Greene County

HISTORY . OF GREENE COUNTY, TOGETHER WITH HISTORIC NOTES ON THE NORTHWEST, AND THE STATE OF OHIO. LEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS, PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND ALL OTHER AUTHENTIC SOURCES. By R. S. DILLS. ILLUSTRATED. DAYTON, OHIO uUEl.l V MAYER, ITBI1SHERS. ' l88l. 977.174 D587 RF HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY : TOGETHER WITH 1881 NI MCPL 3 OOOO 00126215 7 462 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. BIOGRAPHICAL. James C. McMillan, son of Daniel and Jeannette McMillan, was born in Chester .District, South Carolina, in 1810. He received what in those days was considered a fair English education, partly under his uncle, Rev. Hugh McMillan, who removed, in 1827, from thence to Xenia, Ohio, where he opened an academy in a log cabin on the corner of Market and Collier streets. His students, on pre senting a certificate from him stating the books they had read under his care, were not recpiired to pass an examination on entering Miami University. In the year 1830, James C. McMillan, in his twentieth year, was furnished by his father with a horse and saddle, and instructed to travel through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, for the purpose'of selecting a home to which the family, then number ing one dozen, could remove. The principal reason for moving was that the Reformed Presbyterian Church, of which the whole family were members, did not permit any of her members to hold slaves. This law was enacted by the synod of that church in 1806, and it was probably the first church organization in the United States of America that adopted this rule. In accordance with in structions received from his parents, in company with a relative, John McMillan, the journey was undertaken in March of that year, aud he returned in September. During that time portions of each of those states were visited, and before he returned he selected what was then known as the Gibson farm, two miles east of Xenia, on the Columbus road, agreeing to pay twelve dollars per acre for two hundred and forty acres. On his return to South Carolina, his father ratified the contract by sending United States Bank notes with a friend to pay for the farm. At that time there were six brothers of that family, Baniel, John, Bavid, Gavin, James, and Hugh, all married, who with their families, removed to Ohio. Two of them were ministers in the same church. In March, 1832, James C. McMillan and Margaret Millen were united in marriage by Rev. L. Bavis. Shortly after, his father's family, with seven other families, in wagons, entered on the journey which took near five weeks, campiug out every night. All enjoyed good health throughout the trip. That summer was spent on the farm. As sisted by James Wilson, he cradled the first field of wheat of twenty XENIA TOWNSHIP. 463 acres known to be cut with a cradle in the county. In September of that year, he engaged with John Dodd as clerk for three years, selling goods at a salary of three hundred dollars a year, in what was then known as the Galloway corner. At the close of this term he entered into partnership with Eli Millen, and sold goods for ten years in the same building. J. Dodd removed to his own building, now known as St. George's Hotel. At the opening of the Little Miami Railroad to Xenia, having built on the corner of Second and Detroit streets, he removed his stock of goods in the railroad store, where he continued in business until he sold out to Cooper & Hut- cheson. For twenty-five years he has acted as corresponding sec retary, and treasurer of Greene County Bible Society, canvassing the county annually, some years raising one thousand two hundred dollars in the county. In 1860, be was elected director of the Greene County Infirmary, and with the exception of one term has filled that office, acting as secretary of the board, ever since. This is the only office he has had in the couuty or state. He only raised one son, Samuel, who graduated at Miami University in 1860. At the breaking out of the war in 1861, he volunteered and went out as'a private soldier in the one hundred and tenth regiment in company with A. M. Stark, who was captured at the battle of Winchester. Samuel escaped by a singular incident, Mr. Stark, having a fine gun that was cumbersone at such a time, threw it away, saying to Samuel, " if you can take care of that gun you may have it." Stoop ing to pick it up and arrange it with his knapsack, he fell behind the company through a thicket of brush, missed their track, and struck out in another direction. He thus escaped being captured, and serving a term of fifteen months in Libby Prison. He after wards fell in with another portion of the regiment under the com mand of General Keifer, and was engaged in the battle at Mono cacy, where he was wounded by a ball in his foot. Beceiving a furlough, he came home, and afterwards returned to his post, re maining in the army until the close of the war. WThile at Wash ington City, when the troops were being examined in 1865, on the Potomac, without the usual equipage, lying on the damp ground he caught a severe cold that settled on his lungs, and about a year after he was honorably discharged. He died of consumption, aged thirty-three years. Out of seven children, two daughters, Emma and Mary, only survive. In 1819, the Reformed Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Columbus and Market Streets, was built; 464 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. the first pastor being Rev. J. A. Crawford. J. C. McMillan, with Wm. McQuiston, and John Miller, was elected ruling elder, which office he still holds in the Third United Presbyterian Church of Xenia, which was formed by a union of the remaining members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and a portion of the Second United Presbyterian Church, in 1870, their first pastor being Rev. W. H. McMillan, the next, Rev. R. Turnbull, and the present pas tor, Rev. W. G. Morehead. Rev. John McMillan, brother of J. C. McMillan still survives, and is pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Daniel McMil- lian, his youngest brother, died in 1876. He had the reputation of having some years ago, the finest herd of Durham cattle in the state of Ohio, and did much in improving the quality of stock in Greene County. F. D. Torrence, of the firm of McDowell & Torrence, lumber dealers, Xenia, was born in the above place in 1842, and is a son of David Torrence, deceased. His boyhood was passed in Springfield, where he received the rudiments of his education, which was after wards developed by a course of study in a college in the above place. April 16, 1861, he enlisted in the Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and before leaving the state in August of the same year was transferred to Captain Mitchell's battery of light artillery, which was placed under the command of General Fremont, in the department of Missouri. He saw much active service, and was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Doniphan, Duvall's Bluffs, Arkansas Post, Champion Hill, Baymond, seige of Jackson, etc. In all he participated in tweiity-two different engagements. The last two years of his term were passed in the quarter-masters department, at Xew Orleans and Matagorda, He was discharged in September, 1865, having passed more than four years in the service of his country. In 1869 he located in Xenia, and embarked in the lum ber business, to which he has since given his attention. In 1874 he was married to Mary Bidgley, by whom he has had two chil dren, Fred and Mary. Mr. Torrence and his estimable wife are exemplary members of the United Presbyterian Church, with which they have been connected some years. James Harper, probate judge of Greene County, was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, August 4, 1809. He is a son of An drew and Jane (Currle) Harper. His father was born in Ireland, his mother in Scotland, and when a child emigrated with her XENIA TOWNSHIP. 465 parents and settled in Virginia. Mr. Harper, sr., came to this country when twenty-one years old, and located in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, where he lived a few years. He then went to Virginia, where he was married, and lived till his death, which occurred in the sixty-eighth year of his age. After his death, in 1834, his widow aud children came to Ohio, where she died, aged seventy-two years. They were the parents of nine children who grew to manhood and womanhood, three of whom are living, Mary Hamilton, nee Harper, Andrew, and James. The deceased are Eliza, George, Hugh, Jane, William, and Margaret. The early life of Mr. Harper was passed in Virginia on the farm. He received his education in the common schools. After attaining his majority he embarked in life for himself, and for sixteen years after arriving in Ohio labored in a cooper shop, and during that time was elected justice of the peace, the first public ofiice he held. He afterwards served as recorder for three years, besides holding various town ship offices. In 1852 he was elected probate judge of Greene County, a position he held continuously until 1862, when a break occurred of two terms. In the fall of 1867 he was again re-elected.

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