moved with his parents, John and Mary (Shively) Snell to the
place where they now reside, June 4, 1817; they at once erected a
log house, 18x20 feet, of round logs, with mother earth for the
floor; the following winter, twenty persons found cover and home in
his hut, not very comfortably, either, especially after the old sow
and her pigs were given quarters in one corner, to keep them from
freezing; four or five yeas later, they erected a more eligible
house by adding another room; Daniel Snell resides near the
spot where they first settled. He married Maria Rush
Nov. 8, 1834; she was born in a block-house or stockade on Mud
Creek, three miles from Greenville, in this county, in May, 1813;
her father and mother, Henry and Rachel (Creviston) Rush,
came from Pennsylvania and settled on the Scioto River, and moved to
Darke Co. in 1808; she died Mar. 14, 1852; Mr. and Mrs. Snell
have six children, viz.: Mary E., born Sept. 4, 1835, married
Randolph Harrison; Thomas R., born July 21, 1837, died Mar.
5, 1852; Alonzo V., born Feb. 6, 1839, died Mar. 9, 1872;
William H., born Mar. 16, 1841, died in November, 1863;
Rachel J., born Dec. 17, 1844, married William Moyer, and
John R., born Oct. 18, 1850; he married Margaret E. Wenger,
youngest child of Elias and Catherine Wenger, Oct. 26, 1872;
she was born in this township Dec. 19, 1850; they live in the old
homestead and have four children, viz.: Estella, born July
26, 1873; Katie M., born May 5, 1875; Walter W., born
Nov. 21, 1876, and Jennie, born Feb. 17, 1878; they own the
first farm her father bought and part of the first his grandfather
bought in Darke Co. - 113 acres.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 -
Page 757 |
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Washington Twp. -
HENRY SNELL, retired farmer, Sec. 27; P. O.
Darke. He was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Jan. 14, 1812; his
father, John Snell, was born in Hagerstown, Md., in 1782, and
married Mary Shively, of Pennsylvania; they moved to
Washington Township, Darke Co., June 4, 1817, making the first wagon
track on the west side of the second branch of Greenville Creek,
from south of what is now Nashville to "Sharp Eye;" the country was
al wilderness, and for six months Mrs. Snell never saw the
face of a white woman, but Indians were numerous, and wild game of
every description; deer were more plenty than sheep are to-day; the
first schoolhouse had yet to be built, and for many years the first
elements of education were hard to obtain. The subject of this
sketch cast his first vote in Washington Township for Andrew
Jackson, but eer since has voted on the Republican side; he
began life with nothing, learned early the cooper's trade, and
commenced the business on his own account in 1831; followed it about
fourteen years, until his health failed him, then he went to buying
and selling live stock and farming; but for the last twenty years,
he has rented out his farms and speculated in lands and houses.
He married Mary Shively Sept. 11, 1836; she was born on Sec.
27, where they reside, Aug. 24, 1818; they never had any children of
their own, but have raised two sets, all of whom are doing well in
business, and are well settled in independent circumstances; Mr.
Snell owns 438 acres, with good farm houses and outbuildings.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 756 |
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Mississinawa Twp. -
DANIEL SNYDER, harness-maker and farmer, Sec.
14; P. O. Rose Hill. The subject of this sketch was born Jan.
20, 1842, in this township; he is the son of John K. and Amy (Hidley)
Snyder; John K. Snyder was born in New Jersey, and died
in this township in July, 1849; Amy Snyder was born in New
Jersey, and is now married a second time; Daniel Snyder's
parents settled in this township in 1839. Mr. Snyder
was married Oct. 31, 1869, to Miss Lydia I. Winterrowd; she
was born in this township; the fruits of this union have been five
children, viz., Rolla W., James H., Amy J. Sallie and
Clifford. He owns 40 acres of land in this township, which
is under a good state of cultivation. He enlisted in the 187th
O. V. I. February, 1865, and was mustered out at Macon, Ga., Jan.
20, 1866; is a good strong Democrat, and is serving his third term
as Township Treasurer.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 -
Page 763 |
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Greenville Twp. -
GEO. W. SNYDER, farmer and stock-raiser,
Section 19, Greenville Township; P. O. Mt. Heron. Among
the early settlers of Darke Co. we mention the gentleman whose name
heads this sketch; he was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, June 5, 1830;
he was a son of Geo. Snyder, who was born in Pennsylvania July 4.
