Greene County, Ohio - The whole text, 1902 (part 22 of 25)

Mr. Cunningham is a Republican and for one term was township trustee, while as a member of the school board of Bellbrook he has labored earncsllv in the cause of education. He served as a delegate to both the state and congressional conventions in 1902, and keeps well informed on political issues. He and his wife arc members of the Presbyterian church and he was one of the building C(jmmittee that planned for the erection of the fine edifice there, contributing freely to the cause. Socially he is identified with the Junior Order of American Mechanics, of which he is a trustee. His farm comprises one hundred and thirty-two acres of very \aluable land and his home is one of the best in the county. All of this has been acquired through his own earnest efiforts and his life history proves conclusively what a pi>tent element in the business worlfl is untlagging industry.

That the plentitude of satiety is seldom attained in the affairs of life is to be considered a most grateful and beneficial depiivation for where ambition is satisfied and every ultimate aim realized, if such is possible, - there nuist follow individual apathy. Effort will cease, accomplishment be prostiate and creative talent waste its energies in supine inactivity. The men who have pushed forward the wheels of progress have been tlmse to whom satiety lav e\'er in the future, and they have labored consecutively and have not failed to tind in each transition stage an incentive for further effort. Mr. Le Sourd is accounted one of the most enterprising and progressive business men of Xenia where he is widely known as a real ettate, insurance and loan agent.

He was born in Butler county, Ohio, February 9, 1850, and is a son of Xicholas and Eleanor (Gorsuch) Le Sourd. His paternal grandfather, Peter Le Sourd, was a native of France and accompanied Lafayette to America when that brave French gentleman and his men volunteered to aid in the establishment of the American republic through the force of arms. The family name was then spelled La Seur, but has since been changed to its present form. The grandfather was an officer of the French army, but instead of returning to his native country at the close of the war for independence, he decided to remain and take up his abode in Maryland, where he first followed farming and afterward became a large railroad contractor. In this country he was inarried and tl'en removed to Butler county, Ohio, making the journey by wagon in 1835, accompanied by his wife and eight children. His remaining days were spent in this state and he was activeh- associated with the early pioneer development of the community in which he took up his abode.

Xicholas Le Sourd, the father of our subject, was born in Maryland and with his parents came to this state. He acquired his education in the common schools and when he entered upon his business career followed the occupation of farming, to which he had been reared, extensively operating land in Butler county for a number of years. He ne\er left that lr)calit\- but spent his remaining days there, passing away in 1884 at the age of sixty-eight. His wife was called to her final rest in 1874. They were the parents of six children, but only three of the fainily are now living. One brother, J. T. Le Sourd, is a resident of Xenia, where he is also engaged in the insurance, real estate and loan business.

In the common schools S. B. Le Sourd pursued his early education which was supplemented by a course in the Lebanon State X'^ormal. He also pursued his studies in the Monroe Academy at IMonroe, Ohio, and later he engaged in teaching school in Butler for a time. In the fall of 1878 he came to Xenia and established a real estate and loan business on a small scale. In 1880 he admitted F. E. McGervey to a partnership that has since Ijeen maintained and gradually their business has grown in volume and importance. As insurance agents they write a large business each year, their policies representing many thousands of dollars. Mr. Le Sourd is also adjuster for the Ohio Farmers" Insurance Company of the southern district of this state. He has also handled considerable real estate, negotiating many important property transfers anil is an assistant secretary of the Home Building & Savings Association of Xenia.

On the 30th of March. 1876, Mr. Le Sourd was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Stewart, a daughter of Judge J- M. Stewart, and unto them ha\'e been born five children : Harry, who is a graduate of Delaware L^niversit}- and also of the Cincinnati Law School ; Florence, who completed the course in the Ohio ^^'es]eyan L'niversitv, at Delaware: Gertrude, who died at the age of six years ; Rebecca, who is a student in the Xenia schools: and Mabel, who died at the age of a year and a half. Fraternallv ;\Ir.

Le Sounl is connected with Xenia Lodge. No. 49. F. & A. M.. and Xenia Chapter. R. A. M. He also Ijelongs to Talx>r Lodge, No. 315. L O. O. F., of which he is pa.st grand and in politics he is an earnest Republican, liaving firm beHci in the principles of the party. He also has membership relations with the Methodist Episcopal church of Xenia, of which he is a steward. His life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been acc<jrded due recognition of labor; and today he is numbereil among the substantial citizens of his county. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of the northwest, and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and co-o|)eration to any movement calcnl;ited to benefit this section of tlie countrv or advance its tNonderful develoj)- nient.

Death often removes from a community one whom the citizens feel that they can ill afiford to lose and such was the case when Dr. J. Darwin Edwards departe<l this life, yet he accomplished great good in tlie years allotted to him and through a long period maintained a prominent and distinctive position as one of the most skilled and capalile physicians of Greene county. His labors here covered a period of more than a quarter of a century, during which time his honorable manlKKKl. as well as professional ability won him the confidence and esteem of all. He was also associated with business enterprises of importance and both directly and indirectly his labors proved of benefit to the comnumity.

father. Caleb Edwards, was born in Xe\»- Jersey about the year 1772 and married Miss Betsey Meeker. In 1806 they left the east, remoxing to Ohio, and in Clermont county they were nuinbere<l among the early settlers. The father of our subject hewed t)Ul a farm in the midst of the forest, working hard to clear enough land in order that his lalxjrs as an agriculturist might provide comfortably for his family. Throughout his remaining days he devoted his energies to the work of tilling the soil, and in 1859 his lalx)rs were ended in death. His widow survived him until 1876 and five of her children were li\ing at the time of her demise.

I^r. Edwards spent the first fifteen years of his life on the old home farm and then left the jjarental roof in order to learn a trade. He had ac(|uired a good education in his youth, displaying special aptitude in his studies and in learning his trade he also progressed rapidly and became proficient. To a man of strong mentality such as Dr. Edwards possessed it was but natural that professional life should have stronger attractions for him than industrial pursuits, and desiring to acquire proper knowledge he e\entually entered Augusta College, in which he was graduated with the class of 1839 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. For a short time he engaged in teaching, but soon took up the study of medicine with Dr. Eilwards, of Greenfield. Indiana, as his l)receptor. He also attended medical lectures at Cincinnati, and was there accorde<l the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Entering upon the practice of his profession, he devoted much of his remaining life to the alleviation of sufifering and the restt)ration of health.

-attracterl Ijy tlie discovery of gold in California, crossed the plains, making his way from St. Joseph, Missouri, by way of Salt Lake City, to the EI Dorado of the West. He traveled with mule teams and accomplished the journey from the Missouri river to Sacramento in ninety days. While en route he passed no town or habitation of white people e.xcept at Forts Bridger and Kearney. Dr. Ediwards first located at Saciramento, ibut afterward resided at different times at Michigan Bar. Stockton and Angels. He became interested in mining, but also conducted a drug store and ])racticed his profession. He there won a large clientage and his services were in almost constant demand. Prospering in his work he was enabled to purchase a cjuartz mine which had some very rich pockets. For about nine \ears he remained upon the Pacific coast and in 1859 again came to Ohio, intending, however, to spend only a short period here, but changed his mind and made a permanent location. It was about this time that he received his diploma from the luedical college and was married to Mrs. Ruth McFarland, a daughter of Robert and Mar- _gie (Mylie) Chapman. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and removed from that state to Ohio. The marriage of the Doctor and his wife was celebrated in 'Greene county, February 2, i860. He had pr^\-iously married Dorcas Edenfield, but she died lea\nng one son, Frank.

In the year i860 Dr. Etl wards locateil for practice in Xenia and for a quarter of a -century was an acti\-e, influential and successful member of the profession here. As he demonstrated his skill and ability to successfully cope with the intricate problems by disease, his patronage grew until his business has assumed extensive proportions, his professional ser\-ices having been sought at many distant points as well as in Greene county, and during seasons when illness was very prevalent, there have been weeks at a time when he was unable to obtain a complete night's rest. The first enterprise with which he became connected in Xenia outside of the strict path of his profession was the Citizens" National Bank, which he aided in organizing. It opened its doors for business on the 13th of November, 1 88 1, with J. W. King as president and Dr. Edwards as vice president, and upon the death of Mr. King, in July, 1883, the Doctor was elected as his successor and served continuously as the president (if that reliable institution until his owai death, which occurred on the 19th of X^ovember, 1896. As the years passed the Doctor made investments in mining stock and through his professional labors and through his ownership of mining property, he accumulated a handsome competence.

He was honored with the vice presidency of the medical society and for many years was president of the Greene County Medical Society and the Xenia Academy of Medicine. He was deeply interested in everything" which tended to bring to man the key to that mystery which we call life, and by constant reading and investigation, he always kept abreast with the advanced thought of the times. From his youth hz Delonged to the Republican party and was one of its active and earnest workers, although he was ne\-er an aspirant for political honors. Much against his desire he was made a member of the cit}- council and for two years represented the second ward. The Doctor possessed an artistic nature and had a decided talent for reproducing in different forms his ideals. His skill in manip- ulatinu;- day is demonstrated in a ven- line bust wliicii lie modeled from clay taken out of his cellar and which shows in a marked degree his artistic ability. Perhaps the most wonderful work which he accomplished in this direction is a little study three-fourths inches high and weighing six grains. It was cut from the pith of a cornstalk and is called the Catholic Missionary Presenting the Cross to the Heathen. It represents a man in priestly garments holding out a cross. Ever\- detail of the work is perfect and the pose of the figure as viewed from every side is easy, natural and graceful. This wr>nderful little work of art receive! \erv fa\orable mention from artists at the Ohio Centennial in Cincinnati and was pronounced by all to be nearly perfect.

