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Taken from:
The history of Miami County, Ohio
Newton Townsip
Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
JOHN W. HILL (William)
John W. Hill,
farmer; P.O. Pleasant Hill; born in 1824 on the same farm he now
resides on; is a son of Nathan Hill, Sr., a native of Maryland and an
immigrant to this place with his parents when a mere boy; his
grandfather was among the first settlers of Newton Township. Our
subject's early life was that of a farmer boy; he remained at home
assisting in the farm duties till his marriage, which occurred at the
age of 19, with Miss Susan Weddle; Mr. Hill, after this event of his
life, began farming on his present place; here he has continued the
pursuit of agriculture, with eminent success, for over a third of a
century; he has a most beautiful farm, under the best modern
improvements, and has erected on it one of the finest brick residences
in the township. His wife, Susan, died Jan. 4,1874; she was a
faithful member of the Christian Church of Pleasant Hill, and her
death was a loss to the whole community; she is buried in the
beautiful Pleasant Hill Cemetery; eight children were born, seven of
whom are still living, and six of whom are married; all are settled in
the community but one; their names are as follows: Henry H.,
Sarah J. (married to Dr. Kiester, of Arcanum), Isaac N., John C.,
Eunice E. (Longanecker), James M., Mary E. (Billows).
Mr. Hill's second marriage was celebrated Oct. 15, 1874 with Mrs.
Josephine Conway, formerly Miss Josephine Banta, a native of
Preble Co., Ohio; she has one daughter, a teacher in the public school
of Pleasant Hill, and Mr. and Mrs. Hill are both members of the
Christian Church of Pleasant Hilll, and Mr. Hill holds a deaconship in
the same; he is President of the Temperance Association of this place,
which bespeaks him an ardent supporter of the Temperance cause.
He is a member of A.F. & A.M. fraternity of Pleasant Hill.
(Contributed by Norita Shepherd Moss)
See Notes#1 below
REV. ALLEN JAY, One of the most prominent ministers of the Society
of Friends is Rev. Allen Jay, who is known throughout the entire
country among the people of his denomination. He was born in Miami
county, Ohio, on the 11th of October, 1831, and is a son of Isaac
and Rhoda (Cooper) Jay. The family is of English origin, and its
members have long been orthodox Quakers. The father was a native of
Miami county, born February 19, 1811, on the old homestead which had
been settled by his father at a very early period in the history of
the Buckeye state. There he was reared, and when he was married he
took his bride to the old home place. He carried on agricultural
pursuits for many years. For thirty-five years he was connected with
the ministry of the Friends' church and traveled extensively over the
country, preaching the doctrines in which he so firmly believed. He
also engaged in teaching for a few years after his marriage, and
possessed a good education for that day. In his evangelistic work he
visited all sections of the United States and won the love and
confidence of the Friends throughout the country. He was a member of
the representative meeting, clerk of the quarterly meeting and filled
many other offices. In 1850 he sold his property in Ohio, and removed
with his entire family to Indiana, locating at Marion, Grant county,
where he died in 1880. He had four sons and one daughter, Allen, of
this review being the eldest. Milton, a prominent physician of
Chicago, was for some time dean of the Bennett Eclectic Medical
College of that city, in fact was one of its organizers. He resigned
his position, however, in 1890, and afterward served as director of
the Cook county hospital. He is one of the most able physicians of
Chicago, especially skilled in surgery, and is now leading surgeon of
the Rock Island Railroad Company. Walter D. died on a farm near
Marion, Grant county, Indiana, when thirty-seven years of age. Abijah
formerly followed farming, but sold out and is now a general business
man of Marion, Indiana. Mary E. is the wife of Asa Baldwin, and a
minister of the Friends meeting, of Marion, Indiana.
