OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 226 *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 226 Today's Topics: #1 Bios: Montgomery Co - Taylor, Thom [christina m hursh To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <20000716.150737.-230605.2.frog158@juno.com> Subject: Bios: Montgomery Co - Taylor, Thomas, Weller Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Transcribed by Mrs. Becki Klansnic for the Ohio Biographies Project. The History of Montgomery County, OH", by W. H. Beers & Co., Pub. 1882 LEWIS TAYLOR, farmer, P. O. Centerville, son of John and Rosanna (Alexander) Taylor, was born June 5, 1813, in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio. With the exception of a few years, has resided in his native township. In boyhood, attended school in the log cabin where greased paper was used instead of glass for windows. The branches taught were reading, writing and arithmetic. Teachers were then paid by subscription and board, dividing their time with the patrons. Books used were the spelling book and Bible. For copy books the scholar had, what would now be considered, a very poor article of unruled foolscap, and the scholars provided themselves with a lead pencil and rule to d the lining required in the copy book. The teacher set all the copies, made and repaired the pens from goose quills as steel and gold pens were not in use. Ink was manufactured at home, from maple bark and copperas. Lewis' occupation is that of a farmer, and is now one of the few men in this township owning and occupying the land purchased by their fathers from the United States. The above tract was deeded by James Madison, President of the United States, to John Taylor, December 15, 1810. Lewis has never had any political aspirations, and never was on a jury. The amusements in his early days were corn huskings, log-rollings, and raising the log cabin for the new settler, which would be accomplished in one day, ready for the family occupancy at night. Lewis claims that the frame house he now occupies was about he first, if not the first one built in the township in 1808. It is a two-story; in the second story religious meetings used to be held by the Presbyterian, Baptist and Christian Churches. His parents were both natives of Mifflin County, Penn., and were married February 19, 1801. From this union were eight sons and one daughter, of whom four sons only are now living. The parents, with three children, came to Montgomery County, Ohio, in September, 1806, and purchased above-named tract of land soon after their arrival, on which was a double log cabin, with a puncheon floor, and about one acre of land, about half cleared; balance, heavily timbered. Some years afterward, Mr. Taylor made another purchase of 410 acres of land, on the Miami Great Bend, and laid out the town of Alexandersville, the name being suggested by Mrs. Taylor, as a compliment to their eldest son, Alexander. Dr. David Bailey did the surveying and platting of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor donated one of the lots to the Christian Church; Mr. Taylor was one of the Largest stockholders in Woodbourn Cotton Factory, in which speculation he lost not less than $20,000, which, at that time, was a heavy loss. Mr. Taylor was drafted in the war of 1812; marched to Greenville under Capt. Richard Sunderland; his stay, however, was short; sickness called him home. He soon procured a substitute, Samuel Mattocks, paying him $60 cash and an outfit. Mr. Taylor died November 29, 1843, aged sixty-five years nine months and eleven days. Mrs. Taylor died August 17, 1878, aged ninety-four years four months and two days. JOSEPH THOMAS, farmer, son of Edward P. and Abigal (Benham) Thomas, was born in Washington Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio, August 19, 1834, and has followed farming as his life occupation. He was married, January 1, 1861, to Charlotte Ramsey, daughter of Bloomfield and Matilda A. (Reeder) Ramsey, who was also born in the township April 23, 1844. They have had the following children: Joseph B. Edward P. (deceased), Mary E., Olive A., Melissa L., William H. L., Eve M. and Charles P. Our subject was but four years old when his father died, and at twelve years of age, began working out by the month to help his mother support the family. In 1855, he and his brother Benjamin rented a farm, and by hard, constant toil, and steady, economical habits, saved sufficient to purchase 100 acres of land, upon which Benjamin now lives. In 1865, Joseph sold his interest in the above farm to his brother, and purchased his present homestead of 133 acres, which is the legitimate result of his earnest efforts to succeed in life. Mr. Thomas is regarded as one of the progressive farmers of his native township, and his motto has even been to be just and honest with all men. JOHN WELLER, farmer, P. O. Centerville, son of John and Elizabeth Weller, was born April 15, 1818, in Washington Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio, and, with