When the Ohio law was inaugurated compelling the practicing physicians to register. Dr. Edwards took this opportunity to retire from the profession and spend his remaining days in quiet and in the enjoyment of his well earned rest. Throughout the long years of his residence here he had gained a very wide acquaintance and his sterling characteristics were such as to commend him to the confidence and respect nf all. His aged widow is now spending her declining years in a very handsome home on Main street, living widi her n-ece. Like her liusband she has shared in the esteem of manv friends and is widelv known in Xenia.

In a history of the agricultural interests of (ireene county Jacob Lewis Peterson well deserves mention, for he is an enterprising farmer, his home being on the Peterson road in Caesarscreek township. He was born in .\enia to\\nshi]j May u. 183O. his ]jarents being Eelix and Mary ( Weaver) Peterson. The father was born May 18, 1809. in Virginia, and was only four years of age when brought to Ohio in 1813 by liis father. Jacob Peterson, who lixated temporarily in Ross county, whence he removed to Greene county, settling in Xenia township. Here he ])urcliased a large tract of land, and the farm upon which our subject now resides, comprising two hundred and ten acres, was a part of the original tract. Mr. Peterson had learned the wagonmaker s trade, but subsequently gave his attention to fanning. The father of our subject was reared to manhood on the old home place and accjuired but a limited education. His training in the work of the fields, however, was not meager. He was married, December it. 1833, in this county, to Miss Marv Weaver, and then took u]) his abode upon his father's land, having inherited one hundred acres. Subsequently he became the owner of about seven hundred acres owing to judicious investment and careful management. L'nto him and his wife were born nine children, seven of whom reached years of maturity, while five are yet living: Martha, bom September 13, 1834. liecame the wife of David I'oots, and unto them were born three children, while later she married William Smith, by whom she also liad three children. Jacob Lewis is the next member of the family. Catherine J., born October 24. 1838. became the wife of S. M. Fuilge and died leaving three children. James S.. born j.innary 30, 1841. is residing in \ew I'.urlington and has seven children. John W.. born March 22. 1843, is living in Xenia township. Felix Harper,.

born P'eliriiary 14, 1845. resides in Kansas and has three children. Ezra M., laorn Octoijer 26, 1848, is now deceased. Isaac C, born October 23, 1850, died in childliood. William ^I. also passed away in childhood. The father of this family died on the 9th of April, 1874. and his wife passed away April 8, 1900. their remains being interred in Woodland cemetery. He was a Whig in early life and later became a Republican, while his religious faith connected him with the German Reformed church.

The boyhood days of our subject formed a period of hard toil. He worked on the farm, receiving but limited educational privileges, but he was \erv fond of reading, ana in this way and through experience he greatly l^roadened his knowledge. He was married December 4, 1879, to ]\Iiss .Lizzie \\"hitson, of .Arcanum. Darke county, Ohio, whose birth occurred in Butler county, Xo- \'ember 5, 1856. Her parents were Israel and ^larv (Barger) W'hitson. the former a nati\e of Schuylkill count}-, Pennsylvania, while the latter was born in the Buckeye state. During childhootl they came with their respective parents to Ohio and were married in Butler county. Mrs. Peterson was only twelve years of age when her parents reinoved to Darke county. Three years later she formed the acquaintance of the gentleman who afterward became her husband. They have one son, Calvin, who was born December 15, 1880, and is at home.

At the time of the Civil war our subject manifested his loyalty to the Union cause by enlisting in Company D. one Hundred and Tenth Ohio Infantry, and was sent to the camp at Piqua. Ohio. In Octolser he was sent to the fn.jut and srjon afterward became so afflicted with rheumatism that he was forced to return home, where lie remained through the winter. In 1863, ho\ve\er, he rejoined his regiment and took part in the battle at Locust Grove. He was afterward in the battle of the W^ilderness and in the engagements at Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Monocacy. At the last named he was wounded in the left ankle and the wound has never healed. He received an honorable discharge February 9, 1865, after having been in several hospitals, first at Baltimore and then in near Philadelphia. He was a bra\e and loyal soldier, never faltering i.i the performance of his dutv.

Mr. Peterson is a Republican and since v(jting- for Lincoln in i860 has supported the men and measures of the part}-. He is a member of the German Reformed church at I\laple Corner. He inherited some land from his father and has since purchased one hundred and fourteen acres, so that he now has a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty-four acres, which is w-ell improved w-ith modern equipments that he has placed there himself. As a citizen he is as true to-day to the duties which devohe upon him as when he follow-ed the old flag on southern battle-fields.

Elias Quinn

Elias Quinn belonged to the little group of distinctively representative men who have been the pioneers in inaugurating- and building, up the chief industries of this section of the countrv. Evervwhere known he commanded tlie res])ect and confidence of his fellow men. He was horn in Greene county on the 8th of January, 1827. being one of the three children of Amos and Jane (Goe) Ouinn. The father was called upon to serve as sheriff of (ireene county and also represented his district in the state legislatu'^e. wiiere he gave to every question uhich came up for consideration his earnest thought, and when once he had determined upon a course as right, neither fear nor favor could swerve him from it.

During his early l^iyhood our subject was left an orphan, liut tliroughout life he made the most of his opportunities and advanced to a prominent position, not only in business circles, but also in the regard of all who knew him. For many years he was identified with industrial and commercial interests in Xenia as one of its leading lumber dealers. At an early date he estal)- lished his lumber yard there and through many \ears enjoyed a large patronage, which brought to him an excellent financial leturn. His business methods were such as would bear the closest investigation. He was ever honorable and straightforward and all who knew him res])ected him for his genuine worth. His reliability in trade transactions was proverbial, and he continued to successfully conduct his lumljer yard until about eight or ten years prior to his death. He then retired from business cares to enjoy a well merited rest.

On the 26th of .April, 1859. Mr. Quinn was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Andrews, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Scott) .\ndrews. Her father was born in South Carolina and was later a well known farmer of this county. Of this marriage the following children were born :

Leila E., who is now a teacher in public schools. of Xenia: Elizabeth J., the wife of John .\. Cooper, of Xenia: W'illa M. and Ralph. The family are members of the L'nited Presbyterian church, both Mr. and Mrs. (}uinn being connected witli that church from the time of the union of the Seceder and Associate Reformed churches. Mrs. Ouinn survives her husband and with two daughters is residing in a pleasant home at Xo. 102 East Market street, Xenia.

In his political views Mr. Ouinn was a Republican, and was interested in the growth and success of his party, but he never held or aspired to office. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and .served throughout the term of his enlistment, afterward becoming a meiuber of Lewis Post. G. A. R. On the 15th of April. 1900, he was called to his final rest when se\enty-three years of age, and his remains were interred in Woodland cemetery. Mr. Ouinn was widely and favorably known, though in character he was of a very mild and unassuming nature, and though shrinking from public life he was at all times actuated by a fidelity to his countrv and her welfare.

George Dodds

Often rlo we hear it said of those who have attained distinguished success that thev were men who rose to eminence through advantageous circumstances, and yet to such carping criticisms and lack of appreciation tliere needs l)e made but the one statement, that fortunate environments encompass nearly ever}' man at some stage in his career, hut the strong man and the successful man is he who realizes the intrinsic value of minor as well as great opportunities, who stands read}' to take advantage of circumstances and who even molds adverse conditions until they serve his ends. George Dodds is a nian who has known when the opportunity for accomplishmeiit was presented and has impro\'ed it. Although he came from Scotland to America when a young man without capital, he to-day stands among the successful and prominent men of central Ohio, lieing successfullv engaged in the marhle business in Xenia. He was born in Roxboroughshire, Scotland, on the 19th of Feljruary, 1H37, his parents being George and Isabel (Taylor) Dodds. who \vere also natives of the same localit}'. In that countr}' they silent their entire li\es. The father was a farmer by occupation and b}' following that piu'suit prfivided for his family, numbering liis wife and se\'en children. George Dodds, who was the hftli in order of birth, oljtained a common school education and remained in his native land until seventeen years of age. In the meanlime, his brother Andrew had come to America and was foreman in a marble shop in Madison, Indiana. He sent for his Ijrother George to join him and learn the trade, so taking passage upon the steamship Glasgow July 11. 1854. and after a rough \'oyag'e of sixteen days, George Dodds landed at New York. He made his way direct to Madison, I)y way of Cincinnati, proceeding by boat from the latter point. In the shop where his brother was foreman, he learned the trade of marble caT\'er and letterer. being emploved there for four vears. In the meantime, his briither had left Aladison and removed to Yellow Springs, Ohio. Here George Dodds joined him in 1859 and going to Antioch they conducted a small marble shop, carrying on business there until 1864. when Andrew Dodds joined the Union army for four months service. The business was ordwingf rapidly and upon his return the brothers concluded to remove to Xenia. so that the firm of A. & G. Dodds became an active factor in the industrial and commercial life of this city. In the spring of 1866. the elder partner went to Scotland, where he \)\\rchased a large amount of Scotch granite,, siiipping it to Xenia so that the firm of A. & G. Dodds became the first importers of Scotch granite west of New York city. The ])artnership was continued until 1867. but in the meantime they had established a house at St. Louis, and Andrew Dodds took cliarge cif the Imsiness there, while George Dodds remained as proprietor of the Xenia business. The partnership was thus dissolved and oiu- suljject continued alone until 1 87 1 when he admitted Alexander Caskey. After two years, however, this relation was discontinued. Mr. Caskey becoming owner of the Pittsburg branch of their business which they had established in 1872. From 1873 '-intil 1897 Mr. Dodds was alone, but in the latter year he admitted his soil J. C. to a partnership. The firm of George Dodds & Son makes a specialty of granite monuments and ornamental stone x'erandas. They also do a large business in preparing and selling cut stone and the}' put in the large stone veranda at the Dayton State Hospital, at Dayton, Ohio. They formerly conducted a large wholesale business in granite tliroughout the western states and they are now doing a \erv large retail busi-