Rev. Allen jay spent his boyhood days under the
parental roof and attended school through the winter seasons, while in
the summer months he assisted in the cultivation of the fields. After
the removal of the family to Marion, this state, in 1850, he entered
Friends' boarding school (now Earlham College) at Richmond, where he
spent some time, then was a student in the Farmers' Institute, at
Lafayette, Indiana, for one year. He next became a student in Antioch
College, where he remained until the spring of 1854, when he turned
his attention to farming. He located on a tract of land on the Wea
plains, near Lafayette, and there carried on agricultural pursuits
until 1867. In 1864 he became a minister in the Friends' meeting, and
through the three successive years both farmed and preached. In the
autumn of 1867 he was appointed superintendent of a work projected by
the "Baltimore Association of Friends," under the presidency of
Francis Y. King. The war had left Friends, in common with other
people, destitute in North Carolina and Tennessee, and Mr. Jay was
appointed to ascertain their needs and improve their condition. Making
his home at High Point, North Carolina, he traveled extensively over
those two states, alleviating the temporal sufferings of the Friends,
building up churches, establishing schools, preaching and teaching
among the people of those districts. He established thirty-one
schools, with an enrollment of three thousand students, and told the
gospel message to the people in many districts. He had the oversight
of the work embraced within nine churches in Tennessee, and twenty-two
in North Carolina, and during most of the time his work necessitated
his driving from place to place, so that this period was not without
its hardships; yet he regards it as the greatest work of his life.
After eight years of such service Mr. Jay turned
his work over to the yearly meeting of North Carolina. In 1875 he went
to Europe, visiting the churches in England, Scotland, Ireland and
Norway. In 1877 he went to Providence, Rhode Island, where he served
as treasurer and minister of the Friends' boarding school, which had
an enrollment of two hundred and fifty boys and girls. There he
remained for four years, after which he came to Earlham College, in
1881, acting as superintendent and treasurer, while his wife filled
the position of matron. For six years he labored in that institution,
during which time he raised a large amount of money for the school and
for the erection of two substantial and commodious college buildings,
Lindley and Parry Halls. In 1887 he removed to his new home near the
college, and has since served as one of its trustees and as solicitor
for the college, raising money in all parts of this country and in
England and Ireland for the institution. He has for six years been
superintendent of the evangelistic and pastoral work of the Indiana
yearly meeting, retiring from that position in 1895. He has visited
all the yearly meetings of the Friends Society in the world and is
well known throughout this country in connection with his church work.
Mr. Jay was united in marriage to Miss Martha Ann
Sleeper, who was a native of Ohio, but when two years old was taken by
her parents to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where she was married in
1854. Five children have been born to them: Rhoda died at the age of
six years. Charles died at the age of fifteen months. William died in
West Richmond, in 1897. He was graduated at the Providence boarding
school, studied medicine under the direction of his uncle, Dr. Milton
Jay, of Chicago, and was graduated in the Bennett Medical College of
that city in 1882. He practiced for six years in Richmond and then
removed to New Sharon, Iowa, where he successfully practiced until
1896, when, on account of failing health, he retired. He died in 1897,
at the age of thirty-seven years. Edwin is a farmer, living near
Richmond, Indiana. Isaac is with his father in Richmond.
Rev. Allen Jay is now serving as preacher of the
East Main Street Friends meeting, a position he has occupied for the
past eleven years, the society having no regular preacher. Thus almost
his entire life has been devoted to the work of instructing men in the
higher things of life, and his labors have been followed by excellent
results; but who can measure the influence for good? Not until the
heavenly record is read will it be known how great is the work that he
has accomplished. His own career, in perfect harmony with his
teachings, has won him the love and respect of all, and he well
deserves mention in the history of his adopted county.
Since writing the foregoing sketch, Mr. Jay's wife
has passed away. The following obituary notice we quote from the
American Friend:
Martha Ann Jay, a daughter of Buddell and Elizabeth H. Sleeper, was
born tenth month, 22d, 1833, in Clark county, Ohio, and died at her
home, opposite Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, fourth month, 27th,
1899, aged sixty-five years, six months and five days-Her parents
moved to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, when she was two years old. She
was married to Allen Jay on ninth month, 20th, 1854, and they settled
on a farm near the old home, where their five children were born, and
the two eldest died, the third one dying fifteen months ago in the
same room she died in. In 1868 she, with her husband, moved to Bush
Hill (now Archdale), North Carolina. After nine years they moved to
Friends' Boarding School, Providence, Rhode Island. After spending
four years there, in 1881 they went to Earlham College, where she
served as matron for six years, and then retired to the home where she
died. Martha A. Jay was of a retiring disposition, never seeking
popularity. Converted at the age of seventeen, she endeavored to carry
Christianity in all her life work. She was much interested in humane
work among the children, the birds and all dumb animals; for several
years had a band of mercy in her own home and one in the Orphan Home
near by. She was appointed an elder at an early age, and held that
position in the four different yearly meetings to which she belonged.