the exception of eleven years, has always resided there. Of the eleven years, seven were spent in Warren County, Ohio, and four in Miami County, Ohio. By occupation, is a farmer; was raised one. married, September 29, 1841, to Miss Mary Ann Anderson. From this union were ten children, seven of whom are living. Mr. Weller's schooling acquired, as all farmer boys did at that time, work on the farm during farming season, and attend school in the winter, and yet, frequently, not all that time was allowed them; if there was any grain to thrash, which the boys had to attend to by tramping it off on the bare floor with several horses. Their wearing apparel was altogether of home-made material, flax tow for pants, flax linen for shirts, and bettermost pants; thread shirt-buttons in general use; for winter wear, home-made cloth and jeans. Red flannel wamusses were very fashionable. Boys were always delighted when presented with a new one. Limited to one pair shoes a year, and when mending was required, it frequently fell to the boy's lot to repair his own shoes. Among the vivid scenes and well recollected ones of Mr. Weller's boyhood, are, that when his father could put seven sons with their plows in the field at one time, and once in the spring of 1842, eight or nine were at work in the same field; then, he says, what a sight at turning-out times, noon and night, to them file out of the field into a long lane, and march for dinner. The father's rule was that the horses must be fed first. His orders to the boys were to always be careful and take good care of them. Mr. Weller remembers selling produce at the following prices: Wheat, at 50 cents per bushel; oats, at 15 cents per bushel; corn, at the same. Has hauled flour for his father to Cincinnati, and sold it for $2.50 per barrel; it would require four days to make the trip. Has sold pork at $2.50 per 100, net; then the other extreme has sold pork for $13 per 100, net. Mr. Weller was a renter for nine years, but is now the owner of 248 acres of fine land, about 220 of which is under a good state of cultivation. His first plowing was done with the wooden moldboard plow. Now he uses all the modern farming utensils. Mrs. Weller is the daughter of Ephraim and Sarah Anderson; was born in Washington Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio, September 18, 1821. There were eleven brothers and sisters, nine of whom are now living. Mrs. Weller has spent all her life on a farm, and in her early marriage life thought nothing hard of it to carry butter and eggs two and a half miles to market of a morning, returning in time for her children to go to school; has been quite a spinner of flax and wool in her young days, out of which material the wearing apparel was manufactured for the family. WILLIAM WELLER, farmer, P. O. Centerville. William Weller, son of John and Elizabeth Weller, was born April 30, 1816, in the State of New Jersey. When about two years old, he came with his parents to Washington Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio. When the family landed here, 50 cents was all the cash the father possessed, but being a blacksmith, just the man needed in a new settlement, the neighbors gathered together and soon had a house and shop ready for occupancy by the new-comer. He went to work; the neighbors patronized him; soon he began to receive help from his boys; this enabled him to turn out more work, and he began to run his attention to farming. About the year 1827, he moved on a large farm as a renter; fortune smiled on him and in the course of a few years he became the owner instead of the renter. At his death, he was quite wealthy, leaving a large estate for division among his children. William's privileges for schooling were only on a par with other farm boys. When old enough to work, he was introduced to it; he says his first plowing was done with the wooden mold-board plow. He never had nay desire to mingle in politics. He was married, March 19, 1840, to Miss Martha Young; from this union were six children, four of whom are now (July, 1881) living and married. Educated to farming, he has always adhered to it; knowing how to mange it, he has made it a success. He was a renter for fourteen years, and a part of that time sold his corn for 10 cents per bushel pork for $1.75 to $2 per one hundred pounds, net. The first crop of wheat raised he received one-half as his portion; he had it ground and hauled to Cincinnati, where he sold it for $10 per barrel; that was his first start in life. Wearing apparel in his boyish days was principally of home manufacture; could not well make it anything else, for he says he has reaped wheat many a day for 50 cents, and the day then was from sunrise to sunset. The first fine suit of clothes was that given him by his parents when he reached the age of twenty-one, called a freedom suit. He is now the owner of a nicely improved farm, adjoining the town of Centerville on the southeast, containing 143 1/2 acres, which constitutes his homestead. The