On the !ith of October, 1861, Mr. Dodds uas married to Elizabeth I. Ferguson, of Madison. Indiana, who died August 20, 1865. leaving two children. George Fremont, tlie elder, is carrying on the marble business in London. Ohio, and married Stella Corns, by whom lie has a daughter, Dorothy Day. The other child died in infancy. On the 1 6th of October, 1866, ]\Ir. Dodds wedded Mary E. Brown, of Xenia, a <laughter of Hiram and Rebecca Brown. Her father was an architect and builder who had come to Xenia to erect the old courthouse of Greene county. His son, William K. limwii. is widely known as a designer <)t line churches and has gained considerable renown as an architect, having headquarters in Chicago and Cincinnati. Unto ISIr. and Mrs. Dodds were born eight children : Carrie B. is the widow of Rev. George H. Geyer, who, during his college course, was minister of Hope chapel, Boston, for three years. He was a pastor for three years at Ironton, Ohio, and died while in charge of the King Avenue Methodist Episcopal church of Columbus. June 25. 1900, and his widow, who has three children, is imw making her home with her father and mother. Frank W.. who lor eleven years was connected with P>. F. Jacol)s. the well known real-estate man of Chicago, is now located at Columbus, having graduated from the law department of the Ohio State University in 1902 as class orator. He married Clara C. Elliott and lias one child. Leslie J-. who is connected with the firm of Wil.son Brothers, of Chicago, makes two trips each year to Europe in order to buy goods for that house. He married Miss Lulu Frame and has one child. J. Charles is associated with his father in business. Earl C. who wedded Mary Hutchison, is now connected with the wholesale house of the Columbus Shirt Company, in Chicagr). Ralph is a resident of Chicago, with Charles A. Stevens & Brothers. ^Lary Alice died at the age of one year. Jessie K., the youngest, is at home with her parents.

P'or a number of years Mr. Dodds was a member of the Good Templars Society, has always been a recognized leader in temperance work in this section of Ohio, and is a stanch Prohibitionist in politics. He is now president of the board of visitors appointed to visit the various reformatories and correction institutions of the county. Like him, his wife is an active temperance worker and is now president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Xenia. They hold membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church here and lor twenty years Mr. Dodds has been its recording steward. As a business man he has ever been conspicuous among his associates, not only for his success, but for his probity, firmness and honorable methods. His life has been one of continuous activity in which has been accorded due recognition of lalxjr, and to-day he is numbered among the substantial citizens of his countv.

George Talbert

George Talbert. a well known farmer of Spring Valley township, was boni August ><. 1837. in Sugarcreek township, of the marriage of Addison and Elizabeth (Schnel- lileg) Talbert, tlie father a native of Fau- ([uier county, Virginia, born in August, ]8ii. He was about eighteen years of age when he came to Greene county. A few years pre\'iously his parents, Jolm and Lucy (Bowenj Talbert, had emigrated to this state and tlie former had become owner of about six hundred acres of land on the Little jNIiami river, just east of Belllirnok. Tliere he remained until his death, which occurred in 1873. when he was eighty-eight years of age. The father of our subject attended school in Xenia after coming to Ohio and ijecame a well educated man. For a number of years he engaged in teaching school and was thus connected with educational interests in Bellbrook at the time of his death, which occurred in 1848. He had been marrietl in 1836, and of this unii.m four sons and a daughter had been born, the latter dying in 1859. After her husband's death Mrs. Talbert kept the family together until her own demise in 1858, when the home was br()ken up.

To the common schools of the neighborhood George Talbert is indebted for the educational privileges he enjoyed. When eighteen years of age he began to learn the carriagemaker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years, during which time he received thirty-six dollars the first year together with his board ; sixty dollars the second year, and one hundred dollars the third year. He afterward worked as a journeyman and in 1862 he engaged in teaching school in Sugarcreek and Beavercreek townships. Li 1864 his patriotic spirit was aroused and he became a member of Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, with which he was at the front for about four months, during which time he participated in the loattle of New Creek. His younger brother, John, had enlisted in 1 861 as a member of the Twentyseventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was taken prisoner in Missouri, near Kansas City. Later he was paroled and sent home to Ohio, and after that he never returned to his regiment. Jn 1864 he became a meiulier (if the Ohio National Guard, raising a company of which he was made captain. He was also out with the one-hundred-dav men, being connected with the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment, during which time he participated in the battle of Monocacy. He was there taken prisoner, l)ut after an hour was released, and is now li\ing in Jackson county. Kansas, where he has made his home since 1868. He was married in Clinton county. Ohio, to Margaret Terry, and they have three children, two born in Ohio and one in Kansas. James, another brother of our subject, was also in the one hundred days' service, and he died near (Glasgow, Missouri, in 1866. x\ddison, who enlisted in March, 1864, in the Seventy-fourth Regiment, was killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20. 1864, being shot in the forehead while on the skirmish line ; thus all four of the sons were in the service in the year 1864.

After the close of his military career George Talbert engaged in the lumber business at Wilmington. He was married in the home in which he now lives, June 4, 1874, to Miss Martha Stump, a daughter of Jonas and Prudence ( Smalley) Stump, the latter a daughter of William Smalley, who was captured by the Indians and held as a prisoner for five years. His captors were members of the Delaware tribe, and by them he was taken to Upper Sandusky.

.\lter liis iiianiafi^e Mr. Talljert resided in Wilmington until 18S4. when he removed to his present place of residence in Spring Valley township, and has since devoted his energies to the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to this climate. The farm comprises two hundred and twenty acres of land and is under a high state of cultivation, owing to the industrious and persevering efforts of Mr. Talbert. In his jxtlitical views our subject was a l\e]jul)lican for some years from the time he cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln until 1884. when he gave his sujjport to Cleveland. .\t one time he was identified with the Masonic fraternity of Xenia and later with the lodge in Wilmington. Whether in mercantile or agricultural life he has e\er been found to be a relial)le business man who possesses the enter])risiiig spirit so characteristic of America. He has made the most of his opportunities and as the architect of his o\\ n fortunes he has builded wise- Iv and well.

"I'.arii tin- reward : the gods give naught to sloth,"' said the sage Epicharmus, and the truth of this admonition has been verified throughout the ages which have rolled their course since his clay. There are few men in America that have more truly earned the position to which they have attained than has Bishop Arnett. He has been designated as "churchman, statesman and orator." and he stands to-day as one of the most distinguished divines of this land, and yet few men have a more accurate or comprehensive knowledge of the political and social conditions of the country, or have a broader outlook upon the world's work and the trend of e\ents. There has hardly been an idle moment in his entire career from the time when with earnest purjjose he set to work to master the daily tasks assigned him in the schoolroom. Since then he has labored to ameliorate the conditions of his own race, to uphold his nation's honor and promote her usefulness and to extend the influence of Christianity until its mighty principles shall find exemplitication in every walk of life. Although the following is but the briefest outline of his work, he who will read between the lines will gain recognition of the unending activity which has made Bishop Arnett distinguished in church, in state and in society, although distinction would be the last thing for which such a man would seek, his entire career having been permeated with the one idea of helping his fellow men.

Benjamin William Arnett, D. D., LL. D., was lx)rn March 6, 1838, in Brownsville, Fayette county. Pennsylvania. \\ hen six months old he was baptized by Rev. Samuel G. Clingman, of the Ohio Annual conterence. He was convicted under the jireaching of Rev. Jeremiah Lewis. February ID, 1856, and converted February 14th. He was received into the .African Methodist Episcopal church February 17th, by Rev. Lc\en Cross (jf the Ohio .\nnual conference. He was licensed to preach March 30, 1865. by Rev. J. D. S. Hall, of the Baltimore Annual conference, at Washington. D. C, and recommended to the traveling connection by Rev. William B. Lewis, of the Ohio Annual conference, at Lexington. Kentucky, receiving his first appointment at Walnut Hills, in Cincinnati. Ohio, April 19. 1867.

He was ordained a deacon April 30, 1868, by Bishop William Paul Ouinn, at Columbus, Ohio, and as an elder by Bishop Daniel A. Payne. ]\Iay 12, 1870, at Xenia, Ohio. In additiiin to his pastora/1 work Bi.sho'p Arnett received a license to teach school December 19, 1869, and taught at different times until December, 1871. During his ministerial work he has filled the following appointments: 1867-8-9, Walnut Hills, Ohio; 1870-1-2, Toledo, Ohio; 1873-4-5, Allen Temple, Cincinnati. Ohio: 1876-7, St. Paul African ^Methodist Episcopal church, Lh"bana, Ohio; 1878-9, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal church, at Columbus, Ohio. He was elected as ministerial delegate from the Ohio Annual conference to the general conferences of 1872, 1876 and 1880, and served as assistant secretary in 1872 and as general secretary in 1876 and 1880. At the general conference of 1880. held in St. Louis, Missouri, he w^as elected the financial secretary of the general conferaice and reelected in 1884 at the session held at Baltimore, Maryland. The Bishop was a member of the National Equal Rights League, of Syracuse, New York, October 4, 1864, Frederick Douglas, president ; a member of the Er|ual Rights Convention, held at Cleveland, Ohio, Hon. John M. Langston, presitlent : secretary of the National Convention, at Washington, D. C, December, 1866, Hon. John AT. Langston, president ; chaplain of the National Convention of Colored ]\Ien, September 2, 1882, held at Louisville, Kentucky, Frederick Douglas, president; a delegate to the national Young Men's Oiristian Association convention, at Washington, D. C, in 1 87 1, Hon. John Wanamaker, president ; foreman of a jury, where all were white, at Toledo, Ohio, in 1872 ; he was fore- man of a jury composed of all colored men, in the spring of 1872, at Toledo, Ohio; he was chairman of the committee on resolutions of the congressi jnal convention in 1872 held at Toledo, Ohio, composed of five counties, having been nominated by L R. Sherw-ood ; appointed recruiting agent by special order No. 178 of the war department, August 24, 1863, by General L. Stearns, major and assistant adjutant general of the United States Vokmteers : he was fraternal delegate to the Miami convention of United Brothers, held August 12, 1872, at Pleasant Ridge,. Ohio.

