Joseph E. Eavey
Joseph E. Eavey, proprietor of a farm of nearly five hundred acres in Xenia township, who is now living in Xenia, where he has made his home since 1897, is a native son of Greene county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm one mile southeast of Xenia, on the Wilmington pike, September 20, 1848, son of John S. and Margaret Christina (Kanode) Eavey, both of whom were natives of the state of Maryland, who came to Ohio in 1841 and whose last days were spent in Greene county, the former dying on his farm southeast of Xenia and the latter in town, she having moved from the farm after her husband's death.
John S. Eavey was born in the vicinity of Boonesborough, in Maryland, January 14, 1814, the second son of Jacob and Margaret Eavey, the former of whom owned an extensive marble quarry near that place. There John S. Eavey grew to manhood, receiving a liberal education for that period, and from boyhood was an assistant to his father in the operations of the quarry, continuing thus engaged, in the sales department of the quarry, until his marriage at the age of twenty-four years, after which he became engaged in the milling business. His wife, Margaret C. Kanode, was a daughter of John and Margaret Kanode, the former of whom was a farmer in the neighborhood of Hagerstown, Maryland. In the third year of their married life John S. Eavey and his wife and their two children. Henry H. and Arthur W., the latter of whom then was but a babe in arms, came to Ohio, driving through in a Conestoga wagon, and settled in Greene county. That was in 1841 and after his arrival here Mr. Eavey bought a tract of two hundred and forty acres lying along the Wilmington pike, one mile southeast of Xenia, paying for the same twelve dollars an acre, and there established his home. He later bought a farm adjoining the same on the north and in 1875 erected there a brick house, in which he spent his last days, his death occurring there in 1879. At the time of his death John S. Eavey was the owner of five hundred and forty acres of land. For a time he also was engaged in the mercantile business at Xenia. He was a Democrat and took an active part in local political afifairs. He and his wife were members of the Reformed church. After the death of her husband Mrs. Eavey left the farm and moved to Xenia. buying a house in West Church street, where she spent her last days. She survived her husband many years, her death occurring in 1898, she then being eighty years of age. John S. Eavey and his wife were the parents of six children, all of whom grew to maturity save one son, who died in infancy. Of these children the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Arthur W., who became a farmer in the state of Mississippi; Henry H., now deceased, for years one of Xenia's best-known business men; Susan, who married J. F. G. Bell and who, as well as her husband, is now deceased, her death having occurred in September, 1915, and John K., a Greene county farmer, who died in 1902. Henry H. Eavey, late president of the Citizens National Bank of Xenia and head of the Eavey Wholesale Grocery Company, was a veteran of the Civil War, having served during that struggle as a member of Company H, Ninety-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio. He was twice married, his first wife, who was Sarah C. Winters and whom he married in 1863, having died in December, 1891. In February, 1896, he married Rebecca Alice Galloway. His home was at the corner of West Market street and King streets in Xenia, where he died on April 18, 1918.
Reared on the home farm on the outskirts of the city of Xenia, Joseph E. Eavey received his schooling at Xenia, completing the same in Professor Smith's Seminary, which then was quite an institution of higher education, situated on East Church street, and after leaving school became engaged in the grocery business at Xenia in association with his brother Henry. This form of occupation did not suit him, however, and after nine months of experience with the grocery business he left the store and returned to the home farm. Three years later, in 1872, he began farming on his own account, renting a portion of his father's place, and in 1880, he meanwhile having married, bought a tract of two hundred and forty acres, paying for the same seventy-five dollars an acre—land now worth much more than double that price. On that place Mr. Eavey continued to make his home until 1897, when he moved to Xenia, where he since has made his home. In 1909 he erected there a house at 234 East Second street and continues to reside at that number. Though having for years made his home in the city Mr. Eavey has ever continued personally to superintend the work of his farms. He bought a tract of two hundred and thirty acres adjoining his original purchase and has long given considerable attention to the raising of live stock, making a specialty of Red Polled and Holstein cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. In 1897 Mr. Eavey bought a half interest in a coal business at Xenia and continued his connection with the same, under the firm name of Maddox & Eavey, for three years, at the end of which time he sold out, and has since given his whole attention to his agricultural interests. Politically, Mr. Eavey is "independent."
On October 18, 1877, Joseph E. Eavey was united in marriage to Sarah Etta Wright, who was also born in this county, daughter of John and Rebecca (Vaneton) Wright, who had settled here in the '40s, and to this union two children have been born, Herman and Ellen, the latter of whom married John M. Davidson, of Xenia, and has three children, Sarah, Margaret and Marie. Herman Eavey, manager of the Eavey Packing Company, continues to make his home in the house of his parents. He married Edith Givens and,has two children, Wallace and Elizabeth. The Eaveys are members of the First United Presbyterian church.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918
This well-known resident of Greene County, as 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 Citizen 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.
From Portrait and Biographical Album of Clark and Greene Counties, Chapman Bros., Chicago, published 1890