church of his choice was the New-School Baptist, which he joined about 1860; Mrs. Weller joined same some three years previous. SAMUEL WELLER, farmer, P. O. Centerville. Samuel Weller, son of John and Elizabeth Weller, was born November 29, 1826, in Washington Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio. He moved, with his parents, on to the farm where he now resides (1881) about fifty-three years ago; with the exception of a few years it has always been his home. To the visitors at this day it looks, from the splendid improvements he has made, and the general keeping of his farm, that he has no migratory notions in his head. His education he received in the home district school, kept in a log house with (unable to read word, check page 278) saplings for seats and puncheons for writing desks, upon which he says the (unable to read word, check page 278) their Pen and Barlow knives pretty freely. Raised on the farm, he did the chores of a farm boy until he was large enough to plow. The plowing done then would not at this time, be called much more than scratching, yet farmers managed to raise fair crops, particularly where there was as many good farm boys as there was on the Weller homestead. Mr. Weller has never had any particular political aspirations; yet at kind solicitation of friends and neighbors, he has served then as School Director and Township Trustee several years. He was a member of the Board of Trustees under whose present townships hall was built in Centerville (1880). Farming is his delight, at which he is a success. He is now the owner of 389 1/2 acres in this township. He was married, May 16, 1854, to Miss Mary C. Kirby, daughter of John and Margaret (Pence) Kirby; from this union eleven children were born, nine of whom are now living. Samuel Weller and wife entertained sixty of their personal friends at dinner the first Sunday of their housekeeping. Mrs. Weller's father was native of New Jersey, and her mother of Ohio, Mrs. Weller having been born in this State July 29, 1834. She has had eleven children born to her of this union, viz., John C. (deceased), Charles W. (deceased), Lucinda J., Anna L., Laura B., Walter H., Arrilla J., Arthur S., Carrie F., Minnie E. and Mary M. ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 15:05:09 -0500 From: christina m hursh To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <20000716.150737.-230605.4.frog158@juno.com> Subject: Bios: Montgomery Co - Bennett, Bose, Brown, Buzzard, Clark, Conover, Cook, Crist, Donnellan Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Transcribed by Mrs. Becki Klansnic for the Ohio Biographies Project. The History of Montgomery County, OH", by W. H. Beers & Co., Pub. 1882 German Twp STEPHEN BENNETT, farmer, P. O. Carlisle, is a native of Somersetshire, Eng., born June 24, 1852, and emigrated to America June 28, 1872, settling in Montgomery County. He was married to Mary E., daughter of Tobias and Mary (Bradbury) Swartzel, born in Ohio July 21, 1850, on the 17th of February, 1873, and to them were born the following-named children: Cora E., Lotta O. and Pearl M. Mr. Bennett, though quite a young man, has, through industry and economy, become the possessor of a farm of fifty-one acres of land, situated on the Carlisle and Germantown pike, two and a quarter miles southeast of the latter town. The farm is well improved and the buildings thereon new, the house and barn being built some six years ago, at a cost, the former of $1,850, and the latter $500. Tobacco raising is with him a specialty. He takes great pride in the choice lot of fowls about he farm, raising and dealing in best breed. ALFRED BOSE, cigar manufacturer, Germantown, is a son of George Bose, who was born in German Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, January 8, 1808, and who lost his father when quite small, thus leaving him to the care of a widowed mother whom he in his more matured years helped to support until her death. George was a farmer, and was married March 5, 1839, to Miss Mary Boyer, who was born in Frederick City, Md., April 11, 1808, of which marriage Alfred was born in this township September 13, 1845. he grew up and learned the trade of a cigar-maker, worked as a journeyman thirteen years, and in 1872 was elected President of the Cigar-Maker's Union. He served in the Germantown fire company eleven years, receiving a life-membership certificate for services rendered, and has represented the Etna Fire Insurance Company as agent. Being a man of experience in his trade, he was appointed foreman by Joseph Endress, of his packing room, getting the cigars ready for shipment, having at times many men under his charge. He also traveled on the road selling cigars, in all of which he displayed the same ability, energy and success. He finally accumulated enough money to start in business January 19, 1876, since which his trade has been increased yearly. In 1872, Mr. Bose became a Mason, and is a zealous member of that fraternity. J. A. BROWN, physician, Germantown. His