In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1900) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1829
From The history of Darke County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; (1880), A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900)
THOMPSON L. BISHOP, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Greenville; one of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Nov. 8, 1829; he attended the common and high schools, until 12 years of age, and in 1842 came to Darke Co. with his parents, and located on Section 9, where he assisted his father in agricultural pursuits, until he attained his majority. In 1850, he went to Wan-en Co. and for three years was employed by the month as farm laborer; the first year he received for his wages $144, and for the next two years he received $15 per month; in 1853, he returned to Darke Co. and cropped with his father two years, receiving one-third of the proceeds. The summer of 1855 he passed in traveling through the Western States, and in the spring of 1856, he purchased an interest in the saw-mill at Gordon, Twin Township, and followed this business four years, and in the spring of 1860 purchased ninety acres of his place, and has since added, by purchase, three acres, and has made improvements upon the buildings to the amount of $5,000, and has brought the same to a fine state of cultivation, located one mile from the city limits of Greenville. He was united in marriage with Cynthia A. Dunham, in Warren Co., Ohio, Dec. 10, 1856; she was born in the same county in 1836. They have three children, viz., Sylvan E., Cora, and William G. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have been members of the Baptist Church for a period of twenty years.
As printed in The history of Darke County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; (1880). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
T. L. BISHOP.
In the history of those men who are accorded recognition as leading and representative citizens of Darke county T. L.
Bishop is mentioned. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, November 8, 1829, and is a son of William F. Bishop, deceased, who came to this county in 1842, locating in Greenville township near Mud creek, and was born near Burlington, New Jersey, in the year 1800, and was a son of Frazee Bishop, who was descended from one of the old colonial families.
William F. Bishop was reared in the state of his nativity until five years of age, when he was taken by his parents to Ohio, a settlement being made at Middletown, Butler county, in 1805. Cincinnati was at that time only a small village and Ohio was thought to be upon the very border of western civilization. There William Bishop was reared to manhood and acquired a common-school education. When still a lad he began the butchering business, although he had familiarized himself with the tanner's trade. He followed butchering until 1842, when he made preparation to come to Darke county. Three days were consumed in making the trip and they had a wagon train of thirteen teams. Mr. Bishop was accompanied by his wife and eight children. The former bore the maiden name of Maria Bogas and their marriage was celebrated in Butler county in 1825. Their children were Ezra, Thompson L., Peter W., Joseph L., Elizabeth, Mary, Frances and Valeria F. After cominsr to this county Theodore, their youngest child, was born. On the land on which he located the father made his home until his declining years when lie removed to Greenville, his death occurring there in 1887. His wife passed awav in 1880 at the age of seventy-five years. She was of Virginian parentage. Mr. Bishop was a prominent and influential citizen and was frequently called upon to serve in township offices. His wife was a prominent member of the Baptist church and an exemplary woman, and their home was often the meeting place for people of the Baptist denomination, services being held whenever a preacher was in the neighborhood. Mr. Bishop gave his political support of the Whig party until the organization of the Republican party, when he joined its ranks. He was a stanch advocate of Abraham Lincoln's administration during the civil war and was a radical Union man. He held membership in the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges-of Greenville and in his daily conduct exemplified the benevolent and enabling principles of those fraternities. He began life a poor young man, but by his enterprise and energy he gained success and acquired a good property. He was very progressive and at one time was the owner of shops in three different places, at least fifteen miles apart, all three of which were carried on under his personal supervision. He never speculated, but depended upon the more substantial elements of success,— honest labor and capable management. He modeled his life according to the Golden Rule and by his adherence to its principles he won many friends throughout the county, being highly respected by all who knew him. He was familiarly known as "Uncle Billy." When called to his final rest he was laid to rest beside his wife in Greenville cemetery and thus two of the most highly esteemed pioneers of Darke county passed to the home beyond.
On his father's farm in his native county T. L. Bishop spent his boyhood and in that locality he obtained a common and high-school education. With his parents he came to Darke county in 1842, when fifteen years of age. His education was quite thorough for that day, for he learned something of
Latin and the higher branches of science. He continued with his father until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life on his own account, continuing to engage in the pursuit to which he had been reared. He married Miss Cynthia A. Dunham for a companion and helpmeet on life's journey. She resided in Warren county, Ohio, and their wedding took place in December, 1856. Subsequently Mr. Bishop engaged in the operation of a saw-mill at Gordon, Darke county, where he resided until 1 86 1, when he purchased ninety acres of land, on winch he now lives. This he bought and operated in partnership with his brother, Peter W. Bishop, the business relationship between them existing for eight years. In May, 1864, Mr. Bishop enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, for one hundred days' service, and spent that time in Virginia. With lis command he went to Mart'nsburg, thence on the Hunter raid through the Shenandoah valley, penetrating through the country as far as Lynchburg. He participated in several skirmishes and at White Sulphur Springs his comrade, Mr. Thomas, of Arcanum, was killed by his side. Mr. Bishop served his term of enlistment and was then honorably discharged at Camp Dennison on the 2d of September, 1864.
He has added to his original purchase and is now the owner of one hundred and thirty-seven acres of good land, all under a high state of cultivation and improved with the various modern accessories which gote make up the model farm, many of these having been placed on his land by himself, and his property is a monument to his thrift and enterprise. While his life has been a busy one he has yet found time to faithfully discharge public duties and has held several minor offices. For over twelve years he was supervisor and for eighteen years has been a school director. In educational matters he has always taken a deep interest, doing all in his power to promote the efficiency of the schools. He was at one time actively connected with the Masonic fraternity, but is not now associated therewith. At the age of twenty-nine he was converted and has since been a prominent and useful member of the Baptist church. He was one of the first members of the first Missionary Baptist church of Greenville, has long been one of its officers, served as its first clerk, has for many years been a deacon and has likewise filled the position of church trustee.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bishop has been blessed with three children, — Sylvan E., Cora B. and William L., all yet living. The mother died in 1884, at the age of fifty-six years. She was a member of the Baptist church and an exemplary Christian woman. Mr. Bishop was again married in 1896. when Mary F. Sayers, of Troy, Ohio, became his wife. Mr. Bishop affiliates with the Republican party, casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in i8;6. His efforts in business life were attended with the success which never fails to reward honest and continued labor when directed by sound judgment. He ison of the widely known and highly esteemed citizens of Darke county. His life has ever been an honorable and useful one, his word is as good as his bond and his example is indeed in many respects worthy of emulation.
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.
Named in this biography: William F. Bishop (b. 1800)
The printed record stops around 1880. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.