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Welcome to
Greene County, Ohio
History & Genealogy

BIOGRAPHIES:

Source:
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY

together with
Historic Notes on the Northwest
and
The State of Ohio.
Gleaned From Early Authors, Old Maps and Manuscripts,
Private and Official Correspondence and
all other Authentic Sources, Ohio - Publ. 1881
By R. S. Dills
Illustrated.
Dayton, Ohio
ODell & Mayer, Publishers.
1881
 
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  Jefferson Twp. -
DANIEL EARLEY, farmer, is a son of Daniel and Rachel (Caseldine) Earley, who owned about seven hundred acres of land in Clinton County; were pioneers of that county and prominent people.  He died November, 1877, aged seventy nine years.  She is still living, is past seventy years of age.  Daniel, Jr., was born in the same county, Feb. 18, 1830; was married to Miss Louisa Vannanan, a daughter of Benjamin, Jan. 9, 1851; she was born September, 1828.  There were eight children of this family, five of whom are living:  Nancy K., Daniel B., Rosa B., Mary A., and Clara.  Calvin, Rachel, and Luella have died.  Mr. Early has a farm of three hundred and forty acres, well improved, on which he lives; situated about one mile west of Bowersville, and is one of the best farms of the township.  He has in his township, about four hundred acres of land, and is one of the most prominent financial citizens.  He had about nine hundred acres of land here before divided with his children, Rosa, Mary, and Daniel who are married.  He has held the office of township trustee several terms, has no office at present.  When he was drafted to serve in the rebellion, he hired a substitute which cost him a great deal of money.  He also contributed liberally to exempt the township from draft, and was active in raising money for that purpose.  During the war, he dealt largely in mules, which proved a financial success.  Since then, he has dealt principally in cattle, sheep, and hogs.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 835
  Jefferson Twp. -
CARROLL R. ELLIS, farmer, is a native of Fayette county, Ohio; was born Dec. 18, 1858; came to this county in March, 1880; has since been a resident here; was married here, Mar. 9, 1880, to Miss Emma Vanniman, a daughter of Stephen and Rebecca J. Vanniman, whose biography appears in this work.  She is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church in Bowersville.  They have a farm of fifty acres, well improved, on which they live.  His parents are natives of Fayette County, and were married about 1856.  Eight children are the result of this union:  Carroll, Lincoln, Rufus, Minter, Cicero, Icy.  The last three are of one birth, and were born July 13, 1875.  Icy is the only surviving one of the triplets.  The parents, Lindley and Elizabeth (Allen) Ellis, still live on the farm, consisting of one hundred and forty-five acres, where our subject was born and reared, and near which he received his education.  He evidently was reared by good parents, as he is a good citizen, and enjoys the respect of all who know him, and has marks of proper training in childhood.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 837
  Jefferson Twp. -
CHRISTOPHER ELLIS, farmer, Bowersville, is a son of John and Rebecca (Richardson) Ellis, both natives of Virginia.  He came to this state in 1809, and died Oct. 23, 1878, on the farm where Christopher now lives, aged eighty-one yeas.  Mr. Ellis came here when eight years old, and remained until her death.  They were married about 1821, and had five children: Leroy S., Zachariah, and Christopher, living; and Elizabeth and John S., deceased.  Our subject was born Jan. 20 1832, in Clinton County, where he was reared, and where, September 10, 1857, he married Miss Sarah Starbuck.  Eleven children is the result of this union: Uriah T., Rebecca M., Viola, Charles L., and Stella living and improved on which he lives. He has been a member of the Odd-fellows, of Bowersville, since July 4, 1874. Mrs. Ellis is a "Daughter of Rebecca."  She has been a member of the Christian Church for twenty-six years.  Mr. Ellis' grandparents came to Ohio in 1809, with twelve children, two of whom survive.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 837
  Beaver Creek Twp. -
JOHN ENGLE, was born in Beaver Creek Township, in the year 1812, and is a son of Isaac and Susana (Swigart) Engle.  His father was born in Maryland, and his mother in Pennsylvania, and was a sister of Michael Swigart, whose history appears in this work.  Isaac Engle came here a young man in 1810, and located in Beaver Creek Township, where he made a permanent home.  He was married in this county to Susana Swigart, about 1811, by whom he had ten children, seven living, John, Peter, Henry, Isaac, Susana, Sarah, and Rebecca.  The deceased are Eliza, Catherine, and Isaac and Jacob, twins.  Mr. Engle was a farmer by occupation, and during the winter run a still.  He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and received from the government a donation of land.  They were members of the German Reformed Church.  He died in 1863, aged eight-one years.  