father, William Brown, was a native of New Jersey, who came to Ohio with his parents in an early day, and located at Waynesville, Warren County. He learned the carpenter trade, and soon after reaching manhood, went to Preble County, where he married Miss Mary A. Beall, whose father, Charles, was a soldier in the war of 1812. They had four children by this union, viz., Francis A., Joseph A., Laura, the wife of Dr. Low, of Connersville, Ind., and Minnie. William Brown was quite successful in life, accumulated considerable property; was a Quaker in religious belief, and died in February, 1860, leaving a widow, who died January 24, 1882, and who was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The subject of this sketch was born near Camden, Preble County, Ohio, January 19, 1855; had all the advantages of a good schooling, and at the age of eighteen began the study of medicine under Dr. W. H. Low, from whose preceptorship he entered the Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati, from where he graduated in the class of 1877-78, and immediately commenced the practice of his profession at Germantown, where he has since continued the art of healing. He was married, March 5, 1875, to Miss Louisa Singer, daughter of Solomon Singer, who was born in Lewisburg, Preble County, Ohio, September 5, 1856, and has had one daughter, Edna. Dr. Brown is a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society, and being a well-read, studious physician, his future is promising, and presages success in his profession. PETER BUZZARD, farmer, P. O. Germantown, was born in Frederick County, Md., June 11, 1817, his parents, Samuel and Mary (Dellwater) Buzzard, coming to Ohio soon after his birth, where his father died in 1866, and his mother in 1873. Peter was married in 1838, to Elizabeth Emerick, a native of this county, born June 5, 1818, his parents being from Pennsylvania, of which union eight children were the issue, as follows: Wesley, Allen, Samuel L., Margaret E., Mary Ann, William J., Jacob E. and Annie A. Mr. Buzzard is a stone and brick mason, which trade he learned his boyhood days, operated a threshing-machine for twenty-five years, and has owned four of the best stable horses in Ohio, having at present a fine six-year-old, three-quarters Clydesdale stallion. Mr. Buzzard owns a nice farm of seventy-two acres in Darke County, and a well-improved homestead, where he now resides, and is a man of public spirit and enterprise. LEVI L. CLARK, retired farmer, P. O. Germantown, is a son of Thomas and Catherine (Lehman) Clark, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former born July 5, 1785, and the latter December 28, 1791. Thomas was by occupation a farmer, and through life a resident of his native State. Their death occurred several years ago, and they were the parents of ten children, of whom four are now living, viz.: Lydia, Levi L., Thomas and Abraham. Mr. and Mrs. Clark were a noble couple, their charity was not vaunting and their love for their fellow-men was unbounded. Levi L. whose name heads this article, was born near Jonestown, Lebanon County, Penn., October 11, 1814. In early life his summers were devoted to farming, and his winter months to school, but his education, though limited, was mostly acquired through his own exertions. At the age of eighteen he commenced clerking, and was thus engaged for five successive years. At the age of twenty-three, he came to Germantown, Montgomery County, Ohio, and obtained a situation in the dry goods store of J. Crist, and John D. Gunckle, of Montgomery County, born April 9, 1817. The fruits of this marriage are eleven children, viz.: John T., of Columbus, Neb.; Jefferson L., of Miamisburg; George of Colorado; William H., Frank G., Mary C. (now Mrs. Oblinger), Harriett E. (now Mrs. Keiner), Sarah J. (now Mrs. Trout), Ellen S., Alice V. and Maria B. Soon after the nuptials of Levi and Maria L. Clark, he located on his father-in-law's farm, took charge of it, and again became a tiller of the soil as in his youthful days. This, however, only commanded his attention a few years, when he embarked, unexperienced, in the coopering business, and repairing firearms, which two occupations combined proved quite remunerative. Several years later, he purchased a farm of 91 1/2 acres, of Rev. J. L. Hoffman, situated on Little Twin Creek, where he located and remained until 1868, when he removed to his present beautiful location in the limits of the incorporation of Germantown. Mr. and Mrs. Clark's religious affiliations have been with the Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly half a century, during which time they have been constant and valuable contributors for its welfare and progress. A. S. CONOVER, farmer and miller, P. O. Germantown. The parents of our subject emigrated to Ohio in 1811, who by name were William and Catharine (Sutphin) Conover. The former lived to be ninety-four years of age. Mr. A. S. Conover is a native of the State of New Jersey, born in 1808, and has been