She was a great strength to her husband, who was, as a minister, often
called to labor away from home; she never murmured at the separation,
but encouraged him to faithfulness when the Master called. She bore a
long illness with Christian resignation; the closing hours were
peaceful; the last audible words were: "Blessed! Blessed!" "Blessed
are the dead that die in the Lord: "
Taken from:
The history of Miami County, Ohio
Newton Townsip
Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
HARVEY JONES,
farmer; P.O. Laura; one of the early settlers; born in 1823 in Union
Township; is a son of Jesse Jones, one of the pioneers, who was born
in Georgia April 15 ,1794; he is the son of Samuel and grandson of
Francis Jones of North Carolina. Samuel raised eleven children,
all of whom became heads of families, Jesse being the only surviving
member. In 1805, Samuel, with his family, came to Ohio, locating
north of West Milton, where he died at 84 years of age; his wife died
at the age of 88 years. Jesse came to Ohio when 11 years old;
his early life was that of a pioneer, and he has always been a farmer;
married three times; his first wife, Jane Cothran was from South
Carolina; his second Naomi (Tucker) Jones, was a native of Tennessee;
his third wife, Betsy (Hayworth) Davis, was born June 13, 1800, in
South Carolina; her parents came to this county in 1806, and located
in this township. Harvey remained with his father until 21 years
of age, after which he farmed the homestead one year, then purchased
his present place, and erected a long house, which is now supplanted
by a fine residence upon his well cultivated farm, brought to this
condition by his own hard labor. His first wife, Rachel Hunt,
was a daughter of Elijah Hunt, an early pioneer. She was a
consistent Christian, and died in October, 1869. Of their nine
children, six survive. His second wife, Mrs. Mary (Thompson)
Richardson, was a native of Darke Co., and the widow of Josiah
Richardson, who enlisted in the 69th, O.V.I., was fatally wounded near
Georgia, taken to the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., where he died.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones take a deep interest in the cause of religion, both
being members of the Christian Church at Laura.
Taken from:
The history of Miami County, Ohio
Newton Townsip
Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
GEORGE KAUFFMAN,
deceased; was born on York Co., Penn., Nov. 13, 1821.
His father, Peter Kauffman, and Elizabeth Hefflebauer, his mother,
were both natives of Pennsylvania. Peter Kauffman followed the
pursuit of agriculture; in 1830, he immigrated with his family to
Ohio, and located on a farm in Montgomery Co., four miles north of
Dayton, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring
September, 1872. He had a family of eight children, only three
of whom survive. Mrs. Kauffman died some thirteen or fourteen
years ago. The subject of this sketch was the sixth child of the
family, and was reared a farmer; he remained at home with his father
till about twelve years ago, when he purchased three farms in this
township, and on one of them moved; this is located in Sec. 3, Range
4. His death was caused by an accident. He was occupied in
hauling his sugar cane to the factory; the barrel upon which he was
sitting tilted, throwing him between the horses, frightening them so
that they ran, dragging him with them, and injuring him so severely
that he died the next day. Mr. Kauffman was a man of many
sterling qualities; he was industrious and enterprising, and in
business transactions was strictly honest. His death removed
from the community a good citizen and a Christian gentleman. He
was a member of the Christian Church. He was married in 1872 to
Rebecca M. Brown, of Frederick Co., Md., who was born in 1847, and
came to this county in 1868, locating near Troy. They had a
family of one son and three daughters.
Taken from:
The history of Miami County, Ohio
Newton Townsip
Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
S. W. KIESTER,
physician, Pleasant Hill; one of the prominent physicians of Miami
Co.; was born in Newton Township in 1842; he is of English and German
descent. Peter K., his father, was born in Pennsylvania, and
emigrated to Ohio in the fall of 1840, locating near Pleasant Hill, in
the vicinity of which he passed the rest of his days. He was
united in marriage, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Mary Bashore, a native of
Pennsylvania. Mr. Keister's death occurred Aug. 24, 1876, aged
59 years 9 months and 7 days; he is buried in the Pleasanat Hill
Cemetery, and over his grave has been reared a large, beautiful and
imposing monument of marble, commemorative of his life and death.