She departed this life in 1859,at the age of sixty-three years.  The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm and received a limited education in the district schools.  He was married in 1840, to Catherine Brown, by whom he had two children, Sarah E. and Mary C.  Mr. Engle departed this life in 1847.  He was again married in 1855, to Matilda Ann Leonard, by whom he has had five children, four living, George W., Justice A., Eliza E. L., John W. F., Elnora B., deceased.  Mr. Engle has lived in the county all his life.  He and his wire are members of the German Reformed Church, to which they have been connected for a number of hears.  Mrs. Engle was born in Warren County in 1833.  Politically he is a democratic.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 595
  Beaver Creek Twp. -
WILLIAM H. ENGLE, farmer, and proprietor of steam saw-mill, Dayton, Ohio, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1829, and passed his boyhood days in that state; receiving the rudiments of his education in the common schools.  In 1850, he was married to Charlotte E. Dartrough, after which he came to Ohio, and located where he now resides.  For the ensuing six yeas he worked at carpentering, after which he worked as a hand on the mill he now owns.  In 1869 he purchased the mill, and became sole owner, and since then has given his entire time and attention to it.  The mill is located on the west side of the township, and is a two-story frame, 30x70 feet.  The power is derived from a twenty-four horse power engine, which gives motion to an old-fashioned sash-saw, having a cutting capacity of 2,500 feet per day.  The mill is in operation about eight months in the year, cutting all kinds of lumber, but making a specialty of fine walnut sawing.  Mr. Engle is a gentleman well versed in his business - understanding fully every department of the work.  Upon his arrival in this state he was without capital to commence business, but by hard work and economy succeeded after several years of toil in placing himself on a sound financial basis.  After purchasing the mill, he became identified with the interests of the people - his business qualifications became known, and he has since received a very liberal patronage.  Besides the mill property, he owns seventeen acres of land, which has been greatly improved, and makes one of the most desirable homes in the township.  To Mr. and Mrs. Engle six children have been born, four of whom are living: Orion, William J., Emily I., and Stanley Q.  Two died in infancy.  The whole family are members of the United Brethren Church - the parents having become such twenty years ago.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 596
  Bath Twp. -
MITCHELL J. ENNIS
, general store and postmaster, Byron, was born in Sugar Creek Township, Apr. 30, 1818, and is a son of Thompson and Sarah (Mitchell) EnnisThompson came to this county prior to 1800, in company with four of his brothers, John, Jeremiah, Samuel, and Jesse, and a sister.  They entered lands on Sugar Creek, where they lived and reared their families.  Coming from Pennsylvania, they were hardy farmers, and gave their attention to coopering, as did many other early settlers, during the winter season.  According to the custom of that day, by hand distilleries they manufactured their corn into whisky.  Thompson was the father of nine boys and three girls: Vincent, John, Sarah, Samuel, Elizabeth, Mary, Jeremiah, Mitchell J., Thompson, Lemuel, William, and an infant, deceased.  Of this large family six are still living, and five are residents of hits state.  Mitchell J., was left without parents at the early age of ten years, his mother dying when he was only five years old.  After the death of his father, he lived with a farmer for two years, then with Dr. William Bell, of Bellbrook, with whom he stayed three years, and practiced in the rudiments, i. e., the art of rolling pills, etc.  He then went to the city of Dayton, where he served an apprenticeship in employment of Edward M. Burr, saddler, after which he again returned to Bellbrook, where he worked at Journey work, and carried on the saddlery business for three years.  Here he cast his first presidential vote for William H. Harrison.  He then removed to Byron with his business, where he conducted the same for eight years, then began clerking for Schaner & Wilson; then followed the goods as they passed from this firm to Folkerth & Son, and afterwards to Wolf & Son, some ten years in all.  At this time his health failing, he traveled through the southern part of the state selling fruit-trees, and during the winter of 1860-61, worked at his trade.  In May, 1861, bought the property where he now keeps, restocked the establishment, and has continued business ever since, carrying a general line of goods.  Mr. Ennis has been a happy old bachelor these many yeas.  He is attached to the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities, occupying high positions in both, being a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F.  Mr. Ennis is a fraternity man not alone in name, but his daily life shows that he loves the principles of these organizations. 