Bishop Arnett's connection with societies began wth the organization of the Sons of Hannibal, at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in 1859. He organized the Sisters of Protec- "tion in June, 1859, at Brownsville, Pennsylvania. In August, 1S59, he organized the Mutual Aid Society, composed of men. In T863 he organized the Brothers and Sisters of Love and Charity, at Brownsville, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate to the National Guard tabernacle, in 1S63, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1864 he organized the Faith and Hope League of Equal Rights, at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and one at Uniontown. ^^'ashington, Monongahela City, Allegheny and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, respecively. In 1865 he was a member of the State Equal Rights League, of Pennsyh'ania, acting as western solicitorof the same, having charge of tw'enty-one counties. In 1865 he organized a joint stock company and started a store, preparing the charter w'hich passed through the legislature. In June. 1865, he organized the Grand L'uited Order of Odd Fellows, at Brownsville, Pennsvlvania. and he has organized lodges of this order at Toledo, Cincinnati,

Walnut Hills. Ur])ana, Ohio; Covington and ll;in<"lsl)iir_o-. Kentucky. He was a mcinher of tlie (."(jnimittee of Sub-nianasjenient. in i^jO, of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. Jn 1874 lie was grand orator of the ("lood Samaritan, and tlie Daughters of Samaria, for the states of Ohio and Indiana, and a life member of the same. He was a member of the Corinthian Lodge of Free and .\ccepted Masons, at Cincinnati, Ohio, being raised to the degree of Sublime Master Ma.son, August 13, 1875. He was arched in Decemter, 1877. in Gustava Chapter, nt L'rbana. Ohio; lie was grand orator at the Biennial Movable Committee of Grand United Order of Odd I'ellows, of Cincinnati. Ohio, October 15, 1884; he was grand oratur of tlie Grand Lodge in 1879; grand chaplain of the Royal Arch Chapter of the state of Ohio in 1879: a member of the Knights of Wise Men of the W odd. at Xasli\ illc. Tennessee, in 1882. and grand lecturer of the same: also grand lecturer of the councils of the Indeiiendent Order of linniaculates. at Nashville. Tennessee, in 1883; a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars in 1884: he was district master of the Sons of 'i"cm])erance. in 1872. at loledo. Ohio: and ;i member of the United Brothers of Friendship. The Golden (iate Loilge of San Francisco and the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows gave him a rt'cci>iiiin in October, 1886. The Central Republican Club, of San Francisco, gave him a fare^vell meeting at the \\'igwani, Ocloljer iq, 188^1: he was vice-president of the ReiiuliHcan State Convention in 1878: delivered one of the ratification speeches in Music Hall, Cincinnati: he was a member <>i liie (^liio State Sundav-school convention.

at Xorwalk, Ohio, in 1878, and was elected \ice-president of the same : he was also elected a delegate to the international Sundayschool Uni(jn, at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1878, and at Toronto, Canada, in 1881 : was elected by tlie Sunday-school Union oi Ohio to represent them at the Robert Raikes' Centennial in London, England, in 1880: elected to rq)resent the Inter-Deiioniinational Sunday-school Union of South Carolina at the World's Comention, London, July 2, 1889: was a member of the reception committee which welcomed Hon. J. G. Blaine to Greene county in 1886-7: he was the author of the bill al)olishing the "Black Laws" of the state of Ohio, and t(j pro\ide for teaching scientific temperance in all the schools.

The literary work nf Bishop .\rnett is mainly statistical and historical. He has furnished his race and church more historical data and statistics than any man in the United States. He and Bishop J. C. Hartzell, of the Methodist l-!piscoi)al church, are nearl\- alike in this respect. For ten years he compiled and edited the Budget. The combined editions of this publication ag.gregatetl thirty-nine thousand \-olumes. with a total nunvi)er of tliirteen million, fi mr hundred and thirty thousand pages. Bishop .\rnett is now engaged on a history of the race and the .\frican Methotlist Episcopal church, which will doubtless surpass all others in accuracy and interest, for he is eminently (|ualihed to .so prejiare it. The church and race will not be disappointe;l with his labors.

yiay 25, 1890, Bishop Arnett responded to the address of welcome of Hon. James A. Beaver, governor of Pennsylvania, at the International Sunday-school convention at Pittsljurg. Pennsylvania. He was elected and was one of the vice-presidents of the International Snnday-school convention, filling that office until 1893. He delivered an address by invitation before the Repnblican con\ention, of Denver, Colorado, September 28, 18S6. He was one of the invited guests and delivered several addresses at the Centennial Celebration of the First Settlement i)f the Northwest Territorx. April 7, 1888. at Marietta, Ohio. He delivered the oration at the Jubilee of Freedom, held September 23. 1888, at the Centennial Exposition, of Columbus, Ohio. He deli\ered an address in the Flouse of Representatives, in the state of Georgia, before the Colored Teachers' Association, December 11. 1883. He Avas a member of the Centennial conference of Methodists, held at Baltimore, ]\Iaryland, December 24, 1884, at which time he delivered an address entitled; "The Mission of Methodism to the Extremes of Societv." He delivered the annual address before the college societies of W'ilberforce Universitv. June 19. 1877. He delivered the annual address before the college faculty, students and friends of Claflin University and the Claflin College of Agriculture and Mechanical Institution, May 22. 1889, at Orangeburg, South Carolina. He delivered the address of welcome at the Sub-Tropical Exposition, at Jacksonville, Florida, to Hon. Frederick Douglas, in behalf of the toard of directors and citizens, cm A]iril 4, 1889.

He was chaplain of the National Republican convention, in 1896, at St. Louis, Missouri, with J. \l. Thurston, president, that nominated Hon. William McKinley as candidate for president of the United States. He presented President McKinlev with the Bible upon which he took his oath of office, in belialf of the African Methodist Episcopal church. He was a member of the World's Parliament of Religions, delivered six addresses and received a gold medal from the African Alethodist Episcopal church for the jjart he took in behalf of his church. He has been one of the speakers at the International Christian Endeavor meetings since 1895. He was present at the laying of the corner-stone of the government building in Chicag'o and was one of the guests of the city. October 9, 1899. In August, 1900, lie was a guest of the Grand Army of the Repulilic, in Chicago, and delivered an address before the veterans. He was a delegate to the Ecumenical conference of London, in 1901, and was chairman of the Statistical committee and reported the statistics for the Western Hemisphere, and on the 7th of September of the same year presided in the Wesley chapel, at City Roads, London, England. At the present date he holds the following offices: Secretary of the bishop's c )uncil, African IMethodist Episcopal church; historian of the African Methodist Episcopal church ; trustee of the Archaeological and Historical Society of Ohio ; vicepresident of the Anti-Saloon League of America; \ice-president of Educators of Colored Youth ; trustee of Wilberforce Uni- \ersity ; director of Payne Theological Seminarv. at Wilberforce, Ohio ; trustee of the United Society of Christian Endeavors; irustee and \ice-president of the Normal and

Jndustrial Board; secretary of Ecumenical conference for the western section from 1891 to 1901. Since his election as bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal church he has had charge of the following Episcopal districts : 1 888- 1 892 he had charge of Florida, East Florida, Columbia. South Carolina, and South Carolina conferences; in 1892 he had charge of Mississippi, middle Mississippi, Arkansas, South Arkansas and West Arkansas. In Xoveml>er, 1893, Bishop Daniel A. Payne died, and Decemljer last, 1893, he took charge of the Third Episcopal district, consisting of Ohio, north Ohio and Pittsburg conferences, and held it until the (iernian conference of 1896. In 1894 Bishop \Va\-man died, and he was appointed to Indiana, Illinois and Michigan until tlie general conference of 1896 when he was returned to Indiana. Illinois. Michigan and Iowa conferences. At the general conference of 1900 he was appointed to the third Episcopal district, consisting of Ohio, north Ohio, Pittsburg and California conferences. At the time of his api)ointment to the third Eiiiscopal district the upper part of the University at Willierforce was not plasteri .1. and as chairman of the building and grounds he had the upper part of the building finished. He was chairman of the building and ground when the new State Department was established, also in founding Payne Theological Seminary, lie drew the plan of O'Xeill Hall, of the combined Normal and Industrial departments. When the new tlormitory was built he was also chairman of the building and grounds, and in a great measure sui)erintended the new building, named by the committee as Arnett Hall, which was built at a cost of forty thou.sand dollars.

