Charles W. Chenoweth

CHARLES W. CHENOWETH.

Darke county shows within its boundaries many fine farms, indicating that progressive and careful methods have been brought to bear in bringing the section up to its high standard as one of the most attractive agricultural sections of the Buckeye state, and among those who have signally contributed to the prestige of the county in this ever-important field of endeavor may be mentioned Charles Wesley Chenoweth, one of the representative agriculturists of Harrison township. He is a native son of the state of Maryland, where the family was established at an early day, the lineage being of stanch old Scotch extraction, the first American ancestors of the name having left the land of brown weather and shaggy wood to establish a home for himself in Maryland, in the new world. Mr. Chenoweth was born in Maryland, on the 3d of September, 1830, being one of the thirteen children born to William and Katurah ( Murray) Chenoweth, the former of whom was born on the same farm as was his son, our subject, the place being about twenty-two miles distant from the city of Baltimore. William Chenoweth was born in the year 1802, and he died at the age of seventy-four years and one month. His wife was born in Maryland in 1804, the daughter of John Murray, and their marriage was celebrated in Maryland, in 1822. Of their thirteen children all but one grew to maturity, a son having died at the age of eighteen months. Of the others there were ten sons and two daughters.

Charles W., with whom this sketch has more particularly to do, was reared to farm life and remained at the parental home until he had attained the age of twenty-two years. His educational advantages were necessarily of meager extent, as in the early days in Ohio the primitive log school-house, with 1 luncheon floors, slab benches, open fireplace and window provided with oiled paper in place of glass, did not enlist the services of teachers notable for great learning, and even had their erudition been greater, the young boys of the locality were in requisition during the greater portion of the year as assistants in the work of clearing off the t'mber from the pioneer farms and in the various other duties which went to make up the routine of labor.

In February, 1853, Mr. Chenoweth was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Harrison, who was born in Darke county, July 17, 1837, the daughter of James and Hanner C. (Bowen) Harrison, the latter of whom is still living, having attained the venerable age of eighty-eight years, and being still well preserved in both her mental and physical faculties. James Harrison died in 1864, leaving his widow and eight children, of whom only three are now living. Our subject was called upon to mourn the death of his devoted and cherished wife in September, 1878, she having become the mother of seven children, as follows: William Albert, who is a merchant in Glenkarn, this county, having married and being the father of seven children; James Augustus, who is a successful farmer in German, township, has six children; Marietta Katurah, who was born October 19, 1860, became the wife of George Slarp, and she died May 30, 18 15, leaving eight children; Washington Ellsworth is a farmer in German township and has six children; Morton Monroe, likewise a farmer of German township, has three children; Elnora Belle is the wife of Colville Woods; and Elmer E., born in 1872, resides in Hollansburg, and is operating the old homestead for his father, he being the father of one son and one daughter. In 1879 our subject consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Mary Ann Felton, who was born in Pennsylvania, September 27, 1846, the daughter of Charles D. and fjannah (Priestly) Felton, who resided near Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Of this union two children have been born — a son, who died in infancy; and Ethel Olga, who was born March 11, 1886, and who is a studious young lady, showing no little talent in her musical work.

Mr. Chenoweth enlisted for service in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, having become a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, on the 2d of May, 1864, and having been discharged September 3 following. Though in active service he participated in no regular battle. He as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post which was organized in Hollansburg, but which was disbanded several years ago. He cases his ballot in support of the Republican party and it.' principles, and be and his wife are zealous members of the Christian church, with which Mr. Chenoweth has been identified for nearly a half-century, having served as a deacon in the same and maintaining a lively interest in all branches of the church work.

Our subject settled on his present farm of eighty-four acres in 1875, having purchased previously, in 1864, a tract of one hundred and eighty acres, which is now occupied by his two sons, each having a comfortable and attractive home and good outbuildings. When Mr. Chenoweth started out in life upon his own responsibility he received five hundred dollars from his father, choosing this amount in preference to eighty acres of timber land. The father's estate was worth about thirty thousand dollars, and this was eventually divided among the nine children. Mr. Chenoweth has devoted his attention to diversified farming, beginning operations on the farm of his father-in-law, and later settling on his own eighty-four-acre farm, and he now owns the two farms, comprising two hundred and sixty-four acres. He has been a very successful farmer and business man, and having done his full quota of hard work he is now enjoying that rest which is the just reward of his many years of toil and endeavor, having relegated the active duties to his sons. He is one of our county's prosperous and honored citizens, and it is incumbent that this slight recognition be accorded him in a compilation having to do with Darke county and its interests.

As printed in A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.