1804. He married Elizabeth Dively; she was born Oct. 9,
1799, in Pennsylvania; he located in Hamilton Co. when there was but
three or four log houses where Cincinnati now stands; in 1836, came
to Darke Co., and in 1873 he started West, since which time all
trace of him has been lost. Mrs. Snyder died
Sept. 13, 1839. They were the parents of six children, viz.:
George W., Elizabeth A. and Martha J. (triplets),
born June 5, 1830; Mary A., born Jan. 30, 1834, deceased;
Abraham, born Jan. 27, 1836, and Frederick, born Aug. 21,
1838. At 9 years of age, Geo. W. was taken and raised
by Emanuel Flory until 20 years of age, and by dint of hard
study obtained a fair education; at the latter age, he went to
Greenville and devoted three years to carriage-making; he then
started in the above business for himself, in connection with
undertaking, at Hill Grove, following the same three years, during
which time he did all of the undertaking for Union City; in 1857, he
purchased the farm now owned by Samuel Puterbaugh, and
after clearing some 70 or 80 acres, sold out in 1865 and purchased
his present place; he now owns 150 acres four miles west from
Greenville, with good farm buildings; he has secured all of the
above property, valued at from $10,000 to $12,000, by his own hard
labor. He married Catherine Puterbaugh July 4,
1852; four children by this union—Amy E., born Apr. 22,
1854; Lauretta J., Oct. 22, 1855; Frederick B.,
Aug. 18, 1856, and Fernando, July 16, 1860. Mar. 3,
1865, he was united in marriage with Julia Ann Sink; she was
born in Darke Co. June 4, 1845; five children was the fruits of this
union—Lewis E., born June 23, 1866, died May 15, 1867;
Jacob E., born May 8, 1868; Mary L., Jan. 10, 1871;
Nora Rosa Ellen, Sept. 27, 1873, and Murtle L., June 1,
1876.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 529 |
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Harrison Twp. -
ANDERSON SPENCER, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. New
Madison.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. -
Page 702 |
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Franklin Twp. -
JOHN SPIDEL, farmer, P. O., Painter Creek
(End of Biography)
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. -
Page 687 |
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Butler Twp. -
DANIEL SPITLER, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec.
33; P. O. El Dorado. Preble Co.; he is a native of Pennsylvania; was
born in Adams Co., June 14, 1815; is the son of Jacob
Spitler. who came to Montgomery Co. when Daniel was a
little boy. Daniel was married to Hester
Burst in 1838, and they commenced the duties of domestic life in
Preble Co., near her home, where they remained till 1873; he
purchased and removed to the farm in Sec. 33. where he now resides;
Mrs. Spitler's decease occurred Nov. 4. 1876; they
were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living, viz.,
Margaret (now Mrs. Moses Brackett, of Union City. Ind.);
John (now a resident of Preble Co.; Mary E. (now
Mrs. Jessie Foreman, of Arcanum); Daniel F., William
and Clarence; the latter three are still at home. Mr.
Spitler was married the second time, Mar. 28. 1878, to
Susannah Shaffer, daughter of Jacob Shaffer, of
Preble Co.; she has borne him one child - Charles C.; Mr.
Spitler is now past the meridian of life, and has been an
industrious, useful citizen; he commenced in Preble Co., in 1838, a
renter; he has gradually advanced until he purchased the farm he
first rented, and afterward sold it and purchased the place he now
resides upon, which consists of 50 acres in Sec. 32, and 140 acres
in Sec. 33, upon which is a neat, commodious frame house and other
improvements to correspond, all of which is the result of his
energy, economy and wisdom.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 677 |
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Monroe Twp. -
ELIAS SPITLER. farmer; P. O. Gordon. The
subject of this memoir was born in Adams Co., Penn., May 16, 1821,
and is a son of Jacob and Mary Spitler, native of
Pennsylvania, afterward residents of Montgomery Co. Our
subject was reared as a farmer boy. and assisted in the work of the
farm till he was 27 years of age. He was united in marriage
with Miss Eliza, daughter of John and Ruth Heater,
Feb. 24, 1848; they were natives of Pennsylvania. After his
marriage, Mr. Spitler began life in good earnest; he had no
capital, in fact not $5 at the time of his marriage. He
engaged in farming in Montgomery Co., till 1856, when he removed
to Darke Co., on the place where he now resides. He purchased
80 acres of land partly in the woods, and, by the united efforts of
himself and lady, which combined energy with determination, they
overcame all the obstacles of life, and the fruit of their toil is a
beautiful home, surrounded by all the comforts of life.