It will be interesting in this connection to note many of the characteristics of the man, and of his power as a speaker - a power that has swayed hundreds and thousands of people throughout the country and ranked him with the orators of the land. The Boston Herald, in speaking of his address delivered before the Christian Endeavor convention, at Boston, Massachusetts, said ; first speaking of the man and then of his oration :

head is as fine and as strongly modelled as that of a typical Roman emperor. In countries like France, where the black complexion is a real recommendation to popular interest and admiration. Bishop Arnett would cut a noble figure. He would be an ideal bishop of some ancient and powerful diocese. He would be no less ideal in the ivory chair of some historic senate. Bishop .-\rnett opened slowly, gravely, elaborately. He sways his audience, he knew its temper instinctively down to its least significant elements, and he was sure of his al.ility to interest and comman'I it. From oratorical stateliness he ])assed to a more passionate utterance with liberty and the hopes and aspirations of his race for his theme, an element of humor being constantly on the alert to guard against any descent into pathos. His gestures were perhaps the most graceful used by any of the convention orators, his figures of speech were sometimes, of great a])tness, and even beauty, indeed, no one during the whole week achieved a greater triumph than Bishop .\rnctt. if one takes into consideration the inevitable difficulties of his position."

have occurred to tlie thoughtful student, a more wonderful freak of nature, of inspiration, of native melody of speech - it is hard to classify the occurrence or to explain it - - than a speaker, very manifestly speaking extemporaneously, with only the outline of what he wanted to say in his mind when he rose, speaking unconsciously for five or six paragraphs at the close of his speech in blank verse, and the most precise, euphonious blank verse. This occurred when Bishoi) Arnett was bringing his talk to a close, and it is entirely likely, in fact it is positi\-e, he himself did not knr)\v it. It was as much the swinging melody of his speech as its substance which brought his auditors to their feet, their handkerchiefs in the air, their canes upon the floor in wildest demonstration. The occurrence was simply marvelous. The lordly master of English, Ingersoll, often had recourse to this trick of combined oraton,' and imagination, but with him it was premeditated and the result of ripened scholarship in additiju to liis marvelous genius. But in this instance it was simply the music of speecli welling up in the colored man, and the severest critic could not ha\"e failed to feel his power of analysis slipping froin under him and his wonder possessing his faculties to see the very vehemence and yearning for fullness of expression in this colored man falling into precipitate and inspired blank verse, as the easiest, completest vehicle of his thought and feelings. .Vnd so natural was it that it was only Avhen the peroration was closed that one remembered the rythm of the speech and perceived tlie secret of its subtle force and music."

in the nineteenth century which has not elicited the attention and thoughtful consideration of Bishop .\rnett? From the foregoing it \\ould seem not. He seems to have studied - and studied closely - every subject having a close connection with humanity and with the uplifting of the standard of the human race. His life has proved that mind and character rise above all environment, ajl traces of prejudice, and command the attention and respect which is tlieir due.

George H. Wolf

The name of Wolf is closely linked with tlie history of Greene county and has figured prominently on the pages of those annals in connection with the work of development and substantial improvement. George H. Wolf, now deceased, was a worth v representative of this worthy pioneer family. He was born in Beavercreek township about two miles north of the place on which his widow is living, his natal day being October TO, 183^. His parents were David W. and Catherine (Hamer) Wolf. The father was born in Bath township, Greene county, in 1804. Prior to this time the grandparents of our subject had taken up their abode within the borders of this count\', casting in their lot with the early pioneers. From that time to the present representatives of the name have been prominent in business and public afifairs in this section of the state. The father of our subject died June 1, 1879, at the ripe old age of seventy-five years.

willi his father until lie was twenty-twn years of age, when lie made preparation for a home of his own by his marriage on the 1st of February, 1855, to Miss Hannah Fry, who was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Lindamood) Fry. Her father was born May 14. 1800. and her mother on the 30th of September, 1794, in Shenandoah county, Virginia, where they resided until after their marriage. Mr. Fry followed the occupation of farming. He was a son of Jacob Fry, who was also a native of the United States, the family having been established in the new world in early colonial days. When the colonists could no longer endure the yoke of oppression and resolved to throw off allegiance to the mother country Jacob Fry joined the colonial forces and was a valiant soldier in the war of the Revolution. It was in May, 1838, that Michael I'Vy, the father of Mrs. Wolf, left V'irginia with his family and came to Greene county, Ohio. The daughter spent her girlhood days under the parental roof, living at home mitil she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Wolf, who at that time rented a tract of land. In 1869 he removed with his family, to what is now known as the old Wolf homestead, from Missouri, where he had lived for three years prior, having- removed to the western portion of that state in 1866. The W'dli homestead in Greene county was a rich tract of land, com])rising one hundred and tifty-six acres, and upon this he spent the remainder of his days, clearing the greater part of the farm. This land was once the i)roperty of his father, who owned four hundred acre-; in Greene county and two hundred acres in Missouri. l'"rnm the lime he took up his abode here until his death Mr. Wolf gave his attention imdividedly to the work of cultivating the crops that brought to him a good financial return and his diligence and unfaltering perse\erance resulted in gaining for him \ery creditable prosperity.

Unto ^Ir. and Mrs. Wolf were born eleven children, but three of the number are now deceased. William R., the eldest, is residing in Beavercreek township. He married Ollie Ferguson, now deceased, and they had si.K children - Sylvia, Roy, Grover, George, .Samuel and one who died in infancy. Daniel Webster died at the age of two years. Jacob .\. married Emma Canada, and their children were - Jessie, Bertha, Fred, Mary, Blanche and two others who are now deceased. The mother passed away and Jacob afterward married Betty Smith, their home being now in Dayton. Qiarles E., who resides near the old homestead, wedded Minnie Harner. Their children are - Daniel : Minnie, deceased : Lora ; and Marie. Joseph married Lizzie Cjroober. who resides in Dayton, but he was accidentally killed. Adeline is the wife of Michael Trout, who lives in Xenia township, and they had four children - Joseph. Pearl, Ethel, and William, deceased. Melinda .\. is the wife of \\'illiam Strawsburg. ;.n(! resides in Cham])aign county. Ohio, and they have three children - (loldie. Josephine and AN'illiani. By a former marriage to John Simmons she had three children. Fredcrick. Carrie and John. Walter, who is living in Beavercreek township, married Elsie Shambles, and they have three ciiildren - Curtis, (ieorge antl Clara. Mary is the wife of William Kytcr. of Dayton, Ohio, and they have two children - Benjamin and Charles. Xana I-'lizabeth is the deceaserl wife of Leota Sliepp and at her death left one child, Orlo. wlio resides witli Mrs. Wolf, the graiidnlother. Michael, a resident of Bea\'ercreek township, married Ola Linkhart, and thev had four children - - Hazel, nijw deceased, Ada, William, and Raymond, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf also had rin adopted daughter. Florence Brown, whose parents, Charles and Ada Brown, were deceased. She grew tn womanhood in the home of ^Nlrs. \\'olf, and is now the wife of James ]\IcCune, of Dayton, liv whi.im she has <>nt child, Charles Clifford.

Mr. \\ olfs death resulted from accident. He was killed liy a discharge of dynamite used in Ijlowing out stumps, passing away on the 21st of October, 1901. His remains were interred in the Union cemetery and the ciimmunity thereby lost one of its \alued citizens, his neighbors a faithful friend and his family a devoted husband and father. In political views he was a Democrat and was long a member of the Reformed church, joining the Union church near Byron in 1857. Mrs. Wolf still resides upon the old homestead, which is now operated under her supervision, and she possesses excellent business and e.xecutive ability. She is a lady of sterling worth, enjoving in a high degree the confidence and esteem of her Irix-ing friends.

Greene county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state of Ohio, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain ti.) conserve consecutive development and marked advancement in the material upbuilding of the section. The county has been and is signally^ lavorcd in the c'as , cf men who haxe controlled its atifairs lu official capacity . and in this connection the subject of this re^"iew has ser\ed the county faithfully and well in positions of trust and responsibility. He is now chairman of the board of county commissi(jners. a position which his grandfather fillefl a half century ago - the family ha\'ing been established in this countv many years ago.

His ixiternal grandijarents were John Katherine Fudge, farming people and early settlers of the community. A leader in public thought and action in his neighborhood Mr. Fudge was chosen a member of the board of count\' commissioners in 1850 and during his .services the old courthouse was built. Joseph H. Fudge, the father of our subject, was bi.irn February 15. 1824. in Greene cmintv, and after arriving at years of maturity married Cinderella Sutton, who was Ixirn in this county, August 17, 1826, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Sutton. Joseph H. Fudge began to devote his energies to agricultural pursuits in early manhood and in that way always provided for the support of his familw He passed away .\pril 26, 1S8S, and his wife died on the loth of Fel)ruary. 1891.

Upon his grandfather's farm in New Jasper township, on the 23d of ]\Iarch, 1846, Mr. Fudge was Ixirn and in the same township was reared and educated. He early became familiar with the work of improving the fields and throughout his business career has carried on general farming. He still ow-ns land to the extent of two bun- dred and sixty-three acres and through the cultivation of liis fields he has won a handsome competence, numbering him among the substantial citizens of the community.

(Ill the 26th of June. 1866, Mr. Fudge was united in marriage to ]\Iiss Amanda J. Smitii. a daughter of Xelson Smith, who was also a farmer of Xew Jasper township. Their uiiinn has been blessed with five children, Ml' whom four are still living: William J.. James R., Charles X. and Kay S.

Fraternally Mr. i'"udge is connected with the Improved Order of Red Men and also belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a stanch Republican and has long been accounted one of the active, leading and influential members of the party. He served as a trustee of Xew Jasper townshi]) for fourteen years and in 1S90 was elected real estate appraiser, while in 1891 he was elected infirmary director, serving in that office for three years. In 1895 ''^ ^^'^^ chosen by popular ballot to the ofllice of county commissioner and discharged his duties so capably that he was re-elected in 1808 and became president oi the hoard which built the new courthouse in Xenia, tearing down the old one which his grandfather had aided in building while en the board of commissioners more than a half century liefore. The new structure was erected at a cost of two hundred tliousanJ dollars and Mr. Fudge made several trips to Xew "S'ork city and other places in search of information anil knowledge that would prove beneficial in the erection of the new temple of justice. His political record has ever been commendable. In office he is prompt, reliable and accurate in the discharge of his duties and he has won the a]il)roval of not only his ow 11 party but many of the opposition as well. He still has fanning interests in the county and is accounted one of the progressive and representative farmers and citizens of Greene county as well as a worth}- member of an honored jiioneer famil\-.