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 724
  Cedarville Twp. -
D. S. ERVIN, lime manufacturer and dealer, Cedarville, was born in Morrow County, Indiana, near Bloomington, on the 25th day of April, 1836.  His father was born in the County Antrum, Ireland, and his mother in South Carolina.  They were married about the year 1828, and removed from South Carolina to Indiana about 1829, - to avoid the influences of slavery, - locating on a farm in Morrow County.  Charles Ervin departed this life in 1869; his wife remaining in Indiana until 1878, when she removed to Greene County to make a permanent home.  The subject of this sketch passed the early part of his life at home with his parents.  In the year 1865, he removed to Princeton, Gibson County, Indiana, and embarked in the lumber business.  He remained there a short time and then came to this.  In May, 1877, he married Miss Belle Murdock.  They have two children by this union: J. B., and Mary B.  Mr. and Mrs. Ervin are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and are recognized as good Christian people in the community in which they live.  Mr. Ervin is not only the largest lime manufacturer in the place, but has an interest in a large grist-mill, is an extensive grain merchant and coal dealer, paying out $150.00 per week for common labor.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 563
  Cedarville Twp. -
ROBERT ERVIN, milling and grain dealer, Cedarville, was born in Monroe County, Indiana, near Bloomington, Sept. 10, 1848, and passed the early part of his life on a farm, receiving the rudiments of his education in the common district schools.  In the spring of 1877 he removed to this county, and engaged in business for his brother a period of about ten months.  Being favorably impressed with this county and its people, he returned to Indiana and sold the greater portion of his property, after which he settled in this place to make it his permanent home.  He is the son of Charles and Jane (Smith) Ervin.  His father was born in Ireland and his mother in South Carolina.  They emigrated with their parents to Bloomington, Indiana, in 1830, and married, Dec. 21, 1833.  Eight children were born to them, six of whom are now living: John M., D. S., Nancy, Margaret, Jennie, and Robert.  Our subject is recognized as one of the leading business men of the town.  Is a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and a strict, conscientious, Christian man.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 563
  Caesar's Creek Twp. -
ALLEN FAULKNER, farmer, was born in this county, July 29, 1824, where he was reared and educated.  He was married in July, 1847, to Elizabeth A. Hartsock, also of this county, and eight children were the result of their marriage: Jonathan R., Franklin K., Lydia C., Cordelia J., Louisa E., Thomas H., James F., and Cora A., four of whom are living: Cordelia Louisa, Thomas, and James.  Mr. Faulkner as a farm of two hundred and sixty acres, well improved, and farms to grain and stock.  He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, having united with the same about the year 1844.  Cordelia is also a member of this church.  Mr. Faulkner's parents were natives of Virginia and Kentucky, and were married about the year 1804.  They came to this county about the year 1801, and were parents of eight children, of whom four are living.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 889
  Silver Creek Twp. -
JAMES A. FIELDS, farmer, Jamestown, is a son of John and Mary (Hite) Fields.  They were born in Virginia, and married in Ohio.  There are ten children: Andrew, Margaret, Alfred, Jane, Lucinda, John, Sarah, James A., William, and an infant; five living, Margaret, John, Sarah, James A. and William.  All were born in this county; James May 14, 1832.  Was married Jan. 4, 1855, to Miss Pollie Lawrence, of this county.  Five children attest their union: Milon L., William S., Mary E., Lucinda S., and an infant, deceased.  Mary E. was married, Aug. 19, 1880, to James H. King of this county.  The others are unmarried, and at home with their parents.  Mr. Fields has a farm of thirty-eight acres; farms chiefly to grain.  He has lived in this county all his life, except about nine years that he lived in Clinton County.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 793
  Silver Creek Twp. -
JOHN H. FIELDS, farmer, a native of this county, born Mar. 15, 1827.  His father was married and came to this county, in 1815; located on the farm of seventy-five acres where our subject now lives, and lived the remainder of his life.  Mr. Fields ha a farm of fifty-one acres, well improved, three miles southwest of Jamestown, on which he lives, and on which he was reared.  He also has a farm of fifty acres, two and one-half miles southwest of Jamestown.  He was twice married; first to Miss Mary Turner, and daughter of Henry, who died Jan. 7, 1873, aged forty-seven years.  He then married his present wife, Miss Sarah C. Bell, Dec. 24, 1874.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 793