Children - Rufus, born April 26, 1849; Anna M., born
July 15. 1850; Harriet, born May 30, 1852; Amanda,
born Sept. 10, 1861 : Rufus departed this life in the bloom
of young manhood, Nov. 23, 1871, aged 22 years 6 months and 27 days,
leaving his young bride to mourn his departure, they only being
married four months; Amanda departed this life March 5, 1873,
aged 19 years 5 months and 20 days; she was Mrs. Harvey
Ludy and left a husband and one child. Mr.
Spitler has been Trustee of his township for three years, and
has been School Director for many years. He and his good wife
have been members of the Lutheran Church for a period of thirty-five
years, and are universally beloved and respected by all who know
them.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 644
(Contributed by Kurt Caulley) |
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Monroe Twp. -
ELIAS F. STAUFFER, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 7; P. O. Arcanum.
The subject of this memoir was born in Montgomery Co. Apr. 13, 1835;
his father was born in Pennsylvania and his mother in Virginia, and
removed to Montgomery Co. in a very early day, and are still living
at advanced ages. Our subject assisted his father in the
labors of the farm, till his majority, at which time he began life
for himself, and followed the occupation of his father; he worked on
a rented farm in Montgomery Co. for a period of seven years, when he
removed to Darke Co., in 1866, where he purchased 80 acres of land,
where he now lives; he has since bought 45 acres more adjoining his
first purchase, and all is in a good state of cultivation and well
improved. His property is the fruit of his and his wife's hard
labor. He was married to Anna, daughter of Daniel
and Rebecca Hollinger, Dec. 28, 1858; they were natives of
Pennsylvania, and removed to Ohio in a very early day; her father is
dead, her mother is still living, and resides with the subject of
our sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Stauffer are the parents of
seven children, viz.: Lucinda, born Mar. 13, 1860; John,
born May 17, 1862; Benjamin born Feb. 18. 1865; Harvey
born Jan. 15, 1870; Hettie, born Nov. 24, 1872 : Lydia,
born Mar. 13, 1874; Samuel, born Feb. 18. 1867, and died in
infancy. Mr. Stauffer has filled the office of
School Director several terms, having had only the advantages of a
common-school education, but is considerably interested in educating
his children. He and his amiable wife, are members of the
German Baptist Church, and are among the zealous workers in the
church.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880.
- Page 644 |
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Twin Twp. -
JAMES STEELE, farmer; P. O. Arcanum, Ohio.
To the subject of this sketch we are pleased to accord a place in
the front rank of the early pioneers of Darke Co.; he was born in
Maryland in 1802; in 1812, he removed with his mother to Butler Co.,
Ohio, and labored faithfully for the maintenance of his widowed
mother and the support of the family; his father died when he was
only 8 years old, and the responsibility of providing for the family
rested exclusively on our subject; young as he was, he fully
understood the situation, and labored faithfully for the support and
comfort of the family till he attained his 21st year, at which time
he learned the blacksmith's trade, which, combined with farming,
made life very successful; in 1868, on account of failing health and
rapid advancement of age, he abandoned the anvil and forge, and his
attentions have been exclusively directed to the farm; Mr. Steele
has lived on the farm he purchased at Government price, for
forty-five years; he has lived to see the monarchs of the forest
laid low by the onward march of civilization, the wilderness robbed
of its vendure, the desolate and pestilential swamps deprived of
their poisons and converted into productive fields; truly, the
change has been great - a howling wilderness has been
conquered and subjected to the use of a great industrial people with
half a century, and still the resources of Darke Co. are not more
than half developed. He united in marriage with Jemima
Johns, Mar. 6, 1825; twelve children have been given to this
union, of whom ten are living, viz., Elizabeth and Hannah
(twins), Urial, Stephen, Thomas, Martha, Asher, Ellen, Eliza
and Mary (twins), William and Catherine having
died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Steele have lived to see
their children all married and comfortably situated in life; they
have, taken great pains in educating them, five of whom are
successful educators.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 658 |
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W. H. STOVER,
merchant, Versailles; son of William and Elizabeth Stover;
was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1849; settled in this
township, 1875. Was united in marriage with Lucinda Hole,
in Versailles, in 1874; three children - Maggie Belle, Harvey
Gary, Isaiah.
