My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOSEPH E. EAVEY. This well-known resident of Greene County, has been no unimportant factor in advancing its dairy interests, and is at present successfully operating a creamery just outside the city limits, where he has one hundred and eighty-four acres of choice land and all the requisite buildings. His farm is acknowledged to be one of the finest in Greene County. He built a fine brick residence in 1878, and he has a good barn and all the other outbuildings required by the country resident, together with fruit and shade trees, and the improved machinery, both for tilling the soil and for carrying on his present business. He has spent his entire life in this vicinity, having been born and reared on the farm adjoining that which he now lives. He established his creamery in 1888, and is a leading stockholder in the Citizens Bank.

The subject of this notice was born September 20, 1848, and is the son of John S. and Margaret C. (Kanode) Eavey, both of whom were natives of Washington County, Md., and who were born in 1814, and 1817, respectively. They were married in Maryland, and in that State were born their two eldest children. John Eavey was a miller by trade, which he prosecuted in Maryland until emigrating to the West. In 1842 he started out with a covered wagon, accompanied by his family, and coming to this county, secured two hundred and forty acres of land, that upon which his son, Joseph E., now resides. In 1845 he removed to the Bonner place, adjoining, which he likewise purchased, and where he lived until 1875. Soon afterward he erected a brick residence on the Wilmington pike, just outside the city limits of Xenia, where he spent his last days, dying in 1879. The wife and mother resides in Xenia. They were the parents of five children, all of whom lived to mature years, viz.: Arthur W., Henry H., Susan A., Mrs. F. G. Bell, of Xenia; John K., of Tampa, Fla.; and Joseph E., our subject, who was the youngest born. The paternal grandfather spent his last years in Maryland.

Mr. Eavey at an early period in his life became familiar with the arts of plowing, sowing, and reaping, in which he assisted his father until reaching man’s estate, he attended the common schools, and by keeping his eyes open to what was going on around him in the world, acquired a fair knowledge of business methods while still a young man. When ready to establish a home of his own, he was married October 18, 1877, to Miss Etta S., daughter of John F. and Rebecca (Van Eton) Wright, who lived at that time near the city limits. The father is living in Xenia, and the mother is deceased. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Eavey, a son and daughter, John H. and Helen M., who are now at home. Mr. and Mrs. Eavey have for many years been prominently connected with the First United Presbyterian Church.

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This family biography is one of the many biographies included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890. 

View additional Greene County, Ohio family biographies here: Greene County, Ohio Biographies

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