twice married. His first wife was Maria, daughter of William Bailey, who died August 5, 1832. His second wife was Mrs. Margaret Ann Molson, daughter of Gilbert and Hannah Bound, natives of New Jersey, by whom he had six children, two boys and four girls, namely: Edgar C., Orlander C., Hannah, Lydia, Ida and Deborah. By occupation Mr. Conover is a miller, which pursuit he followed from the time he was seventeen years of age, living between Franklin and Miamisburg, until 1860. He now owns a small farm one and a half miles northwest of Germantown. HENRY C. COOK, farmer, P. O. Germantown, was born in Jackson Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, October 3, 1833; is the son of Frederick and Catherine (Apple) Cook, natives of Ohio, but of German descent. our subject was one of seven children, six of whom are still living, and four of them are residents of Montgomery County. He was married to Lucinda Oldfather May 12, 1864, and to them were born the following-named children: Ella R., Wealthy M., Herman V. and Grace. The wife was born March 19, 1837, of parents Frederick and Elizabeth (Pence) Oldfather. The former was a native of Virginia, and died in 1876, and the latter of Maryland. Our subject received a fair education, having attended the schools of his neighborhood in youth, thence going for a period at Lebanon, where he attended the Southwestern Normal School, now known as the Normal University, where he prepared himself for teaching, and followed that profession from 1854 to 1875. He purchased a quarter section of land upon which he now resides, located four miles west of Germantown, in 1876, since which he has been farming. JACOB CRIST, deceased, was born in Frederick City, Md., October 15, 1792; is a son of Henry and Christina (Cassel) Crist, and came to Ohio with is parents in 1805, where he grew to manhood. he was married October 13, 1850, to Anna E. Echart, daughter of John and Anna E. Echart, natives of Germany, who came to Ohio in 1844. Mrs. Crist was born in the Fatherland February 23, 1817, and has six children, viz.: Henry J., George L., Mary E., John P., Edward J. and Louisa C. Mr. Crist was one of the oldest citizens in the country, owned 130 acres of land a short distance southeast of Germantown and the family belonged to the United Brethren Church. Our subject died February 17, 1872, in his eightieth year, leaving behind a large circle of mourning friends and a wife and family much respected. J. E. DONNELLAN, physician and surgeon. Germantown, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, October 7, 1824, and is the youngest in a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, three of whom are living. His parents emigrated from Baltimore, Md., in 1812, and settled on a farm near Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, where his father died in 1829, an din 1832 his mother removed to West Alexandria, Preble County, Ohio, where she resided until her death in 1853. At the age of eighteen, our subject having received a good education, began teaching school, which he continued during the winter season for several years, pursuing a private course of study in the summer months. In 1848, he began the study of medicine in the office of his brother, Dr. N. Donnellan, of West Alexandria, at the completion of which, in April, 1851, he entered upon the practice of his profession, at Farmersville, Montgomery County, Ohio, where he remained two years, diligently laying the foundation of future success. He occupied the same office with H. Elliott, Esq., who was then just commencing the practices of law, but who is now the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Dr. Donnellan removed to Germantown May 3, 1853, having formed a partnership with Dr. C. G. Espich, an old and popular physician, who had been a successful practitioner of medicine in this place from its earliest settlement, and this partnership continued until Dr. Espich's death, November 24, 1853. Dr. Donnellan was married, March 16, 1854, to Mary M. Hiestand, whose parents came from Lancaster County, Penn., to this county at an early day, of which union they have had two daughters, Emma (deceased) and Annie. The Doctor has taken a deep interest in the progress and development of Montgomery County. He has been for twelve years a member of the Board of Education in Germantown; was one of the Directors of the Montgomery County Infirmary from 1860 to 1866; is a charter member of Germantown Lodge of F. A. A. M., and was for several years its Master. Since 1851, Dr. Donnelly has been in constant practice, with the exception of four months in 1864, when he was a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment Ohio National Guards. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the family adhere to the Reformed Church. Politically, he is a Republican. The Doctor stands among the most enterprising citizens of his township. ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V00 Issue #226 *******************************************