Source:
History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H.
Beers & Co., 1880 - Page 617 |
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G. W. STUDABAKER,
attorney-at-law, Versailles. The subject of this memoir is a
native of Ohio, born in Darke County, three miles south of
Greenville, on the we day of September, 1840; spent his boyhood days
on the farm, assisting his father in the cultivation of the soil;
the plow, spade and ax were implements to which he was no stranger;
he spent the winter months in attending the district school, where
he obtained a good common-school education. On the 8th day of
May, 1854, unfortunately his father died, leaving a widowed mother
and five children to survive the storms of life, without the
parental instructions of a father. In 1857, he became
infatuated with what was then known as the "Kansas fever" - to "go
West and grow up with the country;" he, in company with Jacob
Rees, E. Calkins and Allen Jaqua, left on the 2d day of
March for the "Far West," and upon their arrival found the people
divided on the subject of slavery, and during the Kansas trouble he
became strongly opposed to the extension of slavery, and embraced
the principles then advocated by the Republican party, and became a
Radical in the true sense of the term, always found advocating the
abolition of slavery, until the great rebellion put an end to the
controversy. In 1865, he commenced the stud of law, under the
instructions of A. R. Calderwood, at Greenville, Ohio, and in
October, 1871, passed an examination before the Supreme Court of
Columbus, Ohio, after which he was regularly admitted as an attorney
and counselor at law; he then opened a law office in Versailles,
Ohio, where he has since lived and practiced his profession; and by
his close application to his office, and strict attention to
business consigned to his management, he has gained a large and
lucrative practice throughout the county in which he resides, as
well as abroad; and, as an advocate before a jury, in presenting his
side of hte case, he has no equal; his natural ability seems to be
adapted for the profession of his own solicitation; it can truly be
said of him that he is a self-made man, being strictly
temperate in all his habits. On the 11th day of May, 1875, he
assisted A. R. Calderwood in the establishment of the
Greenville Sunday Courier, a weekly newspaper which has a
wide circulation. Mr. Studabaker has been identified
with the county and township offices since his residence; in the
spring of 1873, he was elected to the office of May in Versailles,
which office he held for six consecutive years, during which time
the village grew and prospered; he is also the President of the
School Board; in the fall of 1875, he was chosen by the Republican
party as a candidate for State Senator, the district being composed
of the counties of Darke, Shelby and Miami; the district gives about
1,800 Democratic majority, but he was sonly defeated by about 1,000,
which shows his popularity throughout the district; in April, 1861,
he enlisted in Co. K, 11th O. V. I., Col. J. W. Fraizell
commanding the regiment.
Source:
History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H.
Beers & Co., 1880 - Page 617 |
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Adams Twp. -
DANIEL SWADNER, farmer; P. O. Horatio; was
born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1820; was the son of Henry and
Eleanor Swadner, who were born in Maryland; they had nine
children, viz., Mary Jane, Daniel, Samuel, Sarah Ann,
Elizabeth, Clarinda, Lavina, Charlotte and Henry; Eleanor's
father was Jacob Suman. Mr. Swadner was
married in 1859 to Margaret Bobo, born in 1822,
daughter of John and Elizabeth Waltz, and was born in
Montgomery Co.; her father, John, was born in Maryland, and
her mother in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Swadner was a widow,
being first married to John Bobo, by whom she had one
child, viz., John L., who is now living. Mr.
Bobo died in 1851, while crossing the Plains on his way to
California. They are parents of two children, viz., Henry
A. and Samuel F. Mr. Swadner moved to
this county in 1869, upon the farm he now lives upon, consisting of
80 acres; when he came here, there were about 20 acres cleared; now
he has 55 acres cleared and in good cultivation, and has put up all
the buildings, having a good two-story frame house and good barn,
and other buildings for convenience and comfort. Mr.
Swadner is one of those who has had to make his own fortune,
starting without capital, but by industry and diligence in business,
has a good farm and a competency for comfortable living. Mr.
Swadner is a member of the Reformed Church; has belonged to
same some forty years; his wife belongs to the Lutheran, having
joined them about forty years ago, also. Thus, while we here
see one who has made a good record, in the work of acquiring
property and the comforts of life, we also see a long service in the
church, and their example will stand as a bright and shining light
for their children's children for ages to come.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 567 |
NOTES:
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