George F. Robixsox By Prof. Georce S. Ormsbv

Had the history of Greene county l)een written si.xty years ago. the writer of it could have talked with the men who came here when the country was an unbroken wilderness, and when the Indian was the most numerous inhabitant.

In the year 1846 Henry Howe wrote a brief Iiistory of this county for his Historical Collections of Ohio. At that time some of the earliest pi( neers were yet living and related .some of the stories of the earlier days. In 1880 aniother history of Greene county was CMiipiled. in which the writer of this brief notice pre]KU-ed the history of the \'irginia -Military District of which this county formed a part, - the courts. C( int-houses and jails; also, quite a full political and financial liiston*- of the county. At that time there were a few men living who in their younger ycai-s ha<l listene<l to the stories of the earliest pioneers and who could give much oral history of the earliest times. But when Mr. Robinson began his history, the most voluminous and most complete yet written, all the old men of the olden time had passcW away an<l he found his index facts on tombstones and in ofiicial records that ha<l been buried in the dust of almost a centur)-.

and reared in a quiet neightorliood. unconnected witli anv great state or county affair, must necessarily I>e brief, and such is the histoiy of George F. Robinson.

He was lx)rn in Xenia, Greene count}", Oliio, on the 8th of :\Iay, 1838. He was the only son of William C. and Sarah (Foglesong) Robinson, who canie to Xenia from Lebanon, Ohio, prior to 1830. George F., with four sisters, constituted the entire family of Mr. and Mrs. William C. Robinson.

In tlie year 1838 Martin \''an Buren had been in the presidential chair two years, .and hard times were becoming harder ever}' month. The country was full of useless bank paper ; and shin-plasters, so-called, were about the only fractional currency, and no one knew at night whether or nut his shinplaster currency would be current in the morning. The year 1840 ushered in what was called the hard cider and log cahin campaign, the most remarkable i)resitlential campaign that has ever occurred in this countr\-. at the close of which William Henry Harrison was electetl to the presidency of the United States. \A'illiam C. Robinson, the father of George, was a prominent \Miig. and in this year was elected sheriff of the county, an office which he held until his death, in 1842. In 1840 George was old enough to see and to be delighted with tlie log cabins on wheels, drawn sometimes Ij}- ten and twehe yokes of oxen, the hard cider barrel widi gourd hanging by it, the coon skins, and the coons themselves climlMng over it. but scarcely old enough to wonder at or appreciate the wonderful pageant. How much his childhood, his youth and early manhood were influenced b\- these scenes we do not know : how much the twig is bent none can tell; but we do know that when twentv-one years later the husband of a \-oung wife and the father of his first child, now the wife of C. E. Arlxjgust, of Xenia, he heard the echoes of the guns at Fort Sumter; saw the cities and homes of the north as part of one great military camp ; saw the starr}- flag unfurled over everv patriot hamlet; when he saw this great dramatic pageant and saw the real peril of his native land he counted personal comfort, safety, social and domestic ties as light, when weighed in the balance with duty. He at once ga\-e himself and his life to the government. He enlisted in the Seventv-fourth Regiment. Ohio \'olunteer Infantrv, October 10, 1 86 1, and was apijointed corporal in Company D, December 30, of the same }ear. Austin McDowell was his captain and Granville Moody, the celebrated Methodist clerg\nian. was his colonel. The late autumn and early winter were passed at Camp Lowe, in Xenia. Subsequently the regiment was ordered to Camp Chase, at Columbus. In the early spring of 1862 it was ordered to the front and moved -from Camp Chase to X^ashxille. Tennessee.

During the time of Mr. Robinson's service in the regiment there were neither battles nor skinnishes, but there were such severe marches and drills as intensified a natural weakness in one of his limbs and rendered him unaible tO' perform the duty recjuired. He was, therefore, on the surgeon's certificate, discharged frtiui the service Jul}- 10, 1862, nine months after his enlistment. There 'are those whose enlistment to real military service is simply an entrance to a grand frolic. They conceive of no danger till they hear the booming of cannon and the shriek of shell. Xot so with a man of I\Ir. Robinson's temperament. When he entered in the service and gave his life for tlie time being to the go\emmeiit. he saw clearly all the ]x>ssibilities of that act. He saw the carnage of battle, "garments roUetl in blniKl." jxissibly a desolate hume, a widowed wife and fatherless child. The man who neitiier turns liack nor hesitates at the view of such a picture is a hero. Such Avas George F. Robinson. - a hero though he saw neitiier a real skirmish m r a battle. At all times and under all circumstances he took a great deal of interest in everything tliat ai)i)ertained to the soldier. He was at the tiiue of his death, whicli <x-curred Mav I". 190 r, and had been for fifteen years, chaplain in Lewis Post. G. A. R.

Mr. Robinson's school education was ol> tained in the public schools of Xenia. He l)assed through the lower grades and spent tw(~) vears in the high school. A schoolmate and ]ife-l( ng friend was the milliduaire luni ber dealer. Mr. Thomas B. Walker, now of Minnea]x>lis. Minnesota. So far as property is concerned, the two Ijoys were about c(|ual during their school life: but that finished. Mr. Walker found abundance of gold ir. the pine trees of the northwest and Mr. RoImusou foiuid silver in small cpiantities at the carpenter's l>ench until about a year bcff)re the war. when he engaged in farming. He left the farm to join the arm\ . and after his discharge from the army he worked again at his trade, and continued this until he l>egan compiling the work, '"Roster of Greene County Soldiers." In (;rder to make this roster complete he maile a diligent seardi in the cemeteries for names of forgotten ]jeople. It was while thus searching that he conceived the idea of compiling that which has proved to l>e a monumental work. "The History of Greene County."

firmly, constantly nr rigorously did taskmaster ever hold slave to his work than this thought held Mr. Robinson to his, with this siuiide difference, that Mr. Robin.son's work was ti> him a great delight. His daughter says of ihim : "He had a genius for this work ; pkxlding day by day, iKitiently. silently, earnestly, he worked, diving deep into the old rubbish left bv time, to obtain his precious treasure. With great fondness and ])ride would he survey his work when finished, relating to us Imw he obtained the smallest details. He simply would never give uj). He would walk miles and hunt for days for a single fact. He sacrificed everything, even his health ami life tc! obtain the facts ]>elonging to this history. He was intensely interested, and his energies were kqn at their highest taision from the beginning to the entl. Often he could not sleep until he had obtained the infnrmation desired. Often he wouhl get up in the night and make a note of some thought that had occurred to him and frec|uently on such occasions he would write for twn or three hours."

The w riter, as l)efore stated, having written a cha])ter in (jreene county hist<iry, had on that account many interesting conversations with Mr. Robinson. He found him always so full of his subject, and so intensely intersted in it. that it was very difficult for liim to find any place to put a |ieri'id ti> the conversation.

In the chapter of history referred tn the writer had (xxasion to describe the original northern l)oundani- of Hamilton county, which then contained all the territorv of Greene county, as extending from "Stamling StiMie I'orks." or branch of the Big -Mian'.i ti> the Little Miami. But he was unable to locate "Standing Stone Forks."

Mr. Robinson was a member of the United' Presbyterian church, and was one of the first Sabbath school teachers in the O. S. & S. O. Home. He was la man of simple, childlike faith, of a happy, jovial disposition, generous to a fault, and would gi\e the last he had to one in need. ^Meeting with disappointments and losses, he was accusti.imed tO' sav : "It will all come 1 ut light: God knows best." He was twice married. His first wife was Miss Jennie Currie, wlm died July S, 1873. Four cf her children are still li\ing. His secc_>nd wife was Miss Mary Kyle. To them were born three children, all of whom are living.

It has intimated that Mr. Robinson \\as a quiet man in a rpiiet neig^bborhood, but he will be remembered after the names of manv who have made more noise and l)luster have i)assed into oblivion. His history is an enduring monument. It will rest in the relic room of the new couit-house, which the commissioners have, at his earnest solicitation, set apart for the preservation oif matters of historic interest ; and thither the generations to come will \'isit. to read the story that the patient writer fikl after having rescued the materials and the facts from the dust if the centur\".

Axdrew Jackson Tobias

W ith the agricultural interests of Beavercreek township this gentleman has long been actively identified, and has materially aided in its upliuilding and development. He was born near Zimmerman, in that township, in 1832, a son of Jacob and Mary ( Miller) Tobias, who were both natives of Schuylkill county. Pennsylvania. There the father passed his boyhood and youth and attended school, his education, however, being in the German language and very limited. In early life he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed after coming to Ohio. In 1820 he took up his residence in Beavercreek township, this county, and there he continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life. He had seven children, four sons and three daughters, namely : Peter, John and Daniel, all now deceased: Andrew J., of this re\iew ; Betsv and Catherine. Ijoth deceased : and Susan, a resident of St. ]\Iary's, Ohio. Andrew J. Tobias acquired his early education in the schools of Auglaize county^ where the familv remo\e(l when he was only three \ears old, and where the father entered eighty acres of land. Our subject pursued his studies in the subscription schools taught in old log cabins so common at that da}-. On lea\ing school at the age of sixteen vears he returned to Greene countv, where he worked as a laborer for some time and then followed the carpenter's tratie for twenty-two years, erecting many houses and barns in the locality where he now li\-es. He subsefpiently turned his attention to farming and in 1884 purchased the fine farm of two hundred acres in Beavercreek township, where he now resides, and to its cultivation and improvement he has since devoted his energies, having retired from carpentering. He raises a good grade of stock, making a specialty of Jersev cattle, and in his herd are se\'eral registered animals. He also raises considerable corn, wheat and oats, and is meet-

Robinson'S History 01' Greene County

In 1863 Mr. Tobias was united in marriage witli Miss Saraii E. Harsiiman. who was also born in Beavercreek townsliip anil reared cm a farm ad ji lining that on which she now lives. She is a sister of J. !-". Harshman whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Tobias have two chililren. one son and one daughter, namelv : Samuel ]-'. who resides on his father's farm, is carrying on a gun .shoj) and is one of the finest workmen in that line in the slate. He married Jennie Bates, and the children horn to them are Blanche L.. Rimer Fav, Elsie ?klay. Congress. Winifred and an infant daughter. E. Xora. daughter of subject, is the wife of Lewis Coy. a grocer of Davton, and thev have two chil- (Iren : I-ithel May and Herbert.