Dr. Kiester's early life was that of a farmer boy; at the age of 17,
he entered the National Normal Institute of Lebanon, and spent several
subsequent summer as a student there, his winter months being devoted
to teaching; at the age of 21, he turned his attention to the study of
medicine, and entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia,
graduating at the age of 25; he located at Laura, in this county, and
began the practice; after seven years of successful work, he sold out,
and purchased the large farm on which he now resides, thinking to
retire from the profession; but by request of his brother, he went
with him to Arcanum, where he spent two years in practice, and then
removed to his large farm in 1877; since then he has been engaged in
managing and discharging the duties of his profession; his life is a
fair illustration of what energy and correct business habits can
accomplish. His nuptials were celebrated with Miss Sophia
Williams Oct. 6, 1867; she is a great-granddaughter of Michael
Williams, the first settler on the banks of the Stillwater, and
granddaughter of Rev. John Williams, the pioneer preacher of the Upper
Stillwater. One child, Pearl, was given to them Sept. 14, 1874.
Taken from:
The history of Miami County, Ohio
Newton Townsip
Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
JOSEPH KINZIE, farmer; P.O.
Pleasant Hhill; was born in Union Township, in this county, in 1841;
he is the third child of Zaccheus and Elizabeth (Albaugh) Kinzie.
Zaccheus was born in Maryland, his ancestry coming from Germany.
He came to this country with his parents when about 21 years old, and
located in Montgomery Co. The subject of this sketch was brought
up on a farm and his early training was that of a farmer, which has
served him well through life; his early education was limited to the
common school; he made his first move from the homestead in Union
Township; in the spring of 1868, he took a trip West and was gone till
the spring of 1870, when he returned to his native township; here he
remained till the spring of 1873, when he went to Indiana; from there,
in the spring of 1876, he came to his present place, which he
purchased and has since successfully operated. Mr. Kinzie is a
young man of enterprise and industry, and a useful member of society.
He identifies himself with the Republican party. He was married
in 1864 to Lavinia Bowlin of Pennsylvania; she came to this county in
the spring of 1863. A son and daughter, Emma C. and Theodore,
have been the issue of this union.
Taken from:
The history of Miami County, Ohio
Newton Townsip
Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
CONRAD KRIEGBAUM,
farmer and blacksmith, Laura; he was born in Hesse-Darmstadt,
Germany, in December, 1834; he is the son of George P. Kriegbaum, who
was born in 1800. He married Margaret Goetz in 1823; she was
born in 1801, and died about four years ago; Mr. K. is still living at
the advanced age of 80 years; he reared a family of ten
children, five sons and five daughters, all living but one, and eight
immigrated to this country and located in Ohio; our subject was the
youngest son and was reared on a farm; he remained at home until he
attained the age of 17, when he concluded to try his fortune in
America; he embarked at Havre, France, and after a pleasant voyage of
forty-six days, landed in New York City; from here he came direct to
Springfield, Ohio, near where he located and began farming; the
following spring he came to West Milton, this county, and entered an
apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade; after serving three eyars, he
worked as a journeyman until 1862, when he set up shop in Covington;
he operated this until 1871, when he traded his residence for a farm
on Panther Creek, in this township; this he sold in October, 1877, and
purchased where he now resides; he combines with his farming
blacksmithing. In the spring of 1862, he was married to Miss
Susanna Smith, who was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Ohio; they
have two children - Anna R. and Martha E.; Mr. K. is a member of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Mrs. K. of the Shiloh Christian
Church of this township.
Taken from:
The history of Miami County, Ohio
Newton Townsip
Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
MORGAN LEONARD,
farmer; P. O. Box Pleasant Hill; was born in Juniata Co., Penn., in
1848. He is the son of Reuben and Elizabeth (Ayergood) Leonard,
both of Pennsylvania; Reuben is a farmer by occupation, and
still lives in his native State. He had a family of eight sons
and two daughters, one daughter died. The subject of this memoir
was raised on a farm and educated in the common school; he remained at
home occupied with farm duties till he immigrated to this State.