  Jefferson Twp. -
WILLIAM FINLAY, farmer, is a native of Ireland, where he was reared, and where his parents were born and reared, and where his father died, Dec. 8, 1845.  His mother came to the United States in 1857, and William and his sister Catharine came in 1861.  He was born July 10, 1842.  Since he came here, he has earned and saved enough money to buy a farm of seventeen and a quarter acres, on which he and his mother live.  They began housekeeping together, in 1863.  When he and his sister arrived at New York, he had only $1.25 with which to buy food on the way to Xenia, and when he arrived there he had only three cents.  His parents had three children:  William, Catharine, and one who died in infancy.  Mrs. Finlay was born about 1813.  Her heart goes back to old Ireland, the place of her childhood, where she left many beloved kindred and friends.  This is a respected family, and good citizens, who came to America to better their condition in life.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 837
  Bath Twp.-
JOSEPH M. FOLCK, retired, Osborn, is a native of this township, and was born July 9, 1824.  Is a son of Daniel and Mary (Muirheide) Folck.  Daniel was a son of John George Folck, who came to this state from Pennsylvania, about the year 1802 or 1803, in company with the Wolfs, Wilsons, and Heffleys, and located near where Byron now stands, each buying a large tract of land with their surplus means.  Here he lived and reared his family of four boys, George, Abram, John and Daniel, and died in 1839.  He was a practicing physician during this period, and many people came from a distance to receive treatment.  After his death the farm was divided, being sufficient to give each a farm.  Abram, however, desired money, and in the division the old homestead fell to Daniel.  Here he followed the fortunes of the farm till his death, in 1841, leaving a wife and five children, George, Joseph, John, Barbara, and Mary Ann, all of whom survive but George.  After the death of his father, Joseph labored on a farm till he arrived at maturity, and then lived with his aunt, Mrs. Susan Folck, and assisted her in preparing medicine, afterward farming until the last four years, when he left the farm and removed to Osborn, where he is spending his declining years in case and luxury.  He was joined in wedlock to Barbara Ann Shigley.  The family seem naturally to turn their attention to the healing art, as three generations have been practicing physicians - Dr. John George; his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Dr. Susan Folck, who died leaving no posterity; and Mrs. Dr. Barbara Folck, wife of Joseph M., who has been practicing for thirty three years independently, besides several years in connection with Mrs. Dr. Susan Folck.  During the first few years of her practice she traveled some, but for several years has given her entire attention to her extension office practice.  Mr. and Mrs. Folck are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which they have been connected for many years.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 725
  Cedarville Twp. -
JOHN F. FRAZIER, merchant, Cedarville, was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in 1813, and is a son of Andrew and Ann (Adair) Frazier.  His father was born in County Downs, and his mother in County Antrum, Ireland.  In County Downs they were married, and about 1805 immigrated to America, landing in Philadelphia during the great plague.  The morning following their arrival, they hurriedly left the city, leaving their baggage aboard ship, which they never got.  They located in Fayette County, and lived there till 1817, when they moved to Adams County, Ohio, and three years later removed to Brown County, where they died; he in 1823, aged forty-five, and his wife in 1844, aged sixty-six or sixty-seven years.  Nine children were born to them, five of whom are living; Jane, Eliza, Lavina, Rebecca, and John F.  The deceased were Hugh, William, James A., and Esther.  James A. was a missionary in the United Presbyterian Church, and was stationed in Damascus, Syria, where he labored from 1851 till his death, in 1863, with the exception of two or three years he passed at home.  His daughter Mary is a teacher in the mission schools of the United Presbyterian Church in Egypt.  Mr. Frazier was reared on the farm till fifteen years old, when he was apprenticed to learn the tanning and shoe-making business, in the Russellville, Brown County, Ohio, where he labored for two years and a half, then worked at various points, at journeyman's work, and finally purchased a tanyard in Decatur, Ohio, to which he gave his attention eleven years, after which he sold out, and in 1847 located in Cedarville, and embarked in the mercantile business, in which he is yet engaged.  