For manv years Mr. and Mrs. Tobias have been members of the Reformetl church of ]'.eavcr Creek and are people of the highest respectability, whose circle of friends and acquaintances is extensive. In political sentiment he is a Democrat, but at local elections \otes for the man best qualified for office regardless of party lines. He has never cared for political honors, though he takes a deep interest in public affairs as every true .\merican citizen should.

A retired farmer now living in Cedar- Tille. Hugh Harvey McMillan is a native of South. Carolina, his birth having occurred in Chester county, that state. February 20. 183 1. As the name indicates the family is of Scotch lineage. Hugh McMillan, the great-grandfather of our subject, was among those who Hed from Scotland at the time of the religious persecution, lie was ctinnected with John McMillan, who organized the societies known as the Peoples Society. Hugh McMillan. Sr.. removed to County Antrim, Ireland, where the grandfather, who also bore the name of Hugh, was born in 1750. He married Jane Harve>- and their first son, Daniel, was born in 1776. Owing tf) the re- (luirement of the government wiiich compelled people of all denominations to pay for the support of the established church of England - the Episcopalian - he left Ireland for America in company with .\le.\ander Kell. the father oi Rev. John Kell, William Rock and one or two others, in 1797, and l.mded at Charleston. South Carolina, after a three months voyage. They made their way to Camden, Kershaw district, and remained there for some months. Learning that there were a few families of Covenanters locatetl on Rocky creek, in Chester district, about thirty miles distant, all went there and located. During that year they sent for their respective families, whom they were to meet at Charleston. All arrived safely after a voyage of nine weeks. Daniel McMillan was then about ten years of age. Mary. John. David and Ga\in were the other children of Hugh McMillan who crossed the Atlantic from Ireland, while James and Hugh were afterward born on the farm which the grandfather first bought and on which he li\ed and died, four miles west of the old brick chinch, near which he was buried. He passed away in 181 8.

the family settling in Chester county, South Carolina. He came to Ohio in 1832 and remained in Cedarville township, upon the old home farm, which he ptu'chased. until his death. He bought three hundred acres, nearly all of which was wild land, but this he improved, erecting good buildings and cidtivating his fields, so that the tract soon became productive. This farm is still known as the McMillan property and is now owned by our subject. John McMillan married Martha Chestnut, a daughter of James Chestnut, \vho was an officer of the Revolutionary war. He had two brothers, Alexander and \\'illiam, and their mother bore the maiden name of Jannette Brown. \\'hen the colonies attempted to throw off the yoke of British oppression James Chestnut joined tlie Colonial army, and during the war he captured and sentenced to be hung by the Tories, the place and time of the execution were fixed upon, but before the deed was done a company of General Washington's soldiers came along and succeeded in capluring a number of his captors. After the war he married Esther Stormont, of Little Rocky Creek, and settled about eight miles north of Rocky Creek, where he spent bis remaining da3's. He was a member of the Reformed Associate church, and his wife belonged to the Reformed Presbyterian church. They had four children, one son and three daughters, but James died in early life. The three daughters became members I f the Reformed Presbyterian church. Jannette married Daniel McMillan about 1807, and Martha became the wife of John i\Ic- Millan, February 15, 1809. Esther remained single and after her father's death went to live with her sister Martha.

born nine children, of whom two died in infancy, while our subject and his sister Martha Ann are the onlv ones now livine She is Mrs. J, D. ^Villiamson, of Cedarville, her husband being a prominent retired farmer. The parents were consistent members of the Reformed Presbyterian church, and when called to their final re:;i; were interred in Massie's creek caneterv. The former was a Whig in his pohlical affiliation.s. and throughout his business career he carried on general farming and stock-raising. He died upon the old homestead in Cedarville township in 1881, and his wife passed away January 3, i860, at the age of sixtyeight years.

Reared under the parental roof and earlybecoming familiar with the work of the farm, Hugh H. McMillan assisted in the labors of field and meadow when his attention was not given to acquiring his education. He was a student in the district schools for some years and spent one winter as a student in the Xenia high school. Pie then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and was thus engaged upon the old homestead place until his retirement from business life. By purchase he added to his property, which he greatly improved bv the erection' of a new residence and other improvements of a substantial nature. In 1887 he put aside the plow and took up his abode in Cedarville, where he has since rested from his labors in a very pleasant home.

Mr. McMillan was married December 24, 1 85 1, to Abigail J. Winter, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Winter, who were early settlers of this county and here lived and died, the father following the occupation of farming. Mrs. McMillan departed this life on the old farmstead in 1881. She was llie mother of five children: Anna L., the wife of Kev. Smiley, of Sparta. Illinois; John C, who died in 1890; a daughter who died in infancy; James C, who is in the tele^ phone and furniture business in South Charleston, Ohio; and Gavin R., who married Minnie Alexander, o: Clifton, and resides at home, his attention being given to the farm work. He has three children, Ethel. Harvey Alexander and Wilbur. On the 4th of March, 1884. Mr. McMillan was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Sarah M. Jackson, a daughter of John Hammond, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1808, living in Harrison county. Both he and his wife died tiiere at an advanced age.

For many years Mr. McMillan has been a member and elder of the Reformed I'resbyterian cluuxh. He is also the treasurer of the Cedarville College. He is now serving as a member of the building committee un-, der whose direction a new house of worship is being erected, and he gives a great deal of time and attention to the church work and is a liberal contributor to its sujiport. In his political views he is a Prohibitionist. He is an honorable and upright man, who has li\ed at peace with liis fellow men. He lias never had a law suit or been sued, but has paid his debts promi)tly. met all ol)ligations fully, and by genuine worth has commanded the respect anil good will of all w ith wlii>m he has been brought in contact.

middle of the eighteentii century, and settled in Dutchess county. Xew York. In 1770 John St. John married .\nna L<x-kwood in Dutchess count}'. A few years later when the country l)ecame involved in war w ith Fngland in an attempt to sever all allegiance to the British crown, he joined the army and aided in winning .American independence. Some time between 1788 and 1798 he and his wife came to Ohio, settling first in Hamilton county, and in 1803 removed to Warren county, this state, locating on a farm near I'ort .\ncient. Unto them were born ten children : Job, who died in childhood ; Ann ; Bethiah. w ho married a Mr. Huron and removed to Hendricks county, Indiana: Jojin. who spent his life near Lebanon, Ohio; Mary, who l)ecame the wife of Samuel Tliomas and lived near .South Charlestown. in Clark county, Ohio: Sarah; James, who settled near Morrow. Warren county. Ohio, and some of his descendants are yet living, including ex-(j(ivernor St. John, of Kansas ; Seth ; Nathaniel ; and Joseph, who spent his life on the old home farm near Fort .\ncient, Ohio, where his father first located. He had six children, of whom three are now living.

John St. John, the fourth member of the family, who.se record has just been given above, was born Xovember 28. 1778. and married Klioda Wood. They became jhe parents of nine children. Daniel, the eldest, married \W\7.a. Bone and removed to Greene county, Ohio, in 182S. He located in Caesarscreek township, where his descendants are still living. He had eleven children: Cyrus. Joseph. John. William, ^lorgan. .\nn, Charles, Jeniah, Jane, Wilson and Kaper. Of this family Cyrus married I )()rothv llicknian and li\ed in Jav countv.

Robinson'S History Of Greene Cglnty

Indiana, where he reared a family of nine children: Milton, ^^'esley, Kate, Loranso, Josephine, Raper, Morton, Lillian and Frank. Joseph, the second memher of the family, married Julia McXair and they had four children : Ward, IJaniel. Kate and Pearl. John, the third member of the family of Daniel St. John, married Phoebe Hiney and they had eleven children : Thomas, Alartha, Morgan, Lavina, Frank, Emma, \\'illiani. Grant, Alva., Lavona ( w Im died in infancy I and Oscar, \^'illiam. the fourth son of Daniel St. John, married Elizabeth Smith, and their children were Eva, Alfred and Maggie. Morgan, the fifth member of the family of Daniel St. John, married Eliza Beam and they had ten children : Anna, who died after becoming" the wife of Da\"id h'ord; Alvah; Lodema; William, who ilied in childhood; Ada; Ella; Arthur : Dora : Everette and Fiertha. Ann became the wife of James McNair and lived at Dtmkirk. Iniliana, and the_\- had three chiklren : Martha. Emma and Anna. Charles, the seventh member of the family, married Martha Peterson and they had eight children : Estella, whu died in infancy: Belle: Otis; Pline\-; Lillie, who died in childhood ;.E1- merj^ Daksy, who died after reaching voung womanhood ; and Jennie. Jeniah married Mary Hook and they had nine children : Clarence; Lewis; Walter; Mina ; Amy; Robert, who died in infancy ; James ; Maude and Clara. Jane, the youngest daughter of Daniel St. John, became the wife of Frank Peterson and lives near Coffey^-ille. Kansas, and their children are ILffie; Ann; Orie, who died after becoming the wife of Frank Day: Carrie; \\'ilson and Edward. Wilson, the tenth memlier of the fanhh' of

Daniel St. John, married Corilla Hook and lived at Dunkirk, Indiana ; their children were Olive; ]Mary; and Oscar, who died in infancy; Burnice, wlm died in girlhood: Solon ; Eunice ; Homer, who died in boyhood ; and Howard. Raper, the youngest of the family, married Alice Smith, and unto them one daughter was l>orn, Myrtle. Of the family of Daniel St. John there are now living one hundred and fifty-two descendants, including nine children, fifty-nine grandchildren. se\enty-hve great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Jeniah F. St. John, to whom we are indebted for the history of the family, was the eighth child of Daniel \V. and Eliza (Bone) .St. John, and was born June 27, 1842, upon the farm which he now owns. He was educated in tins count}- and, has always resided here with the exception of the time which he spent in the arm\'. In October, 1861. he enlisted at Xenia as a private of Company A. Se\enty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantr)', for three years' service. He participated in the battles of Fort Henry, Nealcy's Bend. Xashville. Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea and also present at the time I if the surrender of Johnston. He was mustered out of the service at Camp Dennison, in July, 1865, as first sergeant and then returned to his home.