He had a family of eight sons and two daughters, one daughter died.
The subject of this memoir was raised on a farm and educated in the
common school; he remained at home occupied with farm duties till he
immigrated to this State in the fall of 1863; he located in Covington,
and shortly found his way into the U.S. service, as a member of the
8th O.V.C.; he went first to Camp Dennison, and from there to West
Charleston, W. Va., where he had his first experience in war; he next
engaged in the battle of Louisburg, Gen. Averill commanding; was at
Staunton, Liberty, Lynchburg at Hunter's defeat, again at Liberty and
at Beverly, at which place he was severely wounded in the left though,
which disabled him from further active duty; he was then placed in the
hospital for a time at Beverly, and then at Grafton; he was discharged
June 3, 1865, having served over one year; he returned to this county
in the fall of 1868, and moved to his present place where he has since
engaged in farming. In politics, he is a Republican. He
was married in 1864 to Matilda Varner, daughter of Daniel G. and
Elizabeth (Lecington) Varner. She was born Jan. 12, 1847, and
came to this county with her father in 1858; he is a silversith, and
carries on business at Covington; her mother died when she was only
about 1 year old. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard have six sons and three
daughters - two sons and one daughter are dead.
Immigrant Ancestor of Miami Valley, Ohio
- Quaker families
Thomas Macy was born
in 1608, at Chilmark, Wiltshire, England.
He died Apr. 19, 1682, Nantucket Island (then New
York).
Married 1639, in Mass. & she died 1706, Nantucket
Island.
Thomas and Sarah Macy came to Salisbury, Massachusetts
separately before their marriage, making them the earliest immigrants
of this area. They owned property, had children, and put down
roots in their new land. In 1658, a Baptist preacher, Joseph
Peasley, had developed quite a following in Salisbury. The
courts responded by ordering all citizens to attend Puritan services,
and pay their compulsory tithes there. In October, 1658, Thomas
Macy was ordered to appear before the court, and to pay fines for his
disobedience.
Apparently a determined man, Thomas decided to see "if
it were possible to find a place where religion was not a sin".
In February 1658/9, he began purchasing Nantucket Island. The
following summer, Thomas committed the sin of allowing transient
Quakers to seek shelter from a thunderstorm under his roof. The
resulting court action against him was the last straw. In Oct.
1659, he and his family were the first white settlers of Nantucket,
then part of New York.
John Greenleaf Whittier penned the lengthy poem
entitled "The Exiles" about Thomas Macy. Though Thomas paid for
the infraction with a fine, the Quakers involved paid with their
lives, being hanged for their offense.
The family was warmly greeted by the Indians on
Nantucket, and the following year, other families joined them.
But we can not by any stretch of the imagination call Thomas Macy a
Quaker. Of his children, only one son survived to have children.
John Macy Sr. fathered 4 daughters and 4 sons, all of whom lived on
Nantucket. John Macy Jr., born 1675, was the first child of the
family to unite with the Friends in 1711. John Macy married
Judith Worth, daughter of John Worth & Miriam Gardner, and their
children were:
1. Miriam Macy, 1708 -1736, married Zephaniah Coffin; died Nantucket
2. Silvanus Macy, 1709 - 1719; died in Nantucket
3. Seth Macy, 1710 - 1790; died in Nantucket
4. Eliab Macy, 1712 - 1723; died in Nantucket
5. David Macy, 1714 - died in North Carolina
6. Anna Macy, 1716 -1756; married Joseph Jenkins
7. Bethiah Macy, 1719; never married
8. John Macy, 3rd, 1721 - 1795; marr. Eunice Coleman; died in North
Carolina
9. Judith Macy, 1723 - 1795; married William Clasby & Abial Gardner
10. Jonathan Macy, 1725 - 1798; died in Nantucket
11. William Macy, 1727 - 1753; died in Nantucket
12. Sarah Macy, 1729; married Richard Gardner.
13. Abigail Macy, 1731 - 1763; died in Nantucket.
In 1850, 95% of the Macys in the U.S. census were
descended from this family.
It is said that Thomas the immigrant had a brother
George Macy, who married Susannah Street, d/o Rev. Nicholas Street,
and bought property in 1638 at Taunton, Mass.
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