He has been married four times; first, to Sarah Kelley, in November, 1833, by whom he had three children, Andrew S., Margaret J., and James K.   Mrs. Frazier died in 1847, aged thirty-two years.  Secondly, to Ann E. McCullough, in February, 1849.  She departed this life, Aug. 1, 1849, aged twenty-seven years.  Thirdly, to Eliza V. Dille, in March, 1851, by whom he had four children, Flora, William S., Mary A., and Joanna.  Mrs. Frazier died in the fall of 1861, aged thirty-eight years.  His fourth and last marriage was celebrated in 1866, with Nancy _____, of Pennsylvania, by whom he had one child, John H.  Mrs. Frazier died in 1869, aged forty-two years.  In politics he is strongly Republican, always voting with that party upon all questions at issue.  Has been treasurer of the township eleven years, and has been a member of the United Presbyterian Church since twenty-one years of age.  His first vote, for W. H. Harrison, was not deposited, yet he held a contrary ballot on the opposite side.  In 1844 he voted for Birney.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 564
  Beaver Creek Twp. -
DAVID A. FRIES, farmer, was born in Frederick County, Virginia, Nov. 8, 1829.  He was a son of Jacob and Harriet (Babb) Fries, who were born in the state of Virginia, where they were married , and lived until the spring of 1830, when they came to Ohio by team and wagon, and settled in Caesar's Creek Township, temporarily, and afterwards lived in various parts of the county, following teaming as a vocation until his death, which occurred in 1837, at the age of thirty-five year.  Was born in the year 1801.  They were parents of seven children, of whom are living, Susan Adams, Julia Whittington, Harriet Stull, and David A.  The deceased are Catherine J. James M. and Clarrissa R.  Mrs. Fries was born in 1801, and is still living at the ripe old age of Seventy-nine years.  The subject of this sketch was reared to farming, and milling pursuits, which he followed jointly until 1870.  He was for about fourteen years, proprietor of what is known as the Trussler mills, on the Little Miami, in Sugar Creek Township.  Since 1870, he has given his attention exclusively to farming.  He owns seventy-five acres of land in the southeastern part of the township.  His land is mostly in cultivation, and well improved.  He came here in early childhood, in his mothers lap, and has a distinct recollection of the long ago.  He has cut wheat in Xenia, where the Catholic Church now stands, and has played ball at the Chamber's corners, besides throwing mud from the race, where J. Thomas Harbine's mill now stands; all of which was done before the iron rail reached Xenia.  He has married in 1855, to Martha J. Owen, daughter of George Owen, by whom he has six children, Malinda H., George H., James W., Winnie, Laura B., and Roscoe L.  Mrs. Fries was born in Xenia, May 6, 1831.  Politically he is a Democrat, having always voted with that party upon all questions at issue.  He is one of our self-made men, having begun life empty handed, yet by enterprise, and judicious management, has built up a good property.  He has taken much interest in schools, giving his children good educations.  In 1863, during the draft, in eight days time, he raised a company in full lacking six men, advancing money from his own pocket, and canvassed this school district to aid the cause.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 597
  Miami Twp. -
DANIEL S. FUNDEBURGH, constable, born in this county, on the 12th day of November, 1818, is a son of John and Anna Fundeburgh.  His father is a native of Maryland, and his mother of Virginia.  They immigrated to Ohio about the year 1791, with a family of seven children: five sons and two daughters.  Our subject was married in 1856, to Miss Caroline Koch of this county.  He is constable and marshal of Yellow Springs, an office he has filled for some thirteen years.  He has always been a staunch Republican in politics, and has taken an active part in elections.  When old uncle Abe was elected, he was one of the men who fired the cannon, and, in loading, the gun was accidently discharged and carried away his hand, a lasting remembrance of the election.  He still holds the office of constable and marshal, and in all probability will for many years to come, as he is very faithful and fearless in the discharge of his duty.  He received his education in this county, where his youth was spent, and in which he likely will end his days.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 702

NOTES:
 

 
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