Mr. St. Ji)hn resumed farming upon the old family homestead, where he has since carried on agricultural pursuits. He was married August 23, 1866, to Miss Mary E. Honk, a native of (ireene county, and a daugh.ter of Louis and Minerva ( Lloyd)

Hook, lx)tli of whom died during the early girlhood of their daughter. In their family were five children : Mrs. Mira Stowe ; Thomas, who joined the Union army as a private of the Seventy-fourth Ohio Infantry and came out as sergeant major, and died in 1900; Mrs. St. John; John, who is living in Indiana; and Martha, who died in 1901. Slie was the wife of Wilson St. John, who served in Company A, of the Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil war. Mr. St. John is a Republican in his political views and for six years served as trustee of his township. He is an honored member of Lewis Post, G. A. R., of Xenia, and l)oth he and his wife are devoted memliers of the Methodist Episcopal clnnch. of which he is now one of the stewards.

Unto Jeniah St. John and his wife have been born nine children : Clarence S., a contractur and 1>uilder i»f Dayton. Ohio, who married Daisy Heaton, of that place; Lewis E., an attorney at law at Piqua, who married Nora Wilkinson; Walter C, a resident of Silvercreek townshij), Greene county, who married Cora Sutton and has two children. Edith and Elbert; Mary E. and Amy, who are residents of Xenia ; Robert, who died in infancy; James, a resident of Caesarscreek township. wh<i married Ona Milburn ; Maude and Clara, at home. The farm comprises one hundred and three acres of good land, oil which .Mr. St. John is carrying on general farming and stock-raising. The house and liarn upon the place he has erected himself, the former in 1897 and the latter in 1892. There are excellent improvements and equipments upon this place, which in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates the careful supervision of the owner.

George J. Sinz

George J. Sinz, who is now deceased, lived an honorable and upright life and won that untarnished name which is rather to be chosen than great riches. He was one of four children of Bernhardt V. and Kresenzia ( fmmler) Sinz. His father was born in Kinnelbach, Germany, on the 14th of February, 1830, and on crossing the Atlantic to tlie United States located in Greene county, Ohio, where he took up his abode in the fall of 1853. Here he was engaged in farming. He had previouslx- learned the baker's trade, and after carrying on agricultural pursuits for some time he removed to Xenia, where he purchased a home and established a bakery. In the conduct of that enterprise he met with success, carrying on business there for a number of years. He thus accumulated considerable wealth and was accounted one of the enterprising merchants of the place. He died on the 31st of January, 1885, leaving a widow and four children, who yet survive him.

Mr. Sinz, whose name introduces this record, was born in Xenia in the year 1S62, and acquired an excellent education, which he pin-sued in the common and high schools of this city, while later he pursued a commercial course in the Dayton Business College. Immediately thereafter he entered unon his business career, accepting a clerkship in a grocery store, where he remained for several years, during which time he gained a thorough knowledge of that branch of business. In 1885 he established a grocery on his own account and Ijecame a model merchant. His store was neat and attractive in ajjpearance, his business methods were straip;litfor\vard and above suspicion, and owing to his lionorable dealing and earnest desire to please liis customers he secured a large patronage. Successfully did he carry on business until 1889, when on account of ill health he disposed of his stock and retired to priw'ite life.

jMr. Sinz was united in marriage on-the ')ih of October, 1885, to ]\Iiss Ida Savilla Lutz, a daiig-hter of John and Savilla ( W'oolfordj Lutz. The father, John Lutz, is one of the honored pioneers of Greene county, and has long been connected with industrial interests of Xenia. Li 1855 1^^ began lousiness here as a wagon and carriagemaker and conducted his shop for many years. Both he and his wife were of German lineage. Her grandfather, however, was born in Lancaster count}', Pennsylvania, near Alillersbiu'g, in 1802. In the spring of 1826 he married Frances Moud^-, a native of \\'illiamsport. ^larvland, and at an earlv epoch in the development oi Greene countv, Ohio, they became residents of this portion of the state. Mrs. Sinz was one of a family of six children. In 1895 she was called upon to mourn the loss of her husband, who departed this life on the 15th of March, his remains being interred in the Woodland cemeterw ]Manv friends were left to mourn his loss, for during the vears of his business career in Xenia he had formed a wide acquainiaiice and gained the high regard of all with whom he had been brought in contact. His worth was widely acknowledged, and his life record contains nian\- elements that are worthv of emulation.

Steele building on the site formerly occupied b\' her husband's grocerv prior to the erection of the present building. By her perseverance, good taste and weA selected stock she has secured an excellent trade and is without doubt recognized as the leading milliner of Xenia. Her home is at Xo. 333 West Market street. In the management of her store she displays excellent business and e.xecutixe force as well as excellent taste, and her labors are being crowned with a richly merited success.

For five years the Rev. \\'illiam S. Mc- Cltu'e has been pastor of the Third United Presbyterian church of Xenia. This denomination is a particularly strong one in this portion of Ohio and its influence is being constantly extended through the zealous efforts of capable preachers of the word, such as Rev. McClure. Broad intellectually, a ready sympathy and consecrated effort have made his labors a potent force in promoting the growth of the church and the moral de\-elopment of the communitv and throughout Xenia his labors are appreciated by all who h^xe regard for truth and right.

Re\-. McClure is a representative of an old and prominent family of Pennsylvania. His grandfather. Dr. Robert McClure, of Wasliinglon. that state, was of Quaker extraction, and a practitioner of medicine. His skill and ability won him confidence and his practice extended throughout the western counties of Pennsylvania and through eastern Virgi.iia and Ohio. He made longtrips ou horse back, often traveling as much as fiftv miles in a single night.

Koliert 15. McGure. the father of "vw sul)ject. was tlie eldest son of Dr. McChire and was l)orn in Wasliing^ton county, Pennsylvania. January ii. iSiS. There he acquired his early education and later completed a course in the Washington and Jefferson Collejje. lie was one of the oldest anil most hiuhh' esteemed citizens of West Middletown, Pennsylvania, and for thirtyfive vears he held the office of justice of the peace and also held other official positions. .\s a puhlic official he made it his aim to keeji all cases out of the courts if the dift'erences could possibly be settled otherwise. i4e had the distinction of building the first threshing and cleaning machine manufactured in the L'nited States, the work being executed in West Middletown. where he for one-half a century manufactured his machine on account of which he was widely known. His activity in commercial and political circles made him a leading and valued resident of that portion of the state. Vox \ears before his death he had held membership in the United Presbyterian church of West Middletown. He married Letitia 1 empleton and they became the parents of eleven chiUlren. of whom nine are living. Mrs. McClure died October 30, iX7_^. and Mr. .McC'lure on the 20th of .\])ril. 1^99.

Rev. McClure of tliis review was born in West Middletown. lVnn^ylvania. September 4, i!^53. and acquired his literary education in Westminster College of Lawrence county. Pennsylvania, from which he was grailuated in 1X77 with the degree of bachelor of Arts. In 1880 he was graduated fri>ni the .Mlegheny Theological Seminary, and later took a jxist graduate course at the Theological Seminarv of

Xenia, Ohio. lie was licensed to preach in April, 1880, and on the 4th of January. 1881, was (jrdained and installed as pastor of the Sugar Creek congregation. Xenia Presbytery, where he remained unld .\prii. 1893, his work there being very successful. He then accepted the pastorate of the United Presbyterian church at Greeley, Colorado, w here tlie following four years w ere passed. At the end of that time he returned to Xenia as pastor of the Thirtl United Presbyterian church, and has now been in charge of the work of that congregation since 1897. During this i)eri(jd the church has grow n along many lines and he has the confidence and love of his own people and the high esteem of those of other denominations. He is now financial secretary of the board of managers of the Xenia Theological Seminary. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon .\lr. McClure by Monmouth College of Monmouth. Illinois, at a recent meeting of the senate.

On the 14th of August. 1883. Rev. Mc- Clure was united in marriage to Miss Xannie I. Imbrie, a daughter of De Lorme Imbrie. a pniminent attorney of Heaver. Pennsylvania, and two children, Margaret Carman and M.iry Letitia ha\e come to bless their home.

Joiix Ii. Koogler

This well known farmer of (ireene ctninty and honored veteran of the Ci\il war was born in Beavercreek township on the 16th of July. 1842. ajid there has s])ent almost his entire life, his time and attention being jirincipally devoted to agricultural pursuits. His father, Sol-